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Simply Healthy

By
Staff
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It is state fair time all over the country, and “purple cows” will be spotted everywhere. A purple cow is any strange combination of foods (usually laden with sugar, fat, salt and sometimes chocolate or caffeine) that are attractive because of the unnatural combinations and effect they provide. The effect is called a bliss point, which is that good feeling that happens when dopamine levels are raised and neuropathways opened to make you remember the yummy taste and good feeling. Caution: Treat purple cows like narcotics; they can become addictive.

Examples of purple cows with high bliss points are the doughnut cheeseburger, fried Kool-Aid balls, treats dipped in batter, fried and rolled in chocolate and double cheeseburgers with bacon, honey and hot sauce. Examples of foods with high bliss points, but not necessarily considered purple cows, are chocolate doughnuts, energy drinks and French fries.

One way to enjoy food and lower bliss points is to notice the combination of sugars from carbohydrate foods, fat and salt and by deleting at least one of the components. Twice baked potatoes offer a great substitution example. Instead of making them with butter, sour cream, bacon and salt, you can substitute plain yogurt, fresh chives, onions, pepper, herbs and parsley to lower the bliss point.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Bake two potatoes until soft (in a 375-degree oven for about one hour). Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the center. Mix in blender potatoes, 1/4 cup plain, authentic Greek yogurt, 1/8 cup chives and 1/8 cup onion. Add pepper and herbs to taste. Fill potato skins with mixture and bake again for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Outside The Box

By
Lindsay Cuomo
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The widespread appeal of clean, modern design has revolutionized the options available in fireplaces. Manufacturers have answered the call by replacing the old gas log with a sleek, simple ribbon of fire. The technology of the modern gas fireplace has changed the shape of the flame from the short rectangle of the traditional hearth.

Often housed in a shorter, wider firebox, the simple ribbon of flame utilizes a long linear look to add movement and drama to a room.

“The fire ribbon creates a fire with a longer, sleeker look,” explains Doug Campbell, owner of Campbell Design Associates.

The simplicity of the technology and shape allows for a lot of customization, adds Chris Murphy, owner of Christopher Murphy Designs.

“In this world where everything is homogenized, people want something that’s their own. With this style, the sky is the limit,” says Murphy. “You are only really limited to what the mind can dream up.”

After seeing the new sleek, modern style of gas fireplaces all over design magazines, Campbell was drawn to a model from Spark Modern Fire for its look and the low maintenance it offers. In Campbell’s own townhouse, the living room is upstairs.

“I didn’t want to have to haul logs upstairs,” remarks Campbell.

Campbell chose a vented, stainless steel firebox and had a local fabricator create a stainless steel surround that Campbell designed.

High design doesn’t necessarily come with a high price tag, Campbell and Murphy agree.

“They appear to be similar (in cost),” says Campbell. “Maybe slightly more expensive because the sleek, clean styling takes more time and craftsmanship than traditional styles.”

“The cost depends on what you choose and whether it’s new construction or a remodel,” agrees Murphy. “But, they are fairly comparable to a traditional fire box.”

The impact and flexibility of the design of the modern firebox provides for a variety of uses. You can choose a larger scale fireplace to make a bold statement and be the focal point of your space, explains Murphy. Or, you can go with a smaller scale to make the fireplace a cohesive part of your design.

Murphy adds that with a range of customization options, the fireplace can be more than just a functional part of your home.

“(Your fireplace) can be a living, breathing piece of art,” offers Murphy. “Glass can add color and movement and it sparkles like diamonds. You can use various materials like mirrors or metals on the fire box back to give you depth and a reflective aspect.”

For even more flexibility, manufactures, like EcoSmart Fire, offer freestanding fireplaces without the need for pipes and plumbing installation. Models like the EcoSmart use an alcohol-based gas available at most hardware stores to power its flame.

“It provides a similar dancing flame but doesn’t require a gas connection,” says Campbell.

“This option works well in outdoor spaces as well,” adds Murphy.

The Art Of Tradition

By
Katie Feeback
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Dating back more than 3,000 years, metalworking, particularly with copper, in the eastern part of the United States has mainly had a ceremonial and ritual significance.

With the new metalsmithing class at the Cherokee Arts Center in Canton, the ancient art form is making a comeback.

