The music wafted all across the rooftop of The Easton as the city of Downtown Fort Lauderdale
shimmered below. Around the pool, conversations bounced, cameras captured interviews, and
guests raised glasses beneath the night sky.
This was Our South Florida: The Reveal, an event held Thursday, September 24, at The Easton
Rooftop in Fort Lauderdale. It was an evening celebrating community culture, connection and
the official introduction of Our South Florida, a news and media outlet covering and positive
local lifestyle content.
Created by publisher Nile Fortner, Our South Florida is built around a simple idea: South Florida
is filled with stories worth telling, and the people behind those stories deserve a spotlight. A
voice for the voiceless, as he told Miami TV. Covering everything from businesses and
restaurants to entertainment, real estate, events, culture and the personalities shaping the region,
the platform aims to celebrate the people and places that give South Florida its unmistakable
character.
For one night, that mission came to life.
Guests like creatives, entrepreneurs, business owners, and more mingled between the pool and
lounge areas. People from all industries exchanged introductions and discovered new businesses
and personalities. Heather Geraci, aka, Heather Mermaid added a beautiful and memorable
visual moment, arriving in a shimmering tail inspired by the glamorous, Art Deco world of The
Great Gatsby. Guests gathered around her to take pictures, videos, and see her mermaid magic.
Meanwhile, the soundtrack belonged to DJ Isaac IceCold, who was also celebrating his birthday
that night.
Brooklyn Cafe TV and Miami TV brought cameras to the rooftop, interviewing guests, sponsors
and local personalities, all while doing it live. They also were giving attendees an opportunity to
share their own stories and businesses.
The evening also showcased the diversity of South Florida´s entrepreneurial community, with
sponsors for the event including Yusell Garcia of YuSpa South Florida Mobile Spa, Michelle
Courtenay of The Scout Guide Fort Lauderdale East Broward County, Krishen Dindial, author of
The Book of the Bitch, Michelle Vrkic of Zen Zone Wellness, and Haley Goldberg of Bite Me
Protein Bakery.
Some guests even got a taste of Bite Me Protein Bakerys creations while networking, adding
another local flavor to the evening.
The celebration was made possible through a collaboration involving The Easton Rooftop, Good
Life Miami, La Familia Media, Fresh Press and Reck’n App, with additional supporters helping
bring the night together.
For Fortner, however, the most meaningful part of the evening wasn´t the rooftop, the cameras or
even the launch itself. It was seeing people connect, and we all build something together.
From the laughter around the pool to handshakes between strangers, photographs beneath the
moonlight and conversations about businesses, ideas and future collaborations, The Reveal
demonstrated that while Our South Florida may exist online, its foundation is very much rooted
in real people and real relationships.
photography by @bluelensproductions