Weekend things to do: Pride in Wilton Manors & Delray, Nate Bargatze, Vegan Street Party, brunch for Dad

By my own definition, I was not an effective parent to my two now-grown kids, failing to encourage the love of movies instilled in me by my own father (my youth flickered with images of W.C. Fields and the Marx Brothers, Jimmy Stewart and Robert De Niro).

I kept a to-watch list that I would pull out for the kids every Father’s Day, and thanks to Netflix and other sources we managed to check off some of the boxes (“The Grapes of Wrath,” “Field of Dreams,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Little Miss Sunshine” …). But the most glaring omission is still Roberto Benigni’s 1998 Oscar winner “Life is Beautiful.”

The film, which won three Academy Awards (including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor for Benigni), begins as a Chaplin-esque romantic comedy set in a village in Fascist Italy during World War II. But the story of Italian-Jewish hotel worker Guido’s clownish courtship of gentile villager Dora, their eventual marriage and birth of a son, turns dark, as things will, when the Nazis arrive.

The second half of the film takes place after Guido and son Giosuè board a train to a concentration camp — to keep from being separated from her child and husband, non-Jew Dora volunteers to get on the train, too.

In captivity, Guido uses his creativity and theatrical instincts to convince the boy that the camp is an elaborate game, with the player conquering the most challenges getting a real tank to drive home. Zany moments of subterfuge (think “Hogan’s Heroes”) ensue as the ever-resourceful Guido shields his young son from the ugly reality that surrounds them. It is a heartwarming, heartbreaking portrait of fatherhood.

In his review after the film’s premiere, film critic Roger Ebert wrote: “‘Life Is Beautiful’ is not about Nazis and Fascists, but about the human spirit. It is about rescuing whatever is good and hopeful from the wreckage of dreams. About hope for the future. About the necessary human conviction, or delusion, that things will be better for our children than they are right now.”

THURSDAY 

Weekend movies: A rich and varied survey of film, art, culture and commerce, the 29th annual American Black Film Festival continues Thursday through Sunday with gatherings at locations across Miami and  Miami Beach, including New World Center, O Cinema and the Miami Beach Convention Center. Among the participants will be Gabrielle Union, Blair Underwood, Tyson Beckford, Jemele Hill, Chris Paul, Jermaine Dupri, Ashanti, and Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete. Gen Xers may be particularly interested in “Remembering Love Jones,” an evening that looks back at the underappreciated 1997 romantic comedy “Love Jones” at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at New World Center. The stars of the film, Nia Long and Larenz Tate, will take part. Remaining festival passes start at $680+, while tickets for individual screenings and conversations vary by event. Visit ABFF.com.

Oh, Canada: Perhaps the best revenge you can get on supporters of the thuggish behavior of the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 is to fill their Instagram with scenes of the paradise that the Florida Panthers call home. Outdoor riverside lounge The Wharf in downtown Fort Lauderdale will host big-screen watch parties (sound on) for Stanley Cup Final games, beginning on Thursday, when the Panthers and Oilers return to the octagon at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Visit WharfFTL.com.

Mamey dearest: There are many reasons to stop in at Cafe La Trova in Miami’s Little Havana, where the work of acclaimed “cantinero” Julio Cabrera has the bar consistently ranked among the best in the world and the Michelin Guide-recommended cuisine comes from the creative hand of James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein. Another reason: Throughout June, Cafe La Trova will celebrate Pride Month with a special cocktail, Sabor a Mamey, a refreshing mix of organic Truman Vodka, St-Germain, vanilla syrup, citrus and soda topped with mamey foam. Price: $15, with all proceeds benefiting the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library in Fort Lauderdale. Visit CafeLaTrova.com or Instagram.com/cafelatrovamiami.

Swifty night: In West Palm Beach on Thursday, the city’s free Clematis By Night concert series continues with the nationally touring Taylor Swift tribute act Swift Nation. The concert, set on the downtown waterfront, is from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit WPB.org.

