At Salato, we’ve created a first-of-its-kind living experience across from the pristine oceanfront in Pompano Beach, Florida. Our boutique, ultra-luxury development is comprised of just 40 expertly designed residences including six stunning penthouses that will rise nine stories only steps from the ocean. Features include floor to ceiling windows that provide spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, direct beach access, and an amenity deck that spans over 20,000 square feet and is designed to feel like luxury resorts from around the world. Perfectly located between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, our premiere location in Pompano Beach is one of the last in South Florida still available for new development along the shore. We invite you to be among the fortunate few to come home to Salato. Call or visit us online to learn about our newest release of ocean view residences.
44,
With UFOs soaring from the fringes of American culture to the halls of Congress, we discuss sightings, contact and events of high strangeness with the state director of the country’s largest investigative agency for anomalous phenomena.
Written by JOHN THOMASON
Embark on an exotic expedition without leaving the 561, as the majestic animals of Lion Country Safari create a living backdrop for captivating couture from Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue.
Photography by LYALL ASTON
From infrared saunas to ice-cold plunges, nontraditional wellness modalities are trending nationwide. Meet six South Florida biohackers whose novel solutions to common ailments think outside the (pill) box.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
With Florida absorbing unprecedented levels of in-migration—and an additional 275,000 people projected to move here in 2024—it’s starting to be difficult to find some peace and quiet in our tropical paradise. These drivable destinations, all in-state, offer a respite from the bustle.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
The editor says goodbye.
Writtenby
MARIE SPEEDMeet an entrepreneurial Boca dad whose baby-changing invention made national television, and a longtime environmental activist fighting coastal overdevelopment. Plus, nine places to beat the heat, locals’ favorite summertime activities, and more.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS, JAN ENGOREN, MARIE SPEED and JOHN THOMASON
ON THE COVER:
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lyall Aston
LOCATION: Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida
FASHION: Dolce & Gabbana corset top and skirt from Saks Palm Beach; Bottega Veneta bag from Bottega Veneta Palm Beach; jewelry from 120% Lino Palm Beach
MODEL: Emily Hutchinson/Next Model Management
STYLIST: Anna Ruiz/Agency Gerard Artist
HAIR & MAKEUP: Natasha Katrina /Agency Gerard Artist
Enjoy spring’s breezy transition into summer with pink and pastel hues, trending clothes and accessories for Mother’s and Father’s Day, and sparkling statement pieces for peak wedding season.
Photography by AARON BRISTOL
Spearheading three days of stacked talent, a Creative Arts Village and a renewed community focus, SunFest’s new executive director discusses the festival’s most promising event in years. Plus, Kathy Griffin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, a national tour of“Mamma Mia!” and many more A&E happenings.
Writtenby JOHN THOMASON
See what our food critic has to say about Acqua Café and Narbona. Plus, learn the subtle art of tablescaping from a dining-design guru, and hone your green thumb with tips on growing summer vegetables.
Writtenby
CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
Revelers brought hard rock to the Hard Rock at HomeSafe’s annual party, a Boca film festival celebrated the Jewish diaspora, and more society gatherings.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
Transforming Boca Raton Regional Hospital from a money pit to a thriving, award-winning health care institution is just one community feather in the cap of beloved philanthropists Jerry and Terry Fedele.
Written by MARIE SPEED
Visit bocamag.com for bonus items you won’t see anywhere else—extended stories, recipes, news and more.
Looking for more hidden gems for some Florida-based R&R (page 66)? Visit bocamag.com/mayjune-2024 to discover one more Great Escape: the extravagant, 5-star Little Palm Island Resort & Spa on Little Torch Key.
Bobby Hewitson, the state director for the Mutual UFO Network (page 48), shares his thoughts on other aspects of the ET mystery, from a prominent whistleblower’s bombshell testimony to the federal government’s recent interest in this once-taboo subject matter, at bocamag.com/may-june-2024.
Bocamag.com was honored with the Charlie Award for best website at last year’s Florida Magazine Association awards! This is the organization’s top honor, given in recognition of the excellence of our site’s content, navigability and design. Visit bocamag. com and see why our site was voted the best!
Launched in early 2020, Boca Goes Live is still keeping you connected to the community through conversations streamed live on Facebook with a curated roster of some of South Florida’s leading officials, entertainers and innovators. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss new reels and visit bocamag.com/live to see the full library of videos and watch them on demand.
Don’t miss Boca on everything from FACEBOOK (facebook. com/bocamag) to INSTAGRAM (@bocamag) and TWITTER (@bocamag) for community news, retail trends, foodie updates and much more.
Think our dining guide is long? You haven’t seen anything until you’ve visited our digital version. We’ve got critic-reviewed restaurants from Jupiter to Miami on the web. Visit the Dining Guide tab to view the guide.
Boca Raton is anything but sleepy, and Randy Schultz is the go-to for all the city politics, development and business news you need to know. For updates delivered straight to your email every Tuesday and Thursday, visit the City Watch tab on our website.
GARDEN SHOPS 7050 W PALMETTO PARK RD (AT POWERLINE) BOCA RATON FL 33433 (561) 447 4117
GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marie Speed
MANAGING EDITOR
John Thomason
WEB EDITOR
Tyler Childress
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Lori Pierino
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Rafael Quiñones
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
James Karpinen
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Aaron Bristol, Lyall Aston, Alan Cresto
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jan Engoren, Margie Kaye (promotional writing)
VIDEO PRODUCTION/CUSTOMER SERVICE
David Shuff
FOOD EDITOR
Christie Galeano-DeMott
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
Nicole G. Ruth
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION AND SALES SUPPORT
Bruce Klein
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
Gail Eagle
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Karen S. Kintner
Julie Osten
Jenna Russo
Boca Raton magazine is published eight times a year by JES Media. The contents of Boca Raton magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Boca Raton magazine accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Boca Raton magazine reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for products. Please refer to corporate masthead.
1000 CLINT MOORE ROAD, #103, BOCA RATON, FL 33487
561/997-8683 (PHONE) • 561/997-8909 (FAX)
BOCAMAG.COM
MAGAZINE@BOCAMAG.COM (GENERAL QUERIES)
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Margaret Mary Shuff
GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marie Speed
CONTROLLER
Jeanne Greenberg
JES MEDIA PRODUCES:
Boca Raton magazine
Delray Beach magazine 1926 Worth Avenue
Boca Raton Chamber Annual
Salt Lake magazine
Utah Bride and Groom
Utah Style & Design Salt Lake Visitors’ Guide
FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION
BOCA MAGAZINE WINNERS
2023 CHARLIE AWARDS
CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE)
best website (bocamag.com)
best custom publication (1926)
SILVER AWARD best overall magazine
best editorial, opinion, commentary best department design best custom publication (Worth Avenue) best advertorial story or section
BRONZE AWARD best in-depth reporting best advertorial story or section
2022 CHARLIE AWARDS
GENERAL EXCELLENCE magazine of the year best overall magazine
CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best overall writing best in-depth reporting
best custom publication (1926) best advertising for a client
SILVER AWARD best feature best use of photography best advertising for a client
BRONZE AWARD best custom publication (Worth Avenue)
2021 CHARLIE AWARDS
CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best public service coverage
best in-depth reporting
best feature
best service feature
best humor writing
best column
best photo essay/series best advertorial
best overall: digital innovator best special theme or show issue
SILVER AWARD best overall writing best public service coverage best department best use of photography best social media best custom publication (Worth Avenue)
BRONZE AWARD best traditional illustration
For any changes or questions regarding your subscription, to purchase back issues, or to inquire about distribution points, call circulation at 877/553-5363.
Take advantage of Boca Raton magazine’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, or to partner with Boca Raton on a community event, call 561/997-8683 ext. 300, or email nicole@bocamag.com.
Create a magazine tailored to fit the needs and character of your business/organization. Ideal for promotions, special events, introduction of new services, etc. Contact Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com)
Boca Raton magazine values the concerns, interests and knowledge of our readers about the community. Please submit story and profile ideas by email to Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com). Due to the large volume of pitches, the editor may not respond to all queries. Boca Raton does not accept unsolicited, ready-for-print stories.
Submit information regarding our website and online calendar to tyler@bocamag.com.
Your thoughts and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for style, grammar and length. Send letters to the address listed below or contact Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com)
Letter to the Editor
Boca Raton magazine
1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487
Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding galas, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to John Thomason (john.thomason@ bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming A&E section is three months before publication.
Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Christie Galeano-DeMott (christie@bocamag.com).
A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Boca Raton and South Florida. All photos submitted should be identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when). Email images to people@bocamag.com.
Boca Raton magazine is published eight times a year. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, call us at 561/997-8683. We’d love to hear from you.
Once in a while, production, transportation or the postal service may delay delivery. If you don’t get an issue, or if your magazine is repeatedly late, please call and report your problem to our subscription department at 877/553-5363 or send an email to subscriptions@bocamag.com.
If you have already paid your bill and then receive a new bill, here’s what you should do:
1. If you have paid your bill within the past four weeks, ignore the new invoice. (The computer simply has not given your account credit quickly enough.)
2. It’s most likely that your payment and our notice just crossed in the mail. Check the date on the notice to see when we mailed it.
3. If you get another bill or renewal notice, call our subscription department at 877/553-5363, or send an email to subscriptions@bocamag.com, and we will straighten out the problem.
PERMANENT: If you are changing your address, send us your complete old address, complete new address, including ZIP code, and the effective date of the change. You can also leave us a message with your old and new address by calling 877/553-5363.
TEMPORARY OR SEASONAL: Please send us your complete permanent address, your complete temporary address and the dates that you want your issues forwarded.
If you are interested in purchasing any back issues, please call 877/553-5363, ext. 233, indicating the issue date you would like. The cost of each issue including shipping and handling is $9.95.
You’ll find a subscription to Boca Raton magazine makes a thoughtful and useful gift that lasts throughout the year. If you’d like more information about giving a gift subscription, please call our subscription department at 877/553-5363.
Receive additional savings by subscribing online. Visit bocamag.com for more information.
[ For any of the above services, please contact our subscriptions services department. ] CALL TOLL FREE: 877/553-5363
EMAIL: subscriptions@bocamag.com
WRITE: Boca Raton magazine
Subscription Department 1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487
still remember the outfit I wore on my first day (navy floral skirt and blouse). I drove a 1988 Jeep Sahara, had just rented a faded little shabby house in a boho neighborhood a block from the ocean, and my ancient dog Daphne was still alive. I had left a place I’d loved to come here to take the job as editor of Boca magazine and the other publications, and it was a giant move for me. The Speeds are not particularly fond of radical changes, and I was no exception.
That was 34 years ago.
I look back now, and it seems like only a few years ago we started the Dining Guide, the Best of Boca and were doing crazy things like the Sexiest Bald Man in Boca, a cover girl contest, and inviting real astronomers to rate the best Cosmos in Boca—when that was the drink of the hour. We had fashion shoots and started new magazines and argued about covers and won awards and I remember the collective excitement of a small group of people making a publication they loved and supported and collaborated on. It was those times that I’ll always cherish, and the knowledge that I had a job I loved, and that I was good at it because I loved it.
There are too many experiences and moments to catalogue; there is no way to “wrap up” 34 years of doing this. I recall the moment I was standing hip-deep in water in the Big Cypress and understood what the Everglades was. I remember the night I danced in the Ballroom Battle and half the city cheered me on; they needed a hook to get me off that stage once I heard the applause. I remember all those lunches with John Shuff and Charlie Siemon and Bob George and Jorge Camejo talking about Boca politics, and I remember the lunch hours I slipped away to Lord & Taylor to find a black dress for that weekend’s gala. Or the days the new magazines were delivered and we pounced on them, even though we’d written them and proofed them 1,000 times. And all those people I interviewed, too, famous and ordinary, young and old. It goes on and on. It was the center of my life.
Boca magazine staff ca.1992 with the author’s Jeep, from left, counterclockwise, Mitch Fredricks, Paula O’Brien, Jeff Bell, the author, Ellen Malone, Alex Romain, Brooke Lange, Candi Pillitteri, Brian Black
So leaving this job now is not something I can describe. It’s been here longer than my marriage, or my faithful Jeep, and it’s outlasted three dogs and my waistline. It was the best of times and, as they say, the worst of times. The only thing that makes sense to me as I write this is to thank our readers, the late John Shuff and Margaret Shuff, the warm and supportive Boca and Delray communities and, finally, my dear, dear colleagues (past and present) for sharing this opportunity, and for sticking with it. Thanks to you all for making this job compelling to me, and for making me feel so important to you. I’ll never forget it.
America’s PasTime Goldsmith & Complications and Berd Vay’e have partnered to create America’s PasTime, a limited series of 30 mini-baseball bat sculptures. Wooden bat pieces are suspended inside transparent Lucite alongside vintage watch parts, bridging the worlds of sports and horology.
America’s PasTime is available exclusively at Goldsmith & Complications. View this piece and our entire collection of watches, clocks, and jewelry at our boutique on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida.
THE PINK RETREAT—an homage to all things Lilly Pulitzer – is again the weekend of June 20-23, hosted by Hilton West Palm Beach with accommodations at the Brazilian Court Hotel and The Colony Hotel. 2024 favorite activities include shopping, a cookie-making class, a tour of Worth Avenue with Leslie Diver, catamaran adventures, croquet lessons, food tours and more. Registration is $300 and will increase to $350 on May 20. Visit thepinkretreat.com for more information.
This is the time to indulge in a Sunset Stroll at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, on May 23 and June 13 at 5:30 p.m. This special after-hours experience includes exploring the gardens (in and of itself worth the visit), music in the Morikami Theater, light hors d’oeuvres and sake, and diving into the whimsical Museum Store. ($5-$10). 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach.
There’s plenty going on all summer in South Florida, and the Boca Black Box (8221 Glades Road, Suite 10) is a case in point. First of all, it hosts every great tribute band you can think of; in May alone, acts like the Everly Brothers Experience with the Zmed Brothers (May 2), a Rush tribute (May 3) and Ultimate Floyd (May 4) will all be on deck, with plenty more in May and June. Comedians are also a big draw; Kyle Grooms (May 3-4), Rick Corso (May 17-18) and Carl Rimi (May 24-25) are just a few. The famed Pat Travers Band plays on June 1. To get a full list of Black Box shows, visit bocablackbox.com.
Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.
What’s the one thing you do in the summer that you don’t do the rest of the year?
I am a summer girl! I know it is hot and sticky, but I love sundresses and late summer nights! One of the things I like to do in the summer is go to the beach in the evenings. I like to meet friends after work or wait until late afternoon and hang until the sun goes down.
Director of Special Events, George Snow Scholarship Fund
One thing I do during the summer that I don’t do the rest of the year is stock up on hurricane supplies such as gasoline, bottled water and canned food items.
Kevin Burgess, Realtor, Realty LLC
In the summer, I like to be on the water—at the beach, paddleboarding or doing standup paddleboard yoga. The wind dies down, the water is calm, and year-round locals can actually find a parking spot at the beach this time of year.
Director of Product Development
OK, so we like ice cream all year round. But we can really justify it during summertime, so here’s a handy reminder of a few places to go for the food of the gods—and what not to miss.
