Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward Center for the Performing Arts Theatre
Wednesday, December 22, 2021

I've played Lakeland (near Tampa, 2014), Sarasota (2018), Estero (near Fort Myers, 2018), Jacksonville (2014, 2018, 2021), and West Palm Beach (2014, 2018, 2021). This was my first time in Fort Lauderdale (near Miami). 

It was a nice, easy, and beautiful drive down the east coast of Florida to arrive at our super cool hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The entire hotel was like being on a cruise ship. Huge aquarium tanks in the lobby and portholes as lights in the hallways. The weather was perfect; where Jacksonville had been misty and cool, this was sunny and breezy. When I got to my room, I opened the sliding door on the patio and just let the fresh air come in for over an hour.

The theater was too far from the hotel for me to walk, otherwise I would have done that. Funny enough, the theater also had cruise ship vibes. See for yourself!

The Maritime Hotel--

Hallway lights--

My room--

At the theater--

This is the lobby--

Now inside the theater--

Yes, this carpet is in the lobby and in the theater--it's Florida...

Neat place, modern and nice. Nice people, great crowd. Just one show here, then on to West Palm Beach for our last two shows tomorrow!

Jacksonville, FL

Florida Theatre
Tuesday, December 21, 2021

We previously played Jacksonville in 2014 & 2018. It was always at the very end of our tour, and we were always excited to be in warmer weather. 

On Monday the 20th, we traveled from Cedar Falls to the Cedar Rapids airport (about an hour drive) on our bus; flew to Charlotte, NC for a 4-hour layover before finally getting to Jacksonville about 11pm.

We were able to sleep in the next day, because we only had one show that night in Jacksonville. As was our usual routine, my friend Ryan and I walked to the theater, it was a short jaunt right across the St. Johns River. It was cooler than expected, and foggy, as seen by these pictures. 

As I said, I've played this theatre twice before, and I remembered it as being small and at least not very well kept. That remains true, though it does have character -- as it is quite a classic place, opened in 1927.

Very colorful and mostly made of wood. 

After the show, I walked back to the hotel by myself. But I did go out to the front and get a picture of the marquee (the lights in the -da of Florida were out).

Sad to spot this as I post these pictures -- Bob Saget was on a stand-up comedy tour through Florida when he passed away THE DAY after this appearance.

A new place, Fort Lauderdale, is next!