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An A-rated middle school could face closure. A familiar steakhouse may have more to offer than its steaks. And one of Coral Springs' oldest buildings survived a trip to the city dump before becoming a museum.
Sometimes the most interesting local stories begin when something familiar turns out to be more complicated, or more surprising, than it appears.
This week, we're looking beyond the obvious. |
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Outback Steakhouse: Are the Steaks Really the Main Attraction? |
When you think of Outback Steakhouse, steaks and the famous Bloomin' Onion probably come to mind.
But an analysis of 75 recent customer reviews at the Coral Springs location reveals a more interesting picture.
Some of the strongest feedback goes to menu items you might not expect, while the steaks themselves don't always deliver the consistency their reputation suggests.
And there's another part of the dining experience that customers praise even more frequently than the food.
See what stands out at Outback →
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What is SENTY? (Each week's SENTY Report highlights a local business reviewed in-depth on our Coral Springs Business Guide.) |
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When 0% Interest Doesn't Mean What You Think |
A furniture store offers you 12 months with no interest on a new sofa. Sounds like a great deal. But there's a catch in some financing offers that could cost you hundreds of dollars.
Not all "no interest" offers work the same way. Take these 2 offers:
The takeaway: Watch for the small print: "if paid in full." Paying almost everything may not be good enough. You need to pay the entire balance before the deadline to avoid those backdated interest charges. |
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Signs of progress and possibility around Coral Springs |
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Can a Performing Arts Academy Save Forest Glen Middle School? |
Forest Glen Middle School has an A rating. So why is its future uncertain?
Enrollment, not academics, is at the heart of the problem. But a proposal now before Broward school officials could give the campus an entirely new identity, one designed to attract students rather than send them elsewhere.
The idea has supporters, but important questions remain about whether it could reverse the enrollment trend. With a decision expected in December, Forest Glen's future is still very much an open question. |
How Coral Springs Nearly Lost Its First Police Station |
One of Coral Springs' oldest surviving buildings has a history that sounds almost too unlikely to be true.
It began as a place to sell homes, became the city's first police station, and eventually found itself somewhere no one would expect a historic landmark to end up.
What happened next could have erased a piece of Coral Springs history. Instead, the building survived, thanks in part to residents who recognized what was at stake. |
Also Noted: What's Changing at the Sawgrass Expressway's Atlantic Boulevard Interchange? |
The $72.5 million project includes redesigned entrance and exit ramps, new bridges to address flooding, and improvements for drivers and cyclists along Atlantic Boulevard. |
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Good Cause: Cancer Awareness Dinner at the Firehouse |
Dinner at a fire station isn't something you get to do every day.
On Saturday, October 24, Coral Springs-Parkland firefighters are turning Fire Station 80 into a community dining room for their annual Cancer Awareness Pasta Dinner.
For an $8 donation, you'll get pasta and meatballs, bread, and a beverage. You'll also have a chance to meet local firefighters and see the fire trucks up close. Proceeds support the firefighters' benevolent association and local charitable causes.
When: Saturday, October 24 |
This Weekend: Thrills & Chills Returns to Coral Springs |
Looking for something fun to do with the kids or grandkids this weekend? The city's Thrills & Chills Halloween celebration takes over the Coral Springs Gymnasium on Saturday, October 17, with games, crafts, music, a glow-in-the-dark disco room, and a sensory-friendly area.
Two afternoon sessions are available. Get more details → |
Heads-Up: The POP 2000 Tour Is Coming to Coral Springs |
If *NSYNC, O-Town, and LFO bring back memories, here's one to put on your calendar. The POP 2000 Tour comes to the Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Friday, November 6, hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC and featuring O-Town, BBMAK, Ryan Cabrera, and LFO.
It's a few weeks away, but worth an early look if you're interested in tickets. Get more details → |
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Small Extras, From Time to Time |
From time to time, Coral Springs Insider readers may notice small extras and local thank-yous tucked into the newsletter.
Nothing flashy or overdone.
Just thoughtful advantages for people who enjoy staying connected to what’s happening around town. |
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One of the things I enjoy about putting together Coral Springs Insider is discovering how much there is to learn about a city I've called home for so many years.
Sometimes it's a familiar place with an unexpected history. Other times, it's a local institution facing a future no one would have imagined.
It reminds me that even when you think you know a place well, there are still stories hiding in plain sight.
And that's part of what makes Coral Springs worth exploring.
See you next Thursday,
Michael |