PROPER ICE CREAM, 1445 N. Congress Ave., #4, Delray Beach, 561/359-3420
OK, so this is not in Boca—but it’s so worth the drive, as any ice cream aficionado will tell you. It is, indeed, Proper Ice Cream: pure, natural, handcrafted, artisan and made in small batches. With flavors that will make you swoon. (They had a Creamsicle one I used to dream about.)
VENCHI, Town Center mall
Venchi is a new chichi chocolate and gelato shop at Town Center, which bills itself as “celebrating the Italian art of living.”We can go with that, especially the celebrating part, which involves chocolate, gelato, coffee, hot chocolate and crepes—all 100-percent natural, gluten-free and mostly vegan, with no palm oil and low sugar. Which means you owe it to your health and well-being to visit this place.
SLOAN’S
Sloan’s at Mizner Park is a whimsical institution we all still count on when we are doing the Mizner stroll. The sheer number of flavors, the novelties, the magical bathroom … flavors change all the time, but a few classics are: Almond Joy, Chocolate Espresso Toffee, Circus (cotton candy ice cream loaded with gummy bears) and Coconut Storm. We could go on, but best you see for yourself.
We like the idea of a summer view of a storm rolling in or the feel of a sea breeze while you sip a Mount Gay and tonic (the official drink of summer) at a rooftop bar. Boca is behind the eight ball on this, but Delray has a few options:
THE REEF POOL BAR AT DELRAY COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
This really is more of a pool bar with lounge areas than a trendy rooftop bar, but people love the casual no-frills vibe—and that delicious sense that you are on vacation even when you are not. There are light bites available, craft cocktails and panoramic views. Plus live music on Friday and Saturday nights. 135 S.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach, 561/9265833
ROSEWATER ROOFTOP BY AKIRA BACK
This chic rooftop scene atop The Ray Hotel has been a big deal since it opened and now is being run by the Akira Back restaurant, which means the food just went waaaay up on the good-o-meter. There is a 360-degree view of downtown and the beach, lush canopies, craft cocktails, no TVs and a general Miami-glam vibe. Reservations are recommended; ladies night is every Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. 233 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561/739-1706
This new rooftop space is contemporary and upscale—and the town’s newest favorite hotspot. It offers small plates to go with your cocktail, like Gulf shrimp and scallop ceviche, barbecue short rib tacos and heirloom salads. It’s the perfect beachside escape. 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/274-3289
Your sunglasses fog up the second you step outside in the morning.
Your FPL bill is pretty much a second mortgage.
You can expect a torrential downpour at the exact second you start walking to your car at the end of a workday.
You may not need dinner reservations— even at a trendy new hotspot.
The jeans disappear into the back of the closet.
Locals still head to the Keys—if they can find anyplace that is still affordable.
There are whole weekends you do not go outside. And during which you bingewatch whole seasons of “Emily In Paris.”
The spaghetti model is your worst nightmare.
You do not wear real shoes. Ever.
WHERE: iTHINK
Financial Amphitheatre at South Florida Fairgrounds, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach
WHEN: May 10
COST: $80 and up
CONTACT: 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com
In late 2013, budding Irish singer-songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, who performs under the name Hozier, emerged with a radio-perfect hit in his early 20s. Though critical of religious institutions, “Take Me to Church” felt like a gospel roof-raiser on steroids, and for at least a year, one couldn’t turn on a radio or browse a supermarket without hearing it. His latest release, the eclectic Unreal Earth, was inspired by his time reading Dante’s Inferno during the pandemic and finding lyrical parallels to modern life.
WHERE: Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
WHEN: June 12-Oct. 13
COST: $16 adults, $12 seniors
CONTACT: 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org
The Boca Museum’s prominent summer exhibition is really three solo exhibits that fall under similar thematic umbrellas: All deal with issues of identity, representation, and the contrast between inner and outer worlds. Award-winning photographer Sheila Pree Bright presents“Young Americans,”in which non-native-born millennials pose with the American flag and reflect on U.S. culture and their place within it.“Unbranded”by Hank Willis Thomas recontextualizes decades of racist, sexist and class-baiting corporate advertising by removing the brands and letting the visual images speak for themselves. Finally, Liesa Cole’s interactive“The Secret Repository—A Journey of Liberation”reveals secrets held dear by the sitters of her portraits.
WHERE: Broward Center, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: June 11-16
COST: $35-$131
CONTACT: 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org
Every spectator is their own Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot—or maybe Benoit Blanc—in this spirited and cheeky musical adaptation of the 1985 movie of the same name, which is itself, of course, inspired by the Hasbro board game. When the Lord of a manor winds up dead at the end of Act I, any of the six colorful guests could be the murderer: Elitist intellectual Prof. Plum, second-rate Vegas entertainer Miss Scarlet, the militant Col. Mustard, the celebrity doyenne Mrs. Peacock, the overworked and scullery-haunting Mrs. White and the Wall Street maven Mr. Green. Armed with randomly selected cards unknown to the actors, the audience ends up deciding the killer, their weapon and where the homicide took place, and with 216 possibilities, every show’s climax is different. And the show is a musical, because why not?
WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
WHEN: May 10-12
COST: $45-$275
CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org
Sorcery, tragedy, romance, transfiguration from beast to human and back again—it’s all in a night’s exhaustive work for any company that dares to mount this most mesmerizing and challenging of all ballets. Tchaikovsky’s 1875 masterwork has enjoyed countless evolutions and revolutions in its reigning status as the Everest of dance, the latest from renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who premiered this version for Miami City Ballet in the company’s 2021-2022 season. Ratmansky’s approach was inspired by his discovery of notations by original choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in Harvard University’s archives. The New York Times called his fresh yet reverent interpretation“A ‘Swan Lake’That Blasts Off the Cobwebs.”
It’s just been a grind. It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of failure, and you’ve just got to put your head down and not give up.”
—Stewart Gold
A Boca Raton father invents a novel solution for the diaper-changing blues
Written by JOHN THOMASON“Hi, sharks. My name is Stewart Gold from Boca Raton, Florida.” So began one of the more disarming pitches from the 15th season of “Shark Tank” this past January. Gold appeared on the entrepreneurial reality show to sell the investors on the Dingle Dangle, the baby toy he invented with business partner Mark Hamilton in 2020. Almost right away, Gold’s spiel took a turn toward surrealist theatre, when a production assistant in an alligator costume rushed to the stage, wrestled Gold to the ground, and proceeded to kick and thrash and raise holy hell—simulating, with not too much hyperbole, what it’s like to change the diaper of a baby who wants none of it.
But Gold has a solution, and it involves a headband, flexible tubing and a plush octopus designed for sensory engagement. When strapped to the parent’s head, the hands-free product dangles in front of the baby like a fifth appendage, distracting it while mom or dad does the dirty work. When not deployed for diaper-changing duty, the Dingle Dangle, which retails for $40, can transform into a portable baby mobile or a sensory rattle in a matter of seconds.
Gold showcased all of the product’s uses in his “Shark Tank” pitch, which he says he practiced “no less than 10,000 times—in the shower, the first thing when I got up, in the middle of the day, until I couldn’t mess it up.
“You have weeks, not months, to prepare, so there’s a real fear that kicks in,”he adds.“I’m about to go on national TV in front of millions of people—I have a family, I have a community, I don’t want to embarrass myself. … I lost sleep over this. There are no second takes. You go in, you shoot it, that’s it.”
The Dingle Dangle is available in two Boca Raton brick-andmortars: Rooms For a Prince and Princess (6859 S.W. 18th St.) and Bellini Baby & Teen Furniture (2980 N. Federal Highway). It can also be purchased on Etsy, Amazon and dingledanglebaby. com.
Following Gold’s pitch, shark Kevin O’Leary asked the first question, echoing what everybody was thinking: “What about the dork factor?” Gold knows the product looks ridiculous. But silliness, he says, was baked into the cake—and part of why the product is geared toward young fathers such as himself. (Gold’s two sons are now 8 and 3.)
“As dads, there’s just not much on the market,” he says.“A lot of women end up breastfeeding, but there’s not that connection that dad has. When I had my first baby, I was kind of lurking in the background the whole time. … So I think intentionally, dads sometimes tend to be the sillier ones, and they’re looking for other ways to entertain the baby.
Sometimes humor or laughter is really the only way we know how to do it.
“Parenting doesn’t always have to be so serious. It’s serious enough, and this is something that can be a bit lighter and encourage connection between daddy and baby.”
The Dingle Dangle’s origin story dates to 2019, when Gold, a lawyer with a degree from University of Florida’s law school, moved with his family into a shared house in Northern England. (His wife had obtained a work visa for a three-year stay.) He struck up a friendship with downstairs neighbor Mark Hamilton, who, like Gold, was a young dad. Hamilton had endured enough baby-changing horror stories that he had MacGyvered a tool to assist in the process.
As Gold retells it,“during COVID, we didn’t have anything else to do, so we would sit out in the garden and hang out and chat. And one day Mark brought out this crazy thing—a GoPro strap with a coat hanger and a baby toy hanging off the end.”
This homemade model became the genesis for the Dingle Dingle, developed over two years of trial and “a lot of error,” Gold says.“We had to go through a number of manufacturers. We got prototypes that didn’t work, that would break. It’s just been a grind. It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of failure, and you’ve just got to put your head down and not give up.”
The Dingle Dangle generated $67,000 in sales in 2022, its first year on the market, but Gold had invested some $150,000 of his own money into the product.
On“Shark Tank,”he asked investors for $75,000 in exchange for 20 percent of the company. It appeared as if all of the sharks declined to buy in, until Gold attempted a final Hail Mary plea that ultimately convinced O’Leary to invest—provided the shark earned an additional $1 per unit up to $300,000, a negotiation that played out live on the air.
“There’s give and take in any deal, and you’ve got to decide, can I live with this?” Gold says.“And the answer was yes. It’s always our philosophy that you shoot for the stars and let the chips fall where they may. We’re very happy to be partnered with Kevin O’Leary.”
Furthermore, the business enjoyed a “Shark Tank” bump, with Gold estimating he earned a year’s worth of sales in the three days after the show aired.“You don’t realize the full power of ‘Shark Tank’ until you’re on the other side of it,” he says.
Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up the advocacy, because people get tired. It’s a long game, and you never know the twists and turns.”—Kristine de Haseth
Environmental watchdog Kristine de Haseth has been keeping overdevelopment in check for 17 years
Written by JOHN THOMASONIt was just supposed to be a six-week gig. That’s how Kristine de Haseth remembers the humble founding of the Florida Coalition for Preservation (FCP). Hastily organized in less than 30 days, in 2007, with the express purpose of fighting a developer’s plans to build up to 10 high-rises in the quiet mobile home community of Briny Breezes, the nonprofit organization will soon celebrate its 17th year as the loyal opposition to the overdevelopment of the coastal communities and barrier islands of the southern Palm Beaches. All have operated under the helm of founding Executive Director de Haseth, whose victory against the acquisition of Briny Breezes inspired a formidable career in environmental preservation.
“We really took the role of educator within the community as to what were the pros, the cons, really trying to tickle out what the developer was planning on doing,” she says.“We had a large meeting and rented out the Crest Theatre in downtown Delray Beach, and bused in people. … The developer ended up walking away, and a lot of it was due to the opposition that we were able to create.”
graduation, she moved to Los Angeles to work for Paramount Pictures as its director of licensing, and then to San Francisco for a similar role at Sony Music. It was during her time in Northern California that she planted the seed for her later environmentalism.
The Florida Coalition for Preservation is funded 100-percent by individual donors. Those interested in supporting its mission can call 561/274-6491, email community@ preservationfla.org, or visit its office at 4600 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach, across the street from Nomad Surf Shop.
De Haseth expected the FCP to sunset after its role in saving Briny Breezes. Instead, concerned citizens and local officials approached de Haseth about other projects threatening to disrupt life in other coastal cities. The Coalition’s work on the controversial Atlantic Crossing project near Delray’s beachfront has been another signature achievement. The FCP’s persistence, which included investing in a traffic study, helped result in the shaving off of two stories from the twocity-block development, the restriction of its usage of nearby Veterans Park, and the creation of additional points of ingress and egress.
This example of healthy compromise between growth and protection of resources did not come easy. De Haseth says the battle took the better part of eight years.“Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up the advocacy, because people get tired,” she says.“It’s a long game, and you never know the twists and turns. … It was frustrating for all parties involved. At the end of the day, it was good for all parties.”
De Haseth is a Florida native, and a passion for conservation runs in her blood. Her grandmother was an activist—and a personal friend of Marjory Stoneman Douglas—who would bring De Haseth to her first commission meetings.“I got indoctrinated with a little fire in the belly very early on,” she says.
She attended undergraduate and graduate studies, in fine arts and business, respectively, at the University of
Since moving back to South Florida, and Gulf Stream, in 1993, she remembers being one of two residents who attended her town’s commission meetings.“I didn’t go to complain,” she recalls.“I just went because it’s what I did in California.”When it came time to find the person to lead the Coalition and advocate against the Briny Breezes project, de Haseth was a shoo-in.
Not every project in which the FCP engages goes its way. De Haseth cites the development of a 10-story, 326-rental apartment unit in a former shopping plaza at the intersection of Woolbright and Federal in Boynton Beach.
“Sometimes we get outpoliticked,” she says.“Someone’s running for reelection, and the developer makes heavy contributions to their campaign, and regardless of the evidence, they vote in a different way than we would like to see the outcome.”
De Haseth knows from city politics. Starting in 2017, she spent six years on the Ocean Ridge Town Commission, twice serving as its mayor.“Being on the dais afforded me that one extra look behind the wizard’s curtain.” She was known as the resident environmentalist on the dais, and she steered the town toward its purchase of nine acres of mangroves, among other accomplishments.
“I don’t think you can truly effectuate change if you don’t get involved, ” she says. De Haseth says she didn’t make enemies during her time on the commission, and even most developers tend to view her with begrudging esteem.“I think most [developers], when we are able to demonstrate an improvement to their project, understand the role we play,” she says.
MACH & MACH pumps, $1,015, from Saks Boca Raton
MARIA ELENA bow earrings, $300, bow headband, $600, pearl headband, $860, halo headpiece with ribbons, $600, halo headpiece, $760, BADGLEY MISCHKA clutch, $84, all from Boca Raton Bridal
Discover this sweet bridal bling when you’re accessorizing The Dress
Geri has
MICHELE LOPRIORE pink leather clutch, $295, from Michele Lopriore
VALENTINO beaded bucket bag, $3,800, VALENTINO belt, $590, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN bag, $1,090, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN sandal, $895, all from Saks Boca
Add some flowers and a little sparkle to mom’s big day
VALENTINO mini shoulder bag, $2,290, RAY-BAN sunglasses, $161, both from Saks Boca
BUGATCHI shirt, $159, BALLIN shorts, $139, SWIMS knit sneaker, $150, L.E.N. belt, $750, all from Raise the Bar Menswear
Elevate his dad style this year for Father’s Day
“Women need to be involved in their financial plans and have an understanding of where all of their assets are, and what they are used for,” says Certified Financial Planner™ Elizabeth Bennett.
As a woman who has reared a child, been through a divorce and is working toward her own financial future, she forges a relationship with her clients from her own personal experiences.
