Weekend things to do: Reality TV studs in Fort Lauderdale, ‘Van Halen’ in Boca Raton, models playing volleyball

Developers in downtown Fort Lauderdale take a lot of flak for running roughshod over history, memories and tradition — so it’s heartwarming to see one of the new Flagler Village hotels host an event that celebrates our halcyon days.

On Saturday, The Easton Rooftop Pool & Lounge at the Courtyard by Marriott on Federal Highway will welcome Harry Jowsey, Aussie star of the Netflix reality show “Too Hot to Handle.” Jowsey is one of those handsome, social-media “influencers” that have invaded South Florida in recent years (the Burmese python of celebrities).

But Jowsey also seems to be a sensitive custodian of a beloved Fort Lauderdale narrative, and he will use his appearance to pay tribute to our heritage by hosting a wet T-shirt contest at the Easton pool. The winner receives a future cabana rental at the Easton (valued at $1,000).

Harry Jowsey, star of the Netflix show "Too Hot to Handle," will be at The Easton Rooftop Pool & Lounge in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. (The Easton Rooftop Pool & Lounge)

The party runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, with admission starting at $35+ (VIP open-bar tickets cost $150+, and cabana rentals are available). It costs $25+ to enter the wet T-shirt contest (with an Easton T-shirt worn over your mandatory bikini), but I think we can all agree that being part of this special retrospective is priceless. Visit TheEastonFTL.com.

We do love our reality-TV studs around here, especially those who are homegrown. The most famous is probably Capt. Lee Rosbach, the crusty Fort Lauderdale yacht captain who has given the Bravo hit “Below Deck” its necessary ballast for 10 seasons. Tickets are on sale now for the Stud of the Sea’s one-man show called “Nightcap: An Intimate Evening With Captain Lee” at DAER nightclub at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on April 6. Prices start at $100 at Eventbrite.com (search “Captain Lee”).

Capt. Lee Rosbach of "Below Deck" on an off-day spearfishing near Lighthouse Point in 2021. (James Woodley/James Woodley)

Another Fort Lauderdale boat captain is about to be seen on Discovery Channel’s ultimate stud challenge, “Naked and Afraid.” Michael Angulo, who faced 21 days in the wilds of Africa’s Kalahari Desert clad in only what God gave him, will host a watch party for his episode at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Downtowner in Fort Lauderdale. Visit Instagram.com/burntpunkrock1.

Swashbuckling Jeffrey Lemmerman doesn’t work on a boat, but he’s definitely the captain of an adventurous journey into the possibilities of the burger, flying the flag of Cheffrey Eats, a food truck moored at Barrel of Monks Brewing in Boca Raton. At 9 p.m. Friday, Lemmerman’s locally revered work will be showcased on an episode of Guy Fieri’s Food Network road trip “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Of course, Lemmerman and Barrel of Monks will host a watch party at the brewery, where you can taste for yourself. Visit Facebook.com/barrelofmonks.

Blondie on Blondie: In a recent interview, Blondie drummer Clem Burke asked, “What is the classic Blondie song? Is it ‘Denis’ or is it ‘Heart of Glass’ or is it ‘Rapture’ or is it ‘Call Me’? They’re all very different songs, completely different styles.” There is no wrong answer. But there is a right answer, which is “Hanging on the Telephone.” Blondie will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $49.50+ at BrowardCenter.org.

Welcome back: So, yes, history. On Friday, fabled Coral Gables pub John Martin’s Irish Pub & Restaurant will throw its first St. Patrick’s Day block party since it closed in the early days of the pandemic. The Miracle Mile restaurant-bar was renovated and reopened last fall by Breakwater Hospitality Group, best known for energetic “concepts” such as The Wharf (Fort Lauderdale and Miami) and the Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park (Hallandale Beach). But there is no denying that the new John Martin’s is a beautiful place for a pint. The block party runs from 4 p.m. to midnight, with live music, games, and several food and bar stations. St. Pat’s special: Buy a shot of Irish whiskey and get a free pint of Harp. Visit JohnMartinsMiami.com.

Green riverfront: The Breakwater boys will bring a similar vibe to The Wharf in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Friday, with a riverfront St. Patrick’s Day festival beginning at 4 p.m., with DJs, live entertainment and the same free Harp when you buy a shot deal. Visit Instagram.com/wharfftl.

Field of green: As you might imagine, the Field Irish Pub & Eatery in Fort Lauderdale will be a special spot on Friday, with the St. Patrick’s Day celebration getting underway early. There will be three seatings: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3 to 6:30 p.m. and 7 to 11:30 p.m. Reservations are required, and there will be a $10 cover for seats in the indoor entertainment area, featuring performances by The Banyans (Ade Peever, Donny Hicks and Jamie Pflug) and the Drake School Irish Dancers (all cover proceeds go to the performers). There is no cover for the patio or dining rooms away from the music. Note: There will be no outdoor events. Visit Facebook.com/thefieldpub.

[ Erin go Bragh! Find St. Patrick’s Day food, drink and festivities in South Florida ]

Talking sh*t: The annual Saint Paddy’s Sh*t Show returns to 26 Degree Brewing Co. in Pompano Beach on Friday, wth the taproom open at noon. You’ll find $5 beers, special beer releases (a green version, too), Irish music all day, and evening sets by the band Hit the Slide. Visit Facebook.com/26brewing.

Weekend cocktail: As a New York Football Giants fan, the only good thing about the Eagles making the Super Bowl is that I got to discover Delray Beach Philly fan Destiny Beck’s Fly Eagles Flymosa. She created the fizzy green concoction for Super Bowl watch parties, but pointed out that it would also be a fine alternative to green beer at a St. Patrick’s Day gathering. The ingredients: Orange juice, Blue Curaçao liqueur and your bubbles of choice, mixed however you want, to achieve the strength and color you’re going for.

Friday night live: And then there are things that have nothing to do with St. Pat’s … Popular Van Halen tribute band Completely Unchained performs at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton at 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $25 at FunkyBiscuit.com.

Vocalist Gene Henrikson and guitarist Jake Miller lead Van Halen tribute band Completely Unchained. (Jennifer Lett/Sun Sentinel)

Saturday laughs: Comedian Iliza Shlesinger (if you know, you know) is calling her weekend performances the Florida Only Tour, perhaps because she’s playing Hard Rocks in Tampa, Orlando and Hollywood, or because Florida is such a funny place these days that you can do an entire set on the Sunshine State without running out of material. Shlesinger performs at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $50+. Visit MyHRL.com.

Proud Mary: Led by one of the finer singer-songwriters to come out of the South Florida music scene in the 1990s, the Mary Karlzen Band performs at Bar Nancy in Miami’s Little Havana at 9 p.m. Saturday. Karlzen (once of Davie and most recently of Milwaukee) released the album “Shine” (Y&T Music) in 2021, a beautifully affecting collection that is worth checking out (MaryKarlzen.net). For more on the show, visit Facebook.com/barnancy305.

Mary Karlzen returns to South Florida for a gig at Bar Nancy in Miami on Saturday. (Jill Kahn / Courtesy)

Beach ball: A rite of spring in South Florida, Model Volleyball returns to the South Beach shoreline at 11th Street on Saturday and Sunday, with 250+ models expected to take part in the coed games in front of 15,000 spectators. The free-admission matches take place from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with DJ Brody Jenner performing at 6 p.m. Saturday and DJ Ruckus doing the honors at 6 p.m. Sunday. The after-party is at Bodega South Beach beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. The events benefit the Angel Watching Over Me Foundation. Visit ModelVolleyball.com.

Regina's Farm, a unique dining experience in downtown Fort Lauderdale in the backyard of Elizeu Silva and Regina Rodrigues, will host a video shoot by Miami City Ballet on Sunday. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dancing for dinner: You can get an impossible-to-get table at Fort Lauderdale hidden gem Regina’s Farm (1101 Middle St.) on Sunday through support for Miami City Ballet, which has reserved the bucolic backyard restaurant to shoot a promotional video for its upcoming season. As the dancers perform excerpts from George Balanchine’s “Square Dance,” you can enjoy a three-course dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $150, or $75 for guests younger than 12. Visit MiamiCityBallet.org/reginasfarm.

Free rhythms: The Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents the second annual Rhythm by the River: A Festival Celebrating Black Voices on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. in Esplanade Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The free afternoon of live music, food trucks and arts and crafts will include main-stage performances by infectious jazz-funk band The Smoogies, R&B-gospel vocalist Gia Wyre, gospel singer and multi-instrumentalist Timothy Dukes, Caribbean singer-songwriter Sizwe Collins and hip-hop artist Jean-Carlos Casely. Art Prevails Project founder Darius Daughtry will lead a spoken-word session among the free workshops offered at the Broward Center’s Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom. Rhythm by the River is part of the Broward Center’s Arts for Action: Black Voices initiative, co-presented by Baptist Health and JM Family Enterprises. Visit BrowardCenter.org.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.