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FloridaStateHomes.com Bonnet House Review

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Reprinted with permission

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Among the watercraft rentals and spring break parties of Fort Lauderdale lies a safe haven for nature and art: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Bonnet House was the winter home of artist and Chicago native Frederic Bartlett, his second wife Helen Louise Birch, and third wife Evelyn Fortune Lilly. Named for the vibrant bonnet lilies found on the grounds, the house remains a direct reflection of the Bartletts’ enthusiasm for creative expression and passion for the preservation of the untouched Florida landscape of the 30s and 40s.

Monica Estevez, Marketing Manager with Bonnet House, notes, “People are amazed at what a tranquil and secluded place it is, even though it is located in the middle of Fort Lauderdale beach.” Estevez believes the loyalty to the vision of the Bartlett family is a unique part of its charm. “They loved life and each other and created a unique winter home that was reflective of them and their interests.”

Today, Bonnet House is maintained by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and is dedicated to serving the community as a place of artistic expression and preservation. The grounds, brimming with fauna and spanning 35 acres, host a variety of Florida’s native ecosystems, from beachfront dunes to mangrove wetlands; the gardens serve as a conservation of Florida’s ever-decreasing barrier island habitats. The interior of the House itself remains virtually untouched, offering a window into the lives of the Bartletts. Each room has its own role and personality, developed over time through the eclectic tastes of Frederic, Helen, and Evelyn. Galleries are filled with the art collected by the Bartletts, as well as a collection of Evelyn Bartlett’s personal work.

Every year, Bonnet House hosts a wide array of events, ranging from live music series to educational programs. Estevez estimates that, “11,000 participate each year, including about 8,500 youth who come on school field trips or participate in distance learning programs sponsored by the museum.” A particularly popular program, “An Eco Here, An Eco There,” invites students to perform a field study of the rich habitats surrounding the Bonnet House. The House also hosts widely attended community events such as the Orchid Festival, which is held annually at the beginning of Florida’s cool winter season. The Orchid Festival brings together local vendors featuring exotic plant life, garden art, and gourmet food trucks for a weekend of mixed drinks, green markets, culinary demos, and garden lectures. This affords visitors the opportunity to curate their own garden collection, taking the Bonnet House experience into their own homes.

The Bartlett legacy is one of artistic investment and devotion to creative expression. The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Bonnet House is loyal to that vision through both the upkeep of the grounds and the devotion to the display and stewardship of the house’s interior. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens remains a refuge for creative souls, inquisitive students, and those with the desire to experience the rich artistic and cultural history Fort Lauderdale has to offer.

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Don’t Miss Bonnet House’s Popular Orchid Greenhouse Tours!

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Greenhouse-ToursOur world-famous orchid collection is one of the many reasons why a visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Our greenhouses and display house hold approximately 1,200 stunning, exotic plants in various stages of development. Truly a special treat for orchid enthusiasts and novices, our Orchid Greenhouse Tours take place on the second Tuesday of each month, with our Bonnet House Orchid Curator showing you around our greenhouses and discussing how our beautiful orchids are bred and cultivated – including our impressive seedling program, with orchid seedlings available for purchase. These popular tours are offered from 11am to 12pm, in groups of 15 to allow for questions and discussion, for $20 per person.

The story told at Bonnet House Museum and Gardens spans and parallels a wide swath of American history and makes a visit both to these pages and to the estate a uniquely educational and entertaining experience. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Limited reservations are available for the Greenhouse Tours, and pre-registration is required. To register, please call (954) 703-2606 or visit BonnetHouse.org.

“Women of Mystery” River Tour Set for March 28, Cruisin’ Down the River with Elaine Viets & P.J. Parrish.