“You need be in control of your finances and not leave that responsibility to someone else,” she cautions. “Knowing the types of investments that you have, the log-ins for your accounts, and sharing that information with your spouse is very important. Being involved in reviews with your financial advisor and understanding how to access those assets is imperative,” Bennett says.
“Taking responsibility for your financial wellbeing, starting at a young age, is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. You should take advantage of your employer’s retirement plan, understand what your short-term savings need to look like and what your assets’ tax implications are. Be aware of your spending habits and where all of your money is going, whether you are single or married. As women, we know the value of delegating. My advice is to take one thing off of your plate and reach out to an advisor to get your financial house in order with someone you can trust. I am here for you,” she says.
Ballet flats adopt a new square toe this spring
◆ Smile Makeover
◆ Porcelain Veneers
◆ Cosmetic and Laser Dentistry
◆ Smile Imaging
◆ Dental Implants
◆ Teeth Whitening
◆ Implant Crowns
◆ Invisalign® Orthodontics
◆ Fillings without Drilling with Non-contact Laser and often No Novacaine
◆ Nightlase Laser Snoring Treatment
◆ Photobiomodulation Laser for Jaw Pain
Dual wavelength laser which can perform fillings without drilling. Photobiomodulation Laser for jaw pain. Smooth Laser anti-aging facial rejuvenation.
◆ Reduce Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
◆ No Pain and No Down Time
◆ Natural Tightening and Toning
◆ Long Lasting Results that are Easy to Maintain
◆ No Fillers or Toxins
Dr. Clive Rosenbusch
Dr. Rosenbusch has over 35 years of experience focusing on cosmetic dentistry and has extensive training in using the Fotona Dual Wavelength Laser. Dr. Rosenbusch is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Implant Prosthodontic Section of ICOI, and the Florida Dental Association. He is a Diplomat of the ICOI (International Congress of Oral Implantologists). Member of The Seattle Study Club. Masters level in Aesthetic Dentistry at the Rosenthal Institute in New York.
WALLAROO HAT COMPANY hat, $95, scarf, $150, I LINEN top, $245, all from Marley’s Palm Beach collection
AMALFI BY RANGONI shoe, $275, from Rangoni Firenze Shoes
Rose quartz necklace, $375, from Mariko; Skirt, $250, and Palm Beach book, $23.95, from Marina St. Barth
CHROME HEARTS sunglasses, $1,345, from Edward Beiner
It’s time to break out those island colors
Watching Michael Phelps swim made me realize I wanted to do that. I was a 5-yearold with some serious hopes and ambition.”
— Reese Branzell
This Saint Andrews grad hopes to be heading to Paris this summer
Written by JAN ENGORENGoing for the gold in the swim competition this summer for Team USA on the U.S. National Olympic Team is a dream Reese Branzell, 21, has had since he was a kid.
However, it won’t be his first time going for gold.
As a senior at the Score Academy in Boca Raton, in 2021 Branzell won gold for the 100-yard freestyle event at the Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) National Swimming Championships in Orlando and is a three-time Florida State Champion.
In his hometown of Manalapan, Branzell’s parents put him in swim class when he was only 14 months old. Taking to the water, he began swimming competitively in Pompano’s Santa Claus Swim Meet when he was 4. By the age of 7, he qualified for the Junior Olympics and has been qualifying ever since.
He attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, where he studied film and media, and graduated from Score Academy. Part of the Saint Andrews Aquatics club at Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton, Branzell swam with distinction under the direction of assistant swim coach Ramon Walton.
“Some of Reese’s times were so fast, they shocked me,” remembers Walton.
Walton himself was a youth swimmer who swam for Jamaica at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and who later broke two school records at the University of Kentucky.“Reese is a phenomenal athlete,” says Walton.“He’s dedicated, focused, driven and has a strong belief in himself. I don’t have to encourage him too much; he comes to it naturally. ... As an athlete, Reese is great at tapping into ‘the flow’ when he needs to. I have the utmost confidence in his abilities and believe he can take it all the way.”
training regi men up.”
And train he does—up to 20 hours each week—many days twice a day, plus weight training at the gym and practicing on Saturday and Sunday mornings in addition to his full academic course load in sports management. At school, he’s on an athlete-specific meal plan, where he stocks up on lots of protein and carbohydrates.
“I burn so much energy during practice,” the 6’-3” and 185-pound athlete says.“It’s important to maintain a proper nutritional balance.” Most mornings he cooks his own breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon and fruit, and coffee only when needed.
Seeing Michael Phelps take home eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics was an inspiration for Branzell.“Watching Michael swim made me realize I wanted to do that,” he says.“I was a 5-year-old with some serious hopes and ambition.”
Branzell says the pressure can be intense, but he does well under pressure. He gets nervous, but “it’s no big deal.” If he needs to, he avails himself of the mental health and performance department at UGA, where he can meet with a sports psychologist, free to all student athletes. And he meditates and visualizes race rehearsals in his head.
“I spend time going over how I want my race to go, how I want it to look, how fast I want to go and envision everything beforehand in my mind,” he says. Once he has a plan, Branzell sticks to it, alleviating fear of the unknown.
Reese BranzellNow a junior at the University of Georgia (UGA), Branzell swims on its swim team and is currently training for the summer Paris Olympics, where he hopes to be one of six in the country to qualify for the Olympic team. In June he will travel to Indianapolis for the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will determine whether he makes the cut for the team.
“This is a long-term dream of mine,” says Branzell. “I’m in striking range but know I need to keep my
What advice does Branzell have for other aspiring Olympic medalists? He credits his own “stick-to-itiveness.”
“Stick with it,” he says.“Everybody has potential. It can be difficult and tempting to quit because of the over-the-top demands of the sport. But if you like it, don’t give up. You never know how far you can take something.
“I didn’t know I’d get this close and achieve this much,” he says about his many swim accomplishments.“It’s all about perseverance, working hard and following your dreams.”
As South Florida braces for another season of record-breaking temperatures, these local spots can keep you entertained (and cool) during the cruel, cruel summer
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
Sometimes happiness is as simple as sipping a cold beer on a hot summer day, or at least it’s that simple at Barrel of Monks brewery. This Boca craft brewery follows the tried-and-true style of Belgian brewing and produces more than a dozen custom beers that are sure to hit the bulls-eye of any palate. We recommend trying the Single in the Sun, a Belgian ale that feels like sipping on a cool, citrusy breeze. Barrel of Monks also hosts the award-winning Cheffrey Eats food truck that features classic bar fare like wings, buttermilk fried pickles and four-napkin burgers that come bursting off the tray. Plan a weekday visit and enjoy the brewery’s BOGO Tuesday (buy one beer, get one free), Wing Wednesday ($12 for a beer and wings) and Taco Thursdays ($12 beer and taco combo). Cheers! 1141 S. Rogers Circle, #5, Boca Raton, barrelofmonks.com
Part sports lounge, part billiards hall and part neon-soaked bowling alley, Strike 10 has developed a commanding presence in Boca’s nightlife scene since its debut two years ago. Featuring 10 bowling lanes that glow with vibrant multicolored lights and dancing neon, Strike 10 is the boutique bowling experience we never knew we needed but are now hooked. With cozy and spacious seating and live DJ music on weekends, the vibe carefully toes the line between club and lounge, making it a great spot for those looking for a big night out or just to kick back, have a craft cocktail, and play a game of pool. Strike 10 also features a full bar and restaurant, with selections ranging from flatbreads and wings to pizza and tacos. If you’re bringing the family, we recommend one of the two miniature lanes for duckpin bowling, making it easier for kids to join in on the fun. Be sure to make reservations, as slots fill up fast! 449 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, strike10bowling.com
When it comes to beating the summer heat, having thousands of square feet of ice is a pretty solid starting point. Boca Ice & Fine Arts
Center, Boca’s new winter sports complex, features two NHL-sized ice rinks, and the temperature is kept at a brisk 58 degrees, making it the perfect refuge from even the harshest summer days. But that’s not even the best part. In addition to ice skating and hockey lessons, Boca Ice is the only place around that features ice bumper cars. Credit to the genius who figured out how to make bumper cars even more fun; these cars glide and spin effortlessly across the ice, allowing you to bounce your way around the rink with ease. The complex also features a ski and snowboard simulator for perfecting your pizza and french fry positions, and is a great location for hosting parties, with catering options from Lemongrass Asian Bistro and Los Olivos Bistro. 900 Peninsula Corp Circle, Boca Raton, bocaice.com
Vintage is in vogue, and nowhere is that more evident than Delray’s Silverball Retro Arcade. Boasting more than 80 meticulously restored pinball machines from as far back as the 1930s, this retro game room is a paean to the halcyon days of entertainment, where all you needed for a good time were a few quarters and a ride to the arcade. For those who aren’t exactly pinball wizards, Silverball also features more than 20 arcade games including Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga and Skee-Ball, as well as shuffleboard and air hockey tables. You won’t need a sack full of quarters to play, either, as an entry pass ($15 hourly or $17.50 for a half day) grants you unlimited access to all machines. We recommend visiting during Happy Hour, 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, or on weekends to catch live DJ tunes. 19 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach, silverballmuseum. com/delray-beach
Living in Palm Beach County means we have access to some of the best spas in the nation, so it can be tough to narrow down where you want to spend your summer day of relaxation. But why choose one? Stretch your spa day into a spa week with these offerings from local retreats.
EAU SPA: This internationally renowned resort features a cornucopia of offerings that will have you floating blissfully toward nirvana. We recommend the Day Pass, which includes a healthy dose of zen in the Self-Centered Garden, a soothing session in the bath lounge, and bites from the resort’s famously decadent
cupcakes in the relaxation lounge. eaupalmbeach.com/ eau-spa
SPA PALMERA AT THE BOCA RATON: Boca’s Spa Palmera (exclusive to resort club members and guests) takes pampering seriously with six signature spa packages. If you’re only going with one, we’d suggest The Royal Escape, which combines a ritual bath, a delicate Alhambra touch massage and a pedicure. You won’t want to leave. thebocaraton.com/spa-palmera
BETTER ME MEDICAL SPA & WELLNESS
CENTER: The summer sun in Florida is unforgiving to skin complexion, but Better Me Med Spa has the antidote. Sample from its various anti-aging treatments, including HA fillers, an injectable gel that can smooth out wrinkles and leave your face looking years younger. bettermemedspa.com
FIVE ELEMENTS SPA: This Deerfield Beach spa has massaging down to a science. Its Signature Massage begins with an organic detox shot to stimulate the senses before you select an aromatherapy oil that will soothe you as your body turns to jelly from the deep, gentle massage. Fiveelementsspa.com
THE SEAGATE SPA: The Seagate Hotel’s award-winning spa offers couples massage packages for a romantic day of unwinding. Melt away with a hot shell massage that deeply penetrates the muscles and unties all those tension knots. For best results, we recommend enhancing your massage with a pink mud scalp massage and a bottle of Champagne. seagatedelray.com/spa
4
The state director of the country’s largest UFO research organization always has his eyes to the sky
Written by JOHN THOMASON
When asked if he had had any personal encounters of high strangeness that led him to becoming the gatekeeper for UFO reports in Florida, Bobby Hewitson demurs.“I would love to be able to sit here and tell of an amazing experience I once had.”
But seconds later, Hewitson continues with a personal account that would make many UFO enthusiasts envious. While driving in Clearwater in 2003,“I witnessed a bright blue light,” he recalls.“It was moving as fast as a meteor. It moved across the entirety of my windshield, from left to right, and then it took off at a 90-degree angle, and that was it. I knew it wasn’t a meteor; I knew it wasn’t a plane.”
OK, so he wasn’t beamed onto a flying saucer. He never engaged in telepathic communion with one of our space brothers, as some of the wilder accounts of ET contact assert. But this encounter, if only subliminally, may have steered Hewitson on a path toward becoming the Florida state director for MUFON, the largest civilian UFO reporting agency in the United States.
Hewitson, 51, lives a Clark Kentian dichotomy. By day, he’s a mild-mannered insurance underwriter in the greater Sarasota area. Off-hours, often sporting MUFON-branded apparel—and driving a blue Bronco with a custom MUFON plate—he’s the first point of contact for all Florida reports submitted through mufon.com. And as he reveals in our conversation, he’s been privy to some truly inexplicable events in just the past year alone.
Historically, it’s a good time to be in Hewitson’s position. When he experienced his own sighting, some 21 years ago, UFOs were still a fringe topic, and “contactees,” as the UFO community has christened them, risked ridicule, and their jobs, and maybe their marriages, if they came forward with extraordinary claims. But when the New York Times published its landmark front-page feature “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious UFO Program” in December 2017, it kicked off a sea change whose ripples are still felt today.
Among the article’s revelations was that the Pentagon had been officially investigating anomalous phenomena in our skies since 2007 as part of its unpublicized Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). UFOs were no longer a sideshow; they were a national security concern, and Navy pilots, the soberest of witnesses, went public with accounts of propulsion-less craft straight out of science-fiction, with some of the videos released to the public.
UFOs are now a common discussion on mainstream media and on Capitol Hill. There’s even a new government agency called AARO, created in 2022 with an official remit to explore what it calls unidentified anomalous phenomena using“a rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach.”
Along the way, MUFON’s mission hasn’t changed. Short for Mutual UFO Network, the civilian-based research organization launched in 1969 (not coincidentally the same year the U.S. government shuttered its own UFO probe, Project Blue Book), and for most witnesses, it remains their point of contact when they observe or experience a supernatural happening in the sky. Almost all of MUFON’s “employees,”including Hewitson, volunteer their time, content that the pursuit of a new scientific paradigm is its own reward.
How and when did you become interested in MUFON?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been interested in the unknown. I started out as a paranormal investigator. I had a friend who had converted from a paranormal investigator into MUFON, and suggested one day that I attend a meeting and look into becoming a field investigator. That was back in 2015. I stayed for about a year, and left, and came back last year.
So prior to this, you investigated hauntings, with tools like electromagnetic field detectors?
I would set up the old school way, where you’re setting up cameras, and you’re there for hours, and then you go home and review all those cameras. And you’re staring at a video of a dresser for four or five hours, seeing if you see something, and then you go on to the next room.
There was a little bit of guilt when I went to a seminar once, and a guy said, if you’re not doing it for the people, you’re in it for the wrong reasons. I am completely doing this so I can see books move off shelves. [Laughs.]
How does someone submit a report to MUFON if they’ve seen something unusual?
They would submit a report to mufon.com. That goes into our case management system. They’ll be asked a series of questions, very similar to a police report. And that gets sent to each state director, and then it’s my responsibility to make sure it gets assigned to the appropriate investigator, to perhaps visit the site and visit the witness in person, to get a better idea of what happened.
Are you able to explain away as prosaic a lot of the reports?
Yes, if we know, for example, it’s a space launch, we can go ahead and close it out and say it’s Starlink. [the satellite internet constellation launched by SpaceX in 2019—Ed.] Other times we’ll have a good idea. If we get a video and there’s orange lights, and they start rising slowly, and they’re going with the wind and start flickering and leave, chances are it’s Chinese lanterns. As long as we have
a high percentage of certainty that it’s manmade, we’re able to close it out.
Are witnesses disappointed when their case can be explained away, or are they relieved?
It’s both. Some of them, just like with hauntings, really want it to have been something. I try to explain that, ‘I wasn’t present when you had this sighting; I’m just going based on the evidence that you’ve provided, and based on my investigation.’
