Hollywood, Florida: All America City and
Revitalized Beach Destination for Sun-sational Experiences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judy Erickson
Hollywood, Florida Office of Tourism
(954) 921-3478
Email: jerickson@hollywoodfl.org

WHAT'S NEW IN HOLLYWOOD

People, places and pursuits that make our city an exciting place to visit

HOLLYWOOD, FL - January 27, 2009 - Creativity is a constant in Hollywood, from the remodel of a historic beach hotel, to informative new bicycle tours, to a lively Historic Downtown celebration set for every Friday night. The list of things to do and the great stories that go with these events is constantly being enhanced, so read on for all the information, and be sure to check www.visithollywoodfl.org for updates.

AFFORDABLE BEACH WEDDING PACKAGES - The Hollywood Beach Marriott is offering attractive wedding packages at its premium hotel venue set right on Hollywood Beach. The package costs $89 per person and includes a four-hour open bar with name-brand liquor, along with imported and domestic beer and wines. A cocktail hour including served Hors d'Oeuvres is followed by a three-course gourmet wedding dinner, and traditional wedding cake from Ana Paz Specialty Cakes. Also included are white linens, complimentary votive candles, a dance area and space for a DJ. Information: Denise Gaines, (954) 924-2202.

FUNTASTIC FRIDAYS NOW A WEEKLY EVENT - Entertainment for the whole family and a unique social gathering point at Anniversary Park in Historic Downtown Hollywood. Funtastic Fridays offers a variety of activities every Friday night, including a bounce house, Mama Clown and her face-painting skills, a magician, food vendors, and occasionally a family movie on a commercial grade movie screen. Information: 954-921-3016, www.downtownhollywood.com.

NEW GUIDED HISTORIC AND ECO-ADVENTURE BICYCLE TOURS - Bicycle riding is popular on Hollywood Beach, and now HT4 Kewl Tours is offering The Hollywood Trails: Historic and Eco-Adventure Kewl Bicycle Tours. HT4 tours launched in January 2009, and allows visitors and locals to enjoy four very different trails around Hollywood. HT4, founded by Nejila Innerarity, opened for business at Sun & Fun Cycles on the Beach Broadwalk and Hayes Street. Traveling along safe bike paths and the beach, HT4 will take the public for 5- to 30-mile rides six-days a week. Information: (202) 375-0283.

NEW EXHIBITIONS AT ART AND CULTURE CENTER - South Florida is a Mecca for national and international artists, and the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood offers exciting new exhibitions. On April 23, the All-Media Juried Biennial 2009 VIP Preview Event opens, with a reception on Friday, April 24. The exhibition runs through June 7, 2009. This year's Biennial exhibition will include original paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, video, computer-generated images, and site-specific installations from Florida-based artists who are selected for participation by juror Nina Arias, a New York-based independent curator who is formerly from Miami. There will be six award-winners: Best in Show ($2,000 prize); First Place ($1,000 prize); Second Place ($600 prize); Third Place ($400 prize); and Two Honorable Mention. Information: 954-921-3274 or www.artandculturecenter.org.

NEW DOG BEACH - A safe place to roam with your dog is always a good thing, so take your pooch on a walk on the beach near where the hit movie Marley and Me was filmed. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, the movie features a lovable puppy that causes hilarious mayhem. The Dog Beach of Hollywood is located between Pershing and Custer Streets, and opening Friday through Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. At $5 daily fee or $30 six-month fee ($10 daily, $60 six months for non-resident) is charged to use Dog Beach. Information: 954-921-3404.

FOR YOUR DINING PLEASURE - New restaurants are always interesting, with additions such as Sage Oyster Bar and Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub & Restaurant in Historic Downtown, and Vedu's Fish and Burger Shack on Hollywood Beach. Sage (954-391-9466) is set along bustling Harrison Street, and guests enjoy French cuisine at reasonable prices in a casual French bistro ambiance. with an emphasis on fresh fish and prepared by award winning Chef Laurent Tasic. Mickey Byrne's (203-952-1067) offers an outstanding Irish breakfast, Shepherd's Pie and fish and chips. Vedu's (954-923-0433) offers fresh seafood and burgers, including haddock, cod, snapper, shrimp, lobster rolls and a huge 100% Black Angus hamburger. Vedu's offers indoor, patio and Broadwalk seating.