“To work copper from its raw form into the art objects produced prior to European contact makes it evident that there was a very good understanding of metallurgy and metal working techniques,” says class instructor Toneh Chuleewah.

“As a modern metal worker, I have a great appreciation for the skill involved in the production of their pieces, considering what I envision they had as tools to work with as compared to what I use today.”

The class, which has a waiting list for enrollment, is aimed at teaching metalworking techniques, while giving budding entrepreneurs the extra tools to create a sustainable business.

“We hope to educate the public on our tribal designs and materials and ultimately, we hope to assist the artists to grow their art businesses to the point that they open their own studio and gallery someday,” says Donna Tinnin, event organizer for the Cherokee Nation Community Tourism.

“We have some of the most talented Cherokee artists right here in our communities, and we want the world to see and enjoy their work.”

“My style is completely different from my father’s, even though he was the one who taught me.”

Housing affordable studio space, as well as shared services such as computer and internet access, and other business related infrastructure, the center aids artists in every aspect of developing their artwork.

“The Native Artists Professional Development curriculum will be provided throughout the year,” says Tinnin. “We also have an artist loan program that allows us to offer low interest loans to artists in order to enhance their current business, or just to purchase materials in order to create inventory.”

And with all of these tools offered for students, their main focus can stay with their craft – and making it their own.

“There are many similar characteristics in copper work with tribes throughout the Southeast, as copper was a shared art form, but each tribe has its own unique take on the images within its own cultural beliefs,” says Chuleewah. “Though I am a second generation jeweler, my style is completely different from my father’s, even though he was the one who taught me.”

But the consistent root of this art form is its historical and cultural significance, and that retains a great influence on modern metalworkers.

“One of the aspects that has fascinated me about metal work, is that the art I have made will far outlast my existence, for generations to come,” says Chuleewah.

And it is those generations who will learn from their ancestors and grow along the way, just as present Cherokee metalworkers are learning from their ancestors today.

The skill and craftsmanship of these artists is just as important as the products they are producing.

 “One of the main significant aspects of this art form is its durability,” says Chuleewah. “It will be a record of our culture that will last far into the future.”

A Filmmaker’s Foray

By
Paul Fairchild
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Amina Benalioulhaj is obsessed with the intersection of women and prisons. These are the stars of the 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student’s documentary, Women Behind Bars, which focuses attention on Oklahoma’s failure to address the nation’s highest female incarceration rate.

Benalioulhaj says she was shocked into action when she learned of the state’s overcrowded women’s institutions.

“I decided I needed to do something to inform my peers and Oklahomans at large,” says Benalioulhaj.

Women are incarcerated at twice the national average in Oklahoma, including many for non-violent crimes, usually drug-related. Possession of small amounts of marijuana, for instance, could land a woman in jail in Oklahoma for a long time. In most states, it’s a minor offense.  

Benalioulhaj distills personal stories into a powerful statement – no easy feat for a first-time filmmaker. Benalioulhaj financed the film herself to the tune of roughly $6,000. She taught herself the technical aspects of filmmaking. She and her crew relentlessly threw time and effort into the project.

It paid off. The film was an official selection at Oklahoma’s deadCenter Film Festival this year. But more importantly, its many screenings are raising awareness about the problem.

Benalioulhaj credits the work of Dr. Susan Sharp, an OU sociologist, for her inspiration. For more than 10 years, Sharp’s been following the lives of Oklahoma’s incarcerated women. Sharp’s work fired Benalioulhaj’s imagination – and gripped her conscience. 

“I decided I needed to do something to inform my peers and Oklahomans at large.”

“I approached Dr. Sharp and asked her if I could use her research and if she could help me get my foot in the door with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. I wanted to document the experiences of these imprisoned women. She was open to the idea from the beginning and it took off from there,” she says.

At times Women Behind Bars goes beyond chronicling lives of its subjects to map the web of social problems caused by Oklahoma’s excessive female incarceration rate. When mothers go to prison, families implode. Many of these women are single mothers. After the gavel hits the bar, those women’s children are placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services and later in foster care. Massive disruptions like this aren’t conducive to the rigorous pursuit of an education. And uneducated kids are more likely to turn to crime.

