ON HENDRICKS ISLE
508 HENDRICKS ISLE
F O RT L A U D E R DA L E
FLORIDA
Welcome to Casa Grande
You have chosen one of the most delightful waterfront homes, nestled in the delightful Las Olas area of Fort Lauderdale. This tiny complex was built in 1949 - 1950 and is one of the most peaceful places locally. Casa Grande is located between the beach and the boulevard. Las Olas Boulevard - which is right at the end of the street - was where Fort Lauderdale began back in 1893 when our first permanent resident, Frank Stranahan arrived here. Today his home still stands on Las Olas and, now as museum, is a fascinating place to visit and it’s just one of our many local attractions. Las Olas is also known throughout the world for its dining and shopping - you’ll find our personal recommendations later in this book. So, turn right at the end of the street and visit Las Olas Boulevard or turn left and you’ll find that it’s just a twenty minute walk to the fabulous Fort Lauderdale beach and everything it has to offer.
The complex you are staying in was built in 1949 (with the west building being added in 1950) as corporate housing by Ford Motor Company.Your apartment has the original Mid Century Modern kitchen and bathroom. In the early days of Fort Lauderdale, the only way to reach the beach was by boat and in those days, Las Olas was known as Ocean Boulevard. The first bridge to the beach was opened on the boulevard in January 1917. The area between the beach and the boulevard was composed of mangrove swamps until Charles Rodes developed the idea of ’finger islands’. Island ‘streets’ were created on the eastern end of Las Olas, just before the bridge. The group of islands that now contain Hendricks Isle were not developed however and the area was used as a dumping ground. In the nineteen forties a Finn called Victor Nurmi sailed to Fort Lauderdale and purchased the four undeveloped islands completing Hendricks Isle and the area that is now known as The Venice of America.
On.site Amenities
Your apartment is fully equipped with, we hope, everything you will need for your stay. If you need anything else however, just ask Jackie (your manager at apartment number one) who is available seven days a week from 10am until 7pm. LAUNDRY The laundry room is located in the west building. The washer and drier are coin operated and each machine requires four quarters. Please note that a wash and fold service is available. Please note that for the comfort of residents who live adjacent to or above the laundry room please use the washer and drier between the hours of 9am and 9pm only. OUTSIDE The balcony, the garden and the dock are shared with the other residents and guests of the Casa Grande complex. Please feel free to use these areas.
Apartment
In Your Apartment AIR CONDITIONING The AC control is in the hallway, outside the bedroom door. Simply turn the dial to adjust the temperature. BEACH TOWELS There are two striped towels in the hall cupboard. Please use only these, and not the bath towels, if you’re going to the beach. If you need to dry them, please use the laundry room or the line which is behind the south building. If possible do not hang them on the balcony railings - they might blow away. BOOKS There is a small selection of books in the apartment on the lounge side table. If you’d like to borrow more during your stay, please see Jackie.
BOSE SPEAKER This is on the console table in the lounge area. The manual is in the hall cupboard, lower shelf. COFFEE MAKER The coffee maker is easy to use and is located in the kitchen, along with coffee. The manufacturer’s instructions are located in the hall cupboard. ELECTRIC KETTLE Available in the kitchen. FANS The ceiling fans in the lounge and the bedroom are both operated by remotes, These also operate the lights which are an integrated part of the fans. The fans can be set to low, high or medium.
IRON AND IRONING BOARD Located in the hall cupboard. LAUNDRY BASKET This is located in the bedroom closet. It is very helpful if you can place your used towels in the basket before you check out. There is no need to strip the bed. MICROWAVE The manual for the microwave is located in the hall cupboard.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TOASTER
The fire extinguisher is on the floor alongside the refrigerator.
Available in the kitchen.
FIRST AID KIT Although we hope you won’t need it, a full first aid kit can be found in the cupboard under the kitchen sink.
WASTE DISPOSER The waste disposer in the left hand sink. To use, plug the sink, run cold water and switch on by using the wall switch to the right hand side of the sink (where the coffee maker is plugged in).
