Up north this week they were watching baseball in ski parkas and gloves. Down here, I think that’s the first sentence I’ve ever written that included the word “parka.” (Am I using it correctly — or is that the guy who valets your car at Fenway?)
Down here, this is a time of year that presents the outdoors at its most glorious, and this Earth Day weekend in particular includes a variety of ways to enjoy it, from the Boca Bash to Blowfish in Fort Lauderdale. Let’s go.
Las Olas Wine & Food Festival: They only have this downtown Fort Lauderdale fundraiser once a year because if they had it more often people might get used to having Las Olas Boulevard closed to vehicles and open only for strolling and dining and drinking and, before you know it, they might start calling for the street to be closed to traffic permanently, and then all hell would break loose. For this 26th annual street party on Friday night, top local restaurants and national wineries will offer sipping and sampling on the boulevard between Southeast Sixth Street and Southeast 11th Street from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Yes, there will be silent disco. Tickets cost $150, with proceeds heading to the American Lung Association. Visit LasOlasWFF.com.
Pompano Beach Seafood Festival: A smorgasbord of South Florida-style dining, drinking and live music, the festival runs Friday-Sunday in Pompano Beach Community Park (820 NE 18th Ave.). Nearly two dozen popular local bands are scheduled, including Spred the Dub, Shaw Davis & the Black Ties, the Copper Tones, Valerie Tyson, Tasty Vibrations, Uproot Hootenanny and the Resolvers. Tickets cost $15 Friday, $20 Saturday-Sunday. Visit PompanoBeachSeafoodFestival.com.
Nick County & the Coin of Gold Band: One of the more unique and creatively invigorating stages in South Florida can be found in the lush Center for Subtropical Affairs — a nursery and ecological learning center with a performance space (or the other way around) in Miami’s Little River neighborhood (7145 NW First Court). On Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., the CSTA will host a show by Miami-based, country-leaning Nick County & the Coin of Gold Band. Boy, howdy. Tickets $15-$20. Visit CSTAMiami.org.
Rooftop cocktails: This may be the weekend to revisit a favorite rooftop lounge. At Rosewater Rooftop, above the stylish Ray hotel in downtown Delray Beach, the Golden Hour happy hour 3-6 p.m. Friday offers half-priced drinks and $9 bites. Visit RosewaterDelray.com. … In downtown Fort Lauderdale, Rooftop @1WLO offers a Saturday afternoon happy hour (2-5 p.m., with $10 craft cocktails, $5 Tito’s drinks and half-priced food) against views of the skyline and the New River. Visit Rooftop1WLO.com. … The newest elevated spot is Rosa Sky Rooftop on the 22nd floor of the AC Hotel by Marriott and Element by Westin in Miami’s Brickell District, a partnership between Miami nightlife entrepreneur Alan Roth and Fort Lauderdale’s The Restaurant People (Rooftop @1WLO). Along with a captivating view, Rosa Sky’s Sunday Soiree includes a brunch menu and $100 bottomless bottles of Champagne, rose and sangria. Visit RosaSkyRooftop.com.
Blowfish: The popular riverside blowout returns to downtown party destination the Wharf Fort Lauderdale at noon Saturday with more than 1,000 inflatable pool toys, CO2 cannons providing plumes of chilling fog and the signature Blowfish Punch, a $10 cocktail served in a fishbowl. Admission is free. Visit WharfFTL.com.
Smorgasburg: The Miami offshoot of the famed Brooklyn food bazaar, which sets up more than 60 vendors in the heart of Wynwood each Saturday, this weekend will focus on plant-based dishes in honor of Earth Day. If that’s your jam, look for vendors displaying a pink sign on their tent. Other vendors will be serving their regular menus. Smorgasburg Miami is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 2600 NW Second Ave., across from Wynwood Walls. Visit SmorgasburgMiami.com.
DJ Kaskade: The global turntable titan performs among the pools and bars at the dayclub version of DAER at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood beginning at noon Saturday. Admission starts at $100. It’s 21 and older. Visit HardRockNightlife.com.
Afro Roots Fest: Taking place at 7 p.m. Saturday at North Beach Bandshell on Miami Beach, one of South Florida’s most picturesque outdoor music venues, the 24th edition of Afro Roots Fest will feature evocative Cuban vocalist Dayme Arocena and the inventive grooves of Sinkane, a Sudanese-American singer of boldly eclectic tastes. Tickets start at $30 at NorthBeachBandshell.com.
Sweet Corn Fiesta: A celebration of South Florida’s under-appreciated farming communities, this family-friendly event returns for a 22nd year to Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Along with food spotlighting Palm Beach County-harvested sweet corn, there will be live music, carnival rides and games. There also will be corn-eating contests for amateurs and professional stars of Major League Eating (as seen on ESPN). Admission: $10, $5 for ages 6-12. Parking is free. Visit .
Green Street Earth Day: The Ben Hotel on the West Palm Beach waterfront on Saturday will host Green Street Earth Day, a more intimate spin-off of SuperCar Week’s Green Street Car Show, with a collection of electric vehicles, entertainment and family activities. Dealers and individual car owners will be on hand to share information about the transition to these vehicles, from Tesla and Fisker Karma to Mustang and the Chevy Volt. The event runs noon-4 p.m. Visit DriveElectricEarthDay.org.
