Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Dec. 17, 2014
Coming up at McnabsDockside.com: Wed. Dec. 17th at 7pm, obbie Williams, singer entertainer lots of fun with the crowd: Fri. Dec. 19th at 7pm Larry love and the Blue Ave Band, Motown, RnB pop hits: Sat. Dec. 20th 6pm Pete Lundblad, singer – entertainer all requests, great interaction with the crowd: Sun. Dec. 21, Andy G. and friends – Simply put the best live music in town anywhere. These guys are great!! 3pm till 7pm. Also weddings, parties etc. available. 200 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, Fl 33060. Call (954) 786-8555.
Take over lease on new Lexus E 350, 12,000 miles per year. 25 months left on lease. 1238 miles on car, Deep Sea Mica exterior, saddle leather interior. Only $400 per month, including tax. MUST HAVE GOOD CREDIT! Call 561.852.0000.
Comcast which is the largest cable operator in South Florida, rocked its subscribers with a 10% increase starting Jan. 1. The giant cable operator with 1.2 million subscribers earned a huge $1.8 billion in profits for its 3rd quarter, despite losing thousands of users who cut cable ties. Comcast replaced cable user cutbacks with increases of high speed internet access customers plus jumps in broadband service.
Analysts say Office Depot and Stapes should merge for $1.4 billion in savings. Spokespersons for both companies declined to comment.
A pending grant for the next fiscal year could expedite a U.S. Customs facility at the Boca Raton Airport by as much as six months. Executive director Clara Bennett was notified of the pending $815,120 grant for 2015, not 2016 as expected from the Florida Department of Transportation. She was also notified of a second grant for $684,880 in 2016.
In a new bid to curb roadside panhandling, Palm Beach County may evict everyone collecting money from road medians. Boca already restricts it.
University of Florida shelled out $18 million deal over 6 months to lure Colorado football coach Jim McElwein, paying $7 million to Colorado to allow him to leave and paid off $6 million to fired coach Will Muschamp over the next three years to do nothing, by buying out his contract, with his assistant coaches due another $2 million, but the school will recoup $3.5 million from the new SEC network, plus the school reaps $104 million from its lucrative football and basketball programs. The UF boosters – University of Florida Athletic Association – will pay the Colorado school $3 million, McElwain will eventually give the school $2 million and UF guaranteed CSU another $2 million for playing a future game against the Gators.
Palm Beach County tourism officials hope to lure 600,000 more visitors this season than last. In 2013, the County posted a record 6 million tourists which generated $6.8 billion in economic impact. The added number of visitors would bring an additional $600 million in economic impact. Tourism, which is the largest industry in South Florida and the state provides for 66,000 tourism related jobs countywide. In a related move, taxes are going up on hotel stays in Palm Beach County in a move to raise more money to promote local tourism. The County Commission increased the tax on hotel stays and other short-term rentals to 6 cents per dollar spent. That should raise an additional $7 million a year that the county plans to spend on fixing more eroded beaches and increased advertising of tourist attractions.
The Florida Bar has shot itself in the foot once again with a major PR blunder, according to PR experts by opposing a $100 raise in annual dues to help needy citizens who can’t afford a lawyer in its pro bono programs, as blared in a Palm Beach Post headline; Lawyers Oppose Fee Hike to Aid the Poor.
The Federal Housing Finance Administration will reveal a new mortgage loan program targeting cash poor South Florida home buyers. The Fed’s program allows first time home buyers to take out a loan with as low as 3% down, and if you can find a $200,000 home, the down payment would be an affordable $6,000. Federal Mortgage guarantor Fannie Mae, classifies first time home buyers as one who hasn’t owned a home in the past three years, but Freddie Mac classifies first time as never owning a home.
See’s Candies, offering holiday-themed boxes and assortments, including Hanukkah gold coins, white mint truffles, cinnamon and mint cream “lollypops” made from scratch, have no added preservatives are gluten free and also with not-free and kosher treats has opened in Town Center, 6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
NextEra, parent company of FP&L bought Hawaiian Electric, Island’s largest electric utility for $4.3 billion and pockets millions in Federal subsidies.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) employs 3,367 people in South Florida, has 42 ships and carried 4.8 million passengers in 2013.
Vic Dibitetto is at the Crest theatre in the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, 8 pm. Dec.17. Call 561.243.7922 ext. 1.
Old Jews Telling Jokes is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, to Jan. 4. Tickets are $44. Visit stagedoorfl.org or call 954. 344.7765 for more information.
A Christmas Carol – Musical to Raise the Spirits is on to Dec. 21 at the Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Tickets are $15 and 410 for children 11 and younger. Visit solchildren.org or call 561.447.8829 for tickets.
