Diversions Archives | Sunshine Guru

Giving Back to the community on KW RED DAY along with Pandemic of Love

We are partnering with an incredible community aid organization Pandemic of Love. Simply put, Pandemic of Love is an organized network of trained volunteers who match Recipients in need with Donors who can give. This organization was founded by Shelly Tygielski from Lighthouse Point. Since its inception a few short weeks ago in March, Shelly has received press coverage and celebrity endorsements of her cause. To date Pandemic of Love has matched over 40,000 people in need with willing donors who have given in excess of $5 Million!

Here are our Pandemic of Loves links, one to GIVE help and one to GET help:

Give Help: https://tinyurl.com/GiveHelp-KWPandemicofLove

Get Help: https://tinyurl.com/GetHelp-KWPandemicofLove

LOVE is the virus. LOVE is infectious. LOVE is the CURE. Let’s show the World that sickness isn’t the only thing that can go VIRAL!

2016 Winterfest Boat Parade Highlights

Winterfest Boat Parade 2016 is this Saturday, December 10

The Winterfest Boat Parade – officially The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – is this Saturday evening in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. The parade kicks off around 6:30 pm near down-town Fort Lauderdale and heads east to the Intracoastal Waterway, then north into Pompano Beach.

(Check out local bridge closings if you are driving in the area)

Hundreds of boats are decorated with lights and music – from small private boats to large party yachts. The sight is truly spectacular! Viewing parties are planned along the New River in down-town Fort Lauderdale and along the Intracoastal Waterway. One of the best places to view is from the banks of the Intracoastal inside Hugh Taylor Birch State Park where the entry fee is only a few dollars. For big spenders, nearly all the venues along the waterway have special events planned. Check out the websites for Shooters, Flip-Flops, North Beach Village, and Bokampers.

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Dog parks in and around Fort Lauderdale

South Florida can be a wonderful place to share with your four legged family members. Dog parks and beaches can be found in every corner of Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding communities.

Keep in mind that along the main beach in Fort Lauderdale, there are limited areas that dogs are permitted on the beach, and when walking along the beach, dogs are restricted to the west side of the street.

Some of my favorites

Canine Corner in Pompano Beach: Along Federal Highway at 10th Street (near the large park and small airport) is a well kept park featuring separate areas for large dogs and small dogs. The park district also has several areas that can be taken offline or put into use letting parts of the park recover from excessive use – a nice feature to keep the pups out of the mud.

Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale: On the north side of Fort Lauderdale Airport and I595 (accessible from SR84) is a sprawling park with a large dog play area and a lake that’s accessible to dogs that may enjoy a swim.

Performance Pups in Hollywood: Located on the south end of Tiger Tail Lake, Performance Pups offers a dock and beach normally used for advanced dog training but is open for play sometimes. This facility is privately owned and there’s a fee to play on the beach and use the dock.

What should we do this weekend in Fort Lauderdale?

Here’s my rundown of fun stuff in Fort Lauderdale this weekend…

Charlie’s Rise n Ride (Bike Ride)

Meet up is at 7:15am

We leave promptly at 7:30am.

JOIN us for our weekly Charlie’s Rise and Ride. Weekends go better when they start off in the saddle.

We leave from the north east part of Broward? Join us Sat morning at the Duffy’s Diner at the corner of Cypress Creek Rd and Dixie Hwy where we will head to the beach and go north for a round trip ride of approx 30 miles and a nice pace of about 15+ mph. We stay together as a group.

Stay with us after the ride for breakfast. We have a nice place to have a cup of coffee or to grab a bite and to safely store your bike.

Pedals turn at 7:30 AM

Panic! at the Disco

At the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton (a little out there for us Fort Lauderdale folks LOL)

7:30 PM on Friday, 590 Plaza Real. Tickets $39.50

This turn-of -the-millennium group is still going strong – if you can believe it!

