Weekend things to do: Balls and pucks, Whiskey 101 in Delray Beach, getting ‘Fancy’ in Boca Raton

Even if you’re not into the sports, you must feel the palpable energy in South Florida as the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers (never give up, kids) battle for championships this weekend.

We don’t need to mention this to any of the out-of-towners from Denver and Las Vegas who are wandering around (welcome, Nuggets and Golden Knights fans!) but the current state of South Florida sports is something we’ve never experienced. I mean, we’re going to act like it’s no big thing in front of guests, but …

Beyond attention for the Heat and Panthers (have you seen the Guitar Hotel lately?), while no one was noticing, the Miami Marlins have gotten really entertaining, scoring in bunches and winning games. They are going on the road this weekend, which is just as well with the Jimmy and Matthew show going on.

Then there’s the shock of glocal soccer superstar Lionel Messi playing games in Fort Lauderdale with Inter Miami FC (apparently there was no last-minute genuflection for Saudi cash like the PGA Tour). Will that instantly become the toughest ticket in South Florida?

No, because the Miami Dolphins are also shaping up to be very fast and very good this season. Coach Mike McDaniel is just deciding which rims to put on that Lambo.

TV-lined restaurant-bar American Social just opened a new location in Boca Raton, and the similarly sports-friendly destination The Palm Room debuted recently on Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard — these guys look like geniuses.

Sports are part of the connective tissue of South Florida, and the amount of positive energy out there right now in local bars and restaurants feels special and sort of historic. Let’s enjoy it.

THURSDAY

Beer famous:I’m embarrassed to say that I just now tripped across the news that Prison Pals Brewing Co. in Oakland Park took a bronze medal for their Nelson Hazy IPA in the highly competitive 2023 World Beer Cup in Nashville last month. The taproom (3555 N. Dixie Highway), across from Funky Buddha, is open this weekend, starting 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Visit PrisonPalsBC.com.

FRIDAY

Friday laughs:Trevor Noah, who offered just a portion of his gymnastic mind within the confines of his role as longtime host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” brings his Off the Record Tour to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $55+ at MyHRL.com.

Starlight Musicals return: The city-sponsored Starlight Musicals summer concert series returns to Holiday Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Friday night with a country-rock theme from the Andrew Morris Band. These popular community picnics, now in their 44th year, are BYO blanket, chairs and coolers, with food and drink available for purchase. As always, they will collect nonperishable food donations for the Pantry of Broward and Life Net 4 Families. Pet food donations will benefit Abandoned Pet Rescue. The free concerts, which run from 7 to 10 p.m., are scheduled each week through Aug. 11. For weather updates, call 954-828-5363. For more information, visit Parks.fortlauderdale.gov.

More laughs:Originally scheduled for the Palm Beach Improv — which closed last month in advance of a move to a new location TBD — performances by actor-comedian Michael Yo take place Friday through Sunday at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach. Tickets cost $22+. Visit DaniaImprov.com.

Light shows:The planetarium dome at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach will be the setting for three laser shows on Friday: Laser U2 (6 p.m.), Laser Beatles (7 p.m.) and Laser Michael Jackson (8 p.m.). Tickets for each show cost $13 (or $11 for members) at CoxScienceCenter.org/laser-shows.

Future laughs: Comedian Bill Burr is coming to Hard Rock Live at in Hollywood on Nov. 9. Tickets (starting at $98+) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at MyHRL.com. A venue presale is happening now via the Hard Rock Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

SATURDAY

‘Fancy’ in Boca:What do you do after a massive hit such as “Fancy Like” threatens to define you as a songwriter of goofy jingles? Forever. Country star Walker Hayes recently released “6 String American Dream,” both a likable Everyman ode and a gently self-effacing clapback to the haters. All is forgiven. Hayes brings his tour to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton on Saturday with openers Ingrid Andress and Breland. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets (scarce) start at $72+. Visit MiznerAmp.com.

