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Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Clock out and chill out: Fantastic ways to spend summer Fridays in Florida
In Florida, everything slows down in the summer. Many workplaces honor 'Summer Fridays,' allowing employees to cut out early on Fridays and jump start their weekend with extra daylight. With deals on everything from spa treatments to dining, and experiences from indoor golf to fancy tea times and even mingling with flamingos, there are plenty of ways to make the most of those bonus hours. Set your summer vibe with these Summer Friday plans. Skip Out Early for Indoor Golf Leaving work early to play golf on a Friday is a summer flex. Playing golf outside in the dead heat of summer, however, is not. Perfect your game at indoor, air-conditioned golf bays like the ones at The Tips Golf, a new golf studio in Miami's Brickell neighborhood with elevated food and drinks. Take a lesson with a pro, or rent a bay fitted with simulators that offer insight about your swing and game. Bay pricing is $65/hour during off-peak hours and $90/hour during peak hours (after 4 p.m.) Head to TopGolf, with locations across Florida, where both golf pros and newbies can enjoy private, climate-controlled bays, fun games, and cold drinks. Want to brave the outdoors? Try PopStroke, an elevated mini-golf experience with 18-hole courses designed for all ages. With spots across Florida, including West Palm Beach, PopStroke amps up the fun with jumbo TVs, restaurants and bars, outdoor games, and even monthly memberships for regular players. It's the perfect way to turn Summer Friday into a group adventure. Fridays Are Made For Mingling with Flamingos Summer is also the time to visit Florida's many animal attractions. From zebras to giraffes, roaming animals are the stars of the 300-acre Lion Country Safari, a drive-through safari experience in Loxahatchee in Palm Beach County. New this summer, mingle with the park's flock of Caribbean flamingos. During the immersive 'Flamingo Mingle Encounters,' guests can feed the pretty pink birds and snap social media-worthy photos. The experience is offered twice daily. Tickets can be purchased online or on site in the park's walk-through adventure area. Gather The Gals For Gabbing and Tea Sipping on tea while gabbing with your best pals after a long work week is sweet medicine for the summer soul. Our pick for a swanky afternoon tea is the signature St. Regis Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Set inside La Gourmandise, where light flows through the floor-to-ceiling windows, diners are treated to an array of fine teas and sweet and savory delicacies nestled inside pretty bird cage towers. This summer, the afternoon tea adds a tropical twist with an all-mango seasonal menu. Another unique option is High Tea at Amal restaurant in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, which takes a Lebanese spin on traditional tea. For $38 a person, you'll sip on Turkish coffee or premium teas while nibbling from a tower lined with Lebanese bites such as grape leaf rolls and truffle rakakat (cheeses wrapped in phyllo pastry), along with baklava, lady fingers and other sweets. Treat Yourself To A Spa Deal If your Friday vibe revolves around relaxing, leave early for a spa treatment. Spas around Florida offer special deals during the summer, so it's worth checking your favorite spa's website or calling to find out about discounted spa specials. During Miami Spa Months, which run from July to the end of August, treatments at participating spas are reduced to $109, $159 and $199. Top spa picks include Lapis Spa, located within the Fontainebleau Miami Beach (it's worth going just for their water features) and Tierra Santa Healing House at Faena Miami Beach. Escape For A Pool Day At A Fancy Resort Thanks to Resort Pass, you can enjoy resort-level perks at participating Florida hotels for the day without an overnight stay. For those craving extra comfort (and sweet, sweet A/C), the Day Room option is a game changer, giving you a private space to relax, recharge, or even sneak in a little work. One standout pick: the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Wrap up your Summer Friday with their rooftop sunset happy hour — think DJ beats, drink specials, and golden-hour views over the west-facing horizon. Prefer a pool party? Known for its rowdy weekend pool parties at Strawberry Moon, The Goodtime Hotel, Miami Beach, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, can be your Friday kick start to the weekend. The new Top of the Rox in West Palm Beach, which is a rooftop bar and pool fitted with cabanas and daybeds, is all about daytime pool parties and DJs after dark. Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. on Fridays and runs until 7 p.m. Reserve A Long, Leisurely Lunch During the summer, you don't have to power through lunch, gobbling down your meal in a race back to work. Instead, book a long, leisurely lunch at one of your favorite restaurants or one that you haven't yet sampled. Italian food lovers can graze their way through Eataly's new two-story marketplace inside Aventura Mall, blending shopping with a flavorful food crawl. If watching the parade of boats on the Miami River sounds like the perfect midday escape, head to Seaspice for the Summer Lunch special, a $39 prix fixe menu that runs Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. During August and September, look for Miami Spice deals, with discounted three-course prix fixe lunches for $35 at participating restaurants. If you want to experience Michelin magic, try lunch at Michelin one-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in the Miami Design District, which will host an epic lunch deal during Spice. In Fort Lauderdale, Visit Lauderdale's annual Dine Out Lauderdale Restaurant Months kick off Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 30.