The film hits the mark with its primary goal – raising awareness. But awareness alone doesn’t bring real world change. Change, says Benalioulhaj, will come when people pressure legislators to refine the laws that stuff women’s prisons beyond capacity. Less incarceration of non-violent female offenders would significantly reduce the state’s female prison population, she says.

Many of these women sit in jail cells for drug-related charges. Many of them will return to prison repeatedly unless the system treats the root problem – drug addiction. And, she says, Oklahoma’s high poverty rate exacerbates each and every one of these conditions.

Benalioulhaj’s interest in the subjects of her movie won’t end when the curtain comes down. She aspires to work directly with them after she graduates.

“My interest is yoga therapy. I would like to take that into the prisons and work with the women,” she says. “My hope is to provide emotional healing and therapy for them.”

 

Pioneer Parody

By
Patrick Nelson
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As the publisher of a popular Oklahoma-based blog, it’s always been my goal to interview (or eat biscuits    with) blogging superstar Ree Drummond. Ree, a.k.a The Pioneer Woman, is one of the world’s most successful bloggers and stay-at-home ranch moms. Unfortunately, getting in touch with her has become difficult, what with Ree writing cookbooks, hosting her own Food Network show and applying Photoshop filters to pictures of her adorable kids carving pumpkins.

Since Ree is so busy, I decided instead to chat with Pie Near Woman, created as, ahem, homage to Oklahoma’s favorite mommy-prairie blogger. Borne out of her experiences with the woman behind one of the most popular blogs in the United States, Pie Near Woman offers a “for mature audiences only” glimpse of what The Pioneer Woman’s evil twin might blog about.

Patrick Nelson: Do you come up with your own recipes or do you just steal the ones your mom made?
Pie Near Woman: Honey! Have you seen anyone else among the famous foodies wrapping a club cracker with a slice of bacon, sprinkling Kraft parmesan cheese on it and calling that a fancy hors d’oeuvre? I don’t think so! 

PN: Do you have a plastic bassett hound?
PNW: I have more bassett hounds than you can shake a stick at. In all kinds of material: Plastic. Ceramic. Enamel. Velour. Polyester. Velvet. The list goes on and on and on.

PN: Your husband sees ample time on your blog. Tell me about him.
PNW: My husband is walking sex on a stick. When God so violently chiseled my husband’s backside, he must have been channeling Michelangelo because his hind quarters are as close to perfection as mankind is capable of getting in this fallen world.

PN: Was your dad a “plastic” surgeon?
PNW: Yes, my daddy was a surgeon, but I have no idea what he surged. All I know is that I grew up on a golf course, vacationing at Hilton Head every summer and then I went to USC where I spent my college years going to fancy restaurants, staying in exclusive hotels and buying every outfit in the J.Crew catalog. It was a perfect childhood and it resulted in a perfect me. Next question?

PN: If they made a movie about you making a parody movie about The Pioneer Woman movie, who would play Reese Witherspoon?
PNW: A suitable doll could be easily found to play Reese because she already looks like a Barbie doll.  

Experience the hilarity of Pie Near Woman at www.pienearwoman.com.

Patrick will also be sharing his most cherished recipes and alternate uses for butter at www.thelostogle.com.

Talk of the Town

By
Meika Yates Hines
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They say that “age ain’t nothin’ but a number,” and never has the adage been truer than it is for Okemah native John Fullbright. At only 23 years old, his reputation as a songwriter belies his age, and he has easily become one of the most talked about musicians in Oklahoma.

Although he’s often compared to legend and fellow Okemah native Woody Guthrie, Fullbright is very much in a class of his own, staying true to the age-old tradition of storytelling in songcraft while exuding an ever-present sense of youthful possibility.

“I grew up in a small town and didn’t really have many friends. I spent a lot of time alone. When you do that, you get to thinking a lot and figuring out the world on your own terms. There’s a lot to be said about isolation (and desolation),” he says.

“I’d say I really started writing the introspective stuff right about that young age when you first start noticing girls and the world starts seeming really unfair – when you start to write because you have to, and it’s the only thing you’ve got. It becomes the only thing you’ve got to fight back with.”

While pursuing a college degree, Fullbright got his foot in the music scene playing keyboards for the Mike McClure Band before branching off on his own as a solo artist.
Armed with the impressive artillery of original songs, he hooked up with manager and Blue Door owner Greg Johnson in Oklahoma City, where he says the ball really started rolling.

