Riding my bike through the Riverwalk and stopped for a cold tea at Pura Vida where the giant THRIVE…read morecavelike stone sculpture proudly stands with green vines filling the sides of the cave. Im not really an art buff, but this sculpture by Daniel Popper was impressive. The stone sculpture depicts a woman cracking open her rib cage with both of her hands symbolizing transformation and hope. People can be seen taking pictures inside the cave. Its worth a few minutes to take a peek at this artwork if near Las Olas in Ft Lauderdale.

The Thrive Statue is one of those pieces that stops you mid-walk. It's powerful, expressive, and…read morequietly emotional--capturing strength, growth, and resilience all at once. The scale alone draws you in, but it's the details and posture that really make you pause and reflect. Set against the modern surroundings, it feels both grounding and inspiring, like a reminder to keep pushing forward even when things feel heavy. Beautifully done, thoughtfully placed, and absolutely worth a moment (or a photo) if you're in the area.

Marc Quinn's "Broken Sublime," is a stunning stainless steel seashell sculpture on Las Olas Blvd &…read moreSE 6th Ave. The conch shell, a piece by British artist Marc Quinn stands over 7 feet tall & weighs more than 5,500 lbs, This larger-than-life stainless steel seashell sculpture valued at nearly $1 million graces the grounds of downtown's long-awaited Tunnel Top Plaza, an artificial turf zone that cost taxpayers $10.6 million. This new sculpture and sitting area is in front of the cheesecake factory. The beach is steps away and the new art here is meant to evoke positive feelings about the Fort Lauderdale seashore.

Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is a new stainless steel public art piece that was purchased for the…read morenew Tunnel Top Park that sits over the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. You can find the giant stainless steel conch shell between the Cheesecake Factory and Sushi Garage on Las Olas Boulevard. The shiny conch shell is over 7 feet high and weighs 5,500 pounds. This art piece and future pieces that will be placed in the park were paid from a 5 million dollar donation from the estate of the late James Winder Laird. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is by British artist Marc Quinn. Quinn is a contemporary visual artist whose subjects include the body, genetics, identity, environment, and the media. Although primarily known as a sculptor, he has also produced prints and photographs. Quinn has had exhibitions in major galleries like the Tate and he has created public art work for cities all over the world. The public art here is meant to make Tunnel Top Park an inviting place for tourists to hang out on Las Olas Boulevard. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) in particular is meant to evoke the idea that the beach is a short distance away and that Ft. Lauderdale is a beach town. I think this piece adds interest to an otherwise plain pedestrian area. It is also a nice place to take a selfie.

In 2012 the City of Pompano Beach adopted an ordinance to place public art in the city. Works are…read morechosen by the Public Art Committee and the Old Town Mural is part of the public art program. It's so much fun finding new art popping up in different places in the city. There is a ten year master plan that proposes 27 new pieces of art. Periodically Pompano will list a call for artist submissions on their public arts page and at that time artists can submit their work for consideration for the next project. The Old Town Mural was created by South Florida artist Carlos Gonzalez. He won the competition held by the Public Arts Committee and his design was chosen. The mural is located on an exterior wall in the Old Town section of Pompano located across the street frrom the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. In bright colors, the 98 foot high mural depicts the landmarks and historic sites in Pompano Beach. Scenes include the Pompano Beach pier, the Hillsboro Lighthouse, fruilts and vegetables from when Pompano Beach started out as a farming community, historic buildings, and a Pompano fish. The best time to come and see this mural is during Old Town Untapped, a food arts, and shopping event held on the first Friday of every month. The city planted some flowers in front of the mural and it is the perfect back drop for taking pictures. I really love this mural and am excited to see what the committee approves next.

Kudos to the artist . We were near the mural in the small park listening to a free rock band …read more Apparently they have free monthly concerts near the old town mural . Yippy to free concerts and beautiful art .

If you are interested in outdoor public art, don't want to pay to see it like for Wynwood Walls in…read moreMiami, and would rather avoid paying for tolls for driving closer abouts Miami, check out the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project! http://hollywoodcra.org/188/Downtown-Hollywood-Mural-Project Looks like they offer a free mural walking tour at 6pm every third Saturday (weather dependent), but we downloaded a map and headed off on our own. We ended up using their map to get to the area, then we did the wandering tourist thing, and just happened upon the artwork nilly willy. It was fun!

Downtown Hollywood has vibrant wall murals everywhere from the Art Park better known as Young…read moreCircle to Dixie Highway along Harrison Street and Hollywood Blvd. The idea behind the Hollywood Mural Project was to transform urban space into public art. Its free and easy to take a self guided tour to find all the exhibits. We found five that really stood out and discovered their origin and creators.

