The Current | Vol. 32 Issue 1

February 6, 2018 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 18 May 25 202 1| nsucu r nt. Life style Emma Heineman Features Editor Living like a FLocal: A guide to living in South Florida For many NSU students, starting college means moving away from home for the first time. For some, this transition means coming to a new state. Like any new place, there is a lot to learn and appreciate about living in South Florida. Here are some tips and recommendations for making the best out of your Floridian college experience. Hurricane season It’s no secret that Florida is notorious for its hurricane season. For someone who hasn’t yet been through one, experiencing a hurricane can be scary and overwhelming, but having a plan in place can make it a lot less stressful. You never know when a hurricane is going to happen, but you can be prepared by making a plan of action for when it does. Arranging a safe place to stay, keeping some bottled waters and non-perishables in your car or room and signing up for local weather and NSU alerts can help you to stay informed and safe if and when the time comes. Be prepared, rain or shine Every year, thousands of tourists flock to South Florida to enjoy its warm waters, sandy beaches and tropical climate, and lucky for NSU Sharks, being at NSU means getting to live here all year long. While there is plenty of time throughout the year to soak up the sunshine, as the saying goes, you can’t have sunshine without a little rain, and Florida’s weather is no exception. Unless you want to get soaked in a spontaneous rainshower while walking to class, I recommend investing in a good rain jacket, an umbrella or even better both. The number of times you’ll be thankful to arrive dry to class while your classmates shake off their wet clothes and drenched hair will make your purchases worth it. Stay up to date on COVID-19 guidelines One of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been staying up to date on the vast number of different regulations and rules that vary by city, county and state. Make sure to stay informed by checking the local updates for information about mask mandates, businesses operations, social distancing measures and more. You can also stay up to date about COVID-19 policies at NSU by visiting their official website, and by viewing the resources listed on page [INSERT WELCOME SECTION PAGE #] of this Orientation Issue. Get out and explore NSU has a beautiful and engaging campus where students can do everything from study by the pool to wander through the Medicinal garden, but you also won’t regret leaving campus from time to time to discover what else South Florida has to offer. From beaches and nature parks, to a vibrant nightlife scene and sporting events, South Florida truly has something to offer everyone. Next time you find yourself bored on a weekend afternoon, instead of staying in your room, get out and explore everything the local spots have to offer. If you like being outside, taking the Shark Shuttle down to Fort Lauderdale Beach or visiting a local park can be the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon. If you are up for something more adventurous, try any number of Florida’s popular water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding or jet skiing. Feeling artsy? Check out the NSU Art Museum in Downtown Fort Lauderdale or make the short drive to Miami where you can walk around the cute, artsy districts until your heart’s content. Do some wildlife research Like any new location, Florida comes with its own array of critters and wildlife to keep an eye out for. If you are on campus, you’ll likely see iguanas, racoons, lots of different species of birds and even the occasional turtle or snake. Travel west of campus and you might even get the chance to see an alligator. Whether you love all types of animals or would rather keep your distance from anything that crawls, creeps or slithers, doing some research about local wildlife never hurts. You might come across some cool new facts and find out which animals to steer clear of. Emma Heineman Features Editor Fort Lauderdale’s cuisine classics Whether you’re just moving to Fort Lauderdale or if you’ve lived in Florida all your life, you may be curious about the cuisine available around NSU. If you’re new to South Florida, there are several different staples of local cuisine to really make you feel at home in Fort Lauderdale. Seafood It’s impossible to live in Fort Lauderdale without acknowledging the huge seafood businesses that thrive on the east coast of Florida. Because of our proximity to the ocean, seafood is abundant and stone crab is a popular request in South Florida. It is harvested fresh off of the coast, and while it may be pricey, it is definitely worth the money. There are a number of different places to get seafood depending on what you want, but if you’re looking for an adventure and some fresh fish you can cook yourself, try venturing out near Dania Beach. On most weekdays on Dania Beach Boulevard, you may pass a white van that advertises fresh fish and crab. While it may seem a bit strange if you’re not from the area, this guy is for