His “calling card,” the Live at the Blue Door CD, remains a local favorite among music enthusiasts since it was recorded three years ago, and he’s currently working on his first “industry standard” record that will include both older and newer songs.

As for landing a big break, he says that he’s enjoying how he hasn’t experienced just one, because the breaks continue to happen.

“I keep having those. Opening for guys like Kevin Welch and Jimmy Webb – people that I consider to be the greatest of the great – and just getting to feel like I’m part of the same club and the same family as guys who do and say such big things… I don’t know what a big break feels like to anyone else, but that’s what a big break feels like to me.”

Sage Rage Melt Bar

By
Brian Schwartz
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Plato wrote that food is nothing more than fuel for the body, but even he would agree that what’s served at Sage Rage Melt Bar is the Platonic ideal of a grilled cheese sandwich. Sheer perfection. If you think that grilled cheese is nothing more than messy comfort food anyone can fry up on a skillet, you haven’t been to this newly-opened Brookside eatery. It’s operated by Catherine deCamp, owner of Tulsa’s Sage Culinary Studio, and noted chef and cheese maven Amanda Simcoe. Design your own sandwich from a long list of options, or pick one of the signature sandwiches. The “Wench” features gouda, gruyere, mozzarella, bacon, onion, fresh rosemary and rosemary aioli on artisan sourdough bread. The mozzarella is made each day in house, and so is the aioli. Don’t forget to order deCamp’s tomato soup. Imported Roma tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, basil and heavy cream are blended into a bisque bursting with flavor.

What We're Eating

By
Staff
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The Hibiscus Jamaican Restaurant

The warm, vibrant spices of the Caribbean flavor the food, and combined with a bright atmosphere and the friendliness of staff and patrons, creates a great dining experience at Hibiscus, a small Jamaican eatery tucked away in a storefront along Brookside. The spicy Ocho Wings, coated in Hibiscus’s signature spicy sauce, are a favorite way to start the meal, while spicy jerk chicken, pineapple pork and escoviche fish are traditional Jamaican specialties offered, as is the spicy stewed oxtail. Nightly specials are a regular occurrence on Hibiscus’ menu, as is live music. 3316 S. Peoria, Tulsa. www.hibiscusbrookside.com

White Lion

Have a hankering for fish and chips? How about a tasty meat pie or a heaping plate of bangers and mash? White Lion, an authentic English pub nestled among much larger buildings in south Tulsa, offers just that, serving British gastronomic specialties, often accompanied by a pint of frothy beer. Dining areas, outfitted with rich wood, dark walls and heavy rugs and drapes, are divided among a few cozy rooms at White Lion, creating a truly authentic pub atmosphere.
The food is equally comforting, with standard British specialties offered, along with nightly specials. Scotch eggs, crab cakes and beef Wellington are not on the menu, but are sometimes offered among nightly specials. 6927 S. Canton Ave., Tulsa. 918.491.6533

The Red Cup

Good drinks, simple food, no frills: Six words that sum up the philosophy behind The Red Cup, a coffee shop and café in Oklahoma City. This vegetarian-friendly eatery has long been a popular hangout for all walks of life; on any given day, you will likely find students, professionals and free spirits populating the dining room. The Red Cup serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering favorites like breakfast burritos, sandwiches and even vegetarian frito pie. Try the Red Cup Stir Fry – fresh veggies and tofu tossed in a savory sauce – or a rich, meatless rigatoni. Hot drinks ranging from basic coffee to chai tea are available, as are smoothies, lemonade and iced teas. 3122 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City. 405.525.3430

Pumpkin Eater

By
Sasha Martin
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Each year I begin eating pumpkins when the first brown leaf drops from the trees and continue right up until the first heavy snowfall blankets the ground. Like many Americans, my preferred poison has always been pumpkin pie (and lots of it), but since starting my Global Table Adventure I’ve encountered more ways to eat a pumpkin than I can eat in a single autumn.

It’s no wonder there are so many recipes – the pumpkin has been around since before Colombus landed in the Americas. For centuries, the brilliant orange flesh has graced dinner tables from America all the way down through Latin America and the Caribbean, to Brazil – and even halfway around the world to Europe, Africa and Asia. Our global neighbors celebrate pumpkin in flans, moles, candies and empanadas.