Casa Grande Tropical Living If you’ve never been to stay with us before, there are one or two things to note about living here. We hope these guidelines will help you enjoy your stay. THE SUN We love it but if you’re not used to the sunshine, do be very careful about exposing your skin to its harsh rays. We would hate your visit to be spoiled by sunburn! Here on the island there is usually a breeze and this means that it’s easy to forget that the sun can burn unprotected skin within minutes. THE CANAL Your apartment has wonderful views over the canal. Most of the time this is completely peaceful with gorgeous yachts and other craft sailing by. If
you’re very lucky, you might see a dolphin (I have seen only three in twenty years but that’s how it goes). In cooler weather, it’s not unusual to see manatees. BIRD LIFE You’ll see a wide variety of bird life from your apartment and the dock, especially wading birds seeking fish. At dawn and dusk, you’re likely to see (and hear!) brightly colored parrots swooping overhead. IGUANAS Sometimes you might see prehistoric-looking iguanas on the dock. These can look quite fierce but are harmless. Indeed, they are quite fascinating. If it wasn’t for their habit of occasionally using the dock as their bathroom they would be the almost perfect pet!
LIZARDS, SALAMANDERS AND SKINKS Harmless and cute. Sometimes a tiny one might find its way into your apartment and it’s nothing to worry about. BUGS! It’s a good idea to make sure that you don’t leave the door to your apartment (or any windows) open as these are great ways to invite some of our least favourite residents into your vacation home. Please note that the scariest-looking of these, the palmetto bug, is an ugly beast but harmless. There is insect spray in your apartment under the kitchen sink. GARBAGE Even when using air-conditioning, it’s still a good idea to take your trash out regularly. The outside trash cans are clearly marked - household waste, yard waste and recycling - so please help Casa Grande to do its bit for the environment by using the correct garbage container. Thank you! SMOKING Smoking is allowed in the outside areas but not in the apartment. Please be sure to dispose of cigarette butts thoughtfully and not throw them into the canal.
Locale
GROCERIES AND ESSENTIALS 7 - Eleven 1529 E Las Olas Blvd (954) 463-9131 Open twenty four hours. The store is about a ten minute walk from the end of the island. Go south to the end of Hendricks Isle and turn right on Las Olas Boulevard. The 7-Eleven store is about 400 yards on the right hand side of the road. Las Olas Chemist 1201 E Las Olas Blvd (954) 462-4166 This pharmacy sells toiletries, cosmetics and souvenirs in addition to its prescription and medical service. Publix 601 S Andrews Ave, (954) 728-8330 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM You will need a car or cab to get to this supermarket. It has a huge range of goods including fresh produce, deli foods and liquor. The bakery is recommended.
Winn Dixie A lower-cost supermarket open until midnight. 680 N Federal Hwy (954) 764-2454 ATM The nearest ATM is located in the 7 - Eleven Oxxo Dry Cleaners 1501 E Las Olas Blvd, (954) 530-9234 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Eten Food Company 1404 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 383-4460 Stylish European-style cafe, takeout and deli run by well-known chef Dirk de Cuyper from Belgium and his English partner Allison. Soups, salad, sandwiches and treats served with style. Monday to Friday: 9:30AM-6PM
DINING There are many restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard - we just mention a few of our favorites here. We recommend: The Floridian Diner 1410 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 463-4041 Las Olas’ twenty-four hour diner. Plentiful, inexpensive down-to-earth dining in this historic diner which has been open almost every day since 1937. Free wifi. Dine indoors or out, watching the world go by and checking your email.
Tip! If you’re on Las Olas at lunchtime, grab take-out food (and a bottle of wine) and head round the corner to Colee Hammock Park. It’s a great place to have a picnic and watch the boats go by on the New River. Rocco’s Tacos 1313 E Las Olas Blvd (954) 524-9550 Very lively Mexican restaurant with indoor dining and an outdoor patio. Sushi Rock Cafe 1515 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 462-5541 Tiny and very popular sushi restaurant.
Pizza City 1509 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 522-2935 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM Small and cheerful Italian cafe/ pizzeria. Delivery available to Hendricks Isle (there is a menu in your apartment). Luigi’s Pizza 1415 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 522-8888 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM Trata Greek Taverna 1103 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 712-8933 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
BAO (pictured) 1200 E Las Olas Blvd #101 (954) 530-4176
Excellent Greek food, cool decor and a great bar. Outdoor patio for dining too.
Asian restaurant with the best outdoor dining area - right on the canal.
Tuscan Grill
Asia Bay
1105 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 766-8700
1111 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 848-9900
Northern Italian cuisine. The restaurant has a lovely outside dining room which is right on the canal.
Stylish restaurant serving sushi and Japanese food. Lovely canal front dining patio.
