Rock Lobster

Summer has tons of food items to appreciate: watermelons, pie, barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, tomatoes (depending on where you live). But the most exciting summer food item of them all is also the most decadent — and expensive. From casual lobster rolls to laid-back lobster bakes to comforting lobster bisque to elegant lobster thermidor, the delicious arthropod is summer’s most beloved ingredient of all. And if you live near the coast, there’s even more reason to celebrate; you can easily swim out and pick some of those crustaceans on your own. In preparation for lobster miniseason, the third-annual Bugfest-by-the-Sea Dive Festival is hosting an honorary party for the spiders of the sea. On Tuesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at El Prado Park, the miniseason kick-off party will bring together divers, food-lovers, drinkers, music, and revelers to get the bug hunt going; the miniseason takes place on Wednesday and Thursday. (Divers can bag 12 per person per day.) Scuba Radio host Greg Holt and the Scuba Radio Mermaids are hosting. And guests can sign up for the Great Florida Bug Hunt Contest for a chance to win up to $15,000 in cash and prizes. In addition, attendees can get raffle tickets for the night’s drawing, in which two lucky divers will walk away with new dive equipment. There is no cost to attend. El Prado Park is located on the ocean at 4500 El Mar Drive in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Call 954-640-4200, or visit lbtsevents.com/bugfest-by-the-sea.
Tue., July 29, 2014