Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Dec. 30, 2015
Boca Raton is collecting holiday trees through Jan. 16. Trees can be dropped off at 751 Banyan Trail, adjacent to Mizner Bark Dog Park.
A new year means more additions to Boca Raton’s virtual city hall. The city’s planning and zoning department is working to computerize its application and approval process. The automated services will be gradually rolled out this spring. The city already offers certain online applications, payments, inquiries and information on its website, www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/.
To those who have never tried yoga, Boca Raton instructor Leslie Glickman is issuing an invitation: Come to Mizner Park in Boca Raton on New Year’s Day. On the amphitheater lawn and its surrounding decks, Glickman will lead a free class for post-New Year’s Eve revelers and anyone who wants to get a taste of the practice that has become an exercise trend, stress reliever and obsession for many South Floridians. More than 1,500 people are expected at the event, “Something Big 2016.” More than 1,000 participated last year; to accommodate the expected crowds, Glickman and her husband, Andy, rented out more space this year, including the amphitheater’s upper and lower decks.
Several Palm Beach County high school musicians will help provide the soundtrack for a festive New Year’s Eve in London. About 87 students and 25 chaperons from the West Boca Raton High Vanguard marching band will play “Uptown Funk” and other tunes as they head from Piccadilly Circus to Parliament Square for the London New Year’s Day Parade.
The Shops at Del Mar Village in Boca Raton is generating plenty of buzz in the community for its “Senior Citizen Parking Only” parking spaces in front of Nino’s Italian Restaurant and Sweet Tomatoes.
It was the story that, over the summer, ushered in a season of discontent with the grocery store chain nicknamed by its critics “Whole Paycheck”: the accusation that Whole Foods had overcharged some New York customers for, among other items, produce and pre-packaged fresh products.
The Boca Raton office buildings that previously were occupied by engineering firm Siemens sold for a combined $28.25 million, and in a related deal, an apartment developer obtained a $62.5 million construction loan on a neighboring site. The seller was 900 & 5500 Broken Sound Associates, an affiliate of New York-based the Praedium Group. It issued deeds of $19.75 million to DIV/Mainstreet 900 Broken Sound JV and $8.5 million to DIV/Mainstreet 5500 Broken Sound JV. Both buyers are a joint venture between Fort Lauderdale-based Mainstreet Capital Partners and Boston-based Davis Companies. Bank of America financed the deal with a $13 million loan. The office at 900 Broken Sounds Blvd. totals 117,397 square feet on 11.55 acres. It traded for $168 per square foot. It was built in 1979. The asking lease rate there in a recent online listing is $16 per square foot. The office at 5500 Broken Sound Blvd totals 86,384 square feet on 9.4 acres and was built in 1989. It traded for $98 per square foot.
Boca based The Learning Experience has appointed former Starbucks Coffee Senior Vice President Andrew Alfano as Chief Operating Officer.
West Boca Leaders is the best networking group in the area. One of a kind networking group. www.westbocaleaders.com. First and Third Thursdays. Next meeting is Jan. 7, 2016, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tulipe Café, Boca Grove Shopping Center. $60 per quarter. Fill out form on site if you qualify and bring $60 for fourth quarter. For more information or questions, call 561.852.0000.
We can help you promote your business with a weekly internet television show also uploaded to Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and YouTube with over 40,000 views. If you are interested please contact Danielle Silverman for a quote at bylnetwork@gmail.com or call her at 561.487.3690 or 561.715.1774. You can also click to schedule a time for you to connect: https://bylnetwork.youcanbook.me/.
No new movies opening this weekend. See movie capsules at http://www.publicrelations.nu/movie-capsules-by-barry-epstein-dec-25-2015/.
Gypsy will run to January 3 at The Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Margate. Tickets for Gypsy are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available. Tickets may be purchased at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at www.stagedoortheatre.com.
Pompdour, a Brand New Musical by Michael Leeds & Kevin Black is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, to Jan. 31. Tickets are $38-$42. Call 954.344.7765 or visit http://www.stagedoortheatre.com/.
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County presents U.S. Humanitarian Worker Alan Gross and former Ambassador Dennis Ross headlining the 2016 Sandler Family Major Gifts Event on January 6. Released from a Cuban prison after five years, Gross will share his experience, and Ross, a leading diplomat and expert in Middle East and Soviet policy, will share timely foreign policy insights with us and discuss his new book, Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama, which chronicles the intense relationship between our two countries. The $135 couvert includes valet parking. Cocktail attire is requested and dietary laws will be observed. A minimum $10,000 household gift to the UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s 2016 Annual Campaign is required to attend. For adult children participating in the L’Dor V’Dor initiative, only the couvert is required. For more information, please contact 561.852.6084 or felicen@bocafed.org.
The Beth Ami Congregation in Boca Raton, will be holding complete, informative, educational and timely events in the coming weeks: Thursday, January 7th at 10:30 AM, “A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM 72AD TO TODAY (Current issues and situations will be discussed); Thursday, January 14th at 10:30 AM, “ISLAM, ITS BEGINNINGS AND ITS THREATS TO THE WORLD”; Sunday, January 17th at 7PM, “CHRISTIANS AND JEWS LIVING UNDER ISLAM”, A Jew and a Christian, both raised in Egypt, will tell their stories and give an insight into the world of Islam and those infidels living under Islamic law. All above programs will have a full Q & A open to the audience. There is no charge for these events, except for Jan. 17 ($18 fee). Admission requires calling the synagogue office at 561-347-0331. A photo ID is required for admittance. The location of Beth Ami is 1401 NW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton, 33432.
