Barry’s Buzz – June 8, 2016
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club will feature Donald Trump’s former butler, Anthony “Tony” Senecal, 11:30 a.m. June 8 at City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road across from Turnpike exit. Restaurant will be closed to the public for this private event.
Boca Business Connection meets 5:30 pm–6:45 pm at TD Bank, Powerline and Palmetto. Call Alan Feuerman, S FL Business Connections, (561) 674-4300.
A panel of local architects will be discussing downtown Boca’s architecture from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 8 at City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. The discussion will focus on concepts found in the architecture of Addison Mizner and the creative reinterpretation of the Mizner tradition pursuant to Ordinance No. 4035. The roundtable is hosted by Mayor Susan Haynie and Community Appearance Board Chairman Juan Caycedo. The public is invited to attend.
The challengers to a controversial synagogue planned near downtown prevailed in one of three lawsuits against the city of Boca Raton when a judicial panel ruled the City Council was wrong to approve the project.
Mizner Park is considering signs letting drivers know how many spaces are left in each of its four free garages. Robb & Stucky, the furniture store that once stood where Lord & Taylor is now, is in the final approval stages for a new building on the vacant lot at 1353 N. Federal Highway. General Growth Properties proposed putting in technology that would alert Mizner Park drivers how many parking spaces were left on each floor.
A restaurant on the old Wildflower property may be a done deal. Boca Raton City Council is on summer hiatus. But before the usual one-meeting-a-month schedule through August, council heard Hillstone Restaurant Group resubmit a lease proposal on the former Wildflower property on Palmetto Park Road at the Intracoastal Waterway. A request is tentatively on the June 9 Planning and Zoning meeting agenda to amend the land use map, and rezone the northern portion of 551 E. Palmetto Park Road from single-family residential to business district. The P&Z had a public hearing on the issue on April 9, 2015, according to city documents. City Council intends to vote at its July 26 meeting. The re-submittal doesn’t include more docks. But the city has said it’s amenable to building them near the site, based on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assessment of the waterway in that area.
Palm Beach County commissioners agreed to pay three companies to stay in South Florida and expand their operations. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of funding about $900,000 of roughly $9 million in state incentive packages. Those dollars are estimated to support expansion projects that would generate nearly 1,200 new jobs in targeted industries, such as biotech and aerospace. Median wages would span from $55,000 to $66,000, according to county documents. Commissioner Shelley Vana argued economic incentives are paying off for taxpayers, and safeguards are in place to ensure money is not paid out until jobs are created.
Palm Beach County posted its biggest single-year increase in government revenue in a decade, County Clerk Sharon Bock said during her annual financial report, adding that “the county’s financial health continues to improve.” The county’s total revenues reached $1.7 billion in the 2015 budget year, a 7 percent increase from the previous year. The county’s net position, which includes tax revenues, property values and other assets, rose by $171 million, reversing two years of declines in which the county spent more than it collected.
Jonathan Lallier is the manager of the Best Shine Car Wash and Detail at 3801 N. Dixie Hwy. Boca Raton. Call 561.368.3333. bestshinecarwash.com.
An entity affiliated with Orange Theory Fitness paid $13.9 million for the 77,000 sq. ft. 000 NW Broken Sound Blvd. to serve as headquarters for the firm.
SBA Communications paid $12.56 million for the 77,000 sq. ft. 5900 NW Broken Sound Blvd., then flipped its former headquarters to Cancer Treatment Centers of America for $11.56 million, even though it had a lease through 2022, which may be a credit against lease payments.
990 S. Rogers Circle sold for $12.4 million and 6100 NW Broken Sound Parkway fetched $8.6 million.
The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District continues in its development plans of making much needed improvements to the Swim & Racquet Center. Some of the new changes that guests will be able to enjoy at the new facility include multi-purpose rooms to accommodate summer camp programs, first aid training, and community meetings. Additionally, there will be improved locker rooms and restrooms, a tennis pro shop, increased parking availability, and a toddler-friendly pool. More amenities will include ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) restrooms, improved facilities, a splash pad, and covered picnic areas. The budget includes $2,775,000 for the whole project.
New Art Gallery Exhibit at the Spanish River Library through June 25. Well-known local artist, Jim Campbell, will be showing his oil paintings and acrylic paintings in the Friends Art Gallery. This collection will include favorites from his travels abroad and some still-life compositions done in his studio. The Library is located at 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd.
Putting It Together will run to June 19 at Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Margate. Tickets for Putting It Together are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at stagedoortheatre.com.
