The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club presents nationally known political activist Dr. Larry Kawa, who filed the first law suit against the Affordable Care Act, 11:30 a.m. TODAY at City Fish Market, Glades and the Turnpike. RSVP at goldcoasttigerbayclub.com or call 561.852.0000.
Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club board member Armand Grossman has filed to run for Boca Raton City Council and Council member Robert Weinroth, also a member of the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club has filed to run for re-election.
Marshall University and Northern Illinois will be playing in the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl at the FAU stadium on Dec. 23.
BYL Network is the new kids on the block and they are hitting the ground running by donating $5 million to non-profit organizations to better promote their organizations. Now You Tube and Vimeo are not the only place to create a channel and Broadcast Your Life. With over 1 million videos a day being uploaded to YouTube and Vimeo, former television executives decided to launch an online broadcast management system which offers video content creators a new distribution platform. For more information please visit bylnetwork.com or call 561-487-3690.
Danielle Silverman, COO & Executive Producer of BYL Network in Boca has been elected president of the South Tech Academy Recording Arts Academy Advisory Board.
Dr. Richard Staller, DDS has been named best dentist in Delray and Dr. Danielle Manolakos was named best dermatologist in Delray.
A new healthy-eating restaurant, Apura Juicery & Coffeehouse, serving cold-pressed juices, cold-brewed coffee and whole, plant-based food with menu items prepared using natural ingredients, free of dairy, GMO’s soy and gluten with little to no processing or preservatives is now open at 22191 Powerline Road, Suite 20B in Boca, featuring chia pudding, specialty salads, crispy nachos and guacamole, along with bottled juices made from fruits, sweet roots and vegetables, all prepared by hand daily in house.
Gyroom, serving Mediterranean cuisine, serving pita bread wraps, gyro platters and side dishes such as grape leaves, beef, lamb, fish and vegetable dishes using local and imported Greek products will celebrate its grand opening Dec. 11 with complimentary hors d’oevres, gift certificate giveaways, half off wine and beer at 20449 State Road 7 in West Boca.
Student filmmaking in Florida celebrates 20 years through the Palm Beach International Film Festival’s Student Showcase of Films at the Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University on March 12, 2015. . The competition is now open for submissions and the deadline is set for January 23, 2015. To enter through the online application program, view the awards breakdown and official rules and regulations, visit pbfilm.com or Facebook.com/StudentShowcaseOfFilms.
South Florida’s Seminole Tribe contract renewal allowing the tribes exclusive table games at its casinos could be in jeopardy. The Tribe pays the state $250 million per year for exclusive rights to host blackjack and baccarat games at its seven casinos and the deal is up for renewal but state lawmakers are stalling because they’re under pressure from Seminole South Florida Tribe’s competitors want profitable table games for their casinos.
Giant utility FP&L wants to start a natural gas drilling business and it wants its customers to pick up the tab. FP&L plans to invest $190 million just for starters as well as another $500 million for future drilling projects, and they want utility regulators to approve a move where FP&L customers will be forced to pick up the tab through rate hikes. FP&L operates as a monopoly and this year will earn a huge $1.6 billion in profits.
South Florida’s Black Friday holiday sales event turned out to be a big bust. Giant retailers launched on Thanksgiving Day which drew all the air out of the traditional Friday sales. Malls saw moderate traffic over the weekend and the new Palm Beach Outlets Mall with over 100 stores looking at an average flow of shoppers. Sales were upbeat with most of the action coming from very highly discounted merchandise with very low profit margins.
Distressed South Florida homeowners who sold on short sales can be expected to pick up a huge tax break. The 2013 law allowing the amount of loan forgiveness not to be taxed as income has expired, but Congress now is expected to pass a last minute extension to the law and that is a creating a windfall tax break for short sellers which in some cases could reach tax savings in the $25 to $30,000 range.
With the hurricane season wrapped up, for the 9th year in a row, South Florida has dodged the hurricane bullet and spared an economic disaster. Big winners of course were the insurance companies who were allowed to rebuild after the storm plagued disastrous 2004-2005 Hurricane season plus insurers hiked premium rates during the storm idled years that added to their coffers. We lucked out so far according to weather experts, but it only takes one storm such as Andrew in 1993 to create a multi-billion dollar catastrophe.
Numbers just released show Miami is the world’s busiest cruise port boarding 4.8 million passengers in its fiscal year ending June 30. Port Everglades follows as the second busiest port in the world with 4 million travelers sailing from the port during the same period.
The Port of Palm Beach served 345,847 passengers in 2013 and handled 2.1 million tons of cargo. Port Everglades handled 22.4 tons of cargo in 2013.
Piaf runs to Dec. 14. 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.
Old Jews Telling Jokes is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, to Jan. 4. Tickets are $44. Visit stagedoorfl.org or call 954. 344.7765 for more information.
The Crest Theatre and MNM productions presents A Chorus Line to Dec.14, the first self-produced theatrical show in the 25 year history of the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, featuring a talented 25 person cast with personal ties to South Florida. This new production company is the latest venture by two experienced theatrical producers and arts consultants: Marcie Gorman-Althof and Michael Lifshitz. The two hour show without intermission is absoluley fabulous. Four stars! Don’t miss it! Tickets are $47 at delrayarts.org or call 561.243.7922.
