Weekend things to do: The Wharf Miami closing, Guns N’ Roses, a Jimmy Buffett party in Delray Beach

When Breakwater Hospitality Group announced this weekend’s closing of The Wharf Miami, they acknowledged what became easy to forget in the passage of time since its opening back in 2017: It was always a “pop-up” experience, a placeholder, a piece of real estate awaiting a deal.

After final festivities on Friday and Saturday, the nautical-themed pop-up will shut down to make way for Breakwater’s gleaming new development called Riverside Wharf.

Over nearly six years, The Wharf Miami had a transformational effect on the hardscrabble Miami River District, which became a hot nightlife destination due in large part to the presence of The Wharf. This evolution allowed Riverside Wharf to make sense.

Expected to break ground by year’s end, Riverside Wharf will include the 165-room luxury Dream Hotel, a 30,000-square-foot nightclub and rooftop day club, 16,000 square feet of restaurant space (including a home for Garcia’s Fish Market), a 12,000-square-foot event hall and a marina.

The success of The Wharf Miami also was felt in Fort Lauderdale, of course, where Breakwater and real estate developer Dev Motwani applied the template to an open space among the towers on the New River in 2019. Like its predecessor, The Wharf Fort Lauderdale instantly became a magnet for a young and well-heeled crowd that has changed the temperature of the area.

And after nearly four years, it’s easy to forget that The Wharf Fort Lauderdale is a pop-up, too.

While events wind down at The Wharf Miami (see WharfMiami.com), the Fort Lauderdale location is in overdrive with a variety of festivities this weekend (see WharfFTL.com). Enjoy them while we may.

THURSDAY

Olivia Rodrigo tickets:Three-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Rodrigo will perform at the Kaseya Center in Miami on March 6 during a world tour in support of her new Geffen Records album, “GUTS.” Fans can register for the code to buy tickets now through 10 p.m. Sunday at Ticketmaster.com/oliviarodrigo. When registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code for access to ticket sales taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. Prices will be from $49.50+ to $199.50+.

Meet the artists:History Fort Lauderdale will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the art exhibit “Viva Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating Hispanic Art & Culture,” featuring works from local artists Leonardo Montoya (Colombia), Lifrancis Rojas (Venezuela), Isabel Perez Salazar (Venezuela), and Florencia Clement de Grandprey (Spain). Kicking off with a free artist meet-and-greet reception on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., the exhibit will be up through Oct. 15 at History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW Second Ave. Museum admission is $10, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for guests age 6 and younger. Visit HistoryFortLauderdale.org.

Weekend laughs: It seems like forever since Big Jay Oakerson has performed in South Florida. The mayor of Skankville has five shows Thursday through Saturday at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach, with tickets starting at $25+ at DaniaImprov.com.

FRIDAY

Parrot Heads unite: Tin Roof in downtown Delray Beach will host the Parrot Head Paradise Party on Friday to celebrate the life and legacy of Jimmy Buffett. DJ Ace will spin Jimmy-friendly jams from 4 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a two-hour musical tribute from Gary and The Landsharks beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $10 (VIP is $25, includes a drink ticket), with 50% of all ticket proceeds donated to Buffett charities Singing for Change and Save the Manatee Club. Visit TinRoofDelrayBeach.com.

A little patience:Guns N’ Roses hits Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood at 7 p.m. Friday and, yes, it’s a sellout. Resale tickets are a tick under $400+ last we checked at MyHRL.com.

Oktobeer is here:Sistrunk Marketplace and Dream State Brewery will get a jump on Oktoberfest with a party on Friday featuring German-inspired cuisine and beer from at least 10 local breweries. Taking place from 3 to 11 p.m., the event will introduce a menu of traditional schnitzels, beer brats, Bavarian pretzels and apple strudels to be served daily right through the major blowout festivities planned for Sept. 30 to Oct. 1. Among the breweries on tap are Orchestrated Minds, Invasive Species, Gulf Stream, Yeasty Brews, Tripping Animals, Prison Pals, The Tank, Off Site, Unbranded and Unseen Creatures. Admission is free with an option to buy an all-you-can-drink bracelet. Visit Instagram.com/dreamstatebrewing.