Funky town: If you had to pick one time to join in on Funky Buddha Brewery’s 10-day celebration of its first decade in business, Saturday’s closing ceremonies would be it. The daylong blowout in Oakland Park begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes special bottle releases, top-shelf food trucks (Jenny with the Pot, The Greek, Bobby’s Hot Dogs, The Noodle Station and Beans-n-Dough) and popular live bands (Tasty Vibrations, 1-2:30 p.m.; Live From 05, 2:45-4:15 p.m.; and Spider Cherry, 4:30-6 p.m.) and the Florida Panthers game at 8 p.m. (sound on). Visit FunkyBuddha.com.

Plant-based treats: Vegan baker Erica Glenny will host a Saturday-morning pop-up to introduce her Kindness Batters Bakery in a new space in the West Palm Beach Warehouse District. A collaboration with vegan chef NomBucket, the offerings will include empanadas, quiches, doughnuts, pastries, muffins and kombucha on tap. The pop-up happens from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to coincide with the nearby farmers market at Grandview Public Market. Kindness Batters Bakery is at 1211 Old Okeechobee Road, Bay No. 1. Visit KindnessBatters.com.

Your Saturday shot: Cocktail savant John “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick will lead a class on the purpose and process of maturing whiskey in casks and barrels, otherwise known as whiskey “finishing,” at his splendidly appointed bar at Warren American Whiskey Kitchen in Delray Beach on Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The class, which includes five whiskey pours, costs $39. Visit Facebook.com/warrendelray.

Wild about Harry: Hosted by the incomparable Crystal Ross LePaige, the Harry Styles Drag Brunch on Saturday at the Dania Improv salutes a performer who is big with a young demographic. So while the gathering is limited to those 21 and older, who’s to say the person seated next to you isn’t one of the state’s undercover agents? Very exciting. Showtime is 2 p.m., and costumes (Styles and One Direction) are encouraged. General admission tickets cost $18+, reserved seats $28+. Visit DaniaImprov.com.

Saturday laughs: Comedian, actor, podcaster and TV host Nikki Glaser brings her (wink-wink) Good Girl Tour to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach at 7 p.m. Saturday, with tickets starting at $39.75+. Visit Kravis.org.

Delray pride: The city of Delray Beach hosts its third annual Pride Festival and Concert at 4 p.m. Saturday at Pineapple Grove‘s iconic Pride-painted intersection (Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast First Street). The free event will include a variety of vendors and a performance by Elton John tribute band Rocketman at The Pavilion at Old School Square at 7:30 p.m. Visit DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

Electric vehicle: One of South Florida’s destined-to-break-out bands, Electric Kif bring their intricate jazzy loops back to the funky-chic Lagniappe House in downtown Miami (an easy 2-mile Uber from Brightline) at 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Visit LagniappeHouse.com and poke around the schedule, which is filled with excellence. On Tuesday it’s Mad Thai, a collab by guitarist Digo Zambrano (Electric Kif), bassist Jason Spencer (Fusik) and drummer Jamie Newitt (The Heavy Pets).

Take the kids: The seventh edition of teen (and younger) music festival Teenstock will roll out over Saturday and Sunday at Marina 84 Sports Bar and Grill in Fort Lauderdale. The free showcase begins at noon daily in the family-friendly, smoke-free venue, which will have food and drinks for sale. Saturday’s lineup (subject to change) includes Last Minute, Tragic Voodoo, Unravel, 2-5-Fun, Ava Toton (California), Walter Campbell (Tennessee), Aiden Joiner (Alabama) and Ashlyn Greene (South Carolina), followed on Sunday by Living Legends, Tommy Jam Band, Solange and Diego, Parasomnia, Florian, Jake & Sky, Jaggn and Gio Bonet (Colorado). Visit Facebook.com/teenstockfl.

SUNDAY

Good times:Local classical-music ensemble New Canon Chamber Collective gets jiggy with it on Sunday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale with “Remember the Times,” a tribute to theme songs from some of television’s most beloved sitcoms, including “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Moesha,” “Family Matters,” “Martin” and many others. Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Abdo New River Room, the evening will include music, dance, comedy, theater, film and sing-along fun, followed by a post-performance talkback session with the ensemble. General admission tickets cost $35+, students pay $10+ at BrowardCenter.org.

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