Boca Bash 2022: What began as a small, loosely organized raft-up on Boca Raton’s Lake Boca more than a decade ago is still loosely organized, but now has thousands of people and better booze. On Sunday, this massive daylong armada of boaters, Jet Skiers and paddle boarders will gather in the Intracoastal Waterway for the annual Boca Bash, a vivid illustration of a certain South Florida lifestyle at its most invigorating and its most cliché. Not judging. Even my boater friends will tell you. It’s free. Hours: Whenever to whenever. Visit .
Heal the Planet Day: Local environmental group Heal the Planet continues the Earth Day vibe with its seventh annual gathering 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Esplanade Park on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The all-ages event offers music, speakers and workshops on environmental stewardship, nutrition, health and wellness, with a kids zone for face painting, art projects and more. Admission is free. You can help the cause on Friday (Earth Day) during happy hour at the Wharf Fort Lauderdale. Trade a donation of at least $10 for a cocktail. Visit .
Rainbow 5K: The Pride Center‘s sixth annual Rainbow 5K run/walk takes place 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Holiday Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with pre- and post-race music, food and beverages. The run (professionally timed) will have age-based categories for overall male, female and nonbinary winners. Registration is $35. Visit .
Walk Like MADD and MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K: This Mothers Against Drunk Driving-sponsored fundraiser begins 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Huizenga Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Registration is $35 to run or walk, $30 for kids. To sign up or to donate, visit WalkLikeMadd.org.
SOS Ocean Conservation Day: This fifth annual event, sponsored by Rock the Ocean, Tortuga Music Festival and Stoked on Salt, brings more than 60 vendors, artists, entertainment and activities to the LOOP (Las Olas Oceanfront Park) in Fort Lauderdale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. The event benefits Nova Southeastern University’s Marine Environmental Education Center at the Carpenter House in Hollywood. Visit TheLOOPFLB.com.
There are, of course, other things going on that have nothing to do with being outdoors …
FRIDAY
Khaled in the club: South Florida entertainment icon DJ Khaled (you’re welcome, world) will perform a rare club show 11 p.m. Friday at LIV nightclub at the Fontainebleau resort on Miami Beach. Somehow still available, tickets cost $80 (both guys and ladies), tables start at $2,000. Visit LIVNightclub.com.
Ticket window: Steely Dan has added a July 28 tour date at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, with tickets (starting at $65) on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com. … Latin crossover star Rosalía will be one of the headliners at III Points music festival in Miami Oct. 22-23, with tickets on sale 10 a.m. Friday at IIIPoints.com. … Tickets went on sale this week to see punk-industrial flagbearers KMFDM at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 27. Price: $29.50 advance at the box office, $33 at the door. Visit JoinTheRevolution.net.
Weekend soundtrack: South Florida native Sarah McCulloch, raised in the Big Cypress Swamp, on Friday releases the album “Sawmiller’s Daughter,” a spirited collection of traditional country music elevated by her timeless, tough-tender vocals. I’ll be listening to this all weekend. McCulloch is scheduled to play Luna Star Café in North Miami on May 20. Visit SarahMacMusic.com.
Friday I’m in love: The Cure tribute band Lovesong, led by the versatile Rusty Wilmot, has your nostalgia fix 10 p.m. Friday at Respectable Street in downtown West Palm Beach. $10 cover. Visit .
The Who are back: Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey kick off The Who Hits Back! Tour 8 p.m. Friday at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, with scattered tickets, starting at $157, available at MyHRL.com. The tour sounds a lot like the excellent show that the iconic band (including Pete’s brother Simon Townshend on guitar, bassist Jon Button and drummer Zak Starkey) brought to South Florida in 2019, with some of their more theatrical songs elevated by an orchestra. Visit MyHRL.com.
SATURDAY
Vinyl warning: Saturday is Record Store Day at your local independent vinyl shop, a celebration of the community that revolves around love of the warm hiss and pop of vinyl recordings. Now more than 25 years old, Radio-Active Records in downtown Fort Lauderdale will open at 8 a.m. Saturday, its staff offering informed guidance through more than 1,000 classic albums and special RSD releases, everything from Zappa to J. Dilla. Visit .
Hmmm … doughnuts: The Arts Warehouse in downtown Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove Arts District will host a new edition of Warehouse Market 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, an all-ages indoor gathering of creatives and makers, with live music, workshops (kid-friendly) and refreshments for sale, including fresh-made doughnuts all day. Visit ArtsWarehouse.org.
Selling Steve Hackett: Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett will play the iconic album “Selling England by the Pound” in its entirety, along with other memorable music created by the prog-rock masters, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale. Only resale tickets are left, starting at $89. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.
SUNDAY
A new brunch: The Flamingo Flea‘s inaugural Puppy Brunch takes over Tarpon River Brewing in downtown Fort Lauderdale noon-4 p.m. Sunday, offering dog-oriented craftiness and vendors, live music and adoptables from iHeart Animal Rescue along with the bites and brews. Visit .
An ’80s brunch: You want your ’80s back, and Clematis Social understands. On Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., the downtown West Palm Beach hot spot will host a day-party version of the I Want My 80s Back tour, with Rob Base (“It Takes Two,” “Joy & Pain”) and freestyle favorite Nyasia (“Now & Forever”) joined by DJ Laz and DJ Johnny Quest spinning retro hits. Admission $15 (advance), $11.25 each for four. The $20 bottomless mimosas give it a brunchy vibe. Visit: .
Van seats: Scattered tickets, starting at $105, remain for Van Morrison‘s 8 p.m. show on Sunday at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. His Saturday performance at the Hard Rock is sold out. On May 13, the revered soul singer will release yet another album, “What’s It Gonna Take,” featuring the new single “Pretending.” Visit MyHRL.com.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at .
