King tide closed 2 miles of beachfront A1A
Plus $59 capybara time, cleared cranes in Rio Vista, and an $8 million Bay Colony sale.
The NOAA tide gauge at Port Everglades has been running since February 2018, and the city's chief resilience officer says last Sunday, Sept. 27, brought the highest tide it has recorded. This Sunday, Oct. 4, brings free jazz in Esplanade Park and the official start of Broward's arts season at the Broward Center.
September's king tide flooding prompted Fort Lauderdale police to close 2 miles of beachfront along A1A. Dr. Nancy Gassman, the city's chief resilience officer, said the Sept. 27 tide was the highest recorded since the NOAA gauge at Port Everglades was established in February 2018. That comparison covers the gauge's eight-and-a-half-year history. Coastal roads elsewhere in South Florida flooded too.
$59 buys 30 minutes with capybaras in the Thrive District
Capybara Café opened Sept. 18 in the Thrive District. Despite the name, it serves no food or drinks. A $59 lounge session gives visitors 30 minutes with capybaras and other exotic animals, with a piece of kale included to feed the capybaras. PETA has asked the city to close the business over zoning concerns. The city told Axios it had found no zoning or land-use violation that would justify action against the business. Separate cases concern animals housed at a residential property and unpermitted work on an enclosure and pond; the city set Oct. 8 and Oct. 14 compliance deadlines for those issues.
Messi-linked LLC pays $8 million for the house next to his
Sadani LLC, which The Real Deal links to Lionel Messi's wealth manager, paid $8 million for 71 Compass Lane in Fort Lauderdale's Bay Colony. The house sits next to 91 Compass Lane, the home Messi bought in 2023. It is unclear whether Messi is the beneficiary of the purchase. The property has 7,660 square feet, seven bedrooms and 160 feet of waterfront.
Free jazz on three stages in Esplanade Park
- When
- Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 · 11 a.m.
- Where
- Esplanade Park
- Price
- Free
Local jazz artists play across three outdoor stages along Riverwalk. Bring chairs, blankets or a picnic basket; well-behaved leashed pets are welcome. The city Parks and Recreation Department produces the first-Sunday series, with the Broward Center as a sponsor. This Sunday's music starts at 11 a.m. in Esplanade Park, and admission is free.
Broward's arts season opens at the Broward Center
- When
- Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 · 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where
- Broward Center for the Performing Arts
- Address
- 201 Southwest 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
- Price
- Free community event
The free community event brings artist showcases and cultural organizations to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Broward's Cultural Division presents the season kickoff from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., highlighting local artists and organizations supported through county investment. The organizer offers an RSVP link on the event page.
Collapsed cranes cleared from Rio Vista home
Crews removed the last wreckage Friday evening, Sept. 25, after two cranes collapsed onto a renovating Rio Vista home off Southeast Eighth Street. The second crane fell while workers were removing the first. The house was left with a blue tarp and an unsafe-building tag. Officials are investigating what caused the initial collapse.