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Women-of-Mystery-HeaderGuests attending Bonnet House’s “Cruisin’ Down The River: Women of Mystery River Tour” will cruise the New River and Intracoastal in style aboard the double-decker Water Taxi have to share an afternoon with award winning mystery novelists Elaine Viets and P.J. Parrish. Elaine will talk about her latest “Dead-End Job” mystery, Catnapped!, while P.J. Parrish will talk about her latest book, Heart of Ice.  The River Tour takes place on March 28, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Elaine Viets is looking forward to sharing her unique perspective with cruise passengers.  “Having worked close to a dozen dead-end jobs as a real-time way of researching my mystery novels, I have accumulated a ton of stories that always seem to delight and entertain audiences,” she mused. The lighthearted mystery, Catnapped!, is set in the world of show cats and cat shows.  Publishers Weekly comments, “The behind-the-scenes look at the show cat world is worth the price of admission alone in this witty cozy [mystery].”

P.J. Parrish, the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers, is actually the nom-de-plume of two sisters – Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best-seller lists and they have won the Shamus and International Thriller Writers awards as well as being Edgar finalists. Renowned mystery writer Lee Child calls their new work “crime fiction at its finest.”

Admission to the River Tour is $45 for members and $55 for non-members. The yacht embarcation site is at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina located at 1881 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. For more information and to reserve your seat, please call (954) 653-1554.

Enjoy Special Tours of Private Living Quarters!

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Behind-The-Scenes-TourBonnet House Museum & Gardens visitors can participate in a unique VIP experience every second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  Normally closed areas of Evelyn and Frederic Bartlett’s private living quarters will be opened for these special tours, expertly hosted by our seasoned Bonnet House docents, and showcasing rooms not seen on our other tours. The special tours take place from 2 to 3pm, and cost is only $20 per person.

The special tour is offered in groups of 10 to allow for questions and discussion. Limited reservations are available, and pre-registration is required.  Please note that the ability to climb stairs is necessary to fully participate in the tour.  A video presentation at ground level will accommodate those guests unable to climb stairs. The main house tour is not included – if you are interested in viewing the main house, normal admission fees apply.

Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information or to pre-register for the Behind The Scenes tours, please visit us at www.bonnethouse.org/calendar/ or call (954) 703-2606.

Impressions Juried Art Exhibit Returns in March 2015, with Irvin Lippman Serving Once More as Guest Juror. Call for Entries Now Open.

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2015-Juried-ExhibitBonnet House Museum and Gardens’ 15th annual “Impressions” juried art exhibit and fundraiser will open on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 6:00p.m.  We are honored to welcome back Irvin Lippman, Executive Director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art, for his third stint as guest juror.

This popular juried art exhibit will showcase artists from throughout Florida and the artists’ personal interpretations of America’s architecture, nature, or culture.  All guests and participating artists are invited to cast votes for their favorite artist in the exhibition.  The artist receiving the highest number of votes will receive the People’s Choice Award, awarded the opening evening.  All of the artwork in the Impressions exhibition will be available for sale, with 50% of the proceeds benefiting Bonnet House Museum & Gardens.

Additional highlights of the evening will include fine gourmet food, fine wine and entertainment throughout the house.  The exhibit is set to open with a private showing for V.I.P. guests starting at 5:00 p.m.  V.I.P. guests will be treated to champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the upstairs living quarters and veranda of Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett and be the first guests to the exhibit.

Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.  The Impressions exhibition will be on display from March 6 through May 3, 2015 during Bonnet House regular tour hours.  Formal invitations will be mailed in February; if you would like to add your name to the mailing list or would like to enter your work to be considered, please call (954) 703-2614 or visit us online at www.bonnethouse.org/impressions.

Exhibit of Works by the Bonnet House Fine Artists Set to Open January 15th

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InTheDetails“In the Details,” an exhibition of works by the Bonnet House Fine Artists, is set to open Thursday, January 15 at 6pm in the Carl Weinhardt Gallery at Bonnet House.

