A New Name In Town, a New Spielberg Flick, and What's On In FTL This Week
Hey! Lauderdale - little different look. What do you think?
Thursday, June 11th, 2026 - We’ve been researching what's happening around town since 2021. But this week, you’ll notice a brand new logo and a shift in our mission.
Here is what we're doing differently, why we’re doing it, and your complete guide to local events this week, from outdoor orchestras to a movie at the pool.
Did you see that Disclosure Day (the new Steven Spielberg movie) is opening today at MODS. Will you see it on the big, big screen (IMAX)? 👇👇👇
Stuff You Won’t Want To Miss This Week:
TODAY | Apocalyptic Mayhem, Lava-Spitting Llamas, One Very Sassy Cat. New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular (and just plain wild) Dungeon Crawler Carl series, visits the Broward Library to chat about his latest book.
TONIGHT thru this Weekend | Blue Man Group. The internationally acclaimed theatrical phenomenon combines music, comedy, and multimedia spectacle.
Friday | Tunes ’N Trucks: Old Skool Gang. Food trucks, Motown classics, and outdoor fun make for a perfect Friday evening in Sunrise.
Friday Wellness | Two great options: Fusion Wellness Happy Hour. Includes a 30-minute guided fitness class in a calisthenics gym, B12 injections, red light therapy, compression therapy, and wellness mocktails. Or try CALMA Wellness Club Open Doors. A free, public open-house from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Thrive Art District. Features red light/contrast therapy, IV therapy, chair massages, zero-proof cocktails, and a vinyl DJ in a networking-free, recovery-focused environment.
This Weekend | Revolution Live will be rocking with two shows you might want to see. On Friday, Electric Feels is an experiential party from Los Angeles that plays a ridiculously fun blend of Indie Rock + Indie Dance music. On Saturday, KISS America will be performing with special guests GODSMACKED.
Also Friday Night | Dive-In Movie in Pompano Aquatic Center. Read that again. Movie at the pool, not parked in a car. Lilo & Stitch this week.
Also Friday Night | Free Starlight Musicals. Valerie Tyson Band this week.
Saturday Morning | Fort Lauderdale Beach Sweep. And no… if you are wondering, you will not be responsible for taking care of all the seaweed this week.
Saturday | Bump and spike for a good cause. 40th Annual All Heart Volleyball Challenge on Pompano Beach to support the Ann Storck Center.
Saturday | Ready Davie! Community Expo. A family-friendly event featuring public safety demonstrations, preparedness resources, and interactive exhibits.
This Weekend | Trading Card Megafest Explosion. A must-visit for collectors, featuring sports cards, trading cards, memorabilia, and vendors.
Starting Saturday | Jagged Little Pill. The Tony Award-winning musical inspired by Alanis Morissette’s groundbreaking album arrives at the Broward Center.
Next Tuesday | Small Business Growth Exchange. A networking and growth event at 560 NW 27th Ave starting at 6:00 PM.
Also Next Tuesday | Black Health Summit 2026. Starting at 8:00 AM at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in nearby Pembroke Pines.
Next Wednesday | Juneteenth Jubilee: Rhythm & Runway. A cultural celebration starting at 6:30 PM at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center.
Also Next Wednesday | Networking & Casting Meet Up (48 Hour Film Project Competition). A great event for local creatives, actors, and filmmakers at Make it Visual Creative Studio in Coral Heights, starting at 7:30 PM.
Wednesdays | Free Pioneer Days at the Stranahan House. Residents get free admission to the Historic Stranahan House Museum every Wednesday during operating hours.
Each Week at Huizenga Park | Tuesday night yoga and Lauderdale Run Club 2 Miler. Wednesday night Trivia. Zumba on Friday nights. Workouts on Saturdays and Pilates on Sundays.
Two Upcoming Events for Fans of Local History | June 18 - Unearth a Story - Seeing Florida Heritage through Archaeology. A cultural and educational event starting at 11:00 AM at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. And on June 17 - South Florida in the 18th Century. A historical seminar taking place at 6:00 PM at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum.
Last week we published a “Big Book of All The Things Happening In June” in case you missed it and want to plan ahead. We are already working on our July list.
😉 Hey - quick question. Did we miss anything? Each week we do our research but you might know of an event, an organization, or a local business that deserves some love here in our weekly basket of goodies. Just hit reply to this email and let us know!
Featured Fort Lauderdale
This week we are taking this space to feature… us (you and “we” together).
Weird, I know. Hear me out.
When we launched Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale back in 2021, our little family was new to South Florida. Every Monday or Tuesday I felt like we were hearing about cool stuff that happened the week before. Fort Lauderdale really is an amazing place to live.
So I started researching each week and sharing the list with friends and family. The newsletter grew (as did our little school) and now goes out to over 1400+ Fort Lauderdale friends and families.
But this week, you see a new name and logo. Soon we will retire the #FFFTL to embrace our bigger mission.
Here’s the honest reason. “Family-friendly” was never really the point. It described who could read us when what we actually care about is something else entirely: the difference between living in Fort Lauderdale and belonging to it.
