Riding my bike through the Riverwalk and stopped for a cold tea at Pura Vida where the giant THRIVE…read morecavelike stone sculpture proudly stands with green vines filling the sides of the cave. Im not really an art buff, but this sculpture by Daniel Popper was impressive. The stone sculpture depicts a woman cracking open her rib cage with both of her hands symbolizing transformation and hope. People can be seen taking pictures inside the cave. Its worth a few minutes to take a peek at this artwork if near Las Olas in Ft Lauderdale.

The Thrive Statue is one of those pieces that stops you mid-walk. It's powerful, expressive, and…read morequietly emotional--capturing strength, growth, and resilience all at once. The scale alone draws you in, but it's the details and posture that really make you pause and reflect. Set against the modern surroundings, it feels both grounding and inspiring, like a reminder to keep pushing forward even when things feel heavy. Beautifully done, thoughtfully placed, and absolutely worth a moment (or a photo) if you're in the area.

Great House !!! Swimming pool, on the water, fishing off the porch, boatdock, beautiful landscape…read moregrounds, Rolls-Royce in the carport

Built in 1971, the Moreth House is not a business, it's a private residence and neither it nor its…read moregrounds are open to the public. What it is, is an amazing point of visual design architecture as well as a matter of local flavor. Located next to the extreme northwest corner of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park it actually extends out over the Intracoastal Waterway. Being so unusual and unique, it abounds with all sorts of rumor and gossip. Any young local child will tell you it is the home of the legendary Captain Nemo while some tour guides claim it to have been the "playhouse" of Burt Reynolds while others say it was that of Hugh Heffner; all of which I believe to be hogwash. Some claim it as being a Bill Bigamy design in which every other floorboard is glass to watch the water underneath. The same architect that built 17th street bridge But I think the most credible statement is that of Dan Duckham, the architect who said: "The client was a bachelor and a general contractor who owned a unique lot on a very wide section of the Intracoastal Waterway. The unique part was that a portion of the lot was actually under water as indicated on the legal survey. The design proceeded with the bold assumption that we could actually do it, and amazingly it was approved by the Corp of Engineers. Part of the structure is on dry land but overhangs the seawall and the main living/dining/kitchen is suspended over the water, supported on two large pile caps. Columns and long span concrete beams were formed and poured on the site and lifted in place by crane. The landside part contains the owner's office, Master Bedroom and Guest Bedroom, and is connected by the Foyer. Miraculously, it's still there." But no matter, it's a site of local flavor and architecture not to be missed.

Olas the snowman makes an appearance every year over the Christmas period. Apparently he has a…read moredifferent them each year. I came for a look. It was nice to watch people take their Xmas snap shots. Debuted in 2015, he was named Olas as a nod to Las Olas Boulevard and a playful take on Disney's Olaf.

This snowman changes year to year (from its inception in 2015). If you're visiting Fort Lauderdale…read moreBeach, you might as well get your "snow"man ... sandman ... sand snowman photo. Viewing other picture on this post, I like 2025 better than the others. (Posting November 2025) Is Olas amazing ... well, maybe not that ... but with the entire waterfront dressed for Christmas, you should definitely take a picture with Olas too! It is a cute statue!

My low rate is not on the festival. It's on the parking. If you are not familiar with this area…read morelike me. You found limited options and no guiding parking signs. I did see an area after I parked where to park for $10 cash only. You can try parking on the dark side streets. I did but then I was worried I might get towed. They close a section of a street and that has warehouses. I got here around 6:30 . It got really happening after 7:30, more lively. The warehouses showcase local vendors and art work. Some of the artists are physically there also. It's actually nice. You can ask them questions. The open air smells yummy. Specifically when the food truck are working there cooking magic. Over five diferent type of food trucks here. They had a talented live performer and music playing at the other side of the street. They did a good job putting this event together.

I'm surprised I hadn't reviewed this (maybe I did under the prior name / incarnation), but I have…read moreactually purchased art here - a Yorkie print by S. Leyden. Since it's open air, it's very dog friendly. You can even decide if a corgi looks more like a bread loaf or a potato :) This isn't an art faire in the old school way but more like a maker fair / craft show craft show with a lot of art for sale. You can chat up a lot of the artists, and prices are reasonable #supportyourlocalartists Besides a couple of restaurants nearby (the Sistrunk Food Court and Henry's Sandwich Station) there are more than a couple of food trucks in the blocked off street. You also get "seasoned" by music from reggae to classic rock and everything in between. It's definitely a fun night out in the 954 (and worth a drive up this way). Sunrise Ave is the better route from I95 especially to try and find street parking. Do try, because the only nearby lot is $10 and egad, Cash Only (how retro and or tax evasive. If you're a local definitely rideshare.

