FT. LAUDERDALE
The NEW Ft. FACE of DALE LAUDER
BY KATE HOWELL
LASS OLAS IS 15 CITY BLOCKS OF PURE DINING, DRINKING AND SHOPPING BLISS
Once known for spring breakers and East Coast retirees fleeing the cold, Ft. Lauderdale now has a hipper image thanks to Las Olas Boulevard. The stylish street begins west at Brickell Avenue and runs parallel to the New River until it basically hits the ocean.
Though busiest at night, Las Olas does not sleep through the days. Early birds should begin with breakfast at La Bonne Crêpe (www.labonnecrepe. com; 954-761-1515). Not surprisingly, its specialty is crêpes, including those stuffed with bananas or rolled with Swiss cheese and ham.
After breakfast, wander over to Joe Picasso’s Interactive Studio & Café (www.joepicassos.com) to paint your own pottery or make a mosaic while enjoying a macchiato espresso with foam, which adds a tasty touch to the artistic experience.
If you’d rather admire art than make your own, check out one of the many art fairs that call Las Olas home. If you miss the Las Olas Art Fair (March 1-2), create your own artistic itinerary.
Start with the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale (www.moafl.org), which is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. Now on view are “The Great Age of American Automobiles,” which explores auto design as it flourished after WWII, and “The High Style of Dorothy Draper,” a retrospective that delves into the career of this well-known mid-20th-century designer.
After the museum, New River Fine Art (www.newriverfineart.com) is a must-visit gallery. Arguably the most established gallery in the city, New River boasts signed Pablo Picasso lithographs and Tuan Nguyen sculptures, including Triumph.
A hundred of these works were made; one even calls the White House home. Afterwards, stop by the French art-focused Saba Gallery (www.sabagallery.com), which moved to Las Olas from the Miami Design District.
When lunch rolls around, head to Mangos (www.mangosonlasolas.com; 954-523-5001). Deliciously classic sandwiches abound at this street staple. You can also return later in the evening for a cocktail and live music.
While waiting for the sun to set, there’s plenty of shopping to be done. You can continue with the art-themed tour and check out Seldom Seen Gallery (800-872-9884). Technically more of a curiosity shop than a gallery, it carries hand-painted furniture, handcrafted jewelry and more by local artists. Just listen for the boisterous music that spills out onto the street.
American Royal Arts (www.americanroyalarts.com), the world’s leading publisher of entertainment fine art, is also a featured player on the strip. Indulge your pop culture side; it publishes a wide variety of entertainment-related artwork, including limited-edition prints from the photo archives of both the Frank Sinatra Enterprises and the Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Around dinner time, the choices are wide-ranging. For a cool, urban vibe, head to Shizen (954-763-8163), where sushi, sake and, on Friday and Saturday nights, live jazz all await you. Kick off your shoes (literally) and dine in a shoeless raised compartment, or out on the patio or in the dining room.
While nearly every restaurant on Las Olas has outdoor seating, the most beautiful alfresco dining spot is arguably Mancini’s (www.mancinis1.com; 954-764-5510). Located on a quieter section of the street, the courtyard is full of lights and white-clothed tables—perfect for a romantic Italian meal.
No matter what you have for dinner, feel free to forgo dessert. Your waiter will know you’re heading to Kilwin’s (www.kilwins.com; 954-523-8338), where Ft. Lauderdale locals go for fudge. The place fills up in the evening, and on hot summer nights the homemade ice cream is even more popular than the chocolate treats.
Take your dessert of choice to go, and walk down the street to O’Hara’s Jazz and Blues Café (www.oharasjazzcafe.com; 954-524-1764) for live tunes on any night of the week. It’s also a great place for people-watching. Chances are, you’ll notice everyone around you enjoying the laidback vibe of Ft. Lauderdale’s hippest strip.
LADIES, SHOP TIL YOU DROP
The golf course isn’t the only place for some exercise—give your credit card a workout, too. Those looking for evening wear or wedding d resses should not miss Zola Dazzles Boutique (954-525-0500) also carries women’s clothes and accessories. For ultra-trendy styles, don’t miss LF Store (www.lfstores.com); it’s also one of the best places to find fashionable footwear. And Underwraps (954-522-2227), an extremely high-end lingerie and loungewear store, is small, cozy and, well, intimate.
THE MEN IN BACK
THE DISH FROM LAS OLAS’ CELEBRITY CHEFS
For some people, food is a lifestyle. Stomach-led travelers know their chefs, and those looking for a food “celebrity” on Las Olas find it at Johnny V’s (www.johnnyvlasolas.com; 954-761-7920) and Mark’s Las Olas (www.chefmark.com; 954-463-1000).
Johnny Vinczencz made a South Florida-flavored name for himself at Miami Beach’s Astor Place and Maxaluna in Boca Raton, but Johnny V’s is definitely his best. The style: regional American. “It has a lot of American ingredients, but it also has a lot of what South Florida is,” he says. And that means seafood, such as four shells (shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams) in a tomato saffron broth served with chorizo, green peas and five-herb rice.
For something truly different, go for the wild mushroom pancake short snack—four types of wild mushrooms layered between roasted portobellos with sundried tomato butter and balsamic syrup. It’s Vinczencz’s favorite; even he’s never seen anything like it.
When James Beard Award-winner Mark Militello opened Mark’s Las Olas 15 years ago, it was a much quieter street.
Since then, places have come and gone, but Mark’s has stayed the same—except for the menu.
Some staples of the extensive menu include fresh seafood (bought locally every morning), ravioli (a different kind each week) and risotto. Don’t miss the signature grilled Caribbean spiny lobster with jicama, crispy yucca and passion fruit-vanilla bean vinaigrette.
Militello says the variety keeps him coming back to work. And it keeps the customers coming back, too.