Robert’ Community Report: 11/23
– We continue to “make-up” for events postponed by Hurricane Irma. This week it was the 4th Annual Bartenders Battle for the benefit of Unicorn Children’s Foundation. Adorned in his adorable wig & sunglasses, Gregory Fried, Sharon Alexander, friends and staff made the evening memorable for all while raising thousands of dollars for the children served by Unicorn to help it continue to provide education, awareness and funding opportunities to organizations for special needs children in an effort to help kids excel in the community, expanding the collective special needs community to help acknowledge, celebrate and integrate the special qualities possessed by neurodiverse children with Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Asperger’s, Dyslexia and other learning disorders.
– Winning the annual Shula Bowl was secondary for Florida Atlantic University’s Owls. Its rivalry with FIU took a backseat as the Owls defeated the Panthers 52-24 Saturday at FAU Stadium, clinching FAU’s first-ever berth in the Conference USA title game! The Owls will play host to North Texas for the championship Saturday, December 2nd at noon on Schnellenberger Field. The Owls can now focus on what has been the goal all season. FAU is searching for its second conference championship in school history. The last came in 2007 when they won the Sun Belt under former coach Howard Schnellenberger. The Owls will have to beat North Texas for a second time if they are going to accomplish the feat again. Tickets available now. Call 1-866-FAU-OWLS!
– The Adolph & Rose Levis JCC and the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival presented the highly-acclaimed film ‘Jungle,’ starring Daniel Radcliffe, the English actor best known for his role as Harry Potter. ‘Jungle’ is based on the true story and life of Israeli explorer Yossi Ghinsberg. Last Monday we were treated to an exclusive Palm Beach County preview and special speaking engagement by Mr. Ghinsberg whose international bestseller is the basis of the movie. ‘Jungle’ is the incredible true story of Yossi Ghinsberg’s triumph over the most adverse and frightening of circumstances. It is a tale of survival and human fortitude against the wildest backdrop on the planet.
– The Levis JCC offers a year-round eclectic assortment of foreign, independent, documentary and performance films. Following its highly successful inaugural year, the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival once again will present an exciting and diverse collection of 30 Jewish-themed films from around the world. The Festival runs from Sunday, March 4th – Saturday, March 24, 2018. For more information on the coming events, go to: levisjcc.org/culture/books_
– Now in its 34th consecutive year, Feed the Hungry is a program of the Kantor Family Center for Justice at Congregation B’nai Israel — Boca Raton. Just as in the past, CBI joined forces with Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in east Boca Raton to provide a bountiful pre-Thanksgiving meal to more than 4,000 community members. Congregation and church members, local restaurants and country clubs, and many other members of the community will joined together to provide turkey with all the trimmings, pies, cakes, cookies and more to individuals and families who would otherwise go without during the holidays. According to Steve Allen, CBI’s executive director: “CBI and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church work together every Thanksgiving to feed the hungry — It is something our congregation is very proud of and passionate about.”
– The holiday season was officially kicked off as we lit up the season with family-friendly activities and events. Lots of rides, a mountain of snow, food and a visit by Santa preceded our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presided over by Mayor Haynie. This is but the beginning of the city’s holiday celebration. Don’t miss the 47th Annual Holiday Parade on Wednesday Dec 6th on N Federal Hwy. The parade begins at 7PM with abundant locations to watch along the route.
– No doubt you’ve heard of “Black Friday” but how ‘bout “Small Business Saturday?” Downtown Boca has launched a “Shop Small” campaign to raise awareness of the unique selection of small businesses in our downtown district leading up to Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25th. Downtown Boca will spotlight a selection of local businesses each day on DowntownBoca.org, Facebook (@DowntownBoca) and Twitter (@downtownboca), with details about the business, location, contact information and a photo of the business owner or manager with a “Shop Small” sign. Help support local business in Boca Raton.
