To read past installments of South Florida According to Brooklyn, click here.
A couple of months ago I wrote about the difference between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I recently moved back to Ft. Lauderdale, and I've realized the two places are two totally different worlds. Granted, the greatest friends I have are here in Ft. Lauderdale, but as far as the nightlife goes, Ft. Lauderdale is a straight-up nightmare. It's a bunch of guys who think they're cool and drink way too much and wear their collars popped, and hang out with their frat bros. At the same time, in Miami, everybody has an attitude and they're your friend to your face, but as soon as something happens they stick a knife in your back.
For instance, recently I went to America's Backyard in Ft. Lauderdale, which was horrible. I walked in there with a bunch of my friends, and everybody there thought they were a tough guy, which was funny. The funniest thing is that the guys who are like 90 pounds have a couple of drinks and think they're even tougher. It's like Ft. Lauderdale is a really cheesy attempt at being Miami. Still, Miami is full of people who want to pay for overpriced drinks and act like they're ballers.
It's not that I'm the person who decides what's cool or not, and if this is what's cool for you, so be it, but maybe I just don't get it any more. It just goes to show that even though the two cities are close together, they're two totally different worlds.
The purpose of me writing this wasn't to bash Ft. Lauderdale compared to Miami, by any means, and not for me to be the judge of what's cool. It's just one man's personal observation. The only place worth hanging out at in Ft. Lauderdale is the Pourhouse. You know who's gonna be there, you know who they are, and you know what they're about. There's no show. It's just good stand-up people and amazing bartenders who are also great people.
Five Albums I've Been Listening to This Week: 1) Kevin Devine, Blood Brothers. 2) Avail, 4 a.m. Friday. 3) Slayer, Shot to Heaven. 4) The Bronx, s/t. 5) Alkaline Trio, Crimson.