The DalmarMonthly Newsletter

Some of our favorite fall activities involve poolside cocktails, great company, and outdoor fun at our stunning hotel. However, if you feel like venturing out, there is plenty to see. While the rest of the country is starting to experience colder temperatures, summer sunshine and sultry night breezes make our tropical oasis irresistible. Enjoy a riverfront cruise, spend a day at the beach, or expand your cultural knowledge with a visit to the oldest standing structure in Fort Lauderdale, the Stranahan House. If you are traveling with your little ones, opt for a family-fun experience at the Museum of Discovery and Science, the most visited museum in Florida. But it’s the sprawling gardens of the Bonnet House that pleases the crowds. The best days usually start in your luxe hotel room and end by the pool, but for days of adventure, our central downtown location makes sightseeing effortless. 

In general, Florida history began at least 4,000 years ago. The Tequesta tribe of Native Americans inhabited this area for at least a thousand years, followed by the Seminoles. Florida had a pretty wild history for a few centuries, as governance switched from the hands of the Spanish to the British and even to the Conference States for a while.

In the late 19th century, Florida finally joined the United States, and Fort Lauderdale became known as the “New River Settlement.” When the Florida East Coast Railroad was built, development ensued, and the city of Fort Lauderdale was officially incorporated in 1911. The Roaring 20’s soon followed. Fort Lauderdale very much enjoyed these years due to a real estate boom, until a hurricane swept through the area in 1926 and the Great Depression followed.

Fort Lauderdale recovered due to its position as a military base during World War II. After the war, there was a population explosion, and the Baby Boomers we know and love today began to call the area home. By the 70’s, Fort Lauderdale beach had become a mecca for those seeking a sunnier lifestyle. Now a major yachting and tourism center, our metropolitan area is a gem in the SoFla landscape.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America, and you will be transported to that romantic atmosphere as you climb aboard with your partner and rock gently on the rippling waters below while taking in the beautiful architecture and landscape of the area. A gondola ride is a delightful experience that you are sure to enjoy and sure to impress with! It is the unique experience that will set your stay at The Dalmar apart from any other vacation.

Each ride is 75 minutes long, and guests may bring champagne, wine, soda, and finger foods to enjoy on the way. Las Olas Gondola will take care of the ice, glasses, plates, and steering the ship so you can focus on a lovely time.

Reserve your tour today online and get whisked away!

Look no further than The Terrace Grill, mere steps from your accommodations at The Dalmar. Set off your night with handcrafted cocktails, expertly made to your liking with all the right ingredients to settle you into the modern and sleek ambiance of our dining room. Journey through impeccable plates to share with your date, like our Clams Puttanesca and Truffle Fries, or dive into starters to keep all to yourself, like the Char-Grilled Octopus. You’ll soon find yourself in a Fort Lauderdale state of mind, with uniquely elevated cuisine composed of only the freshest ingredients and created with the most skilled techniques.

No matter if you’re eating the Veal Milanese, the Lobster Bearnaise, or our Rosemary Braised Lentils, you and your partner are sure to find all the best flavors at The Terrace Grill.

This month, the centerpiece of stone crab season comes to town with the 9th Annual Riverwalk Stone Crab & Seafood Festival. On Saturday, January 11 from 11 am to 4 pm, head to Esplanade Park in the heart of downtown for a free festival that celebrates the bounty of the South Florida Seafood Industry. Beloved local restaurants will serve up an array of fresh dishes starting at just $5. Enjoy a beer garden, music, and even a hermit crab race.

Another free festival comes to town on the weekend of January 18-19 with Florida Flow Fest 2020. Witness two full days of circus arts, dance, and yoga. It’s free to watch, but you can pay to join workshops and sharpen your skills in juggling, hoop dancing, Capoeira, belly dance, breakdance, and more. Multiple workshops will be running simultaneously, so you can peruse the event and take in the splendor of expert dancers moving and entering that transcendent state of flow. Explore the kinetic possibilities, also at Esplanade Park.

If you’re looking to feel like a kid again, board the Brightline for the Polar Express Train experience through December 29. This one-hour trip involves singing and dancing characters, hot chocolate, and cookies. You can even wear your Christmas PJs if you wish.

The lush Bonnet House Museum & Gardens will be bedecked for the season. On this 100th anniversary, the house will be illuminated more than ever: trees, wreaths, elaborate centerpieces—and all the decor for sale. Feast your eyes on the decked halls of the home on the weekends of December 7-8 and 11-13, where you’ll meet carolers, Santa and his elves, and even get to hear Christmas stories.