– Join me for the grand opening of the Mizner Park Comedy Club and come laugh off the Thanksgiving calories as more than 20 comedians perform their best material to win over your laughs and votes in the inaugural Mizner Park Comedy Festival. Show Time is 8PM (Doors open at 6:30PM for Happy Hour). General Admission tickets are just $20. It all happens at the Mizner Park Cultural Center – 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432 (Next door to Yard House Restaurant) Purchase tickets over the phone at (786) 564-2291
– Boca Ballet Theatre continues to captivate audiences with its beloved Nutcracker. Clara’s dream unfolds as the Nutcracker Prince, Mouse King and Sugar Plum Fairy all come to life in the sparkle of Co-Artistic Director Dan Guin’s artistic vision. Featuring American Ballet Theatre’s Catherine Hurlin and Jose Sebastian. Performances on Friday Nov 24th at 7:30PM; Saturday Nov 25th at 2PM and 7:30PM; and Sunday Nov 26th at 2PM. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://bocaballet.interticket.
– ROSE, by best-selling author Laurence Leamer, will kick-off the inaugural 2017-18 South Florida Season from November 29 – December 23 at Mizner Park Cultural Center (201 Plaza Real in Boca Raton). ROSE, presents an intimate portrait of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, Camelot’s “queen mother,” as she retraces the rise and fall of her great family. Set in 1969 at the Kennedy’s Hyannis Port compound, one week after Teddy Kennedy’s infamous car accident on a bridge in Chappaquiddick, Mass, Rose reflects on her life and her family’s triumphs and tragedies. Forum Productions will present a special performance of ROSE on Tuesday, Dec 5th, at 7:30PM to benefit the Unicorn Children’s Foundation. This performance will feature a special VIP ticket with a Pre-show Champagne Reception and a show-only ticket. Tickets for the special performance to benefit The Unicorn Children’s Foundation are $65 each (includes a V.I.P. Pre-show Champagne Reception) or $50 each (show only). For more information, please call Mizner Park Cultural Center at 844-MPCC-TIX (844-672-2849) or email miznerboxoffice@gmail.
– Don’t forget the City Council will be meeting in the Council Chambers on Monday, Nov 27th(as the Community Redevelopment Agency) at 1:30 PM, and follow with the Council Workshop, immediately after the CRA Meeting. The Regular City Council Meeting will be gaveled to order at 6 PM on Tuesday, Nov 28th.
– On Thursday, Nov 30th at 7 PM at Olympic Heights Community High School, don’t miss Imagination Israel, featuring exciting and informative live demonstrations of high-tech innovations developed in Israel by leading entrepreneurs in the fields of medicine, science, and engineering. Receive a unique insider’s view of Israeli innovations, which benefit Israelis as well as consumers in the United States and throughout the world! Admission is Free.
– Meet up with old friends and mingle with new ones at Lunch on the Lawn at Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 Plaza Real), on three Fridays in December –Dec 1st, 8th and 15thfrom 11AM – 2PM. Lunch on the Lawn is a fun alternative to the traditional “lunch break,” with a selection of food trucks, picnic tables, misting machines, art, music and more. Each week, Lunch on the Lawn will host a Plein Air Palm Beach artist who will paint their expression of the entrance to the Mizner Park Amphitheater.
– Did you know Florida Atlantic University has an observatory? Would you like a glimpse at the heavens, above, through their telescope? On December 1st the FAU Observatory located on top of the College of Science Building is holding a free open house at 7PM. The FAU Astronomical Observatory is generally open for free public viewing on the first Friday and third Tuesday of the month, unless there is something astronomically significant to go after. December evenings this year offers deep sky objects like planetary nebulae, globular and open clusters, galaxies, and the emergence of the bright winter star constellations. There will also be a nearly full Moon and the two most distant planets to look upon, Uranus and Neptune. The rest are on the opposite side of the solar system from us.
So come and enjoy the wonders of the night skies, after all it is your universe, too!
– Excitement is in the air as the Florence Fuller Child Development Center prepares for its largest annual fundraising event, the Wee Dream Ball, to be held Friday Dec 1, 2017 at Boca West Country Club. The Wee Dream Ball has become one of the most anticipated philanthropic events of the year.
– There are lots of things going on (this is just a sample). Follow me on Twitter at @bocacalendar and check out our new website www.BocaCal.com to stay informed.