What are the most interesting cases that have wound up on your desk?
Florida receives 500 to 600 reported sightings each year; last year, we had two that stuck out. The first one was a metal sphere that was found hovering and moving at the Sarasota airport. This was right by one of the terminals. The witness was able to capture a photo of it and provided detailed information.
I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a part of me that wants to say “I told you so.”
One of the findings was that this metal sphere was not floating or exhibiting any behaviors of a balloon. It also moved in the opposite direction that the wind was blowing during that date and time. The field investigator attempted to make contact with the proper authorities at the airport, the FAA and local business owners—anything to find out if anyone had documented or witnessed the event. What I found interesting is that the airport authorities never temporarily shut down airspace for whatever it was, and referred our investigator to contact AARO. Even if it was a balloon, wouldn’t they have shut that down?
The more interesting case was last December, near Ocala National Forest. The witness was on a rural two-lane highway. It was about 12:45 p.m. The witness was an Air Force veteran driving with their dog northbound behind a tractor-trailer, with another vehicle behind them. There was another oncoming vehicle coming southbound, when all of a sudden, they heard a screeching metal sound, so much so that the dog started wailing. Then all four cars died—it sounds like a movie, but it’s not. Everyone got out of their vehicles. None of their cell phones were working. Soon after, a 30-foot black triangle craft flew overhead and took out part of a pine tree. A few seconds later, two F-16s flew by, as if in pursuit. The witness described this as pretty traumatic. The truck driver’s ear was bleeding. A few minutes later, while still shaken up, everyone’s phone was working, and their vehicles were able to start.
Three of our investigators were able to meet with the witness in person the following day. They conducted a magnetic survey on the vehicle with a digital magnetometer and were able to compare readings to a random vehicle that was the same year, make and model as the witness’s. And what they found was the readings on the driver’s side of the vehicle were much lower in microteslas than the other side of the vehicle and compared to the other test vehicle. There is a naval bombing range in that
area, which may explain why F-16s were in the area. The three investigators spent much time driving up and down the 10mile stretch of highway but couldn’t seem to locate the exact spot where the event took place or where the treetop had been sheared. Unfortunately, none of the other drivers have come forward.
Does MUFON host meetings?
Florida MUFON is in a bit of a rebuilding phase. Membership meetings had come to a halt during the pandemic and didn’t gain the momentum they once had. When I was promoted back in August as state director, meetings became a top priority. Meetings are generally held for MUFON members, and depending on where the meeting is held, it’s open for the public as well. The meeting is usually held by one of the state section directors, who will talk about historical sightings and some of the most recent sightings in the state. The last half of the meeting will usually be audience participation, and that’s where it gets really interesting.
Do people come forward with abduction claims?
Yes, and that is where I find the most value in MUFON, when you hear people come out for the first time in 10, 20, 30 years, and had never told a single soul their story, and they start crying, and tell their story from start to finish as to what had occurred. Sometimes you’ll hear three or four stories as you go around the room. It’s so crazy how consistent so many stories are.
How do you handle these claims?
Our Experience Research Team, or ERT, at MUFON, is really there to help folks who’ve had these experiences. If someone decides they want to formally report their experience, we ask them to complete a report using MUFON’s case management system and an “Experience Questionnaire.”This helps our members of the ERT gain a better understanding of the person’s experience before making official contact, and also
helps us in MUFON understand common patterns among abduction experiences and provide valuable insights.
The assigned ERT member will really become that person’s point of contact for weeks, months or potentially years. Then, for those who’ve been through some really tough stuff and need professional help to cope, we can connect them with qualified therapists who specialize in this kind of thing. Many times, people just feel really isolated after these experiences. So we help them find support groups where they can meet others who understand what they’re going through.
In 2023, Florida came in second only to California in the number of reported UFOs. What accounts for the state being so high on this list?
Florida, California, and Texas are consistently the top three states. ... My feelings are that the majority of it has to do with population. These three states are the most populated in the U.S. But if you start thinking about other theories, all three states combined have over 2,500 miles of coastline. So is there a relationship between UFO sightings and the water?
A 2022 survey found that 57 percent of those polled said that aliens definitely or probably exist. Do you feel some validation in that this topic has become more accepted?
I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a part of me that wants to say “I told you so.” I think people are waking up to this. But when you have people all over the world still risking their jobs, their pensions, their relationships, and potentially their lives coming forward to share their truth … there’s something to be said about that.
WEB EXTRA: For more of our conversation with MUFON Florida State Director Bobby Hewitson, visit BOCAMAG.COM/MAY-JUNE-2024.
Fashion from Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, channels the natural world—in a dreamy safari setting
Photography by Lyall Aston
All clothing and accessories from stores on
Balmain dress from Saks Palm Beach; St. John earrings and bracelet from St. John Boutique Palm Beach; Bottega Veneta bag from Bottega Veneta Palm Beach
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lyall Aston
LOCATION: Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida
MODEL: Emily Hutchinson/Next Model Management
STYLIST: Anna Ruiz/Agency Gerard Artist
HAIR & MAKEUP: Natasha Katrina /Agency Gerard Artist using Dior Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, IGK Hair and Schwarzkopf hair
ART DIRECTOR: Lori Pierino
Those looking to take their health into their own hands have more tools at their disposal than ever beforeWritten by TYLER CHILDRESS
dvancements in wellness technology have ushered in a brave new world for health-conscious people seeking an alternative to traditional medicine. “Biohacking”—the use of science and technology to enhance the body and mind—is a DIY approach to health that has gained mainstream attention in recent years as a new means to extend life, sharpen the mind, and turn the tide of aging. Dr. Branson Collins, Director of Integrative Health at Florida Atlantic University’s Marcus Institute, says that, for many, COVID served as the wake-up call that has triggered more widespread interest in biohacking.
“I think a lot of it stemmed from the aftermath of the pandemic,” says Dr. Collins.“I think a lot of people saw the reality of their own mortality and morbidity, and a lot of people decided to take action based on that.”
With a growing body of research and evidence, biohackers have more information at their disposal than ever to improve their health. To learn more about some of the technologies powering this revolution in wellness, we reached out to local professionals who employ these unorthodox treatments to learn more about the science and application of them.
Dr. Branson Collins
Aric Lemon had always been passionate about health and fitness, but those passions didn’t translate to his former career in the mortgage industry. The money
ganic wellness products before meeting iCRYO founder Kyle Jones and opening the company’s first franchise in New York in 2018. As business slowed during the pandemic years, he eventually migrated to South
was great, but he just wasn’t connecting with his work.“I just woke up one day … and I’m putting on my suit and tie, and I looked at myself, and I said ‘what are you doing?’” recalls Lemon, who decided it was time for a career change to something more aligned with his interests.
Lemon began his new career at a marketing company that sold or-
on, whereas an infrared sauna uses infrared wavelengths that can more deeply penetrate the skin. Instead of the air around you being heated as in a traditional sauna, infrared saunas heat your body directly. Infrared saunas also run at a lower temperature than traditional saunas (120-150°F versus 105195°F) while still providing the same benefits of improved blood flow and circulation, as well as vasodilation of blood cells, which allows for oxygen delivery to tissue and organs, muscle relaxation and pain relief in joints and muscles.
Another advantage of infrared saunas over steam saunas is that the dry heat makes infrared saunas particularly effective for those who suffer from respiratory illnesses.“People with asthma or COPD won’t last 30 seconds in a [steam] sauna because of the humidity,” says Lemon.“[An infrared sauna] brings more oxygen-enriched air to their lungs.”
Florida and opened the company’s Boca Raton location. Among the myriad services available by iCRYO, including cryotherapy, float tanks and red light therapy, the spa also offers infrared saunas, a more comfortable alternative to traditional saunas.
“A regular sauna [uses] external heat … it’s just heating air around you,” says Lem-
of blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure. “Intrinsically it’s relaxing for the muscles,”says Collins.“When you’re in heat, you’re going to get some vasodilation, which means more blood flow to the muscles.”
For many biohackers, health starts at the cellular level. That’s the philosophy of Jessica Merlino, owner of Infinity Clinics in Fort Lauderdale.“All your cells work on a voltage, and if you correct the voltage, then the body is able to repair and regenerate itself,” says Merlino.
Infinity Clinics offers a cutting-edge digital version of a decades-old treatment called Pulsed Electromagnetic Field
(PEMF) therapy, a noninvasive technique that uses magnetic fields to improve cellular function, which has been linked to the creation of new, healthy cells while extending the life of existing cells. This treatment is more difficult to explain, as it’s still being studied by researchers despite decades of application. It’s similar to stem cell therapy in its effect, but without the needles and at a tenth of the cost. The technology’s efficacy has been demonstrated in peer-reviewed studies, though scientists are still seeking to understand how it works.
“Most of the theories with PEMF go down to the formation of an energy molecule called ATP,” says Dr. Collins.
Lemon says that some of the most common reasons people use infrared saunas are for relaxation, improved cardiovascular health, and skin benefits from increased circulation (some users report a “glow”), but just about anybody can tell a difference after just one 30-to60-minute session.“You’ll definitely feel more relaxed, more rested,” says Lemon.“Your whole body will just feel more at ease.”This sense of“ease,” Dr. Collins says, can be explained by the dilation
Aric Lemon
Jessica Merlino
"All your cells work on a voltage, and if you correct the voltage, then the body is able to repair and regenerate itself." —Jessica Merlino
“When a cell is going through its metabolism, the goal is to create ATP and energy. … The production of ATP is happening with PEMF, and also it’s helping to maintain the cell membrane. Cell membrane dysfunction or disruption is one of the primary ways a cell is damaged. If the membranes are intact, then that’s good for the cell.”
tingle somewhere, but for the most part it just feels good,”says Merlino.
According to Merlino, the big three targets of PEMF are inflammation, oxygenation of the blood and increasing cell membrane function. Essentially, the therapy charges the cells and “puts the body in an optimal regenerative state so it can heal itself.”
PEMF therapy has been approved by the FDA for treatment of non-union fractures (bone breaks that don’t heal naturally over time) and as a treatment for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Recent research has even shown promise for PEMF benefiting those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer.“We see that people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have dysfunctional [cell] membranes,” says Collins, meaning “the stuff that needs to stay in the cell to keep it working in an optimal way can’t stay in the cell.”With PEMF, these cell membranes’ repair systems are activated.
At Infinity Clinics, the treatment is simple and straightforward, with patients seated on a leather lounge chair through which pulsed electromagnetic waves are delivered.“It doesn’t ever hurt, they never feel bad, they could feel a little
Merlino says that PEMF works best when used in conjunction with other therapies such as cryo, red light or saunas, stating that PEMF works as an “accelerator” that boosts the effectiveness of other modalities.
“Anything that you’re trying to do to the body across all this new wellness technology and all of this regenerative stuff that’s taking off ... if you correct the voltage of the cell with PEMF and frequency therapy, all of the other things you’re trying to do to it are going to work even better,” says Merlino.“The whole system works together; if you tweak one part, that has a ripple effect of benefits that are going to come to you.”
Dr. Collins compares optimizing cell health through these technologies to winning a raffle. Any single treatment isn’t a panacea, and should be used in conjunction with other therapies as well as healthy habits.“The person who usually wins the
raffle isn’t the person that just bought one ticket,” says Collins.
The thought of spending any amount of time in a small, pressurized chamber is enough to make any claustrophobe break out into a sweat. But for biohackers who can get past the faintness of heart, hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers countless benefits for healing the body.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves lying in a small chamber that is then pressurized with compressed air before being flooded with pure oxygen. These intimidating machines can often be found in hospitals, where they’re used for everything from crushing body trauma to helping heal surgical wounds. But for those seeking a more approachable experience, Boca’s Restore Hyper Wellness offers a milder version of the treatment.
“Ours is not as intense as what a hospital grade might be,” says Restore Lead Nurse Mandy Dearman. The difference is in the pressure; hospital tanks run at the equivalent of four atmospheres of pressure, whereas the mild hyperbaric oxygen tank (mHBOT) runs at 1.9.“You still get the same results, the same benefits from
Mandy Dearman
it; it’s just the difference in the pressures.”
The benefits come from the oxygenation of tissue and blood cells throughout the body.
“You’re making [the blood] like an oxygen-rich formula that is going to the parts that you need,”says Dearman.
“With that oxygen, it’s increasing healing, it improves muscle performance. It improves brain fatigue and mental clarity by just providing oxygen to areas of our body that normally wouldn’t have that much oxygen.”
The first mHBOT session typically lasts 60 minutes, but proceeding sessions can span up to 90 minutes. Dearman says the first session lays the foundation for further treatments by oxygenating the blood and
helping form new vessels. To get the most out of the therapy, she recommends 10 sessions, at which point new vessels will be formed, granting blood access to the parts of the body that need it most.“You start noticing a drastic difference with the pain and the inflammation and the mental clarity at the 10-visit mark,” says Dearman, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the benefits of just one session, especially after a workout.
“You’ll feel the pressure on your body, [and] you feel your body just kind of relax and let loose,” says Dearman.
“When you come out, it’s almost instant; the muscles have already recovered, so they don’t feel as sore.”
When it comes to beating the heat, it doesn’t get much colder than a cryotherapy session. At West Palm-based health spa MedHouse, the cryotherapy chambers can get all the way down to a brisk -175°F (with light to heavy winds via fans), which can sound intimidating to South Floridians who break out the parka when the thermometer hits 60. But, according to MedHouse co-founder
latest location, which boasts a vast array of treatments ranging from cryotherapy and sensory deprivation tanks to ice plunges and halotherapy (salt therapy, which is said to benefit respiratory conditions).
Cryotherapy at MedHouse has four different levels that range in temperatures from -140°F with light winds to -175°F with extreme winds, with sessions lasting three to five minutes. The cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, which reduces inflammation. “Systemic inflammation is really what it’s targeting,” says Rintrona. “It reduces inflammation in your body, so it’s kind of like freezing you in time—that’s the whole point of cryo.”
more forgiving, at 59°F, but you’re submerged for longer (up to 30 minutes). Because of the shock of the cold temperatures, it’s suggested that those with heart conditions consult a physician before trying either cryotherapy or polar plunges.
“With both of them, you’re getting the anti-aging benefits,” says Rintrona—benefits such as a more youthful complexion by way of the cold temperatures constricting blood vessels, which tightens the skin.“The differentiating factor is that you’re plummeting your core temperature quicker with a cold plunge,” says Rintrona.“You’re going to enjoy the benefits if you even do just one session.”
Whereas many tools of biohackers will thrust you far from your comfort zone into subzero temperatures or sensory deprivation chambers, all you need for a photobiomodulation session is a pair of specialty goggles and 20 minutes to spare.
Photobiomodulation, more commonly known as red light therapy, is a noninvasive practice that involves exposing the body to wavelengths of red light. It sounds basic, and it is, but Ornela Rothermel, co-founder of Deerfield’s Five Elements Medical Spa & Wellness, is a firm believer in the basics when it comes to self-care.
“I think people are going back to the simplicity of health,”says Rother-
Nicole Rintrona, the benefits are worth the discomfort.
“The consensus that we see is a big energy boost [from cryotherapy]; it’s kind of like getting a high,” says Rintrona.
