It’s hard to believe that Wilton Manors Art Walk is now turning seven years old. What began as an art gallery owner’s vision to entice residents to stroll along “the Drive” for an evening of art, wine, and cheese has become a call to action to explore everything that Wilton Manors has to offer, with a new group of owners having plans to grow Art Walk into a citywide event.

Those new owners will look awfully familiar to many locals, as the event was purchased by the Wilton Manors Development Alliance (WMDA) President and CEO, Krishan Manners, and his right hand, WMDA Vice President, Tony LoGrande.

“We would like the Island City Art Walk to expand to encompass the whole city of Wilton Manors, not just Wilton Drive,” says Manners, the event’s new co-owner. “We want to encourage other businesses across the city to get involved in ‘the Walk,’ particularly along Dixie Highway.’” “Over the past six years, it has grown consistently, and we want to see it grow even more,” adds LoGrande.

Art Walk started as a way to expose people who were walking along the Drive to the street’s many art galleries. But just as the Walk kicked off, so did the economic collapse. That didn’t influence the new owners, whose fervor and “drive” is bound to make a difference.

“We don’t want this to be a craft fair but a chance for local artists to come out and show their talents,” Manners explains. “We want to showcase local talent, and we want to sustain this for the community and show the diversity of art.”

Says LoGrande, “We were concerned that if Island City Art Walk were to end, it would be one of those monthly events during season that so many people look forward to, and it is truly a networking event for so many, and also a social event where neighbors get out at a time when the weather is so nice.”

The first Island City Art Walk is scheduled for November 16, and then on the third Friday of every month through April. Galleries or individual artists can get more information by emailing Info@islandcityartwalk.com, or visit Facebook, Island City Art Walk.

“This is a real call to action,” LoGrande says. “We really want to reenergize those talented people in the area to come on board. We want to see more galleries on the Drive, but we also want to see other businesses get involved and host showings of local artists.”

“Through our work at WMDA, we are in the process of finding sponsors to bring the Full Sails Fort Lauderdale project into Wilton Manors,” says Manners. “These boats are 7’ high and 5’ long, and we will have local artists paint them with their special talents and they will be displayed, similar to the ‘Cow Parade’ in Chicago. It would be great to have these lining Wilton Drive – they would benefit the community with art and the businesses with another attraction for visitors.”

Of all the things that Krishan Manners, President and CEO of Wilton Manors Development Alliance (WMDA), finds striking about his adopted city, one of the most notable is that so many things to see and do are packed into such a small geographic space.

“You know the city is only two square miles, but we have so much going on,” says Manners. A roster of upcoming events proves out the truth of that remark. “First, we have ‘Wicked Wilton,’ presented by the Rainbow Business Coalition [RBC] and the City of Wilton Manors, which will be held on Wednesday, October 31 [Halloween], from 6 to 11 p.m. The bars and restaurants along the Drive, of course, will be staying open past that time. This year the city is paying for the street closure, and the event will more resemble the original ‘Wicked Manors,’” he notes, adding that “the event is entitled ‘Fairy Tales,’ and they are expecting over 10,000 revelers.”

Also just around the corner is the “Taste of the Island, which is slated for November 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Richardson Park,” Manners says, continuing down the list of must-do activities.

“This is the seventh annual event, and people can taste specialties from local restaurants, as well as mix and mingle with neighbors.” He notes with a smile (fully engaged now in local-booster-mode) that the deadline for restaurants to register is October 15.

“Tickets are $30 in advance, and $35 at the door,” he offers. “We keep some of the monies from ticket sales for seed money, and then the balance is split between the Kiwanis Club, the Historical Society of Wilton Manors, the Wilton Manors Library, and the Wilton Manors Development Alliance.” Manners helms an organization that was previously known to locals as Wilton Manors Main Street.

“We made the name change as a way of reaching out to more businesses off Wilton Drive,” he explains. The change was made to encompass a more citywide mandate. “We are currently working on funding in order to have a larger impact on the entire city,” Manners notes. “We are still working to make Wilton Drive a two-lane street, and to create angled-parking,” he adds, with real enthusiasm.

“For 2013, we are working in partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale for ‘Full Sails,’ which would be similar to ‘Cows on Parade’ in Chicago.” Manners explains, “These sailboats are seven feet tall and five feet long. Local artists paint and decorate the boats, which are placed all around the city, but particularly on Wilton Drive.”