Marc Quinn's "Broken Sublime," is a stunning stainless steel seashell sculpture on Las Olas Blvd &…read moreSE 6th Ave. The conch shell, a piece by British artist Marc Quinn stands over 7 feet tall & weighs more than 5,500 lbs, This larger-than-life stainless steel seashell sculpture valued at nearly $1 million graces the grounds of downtown's long-awaited Tunnel Top Plaza, an artificial turf zone that cost taxpayers $10.6 million. This new sculpture and sitting area is in front of the cheesecake factory. The beach is steps away and the new art here is meant to evoke positive feelings about the Fort Lauderdale seashore.

Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is a new stainless steel public art piece that was purchased for the…read morenew Tunnel Top Park that sits over the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. You can find the giant stainless steel conch shell between the Cheesecake Factory and Sushi Garage on Las Olas Boulevard. The shiny conch shell is over 7 feet high and weighs 5,500 pounds. This art piece and future pieces that will be placed in the park were paid from a 5 million dollar donation from the estate of the late James Winder Laird. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is by British artist Marc Quinn. Quinn is a contemporary visual artist whose subjects include the body, genetics, identity, environment, and the media. Although primarily known as a sculptor, he has also produced prints and photographs. Quinn has had exhibitions in major galleries like the Tate and he has created public art work for cities all over the world. The public art here is meant to make Tunnel Top Park an inviting place for tourists to hang out on Las Olas Boulevard. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) in particular is meant to evoke the idea that the beach is a short distance away and that Ft. Lauderdale is a beach town. I think this piece adds interest to an otherwise plain pedestrian area. It is also a nice place to take a selfie.

I went to the Fort Lauderdale Day of the Dead in 2025. I was lucky to get street parking, but there…read moreare parking garages in the area. It was the first year being an organized by a new group. There were a lot of vendors in the park along with some food trucks along the street. While we were waiting for the parade, we noticed there was no signage indicating the parade route, I asked several people and no one seemed to know. The parade itself appeared to be very disorganized. Cops were trying to get people out of the road, and no one seemed to listen. There were a few large puppets in the parade other than that, it was just a lot of people dressed up. I would consider giving them one more try to see if they get a little more organized in the future

Very festive and fun day to spend in downtown Fort Lauderdale near SW 2nd St and the Riverwalk…read more Lots of vendors, local artists, and the annual parade, which this year is the 15th annual. The parade took about 20 minutes and we saw lots of fun costumes, puppets, and Day of the Dead decorations. Fun way to spend an evening in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The Love Mural was unveiled just in time for this Valentine's Day on the western exterior wall of…read moreHof's House of Sweets at E Las Olas Blvd. It faces the new Tunnel Top Park. The non profit Business for the Arts of Broward (BFA) commissioned artist Cey Adams for the project. Cey Adams is an American visual artist, graphic designer and author. He was the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings and has worked with the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige. Adams began his art career as graffiti artist in the late 70s and early 80s. He studied painting at New York's School of Visual Arts and his work was exhibited alongside Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Cey Adams is globally famous for his work in hip-hop graphic design. He has previously painted "LOVE" murals in Detroit and Jackson, Michigan; New Bedford and Chelsea, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York; and North Omaha, Nebraska, and now right here on Las Olas Boulevard. It was exciting to discover this beautiful mural by such a important artist. The love theme was chosen to bring joy to the local community, inspire conversation, and enhance the neighborhood. It is the perfect backdrop for photos and is Ft. Lauderdale's newest Instagram spot. Come out to Las Olas and feel the love.

The biggest mural in fort lauderdale on las olas blvd that i found. So many other ones in the area…read morebut this one is purely full of LOVE designed by a New York artist. This mural adds a spot on las olas for a great picture when on vacation in east Fort Lauderdale.