Rintrona and her husband, Joe Radich, started with a small one-bedroom medical practice where they offered IV and hormone therapy and other treatments in the holistic medicine realm. They’ve upgraded in recent years to their
The reduction of inflammation can lead to a whole host of other benefits, including relief from chronic pain, muscle recovery, and tightening the skin to give a more youthful appearance. Cryotherapy also stimulates the release of endorphins, the brain’s “feel good” chemicals, which provides a burst of energy when exiting the chamber.“A lot of people who are getting off coffee or trying to reduce their caffeine intake will go in there because it’s an energy booster,” says Rintrona. For those looking for some next-level cold, Rintrona suggests the polar plunge, which she says is “more of a mind over matter” experience than the cryo chamber. The temperature is
“It’s allowing your body to deal with what's going on in a way it doesn't get to while you're stressed." —Matt Beck
mel.“I don’t think they’re trying to pump themselves with medications.”
feeling this energy boost, because that’s not really what it does,” says Rothermel.“It’s definitely more subtle; I would say you just feel extremely relaxed.” For the best results, Rothermel suggests doing red light therapy before bed.
“The best time to really do red light therapy is at night,” says Rothermel.“It’s going to help you sleep better, it really helps relax you, it reduces inflammation of your muscles so you feel better when you’re going to bed.”
Red light therapy is one among many services provided by Five Elements, and it’s a technique she’s seen more and more clients come around to appreciate.“I think people started off thinking it’s really like a gimmick thing, but the more and more research that comes out of this is amazing,”says Rothermel. The therapy activates the mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for energy production.“If you look at the physics of molecules, certain wavelengths actually make the molecules vibrate at a certain frequency,” says Dr. Collins.“Mitochondria seem to be activated by this red light.”The activation of mitochondria produces the energy that is used to power cell functions.“It’s like playing a C-note on a piano. For some reason the mitochondria love the frequency of that note,” adds Collins. This increase in mitochondrial activity has been linked in peer-reviewed studies with anti-aging benefits, a reduction in skin blemishes and wrinkles, and more. Unlike other, more intensive therapies like cryo, you won’t get that same “rush” when a red light therapy session ends.
the opening of Float8, where visitors can discover for themselves the benefits of float therapy.
Each float tank at Float8 is described by Beck as “basically a big bathtub” that is 10 inches deep and filled with a solution of water and 30-percent Epsom salt. “It’s similar to the Dead Sea in mineral content, so you float effortlessly,” says Beck.“[The] spine lengthens, the body falls in natural alignment, and tension lets go.”
“I don’t think you’re going to pop out of there
Matt Beck, owner of Float8 in Delray Beach, knows firsthand the benefits float tanks can have on mental and physical health. After spending years in the music industry organizing performances and festivals, Beck was burned out. Desperate for relief, he decided to give float tanks a shot after hearing about them on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Beck says his first float was underwhelming, the second was better, but by the third,“I just got into this relaxed state where [I thought] ‘this is the way I’m supposed to feel.’” Since his experience in 2013, Beck has been an avid floater, and left the music industry to focus on health and wellness, culminating in
The experience, Beck says, is akin to “floating in space.”The room is dark, the water is the same temperature as the body’s surface, and there’s no sound (unless you opt to enjoy a playlist during your float). “That lack of stimulation pretty much induces a meditative state,” says Beck. The tanks also provide a reprieve from a much overlooked stressor—gravity.
“We spend about 20 to 30 percent of our energy just fighting gravity,” says Beck. “While you’re in there, you’re getting that 20 to 30 percent energy back for deeper healing.” Because of these enhanced healing benefits, float tanks are a go-to for biohackers seeking relief from chronic pain. The induced state of relaxation allows the body to reduce its tension and break down stress that has built up over time.
“It’s allowing your body to deal with what’s going on in a way it doesn’t get to while you’re stressed,” says Beck.
Today’s wellness technologies offer more choices than ever for finding what works best for your own health, but it’s important to biohack responsibly. Those with chronic conditions, machine implants or heart
issues should always check with a physician before experimenting with new therapies. As Collins advises,“do a consultation with a health care practitioner that is credentialed— somebody that can evaluate, come up with a plan, and also adjust that plan over time to make sure they’re getting the outcome that they’re looking for.”
Matt Beck
For those times when you just need to get away, these in-state destinations offer the perfect retreat
Written by Tyler Childress
If the bumper stickers are to be believed, we live where everyone else vacations. But as more people move to Florida, it’s getting harder to find a getaway in our home state that actually feels like getting away. Breathing room is at a record demand, as all of our favorite hidden gems have become unearthed and flooded with new residents and visitors. For that reason, we set out to find some instate destinations that take you away from the crowded main streets and boardwalks for you to capture some quality leisure time.
Key Biscayne The barrier island of Key Biscayne is home to such sedate beauty that it’s easy to forget it’s just a short drive away from the madness of downtown Miami. As you cross the Rickenbacker Causeway, the packed cityscape fades into memory
and gives way to dense trees lining the sides of Crandon Boulevard, the island’s main thoroughfare that leads to Key Biscayne. The town has garnered a reputation for luxury, and as such, it’s only fitting that your stay should be at the island’s Ritz-Carlton. In the heart of downtown Key Biscayne, the Ritz-Carlton places you in a prime position to enjoy all the island has to offer, though you may be just as tempted to never leave the resort. Start each morning by watching the sun rise across the Atlantic from the balcony of an oceanfront suite before indulging in the morning buffet along the terrace of Lightkeepers, the onsite go-to for breakfast. The rest of your day can be spent nursing a cocktail by the adults-only pool, or at the Havana-inspired Rumbar. And there’s always time for a deep-tissue massage from the spa.
Beyond the resort grounds, the town of Key Biscayne is flanked by two lush parks. On the northern end is Crandon Park, where you can walk or rent a bike and ride through the idyllic trails and observe the wildlife, or paddleboard along the calm blue waters of Biscayne Bay. Just a little further north is Virginia Key, with biking trails built for and by bicycle enthusiasts specifically designed with thrills in mind. To the south of town is Bill Baggs Park, where you can hike a nature trail through mangroves or visit the famous Cape Florida Lighthouse. Constructed in 1825 and then reconstructed in 1846 following a series of Seminole attacks, this landmark is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade and has stood sentinel through Civil War battles and hurricanes. As of this writing, the lighthouse is undergoing renovations but is expected to be completed by summer.
If you’re looking to absorb more local history, embark on a kayak tour of Stiltsville. The first stilted houses off the coast of Key Biscayne are believed to have been constructed between the early ‘20s and ‘30s by fishermen who needed a place to store equipment. In the succeeding decades, stilted “social clubs” (some with dubious reputations) were constructed, and Stiltsville became a draw for boaters and picnicking families. In the ‘40s and ‘50s, the stilted
outpost housed the Quarterdeck Club, a leisure destination where upper-crust Miamians drank, gambled and socialized. At its peak, Stiltsville contained 27 standing structures, but many hurricanes later was reduced to the mere handful that remain today.
But if kayaking or paddleboarding doesn’t get the blood pumping enough, you can always visit Hobie Beach, the top destination for windsurfing in the area. Whatever adventure you choose, be sure to end your day with a meal at any of the town’s top restaurants.
For dining, one of the top spots we’ve found is right on the resort grounds of the Ritz-Carlton, Cantina Beach. This restaurant boasts the largest tequila selection in South Florida and specializes in coastal Mexican fare, including the typical favorites—fajitas, enchiladas and tacos. But it also gets a little adventurous with dishes like the braised short rib served with calabaza squash puree, ancho chili sauce and pickled red onion, or whole snapper Veracruz, served atop a bed of Mexican red rice.
Outside the resort, Ristorante Forchetta is the place to visit for white-linen Italian fare. Menu standouts here include the Linguine Nere ai Frutti di Mare, a pasta dish consisting of handmade squid ink linguine with clams, shrimp and calamari tossed in a white wine tomato sauce, or the Fiocchetti al Tartufo, with truffle-stuffed ravioli in a creamy truffle butter sauced that’s finished with shaved Parmesan.
Islamorada As Key West becomes ever-more bustling, there’s never been a better time to put those long Duval Street nights to rest and enjoy a more quiet Keys getaway. Cut your trip down the long road of U.S. 1 (aka Jimmy Buffett Highway) short with a stop in Islamorada for a tranquil retreat that jettisons the chaotic nightlife in favor of extended lounging and quiet days at sea.
For accommodations, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more relaxing spot than The Moorings Village. This historic hotel sits upon 18 waterfront acres and is shaded by a canopy of more than 800 coconut palms. Originally a coconut palm plantation, the hotel has been a luxury escape destination for decades. Its picturesque settings and cottages have been used as backdrops for swimsuit covers of Elle, Vogue and Sports Illustrated and, more recently, its two-story Blue Charlotte cottage appeared as the family home of the Rayburns in the Netflix series “Bloodline.” Each of The Moorings’ cottages is
spacious and cozy, with its own distinct charms and a porch that is ideal for kicking back with a cocktail and your favorite beach read.
For parents looking to leave the kids home for the weekend, The Moorings’ Calypso Cottage offers a romantic escape featuring floor-to-ceiling French doors that allow the natural light to spill in, with the beach mere steps away from the wraparound porch. If you’re bringing the family, the Tree House has an upstairs sleeping loft for the parents while kids have plenty of free space in the downstairs open living room area. From The Moorings, most of Islamorada’s attractions are within walking or biking distance. Islamorada is world-renowned as a sport fishing destination, but novice anglers need not be intimidated when planning their own fishing excursion. There are more than a dozen options on the key for chartering an expedition, each guided by professionals to help you hook everything from tarpon and grouper to marlin and swordfish. Because of Islamorada’s prime location between the Atlantic and the Gulf, anglers can access an incredible diversity of sea life. The key’s oldest and largest fishing fleet, at Bud n’ Mary’s Marina, has been active since 1944 and has been frequented by the likes of actor Jimmy Stewart, Ted Williams and former President Harry Truman. More than 40 of the world’s top fishermen have established a home base at Bud n’ Mary’s, including Scott Stanczyk, who pilots the marina’s flagship vessel, Catch 22. And if you’re looking to catch a swordfish, who better to assist than Stanczyk, who spends 250 days a year fishing and has placed in just about every fishing tournament held on Islamorada.
For a more low-effort day at sea, there are also options for chartering dives and snorkeling. Float serenely through the clear waters while observing marine life, or those who are dive-certified can venture below the sea to visit The Eagle, a ship that wrecked offshore in 1985. If you’ve got lousy sea legs, Islamorada also has options for landlubbers. The Morada Way Arts & Cultural District is a walkthrough of boutique shops with pieces from local artists. The district also hosts art walks on the third Thursday of each month, with live music, food trucks and displays. While you’re on land, be sure to carve out time for a visit to Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, the only brewery and distillery combo in the Keys, featuring favorites that fuel the taps of our South Florida bars.
For a key that only runs roughly seven miles, Islamorada manages to fit several great restaurants in a small stretch. Top of the list for us is Pierre’s Restaurant, a French fusion restaurant with Floribbean fare that occupies an Old World colonial-style cottage. The raw bar comprises roughly a third of the menu, a welcome ratio with selections like fresh Key West pink shrimp, spiny lobster likely plucked that day from the sea, and beef tartare served with an absolutely sinful truffle garlic emulsion.
But a visit to Islamorada isn’t complete without stopping by the key’s resident chophouse, Ziggie & Mad Dog’s. This Islamorada staple, once known as Ziggie’s Conch in the ‘60s until the late Miami Dolphin Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich bought it in 2005, is widely recognized as one of the premier steakhouses of the upper Keys, with perfectly cooked steaks paired with a dizzying selection of international wines. For best results, add a side of truffle mac and cheese and roasted sweet asparagus to your preferred cut.
Kayaking through Key Biscayne
A trip to Disney doesn’t exactly scream “rest and relaxation,” but throw in a stay at a five-star resort and spa along with a VIP pass that allows you to skip every line at the four parks, and you’ve got the makings of a magical getaway.
Disney has more than a dozen onsite resort options, but if you’re looking to have a more“grown-up”experience, look no further than the Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World. Recently rated as the best resort at Disney by U.S. News & World Report, the amenities and accommodations of this resort are every bit as indulgent as you might expect from the Four Seasons brand, and more. All suites are spacious and designed with leisure at the forefront, but we recommend opting for a lakeview suite for a terraced view of the property’s lake and onsite golf course or theme parks, so you can catch the dazzling nightly firework displays from the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
Guests at Four Seasons Orlando also receive access to the resort’s onsite spa, which includes a revitalizing steam room, zero-gravity chairs for maximum lounging, and more. Treat yourself by booking any of the Spa’s services, such as the soothing four-handed Nirvana Massage or a detoxifying and exfoliating Healing Honey Treatment. The list of amenities goes on, but our highlights are the adults-only pool with food and drink service, tee time at the Tom Fazio-designed golf course, and a lazy river that winds gently around Explorer’s Island, the perfect family day retreat with water slides, a water park and splash zone.
Dining at the Four Seasons is on the same first-rate level as the accommodations. Onsite options include elevated Italian fare at Ravello, where Fabrizio Schenardi has cracked the code to the perfect tomato sauce. If you visit, be sure to try the polpettine: homemade meatballs with mortadella and prosciutto, topped with
creamy mascarpone and slathered with decadent pomodoro sauce. The other onsite restaurant is Capa, the rooftop Michelin-starred chophouse that offers an impressive array of tapas and cuts in a sultry atmosphere. The steaks are obviously the main draw, with most arriving with a welcome dash of black garlic puree or a spicy, creamy piquillo sauce, but tapas like the Cinco Jotas Jamón Croquettes (Spanish ham croquettes) or the simple yet flavor-packing pan con tomate (fresh baked bread topped with tomato pulp) are sleeper hits worth sampling.
For your trip to Disney, it’s almost mandatory to invest in a VIP Tour if you want to catch everything the four parks have to offer. Prices range from a whopping $450-$900 per hour but skew to the lower end during the summer months. It’s well worth the cost to have an expert tour guide provide tips on the best the parks have to offer, and to skip the line at all attractions. Check out the sidebar for more information on the latest attractions at Disney.
There are a wealth of new attractions at Disney to explore with your VIP ticket. Starting at EPCOT, Journey of Water is a vibrant walk-through oasis inspired by the world of “Moana.” One of the more thrilling additions to EPCOT is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride, an indoor coaster that will zoom you across the galaxy as you watch stunning 3D space battles unfold before you. At EPCOT’s France pavilion, the world of “Ratatouille” is brought to life in 4D on the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ride. Passengers can experience the Gusteaus’ kitchen from the shrunken perspective of Remy as the rodent chef evades capture while trying to cook. New dining options at EPCOT include Shiki-Sai Sushi Izakaya for traditional Japanese fare and Space 220, an interstellar experience that simulates a dining room 220 miles above the Earth’s surface.
Over at the Magic Kingdom, the new TRON lightcycle ride is a techno-psychedelic delight that will race you to the furthest edges of the Grid, the digital playground from the 1982 film. Magic Kingdom also now features a crew of new characters, including Mirabel from “Encanto” and the Hatbox Ghost at the Haunted Mansion attraction. Guests can also enjoy a revamped fireworks display complete with lasers and special effects.
