Shooter’s Waterfront Fire & Lola’s on the Water

[0:12] Hello, everyone, and welcome to Let's Talk Lauderdale, the show where we catch up on what's happening in Fort Lauderdale and all around greater Broward County.

[0:23] I'm Marv, and each week I bring you the stories, people, and places, and events that gives this area its personality. From Lauderdale to Pompano and all those other cities here, there's always something going on worth talking about. Now, for those of you listening, this is not a national news show with a little South Florida weather at the end. This is local. It's about the places we drive past every day, the restaurants where we meet friends, the businesses that keep our communities moving, and the stories that affect the way we live, work, and spend our time here in Broward. So, let's get into today's show.

[1:07] So we're going to start on the intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale. Last weekend, we had family pop in. And of course, one of the things that you do when you have pop-ins is you got to take them somewhere. And Shooter's Waterfront is our go-to place. Everybody loves it. It's got a nice little place on the water. But last Saturday morning at 2.50 a.m., a fire broke out inside the restaurant. And when crews arrived, they found heavy smoke inside the building. And firefighters, of course, moved quickly, attacked the fire. And officials say that it was contained to the kitchen and knocked down within minutes. And best news, no one was hurt. However.

[1:57] No food from the kitchen that night. So shooters is one of those places. It's not, you know, just another restaurant in town. It's one of those landmarks that we all as locals use as a reference point. Uh, as I mentioned earlier, it's where we bring out of town guests where boaters tie up. People meet after the beach and, uh, where the waterfront crowd gathers for brunch, happy hour and sunset. So, uh.

[2:25] When there's smoke coming out, people notice. So, again, it was nothing major, just a kitchen fire, but it was temporarily closed while repairs are made and the inspections are completed. And because of that, we had to make a switch. So, at the last minute, because our guests wanted to eat on the water, We actually found a new place in Pompano. The place is not new, but this was the first time we had gone to it, and it is Lola's on the Water. And to let you know where that is, it is at the Sands Harbor Resort and Marina. The address is 125 North Riverside Drive. It is right on the Intracoastal. And this is a restaurant that moved into the former Rusty Hook Tavern Space. And it's a family casual waterfront stop. And it's, again, if you want to come by boat.

[3:30] Walk over from Pompano Beach, you can grab a drink, watch traffic on the water, and keep things low-key. And it's a very simple formula, and it will actually turn out to be pretty nice for us. Uh, the menu is Mediterranean American and coastal, but it's not like locked in. Uh, there was some, uh, tuna crudo stuff on there, octopus grouper bites. Uh snapper which is what i had and then they had some Korean short ribs which, looks pretty interesting nobody at our table had them and then of course your burgers chicken pasta and pizza uh.

[4:13] This is not one of those white tablecloth places so people can go in casual, but we sat outside by the pool uh, if you want a nice you know sophisticated looking restaurant This is not the place. We literally were by the pool where kids were jumping in, but there's a nice outside bar. There is a nice inside space. So it is a place if you want to sit back and have a casual vibe and nice food portions, this was a good place. Now, there were some reviews that we saw that talked about service being slow when it's busy and the food being so-so, but that was not the case with us. We liked it, our guests loved it, and it's probably going to be a place for us to head back to.

[5:06] So let's talk a little bit about some of the local news that puts our beaches and coral into a weird conversation. So a sand reservoir dredging project north of Port Everglades, is now paused until at least November after environmental concerns involving sediment, staghorn coral, and queen conch was brought up. And this is a project that involves creating a 10-acre underwater pit that is going to collect drifting sand, and that sand can later be used for beach renovation work. And on paper, this obviously sounds like the kind of infrastructure project we need. Beach erosion is real, and when people get caught in undertow, lives are at stake. So replenishing sand is a major thing that we need both for our beaches, for our coastal properties, storm protection, and everyday beach life.

[6:12] But the project ran into concerns after sediment plumes apparently spread further than predicted. So environmental groups, which included Miami Waterkeeper, raised alarms that the work could affect a sensitive area that supports wild staghorn coral and a breeding colony of Queen Conk. So the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to pause the work while a new environmental assessment is developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service. And this is all happening while the larger Port Everglades deepening project is also on hold. And that project was intended to accommodate the newest larger cargo ships. So Broward is now balancing two major priorities, One, keeping an economically vital port competitive, and two, protecting a marine environment that itself is an economic and environmental asset. Now, these being on pause doesn't mean the projects are dead. It just means that the review process has caught up with reality on the water. Broward County has said that the sand reservoir work was nearly complete anyway and had already been paused for coral spawning season. So the question is whether future work can be done with stronger safeguards.