Local estate professionals are invited to a special opportunity on June 9, 2016 at 5:00 pm to learn from two national and international experts and earn Continuing Education Units amid premium networking and a cocktail reception. The Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) anticipates about 150 guests at its 32nd Annual Seminar for Professionals at The Polo Club, 5400 Champion Blvd. in Boca Raton. The seminar, featuring guest speakers David Cooney, Partner at Ogier, Cayman Islands; and Al W. King III, Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, South Dakota Planning Company. Registration will begin at 5:00 pm, the seminar will begin at 5:30, and the cocktail reception will follow, with dietary laws observed. The couvert for the program and reception is $75 for PAC members and $90 for non-members. For more information, please contact Lisbeth Rock Cauff at 561.852.3188 or lisbethc@bocafed.org. To register, visit jewishboca.org/pacseminar.
Maggies Plan, Now You See Me 2 and Warcraft opens at the Boca and Boynton Cinemarks. Maggies Plan and The Wait (L’Attesa) opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres. Now You See Me 2, Maggies Plan and Weiner opens at the Movies of Delray and the Movies of Lake Worth. Now I See You 2 and Maggies Plan opens at the Classic Gateway. Angry Birds, Love and Friendship and Neighbors 2 opens at the Last Picture show.
The Soul of Motor City will run from June 10 – July 19 at Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Margate. Tickets 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 http://www.stagedoortheatre.com.
Eclectic pop singer Cyndi Lauper will perform a mix of familiar hits and her Nashville favorites at Mizner Park Amphitheatre on June 11.
West Boca Leaders is the best networking group in the area. One of a kind networking group. First and Third Thursdays. Next meeting is June 16, 2016, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tulipe Café, Boca Grove Shopping Center on Powerline Road between Glades and Palmetto Park Roads. $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.
Summer in the City: Music and Movies Under the Stars will run through Aug. 19 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater in downtown Boca Raton. On nights with free concerts, the event will start at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of Father’s Day when the concert will start at 7 p.m. Movies are set to begin at 8 p.m. Here’s a list of the free performances and movie showings: June 10: The Symphonia Boca Raton; June 17: Billy Joel tribute by Turnstiles; June 19: FAU Old Time Concert in the Park; June 24: Led Zeppelin tribute by Zoso; July 8: “Minions” showing; July 22: David Bowie tribute by Stardust Memories; July 29: Bob Marley tribute by Ruffhouse; Aug. 5: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” showing; Aug. 12: Eagles tribute by The Long Run; Aug. 19: The Symphonia.
Catch a concert at Mizner. Enjoy a free concert Friday night at Mizner Park featuring “Summer Enchanted Evening” with Kyle Prescott, Conductor and Mei Mei Luo, Violin. The Symphonia Strings will delight you with movements from Serenades by masters such as Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Dvorak and Mozart’s famous Eine Kleine Nacht Music. In addition, works by Aaron Coopland, Leroy Anderson and Strauss. Blankets and chairs permitted, for your convenience chairs will be available to rent for $5. Food and beverages available for purchase. Please leave at home outside food and beverages and pets. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
FAU theatre performance: Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Theatre and Dance in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters has announced its summer lineup for Festival Repertory Theatre 2016. “Hay Fever” a comedy by Noel Coward, will run from Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 26. Tickets are $20 and all shows are in the University Theatre and Studio One Theatre. There will be an opening night reception on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Schmidt Gallery on the Boca Raton campus. Tickets for the reception are $100 and include preferred seating for that night’s performance and a $50 tax-deductible gift for theatre student scholarships.
Boca library launches summer reading program: The Boca Raton Public Library is launching its summer reading initiative “Exercise your Mind, Read!” with a kick-off party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 at the Spanish River Library. There will be local athletes, snacks and a DJ. The initiative encourages families to read during summer break to keep their reading skills sharp.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] runs from June 17 – 26 at Sol Theatre, 3333 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Tickets are $15 and $10 for students. Group rates are also available. Call 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org. Warning! This show is a high-speed roller-coaster type condensation of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders, outer-ear disorders, Shakespearean scholars, degrees in Elizabethan history and/or people inclined to motion sickness. Evening Star Productions cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers!
“Forever Plaid” performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 30 through July 24, at The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum, 7901 N. Federal Highway, in Boca Raton. Tickets are $55 at thewick.org or by calling 561-995-2333.
Christina Applegate will be the keynote speaker at the 13th annual Go Pink luncheon to benefit the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Save the date: October 21, 2016.
The 2016/2017 Broadway series at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts include Cinderella, Cabaret, The Little Mermaid, Something Rotten!, Matilda and Finding Neverland.
The Marmot Boca Raton Bowl date has been set. The bowl game will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the Florida Atlantic University Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. It will be the third annual bowl game for FAU.
Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Business Journal, Boca Life Magazine 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; His motto is: Public Relations is the enemy of anonymity. Email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000.
