It's so good to be back in South Florida!

My quick trip to Maryland was wonderful, despite the 19 degree weather. My Mom had 130 people at her retirement party. It was a great honor for her, and one that she really deserves after working in the same place for 28 years. Glad I was only gone for two working days because I came back to 29 e-mails and 14 voicemail messages. I can't imagine what its going to be like if I ever try to take a "real" vacation.

The Las Olas Art Fair is coming up the first weekend in March. Looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces along Las Olas, and of course hoping to see some not so familiar ones as well.

I just hope that the folks that come to the Art Fair respect our neighborhoods and park their cars in public parking facilities, or at least don't block anyone's driveway/garage. We want Las Olas events to benefit our entire community.

Parking is one of the most contentious issues surrounding our area. Who can park where and who has the right to dictate where the public parks?

Residents don't want their neighborhoods bombarded with cars during our events. I totally respect that. Merchants don't want heavier restrictions on parking, because then consumers will go somewhere where businesses are more accessible. I totally respect that too! What's the sense in investing in a business/area that consumers cannot get to? What happens to property values if neighborhoods put so many restrictions on businesses that a thriving retail area in their neighborhood becomes a ghost town? Wouldn't you think that the resurgence of Las Olas in the 1980's had something to do with the rising value of property in the surrounding neighborhoods? Do you know which came first, the chicken or the egg? Parking is truly a tough issue and one that city officials and city planners need to be working on, for everyone's benefit.

Well, on to a more serious issue!

American Idol. Who's going to win? The big voiced, big boned gal from Tennessee? The shy country towhead gal from North Carolina? The tiny Minnie mouse voiced (only when she talks, cause when she sings...watch out!) from Georgia? Or maybe the pretty boy from Colorado or the not so pretty, but very soulful guy from North Carolina? That's the thing abut Idol, you never know what's going to happen. It's like Desperate Housewives for singers. Many different personalities and you never know which way the drama is going to go.

Thanks for checking in.

Come see me on Las Olas..............ya here!

What a week!! My days resembled a Teeter Totter (I don't know that I have ever used that word in a sentence before) with multiple ups and downs. I'm just grateful that my days contained more ups than downs.

Did you see the Grammys? Great fashions, great performances and one of the best shows in years!

I got a phone call this week from a guy who was visiting Fort Lauderdale with his family and he wanted to buy Las Olas Gift Certificates. He wanted to have some time for just he and his wife to be together, so he bought Las Olas Boulevard Gift Certificates to give to his teenage children so they could spend time shopping on Las Olas. While the kids shopped he and his wife dined at Cafe Europa. Giving the Gift Certificates to his kids in order to have some time with his wife was a very creative way of using the Las Olas Boulevard Gift Certificate product. What a Dad!

The Winter Olympics start tonight. Wishing all of the athletes a safe and rewarding experience in Torino. Since its the Winter Olympics I can't really tie any Las Olas fashions into the message. You know, they don't skate or bobsled in beach wear!

Don't forget Valentines Day on Tuesday, February 14th.

If you have elections in your area on the 14th........Go out and vote!!!

Thanks for reading my Blog. It's the weekend and I've gotta go! I hear my friend Jose calling....Jose Cuervo that is!

Wow! Where does the time go!

We are well into 2006. As one of my Board Members just recently said, when I sent out the calendar of meetings for 2006, " I feel like the year is already gone!".

Before I say any more, I should congratulate all of the Steelers Fans for their Super Bowl XL win last night! I saw some of the game, but not all of it. Of course, this morning I am hearing more response from the advertisements that aired than about the game itself. No surprise I guess. Advertisements are becoming more entertaining than the shows they interrupt. (Generally speaking of course!)

The "Big Event" in my book is this weeks Grammy Awards, airing Wednesday night, February 8th. So please, no phone calls or e-mails between 6pm (Red carpet arrivals) and 11pm (end of show). Now that I work on Las Olas I am more interested than ever to see what folks are wearing. Of course, I have yet to see anything on the Red Carpet that surpasses the fashions that you can find on Las Olas. Men and Women alike can find THE hottest garments on Las Olas and the pricing of fashion on Las Olas is as varied as the products themselves.

When I want to feel like a Rock Star, I go to Shop 603 located at 603 E. Las Olas. A hot T-shirt and an air guitar and I'm good to go!

Speaking of fashions, I better start thinking about what I am going to wear to my Mother's retirement party on February 17th. The party is in Maryland, so I guess a new suit is in order, because a jacket is going to be a must!

Check in later this week, when I give my thoughts about Valentine's Day! But don't wait until then to get your loved one something special. Doubting your choice? Then buy a Las Olas Boulevard Gift Certificate!

Have a great day!