Writes of Passage

Hollywood, FL 33019

… more pix & videos on Google Maps

The broad walk along The Atlantic Ocean in Hollywood is a very nice place to jog, to run, to cycle on the bike lane, or to the beach. The west side is lined with restaurants, such as Venice and Margetaville Cafe, and of course the shops, and the east side is the water. The promenade is pretty long. Below Polk Street, is the South Broadwalk.

Street, is the South Broadwalk.We’re there during the spring break, with many events going on, such as Miami Open, surprisingly it’s not crowded, with a hint of tranquility; unlike Venice Beach in LA, which is a turn off …

The beach is clean. The garbage cans are sand color crooks like flower pots (are they?). They power wash the sections of the walk. Every time I’m out there on the beach, I see police cruise on the beach on the sand wheels vehicles. A very relaxed area that I’d return again.

… the sunrise, March 20, 2024

609 North Ocean Drive
Hollywood, FL33019

The hotel is on N Ocean Drive and New York Street / Fillmore St. The compound is pretty substantial, 9 buildings and parking lots takes up the entire blocks on either side of New York St.

Building #7 and 8 are the closest to the beach. #3 is closest to the office. $12 for parking. They offer beach towels and chairs for free. Their office opens 8am-11pm. Daily maid service.

Our unit has a mid sized refrigerator and mini cooking top for simple need. Dish washing detergent is provided, with some pots pants and some tableware. One of the two wine glasses is dirty, unwashed.

^{N Broadwalk @ Fillmore Street}

This year for the Miami Open, we pick Hollywood as our base, which is a very good choice. It’s a city with 153,067 (2020 census) residents, between Ft. Lauderdale to the north and Miami to the south, part of Miami Metro.

Our hotel Hollywood Beachside Boutique Suites is a few steps away from the N Broadwalk on The Atlantic Ocean.

According to the town: “Hollywood is home to more than 60 parks, seven golf courses, seven miles of pristine beaches, and the one-of-a-kind Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a promenade that stretches nearly 2.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean.”

1 Commercial Blvd.
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308

… more pix and videos on Google Maps, Yelp Yelp repost & TA

It’s more than a cafe: a very busy restaurant with three bar islands and, at least two hostess up front.

On this Monday at 2pm, although we’re seated inside immediately but it’s packed. A live band playing Grateful Dead, before it takes a break or rest.

Outdoor section with deck and on the sand, needs a few minutes to be seated.

Two hostesses, the short girl (Asian?) shows us plenty white eyeballs, and the taller one is very gracious with a smile.

The decor isn’t too bad for a beach dive.

We’ve: crab cake and PEI Mussels: both are delicious. A few strains of veggies are tasteless (I don’t mind) but fresh. The garlic sauce for the mussels is heaven – heavy in oil. The only regret is the bread, it’s like hot dog bun, heavy and dead, otherwise I’d finished the mussel sauce. Yup, no one wants to take me out -:(

A small parking lot on site. We parked at the adjacent parking lot, $10 for up to three hours.

2024.4.14

This is a repost of my original bc Yelp deemed it inappropriate: no specifics, and didn’t offer me a chance to correct – actually without a specific reason, I can’t make any correction, can I? The only change I made is to correct the type and delete the “Asian”: ” the short girl (Asian?) ahowws us plenty white eyeballs” to “the short girl shows us plenty white eyeballs.”
IF this repost stands, then the word “Asian” must be the problem. WHY?

___Below is the post – my genuine, first hand experience ___

2851 North Atlantic Blvd gov
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

… more pix n video on Yelp

Two miles south of Ft Lauderdale on the Sea, this small park has limited pay-to-park parking spots. When we’re there on Monday afternoon, we see a couple of empty spaces.

Driving through residential streets, to get to the clean beach, which is pretty empty. People come here to dive and snorkeling too.

Broward County, FL 33308, 33062

… more pix n videos pix Yelp

A lovely small beach town on the Atlantic Ocean, population 6,198 (2020 census). It’s 8 miles north of Ft Lauderdale, predominately white, 81.98%, (Asian 1.45%).

My diving master suggested: swim out from the beach (Datura Ave) for the shallow reef, which is about 16 feet deep.

Datura Pier

• Aruba Beach Cafe
• Vista Beach

House cleaning is a cottage industry: well organized and professional mini corp. They’ve front person, usually a man, some even have a name tag clicked on above his breast. Cars with their company logos, and buckets of tools and gadgets.

They’re more expensive than in New York, in light of housing price and income. 

My first one and two are from a local business site. Then I get referral for the mini corporations:

1. mini 3: starts today. A man came to estimate
2. mini 2: once then stopped coming
3. mini 1: 1 yr. The boss did three times w/ 1 or 2 women, then his female employees only
4. a young man: two months
5. bathrooms only: four months  

Hollywood, FL 33019

… more pix on TA

Swimming here is pretty satisfying. 

Will return, although I’m not a beach bum -:) there is just so much to do, and not crowded. 

The sunrise 

Love the location: the long stretch of beach is very easy to access from the boardwalk with a bicycle lane, and the hotels. The westside of the N Boardwalk lined with hotels, restaurants and shops, which means you’ve the convenience of both sides: ocean and foods. 

The sand is clean. The short time I’m out on there, I see police patrols the area on their big sand wheels vehicles. 

Unlike Venice Beach in LA, California, neither trashy nor crowded. 

I tried to swim but unable: the big wave makes it difficult, just like Jones Beach in New York.

This part of Atlantic Ocean is emerald green.  

777 N Ocean Dr.
Hollywood, FL 33019

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Will return.

This relaxed roof top bar looks out to Stranahan River and North Lake, the view is beautiful, especially during the sunset.

It’s a minute walk from our hotel, on a Monday. Without reservation. We were seated immediately.

The service is good, so is the food. We’ve Greek salad and Fish tacos. My glass of Pinot Noir $6 (omg … should have 2 more!), cost less than the Lagunitas IPA draft $9 -:) obviously I don’t know beers.

… So, the sofa section that is to the edge of the bar facing the water is reserved by a large group, perhaps school. A family of four comes and the mother looks agitated and navigates through the tables, and goes over to the group, asking if they could take a family photo under the Sunset State of Mind sign. They then take a few more by the railing, with the water as the background. After the photo op session, the family leaves.

I’m amused.

One, first, they have to squeeze between people’s tables, then into the group section, is pretty rude. Secondly, what is so special about a bar sign?!? This is worst than the group at Clássico Beach Club @ Urca, Rio de Janeiro.