Lake Worth is gradually replacing Hollywood as my favorite small South Florida town.
They share certain similarities: each sits in the shadow of a larger city (West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale), each has a sizable immigrant community (Finnish and Romanian), and each has a vaguely bohemian character.
But Lake Worth has jazz.
This was the second time in two months that Adriana Samargia sang at Bizarre Avenue Cafe on Lake Avenue. (Strange address, no?) We arrived early and drove down the side streets near the municipal golf course, looking at pretty bungalows, some set back from wooden fences, and modest Spanish-style houses.
The cafe sat across from the grand City Hall. We climbed the two-story porch, reminiscent of New Orleans, and entered a room with about six big tables and two curtained alcoves. The walls were hung with artwork which, along with everything else in the place, is for sale.
There were five of us so we ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Our food arrived - salmon, lamp chop, risotto frutti di mare (listed on the menu as paella) - all of it delicious. Then Adriana started to sing. Between her numbers, JP Soars played blues on his guitar. Food and friends, wine and song - a beautiful Monday evening in Lake Worth.
