Thursday, November 12th, 2026 - The holiday season is upon us. We have proof. Olas the snow/sandman has been installed on the beach at the end of Las Olas and is ready to welcome visitors again for another year.
Labyrinth plays live at The Parker tonight, the full film with a band performing David Bowie's score, forty years after it flopped in theaters and found its real audience on video. Friday night John Cena makes a surprise return to WWE SmackDown at Amerant Bank Arena.đđđ
Stuff You Wonât Want To Miss This Week:
â TOP PICK THIS WEEK: Three Weekends in November | Camelot Days Medieval Festival at TY Park in Hollywood. Explore a kingdom full of musicians, artisans, eateries, knights, and jesters.
Friday Night - 7:30pm | WWE SmackDown at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. John Cena returns to Friday Night SmackDown, with Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Gunther, and more on the card.
TONIGHT - 7:30pm | Jim Hensonâs Labyrinth: In Concert 40th Anniversary at Wells Hall, The Parker. The full film plays while a live band performs David Bowieâs score alongside his original vocals.
TONIGHT - 8pm | Stars and Strings at Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. A country package show with Lee Brice, Kane Brown, Brantley Gilbert, Brandon Lake, and Ashley Cooke.
TONIGHT - 7:30pm | Military Appreciation: DET vs FLA at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. The Panthers honor active-duty and veteran military members.
TONIGHT - 5:30-8pm | Business for the Arts Browardâs 8th Annual Art + Stroll at Huizenga Park. Free; live art demonstrations and local artists.
TONIGHT - 6-8pm | Oldies Music Singo & Dance Show at the Herb Skolnick Center, Pompano Beach. $9 covers bingo cards, refreshments, and prizes.
TONIGHT - 7-8:30pm | A Taste of Jazz at Bailey Contemporary Arts, Pompano Beach. $25; wine tasting followed by live jazz.
TONIGHT through Friday - 8pm both nights | Davide De Pierro at the Amaturo Theater, Broward Center. Personal storytelling, humor, and audience Q&A inspired by his own novel.
TONIGHT - 8pm | New World Dance Ensemble at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. The New World School of the Arts dancers perform works by Jennifer Archibald, Robert Battle, and others.
TODAY (opens) | America the Beautiful: Our Natural Wonders at MODS. Showtimes and price not yet posted; check the museumâs own link before you go.
TODAY - from 2pm, online | Estate Auction by Lion and Unicorn, Hollywood. Online only, today only, 629 lots, led by a signed oil painting by Florida Highwayman Robert Butler, with a Soviet bronze Lenin plaque and a hand-carved wooden Elvis further down the list. Bidding runs on LiveAuctioneers.
Friday Morning - 10am | School House Rock: Smart Stage Matinee Series at the Amaturo Theater, Broward Center. A nervous teacher discovers the classic songs come to life on stage; recommended Grades 2-5, with lap tickets for children 12 months and under.
Friday Night - 7:30pm | Andrew Dice Clay: Live on Stage at Wells Hall, The Parker. Rescheduled from September; special guest Eleanor Kerrigan.
Friday Night - 7:30pm | PEACE Concert: Celebrate the Season at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, NSU, Davie. NSUâs Commercial Music Ensembles play Baroque pieces and Beatles selections.
Friday Night - 8pm | Absolute Journey, the Journey Tribute at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.
Friday through Sunday - Fri 8pm, Sat 1pm & 7pm, Sun 3pm | Work of Heart: The Happening VIII at the Abdo New River Room, Broward Center. Four aspiring artists navigate fear, grief, and self-doubt through music, poetry, and dance.
Friday Night - 6-10pm | Enchanted Fairytale Senior Prom at the E. Pat Larkins Center, Pompano Beach. $30, ages 40+; a seated dinner, music, and dancing.
Friday Night - 7-9pm | Music Under the Stars at the Pompano Beach Great Lawn. Live music from Laura Goodstone.
Friday Night - 6pm | Hawthorne Heights: 20th Anniversary of If Only You Were Lonely at Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale. With letlive and Creeper.
Friday (opens) | Dune 1 & 2 Re-Release Double Feature at MODS.
Friday (opens) | Stormbound at MODS. A storm chaserâs thirty-year chase of major U.S. hurricanes, in IMAX.
Saturday Afternoon - 12-4pm | Riverwalk International Food Festival at Esplanade Park, Fort Lauderdale. Free; the sixth annual edition, with international food vendors, live music, and a paid VIP tasting add-on for 21+.
Saturday - 10am-3:30pm | 25th Annual Storybook Festival: Curiouser and Curiouser at Southwest Regional Library, Pembroke Pines. Free. An Alice in Wonderland-themed day of storytelling, crafts, and a costume parade; the first 1,000 children get a free book.
