Friday, October 5, 2012

National Parks or Preserves in or near South Florida


NATIONAL PRESERVE
Ochopee, FL
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast. Protecting over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther.



NATIONAL PARK
Miami, Key Biscayne & Homestead, FL
Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife... or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay.



NATIONAL SEASHORE
Titusville and New Smyrna Beach, FL
Situated on a barrier island along Florida's east coast, inviting park highlights include pristine, undeveloped beach, dunes and lagoon offering sanctuary to an abundant blend of plants and animals. Year-round recreation includes fishing, boating, canoeing, surfing, sunbathing, swimming, hiking, camping, nature and historical trails. (more)



NATIONAL PARK
Key West, FL
Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and its military past. Watch the new 'Plan Your Visit' video here or on YouTube!


NATIONAL PARK
Miami, Naples, and Homestead, FL
Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, boasts rare and endangered species. It has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, significant to all people of the world. Everglades National Parks.


For things to do in Fort Lauderdale, see: http://tinyurl.com/7lbr3e3





   Tags: Parks in South Florida, things to do in South Florida





Sunday, September 30, 2012

Flap over Hallandale bridge color


Heading east




By Jane Feehan

A number of residents, and reportedly, Mayor Joy Cooper, are not thrilled with the color the city painted the bridge and its ramps connecting Hallandale’s barrier island with the mainland. 

The city recently paid $33,000 to clean and paint the state-owned bridge "Shoreline Coral."  No one seems to know who picked the color, one of the hues also seen around city hall. Someone there likes bright colors; the iconic water tower (see photo) serves as precedent.  The bridge's paint job and a possible redo may be discussed at an upcoming city commission meeting.
Traveling west

I like it, but don't live there. Perhaps some movie makers on location will use footage of the bridge in SOFLA scenes ... Or, each city can adopt a color for their Intracoastal bridge ... or ...



Tags:  Hallandale, why is Hallandale bridge painted pink?,Hallandale news, South Florida Intracoastal bridges, Hallandale bridge





Saturday, September 29, 2012

Good Morning Fort Lauderdale! (Photos)






Tags: Fort Lauderdale beach, sunrise in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale photos

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Spotlight on LOBSTER at these Fort Lauderdale area restaurants

Below are a few Fort Lauderdale area restaurants advertising or featuring lobster specials, either year round or seasonally.


Fin & Claw954-782-1060
2476 N. Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point
Open 4-10 p.m.

Fifth Avenue Grill -954-782-4433 - CLOSED
4650 N. Federal Hwy., Lighthouse Point
Summer Maine lobster specials – call to confirm availability

Kelly’s Landing 954-760-7009
1305 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, 33316
Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Lobster House954-748-6080
3527 N. Pine Island Rd., Sunrise
Open daily 2-11 p.m.

Old Florida Seafood House954-566-1044
1414 NE 26th Street, Wilton Manors
Open nightly at 5 p.m., Lobster tails

Rustic Inn954-584-1637
Crab is their specialty but they also serve lobster
4331 Ravenswood Rd., Fort Lauderdale

The Ark Restaurant – 954-584-3075
6255 Stirling Road, Davie

Tropical Acres – 954-989-2500
2500 Griffin Rd., Fort Lauderdale
Maine lobster specials - seasonal

Vinnie's Lobster Bar 954-680-3323
5810 S. University Drive, Davie 33328 (Lakeside Town Shops)
www.vinnieslobsterbarflorida.com/

For more Fort Lauderdale seafood restaurants see: 
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/07/fort-lauderdale-area-seafood.html

For seafood MARKETS, see:
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2012/03/south-floridas-best-seafood-markets.html






Tags: Lobster dinner Fort Lauderdale, lobster specials Fort Lauderdale, lobster restaurants Broward County

Friday, September 7, 2012

Pelican Café - simple pleasures, sophisticated choices - North Palm Beach


Pelican Café
612 US Highway 1
Lake Park, FL 33403
561-842-7272
Thepelicancafe.com

Hours change to accommodate seasons – call to confirm
Breakfast and lunch: Tues-Fri -11 a.m. 2 p.m.
   Sat/Sun: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dinner Tues-Fri: 5 – 9:30 p.m.
Catering available

By Jane Feehan

A few surprises await visitors to the Pelican Café, a busy restaurant north of West Palm Beach. The owners tout the café as a neighborhood place, “where Nantucket meets the Florida Keys,” but I’d drive miles to return to this eatery.

The décor, with its polished dark wood floors, vibrant watercolor paintings and tables dressed with fresh flowers hints of something special to come from the kitchen.  

