Thursday, February 19th - 2026 - You know the drill: one basket of goodies, no fluff, and only the stuff worth your time.

This week’s lineup has a little bit of everything — family stage shows, local music, market energy, and a few picks you’ll be glad someone curated for you.

And if you notice something a little different this week, we have a new assistant who contributed over 80% of this week's newsletter as part of their training. Will be curious to hear what you think.👇

Please note: If you think you are getting this email by mistake, you can unsubscribe with the button at the bottom of this newsletter. But you might miss out on our weekly "basket of goodies" including from Family Friendly Fort Lauderdale, updates for friends of Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale, or supporters of our local Fort Lauderdale Children's Business Fair. Whatever you choose, we will always respect your decision. But once you unsubscribe we will no longer be able to share our updates.

Stuff You Won't Want To Miss:

1. Thursday, Feb 19 – Tom Papa at Broward Center. If you want a date-night laugh reset, Tom Papa is one of the cleanest “all-audience” comedy bets around.
2. Thursday–Sunday, Feb 19–22 – BATSU! at Broward Center (Off-Center Series). Not your average night out. Wild format, audience energy, and definitely memorable if you’re ready for something different.
3. Thursday, Feb 19–Sunday, Mar 1 – Beautiful (Carole King musical) – Slow Burn Theatre. Great option if you want story + iconic music and a show with broad age appeal.
4. Friday, Feb 20 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at The Parker. Big-band swing energy. If you want to feel like South Florida has its own soundtrack this weekend, this is it.
5. Friday–Saturday, Feb 20–21 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (in concert). One of the strongest “family + nostalgia” picks this week. Great bridge event for kids, teens, and grownups.
6. Saturday, Feb 21 – Laurie Berkner at The Parker. If you’ve got younger kids, this is a high-probability win. Movement, music, and low-stress fun.
7. Sunday, Feb 22 – Rhythm by the River. A local-voices music celebration that feels rooted in community, not just another touring stop.
8. Sunday, Feb 22 – South Florida Pride Concert Band & Youth Pride Band. Big community energy and a meaningful way to support local performers.
9. Tuesday, Feb 24 – Super Scientific Circus (Smart Stage). Science + performance = one of those events kids remember and retell later.
10. Wednesday, Feb 25 – Paul Reiser at The Parker. Another easy date-night option if your week starts to feel too serious.

And in its own special category (wrapping up this weekend) is the annual Ignite Broward displays all around you! Make sure you catch them before the go dark for another year.

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😉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

A “Culture + Curiosity” Weekend Pairing

If you want one smart combo this weekend, do this:

1. ​Harry Potter in Concert for shared family wow-factor
2. ​Rhythm by the River for local flavor and community connection

It’s a great mix of major production + local soul — and exactly the kind of rhythm that makes Fort Lauderdale feel like home.

There is "watching a movie," and then there is experiencing it. This weekend, relive the magic of Harry’s third year as a full symphony orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score live-to-picture. From the frantic flight of the Knight Bus to the haunting chill of the Dementors, the live orchestration adds a layer of depth and "wow-factor" that you simply can't get at home.

Then... shift from the concert hall to the riverfront for a celebration of local soul. This free outdoor festival is the perfect "curiosity" chaser, featuring a lineup that reflects the true heartbeat of South Florida.

The Bottom Line: It’s a weekend of high-gloss production followed by local grit—exactly the kind of rhythm that makes Fort Lauderdale feel like home.

So... You Think You Know Florida

You probably already know... Most families think of “good events” as weekend-only.

What you might not know... But this upcoming week has strong Tuesday/Wednesday options too (like Super Scientific Circus + Paul Reiser), which means you can avoid the weekend crowd bottleneck and still get a meaningful outing in.

Sometimes the best family move is not “what’s biggest,” but what fits your real week.

And here's one for the following week after. SAVE THIS DATE:

We’re excited to invite you to a FREE LEGO Maker Event at Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, March 4, from 6:00–7:30 PM.

This is a hands-on, come-and-go Summer Camp Preview Night where families can see our STEAM camps in action.

During the event, families can:

• Try hands-on STEAM activities
• Explore robotics and engineering challenges
• Experience LEGO Movie Making and Battle Bots
• Build in our Master Builder's loose brick area
• Create in our LEGO art and spin art stations
• Meet the camp team
• Learn about weekly camp themes and program structure

Staff will also be available to answer questions about both summer camps and the school community.

Important:
• This event is FREE
• RSVP is required
• Children must attend with a parent (not a drop-off event)
• Families may arrive anytime between 6:00 and 7:30 PM

Please reserve your spot here:
​https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-lego-maker-event-acton-academy-fort-lauderdale-tickets-1983379823443?aff=oddtdtcreator​

We look forward to seeing you there.

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)

• Studies show kids can lose 2–3 months of academic progress over summer break. The summer slide is real but it’s preventable. But when kids build robots, create, and problem-solve, they’re still using math, logic, reading, and teamwork - just in a different way.That’s not a brain-drain summer. That’s a brain-building one. It’s summer camp that actually counts. Learn more at www.esteamlearninglabs.com.
• Tickets are now available for 2026 Florida Renaissance Festival! Starts on Saturday, February 7th in Deerfield Beach
• 👉 Buy YOUR OWN Classified Ad Here 👈

Just hit reply to this email to get started. Work with us to reach over 1250+ Greater Fort Lauderdale families.

Quote Of The Week

(Pretty fitting for anyone building family rhythm, business rhythm, or both.) Rory Vaden is a New York Times bestselling author, 8-Figure Entrepreneur and a Hall of Fame speaker. His book Take the Stairs has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and been translated into over a dozen different languages.

Flotsam & Jetsam

Two things found floating around the interwebs for you this week:

FIRST - You’ve heard of nature documentaries.

But have you seen how researchers are now using AI to model animal communication patterns in ways that might eventually help us understand non-human “conversation structures”?

It’s one of those “wait… what?” topics that feels sci-fi but is happening now — and it’s a great rabbit hole if your kids ask big questions.

A fun starting point: Project CETI​

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SECOND - Infinite "What Ifs": Why Pax Historia is the AI Game You Won’t Quit

If most AI-driven games feel like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book where half the pages are missing, Pax Historia is the entire library—and the librarian is a chaotic genius. This isn't just a grand strategy game; it’s a sandbox for every "what if" that has ever kept a history buff (or a horror fan) awake at night.

The brilliance of Pax Historia lies in its refusal to follow a script. While most games bore you after ten minutes because you’ve seen all the pre-programmed outcomes, this AI reacts in real-time to your most unhinged choices.

If you’re tired of predictable AI, Pax Historia is the upgrade your brain has been waiting for. Be prepared to lose your weekend, and maybe a few world superpowers along the way.

Word Play Of The Week

Meaning: thinking alike, understanding each other quickly.

Why it matters this week: the best family weeks usually happen when everyone has the same expectation before the week gets busy. ~ Source​

Idea Of The Week

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?