Tuesday, April 30th - 2024 - May the 4th be with you this weekend, as there is lot's of Star Wars spirit, from MODS to Toy Con and on stage at the Broward Center. All in a Galaxy not-so-far-away. All this and more down below 👇

We also want to share a big shout-out to the Museum of Discovery & Science, Yacht Sales International, Heal The Planet, Munive Yachting, Ben Sorensen Consulting, and the Stranahan House for their support of the upcoming Children's Business Fair at MODS on Saturday, May 11th!!

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Stuff You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Wednesday night, A Tribute To ABBA will be on stage at The Parker. This tribute to the Swedish pop sensation will have you dancing in the aisles. Known as “the closest thing to ABBA that you’ll ever see,” this band dazzles audiences with fantastic re-creations of ABBA’s most iconic hits, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S.,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” and “Dancing Queen.” It’s no coincidence that the Official ABBA Fan Club has named this group “the best ABBA tribute band in the world.”
2. Thursday through Saturday, La bohème will be on stage at the Broward Center and performed by the Florida Grand Opera. This is an opportunity to see one of the world's most famous operas!
3. Friday, it's the History Happy Hour at the Stranahan House. Come out and visit with Christiana Lilly as she shares perspectives from her book "100 things To Do In Fort Lauderdale Before You Die." (Tickets for members and non-members)
4. Saturday will also be all about Star Wars Day at MODS you can celebrate the galactic forces of the world and meet iconic Star Wars characters like Stormtroopers and Jedi Knights from the 501st Legion Everglades Squad and the Dagobah Temple – Saber Guild. Then Saturday night at the Broward Center, the music of Star Wars and John Williams will be on stage with the South Florida Pride Concert Band.
5. Saturday from 10am to 4pm is Pompano Beach's Toy Con at the Olson Civic Center. The plan is for a day of fun and nostalgia at Pompano Beach Toy Con May the 4th Star Wars Day! with 50+ Vendors, Cosplay, Food Trucks & More
6. Or you could attend the Wild Talks At Synder Park on Saturday or Sunday. This program from the South Florida Wildlife Center offers a unique opportunity to connect with the incredible creatures that inhabit our planet.
7. Saturday afternoon at the Pembroke Pines Art Complex, they are doing a workshops on Printmaking. Artists of any level can participate in a day of community and printmaking. Enjoy an afternoon of printmaking workshops or use our classroom space to experiment with your own techniques. Browse handmade prints at the art market, supporting local artist vendors.
8. Sunday on the Riverwalk will be all about the music. Jazz Brunch is always the first Sunday of the month, and that means three different stages to explore. Then in the afternoon, the Symphony of the Americas will be at the Broward Center, featuring Pinchas Zukerman, one of the greatest violinists of this generation. They will be playing Ravel, Debussy and Brahms.
9. If movies and cinema are your thing, you have lot's going on over at Savor and Cinema Paradiso this week. Saturday is the annual Kentucky Derby Party and fundraiser. The following weekend (in recognition of Mother's Day) is "Mother" with Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds. One movie that might interest animal lovers is coming up with "Arthur The King" at Savor starting on Friday. And starting on Friday the 17th, Cinema Paradiso is going to have a great one called "IF" (stands for Imaginary Friends) starting on Friday, May 17th. Watch trailer - it's worth it!
10. In the month of June, the Broward Cultural Division and SBDC will be puting on Business Skills For Creatives at the Destination Sistrunk Cultural Center. Whether you’re an artist, designer, filmmaker, or other creative professional, Business Skills for Creatives is tailored to elevate your career.

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

Summer is nearly upon us. Got a plan for fun-filled days for the little ones?

If you haven't already registered, you might want to take a look at Camp Live Oak right here in Fort Lauderdale's Birch Taylor State Park. With over 30 years of experience and ACA accreditation, the camp experience will be both fun and safe.

