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🌴 Your new insider guide to Fort Lauderdale 🌞 🍽️ Food finds & restaurants | 🎉 Exclusive events | 🌆 Hot spots & hidden gems | 📢 News 📍 Discover Las Olas & beyond like never before!

🍵 Matcha Moments are all over Fort Lauderdale 💚 From earthy, ceremonial-grade matcha and creamy iced lattes to strawberr...
09/16/2026

🍵 Matcha Moments are all over Fort Lauderdale 💚

From earthy, ceremonial-grade matcha and creamy iced lattes to strawberry swirls, and unexpected coffee combinations, matcha is having a major moment across South Florida. 🌴✨

From Alma Matcha, Crema Gourmet, Beach House Coffee & Tea and Matcha and Mocktails to the countless local spots putting their own spin on the beloved Japanese tea, there’s no shortage of ways to get your matcha fix

Now, Las Olas is getting its own matcha moment. 👀🍵

Starting Friday, September 18, Java & Jam is teaming up with Alma Matcha for a limited-time collaboration at its 301 E. Las Olas Blvd. café, featuring exclusive drinks...

🍁 Salted Maple
🍌 Banana Bread
🤍 Vanilla
☕️ Dirty Matcha

And Las Olas Insider is getting a look at the Alma Matcha x Java & Jam collaboration. 👀💚 We’ll be sipping, exploring and finding out what this new Las Olas matcha moment tastes like.

But before we take that first sip, we want to hear from you. 👇

🍵 Where is your favorite place to get matcha in Fort Lauderdale?

Source: The Restaurant People

📸 Pictures credit: Alma Matcha, Pexels, and Google Images

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

📼 BE KIND. REWIND. 🎬 Before streaming put movies in our pockets, Friday nights meant walking the blue-and-yellow aisles ...
09/15/2026

📼 BE KIND. REWIND. 🎬 Before streaming put movies in our pockets, Friday nights meant walking the blue-and-yellow aisles of Blockbuster, searching for the perfect movie.

But while the first Blockbuster store opened in Dallas, the company’s headquarters and owner, H. Wayne Huizenga, were right here in Fort Lauderdale. Huizenga purchased Blockbuster in 1986, and by 1992, its world headquarters had opened in the city. 💙

💛 Blockbuster became part of Fort Lauderdale’s cultural landscape, even making an appearance in a celebration on Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue, with Huizenga carrying a giant green street sign through the festivities.

Huizenga’s legacy also lives on throughout the city through places like Huizenga Park and the Huizenga Pavilion at the Broward Center. 🌴📼

Today, History Fort Lauderdale features a tribute to Blockbuster and Huizenga, including memorabilia commemorating $150 million in Blockbuster stock.

He also owned the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers, while building businesses including AutoNation and Waste Management.

Be kind. Rewind. Remember Fort Lauderdale. 🎬💙💛

Did you ever rent a movie from Blockbuster? 🍿👇

📸 Pictures credit: History Fort Lauderdale and Google Images

Source: History Fort Lauderdale, Secret Fort Lauderdale by Christiana Lilly, and Huizenga Park

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

09/14/2026

🇬🇷✨ OPA! We headed to Santorini By Georgios - Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas for Dine Out Lauderdale, but couldn't resist ordering a few favorites from the regular menu, too. ✨🇬🇷

The Tuna Crudo & Watermelon was amazing for all of us, and it was fresh, bright and beautifully balanced.

However, the Filet Mignon Kebab, featured on the LUX Dine Out Lauderdale menu, brought that savory, grilled richness we were craving. 🐟🍉🥩

Also, the Spicy Feta was another unanimous favorite at the table!

But the winner of the night? The Bougatsa. 🤤 A crunchy pastry wrapped around creamy vanilla custard and served with ice cream. We even went back-and-forth on who gets the last bite.

We also noticed the restaurant was playing hit songs from the movie Pulp Fiction that night throughout our dinner, giving the evening an unexpected cinematic edge.

Even Brittany Frattalone pointed out how much the music, when compared to what was there before this restaurant, added to the atmosphere. 🎶

Of course, what's a night at Santorini without OPA! 🥂💥 The restaurant's plate-smashing tradition was in full swing, and we noticed birthday celebrations like .fitmodel Yana BN happening all around us, adding even more energy to the night.

Good food. Greek celebration. A killer soundtrack. Birthday energy. And a dessert worth talking about.