A Christmas Carol – Musical to Raise the Spirits is on to Dec. 21 at the Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Tickets are $15 and 410 for children 11 and younger. Visit solchildren.org or call 561.447.8829 for tickets.
The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th Street, presents Over the River and Through the Woods to Dec. 14. Tickets are $30. Call 561.272.1281×4.
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.
A new musical comedy revue, “When You’re in Love the Whole World is Jewish” directed by Jason Alexander, is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-Jan. 12 at the Mizner Park Cultural Center. Get tickets at worldjewishtheplay.com or call 561.901.7727.
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.
Exodus: Gods and Kings and Top Five opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. Antarctica – A Year on Ice opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. opens at the Movies of Delray and at the Movies of Lake Worth. Citizen 4 opens at the Classic Gateway. Birdman, Book of Life, Addicted and Boyhood 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.
300 kids from the Boys & Girls Club will go on a holiday shopping trip, enjoy a super heros breakfast & fun activities, receive a gift from Santa and a food basket with all the fixings for a holiday meal on Dec. 13. Volunteers from Boca West will take the kids shopping at Old Navy, After shopping, the kids will then be taken by bus to Boca West Country Club where they will enjoy a “super heroes” themed breakfast and activities. Each child will return home with a toy from Santa and a food basket filled with turkeys, hams, fresh vegetables and all the fixings for a holiday meal.
Diego San Diego, local singer/songwriter from FAU, will be entertaining at the Boca Raton Green Market Dec 13. In its 18th year, the Market offers farm-to-table, freshly-picked produce (organics, too) from local growers, plants and flowers, bakery items, prepared food…. and lots more, at the southwest parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S Fed Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd in downtown Boca Raton. Lots of gift giving ideas available for purchase, too! Market will be open every Saturday through May 9. Call (561) 299-8684 for information.
A celebrity signing will be 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 13, 2014 at Duffy’s Restaurant, in west Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach Blvd & Jog Rd) featuring The CELEBRITY—The real “Raging Bull,”– former world champion boxer– Jake LaMotta. For more information, visit celebritysportsauctions.com or call 443-255-7878.
Eighth Annual No Snow Ball concert, 6 p.m. Dec. 13 in Mizner Park Amphitheater, WRMF 97.9 event featuring Gavin DeGraw, Christini Perri and American Authors. Tickets at frontgatetickets.com.
Merry Tuba Christmas concert is 5 p.m. Dec. 14 in Mizner Park Amphitheater, with Florida Atlantic University Tuba Christmas 2014. Tuba and euphonium students of all ages and skill levels encouraged to perform at free concert. Register at tubachristmas.com or on site starting at 2 p.m.
The Palm Beach Pops kicks off an abbreviated new season 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 with a one-night-only show at the Kravis Center featuring the Manhattan Transfer, 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; Frank Sinatra, Jr. “Sinatra Sings Sinatra” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2015 at Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. 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.
The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes; The Book of Mormon, Dec. 16-21; 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.
Dr. Lisa Neu will speak on The Aging of Mars and Venus: How Men and Women Age Differently, noon, Dec. 16 at the West Boca Medical Center Education Center. 21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton. Light refreshments will be served. Call 866.904.9262 to register free for the lecture.
Vic Dibitetto 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. Dec.17. Call 561.243.7922 ext. 1.
Eating Healthy Through the Holidays will be presented by Nicole Marchand, MS, RD, LD, noon Dec.19th at West Boca Medical Center Education Center, 21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton. Light refreshments will be served. Call 866-904-9262 to register free for the lecture.
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton “Chanukah Under the Stars,” 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 19 in Mizner Park Amphitheater. Free community event with face painting, bounce house and arts and crafts; Young Children’s Chanukah Shabbat and songfest and 7:30 p.m. Chanukah and Shabbat service. Food for purchase.
“Polar Express” 5 p.m. Dec. 20, Mizner Park Amphitheater, free family activities, train rides and snow. Dress in pajamas for showing of “Polar Express” movie at 6:30 p.m. Hot chocolate, movie theater popcorn and pizza available for purchase.
Sweet Dewey’s BBQ located on West Glades Road in Boca Raton, will open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. in early December in the Boca Lyons plaza at 9181 West Glades Road. The authentic Mississippi barbeque eatery is owned by Chef Dwayne Hooper, who has spent years as a chef with St. Andrew’s Country Club and the Polo Club, both in Boca Raton. For more information, visit sweetdeweysbbq.com.
Mark your calendars for the first annual Boca Raton Bowl college football game at FAU, televised by ESPN on December 23.
Latkes, gelt, live music, stories, prizes and more are in store for all ages at a free community celebration on the 8th night of Chanukah, Dec. 23. Everyone is invited get into the fun and bask in the holiday warmth and glow of a giant menorah in the amphitheater at The Shops at Boca Center, 5050 Town Center Circle in Boca Raton. The festivities will begin with crafts, games and storytime at 5:30 pm before the candlelighting and entertainment at 6:00 pm.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Slow Burn Theatre presents Bonnie & Clyde, opening Jan. 22 at the West Boca Performing Arts Center in the West Boca High School.
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.
Save the date: The 22 Caribbean Cowboy Ball benefitting the George Snow Scholarship Fund is 6 p.m. Jan. 24. Call now for reservations. 561.347.6799.
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.
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.
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.
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. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
David Weir, South Florida Business Report and Warren Redlich, West Boca News contributed items to the 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 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.