Friday, April 10, 2015

Party For The Planet 

Zoo Miami’s 

Earth Day celebration

Start: April 18, 2015
End: April 19, 2015

Saturday and Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

Party for the Planet: April 18-19 This looks like a wonderful opportunity to bring the kids outside for some fun AND education!

Celebrate Earth Day and see some amazing animals all at Zoo Miami!


The Tropical Flowering Tree Society will be hosting its annual plant show and sale. There will also be fun "green" activities and entertainment for the entire family as well as animal enrichment with recycled items and/or natural materials like newspapers, cardboard tubes, bamboo, old tires, fire hoses, and more.

During Party for the Planet, guests can come in free of charge if they turn in a cellphone as part of our ECO-CELL phone recycling program. Not only will each person donating a cellphone enter the zoo for free on these two days, but they will also help save gorillas!

Cell phones include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in central Africa, home to the world's endangered lowland gorillas. Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade. By turning in your cell phone, we can hopefully reduce the need for additional coltan - and help protect the gorillas. Check out this and more info at

http://zoomiami.org/PartyForThePlanet


 

 

Monday, November 10, 2014


Beautiful Day? Get Outside!


Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Entrance to the Park on Sunrise Blvd. (Photo by Author)
Covered Shelter on left available for rent (Photo by author)

I have mentioned this park in my previous blogs, and it is one of our favorite parks to visit. It is rich in History! During the week it is less crowded, but still a fun spot to explore on the weekend as well! Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is located just east of the Fort Lauderdale Beach, on Sunrise Blvd. It has a paved road that loops in one big circle, with many places to stop and park, with picnic tables or covered shelter areas.
Playground located by waterway (Photo by Author)
It also has two playgrounds, and is open to the inter-coastal waterway on the west side. This is where my children and I like to go. One of the playgrounds is there, plus the kids can walk right to the edge of the waterway and watch the boats go by! This spot is also an excellent location to view the Christmas Boat parade in December. 





http://www.floridastateparks.org/lib/img/park/parkmap/htb-map.jpg
3109 E. Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
(954) 564-4521
Photo: State Parks and Recreation


View of the Inter-Coastal Waterway (Photo by Author)

Boat in background cruising the waterway (Photo by Author)

Saturday, November 1, 2014

On the Grass!




On the Grass!

I'm talking about Outside Music Venues, silly! 

Grab a folding chair, or blanket, and let's listen to some music!

Jaco Pastorius mural  

Jaco Pastorius Mural

Jaco Pastorius Park mural completed in 2010. 145' x 24'.
Keim mineral Coatings on stucco. Commissioned by Oakland Park Main Street, Oakland Park, Florida.
This mural pays tribute to the ledgendary bass player, Jaco Pastorius, who grew up in Oakland Park.
Jaco Pastorius Park is located at NE 38th St. and N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park. 

 

 

Whether its a big outdoor music extravaganza, like Ultra music festival in downtown Miami, or a quiet lawn chair at Jaco Pastoraious park in Oakland Park, music is meant to be heard, outside! Many parks, such as C.B. Smith in Sunrise, have an great array and mixture of outdoor music events throughout the year! CB smith was known for its Concert Green: A five-acre island is home to this 5,000-capacity open-air amphitheater with a 32-foot-by-48-foot stage. A nearby special event field has been the location for the 99.9 KISS Country Chili Cookoff, which includes a concert featuring some of the top acts in country music. The capacity of the special event field is up to 22,500.
 
Chili Cook-Off Vender ( Photo by Author)

A favorite place of mine to see outdoor and free concerts is at Holiday Park in East Fort Lauderdale.The historic War Memorial Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility that is owned and operated by the City of Fort Lauderdale. The recently renovated facility is conveniently located in Holiday Park, at the intersection of Federal Highway and Sunrise Boulevard. During the summer months they have free concerts on the first weekend of the month.

Cruzan Amphitheatre is the music venue in West Palm Beach, Florida. This open air music venue can seat 19,000 people. Many national and brand name acts and legends have played at this venue on tour!

Casting Crowns

15 November 2014 - 7:00PM
Cruzan Amphitheatre | West Palm Beach, FL
buy tickets for Casting Crowns

Zz Top & Jeff Beck-Beards 'n Beck Tour

8 May 2015 - 7:00PM

  Last, but not least....ArtsPark at Young Circle, in Hollywood, Fl. has wonderful programs of outdoor concerts, festivals, and movies as well. So, if it is music, or even a Festival , south Florida has many fun, family events to choose from!