Hollywood Studios has in recent years undergone the biggest changes of the Disney parks. For a trip to a galaxy far, far away, tour Galaxy’s Edge, the park’s re-creation of the rugged jungle planet of Batuu. Be-
come a true Jedi at Savi’s Workshop, where you can construct your own lightsaber, create your own droid companion at the Droid Depot, and wander through the ships and storefronts inspired by “Star Wars” lore.
During your travels, embark on a thrilling smuggling run onboard the Millenium Falcon or a starship battle against the First Order. You’ll be glad you’ve got the VIP package for this one, as queues can climb upward of 80 minutes during peak times. After saving the galaxy, venture over to Toy Story Land for a visit with the franchise’s most beloved characters—and smoky bites at the newly opened Roundup Rodeo BBQ.
Anna Maria Island This hidden gem requires a cross-state trip, but the feeling of stepping out of a time machine into Old Florida is well worth the trek. You can’t get much more mom-and-pop than this barrier island on Florida’s Gulf shore. Anna Maria Island eschews the high-rises and chain restaurants that we’ve become so accustomed to in favor of preserving its small-town charm. Think Key West without the chaos—just quaint, lively and picturesque.
For your stay, we recommend Waterline Villas & Marina. This boutique hotel is within walking distance of the soft, sugar-white sands of Holmes Beach, and offers rooms with stunning balcony views of the marina. The hotel’s vibe is total coastal chic, with architecture that evokes the warmth of a cozy northeastern cottage. Waterline is also at a prime location in the center of the island which, combined with onsite bike rentals, makes for breezy traversal to the local restaurants and attractions.
Anna Maria Island is famous for its immaculate beaches. Among the three cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, which share the island, there are miles of pristine coast to enjoy. For a blissfully quiet beach day, head out to Bean Point at the northern tip of the island. From this vantage, you can take in panoramic views of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If you’re looking for a more active outing, opt for a kayaking tour of the island. Florida Blue Adventures hosts guided kayak tours along the clear waters of the island’s coast, where you can catch glimpses of dolphins and manatees, and add a few unique seashells to your collection.
For travelers who are bitten by the shopping bug, the historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach is the place to visit for boutique shops, and also a great location for coastal bites and lively bars.
You don’t have to be a seafood fan to enjoy dining on Anna Maria Island, but it certainly helps. At The Beach Bistro, savor a unique tasting menu while enjoying sweeping views of the Gulf that juxtapose a sultry, mahogany interior. Menu highlights include poached Gulf shrimp and Maine lobster cocktails, grouper Grenobloise in a buttery lemon caper sauce, and duckling confit. For more fine-dining fare, look no further than Waterline Villas’ white-linen Château Anna Maria. Its globally inspired menu includes a horseradish panko-crusted Chilean sea bass, a coco espresso chili-rubbed pork loin, a grilled Chateaubriand served with blue cheese potato au gratin, and more.
Visitors to Anna Maria Island who enjoy a little sand on their toes at dinner can visit The Sandbar. Developed by Ed Chiles, the son of former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles and a pioneer in the sustainable tourism industry, this beachfront restaurant harkens back to a Florida without high-rises and McMansions, when the only way to visit Anna Maria Island was via boat from Tampa. The restaurant was built on the site of The Pavilion, an early 20th century hangout that burned down in 1946, before being reconstructed as The Sandbar in 1979. Today, The Sandbar continues to honor the community spirit of The Pavilion with alfresco beachfront seating and seafood sourced from Florida’s waters.
The Boca Raton We couldn’t form a list of perfect getaways without including The Boca Raton. Visitors from all over the world flock to this award-winning resort—one that we’re lucky enough to have in our own backyard. The Boca Raton has been synonymous with luxury and leisure for nearly a century, and with its recent, sweeping “reimaginations,” it’s the perfect time to revisit this local institution.
This year, The Boca Raton debuted its highly anticipated Tower Suite Collection, which transformed the top five stories of the famous pink tower with 11 signature suites that redefine modern coastal elegance. Developed by Rockwell Group, these sleek new suites offer sweeping views of Lake Boca Raton and the Atlantic, as well as ample room to roam with oversize bathrooms, vast living areas, media rooms and workout rooms stocked with equipment from Peloton. And if you think the view just can’t get any better, ascend to the newly renovated Top of the Tower on the top floor, the tower’s crowning jewel and an amenity offered only to Tower Collection guests. Soak in dazzling views of Boca Raton from the highest point in the city, relax with a travel book from the lounge’s Assouline library, and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Chef Mirella Flores.
Along with its new accommodations, The Boca Raton has also debuted new activities as well as enhancements to its Forbes fivestar Spa Palmera. The spa recently introduced its Wellness Collection of assorted therapies, which focus more on the flow of energy between the mind and body. New treatments include sound vibration therapy, which harnesses frequencies and tones that realign your energy down to the cellular level; reflexology, which targets specific points of the feet to spread healing to other areas of the body; and the soothing Indian massage traditions of Abhyanga and Shirodhara. Following a relaxing experience at the spa, it’s play time at any one of the outdoor activity options on the resort grounds.
Like most of South Florida, The Boca Raton has also been bitten by the pickleball bug. But with six lit courts, twice-daily open play, and player clinics for perfecting your game, its facilities cater to newbies and veteran “dinkers” alike. But if you’re more comfortable with a club than a paddle, make a tee time at the resort’s onsite championship-level par 18 course.
There is no end of diversions at The Boca Raton—despite the fact that Beach Club is undergoing extensive renovations this summer. A
luxurious can’t-miss amenity at Harborside are the private cabanas. At the all-ages pool are cabanas that are perfect for lounging with the whole family, while at the adults-only pool, delightful shaded enclaves feature chaise lounge chairs and TVs. To take your cabana experience to the next level, check out the new Ferrari-themed cabana at Harborside. This exclusive cabana at the adults-only pool is modeled after the sleek interiors and leather detailing of the famous car.
If you’ve never experienced dining at The Boca Raton, chances are it will take you more than one getaway to fully savor its 15 onsite restaurants. For Italian fare (and an unforgettable Sunday brunch), visit Principessa Ristorante, which presents authentic Northern Italian dishes from scratch-made ingredients served over a gorgeous view of Lake Boca. To enjoy light bites and an after-dinner espresso in a secluded, romantic setting, Cloister Courtyard is your top choice. If fine dining is more your speed, visit Flybridge, where esteemed chef Peter Annewanter whips up delectable three-to-fivecourse meals that rotate regularly to keep pace with the freshest seasonal ingredients and Annewanter’s eclectic inspiration.
We also recommend carving out time to visit Japanese Bocce Club, one of the resort’s newer concepts, which puts a modern spin to traditional Japanese fare. This restaurant is one of the resort’s go-to nighttime hangouts for its sleek and elegant ambiance, festive cocktails, and of course the outdoor bocce courts that are lit with soft glowing lights that hang from palm trees to illuminate a game with friends and family under the night sky.
Indulge in world-class amenities on land and sea this summer.
Whether lounging in peaceful bliss poolside at some of our area’s most enticing resorts, indulging in spa-tacular services, world-class shopping, or sailing into the sunset on a chill/thrill-filled Caribbean cruise, it’s the perfect time for a summer escape or staycation! Peruse this special section to see what wonderful destinations await you. It’s our favorite season to get away from it all, in the Sunshine State and beyond.
Escape to a Forbes Five-Star oceanfront retreat with a private beach, an award-winning spa, a fresh selection of distinct dining venues, two pools and newly re-imagined kids’ and teen clubs.
Florida Residents save 15% off our best available rate.*
*Valid for travel through October 31 2024. Blackout dates apply. Based on availability.
For reservations, call 855 838 8166 or contact your Travel Professional.
· No Resort Fee
· Complimentary Kids’ & Teen Clubs*
· Kids 5 & Under Eat Free Throughout the Resort with the purchase of an adult entree (In-room dining and Angle excluded)
· Complimentary Dog Amenities (pet fee waived)
· Private beach access with complimentary use of beach chairs & umbrellas
· Complimentary bicycle rentals and use of non-motorized water sports
· Unlimited Access to 24-hour Fitness Center and complimentary Fitness classes (based on availability)
· Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort
*Complimentary kids club from May 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024. Teens always complimentary.
Book your unforgettable Fourth of July getaway and make this year’s holiday truly exceptional with our exclusive Fourth Night Free offer. Valid on travel beginning July 1st, 2024.
In 2023, more than 2,100 volunteers worked with us to produce the event. There are 19 committees to plan the event. That’s what has me most excited in this role, is to continue that legacy. SunFest is truly community.”
—Dianna CravenSunFest’s new executive director goes deep into the festival’s celebrated 2024 lineup
Written by JOHN THOMASONWhen the lineup for this year’s SunFest dropped in late January, the festival’s social media pages were expectedly abuzz. SunFest is accustomed to a divided response—a wide spectrum from die-hard supporters ready to purchase three-day passes to trolls spewing negativity. But this year was different. When I scanned the first hundred or so Facebook comments on the day of the lineup announcement, every reaction, to the person, was positive. In this polarized zeitgeist, SunFest seems to have unified at least a certain swath of South Florida concertgoers.
This is no small feat for Executive Director and CEO Dianna Craven, especially in her first year on the job. Last July, Craven, then SunFest’s sales and marketing director, succeeded outgoing CEO Paul Jamieson, who had shepherded the festival for 27 years. A Palm Beach County native, Jupiter resident and longtime community volunteer—she’s a past president of the Junior League, and a founding board member of Resource Depot—Craven started out granular, by breaking down what worked and what didn’t from the two post-pandemic SunFests, what fans desired most and what they missed from the event.
Six months later, her team released the fruits of its labor, a lineup that traverses once-disparate genres like country (Cole Swindell, Dylan Scott), hip-hop (Nelly, Yung Gravy), reggae (Shaggy, Matisyahu) and rock (Third Eye Blind, Billy Idol) with, as Craven explains, an added focus on depth and flow—from national headliners to homegrown talent.
What’s the biggest change or addition to this year’s festival?
The biggest change is us focusing and going all in on community, and creating more community engagement within the festival— more local band opportunities to feature the great music in the South Florida market. We’ve added a third stage, which is solely community. Then we are bringing back our art component, so we’ll have a creative arts village as part of the mix this year.
From the national side, one of the things we really tried to do was have more depth within the lineup within certain genres. A good example of that is we have Third Eye Blind performing as a headliner, but opening is Dashboard Confessional, and opening for Dashboard is Boys Like Girls, and opening for them is Valley. So if you like that ‘90s rock era, which
we found has resonated with a lot of our fan base, there’s more depth in the lineup.
What are the factors that you consider when you pursue artists and build a lineup?
One of the misnomers I think people have is that we can come up with names of artists we’d like to see at the event, and kind of go up to those individuals. It comes down, No. 1, to who’s available that’s touring at that time, who’s available in the southeast market at that time, or even the east coast of the United States. Because if an artist is getting ready to launch a Europe tour, then obviously they would not be available, or if they’re starting a tour on the west coast, it’s not feasible for them to head to Florida and back. And price plays a big part of that as well—who you can afford, and
what talent is costing at the time. And then we try to look at genre and makeup of who will make the best program decisions for us to fit our demographic.
Have you witnessed the SunFest demographics change over the years?
Our demographics are fairly consistent. People are surprised, as some of the artists have skewed a little younger over the years. … I hear comments that we’ve gotten too young. But the average age of the SunFest attendee is 37 to 39 years old. So while we might have an artist like Yung Gravy that might skew a little younger, when you look at the majority of the acts that are performing at the festival, they do appeal to an older demographic than, say, a younger rap artist might.
Who do you feel is the most impressive “get” in this year’s lineup?
I want to say Nelly, in that Nelly was with us in 2022, and had to pull out of performing. People were really upset with us, so we went back to Nelly again to try to get him to book back with us. He’s been received very well, and we’re happy to see him be able to return to appease the fans.
2024 represents the 40th anniversary of SunFest. Anything planned to mark this occasion?
We’re trying to work on a few surprises and delights that would happen throughout the festival. I’m also working on some historical perspectives, where I can do some different things with signage and visuals to recognize the 40 years as well.
“Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; various show times; $94; 561/995-2333, thewick.org. Writer Alan Jones’ energetic stage musical charts the short but influential life of rockabilly pioneer Buddy Holly, from his days fronting the country outfit the Crickets to the fateful 1959 plane crash that took his life at 22. The show features 26 hits from Holly and his contemporaries.
“Ellen Graham: [Unscripted]” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $15-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. Photographer Graham, who photographed actors, authors, royals and what would later be termed influencers for more than five decades, had a way of cutting through her subjects’ pretenses, capturing them unawares or at ease. This retrospective includes her work from Vanity Fair, Vogue, Time, Newsweek and more.
May 12:
“The Jackie Mason Musical” at the Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 2 and 7 p.m.; $30-$50; 561/2033742, thestudioatmiznerpark. com. Comedian Sheba Mason, daughter of Jackie, stars in this quirky off-Broadway hit inspired by her father’s many romantic rendezvous. It begins in a delicatessen in 1977 Miami, where Jackie Mason woos college student Ginger, who is unaware of the other four or five women her suitor is juggling.
“The Paper Trail: 500 Years of Prints from the Jonathan “Jack” Frost Collection at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $15-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. Florida collector Frost amassed all manner of European and American prints from masters such as Rembrandt and Grant Wood, with “The Paper Trail” offering a history of the western world’s technological and cultural advancements alongside gradual shifts in art styles and techniques.
May 12:
Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $63-$78; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox. com. A young crooner with an old soul, a then-20-yearold Valentinetti stunned the judges of “America’s Got Talent” in 2016 with his soaring rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Since then, he has become one of the nation’s top performers of Sinatra and the Rat Pack generation.
May 15:
Kathy Griffin: “My Life on the PTSD List” at the Parker, 707 N.E. Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale; 7:30 p.m.; $44.50 to $59.50; 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org. To borrow a phrase, reports of Kathy Griffin’s cancelation were greatly exaggerated. The Guinness World Record-holding comedian—for her 23 televised standup specials—returns from entertainment oblivion for a new set of cheeky, noholds-barred material.
May 2 and 4:
Florida Grand Opera: “La Bohème” at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 7:30 p.m.; $60.42 to $181.46; 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org. Still the ultimate artistic expression of the trials and tribulations of starving artists, Giacomo Puccini’s romantic and shattering portrayal of creative friends and lovers in Bohemian 19th century Paris remains one of the most beloved operas worldwide.
May 17-19:
May 5:
Screenings of “Weathering With You” at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; $5 with paid museum admission; 561/995-0233, morikami.org. In this acclaimed animated film—Japan’s official entry for Best International Feature for the 2019 Oscars—an alienated high school freshman flees his island home for an uncertain, and climatically gloomy, future in Tokyo. But his fortunes may reverse when he meets a girl who can control the weather.
May 22:
“The Kite Runner” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; $35-$85; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. Adapted from Khaled Hosseini’s best-seller of the same name—a sprawling saga of the changes in Afghan life across the decades through the prism of a young boy from Kabul—this adaptation from Matthew Spangler debuted in Broadway in 2022, and endeavors to capture the book’s weighty themes and cultural importance, hewing its story reverentially to Hosseini’s powerful writing.
Todd Rundgren at The Parker, 707 N.E. Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale; 8 p.m.; $49.50$59.50; 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org. With a resume of collaborations spanning from Grand Funk Railroad to Nine Inch Nails, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Todd Rundgren is one of pop music’s most enduring raconteurs, both as a solo artist and with his genre-blending bands Nazz and Utopia. Expect to hear hits like “Hello, It’s Me” and “Bang the Drum All Day.”
May 9:
Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter and Nikki Lane at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $88 and up; 561/7958883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com. Stapleton, a 10-time Grammy winner, keen songwriter and gravel-voiced singer in the storied tradition of outlaw country, headlines his annual All-American Road Show tour, with genre-bending soul songstress Grace Potter and alt-country siren Nikki Lane opening.
May 11:
Otis Cadillac and the El Dorados at Arts Garage, 180 N.E. First St.; 8 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. Nonagenarian roots-rocker Cadillac performs classic R&B and vintage rock ‘n’ roll, emulating musical revues of the ‘50s and ‘60s with assistance from his 11-piece band, the El Dorados, and his female vocal quartet, the Sublime Seville Sisters.
May 23:
Joanna Connor at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $20-$30; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. Raised in Worcester, Mass., Connor recalls becoming enraptured with Louis Armstrong’s “Hello, Dolly!” on the radio at age 2. By 17, she was performing the blues professionally, ultimately moving to Chicago and immersing herself in the city’s legendary blues culture. To date, Connor has shared stages with Etta James and BB King and recorded 15 albums.
May 24-25:
Dave Matthews Band at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $88 and up; 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com. The jazz-inflected jam band returns to its longtime South Florida venue for another two-night residency of hits, deep cuts and elaborate interpretations of fan favorites. Expect a different set list each night from these generous spelunkers of their impressive back catalog.
May 24-June 9:
“Trying” at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; $89; 561/5144042, palmbeachdramaworks. org. Canadian playwright Joanna Glass’ two-character play is inspired by the writer’s own stint working as the secretary to Francis Biddle, chief judge of the Nuremberg trials. Not the sharp warrior for justice he once was, Biddle is an irascible figure showing signs of dementia—obstacles his 25-year-old assistant must overcome to form a respectful relationship with the elder giant.
May 25-26:
Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival on East Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; 561/746-6615, artfestival.com. This 26th-annual tradition on the Avenue will feature artists offering their creations in mediums including glass art, mixed media, jewelry, wood, ceramics, furniture, fiber art, photography, metal and more, at prices to meet any budget.
May 26:
The Victory Dolls at Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs; 2 p.m.; $42.80-$53.50; 954/3445990, thecentercs.com. In celebration of Memorial Day, an all-star cast of South Florida theatre’s top leading ladies performs a 21-song concert of standards from the World War II generation, from “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to “Rum and Coca-Cola.”
June 7:
Irene Tu at Arts Garage, 180 N.E. First St.; 8 p.m.; $35; 561/450-6357, artsgarage. org. Sporting what she refers to as “big ‘they’ energy,” queer Asian-American comedian Irene Tu leans into her genderfluid appearance for some of her convivial material, approaching topics such as the Great Bathroom Debate with a fresh and autobiographical approach. Tu is one of comedy’s rising stars, and has opened for Patton Oswalt and Taylor Tomlinson.
June 11:
IDLES at Revolution Live, 101 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale; 8 p.m.; $40.50; 954/4491025, jointherevolution.net. Pulling off cerebral aggression with the best of them, British post-punk staples IDLES have matured from their chaotic early gigs into the subversive, controlled and electrifying live act they have become on the world stage. The often-eccentrically dressed quintet is supporting its acclaimed fifth album Tangk .
June 12-Oct. 20:
“Julie Evans” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/3922500, bocamuseum.org. Once taken with the art of Indian mandalas, New York artist Evans recently shifted her focus to the nebulous abstractions that constitute this exhibit of ceramics and drawings. The work feels more definitively hers, with her sculptures suggesting mycological networks and fantasy-film flora.
May 26:
Tal Cohen Trio at Arts Garage, 180 N.E. First St.; 7 p.m.; $30-$35; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org. In “Songs From a Childhood in Israel,” Grammy-winning pianist Cohen will present an eclectic evening of Jewish jazz spanning from traditional klezmer to funky hard-bop grooves and classic Israeli folk music, accompanied by bassist Dion Kerr and drummer David Chiverton.
May 31:
Special EFX All Stars at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 6 and 9 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. Special EFX is the ongoing project of guitar virtuoso Chieli Minucci, a three-time Emmy winner and a veteran of the eclectic jazz-fusion scene for four decades. Minucci has scored major motion pictures and played with a range of artists from Celine Dion to Lou Reed; his “All Stars” on this date are Eric Marienthal on sax and Brian Bromberg on bass.
June 18:
Red Hot Chili Peppers at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $126 and up; 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre. com. One of alternative rock’s longest-running acts brings 40 years of hits to its Unlimited Love Tour, playing classics like “Under the Bridge” and “Californication” alongside tunes from its 13th and latest LP, Return of the Dream Canteen. Irontom, which shares RHCP’s fusion of funk and post-punk, opens the show.
June 1:
Pat Travers Band at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 8 p.m.; $43-$48; 561/4839036, bocablackbox.com. A top purveyor of down-anddirty barroom blues-rock, Canadian guitarist Travers has been a major influence on Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, and is most remembered for his nine-album string of hard-edged LPs for Polydor Records from 1976 to 1984. He’ll bring his trio, equally adept at rock, blues and jazz, for this intimate date.
June 20:
Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $41 and up; 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com. Morissette, the Canadian rock goddess whose anthems have galvanized generations, will play decades of hits alongside ambient soundscapes from her unorthodox 2023 release The Storm Before the Calm. Formative stadium rocker Joan Jett and millennial country phenom Morgan Wade open.
June 1:
Floyd Nation at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 8 p.m.; $25-$75; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. This Florida-based Pink Floyd tribute honors the band’s epic legacy, deploying lights, lasers and pitch-perfect musicianship to capture the sound, feel and pageantry of a classic Floyd concert. Expect material from the interstellar Meddle through the high concepts of The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon through the band’s final LP, The Division Bell
June 21:
Jackiem Joyner at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 6 and 9 p.m.; $35-$40; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. Doubling on saxophone and flute, this chart-topping smooth jazz composer from Virginia has released eight albums of mood-setting, down-tempo music, and has collaborated with such luminaries as George Duke, Marcus Miller and Angela Bofill. Fun fact: Joyner is also an award-winning author of three science fiction novels!
June 25-30:
“Mamma Mia!” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; $42-$101; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. Here we go again! Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, two of the dance-pop wizards behind ABBA, packed 22 of their songs into this durable jukebox musical set on a picturesque Greek island, in which a bride throws her wedding day into turmoil by inviting three men—one of whom is expected to be her father. It’s silly, it’s escapist and, if done well, it’s irresistible.
Boca Ballet Theatre 561-995-0709 mail@bocaballet.org
Boca Raton Museum of Art 561-392-2500 info@bocamuseum.org
The Boca Raton Historical Society & The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum 561-395-6766 office@bocahistory.org
Find it all at
Florida Atlantic University College of Arts & Letters 561-297-3810 theatre@fau.edu
Festival of the Arts Boca 561-571-5270 info@festivalboca.org
Florida Intergenerational Orchestra of America 561-922-3134 info@fioa.org
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 561-544-8605 info@gumbolimbo.org
The HARID Conservatory 561-997-2677 info@harid.edu
Lynn University 561-237-9000 tickets@lynn.edu
Mizner Park Amphitheater 561-393-7984 AdiNorscio@myboca.us
Sugar Sand Park 561-347-3900 sugarsandpark@myboca.us
The SYMPHONIA 561-376-3848 info@thesymphonia.org
The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum 561-995-2333 boxoffice@theWick.org
Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County 561-281-8600 yomail@yopbc.org
The following section presents helpful information provided by prominent private schools and camps in Palm Beach County.
All listings include a brief synopsis of the programs’ achievements, curriculum highlights, and many more important details families look for when choosing the best fit for their children.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help you make informed decisions at a glance.
At Levis JCC Zale Early Childhood Learning Center, we believe children are capable of extraordinary things. Our passion and goal is to provide your child with developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, love and support while nurturing their academic growth. Featuring:
• Baby & Me to Pre-K Programs
•Low student to teacher ratios
• Multiple playgrounds, library, movement room, gymnasium, outdoor garden, plus a splash pad
• Secure, gated 100 acre campus
- Grades: Infants - 8th - Tuition Range: $5,000 - $15,000
- Students: 450
- Student-Teacher Ratio: Varies by class
- Denomination: Christian
At Advent, your child will become a CONFIDENT, CAPABLE, CHRISTIAN LEADER making a difference in the world! Advent combines rigorous academics with leadership development in a safe environment. Innovative programs include Elementary & Middle School STEM enrichment, 1:1 technology, Spanish for K -8 th grade as well as Dual Language and Emergent Reader groups in the Early Childhood School. Advent also provides opportunities in spiritual growth, fine arts, robotics and athletics. Aftercare and camp programs offer engaging extra-curricular activities. We accept VPK vouchers and state scholarships (FTC, FES-EO and FES-UA). Need based tuition assistance is available. Advent serves Infants to 8th Grade – you can grow with us!
300 E. Yamato Road • Boca Raton • 561.395.3631 • AdventSchoolBoca.org
- Grades: 1st - 12th - Tuition: $900 - $33,600
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:1
- Denomination: Independent
Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Customized full-time programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all 1-12 subjects, study skills, and test prep. Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students since 1999, and has 18 campuses including 2 in Florida: Boca Raton and South Miami.
19102 State Road 7 • Boca Raton • 561-948-2357 • BrightmontAcademy.com
- Students: 680
- Grades: K - 12th - Tuition Range: $27,800 - $31,500 - Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- Denomination: Jewish
Donna Klein Jewish Academy (DKJA) provides an education of extraordinary power and purpose for each of its students through a rigorous curriculum designed to meet the individual needs of a diverse student population. DKJA offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities including JV and Varsity sports, and an extensive fine arts program including music, dance, drama, and visual arts. Our students are provided with the skills and knowledge required for success in college and beyond.
- Grades: EC 3 - 12th - Tuition Range: $16,900 - $28,300
- Students: 350
- Virtual Classes: Yes
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
- Denomination: Independent
Grandview Preparatory School is an independent private school committed to the philosophy that education is a personal endeavor. At Grandview, we are not simply preparing students to be great students, but rather extraordinary individuals who are curious, confident, and have the social and emotional skills to navigate the modern world in a healthy and enriching way. Our students have ample opportunities to engage in real-life experiences on and off campus that prepare them for life beyond school. Nestled in a residential neighborhood in Boca Raton located on Spanish River Boulevard, east of Florida Atlantic University, west of the Atlantic Ocean, we welcome you to visit with us and experience our community.
336 Spanish River Blvd. NW • Boca Raton • 561.416.9737 • Grandviewprep.net
- Grades: Two – PreK - Tuition: $4,870 - $22,985
- Students: 235
- Virtual Classes: Optional
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:4, 1:5, 1:6
- Denomination: Jewish
At the Levis JCC Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center we provide an enriching multi-faceted early childhood program designed to foster your child’s imagination, curiosity and intellect. Our fundamental goal is to provide the highest quality preschool education in a warm and nurturing environment. Zale teachers work closely with each child to provide innovative experiences that help build a strong foundation in language, math and early literacy while instilling a love for learning that will truly last a lifetime.
- Grades: PreK - 8 - Tuition Range: $35,245 - $41,280
- Students: 857
- Virtual Classes: No
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- Denomination: Independent
True to tradition and inspired by innovation, Pine Crest School offers a researchbased, challenging curriculum complemented by arts and athletics. We believe that building social and emotional competencies in a safe, secure, and inclusive learning environment is fundamental to our students’ success. Pine Crest classrooms foster creativity and innovation, giving students opportunities to practice ethical thought leadership and to become curious, adaptable learners. Our goal is to send our graduates out into the world as leaders who know their strengths and who have the courage to challenge norms, break barriers, and move forward with confidence. #PCFutureReady
2700 St. Andrews Boulevard • Boca Raton • 561.852.2800 • pinecrest.edu
- Grades: PreK - 12th - Tuition Range: $35,245 - $44,880
- Students: 1,842
- Virtual Classes: No
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- Denomination: Independent
True to tradition and inspired by innovation, Pine Crest School offers a researchbased, challenging curriculum complemented by arts and athletics. We believe that building social and emotional competencies in a safe, secure, and inclusive learning environment is fundamental to our students’ success. Pine Crest classrooms foster creativity and innovation, giving students opportunities to practice ethical thought leadership and to become curious, adaptable learners. Our goal is to send our graduates out into the world as leaders who know their strengths and who have the courage to challenge norms, break barriers, and move forward with confidence. #PCFutureReady
- Grades: 9th - 12th - Tuition Range: $15,250 - $16,000 - Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
- Students: 600
- Denomination: Catholic Based
Saint John Paul II Academy, located in Boca Raton, Florida, is a Catholic coeducational college preparatory school in the Diocese of Palm Beach following the tradition of Saint John Baptist De La Salle and the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Saint John Paul II Academy provides a rigorous academic curriculum designed to prepare students for success in college and in life. Our faith-based learning community fosters excellence in all programs and enables the spiritual, academic, artistic, and physical development of each student. Dedicated faculty and staff instill the Gospel values of tolerance, concern for the poor, justice, peace, and responsibility while welcoming students of all beliefs and backgrounds.
- Students: 50
- Grades: K - 12th - Tuition Range: $0 - $35,000 - Student-Teacher Ratio: 3:1
- Denomination: None
We’re Space of Mind, a unique educational experience for everyone. Whether you’re a child, young adult, parent, or educator, our programs are designed to enrich your lifelong learning adventure. We offer virtual courses and coaching, and host a GAP year program to prepare students for life after high school.
- Students: 540
- Denomination: Presbyterian
Preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Academic program K-8th with high quality, challenging academics enhanced by robust technology innovation in the classrooms; leadership skill building; strong fine arts and performing arts programs; critical thinking and project based learning. High school-level honors Algebra 1, Geometry, and Spanish I for middle school students. Accredited by CSF and MSA. Before and after-school programs. Interscholastic Sports program. After school enrichment. State-of-the-art technology, including 3-D printing, video productions, coding. Competitive robotics. Stanford Achievement Test. Lunch program. Clinic with full-time nurse. Uniforms required. Parent-Teacher Fellowship. Summer Camp. New STEM Lab, Art Studio, and Dance/Exercise room opening at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
- Students: 130
- Grades: PK1 - 8th - Tuition Range: $12,500 - $17,900 - Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:6 - 1:15
- Denomination: Non-Denominational
We are a small, accredited, non-sectarian, coeducational, independent, private day school offering our diverse student body a unique academic and cultural program combining the rigor of the national French curriculum with a strong focus on the arts and anchored in best practices. We educate, inspire, and empower our students intellectually, emotionally, and physically by recognizing effort, progress, and success equally. And, yes, we do this all in French. We also have a traditional American preschool option with daily exposure to French. This program accepts VPK and both of our programs accept Step Up scholarships. Our school has a strong community feel and parents are invited to be involved in their children’s school experience. We offer afterschool language classes and a summer camp program open to the community.