The theme for this exhibit focuses on the fine points of the Bonnet House property and buildings, small vignettes of things we might otherwise not notice, and fresh interpretations of artifacts, architecture, flora and fauna throughout the Bonnet House Estate.  The exhibit will run through March 1st and is open to the public during regular tour hours with paid admission.

The opening will include a wine reception from 6-8pm and is free for members and $5 for non-members at the door. A percentage of all art sale proceeds will benefit Bonnet House programs.

Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (just east of the Galleria Mall, across from Birch State Park). For more information, please contact Monica Estevez at (954) 703-2614.

Another Great Season of Concerts Under the Stars Gets Underway on January 22!

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Concerts-Under-StarsOne of Fort Lauderdale’s most popular music series marks its return on Thursday, January 22 at 7pm, when the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens kicks off its 19th season of the Young Artist Music series with a performance by the University of Miami’s Frost Opera Theater, featuring graduate students pursuing Masters and Doctorate degrees in the University’s Department of Vocal Performance.

The exciting new season of Concerts Under the Stars continues on February 12 with the Lynn University String Quartet, followed on March 12 with the Florida Atlantic University’s Latin Vocal Ensemble, and culminating with the April 9 presentation by Florida Grand Opera’s rising stars.

Beginning as a community outreach program, the Young Artist Music series has successfully become one of Bonnet House’s most treasured programs. Individual tickets for this very special 19th anniversary season range from $35 – $45 per performance and series tickets from $120 – $160, so everyone can enjoy truly outstanding musical evenings of Concerts Under the Stars. And to accentuate what is quite possibly the “best entertainment deal in town,” wine, dessert and coffee will be included in the price of admission at each performance.

Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (954) 703-2614 or visit us at www.bonnethouse.org/calendar/

Bonnet House Tours in Spanish Beginning in December

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spanish tourBonnet House Museum and Gardens has experienced a dramatic surge in Spanish speaking visitors, so we have added a special weekly Spanish language tour. The first of these will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 10am, with tours available every Saturday at the same time from then on. All tours are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in length and will be led by a Bonnet House certified docent. Visitors can purchase tickets at the Welcome Center on the morning of the tour.  The cost for the tour is $20 for adults and $16 for students ages 6-12.

For more information, please contact Monica Estevez at (954) 703-2614 or [email protected].

Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please visit www.bonnethouse.org or call (954) 703-2614.

And for our Spanish-speaking friends: El Museo y Jardines Bonnet House ha experimentado un gran aumento de visitantes de habla Española, y por lo tanto hemos decidido añadir una excursión semanal especial en Español. La primera de éstas tomará lugar el sábado 13 de diciembre a las 10am, con excursions disponibles todos los sábados a la misma hora desde ese día. Todas las excursiones toman aproximadamente 1 hora y 30 minutos, y serán dirigidas por un guía certificado de Bonnet House. Los boletos se pueden obtener en el Centro de Acogida en las mañanas de las excursiones. El precio de la excursión es $20 para adultos y $16 para estudiantes entre las edades de 6 y 12 años. Para más información, por favor contacte a Monica Estevez al (954) 703-2614 ó [email protected]

8th Annual Bonnet House Orchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival Set for First Weekend of December

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Orchid-FestivalBonnet House Museum and Gardens will be blooming during its Orchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival – featuring the 8th Annual Orchid and Exotic Plant Sale – on December 6th and 7th from 9:00am to 4:00pm! Plant lovers and orchid enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see and buy an exclusive selection of orchids and exotic plants sold by over 40 local vendors, and the two-day event will feature gourmet food trucks, libations, orchid care lectures, cooking and gardening demonstrations, orchid displays, live music and a farmer’s market.

Don’t miss one of the year’s most anticipated events! The entry fee is $12 for members and $15 for non-members for the fair and grounds and an additional fee of $5 for the self-guided tour through the house. Parking is free. For more information, please call (954) 703-2614. Tickets are now available online at www.bonnethouse.org.