Barrys Buzz – March 1, 2017
Barrys Buzz
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club will host former Congressman Ron Klein discussing President’s Trumps first 100 days in office. http://www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/event/ron-klein-speaks-march-8th-boca-raton/. See upcoming programs on the website.
Starting March 1, all care givers in Palm Beach County must be licensed.
The Chinese Lantern Festival continues 5:30 to 10 pm Wednesdays through Sundays through April 9 at the Burt Aaronnson South County Regional Park in West Boca.
The Ren-Fest continues on weekends from 8 a.m. to dusk at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach.
Rappy’s, at 5560 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, 561-314-6840, RappysRestaurant.com.South Florida restaurateur Burt Rapoport has launched breakfast service from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Rappy’s, which he opened in the new Park Place plaza in December for lunch and dinner. “When deciding on the breakfast menu, I just wanted to stick to the classics,” says Rapoport, who is returning to his roots of growing up around his grandfather’s kosher restaurant in Manhattan. “Some of these classics we serve all day long on the lunch and dinner menus, too. The only nontraditional item is the avocado toast ($9.95). Occasionally, I’ll have my all-time favorite, which is the Rappy’s Hash ($12.95).”Rapoport is nostalgic about that corned beef hash and eggs from eating it in the wee hours after tending bar during college in Arizona. He’s added house-smoked pastrami to his rendition for flavor and heartiness, as well as to Rappy’s breakfast sandwich ($8.95).Other highlights include challah French toast ($9.95) and matzo brei ($9.95). The eatery is a hybrid of traditional New York Jewish deli and contemporary with vintage subway tile, full bar, stylish covered patio, chalkboard menus and a framed newspaper article on Rapoport’s father, who was nicknamed Rappy.
For the first time, Palm Beach County’s public schools have more Hispanic students than any other demographic group. Hispanics make up 33 percent of the district’s 190,240 students, compared with 32 percent who are white, non-Hispanic and 28 percent who are black.
Brett Ratner, the still young native of South Florida who is now one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers will share the story of his rise to mogul and his Jewish journey with more than 500 people from throughout the vibrant, diverse South Palm Beach County Jewish community in Boca on the evening of March 1 at Boca West Country Club. Known for mesmerizing and inspiring audiences with his action-packed, comedic delivery, he’ll be keynoting THE EVENT 2.0/FEDERATION UNPLUGGED, the annual event to celebrate all the good this Jewish community does together. Brett Ratner’s roots, including high school in Israel and learning Yiddish from his grandparents, are sure to with our crowd, just as his blockbuster films resonate around the world. THE EVENT 2.0: FEDERATION UNPLUGGED will take place at Boca West Country Club on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Festivities will kick off at 6:30 pm with cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres, amid the warm greetings and enthusiasm of a family reunion. The program will begin at 7:30 pm. Brett Ratner’s roots, including high school in Israel and learning Yiddish from his grandparents, are sure to with our crowd, just as his blockbuster films resonate around the world. It was no surprise that Ratner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last month. Yet, having said that he is most proud of Night Will Fall, a Holocaust documentary he produced, Ratner may be even prouder of two other recent awards. He received the American Jewish Historical Society’s Visionary Leadership Award as “a dynamic thought leader in the American Jewish community.” And when the ADL honored him for his “simultaneous contributions to the entertainment industry and the fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry,” he was lauded for taking up the torch for his generation. Ratner directed the Rush Hour series, Family Man, Red Dragon, and X-Men: The Last Stand; and was Executive Producer of The Revenant and Horrible Bosses. In addition, his RatPac Entertainment has been a financier of more than 61 films including Gravity, The Lego Movie, American Sniper, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Revenant and Birdman. THE EVENT 2.0 will offer a night of great food (dietary laws observed), entertainment and company for a couvert of $95 per person. A minimum household contribution of $500 to the 2017 Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. Boca West Country Club is located at 20583 Boca West Drive in Boca Raton. Valet parking will be provided. Early registration is recommended for this popular event! Online registration is available at jewishboca.org/theevent. For more information, call 561.852.3160 or email erinm@bocafed.org. THE EVENT is generously sponsored by Bankier and Arlen Law Group; Berger Singerman; Brown’s Interior Design; CBIZ MHM, LLC; HJ SIMS; Greenberg Traurig; Hotwire Communications; Life Care Services; The Mordis Group, Merrill Lynch; Marsh & McLennan Agency; PLLC; Suffolk Construction; and Virgin Printing Corp. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the event’s In-Kind Sponsor, and The Boca Raton Observer is Exclusive Magazine Sponsor.
Falk Center for counseling offers “first Wednesdys” seminars 11 to noon, 22455 Boca Rio road
April 5; Post Hypnotic Suggestions: Altered States of Consciousness In Therapy presented by Christopher Kelley, MS.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is stepping down from his post to assume the position of vice president of strategic initiatives and chief financial officer for Florida Atlantic University. Atwater will leave his post in Gov. Rick Scott’s cabinet following the 2017 legislative session. The session begins March 7 and typically lasts 60 days.
The new playground at Sugar Sand Park in Boca is expected to be completed in March but the ribbon-cutting is not set yet.
The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District is offering to buy the former Ocean Breeze Golf Club for $24 million to help the city, which has been working to acquire the property as it sells its municipal course. City officials were previously in talks with Lennar to swap Ocean Breeze for the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course. City officials were previously in talks with Lennar to swap Ocean Breeze for the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course.
Former Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor already was selected to be the keynote speaker at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s annual Inspiration Breakfast in Boca Raton when he was picked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “Having a Hall of Fame speaker is a perfect scenario,” said Evan Wyant, president of the presenting sponsor BB&T Bank and chairman of the breakfast at 7:30 a.m. March 7 at Office Depot Global Headquarters, 6600 N. Military Trail. For tickets, tables and sponsorships visit ymcaspbc.org/inspirationbreakfast/.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is March 29-April 2. This year’s festival will consist of 30 films, including “Price for Freedom,” “Remember Me” and “Wrestling Alligators.” It will begin with a red carpet screening, followed by an after party at Bowery Palm Beach in CityPlace. From there, events will take place all around Palm Beach County, such as Jupiter, Lake Worth, Wellington and Boca Raton. Tickets are able to be purchased at pbifilmfest.org.
R.I.P. former VP of Citrix Jeffrey Krantz.
West Boca News, Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Business Journal, Boca Life Magazine, New Times 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-emeritus 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. Read his blog on www.barry’s.buzz. His blog is also on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