Most people who move here never get to know the real city underneath the postcard. We’re writing and curatingfor the ones who want to. Whether you’ve got a stroller or a surfboard or you just moved into a one-bedroom three weeks ago and still don’t know where to get the best cup of coffee.
“Hey!” is how you talk to someone you know and love. That’s the whole idea. Same newsletter, same fellow-newcomer point of view. Just a new name that finally sounds like all of us. Together. Interested → Interesting → Invited → Included.
So… Hey for now 🤗
~ Tobin
So... You Think You Know South Florida
You probably already know... each week we are sharing events, and organizations, and… estate sales, and everything else that we think is cool about our little city by the sea.
What you might not know... there are hidden gems all around us.
Here’s one resource you can use locally (Fort Lauderdale) or… use it the next time you head out of town and see what’s around you.
You might be surprised at what’s on the list. The list includes reviews and some paid adventures if you are looking to entertain with family or friends.
More Treats To Try
We don’t let just anyone sponsor this newsletter. Here’s who “made the cut” this week:
(Hit reply to this email if you want to reach over 1300+ local families for just $100)
👉 Buy YOUR OWN Classified Ad Here 👈
Fridays until the end of August. Sunset Music Cruise with the Water Taxi. Leave the stresses of the week behind as you sip cocktails and sway to the rhythm of great music, all while watching the sunset from a view you won’t find on land.
Did you know you can take off season tours of the Miami Heat All Access Arena and facilities? Minimum group of 4 required. Tell Victoria you heard about it from us.
Friend of the newsletter (Hey! Laura Duksta that’s you 🙂) shared this new children’s book coming out from her friend Angela Yoder. Please support her Kickstarter. Over 183 backers already!
Urban Air Adventure Park Plantation offers the ultimate way to keep kids active all summer long and beat the heat and rain. For Summer Group Packages full of nonstop indoor adventure call or email today! Lea@elevatedvg.com or 561-831-4311 for fast turnaround.
Just hit reply to this email to get started. Work with us to reach over 1300+ Greater Fort Lauderdale families.
Quote Of The Week
“It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.” ~ Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, and science communicator who advocated for science and pioneered the search for extraterrestrial life.
Flotsam & Jetsam
Here’s a useful (not local) post if you are thinking to yourself (who hasn’t been lately), can I actually trust this?
We live in a fraught (and often false) world of half-baked truths and sometimes intentional fake news meant to knock us off balance.
We’ve all been there: you open your feed, spot a headline that makes your blood boil, and feel the immediate urge to smash the share button. But before you feed the outrage machine, author A.J. Jacobs has a lifeline for us.
Jacobs recently laid out “Ten Strong Suggestions for Surviving Misinformation,” and it is hands-down the best modern toolkit we’ve seen for keeping your sanity intact online. It’s essentially the anti-fake-news playbook.
Here are three of our favorite takeaways you can use today:
Puzzles, Not Battles: Next time you disagree with someone online, don’t treat it as a war to be won. Frame it as a puzzle to solve. It shifts your brain from fury to curiosity.
Assign Percentages to Your Beliefs: Stop treating opinions as 100% right or 0% wrong. Saying “I’m 70% sure about this candidate” leaves healthy room for your mind to evolve when new facts drop.
Trust Those Who Admit Mistakes: The most reliable sources aren’t the ones claiming to be infallible—it’s the creators, journalists, and scientists who openly say, “Hey, we got this wrong yesterday, here is the correction.”
At its core, Jacobs’ guide reminds us to choose curiosity over fury, to be wary of our own shaky human memories, and to question individual “gurus” while respecting scientific consensus.
The next time a headline triggers you, take a breath, channel your inner detective, and remember that truth is usually a slow-burn puzzle.
Word Play Of The Week
“Every cloud has a silver lining”
This expression means that difficult, dark, or unpleasant situations almost always have a positive aspect or an unexpected benefit hidden within them. It serves as a gentle reminder to look for the good, even when things seem gloomy.
The phrase traces its roots all the way back to 1634, originating from John Milton’s famous poem Comus. Milton wrote about a traveler seeing a glimmer of hope in the night sky, describing a “silver lining” cast by the moon behind a dark cloud. By the Victorian era, the phrase evolved into a popular proverb to help people get through hard times. ~ Source
‘Under-The-Radar’ Openings Job Board
Lot’s of folks offering cool positions here locally. Maybe there’s one for you or a friend?
Craft Beer Brewer. 26° Brewing Company. Pompano Beach, FL. A dream role for a beer enthusiast with a strong technical background.
Social Programs Facilitator & Mentor. The Friendship Circle. A deeply rewarding community role. You will be designing dynamic social experiences, field trips, and events for children and adults with special needs, while also partnering with local businesses on Las Olas and beyond to create vocational training programs.
Do you have a listing you would like to place here for next week? Hit reply and let us know.
Lastly… One Big Idea For Your Week
Who will you be helping this week?
Tell Us How We Are Doing
Every week we are working to improve #H!L every week, both for your reading experience and to provide a cutting-edge media apprenticeship opportunity for our learners.
We want to hear from you. What do you love? What could we do better FOR YOU? And most importantly, what FTL businesses and experiences should we be highlighting?