Taking A Walk Through CityPlace

I was in West Palm Beach, Florida last week and took a walk through CityPlace, described as "an upscale lifestyle center" near downtown with over 60 stores and restaurants, as well as apartments, condos, and offices. It first opened in October 2000 and is credited for the "urban renaissance" of West Palm Beach. Back in the 1980s and 90s, West Palm Beach was, according to Wikipedia, "plagued by crime, poverty, and vacant and dilapidated homes and businesses." I remember that back then there was an exodus of residents to the north, to places like Jupiter, Hobe Sound, and Stuart. CityPlace helped to turn things around. And the city began to attract many new projects that turned it into a very desirable place to live. I visited CityPlace when it first opened, and there were a Barnes and Noble Bookstore, a Macy's, and two movie theaters, all of which are sadly now gone. In their place, there are restaurants, shops, and apartments for the affluent. Which is probably why I have never dined or purchased anything there. In the photograph on the left is the center's main square, with a fountain for the kids and a stage for free concerts on the weekends.

The latest big name to open at CityPlace is Eataly, which is about all things Italian, and seen in the photograph on the right. It combines retail, dining, and education and occupies what used to be the Harriet Himmel Theater. The building was originally a Methodist Church built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. When the theater closed, the owners of CityPlace said they were going to spend 20 million dollars to restore it to its original condition, only later revealing that after that renovation it would become an Eataly. But no matter. Most people seem happy with the tradeoff.

What really makes CityPlace special is the lush landscaping and Mediterranean and Venetian architecture. It is like walking through a tropical paradise. And happily, the developers left a number of old, historic homes standing, which blend in well with the rest of the development. They even incorporated the Hotel Evernia, built in 1925, into the complex, and it remains a family run hotel. Clematis Street is the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, with many dining and entertainment options, and since CityPlace was built, the western part of that street has undergone a revival, and the two districts are now connected, making for a pleasant walk from Lake Worth all the way to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, located at the southern edge of Cityplace. And these days there are high rises going up both within CityPlace and along its borders, which will make the area even more vibrant. It is a very fun place to explore. If you ever happen to be in the West Palm Beach area, you should definitely check it out.

Surprise! Vero Beach DOES Have a Downtown!

For the past year and a half or so I have been periodically looking for downtown Vero Beach, Florida. Most of the time when I visit that city, I stick to the areas around the beach, which has a quaint business district parallelling the ocean on North Hutchinson Island. Sometimes I would veer over to the mainland and head down what looks like the main drag, to no avail. It was just a bunch of restaurants, fast food joints, and strip malls, eventually leading out of town. Then a few weeks ago I read an article on the TCPalm website by Laurence Reisman about how downtown Vero Beach has gone downhill over the past few years, which caught my attention. What downtown? In the article, Reisman mentions the Pocahontas Apartments, a mixed-use early 20th Century building located on 14th Avenue, and finally, I now had a clue. That day I made my way along a street in Vero Beach which I had driven down many times before, spotting a blue sign saying "Downtown" right before I reached 14th Avenue. Significantly, that sign did NOT have an arrow pointing right. Making that right turn anyway, I found downtown Vero Beach at last, where I took the photograph on the left of the Pocahontas Apartments building.

In addition to the Pocahontas Apartments, there were other early 20th Century buildings on 14th Avenue, including the Theater Building seen in the photograph on the right. Reisman's point in the article was that not too many years ago, the area had blooming flowers in planters and quaint benches on which people could sit and enjoy the ambiance. The flowers are all gone now, and the benches were removed to discourage the homeless. Plus, back in the 1950s, the long-gone Hotel Del Mar was the hub of downtown activity and attracted many visitors to the area. Also, many homes near downtown were knocked down to make way for churches and public buildings, reducing the number of people living in the area. I myself thought the downtown area was still pretty nice, and bringing back those planters, benches, adding a new hotel, and promoting more downtown housing would only make it that much better. But first, I think they should put up a new "Downtown" sign with an arrow pointing to where that downtown actually is located.

Right across the street from the Pocahontas Apartments Building is Pocahontas Park, another really nice amenity and seen in the photograph on the left. In that park is located the Heritage Center and the Pocahontas Park playground, which is a very impressive playground indeed. All in all, I think Vero Beach's downtown is very nice, and city leaders and Main Street Vero Beach, a non-profit dedicated to making the downtown more vibrant, really have a chance to make it a much more interesting and happening place.  But, as Reiser mentions in the article, it all takes money, and possibly even a public vote to fund it all. And so, who knows what the outcome will be? But first, how expensive could a new "Downtown" sign possibly cost?

