Gettin’ Down and Derby

by Miguel Bravo | Apr 4, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

As the Northeast (more specifically, those annoying New York sports fans) continued to shiver this past weekend, the FTL Collective staff enjoyed a scorching hot afternoon in flip flops and floppy hats at the horse track at Gulfstream Park for the annual Florida Derby. For the unaware, this highly anticipated race happens every year around this time and currently carries a massive purse of $1,000,000 for the winning horse. Typically, the 3-year-old that wins the this derby goes on to be one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

With free entry, minimum bets of $1, decently priced beers ($20 buckets), and lots of ridiculous looking hats, this made for a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Here’s some of our photo documentation of the event:

Photos by Mig and Strawberry Jam

Contest: Photo Hunt

by Strawberry Jam | Apr 1, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

By Strawberry Jam

These photos were taken in Ft Lauderdale somewhere between the Broward Center for Performing Arts and East Las Olas before the beach. Recognize any of them? Leave your guesses in the comments and win a $10 gift card to Brew if you’re correct! (Hey, we do this stuff for free).

Invisible Children, and People, Are Everywhere

by Strawberry Jam | Mar 25, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

By Strawberry Jam

Last night’s Invisible Children film screening was, at the least, another eye-opening reminder of the many hardships most of the world experiences day in and day out. With so much to do and see, it is easy to get lost in time in this great city of Ft Lauderdale, but it’s important to keep in mind that cheesy saying that goes, “to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Invisible Children’s Tony documents the beginning of the foundation, how it has grown, and the story of one of the many youth effected by child soldiering; closing with a lengthy narrative on how you can help. While donating money is convenient and helpful if you don’t have time or resources to do more (click here if you were absent last night) there are plenty of other things you can do to heal the world, make it a better place, for you and me, and the entire human race (sorry, had to).

Read
Whether it’s world news or literature, reading is one of the best ways to stay informed with what’s going on in the world, help keep things prioritized and in perspective, and educate others. Keeping in line with the child soldier theme, A Long Way Gone is one of my favorite books in general, not to mention in the topic of social issues. Though it may be a quick read, it is nonetheless a powerful account of the complexity and tragedy of war and the psychological impact it leaves on child soldiers. Another personal recommendation I can make is Banker to the Poor. Admittedly a bit dry, but the numbers and facts behind micro-enterprising and micro-lending in the poor communities so vividly outlined in this book are fascinating and somewhat unbelievable that self-sufficiency is still made so hard to maintain in poor countries.

Travel
Not everyone may have the ability or funds to do so, but if it’s possible, by all means see the rest of the world. If you’re interested in traveling but feel like you don’t have the money, try cutting back on a drink or cooking at home, etc., and you might be surprised to see how far you get. If you do make it abroad, keep in mind as last night’s film pointed out, as nice as bearing gifts sounds, it is not ideal or safe in many instances. Instead, try to seek out another way to help. There are numerous NGOs that are happy to take on volunteers for any number of days, in which you might leave a much more meaningful and direct impact on people.

Think Locally
While much of the world is indeed in worse shape than us, we have our fair share of hungry and/or homeless as well. Try to contribute locally. Ignoring or hiding a problem does not make it go away.

Last Chance For Florida’s 19th Annual Renaissance Festival

by Strawberry Jam | Mar 11, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

This weekend is your last chance to step back in time, enjoy a giant, greasy turkey leg, and get a waxy hand pose of your choice. Hours are from 10am to sunset and Sunday is the last day. Click here for coupons. http://www.ren-fest.com/how-to.asp

By Strawberry Jam

Charlie Sheen Is Watching You

by Fat Hand | Mar 3, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

by Fat Hand

Now that the Oscars are over, there’s apparently only two things going on in the world these days that are worth reporting: revolution in Libya and revelations about Charlie Sheen. So in the interest of total media saturation, we add to one of the aforementioned topics: Charlie Sheen of course.

Hysterically, there is an impossible-to-miss billboard (located on 95 between Broward and Sunrise) of Charlie Sheen gazing lustily over Ft. Lauderdale. It’s as if he knows Spring Break 2k11 is upon us.

Hopefully billboard-Charlie is here to help the FTL. We all know that Charlie spends his entire day winning. And that he blinked and cured his mind of all his addictions. I appeal to the great Adonis Assassin Warlock to help our city. We want want to win in our underwear before our first cup of coffee too! Please billboard-Charlie, blink and erase the corruption in our city and county governments with your mind. Let us borrow your brain for like, 5 seconds, to make our city’s budget woes melt away like the face of a person that just snorted some natural Charlie Sheen. We’re tired of pretending we’re not special too, and we want what’s coming to us: tons.

We are lucky to have a bitchin’ tiger-blooded rockstar from Mars watching over us. And whoever paid for that billboard, please don’t take it down.

Your Quick Guide to For Art’s Sake Typeface

by Strawberry Jam | Feb 17, 2011 | Fort Lauderdale

By Strawberry Jam

For Art’s Sake Typeface is set to showcase intricate print art from artists such as Chris Ro, Cindy Rodriguez, the show’s own Jose Lopez, and silkscreen-favorites Iron Forge Press. The exhibit will have a two-night opening this Friday and Saturday from 7pm-12am at The Collide Factory, one of Ft. Lauderdale’s newer co-working spaces. Typeface should be a promising show as For Art’s Sake Birdwatch (click for our review from May) was quite the event featuring local eats, music, and beautiful feather-friendly art.

Peep the info below for details. Art will be up to view for free from February 21- March 4 9am-6pm, minus all the opening night goodness of course.