ArtsPark Amphitheater
ArtsPark Hollywood (Photo City of Hollywood)

Dream the Impossible! Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2014


FLIBS 2014 show banner

BOAT SHOW SCHEDULE






South Florida weather has average warm temperatures that range from the
low 70’s to mid-80 in the fall and winter. This allows for many outdoor activities to be scheduled year round in our warm and inviting outdoor sun. One of the most popular of these events is the worldwide known Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. This annual outdoor event draws close to 100,000 people over a five day period. This year is the 55th showing and there will be 1,500 boats on display, and for sale, starting Thursday October 30th, through Monday, November 3rd.  Parking is pretty expensive, however, lots near the show charge prices up to $70 for the day. You can Purchase Valet Parking and Holiday Park / War Memorial Parking online in advance.
Purchase Valet Parking and Holiday Park / War Memorial Parking online - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.cEdHBj7h.dpuf
Purchase Valet Parking and Holiday Park / War Memorial Parking online - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.cEdHBj7h.dpuf
Not only can you gaze at multi-million dollar yachts, new technology will be introduced to the public for the first time, the radically new two-stroke, low-emissions Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard motor

View the DIGITAL SHOW PROGRAM here.


Ariel View of Boat Show (Photo IBS )



Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard motor Photo: JV Marine
BOAT SHOW SCHEDULE

Friday, October 24, 2014

Life's A Beach ~ Really !



Sometimes the best therapy is a day at the beach! With miles and miles to choose from, South Florida beaches are a perfect day getaway! Bring an umbrella and chair, and that book you've been meaning to read, and pick a secluded spot to let the waves relax away that stress. Have children? A bucket and shovel will keep them occupied for hours! Don't forget the sunscreen! Best of all, besides some minimal parking fees, its all free! I like to bring a small cooler of water, and some snacks for the kids. I also bring a mask and bag for shells. Here are some of my favorite spots below!

Ft. Lauderdale Beach (photo by author)
 

Fort Lauderdale

The southern end of the beach, south of Las Olas Boulevard, has basketball courts, volleyball nets, grills and picnic tables. At the northern end (Sunrise Boulevard), just across A1A, sits Birch State Park with canoe rentals, playgrounds and nature trails (popular with skaters and cyclists). Just south of the park, nestled in lush surroundings west of A1A, sits the colorful, art-filled Bonnet House, formerly a private home now open to the public. Birch sate park has been a favorite of my children, because it borders the intercoastal waterway on the west side and has some great picnic tables to view the boats cruising up and down!

Kite surfer on Ft. Lauderdale Beach (photo by author)

Hollywood Beach and the Broadwalk

HOLLYWOOD BEACH  Sun-Sentinel photo
Hollywood is a little bit of Old Florida and definitely a family vacation place.Take a stroll, eat some Italian water ice, catch the free concerts at the beachfront bandshell. In Hollywood, unlike Fort Lauderdale to the north, restaurants and shops run along what's called the Broadwalk, a wide 2-mile long paved path on the beach. (You can rent bikes and other pedaled vehicles to travel its length).
Ocean Alley has a great live WEB CAM  , and great food as well! Check out their WEB SITE .
Visit Florida.org  is also another great source for events and activities along the Hollywood Beach!
A few miles north is Dania Beach in John U. Lloyd State Park. Which has deep roots in South Florida's efforts in racial equality. Before its purchase by Florida state, in 1973, it was known as "colored beach" as described in Beaches For All .

South Florida County Parks Are A Great Way To Play

South Florida County Parks Are A Great Way To Play


Broward County Parks Photo

Calypso Bay at Quiet Waters Park (photo by author)


South Florida has some great places to go if you need some fresh air. I am a mother of two very young, and active children, and have found some very nice parks in Broward County. If you live in Dade County, don't fear, activities can be located at Miami Dade Parks, and Open Spaces as well. Many are open year round, most holidays, and days when the kids are out of school! Besides playgrounds and open green areas, there are usually scheduled activities and wonderful nature to explore! Check out some links below, to explore mostly free or low cost family fun! With the South Florida weather, the sun is almost always shining!

Broward Calendar of Events 

Dade County Activities Include:

Arts & Crafts

A variety of cultural arts programs are offered for youth to explore and discover their own interests and talents and gain a deeper appreciation of artistic forms and influences.

Sports

The Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department offers a variety of athletic programs for children and adults of all ages. Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children and adults with disabilities. If you need accommodation to participate, call 305-755-7848 (V/TDD).

Extreme Sports

Time to shape up! We love being fit, and helping others to get fit in unconventional ways that break up the routine of the monotonous workout, is our specialty.


Pompano Beach Park Aquatic Center (photo by author)

Broward County Activities Include: