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: A bar owner pressing the city for flood fixes, six visions vying to rebuild City Hall, and a beachside run club boosting community spirit — catch up here.

State-level stories: Washington weighs making Florida’s springs a national park, coastal parks get ATVs and trackers for turtle patrols, and Orlando lands among top retirement cities — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Mortgage rates are trending down, investors catapult gold above 3500 an ounce, and a tropical wave eyes the Antilles — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Experience Wild Rescue in IMAX 3D
• Preview vibrant Hispanic art and culture
• See Marvel illustrator’s live drawing giveaway
• Explore NSU Art Museum with a guide
• Anxiety about debt? Get a free consultation

🫶 We got your back

Coffee: Need a silky flat white to kick-start your morning or a quirky cold brew to power through an afternoon slump? Discover the top coffee shops in town.

Nightlife: From Miami’s ultraclubs to beachside dives, these party spots prove you can party till sunrise.

Taqueria: From perfectly charred tortillas to fillings that demand a double order, Lokos Takos Taqueria brings the kind of flavor that requires extra napkins and zero regrets.

Bargain shopping: The best finds aren’t always on store shelves. Amazon’s Deals Page is like a never-ending treasure hunt where the good stuff costs less, with new discounts dropping daily.

Save: The average driver pays $175 a month for car insurance, but most of us are paying way more than we should. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool may save you hundreds.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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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.

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Today

🎹 Howard Jones and Haircut 100 @ Parker Playhouse | Friday (9/5) at 7:00pm – Dust off your 80s gear and rediscover what a real synthesizer sounds like when Howard Jones rolls into town with his signature hits. He’s even teamed up with Haircut 100 featuring Richard Blade for a neon-soaked trip down questionable fashion lane and timeless synthpop earworms.

☀️ KC and The Sunshine Band @ Hard Rock Live | Friday (9/5) at 8:00pm – Nothing says Saturday like KC and The Sunshine Band cranking disco fever into the Power and Light District’s Hard Rock Live. Dust off your polyester vest, lace up your dancing shoes, and brace for more funk than your living room karaoke ever delivered.

This weekend

🖼️ Exhibition: “Look What I Made” @ Gasper Arts Center | Saturday (9/6) at 6:00pm – Opening night at the gallery means one thing, your inner child and your adult psyche are about to get awkwardly reacquainted. Liv Cook’s first solo show stitches together raw self-reflection, mixed-media portraits, and a dash of nostalgia you didn’t know you needed.

🎈 The Australian Pink Floyd Show: Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Saturday (9/6) at 8:00pm – Forget the usual night-out traffic woes, because it’s the 50th anniversary of Wish You Were Here live on our Rock Series stage. Expect lasers, inflatable pigs, and every Floyd riff you swear you’ll nail at karaoke. No actual time machine required.

🏈 Miami Dolphins Kickoff Celebration @ Hard Rock Live | Saturday (9/6) at 8:00pm – Consider this your excuse to dunk in a Dolphins kickoff pool party, as long as you’re 21-plus and not afraid of a little foam. Cheerleaders, alumni, TD appearances, and bottomless cocktails await, plus the first thousand lucky locals snag exclusive swag.

🎷 Sunday Jazz Brunch @ Esplanade Park | Sunday (9/7) at 11:00am – Think you’ve heard every jazz standard? Think again at Riverwalk’s free monthly Sunday Jazz brunch. Three stages of local talent, plenty of picnic real estate, and leashed pups patrolling historic brick paths, so pack a blanket, grab a bite, and savor those smooth tunes.

🤖 Last of the Red Hot Robots @ Empire Stage | Sunday (9/7) at 3:00pm – Buckle up for a wild ride through space, scandal, and sci-fi absurdity in this chaotic comedy by Brian Harris. A raunchy, riotous ride through sci-fi chaos and comedy. Think Twilight Zone meets SNL—no filter, and no guarantee you won’t laugh-snort.

🎭 The Glassworker @ Savor Cinema | Sunday (9/7) at 3:00pm – Trade your couch for our indie screen and catch The Glassworker, the first hand-drawn Pakistani feature where a glassmaker’s son and a colonel’s violinist daughter defy wartime duty for a spark of first love. It’s poetic, poignant, and way more grown-up than Saturday morning cartoons.

Next week

🐾 Wild Rescue @ Museum of Discovery and Science | Monday (9/8) at 11:20am – Whether you’re tired of the same old nature channel reruns or just craving a furry pick-me-up, the IMAX at MODS is showing Wild Rescue in 3D. It follows bobcats, foxes, and other critters as they claw back to freedom under Marc Summers’s witty narration.

🎵 Music Bingo @ Voodoo Brewing Co | Monday (9/8) at 7:00pm – Ditch the number pings and head to Voodoo Brewing Co. in Oakland Park for Music Bingo, where your favorite tunes pop up instead of balls. It’s a cheeky Monday night ritual for belting out classics, sipping local brews, and snagging swag with your pals.

🌱 How Does Your Garden Grow @ UF-IFAS Broward County Extension Auditorium | Tuesday (9/9) at 6:30pm – Think your backyard is just for BBQs and rogue garden gnomes? Give it a glow-up by turning grass into greens with an edible landscaping workshop. You’ll learn to mix time with thyme, beauty with basil, and sustainable flair. Grab your spot on Eventbrite.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/5 Howard Jones and more @ The Parker – 7 pm
• 9/5 DJ Efx @ Sway Nightclub – 11 pm
• 9/6 Ice Nine Kills @ War Memorial Auditorium – 6 pm
• 9/6 Mansour Jafari @ The Parker – 8 pm
• 9/6 Joey Diaz @ Hard Rock Live – 8 pm
• 9/6 Drew Gilbert @ Eagle Wilton Manors – 8 pm
• 9/6 Gravedgr @ Kemistry – 10 pm
• 9/9 Nino Paid and more @ FTL War Memorial – 8 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: Julie Jones (Douglas Elliman)

Palm Beach flair meets modern comfort in this tri-level showstopper, professionally designed and fully furnished (minus the art). Imported Spanish tiles set the tone in the foyer, while high beamed ceilings and authentic light fixtures add a dash of drama. The formal living room flows to a covered terrace and summer kitchen, perfect for parties that spill outdoors. A temperature-controlled wine cellar, wet bar, and chef’s kitchen keep the good times rolling.

Double lots mean extra space for the heated saltwater pool and lush lawn, all tucked behind a remote-controlled gate in the patrolled Idlewyld enclave. The primary suite gets its own balcony and spa bath, and three separate ACs keep every corner cool. Plans for a second-floor addition are ready for the next chapter.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →