Fort Lauderdale just wrapped a wild World Cup run, even without hosting a single match, and the ripple effects were huge for Broward’s hotels, bars, and neighborhoods. Inter Miami’s Florida Blue Training Center quietly became one of the busiest national team bases on the planet, while watch parties from Sunrise to Hollywood packed arenas and downtown streets with fans repping Colombia, Scotland, and more. If you live or work in Greater Fort Lauderdale, this summer was a preview of how global events can pump millions into local businesses, hospitality, and tourism.

We also get closer to home with the smart water meter rollout, because those surprise bills and pressure issues are hitting actual neighbors, not just headlines. I share what happened at my own house, why communication broke down, and the phone numbers you need if your meter swap goes sideways. From a neighborhood bagel stop like Bagels & Co to the stalled 901 North redevelopment in Flagler Village, this conversation stitches together how big plans, small places, and city decisions shape everyday life in Fort Lauderdale. If you care about where Broward is headed, this is the kind of local update that helps you ask better questions, support local spots, and stay plugged in.

=== Chapters

• 00:16 Welcome Back to Let's Talk Lauderdale
• 02:07 World Cup Windfall
• 06:03 Smart Meter Growing Pains
• 11:08 Bagels and Local Favorites
• 13:22 Sears Site Redevelopment
• 17:23 Upcoming Events Rundown

=== Local Businesses / Organizations / Nonprofits

• Fort Lauderdale Smart Water Meter Program: https://spotlightftl.com/smart-water-meter-program
• Bagels & Co: https://bagelsandco.com/locations/fort-lauderdale-7th-street
• Old Searstown (901 North): https://www.rwerealestate.com/2026/04/24/the-redevelopment-of-901-north-federal-highway-_-the-old-sears-town/

=== Events / Attractions / Venues

• NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Day: https://nsuartmuseum.org
• YOLO First Fridays: https://yolorestaurant.com/happy-hour-menu/
• The Chili Poppoers with American Idiots: https://www.jointherevolution.net/concerts/the-chili-poppers-with-american-idiots/
• Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire: https://casino.hardrock.com/hollywood/events/lionel-richie-and-earth-wind-and-fire
• Adam Ray Stand-Up at The Parker: https://www.parkerplayhouse.com/events/detail/adam-ray-2026
• Visit Lauderdale Events Calendar: https://www.visitlauderdale.com/events

=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE

• Title: Happy Epic And Confident Corporate Background Piece To Suit Health Or Dynamic
• Item ID: 195889930
• Publisher: Saowakhon Brown
• Composer: Saowakhon Brown
• License: Individual License, Commercial
• Stock Media provided by TheSaoLady / Pond5

Website: https://www.letstalklauderdale.com/

Let’s Talk Lauderdale is hosted by Marvin Bee & Jen Stewart.

Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes Lauderdale stories and pass this episode along—because every Fort Lauderdale memory deserves an audience.

Fort Lauderdale is not the same sleepy beach town you remember, and this week we unpack why it suddenly feels like the city hit fast forward. I walk you through everything from the Florida Air and Sea Show roaring over the coastline to the Great American Beach Party on Las Olas, plus the big economic headline about a Fortune 500 logistics company eyeing a headquarters move to our backyard with 150 high-paying jobs on the table.

We get into the nuts and bolts of the projects that will actually change how you move through the city: a controversial new city hall price tag, a fifth terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Broward County’s multi-billion-dollar Primo transit network connecting downtown to Miami, the airport, Port Everglades, and more. If you care about traffic, commuting, or where the next business hubs will pop up, this is your roadmap.

Then we zoom into the neighborhoods, from the half-billion-dollar Fat Village redevelopment in Flagler Village to luxury living along the Riverwalk with projects like Six and Rio and Astor Park. I round things out with your summer game plan: Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrations, concerts at the War Memorial and Hard Rock, recurring jazz brunches, waterfront markets, trivia nights, art museum evenings, and events in Pompano and beyond that keep the region feeling like one big community.

