Coffee and Art: Fort Lauderdale

You know how Anakin loves Padme? That’s how I love books and vintage décor. With this in mind, it’s no surprise to see why Brew Urban Cafe is my favorite local coffee shop. In fact, today I’m going to take you with me on a visit to one of my favorite little parts of Fort Lauderdale. There will be tea, art and beautiful vintage things.

Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale Fl

The coffee shop is an extension of C&I Studios, a hub of activity for local artists.

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Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale

Every time I come in they’ve switched out all of the thrift shop/garage sale style. This is by far one of my favorite design aesthetics, as many of you know from seeing my own home. It’s such an imaginative idea. Every time I walk in it’s a whole new experience. I’d like to ask them who decides on the furniture choices.

Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale

Although I titled this post coffee and art, I’d gotten there a bit later in the morning on my last two visits, so I preferred to have tea instead.

Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale drinking tea coffee shop
What’s better than an afternoon tea?

Afternoon tea with a big chewy oatmeal raisin cookie.

Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale tea oatmeal raisin cookie computer

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This is the old black and white photo of me that I’d like my future grandchildren to have.

If you happen to be in Fort Lauderdale on the last Saturday of any month, you should be heading over to the FAT Village Arts District for monthly artwalk. The street is shut down and artists all along the street open the doors of their studios to exhibit their work. Outside the studios, along the street and in a large field are independent artists, crafters and vendors. Here’s a tiny sample of what I admired on my last event.

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Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale artwalk
This is a really cool place down at the end of the street. It’s a huge warehouse that houses props for the stage, television and film. Freaking awesome, right?

 

And you know I was in a happy place when I saw these.

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Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale artwalk vintage cameras
It was too high up for me to get a good close shot.

Outside of the studios

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One of my favorite vendors is the this guy who sells beautiful vintage items from these brooches to clocks and silver.
Brew Urban Cafe FAT Village Fort Lauderdale artwalk
I ended up buying this piece. It’s so different from any brooch I’ve ever seen. And I love that it’s reminiscent of both the country with it’s hay and the art deco movement with it’s bold lines, attention to detail and polished silver.

There’s so many more vendors, but my phone was stupidly low in battery.  Anyhow, if you aren’t in Fort Lauderdale for this one of many artwalks in the city, you can still have some coffee or tea then spend a little time walking the street to check out the street art that covers most buildings.

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FAT Village Arts District artwalk Fort Lauderdale
A close up will give you even more appreciation for this beauty.

Here is a portion of it. How freaking fantastic!

FAT Village Arts District artwalk Fort Lauderdale
So much detail while maintaining such clean lines and space to breathe.

I have to give everyone an apology for the horrible coloring on this second photo. The full image shows the true saturation of color and beauty of the piece.20170527_201231

Thanks for coming along with me today. May I ask, which part of this Fort Lauderdale visit did you enjoy the most?

 

39 thoughts on “Coffee and Art: Fort Lauderdale

  1. How I overlooked that place is beyond me. Brew Urban Cafe. I have a book and coffee loving ex roommate that would really enjoy such a place. He still lives in Coral Springs so I’ll have to send him down there to explore. Thanks so much for this!

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  2. Oh my heart beats for everything that screams yellowed and vintage. Foxed books, fraying pages, inscriptions of strangers, sepia-tinted photos of strangers (which Adi gets creeped out by)…so that store sounds right up my alley too. Your B&W photo is going to make you one heck of a cool grandmother 😉 Loved the graffitis too. Did you end your day with jerk chicken? I am drooling! xx

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    1. You’ve described it perfectly. I don’t know what it is about vintage yellowed things that grab me so strongly. And I am aiming to be the coolest grandma eva. Finally I made you hungry lol

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  3. Nice to see that south Florida has so many cool places to visit and has way more to offer than stereotypical things such as swimming pools, golf and old people. I’m a suburban urban guy, so seeing old buildings redone in the city is awesome since I grew up in a big city.

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    1. There’s actually a really big crowd of young professionals here and they love to party. There’s lots. I grew up in a very Suburban area, but I’ve moved closer to the city now and I love having the interesting qualities of the city nearby

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      1. And it changes too. The trendy, artist neighborhood in Pittsburgh during the 80’s and 90’s was the South Side. When that got too yuppie and overpriced, the artists moved to Lawrenceville. And now that part of town is awesome again.

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        1. Hey, the people will find a way to get what they want. When businesses and neighborhoods start getting uppity, creative people will create a solution. Move and start again ☺ it’s cool how that happens.

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  4. This is so cool!! I love that coffee shop, is that the one you go to when you want to write somewhere else? I remember you mentioning that a while ago. I can see how this place would inspire someone so much! Even just walking down the street, the collection of street art and displays is insane! 😀

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  5. Looks gorgeous . I love that you spotted the art deco piece- so many people flap that epithet around like a wet towel and get it wrong, but that is genuinely a beautiful art deco broach.

    A vintage, shabby chic, coffee shop full of books…ah…bliss 🌺🌺🌺

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    1. That vendor always has the coolest old things. I went there on a budget (ughhh) and it was killing me. He had another art deco piece that I didn’t buy and it’s been haunting me! Maybe I’ll catch him again.

      You know something of design. 😊 Which kind do you love? Interiors, accessories, all?

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      1. Well, I love the interiors but not to live in, only to look at; I love the ornaments /household decor but mixed in with warm , rustic stylings to cozy the place up and adore the accessories but wear a lot less of them now in my 30s than I did in my 20s!
        Yes I know, I do go on a bit!😂

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