🌅🎭 FAM Festival, Live Music, & Island Burger Review

Good Afternoon, Sunland

It's Tuesday! Sunday night at the Sunrise Theater, I got a front-row seat to something special—the Earl F. Little Foundation event.

If you're unfamiliar (like I was going in), Earl F. Little has been a pillar in our community for over 60 years—not just as a leader, but as a musical force. Now well into his 90s, his legacy was honored through an incredible display of vocal performances, with choirs and groups coming together to celebrate his impact.

I learned that Little was part of the LPA class of 1944 and later returned as LPA’s choir director from 1955 to 1970. That kind of longevity and influence in both music and community? Pretty special. Alright…

🌞 Shoutout to Timothy!

Big love to Timothy, a recent supporter of Sunland News! 🙌 Your support helps keep local stories alive and shining.

If you’ve been enjoying these newsletters, consider subscribing—it’s the best way to stay plugged into Saint Lucie County’s stories, culture, and community that don’t make the main newsletter. Join us here 💛

Question: Where does Port St. Lucie rank in population among U.S. cities?

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🍋 The Main Squeeze: FAM Art Festival Brings Black Culture to the Forefront

TL;DR: The FAM (Food, Art & Music) Art Festival is coming to Whispering Pines Park this Saturday, February 22. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Black culture in Port St. Lucie through live performances, community activities, and a showcase of powerful local artwork. One featured artist, J’Qwan (Head of Sunland Image), shares his perspective on why this event is more than just another festival.

A Conversation with J’Qwan: When I caught up with J’Qwan (Head of Image for Sunland Newsearlier this week, we talked about what this festival means to him. “I wanted to shine some light on it and get people to come out,” he said. He’s showcasing a mix of old and new works, carefully chosen to reflect the ongoing presence of Black culture and history.

“It’s not just about what happened before,” he explained. “It’s about what’s still happening today.”

What to Expect from His Work: J’Qwan’s pieces explore themes of Black history, resilience, and everyday experiences, capturing moments that feel both timeless and urgent. He’s deliberate about what he reveals ahead of time, keeping most of his artist statement under wraps until the festival.

“I want people to see it for themselves first,” he said. “There’s something different about experiencing art in person.”

Festival Highlights: The festival’s purpose aligns with his work—elevating Black voices through multiple creative forms. From live music to community events, it’s a gathering meant to celebrate and honor.

🎶 Live Performances: Fort Pierce Westwood Band, Ray of Music, and Kay Love Band will take the stage.
🎨 Art Showcases: A mix of emerging and established artists will present their work.
🎭 Community Engagement: Youth activities, cultural exhibitions, and interactive experiences will be featured.

Why This Matters: As we talked, J’Qwan touched on something that resonated deeply. “Sometimes people think looking back is a bad thing,” he said. “But when you do, you realize not much has changed.”

That’s part of the reason why events like this are so important. They remind us that history isn’t distant—it’s still shaping the present.

If You Go

📍 Location: Whispering Pines Park, Darwin Boulevard, Port St. Lucie
📅 Date: Saturday, February 22
🎟️ Admission: Free and open to the public

More than just a celebration, the FAM Art Festival is a statement—a reminder that culture, history, and creativity continue to thrive. If you’re planning to attend, take a moment to really engage—not just with the art, but with the stories behind it.

🎸Live Music: 7 - ish, Events This Week!

Wednesday, Feb 19

🎤 Open Mic Night at Pareidolia Brewing Co.
Show off your musical talents or enjoy local performers. | 6 PM | Free | Details

Thursday, Feb 20

🎸 Robin Trower at Sunrise Theatre
Legendary guitarist performs blues-rock classics and new hits. | 8 PM | Tickets from $72.75 | Details

🎶 Fort Pierce Jazz and Blues Society at Riverside Theatre
A night of jazz featuring top local musicians. | 5:30 PM | Free | Details

Friday, Feb 21

🥁 Peter Bernard at Cooper’s Chophouse
Steel drum vibes for a laid-back evening. | 5 PM | Free | Details

🎸 Dark Side of the Sol – Pink Floyd Tribute at Pareidolia Brewing Co.
Florida’s premier Pink Floyd tribute band recreates the iconic sound. | 6 PM | Free | Details

🎷 AJ Saxx at Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge
Smooth jazz and saxophone melodies in an intimate dessert lounge. | 7 PM | Free | Details

Saturday, Feb 22

🕺 Silent Disco at Pierced Ciderworks
Dance to multiple DJ channels with wireless headphones. | 8 PM–11 PM | Details

🎨 FAM Fest at Whispering Pines Park
A celebration of Black culture through food, art, and music. | 5 PM–9 PM | Details

If you have an event, send it to me here

🍹The Refill: 🍽️ Fort Pierce Smash Hit

I finally made my way over to Island Burger & Shake on Seaway Drive—the spot I mentioned in the newsletter a few weeks back. Turns out, a lot of you were interested (over 100 clicks!), so I had to check it out.

What’s the deal? Island Burger & Shake keeps it simple: burgers, fries, shakes, and drinks. That’s it. And honestly? If I ever opened a restaurant (which I won’t), it’d be something like this.

What I ordered: I went with the Double Smash Burger with Bacon, plus a drink. They offer three burger sizes—Skinny, Double, and Big Daddy—with the option to go Wagyu or standard beef.

The taste

• The burger? Solid. Well-seasoned, juicy, and balanced.

• The bun? Soft and fluffy. Not a standout, but it did the job.

• The toppings? Instead of stacking whole lettuce and tomato slices, they do a chopped veggie mix, making for a more manageable bite.

The fries

Good, not great. Fries fall into two categories: life-changing or good enough. These land in the good enough camp.

💰 Price check:

My meal ran about $20–$21—a little pricier than, say, Five Guys, but it’s a local spot. If you’re willing to pay a bit more to support small businesses, it’s worth it.

The extra touch: They serve everything on trays lined with fake newspapers, which is a cool aesthetic. Maybe I need to convince them to make those Sunland-branded… 🤔

Final verdict?

If you love smash burgers and want to keep it local, Island Burger & Shake is worth a try.

Have you been? Let me know what you think! Also, what should I try next? Let me know.

Support Sunland News

Last Drop: 📜 Did You Know? For the Road!

1529 Avenue D carries some deep local history. When I first started Sunland News, my aunt mentioned a newspaper that used to be in Fort Pierce. She struggled to remember the name at first, but then it clicked—the Chronicle Newspaper, the city’s first all-Black newspaper.

Not only was the Chronicle a powerful voice for the Black community, but it also once employed Zora Neale Hurston, who I wrote about a few weeks ago. Today, the building is still standing and owned by Phatz, continuing its legacy of Black entrepreneurship in Fort Pierce.

Figured I’d shine some light on it here. History runs deep.

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