My low rate is not on the festival. It's on the parking. If you are not familiar with this area…read morelike me. You found limited options and no guiding parking signs. I did see an area after I parked where to park for $10 cash only. You can try parking on the dark side streets. I did but then I was worried I might get towed. They close a section of a street and that has warehouses. I got here around 6:30 . It got really happening after 7:30, more lively. The warehouses showcase local vendors and art work. Some of the artists are physically there also. It's actually nice. You can ask them questions. The open air smells yummy. Specifically when the food truck are working there cooking magic. Over five diferent type of food trucks here. They had a talented live performer and music playing at the other side of the street. They did a good job putting this event together.

I'm surprised I hadn't reviewed this (maybe I did under the prior name / incarnation), but I have…read moreactually purchased art here - a Yorkie print by S. Leyden. Since it's open air, it's very dog friendly. You can even decide if a corgi looks more like a bread loaf or a potato :) This isn't an art faire in the old school way but more like a maker fair / craft show craft show with a lot of art for sale. You can chat up a lot of the artists, and prices are reasonable #supportyourlocalartists Besides a couple of restaurants nearby (the Sistrunk Food Court and Henry's Sandwich Station) there are more than a couple of food trucks in the blocked off street. You also get "seasoned" by music from reggae to classic rock and everything in between. It's definitely a fun night out in the 954 (and worth a drive up this way). Sunrise Ave is the better route from I95 especially to try and find street parking. Do try, because the only nearby lot is $10 and egad, Cash Only (how retro and or tax evasive. If you're a local definitely rideshare.

Olas the snowman makes an appearance every year over the Christmas period. Apparently he has a…read moredifferent them each year. I came for a look. It was nice to watch people take their Xmas snap shots. Debuted in 2015, he was named Olas as a nod to Las Olas Boulevard and a playful take on Disney's Olaf.

This snowman changes year to year (from its inception in 2015). If you're visiting Fort Lauderdale…read moreBeach, you might as well get your "snow"man ... sandman ... sand snowman photo. Viewing other picture on this post, I like 2025 better than the others. (Posting November 2025) Is Olas amazing ... well, maybe not that ... but with the entire waterfront dressed for Christmas, you should definitely take a picture with Olas too! It is a cute statue!

This is a carved wooden Native American head by Hungarian artist Peter Wolf Toth. Toth had…read moreexperienced repression in his native country and was shuttled among various refuge camps. When he immigrated to Ohio he became interested in Native American culture because he saw a parallel in the way they were treated and what he experienced. Toth traveled the country over 20 years and donated at least one work in each state and two in Canada. His first carving was a stone Native American head in a cliff in La Jolla California in 1972. After that he switched from stone to wood. His last carving was number 58 in May of 1988 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. The collection of large works is called the Trail of Whispering Giants. There are three in Florida. This head named Tiki resides in DC Alexander Park which is currently undergoing a renovation. The statue faces east so it can watch the sun rise over the ocean every morning. The 30 foot high sculpture was completed in May 1983 and is number 44 out of the series. Created out of Cypress it is meant to honor the Seminoles and other Native American tribes. I love what this statue represents and how it pays tribute to the native people of Florida. I'm not sure if the city plans on keeping it here or moving it somewhere else once the park is completed. I'm keeping an eye out.

I visited the Bonnet House to see the Zim sculptures on display through April 19, 2026…read moreThe exhibit includes over 2000 hand carved sculptures by over 100 Zimbabwe artist. There are many large sculptures throughout the gardens, they are all labeled with the name of the work, the artist and the material. There is a large market with sculptures of all sizes for sale. The exhibit is so large it is only displayed in one location per year. While we were there, there were two sculptors working on new pieces, both took the time to speak with us. Love is in the air at the Bonnet House, while we were there they were setting up for a wedding and we saw a proposal. A beautiful setting for both. They have special events throughout the year, including an orchid show and Christmas holiday wonderland. Guided and self guided house tours are available,$30-40, we opted for the grounds tour only, $15. The gardens are well shaded so even on a warm day our visit was comfortable.

A tourist trap. Paying that much to see common stuff like going to a greenhouse or a grocery store…read morefor orchids. There is a similar one in California but at least in California, it is free. I said I rather used the money to buy orchids then

