An image of devastation looms large over the otherwise bright and airy Lauderdale Grill restaurant. A huge photograph of downtown Fort Lauderdale taken after the 1926 hurricane stretches across one massive strip of wall. Among the ruins in the picture is a building called Maxwell's Arcade, a building that now houses the Downtowner Saloon -- a popular restaurant and watering hole that once belonged to John Baker. The man himself, dressed in a shirt from the 50th anniversary of Where the Boy's Are event, reminisces about his childhood dream of running a restaurant in that location, which he did for many years, and then turns his attention to discussing the philosophy behind his newest venture, Lauderdale Grill: "I want people to experience old Fort Lauderdale through the pictures and I want them to have what I call "real food". We make our food and our sauces every day from scratch. I want for the food to be spectacular. That's the concept, and it shows." (Read more...)
Da Big Kahuna, the newest restaurant and bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach, brings Hawaiian culture to the mainland. The original location is in Waikiki, Hawaii. Earlier this summer, the "aloha spirit" of friendliness and good vibes arrived on the third floor of Beach Place plaza in the form of a casual open-air dining and drinking spot. By day, Da Big Kahuna serves as a lunch place and beachfront watering hole. Read more... (See Da Big Kahuna listing on Intown 411)
Where are the neon lights bright? Where is there always magic in the air? Where do the women treat you fine? If you guessed "Broadway", you're right! Now put your jazz hands up in the air in tribute to your knowledge of performing arts trivia and read on to find out what hot Broadway tickets the Broward Center for the Performing Arts is bringing to downtown Fort Lauderdale this season. Get ready for rock 'n' roll, undead comedy and simmering ball room moves that are going to pack the seats this season.
The New Mel Brook Musical Young Frankenstein
Winner of the 2008 Best Musical, Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks' frighteningly humorous take on Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel Frankenstein. Brooks brought his creation to the silver screen in the 1974 Gene Wilder-fronted film of the same name. Now it's a monster smash on Broadway. Laughs ensue as Young Frankenstein attempts to finish off his grandfather's master work by reviving a corpse with the help of his sultry lab assistant Inga and misshapen assistant Igor. Live at Broward Center October 6 through October 17, 2010. Click here for tickets, info and showtimes. (Read more...)
How about a big round of applause for all of those parents who bring their kids to Fort Lauderdale for vacation! Sure, mom and dad could have hired a sitter or dropped the kids off with a set of in-laws, but then they would miss the sheer joy of watching huge smiles cross their children’s faces as they splash in the ocean. The next day, the kids are back at the beach, grinning again as they play in the sand. Though adults could want nothing more than to lounge on the beach all day, kids can start to crave a bit of variety by the third day of vacation. That’s why we’ve put together a list of local kid-friendly restaurants and activities that will help you find just the right mix for your family vacation. The best part is that once the kids get a day off, they’ll be ready to hit the beach again. You're welcome! (Click here to find the best kid-friendly vacation spots...)
Tired of hitting the same old haunts after a day at the beach? There's a new upscale beachfront lounge in Fort Lauderdale, but it's not located at one of the beach's posh hotels or among the establishments that draw huge crowds at the Galleria Mall. The newest place to sip a martini and mingle with the smart set is located, if you can believe it, at McSorley's, just up a flight of stairs from the casual, smoker-friendly watering hole that most locals associate with that name. The charming rooftop bar feels like an old-fashiond beer garden with its barrel toptables and red brick walls. There's nothing else quite like it in Fort Lauderdale. See Intown 411's McSorley's listing.