Saturday Afternoon - 2-6pm | Fall Harvest Festival at Sabal Pines Park, Coconut Creek. Free, all ages; a lumberjack show, a chili competition, and childrenâs activities.
Saturday Morning - 9am-2pm | Holiday Handcrafts Bazaar at the Charlotte Burrie Civic Center, Pompano Beach. Free; over 25 vendors.
Also Saturday - 9am-1pm | Green Market Pompano Beach at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Free; farm-fresh produce and live music, the seasonâs first one of the year. Pompano also runs a secondhand flea market the same morning (Treasures & Trinkets).
Saturday Night - 6-10pm | Smooth Sounds Soiree at Hunters Manor Park, Pompano Beach. Free; live smooth jazz, R&B, and soul.
Saturday and Sunday - 8pm both nights | Rod Wave: Donât Look Down Tour at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise.
Sunday Morning - 10-11am | One Step Ahead: Talk, Play & Grow Playgroup at Huizenga Park. A licensed speech-language pathologist leads play-based learning for toddlers and preschoolers with caregivers.
Also Sunday - 7:30pm | Bowling For Soup at Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale. With Ballyhoo and rosecoloredworld.
Monday - bidding ends 1:05pm | Estate Auction: Lladró, Sports Cards & More by Shield & Gavel, Pembroke Pines. Online, 400+ lots, and everything sells: Lladró porcelain, Pokémon cards, Shure microphones, and a flight simulator.
Tuesday Night - 7pm | Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise.
Wednesday Night - 6:30-8pm | Think and Drink Trivia at Huizenga Park. Free.
Also Wednesday - 7-9pm | Lyrics Lab Open Mic at The Hive Black Box Theater, Pompano Beach. $10 admission, performers free; hosted by Erick Carter with a house band.
SAVE THE DATES for Next Week
Thursday and Friday, Nov 19-20 · 7pm both nights | Olivia Rodrigo: The Unraveled Tour at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. With special guest Devon Again.
Thursday through Sunday, Nov 19-22 · 8pm each night | Sebastian Maniscalco at Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Tickets from $75.
Thursday, Nov 19 · 6-8pm | Community Movie Night at the E. Pat Larkins Center, Pompano Beach. Free.
Friday, Nov 20 · 10am-2pm | Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon at the E. Pat Larkins Center, Pompano Beach. $15, ages 50+.
Friday, Nov 20 · 11am-3pm | Patricia Davis Community Garden Service and Education Day at the Patricia Davis Community Garden, Pompano Beach.
Friday, Nov 20 · 6-9pm | Old Townâs Backyard Jam at Old Town Pompano. Free; this monthâs act is Mix Tape, an â80s rock and pop cover band.
Friday, Nov 20 · 7:30pm | Hot Brass: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. $45.
Friday, Nov 20 | Safety Night Out at Coconut Creek Government Center. Free; a K9 demonstration, fire truck tours, and a childrenâs fire-hose experience. Time not yet posted.
Saturday, Nov 21 · 6pm | Hockey Fights Cancer: BUF vs FLA at Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov 21-22 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers at the Charlotte Burrie Center, Pompano Beach. $20; Neil Simonâs comedy, mature audiences.
Sunday, Nov 22 · 12-4pm | Huizenga Park Community Market at Huizenga Park. Free entry; local artisans, food vendors, a live DJ.
Sunday, Nov 22 · 12-4pm | Flamingo Flea at Tarpon River Brewing, Fort Lauderdale. Handmade, vintage, and upcycled goods; runs every other month, so this is the next chance until January.
Sunday, Nov 22 · 2-5pm | The Spaghetti & Matzo Ball Show at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Peter Fogel and Lou Villano, two Brooklyn friends for 50 years, reunite for comedy and music.
Our Ask: When John Cena makes a surprise return to SmackDown this week, do you have a favorite wrestling memory from growing up, whether you still watch or haven't in 20 years?
Featured Fort Lauderdale
Todayâs feature takes us a bit north of Fort Lauderdale, but in 2027 the Morikami Gardens in Delray Beach will be celebrating 50 years. If you havenât walked its quiet paths or attended one of their Sado tea ceremonies or plant growing workshops, it is worth the drive.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens celebrate a rich, century-old connection between Japan and South Florida. In the early 1900s, a group of young Japanese farmers, led by Jo Sakai, established the Yamato Colony in northern Boca Raton. Named after an ancient term for Japan, this small agricultural community aimed to introduce innovative farming practices to Florida. The settlers primarily grew pineapples and winter vegetables, but faced challenges like competition and economic changes that made farming difficult.
