South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Layover at Fort Lauderdale?
Things to do nearby instead of being bored at the airport
How many magazines can you not read? Why even pretend you want to eat that soulless food? Spending interminable hours in a terminal in the airport is the first circle of hell (limbo, Dante’s Inferno. Google it).
But if you’re at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, you’re in luck, because there’s plenty to do. Here are some places to check out.
The Old Ghosts Collective
Browsing through the sideshow-like oddities, folk art, antiques and just plain ol’ weird stuff at this Fort Lauderdale shop is like touring the set of FX’s “American Horror Story,” especially the “Freak Show” iteration in Season 4. You can find scarred clown dolls, weathered ventriloquist dummies, ghoulish masks, Ouija boards, vintage circus banners and just about anything creepy. Speaking of creepy, owner Jackson Valiente also runs Kreepy Tiki Tattoo next door (see the next entry). The Old Ghosts Collective is located at 2608 S. Federal Highway. Call 305-803-9014 or go to Facebook.com/oldghostscollective.
Kreepy Tiki Tattoo
What is a memorable trip to South Florida without a tattoo (or a piercing) to commemorate the stay? Just a stone’s throw north of the Old Ghost Collective is Kreepy Tiki Tattoo, at 2606 S. Federal Highway. Call 305-803-9014 or go to KreepyTiki Tattoos.com. And just to the south is Into the Woods Tattoo and Art Gallery, at 138 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. Call 954-404-9536 or go to IntoTheWoods Tattoo.com.
Psychic Reader
Mrs. Johnson does all kinds of readings, including palm ($15), tarot card ($25 and $40), crystal energy ($50) and psychic ($75). There’s also a basic-personality palm reading, which doesn’t go into your love life or key dates, for $5. Psychic Reader is located at 219 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. For more information or to make an appointment, call 954-839-6770 or go to DaniaPsychic.com.
Snyder Park
This park just north of the airport’s runways has a well-attended Bark Park. There’s something truly relaxing about watching dogs romp around. For twolegged park visitors, there is a disc-golf course and a butterfly garden. If you think watching doggies evaporates stress, then try observing butterflies flit and flutter for an hour or so. Snyder Park is located at 3299 S.W. Fourth Ave., in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-828-4585 or go to Fort Lauderdale.gov/Departments/Parks -Recreation/City-Parks/Snyder-Park.
Historic Art and Antique District
Just south of the airport (if the streets were more pedestrian-friendly, you could easily walk it) is a quaint little village of antique and art shops called Dania Beach’s Historic Art and Antique District. Just have your shared ride drop you off anywhere on U.S.1/Federal Highway between Northeast Third and Northwest Third streets. For more information, go to DaniaBeach Chamber.org.
Of the 12 or so stores, some of our favorite places to shop for tchotchkes include Vintage Market and Salvage Co. for china, silverware and decorative gifts (17 N. Federal Highway; 954-929-5557 or Facebook); Tinkers for watches, jewelry and coins (33 N. Federal Highway; 954-927-6599); and Kodner Galleries for fine art, jewelry and antiques (45 S. Federal Highway; 954-925-2550 or Kodner.com).
As for art, do not miss the little warren of tiny galleries and artist studios in the blinkand-you’ll-miss-it Canterbury Square, which is located at 38 S. Federal Highway.
Cigar lounges
For many people, there’s nothing quite as relaxing as puffing away on a stogie. But just try and enjoy a cigar in the airport. It’s far better for you to take refuge in one of the nearby cigar lounges. There’s Neptune Cigar Superstore, which is a must-stop-
shop kind of place for cigar aficionados at 2325 S. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale. Call 800-655-3385 or 305-670-0633 or go to NeptuneCigar.com. There’s also Stix Cigar Lounge at 4 S. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. Call 954-925-0149.
Holocaust Documentation and Education Center
In addition to exhibits, such as “Operation Finale – The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann” which runs Sept. 6 through March 31, the center brings in speakers for special events and lectures. Exhibit hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. General admission costs $10, while student admission costs $5. The museum also has tours available by appointment only. The Holocaust Documentation and Education Center is located at 303 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. To book a tour or for more information, call 954-929-5690 or go to HDEC.org.
Ice cream and shaved ice
Here in the subtropics, keeping cool is a hot issue. A sweet way to do that is by visiting Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant (a South Florida institution that opened in 1956) and nearby Key West Shaved Ice and Dairy Belle. There’s a good chance you’ll find a line at all three places, which are across the street from one another in Dania Beach, but it’s worth it. Jaxson’s, which broke segregation rules when it opened by serving and hiring black people, has an extensive menu of savory and sweet treats. Key West Shaved Ice’s shaved ice bowls are a chilly delight, but also check out the adult slushy drinks made with wine. In addition to the usual ice cream concoctions and burger, hot dog and sandwich offerings, Dairy Belle Ice Cream is famous for its poutine, that French-Canadian pub dish that makes a glutinous mix of french fries, cheese curds and gravy. Dairy Belle is located at 118 N. Federal Highway. Call 954-920-3330 or go to DairyBelleIceCream.com. Key West Shaved Ice is located at 64 S. Federal Highway. Call 954-278-2678 or go to Facebook.com/KeyWest ShavedIce. Jaxson’s is located at 128 S. Federal Highway. Call 954-923-4445 or go to JaxsonsIceCream.com.
Lauderdale Comics
If you are still in touch with your inner child, then Lauderdale Comics is a perfect way to run down the flight-layover clock. You can easily lose track of time browsing this emporium of comic books, graphic novels, manga/ anime, action figures, Tshirts, games and other comic-related stuff (Infinity gauntlet, Black Panther bracelets, Wonder Woman tiki glass, etc.). And to help you get all immersive in the experience, there’s an inhouse coffee and tea bar. Lauderdale Comics is located at 1929 S. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-530-6722 or go to LauderdaleComics .com or Facebook.com/ LauderdaleComics.
The Casino at Dania Beach
Poker, slot machines, blackjack, roulette and that sport particular to South Florida, jai alai, is all at the casino. As with Las Vegas casinos, this one has restaurants and live entertainment (concerts and comedians). Also as in Sin City, Dania Beach’s casino is open 24 hours, at least on weekends. The Casino at Dania Beach is located at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd. Call 954-920-1511 or go to CasinoDaniaBeach.com.
Jimmie’s Chocolates and Cafe 47
This South Florida icon has been making its chocolate goodies the same way since it opened in 1947, by hand, every day. It’s hard to imagine anyone being disappointed by houseguest thank-you gift from the shop. Cafe 47 serves Caribbean flavors in dishes such as shrimp and rice, fish stews and the Tripleta (steak, ham and pork with rice and peas), as well as tapas, small plates and sandwiches. Jimmie’s is located at 148 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. Call 954-922-0441 or go to Facebook or Jimmies Chocolates.com.
Cathedral of
St. Matrona of Moscow in Miami
This Russian church is not really in Miami. It’s just a few blocks south of the airport in Dania Beach. And as the website says, “All the nationalities of our region — Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Moldovans, Georgians, Serbs, Romanians, Spaniards, and, of course, Americans … unite under the arches of the temple of St. Matrona the Holy Matronus.” You can go in, pray and put a candle in front of the shrine. The temple is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cathedral of St. Matrona of Moscow in Miami is located at 113 S. Federal Highway. Call 305-965-6037 or go to StMatrona.com.