Coyote Hills

I just finished reading Coyote Hills, Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman's latest Clay Edison private detective novel. Jonathan Kellerman is best known for his Alex Delaware series, which features a child psychologist who works as a consultant for the Los Angeles Police Department. I read a few of those novels a long time ago, but lost interest in the series. Then, a few years ago, I picked up a copy of The Lost Coast, the fifth book in Clay Edison series, which Kellerman co-writes with his son, and liked it so much I decided to read the first four books in the series. I have been looking forward to this latest release ever since. Clay Edison is a former deputy coroner turned private investigator working in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this latest novel, fellow PI Regina Klein brings in Edison to help her with a case involving a possible homicide. Klein has been hired by a wealthy couple to investigate the death of their son, who was found dead on the shore of San Francisco Bay with drugs in his system and a head injury. The police rule it an accident, but his parents insist it was anything but. Edison and Klein investigate and find that not only was it not an accident, but one of a number of similar deaths. I found this to be an absorbing and fast paced novel, and I really enjoyed it. I strongly recommend you pick up a copy at your local library today.

The 2nd Annual Boca Street Fest

I attended the 2nd annual Boca Street Fest at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Florida this past Saturday, and I must say, this was a very well attended event. I have visited this park-like retail complex a number of times, but this was the first festival I have ever attended there. Which meant finding the parking garage instead of just parking on the street, which turned out to be easy to find and free. Free! My favorite price point! There were over 100 vendors and food booths there, in additional to two music stages, one of which was featuring the group Wolfhawk. All I can say is that they were loud - very loud indeed - and I didn't even go into the amphitheater where they were playing. The other stage was much smaller and featured more eclectic music, such as the Miami Klezmer Band, a Jewish and Yiddish group, which was much easier to listen to.

Mizner Park consists mainly of upscale shops and restaurants and is much more like a park than an outdoor shopping mall. In the center area between the rows of shops are fountains, gazebos, and very lush landscaping, as seen in the photograph on the right. I circled around the festival twice, but it was the experience of just walking around that pleasant plaza that I really liked best. Mizner Park is a great place to visit, whether there is a festival with hundreds of people, or it is just a normal, quiet weekday.

Boca Raton, by the way, has been at the center of a controversy concerning a potential downtown development called One Boca, which would have added thousands of housing units, retail, office space, and a hotel to city-owned land. Residents were concerned about the loss of green space, traffic congestion, and the use of public land for private development. Voters rejected the project just last week, although the Boca Raton Planning and Zoning Board did approve the construction of a 12-story hotel at Mizner Plaza, a shopping center just south of Mizner Park. Win some, lose some. The battle between developers and concerned residents in Florida is not a new story and will continue well into the future. In any case, definitely check out Mizner Park if you happen to be in the Boca Raton area. You'll like it.

No Kings For Stuart, Florida

I drove past the intersection of South Kanner Highway and Southeast Federal Highway here in Stuart, Florida yesterday afternoon and was surprised to see so many people at the "No Kings" protest. I later learned from an online article in the Stuart News that over 2,000 people were in attendance, some of whom can be seen in the photograph above. This is Florida, after all, and I am pretty sure you can be arrested in this state if you are a registered Democrat. And watching the local news last night, it appears there were a lot of other "No Kings" protests throughout Florida, not to mention throughout the entire country. I was especially happy to see that there was a "No Kings" march across the Southern Boulevard Bridge over Lake Worth to Mar-a -Lago, where President Trump is currently spending the weekend. Hopefully he invited everyone in to talk things over and listen to their input. Makes sense, after all, as long as they happened to be in the neighborhood, right? Right?

The 2026 Palm Beach International Boat Show

My sister Susan and I attended the Palm Beach International Boat Show this past Thursday afternoon. It takes place along Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, Florida and features a vast number of boats and yachts, all docked along a network of piers on Lake Worth.  I decided to park at CityPlace, a number of blocks from the event, since I figured anything closer would be very expensive. As soon as I got to the parking garage, I saw a sign saying the lot was full and please try elsewhere. I decided to enter the garage anyway and keep circling until a space opened up, since I would be paying $30 whether I stayed 5 minutes or 5 hours. Happily, I found a spot almost immediately. In other words, they lied. But why? In any case, we walked to the show and made our way to the piers.

We started making our way past the various yachts on display. The vessels were docked by exhibitor, and there were plenty of salespeople on hand to greet potential buyers. A number of companies had an open-air reception center, where you met with the salespeople and then were taken to a private pier where the yachts were docked. Most exhibitors had the sterns of their yachts backed right up to the dock, with salespeople waiting on the stern to greet visitors. Others had a table with a sales rep right in front of each yacht. Since the vast majority of these boats were many millions over my budget, I didn't bother to tour the inside of any of these vessels.

The big attraction at this show are the superyachts, which are luxury vessels from 80 to almost 300 feet in length, such as the one in the photograph on the left. I assumed these would all be docked at the very end of the piers, but there seemed to be superyachts all over the place. And the exhibitors seemed to come from all over the world, as did many of the visitors. What I have a hard time getting my mind around was that there were a lot of people there who were really interested in buying one of these behemoths. 

