Ft. Lauderdale Is My New Best Friend
If I had wings, I would soar directly from Virginia to the Sunshine State. After dealing with nearly seven months of cold, snow, rain, high winds, ice, and more cold weather, I’m ready to take flight to a kinder and warmer environment. Let’s be real. It’s almost Easter, and by now, I should feel comfortable taking bare legs to work. But, no, Old Man Winter has decided to dig his heels into the VA ground and stick around longer than we want him to. Go away. Please. I’m serious.
While waiting for the warm weather to kick in, two weeks ago, I took my cold hind to Ft. Lauderdale, where my BFF and her hubby recently moved to. I felt it was time that I make sure they were living right, so I dragged my BF along. Having never been, I didn’t expect much. To my surprise and happiness, I loved what I found. MA and her hubby live in the Las Olas neighborhood, and let me just say this place is a scream! Walking down Las Olas Boulevard took me back to the little towns of Europe. There are charming boutiques, patisseries/bakeries, gift shops, restaurants, salons, galleries, and the cutest-ever yogurt shop (Yogurt Ur Way) on Las Olas Boulevard. The BF is well experienced with self-serve yogurt, so he schooled me on how to serve and dress up my yogurt. I picked yummy flavors like dulce de leche, French vanilla, vanilla, and one other white yogurt dream flavor. I topped it off with Lychee balls and peanuts. Pure deliciousness in my mouth. I didn’t even care that it was nearly 10 pm. I was on vacay.
We kept it moving to other little stores that were still open after 10 pm. Even after the late yogurt indulgence, from across the street, I heard Pan’e Dolce, an Italian bakery, whisper my name. I answered and headed right to the display case of chocolate and sweet goodness. Truthfully, my teeth hurt immediately upon crossing over the door’s threshold because of all the sugar in the air. It would have been a crime to eat more, so I stopped myself. Instead, we lolled around the Boulevard and took into the night breezes and positive energy that flowed through the air.
Earlier that evening, we went to the W Hotel’s 954 restaurant and feasted on seafood. There’s this amazing tank filled with jellyfish. While I see no purpose for jellyfish, I can see how useful they are in this water tank. They’re gorgeous creatures.
After our trip, I wanted to send MA and her hubby a nice “thank you” something. I remembered this sweet looking flower shop as we walked back home on the Boulevard: Flowers and Found Objects. I called them up and talked to such a nice staffer who helped me with just the perfect thing—an orchid plant, dripping with heavy white blossoms in a beautiful brown planter. MA called to say she loved it.
I tell you, sometimes, you just get it right. Everything about my visit to Las Olas was perfect—the weather, the experience, the beach, the food, the friends, the energy. My next question is, when am I getting down to Las Olas again?