Caffe Europa 910 E Las Olas Blvd,. (954) 763-6600 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Lively Italian restaurant with fabulous desserts. La Bonne Crepe 815 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 761-1515 8:00 AM – 10:30 PM French cafe - excellent at anytime but especially for breakfast. Indigo
Treats
Gran Forno Bakery and Cafe 1235 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 467-2244 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Nanou French Bakery and Cafe 2915 E Las Olas Blvd (754) 703-9144 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM Macabi’s Cigar Bar 1221 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 764-8566 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
620 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 467-0671 6.30 AM – 11:00 PM
Yogurt Ur Way 806 E Las Olas Blvd,. (954) 765-6836 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
One of the best places to eat in the open air shaded by the historical colonnades. Excellent for breakfast or brunch.
Kilwins Chocolates 809 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 523-8338 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Wild Sea Oyster Bar
Hoffman Chocolates 920 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-368-4320 12:00PM – 10:30PM
620 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 467-2555 5:00 – 11:00 PM Seafood specialists with a wide selection of wines and spirits. Outside seating available.
Getting Around
Water Taxi We highly recommend using the Water Taxi. Be sure to save your tickets as these will entitle you to discounts at the following Las Olas locations. Mangos Restaurant and Lounge – 10% Off Entire Bill Stranahan House Museum – $2 Off Regular Admission for Guided House Tours Indigo Restaurant – 10% Off Entire Bill Kilwins of Las Olas – 10% Off Entire Bill Yogurt Ur Way - 20% Off Entire Bill Timpano Italian Chophouse – Free Glass of House Wine With the Purchase of an Entrée The Golden Lyon – 10% Off Entire Bill American Social – Free Pint of Craft Beer With Purchase of an Entrée Caffé Europa – 10% Off Entire Bill Fresh Produce – 15% Off Purchase Gran Forno Pronto – 10% Off (Food Only) Gran Forno Bakery – 10% Off (Food Only) Wild Sea – 10% Off Entire Bill Preston’s Lobby Lounge – 10% Off Entire Bill
The nearest Water Taxi stop is at 904 East Las Olas Boulevard, end of 9th Ave, . Walk up past the side of Mangos Restaurant and Lounge and the stop is right at the end of the street in a small private park. We suggest you travel to the Riverfront which has the Museum of Discovery and Science, IMAX Theater, attractions and many places to eat. With your Water Taxi tickets, enjoy the following discounts: Briny’s Irish Pub – 10% Off Entire Bill NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale – $2 Off Any Ticket Segway Fort Lauderdale – 15% Off a 1 or 2 Hour tour (Reservation Required) The Tilted Kilt – 15% Off Entire Bill Himmarshee Public House – 10% Off Entire Bill Note that you can buy daily Water Taxi tickets that give you unlimited travel - it’s a great way to see Fort Lauderdale. They are $26 per person with discounts for seniors, children and military personnel. The Water Taxis run about every fifteen minutes.
The Sun Trolley The Sun Trolley runs throughout Fort Lauderdale and passes by the end of Hendricks Isle on Las Olas Boulevard. It has no scheduled stops - you simply hail it was you would a cab. The Las Olas / Beach route costs one dollar, the other areas covered are free of charge. Here are some of the places you can get to using the Sun Trolley: African American Research Library (NW Community & Neighborhood Links) Bonnet House Gardens and Museum (Beach and Galt Links) Broward Center for the Performing Arts (Las Olas Link) Broward College (Downtown and Las Olas Links) Broward County Courthouse (Downtown Link) Broward County Library (Downtown, NW Community, Neighborhood & Galt Links) Broward County School Board (Downtown Link) Broward Health Medical Center (Downtown and Beach Links) Broward Health Imperial Point (Galt Link) Coral Ridge Mall (Galt Link) Federal Courthouse (Downtown Link) Flagler Village(Downtown Link) Florida Atlantic University(Downtown Link) Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum (Downtown & Beach Links) Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex (Beach Link) Fort Lauderdale Beach (Beach Link, Las Olas Link) Fort Lauderdale City Hall(Downtown Link) Fort Lauderdale History Center(Airport and Las Olas Links) Galleria Mall (Beach and Galt Links) Broward County Government Center East(Downtown Link) Harbor Shops (Beach Link) Holy Cross Hospital(Galt Link) Hugh Taylor Birch State Park(Beach and Galt Links) Las Olas Riverfront (Las Olas & Downtown Links) Museum of Discovery & Science (Las Olas Link) Museum of Art (Las Olas & Downtown Links Fort Lauderdale Beach Park (Beach Link) Stranahan House(Las Olas Link)
Broward B-cycle Fort Lauderdale has a bike sharing program.You can pick up a bicycle at one of their stations and leave it at any other you choose. (There are many stations on or near the beach.). The one of Las Olas Boulevard is at Las Olas & SE 8th Ave (720 E. Las Olas Blvd). Although it’s possible to purchase a membership, guest passes are available for those on vacation.