Chapters

• 00:21 Air Show and City Buzz
• 00:58 Memorial Day and Economic News
• 02:23 Food Scene Highlights
• 03:23 Major Development Projects
• 05:58 Airport and Transit Expansion
• 07:00 Summer Events Calendar
• 08:54 Weekly Recurring Events
• 11:37 Sign-Off and Subscription Reminder

=== Summer Recurring Events

• Sunday Jazz Brunch: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• Big Sunday Energy at The Wharf Fort Lauderdale: https://wharfftl.com/events/
• Pioneer Wednesdays at Historic Stranahan House: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• Huizenga Park Trivia Night: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• 2 for 1 Martini Thursdays at The Wharf: https://wharfftl.com/events/
• Sunny Days/Starry Nights at NSU Art Museum: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• Happy Hour at The Wharf Fort Lauderdale: https://wharfftl.com/events/
• Old Town Untapped in Pompano: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar
• Seaciety Saturdays at The Wharf: https://wharfftl.com/events/
• Flamingo Flea at Tarpon River Brewing: https://www.goriverwalk.com/events/greater-fort-lauderdale-event-calendar

=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE

• Title: Happy Epic And Confident Corporate Background Piece To Suit Health Or Dynamic
• Item ID: 195889930
• Publisher: Saowakhon Brown
• Composer: Saowakhon Brown
• License: Individual License, Commercial

Website: https://www.letstalklauderdale.com/
Let’s Talk Lauderdale is hosted by Marvin Bee & Jen Stewart.

Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes Lauderdale stories and pass this episode along—because every Fort Lauderdale memory deserves an audience.

I had a powerful conversation with Children’s Harbor Chief Development Officer, and Fort Lauderdale local, Vanessa Seltzer about what foster care really looks like in Broward County, far from the postcard beaches most of us picture when we think about South Florida. We talked about the thousands of kids in Florida’s foster care system, the teens who have bounced through 20 different placements before landing at Children’s Harbor’s eight‑acre, family‑style campus in Pembroke Pines and what it means for them to “age out” at 18 with no safety net.

Vanessa walked me through how Children’s Harbor runs two campuses, including Browns Harbor’s affordable apartments for 18 to 23 year olds who still get life coaching, mental health support and a boutique where they can pick out furniture and clothes for their first real place. We dug into their family strengthening program that steps into real Broward homes after loss, job changes or trauma to keep kids out of foster care, and we talked about simple ways you and your business can help, from monthly gift card drives and mock interviews to hosting workshops on LinkedIn, taxes, credit and entrepreneurship. We also highlighted the Harbor Social at Palm Garden in East Broward, a June 25 event where your ticket turns directly into mission support so Children’s Harbor can keep kids safe, stable and seen as more than just a statistic.

Chapters

• 00:27 Foster Care in Broward
• 02:41 Inside Children’s Harbor
• 06:49 Aging Out Explained
• 11:59 Family Strengthening Support
• 15:46 Ways to Get Involved
• 20:18 Workshops and Career Paths
• 23:02 Harbor Social Event
• 25:50 Breaking the Foster Care Stigma

=== Guest: Vanessa Seltzer, Children’s Harbor

• Website: https://childrensharbor.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-seltzer-0a430322

=== People Mentioned

• Tiffany Dhooge (CEO), Children’s Harbor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanidhooge/
• Nicholas Sproul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-sproul-pa-srs-clhms-62672347/
• Cadence Real Estate Group: https://cadencerealtor-xdvumtih.manus.space/
• DCF (Florida Department of Children and Families): https://www.myflfamilies.com
• ChildNet: Website: https://www.childnet.usdnet
• Palm Garden Event House: https://www.palmgardenevents.com

=== Events / Attractions / Venues

• Harbor Social presented by Cadence: https://app.betterunite.com/childrensharbor-harborsocialpresentedbycadence

=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE

• Title: Happy Epic And Confident Corporate Background Piece To Suit Health Or Dynamic
• Item ID: 195889930
• Publisher: Saowakhon Brown
• Composer: Saowakhon Brown
• License: Individual License, Commercial
• Stock Media provided by TheSaoLady / Pond5

Website: https://www.letstalklauderdale.com/
Let’s Talk Lauderdale is hosted by Marvin Bee & Jen Stewart.

Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes Lauderdale stories and pass this episode along—because every Fort Lauderdale memory deserves an audience.