Showing posts with label Fort Lauderdale history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Lauderdale history. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Florida History: Of tour boats and South Florida waterways

Waterway sightseeing boats

For more about Intracoastal history, see:
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/04/florida-history-intracoastal-waterway.html

By Jane Feehan

It’s hard to miss the iconic tour boat Jungle Queen berthed at Bahia Mar when driving the length of Fort Lauderdale beach. If it’s not there, the bright neon Jungle Queen sign above the ticket center grabs attention. Many who visit or live in the area have taken the cruise up the New River through downtown to an island in the river’s south fork but few know about other Fort Lauderdale tour boats that entertained sightseers throughout the years.

The Jungle Queen began touring in 1935; it wasn't the first. The Abeona, docked at the Andrews Avenue Bridge began excursions in 1933 and continued until the mid 1960s. Between the 1930s and 1950s, about 20 sightseeing boats operated on the waterways, offering food, entertainment and bits of history about the area.

In more recent times, the three-decked, sternwheeler Paddlewheel Queen, built in Mississippi, docked off Oakland Park Boulevard. It operated off and on until a few years ago. Hidden Harbor in Pompano housed the Showboat, which cruised south to Dania Beach. And once operating off Singer Island near the Palm Beaches, the Island Queen now tours Miami waterways.
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Sources:
Palm Beach Post, Sept. 21, 1984, p. 78.
Gillis, Susan. Fort Lauderdale: The Venice of America. Charleston: Arcadia (2004).



Tags: Fort Lauderdale history, South Florida sightseeing boats, waterway cruises, Fort Lauderdale waterways


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Casablanca Café - moon light, love songs, not food - Fort Lauderdale

Casablanca Café
3049 Alhambra Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
954-764-3500
Open seven days, lunch and dinner
Happy hour Monday-Saturday: 4-7 p.m.


Use search box at right to find other "Fort Lauderdale" restaurants

For some history about the building, see: http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/07/florida-history-fort-lauderdales-1920s.html

By Jane Feehan
  
Casablanca Café occupies a restored house built in the 1920s. Sitting on the patio, one can appreciate the view early occupants had without busy A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). It still has a great view of the ocean, especially from a second floor porch, but vehicular traffic is an interloper.

That said, Casablanca is a good place to go for drinks or a meal, as long as expectations are lowered; above all, this is a tourist spot. I’ve eaten dinner and lunch here a few times and have always left underwhelmed. Luncheon salad entrées tend to be a safe bet; they’re ample and tasty. House made hummus is above average quality and they serve lamb sandwiches, a rarity. Pick your pleasure from standard choices of burgers, seafood and pasta but I don’t recommend a chicken salad sandwich. It’s drippy and served on what seems to be an oversized hotdog roll. Dinner is also hit and miss. Most of the fish is frozen, but the menu is appetizing and they do an adequate job pulling ingredients together. With beef, chicken, pork, lamb and pasta choices, there is bound to be something pleasing.

View from Casablanca
My suggestion is to visit Casablanca for happy hour, eat from the bar menu, enjoy the view, the piano or other live music that plays Wednesday-Saturday (check times). Or stop by for an after dinner drink and music. Most of the seating in Casablanca Café is open air, which in the hot and humid summer can be a drawback.

Proprietor Peter Beck also owns the popular H20 Café down the street and the Aruba Beach Café in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. His knack for blending food, entertainment and above all, a beach view, has been a winning business formula for years. Service: Good. Parking is available in a dedicated lot west of the restaurant on Alhambra ($4). Dress is casual.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale beach dining, Fort Lauderdale waterfront dining, Fort Lauderdale live music, Fort Lauderdale restaurants