I decided not to rent a car in order to experience the various means of transportation starting with a pedicab. Brogan Graham owns a company called Ocean View Rickshaw and although there may be a few actual rickshaws being used, the transportation is what's known as a pedicab where the seating is pulled via someone pedaling a bicycle. Rather than taking a taxi and perhaps dealing with traffic, the bicyclist can always find alternate routes. Most people aren't using the service to get to a place quickly but comfortably and enjoying the outside views. An even better use was Brogan giving me a tour of E. Las Olas and the Riverfront area. Being early we stopped at a coffee shop to find Esther and Eunice sitting outside.
The way the pedicabs operate is that you either call to arrange a pickup or flag one down
Jessica Taylor from the tourism office met with me to take me on a tour of other areas of Fort Lauderdale including the beach strip. One of the areas that we explored was Wilton Manor, known as the gayborhood. Having Esther and Eunice along with me, they were more interested in the hangouts of lesbians rather than the gay guys. Here is the info that she later gave me.
BEACH BETTY'S - 625 E. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach, 954-921-9893. Tiki hut walls, palm trees, deep ocean blue ceiling, frozen drinks and Jimmy Buffet on the jukebox- this is a classic beach bar. Sit back and relax on the patio with a pina colada, shoot a little pool with your friends or challenge one of the regulars to a game of darts.
CLOUD NINE LOUNGE - 7126 Stirling Rd., Davie, 954-499-3525
Lesbian-friendly nightclub with nightly drink specials such as 2-4-1 everything everyday 12pm-8pm, Fri Ladies Night, Sat Free Drinks 11pm-1am, and Sun Karaoke 9pm-1am.
NEW MOON BAR -2440 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, 954-563-7660
Whether it’s Martini Monday, Karaoke Thursdays, or Sunday Fun Day, this lesbian-friendly bar is always letting loose. Sit at the inside bar, enjoy the pool table and dancing. Or lounge at the outside bar and enjoy the fresh air. Either way, a good time starts here.
SEA MONSTER - 2 S. New River Dr., Fort Lauderdale, 954-767-2600
High energy gay nightclub playing popular house and dance music. Fri Noche Latina is popular offering free drinks 9pm-11pm. Flirt Saturdays are lesbian-friendly with no cover and half-priced drinks 10pm-12am. Sun T-Dance offers half-price drink specials 4-8pm.
SIDELINES SPORTS BAR - 2031 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, 954-563-8001
Sidelines Sports Bar, with its 16 flat-screen TVs, 3 pool tables, 3 dartboards, foosball table, and other videos games, continues to provide a fun, friendly and comfortable environment for gay men and women who enjoy all kinds of sports. For the third year in a row since its opening, we were voted the winner in two categories of South Florida Blade's "2008 Best of Gay South Florida" annual readership poll. The popular gay sports bar in Wilton Manors, Florida was named "Best Casual Bar" and "Best Place to Go Out by Yourself" in the local gay newspaper's online survey.
We had lunch at Galanga Thai Kitchen and Sushi Bar where I indulged in a lobster roll and fish with Thai spices.
Back to E. Las Olas for another form of transportation, a gondola ride along the waterways. Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America. Although I've never been to Venice, I'm sure that it is much cleaner. The gondola was much different from the one in Long Beach's Naples Island. It was covered and run by a motor. I realize that they can't have row boats in the waterways but having a gondolier turning on a motor and steering the boat doesn't make for the most romantic adventure. The gondolier wasn't talkative unless I asked some questions and he said that he was unable to give me a full tour due to some police action in the area. A woman had jumped from one of the bridgeways into the water so not all areas were open. I personally didn't feel that the ride warranted a gratuity and the gondolier asked for one at the end. Needless to say I do not recommend this rather expensive trip as there are at least three small cruise ships that tour the waterways and for so much less.
This time I walked back to the hotel which was about half a mile. The Water Taxi stops were in between where the gondola was docked. After relaxing and retrieving my email from the Business Center (free internet), I dined at Indigo, the hotel's main restaurant where I met Chef Toby Joseph and did a menu tasting.
It was still early in the evening and decided to take the opportunity to use the Water Taxi. I picked it up just a few blocks from the hotel. The one that first came in was considered to be an "express" meaning that it did not go to all of the stops. I boarded for a tour. Kevin Bray was the captain and although the water taxi is a way of getter around the waterways, he would point out the famous millionaire homes as well as what was at each of the stops. As it turned out, no one got on and I had a private tour. When I got to my original stop, there were people ready to board.
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