Weekend things to do: Janet Jackson, Buddy Guy farewell, Covechella beer festival, burger battle in Boynton

The brewery aesthetic is familiar almost everywhere you go, an industrial jumble of metal and brick, rough woods and dark walls sometimes interrupted by splashes of graffiti or a mural. 

The Cove Brewery went another way when it opened a year ago, the first brewery in Deerfield Beach.

Located just across the Intracoastal Waterway from the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, a hub for the local surf-culture community for years, The Cove is bright and airy, with blond woods, surfing iconography and a relaxing palette that draws from the sea, sand and sky.

Likewise, the beers made at The Cove tend to be light and bright with tropical impulses. A new one is called Toes in Sand, an IPA that dances with blood orange, tangerine and gooseberries.

The brewery’s owners, siblings Kristy Hartofilis and Jay Whelchel, say it was just natural to lean into the family-oriented “old coastal Florida” vibe they grew up with. 

“Deerfield Beach is such a coastal lifestyle. There’s so many fishermen, surfers, volleyball players, paddle boarders, you name it,” says Whelchel, raised with his sister in neighboring Boca Raton. “We grew up going to the Deerfield Beach pier and Island Water Sports, which has anchored that beach for a long time. We went to camps when we were kids, hung out there.”

On Saturday, The Cove Brewery, located in the city’s iconic Cove Shopping Center, will celebrate its first anniversary with Covechella, a free block party that will take place from 1 to 10 p.m. The festival will include six new beer releases, more than a dozen vendors and food from neighbors including Won-Tom’s, Tipperary Pub, Casa Maya Grill, Papa’s Raw Bar, The Modern Rose, Patrizia’s of N.Y.C. and Whit’s Frozen Custard.

There also will be live music from Tasty Vibrations (1 p.m.), Over on Two (4 p.m.) and Bryant Del Toro (7 p.m.), plus a DJ, adult games such as beer pong and cornhole, and a dedicated area for kids’ activities. 

“The idea of Covechella was to celebrate the community, being part of the fabric of the community,” says Hartofilis, pointing out that the day also will support local nonprofit Captains for Clean Water. 

Hartofilis and Whelchel came to the brewery business with real-estate backgrounds and an appreciation for beer culture informed by family travels from North Carolina to Colorado. 

“Some of the best family-oriented spots were breweries,” Whelchel says. “People want to go to breweries. They are very interesting, novel places to experience.”

Being the first brewery in a city, especially one with no true downtown, required a new template. Whelchel points out that the brewery sits on the edge of the massive Cove neighborhood, which like a lot of eastside neighborhoods built 50 or 60 years ago has no gates, clubhouse or tennis courts. 

The Cove Brewery serves as a kind of neighborhood clubhouse, drawing walkers, bikers and golf-carters from around the area, he says. 

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. It’s a lot harder than it looks, let’s put it that way,” Whelchel says. “We’re getting a lot of good feedback from the locals. They say all the time, we didn’t even realize this was something we needed.”

For more on the brewery and Covechella, visit CoveBrewery.com.

THURSDAY

All for you: Pop icon Janet Jackson, accompanied by hip-hop heartthrob Nelly, comes to iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach at 8 p.m. Thursday on her Together Again Tour. Reviews have been all over the map. Vibe magazine found her in memorable form at The Forum in Los Angeles last weekend — ever-stylish and light on her feet, her voice “as dreamy and pristine as it’s ever been.” Tickets are available starting at $54.80+ at LiveNation.com.

Delray coffee: This is finally re-opening weekend for Subculture Coffee Roasters in downtown Delray Beach, which was scheduled for official door-opening events on Wednesday. The new location is at 302 NE Sixth Ave., several blocks east of the West Atlantic Avenue space that closed, what, a million years ago? Visit Facebook.com/subculturecoffeedelray.

10 years of LauderAle: In case you missed it, LauderAle Brewery & Tap Room in Fort Lauderdale will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a four-day party happening Thursday through Sunday. The remote tap room near Port Everglades (slogan: “Hard to find, easy to drink”) will be home to a lively weekend lineup of well-regarded food pop-ups (BC Tacos, Eat BMC, Good Days Pizza, Mystic Lobster Roll Co., Apocalypse BBQ, Tight Lines Food Shack), live music (Rogue Theory, Got You Covered, Matt Brown, Sons of a Tradesman) and more than 20 new beer releases. LauderAle is at 3305 SE 14th Ave. For more details, visit LauderAle.co.

