FORT LAUDERDALE—The first time I heard about Pineapple Point Guesthouse & Resort, a luxury gay men's bed & breakfast in sunny Florida, I thought about Miss Foozie.
I expected Miss Foozie to appear at the front desk during check-in, to brew the morning coffee, hand out towels by the pool and do just about anything else needed at this amazing, high-end, 28-suite facility. I'll admit, I even joked that Pineapple Point should instead be called The Foozie Inn.
Hey—that's the Chicagoan in me.
But Miss Foozie certainly would be proud ( as a pineapple ) to walk around the meticulously-manicured complex, with multiple pools, past the hot tubs, maybe even near the small gym. Pineapple Point, run by longtime partners/owners/founders Judd Chapman and Phil Quattrone, combines luxurious South Florida charm and splendor with unmatched care, service and attention-to-detail, dating back to 1999.
This is a must-visit when vacationing here, even though this version of Pineapple Point almost never happened. At least not here.
"We've always said that we were going to retire, go to Key West and open a gay guesthouse, but we were going to give the kind of service that we never really saw down there," back in the 1990s, Quattrone said.
In 1998, the two put a bid on a property in Key West where they used to stay, but they didn't get it.
Then one night back in Fort Lauderdale, walking around their neighborhood while enjoying a glass of wine, they spotted part of where the current Pineapple Point is for sale.
This time, their purchase was confirmed—and Pineapple Point has grown into a gorgeous oasis, set on 2.5 acres of tropical paradise, with multiple rooming options.
Pineapple Point is a White Glove Award winner, where comfort, care and almost every possible must-have item, even condoms and lube, are provided.
Pineapple Point grew during 1999-2005 and is now at capacity, size-wise. Quattrone said no more expansion is planned.
"We get all kinds of people coming to stay here, but we tend to get more of the high-end professionals because of our cost," Quattrone said. "Our average guests range in age from 35 to 65, though of course there are younger guests and older guests, too. I'd guess about 60 percent couples, 40 percent singles.
"Many of the people who come here will spend the entire day here, usually just relaxing at the pool, and then at night they will jump in a cab to Wilton Drive."
Pineapple Point is one of several local gay guesthouses here, though down from 30 or 40 about 10 years ago.
Alcazar Resort ( 555 N. Birch Road; 954-567-2525 ) is one of three resorts ( Worthington Guesthouse and Villa Venice Resort ) that make up one of the largest clothing-optional gay resort in the U.S., with 63 rooms.
Another option is the Royal Palms Resort ( 717 Breakers Ave., 954-564-6444 ), which is a 50-room property that is one of the largest full-service gay resorts in the U.S. And it even has a 52-foot yacht available for guest use for private receptions. It opened in 1991.
"Fort Lauderdale is an extremely gay-friendly city," Quattrone said. It's a great, small beach town, very gay-friendly and the weather is perfect."
The gay hub here is Wilton Manors, which ranks second in the U.S. for its percentage of gay residents as a proportion of its total population, with 140 gay residents per 1,000.
Wilton Manors truly has a Chicago feel and gay atmosphere. The Wilton Manors "strip," which is Wilton Drive, has a Halsted Street feel—with gay bars, restaurants and businesses on both sides of the street along a half-mile stretch, give or take.
Wilton Drive, Quattrone said, "is trying to make it a little homier. There are a lot of great gay bars and restaurants—and that's where everyone wants to go."
Georgie's Alibi ( 2266 Wilton Dr., 954-565-2526 ) is, arguably, the Sidetrack of Wilton Drive—and it is an easy walk from several other spots for a cold beer, hot time and a rockin' dance space.
One of the closest bars to Alibi certainly has a local flavor—as in, local to Chicago. It is Hunter's Nightclub, with owner Mark Hunter present almost every night. This is the same Hunter's, and Hunter, who previously ran the same named bar in suburban Elk Grove Village.
The Chicago connection in Fort Lauderdale also has a new player, as of the summer of 2014—and it likely will revolutionize the late-night experience, as ProgressBar South Florida opened. Yes, it's the same high-octane club that powers Halsted Street.
Also when in Fort Lauderdale:
For a beer:
—Bill's Filling Station ( 2209 Wilton Dr. )
—Sidelines Sports Bar ( 2031 Wilton Dr. )
—Rumors Bar & Grill ( 2426 Wilton Dr. )
—Village Pub ( 2283 Wilton Dr. )
When hungry:
—Rosie's Bar & Grill ( 2449 Wilton Dr., 954-563-0123 ): A must-visit for Sunday brunch, though reservations are highly recommended.
—Humpys Pizza & Cheesecake ( 2244 Wilton Dr., 954-566-2722 ): Nothing fancy, just a mix of two food favorites.
—13 Even ( 2037 Wilton Drive; 954-565-8550 ): Small plates, and plenty to drink. The cozy, comfortable restaurant offers more than 40 bottled craft beers and more than 40 wines by the glass.
—Dapur, Asian Tapas & Lounge ( 1620 N. Federal Hwy., 954-306-2663 ): Offers a tasty spin on Asian luxury.
—Naked Grape Wine & Tapas ( 2163 Wilton Dr., 954-563-5631 ): Seasonal, locally-sourced tapas and limited production wines. Great variety of cheese.
—Tropics Restaurant & Piano Bar ( 2000 Wilton Dr., 954-537-6000 ): Three dining rooms and three full-service bars, Tropics have been running strong for more than 20 years.
—Market 17 ( 1850 SE 17th St., 954-835-5507 ), which serves a unique farm-to-table organic experience. Prepared from scratch daily with traditional French techniques. The co-owners are sommeliers, too, and there are more than 350 wine labels, plus, the farm-fresh theme spills into specialty cocktails.
Things to do
—Beach: With mile after mile—23 miles, to be exact—of crystal-clear water and beautiful white sand, plus palm trees everywhere, the relaxing beach will make you forget what a polar vortex is. Sebastian Street is the gay beach.
—Museum of Discovery and Science. Is the home to more than 200 exhibits, including the largest living coral reef in captivity.
—Shopping: Options are plentiful and wide-ranging. Be sure to hit Mix Menswear ( 2258 Wilton Dr., 954-566-9166 ) for high-end men's clothing, including Prada, Diesel and more.
—The Secret Woods Nature Center features a 3,800-square-foot walk-through butterfly preserve, two nature trails and an interpretive center.
—Gulfstream Park is one of the state's approved "racinos," offering a combination of thoroughbred horse racing and casino gaming.
—The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum: State of the art facility features seven galleries, an outdoor marina, living wetlands and more.
—International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum: Honoring in-water legends such as Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and others, this vast complex, complete with a pool naturally, is a swim through history.
—Las Olas Boulevard: In downtown Fort Lauderdale, with great people-watching, there also is a sophisticated mile of fashion, art and sidewalk cafes. And the Stranahan House is a preserved 1900s house furnished with antiques of the era.
—Stonewall Library & Archives, with the largest independent circulating library of LGBT media. Has more than 18,000 books and audio-visual materials.
—Sunshine Cathedral, the largest Metropolitan Community Church ( MCC ) in the U.S.
