***** Athena By The Sea, 4400 North Ocean Drive, Lauderdale by-the-Sea, Florida, 33308, (954) 771-2900.

Got a very good Greek joint for you…Athena By the Sea.

Just so you know–real casual joint located 1-block from the beach-so your tee shirt/shorts/flip flop ensemble is the dress of the day.

Athena By The Sea has a full service bar area and indoor booth/table seating. On Saturday nights it has an outdoor- stage-setup which hosts some of South Florida’s best /oldies/rock/tribute bands.

Like I said 3 seconds ago, Athena By The Sea is a Greek joint–that said, its menu has loads of non-Greek stuff like chicken parmigiana, bbq ribs, hamburgers, chicken wings, pizza. fish & chips–so don’t worry if you got some non-Greek eaters with you, they- absolutely won’t starve!

A recent dinner outing of- Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple had us doing…broiled lamb chops, gyro platter, moussaka, pastitio, oven roasted lemon potatoes/orzo, Greek salad and I gotta tell you, everything was right on the money–and the joint’s pita bread, tzatziki and hummus were delicious.

You guys now know about a real-casual Greek joint that definitely gets the job done.

For the “tourists” out there, sorry Athena By the Sea doesn’t do the indoor table dancing and breaking plates “thing.”

Let’s go back to something that I mentioned…on Saturday nights starting around 6:30pm–the joint really starts to jump with live bands outside. Over the years, Jeff Eats has seen the crowds “drawn” by the music and sometimes it gets real crowded–trust me it’s all good!–and a- load of fun.

Jeff Eats just checked–REPLAY (www.replay-band.com) a terrific party band is playing at Athena By The Sea on May 24, 2014 and June 21, 2014—so there you go!

In any event, no matter what day or night you “do” Athena By The Sea–I think you’ll be happy that you “did”!

You can check menu/prices/other stuff at www.athenabythesea.net.

The joint is open Sunday-Thursday 10am-1am, Friday-Saturday 10am-2am.

* Why You Should Never Wash Your Jeans.

Jeff Eats just read this “story” on Daily Finance.

Since this “is” a food blog this- article is definitely relevant to us…

I don’t know about you guys, but I spill and drop stuff all over my jeans all the time. As a matter of fact, just the other day I “dropped a load” (Now don’t be nasty!) of marinara sauce on my jeans while eating a veal parm hero..

Now, if you aren’t suppose to wash your jeans, how do you handle the marinara sauce?

Also, I don’t know about you, but Jeff Eats’ jeans really start to stink after a load of outings.

What do you think?
*****
Why You Should Never Wash Your Jeans
by Business Insider  May 21st 2014 6:38AM
Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Jeans
By Ashley Lutz
Levi’s CEO Chip Bergh says you should keep your jeans out of the washing machine.
Bergh lives by his words and hasn’t washed his own jeans in more than a year, reports Neha Prakash at Mashable.
The executive claims that eschewing the washing machine keeps your jeans in mint condition and is better for the environment.
Bergh was speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm Green conference, where business leaders discuss ways to be more sustainable.
Bergh also discussed how Levi’s created a line of jeans that take less water to produce.
In the past, Levi’s has suggested freezing your jeans instead of putting them in a washing machine. The company told Elle Magazine that doing this once a month would keep jeans from smelling bad.
Not washing jeans has become somewhat of a craze.
TV host Anderson Cooper famously said he wears the same pair daily and only washes them once a year.

*****. Cagney’s Saloon, 5983 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33328

Right up front and don’t let anyone tell you differently- Cagney’s Saloon is a biker’s bar.

As for what a biker is, let’s just say that Jeff Eats’ 73 year old neighbor- Carl the retired proctologist who took up riding a motorcycle in 2008 ISN’T the type of biker-shall we say- that frequents Cagney’s Saloon.

First things first, if you can’t handle second hand smoke- this joint ain’t gonna work for you.

Hey Jeff, what were you doing there?

Cagney’s Saloon…Thursday-Sunday has some of South Florida’s best classic rock/metal/tribute bands performing on its stage…Throw in the fact that Cagney’s makes good cheeseburgers, French fries, Philly cheesesteak subs and grilled chicken wings- and you’ve got your reason for 7 visits over the past 3 years. By the way, the “fun-est” outing was Christmas Eve 2010 when Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats saw a great Elvis Tribute Show at Cagney’s- I won’t go into detail as to what some of the biker ladies were screaming to Elvis as to what they wanted to do to him. Thank You Very Much!

Just so we are straight, this joint isn’t for everyone.

A few final things, Cagney’s which is located in a strip center- has a full bar area, booth & table seating, tvs, pool table, dart board, parking (who’s gonna stop them?) for something like 6,000,000 bikes and not even once -have I ever heard Tequila played live or taped there.

You can check www.cagneysaloon.com for menu/prices/entertainment schedule.

Cagney’s Saloon is open 7 days a week from noon-3am.

* Deep Purple.

Jeff Eats is a fan of the legendary heavy metal band- Deep Purple.

