Culinary and libation explorations in downtown Fort Lauderdale arts neighborhoods. By Phillip Dunlap.

As a relatively recent transplant to Fort Lauderdale, I have enjoyed exploring the various neighborhoods within this diverse city. As someone who works in the arts, finding an apartment in the Flagler Village neighborhood, which is home to two of our most unique, arts-centric districts, the MASS District and FATVillage (Music and Arts South of Sunrise and Flagler Arts and Technology, respectively), has been especially gratifying. The districts are home to many great restaurants, bars, art studios, boutiques, and of course, exciting street art.

I recently accompanied my team from the Cultural Division to FATVillage on a tour of the great murals located there. Our purpose was to explore ways to create self-guided street art tours of neighborhoods in Broward County. The visit also served as a great reminder of the wealth of art that can be found around us and the role public art (whether planned or unplanned) can play in enhancing our environment.

Some of these murals came to life through collaborations between FATVillage and various artists, while others simply appeared, according to Tayina Deravile, FATVillage’s director of arts administration and community engagement. Both of Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s arts neighborhoods offer unique experiences for residents and visitors. Whether you explore on your own or attend one of the lively art walks, you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the art, followed by lunch and coffee at one of the many great restaurants and coffee shops.