FRIDAY

So long, Buddy: Blues guitar godfather Buddy Guy will bring his Damn Right Farewell Tour to South Florida, performing at the canopied Pompano Beach Amphitheater on Friday. The show begins at 7 p.m. with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter (and drummer) Tom Hambridge. Tickets start at $47.50+ at PompanoBeachArts.org/events. … While we’re at it, news came this week that Jazz Fest Pompano Beach will return Jan. 24-25 with a lineup including Joshua Redman & Gabrielle Cavassa, Judith Hill, Randy Brecker and Jazz Funk Soul. For ticket information, visit PompanoBeachArts.org/jazzfest.

Classic sounds: Arena rock favorites Foreigner and Styx, joined by crooner John Waite, bring the Renegades and Juke Box Heroes Tour to iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach on Friday at 6:45 p.m. Tickets start at $41.30+ for general-admission lawn seats. Visit LiveNation.com.

Ticket window: Meghan Trainor’s The Timeless Tour is coming to Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on Sept. 1. Tickets start at $55+ and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at MyHRL.com. For presale information, visit the Hard Rock Facebook, Instagram and X accounts. … Reggae icon Buju Banton will kick off his first arena tour on Aug. 23, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, with tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at BujuBanton.com. … Tickets (starting at $35+) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for a performance by the Dance Theatre  of Harlem at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Nov. 23. Visit Kravis.org.

More reggae music: British roots-reggae revolutionaries Steel Pulse will play the Miami Beach Bandshell at 8 p.m Friday. Jesse Royal opens. Tickets start at $34.50+. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit MiamiBeachBandshell.com. 

SATURDAY

Burgers in Boynton: Copperpoint Brewing Co. in Boynton Beach will host Battle of the Burgers on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., with three top-rated food trucks duking it out for a panel of judges in a variety of categories: TMI Food Truck, Babci’s Kitchen and Eat BMC. But between the burgers and the specialty beers on tap, we’re all winners here. Visit CopperpointBrewingCompany.com.

On the Island: New York Times staff writer and author Taffy Brodesser-Akner (“Fleishman is in Trouble”) will delve into the under-appreciated weirdness of the New York suburbs while discussing her new novel, “Long Island Compromise” (Random House, $30), at Books & Books in Coral Gables on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and include admission for two and a copy of the book (handed out upon entry). If you’re keeping score, critics have raved about the new book, with Slate calling in a “masterpiece.” Visit BooksAndBooks.com.

They let the dogs out: 511 Bar & Lounge in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village will host a pup-friendly party on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds supporting the work of the Humane Society of Broward County. You’ll find a Tito’s raffle, music by Natalie Martinez (a.k.a. vinyl DJ Nat Smallish), specialty cocktails and treats from Tropical Oasis Express food truck. Visit Instagram.com/511bar_.

Delray greens: In case you were wondering, Saturday’s gathering will be the penultimate Delray Beach GreenMarket of the summer. You never know what might happen weather-wise during the final edition on July 27, so you might want to drop by this weekend. The event at Old School Square includes more than 40 displays from local farmers, bakers and other makers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit Facebook.com/DelrayBeachGreenMarket.

Can we be friends? A week after our historic Copa America final (that was fun, right?), Saturday brings Colombian Independence Day and a traditional Friends Day (Día del Amigo) celebration for the local Argentine community. The beautiful Miami Beach Bandshell will celebrate Friends Day on Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m., with eight hours of food, drink and music, plus 10 bands on two stages, including special guests Juanse Gutiérrez  (Ratones Paranoicos) and Nito Mestre (Sui Generis). Tickets cost $46.35 at MiamiBeachBandshell.com. … Meanwhile, The Wharf Fort Lauderdale will host a Colombian Independence Day celebration beginning at noon Saturday, with $6 aguardiente shots from 6 to 11 p.m. and live music all night. Visit WharfFTL.com.

The Kids are here: The big weekend of love shows continues at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre as New Kids on the Block visits the West Palm Beach shed on Saturday at 7 p.m., joined by two other legends of the era, Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. NKOTB’s Magic Summer Tour supports their first album in more than a decade, “Still Kids.” Tickets start at $35.30+ at LiveNation.com.

SUNDAY

Later Flea: The Flamingo Flea returns to Tarpon River Brewing in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday with a new summer time slot of 4 to 8 p.m. You’ll find more than 30 vendors and sundown grooves from Miami DJ Danny Stern, along with the usual bonhomie. Visit FlamingoFlea.com. If you’re a fan of the groovy vibe created by founder and curator Carley Sumner at the Flamingo Flea, check out her new digital magazine, Lauderzine, which compiles similar events happening around town. Visit FlamingoFlea.com/lauderzine.

Night in Asia: Led by cofounder Geoff Downes, classic rockers Asia will bring hits including “Heat of the Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell” and “Sole Survivor” to The Parker in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, joined by Focus, Martin Turner and Curved Air. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are available, starting at $39.50+ at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.

Originally Published: July 18, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.