The South Florida Traveler

 Starbucks has created quite the controversy. After their brilliant ad on Saturday Night Live (and I must say it fully caught my attention), Starbucks was faced with outrage by the public. How could they be bribing someone to vote? According to wsj.com, the good news is that Starbucks has pulled their initial offer, concerned that they would be violating election laws, and will now be offering free coffee to anyone that requests it. Even better.
What do you think? Would a free cup of coffee get you out to vote? Do you think Starbucks was violating the law or do you …read more

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And you knew there was a reason you voted. Well, yes there are many reasons, but now you can add another one to the list. Starbucks is offering a free tall-sized brewed coffee to anyone that votes on Tuesday. How will they know? In most cases, they will just take your word. So go, get out there and vote, and enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee.
For those of you that missed it, here’s a replay of the commercial that played on Saturday Night Live regarding their special offer.

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For the past few months, I have been busy blogging away at Southern Byways, but I am happy to let you know that I am back, and will be keeping you updated on the best of South Florida. And for those of you who missed me while I was gone, here’s a little sampling of what I was up to:

America in Bloom named Stuart, Florida, one of America’s most beautiful cities. They were noted for the special attention they pay towards environmental awareness. To find out what other cities made the list, check out my post.
Ready to Chill? Orlando just …read more

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Cafe Martorano – a Florida classic – an Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale known for its Italian food, unique atmosphere and for its 3-hour wait time. Why on Earth would anyone wait that long for a table? Is it the food, the atmosphere? Owner and Chef, Steve Martorano sat down and shared a little insight into what makes this place so sought after.
Do you take reservations? Why not? Does the wait time add to the image you want to portray?
SM: The fun of Cafe Martorano is the lack of reservations – the anticipation of waiting adds to the experience. Sitting …read more

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Who loves twitter? It took me a long time to catch on, but recently I’ve seen its effectiveness and have people following me that I never knew existed. In that, I’ve found some interesting sites – the latest being a site that lists all the freebies you can get on your birthday. Yes, times are tough so why not take advantage of those birthday perks? Free Birthday Treats gives you a run-down of all the things you can get free on your birthday, ranging from a free dinner to free spa treatments. This site is worth checking out. And, if you …read more

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Robb & Stucky – best known for their home furnishings and interior design service has locations throughout Florida including stores in Boca, Coral Gables and Palm Beach Gardens. But did you know that they also have a Culinary Center in their Palm Beach Gardens location? Let me tell you, this place is top notch. Lined with Kitchenaid products, this center is a chef’s dream come true. It is also a gourmand’s playland.
Chef Christian Mailloux, a graduate of the CIA in Hyde Park, brings his talents and love for fresh, innovative cuisine to Palm Beach Gardens. His classes focus on a …read more

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So Dine Magazine is planning this cocktail competition on August 27th to take place at 3030 Ocean (more details to be posted here soon) and I’ve been contacting local bartenders in Fort Lauderdale to participate in the competition. I picked up Swank Martini as a sponsor and all attendees will be receiving a complimentary martini glass. All is good, but today I heard back from the St. Regis and I was informed that as of August 11th, they will no longer be operating as a St. Regis. What?@! I absolutely love that place, Cero Restaurant, etc. Although they have no …read more

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You are looking for a relaxed night out with friends. You don’t want anything too crazy, but would rather mingle amongst friends with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand and are looking for that perfect wine bar to set the tone. Here is a list of some of your options:

Wine 69 is located just steps away from Michy’s and offers over 250 wines by the glass. Their motto is “wine for sharing, food for pairing” and it sets a perfect tone for meeting up with close friends.  Along with offering wine by the glass or by the bottle, Wine …read more

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A few weeks ago I read a blog post about this new website featuring happy hours in the miami area and I’ve been watching it, and its definitely worth a post. For a time when everyone is trying to pinch their pennies, this site reminds you that you don’t need to just stay inside, but rather just be in tune with what’s going on around the area. The site called My Open Bar has versions in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu. You can search by specials according to the day or deals that are going on …read more

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Do you love the 4th of July? Would you like to show your patriotism all month long? China Grill in Fort Lauderdale is giving you that chance as they will be serving complimentary red, white and blue Cointreau margaritas on Saturday nights. This offer kicked off yesterday, but will also take place on Saturday, July 12th and Saturday, July 19th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.Cointreau ladies will be welcoming each customer with one free drink ticket as they walk through the door. (Yes, guys are even included on this.) Guests will then select whether they would like a red, white or blue …read more

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