I was especially stunned by yachts such as the one in the photograph on the right, which seem to tower over the people walking next to it. These vessels look like small ocean liners. It is hard to imagine the type of wealth required to buy one of these things. Of course, just across Lake Worth is Palm Beach, home to Donald Trump as well as many other billionaires. I can't help thinking that thanks to the tax cuts given to these people through the "One Big Beautiful Bill," all the rest of us are actually subsidizing the purchase of these boats. Not to mention the expense for a crew and the fuel to run it. One of the selling points for one of these superyachts was that it had enough space to hold 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel. At current prices, that means it would cost $27,500 every time you filled up. Will that be cash or credit?

Heading back to Flagler Drive and the exit, we passed the cocktail reception for the launch of the International Superyacht Alliance, dedicated to connecting the U.S. to global markets and new destinations for industry growth. I was tempted to stop, have a drink, and share my thoughts with them, but then thought again. Regardless of the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, I did enjoy walking around and looking at all these luxury vessels. The show continues both today and Sunday if you want to go. And if you do go, a warning. Parking garages close to the event cost $80. I myself would advise heading to CityPlace and walking to the show from there. Just ignore the "garage full" sign.

Opening Day Has Come And Gone - What A Difference A Day Makes...

Yesterday was Opening Day for both my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, and their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs. The White Sox were opening the season against the Brewers up in Milwaukee, while the Cubs were playing their home opener against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Yesterday, both teams were in first place, not having lost a single game. The Cubs are the odds-on favorite to win the National League Central, while the White Sox have undergone a major rebuilding with a group of young promising players. I have been looking forward to the White Sox finally turning the corner at last, and at the very least, not setting still another Major League baseball record by tying the Washington Senators by having four 100-loss seasons in a row. A very modest goal, right?

At the beginning of the White Sox television broadcast yesterday afternoon, both Steve Stone, seen on the left in the photograph on the right, and John Schriffen were very upbeat, expecting great things from this team. Shane Smith was the starting pitcher for the White Sox and went 1.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, followed by 4 relievers who gave up an additional 10 runs, with the Milwaukee Brewers winning by a score of 14-2. Not only that, but the Brewers starting pitcher, Jacob Misiorowski, fanned 11 White Sox hitters to set a franchise record, with 4 relievers bringing the strikeout total to 20, tying a modern Major League record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game since 1900. How about those White Sox - still setting Major League records, even on Opening Day. Their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, lost to the Washington Nationals 10-4 in their home opener at Wrigley Field. And so, I ask you - was I wrong to bet my entire life savings on a White Sox-Cubs World Series this year, which would be the first subway series in Chicago since 1906? Of course, yesterday could have just been a fluke. There is still hope, right? Right?

Opening Day Has Arrived! At Last!

The 2026 Major League Baseball season starts today. And when I googled Chicago White Sox to see what the experts are saying about my South Side heroes, I was happy to see at the top of the page "Chicago White Sox - 1st in American League Central." Which is true. Granted, everyone else in the AL Central is also in first place, but no matter - the possibilities are endless this morning for the White Sox. In any case, I read on the internet (do they still call it the Information Super Highway?) that the experts think the White Sox will have a lot more offense this season, and some predict their new first baseman, Munetaka Murakami, will be All-Star game material by the midseason break. And their new closer, Seranthony Dominguez, could be among the American League saves leaders this year. But the Sox are forecast to finish only 68-94, a mere 8-game improvement over last year. And why not any better? The answer - the starting pitching looks to be even weaker than last year, and so while the White Sox may have a promising future, the general feeling is that it will not be this year. On the other hand, their North Side Rivals, the Chicago Cubs, are predicted to have a win total in the low 90s and give the Milwaukee Brewers a run at winning the NL Central. As for my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, they are predicted to win between 63 and 67 games, have modest offensive improvement, but a very iffy pitching staff. Only veteran pitcher Kyle Freeland had a good spring, while the rest of the rotation struggled. But still, don't forget, all three teams are in first place right now. At least until this afternoon. Let's play ball!

The Palm Beach International Boat Show Starts Today!

The Palm Beach International Boat Show starts today and runs through this Sunday. This is a big event for South Florida. It takes place along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, right on the Intercoastal Waterway and directly across from Palm Beach, where I suspect most of their target market lives. An article I read said that there would be over 100 superyachts on display this year. However, I looked at the preliminary "In-Water Boat List" on the show's official website and was surprised to see that well over 200 superyachts, ranging in size from 80 to 260 feet, could be there this year. The website says that it will be up to the exhibitor whether visitors will be allowed on these vessels, and so I have my doubts whether many, if any, will be open to the general public. The website says to contact the exhibitor if you have a serious interest in one of those yachts and book an appointment. Sounds like a plan to me. All I need to do is rent a yachting outfit, hopefully with epaulets, show up at the gangplank of the 242-foot Casino Royale (which has a James Bond theme) and, as they say, Bob's your uncle. I'll let you know how it goes. And by the way, I took the photograph above in Palm Beach yesterday afternoon. I imagine that many of the Palm Beach crowd will be looking to trade in those old, outdated yachts in the photograph above for something way more suitable. God bless them one and all.