KW Family Picnic

On Sunday all us Keller Williams nerds will be grillin and chillin at the John U Lloyd Beach Park. I’m assured that water balloon fights are planned and I’ll be posting pics from the family event. Pups welcome!

What should we do this weekend in Fort Lauderdale?

Here’s my rundown of fun stuff in Fort Lauderdale this weekend…

Charlie’s Rise N Ride (Bike Ride)

Meet up is at 7:15am
We leave promptly at 7:30am.

JOIN us for our weekly Charlie’s Rise and Ride. Weekends go better when they start off in the saddle.

We leave from the north east part of Broward? Join us Sat morning at the Duffy’s Diner at the corner of Cypress Creek Rd and Dixie Hwy where we will head to the beach and go north for a round trip ride of approx 30 miles and a nice pace of about 15+ mph. We stay together as a group.

Stay with us after the ride for breakfast. We have a nice place to have a cup of coffee or to grab a bite and to safely store your bike.

Pedals turn at 7:30 AM

Bowling to Fight Hunger (Note: bowling spots all filled. You’re welcome to join & enjoy)

Welcome to the Hunger Fighting Zone. Thank you for your commitment to fighting hunger in our community. By participating in “Bowling to Fight Hunger”, you’re making a direct impact in the lives of youth, women and men living with HIV / AIDS who are not able to buy adequate food and nutrition.

“Bowling to Fight Hunger” is Poverello’s longest running charity event. To date, over 1 million dollars have been raised to fight hunger through our annual bowl-a-thon.

All proceeds from Bowling to Fight Hunger go to help Poverello provide life-saving food and basic life essentials to youth, women, and men living with HIV / AIDS and who are at poverty level and below.

– My goal is $500 so please help donate to this worthy cause herehttps://www.poverello.org/portal/open-fundraisers-secure?PFR=39

THE COMMUNITY CARE RACE AND RIDE TO BENEFIT POVERELLO CENTER.

In the tradition of the ChristmasChanukahKwanzaCrank and the Spring Fling Cha-Ching, the RiSKi AC presents a mid-summers second saturday eve charity bike race and ride.

For over 25 years, the Poverello Center in Wilton Manors has provided life-saving food and basic life essentials with the highest degree of understanding, respect and love to almost 2500 youth, women and men living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, at or below the poverty level. On August 9, 2014, at 4:00 PM, the RiSKi AC will host the Second Annual Community Care Race and Ride, a scavenger hunt ride and race through the streets of Fort Lauderdale, to support the Poverello Center.

Anticipated cost of donations per rider: $20.00.

Free parking available at The Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305.

Post-ride/race food and festivities: to be announced.

Symphony of the Americas Summerfest

Sat., Aug. 9, 8 p.m.

201 SW Fifth Ave.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts

$25-$60 | 954-462-0222

The 23rd annual classical culture exchange this year features the Mission Chamber Orchestra of Rome. Formed six years ago, the acclaimed European ensemble is led by composer/conductor/pianist Lorenzo Turchis-Floris.

Summer Waterfront Tasting at 15th Street Fisheries

Thu., Aug. 7, 5 p.m. – Ongoing | More dates

1900 SE 15th St.
15th Street Fisheries & Dockside Cafe

Sample a variety of the chef’s culinary creations at an affordable price. The menu, which includes three courses, changes nightly and is served in the upstairs dining room.

Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors this weekend, June 21 & 22

Fort Lauderdale’s social scene will be focused on Stonewall Pride weekend in Wilton Manors this weekend. The festivities kick off Saturday on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors around noon, and the Pride Parade kicks off on Saturday at 7:00 pm. The parade will travel along Wilton Drive from the High School on the south end of the drive and head north/east towards Five Corners. You can view the parade anywhere along Wilton Drive. There will also be bleacher seating available at various locations up and down the drive.

Live music and entertainment will be playing throughout the day with a main stage right in front of the Shoppes Of Wilton Manors on the drive. And of course all the bars and restaurants will have outdoor facilities set up to encourage any additional festivities.

