you came to the right place.
Edible & Drinkable
Some Recipes from the Neighborhood
The Fort Lauderdale branch of the Junior League has been helping make our city a better place for a long time. And when they want to raise money, one way they do it is by publishing a cookbook. They offer several on their website, all of which feature the recipes and flavors of the region. (On the website, click on “fundraisers” and then
“cookbooks”.) juniorleagueftl.org
A Little Something Spicy
From chili peppers to curry powders and cardamom to mustard seeds, the kitchen maestro in your life will love adding flavors with the products found at this fun shop. They also do a good line in hard-to-find coffee and tea, as well as everything from soup to soy sauce to Himalayan salt plates. If you’re shopping for the person who’s convinced their kitchen already has everything, you can prove them wrong here. thespicelab.com
A Bottle of Local Rum
Fort Lauderdale feels like the sort of place where rum ought to be produced, right? Well, thanks to some young, local entrepreneurs, it is. You might have seen South Florida Distillers’ Fwaygo line of rums in local bars and restaurants, including a little place called the Mai Kai. They also sell in several stores and make a few non-rum products as well; it’s all spelled out on their website. southfloridadistillers.com
The Life Aquatic
The Most One-of-a-Kind Piece of Swimwear on the Beach
Bikini Island sounds like the sort of place where a 14-year-old boy might wish to get stranded. It’s actually a cool local shop that specializes in imported swimwear, much of it from Europe. The shop offers all sorts of looks and styles – and they don’t have the sorts of apparel you’ll also find at every other shop in the mall. fortlauderdaleswimwear.com
A Board Born in Lauderdale
Surfer and board shaper Kane Barrie grew up in Fort Lauderdale before taking his love of surfing international. KB Nightmare Shapes offers a variety of excellent boards with designs and artwork that’s … well, it’s intense. They offer various sizes and styles, but this is a personal company where you can reach out to the people making the board. nightmareshapes.com
Literally Anything with the Words “Guy Harvey” On It
So, how many products do you suppose there are in the Guy Harvey universe? There’s the shirts, sure. The other clothing items. The original artwork. But what about the dog harnesses? The cutting boards? The area rugs? The shower curtains? Basically, imagine a product and there’s a good chance Guy Harvey has slapped a picture of a fish on it. And if you want to shop through the entire ocean of options in person, you’re in luck – the Guy Harvey world headquarters and showroom is right off State Road 84 in Davie. guyharveyart.com
A Sweet, Retro‑Style Yacht
Look, let’s be honest. Your special someone has received enough pairs of socks/necklaces over the years. This year, double down. Go yacht. There are plenty of local places that can fix you up with a nice little number, but the Lauderdale legends over at Denison have some of our favorites. In particular, they do an excellent line in Monte Carlo yachts. While these offer the height of modern luxury, they also have classic, retro lines and a certain timeless design. Think of something that ’60s era Audrey Hepburn might have been photographed on. How to get it in a stocking? Well, that’s for you to figure out. denisonyachtsales.com
Outdoor Fun
A Skateboard – and Some Skate Help
The Mad Skate Shop is owned by local skaters and staffed by knowledgeable people who can help you out whether you’re a skater, shopping for a skater or you’re somebody who’s never been on a four-wheel conveyance that wasn’t a car. And even better – if you’re shopping for a child, you don’t have to just hand them the board and hope they figure it out. The shop offers classes and lessons – they even have a small private “Skate Spot.” It’s one-stop shopping – and one-stop skating! madaboutskateboarding.com
An Easyhandler Cornhole Game
If you don’t know the game cornhole, it’s the one played with two boards with one hole each and a handful of bags filled with corn (hence the name) meant to be tossed underhand into a hole. If you do know cornhole, you know it fits into the vital category “games you can play while holding a beer.” Easyhandler cornholers are made in Fort Lauderdale. The company also customizes boards with a variety of colors and designs. You have to supply the beer. easyhandler.com
A Bicycle from a Bar
Two& is a great bar on Las Olas with lots of live music, good beer and local art on the walls. Oh, and it’s a bicycle shop. Not your normal bicycle shop, mind you. The shop doesn’t carry any particular brand; everything in here is bespoke, rebuilt and reborn. On any given day you’re likely to find anything from a hot modern racing bike to a classic Italian road bike to a properly 1950s ride that looks like a Corvette morphed into a bicycle. And while you’re trying to decide what your bicycle-loving present recipient is going to get, you can also try the IPA. facebook.com/twoandwhatever
Experiences
Escape the Quest
You’re placed in a room – options include a grisly murder scene, a death row prison and a padded cell – and your job is to get out. Don’t worry, this isn’t some #FloridaMan scenario – it’s all in good fun. At Escape the Quest, things can get pretty intense, and you have to keep your wits about you. Great, pulse-pounding fun for groups of as many as six. escapethequest.com
A Hillsboro Lighthouse Tour
Nautical buffs, local history enthusiasts and anybody who enjoys a good walking workout will be interested in an up-close look at this unique and still-functioning piece of Broward history. From the boat ride to the lighthouse to the climb to the top (it’s a steep one, so wear sensible shoes), this is South Florida as the pioneers knew it. hillsborolighthouse.org/tours
Old Dillard Museum Ambassador Workshops
The Old Dillard Museum is a treasure. Housed in the historic building that was once Broward’s first school for African‑Americans, it also sends experts and teachers out into the world to give workshops on a variety of topics include anything from storytelling to drumming to African folklore crafts and more. And they’re available for both adults and children. broward.k12.fl.us/olddillardmuseum
Tickets to Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Here’s one for any grownup who’s ever looked at a bouncy castle and wondered why kids get all the fun. Sky Zone is a trampoline-filled warehouse, and it’s pretty awesome. They’ve got special events such as Glow Zone nights, Sky Slam basketball and Ultimate Dodgeball – which is like regular dodgeball except it’s on trampolines and your high school phys ed teacher isn’t yelling at you. They’ve also got fitness classes. Or you can just go at one of the regular open times and bounce. skyzone.com/fortlauderdale
A Slice of Lauderdale
A Historic Fort Lauderdale Photo
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society keeps a trove of Old Fort Lauderdale artifacts, some of which are suitable for framing. The society sells prints of historical photographs of everything from 1950s spring breakers to flight pioneer Merle Fogg and his biplane to Las Olas Boulevard when it was a swampy dirt road. Different sizes are available, and you can shop online or at the society’s shop in the Historic New River Inn. fortlauderdalehistoricalsociety.org
A Work by a Local Artist
Has the Fort Lauderdale art scene ever been better and more diverse than it is right now? With so much great stuff happening we’re loath to recommend just one local gallery – hit the monthly artwalk and see as many as you can! But for a big local institution that does a substantial job at bringing in many local artists, it’s tough to beat Artserve. From their exhibits to the wonderful local items in their shop to their other events, this is a great resource for getting to know the local arts community, for finding your favorite local artists – and for making some purchases. artserve.org
A Tale for the Whole Family, Based on a Local Hero
Among her many accomplishments, pioneer and reformer Ivy Stranahan fought for natural Florida. In Watch Out, Ivy!, a fictionalized account aimed at all ages, Ivy helps stop the illegal egret feather trade in 1920s Florida. (This really was a big problem at the time.) It’s a fun read that teaches kids both about conservation and a true Fort Lauderdale hero. The book is available on Amazon.