The Market On Main And Rock'n Riverwalk - Still Packing Them In On Sundays...

Stuart, Florida has grown by leaps and bounds since my parents moved here back in 1976. Lots more people and lots more traffic, especially since its neighbor to the north, Port St. Lucie, with suburban developments from the Indian River into what is essentially feral pig territory, is now the 6th largest city in Florida. But Stuart itself is basically a small town, very much still like the old Florida, with no buildings over 4 stories allowed in the entire county. Its downtown is especially attractive, thanks to a revitalization project back in the 1980s and 1990s led by renowned urban planner Andres Duany, whom I first learned about reading Miami: City of the Future, published back in 1987. But my point is that as a small town, there are usually certain events that everyone in town attends, and Market on Main, which takes place in Flagler Park just west of downtown Stuart, seen in the photograph on the left, and Rock'n Riverwalk, which takes place nearby at the Stuart Promenade, are two of those events.

Market on Main is a farmer's market for local farmers, artists, and other artisans that takes place every Sunday from 9:00 until 2:00 during the season and until 1:00 the rest of the year. I have walked through it many times, and I must say, it is not so much the market that I like but the location, right along the St. Lucie River, not to mention the peoplewatching, which makes for a pleasant afternoon stroll. Thanks to a major city just to the north, the demographics are much more diverse in Stuart than years ago, when it was just the locals and retirees from the north, which makes for a much more vibrant mix. And after walking through the market, Rock'n Riverwalk, seen in the photograph on the right, takes place just a few blocks away from 1:00 until 4:00 every Sunday, too, thus offering the option of spending an entire day in downtown Stuart, which I assume was the whole reason Stuart Main Street, a non-profit focusing on improving downtown Stuart, came up with those events in the first place. And, by the way, the Bryce Allyn Band was playing reggae this past Sunday on that stage and were pretty damn good, if I say so myself.

Right next to the Stuart Promenade is a park, where many people prefer to sit and listen to the music under the trees, with a nice view of the river, many of them bringing their own chairs, as seen in the photograph on the left. All in all, Stuart Main Street has done a good job of making downtown Stuart a very lively place, although I do have one complaint about that organization. For many years, in the month of August, there would be a major festival in downtown Stuart called Dancing in the Streets, with three stages featuring musical acts, and lots of booths selling food, drinks, and all other manner of items. Working for the University of Denver Bookstore, our slowest time was in August, and so I was usually visiting my mother Mary down in Stuart when that event took place. All over town I would hear people asking their friends and acquaintances if they were going to attend - it usually took place from 5:00 until midnight on a Saturday night and was the major event of the summer, the slowest time of the year. But then Dancing in the Streets was ended for good. I actually contacted Stuart Main Street and asked what happened, and I was told people had just lost interest in the festival. But I really can't believe that. Did the merchants object to losing a night of business? The locals often referred to the event as "drinking in the streets." Were the natives getting too rowdy? Who knows? But I still miss it. August in Stuart will never be the same.

The 29th Annual Downtown Stuart Art And Craft Festival

The 29th Annual Downtown Stuart Art and Craft Festival took place this past weekend on Osceola Street here in Stuart, Florida. This is a very popular event. Combined with the weekly Market on Main held in nearby Flagler Park and the Rock'n Riverwalk concert along the St. Lucie River, it was very crowded yesterday afternoon when my sister Susan and I finally arrived, after finding a parking spot just far enough away so that nobody else wanted it. There were over 150 artists showing their work this year, including 10 booths showing photography, and much of it was quite good.

The festival started two blocks east of Haney Circle, seen in the photograph on the right, continued around it and then ran down Stuart's main retail street to the Stuart Promenade, where the Rock'n Riverwalk concert was taking place along the St Lucie River. In the center of Haney Circle is Lady Abundance, a statue that was purchased by the Women's Club of Stuart in 1949 to be placed in this exact spot to honor Cynthia Burnett Haney, "a prominent prohibitionist, women's suffragist, and advocate for social justice." But when the statue arrived, it was decided that the scantily covered female and its association with wine was not appropriate, and it was placed on the east lawn of the Martin County Courthouse, along with its accompanying fountain, instead. But when downtown Stuart underwent a major revitalization project in 1991, it was decided to move the statue and it fountain to the location it was originally meant to occupy.

And famously, back in 1993, when Susan and I were visiting my mother Mary down in Stuart, Susan decided to step into the fountain, climb up the statue, and pose for the photograph seen on the left, with my mother standing beneath. Happily, this was during the month of August, with not another soul around, and so none of us were collared by the Stuart Police. I did suggest to Susan yesterday that she climb up the statue for old times' sake, so I could have then and now photos to put on the blog, but she politely declined. What a spoil sport. In any case, the Downtown Stuart Art and Craft Festival was quite enjoyable, and definitely worth the long walk to get there. If you missed it, be sure to catch it next year. And also be sure to take a photograph with Lady Abundance.

The River To Reef Art Festival

Yesterday afternoon my sister Susan and I attended the River to Reef Art Festival, which takes place at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, located where the Loxahatchee River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Jupiter, Florida. The stated purpose of this festival is to celebrate local and regional artists, nature, and community. I was worried that we would not find parking at the lighthouse, and so we parked on Jupiter Island and walked across the drawbridge to the festival. Which turned out not to be necessary, but it was a nice day, and we arrived right at the assigned time for our entry. I took the photograph on the left from a boardwalk along the Loxahatchee, showing the artist's booths in the background.

The art show was fine, and the prices a lot more reasonable that the last few festivals we visited, but the artwork was overshadowed by the setting itself, which was really nice. Not only do you have views of the river and the lighthouse, but the landscaping was very impressive, too. There was also musical entertainment, although I thought it was strange that everyone was sitting in a central area, while the musicians were behind a rope and actually facing away from the audience, as seen in the photograph on the right. No matter. The view across the river definitely made up for it.

The Jupiter Lighthouse itself was the big attraction, as seen in the photograph on the left. The lighthouse became operational on July 10th, 1860, and was designed by George G. Meade, who later commanded the Army of the Potomac. Years ago, when we were visiting our mother Mary in Stuart one summer, Susan and I climbed to the top of that lighthouse while our mother waited down below. This time we decided to skip it - the walk to Jupiter Island and back was quite enough, thank you very much. All in all, visiting the River to Reef Art Festival made for a very pleasant day. The festival continues today from 10:00 until 4:00, although unfortunately, all the free tickets have been claimed, and so you will have to fork out $5.00 if you decide to attend. Plus another $5.00 to climb the lighthouse, if you so choose. What can I say - the early bird gets the worm. Or do they not say that anymore? I never know.

The March Issue Of Chicago Magazine

I just got around to reading the March issue of Chicago Magazine, and I must say, it makes for very interesting reading. The cover story is about Pete Crow-Armstrong, the 23-year-old Chicago Cubs superstar. Last season Crow-Armstrong became only the second Cub in history to hit 30 home runs and have 30 stolen bases. The other player was none other than Sammy Sosa. The first half of the season Crow-Armstrong stole 25 bases, hit 25 home runs, and batted in 70 runs, something no other player has ever done before the break. He became the second youngest Cub to ever start an All-Star game, but during the second half of the season, he hit only .187 with 6 home runs. Crow-Armstrong was not happy about that and is determined to regain his form this season. And although he grew up in California, he has grown to love Chicago and the dedication and passion of the fans at Wrigley Field. He comes across as a nice kid and an intense competitor. He very well might make the difference this season up on the North Side. 

A truly fascinating article this month is The Power 50, which lists the 50 most influential Chicagoans who "have shaped policy, molded minds, and redefined this city - and this country." It is not possible to discuss all 50, but what amazed me were all the Chicagoans on the list who I have never heard of, but have a major influence across this country, including Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, who now has a major influence on the Catholic Church due to Pope Leo naming him to the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; Penny Pritzker, head of Harvard's top governing board; Valarie Jarrett, who has overseen the creation of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and helped raise the $850 million to pay for it, and Mellody Hobson, wife of Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was once the chair of Starbucks, is currently a director of JPMorganChase, and who owns pieces of the Chicago White Sox, the Denver Broncos, and the WNBA. And did you know that Nick Fuentes, White Nationalist Streamer and number 7 on the list, lives in west suburban Berwyn? I sure didn't. 

There is also an article about seven Chicago-area staycation spots, where you can feel like you've gotten away without the travel costs and headaches. All of them sound very nice, but most would cost about the same as a week or two in Europe. The cheapest on the list was the Wind Creek Chicago Southland in south suburban East Hazel Crest, a casino and hotel, with prices ranging from $199 to $299 per night. The article says it has a "glitzy" Italian steakhouse atop the 17th floor. What? There is a 17-story hotel and casino in East Hazel Crest, Illinois? I used to live near there. How the hell did that ever happen? In summary, it is definitely an issue you should check out. And yes, the two photographs of Chicago on this blog were taken by me on my last visit to my old hometown in April of 2010. Definitely time for another visit.

The First Day Of Spring (aka The Spring Equinox)

Today is the first day of spring, and right on time, the Tabebuia trees, one of which can be seen in the photograph above, are in full bloom all over Stuart, Florida and environs. These trees were the brainchild of Edwin A Menninger, who came to Stuart in 1923 to start the Stuart News, which, by the way, still exists, although is now owned by USA Today. Menninger felt there should be more flowering trees in the area to welcome in the spring, and contacted people from around the world, asking them to send him seeds from their flowering trees. Which they did. His favorite was the Tabebuia tree, which is native to Mexico and the Caribbean. He distributed the tree's seeds to people all over town, who dutifully planted them, with the result that they are now everywhere, a vibrant symbol of spring coming to Stuart, Florida. Thanks Edwin!