The annual contest for the best parade entries is sure to spark some competition again this year. There are two prize categories, the “Over the Top, Grand Prize Float” prize will be presented to the float with the best decorations, music and enthusiasm. The second prize category is “Best Walking Group” will be judged on the the best overall concept and visual appeal.

At the end of the evening the bars should be rocking until the last patron is tossed back onto the drive.

Your Guide visits Snyder Park’s Bark Park on Wednesday afternoon

Located just south of Marina Mile (State Road 84) and a little west of Federal Highway is Snyder Park and the home of Bark Park, one of Fort Lauderdale’s dog-friendly parks. I’ll be visiting as many dog friendly areas in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area in the coming days to give you a selection of cool places where pups are welcome.

Bark Park features two very spacious fenced-in play areas for dogs to roam – one for all and one for small dogs only. There’s also an agility course, plenty of water stations, a couple of water hoses for muddy clean up and a covered area for folks to relax while the dogs run off all their excess energy.

Bark Park at Snyder Park is probably the most popular of the Fort Lauderdale dog-friendly facilities and seems to always have a friendly crowd enjoying the camaraderie of the playful pups and their owners. Bark Park is also the most well maintained with the fewest mud-patches. It’s clear that regular maintenance and care of the grass is undertaken with fresh sod and landscaping.

In addition to the play areas in Bark Park, Snyder Park allows dogs to play and swim in the east lake.

During the week, entry is free! On weekends, the park charges $1 per hour per car, or $5 for all-day, to use all the facilities at Snyder Park whether you’re there with your dog or for the other recreational facilities at the park.

To use the pet-friendly facilities, users are supposed to get an annual dog-park-permit from the City of Fort Lauderdale for $30 ($45 for non-residents.) I’ve never seen anyone checking for dog-permits and I doubt anyone actually has one as you can only get a permit by stopping by in person to purchase the permit at 1350 West Broward Boulevard (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Here’s the City of Fort Lauderdale’s guide to Dog Friendly Areas: http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/cityparks/dogs.htm

Snyder Park’s website: http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/cityparks/snyder/index.htm

And Bark Park’s: http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/cityparks/snyder/barkpark/index.htm

Where are folks coming from & leaving to: Interactive map at Forbes.com

I love this interactive map at Forbes.com! You can enter any major metro area, or county, in the search box, and a map will pop up showing where most of the residents are moving from, or moving to, when they move in or out of the area.

http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2011/migration.html

My favorite two searches: Miami/Dade County vs. Collier County (the Naples & Fort Myers area) in Florida. Why do East Coast residents traditionally choose the Atlantic Coast and why do Midwesterners typically choose the Gulf Coast?

Because I-75 runs from the mid-west straight down the gulf side, and I-95 runs from the Northeast straight down the Atlantic Coast.

Still not totally used to getting on the opposite schedule of seasons here in South Florida

The weather report says it’s gonna hit 94 degrees today here in Fort Lauderdale. And the week-long forecast shows 90 degree days as far out as the pretty weather lady will show me. I think it’s finally dawning on me that the summer season is here to stay.

I’m having a hard time adjusting to the opposite schedule of outdoor seasons. You see, it’s only been two years since I moved here from Chicago.

In Chicago, we stay inside during winter because…

There are only 18 weeks of summer in Chicago between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and even those aren’t all guaranteed good weeks. So every chance during the summer we played outside because…

Well here in Fort Lauderdale, the Canadians are back up north, the mid-westerners are back up in Chicago and the roads are finally manageable. The typical attitude is to hunker down in an icy cold movie theater or at the mall any time leaving the house is required. What Floridians seem to think of summer is…

Despite the heat, I quite enjoy the summer season in South Florida. I have a screened in porch to keep the mosquitoes at bay, and although it’s Hurricane Season, when there are no storms nearby the weather is spectacular for sailing. The winds typically are more favorable for a sail and the westerly direction means the ocean and the waterways can be calm.