by Kara Machowski
On Monday the city of Fort Lauderdale, home to the famous Elbowroom and stage for the 1960 film, “Where the Boys Are”, closed their beaches for party goers. The movie featured the Elbowroom, which had stood for over sixty years on the corners of Las Olas and A1A. “Where the Boys Are” was the influence that made Americans flock to Fort Lauderdale for spring break ever since. Some would say that spring break in the booziest city, Fort Lauderdale, also known as Fort Liquordale, is a right of passage for college students around the country and they’re truly sticking to their cause against all warnings and the rapid spread of coronavirus. Many spring breakers flocked to Miami and northern beaches in response, and many have stuck around Fort Lauderdale and are continuing to drink at open bars and restaurants on the west side of A1A. While police guard the sands and metal barriers that stand forcefully on the east side, sun scorched twenty-something’s in neon shades and scantily clothed in bathing suits are sharing colossal margaritas and fluorescent fish bowls of five different liquors.
Most bars are closing their doors and restaurants are ordered to close between 10pm and 6am in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but remain open at half capacity during the day for diners and spring breakers. Daytona Beach’s Mayor Derrick Henry tried to implement the same regulations but was turned down by the city’s commissioner, Rob Gilliland, who argued that restaurants are struggling and that financial gain outweighed the risk of coronavirus spreading through out Daytona. Mayor Henry tried to persuade the team that if restaurants implemented regulations to battle coronavirus then perhaps the public would take the threat more seriously. City Commissioner, Quanita May, suggested that restaurants convert to deliver and curb pick-up only, but that idea was turned down as well. Bars are to remain open at half capacity and a 6 foot rule between patrons should be followed. In the last twenty-four hours the 210 individuals in South Florida that tested positive for coronavirus jumped to 328 and had a total of 8 deaths. The one person who could overrule of closing of bars is Florida Gov., Ron DeSantis, refused to budge on the topic and stated that cities and counties could make their own decision on closures, even though they will follow CDC's guidelines.
One young male spring breaker who was interviewed said “I’m not going to let coronavirus stop me from partying. You know, I’ve (we’ve) been waiting for Miami spring break for a while. About two, three months we’ve had this trip planned. Whatever happens, happens”. Another twenty-something, Brianna Leeder, expressed; “It’s really messing up my spring break. What is there to do here other than go to the bars and the beach? And they’re closing all of it. I think they’re blowing it way out of proportion”. Other spring breakers are demanding a refund since the virus “isn’t that serious”. Another girl who just turned twenty-one boasted that she had met some other partiers at their Airbnb and that they planned to get drunk together before anything closes. What’s social distancing to spring-breakers? Even locals continued their normal routines as many congregated at Fort Lauderdale's local favorite, Flannigan's on St. Patrick's Day, against all warnings for them to stay home. Most say that when the restaurants close then they’ll stop partying, but until then, 'party on Wayne'.
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