Events
Catch Me If You Can: The Charming Con Hits Broward
When Life’s a Scam, the Stage Becomes a Playground of Jazz, Tricks and Broadway Mischief. Catch Me If You Can Arrives in Fort Lauderdale on October 11th.
September 22nd, 2025
As the Broward Center prepares to welcome Catch Me If You Can, audiences are in for a theatrical thrill ride that promises glitz, jazz and a hint of mischief. Director Patrick Fitzwater, juggling last-minute preparations in the lobby, shared an insider’s view of what makes this stage adaptation both a nod to the classic story and a fully modern theatrical experience.
“Catch Me If You Can is a different medium for people who’ve only seen the movie or read the book,” Fitzwater explained. “It’s not just about telling the story—it’s about making it live, making it immediate, and making it fun.”
And fun, indeed, is what audiences can expect. The production embraces the energy and style of the early 1960s while sprinkling in contemporary flair. “We present it like a variety show,” Fitzwater said. “Think Lawrence Welk meets Johnny Carson, but make it Broadway. Frank puts the audience through flashbacks and musical numbers that capture key moments in his life. It’s very cinematic, but it also keeps the immediacy of live theater.”
Big dance numbers, rapid scene changes, and a three-story set make the production as kinetic as the cons themselves. “The set allows for chases, almost like a giant mousetrap,” Fitzwater said. “Frank is always two steps ahead of Agent Hanratty, and the audience feels every twist and turn. The combination of fast pacing and mid-century modern furniture really transports you to the 1960s while keeping the story visually dynamic.”
Costumes do more than evoke the era, they tell Frank’s story through the women, the uniforms, and the personas he adopts. Pan Am pilots, flight attendants, nurses, and doctors aren’t just period detail; they illustrate his obsessions, his desires, and his upbringing. “Each job he lands in, he’s surrounded by beautiful women,” Fitzwater said. “It’s part humor, part psychology, part spectacle. You see his influences like his mother’s attractiveness and it all plays out on stage in a lively, sometimes cheeky way.”
But the production isn’t all sparkle. The emotional core lies in Frank’s relationship with Agent Carl Hanratty. Carl’s moral steadiness and his personal backstory, a childless life devoted to work, provide a counterpoint to Frank’s audacious schemes. “Frank becomes a sort of son Carl never had, and Carl becomes the father Frank should have had,” Fitzwater said. “It adds layers to the story that audiences can emotionally invest in, beyond just cheering for the cons.”
Modern technology and production design elevate these moments even further. LED lighting, choreography by Kat Pagano, and precise ensemble numbers heighten tension, humor and emotion. “When you’ve said all the words you can in a scene, a musical gives you a tool: sing or dance. Add those, and the scene reaches heights the book or movie could never hit.”
The music itself reinforces time and tone. Jazz-infused numbers, composed by the team behind Hairspray, evoke smoky lounges, intimate romance and a playful noir vibe. “Everybody’s smoking, everybody’s holding a rocks glass,” Fitzwater said, chuckling. “It adds sexiness and sophistication while keeping the story grounded in the 1960s. Then, the ensemble’s precision high-kicks and choreography give it a Broadway spectacle feel that keeps you anchored in the moment.”
Despite the glamour and humor, the story is relatable. Frank’s clever tricks and financial cons allow the audience to root for him without moral conflict. “He’s not malicious,” Fitzwater explained. “No one gets hurt. He’s outsmarting systems to build the life he wants, and audiences can’t help but get swept up in that audacity. There’s a moral dilemma, but it’s irresistible.”
Even today, the story feels contemporary. “History repeats itself,” Fitzwater said. “People are always pushing systems, looking for glory or facing consequences. Some modern ‘Franks’ may be behind keyboards instead of airline counters, but the thrill of outsmarting the system persists. The story is timeless; the technology just changes.”
For those who have never experienced live theater, Fitzwater emphasized the communal magic it provides. “Now’s the time to come to the theater. We all breathe the same air, share the same moments. In a world that often pulls us apart, live theater reminds us we can still experience something together.”
With jazz, dazzling choreography, clever sleight-of-hand and a moral center that keeps audiences rooting for the antihero, this production of Catch Me If You Can promises to transport viewers into a world where life’s a scam and the stage is the ultimate playground. Humor, spectacle, emotion and audacity collide in a show that invites everyone to live boldly, colorfully, and unapologetically.
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The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.
September 26, 2026
Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.
The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.
The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.
And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.
Because we all have stuff.
The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.
Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?
Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.
Services are coming too.
And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.
– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre
Swipe. Match. Swap.
The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.
You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.
Then you offer something of your own.
Swipe. Match. Swap.
If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.
Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.
In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.
100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal
Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.
Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.
“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.
That idea stuck with me.
We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.
Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.
Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.
– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7
Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier
The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.
One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.
Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.
Done.
The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.
Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.
So that barely used handbag has value.
But so do the golf clubs in the garage.
And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff
This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.
Zéya is adding services.
That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.
Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.
Maybe you tutor.
Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.
Your skills have value too.
The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.
And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.
It All Feels Very Miami
Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.
Zéya feels very Miami.
It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.
We can absolutely get behind that.
The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.
That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.
Swap, Don’t Shop
There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.
But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.
The appeal is much simpler.
You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.
Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.
Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”
After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.
Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.
– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar
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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.
August 20, 2026
Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.
South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.
The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.
On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.
Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection
Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.
Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.
The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.
We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.
Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.
It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.
Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami
There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.
In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.
A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.
Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.
Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.
The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.
Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall
Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.
The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.
Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.
Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar
Fashion is only part of the experience.
For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.
Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.
The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.
Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.
The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.
A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home
For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.
Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.
Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.
And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.
After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.
Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.
Check out the collection HERE
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