In 1913, Arthur Galt, a Chicago lawyer, bought the property that is now named in his honor along…read morewith 8,000 acres west of the Intracoastal. Galt was the son of the law partner of Hugh Taylor Birch, who once owned most of what is today's Fort Lauderdale Beach. During Florida's Land Boom years in the 1920's, the the Countess of Lauderdale, Gwendolyn Maitland, decided to create a resort to rival Palm Beach in Fort Lauderdale. Her partners in the project included two Lords, a Viscount, an ex-King of Greece fellow aristocratic Palm Beachers, including society's ruling Grande dame, Mrs. E.T Stotesbury.The new resort town, incorporated on November 25, 1925, was called Floranada, a combination "Florida" and "Canada." The cornerstone was laid for Florinada Inn, a golf course was built and a narrow-gauge railroad was ordered. Hurricanes and the Great Depression caused the end of Florida's land boom. The company had sold only a few lots and the money on these was refunded and the land reverted to Galt with no other buyers. In 1927 the last remaining oceanfront public beaches in the city of Fort Lauderdale were declared off limits to blacks, so they used the Ocean Mile, which became known as the black beach. Galt held on and refused to sell his land to just anyone and he turned down an offer for a trailer park. In 1953, Coral Ridge Properties, Inc. formed by James S. Hunt and Stephen Calder purchased a tract of land from Arthur Galt from what is now Fort Lauderdale north from Sunrise Boulevard, between U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway north to Floranada Road plus the ocean frontage north of Oakland Park Boulevard. The sale was $19.4 million, the largest real estate development deal ever recorded in Florida at the time. Coral Ridge Properties subdivided the land and as sections were developed, they were annexed by the City of Ft. Lauderdale. Soon after hotels and other buildings began popping up. The first building was The Beach Club located where part of the L' Hermitage Condos now stand. The first oceanfront hotel, the four million, 257 room Galt Ocean Mile Hotel opened in 1957. Coral Ridge Properties then built the Ocean Manor, the first high-rise hotel with beach frontage. The Mile developed rapidly as a local and tourist hot spot and sales began to boom with The Fountainhead and The Ocean Summit followed by the Commodore in 1965. Galt Ocean Mile became the premier spot for affluent retirees from the Northeast, the Midwest and Canada who wanted to escape harsh winters and bathe in the sun. Today, the Galt Ocean Mile is lined with high-rise condominiums and luxury dwellings worth millions of dollars. It is prized for its restaurants on the Intracostal Waterway, marinas, and proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The community is considered to have the largest strip of high-rise condominiums in Fort Lauderdale and even has its own road, Galt Ocean Drive, which veers off State Road A1A at Oakland Park Boulevard. Through the years the once elderly population is shifting younger as it becomes attractive for up-and-coming professionals around the country. I like to visit Galt Ocean Mile for the restaurants like Smoke BBQ, shopping, and beach parks.

Stretching for about a mile along the beach is Galt Ocean Mile, a collection of the ugliest high…read morerise building structures ever created. They're mostly creations of the 70's and totally lacking in architectural design. They block any view of the beach and do their best to prevent public access to the beach, which though illegal, they get away with it anyway.

Not a business, but definitely worth a visit during the holiday season. The family puts in so much…read moretime and effort into their set-up, and all to benefit the local high school. I loved that there were students volunteering! Everyone is friendly and their enthusiasm and effort is evident. Highly recommend you add this to your holiday lights tour!

Lights are up and ready for visitors! 102 Dalmatians, Ginger Bread Land, Hess Trucks, and more!…read moreSanta starts Sun Dec 21 and we'll be there thru Tuesday!

Food was excellent. Pretty pricey but good quality…read more The bread was a nice garlic bread with cheese and sauce on top. For appetizers we ordered the stuffed peppers. It is an antipasti so it comes cold. The waiter was nice enough to let us know they were cold. It tasted great and came with cheese and olives. We shared the veal Marsala (it came with 3 pieces) and ordered a side of linguini. We also ordered the tiramisu which tasted really good and was very moist on the bottom. The ambiance was lovely. We came early so we didn't get to hear or see the show. And the staff was awesome and very attentive. Will definitely come back to try other dishes.

This was one of the most disappointing endings to a fabulous dining experience…read more From the moment we sat down, we ordered everything. Cocktails immediately, appetizers, entrees. As soon as we got to dessert, it felt like the staff started circling our table like sharks. They dropped off our check with the dessert, which immediately made us feel like they wanted us out. Our server was absolutely wonderful, but you could tell he was uncomfortable putting the check down that early. Then a short, stocky manager (or whoever he was in a black jacket) came over and abruptly asked if everything was okay and whether we had a good time. We explained that it felt incredibly rude how much we were being rushed. Instead of acknowledging our concern, he dismissively threw his arm up and said, "Three hours," as if we were somehow the problem. Go check the cameras. We weren't sitting there doing nothing, we were eating and drinking at the pace the restaurant served us. We ordered cocktails, appetizers, entrees, wine, dessert, and coffee. We took advantage of everything the restaurant offered. It's not our fault that a full dining experience takes time. If the restaurant needed the table, that's understandable. A professional manager simply says, "I'm so sorry, but we have other reservations waiting. Would you mind finishing your drinks at the bar?" Most people would completely understand. Instead, we were made to feel like an inconvenience after spending hundreds of dollars. The food was good, and our server was excellent. Unfortunately, the management completely ruined the experience with their attitude and lack of professionalism. We're from New York City, where restaurants are busy every night, and I've never been treated this way. If you want to enjoy a relaxed dinner without feeling rushed out the door, I'd recommend going somewhere else. This restaurant seems far more focused on turning tables than making guests feel welcome.This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had.