The Cuban version of Pumpkin Flan is sweet, delicate and a typical dessert of the region, where flans and custards serve as weekly, if not daily, treats. When served on a large, festive platter, our recipe makes a stunning display for any fall table and gives my old standby, pumpkin pie, a run for its money.

Pumpkin Flan

For the caramel:
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
Pinch of cream of tartar

For the flan:
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
1 c. whole milk
5 eggs plus 2 yolks
1 c. sugar
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 tsp. vanilla extract)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of allspice

To cook the caramel, add one cup of sugar to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Splash in a quarter cup of water and the pinch of cream of tartar. Cook until light golden brown, then pour into a bundt pan, swirling it around in the pan to coat the sides. Be careful, as the bundt pan gets hot; you may need pot holders.

To prepare the flan, begin by making a water bath by placing a large lasagna pan in the oven, half full of water. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the milk, cream and scrapings from a vanilla bean. Heat everything over medium until the milk is scalded, or just nearly boils. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, crack five eggs into a large bowl as well as two egg yolks. Stir in the sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, a dash of allspice and the cooled milk mixture. Whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.

Strain your gorgeous flan mixture into the pan (or, if you find it easier, strain into a bowl first). Bake in a water bath for one hour and 10 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Let cool and refrigerate about six hours (or overnight).

To unmold, run a knife along the top of all edges to break the “seal.” Then – this is very scientific – jiggle the bundt pan from side to side, until the flan begins to wiggle free. Some caramel should ooze up and out when you tip it to the side a little. You might dip the pan into some hot water for a few seconds to help loosen the caramel at the bottom.

Carefully invert the flan onto a large platter with lip (so the caramel won’t overflow). Slice and serve cool, but not ice cold.

Pumpkin as the Star

Pumpkins are a common food source in cultures across the world. Whether it’s the starter, the main course or ending to a meal, it’s easy to make pumpkin the star by looking at uses around the globe.

In Switzerland, pumpkin is used in soups and salads, but also to make pumpkin gnocchi, thick dumplings that are cooked in boiling water.

In Australia and New Zealand, pumpkin serves as a staple in autumn cooking (when it’s spring here in the Northern Hemisphere). Often cooked alongside beef, lamb or turkey, the pumpkin is sliced and pricked with a fork, then topped with oil, salt and pepper and roasted in a hot oven.

People in southern China use pumpkin in soups, porridges and even made into flour. Pumpkin is also used for some medicinal purposes.

Sasha Martin is cooking one meal for every country in the world. Her picky husband and baby girl are along for the ride. Join the adventure for recipes, reviews and more at www.globaltableadventure.com.

The Art of the Beach

By
Michael W. Sasser
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The eyes of the international arts community turn in unison every December to sunny Miami Beach.

Since it launched in 2002, Art Basel Miami Beach has come close to rivaling the scope of its Swiss sister event, the globe’s most renowned visual arts event. The Dec. 1-4 Art Basel Miami Beach combines an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. Hundreds of the world’s leading galleries exhibit 20th- and 21st-century artworks by thousands of artists. The world’s most respected galleries offer exceptional pieces by both renowned and emerging artists. 

While the Art Basel exhibition is housed at the Miami Beach Convention Center, both official and unofficial ancillary events take place across south Miami Beach (“South Beach”), and in edgy mainland Miami neighborhoods such as Wynwood and the Miami Design District. Numerous other arts events have launched or changed their schedules to coincide with Art Basel, creating an “Art Week” that engulfs both the beach and the mainland for the first half of December.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors take to the scenic streets of Miami Beach for Art Basel, making it not just the focal point of the global arts world, but also arguably the most exciting city in the U.S. for weeks.

Of course, Miami Beach is generally in the top ranks of exciting destinations. Alternately thought of as America’s Riviera and Manhattan South, it is the southernmost point of the island city that is the most interesting to visitors – generally south of 23rd Street and close to the ocean. It is the beaches adjacent to Ocean Drive that are prime attractions, with hundreds of quirky hotels, bars and eateries just steps away from the sand. Just a block inland, Collins Avenue is home to numerous shops and hotels and remnants of the color that defined the city before its popularity began to attract chain stores and when head shops and eclectic galleries dotted the street. Washington Avenue is the center of nightlife with leading clubs such as Mansion, Mynt and Twist – the sizable gay community’s favored locale.