Cafe Cinematheque Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs is every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.at Movies of Delray 561-638-0020 and Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Movies of Lake Worth 561-968-4545. Visit moviesofdelray.com for more information.
A new musical comedy revue, “When You’re in Love the Whole World is Jewish” directed by Jason Alexander, is 7:30 p.m. runs to Jan. 12 at the Mizner Park Cultural Center. Get tickets at worldjewishtheplay.com or call 561.901.7727.
Watch Barry Epstein live at barryepstein.com,tv-show/ to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres. You can be on too to promote your business and we send a link of your segment to put on your website and send out in emails to prospects and clients for only $150. This weeks guests include; Rotham Family Chiropractic center owner, Dr. Nicole Rothman, Palm Beach Regional Center owner and manager Al Zucaro and Celebrity Sports Auctions, LLC president Lance Berkowitz. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube. Call 561.852.0000 for details.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens Wednesday. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Robin Williams last movie – 3 stars), Foxcatcher – Four stars, Wild, and Annie opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. Foxcatcher opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. Foxcatcher opens at the Movies of Delray. Wild opens at the Movies of Lake Worth. Foxcatcher, Wild and Badabook opens at the Classic Gateway. The Theory of Everything and St. Vincent opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac.
The Movies of Delray and The Movies of Lake Worth will be showing The Met Opera Live, simulcast from The Met Opera, and the Encore for the 2014-2015 season. In HD with Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround Sound on new wider screens and new high back seats with more leg room. Tickets are $19.00 and reserved seats are available. Tickets are available online and at the box office. Visit moviesofdelray.com and moviesoflakeworth.com.
Eating Healthy Through the Holidays will be presented by Nicole Marchand, MS, RD, LD, noon Dec.19th at West Boca Medical Center Education Center, 21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton. Light refreshments will be served. Call 866-904-9262 to register free for the lecture.
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton “Chanukah Under the Stars,” 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 19 in Mizner Park Amphitheater. Free community event with face painting, bounce house and arts and crafts; Young Children’s Chanukah Shabbat and songfest and 7:30 p.m. Chanukah and Shabbat service. Food for purchase.
“Polar Express” 5 p.m. Dec. 20, Mizner Park Amphitheater, free family activities, train rides and snow. Dress in pajamas for showing of “Polar Express” movie at 6:30 p.m. Hot chocolate, movie theater popcorn and pizza available for purchase.
The Palm Beach Pops season includes: Frank Sinatra Jr. will sing 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Boca Raton Community Church, and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Kravis Center; Frank Sinatra, Jr. “Sinatra Sings Sinatra” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2015 at Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center and a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, featuring Donna McKechnie, Jodie Benson and Doug LaBrecque on 7:30 p.m. March 7 at the Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Kravis Center. Tickets are on sale now. Call 561.832.7677 or visit palmbeachpops.org, bocacommunity.org, or kravis.org for more information.
The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes; The Book of Mormon, to Dec. 21; Flashdance – the Musical, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 2015; Anything Goes, March 10-15, 2015; Memphis, April 7-12, 2015 and Pippin, April 28-May 3, 2015. To order go to kravis.org/broadway or call 561.832.7469.
Sweet Dewey’s BBQ located on West Glades Road in Boca Raton, will open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. in early December in the Boca Lyons plaza at 9181 West Glades Road. The authentic Mississippi barbeque eatery is owned by Chef Dwayne Hooper, who has spent years as a chef with St. Andrew’s Country Club and the Polo Club, both in Boca Raton. For more information, visit sweetdeweysbbq.com.
Mark your calendars for the first annual Boca Raton Bowl college football game at FAU, televised by ESPN on December 23. The two teams are chosen and Florida Atlantic University’s stadium was nearly sold out last week, but for college football fans who still want in on the action for ESPN’s first Boca Raton Bowl, there’s a pep rally and after party in Boca the night before the big game. The pep rally here is 6 p.m. Dec. 22 in the Mizner Park Amphitheater, as the city and the Spirit of Giving Network host the band and cheerleaders from visiting Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. Spirit of Giving in Boca was chosen as the local charity and lined up the local volunteers and sponsors.
Latkes, Gelt, live music, stories, prizes and more are in store for all ages at a free community celebration on the 8th night of Chanukah, Dec. 23. Everyone is invited get into the fun and bask in the holiday warmth and glow of a giant menorah in the amphitheater at The Shops at Boca Center, 5050 Town Center Circle in Boca Raton. The festivities will begin with crafts, games and storytime at 5:30 pm before the candlelighting and entertainment at 6:00 pm.