[7:39] So in the New River, a water advisory has been lifted, and this is an update for boaters, paddlers, and anyone using the South Fork of the New River. Fort Lauderdale has lifted its precautionary advisory for water-related recreation in parts of the New Fork River and the Craval Canal. Now, the advisory had been issued on Saturday, the 22nd, after a nearby sanitary sewer manhole overflowed. This affected boundaries that were Orange Isle to the north, Southwest 18th Street to the south, Southwest 15th Avenue to the west, and Southwest 14th Avenue to the east. The city says water sampling now meets Florida's surface water quality standards, which is why the precaution was lifted. So this is good news, but it is another reminder that aging sewer infrastructure is not an abstract issue here in Fort Lauderdale. When something goes wrong underground, it can quickly become a waterways, public health, and quality of life issue overnight.

[8:54] Now, I mentioned that we had gone out to dinner over the weekend. I should say that Dine Out Lauderdale is still on the menu. And, of course, we probably should have paid closer attention when we did that. But if you're a local who's been saying we should go somewhere nice, Dine Out Lauderdale restaurant continues through September 30th. So participating Fort Lauderdale restaurants are offering three-course prefix menus at $35 for lunch, $45 or $60 for dinner, and then there is an elevated luxe dining experience priced at $75. So this is one of the better times of the year to explore local restaurants deliberately instead of defaulting to the same three places, which we did. It gives us a more predictable price point, and it gives restaurants a reason to put menus that show off what they do well. So the smart approach, folks, is to go to the official Dine Out Lauderdale list before you go and check out the participation, menus, reservation rules, and even available days because they're not universal across the board. Read the fine print on drinks, gratuity taxes, and any weekend restrictions. Remember.

[10:21] The prefix price does not always mean that every item on the menu is included, but it could be a good way to try a restaurant that normally feels like a special occasion place.

[10:34] The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance released a summary of the latest Florida labor market numbers for Broward County. And the thing to talk about right now is that Broward's unemployment rate has risen to 4.6% in July. And that was according to the latest state labor market figures released this week, and that equals about 49,000 people counted as unemployed in Broward's civilian labor force. So the number is up from 4% in July of last year, and Broward's labor force, meaning people working or actively seeking work, was estimated at just over 1.067 million people, down about 8,500 from a year ago. Now, of course, we know unemployment data doesn't always tell the whole story. It's not a full picture because, one, we are in a weird season right now.

[11:38] We have people that are not just unemployed. We have independent contractors, whose hours have dried up. We have people juggling part-time jobs because full-time work is hard to find. But it is still one of the clearest monthly measures of our local economy. Now, I said the timing matters, and we are heading into our traditional fall and winter tourism season, and that's when hotels, restaurants, airports, cruise-related businesses, entertainment venues, retail operations.

[12:13] All of these start increasing activity as we move into the fall and winter months. Um, and that's why there's an airport job fair that is coming on. I'll talk to about that in just a minute. Uh, we do have employers that are hiring, but, uh, the broader data is showing that there are more people looking for work than there was a year ago. Uh, hiring may be easier in some roles, but customers are also, also watching expenses closely. So for job seekers, it means using the next several months strategically. Especially in hospitality, travel, logistics, health care, technical trades, education, and business services. Again, this is not a panic number. It is just a reminder that the Broward economy is in a transition period and the work picture is more complicated than the rest of the tourist season headlines might suggest.

[13:15] So I just mentioned that unemployment was up to 4.6%, but if you are looking for work, think about a career change or know someone who has been affected by layoffs in the travel industry, remember Spirit closed up shop a while back. Friday's airport job fair is worth knowing about. So the Broward County Aviation Department is hosting its fifth annual Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport Job Fair, and that is going to be on Friday, August 28th. It starts at nine in the morning and goes until one in the afternoon. That is at the Broward Center Convention Center at 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard. Organizers expect about 20 employers and say that approximately 300 full-time and part-time jobs will be available. The positions cover airport and airline service providers, ground transportation, restaurant and retail concessions, janitorial work, and federal agencies. Parking for this event will be free, and if you want to pre-register through the Fort Lauderdale Job Fair Event Bright page, you can do that.