If you’re really looking for the holiday spirit of another era, head to the Historic Stranahan House Museum for period costumes and decor from December 16-23. Reservations are required, and aside from feeling like you’ve traveled back in time, you’ll get to enjoy live music and so many photo ops.

And we don’t mean the nearby oceanside town.

If you’re looking for over-the-top parties, red carpet arrivals, and fascinating films from around the world, then Fort Lauderdale caters to you this month with the 34th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival—known by its delightful acronym “FLiFF”.

Every day from November 1-17, a diverse selection of 200 films will be featured, including documentaries and short films from every corner of the globe.

Along with screenings, you can engage in dialogues with the talent at panel sessions. There are also unique screening formats: a “dive-in” movie, a Shorts at Sea dinner cruise, and more.

FLiFF also has two year-round theaters where you can catch films daily: head to Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood.

The 32nd annual Las Olas Art Fair returns to town on October 19 and 20 from 10 am-5 pm. Las Olas Boulevard becomes the backdrop for 300 national and international artists to showcase their eclectic mix of work across all mediums. The event is free and outdoors, allowing you to enjoy the mild October weather in SoFla. You’ll have the chance to meet with artists, commission your own piece, or witness the inspiring process behind each creation.

October closes out with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, called #FLIBS for short. This is truly a SoFla spectacle: the largest in-water boat show in the world, attracting a global audience of nautical enthusiasts. It’s the top industry event that attracts buyers and sellers, but it’s also an extravaganza for the general public as you’ll get to check out more than 1,200 gorgeous watercraft. This year’s show takes place from Wednesday, November 1 through Sunday, November 5 at seven locations connected by water and land. Hop on the free water taxis and explore over $4 billion worth of maritime vessels and accessories—or just opt to people-watch at a floating cocktail lounge.

Bicycle rentals are one option for wandering through downtown with ease. If you rent a bike for a longer period, you can make it to Hugh Taylor Birch Park for a dip in the ocean. Some guided bike tours will teach you about the city’s trading post origins at the historic Stranahan House. Cycle past the swaying palms along the Riverwalk, check out the most beloved establishments on Las Olas Boulevard, visit Fort Lauderdale’s lush parks, and take in the eye-candy of the neighborhood’s most glamorous waterfront homes.

Palm trees may not change their leaves, but you can still feel the change of seasons the Florida way. On Saturday, September 21, slip into fall at the 5th annual Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Fall Festival, to be held at Esplanade Park just a mile from The Dalmar. Free and open to the public, you’ll encounter games and activities, live music, and maybe even some pumpkin-spiced treats amongst the selection of food and drinks.

Through September, check out the landscape paintings of Tim Forman at the historic New River Inn, which is owned and operated by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and serves as a museum of Florida's past and pioneer life. Forman’s work portrays the splendor and simplicity of the natural world. Fittingly, the exhibition includes his perspectives of Florida’s pristine natural landscapes.

Carve out an afternoon to head to Flamingo Gardens before September 2 to encounter life-like dinosaur replicas naturalistically staged throughout the arboretum. Inside the gallery, check out unearthed bones, 3D-printed replicas, and even amber encapsulated insects. Discover the “Lost World of Dinosaurs” exhibit in tropical Florida. Flamingo Gardens is part botanical garden, part wildlife sanctuary. Less than 30 minutes away from the Dalmar, it’s always worth a visit.

MAC Fine Art Gallery is less than a mile walk from The Dalmar. It boasts the largest exhibition space in South Florida, showcasing big names and housing a digital photography studio and a state-of-the-art giclée painting facility.

To check out lithographs from big names like Picasso, Chagall, Dali, and Lichtenstein, head 5 miles up the coast to North Beach Art Gallery.

If you’re heading to Las Olas, you’ll find plenty of galleries nestled among the other boutiques and restaurants. Pocock Fine Arts & Antiques holds a treasure trove of American, British, and European antiques among their impressive collection of impressionist paintings. You’ll also find South Florida’s oldest fine art gallery: New River Fine Art, which showcases everything from Impressionism to contemporary and emerging artists, sourced from around the world.

If you happen to be here during the first two weeks of the month, you can catch a number of celebratory events and colorful spectacles—from art walks to pool parties—during the Stonewall Pride Events in Wilton Manors. The celebrations will culminate with the parade on June 15: an 8-hour extravaganza that will feature celebrity entertainers, musical performances, and over-the-top theatrical and interactive artistic experiences.

