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Las Olas Wine & Food Festival – REVIEW

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Savoring Success: 28th Annual Las Olas Wine & Food Festival Delights Fort Lauderdale.

April 19th, 2024

From downtown Fort Lauderdale, the return of the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival (LOWFF) was another indulgent success. With tasting pavilions stretching out across both sides of iconic Las Olas Boulevard, from SE 6th Avenue to SE 11th Avenue, LOWFF offered booth after booth of endless bites from the best local restaurants, sips of spirits, wine, beer, seltzers, juices, plenty of dessert options and so much more.

As Fort Lauderdale’s premier charitable wine and food experience, proceeds from LOWFF assist in the funding of research and educational programming for American Lung Association of South Florida, whose mission is to create a better future for those living with lung cancer and other chronic respiratory diseases including COPD and asthma.

Clear skies and mild weather played a perfect backdrop for the local foodie community and guests to enjoy this year’s event. Since VIP tickets sold out in advanced and general admission ticket prices increased as the event drew nearer, only those who were prepared were able to enjoy everything LOWFF had to offer. VIP tickets included a pre-event reception at the Riverside Hotel and early access to the tasting pavilions.

As a veteran attendee of the long running event, I had certain expectations going into LOWFF, and as usual, LOWFF did not disappoint. Like past years, the Las Olas mainstays showed up, serving plenty of love, and then a handful of new food and drink offerings made a splash, assuring that the event is ever evolving and exciting. Mix a hungry crowd with some excitement and lines form, but waiting in lines at popular spots is a great time to sip a drink or two, talk about the food and digest. This year, Patron Tequila’s unique bottle shaped cups created a ton of buzz and had attendees standing in the longest lines.

I’ll pass on sharing the full menu of everything I feasted and sipped on, but here’s an abridged version of the journey:  this year’s feast started with a few cocktails, a Truman Vodka Espresso Martini and a fruity Mai Tai from Tommy Bahama took me away from the crowds and into vacation mode.

Tommy Bahama – Mai Tai

Next, some glittering gold ceviche from Boatyard was creamy and citrusy, super fresh. I could go on and on about a handful of other ceviche offerings, and if you like ceviche LOWFF is for you, but instead, I’ll jump ahead to my favorite bite from a new restaurant, a creamy, crispy cube, the Japanese Milk Bread Shrimp Toast from event rookies MAASS at the Four Seasons. Other exceptional bites included the Braised Beef Short Rib from Holly Blue, the Tuna Poke Nachos from Lucky Fish, the Shrimp Beignet from Even Keel Fish Shack, the Seared Ahi Tuna Causa from The Diplomat Beach Resort, the Birria Esquites from Rocco’s Tacos, and the Agnolotti Di Pera from Tamarindo Harbor Seafood Bar & Grill.

Tamarindo Harbor Seafood Bar & Grill – Agnolotti Di Pera

When I started to run out of space for food, I took a minute to say hello to former Miami Dolphins, Florida Gators great, and seasoning hall of famer, Channing Crowder, who was at LOWFF offering his Crowder Powder, a tasty mix of garlic, with a touch of heat, and a hint of sweet. Next, I had an opportunity to try the already iconic Gin and Juice by Dre and Snoop. I went with Citrus, it was crisp, packed with flavor, and kept me rolling down the street, and right into the Casamigos and then the High West Whisky bars.

After recharging, it was time for dessert. Phuse Cream’s Strawberry Cheesecake Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwich was a perfect bite to begin with. From there, some famous Iced Coffee, super sweet and creamy, from The Alchemist Café hit the dessert bullseye. Next, Hatch’s Bacon Pecan Ice Cream on a Sugar Waffle was the perfect, “over-the-top” option to close out another satisfyingly LOWFF.

Hatch – Bacon Pecan Ice Cream on Sugar Waffle

After 28 amazing years, it’s safe to say LOWFF shouldn’t be missed. Stay up to date with LOWFF announcements, specials and giveaways on Facebook and Instagram or for a complete line-up of events and ticket information, visit LasOlasWFF.com

  • The Hollywood Donut Factory

  • Rocco's Tacos - Birria Esquites

  • Rocco's Tacos - Birria Esquites

  • Tamarindo Harbor Seafood Bar & Grill - Agnolotti Di Pera

  • Tanteo - Tequilas

  • The Alchemist - Famous Iced Coffee

  • The Den - Jalapeno Croquettes

  • The Diplomat Beach Resort - Seared Ahi Tuna Causa

  • The Federal - Smoked Fish Dip

  • Radiant 166 - Sesame Ahi Tuna Seaweed Salad

  • Timpano - Creamy Pasta

  • Tito's Vodka- Cafetito's Espresso Martini

  • Tommy Bahama - Mai Tai

  • Tommy Bahama

  • Truman Vodka - Martini

  • Vicky Bakery - Cuban Pastries

  • Yolo - Cherry Smoked Pork Loin

  • Abiaka - Shrimp with White Sauce

  • Pinaq Liqueur

  • Ol' Days - Tapioca Bites

  • Lung Force

  • Lucky Fish - Tuna Poke Nachos

  • Holly Blue - Braised Beef Short Rib

  • High West Whisky

  • Hatch - Bacon Pecan Ice Cream on Sugar Waffle

  • Hampton Water Rose

  • Golden Road - Margo Cart Ale

  • Gin and Juice by Dre and Snoop

  • Even Keel - Shrimp Beignet

  • Casamigos Jalapeno

  • Boatyard - Ceviche

  • Barcelo Rum

  • American Social - Tropical Atlantic Ceviche

Events

Finding Finland Hidden in Plain Sight

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FinnFest USA Brings Finnish Culture, Creative Voices, Global Ideas and an Unexpected Pizza-Roll Connection into Focus in Minneapolis.

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Zéya 100k

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The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.


September 26, 2026

Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.

The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.

The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.

And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.

Because we all have stuff.

The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.

Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?

Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.

Services are coming too.

And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.

– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre

Swipe. Match. Swap.

The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.

You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.

Then you offer something of your own.

Swipe. Match. Swap.

If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.

Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.

In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.

100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal

Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.

Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.

“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.

That idea stuck with me.

We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.

Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.

Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7

Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier

The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.

One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.

Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.

Done.

The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.

Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.

So that barely used handbag has value.

But so do the golf clubs in the garage.

And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff

This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.

Zéya is adding services.

That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.

Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.

Maybe you tutor.

Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.

Your skills have value too.

The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.

And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.

It All Feels Very Miami

Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.

Zéya feels very Miami.

It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.

We can absolutely get behind that.

The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.

That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.

Swap, Don’t Shop

There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.

But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.

The appeal is much simpler.

You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.

Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.

Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”

After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.

Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.

CHECK OUT ZEYA HERE 

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar

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The Hobby Card Show Turns Fort Lauderdale into a Collector’s Playground

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Luli Fama Launches Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Swimwear Collection in Miami

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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.


 August 20, 2026

Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.

South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.

The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.

On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.

Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection

Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.

Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.

The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.

We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.

Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.

It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.

Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami

There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.

In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.

A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.

Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.

Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.

The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.

Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall

Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.

The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.

Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.

Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar

Fashion is only part of the experience.

For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.

Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.

The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.

Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.

The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.

A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home

For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.

Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.

Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.

And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.

After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.

Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.

Check out the collection HERE

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