Los Angeles Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Locals slide into summer at Wild River in Irvine
Clouds loomed in the gray sky over Wild Rivers in Irvine on May 17; the waterpark's first day of the season. While the gloomy weather wasn't ideal, the Currier family didn't let the clouds ruin their day. 'I don't really care if it's overcast, it just means there won't be as much people here,' said Troy Currier. Troy and his siblings Kendall, Brock and Jake Currier all visited the park on opening day, excited to ride water slides like Pelican Plunge and Bora Bora Boomerango. 'I am excited to ride Boomerango, if I am tall enough,' Brock hedged about the raft ride that boomerangs riders up and then down a steep wall. Jake, the youngest of the Currier's was visiting for the first time. 'Are the pools heated?' he asked his older siblings with a nervous smile. This is Wild Rivers water park's third summer at the Great Park in Irvine, where it has resided since closing its former location at Irvine Meadows in 2011. The original park opened in 1987 on the former Lion Country Safari grounds. The newly designed park is nearly double the size of the original, sitting on 20 acres and boasting 30 wet and wild rides. Among them are the Shaka Bay Wave pool, Castaway River, one of the longest lazy rivers in California, and five family raft rides that allow groups to ride together. The opening kicked off with Live Island Style Caribbean music at the Wave Pool, with more DJ sets and live entertainment planned for weekends throughout the summer. 'We're so excited to welcome guests back to Wild Rivers for our third full season of thrilling water attractions, family-friendly amenities and top-tier guest service,' said Steve Mayer, general manager of Wild Rivers. 'Wild Rivers offers a fun, safe, clean and exciting destination for families, thrill-seekers and groups looking to make the most of summer.' The lack of sun didn't bring down the excitement of the Wild Rivers staff either as they bustled around the park on opening day. Chaise lounges were readied in the private cabanas. Lifeguards stood at their posts on the landing at Bombay Blasters. At the Mustang Bar & Grill, bartenders rimmed cups with chamoy and Tajin for micheladas. Susan Kruizinga, director of sales and marketing at Wild Rivers, walked the park not long after rope drop, checking in with employees and guests. 'We do get a lot of young adults that come without kids to have a day with cocktails and fun food and to relax in the sun,' said Kruizinga. Lorenzo Poto and Nathan Hallauer came out to the park from the Los Angeles area with friends and made sure to grab cocktails first. 'Our group of friends wanted to come out because that had been last year; I have never been,' said Poto. 'Even though it is a little colder we thought opening day was good time come out here.' 'We are pretty excited to start hitting the rides and that there are no lines today,' said Hallauer. While young adults come to the park to enjoy the thrill rides Wild Rivers is designed for all ages, with two children areas; Cook's Cove and Kontiki Cove. This year the park is also introducing Mermaid Cove, an immersive mermaid makeover that was previewed at the recent 2025 'State of the Great Park' event. A mermaid in a giant clamshell throne will offer braiding, glitter tattoos, shimmer freckles, photo ops and more beginning in June. Kids also make up part of the Wild Rivers team, since it is one Orange County's largest youth employers. On opening day Corbyn Mix, who many might recognize from Wild Rivers social media, filmed a quick video for Instagram. When 14-year-old Mix came in for a job interview with his Mom, he wasn't old enough do any of the other jobs at Wild Rivers, so Kruizinga pulled him on to her marketing team to capture content around the park. 'We like to highlight the rides, give some tours and give some challenges for guests to win free Dippin' Dots or something from the accessory shop,' said Mix. Like many of the employees at Wild Rivers, the water park is Mix's first job. 'We have a team of seven kids, all different ages, and we try to see where they can fit, whether it's YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook,' said Kruizinga. Many people checking in on opening day are activating season passes, a process Kruizinga said they streamlined this year. 'Last year, your first time here no matter if it was opening day or throughout the season, you had to stand in line to process your pass,' said Kruizinga. 'This year we sent everyone an email with instructions so they could do it from the comfort of their own home.' Those small changes make sure families have a fun and memorable experience at Wild Rivers, no matter the weather. 'Even if the sun isn't out, you're still happy because everybody is super happy you are here,' said Kruizinga. Wild Rivers in located at 1000 Great Park Blvd. in Irvine. General admission starts at $79.99 and junior admission (under 48″ tall) starts at $54.99. Children age 2 and under are admitted free. Private cabanas, discounted tickets and season passes are available at
Los Angeles Times
14-02-2025
- Los Angeles Times
The Crowd: Balboa Island Museum plans exhibit, book club and ‘Sunday Suppers'
If you traveled through Terminal C at John Wayne Orange County Airport anytime between September and the end of January, you likely viewed an impressive photographic exhibit of Orange County history displayed along the 80-foot Destination Gallery. Curated by Tiffany Pepys Hoey, executive director of the Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach, in association with airport curator Heather Bowling and staff, the project illustrated regional subjects of historical interest including iconic Marine Avenue on Balboa Island, 100 years of California beach life dating from the late 1900s to the dawn of the 21st century, surfing and sailing legacies, the annual Newport Beach Boat Parade, the Boy Scout Jamboree, the story of AIR CAL, memories of Lion Country Safari, and the important impact of the Irvine Ranch. This month, the entire exhibit is being removed from the airport and reinstalled on the walls of the Newport Beach Central Library commencing free public viewing in March. The public is welcome to explore the handsomely framed photographs accompanied by narrative description, an ideal journey through decades of life on the coast. The exhibit is appropriate for kids of all ages and their parents and grandparents. Entertainment, education and inspiration for the entire family are the goals of the Balboa Island Museum. Programs for all ages are produced year-round. Coming up this spring, a new monthly book club event held at the museum will debut on March 13, featuring journalist/columnist/ and social media influencer Greer Wylder presenting her new book recently published by Archway/ Simon and Schuster titled 'Born in OC: The Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Visionaries of Orange County, California.' On Feb. 23, celebrity restaurateur Ron Salisbury, member of the founding family of El Cholo Restaurants, will generously host a 'Sunday Supper' dinner in the Balboa Island Museum for members and guests to raise funds in support of museum programs and exhibits. Additional 'Sunday Suppers' throughout the year will feature special guest hosts bringing unique dining experiences and conversation to the museum crowd. As the respected chronicler of local history, Balboa Island Museum enters its 25th year serving visitors free of charge, seven days a week at 210 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. Annual membership remains at $50, and entitles card holders to a world of fun, education, imagination and community relationships spanning generations. Please visit or simply stop by the museum to take a tour and sign up to join the museum family. Their doors are open, with arms wide open as well, to welcome all.