Wilton Manors is always worth a visit. If you need hard proof that this neighborhood is LGBT+ friendly, it’s the first city in Florida to have an all LGBT+ governing body! But Wilton Manors isn’t just a hotspot for LGBT+ tourism. The area is home to dozens of city parks and smaller “pocket” parks, and Wilton Drive is considered to be Fort Lauderdale’s blossoming arts and entertainment district, full of delightful restaurants, bars, and shops. So cruise just 3 miles north of The Dalmar and explore more.

If you want expansive sunset views on the water, opt for a paddling adventure inside the Whiskey Creek Hideout nestled in Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park along the coast of Dania Beach, less than 10 miles from The Dalmar. You’ll gain insight about local history and catch glimpses of native animals.

If you’re looking for a freshwater experience, choose a tour with Park & Ocean at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, just 4 miles from The Dalmar. You’ll paddle along one of the largest freshwater coastal dune lakes for a mile. These ancient freshwater lakes have hosted canoers since the 1950s. This area provides a rare opportunity to observe an endangered ecosystem crucial to the health of the state park’s barrier island system. There is even a Starlite Dinner option that involves craft cocktails and beer if you want to make an evening of it! 

If you love planet earth, you’ll want to check out the fourth annual Heal the Planet Day on Sunday, April 14 from 9am-4pm. This event focuses on small, local acts that have a huge, global impact, and takes place at Snyder Park (less than 4 miles from The Dalmar). Enjoy workshops, speakers, music, and food as the community comes together around topics such as environmental stewardship, nutrition, sustainability, ecology, health and wellness, and mindfulness.

Once you’ve celebrated Earth Day early, you can opt for an unconventional celebration on Saturday, April 20. Head to Esplanade Park, just a mile from The Dalmar, for a swashbuckling affair. From 11am-5pm, you’ll find live music, a giant inflatable pirate ship, a rock climbing wall, and most importantly, pirate costumes at the second annual Fort Lauderdale Pirate Festival.

This event is one of South Florida’s most popular 5K’s, in part because it’s a walk rather than a run, so anyone can participate. Registration costs $25. The walk is followed by a music festival at Fort Lauderdale's South Beach Park. Dig your heels into the sand and enjoy live music from Shaggy, Big Freedia, The Struts, and more. The event will be emceed by Bianca del Rio of Rupaul’s Drag Race. There will be food trucks, local vendors, and tents in the sand, so you can kick back and make a day of it.

There are more than 100,000 Floridians who suffer from AIDS. Funds raised from the event are donated to organizations that support HIV/AIDS services throughout Florida.

Then you’ll want to get yourself to the annual Fort Lauderdale Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church from February 7th-10th. Let yourself be transported by traditional Greek music and folk dance. Order saganaki and grilled plates, and wash it down with some baklava and a Greek coffee. There will be plenty of Greek beer to go around too. Once your stomach is satisfied, peruse the vendors and enjoy the general festivities beneath the Byzantine architecture of St. Demetrios. This annual event is a Fort Lauderdale favorite and many locals go year after year to enjoy authentic Greek food. Why not immerse yourself in all things Hellenic? For additional information about the festival's hours and events click here.

With commercial harvesting permitted from October-May, this is the perfect time of year to sample the ocean’s offerings. Stone crab fishing is uniquely sustainable. Only legal-size claws are harvested, and the crab is thrown back in the water and typically lives to regenerate another claw. The stone crab industry brings in $30 million to Florida’s economy each year.

You can taste the harvest at the 8th Annual Riverwalk Stone Crab & Seafood Festival in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale on January 12th, 2019. Just 1 mile from The Dalmar at Esplanade Park, festival entry is free, and the event will be open from 11am-5pm. Indulge in an array of fresh dishes from Fort Lauderdale's favorite seafood restaurants, with plates starting at just $5.

"Make the yuletide gay..."

Who: The The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus (FTLGMC)

When: Saturday, December 8th at 8pm

What: Whether your reason for the season is Christmas, Hanukkah or Ol’ Saint Nick, you’ll enjoy a festive mix of traditional holiday favorites, and contemporary carols by a local group with a 30-year history.

"As the melodies, they unwound..."

Who: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra

When: Friday, December 14th at 8pm

What: This multi-sensory extravaganza sells out venues year after year. This year’s 20th-anniversary tour presents “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” featuring the timeless story of a runaway who finds her way into a mysterious, abandoned theater.

"What a bright time! It's the right time to rock the night away..."

Who: Jingle Ball

When: Sunday, December 16th at 7:30pm

What: Y100, Miami’s #1 Hit Music Station, has unveiled the star-studded lineup for its annual holiday concert. Performers include Calvin Harris, Khalid, Alessia Cara, and more.