Despite the fact that -over some 40 years the band has had personnel changes- Deep Purple still commands a huge fan base and sells out arenas all over the world.

Jeff Eats appreciates that heavy metal- may not be everybody’s cup of tea- but every so often it pays to see what others see/saw. If this makes any sense, you now know how- to buy tickets before the general public does for Deep Purple’s-Hard Rock Live performance set for August 31, 2014.

* American Idol Live! 2014 Tour.

Mrs. Jeff Eats is a HUGE fan of the American Idol tv show.

Accordingly, on July 19, 2014 Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats will be attending the American Idol Live! 2014 Tour at the Broward Center For The Performing Arts.

If you would like to see this show, you can catch tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

For you Idol groupies, in addition to Fort Lauderdale, the Tour hits Sarasota on 7/17, Clearwater on 7/18 and Saint Augustine on 7/20.

* The Voice Tour.

Mrs. Jeff Eats is a HUGE fan of The Voice tv-show.

Accordingly, we will be at the Broward Center on June 26, 2014 to see The Voice Tour.

If you would like to see this show…

Date: June 26, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $35.00 – $65.00
Club Level: $125.00
Venue: Broward Center
Tickets can be purchased online at www.browardcenter.org.

AND you guys actually thought that Jeff Eats was the king of the castle.

***** Beth’s Burger Bar, 24 East Washington Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, (407) 650-4950.

Real simple fast food concept…order at the counter/stuff is delivered to your table. Inside booth/table seating for about 50–maybe 10 seats outside. Real simple menu- flat top grilled hamburgers, chicken sandwich, vegetarian burgers, french fries, sweet potato fries, “tons” of canned/bottled beers, handful of wines and all kinds of toppings for the burgers.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats doing a single cheeseburger ($4.48) and French fries ($1.99) and Mrs. Jeff Eats doing a chicken sandwich ($5.49) and sweet potato fries ($2.99).

Real simple review -we really enjoyed the food.

Jeff Eats knows that some of you guys are dying to know how Beth’s stacks up against players like Five Guys, BurgerFi, Shake Shack? Let’s just say, that she held her own very nicely. Like I said 2 seconds ago, we really enjoyed the food.

Beth’s Burger Bar is open Monday-Friday 11am-midnight, Saturday-Sunday noon-3am.

You can check menu/prices at www.bethsburgerbar.com.

* South Florida Theatre League.

Every now and then, Jeff Eats tells you guys about theatre- shows/plays/productions that are “playing in”-or “coming to” in South Florida. To be perfectly honest with you, my-listings are pretty limited, but I do what I can do- to keep you abreast of what’s-doing.

I just wanted you guys to know about South Florida Theatre League…www.southfloridatheatrekeague.com, (954) 557-0778.

South Florida Theatre League describes itself as “…an alliance of theatrical organizations and professionals dedicated to nurturing, promoting and advocating for the growth and prestige of the South Florida theatre industry.”

For those of you who really want to know the whats-whens-wheres—put SouthFloridaTheatre.com on your computer’s “favorites list.” No fooling around, this site-has up to date information on every South Florida theatre production playing/coming.

Consider this “tip” as Jeff Eats’ good deed for the day.

***** Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar.

If you guys check- Jeff Eats has already done something like 9,000,000 “stories” on Zinburger Wine & Burger.

Real fast, waitstaff gourmet hamburger joint with a full bar. Jeff Eats “knows” the chain-having eaten a number of times in its Tucson outpost.

The gist of the 9,000,000 stories, Zinburger was coming to South Florida and that when it does–you gotta try it…because it’s really good.

To make a long ssssssssttttttoooooorrrrryyyyy short, Tomorrow- May 20, 2014 Florida’s first Zinburger is opening for business in Sawgrass Mills.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and something like 400 others–got to try the new joint out- last Friday night…and yes, everything was COMPED–and I have to tell you, the food and service were dynamite.

So if you want to be one of the first guys in…

Printed below is PR piece which Jeff Eats received concerning the May 20th Grand Opening.
*****

Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar Expands to the Sunshine State with Sunrise, Florida Grand Opening on May 20

10 Percent of Sales from May 20-23 to Benefit the Broward Education Foundation

Sunrise, FL – May 13, 2014 – Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar, the upscale burger restaurant offering gourmet burgers combined with perfectly paired wine selections, will open its first Florida location on Tuesday, May 20 at The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise.

As a way to give back to the local community, Zinburger will donate 10 percent of sales from May 20-23 to the Broward Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports public schools in Broward County by developing, promoting, and funding emerging initiatives that benefit the community.

Since opening the East Coast’s first Zinburger in Clifton, N.J. more than three years ago to much fanfare, stellar reviews and packed crowds, Zinburger has developed an almost fanatical customer following who enjoy made-to-order gourmet burgers, hand-dipped shakes and floats, decedent pies and 23 wine varieties.

“We are pleased to bring Zinburger’s brand of gourmet burgers, salads, sides, shakes, desserts, and a carefully crafted selection of wine to South Florida,” said Brad Honigfeld, chief executive officer of The Briad Group, a licensee for Zinburger.

