Our weekend picks, July 4th edition:
Staci Sturrock, features writer, veterans reporter: Watch GI Joes and Janes compete
The military branches will battle for bragging rights during Sunday’s War Games at Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach.
Who will emerge victorious in the patriotic test of strength – Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines?
We all will, that’s who.
The free, CrossFit-style event, which will include divisions for “Average Joes” and adaptive athletes, takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also on the agenda: a display of military vehicles, a bunch of bagpipers and kids’ activities.
For more information, go to WarGamesUSA.com.
Barbara Marshall, features writer, fireworks fan: Watch bombs bursting in air
I love a good lightning storm, with fireworks displays a close second in my pyrotechnics-loving heart. Saturday night, I’ll be perched on the downtown West Palm Beach seawall watching the night sky explode in this country’s traditional salute to another year of independence.
Here’s where to see those bombs bursting in air:
Fourth on Flagler, 5- 11 p.m. in downtown West Palm Beach, with music, food and 18 minutes of fireworks, which start at 9 p.m. over the Intracoastal Waterway.
Harbourside Place: Family fun including fireworks, 4 – 10 p.m. 200 N. U.S. One, Jupiter:
Lake Worth: Starting at 2 p.m., live music, water slide, pro wrestling, fireworks at 9 p.m., Bryant Park, Lake Avenue and Golfview.
Boynton Beach: Music, food and children’s activities, starting at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m., Intracoastal Park, 2240 N. Federal Highway.
Roger Dean Stadium: baseball and fireworks begin at 6:35 as the Jupiter Hammerheads take on the Bradenton Marauders. Fireworks after the game.
Delray Beach: Activities from 4 to 8 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Atlantic Avenue and A1A.
Boca Raton: Family fun starts at 6:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m., deHoernle Park/Spanish River Sports Complex, 1000 NW Spanish River Boulevard.
Carlos Frías, features writer, craft beer columnist: Drink up those blueberries
I’d drive to the grocery store right now if I knew they were selling fresh blueberry cobbler. And I’ll happily drive to Oakland Park now that I know Funky Buddha Brewery’s iconic Blueberry Cobbler Ale will be sold at their brewery in a bottle for the first time on Saturday. This beer tastes so much like actual blueberry cobbler, down to the buttery crust, that you’ll want a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it. Hey, not a bad idea: Why not take home a four-pack and make a blueberry cobbler float?
Funky Buddha Brewery, 1201 NE 38th St., Oakland Park; 954-440-0046
What’s more American than a clambake? This pot of flavor comes from The Cooper in Palm Beach Gardens.
Liz Balmaseda, food editor: All-American food for the Fourth
This bustling Palm Beach Gardens spot is serving up American comfort classics this weekend. Specials include Chef Adam Brown’s St. Louis-style barbecue ribs ($21 for a half rack) with jalapeño-cheddar corn bread, slaw, and fries, as well as a New England-style Clambake ($29) that features lobster, littleneck clams, shrimp, mussels, chorizo, sweet corn and potatoes. For dessert, try the hot fudge sundae with salted caramel, pecans and whipped cream ($8).
The Cooper: at PGA Commons, 4610 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; The Cooper Restaurant.com.
The patio at Malakor Thai in Northwood Village, West Palm Beach.
Leslie Streeter, features writer, urban explorer: Last weekend’s Northwood Mango and Music Festival reintroduced me to a place I haven’t been in some time, but which I need to go back to – Malakor Thai, an authentic, inventive spot in the historic village. 
At the festival they featured the mango sticky rice, something that’s on their menu in season, which would be now. It’s just a creamy, satisfying melty pleasure, and it was my favorite bite last weekend. And it’s gonna be your favorite, too.
Malakor Thai, 425 25th St., West Palm Beach. 561-762-9070