Romero Britto is a vivid pop artist and the founder of what he calls the Happy Art Movement. He…read morebelieves the purpose of art is to radiate happiness, fun, love, and hope while inspiring people. The New York Times has said Britto's art, "exudes warmth, optimism and love". Britto was born in poverty in Brazil in 1963. In 1983 he made his way to Europe where he was inspired by artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. In 1988 he moved to Miami where he still maintains a studio. Britto's earliest work was done on newspaper which was all he could afford and sold on the sidewalk. Inspired by the sunshine of Miami he began working in bright palates which attracted people to his work. He received his first major commission to design artwork for Absolut Vodka for a 1989 campaign that also had bottles that featured art by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. Corporate partnerships and licensing deals followed. His designs have been used by companies like Disney, BMW, IBM, Apple Computers, Grand Marnier, Pepsi, and Royal Caribbean Cruises and his art has been featured on cruise ships, cars, Barbie dolls and pet collars His art has even made it to the World Cup, Superbowl. and Olympics. Britto art has been exhibited art galleries and museums in over 120 countries but his brightly colored artwork has become synonymous with South Florida where you can find it everywhere from city vehicles, hospitals, parking meters, and lottery tickets. Britto Inc. generates 250 million dollars of sales annually. He has become the most collected and licensed artist in history. Britto works out of art gallery dubbed the Britto Palace in Wynwood. You have to win your way in for a tour through charities or Britto picks one person a week with a golden ticket to visit from anyone that spends $250 or more with him. I discovered this iconic Britto palm tree art in Florence C. Hardy Park on my way to breakfast at Bagel and Company a few feet away. Palm trees are a common motif in his artwork. I saw a bunch of them for sale in his art gallery on Lincoln Road in South Beach. The sculpture was donated to the city by the Reger family in 2022. Britto came out for the dedication and expressed his joy that more people would be able to experience his art in the beautiful park. As a fan of Britto and his brightly colored pop art and public art works, I think this installation really brightens this corner of the park. What a generous gesture by the Reger family.

On April, 29, 2022, Romero Britto erected one of his iconic sculptures on the grounds of Hardy…read morePark. The donation was made by Tarpon River resident Yasmine Reger.

"Yes, American flamingos are considered native to Florida. Though they were hunted to…read morenear-extinction by the early 20th century, new research confirms they are returning, with growing populations in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys." My Yelp friend, who was recently in Mexico at a park there, took a lovely photo of the Flamingos there. I liked the photo & said; "Great photo, my favorite OuiOui!" He asked me if I had been to that park to see them. I told him I had, and I had seen them in many many different places & parks. However, it was my wish that they would come back to the Everglades. He wrote me back & said, "I didn't know they left." I was very surprised by this statement. I thought everyone knew that American Flamingos were native to Florida & they have been pretty much extinct since the early 1900's. In the early 1900's, flamingos in Florida were nearly hunted to extinction for their meat AND their pink feathers, which were highly valued as fashion accessories for hats and fans. La vie en rose OuiOui. "Historically, large flocks lived in South Florida, but they vanished around 1900 due to the plume trade." They were also over hunted for food as they are considered a delicacy. So is the Blue Heron & the Sandhill Crane. The Sandhill Crane is known as "the filet mignon of the sky." If you look in very old cook books you will find recipes for all these birds. Thankfully, they are now protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. This law prohibits the hunting, killing, capturing, selling, or transportation of protected migratory birds without a federal permit. I love all the Flamingos, American Birds. I'm always traveling around trying to get photos of all of them, especially in the wild. I write about this all the time OuiOui. The best place to see the American Flamingos up close right now, is at Flamingo Gardens. Flamingo Gardens is a 60 acre botanical park that was built in an old Orange orchard. It's an incredible place filled with beautiful tropical plants & flowers. There are orchids everywhere, gorgeous tropical birds everywhere, it sounds like you're in a jungle when you're there. It's a truly magnificent, magical place OuiOui. I'm so thrilled that the American Flamingos are coming back to their native Florida. The recent storms blew some of them in, all up and down the east coast, from the keys to upstate NY. You can see some small groups of them in the wild right now, however, it will take some time for their flocks to multiply back to where they should be, as Flamingos reach maturity slowly (6-7 years) and typically lay only one egg per year. In the meantime, you can see them up close & personal at the Fabulous Flamingo Gardens. Moi fave Botanical park in America. As always, I will keep searching for them in the wilds, always & forever, "1000 wild flamingos" la vie en rose OuiOui. Highest Recommendations.

Flamingo Gardens was established in 1927, and is one of the oldest botanical gardens and…read moreattractions in South Florida. It was originally founded as an orange grove, but has now become a nonprofit botanical garden. My wife has always told be about this place when we first started dating. Over the years I'm finally started going. I think she understated just was magnificent it truly is. They have hundreds of unique trees, some of which are the largest trees of their species in Florida. This is home to some of the largest collections of naturalized orchids, cycads, and heliconias. They have over 3,000 species of rare & exotic, tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees. The Wildlife Sanctuary which is a home to permanently injured or non-releasable Florida native wildlife. Some of these animals include alligators, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacock, and of course, flamingos! I have to say that the tram tour, is my favorite part of this place. It takes you around the property showing many of the unique plants and trees. If you like birds, you can also head into the aviary and walk around with birds that are free flying. All through the year Flamingo Gardens offer different events. One of the eagerly anticipated events is the Party in Pink. This is to raise money for Flamingo Gardens. They have food and drink vendors come in, they have a silent auction and so much more. I would highly recommend this event. It is a great way to learn about Flamingo Gardens, meet some of the residents and have a great time and great food!