The 2026 Major League Baseball Season Begins Exactly One Week From Today!

And yes, I do know that the official opening of the season takes place next Wednesday night between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, but that is just a gimmick. It is indeed next Thursday, March 26th when most of the teams start play, including my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, who will be opening the season at 1:10 against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, will have their home opener at 1:20 that same day against the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, who now actually have people who know something about baseball in charge, will be waiting until Friday at 7:10 Florida time to begin their season against the Marlins in Miami. Last season the Rockies lost 119 games, 2 short of the record for worst team in the history of baseball - which is of course held by the 2024 White Sox - and so I suspect there is no great rush by the Rockies to start the season. They will definitely return to contention over time with new management, but definitely not this year. Or the year after. Or perhaps even the year after that. But it doesn't matter right now. Every team is starting out undefeated next week, and hope springs eternal. We should all enjoy it while we can. And yes, that is indeed the view of Coors Field from the press box, which I took at the Colorado Rockies Fan Fest this past January. A great view of the field, although last season I imagine many of the reporters did not want to look.

Watching The Marlins Take On The Blue Jays - A Late Spring Training Matchup

My sister Susan and I watched the Miami Marlins take on the Toronto Blue Jays this past Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida. The weather forecasters predicted heavy thunderstorms starting after lunchtime, and so we were taking a chance, but since we already had the tickets, we forged ahead. The first thing I noticed as we approached the ballpark were the number of license plates from Ontario and Quebec, showing that despite what you hear on the news, there are still large numbers of Canadians who still winter in Florida, not letting one unhinged bully drive them away. And when they played the Canadian national anthem, there were lots of cheers, which I was very happy to hear, especially since Florida is such a red state. And best of all, when the first pitch was thrown at 1:10 P.M., the sun was shining brightly.

During the game I was surprised to hear a Toronto batter announced whom I knew well: none other than Eloy Jimenez, the former star player for my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, who gave him a six-year, $43 million contract in 2019 even before his major league debut. Eloy got a base hit, seen in the photograph on the right leading off first base. Eloy did very well for the White Sox, winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2020. Then in 2024, the year the Sox lost 121 games and knew they were about to undergo a major rebuilding, they traded Eloy to Baltimore, who the following year declined his club option for 2025. Eloy then signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, and the year after that signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he is currently a designated hitter and outfielder. And will he go north with the Blue Jays when they break camp next week? Although only 30 years old, he is not the same player he was with the White Sox, but perhaps he can regain his form with Toronto. After all, that was a pretty sold hit he made this past Monday. Good luck Eloy!

It was indeed warm and sunny for the first 2 1/2 innings. Then the storm clouds came, and it started to rain. Susan and I made our way to the main concourse, and under the shelter of the roof. As we discussed what we should do, the sun came out again, and we made our way back toward our seats. The usher suggested we take the two handicapped seats right behind home plate, since it would be easier for Susan and me to leave when the rain started again (I think he had inside information). And so, we sat back and watched the game until there were two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning, which is when I took the photograph on the left. Then the downpour began and we hightailed it back out to the main concourse. As we headed toward the ramp, I saw all the players heading for the dugouts, and when we approached the exit saw that everyone was leaving. The game had been called. Toronto, the visiting team, was leading 5-4 after 5 innings, which made it an official game. Since everyone left the stadium at the same time, it took forever to get out of the parking garage. But no problem. Two groups of Canadians were parked on either side of our car and were very friendly and entertaining. Despite Donald Trump. Go Blue Jays!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is St. Patrick's Day, and if you are thinking about putting on some green and starting to celebrate, I've got bad news for you - all the celebrating took place this past weekend. Here on the Treasure Coast of Florida, the main event not to be missed was the Jensen Beach St. Patrick's Day Festivities and Parade, hosted by the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce this past Sunday and sponsored by Mulligan's Beach and Sports Bar and AC Doctors. While the festivities started at 11:00 in the morning, the parade itself wasn't scheduled until 2:00, and my sister Susan and I were on Indian River Drive waiting for it to begin. There was a bit of a delay, and as I watched storm clouds gather in the distance, I had to wonder if they were waiting for the rain to start before launching the parade. Finally, the parade came into sight, the bagpipers in the photograph on the left walked into the street from the corner where we were standing, joined the parade, and started marching and playing those bagpipes.

Not surprisingly, Mulligans, being one of the sponsors, was quite lively, and many of the patrons took a break from their celebrations to step outside and watch the parade, including all those ladies in green wigs and sunglasses seen in the photograph on the right. The Mulligans in Jensen Beach is two stories high, and the upstairs area has a great view of the Indian River, while the location in Vero Beach has a patio that is right above the ocean, where you can sit at a table and gaze at the Atlantic. Neither of which I have ever visited but keep thinking I should. As for the other sponsor, AC Doctors, I assume they were having an equally lively celebration, although for the life of me, I have no idea where they are located or if they have a bar in the middle of all those air-conditioning parts.

This is an extremely popular event around here, and a lot of fun, but it really is a small town, community affair, and the parade includes a lot of community organizations and elected officials, in addition to a group walking their dogs in tight formation, two kids on unicycles, each holding an end of a banner advertising a new brewpub, and even a group of young violinists marching down the street, as seen in the photograph on the left. Meanwhile, back in Denver, the St. Patrick's Day Parade took place this past Saturday in Lower Downtown (LoDo), after which everyone stayed around that neighborhood to celebrate at places such as Scruffy Murphy's. In Chicago, they dyed the Chicago River green in the morning and then had their parade down Columbus Drive at 12:15 P.M. with bagpipers, dancers, and green floats.

There were a LOT of families with their kids at the Jensen Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade, and it wasn't until the back end of that parade that I found out why. After all the other groups marched by, they were followed by a line of about 500 or so golf carts, all decorated like the one in the photograph on the right, and from which they threw trinkets and candy - lots and lots of candy. The parents, no doubt regulars at this event, all brought paper bags with them, which they filled with all that swag and candy their kids were enthusiastically picking up. The woman standing next to us made sure Susan got a lot of the candy and trinkets, too, including a green necklace, a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" bracelet, and many, many lollypops. She and her husband also offered to help us as we got ready to leave the crowd and head back to the car, which was very nice of them, too. A small-town parade with friendly, happy people. I would have liked to head around the corner to Jensen Beach Boulevard, the main downtown area, where the "festivities" part was taking place, but those storm clouds were almost upon us, we had a way to go to get back to the car, and I didn't want to tempt fate. And so, including the Fort Pierce Block Party on Saturday, it was a really nice St. Patrick's Day weekend. But what do we do today, on the actual holiday? Beats me.

The March Mutt Of The Month

I took the photograph above of the March Mutt of the Month the Saturday before last, when leaving the outdoor patio of the Sailor's Return, located at the Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, Florida. It was only 4:00 P.M. in the afternoon, and I had found a parking space - the last one, actually - but when my sister Susan and I arrived at the patio, all the tall-topped bar tables were filled with what I assume were snowbirds, as was every space at the bar itself. We sat down at a regular table that was vacant and located right next to one of the bar tables, but were told, as a friendly reminder for next time, that we would need to see the hostess to sit at one those tables. Which I am loathe to do if all we want is to have a drink, enjoy looking at the boats (yachts, actually), and then head home. In any case, sitting next to its owner, who was at one of the other regular sized tables, was that dog, who was the center of attention for everyone entering the place. I was not able to get a decent photo on the patio, but as luck would have it, I was able to take the photograph above as we were heading back to the car, with the dog happily posing for me while standing on that blue bench. And resolving to wait until April, after "The Season," to venture back to the Sailor's Return.

The St. Patrick's On 2nd Street Block Party

I stopped by the St. Patrick's on 2nd Street Block Party yesterday afternoon up in Fort Pierce, Florida, and my timing was perfect - it started raining as soon as I got there. But fortunately, not to hard, at least for a while, and the rain didn't seem to be bothering anyone. This St. Patrick's Day celebration is hosted every year by Sailfish Brewing Company and 2nd Street Bistro, both conveniently located on 2nd Street itself, as seen in the photograph on the left. There was a stage midway down the block where a trio were playing Irish music, there were booths with various items for sale, a street bar, food vendors, and a bounce house for the kids.

As usual, a number of people dressed up for the occasion. Most of the crowd decided to just wear green, or a St. Patrick's Day hat, while the two gentlemen in the photograph on the right decided to go "full leprechaun," drawing high fives from the crowd sitting on the outdoor patio of the Sailfish Brewery. Which makes good beer, by the way, and distributes it to grocery and liquor stores throughout the area.

As far as I could tell, most of the crowd was hanging out at the Sailfish Brewing Company, as seen in the photograph on the left, especially as the rain began coming down harder. There was a line to order beers that started at the end of the bar and went almost out the door. I would have suggested that they should have had a booth outside on the street, but of course, if they did, those people waiting in line would have looked like drowned rats by the time they got their beer. This was actually the first time I have been in that brew pub, and I was quite impressed. The front of the building consists of a long, covered, and rather dark patio, and so I did not expect to see such a lively and inviting interior. But, of course, long, covered, rather dark patios are quite useful when the sun is beating down on you, or there is one of those sudden cloud bursts that Florida is famous for. In any case, everyone was pleasant and seemed to be having a good time, and it was a fun experience, despite the rain.

The 75th Annual Under The Oaks Fine Arts And Crafts Show

My sister Susan and I drove up to Vero Beach, Florida yesterday afternoon to attend the 75th annual Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Crafts Show, which is held every March in that city's Riverside Park. And looking at the photograph above, it will be obvious how the festival got its name. This is a major juried art show, with over 200 artists from across the nation displaying their work, and is considered one of the top 200 art shows in the country. I was very impressed with both the quality and variety of the art, and was pleased to see quite a few photographers displaying their work, much of it very good. And no - neither Susan nor I actually bought anything while we were there. The items that did get our attention were priced around a thousand dollars and up, which is slightly beyond our price range. However, Vero Beach is quite an affluent community, and so I am sure the locals will no doubt make the artist's appearance at the show worthwhile. And if you are in the area and want to attend - and you should - the festival continues both today and Sunday from 9:00 until 5:00. 