Journey Church Christmas Eve in Mizner Park with identical services 3, 4:30 and 6 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 24 in Mizner Park Amphitheater. Information: Visit myboca.us/pages/mizneramphi/ or call 561-367-7073 or 561-544-8600.
The Delray Beach Playhouse presents A Special New Year’s Eve “A MUSICAL MIDNIGHT IN PARIS” December 31, 2014, One at 2:00pm, with a champagne, wine and cheese reception at 1:00pm; and one at 8:00pm with a reception at 7:00pm. Tickets are $50 for the Matinee and $70 for the Evening. Please call 561-272-1281 Ext. 4 to purchase tickets.
Steve Solomon stars in Cannoli, Latkes, and Guilt…The Therapy Continues. 8 pm Jan. 3 and 2 pm Jan. 4 in the Crest Theatre of Old School Square at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Buy tickets at delrayarts.org or call 561-243-7922. For more information about Steve Solomon, please visit stevesolomon.net or carolkassie.com, or contact Carol Kassie (ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244).
“33 YEARS” featuring Dr. Robert Watson on base guitar will be performing at the Sunday Matinee Music Series Concert, January 4, 3-4pm, at the Boca Raton Downtown Library located on 400 NW 2nd Ave (Boca Raton Blvd), Boca Raton. The concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Boca Raton Library and is open to the public, free admission. Register at bocalibraryorg to reserve your seat. Call (561) 544-8596 for information.
The Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Association’s monthly meeting is 8:30 a.m. Jan. 6 at the Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd, Boca Raton 33432 with Women in the Visual Arts and BocaWatch, the citizens group who will inform and discuss issues of the City. Boca Raton City staff will give updates on progress of new and potential projects.
Shenandoah runs Jan. 7-March 1. Sophie, Totie & Belle runs March 25-May 17 at the Delray Square Performing Arts, 4809 W. Atlantic Ave. Tickets at 561.880.0319 or visit DelraySquareArts.com.
Save the Date: Sandler Family Major Gifts Event: An evening of insight and intrigue, featuring New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva and NBC award-winning journalist Jamie Gangel, with a special Middle East briefing by Soner Cagaptay, Ph. D., of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 6:00 p.m., Jan. 8 at St. Andrews Country Club. Formal invitation forthcoming. A minimum $10,000 household gift to the 2015 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. For more information, please call 561.852.3342 or email idan@bocafed.org.
Jan McArt presents the Live at Lynn American Songbook production of The Music and Times of Hoagy Carmichael Jan. 11, followed by Daniel’s Husband by playwright Michael McKeever on Jan. 12 and then Celebration on Ice January 17/18 and a brand new Cabaret Series starring KT Sullivan on January 27. For tickets call 561-237-9000 or visit events.lynn.edu.
UJA/Jewish Federation Ben Gurion Society sponsors a Mission to Mexico City Jan. 14-20, 2015. Get more info at brians@bocafed.org or call 561.852.3165.
The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival opening night screening of ABOVE AND BEYOND with film producer Nancy Spielberg is 7 p.m., January 15, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Cohen Pavilion. Cost is $25. Tickets available after Dec. 15 at 877.318.0071 or at pbjff.org.
Slow Burn Theatre presents Bonnie & Clyde, opening Jan. 22 at the West Boca Performing Arts Center in the West Boca High School.
Pompano Beach Arts presents Sea of JazzFest, a two-day musical extravaganza featuring some of the world’s most critically acclaimed and charismatic jazz musicians on Jan. 23 & 24. The inaugural event is on the grounds of the Pompano Beach Amphitheater (The Amp) at the Four Fields Complex and is expected to attract jazz lovers from across the country. Tickets for single nights are $35 (GA) to $150 (VIP) per night, with admission for both nights $65 (GA) to $250 (VIP). Visit pompanobeacharts.org for tickets and more information. VIP tickets include a meet-and-greet reception with the artists with complimentary wine and appetizers and preferred seating with chairs at the festival.
The 22nd Caribbean Cowboy Ball benefitting the George Snow Scholarship Fund is 6 p.m. Jan. 24. Call now for reservations. 561.347.6799.
A special fundraising screening of Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the home front will be 6:15 Jan. 26 at the Boca Cinemark Palace on Airport Road, north of Glades Road. Reserve at beneaththehelmet.com/boca-event/.
Elayne Boosler is at the Crest theatre in the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, 8 pm. Jan. 28. Call 561.243.7922 ext. 1.
The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival Tribute to Lainie Kazan & screening of her film OY VEY MY SON IS GAY at 7:30 pm, Jan. 29 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Cohen Pavilion (Dessert Reception with Lainie Kazan at 6:30 pm) Cost to Attend: $95 for Dessert Reception & film screening; $25 for film only. Tickets available after Dec. 15 by calling 877.318.0071 or online at pbjff.org.