RAMADA HOLLYWOOD BEACH RESTORATION - This landmark hotel at the eastern end of Hollywood Boulevard is enjoying a makeover, with the latest enhancements focusing on the hallways and lobby areas. The Hollywood Beach Hotel was conceived by Joseph Young, the founder of Hollywood by the Sea during the early land boom of the 1920's. The resort was designed in the style of the Mediterranean Revival popularized by Addison Mizner, the society architect of Palm Beach, and George Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables and its famed Biltmore Hotel. Information: (954) 921-0990.

BRAZIL ON THE BEACH - Brazilian superstar Daniela Mercury will bring the carnival rhythms of her native Bahia to Hollywood when she headlines the inaugural Brazil on the Beach bash, a three-day celebration of Brazilian music and sports March 20-22, 2009. Mercury, an international pop star and Grammy winner, will perform at the water’s edge on Hollywood Beach on Saturday, March 21 at 8 p.m., as part of an extraordinary cultural exchange that will include appearances by international sports and entertainment celebrities. The concert will climax an exciting weekend of world-class Footvolley competition, compliments of the Second Annual Pro Footvolley Tour Hollywood Beach Open, featuring many of the demanding sport's greatest competitors. Footvolley, a physically challenging sport that combines elements of beach volleyball and soccer, began on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and is rapidly growing in worldwide popularity. This new professional tour, launched on Hollywood Beach in 2008, features the best players in the U.S. competing against international guests. The first Pro Footvolley Tour event, which was won by Brazilian soccer legend Romario and his partner Joao Luis, drew 5,000 spectators and was broadcast live nationally on Spanish-language network Univision during its top-rated Sunday afternoon sports show. This year's crowd is sure to be on their feet and dancing in the sand when Mercury unleashes her super-syncopated samba-rock at the March 21 concert presented by The Rhythm Foundation. Hollywood fans will be treated to the U.S. concert premiere of music from Mercury's new album to be released in January, which includes duets with Latin pop stars Juanes and Juan Luis Guerra. Since her breakthrough in 1992, Mercury has become one of the best known Brazilian female singers, selling almost 12 million albums in the international market. Information: 954-924-2980 or visit www.visithollywoodfl.org/brazilonthebeach.aspx.

NEW BEACH WELCOME CENTER - A grand opening for the Hollywood Beach Welcome Center is scheduled for February 2009. The Welcome Center is located near Michigan Street on the Broadwalk at the former mini-golf box office. The Welcome Center will be a WiFi hotspot staffed by a trained visitor specialist equipped with a cell phone, a lap top, a dedicated email address and promotional print materials and maps. The Welcome Center will offer visitors the convenience of personalized information services, centralized hotel and motel booking, tour and transportation services, event information, area maps and more. Information: 877-672-2468.

About Hollywood, Florida
Situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood, Florida, the 2007 All-America City and one of Fodor's 2009 "Best Beaches for Families," is a desirable year-round destination offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms at a variety of hotels, resorts and Superior Small Lodgings. Minutes away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport and home to Port Everglades, the largest cruise port in the world, Hollywood visitors enjoy seven miles of Blue Wave beaches; a two-and-a-half-mile European-style Broadwalk lined with cafés, restaurants, boutique and full-service hotels and resorts as well as vacation apartments facing the ocean; a revitalized Historic Downtown Hollywood and new ArtsPark at Young Circle; and an array of activities including first-class shopping, waterfront, nature and dining experiences. For more information about Hollywood, FL, contact the Hollywood Office of Tourism at (877) 672-2468 or visit www.visithollywoodfl.org.