Invoking the legendary 1970s and 1980s
T-Dances at Fort Lauderdale’s long-dead
Marlin Beach Resort, and the 1990s
version at Club Caribbean Resort, The
Depot Cabana Bar & Grill on Federal
Highway has launched its Sunday T
with a cross-promotion at the adjacent
America’s Best Inn & Suites, which
makes for an affordable Summer
Staycation. The hotel – less than a mile
from Wilton Drive and Fort Lauderdale’s
beaches – is offering a $149 weekend special
(Friday through Sunday night stay)
when guests mention The Depot. Says
Depot owner Jim Babb: “This is a great
and very affordable alternative to some of
the more costly choices for accommodations
elsewhere in Fort Lauderdale and
Wilton Manors. Instead of spending $150
to $200 a night in another establishment,
you can spend a third of that and bank the
difference or spend it shopping and dining
– and having a great time at The
Depot.”
Grape Expectations
Following the closing of The Painted
Pickle delicatessen on Wilton Drive this
spring, its business space was briefly occupied
by the briefly open Drive Café, which
marked its own swansong last month with
an auction of its accoutrements (tables,
chairs, food cases, et al.). The now-empty
bay won’t remain long unoccupied, as the
owners of The Naked Grape Wine Bar
have plans to move from their current
location (2039 Wilton Drive) just up the
street to the 2163 spot vacated by Pickle
and Café. Owners Caleb Ben-Avram and
Tim Slivinski say they are looking at an
August 1 opening at their new digs.
Federal Court Judges:
DOMA is Bankrupt
Yet another panel of jurists has found
legal flaws within the federal Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that
bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage,
declaring that the law is unconstitutional.
In a decision last week of the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the
Central District of California, Judge
Thomas B.

Donovan wrote: “In this
court’s judgment, no legally married couple
should be entitled to fewer bankruptcy
rights than any other legally married couple.”
And, in an extremely rare action, 19
other judges, comprising the vast majority
of the 24 judges of the Central District,
also signed the ruling; the presence of the
other judges’ names suggests that they
would rule similarly to Donovan in their
own courtrooms.
The case involved two men, Gene
Douglas Balas and Carlos A. Morales,
who were legally married under
California’s marriage equality law. The
couple wanted to file jointly for bankruptcy,
but federal officials moved to dismiss
their petition under DOMA. Balas and
Morales requested that the court allow
them to file jointly, and last week’s ruling
was the result.
In his decision, the judge notably quoted
a letter sent in February by U.S. Attorney
General Eric Holder to members of
Congress. In that letter, Holder announced
that, while the Obama administration
would continue to enforce DOMA, it would
no longer defend the law in court. In his 26-
page opinion, Judge Donovan wrote: “The
Holder Letter demonstrates that DOMA
cannot withstand heightened scrutiny.”
Ciao, Pasta!
One of the area’s newest eateries is hosting
a getting-to-know-you party at Fort
Lauderdale Beach this Saturday, June 25.
Oakland Park’s Ciao Pasta & Grill is
inviting everyone (and they mean everyone)
to their first annual Pre-July 4 Beach
Party. Co-owner Brian Allan Harris
promises “a great American Summer BBQ
menu.” The soiree begins at 10 a.m. and
costs $20 per person, which includes the
aforementioned full American BBQ meal,
water, assorted Drinks, and the like.
Harris & Co.’s party will be held on Fort
Lauderdale Beach where the parking
starts ocean side on A1A. “This is a great
spot, not as crowded,” says Harris, “we
should have a nice space for our group and
the water is absolutely beautiful there.”
Attendees are requested to bring their own
coolers and ice, beach chairs, towels and
sun screen.
By the Numbers
• 29,000: Approximate number of words
used by William Shakespeare in his
plays
• 10,000: Approximate number of words
invented by Shakespeare (never previously
used in any surviving English literature)
• 6,000: Approximate number of words
that only appear once in Shakespeare
• 2,026: Number of words attributed to
Jesus Christ in the New Testament
• 2,262: Number of times the word “You”
appears in songs by The BeatlesInvoking the legendary 1970s and 1980s T-Dances at Fort Lauderdale’s long-dead Marlin Beach Resort, and the 1990s version at Club Caribbean Resort, The Depot Cabana Bar & Grill on Federal Highway has launched its Sunday T with a cross-promotion at the adjacent America’s Best Inn & Suites, which makes for an affordable Summer Staycation. The hotel – less than a mile from Wilton Drive and Fort Lauderdale’s beaches – is offering a $149 weekend special (Friday through Sunday night stay) when guests mention The Depot. Says Depot owner Jim Babb: “This is a great and very affordable alternative to some of the more costly choices for accommodations elsewhere in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors. Instead of spending $150 to $200 a night in another establishment, you can spend a third of that and bank the difference or spend it shopping and dining – and having a great time at The Depot.” Grape Expectations Following the closing of The Painted Pickle delicatessen on Wilton Drive this spring, its business space was briefly occupied by the briefly open Drive Café, which marked its own swansong last month with an auction of its accoutrements (tables, chairs, food cases, et al.). The now-empty bay won’t remain long unoccupied, as the owners of The Naked Grape Wine Bar have plans to move from their current location (2039 Wilton Drive) just up the street to the 2163 spot vacated by Pickle and Café. Owners Caleb Ben-Avram and Tim Slivinski say they are looking at an August 1 opening at their new digs. Federal Court Judges: DOMA is Bankrupt Yet another panel of jurists has found legal flaws within the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage, declaring that the law is unconstitutional. In a decision last week of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Judge Thomas B. Donovan wrote: “In this court’s judgment, no legally married couple should be entitled to fewer bankruptcy rights than any other legally married couple.” And, in an extremely rare action, 19 other judges, comprising the vast majority of the 24 judges of the Central District, also signed the ruling; the presence of the other judges’ names suggests that they would rule similarly to Donovan in their own courtrooms. The case involved two men, Gene Douglas Balas and Carlos A. Morales, who were legally married under California’s marriage equality law. The couple wanted to file jointly for bankruptcy, but federal officials moved to dismiss their petition under DOMA. Balas and Morales requested that the court allow them to file jointly, and last week’s ruling was the result. In his decision, the judge notably quoted a letter sent in February by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to members of Congress. In that letter, Holder announced that, while the Obama administration would continue to enforce DOMA, it would no longer defend the law in court. In his 26- page opinion, Judge Donovan wrote: “The Holder Letter demonstrates that DOMA cannot withstand heightened scrutiny.” Ciao, Pasta! One of the area’s newest eateries is hosting a getting-to-know-you party at Fort Lauderdale Beach this Saturday, June 25. Oakland Park’s Ciao Pasta & Grill is inviting everyone (and they mean everyone) to their first annual Pre-July 4 Beach Party. Co-owner Brian Allan Harris promises “a great American Summer BBQ menu.” The soiree begins at 10 a.m. and costs $20 per person, which includes the aforementioned full American BBQ meal, water, assorted Drinks, and the like. Harris & Co.’s party will be held on Fort Lauderdale Beach where the parking starts ocean side on A1A. “This is a great spot, not as crowded,” says Harris, “we should have a nice space for our group and the water is absolutely beautiful there.” Attendees are requested to bring their own coolers and ice, beach chairs, towels and sun screen. By the Numbers • 29,000: Approximate number of words used by William Shakespeare in his plays • 10,000: Approximate number of words invented by Shakespeare (never previously used in any surviving English literature) • 6,000: Approximate number of words that only appear once in Shakespeare • 2,026: Number of words attributed to Jesus Christ in the New Testament • 2,262: Number of times the word “You” appears in songs by The Beatles