Actor Larry Miller, with roles in Pretty Woman, Best in Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld is the guest speaker at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Boca West Country Club. Couvert; $95 per person. A minimum household gift of $365 to the 2015 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. RSVP at jewishboca.org/the event or call 561.852.5031.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Master of the Universe speaks at the STEAM luncheon, 11;30 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Kravis center Cohen Pavilion, chaired by Yvonne Boice. Tickets are $150, tables of 10, $1400. Register by Jan. 27 at: palmbeachstate.edu/foundation/steam or call 561.868.3450 for further information.
To celebrate ‘Love Your Dog Week’, there will be plenty of free paw-raising ‘fur and fun’ unleashed as the general public and their pooches come out to enjoy The Great Doggie Dine-Out & Paws Fest held to support Tri-County Animal Rescue (TCAR), noon to 9 pm, February 21st at Sanborn Square in Downtown Boca at 72 North Federal Highway. Featuring themed activities for pet lovers of all ages and their furry friends kick-off with opening ceremonies that include a TCAR parade of alumni pups and their families, yoga and massages for dogs and their owners, a first-ever Great ‘Smooch Your Pooch’ Challenge, and Yappy Hour Singles ‘Speed Dating With Dogs’. There will also be curbside dining by Gourmet Truck Expo, a Tails & Tales Showcase featuring pet-centric vendors and event sponsors, contests and prizes, entertainment with doggie dancing and an after-dusk ‘big screen’ movie-in-the-park pet feature film presentation. For more information on The Great Doggie Dine-Out & Paws Fest and related programming, sponsorship, partnership, exhibitor and volunteer opportunities contact Jon Kaye (jkaye@kcompr.com) or Victoria Jones (vjones@kcompr.com) at Kaye Communications 561-392-5166.
The 9th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts, will bring ten days of dazzling and diverse cultural experiences to South Florida March 6 – 15, 2015 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, 201 Plaza Real (2nd Floor) in Boca Raton. This season’s Festival opens on March 6, 2015 with the Florida premiere of the ten time Academy Award winning film, West Side Story. Tickets for the 9th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA range from $15 to $125 per person and are available at festivalboca.com or by calling (866) 571-ARTS (866-571-2787). Multi-event and full Festival packages are also available.
The West Boca High Drama Department presents the spring musical, The Addams Family, 8 pm, March 6, 7, 13 and 14, with a 2 pm matinee on March 8 and 14. For more info, visit wbhsdrama.com or call 561.672.2066.
Save the date: JARC’s 29th Annual Gala Dinner Dance is March 8, 2015 at Boca West Country Club. Visit jarcfl.org for more information.
South Florida’s annual Boating and Beach Bash for People with Disabilities (http://boatingbeachbash.com) will celebrate its 7th anniversary on March 21, 2015 at Spanish River Park, 3100 North Ocean Blvd., in Boca Raton. For more information on Boca Raton’s Boating and Beach Bash for People with Disabilities go to http://boatingbeachbash.com or follow the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boatingbeachbash. To volunteer, sponsor or make a donation to the event, contact Jay Van Vechten at (561) 715-2622 or at jay@boatingbeachbash.com. Or at PO Box 99, Boca Raton, FL 33429.
Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton presents the 17th annual Honor Your Doctor Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. March 26, 2015 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, fundraiser for the Helen M. Babione Medical Scholarship fund to benefit medical and nursing school students attending local universities. Call 561.299.1429 or visit rotarydowntownbocaraton.org for more information.
The Relay for Life of West Boca will be noon to midnite May 2 at Olympic Heights High School on Lyons Road north of Glades Road with a theme of Kenducky Derby: Relay for a Cure. Go to relayforlife.org/westbocaratonfl to register and form teams. Call 1.800.227.2345 for further information.
Westbocaleaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at Hurricane Grill & Wings in the Mission Bay Shopping Center, next to Office Max, 10125 Glades Road, 33498 on alternate Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Cost is $60 per quarter. Check out the website for openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
David Weir, South Florida Business Report, Alexandra Clough, Palm Beach Post and Warren Redlich, West Boca News contributed items to the column.
Happy Chanukah to all my MOT (Members of the Tribe).
Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the goldcoasttigerbayclub.com, the luxurychamber.com, the westbocaleaders.com and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on vimeo.com, youtube.com and publicrelations.nu. His motto is: Public Relations is the enemy of anonymity. email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. Read his blog on http://www.publicrelations.nu/blog/. His blog is also on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at floridajewishjournal.com –barrys-journal.blogspot.com and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