Zinburger has seven locations in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia. Additional restaurants are slated to open in Boca Raton and Atlanta in the next six month.

All the gourmet burgers at Zinburger are scratch-made and cooked to order on a griddle in their own juices. The Certified Angus Beef and American-style Kobe Beef are ground fresh twice a day. Signature burgers include the Zinburger (with Manchego Cheese & Zinfandel Braised Onions) and the Kobe Burger (with Vermont Cheddar & Wild Mushrooms).

Zinburger’s décor is sleek, contemporary, upbeat and playful featuring rich wood and earth tones and stylish, comfortable seating. The 5,421-square foot restaurant features 11 high definition televisions located throughout the restaurant and bar with a seating capacity of 257. Zinburger also features a huge patio with a fire pit, lounge seating and dining tables.

Zinburger offers a full bar with cocktails, 17 beer selections including 8 on tap and a wine menu that includes 23 varieties affordably priced from $5 to $15 a glass. On Wednesdays, guests can enjoy half-price bottles of wine. Happy Hour, weekdays from 3-6 pm, features discounts on beer and cocktails, $5 Plain and Simple Burger, and half-price sides including Double Truffle Fries, Zucchini Fries, Sweet Potato Fries and Hand-cut Fries.

In addition to gourmet burgers, Zinburger also offers a Turkey Burger, Turkey Sloppy Joe, Ahi Burger, Veggie Burger, two chicken sandwiches and five hearty salads.

A dessert menu features old fashioned, hand-dipped shakes, floats and malts as well as banana cream and chocolate cream pies.

Zinburger is located at The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills, 1800 Sawgrass Mill Circle, #2460 in Sunrise.

Operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to midnight.

For more information, call 954-846-9360 or visit http://zinburgereast.com.

* Win 2 Tickets To See Nick DiPaolo At-Fort Lauderdale Improv.

Way back on May 16, 2014 Jeff Eats told you guys about comedian Nick DiPaolo’s upcoming appearances at the Fort Lauderdale Improv.

This morning, Nick’s representatives contacted Jeff Eats and as a result, WE GOT OURSELVES A CONTEST.

Printed below is the email from Nick’s people and the original Jeff Eats’ writeup. ***PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE TERMS OF THE CONTEST CONTAINED IN THE EMAIL!

All you gotta do to enter -is go to “CONTACT” on the Jeff Eats’ site- fill in the required info/Subject-Nick’s Tickets…indicate the date and time of show you’d like to see…and provide a contact phone number.

The 14th email that Jeff Eats receives is the WINNER! Just that simple.

Just so you know, to make it “more” fun–you can enter up to 3 times–Just remember the 14th email wins!
*****
EMAIL:
Hi Jeff-
If you would like to do a contest for a pair of tickets, that will be fine.
Please offer the winner their choice of any of the following shows:
FRI, 6/13: 8:00pm or 10:30pm, SAT, 6/14- 7:00pm; or SUN, 6/15- at 7:00pm
Once complete, please email me the name of the winner, and showtime that they choose, and I will enter them into our system.
They will just need to show up on the night of the show, at the box office window, with photo ID.
Please remind them that there is a 2 drink minimum purchase in the showroom (doesn’t need to be alcoholic beverage)
Please let me know if any questions…
Thanks! Cheryl
*****
“…Finding the best joints in South Florida”
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OtherNick DiPaolo (Fort Lauderdale Improv-Hollywood)
Posted on May 16th, 2014 · Hollywood Other ·

* Nick DiPaolo (Fort Lauderdale Improv-Hollywood).

You know and Jeff Eats knows that stand-up comedy is purely a subjective thing. What I might find to be “berry” funny–you might not and vice versa.

With that in mind…

On Friday, June 13th (8pm & 10:30pm)–Saturday, June 14th (7pm & 9:45pm)–Sunday, June 15th (7pm)- Nick DiPaolo one of America’s funniest “LIGHT BLUE” comics is scheduled to appear at the Fort Lauderdale Improv, 5700 Seminole Way. Hollywood, Florida 33314, (954) 981-5653.

Jeff Eats has seen DiPaolo and he is REAL GOOD–if this guy doesn’t have you cracking up-subjective or no subjective…you got not sense of humor!

Trust me on this, the odds are slight to none that your HOA, Condo, Country Club is gonna book this guy…he’s just a drop too controversial-and will scare the pants off “your” Social Director–so don’t plan on later this Summer -thumbing through your 2014-2015 “Entertainment Schedule” and finding DiPaolo’s name there-because it won’t be.

Just so you know, tickets are 20 bucks and there is a 2-drink minimum. Friday-Saturday it’s 21+, Sunday it’s 18+.

You can check DiPaola out at www.nickdip.com.

You can order tickets online at www.ftl.improv.com.

Finally, on this “subjective” thing…Jeff Eats has his own comic rating system…Clean, Light Blue, Blue, Dark Blue. Personally, I rate DiPaolo’s act “LIGHT BLUE”-then again, you might rate it “BLUE” or for that matter “DARK BLUE”–hope you appreciate how silly rating systems are!