Besides the beach and nightlife, fine dining also abounds throughout the city and notably in many of the more upscale hotels. The Art Deco District, south of trendy Lincoln Road, contains the colorful tropical inspired deco architecture that was the original impetus for South Beach’s emergence as international hotspot. Those who can tear themselves away from the world-class beaches and nightlife can take in the architecture in easy walking tours. The Miami Design Preservation League (www.mdpl.org) is a terrific asset to begin exploration of all things deco.

Stay In Style

Most of Miami Beach’s most acclaimed hotels and resorts are within just a few blocks of the Miami Beach Convention Center and here are some nearby options worth considering.
Delano Hotel: This cool urban resort haven designed by Philippe Starck is the epitome of oceanfront South Beach cool, from soaring lobby to rooms of elegant white and to breathtaking pool. With almost 200 guest rooms and just blocks from the convention center, the Delano will be a particularly happening place when the show is in town. www.delano-hotel.com

The Tides South Beach: This Ocean Drive Art Deco icon features 45 elegant suites. Beautifully decorated and with sweeping views of the ocean. The service is legendary and highly personalized in this spectacular example of Miami Beach’s grandeur. www.tidessouthbeach.com

Dream South Beach: For those looking for some real South Beach funky vibe, Dream South Beach’s 108 rooms and suites located a block from the beach and next door to the former home of Versace can be fun. Late ‘70s style décor and a spectacular rooftop pool are just part of the appeal at this eclectic hotel. www.dreamsouthbeach.com

At A Glance

Schedule: Dec. 1-4, 2011

Location:  Miami Beach, Fla.

Venue: Miami Beach Convention Center

Getting There: Driving Miami Beach is a risky matter. Taxis are plentiful and reliable on South Beach. Ask to be dropped off at the Convention Center Drive entrance or Washington Avenue entrance.

Lineup: An exclusive selection of more than 250 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa will exhibit 20th and 21st century artworks by more than 2,000 artists.

General and Ticket Info: www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

Hot Picks

Avoid: South Miami Beach is pedestrian friendly, but some parts are friendlier than others. Ocean Drive and chic Lincoln Road are your safest bets. Be particularly careful walking Washington Avenue after dark.

Bike: Enjoy exploring the Beach by bike with easy rentals citywide from Deco Bike. Pick up and return to kiosks all over town. www.decobike.com

Eat: Cuban cuisine most strongly speaks to the heart of Miami Beach and fortunately the real deal is also wallet-friendly. Check out David’s Café’s two South Beach locations, and do not forget the memorable café con leche. www.davidscafe.com

Visit Online

www.miamibeachfl.gov/visitors

Side Trip: Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach

While the spectacle of Art Basel might be the prime South Florida attraction, there is plenty more to see and do in South Florida than just Miami Beach and mainland Miami. Although it might seem like one continuous city from the southernmost part of Miami-Dade County half the way up Florida’s east coast. It is in reality a stretch of different towns and cities, some of which are particularly interesting to visitors.

Just minutes north of Miami is Fort Lauderdale, famed for generations because of it having been featured in the classic film Where The Boys Are. Long gone are the days of the city’s beach being the number one spring break hot spot, and Miami has subsequently claimed the title as Florida’s sun and fun capital. But with its miles of sandy beaches, clean waterfronts and superior parking along the waterfront, it remains a slightly more sedate destination with much of the appeal of Miami and other oceanfront Florida meccas. Generally, Fort Lauderdale is slightly less tourist oriented, slightly less international and glamorous, and slightly less crowded. It lays claim to being the “Venice of America,” because of its numerous inlets, canals and inland waterways, some of which are abutted by luxurious homes.

