Night Watch

Night Watch: Nan's Hideaway Lounge

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Thu., May 5 2011 at 8:39 AM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Nan's Hideaway Lounge
803 SE Eighth Ave., Deerfield Beach.
Call 954-426-0590.

Nan's Hideaway took me far too long to find. That's because it's located just off Federal Highway in a plaza in which the establishments encircle the parking lot; this hideaway is a modest little building with reddish-orange cursive letters that spell out the name. Inside was a long, narrow room: a jam-packed wooden bar running along one side, a few tables pressed against the wall on the other. Pam, the bartender, sported dark curly hair and a shirt that said "Life Is Good" in sparkly letters.

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Night Watch

Night Watch: The Rustic Cellar

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Tue., May 3 2011 at 12:45 PM
Categories: Night Watch
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​The Rustic Cellar
409 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton.
Call 561-392-5237, or visit here.

Dark mauve curtains hung from the huge windows of the Rustic Cellar, and through them I could make out a few couples, seated on circular yellow chairs, talking intimately. Inside smelled like a clean hotel; the room had a long, curving black bar, behind which stood a gargantuan wall unit lined with dozens and dozens of wine bottles. High shelves holding prized wine bottles lined the clay- colored walls; artistic black-and-white photographs covered them. One wall even displayed a pair of artistic, high-res close-ups of a pink flamingo. Orange sconces glowed wanly from the walls, and Rihanna's "What's My Name" played softly in the background.

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Night Watch

Night Watch: Boo Riley's

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Mon., Apr. 4 2011 at 7:36 AM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Boo Riley's
2528 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-567-1212.

The bartender, Tina, wore a tight black Bebe shirt, a shiny studded belt, and a confident glow. She flicked the cap off my beer and plopped the bottle down in front of me in one swift movement, and then she was off again, greeting familiar faces with terms of endearment like "honey" and "sweetie." When a couple came in and took the spot next to me, she greeted them by name and started filling a Blue Moon before they could speak. Like most of the crowd, they're a little bit wrinkled but damned good company.


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Night Watch

Night Watch: Laser Wolf

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Fri., Apr. 1 2011 at 12:00 PM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Laser Wolf
901 Progresso Drive, Ste. 101, Fort Lauderdale. Visit here.

"Basically, this is a Fort Lauderdale bar without all the frat boys and douches that you see on Himmarshee these days," said Pat, who is the financial backer and one-third of the hipster triumvirate behind Laser Wolf, SoFla's coolest new chill zone. (He's also written a bit for New Times' food blog.) He's lean with light stubble and legendarily large hair. "I guess what we're going for is 'cool hangout.' "


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Night Watch

Night Watch: Brick House Tavern and Tap

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Tue., Mar. 15 2011 at 4:27 PM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Brick House Tavern and Tap
1451 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
Call 954-537-5344, or visit here

The age of the Beer Snob has dawned on South Florida. Finally! Plastic liquor cups have been tossed to the wayside in favor of a tall, chilled glass full of frothy, foamy, thick, and delicious beer. And the newest beer-specializing chain to grace our beloved spit of land? Brick House Tavern and Tap, where heady beers are best coming straight out of a full-size, 100-ounce beer bong. Chug, chug, chug, chug....

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Night Watch

Night Watch: Jesse's Xtreme Sports Bar

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Mon., Feb. 21 2011 at 12:06 PM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Jesse's Xtreme Sports Bar
5442 W Atlantic Blvd., Margate
Call 954-917-2855, or visit jessessportsbar.com

"So, according to this bar's logo, 'Jesse' is a disgruntled blond hooligan in a backward hat," I said. "Is that the case?"

Deedee, the tongue-ringed bartender, laughed and leaned on the U-shaped, tiled bar. "Actually, he's pretty nice; not really disgruntled. Also, he has a shaved head."

"So what makes this bar 'xtreme'?" I pressed. "Is it more 'xtreme' than the other sports bars?"



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Night Watch

Night Watch: Gerri's Sports Pub

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Fri., Feb. 18 2011 at 3:16 PM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Gerri's Sports Pub
6500 W Atlantic Blvd, Margate
Call 954-972-6266.

Gerri's is the kind of bar that has been around for years, and looks the part. It's got a homey feeling, a comfortable smell, and a smorgasbord of beer-related decor. Rows of ceramic beer mugs dangle over the bar; giant inflatable bottles and beer cans labeled CORONA and BUD LIGHT hang at the corners of the room; shiny metallic signs advertising Icehouse, Amber Bock, and Michelob lurk in every direction. A fantastic mural of destruction - a bunch of race cars locked in a dramatic collision - has been painted on the wall facing the pool table. The U-shaped bar is decorated with Florida license plates.

When I walked in, Ron Roberts, sporting a T-shirt with a Gandhi quote on it, was dealing cards and Jennifer, the bleach-blond, mini-skirt-wearing bartender, was in the process of turning up the volume on all of the televisions. It was Jeopardy time, and tonight they were airing an episode on which Ron - who deals poker games at Gerri's a couple nights a week -was a contestant.

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Night Watch

Night Watch: Manor Lanes Bowling & Sports Den Pub

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Wed., Feb. 9 2011 at 5:26 PM
Categories: Night Watch, Nightlife
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​Manor Lanes Bowling & Sports Den Pub
1517 NE 26th St, Fort Lauderdale
Call 954-566-7457, or visit manorlanesfl.com

Weekend after weekend, night after night, it's all the same: Go to bar. Consume many beverages. Go home and pass out. Why not shake things up a little bit? Obviously, I'm not saying to forgo the boozing - the landscape of Manor Lanes Bowling is littered with more booze-residued plastic cups than a frat party - but bowling is a surprisingly fun thing to do while imbibing. Add throwback dance hits, arcade games, throwing heavy shit around, and an on-site sports bar, and you'll never hit your boring old local dive again.

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Night Watch

Night Watch: YOLO/O Lounge

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Fri., Feb. 4 2011 at 7:24 AM
Categories: Night Watch
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​YOLO, 333 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Call 954-523-1000, or visit here.

Actually, YOLO ("You Only Live Once"), its adjoining bar called the O Lounge, and VIBE are all owned by the same bunch of guys (who must have a thing for capital letters). Despite its name, YOLO is not the place I would opt to spend the final hours of my only-once-occuring-life. Still, I see no reason to hit it up occasionally from time to time, especially since it boasts potent drinks, a large outdoor patio, and a fire pit.

A crescent moon gleamed through wispy clouds and a crisp breeze rustled the dress shirts of the young professionals - one of whom still had his name badge clasped to his pocket - drinking nearby. The patio was landscaped with bamboo stalks shooting up from rock gardens, palm trees wound with white lights, and green outdoor carpet. A bald man lounging on a sleek red couch took a drag on his cigar. A middle-aged woman tied her small, yappy dog to a chair leg. Soft rock droned on quietly, mostly ignored and unheard.
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Night Watch

Night Watch: Vibe Ultra Music Lounge

By Tara Nieuwesteeg Thu., Feb. 3 2011 at 8:01 AM
Categories: Night Watch
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​Vibe, 301 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Call 954-713-7313, or visit here.

Vibe is spell-binding. Waitresses, attired in white ensembles that consist of a little fabric and a lot of leg, scampered around with trays of shining beverages. Smooth sculptures of naked female bodies (think of a cross between a fashion mannequin and Michelangelo's David), embedded masterfully into the club's walls, were alight with flickering turquoise strobe lights. The 4,000-square-foot club, which bills itself as Fort Lauderdale's only music ultra lounge, has a narrow inside area, a beautiful marble indoor/outdoor bar, a welcoming fire pit, and about a gazillion flashing lights. Behind the bar flashed several TVs, all cycling video footage of what might have been an amoeba mating dance. Also behind the bar was Nancy, a sexy bartender with a J-Pop haircut and an amazing rack. Rihanna played airily over the speakers while the evening's band assembled their gear on stage.

"Have you seen the ceiling boobs?" asked Samantha, the brunet, stilettoed club manager. She pointed up.


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