real and sells fresh seafood at very fair prices. Fruit dishes Many different fruits thrive in Florida’s tropical environment. There are a great number of fruits that are used in the many classic fruit dishes in South Florida, such as key lime pie, guava jelly and pastries and of course, orange marmalade. While not all of these fruits are native to Florida, fruits such as key lime, guava, orange, mango and lychee are all popular flavors and make for a great addition to any meal or smoothie. Authentic Cuban cuisine Due to South Florida’s proximity to Cuba, Fort Lauderdale is abundant with amazing Cuban restaurants to choose from. There are even places near campus that are great places to get a bite to eat. Padrino’s in The Fountains shopping center is one of the best Cuban restaurants in the area. Little Cuban Cafe offers breakfast and lunch, boasting a large menu filled with things such as fresh coffee, amazing sandwiches and delicious mango milkshakes. A little further out is 925 Nuevos Cubanos, which hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their menu offers classic cuban sandwiches, carne asada platters, guava and cheese pastries for dessert and much more. Make sure to visit an authentic Cuban restaurant in order to really get a feel for South Florida cuisine. Gill Out: Highlights NSU is a unique and lively campus, but that doesn’t mean Sharks can’t band together and take an afternoon to explore the South Florida area — even if that just means finding a quaint place to study. Here’s some of our Gill Out highlights from past volumes. Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grille Blake Malick 2002 E Sample Rd, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 $$ Just 30 minutes from campus, Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grille is the ultimate place to get a bite to eat. Bonefish Mac’s has everything that normal sports grills have, but they also specialize in seafood. When you walk in, you are greeted by a tropical atmosphere that has sports flags and team logos all around. From alligator statues to paintings of all types of fish, Bonefish Mac’s has an awesome ambiance for those that are looking to go out for the night. Change Doughnuts Chloe Rousseau 1904 S University Dr, Davie, FL 33324 $ Miniature doughnuts, enough said. Change Doughnuts is a local food truck that makes miniature cake doughnuts fresh with each order. They have countless combinations of toppings and frostings that range from simple powdered sugar to apple pie topped. Not only does Change Doughnuts have doughnuts, they also have amazing homemade Italian sodas and delicious ice cream sundaes that, of course, incorporate their signature miniature cake doughnut. While many people prefer yeast doughnuts to cake doughnuts, the doughnuts here are fresh, hot and just melt in your mouth. Clovermint Cafe & Market Madelyn Rinka 3433 Griffin Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 $$ Not every vegan wants to eat salads and drink green juices every day — and if you’re looking for a place to get some flavorful and exciting plant-based food, Clovermint Cafe & Market is just the spot. This “comfort vegan” restaurant serves up rich and delicious food without making you feel obligated to eat your greens — because even vegans need some comfort food. Hanji Rick Esner 6403 Stirling Rd, Davie, FL 33314 $ Hanji serves a menu featuring a variety of milk tea and cups of snow cream with a wide array of toppings and flavors. Offering vegan and non-dairy options for both their snow cream and tea, there are options for anyone in attendance. Izziban Sushi & BBQ Daniella Rudolph 7225 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33313 $$ For as little as $20 you can score an all-you-can-eat sushi and buffet, with a twist. Each table comes with a built-in grill and you cook your own meats and vegetables at the table, adding any unique flavor that you would like. They have a menu with a wide variety of meats (beef, chicken, pork) and seafoods (fish, squid, octopus) all basted in their signature kimchi sauces. They also have extensive sushi choices and offer great vegetarian options. This is the perfect opportunity to do something unique and incredibly fun with your friends and/or family while showcasing your inner chef. Leafy Flor Mireles 641 NW 100th Pl, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 $$ Leafy is an eco-friendly, vegetarian- friendly and gluten-free friendly authentic Vietnamese restaurant 15 minutes south of NSU that mixes in Asian fusion and specializes in aesthetic drinks and exotic dishes. Mainly, Leafy is known for the teddy bear ice cube drinks, which they only make 100 of a day, so it’s important to go earlier in the day to be able to try it. The Original SubCafe Rick Esner 7711 Nova Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 $ The Original SubCafe is a breakfast and lunch cafe and sandwich shop located about five minutes from campus featuring a simple, yet extensive, menu of classic favorites, such as both hot and cold subs, burgers and delicious breakfast sandwiches. The Original SubCafe also serves a variety of Cuban cuisine, such as Cuban toast and rich Cuban coffee.