Despite hardships, the colony grew to include families, blending Japanese traditions with life in Florida. However, by the 1940s, most colonists had left or returned to Japan. During World War II, the U.S. government took over much of the land for military use. George Sukeji Morikami, one of the last remaining settlers, stayed and later donated his land to Palm Beach County. This gift led to the creation of Morikami Park, which opened in 1977 as a cultural and educational center honoring the Yamato Colonyâs legacy.
Today, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens features traditional Japanese architecture, three exhibition galleries, a theater, and an authentic tea house. The 16-acre Japanese gardens reflect a variety of historical styles from across Japan, thoughtfully arranged to form one harmonious landscape. With close to 7,500 art objects and artifacts, including tea ceremony items and textiles, the Morikami offers visitors a deep, immersive experience of Japanese culture and its enduring connection to Florida.
So... You Think You Know South Florida
You probably already know⊠South Florida is and has been home to many famous people, over the years.
What you might not know is⊠one famous comedian us buried here, and has kept his sense of humor long after his passing.
Leslie Nielson appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. Perhaps none are more famous than his role as a pilot on the movie âAirplane.â
Originally born in Saskatchewan, Leslie passed in 2010 and his gravesite is marked as one of several highlighted Fort Lauderdale locations in Atlas Obscura. His headstone even has a reminder of the comedic influence of flatulence, to keep people laughing.
More Treats To Try
We donât let just anyone sponsor this newsletter. Hereâs who âmade the cutâ this week:
Have you tried Heal The Planetâs SEED Program? As one of this yearâs Childrenâs Business Fair sponsors, Heal The Planet is about empowering people to make conscious choices for their well-being, and for the planet.
Do you know about Good Night John Boy - A new 70s Disco Club has been packed since opening last weekend. Will you be going?
Have you tried Sweetwaters in Huizenga Park? A neighborhood restaurant, right by the water. Think Bryant Park right here in downtown FTL.
Did you know you can come out and watch the Panthers practice? Or join a hockey league, take a skating lesson⊠or just join a free skate?
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Just hit reply to this email to get started. Work with us to reach over 2500+ Greater Fort Lauderdale families.
Quote Of The Week
This week, the words can be found right here in our downtown.
Do you recognize the location? The hint is in the name.
Flotsam & Jetsam
In an online world chock full of âinfluencersâ (seems like South Florida is the capital of the influencer world)⊠there is joy and optimism in just following along on a grand adventure.
Go to YouTube and you will find tons of travel vloggers who let you explore the world vicariously, though there are only a select few youâd actually want to be stuck in a car with.
One creator who consistently brightens my feed is Matt Spears. He specializes in absurd, high-ambition stunts. Like riding a jet ski 1,000 miles to Alaska, or seeing how far he can get on a budget chopper bought off Amazon.
Inevitably, things go wrong. Gear breaks, plans unravel, and the mechanics fall apart.
Through every breakdown and detour, Matt remains relentlessly upbeat, confident, and genuinely excited about the ride. That kind of infectious optimism turns potential disasters into the best part of the trip.
Every day at Acton we talk about The Heroâs Journey as a framework for looking at the choices we make in life. The Matt Spears adventures are a great reminder.
Wherever he decides to go next, we will be happy to tag along.
Source: credit to Kevin Kelly and the Recommendo newsletter for finding this one.
Word Play Of The Week
âMad as a hatter.â
It means wildly eccentric, out of one's mind. The phrase actually predates Lewis Carroll's Hatter by decades, turning up in print as early as 1829, long before Alice was published in 1865. The popular explanation (mercury poisoning among 19th-century hat-makers) is a real occupational hazard of the era, but most word historians think it's a folk explanation that arrived after the phrase, not its true origin. ~ âSource
âUnder-The-Radarâ Openings Job Board
Lots of folks offering cool positions here locally. Maybe thereâs one for you or a friend?
This week, all three positions are at MODS, who is also our host and one of our sponsors for the Fort Lauderdale Childrenâs Business Fair. Come out and see us on Saturday, December 5th. SAVE THE DATE.
Human Resources Manager (full-time) at MODS (Museum of Discovery and Science). Supports recruitment, employee records, and benefits across the museumâs departments. $60,000/year.
Guest Experience Associate (full-time) at MODS. Sells the museumâs programs and memberships and runs school and camp group check-in. $16/hour.
Staff Accountant (full-time) at MODS. Handles the museumâs daily accounting, revenue reconciliations, and month-end close. $60,000/year.
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 a hero to this week?
Tell Us How We Are Doing
Every week we are working to make #H!L better for you and to provide a cutting-edge media apprenticeship opportunity for our learners.
Please share your feedback. What do you love? What could we do better FOR YOU? What FTL businesses and experiences should we be highlighting?