Good morning, Fort Lauderdale! In today’s edition: Post Malone at Tortuga, Ibis Sky Lounge’s debut, Asi Wind’s mind-bending show, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Live Nation partnership revealed: Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival will return in 2026 with headliners Post Malone, Riley Green, and Kenny Chesney, raising funds for ocean education and featuring many more artists — check out the full lineup.

Regional hospitality milestone: The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel has opened, marking Omni Hotels and Resorts return to South Florida, with expansive meeting space and direct connectivity to the Broward County Convention Center — get all the details.

A chic sky-high hideaway: Ibis Sky Lounge is now open atop the Omni in Fort Lauderdale, an adults-only indoor-outdoor spot with waterfront views of the coastline and Intracoastal. Expect Latin-inspired plates like wagyu carpaccio and short rib empanadas, plus cocktails such as Cinnamon Roll Old Fashioned. No official dress code, so plan accordingly. See the menu and vibe.

Exploring a timeless neighborhood: Rio Vista, one of Fort Lauderdale’s oldest neighborhoods, offers calm, tree-lined streets steps from downtown, scenic waterways, and private docks, with average home prices near $2 million — see what makes it special.

Florida’s top culinary celebration: Visit Lauderdale Food and Wine Festival 2026 will take over downtown Fort Lauderdale Jan 19 to 25. Now in its seventh year, it features Michelin-recognized restaurants, James Beard nominees, and Food Network stars, and wraps with a Grand Tasting offering unlimited samples from over 100 food and beverage providers. Check out the full lineup.

Local creamery expands footprint: Miami-born Sweet Melody Ice Cream, a family-run favorite known for creative flavors, is set to open its first Broward shop in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village — get all the details.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🌿 Anne Kolb Nature Center Ecotour @ Bahia Mar Yacht Club | Monday (1/12) at 12:00 PM – Think you know Fort Lauderdale beyond the beach bars? Slip into the mangroves on a 2.5 hour family friendly boat ecotour to Anne Kolb, with shaded seating, an upper deck for photos, dolphin, manatee, and bird cameos, a leisurely trail stop, and snacks for sale.

🎷 Niki Haris @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Wednesday (1/14) at 7:45 PM – Treat yourself to a night of grown-up groove as Niki Haris teams with Shelly Berg’s monster trio for jazz, soul, and blues that swings. It’s Broward Center, not Bourbon Street, but you’ll leave lighter. Grab single tickets, or commit to a trio or season subscription.

🎤 Michael McDonald @ Port Everglades | Thursday (1/15) at 4:00 PM – Trade the beach traffic for smooth-sailing nostalgia and see Michael McDonald at Port Everglades. Expect that unmistakable baritone, sing-alongs you forgot you knew, and a salty breeze that pairs nicely with sensible shoes and a rum runner. Yacht rock, without needing a yacht.

🎹 David Foster @ Lauderdale to Key West Race | Thursday (1/15) at 5:00 PM – The hitmaker behind half your favorite 80s and 90s ballads is playing aboard the Celebrity Summit in Fort Lauderdale. Expect lush arrangements, serious piano chops, and that smug satisfaction of hearing the originals. Dress for sea breeze, not stadium lines.

🎹 MindTravel January Live-to-Headphones Piano Concert @ Fort Lauderdale Beach Park’s Playground | Thursday (1/15) at 5:30 PM – Trade the usual beachfront bar chatter for a sunset piano journey on Fort Lauderdale Beach, heard through your own headphones. Murray Hidary sets the soundtrack while waves handle the percussion, so you can people-watch, breathe, and pretend you do mindfulness on purpose.

🍝 Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser @ Hollywood Jaycee Hall | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Carb-load for a cause at a good old-fashioned spaghetti feed, supporting the Kiwanis Exceptional Riders Program. Fifteen bucks gets you dinner, community vibes, and the satisfaction of doing something useful between refills of garlic bread. Bring an appetite, a friend, and your checkbook.

🎩 Asi Wind – More Than Magic @ The Parker | Friday (1/16) at 7:30 PM – Whether you’ve sworn off magic since your uncle’s coin-behind-the-ear phase, or you secretly love being fooled, Asi Wind makes the impossible feel intimate, smart, and actually funny. Think award-winning sleight of hand, theater polish, and genuine audience moments, all part of the Mosaic Series.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Fort Lauderdale report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 80°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 8%

Sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind 2 to 6 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 81°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 18%

A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Most popular house this week

Contemporary townhome in Victoria Park with three oversized bedrooms, a flexible loft that can serve as a fourth, and three and a half baths. The chef’s kitchen features Italian cabinetry, Bosch appliances, double wine refrigeration, and an oversized island. Porcelain floors ground the open plan while wood upstairs and aluminum railings add polish. Sliding glass doors lead to a screened patio, a private tropical yard, and a pool with waterfall.

The primary suite adds a balcony, a custom walk in closet, and a spa bath with a multi jet shower. Impact windows and doors, 10 foot ceilings, second floor laundry, and a two car garage with EV charger complete the package. Minutes to Las Olas, parks, the water taxi, the beach, and the airport.

Take a peek inside →