Manners says “Full Sails” represents a unique opportunity to highlight the Island City in a creative and striking way, which will draw attention—and revenue—to local commerce. “We need local sponsors to make this a huge success,” he says. “We want to see more art in Wilton Manors, and with this alliance we believe we will get there.” (Sponsorship for each boat is approximately $4,000. To learn more, visit fullsailsinfortlauderdale.com.)

Finishing our autumnal Tour de Wilton, the “Chairman of the Boosters” notes that “November 16 marks the first ‘Art Walk’ this year, to usher in ‘season.’ So you can see,” Manners adds with a smile, “there is a lot going on in the Island City.” To say the least.

In 2011, Main Street began reaching out to business owners on Dixie Highway and Powerline Road. Additional areas will be added, including the Andrews Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard corridors. Like Main Street, WMDA is still supported solely by donations from businesses and residents of Wilton Manors, and remains a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

“Our entire city is only two square miles, so growth in one area of the city affects the whole,” says Manners. “This was a deciding factor for us.

As Main Street, we were limited in focus to Wilton Drive. As WMDA, we can look at the whole picture and work with the residential groups, businesses, and city government to implement solutions that are appropriate for everyone.”

The task force recommended that the city move ahead with the plan, offering, in its words “a set of nearterm actions to help the City ‘get its ducks in a row’ in anticipation of taking action to achieve the longterm vision for Wilton Drive.”

The 27-page report “prioritizes the elements needed to ensure the success of the project,” said a person close to the process who requested anonymity.

Foremost in those criteria is “pedestrian safety,” says the individual, “with an eye to marketing Wilton Manors as a pedestrian-friendly community, particularly on the Drive. There’s a reason there are so many night spots within a short-block radius.”

The introduction of a full-blown Arts and Entertainment District will require the ability of foot traffic—n the form of shoppers, diners, and clubgoers—to move unimpeded, “creating a destination, not a thoroughfare,” explained the person.

As recommended by the task force, the criteria for moving forward includes spreading the $5.5 million total cost over several phases, in order to introduce those changes incrementally.

These include a one-to-three year (“Near Term”) recommendation for the city to encourage business development by “address[ing] the zoning along Wilton Drive to create a predictable environment for private investors to redevelop properties along Wilton Drive. The zoning should continue to encourage development that enhances the pedestrian environment along the Drive, allow for parking behind the buildings, and provide appropriate buffering for the residential neighborhoods.”

The task force also recommended the use of “parking revenues to the enhancement of Wilton Drive through the funding of parking facilities. The Wilton Drive Task Force recommends that ALL net income generated by the parking program be placed into the Parking Revenue Fund.”

Krishan Manners, President and CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street and a member of the WDTF, is a strong proponent of the two-lane initiative, and points to the success of other cities which have adopted similar plans for downtown revival.

“Delray Beach,” for one, “has experienced a renaissance along Atlantic Avenue and elsewhere,” Manners notes, citing Oakland Park, Hollywood, and other examples. The report notes that “the City will [need to] set aside funds annually for future repaving and maintenance of Wilton Drive and Dixie Highway.”

On Saturday, owner Mike Verdugo and his staff officially opened for business, with free exercise classes and a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Daisy Deadpetals.

Local officials and members of the Gay Village glitterati attended, and circuit performer DJ Kidd Madonny played. The Wilton Manors location is Verdugo’s second BodyTek Fitness.

Verdugo says that BodyTek’s fitness philosophy is foundational: no two classes are ever the same, with every session incorporating different exercises, techniques, and routines. This will prevent clients’ bodies from adapting and hitting the dreaded plateau. The program is designed to improve the cardiovascular system, while aiding weight loss and building muscle.

And the former Hollywood cop notes, the concept of Group Personal Training makes achieving fitness goals more enjoyable and fun for clients.

“We love being in Wilton Manors,” said Verdugo. “We have so many clients travelling to our Davie location from Wilton Manors, that it makes perfect sense to open a second location to service that high demand. We’re excited to bring our fitness services closer to our client base.”

Verdugo’s enthusiasm is matched by others in the Island City. “I’m excited to see BodyTek opening on North Dixie,” said Krishan Manners, President/CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street. “That area is primed for new development and BodyTek is a good fit with the existing businesses in the Dixie Village area.”

BodyTek sessions are one hour in length and that during each session clients are instructed to work out every body part using a variety of state of the art equipment.

Verdugo says that they welcome clients of all different fitness levels, from novice to expert.

