Intown 411

Tuesday Night Lights!

Sunset.  Across the sky, all the cloud's western edges were lined with gold.  The gold faded to a soft tangerine, and then into pink then purple.  The fresh smell of rain filled the air, and the 100,000 watts that lit up Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale were humming a soft tune in the 78 degree air.

Tennis courts were wet, and people were finishing up the end of their match.  Bike polo probably woudn't be a go as it was super-slick in the hockey arena they use- so a "fitness challenge boot camp" was using one rink, and some indoor soccer was being played in the other. 

All the baseball fields had kids running all through and around them.  "TRYOUTS, 7 p.m." signs were posted all over.  The soccer pitches had four different games going- the youngest ones being the most fun to watch- kind of like having marbles in a pan, and moving it back and forth, back and forth...

Basketball had one game going, and a father and son combo on the other court.  At the North-western end of the park, mountain bikes and road bikes converged to begin their urban ride.  Red lights flashing on bikes and helmets, they buzzed off into Victoria Park.

18 full size tour busses waited outside the Parker Playhouse, with their engines idling- anticipating the end of the early show.  There were even a few people running the dirt trail fitness loop throgh the park once it was darker.  Racquetballs "POPPED" off the court's walls as four guys per court wailed the ball into the impervious cement. 

There were a few more bikes and some school busses around the back of the Social Center- and there were volunteers giving food to the homeless.  The line for food was long and quiet.  The food smelled good- and to see these people eating felt good.  Some of them are recognizable fixtures throughout my 17 years in Fort Lauderdale.  Most are new. 

"There's nothing to do around here..."