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

Friday, September 28, 2012

Museum Day Live! SOFLA museums - free admission Sept 29




In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission every day, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket...for free.


  • Only an official Museum Day Live! ticket is eligible for free entry. Click here: Official tickets can be found on the Museum Day Live! Website.
  • One ticket per household, for two people.
  • A ticket will gain entry to only one of the participating museums, excluding parking and special events and exhibits.
  • If museum reaches capacity, museum has the right to limit the number of guests until space becomes available.
Museum Day Venues 

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood
12-4 p.m.
1650 Harrison St., Hollywood, FL 33020
(954) 921-3274

Audubon House & Tropical Gardens
9:30-4:15
205 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-2116
9:30am - 4:15pm

Bass Museum of Art
2100 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-673-7530
Bass Museum of Art Website »
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Boca Raton Museum of Art
501 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561 392 2500
Boca Raton Museum of Art Website »
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Cason Cottage Historic House Museum
5 NE 1st Street
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561) 274-9578
Cason Cottage Historic House Museum Website »
10:00am - 4:30pm

Coral Springs Museum of Art
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954) 340-5000
Coral Springs Museum of Art Website »
10:00am - 5:00pm

Fort East Martello
3501 South Roosevelt Blvd.
A1A, at the Airport
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 296-3913
Fort East Martello Website »
9:30am - 4:30pm

Gold Coast Railroad Museum
12450 SW 152nd Street
Miami, FL 33177
305-253-0063
Gold Coast Railroad Museum Website »
11:00am - 4:00pm

Harry S Truman Little White House SHL
111 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-9911
Harry S Truman Little White House SHL Website »
9:00am - 4:30pm
History Miami
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
305-375-1492
HistoryMiami Website » 
12:00pm - 5:00pm

 International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum
One Hall of Fame Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954)462-6536
International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum Website »
9:00am - 2:00pm
Miami Art Museum
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 375-3000
Miami Art Museum Website »
12:00pm - 5:00pm


Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum
938 Whitehead St.
Across from Hemingway House
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-0012
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum Website »
9:30am - 4:30pm

 Lighthouse Art Center
373 Tequesta Drive
Tequesta, FL 33469
(561)746-3101
Lighthouse ArtCenter Website »
10:00am - 4:00pm

Miami Art Museum
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 375-3000
Miami Art Museum Website »
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Miami Science Museum
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
3280 South Miami Ave
Miami , FL 33129
305-646-4200
Miami Science Museum Website »
10:00am - 6:00pm


Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University
One East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954)525-5500
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University Website »
10:00am - 5:00pm

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
770 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161
(305) 893-6211
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Website »
11:00am - 5:00pm

Norton Museum of Art
1451 South Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 832.5196
Norton Museum of Art Website »
10:00am - 5:00pm

The Butler House Museum
380 E. Hillsboro Boulevard
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
(954) 429-0378
The Butler House Museum Website »
10:00am - 4:00pm

The Custom House Museum
281 Front St.
On Key West's harbor
Key West, FL 33040
305-295-6616
The Custom House Museum Website »
9:30am - 4:30pm

 The History of Diving Museum
82990 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
(305) 664-9737
The History of Diving Museum Website »
10:00am - 5:00pm


The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
10975 SW 17th Street
Miami, FL 33199
305.348.2890
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum Website »
10:00am - 5:00pm

The Wolfsonian
Smithsonian Affiliate Museum
1001 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-1001
The Wolfsonian Website »
12:00pm - 6:00pm

Zoo Miami
12400 SW 152 Street
Miami, FL 33177
(305) 251-0400
Zoo Miami Website »
9:30am - 5:30pm




Tags: South Florida museums, museums in Fort Lauderdale, museums in Palm Beach, museums in Boca Raton, museums in Key West, museums in the Florida Keys, museums in Hollywood, museums in Miami, museums in Tequesta, Palm Beach County museums, Broward County museums,



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

Monday, August 20, 2012

Snorkel trail opens in Palm Beach County waters


Phil Foster Park
900 E. Blue Heron Blvd.
Riviera Beach, FL

A new snorkel trail at Phil Foster Park in the Lake Worth lagoon has recently been completed and is drawing underwater enthusiasts already familiar with the area’s clear waters and abundant sea life.

Palm Beach County spent $85,000 on construction of an artificial reef of limestone boulders and pre-fabricated concrete modules placed six to 10 feet under the water's surface.  The two-acre design includes ledges and small habitat spaces for fish, octopus, seahorse and other sea life. A kiosk was installed along the shoreline to help snorkelers identify what they find. Boat traffic is not allowed in the area. 

The county expects the new reef – a significant improvement over an adjacent reef of discarded grocery carts and garbage cans – to elevate the area to an important eco-tourism destination. It has been reviewed and endorsed by the Palm Beach County Diving Association.

The new snorkel trail, which still needs time to attract a large sea life population, can be accessed south of the guarded beach on the southern shoreline of Phil Foster Park. Parking is free but spaces fill up fast. For more information on artificial reefs in Palm Beach County, visit: www.pbcgov.com/erm/

Tags: snorkeling in Palm Beach County, snorkel trail Riviera Beach, sea life in Palm Beach County, underwater photography locations, artificial reefs in Palm Beach County