BY ELIZABETH RAHE
PROPILATES WEIGHT LOSS & LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS, Harbor Shops, 1861 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, 954-767-8005, www.ProPilates.com.
A passion for learning about the human body led Tonka Cascais to study with Joseph Pilates' protégé Romana Kryzanowska in 1998 and two years later to open ProPilates Studios in Fort Lauderdale. That same passion has led her to study wellness and disease prevention, and recently, to expand her studio to accommodate a full menu of lifestyle solutions. In addition to fitness and exercise, ProPilates offers programs in nutrition, weight loss, organic skin care, massage and more.
"People come in with a certain pain, disease or injury. We look at what's been happening in their body – nutrition, rest, stress, the water they consume – and put the pieces together to form a lifestyle solution," she says.
A medical nutritionist creates programs for clients based on blood analysis, she adds. "Our clients are strictly supervised and provided with a lot of support, including recipes and group meetings. It's too tough to try to change your lifestyle by yourself."
Cascais says she does not compromise her classical Pilates training when teaching the fitness method, but she does offer programs that incorporate the techniques. Cardio Ballet Barre involves principals of ballet, cardiovascular training, Pilates and Gyrotonic. The ProGolf program she created incorporates Pilates methods and the latest developments in injury prevention and performance enhancement. Then there's the occasional Cardio Stiletto class, which allows women to strap on their Manolos and move.
BONNET HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDENS, 900 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, 954-563-5393, www.bonnethouse.org.
Standing amid the barrier island splendor of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens one feels instantly transported to another era, to a time before superhighways and mega-malls and high-rise hotels. One can imagine Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett entertaining their guests on the terrace overlooking their 35-acre estate. It's an experience worth preserving – which is why the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has placed the 1920s-era estate on Florida's list of Most Endangered Historic Sites for the third straight year. The Trust first named Bonnet House to the list in 2008 after the Fort Lauderdale City Commission approved construction of a large hotel in the southern view corridor. Due to the credit crisis, the development has not gone forward, but the threat remains, says Bonnet House CEO Karen Beard. "The historic integrity of Bonnet House could still be jeopardized by future projects that are disproportionately large, intrusive and would overwhelm the character of this very special place."
Bonnet House offers educational programming, public tours, artist exhibitions, an outdoor concert series and an annual orchid fair. A new orchid hybrid, "Evelyn Bartlett," on display in the Orchid House, celebrates the memory of its grande dame.
BELLINI'S COAL FIRED PIZZA, 1535 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, 954-235-5464, www.bellinispizza.com.
Kids can make their own pizza at the table before it is baked in the coal-fired oven at Bellini's, a recently opened upscale pizzeria. In addition to pizzas, the menu features a wide selection of hot and cold appetizers, salads and paninis plus entrées such as Penne a la Vodka, Blackened Chicken with Grilled Vegetables and Pan Seared Rainbow Trout over Baby Greens, Tomatoes, Almonds & Herbs. Specials abound, and Bellini's delivers.
FORT LAUDERDALE SUMMER SPECIALS, www.sunny.org.
Fort Lauderdale and its environs are on sale this summer with two-for-one attractions and savings on spa packages. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau website, www.sunny.org, lists about three dozen deals, including two-for-one experiences at museums, golf courses, spas, water-sports purveyors and attractions. The Lauderdale Spa Chic program starts early this year, Aug. 15, and runs through September. It features innovative treatments and therapeutic spa experiences at resorts and day spas for just $99, a savings of up to 50 percent. Many participating resorts also offer special packages and rates in conjunction with a Spa Chic stay.
GRATEFUL PALATE, 817 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-467-1998, www.thegratefulpalate.net.
Grateful Palate recently held a grand opening to celebrate its Dining & Wine Bar and Lounge. The lounge, designed as a sophisticated mix-and-mingle environment, features more than 300 labels from vineyards around the world. The custom Cruvinet system keeps wines fresh, allowing for an extensive wine-by-the-glass or half-glass menu. Chef David Learmonth presents a diverse selection of small- and large-plate fare, which changes daily based on the availability of fresh and local ingredients. Favorites include bite-sized offerings such as tuna sashimi lollipops, mini crab cakes and artisanal gourmet cheeses; plus entrées such as Pan Seared Halibut with curry Moroccan couscous and Pan Roasted Duck Breast with rutabaga, oyster mushrooms and port demi-glace. Grateful Palate also offers live music on select nights, specialty food classes and wine seminars.
OUTDOOR MOVIES ON RIVERSIDE HOTEL'S GREAT LAWN, 620 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 18, free, www.lasolasboulevard.com.
Break out the lawn chairs and catch a flick Wednesday evenings on the Great Lawn at the Riverside Hotel. Offerings include Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian, Avatar and Chocolat.
Riverwalk Trust Urban Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Riverwalk Park's Historic District, Fort Lauderdale, 954-468-1541, www.goriverwalk.com. Vendor info: 954-298-5607 or market@goriverwalk.com.
Here's a reason to get up early on Saturdays: The Riverwalk Trust Urban Market. The market features an evolving selection of organic vegetables, seafood, pastas, baked goods, cheeses, herbs, pottery and more. It's also a great way to meet fellow downtowners. The market recently moved from the Esplanade to Riverwalk Park's Historic District (enter at Southwest Third Avenue off Southwest Second Street). Visit the website for more Riverwalk Trust events, including Yoga in the Park, Pilates and Argentine
Tango Lessons.
