With the full moon hanging over Fort Lauderdale like a spotlight casting across the Fort Lauderdale skyline, music drifted through the night air. Conversations unfolded around the rooftop pool at The Easton, with hundreds of guests mingling with drinks in hand. Entrepreneurs traded introductions, cameras captured interviews, and the city’s lights shimmered for the event, Our South Florida: The Reveal.
“Tonight we’re proving that South Florida still has the it factor,” said Our South Florida publisher, Nile Fortner. “We’re revealing Our South Florida as more than another news outlet, but as voice for the voiceless and the opportunity to showcase what makes South Florida special in a positive way.”
This was Our South Florida: The Reveal, a celebration of community, connection and a new chapter in local media, held Thursday, September 24, at The Easton Rooftop in Fort Lauderdale.
For Nile Fortner, the evening represented the official reveal of Our South Florida, a positive news and lifestyle platform created to celebrate the people, businesses, experiences, events, culture and stories that make South Florida unique and one of a kind. Published by Fortner, the outlet is built around a simple but powerful idea: there are countless stories happening throughout South Florida every day, and the people behind those stories deserve a spotlight.
On this night, that spotlight was everywhere.
Heather Geraci, better known as Heather Mermaid, glided into the celebration in a spectacular tail inspired by the glamorous, Art Deco-infused world of The Great Gatsby, with its shimmering details catching the rooftop lights.
The rooftop became a living backdrop for the event. Guests moved between the pool, lounge areas and gathering spaces, meeting fellow entrepreneurs, content creators, media personalities and community members.
“We’re going to find out where the hottest events are,” said Julie Khanna of Khanna Connections. “With Our South Florida, we’ll also find out the hottest news, and with this, he [Nile Fortner] has the best sponsors and I’m looking forward to seeing another place where we can go and see news and all kinds of exciting events.”
What Really Happened at The Reveal?
This event, which was a collaboration between The Easton Rooftop, Good Life Miami, La Familia Media, Fresh Press and Reck’n App, came together for the celebration, and there was no shortage of energy.
The evening also happened to fall on the birthday of DJ Isaac IceCold, who celebrated behind the decks while supplying the soundtrack for the rooftop. Familiar hits echoed across the terrace as guests moved through the space, conversations continued and the party atmosphere grew beneath the night sky. Other musical talent also joined the celebration, keeping the rooftop alive with the kind of energy that feels uniquely South Florida after dark.
While the music provided the rhythm, the cameras provided another layer to the evening.
Brooklyn Cafe TV went live from the venue, interviewing sponsors and guests and capturing their stories as they celebrated alongside Our South Florida. Miami TV also brought its cameras to the rooftop, giving attendees another opportunity to talk about their businesses, projects and experiences while documenting the celebration in real time.
For an emerging media platform, it was fitting that so much of the night revolved around storytelling. The Reveal wasn’t simply a gathering to introduce a name. It was an opportunity to introduce the people behind the businesses, brands and ideas that help shape the region.
“South Florida is just warming up,” said Zachary Oppenheim of Oppenheim Realty. “Our South Florida is going to be an amazing project, and we’re really excited to be here and support.”
Among those supporters were the sponsors for Our South Florida: The Reveal, 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, and Michelle Vrkic of Zen Zone Wellness. Each brought a different perspective and story to the celebration, adding to the diverse mix of South Florida voices represented throughout the evening.
Guests also got a taste of another local story through Haley Goldberg of Bite Me Protein Bakery, who shared samples of her protein-packed treats. Between conversations and photos, guests could grab a bite and discover another South Florida business in the process.
“Bite Me Protein is not even a year old yet,” said Goldberg. “I also brought the Vegan Protein Granola today, and we’re moving to a bakery in Boca.”
That spirit of discovery continued through the VIP gift bags, which gave guests something tangible to take from the evening. Inside was an Our South Florida: The Reveal T-shirt by Fresh Press, creating a wearable reminder of the night and the community that gathered to welcome the platform.
For Fortner, seeing people with the shirt, talking about Our South Florida and offering their support was part of what made the evening meaningful. The platform may live online, but The Reveal demonstrated that its foundation is very much rooted in real people and real connections.
Across the rooftop, guests laughed, posed for photographs, while the pool became one of the evening’s most memorable visual moments.
From restaurants and nightlife to entrepreneurs, artists, businesses, real estate, events, entertainment, community happenings and the personalities behind them, the platform is designed as a positive news and lifestyle destination celebrating the region from Palm Beach to Miami.
The Reveal simply gave that mission a physical place to gather.
“Tonight was about showing South Florida that we still have it,” said Fortner. “Tonight, it’s more than the reveal of another news outlet. So, tonight, let’s show them our stories, let’s show them our spirit, let’s show them Our South Florida.”
Pictures taken by Robert Gladden III @blackl3nzfilms