Corny humor: This is opening weekend at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Tony Award-winning “farm-to-fable” musical comedy “Shucked.” Littered with puns and, yes, corny one-liners, it’s a tale about community and individuality in a small town, with a score from songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, who have teamed up on country hits by Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and The Band Perry. Weekend performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $53.40 at BrowardCenter.org.

Young at art: Savor Cinema in downtown Fort Lauderdale will host the Broward Student Film Festival, a free one-night event on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. The festival offers a dynamic collection of work by young filmmakers from across South Florida, getting a chance to see their movies on a big screen for the first time. There will be awards, prizes, raffles and complimentary food for attendees. Visit FLIFF.com.

FRIDAY

Turnstiles weekend: Grammy-winning, alt-rock band Vampire Weekend will bring the tour supporting their most recent album, “Only God Was Above Us,” to FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park in Miami on Friday at 7 p.m. Not to be missed is the opening act, Boynton Beach-based Billy Joel tribute band Turnstiles, who will be reprising their performance from October, when they opened for Vampire Weekend in Madison Square Garden. That’s a story unto itself. Tickets start at $40.50+ for general-admission lawn access at Ticketmaster.com.

Free summer in Boca: The city of Boca Raton kicks off the 2025 edition of its free Summer in the City concert series at Mizner Park Amphitheater at 8 p.m. Friday with Florida-based Fleetwood Mac tribute band Fleetwood Max. The Friday night series also includes tributes to Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie (June 20) and Santana/Steve Miller Band (July 11), as well as The Cure tribute band Lovesong (July 18), Women of Country (July 25) and the annual Battle of the Bands (Aug. 8). Reminder: Ticketed concerts coming to the amphitheater this summer include Billy Currington (June 28) and Rob Thomas (Aug. 3). Visit MiznerAmp.com.

Ticket window: If anyone were looking for a Father’s Day gift for me (you out there, kids?), I’d happily take a couple of seats to one of David Byrne’s upcoming shows at The Fillmore Miami Beach on Dec. 5-6. Tickets for the concerts, supporting his imminent Kid Harpoon-produced album “Who Is the Sky?” (set for release on Sept. 5 on Matador Records), go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, after the obligatory presales, at LiveNation.com. Openers on the tour include St. Vincent, Hayley Williams and Tom Skinner. For more information, visit DavidByrne.com.

Gratuitous violins: Dynamic electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling — later this year she’ll tour with hard rock band Halestorm — will perform with the Atlantic Studio Philharmonic as part of the Live at Knight series on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Arsht Center in Miami. Expect to hear music from her new album, the cinematic pop collection “Duality.” Tickets start at $71.37 at ArshtCenter.org.

SATURDAY

Local color: The 25th annual Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival returns on Saturday with a typically massive celebration from 3 to 11 p.m., featuring six blocks of entertainment, seven stages, food, drinks and vendor shopping. A literal highlight of the event is the Glow Night Parade at 8 p.m., which will include illuminated floats, vehicles and colorful pedestrians marching up Wilton Drive. Presented by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, festival tickets cost $10 in advance, $13 at the gate. It’s a cashless event. Visit StonewallPride.lgbt.

More Pride: Meanwhile, the largest Pride event in Palm Beach County this weekend is the annual Delray Beach Pride Festival and Concert on Saturday, the fifth celebration since the city created the iconic LGBTQIA+ Pride Streetscape painting at the intersection of Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast First Street in historic Pineapple Grove. The festival will take place nearby, in and around Old School Square, from 4 to 7 p.m., with food, vendors, live entertainment and more. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a performance by popular tribute band Rock of ABBA. Admission to all events is free. Visit DelrayOldSchoolSquare.com.

Rock the shack: Peter Hook & The Light will bring their North American tour to the Miami Beach Bandshell on Saturday at 8 p.m., a promising evening set to feature New Order’s ultra-danceable 2001 reunion album “Get Ready” and seminal tracks from bassist Hook’s original band, the revered Joy Division. Tickets cost $42.23 at MiamiBeachBandshell.com.

