Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Sun Sentinel.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is upon us on Tuesday and celebrations of the Year of the Water Tiger get under way this weekend. With similar enthusiasm (maybe more) some folks also are celebrating Sunday of the Sea Cow (the humble manatee) and Saturday of the Frenchie — the French bulldog being the miniature sea cow of the dog park, right? (Please direct fan mail to bcrandell@sunsentinel.com.)
Weekend laughs: The hottest comedy ticket this weekend can’t be had: Rickey Smiley’s five shows at the Dania Improv Friday-Sunday are sold out. Meanwhile, Jeff Dye (co-star of NBC’s “Better Late Than Never” with Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman) is at the Palm Beach Improv in West Palm Beach for 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. shows each night Friday-Saturday. Tickets cost $22 at PalmBeachImprov.com.
Solo act: For Billy Joel’s show at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood Friday night, there is now a single seat left available on Ticketmaster, for $805, on one of those popular couches. Gotta be a story there. Did Brenda and Eddie break up? Visit MyHRL.com.
Weekend movie: If you missed Lady Gaga in “House of Gucci” when it was released on the big screen last fall — and it must be seen on the big screen — know that Regal Cypress Creek Station in Fort Lauderdale is screening the reissue beginning Friday. Co-starring with Gaga are Jeremy Irons, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jack Huston, Al Pacino and Salma Hayek. Visit RegMovies.com.
Norton after dark: The Norton Museum of Art in downtown West Palm Beach will offer a two-day Chinese Lunar New Year celebration beginning 5-10 p.m. Friday with Art After Dark events that include a make-and-take lantern-making workshop, tours, fireworks (7:10 p.m.) and a performance by Chen Fan Hagen on the pipa (Chinese lute). Saturday’s events are noon-5 p.m. and feature dragon dances, a scavenger hunt and craft-making activities. Admission is free, but attendance will be limited and masks are required. For other information, visit Norton.org.
A night with Thorn: News came this week that countryish singer Paul Thorn will perform in the Amaturo Theater at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center on March 17. A songwriter of compelling depth and honesty, Thorn will share music from his seven-years-in-the-making album, “Never Too Late to Call.” Tickets start at $35 at BrowardCenter.org. I’d get them today.
Pony rides: Highlighted by a bar created from a 19th century carousel, the Carousel Club is an indoor-outdoor entertainment space on the homestretch at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach and the latest venture by Breakwater Hospitality Group, which created the Wharf Fort Lauderdale and a sister location in Miami. Its official grand-opening weekend is Feb. 18-20, but you can get a sneak peek on Saturday during the thoroughbred-racing venue’s famed Pegasus World Cup. Entertainment will include a live edition of DJ Cassidy’s “Pass the Mic” show, featuring Ja Rule, Lil Kim and Ma$e. Tickets cost $150. For more on the day’s festivities, visit PegasusWorldCup.com.
Cider, bro: Broski Ciderworks in Pompano Beach (1465 SW Sixth Court) celebrates five years of bubbly refreshments 1-6 p.m. Saturday, with a long lineup of new and favorite ciders, craft beer, games, raffles and prizes. Food-truck noshing options will come from local favorites Kaminari Ramen and Tony Waffles. Admission is free, with individual cider and beer $6. Visit BroskiCiderWorks.com.
Fans of French bulldogs (and rosé wine) will gather at the Wharf Fort Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon. (Eriklam / Getty Images)
French kisses: The Wharf Fort Lauderdale is the setting for a dog-friendly party on Saturday afternoon hosted by the Real Frenchies of South Florida, with pop-up vendors, raffles, giveaways. Saturdays at the Wharf are famous for their noon-4 p.m. rosé specials ($30 bottles of Whispering Angel), but the meetup of French bulldog fans (like Lady Gaga) will be 2:30-4:30 p.m. All dog breeds are welcome. Visit WharfFTL.com.
Sip, shop, sing: The inaugural Ocean Breeze Market debuts noon-4 p.m. Saturday at Pier 6 Rooftop at the Pompano Beach Pier Hotel (200 N. Ocean Blvd.), courtesy of the ladies of Sunny Side Up Market, so you know it’ll be all about sips and shopping with 20 local vendors. You’ll also find yoga and mimosas (11 a.m-noon) and live music from multi-instrumentalist Rebecca Marie (1-3 p.m.). Visit Facebook.com/sunnysideupmarketBGN.
The Weekender – South Florida Events Newsletter
Weekly
Get a roundup of the best events and things to do in South Florida so you can make it an epic weekend.
Moon dance: The Chinese Lunar New Year will be a theme of Art Walk across downtown Fort Lauderdale’s MASS District and Flagler Village beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday night. Always an eclectic stroll, this month’s edition will include MASS District performances and processions by the Sunrise-based Lee Koon Hung Lion & Dragon Dance Team Association and Singapore street food from Coral Springs-based ZippyZee Kitchen. Visit ArtWalk.city.
Tattoos and manatees: Invasive Species Brewing in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village (726 NE Second Ave.) will join forces with the tattoo creatives at Crossed Keys Society 2-10 p.m. Sunday to raise money for habitat restoration for Florida’s lovable and embattled manatees via the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation. The crew at Crossed Keys (706 NE First Ave.) will be inking from its collection of Florida flash tattoos at both locations, with each tattoo good for a free beer. The irreverent clothing designer @jinx_remover will be at the brewery doing live screen printing and @billyscurbsidegrill will do the food. Cool crowd, good cause. Visit Instagram.com/invasivespeciesbrewing.
Moon dance II: Temple Street Eatery in downtown Fort Lauderdale (416 N. Federal Highway) will celebrate the Year of the Water Tiger 6:45 p.m. Monday with dinner and a lion dancer show. The menu ranges from Taiwanese Fried Chicken to Hong Kong Borscht and dessert combining a Heritage dim sum lava bun and pandan ice cream from Wilton Creamery. Visit TempleStreetEatery.com.
Kapow Noodle Bar locations in Boca Raton (431 Plaza Real) and West Palm Beach (518 Clematis St.) will celebrate the new year on Tuesday with live entertainment, $1 Sapporo draft beers, $5 China Jade cocktails, $2 crispy mushroom and shortrib buns, and $3 ahi tuna and skirt steak tacos. Visit KapowNoodleBar.com.
