• Menu
• Dinner

• Sunday Pig Roast & BBQ

Ocean Manor Owner Frank Talerico, national Sportscaster Leslie Visser with venerated Actor Dennis Cole

The Flutie Brothers Rock the Penthouse of the Ocean Manor

Longtime South Florida marquee attraction's Gene Merola (left) and John Day (right) with Miss America TOC 2008 Becky Willard

(March 25-2009) Vincent Pastore, best known as "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, of The Sopranos held a casting party at the Ocean Manor this past spring for his upcoming movie Fish Out Of Water. Pastore announced he will be filming for his movie on these pristine shores and South Beach. "Its about a guy on the lamb who is discovered down here with all the diametrical twist of the Sopranos and Goodfellas.... Lots of hot women over 30yrs. alongside some unfriendly encounters," Pastore divulged to patrons at the OM. Plans for a big hit is nothing new to these waters of south Florida and owner of the historic resort Frank Talerico is making an added effort to make sure everything will work out in anticipation of the inevitable big one.

A few advance moments from the casting at the OM.

  Photo By John G. Arty

Photo: New Orleans Saints Michael McKenzie, NFL and Canadian football star Andre Rison, Frank Talerico - owner of the Ocean Manor Resort, with NFL Hall of Fame inductee and Fort Lauderdale native Michael Irvin.

Irvin's 'Playmaker' abilities on display through foundation

JASON STROMBERG | Forum Publishing Group

March 11, 2009

He wasn't running his Hall of Fame routes on the football field, nor was he talking football or giving speeches on the professional game he played so well for so long on March 8 at the Ocean Manor Resort's Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar. St. Thomas Aquinas High School's own and Fort Lauderdale native Michael Irvin had some other important business to take care of. "We're all coming together and having a little fun," Irvin said. "It's so important. This kind of kicks off Spring Break."

Irvin was referring to the second annual charity volleyball games, which the former Cowboys wide receiver hosted with former Michigan State and NFL wide receiver Andre Rison at the shoreline on the Galt Ocean Mile of Fort Lauderdale. While Irvin was running all over the court, sending instructions to the Boston Village Pump Lauderdale By The Sea women's team, Rison brought his coaching expertise inside the huddle for the Bamboo Beach women's team.

All done to benefit today's children's charities, including Irvin's Playmaker Charities and Foundation, Inc. and Kids In Distress, both of which received thousands of dollars from the event.

"Let me tell you something," Irvin said. "I don't like to refer to kids who haven't received the primary goods in life as underprivileged. We're here giving [to] kids and helping them receive the opportunity that they wouldn't otherwise have. It's about the positive things in life." Rison would know. The four-time All-Pro selection who made 743 receptions for 10,205 yards and 84 touchdowns throughout his 12-year NFL career came from a single parent home in Flint, Mich.

"In my eyes, with what's going on in today's society, with the economy being as bad as it is, with unemployment being at an all-time high," Rison began saying, "the fact that people of all different races, from all different parts of the world come and show their support is phenomenal. You've got people here giving care and support and giving back to those who need it through the Playmaker Foundation and Kids In Distress. It's a great feat."

Soulan Johnson, executive director of Irvin's Playmaker Foundation, estimated the fun-filled, family event would bring in about $5,000 to $6,000 combined toward the two local charity foundations.

Cost to attend the Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar camping grounds was $5 to meet and greet Irvin, Rison and current New Orleans Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie, who played his high school football at Miami Norland (1994 alumnus).

"The best part of the event is having people here who are guests being committed to making sure these charities succeed through their mission," Johnson said. "That's the basic objective. It's really simple. The bottom line is helping kids."

McKenzie didn't think twice about attending and giving back. The All-Dade County selection at free safety as a high school senior made two key observations regarding the benefits of holding such an event.

"It's about the awareness and the involvement you're able to create by getting businesses from all over Florida involved to help kids in need," McKenzie said. "People don't realize how great a demand there is for kids in need. It's huge to support these kids and to give them some extracurricular activity outside of school. By the lack of programs outside of school grounds, there's only so much the kids can do. We don't want them running wild in the streets. It's not always about the money, but it always helps."

 

'Playmaker' Back Home for Special Benefit 

 

JASON STROMBERG | Forum Sports Editor / Sun-Sentinel  March 22, 2009

Michael Irvin wasn't running his National Football League Hall of Fame-level routes or giving speeches on the game he played so well for so long.

On this particular Sunday, the former star wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys had some other important business to take care of at the Ocean Manor Resort Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

"We're all coming together and having a little fun," said Irvin, who appeared March 8 at the resort's Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar. "It's so important."

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School graduate and Fort Lauderdale native was referring to the second annual charity volleyball games which Irvin hosted along with former Michigan State and NFL standout wide receiver Andre Rison on the Galt Ocean Mile.

While Irvin was running all over the court giving instructions to the Boston Village Pump Lauderdale By The Sea women's volleyball team, Rison brought his coaching expertise for the Bamboo Beach women's squad.

The day's activities benefited children's charities, including Irvin's Playmaker Charities & Foundation Inc. and Kids in Distress, both of which received thousands of dollars from the event.

"I don't like to refer to kids who haven't received the primary goods in life as underprivileged," Irvin said. "We're here helping them receive the opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have. It's about the positive things in life."

 

Rison would know. The four-time All-Pro selection who made 743 receptions for 10,205 yards and 84 touchdowns throughout his 12-year NFL career came from a single-parent home in Flint, Mich.

"With what's going on in today's society, with the economy being as bad as it is, with unemployment being at an all-time high, the fact that people of all different races, from all different parts of the world, come and show their support is phenomenal," Rison said. "You've got people here giving care and support and giving back to those who need it ... It's a great feat."

Soulan Johnson, executive director of Irvin's foundation, said the event would bring in about $5,000 to $6,000.

Cost to attend was $5, and participants got to meet and greet Irvin, Rison and current New Orleans Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie, who played his high school football at Miami Norland (1994 alumnus).

 

"The best part [of the event] is having people here who are guests being committed to making sure these charities succeed through their mission," Johnson said. "That's the basic objective. It's really simple. The bottom line is helping kids."

McKenzie didn't think twice about attending and giving back. The All-Dade County selection at free safety as a high school senior said the event provides several benefits

"It's about the awareness and the involvement you're able to create by getting businesses from all over Florida involved to help kids in need," he said. "People don't realize how great a demand there is for kids in need. It's huge to support these kids and to give them some extracurricular activity outside of school. [Because of a] lack of programs outside of school grounds, there's only so much the kids can do. We don't want them running wild in the streets. It's not always about the money, but it helps."

According to its Web site, Playmaker Charities' mission is to provide underprivileged youth with a support system affording them an opportunity to live in a better environment, and grow academically, spiritually and recreationally through various programs.

Irvin, nicknamed "The Playmaker" during his collegiate days when he won the 1987 National Championship at the University of Miami, put the fundraising venture into perspective.

"It's our responsibility to give [children] what they need so they have a legitimate chance to compete and be successful in life," he said.

 

Coverage in the Baltimore Sun