  President/CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street

Your favorite virtue.

Altruism. Tenacity.

Your favorite qualities in a person.

Honesty, loyalty, and the ability to actually follow through on what they say.

Your chief characteristic.

Kindness.

Your favorite occupation.

Considering I’m currently a full-time volunteer, I’d have to say one in which I actually get paid!

I’ve recently acquired my real estate license, and am with Atlantic Properties International on Wilton Drive.

I look forward to spending more time in real estate, likely on the commercial side.

Your idea of happiness.

Sharing a deserted beach with someone I love. Being with friends and family.

Seeing my nephews and nieces laugh. It’s the simple things that bring me happiness.

Your idea of misery.

The day my partner passed away.

If not yourself, who would you be?

Twenty five years ago, I could have given you a list.

Now, I just like being me.

Where would you like to live?

I’m enjoying South Florida, but I do miss living in NYC. I think ultimately,

I’d like to split my time between all of the places where I have close friends and

family – all over the U.S., London, Paris, and India.

Your favorite color.

Blue.

Your favorite authors.

That’s a tough one – I actually admire anyone who writes well and there are many authors who meet that criterion.

Your favorite heroes (male or female) in fiction.

Again, there are many.

Your heroes in real life.

My cousin, Kelly. She’s the kindest, most honest and loyal person in my life.

She has the most accurate moral barometer of anyone I’ve ever met.

I’m grateful to whatever powers-that-be that put us here at the same time, and

am blessed to have such a remarkable woman to turn to my whole life.

What characters in history do you most dislike?

Hitler comes immediately to mind. I look at my friends and family and

realize how much would be missing in my life had he actually lived.

Your favorite food and drink.

I really like all foods. Diet Coke is definitely my favorite drink

(and thank you to my friends at Java Boys for never running out).

What do you hate the most?

People who try to manipulate me with flattery to get something from me for which

they could have simply asked. It’s insulting and ultimately they probably won’t get what they want.

The reform you admire the most?

Those which prevent injustice. DADT was ridiculous – I was delighted to see the end of that.

I look forward to the day the same happens with DOMA, an equally hateful piece of legislation.

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with?

I’d love to be able to sing… without scaring people.

How you wish to die?

Quickly. Death doesn’t scare me, but the five minutes prior are a concern.

What is your present state of mind?

Restless.

For what fault are you the most intolerant?

Rudeness.

Your personal motto.

“Our only limitations as to what we can accomplish are those we place upon ourselves.”

 Krishan Manners is the President and CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street, Inc., a 501(c)(3)

non-profit organization. Born in New Delhi, India, he moved to the U.S. as a small child and

spent most of his adult life in New York City. He relocated to Wilton Manors in April, 2010.

Photo: Artist’s rendering of what the 2100 block of Wilton Drive would look like if the Two Lane Initiative moves forward.

Krishan Manners is the President of Wilton Manors Main Street, an organization which serves the community of Wilton Manors. The group is made up of residents, business owners, property owners, area institutions and organizations, elected officials, municipal staff and other interested parties. The Florida Agenda sat down with President and CEO Krishan Manners to get his take on the community, the future and the advantages of Wilton Manors.

Please tell Agenda readers a bit about your upbringing?
I guess that really starts in New Delhi, India, where I was born – and from which my given name comes – and lived the first few years of my life before moving to north Florida as a small child. I grew up there, left the state for college and, ultimately, spent most of my adult life in New York City.

What brought you here to South Florida?
My partner passed away a few years ago and I had fallen into a bit of a routine of being sad. That’s perfectly normal for a while, but it was really time to shake up my life. I woke up one morning and said, “Today’s the day.” I knew I wanted to stay on the east coast, so I mentally went from Maine to Florida in my mind, deciding what I wanted my life to look like next. I made a few phone calls – including one to a dear friend of mine who lived here. Movers were hired and a date was set by the end of the day.

Why did you choose to get involved with the community?
I’ve always involved myself in my community when I could, but I really just tripped into it in Wilton Manors. I had one friend here and he was involved with Main Street, so I began solely to help him. As I became more involved, I realized that this was a good ‘fit’ for me and an opportunity to really make a difference. From my undergrad degree in political science, my work in the South Carolina House of Representatives during college, a career in marketing and advertising in New York to my volunteer work on the marketing committee for a business improvement district – it’s all being utilized in my current role. To me, that’s what it’s all about – using what we know to help improve both our lives and the lives of others – it’s a win/win.