That's a pretty good night on Las Olas. 🇬🇷🌴

📍 4 W Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Video by

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

🌴✨ Downtown FTL has a new generation coming in.According to an Esri demographic report using U.S. Census Bureau data, Ge...
09/13/2026

🌴✨ Downtown FTL has a new generation coming in.

According to an Esri demographic report using U.S. Census Bureau data, Gen Z now makes up 20% of Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s population — double its 10% share in 2020. 📈

Across South Florida, Gen Z’s share has remained at 18% over that same period, making Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s growth especially striking.

So what’s drawing younger residents downtown? Think apartment living with the city at your doorstep, waterfront views, restaurants and nightlife, fitness studios, walkable streets, community events and the unmistakable energy of Las Olas and the New River. 🌊🏙️

It’s a lifestyle where grabbing dinner, meeting friends, getting a workout in or catching an event doesn’t necessarily require getting behind the wheel.

"As downtown continues to add new housing, restaurants, businesses, and destinations, it’s creating more reasons for younger people to not only spend time here, but to put down roots and make Downtown Fort Lauderdale home," said Jenni Morejon, President and CEO of the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority.

📊 Gen Z: 20% in 2026 vs. 10% in 2020
🌴 South Florida Gen Z share: 18%

What do you think is attracting a new generation to Downtown Fort Lauderdale? 👇

📸 Pictures credit: Pexels and taleasophiarogel via Instagram

Source: Jenni Morejon and Esri demographic report using U.S. Census Bureau data

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

🏡 From Brickell to the Beach: Zachary Oppenheim’s Fort Lauderdale Hustle 🔑🤝 When Zachary Oppenheim of Oppenheim Realty f...
09/10/2026

🏡 From Brickell to the Beach: Zachary Oppenheim’s Fort Lauderdale Hustle 🔑

🤝 When Zachary Oppenheim of Oppenheim Realty first entered real estate, there was no established pipeline waiting for him, so he took the work to the streets and was knocking on doors, shaking hands, introducing himself and turning conversations into connections 🏖

📝:
📸: Courtesy of Zachary Oppenheim
📍: Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Read more about this at www.lasolasinsider.com via the link below ⬇️

https://www.lasolasinsider.com/post/from-brickell-to-the-beach-zachary-oppenheim-s-fort-lauderdale-hustle

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

☕🍂🎃 Fall is brewing in Fort Lauderdale! 🎃🍂☕Forget the falling leaves because in South Florida, we know fall by the smell...
09/09/2026

☕🍂🎃 Fall is brewing in Fort Lauderdale! 🎃🍂☕

Forget the falling leaves because in South Florida, we know fall by the smell of freshly brewed coffee, buttery croissants, seasonal drinks and a little spooky-season energy in the air. 👻☕✨

On Sunday, October 4, Coffee Club FTL is turning Croissant Park Café into a fall-filled gathering for coffee lovers, foodies, fitness fans and anyone looking for a fun way to spend their Sunday morning.

From 9 am –1 pm, expect a lively lineup of local flavor and community fun, including...

🍁 Fall Drinks
🥐 Croissant Special
🛍️ Local Market & Street Vendors
🏋️ FREE Orangetheory Fitness Central Ft. Lauderdale Fitness Workout
🎁 Giveaways + Prizes
🎶 DJ + Live Music
☕ Coffee Club FTL

With Croissant Park Café as the backdrop, this isn't your ordinary coffee run. Think pumpkins, autumn colors, spooky-season touches, local vendors, music, movement and plenty of caffeine! It'll all be wrapped into one festive Fort Lauderdale morning. 🍂🎃☕️

📍 223 SW 17th St Unit 2, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
📅 Sunday, October 4, 2026
⏰ 9 am –1 pm
🎟️ FREE RSVP via Eventbrite

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coffee-club-ftl-fall-festival-tickets-1997873916666?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

Would you start your Sunday with coffee, croissants, a workout and a little spooky-season fun? 👇

📸 Pictures credit: Getty Images and Croissant Park Café via Instagram

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

🚔 A new chapter for Fort Lauderdale's Police Department 🏙️After years of planning, construction, and anticipation, Fort ...
09/06/2026

🚔 A new chapter for Fort Lauderdale's Police Department 🏙️

After years of planning, construction, and anticipation, Fort Lauderdale is celebrating the opening of its new Police Department Headquarters. 🚨

✂️ On Wednesday, September 9, the community is invited to 1300 W. Broward Blvd. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am, followed by a reception and tours at 11 am.

The new headquarters represents a significant transformation from the department’s longtime facility. The city has described the project as a major investment in public safety, with the new headquarters designed to support more than 700 sworn and civilian personnel, modern police operations, training, and community engagement. 👮‍♀️

The headquarters has also become a new home for City Commission meetings, with the Community Room now hosting commission meetings and other public gatherings.

