Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Dec. 24, 2014
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.
Boca Raton City Council unanimously approved St. Joan of Arc’s planned Mercy Center II and other improvements on their Catholic school and church campus on Third Avenue. The approval gives St. Joan of Arc the go-ahead for the first of three phases of construction. A 20,200-square-foot Mercy Center II will be built on existing playing fields, and have a 360-seat auditorium and art classrooms on the first floor and meeting rooms on the second floor.
Florida Power & Light stuck it to air conditioning manufacturers and AC companies. The giant utility make its surprise announcement that in two weeks its energy efficient program rebate for air conditioning equipment will be slashed by 65%. According to the Palm Beach Post a 5 ton Trane air conditioner that received a $1500 rebate will now see it drop to $516. This year, FP & L is on track to pocket and estimated $1.6 billion in profits.
South Florida’s airlines are picking up a huge break in the plunging oil prices. Jet fuel has plummeted .37 a gallon from $2.24 in the past 30 days and is now $1.92 and heading lower according to experts. The lower prices mean billions to the industry’s bottom line and there’s little chance fares will be lower due to the windfall. 30% of an airline’s operating cost is fuel and carriers flying from PBIA to New York Metro will save around $4,000 one way in fuel costs.
Embattled state owned insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance revealed it has dumped 335,000 policy holders this year, 27% decrease in customers, but it still has over 700,000 customers on the books and will unload thousands more next year in an effort to reduce risk. Taking over the policies are insurance companies with dubious records, handling any storm claims and suspected reserves to survive any major hurricane, say Citizen’s critics.
Stars of David, starring Avi Hoffman, Patti Gardner, Mike Westrich and Cassie Levine is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale through Jan. 4. Call 1-800-745-3000 or visit browardCenter.org to order tickets.
A new musical comedy revue, “When You’re in Love the Whole World is Jewish” directed by Jason Alexander, is 7:30 p.m. and runs to Jan. 12 at the Mizner Park Cultural Center. Get tickets at worldjewishtheplay.com or call 561.901.7727.
Old Jews Telling Jokes is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, to Jan. 4. And Five Guys Named Moe plays through Jan. 18. Visit stagedoorfl.org or call 954. 344.7765 for more information.
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.
Unbroken, Into the Woods, Big Eyes, The Imitation Game and The Gambler opens Wednesday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. Diplomacy opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. Imitation Game, Big Eyes, Into the Woods and Unbroken opens at the Movies of Delray and the Movies of Lake Worth, which also opens the Gambler. Imitation Game and Into the Woods opens at the Classic Gateway. Big Hero and Hunger Games 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.
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.
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. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube. Call 561.852.0000 for details.
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.
Renowned producer/director/choreographer Kevin Black’s Ballroom: South Beach Style will run at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road and west of I-95, for four performances only, from January 9th through January 11th. Stylish and sexy, full of the Miami beat and heat, the show features intricate ballroom dancing, along with Salsa, Merengue, Rhumba, Mambo, and Jive, all accompanied by carefully selected popular music appropriate to each style and era. Tickets are $30, Call 561-347-3948 or visit willowtheatre.org. For more information call Kevin Black at 954-558-4446/ kevin@kevinblackproductions.com , or Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / ckassie@gmail.com.
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; 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.
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.
The Luxury Chamber and the Marine Chamber have a joint networking event, 6 to 8 pm Jan. 12 at McNabs Dockside, 200 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, Fl, with complimentary refreshments and one free drink, then cash bar. $10 paid in advance, $20 at the door. Email: eventsinsouthflorida.com.
The Friends of the Boca Raton Library Foreign Film series will screen a 2004 French language film nominated for two academy awards, with an additional 12 wins and 22 nominations at 6:30 pm, Jan. 13, 400 NW 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton. Admission is free and complimentary refreshments will be served. RSVP at bocalibrary.org and click on the Events Calendar in the left-hand column. Non-Computer Users Only: Call 561-807-7141.
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 Boca Tribune presents the First Network Event of 2015, 6 to 8 pm, Jan. 15 at Pavilion Grille, 301 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Pavilion Grille will be offering all attendees their Happy Hour House Wine and Drinks for $5, until 7PM. They will also put out their beautiful Pasta Station with Caesar Salad! DON’T MISS OUT! Reserve your spot now. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-boca-raton-tribune-network-group-happy-new-year-tickets-14921491583?ref=enivtefor001&invite=NzM4MzE1My9wckBwdWJsaWNyZWxhdGlvbnMubnUvMA%3D%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend.
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.
The Luxury Chamber of Commerce networking meeting is 6 pm Jan. 19 at the Sample McDouglad house, 450 NE 10th St. Pompano Beach, Fl. Visit http://www.meetup.com/Luxury-Chamber-of-Commerce/events/219326327/?a=ea1_grp&rv=ea1 to register or RSVP at EventsInSouthFlorida@gmail.com
Slow Burn Theatre presents Bonnie & Clyde, opening Jan. 22 thru Feb. 9 at the West Boca Performing Arts Center in the West Boca High School, 12811 West Glades Road, Boca Raton. Tickets at slowburntheatre.org or call 866.811.4111.
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/.
The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes; 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.
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.
Elton John and Billy Joel Live Tribute Concert, presented by Temple Beth Shira, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 7 at the Countess de Hoernle Theatre in the Spanish River High, Yamato and Jog Roads. Order online at templebethshira.org or call 561.912.1453.
The Dively Frontiers in Globalization Lecture Series welcomes Youngme Moon, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 11, 2015 at the Lynn University Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Buy tickets at lynn.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=711485 or call 561.237.9000, email: tickets@lynn.edu. Visit lynn.edu/events for more information.
SBA Communications Corp. chief executive Jeffrey A. Stoops has been named Florida Atlantic University’s Business Leader of the Year and will be celebrated at an awards breakfast. 8 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real in Boca Raton. Previous recipients of the award over the past 23 years, include Jordan Zimmerman, founder of Zimmerman Advertising in Fort Lauderdale; Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy in Jupiter; and Mike Jackson, chief executive of AutoNation in Fort Lauderdale. To RSVP, call, 561-297-4732 or email tmay@fau.edu.
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. Next meeting is Jan. 7. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
David Weir, South Florida Business Report and Warren Redlich, West Boca News contributed items to the column.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the holiday.
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.