Weekend laughs: Nate Bargatze has been called “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” by The Atlantic magazine, ranked as the No. 1 earning comedian in the world in Pollstar’s most recent annual report in 2024, and will host the Emmy Awards on Sept. 14. We like to think all of those things are related. Bargatze will bring his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood for performances at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $94.60 (early show) at MyHRL.com. … Actor and comedian Chris D’Elia, somewhere below Bargatze in the ranking of nicest comedians, returns to the Fort Lauderdale Improv in Dania Beach for performances at 7 (sold out) and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 6 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $40.90+ at ImprovFTL.com.

Cat scratch fever: Maybe you were there, or maybe you saw social-media scenes of Florida Panthers watch parties at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise during Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. They were a spectacle, each full house cheering at full throttle, and a powerful rebuttal to claims that South Florida doesn’t have hockey fans. Let’s do it again. Game 5 is at 8 p.m. Saturday, with doors at the arena opening at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15, with proceeds going to the Florida Panthers Foundation. Visit FloridaPanthers.com.

Green day: A Vegan Street Party takes over Garden District Taproom in downtown West Palm Beach on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m., a plant-based event with food, drinks, desserts, music and vendors. Also, refreshments from GDT’s self-pour beer wall. Admission is free. Visit GardenDistrictWPB.com or Instagram.com/veganstreetparty.

More dancing: The touring ABBA-inspired dance party known as Gimme Gimme Disco returns to Revolution Live in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 p.m. If you know, you know. Tickets for the 21-and-older show start at $17+ at JoinTheRevolution.net.

Pucker up: Pompano Beach Brewing Co. will host the Soured County Beer Fest beginning at noon Saturday, a celebration of sour beers, with new releases throughout the day, along with noshing from The Munchies Report food truck, games and more. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/pompanobeachbrewing.

Pizza and wine: At Small Wine Shop, the personable organic wine boutique in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, four-legged shop supervisor Augie will be celebrated with a pizza-and-wine birthday party on Saturday. Taking place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the dogs-encouraged party costs $35 and includes a mini pizza from Pizzeria Magaddino (the best) and a glass of wine for you, and treats for your pup. The evening will include a DJ and a best-dressed pup contest. If you don’t have a dog, Paw Patrol Animal Rescue and Sanctuary will have adoptable pups on hand. Visit SmallWineShop.com.

SUNDAY

A new brunch: Recommended for Father’s Day on Sunday,  South Bar & Kitchen in Pompano Beach recently introduced a new brunch that draws on the restaurant’s Southern theme. The Ultimate Southern Brunch features generous portions meant to be shared and reordered in unlimited quantities for two hours at $54 per person. Owner Mike Linder says the sharing of plates across the table exemplifies “the communal nature of Southern dining.” Menu items include Shrimp & Grits, Steak & Eggs, Sweet Potato Pecan Waffles, Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict and more. The brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, when the restaurant also will offer $25 bottomless mix-and-match mimosas, old fashioneds, rosé, Aperol spritz and select beers. Most weekends there will be live music. … Possibly unrelated: South Bar & Kitchen recently debuted a Sunday Roast menu, with options including Prime Rib ($45), Lamb Chops ($38), Half Roasted Chicken ($26) and Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf ($22). Each entrée comes with sides and a freshly baked biscuit. Visit SouthPMP.com.

Toast to Dad: Maybe your Dad isn’t in the mood to share … Local-favorite restaurant Driftwood in Boynton Beach will celebrate the old man with a menu of drink specials offered on Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m., including $10 old-fashioneds and $5 beers. It’s the simple things in life. Visit DriftwoodBoynton.com.

Sunday laughs: Fresh from a European tour, Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder brings his show titled “Self Loving Jew” to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, performing what Britain’s Jewish News called “a show that warms the soul” at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The early show is sold out, while tickets for the 9:30 p.m. performance are still available starting at $47.20, at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

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