[14:31] This is not just a job fair announcement. It is a snapshot of how Fort Lauderdale's economy is adjusting; the flights are still coming. Tourism season is approaching and the airport needs people and jobs that range from entry level to skilled operational level. And be sure to bring printed copies of your resume. There will be a resume review session, professional image guidance, and interview tips that will be programmed throughout the morning. So if you know somebody who needs a job, but don't know where to start, send them this information.

[15:10] Here's some additional cultural news. The Pompano Beach Cultural Center gets a strong theater pick next week when Breville Theater opens the South Florida premiere of School Girls or the African Mean Girls Play. The production opens Thursday, September 3rd, and runs through September 27th, at the Hive Black Box Theater inside the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Tickets start at $55. The play is set in 1986 at an elite girls' boarding school in Ghana. The story follows Paulina, a student who expects to become Miss Ghana, until Erica, an American transfer student, changes the competition and the social order around her. It is a comedy, but it takes on bigger questions about freedom, friendship, ambition, identity, beauty standards, class, and the complicated effects of Western influence. So that makes this more than a night of theater for people. It is a chance to see a smart, contemporary work in an intimate, local space performed by a company that has been building momentum in South Florida. If you have friends who always say there is nothing to do besides dinner and drinks, this is your answer.

[16:35] Make reservations somewhere nearby but then get tickets and turn it into a Pompano night.

[16:42] Wilton Manors gets a rare theater event. For a distinctive Wilton Manors area culture note, Plays of Wilton has opened the U.S. premiere of Forbidden at The Foundry, which is at 2306 North Dixie Highway. The production opened August 27th and runs through September 29th. Tickets start at $10, which makes this one of the most accessible theater tickets you will find anywhere in Broward. This play has an unusual history. It was written by Dutch novelist and playwright.

[17:19] The play has an unusual history. It was written by a Dutch novelist and playwright. And I'm going to try this name, but I'm probably going to butcher it. And I apologize. Joe M. Van Issel de Scheper Becker. And the play was first stage in Rotterdam in 1922. Under the title Wat Ne Mag, which translates roughly to Mustn't Do It. Contemporary accounts describe it as an early coming out play. Its original run was reportedly shut down after only two performances amidst hostile public reaction. So here we are a century later. The work has been translated by theater historian Lawrence Selenek and is now being staged under Ronnie Larson. So whether you are a regular theater goer or simply interested in LGBTQ history, this is one of those productions where the story behind the show is nearly as compelling as the show itself. Again, tickets are only $10, but it is a limited engagement. If you want to see something that you are unlikely to find in a typical South Florida events calendar, this is it.

[18:40] One final date to put on the calendar, Fort Lauderdale's 6th Annual Pre-Labor Day Block Party is going to be Sunday, September 6th from 4 to 9 p.m. Along Northeast 32nd Street between A1A and 32nd Avenue. This is a neighborhood-scale event in the North Beach and Galt area, built around local vendors, sidewalk sales, food and drinks from nearby restaurants and bars, a vintage car showcase, and a community photo art project with a Galt theme. It's not trying to be an ultra-music festival. It's a chance to walk around, see what the neighborhood businesses are doing, eat and drink locally, check out some cars, and have something to do on the Sunday before Labor Day. For people who live near the beach, it's an easy night out. For everyone else, it's a good excuse to explore a stretch of Fort Lauderdale that often gets less attention than Los Olas or the Central Beach area. This event is being presented by the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation in collaboration with North Beach Restaurants and Shops. Now, you can expect the usual long weekend crowds and give yourself extra time for parking, But this is exactly the kind of community event that works best when you arrive early and stroll without a rigid plan.

[20:09] That's going to do it for this edition of Let's Talk Lauderdale. Thanks for spending some time and staying connected to what's happening in Fort Lauderdale and across Bower County.

[20:20] There's a lot going on here, and the best local stories are often the ones you hear about from the people who live and work in these communities every day. If you enjoyed the show, please follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. It's one of the easiest ways to make sure you never miss an episode. And while you're there, leave a quick rating or quick review. It helps other local listeners find the show. And most importantly, send us your local tips. If you know about a restaurant, an interesting business, community event, or even a local person doing something worth recognizing, we want to hear from you. So share this episode with a friend, neighbor, or co-worker and find somebody who's always asking what's going on here. So you'll find us online along social media and stay connected I m Marv thanks for listening be good to each other support local when you can and we'll talk Lauderdale another time until then bye.