The Jazz Singer will run from Jan. 8 through Jan. 24 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $35. Group tickets are $22. Call 561.347.3048 or visit www.willowtheatre.org/the-jazz-singer-the-musical for more information.
Golda’s Balcony is at the JCC, 9801 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton, 7:30 pm Jan. 9. Tickets at 561.902.1500 or visit ticketsforplays.com.
NFL All-Pro Legend Jason Taylor will headline the Men’s Division Sports Night, 6:30 pm, Jan. 12 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton, co-chaired by Robert Pick and Ken Lebersfeld. The $90 couvert includes dinner and an open bar (dietary laws observed). A minimum Men’s gift of $180 to the 2016 UJA/ Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. Guests whose Men’s campaign contribution is at least $1,800 are also invited to a VIP cocktail reception with Taylor, beginning at 5:30 p.m, featuring a meet-and-greet, photo opportunities and autographed sports memorabilia. For more information about men’s activities at Federation, contact Sonni Simon at 561.852.3128 or sonnis@bocafed.org.
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club presents Kamal Fereg, Infidel Living Under Sharia Law, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 13, 2016 at City Fish Market, Glades Road at the Turnpike. RSVP at http://www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/event/kamal-fereg-presents-infidel-living-under-sharia-law/. Call 561.852.0000 for more info.
Rotary Club of Boca Raton presents the OPAL awards, honoring outstanding people and leaders that have contributed through volunteerism to make our community a better place in which to live, work and play, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Boca West Country Club. Proceeds to benefit the Rotary Club of Boca Raton’s service missions including youth scholarship programs. This year’s honorees are John Kelly, Howard Schnellenberger, Susan Haynie, Dr. Kathy Schilling, Rabbi Jessica Brockman and Bill Allen. Visit www.rotaryclubbocaraton.com for more information.
An author’s talk by Alan Dershowitz — noted lawyer and legal and political commentator — on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 highlights the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center’s 2015-16 Cultural Arts Events Calendar on the Boca Raton campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood is at the JCC Sandler Center, Jan. 21-Feb. 7. Call 561.558.2512 for tickets.
The Rolling Stones/Bruce Springsteen Tribute Concert is 7:30 pm, Jan 23 at The Countess de Hoernle Theatre, Spanish River High School, 5100 Jog Road. Call now for best seats. 561.912.1453, or email info@templebethshira.org.
Goldie Hawn will headline the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation Black Tie gala, sponsored by longtime Boca philanthropists Dick and Barbara Schmidt, 6:30 pm to 11 pm, Jan. 23, with Heat Wave band returning by popular demand. Tickets are $400 and sponsorships range from $1200 to $100,000 for such amenities as vale, cocktails and registration. Sponsorships at the $15,000 level and above will include a VIP reception with Hawn. Call 561.955.5186 or email: kread@brrh.com for more information and tickets.
Wings of Freedom Tour will be at the Boca Raton Airport on Airport Road, Jan. 28-31. Visit www.cfdn.org or call 1-800-568-8924 for more information.
Unlikely Heroes, directed by and starring Avi Hoffman will run from January 28th through February 21st at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center (2nd Floor). The theatre is located at 201 Plaza Real in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park (opposite Lord & Taylor). Tickets for Unlikely Heroes are $35 (plus $4.50 S/C). Excellent group rates (10 or more) are also available at 828-536-0963. Tickets for Unlikely Heroes can be purchased on line at www.UnlikelyHeroesPlay.com, or by phone at 800-595-4849. Performances days and times are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm.
The Caribbean Cowboy Ball is January 30, 2016. Tickets are $175. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 561.347.6799 for details.
ADT’s chief executive Naren Gurshaney will be honored with the Florida Atlantic University’s 2015 Business Leader of the Year Award 8 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Call 561.297.4732 or email tmay@fau.edu for more information and tickets.
Proving a single person can change the lives of thousands of others, Sabrina Kurzman will be honored for her tireless efforts on behalf of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) during the 26th Annual Book of Hope Luncheon on February 18, 2016. The elegant affair includes a fashion show featuring Spring and Summer collections from Saks Fifth Avenue and takes place at the Boca Raton Resort & Club starting at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $150 per person. Those interested in attending the luncheon or wishing to become a sponsor may contact Jennifer Wieczorek by email at jwieczorek@ccfa.org or by calling 561-218-2929 (#1, Ext. 2).
Henry Winkler speaks at The Event 2016, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, at B’nai Torah Congregation. Register at jewishboca.org/theevent or call 561.852.5031.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Syndicated Columnist and Commentator Dr. Charles Krauthammer speaks at the St. Andrews Country Club, Feb. 29, 2016. For more information, call 561.835.0510 or email: southeast@afmda.org.
The 10th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts, will have everyone “on their feet,” March 4 – 16, 2016 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, 201 Plaza Real (2nd Floor) in Boca Raton. Among the performers and authors recently announced as part of the lineup for the 10th annual Festival of the Arts BOCA are: Herb Alpert and his wife; violinist Joshua Bell conducting the Lynn Philharmonia in Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”; a cirque act and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” each with a live orchestra; and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. Also on the bill are an English translation of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and 12-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander, who performed at Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater last year.
JARC 30th Annual Gala Dinner Dance is March 6, 2016 at Boca West Country Club, featuring Live and Silent Auction. For more info, call 561.558.2572.
Jewish Family Services golf outing is March 21, 2016 at St. Andrews Country Club. Golf, cocktails, dinner and award presentations. Reservations at jilw@ralesjfx.org or call 561.852.5013.
A most happy, prosperous and healthy New Year to all my readers and your families.
Sun-Sentinel, Jewish Journal and Palm Beach Post contributed to this column.
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 www.barry’s.buzz. His blog is also on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