Beyond the walls and technology, the project represents something bigger: a changing Fort Lauderdale skyline and a continued investment in the people who live, work, and visit here. 🌴🚔

📍 Fort Lauderdale Police Department Headquarters
1300 W. Broward Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

🗓️ Wednesday, September 9

✂️ 10 am (Ribbon Cutting)

🏛️ 11 AM (Reception & Tours)

What do you think of Fort Lauderdale’s new police headquarters?

Source: Sun-Sentinel and City of Fort Lauderdale
📸 Pictures credit: KEITH and SpotlightFTL

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

🌮 Another Downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant is closing, but it has us asking a bigger question.After three years servi...
09/04/2026

🌮 Another Downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant is closing, but it has us asking a bigger question.

After three years serving globally inspired tacos just off Las Olas, Velvet Taco Fort Lauderdale is closing its doors this Sunday, September 6. The location at 305 S. Andrews Ave. opened in 2023, and WOW Report broke the news via Instagram. 🌯

After speaking with someone connected to the restaurant, we heard that parking was one of the issues for them. 🅿️

That raises an interesting question for Downtown Fort Lauderdale:

🚗 Is parking becoming a problem for downtown businesses?

For customers, a night out can mean finding a garage, paying expensively to park, walking several blocks, or deciding it’s easier to go somewhere else. For restaurants and retailers, does the cost and convenience of parking affect whether people choose to visit? 🤔

Of course, parking isn't the only factor behind a restaurant closing, and we’re not suggesting it is. But Velvet Taco’s departure gives Fort Lauderdale another opportunity to talk about something that affects the entire downtown ecosystem.

Could better parking options help? More affordable parking? Better signage? More public transportation? Or is parking simply part of the price of doing business in a growing downtown?

💬 What do you think? Has parking ever made you decide NOT to visit a downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant or business? And what do you think the city could do differently?

👇 Sound off in the comments.

And if Velvet Taco has been part of your Fort Lauderdale routine, this weekend may be your last chance to grab those tacos. 🌮 Personal suggestion, the Smash Burger Taco 🤤

Source: WOW Report and Velvet Taco
📸 Pictures Credit: Velvet Taco and Getty Images

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

🌴 Exclusive Las Olas Insider merch is back! 🌴But this time, we’re giving you a whole new way to Live. Love. Las Olas. 👀O...
09/03/2026

🌴 Exclusive Las Olas Insider merch is back! 🌴

But this time, we’re giving you a whole new way to Live. Love. Las Olas. 👀

Our most popular “Live. Love. Las Olas.” bold-print tee is back, and for the first time ever, we’re adding women’s tank tops to the collection. 🖤✨

Made for morning workouts, afternoon strolls down Las Olas Boulevard, sunny South Florida days, lounging at home, or wherever the Fort Lauderdale lifestyle takes you.

Made for the South Florida lifestyle and ready to go wherever your day takes you.

🏋️‍♀️ Hit the gym
🌴 Stroll the Las Olas Boulevard
☀️ Soak up the Florida sunshine
🛋️ Lounge in style
🍹 Head out for a day around Fort Lauderdale

It’s more than a tank. It’s a little piece of Las Olas you can wear wherever you go. 💚

🛍️ GET YOURS!
📩 DM to order — our easiest way
🌐 Shop at LasOlasInsider.com
📲 See more exclusive merch on our Instagram Shop

Graphic made by DJ JoyJoy

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

09/02/2026

🌴🌊 Another successful Dine Out Lauderdale with beach views, swaying palms, ocean breezes, and a yummy dinner at OCEAN2000. 🌊✨

Tucked inside the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, this upscale waterfront restaurant didn't disappoint us 🤤

🍉 The Chilled Watermelon & Feta Salad was fresh, bright, and refreshing.

🐟 The ceviche? As someone who isn’t usually a big ceviche fan, this was easily some of the freshest I’ve ever had.

🥩 Our other must-try: the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee-Crusted Sirloin with sweet potato pave and blue cheese fondue. That fondue may have been my favorite bite of the night!

📍 2000 N Ocean Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
🍽️ Dine Out Lauderdale | $60+ per person

Have you dined at OCEAN2000 before? What’s your favorite dish? 👇

Reels by

Follow and visit LasOlasInsider.com for more exclusive stories, news, events, and more in Fort Lauderdale. Live. Love. Las Olas. 🌴

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