Take the kids:The Museum of Discovery & Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Friday opens a new exhibit aimed at generations of Thomas the Tank Engine fans. The show, called “Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails!,” includes a replica of the iconic blue train cab to explore and a large tabletop mockup of the island of Sodor ready for small hands to fill with tracks, bridges, stations and trains. Running through Jan.15, the exhibit is included in museum admission. Discovery Pass (including science demonstrations and an IMAX documentary) costs $27, $22 for age 2 to 12, and $25 for seniors. Note: On Sept. 21, a new documentary will be added to the IMAX lineup: “Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope.” Visit MODS.org.

SATURDAY

Chili forecast:With their win in the Riverwalk Chili Cook-off earlier this year, Fort Lauderdale Firefighters Local 765/Company 29 qualified for the World Championship Chili Cook-off in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 — but now they need to get there. On Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum will host a fundraiser to help them out with, of course, another chili competition. For a $20 donation, you can sample each team’s chili, enjoy refreshments, music and more. The museum is at 1022 W. Las Olas Blvd. Visit Facebook.com/FireMuseum1912.

Free salsa:The Miami Beach Salsa Fest lights the fuse on Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at the Miami Beach Bandshell at 6 p.m. Saturday, a family-friendly evening of dancing with live orchestras led by Melina Almodóvar and Conjunto Universal. Doors open at 4 p.m. Admission is free with RSVP at MiamiBeachBandshell.com.

Saturday night live: Three Doors Down brings the 20-year anniversary tour for album “Away From the Sun” to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton at 8 p.m. Saturday, joined by Candlebox. Tickets start at $39.50+ or $24.75+ as part of a four-pack at MiznerAmp.com. … Brooklyn-based Matt and Kim bring their bedazzled electronics to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with openers Babe Haven. Tickets start at $37.50+ at CultureRoom.net. … Avenged Sevenfold (with openers Falling in Reverse and Kim Dracula) rock iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach on Saturday. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35+ at LiveNation.com.

Local listening:Anytime Miami-based mood-enhancers Lemon City Trio are up this way, it’s a good thing. On Saturday, they’ll be found on a bill with acclaimed British blues guitarist and singer Matt Schofield at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton. Highly recommended. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $20 (standing), $25+ for bar and table seats. Visit FunkyBiscuit.com.

Sushi major:Looking for something different? Barrel of Monks Brewing in Boca Raton will host a sushi-making class led by Chef Taciana, owner of Blackbox Kitchen, on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Cost for the two-hour class, including the meal and taxes ,is $55 per person. The bragging rights you’ll have with friends? Priceless. Visit BarrelOfMonks.com.

Swamp things:Shrek Rave returns to Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale at 9 p.m. Saturday, unleashing the meme in a massive costumed dance party based on the two-decade-old film series. This time out, expect an extra vigorous section devoted to “All Star” by the late Steve Harwell and Smash Mouth. Tickets to the 18-and-older show currently start at $25+ at JoinTheRevolution.net.

Saturday laughs:On his “Hijo Único” tour, Miami-based, Venezuelan-born comedian George Harris brings irreverent takes on immigration and assimilation to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood at 8 p.m. Saturday. The show is virtually sold out, with a few pair of tickets remaining in the Couches section starting at $500+ at MyHRL.com. … Shane Gillis, briefly of “Saturday Night Live,” often of “The Joe Rogan Experience” and now of a new Netflix special, is at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Saturday. The show is sold out. Visit BrowardCenter.org.

SUNDAY

Bottoms up:Not to stereotype any of us, but when someone mentioned the Sunday brunch at Kapow Noodle Bar in Boca Raton had $15 bottomless mimosas, bloodies, Aperol spritz and draft Sapporo beer, well, I thought it was worth mentioning here. And then, you know, there’s the food, which is top-notch. Brunch at Kapow runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and features DJ Misha on the patio. Visit KapowNoodleBar.com.

Green beings:SoFlo Vegans Unite is a gathering in and around the riverside grounds of History Fort Lauderdale (231 SW Second Ave.) on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It will include a Vegan Bazaar with food vendors and shopping for plant-based products. A ticketed area ($20, $55 VIP) will offer food samples and refreshments, cooking demos, live music, a silent auction, a game show and podcast taping. Visit SoFloVegans.com.

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