Chef/Owner Mark Frangione delivers standards with a twist, Italian specialties from his mother's kitchen repertoire and special customer requests. He doesn’t shrink from the unusual. I savored perhaps the best chicken tacos I’ve ever eaten. Tender slices of blackened chicken, a generous slice of avocado and fresh chopped tomatoes sat atop finely shredded cabbage drizzled with a peppery flavored vinegar. A flavorful, slightly sweet remoulade balanced the savory dish. Fellow diner ordered a mahi mahi sandwich accompanied by sweet, finely shredded coleslaw of green and purple cabbage and carrots – an unusual blend of flavors and texture.
Pelican Café presents an array of lunch or dinner dishes, including Tuscan pizzas with some unusual toppings. Pasta favorites punctuate the menu, along with interesting salads (how about a goat cheese fritter salad?), and taste-tingling appetizers. Rack of lamb and filet mignon join a number of chicken dishes and fresh fish entrees. Their popular breakfast spotlights eggs Benedict, omelets and frittatas.  Moderately priced, the menu also includes a number of award-winning house-made desserts and an excellent wine list.   
Dinner reservations suggested.  A pet-friendly patio provides an excellent dining venue year round.

A word on the converted house the café occupies: The building was the guest house of Boston entrepreneur Harry Seymour Kelsey (1879-1957), once the largest land holder in Palm Beach County. Lake Park was named Kelsey City until 1939, long after Kelsey was hit by financial losses of the land bust of the late 1920s.

Tags: Breakfast in Palm Beach County, dining Palm Beach County, fine dining Palm Beach County, Sunday brunch North Palm Beach, pet-friendly dining, pet-friendly restaurant, dog-friendly North Palm Beach, Kelsey City, catering Palm Beaches, dining Palm Beach area

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Fort Lauderdale Bakeries


Below are bakeries located in Fort Lauderdale. One mentioned is in a grocery store. Call before visiting to make sure a place is still open. More may be added.

Andre’s Swiss Bakery – 954-938-0322
235 Commercial Blvd. Lauderdale by the Sea, 33308

Cookie Shop – 954-776-0676
234 Basin St., Lauderdale by the Sea, 33308

Croissan’Time – 954-565-8555 - French - excellent
1201 N. Federal Hwy. Fort Lauderdale 33304

Edelweiss Bakery and Deli 954-772-1529
2909 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 33308

Fresh Market – 954-763-1250 – Excellent bakery for a chain store
424 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale
See web site for additional locations

Gran Forno - 954-467-2244
1235 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
www.granforno.com

Pan’ E Dolce – two locations (Italian bakery)
3341 E. Oakland Park Blvd. – 954-564-7871
613 E. Las Olas Blvd. – 954-306-2028


Stork’s Bakery and Café – 954-567-3220
2505 NE 15th Avenue,Wilton Manors, 33305


We Take the Cake – 954-764-2253
1021 N. Federal Hwy. Fort Lauderdale 33304

Tags: Best bakeries in Fort Lauderdale, French bakery in Fort Lauderdale, Italian bakery in Fort Lauderdale, wedding cakes

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Waterfront dining in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano



Below are restaurants on the water in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano. Some sit ocean side, others along the Intracoastal, canals or the Middle River. Locations indicated. Some are reviewed elsewhere on this blog.




Fort Lauderdale
Anglin’s Beach Café - pier on the ocean
2 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
954-491-6007 - Open daily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Review on this blog, use search box

Aruba Beach Café   – on the beach
1 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale by-the-Sea
11 a.m.-11 p.m., casual inexpensive to moderate
954-776-0001
Review on this blog, use search box

Asia Bay – on a fork of the New River – outdoor terrace
1111 E. Las Olas Blvd., lunch/dinner, moderate
954-848-9900

Bahia Cabana – on the Bahia Mar Marina
3001 Harbor Dr., Breakfast, lunch, dinner – Casual, inexpensive
954-524-1555

Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar – on the beach
At the Ocean Manor Hotel/Condo
4040 Galt Ocean Dr., Lunch/dinner – very casual
954-566-7500

Benihana – on the Intracoastal
276 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
954-776-0111

Blue Moon Fish Company – on the Intracoastal
4405 West Tradewinds Ave. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea - Moderate
954-267-9888

Kim Bokamper’s
Sports Bar and Grill
3115 NE 32nd Ave (Along east side of Intracoastal near Oakland Park bridge)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (opened Nov 27, 2013)
Locations also in Miramar and Plantation
www.bokampers.com
Phone - 954-900-5584 (not working as of Dec. 1)

Bimini Boatyard – on canal off Intracoastal
1555 SE 17th St., moderate
954-525-7400

Casablanca Café    954-764-3500 – Across the street from ocean
3049 Alhambra St.
Reviewed on this blog; use search box.

Chart House (a Landry's restaurant) – on the Intracoastal
3000 NE 32 St - moderate
954-561-4800

Coconuts – next to Bahia Mar Marina, on the water
429 Seabreeze Blvd., inexpensive to moderate
Open daily at 11:30 a.m.
954-525-2421
Review on this blog, use search box.

Downtowner Saloon – on the New River
10 S. New River Drive East - inexpensive
South of New River, east of the Andrews Ave. Bridge, behind the Courthouse
954-463-9800
Review on this blog; use search box.

East End Brasserie at  
The Atlantic Resort and Spa – Terrace across from the beach
601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.
954-567-8070

Hyatt Pier 66   
2301 SE 17th Street – two venues
Grille Room – Expensive
Pelican Landing – Casual. lunch, light dinner high up with view of Intracoastal
954-525-6666
Pelican Landing is reviewed on this blog – use search box.

Marriott Harbor Beach   - overlooks ocean - Main number 954-525-4000
3030 Holiday Drive
Riva Restaurant – 954-765-3100 – moderate, casual
Review on this blog; use search box.

Pelican Grand Beach Resort   - on the beach
2000 North Ocean Blvd., moderate
954-568-9431

Ritz Carlton Hotel – Terrace across from beach, lunch, breakfast
1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.
954-465-2300

s3
At the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Hotel
505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954-523-7873
Sun-Thur: 11:30 a.m. to midnight
Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Sand Bar and Grill – very casual, with a deck and stairs to beach
Sun Tower Hotel (north of the Pelican Grand Resort)
2030 N. Ocean Blvd., Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days 8 am- 9 pm
954-565-5700
Review on this blog; use search box.


Sea Watch Restaurant - on the ocean
6002 North Ocean Drive
954-781-2200
Review on this blog; use search box.

Serafina – on Middle River off Sunrise
926 NE 20th Ct., lunch/dinner, moderate to expensive
954-463-2566

Shooter’s Waterfront Café (New owners, Grateful Palate, reopening early 2013) 
3033 NE 32nd St. Lunch, dinner - casual
954-566-2855

Shula’s on the Beach, terrace across from the beach
Westin Resort Moderate to expensive
321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Breakfast, dinner
954-355-4000

Southport Raw Bar – end of canal off the Intracoastal
1536 Cordova Rd., Lunch and dinner. Casual, inexpensive
954-525-2526

Pompano Beach
Houston’s – on the Intracoastal at the bridge
2861 E. Atlantic Blvd., Lunch, dinner - moderate
954-783-9499



Tags: waterside restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, waterside dining in Pompano, restaurants on the beach, restaurants on the Intracoastal, Fort Lauderdale waterfront restaurants

Sunday, August 5, 2012

South Florida Farmers' and Green Markets


Listed below are some farmers or green markets in South Florida. Hours change at times, so check websites, if provided or call to verify schedules.



Boca Raton
Boca Raton Green Market
Royal Palm Shopping Center (Federal and Mizner)
Saturdays, 8 a.m. Oct-May
561-239-1536

Deerfield Beach
Cove Shopping Center
Selected Sundays during the season at 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Check website for dates/events updates:

Delray Beach
Delray Green Market
SE 4th Ave, half block south of Atlantic Ave
Saturdays, Oct-May 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
561-276-7511

Fort Lauderdale
Las Olas Gourmet Market 
Saturdays (open year round)  E. Las Olas Boulevard and SE 12th Ave
 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
954-426-8436 

Coral Ridge Green Market
3000 N. Federal,
Saturdays, year round, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
954-426-8436

Hallandale
Gulfstream Park Green Market
Champions Plaza in the Village at Gulfstream Park

Hollywood
Yellow Green Farmers Market
Taft at I-95, Saturdays and Sundays, year round 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
954-513-3990

Jupiter
Abacoa Town Center Green Market
1200 Town Center Drive
Saturdays, year round, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
561-756-3600

Miami
Mary Brickell Village Sunday Market
900 block of So. Miami Ave, Miami
Sundays, year round, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
305-531-0038

Upper East Side Farmers’ Markets
NE 66 and Biscayne Blvd., entrance to Legion Park
Saturdays year round, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
786-427-4698

Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market
Lincoln Road between Washington and Meridian Avenues
Sundays year round, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
305-531-0038

Normandy Village Market
900 71 Street, Miami Beach
Saturdays, year round, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
305-531-0038

Parkland
Parkland Farmers’ Market
Two different addresses given
Sundays, Jan-April  954-757-4105 or 954-757-4120

Pembroke Pines
Back to Nature Farmers’ Market
Second and Fourth Sundays, Oct-Feb
Pines City Center, Pines Blvd. and Palm Ave.
954-431-4146

Plantation
Riverwalk Urban Market
6000 SW 18th Street
Saturdays, year round – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
954-401-3100

Pompano Beach
Green Market
Southwest corner of Atlantic and Cypress Street Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. through April 27 
Check website for seasonal updates:
954-782-3015

West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach Summer Thyme
101 So. Flagler Drive
Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. May-September
Saturdays, Oct-April 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
wpb.org/greenmarket/

Wilton Manors
Wilton Manors Green Market
Sat/Sun year round 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
2020 Wilton Dr


Tags: Fort Lauderdale green markets, South Florida farmers markets, South Florida green markets, Green market Fort Lauderdale, Farmers markets Fort Lauderdale, green markets Broward County green markets Hollywood, green markets Miami, Farmers markets West Palm, green markets, farmers markets, green market Boca Raton, green market Hallandale, green market Delray