Useful Phone Numbers In case of emergency please call 911 Amtrak Railroad: (800) 872-7245 Fort Lauderdale Airport: (954) 359-1200 Yellow Cab: (954) 777-7777
Day-to-Day at Casa Grande
To help you love every minute of your stay here, please see the notes below. Note that you have a designated parking spot. If you have guests, please ask them to park on the strip of land across the street. If you use the laundry room, please adhere to the hours between 9 am and 9 pm. Note that manager Jackie will be happy to do your laundry (wash and fold) for a small fee. The city garbage cans are located to the south side of the front stairs and the north side of the property. These are clearly marked ‘trash’, ‘recycling’ and ‘yard waste’. Please help us by using the appropriate receptacle. Casa Grande is a peaceful haven amongst the hustle and bustle of busy Fort Lauderdale. Its full-time residents would greatly appreciate it if there is no noise after ten in the evening. We thank you for your consideration.
All apartments have a no smoking policy. However you are free to smoke in the outside areas. All we ask is that you dispose of cigarette / cigar butts thoughtfully. Thank you. Please note that a cleaning / housekeeping service for your apartment is available, also for a small fee. If you are staying for two or three weeks, we offer a complementary housekeeping service every seven days; changing the bed for clean linens, providing fresh towels and general cleaning. Please schedule this at your convenience with Jackie. Be sure to contact her if you have any questions at all about your apartment or the local area.
Your Guests
Please note that only two guests are permitted to stay overnight in the apartment. You are most welcome to receive guests in your apartment during your stay but please limit the number to two additional guests only and only during daylight hours. If you have any questions about this, or special requests, please see Jackie. Note that there is no designated car parking space for additional guests but they are welcome to park on the strip of land opposite Casa Grande. Please do not allow them to park in the building’s parking lot. Tell your guests that they should park in a southerly direction, parallel to the street otherwise they might be ticketed by the local parking enforcement authorities.
Checking out
We hope that you’ve enjoyed your stay at Casa Grande! On your final day, please be prepared to check out of your apartment by10 am. We thank you for your consideration - we need several hours to be sure that the apartment is in tip-top condition for the next guests. Please leave used towels in the laundry basket which is located in the bedroom closet. There is no need to strip the bed. Please leave any colored laundry (beach towels, napkins, dish towels etc.) on the closet floor alongside the laundry hamper. Please let Jackie know when you are leaving and hand your apartment key to her. If you need to leave your car or luggage here for a few hours while you enjoy your last day in Fort Lauderdale, please discuss this with Jackie who will try her best to accommodate you.
Friendly reminder: When you booked the apartment you were charged a modest cleaning fee. This was to prepare the apartment for you with freshly laundered linens. towels and so on. So we would greatly appreciate it if you would leave the apartment in a clean and tidy condition. Thank you!
Thank you for staying with us at Casa Grande. We hope you’ve had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Tell all your friends!
We’re sure that you’ll enjoy staying with us at Casa Grande so why not let your friends know about this little-known secret? The Las Olas area has everything - from the beach and ocean to the shops, dining and cultural options. Casa Grande is in the BEST location. Because it’s a peaceful and quiet complex, it’s ideal for artists, writers, photographers and other creatives. It’s also so much better for the business visitor than staying in a faceless chain hotel. Work on your laptop in the sun, watching the boats go by! Casa Grande is a Mid-Century Modern gem, built in 1949 and 1950. It has been featured in the best design magazines that concentrate on the hidden gems of Fort Lauderdale. Staying here is like a trip back in time. Did you know that Fort Lauderdale began right here on Las Olas Boulevard? When you walk the streets, you are following in the footsteps of celebrities, presidents, gangsters and even the lost pilots of the mysterious Flight 19! History is everywhere. It’s an old cliché - if you found a goldmine the only people you would tell are your closest friends and family. So tell them about Casa Grande - we’d love to welcome them to our wonderful secret paradise!
ON HENDRICKS ISLE
A Mid-Century Modern gem in the heart of the Las Olas Isles. We hope that you enjoy your stay with us in the Venice of America. Please take this book with you as a gift and souvenir!
Hendricks-Isle.com