By Diane Feen
BOCA RATON — We all worship a similar deity. For some of us, it’s an upscale steakhouse, for others a chance to volunteer for a good cause and still others enjoy an opportunity to embrace their spiritual roots
The great thing about a democracy (in a hedonistic climate) is that we get to worship the greatness of our lives in a different fashion. Luckily, we are not the sum total of our parts, but the volume of what experiences we behold
For Boca Raton residences, it has been an interesting time. We started off the month with cultural greatness at Mizner Park. The concerts and literary events brought an air of artistic brilliance and a sense that Lincoln Center or the Aspen Festival had come ashore (sans oil drilling).
Some locals walked by the white tents during rehearsal and were able to watch a rough draft of the evening’s show (at no charge).
At the end of the cultural smorgasbord was an annual ritual known as the Boca Bacchanal. This wine and food connoisseurship hails from the traditions of Caesar with a Romanesque heritage of hedonism.
The event took place the third weekend in March and included simultaneous Friday night dinners (Vintner dinners) held at luxurious homes and yachts around town. Strangers and friends share fine wine and ultra-divine food while trying to find common ground. This year the event was sold out in advance (proof the recession may be over). The Bacchanal & Auction at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (closed to the media) is a multi-course dinner with fine wines.
The most proletariat event of the weekend is The Grand Tasting held under the tent at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre. This rather exotic wine and food-fueled feast is surely a Roman Empire legacy (Perhaps it precluded the historical fall.). Hundreds of people walk the aisles tasting a bit of this and a lot of that. Flavor and fervor run high and the food and wine lasted till the bell tolled (at 3 p.m.).
There were 140 wines to sip and wickedly tasty food from 30 local restaurants. The challenge is to grip your wine glass while balancing plates of crab cakes, tiny steak sandwiches, stone crabs, pasta and a delicious deluge of other delicacies. You could say it is a culinary stroll that speaks to your inner gastric cravings. The event supported the Boca Raton Historical Society (a worthwhile cause for sure).
On the same day (Sunday March 21) was the interfaith service at the Catholic Church, St. Joan of Arc. For 24 years Temple Beth El and St. Joan of Arc have been sharing their religious beliefs and traditions on both sides of the aisle and the street (both are on SW 4th Avenue).
Rabbi Dan Levin gave a moving sermon about the leadership qualities of Moses – “good leaders are good servants,” he said – and “leadership is a partnership with God, not instead of God.” It was a morning of love and enlightenment – brotherhood and blessings.
On Friday night Monsignor Michael McGraw spoke about Jesus Christ and his leadership qualities (it was standing room only at Temple Beth El). Liturgical songs rang from the rafters of both great houses of worship. We saw the one in the many – which is a joyous recipe for peace.
The same weekend was the Second Annual Boating and Beach Bash for People with Disabilities at Spanish River Park. More than 700 people had a taste of the good life with a live band such as a Live Brass Band, boat rides on the Intracoastal (from Shake A Leg Miami), pony rides and a festive barbeque with sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers (over 1,000 hot lunches were served courtesy of Western Beef and Barbara and Dick Schmidt).
“This event, now in its second year, passed all of our wildest expectations. It virtually doubled in size since our first Boating and Beach Bash. As a city, we’re very proud to do something for people in our community who face physical or mental challenges that most of us can only imagine,” said Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel.
Sponsored by the City of Boca Raton Advisory Board for People with Disabilities and supported by board member (and disability expert) Jay Van Vechten, it drew volunteers from all stripes.
“There isn’t anything like this in America. Everything was free, donated or underwritten by the community as a salute to those among us with physical and mental challenges,” he said. “We were overwhelmed and are incredibly grateful for the response and support we received.”