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Happy Tuesday, Fort Lauderdale. In today’s edition: Campus Guardian Angel school security drone pilot, PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, Florida Singing Sons holiday concert, and more.
Let’s get to it — Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Terraced offices and green tile: Plans were filed for a six-story mixed-use building at 811 East Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, replacing 1960s retail. Coombes Property Group leads, with 122 off-site spaces — get all the design details.
Community strength onstage: Fort Lauderdale Beach drew crowds for World AIDS Day, as Rent stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal headlined a remembrance honoring lives lost and raising awareness for HIV and AIDS — read the full story.
Upgrading emergency response tools: Florida launched Campus Guardian Angel drone pilot in Broward, Leon, and Volusia, integrating with Alyssa Alert to enhance school security, with operations anticipated on campuses by the beginning of 2026 — see which districts are involved.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.
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Forget the hotel, charter a yacht instead
In partnership with Charter Smarter
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Get underway at www.chartersmarter.com
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🫶 We got your back
Proactive heart health push: Broward County will relaunch its free cardiac CT scan program on Dec. 10 under new Mayor Mark Bogen, inspired by his mother’s death. The pilot screened 7,000 symptom-free residents and found treatable disease in more than 4,000. Cleveland Clinic will run it, with $1 million support from the Viola family, owners of the Florida Panthers. Updated eligibility is coming. See how to get notified.
Seasonal arts celebration: Broward County’s African American Research Library and Cultural Center will host its Soulful Christmas weekend Dec 12 and 13. Expect a free Friday concert (7–8:30 pm) with Hued Songs, then a Saturday community day (1:30–5:30 pm) packed with storytelling, crafts, STEM demos, therapy dogs, and photos with Santa. Free for all. Get all the details.
Your next burrito move: Keep it simple with the Clasico or go full send with the Surf & Turf at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, where burritos load up rice, black beans, jack cheese, and zippy salsas. Yes, it all rolls out of their signature Airstream-turned taco truck.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
This week
🐾 PAW Patrol: Adventure Play @ Museum of Discovery & Science | Tuesday (12/2) at 10:00am – Got a kid who lights up at the mention of Chase or Skye? This immersive exhibit lets them jump into rescue missions, explore community helper jobs, and join the whole PAW Patrol crew in saving the day. It’s teamwork, problem-solving, and pure joy wrapped up in one museum visit.
🐾 Holiday Shopping Bazaar @ Fratarcangeli Residence | Tuesday (12/2) at 11:00am – Poolside at a Lauderdale residence means pop ups from Fort Lauderdale’s finest boutiques, signature cocktails, chefy bites, cuddle time with adoptable puppies, plus fashion show and auction, all benefitting PAWS and the Humane Society of Broward County. Suggested donation, $25. Sunscreen recommended.
✨ 24th Annual Light Up Downtown @ The Plaza on Las Olas | Tuesday (12/2) at 5:30pm – Whether you brave Christmas on Las Olas every year or prefer your merriment with elbow room, this private, ticketed fundraiser is the upgrade. Expect unlimited cocktails, endless apps, and festive tunes, all capped by a 30-foot tree lighting, benefiting Jack & Jill Center.
🍳 Breakfast for Champions of the Homeless @ Broward Partnership, Central Homeless Assistance Center | Friday (12/5) at 7:00am – This festive breakfast at Broward Partnership kicks off the holiday season with Fort Lauderdale’s movers and shakers playing Celebrity Waiter, real networking, and actually good eggs. Let a commissioner refill your coffee, and feel great knowing your ticket supports housing, health, and jobs for neighbors.
🏘️ Oakland Park Holiday Village @ Jaco Pastorius Park | Friday (12/5) at 5:30pm – Holiday season calls for twinkly lights and a little Florida make-believe. Oakland Park turns into a cheery village with carousel rides, a snow slide, and ice skating, plus crafts for the kids, live bands, dance crews, and a drumline that rattles your hot cocoa.
This weekend
🐱 Sensory-Inclusive Seussical @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – The Cat in the Hat leads the charge in this magical, sensory-adapted performance that brings Dr. Seuss’s wildest worlds to life. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, colorful characters, and a story that celebrates imagination in all its forms.
🎹 CHOPIN for ALL featuring Tim McKay @ African-American Research Library and Cultural Center | Saturday (12/6) at 3:00pm – MTNA Young Artist winner Tim McKay is rolling into town with an afternoon of Chopin that’ll hit you right in the feels. It’s free, it’s world-class, and it’s the perfect excuse to disappear into some truly beautiful music for an hour.
🎶 Florida Singing Sons Holiday Concert @ First Presbyterian Church | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Whether you’ve been going since the kids wore matching sweaters or you just like carols without the mall soundtrack, this 50th holiday concert delivers. Florida Singing Sons open with a candlelit Once in Royal David’s City, then glide through classics, festive gems, and surprises.
🎅 Twas The Night Before Christmas @ All Saints Episcopal Church | Saturday (12/6) at 7:30pm – Seraphic Fire is serving the warm and fuzzy version of December with carols and a reading of A Visit from St. Nicholas. The First Noel, Joy to the World, Silent Night, O Come, All Ye Faithful, and James Bass steering the sleigh. Zero mall-speaker fatigue.
🎭 The Opera Society’s Holiday Dinner Party @ Lauderdale Yacht Club | Sunday (12/7) at 5:30pm – Skip the mall parking wars and do the holidays properly with dockside cocktails on the Intracoastal at Lauderdale Yacht Club, an elegant dinner, live opera, and dancing. Peak seasonal sparkle, and yes, you can call it culture, cardio, and date night all in one.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: Jhaun Pryce (Lifestyle International Realty)
A 5-bed, 4-bath, 4,668-square-foot residence 15 minutes to Downtown and Fort Lauderdale Beach. Two primary suites, three en-suite baths, an open island kitchen with butler’s pantry, and seamless indoor outdoor flow to a pool, deck, and 72-foot dock. A five minute cruise reaches the world’s largest yacht marina. MIANSOLULA design brings custom matte white cabinetry, imported European quartz, and playful hardware by Homary and Haliwu.
Baths get Joshua Tree inspired vanities, BWE oil rubbed bronze fixtures, and Maximo Ceramic Italian porcelain tile. LED lighting shifts from warm to bright, with solar spotlights adding nighttime drama.
Take a peek inside →
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