Page 16 HIGH GEAR

Doing America with Damron

Beachboys, billionaires, and ballyhoo

FT. LAUDERDALE

"Where the Boys Are" is an old movie that really put Ft. Lauderdale on the map. It is a trivial tale of winter-weary midwestern and east coast college kids who converge here during Easter vacation week in search of fun in the sun...and starring a very young George Hamilton. Since then, all of us have grown older, and Ft. Lauderdale has grown a lot bigger.

Today, Florida's extremely popular 'Gold Coast' resort is a curious combination of beach boys, billionaires, ballyhoo and bagels. Warm sea breezes scent the night air as do the sunburned bodies of the boogie bunch. Palm studded beaches, flamingo gardens, intercoastal canals, exotic restaurants, luxury resorts, hydrofoil cruises, jai alai games, water boggin and other aqua sports attract more than a million tourists annually to this semi-tropical paradise.

When Barry Manilow scored his big hit "At the Copa"...he probably knew what he was sing ing about. The Copa, at U.S. 1 and S.E. 28th St. is a super disco, packed nightly until 5 a.m. Lauderdale bars close at 2 a.m., but this and other nearby spots outside the city limits are open until 4,5 or even 6 a.m. Brand new and looking good is the 13 Buttons at

1440 S.E. 17th St. Causeway, which has everything or more than it's sister club in Miami except the 'back room.' Zelda's at 4050 N.W. 9th Ave. is another promising newcomer.

The Marlin Beach Hotel is the largest and oldest complex, but not what it used to be. The Poop Deck Restaurant and Lower Deck disco still do well, and after noon 'tea dances' are especially popular. The hotel rooms are pleasant and adequately maintained. A new place about which I have heard good reports, but have not visisted personally is the Oasis Motel at 1200 S. Miami Rd. Other various accommodations are available at the BelaMar, Blue Atlantic, Galt Riviera, Pipeline Guest House and Premier Motel. The Grenell Arms is not recommended. I usually stay at the Holiday Inn-Airport, which is convenient to the Hallandale, Hollywood and No. Miami Clubs

as well.

Lefty's at 710 N. Federal Hwy. (U.S.1) is a hot macho cruise bar, followed closely by the Ever glades at 1931 S.E. 6th Ave. Others include Tacky's at 2509 W. Broward, Tunnel Bar, Grotto and The Saloon. Ladies prefer the Odd's & Ends at 3148 N.E. 12th Ave. The Gym-Club Lauderdale at 901 S.W. 27th Ave. is still the 'top' bath, and they are adding a

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bar to be called Helen's Hole. The Gym is private, but honors other membership cards, and will also accept California, New York or Canadian I.D. cards. Forget the Club House Baths, but the Locker Room in nearby Hollywood can occasionally be rewarding.

Best of the new restaurants is the Sandpiper at 2135 W. Davie Blvd. If the quality of their food eventually matches the attentive

service, it will indeed be good. Other worthwhile gay-oriented establishments include Ambience, Tony's Italian Villa and Vel's Anchor House. For you galloping gourmets, if you have the loot, Lauderdale has the restaurants, (straight that is). I like Cafe de Geneve, Creighton's, Dante's, Dome of the Four Seasons, Down Under, Le Beaujelais, Le Gordon Bleu, Le Cafe de Paris, Maikai and The Round Table.

Seeing Key West

By Dennis Highland

For ten delightful days last December I enjoyed the warmth, beauty, and gay ambience of Key West, Florida. Hopefully, some of you will consider a vacation there while ice and snow dominate

Ohio.

Key West is located at the very tip: of the southernmost Florida key. Being the southernmost city in the continental United States, 200 miles southwest of Miami, it is often the warmest spot in the country. Winter temperatures are often in the 30° range and summer temperatures hover in the upper 90's and often exceed 100%. The humidity is often high, too, so Key West is understandably more of a winter place to visit than a summer place to live; the tourist population swells to over 80,000 in January, while by July the summer inhabitants number about 7,000.

Tennessee Williams lives there, and the late Ernest Hemingway maintained a home there as well, which is open to public tours. The man who conducts the tours is very flamboyant and I heartily recommend you visit.

The local food is called the

Conch (pronounced "KONK"), a

type of sea mollusk which tastes like scallops. You'll have an opportunity to taste the Conch in a variety of ways at the many fine restaurants there, many of them gay-operated.

The best part of Key West is, of course, the gay part. It is the. older section of the city which has been undergoing restoration to its Victorian quaintness. The newer section of Key West-I call it the "Tac-Key"--is for the straight touristy types, where "family-style" hotels have left their mark. In old Key West there are a number of fine gay guest houses, which are listed in national gay publications; I recommend you scout these fora pleasant place to stay. I spent my vacation at The Pines (521 United Street), which I found to be thoroughly comfortable.

Most businesses in old Key West are located on the "main drag" (I had to say it!), otherwise known as Duval Street. Duval Street goes from the Atlantic Ocean on one end of the island to the Gulf of Mexico on the other, where magnificent sunsets are seen by partying crowds on Mallory Square, a seaside park. This isn't a long distance at all, however; Key West is on an island

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They claim "the fun never sets" here in the land of ship-wrecked coconuts, and it is probably true?' So what if it is somewhat plastic? If you're looking for men, you might be better off in nearby Miami, or a hop, skip and a jump south in fantastic Key West, the Fire Island of the south. But if boys are your bag, don't miss Ft. Lauderdale, for after all, this is "where the Boys Are."

only two miles by four miles, and you can easily walk, or ride a rented bicycle to most anywhere you want to go (note: you must carry a light with you if you ride a bike at night). Inexpensive taxi service is also available.

While virtually all bars have a gay element in Key West, the two bars which are exclusively gay are Delmonico's on Duval Street, and The Monster on Front Street. Both bars offer open-air areas where you can drink and dance under the stars. The Monster also has a fine restaurant with many gourmet dishes, including the waiters!

While Key West isn't exactly dirt cheap, it isn't nearly as expensive as other gay resorts; however, it isn't entirely gay, either. Key West also appears to be the "last port in the storm" for the 1960's-style hippies looking for a refuge away from the rest of society. Curiously, these types generally patronize the few "redneck" country music bars in the town.

Key West is, after all, somewhat isolated. After you reach Miami the only ways to get there are by car on a four hour ride through narrow roads and bridges, or via Air Sunshine on an antiquated DC-3 prop job with genuine faded wood paneling in the cabin, and smoking engines which you swear won't lift the plane into the air. Furthermore, if you are flying to Miami and switching to Air Sunshine for the flight to Key West, I recommend transferring your luggage from your previous flight to Air Sunshine yourself in order to assure that your luggage arrives when you do and not the next day, which is what happened to me.

The final destination is worth the hassle-ridden journey, however. The sunshine, the sea, and the man-made beaches (Key West has no natural beaches) combine with the many spots of social and historical interest to create a beautiful little place, where you can meet friendly people and be yourself. For one's peace of mind and general health, there are few areas which equal Key West; and you won't be disappointed if you go there.