Robert B. Parker's Showdown

I just finished reading Robert B. Parker's Showdown, the latest Spenser novel by Mike Lupica. I've always loved this series, created by the late Robert B. Parker, and when he passed away, I thought that would be the end of it. Happily, his family decided to hire first Ace Atkins and now Mike Lupica to continue the series, and both have done a good job of imitating Parker's style and producing new stories. The novels feature Spenser, a wise-guy Boston private investigator with a shady but fun sidekick named Hawk and a girlfriend, Susan Silverman, who is a Harvard-trained shrink. This time attorney Rita Fiore hire's Spenser to help a young man named Daniel Lopez, the son of an undocumented Guatemalan woman recently murdered in an apparent robbery attempt. Going through her papers, Lopez begins to suspect that Vic Hale, one of the biggest podcasters in the nation, who rose to fame with right-wing, anti-immigrant rhetoric, is his father, and wants to prove it, this at a time when Hale is about to sign a huge new contract. Revelations about the affair and a potential child could jeopardize his big deal, and when more bodies start to turn up, Spenser is determined to find out who is behind it all. I really did enjoy this story. The characters are witty and likeable, and it is very much like Parker's novels of old. Be sure to pick up a copy at your local library today.

My Father Nelson's Birthday

My father Nelson Hoyt was born on this date 117 years ago, in Chicago back in 1909. I am just amazed when I think about how long ago that was. It makes me realize how fast time passes without you even noticing. My father was a dentist and always hated it. He and my mother Mary were finally able to retire in 1976, at the age of 67, to a condo here in Stuart, Florida, and both were never happier. Dad had only 7 years of retirement before he passed away but enjoyed those years very much. My mother lived in Stuart for almost 30 years before coming to live with me up in Denver, although we would travel back to Stuart 3 times a year and stay at the condo until she passed away. In any case, I took the photograph above of dad at Circle Bay, which is a condo complex next door to our building, where we would sometimes walk around and look at the boats docked there. The Monterey Yacht and Country Club, where the condo is located, has a 9-hole golf course, and most people who live here are all about golf, as was both my father and my mother. At Circle Bay, everyone has a dock space, and so they are all about boats. My parents had friends at Circle Bay, and so nobody minded us walking the grounds. These days, those people are long gone, and so if my sister Susan and I decided to walk over there these days, multiple people would probably draw their guns. This is Florida, after all. In any case, I am glad my father at least had those 7 years of retirement after all those years at a job he hated. He deserved more but luckily had those.

Back To Stuart Beach!

I spent some time at Stuart Beach the other day - as seen in the self-portrait above - now that the big cold wave is over and highs are currently in the 80s every day, as God intended. And I am happy to report that things are back to normal: people are back sitting on the sand and actually going into the water, even the natives. The only negative is that we will not be seeing all those snowbirds in their bikinis and speedos putting on a brave face and diving into the ocean in 50-degree temperatures, which is always quite amusing. Serves them right for taking all the tables at the Sailor's Return's outdoor patio every night, not that I am bitter about that.  And believe it or not, people are now actually saying they miss the cold temperatures now that it is getting hot and humid again. The same old story, just like back in Denver: counting the days until summer in the middle of winter, and longing for the snow during the 90-degree summers. People never change.

Watching A Spring Training Game At Roger Dean Stadium

I went down to Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida yesterday afternoon to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play the Baltimore Orioles. It was a perfect day for baseball, and the home team, the Cardinals, beat the Orioles 7-2, hitting 4 home runs in the process. The Cardinals are 9-5-1 so far this spring, while the Orioles are 7-8-2. But what does this really mean? Actually, nothing. The ballclubs are trying to put together the best teams possible with which to start the regular season, which is now just two weeks away, and focusing on each players individual performances is the only thing that matters right now. You leave in pitchers past what you would in a regular season game to see if they can get out of jams and leave in hitters who keep striking out to see if they can adjust to the pitching. Winning the game is the last thing to worry about right now. 

Which I have to keep telling myself, since yesterday out in Arizona, my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, beat my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, 12-3 and are 11-7 so far this season. Which means the White Sox might very well be better this coming season, but by how much, who knows? As for the Rockies, they were historically bad last season, and are expected to be horrible again this season, but with new management will be slowly getting better. As for the Chicago Cubs, the White Sox's North Side rivals, they have a 7-9 record so far this spring and are expected to win the National League Central. Only once the regular season begins on Wednesday, March 25th will the true picture begin to take shape. Until then, I can look at that12-3 White Sox win over the Rockies and begin to think dynasty!