Still the beach is Fort Lauderdale’s top attraction and there are numerous access points to enjoy it. Where Hollywood Boulevard meets the ocean in the neighboring town of Hollywood, through Dania Beach and all the way to the northern end of Fort Lauderdale, virtually every major east-west thoroughfare (and exit from Interstate 95, eastern South Florida’s only real highway) intersects with the ocean and there is usually parking and facilities within blocks. From Broward Boulevard to Sunrise Boulevard along State Road A1A (which runs parallel to the shoreline across most of the state) is arguably the most popular stretch of beach in the city, and was the impetus for the film that made Fort Lauderdale a household. The Hollywood Broadwalk and Dania Beach’s John Lloyd State Park are also highly prized beaches, with Hollywood’s waterfront also housing ample restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

Other ways to enjoy the water in the Venice of America include snorkeling, deep sea fishing or scuba diving from out of one of the numerous piers, gondola tours, boat and yacht rentals, kayaking the inland waterways, and of course, touring the Intracoastal on one of the tours spotlighting the city’s waterfront mansions. The concierge or front desk at most major hotels in the city should be able to provide numerous vendor options for any watery excursion. The Jungle Queen Riverboat cruise is an ideal way to learn about both historic Fort Lauderdale and to see vaunted Millionaire’s Row.

Although Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk arts, shopping and entertainment venue is newer and in close proximity to the ocean, it is Las Olas Boulevard that is the city’s real social and entertainment heart. South of downtown and just east of US Highway 1, Las Olas is a stretch of some of the city’s finest restaurants, art galleries, boutique and eclectic shopping, bars and entertainment sites. While the waterfront can be raucous, Las Olas revelry leans to the upper scale.

Other Fort Lauderdale attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Museum of Science & Discovery and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

North from Fort Lauderdale


Immediately north of Fort Lauderdale are the affluent communities of Boca Raton and Palm Beach. Although separated by just a short drive, they have the feel of being far more removed from their neighbors to the south.
Boca Raton is predominantly upscale residential on its eastern (most visited) side and generally doesn’t see a lot of visitors from outside the region. Beyond miles of planned gated communities and some charming homes – virtually all featuring Mediterranean revival architecture, its primary appeal is Mizner Park. Mizner Park is an open air dining, shopping and entertainment venue around which most of the town’s social life revolves. Besides pricy shopping and solid if unremarkable upscale dining, the Boca Raton Museum of Art is likely the most interesting attraction to visitors. 

The Hawaiian themed Maui Spa & Wellness Center is a tropical oasis of pampering and relaxation in Boca, while Sugar Sand Park and Red Reef Park are two of the favorite places to enjoy the Florida environment away from the throngs of tourists more common in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

North of Boca Raton and on the east side of Palm Beach County, the wealthy lifestyle ante gets upped even more. Oceanfront Palm Beach is one of the wealthiest and most upscale communities in the country. The City of West Palm Beach is slightly more urban and diverse. Far to the west of the county, Wellington is famed horse country. And ironically some parts of the county (the wealthiest county in the US) bordering the Everglades are actually some of the poorest regions of the state (a result of a large population of immigrant workers).

From historic sites to upper echelon shopping, there is an eclectic assortment of sites and activities available in Palm Beach County.

Ritzy Palm Beach features opulent sites resting amidst notably Mediterranean architecture, such as The Breakers Palm Beach, a luxurious resort that’s favored by visiting celebs and the jet-set. While staying there, few miss the opportunity to traverse the world-famous Addison Mizner creation, Worth Avenue – home to the highest end shopping outside of Manhattan, and to most designer names of significance in the fashion world. On the exclusive island of Palm Beach rests Mar-A-Lago, the historic estate originally owned by Marjorie Post and now owned by Donald Trump. Although Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley spent their honeymoon there in 1994, today it would require a private invitation to fully explore the US National Historic Landmark.

Less exclusive destinations abound as well such as the Flagler Museum-Whitehall in Palm Beach, another historic estate but this one open to the public. It preserves the historic of Henry Flagler and his remarkable role in Florida history.

The Four Arts Gardens, also known as the Four Arts Library, Gardens and Philip Hulitar Sculpture Gardens, are spectacular Palm Beach botanical gardens. The Norton Museum of Art is one of the state’s leading venues of its kind. The Kravis Center, named for Tulsan Ray Kravis, is one of the most respected performing arts houses in Florida.

West Palm Beach’s Clematis Street is the center of hip entertainment and shopping for the local crowd that doesn’t have an in with Mar-A-Lago’s Trump. Families with children, though, might prefer the adventurous Lion Country Safari or Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge or at Grassy Waters Preserve.

Art lovers might arrive in South Florida for Art Basel Miami Beach, but for those with an appreciation of the art of living well, tropically and interesting – the coastal communities of South Florida offer endless appeal.
 

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