FORT LAUDERDALE, Fl – With fun-filled cultural and historical events from Heart of Fort Lauderdale Segway tours to “Love Letters” starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal, July is a month to love summer at Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. In July, The District partners – Broward Center for the Performing Arts, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Historic Stranahan House Museum and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens – are excited to offer many events and activities for all ages, including:
A wonderful way to spend Thursday summer evenings is at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale’s Summer Starry Nights. Every Thursday from July 2–Sept. 3, the Museum is offering free admission from 4:30–8 p.m. During these times, visitors can enjoy exhibitions, lectures and films, along with two-for-one wine and beer specials along with a light tapas menu in the Museum Café. Also on view this summer at the Museum are the exhibitions “From Within and Without: The History of Haitian Photography,” “War Horses: Helhesten and the Danish Avant-Garde During World War II,” “Julian Schnabel: Portrait of Olatz,” “Pablo Picasso: Painted Ceramics and Works on Paper, 1931–’71,” and “Selections from the William J. Glackens Collection.” For more information, visit nsuartmuseum.org.
Saturday and Sunday summer mornings are perfect for the Heart of Fort Lauderdale Segway Tour, presented by Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and Segway Fort Lauderdale. Segway Fort Lauderdale representatives train guests to ride a Segway, and in no time they are rolling through Fort Lauderdale’s scenic waterfront and charming neighborhood streets. Guests enjoy fun facts and stories of a bygone era while riding this fun and easy-to-use vehicle, perfect for any age. The 11Ž2-hour tour includes plenty of scenic spots ideal for photo taking, including Historic Stranahan House, mid-century modern architectural highlights, Coolie Massacre site and many other picture-perfect stops. After the ride, guests head back to the Fort Lauderdale History Center and enjoy their choice of a self-guided or docent tour of the campus, including the Historic New River Inn. Reservations required; call 954-304-5746. For more information, visit www.riverwalkae.com/heart-of-fort-lauderdale-segway-tours.
Fort Lauderdale is home to many beautiful parks, and City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department Special Services Supervisor Tim McGovern will be sharing the benefits of recreation and being a community builder during his lecture, “Public Space: The History of Our Parks” on Monday, July 20 at 11 a.m. McGovern will focus on the improvements to Stranahan Park and Joseph C. Carter Park in Fort Lauderdale. Presented by Historic Stranahan House Museum, the talk will take place at the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club, located at 20 S Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, at Stranahan Park next to the Main Library in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.stranahanhouse.org.
“Love Letters,” starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal, is a captivating story of enduring romance about first loves and second chances. It’s on stage at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday, July 21–Sunday, July 26 during matinee and evening performances. “Love Letters” tells the story of how Andrew Makepeace Ladd III wrote his first letter to Melissa Gardner to tell her she looked like a lost princess. They were both seven years old. For the next 50 years, through personal triumphs and despair, through wars and marriages and children and careers, they poured out the secrets of their hearts to each other. They defied a fate that schemed to keep them apart, and lived – through letters – for the one most meaningful thing: their undying love for each other. Directed by Gregory Mosher and written by celebrated playwright A.R. Gurney. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit browardcenter.org/events/detail/love-letters.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is merging a delightful cruise down the New River with intriguing history during its Cruisin’ Down the River: Historical Adventures of Dreamers & Schemers cruise on Saturday, July 25 from 5– 7 p.m. During their New River cruise on the historic Carrie B paddlewheel boat, guests will hear about the dreamers and schemers of Fort Lauderdale with former Bonnet House Curator Stephen Draft. Cost is $45 for members, $55 for non-members. Includes two glasses of wine and light snack. Sponsored by Kelly’s Landing. For more information, visit bonnethouse.org/calendar.
These and many more July activities are highlighted on The District’s vibrant, award-winning consumer website, www.riverwalkae.com, a one-stop resource for those planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale or locals who want to see what’s happening in the area.
About Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District
Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District is a unique partnership of arts and entertainment organizations located along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale with the express mission of promoting cultural tourism in South Florida. Presenting over 1000 individual events each year, The District attracts well over 1 million visitors annually. Partners of The District Consortium include Broward Center for the Performing Arts, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, the Historic Stranahan House Museum and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. It is supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information about The District and its partners, visit www.riverwalkae.com.