Please tell Agenda readers some more about Wilton Manors Main Street and what you do and are aiming to achieve.
Wilton Manors Main Street is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has been around for 9 years and has done a number of projects to better the community during that time. They created a set of design guidelines for construction on the drive; they have done beautification projects such as the “Diggin’ the Drive” landscaping project. Just before I arrived on the scene, they began the Two-Lane Initiative to both make the drive safer, add landscaping and additional parking. The Two-Lane Initiative is currently being reviewed and explored by the Wilton Drive Task Force who will ultimately make a recommendation to the City Commission to move forward or not. I’m on that task force and I have nothing but admiration for the other folks on it. They’re smart, they know this city and I sincerely believe that a solid recommendation will result, although it may or may not be unanimous.

What we’re ultimately trying to achieve is a successful Arts & Entertainment District along the drive. One with a good mix of
businesses in a pedestrian-friendly environment that will provide both the residents of Wilton Manors and our visitors a destination resulting in a better quality of life in the city.

How does Wilton Manors differ from other gay meccas?
In my opinion, the primary difference is that we’re a small, southern town with both a large gay minority and a welcoming straight majority. The diversity here really impresses me. I love the fact that we aren’t just ‘tolerated’ here, but welcomed. Like the other gay meccas, we have bars and a seasonal population, but there is also a richness to life here that I’ve not found in those other cities.

What are the advantages of working within the gay community?
I think simply being able to be open and comfortable with being who I am. It was never a problem for me in New York, but in the south, in a primarily conservative state, that level of comfort can be a bit elusive. Being here, in the heart of a community that celebrates its diversity, is simply the best of both worlds.

What are the disadvantages?
It is a small community. Everyone seems to know everyone, which can result in either an amazing sense of family or fertile ground for gossip. We, as a community, need to be kinder to each other!

There has been talk of trouble on the Drive with rent increases and the mix of businesses. What do you think about that?
I don’t think it will come as a surprise to anyone that some businesses on the drive are having a hard time.

A lot of people simply do not have the expendable cash they had a few years ago, resulting in lower sales. Add that to the fact that it’s summer and our seasonal folk are gone and then a landlord wants to raise rents? It’s a poor long-term strategy.

My suggestion to landlords searching for tenants is to actually look at the types of businesses around your property and ask, “What will compliment those businesses?” If you look at the groupings in a mall, you’ll find anchor stores, a food court and groupings of businesses.  That’s what we need keep in mind. We need to create these areas that will get people out of their cars and shopping.  That will help keep these storefronts filled, which is the ultimate goal for a landlord.

What do you think Wilton Manors is lacking in terms of business?
A few things. We need a boutique hotel, desperately. As it stands, we have a few lovely small resorts and guest houses, but most visitors stay at the beach and come to Wilton Manors in the evening for the bar scene. I’d rather give them someplace to stay here and capture the additional revenue for our local businesses. I’d love to see live theatre here.  I think we need more art, more specialty retail shops. Good restaurants are always a draw. With those businesses in place, I believe we’re in a better position to attract people to – and keep them on – Wilton Drive.

How do you feel the community can get involved?
There are innumerable ways to get involved. For those with free time on their hands, there are business groups for networking, such as the RBC and WMBA. There are community groups, such as ENA, CANA and WAWM, which are focused on specific neighborhoods in Wilton Manors. There are civic groups, such as Kiwanis, that do amazing work.  And there is Main Street, which is involved in all of those areas. This city has an amazing amount of talent available that these groups can use, so decide where you want to help and find a group here that needs your help. If you don’t have time to volunteer, donations are always appreciated and allow these groups to continue to do good work. If you don’t know how to reach one of these groups, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with them.

What would you like the legacy of Wilton Manors Main Street to be?
That we made Wilton Drive safer. That our work created a more beautiful city.  That we helped bring businesses to the Arts & Entertainment district. That the businesses of Wilton Manors – and I mean anywhere in Wilton Manors, not solely on the drive – are thriving. That we’ve helped create a cultural center that embraces diversity and has become a destination for both locals and tourist. If we achieve these things, we all win.

An artists rendition of the Children’s Art Project, currently in the works

The 2011 Annual Meeting of the Wilton Manors Main Street Board,

with the new and old board of directors and city officials.

For more information,  or to get involved, visit  www.wiltonmanorsmainstreet.org