Happy Friday, Fort Lauderdale. Hope you get a chance to relax this weekend. 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: Residents pick flood aid spending, the Broward Center premieres a boundary pushing comedy series, and Fort Lauderdale jumps to twentieth in national rental rankings — catch up here.

State-level stories: Solar powered rabbit decoys lure invasive pythons, a hiring event at Amerant Bank Arena draws employers and candidates, and Florida islands promise peaceful getaways — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Homeowners are delisting homes rather than cutting prices, the S&P 500 hit record on AI gains, and Ford recalled 500,000 SUVs for brake hose flaws — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Dig up fossils and meet living dinosaurs
• Explore art exhibits through guided conversation
• Rock out at Pre Labor Day Festival
• Learn Lindy Hop then swing to jazz
• Shark robot vacuums are 51% off on Amazon ’til 9/2

If you have never tried salchipapas. . .

AJA Food Truck serves up the real flavors you crave made from the freshest ingredients. With nine locations scattered from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale, they’re bringing authentic Colombian cuisine to your neighborhood with the best prices in town.

Enjoy crispy salchipapas, juicy burgers, and fresh arepas prepared with care. It’s better quality food than you can find many restaurants, and it costs a lot less.

Why not get a fresh, tasty meal and save money?

Visit AJA Food Truck online to find your nearest location.

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Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!

🫶 We got your back

Brews: Summer’s calling, so swap your usual weekend plans for a tour of Fort Lauderdale’s hop havens. Check out local breweries serving everything from crisp lagers to wild sours to level up your beer game.

Planting: Thanks to Florida’s subtropical magic, you can pick juicy strawberries in January and harvest crunchy lettuce in December. Dive into these seasonal planting tips to keep fresh produce on your plate all year.

Reads: Got a pile of novels and no one to discuss them with? Follow simple steps to launch a local book club and you’ll be swapping stories and making friends in no time.

Wine: Whether you’re a casual sipper who still calls everything “red or white” or the friend who won’t shut up about tannins and terroir, Vinos On Las Olas pours the good stuff. Come for the glass (or bottle), stay for the vibe that makes weeknights feel like weekends.

Home: Labor Day means special deals on all sorts of things, and American Home Shield’s warranty coverage is no exception. For a limited time, they’re offering 50% off select plans than cover your big ticket appliances (yup, even the ones older than dirt).

📆 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.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🌍 Nation Builders of Broward County @ Mad Arts | Friday (8/29) at 5:00pm – This isn’t your average workshop. Expect an immersive blend of soundscape, storytelling, spoken word, and tech-forward public art—all designed to help you dig into your roots and build community in the process. Ancestry meets artistry, and you’re invited.

🎱 Binglo 90s Edition @ The Pride Center at Equality Park | Friday (8/29) at 7:00pm – Glow-in-the-dark bingo for folks who traded beer pong for better snacks but still own a neon scrunchie. Your $20 ticket covers two drinks, light bites, and three rounds of bingo. Catch up with your crew over cheesy prizes, questionable fashion, and unabashed bragging.

This weekend

🎶 Jessi Campo @ Vinnie’s by the Sea | Saturday (8/30) at 7:00pm – Get your “retired” disco shoes out of hibernation, because Jessi Campo’s bringing Blues, Motown, Latin, and more, anchored by her charting anthem “Get Into Your Heart.” Expect silky vocals, toe-tapping grooves, and zero judgment when you channel your inner dance diva.

🎷 Swing Out: Swing Dance Social and Live Jazz Night @ Lauderdale Tennis Club | Saturday (8/30) at 7:45pm – Admit it, your sneakers miss a treadmill workout, so this swing social and live jazz night is your ticket off the couch. It features Blues Therapy & Jazz’s seven-piece toe-tapping band, no partner required, and a lesson to prevent flailing through the Lindy Hop.

🎭 Samuel Fray @ Sunshine Cathedral MCC | Saturday (8/30) at 8:00pm – Ready to swap your usual evening reruns for something with flair? Samuel Fray, that globe-trotting pianist and part-time runway star, takes the Sunshine Cathedral stage for a recital that proves Chopin has better legs than any catwalk. Ditch the couch, this is grown-up entertainment.

🦖 Roar & Explore Weekends @ Museum of Discovery and Science | Sunday (8/31) at 10:00am – Nothing says weekend victory like hunting T. rex leftovers at MODS, uncovering real fossils, stringing shark-tooth necklaces, and high-fiving our scaly neighbors without a plane ticket. It’s a mash-up of hands-on science, Jurassic thrills, and a perfect excuse to feel like a kid again.

✒️ Modern Calligraphy for Beginners @ Yeye Jiang Bubble Tea and Croissant | Sunday (8/31) at 1:00pm – Forget another lazy Sunday brunch, this month’s Sip & Script at Yeye Jiang in Pompano Beach lets you master modern calligraphy with a pointed dip pen while indulging in bubble tea and croissants. We’ll tackle basic strokes, share laughs, and send you home with your lettering kit.

🎉 Pre-Labor Day Festival @ A1A & Oakland Park Blvd Beach | Sunday (8/31) at 4:00pm – Think summer’s punch bowl ran dry? Swing by NE 32nd for one more block party loaded with roof-raising Bruce Springsteen tunes, gleaming vintage cars, vendors, bites that rival your favorite dive bar, and street-corner tag sales. It’s the unofficial send-off we’ve all been pretending to plan.

Next week

🦕 Expedition: Dinosaur – Rise of the Mammals @ Museum of Discovery and Science | Monday (9/1) at 10:00am – Skip the usual weekend errands and wander among 12 animatronic dinos at MODS. Dig up real fossils, spin your own dino art, and narrate a holographic T. rex rumble. It’s the local family outing that reminds you why you love this city.

🍖 BBQ at the Beach @ Plunge Beach Resort | Monday (9/1) at 12:00pm – Nothing says local Labor Day like BBQ at the Beach at Backflip Beach Bar, where cold beers flow, the grill’s always firing, and the ocean view reminds you why Mondays should feel optional. Kick back, grab a burger, and pretend your inbox doesn’t exist.

🦈 Shark Kingdom @ Museum of Discovery and Science | Tuesday (9/2) at 10:00am – Whether you’ve had your fill of beach selfies or crave an honest thrill, come face-to-fin with great whites, whalers, and elusive shipwreck sharks on South Florida’s largest screen. A trio of shark-savvy superwomen unlocks hidden senses, epic dives, and unexpected beauty.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/29 Bernie C Duo @ Lucky Fish – 6 pm
• 8/29 Borgore @ Kemistry Nightclub – 10 pm
• 8/30 Beres Hammond @ Broward Center – 7:30 pm
• 8/30 The New York Bee Gees @ Casino Dania Beach – 8 pm
• 8/31 Gouyad Fest @ Rooftop Live – 7 pm
• 8/31 Calagna @ Eagle Wilton Manors – 9 pm
• 9/1 Fisher -21+ @ Daer Dayclub – 4 pm
• 9/2 George Thorogood & The Destroyers @ Parker Playhouse – 7:30 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: Larry Revier (TrustLarry Real Estate)

Three stories of corner-lot charm show off two side yards and a pair of sunroofs, just minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, boutiques, and buzzy restaurants. The open layout blends soaring ceilings and a gourmet kitchen with plenty of space for both impromptu dance parties and formal dinner affairs. A loft flexes as a fourth bedroom or creative hideaway.

Poolside lounging comes easy in the private backyard, with impact windows and a two-car garage adding peace of mind. Top-rated schools and a prime location round out this sun-soaked slice of Florida sophistication.

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