Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 - This week we have stuff for foodies, for creative types, for cos-players and for toy-seekers. A little bit for everyone.

• Comicon coming to Fort Lauderdale. Who is your co-play character?
• A weekend full of Irish dancing on stage, and science camps at MODS
• The FTL Food & Wine Festival is underway but make sure you check out the family event on Saturday!

Stuff You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Feeling creative and want to mix with others doing cool projects? Thursday night (second Thursday of each month) is the Creatives Meetup at the Victory Black Box Theatre at YMCA on Sistrunk. Enjoy an evening of networking and creative conversations with local artists from the South Florida community. (Free)
2. This Friday through Sunday, you can still get tickets to the 25th Anniversary performance of Riverdance at Broward Center for Performing Arts. Known world-wide for its powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. (Tickets)
3. Saturday night, it's time for this month's Haunting On The River. Visit Old Fort Lauderdale Village (downtown and by the New River). Experience a Ghost Tour like never before! Work with the experts and learn how paranormal investigators uncover the truth behind hauntings. (Tickets)
4. ComicCon is coming to The FTL! Sunday it's the FT-LAUDERDALECON - COMIC & POP CULTURE EVENT at The Embassy Suites. Come for the cos-play and stay for the toys. (Tickets and children under 11 are free)
5. ALL Week (Jan 9-15) here in town is the Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival. This weeklong event showcases Broward County’s renowned and emerging chefs, restaurateurs and local food & beverage establishments. Sunday is Picnic In The Park Day. Come for A FREE culinary experience for the entire family! (Free)
6. Saturday and Sunday you will have markets at Las Olas Oceanside Park. (Free)
7. Do you know what a "Wish Jar" is? They will be making them Saturday at the NSU Art Museum as part of the workshop Creativity Exploration: Wish Jars. Set an intention for the new year, creating a visible and tangible reminder to inspire and move towards the future with your goals in mind. Fill a jar with images, words, and objects that keep you on your path. Advanced reservations are required, space is limited. (Tickets)
8. On Monday, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the YMCA on Sistrunk will be hosting the MLK Day of Service. Volunteers will be creating care packages, doing community clean-ups, building Little Libraries, and more. (Free)

FEATURED FORT LAUDERDALE

Each week we love to share events, people, stories, and different organizations who make up the fabric of our beloved greater Fort Lauderdale. And each week it seems like we are sharing cool events and experiences at the Museum of Discovery & Science (known locally as MODS).

There is always a lot going on at MODS, but here are several hand-picked items that we think you might want to know about:

• On Friday, January 13th they have a one-day Discovery Camp called Wind, Water, and Waves. Campers will build a boat, create a wave machine, learn about water properties and what makes an object sink or float. Then set up their own boat to race with the team’s rubber ducky towards the finish line!
• On Monday the 16th (MLK Day) they have another one-day Discovery Camp - this one on Space Adventures! Campers will discover the mysteries of deep space. How does an astrobotanist water their plants? They will learn how scientists have developed a way to grow nutritional components for their diet. Can they make a bottle rocket and launch it into the air? The day’s mission: is to have fun while learning!
• And later this month, MODS will be opening its new exhibit Wild Kratts: Creature Power! One of cool things they do at MODS is host special morning events for MODS members. And the Wild Kratts event is Saturday morning on January 21st. This includes a first-hand look at our newest traveling exhibit plus limited seating for the documentary movies, so make sure you sign up ahead of time. (Free with Membership)
• You might also want to know that MODS has partnered with Cox Science Center and Aquarium to provide 50% off admission for MODS members. The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is to "open every mind to science" and the indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium, digital planetarium, Pre-K focused "Discovery Center," 18-hole conservation-themed Mini Golf Course and quarter mile long outdoor science trail.
• Simply present your MODS membership card at Cox Science Center and Aquarium's box office with a photo ID to receive 50% off admission. In January, MODS members receive $5 off a family membership or higher at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
• And lastly, do you know about the Build A Better World Challenge? This is a contest with prizes for grades 5 to 12 to design solutions to some of our most pressing issues of climate change and resiliency here in the State of Florida. The overall winning idea will receive $8,500 to get their idea off the ground with funds given to a partner organization to mentor the winner. The top 15 ideas from each category will also be featured during the Visit Lauderdale Science Festival where they will present their ideas, with final judging being conducted by a panel of resilience and sustainability experts.

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 Fort Lauderdale?

You probably know... A LOT of people are moving to South Florida. It is one of the fastest growing states. People love the weather. There is so much to do and enjoy in our perpetual summer season.

But do you know about... that Fort Lauderdale was just profiled in the Wall Street Journal as its growth is on par with neighbors Miami and Palm Beach. The article (gated by WSJ) digs into the story of several newcomers and what they are finding with their newly adopted city.

 Classifieds & Giveaways

• Fort Lauderdale (the 'Venice of America') means boats. But did you know there is a new Bote Store coming to Fort Lauderdale? If you want to get on the water, we can't recommend the Bote brand paddleboards high enough. They have inflatables and hard boards options. Opening soon on South Andrews Street.
• This month at Acton Academy, we are doing the Detective Science Quest. And next session we will be tackling Coding & Robotics. If you child is an independent learner who wants to go as fast and as far at it fits for them - do something RADICAL for your child - come visit Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale.
• Are you curious about what AI platforms like ChatGPT might mean for education? Did you see that NYC public schools actually decided to ban those tools from their campuses? What are the implications of raising AI-enabled children? Join us for our February Discussion Group. Hit reply to this email and I will get you details.
• The Hollywood Donut Factory is now open on Las Olas! With Hollywood Donuts, the donuts are the stars! We use only the highest quality mixes and fillings. While our donuts are what make us famous, we also offer a full menu of delicious breakfast and lunch fare.
  

Quote Of The Week

Flotsam & Jetsam

It's the New Year and whether you set resolutions for 2023 or not, you are probably planning/hoping to get a lot done. Maybe having a buddy in the same boat will be the difference maker. 🤔

Maybe you just need a little positive peer pressure. Focusmate facilitates virtual coworking with partners who are committed to getting important work done. The science behind having a work buddy is pretty conclusive. It can boost productivity by 200-300%!

What about you? Would you work better, harder, smarter if you had a friend on the screen doing the same and holding you accountable? We're curious to know if you any of you will try this out.

Tell Us How We Are Doing

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? How could we do better?

And most importantly, what FTL businesses and experiences should we be highlighting?