They offer both environmental and marine science curricula, with activities centered around unique environmental themes each week. A variety of activities occur every week, all rotating on various days. Field trips, on-site adventures, and guest speakers are scheduled to give your child an extremely well-rounded camp experience.

We recently had a chance to talk with the team at Camp Live Oak about their preparations for the summer season.

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So... You Think You Know South Florida?

You probably know... it was a year ago in April 2023 that Fort Lauderdale was inundated with 26 inches of rain in just a couple of hours. The images of flooding and devastation made the national news and the impact haunts many today.

But what you might not know is... the Federal government paid out over 100 million dollars in aid to those who suffered damages (according to Mayor Trantalis's monthly report).

Since the storm, the city has accelerated its work on upgrading the stormwater system. The fact is that segments of Fort Lauderdale long lacked needed infrastructure to protect residents and property from flooding.

Work in the Edgewood neighborhood, one of the hardest hit areas, has been completed. With an investment of $14.5 million, we have reduced the frequency, intensity and duration of flooding.

A similar project in River Oaks is underway and close to completion. It includes the installation of three stormwater pump stations. And, construction is ongoing in the Durrs neighborhood. In that area, the city is undertaking $30 million in stormwater improvements, including laying 6.6 miles of pipe.

Design work for improvements in Melrose Manors has started. We expect construction there to start in 2026 with an investment of up to $90 million.

In response to the unprecedented flooding, the Mayor introduced the plan to "Fortify Lauderdale." This ambitious plan calls for the city to invest up to a half-billion dollars over the next decade. This work will encompass 17 neighborhoods and more than double the amount of upgrades that had been planned.

Treats To Try

• Want to encourage your child to be more independent? Offer up a "How about you try one time first?" Here are some more phrases (from Big Life Journal) to help your child grow their confidence in trying new things.
• 🌟 Job Opportunity at Colossal Academy 🌟 Colossal Academy, in partnership with Outschool, is seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team as Conversational English Teachers! Visit the "work with us" page for more details.
• Hey summer camp, summer school, scout troops and homeschool pods - did you know you can visit the Stranahan House in downtown Fort Lauderdale for only $7 per camper (half the cost of most other day adventures). Includes tours and hands-on activities.

Quote Of The Week

This quotation is attributed to "Isabel" - not a famous philosopher but a young lady on the social media platform "X" who generated tons of discussion about the power and implication of keeping things this simple. Apparently a book is in the worls.

Flotsam & Jetsam

Today's Flotsam is all about sound, and comes to us courtesy of the Recommendo newsletter.

You might want to know about Radio Garden - the website that presents you with a spinnable globe of the Earth. The green dots represent radio stations. Rotate the globe, click a dot and you are suddenly listening to live radio in that part of the world.

Or maybe you want something a bit more old school? Use the Nostalgia Machine to roll back time and pick a year between 1951 and 2015. The Nostalgia Machine will warp you back musically and link you to videos of the top Billboard Hits of that time.

And lastly... if you are an audio nerd, you might love Song Explorer. It’s this amazing podcast that takes one well-known song each week and explodes it into its separate components. The musicians who wrote and perform the song take it apart track by track, sometimes beat by beat, explaining what they were thinking as they created the pieces: what challenges and dead-ends they met along the way, how the song changed as they worked on it, and why they like the final version. It’s the x-ray into music you always wanted.

Idiom Of The Week

The idiom "kill two birds with one stone" means to accomplish two objectives or solve two problems with a single action or effort. The phrase originated from hunting practices, where hunters would aim to take down multiple birds with a single well-aimed throw of a stone or shot from a sling. This efficient method of hunting would have been seen as skillful and advantageous.

The phrase itself appears to have been in use since at least the 17th century, as it can be found in various English literature from that period onwards. Over time, it has become a widely used expression to describe the idea of achieving multiple goals with a single action, regardless of its literal connection to hunting. ~ Source​

Tell Us How We Are Doing

Every week we are working to improve #FFFTL 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?