Sunday public tour, India Independence Day Festival, Expedition: Dinosaur – Rise of the Mammals, and more. 
Happy Friday, Fort Lauderdale. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let FTL Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Florida adds random digits to driver’s licenses scrambling mail ballots, Broward schools roll out AI lessons and alert badges, and oceanfront hotel construction begins — catch up here.
State-level stories: Florida jumps to sixth in WalletHub rankings, Playboy moves its headquarters to Miami Beach, and Panthers pop corks on limited edition championship wines — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: South Korea’s court dismissed a Baby Shark copyright claim, a judge blocked fishing around Pacific atolls, and retirees eye a bigger Social Security increase — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Learn memorization techniques for scripts and speeches
- Experience free Indian Independence Day celebration
- Explore museum exhibitions through guided dialogue
- Get up close with sharks in 3D
- Roar with animatronic dinosaurs at MODS
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Plants: A mini jungle in your living room is just a trip away. Fort Lauderdale’s green-thumb gurus stock everything from quirky cacti to statement palms. These plant paradises prove it.
Wildlife: Think beyond the gator memes. Florida is a living wildlife documentary, from airboats gliding through alligator hangouts to gentle manatees grazing in crystal springs and rainbow parrots squawking overhead. Find your next jaw dropping moment with wildlife hotspots.
Finance: Teaching your teen about credit cards can feel like decoding ancient hieroglyphics. These easy credit lessons turn confusing plastic power into real-world know-how.
Cocktail: Whether you’re craving a smoky mezcal riff, a floral gin fantasia, or a boozy twist on the classics, Apothecary330 mixes rare spirits, house-made syrups, and a dash of theater into cocktails that turn your evening into a liquid performance you won’t forget.
Money: The average driver pays $175 a month on car insurance, but most of us are paying way too much. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool can save you hundreds.
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🍿 Popcorn Frights Film Festival Day 9 @ Savor Cinema | Friday (8/15) at 7:00pm – Whether you’re chasing folklore beasts or craving drag-drenched gore, Savor Cinema turns into our quirkiest living room. Three films back-to-back featuring monster hunters, undead divas, and Romero’s classic zombies. Brace yourself for a wickedly wild ride of monster mayhem.
🎶 Summer Jamz Concert @ Mills Pond Park | Friday (8/15) at 7:00pm – Grab your lawn chair and head over for the last summer blowout at Mills Pond Park. A national recording artist takes the stage, kids conquer bounce houses and yard games, and local food and drink vendors make sure nobody goes home hungry.
This weekend
⛳ Five Iron Frenzy @ Culture Room | Saturday (8/16) at 7:00pm – Five Iron Frenzy is storming the stage, ripping through horn riffs, singalongs, and enough 90s nostalgia to make your mixtapes blush. Special guests kick things off, so cancel your dinner plans. It’s the kind of raucous reunion you didn’t know you needed.
🧸 Safety Saturdays: Child Safety Seat Checks | Saturday (8/16) at 9:00am – Think your kid’s car seat is installed right? Think again. Certified pros from Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue will be on hand to double-check and show you the safest setup, all for free. It’s quick, helpful, and could literally save a life.
⚽ Inter Miami CF vs LA Galaxy @ Inter Miami Stadium and Training Complex | Saturday (8/16) at 7:30pm – Whether you bleed pink or you still miss the Galaxy’s old-school flair, this coast-to-coast soccer showdown delivers. Expect 90 minutes of refined chaos, rooftop-worthy bragging rights, and the perfect excuse to swap your living room for proper crowd-roar therapy.
🇮🇳 India Independence Day Festival @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Sunday (8/17) at 1:00pm – Skip the usual weekend slog and head to the Broward Center for a free Independence Day bash that’s bigger than your last barbecue. Expect vibrant dance, live tunes, fragrant street eats, henna swirls, and a vendor market that even your inner shopaholic will love.
🎤 Ariel Nan @ Yellow Green Farmers Market | Sunday (8/17) at 1:30pm – Grab a beer and settle in for Ariel Nan’s rock showcase, where nostalgic guitar riffs meet fresh, heartfelt lyrics in a no-frills local setting. She’ll have you head-banging one moment, swaying the next, and feeling oddly proud about your questionable air-guitar skills.
🖼️ Sunday Public Tour @ NSU Art Museum | Sunday (8/17) at 2:00pm – Honestly, nothing beats a leisurely roam through the NSU Art Museum led by a docent who can decipher that abstract splatter, followed by a Socratic chat where everyone plays art critic. It’s included with admission, no sign-up needed, just fresh takes, company, and eye-rolling.
Next week
🎤 The Riverside Mic @ The Riverside Market Plantation | Monday (8/18) at 7:00pm – Monday nights at Riverside Market are all about shameless showing off and very polite applause. They hand out just 20 slots, so arrive early to snag a spot. Comedians, poets, musicians, bring your worst material and a solid poker face.
👠 Walk the Runway @ ArtServe | Tuesday (8/19) at 9:00am – Think South Beach meets your neighbor’s basement sale, minus the dust. South Florida’s freshest designers are showcasing bold prints for locals, handcrafted accessories, and beach-to-bar vibes, with a free reception to practice dropping “avant-garde” in casual conversation.
🦕 Expedition: Dinosaur – Rise of the Mammals @ Museum of Discovery and Science | Tuesday (8/19) at 10:00am – Summer’s practically begging you to hang with animatronic dinosaurs at MODS. Gawk at towering T. Rex roars, dig up real fossils, spin dinosaur art, and wander through a jaw-dropping HoloTheater that brings prehistoric beasts right into town. It’s nerdy fun for grown-ups too.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/15 Jonny Wynns @ Plunge Beach – 7 pm
- 8/15 Summer Jamz Concert @ Mills Pond Park – 7 pm
- 8/15 Gabriel Fluffy Iglesias @ Hard Rock Live – 8 pm
- 8/16 Five Iron Frenzy @ Culture Room – 7 pm
- 8/16 The Bango Bangos @ Marina 84 – 8 pm
- 8/17 Ariel Nan @ Yellow Green Farmers Market – 1:30 pm
- 8/17 Torch Song @ The Foundry – 3 pm
- 8/18 Music Bingo @ Voodoo Brewing – 7 pm
- 8/18 The Riverside Mic @ The Riverside Market Plantation – 7 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Fort Lauderdale edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Vito Labalestra (Compass Florida, LLC)
A study in cool contrasts, this Coral Ridge stunner pairs crisp lines and glassy expanses with the kind of sun-soaked backyard that makes every day feel like vacation. The kitchen rocks Thermador everything and flows straight into living spaces where sliders disappear, letting the pool and palm-studded views steal the show.
Four bedrooms plus a legit office mean there’s room for work, play, and a nap or two. The master suite is a private escape, complete with its own pool deck shortcut. All set in a location where golf carts and good vibes are always in style.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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