Tuesday, January 9th - 2024 - 46 years ago there was snow in South Florida? The cool stuff is still happening! Check out this week's rundown from the Food & Wine Festival to The Frog Prince and MLK Day celebrations.👇

Stuff You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Tonight (not too late) you can still get tickets for Trailblazers - The Women of Symphonic Music. A span of 200 years connects these pioneering women of classical music. (Tickets)
2. Last 3 days for Godzilla Minus One at Savor Cinema (showing Tues-Wed-Thurs). Then they move to Memory, featuring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard. For the classic monster movie, it is getting rave reviews as portrays how in postwar Japan, a new terror rises. Will the already devastated people be able to survive this new threat? (Tickets)
3. This week is the official start of the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival. Make sure you check out the Picnic In The Park on the 14th. There's even a Kids Can Cook class! (Tickets)
4. Friday features CreativeZen and Laurence Gartel telling the inside story of digital art. Gartel is a globally acknowledged "PIONEER" of the Digital Art movement. He is considered the father of the Paintbox Era (circa 1986), because he actually started this technique 10 years before any software was written for painting and photo manipulation. He used digital synthesizers, TVs and then output photographically as a dyesub & Polaroid prints. (Free)
5. On Friday and Saturday afternoon there will be multiple showings of The Frog Prince at the Broward Center. This is a fairy tale with a beautiful lesson; don't judge anyone by their appearance. This story delivers an important message about treating everyone equally. (Tickets)
6. Or choose a little playful fun at Gateway with the 50th Anniversary of Young Frankenstein. The scariest comedy of all time celebrates its 50th anniversary! In this spoof of Mary Shelley's gothic tale, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, a neurosurgeon, has spent his life living down the legend of his grandfather, even changing the pronunciation of his name. (Tickets)
7. On Saturday evening, its the Dania After Dark Art Festival, featuring a distinctive art and artisan marketplace, glow-in-the-dark art exhibit, light projections, live music, craft cocktails, beers, food trucks, and a special kids zone. There will even be an "Art to wear" competition. (Free)
8. On Sunday, Flow Fest is back with a full slate of Circus Arts, Dance and Yoga at Esplanade Park. This is a both a free ticketed event because the day is chock full of master workshops and things to do or take away. (Free and Tickets)
9. Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr Day and will be full of local events. The YMCA will be hosting a full weekend of events and speakers with the Stand For Something celebration. The City of Fort Lauderdale will be hosting its celebration at Carter Park in Sistrunk. And with the wee-ones out of school that day, you can also sign them up for Camp Steamology at MODS for an interactive exploration and hands-on learning opportunities in the coolest camp environment.
10. In just 11 days, join us for the Innovation Education event (InEd Live 2024) at the Museum of Discovery and Science. Speakers and attendees together will explore new ideas and unconventional approaches and cultivate a future where education doesn't just grow – it flourishes! (Tickets)
11. If you missed tonight's classical music (see the Symphony of the America's above) but want to hear the masterworks of Brahms, Bach, and more, make sure you head over to The Parker next Wednesday the 17th. (Tickets)

Hey - quick question. What did we miss? 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

Looking for something fun and uniquely Fort Lauderdale? Come out Saturday night for the Shipwreck Saloon Cocktail Experience at Savor Cinema. With two showings (6pm and 8pm) this will be a chilling cocktail experience in the dead of night. The Pirates and Rum Experience is an interactive show where the dead tell their tales based on the real-life murders and legends of the Pirates of the South Seas.

This high-energy interactive live show will fully transport you into a pirating world of cocktails and treasures. Beware, as the night holds multiple surprises. Get your tickets for the Pirates and Rum Experience.

• ☠️ Step into an interactive show and cocktail experience led by mischievous pirates
• 🏴‍☠️ Experience the stories and the mystery of the legendary Pirates of the South Seas
• 🍹 Indulge in 4 delicious cocktails that pair with each part of the show
• ✨ The pop-up will be available for a limited time—don't miss out!

Do you have a favorite event, place, business, or organization you would like to see featured on the podcast? HIT REPLY and let us know!

So... You Think You Know South Florida?

You probably know... our friends and relatives who live north of tropical South Florida have not had the best week of weather. It is winter... they can expect more shoveling snow and freakish storms.

But what you might not know is... that on January 19, 1977, it snowed in Fort Lauderdale for the first time in recorded history.

Imagine waking up in a winter wonderland in the middle of sunny Florida. That’s exactly what happened on January 19, 1977, in Fort Lauderdale. It was a truly remarkable event, as snow had never been recorded in the area before. Locals were amazed as the usual warm weather was replaced by a winter chill. Children who had only seen snow on TV shows and films were thrilled to see the frosty flakes for real. It was a day that would be remembered for a long time, as it marked a unique moment in South Florida’s history. It’s fascinating to think that even in a place renowned for its sunshine, the unimaginable can still happen. Source.

Classifieds

• 2024 is here. And that means some of our local Children's Business Fairs are cranking up. The Coral Springs event takes place this weekend. Port St. Lucie is hosting their event in February (make sure you RSVP to be entered in the raffle). The Fort Lauderdale event is slated for May at MODS. Applications will open up at the end of this month.
• ​The Florida Renaissance Festival is nearly here and Weekend One means free admission for Kids and Scouts. It’s a celebration of youth, wonder, and pure joy. For this special weekend, we want to ensure that families can come together and create unforgettable memories. From thrilling rides to interactive exhibits, and tasty treats to live entertainment, this event is a treasure trove of delight for all ages.
  

Quote Of The Week

Flotsam & Jetsam

Last week we invited several FFFTL readers to submit some of their favorite local destinations to share and explore. One that stuck out and surprised us (thank Jia Jong Tan whose recommendation comes all the way from Kuala Lampur after visiting FTL last year) was the allure of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, right on the beach and 1A.

While chain restaurants don't often make the rounds for recommendations, the iconic location (beachside) and movie-made-famous connection to Forest Gump make it a must-visit when you head down to Fort Lauderdale Beach.

___ And a bonus extra___

Because we love to share cool tools as we find them...

Remember when the commercials (and your friends) used to say "There's an app for that" when you needed to get a job done?

Well now AI is becoming the new app. And there's an AI for that.

It is even a website. Check out this collection of AI Tools (There's an AI for that) that helps you find and decide which tools are free, how much they cost, and which ones are people using the most.

Use the search bar at the top if you need a specific tool, or just browse the list to get inspiration. Currently there are over 11,000 different "AI's" (some people call them GPT's) currently listed, and counting. Expect that number to 5x in 2024.

Tell Us How We Are Doing

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