- Ages: 5th - 10th - Pricing: From $476/Weekly
- Dates: Beginning June 3rd
- Denomination: Gymnastics
Whether your child spends a session, a day, a week or the whole summer at Twisters, their time here will be filled with loads of fun! Our professional and safety certified staff will lead your children in gymnastics instruction, games, organized activities, fitness, arts & crafts, and supervised play in our fun, clean, safe, and fully air conditioned facility! Dates may vary at each location.
Clockwise from bottom: Millefoglie di Melanzane, San Daniele pizza, and Fettuccini con Gamberi e Pesto
2875 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach; 561/547-0005
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTTThere’s no denying that pasta (in all its forms) delights my soul, so when a friend raved about Acqua Café and its Italian cuisine, I knew I would happily make the trek to Palm Beach. Tucked inside an unassuming office building steps away from the ocean and just over the Lake Avenue/Lake Worth bridge, this quaint neighborhood restaurant serves quality Italian favorites with a coastal twist.
Al Fresco Hospitality Group opened this concept in early 2020, unaware of what would come. Still, thanks to its hospitality experience and resilience, Acqua Café survived the pandemic and is thriving. The family-owned veteran restaurateurs are the masterminds behind Via Mizner’s legendary Renato’s as well as Pizza Al Fresco, Al Fresco, Piccolo Mondo and Piccolo Gelato.
The melanzane, or eggplant stacked with fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce, was a rustic, well-executed, comforting dish. The capesante, or scallops, were accompanied by prawns in this popular Italian dish. The seafood is tossed in garlicky breadcrumbs, baked to crispy perfection, and served in shells. It comes with a small salad if you’re craving greens. We debated ordering a pizza before our pasta course, but I am thrilled we did. The San Daniele ($26) is a personal 12-inch pizza. I smelled the thin but airy crust the second it landed on our table. It also had a refreshingly light sauce, and then was topped with melted mozzarella, tart arugula, artisanal Prosciutto San Daniele and shaved Parmigiano. I’d drive back just for this pizza.
IF YOU GO
PARKING: Parking lot
HOURS: Lunch Mon.–Fri., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Brunch Sat.–Sun., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner nightly at 5 p.m.
PRICES: $14–$48
WEBSITE: acquacafepb.com
The family’s hospitality deftness and Executive Chef Pierangelo Badioli’s passion for his familial dishes are the driving forces behind Acqua Café’s popularity. The evening I visited, every seat was taken. The crowd was a mix of families, with several generations enjoying a meal together, couples on a date night and friends giggling with cocktails in hand. Its design is more contemporary than its counterparts, with sleek acrylic chairs and a dazzling glass bar bathed in blue light.
Our affable waiter expertly guided us through the menu. We started with the Millefoglie Di Melanzane ($21) and the Capesante & Gamberi Gratinati ($26). Seeing a trend here? Yes, dish names are all in Italian, but the explanations are in English. I’d suggest leaning on your waiter for suggestions based on your preferences.
Before I get to the house-made pasta, I want to mention that the service was stellar. Over the span of all our courses, plates were promptly exchanged for a new place setting, and each dish arrived with serving spoons for sharing. The waiter recommended the Cappellini Alla Citronella ($36). The cappellini, similar to angel hair, was beautifully plated. The noodles had a lovely lemongrass aroma and citrus flavor and were tossed with jumbo lump crabmeat and crispy breadcrumbs. Acqua’s dedication to quality ingredients was a testament to the fact that as I savored one creamy spoonful of tiramisu after another and reflected on the amount of food I’d just consumed, I was happily surprised not to feel like I needed to be rolled out into the parking lot.
Executive Chef / Restauranteur Steven Botta has added the former Kathy’s Gazebo to his portfolio of high end restaurants. The 40 year tradition of excellence continues in a newly reimagined and newly renovated space.
The name and decor may have changed but the menu has all the old menu favorites with some exciting new ones which will delight the palate. From the moment you arrive you will quickly realize that you have entered a restaurant where old world service is still the norm rather than the exception.
A throwback to the days when where guests become family and a place to make new memories while reminiscing about past ones. Come join us and see what all the excitement is about. We look forward to seeing you. Yevette, Steven and Anthony.
MONDAYS: UNCORK & UNWIND
No Corkage Fee* and 50% Off Martinis
*Limited to 2 bottles
THURSDAYS: CHAMPAGNE & CAVIAR
Enjoy an Incredible 50% Discount on our Delightful Champagne and Caviar. Limited Time Only.
5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton; 561/692-3933
CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
was intrigued when I heard buzz about another Miami restaurant strutting up to Boca. Plus, it had a market and wine shop component. When I heard its name, I realized I had already experienced Narbona’s hospitality—but in its home country of Uruguay.
PARKING: Valet, parking lot
HOURS: Sun.–Wed., 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Thurs.–Sat., 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
PRICES: $18–$58
WEBSITE: bocaraton. narbona.com
When we visited Argentina’s wine region years ago, we made a point to explore what its neighbor, Uruguay, was growing and pouring. Narbona’s flagship wine lodge is a snapshot into the past, with antique musical instruments, classic cars and motorcycles, checkered flooring, an ancient stone well, and a whimsical wisteria-adorned patio where guests sip on Narbona’s wines while enjoying a typical cheesy provoleta topped with herbs from the adjacent garden. Back in its Boca location, Narbona is a restaurant-market hybrid where you can purchase its house-made dry pasta, private-label herbs and honey, fresh fish and meats and much more, or opt for
a sit-down lunch or dinner at its restaurant in the center of it all.
If you want to start your meal decadently, order the Cinco Jotas Manchego board. It’s a $55 appetizer easily shared by four that is crafted tableside by a skillful master who delicately carves thin slices of the Iberian ham with his razor-sharp knife and assembles them in a half-moon mirrored by the semi-hard sheep cheese. The Spanish take pride in cultivating these special Iberian pigs raised to roam oak pastures, where they forage for the acorns that give their meat the distinct buttery texture and rich taste.
Since we can never have too much cheese, we also ordered the traditional Argentine provoleta ($20), a provolone-type cheese that’s melted, bubbling and ready to be slathered on a slice of buttery rustic bread. I only wish it had been left under the broiler for a few more moments.
Our second appetizer was on the menu as “The Best Empanada
in Town” ($18), so we were moved to try it. These classic doughy empanadas were stuffed with tender short rib, perfectly baked to a light crisp and served with a crunchy criolla sauce, or salsa made with peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Similar to its neighbor, Uruguayan cuisine is imbued with heavy Italian and Spanish influence; it’s a region where meat and pasta rule. (Try the shrimp crab ravioli). So we ordered the pappardelle ($38) and the entraña ($39). If you like creamy mushroom sauces, order the former. It’s the best pasta on the menu—plus, it’s topped with black truffles. The entraña, or skirt steak, was perfectly cooked, tender, and served with an herbaceous chimichurri sauce that I could happily eat by the spoonful. While there are many excellent dessert choices, it’s the gelati that shine. Sample a few flavors before taking your creamy choice back to your table. I’ll be coming back just for Ferrero Rocher’s flawless blend of chocolate and hazelnut.
$: Under $17
$$: $18–$35
$$$: $36–$50
$$$$: $50 and up
388 Italian Restaurant By Mr. Sal —3360 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This family-owned outpost of its Long Island flagship prides itself on nostalgic, quintessential dishes. Pastas like alla vodka, marinara and spicy rigatoni share the menu with chicken and veal entrees in beloved preparations like masala, Milanese and parmigiana. Choose from half or whole portions to share with the table. It’s also known for its lively ambiance, so come here for an Italian feast but stay for the party. Dinner nightly. 561/794-3888. $$$
Abe & Louie’s —2200 Glades Road. Steakhouse. All Americans are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. At this posh, comfortable (and expensive) meatery, the USDA Prime steaks are indeed thick, juicy and perfectly cooked, also massively flavorful and served in enormous portions. Don’t miss the New York sirloin or prime rib, paired in classic steakhouse fashion with buttery hash browns and uber-creamy creamed spinach. Chased with an icecold martini or glass of red wine from the truly impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$$
—297 E.Palmetto Park Road. Japanese. Chef Eric Baker’s Japanese izakaya, or a casual spot for drinks and bites, is serving up dishes like sushi, dumplings and fried rice that have an unexpected whimsical element. Here you’ll find king crab tacos and hot fried chicken alongside the hamachi ponzu and spicy scallop roll. And to deliver the freshest sushi in town, he has partnered with celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana of Sushi by Bou. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/353-5888. $$
Arturo’s Ristorante —6750 N. Federal Highway.
Arturo’s quiet, comfortable dining room; slightly formal, rigorously professional service; and carefully crafted Italian dishes never go out of style. You’ll be tempted to make a meal of the array of delectable antipasti from the antipasti cart, but try to leave room for main courses like the veal shank served on a bed of risotto. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/997-7373. $$$
Basilic Vietnamese Grill —200 S. Federal Highway. Vietnamese. This popular restaurant offers satisfying food and reasonable prices. Plus, there’s bubble tea. Opened in 2014, it has a wide range of Vietnamese favorites, such as cha gio tom heo, fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls, all kinds of pho, noodle bowls, chicken curry and more. • Lunch and dinner six days a week; closed Tuesdays. 561/409-4964. $$
Bluefin Sushi and Thai—861 N.W. 51st St., Suite 1. Sushi/Thai. Arrive early for a table at this Asian hot spot—it’s popular with no reservations for parties fewer than six. Don’t skip the tempura lobster bomb, big in both size and taste. The ginger snapper will impress both Instagram and your stomach. Try the chicken satay and pad Thai. Bluefin offers a variety of dishes from multiple cultures, all well done. • Dinner daily. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 561/981-8986. $$
Burtons Grill & Bar —5580 N. Military Trail. New American. Known for its reliable food as well as its non-gluten, Paleo and “B Choosy” kids menu, the first Florida location for this restaurant is deservedly crowded, so make reservations. Don’t miss the General Tso’s cauliflower, the pan-seared salmon (Paleo), the crab cakes or the Key lime pie. Popular half-portions are available, too. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/465-2036. $
The Capital Grille —6000 Glades Road. Steaks. This is one of more than three dozen restaurants in a national chain, but the Boca Grille treats you like a regular at your neighborhood restaurant. Steaks, dry-aged if not Prime, are flavorful and cooked with precision, while starters from the pan-fried calamari to the restaurant’s signature spin on the Cobb salad (lunch only) are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/368-1077. $$$
Casa D’Angelo —171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Chef Rickie Piper, who has mastered the menu and cuisine of this fine-dining staple for more than a decade, knows when to say when with both plating and ingredients. His dishes, including the sides and accompaniments, are visually appetizing and aromatic. A grilled veal chop easily 3 inches thick proved tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms served alongside in a marsala added earthiness. • Dinner nightly. 561/996-1234. $$$
Casimir French Bistro—416 Via De Palmas, Suite 81. French. Take a trip overseas without leaving the city and enjoy excellently prepared traditional French dishes, such as duck l’orange or beef bourguignon, or go with Cajun chicken and veal Milanese. The comfortable dining room is a Parisian experience, as is the apple tarte tatin. This is a local favorite, and may we add they have what is as close to real French bread as anyplace in Boca? • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/955-6001. $$$
Chez Marie French Bistro —5030 Champion Blvd. French. Marie will greet you at the door of this nicely decorated, intimate, classic French restaurant tucked in the corner
of a strip shopping area. This feels like an intimate neighborhood bistro and is a welcome discovery. From escargot encased in garlic butter, parsley and breadcrumbs to a tender duck a l’orange to an unforgettable crepe Suzette, you’ll be in Paris all evening. Voila! Also on the menu: pan-seared foie gras, tasty onion soup, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. French food in an unassuming atmosphere.• Dinner Mon.-Sat. (closed on Mon. in summer) 561/997-0027. $$
Chops Lobster Bar —101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. There is nothing like a classic chophouse every now and then for a special dinner. At this upscale downtown restaurant, steaks are aged USDA Prime— tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked under a 1,700-degree broiler. There’s all manner of fish and shellfish, but you’re here for the lobster, whether giant Nova Scotian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with lobster. Let’s face it: Trendy menus come and go, but a great steakhouse is a win-win on all occasions. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$
Corvina Seafood Grill —110 Plaza Real S, Boca Raton. Seafood. The seafood-centric menu incorporates South Florida’s varied Latin and Caribbean culinary influences into it. Peruvian and Honduran ceviches share the menu with Brazilian fish stew. You’ll also find plantain crusted corvina in a Creole curry sauce alongside Jamaican jerk chicken and island spiced pork ribs. With a focus on sourcing local ingredients, the menu spotlights several daily specials so look out for those. Then there’s the indoor/outdoor bar that invites you to come in and stay a while, especially during its daily happy hour. • Dinner & Sunday Brunch. 561/206-0066. $$
Cuban Café —3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30. Cuban. One thing Boca needs more of is coffee windows—and real Cuban restaurants. Part of the charm of South Florida is its melting pot of Latin cultures, and Cuba is the granddaddy of them all. Which is undoubtedly why diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $10.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich, the media noche and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. Full bar. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $
Dorsia—5837 N. Federal Highway. Continental. The simple pleasures of the table—good food, personable service, comfortable ambience—are what this modestly stylish restaurant is all about. The menu has a strong Italian bent, evidenced by dishes like a trio of fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with an airy three-cheese mousse, and a cookbook-perfect rendition of veal scaloppine lavished with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and a tangy lemon-white wine sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/961-4156. $$
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood —201 Plaza Real. Steak & Seafood. Eddie V’s is famous for its seafood and premium steaks, but this restaurant has also perfected the art of entertaining with nightly live music and a few tableside surprises. • Dinner nightly. 561/237-0067. $$$$
Farmer’s Table —1901 N. Military Trail. American. In the pantheon of healthy dining, Farmer’s Table is a standout in Boca, one of the first restaurants to elevate natural foods to fine dining. Fresh, natural, sustainable, organic and local is the mantra at this both tasty and health-conscious offering from Mitchell Robbins and Joey Giannuzzi. Menu highlights include flatbreads, slow-braised USDA Choice short rib and the popular Ramen Bowl, with veggies, ramen noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/417-5836. $$
For an affordable bite at any time, consider these durable chains and homegrown Boca favorites— where the attire is understated and reservations are rarely necessary.
Biergarten—309 Via De Palmas, #90. German/Pub. Part vaguely German beer garden, part all-American sports bar, this rustic eatery offers menus that channel both, as well as an excellent selection of two-dozen beers on tap and the same number by the bottle. The food is basic and designed to go well with suds, like the giant pretzel with a trio of dipping sauces and the popular “Biergarten burger.” • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $$
Bonefish Grill—9598 Glades Road. Seafood. Market-fresh seafood is the cornerstone, like Chilean sea bass prepared over a wood-burning grill and served with sweet Rhea’s topping (crabmeat, sautéed spinach and a signature lime, tomato and garlic sauce.) • Dinner nightly. Lunch on Saturdays. Brunch on Sundays. 561/483-4949. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/732-1310; 9897 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561/9652663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$
The Cheesecake Factory—5530 Glades Road. American. Oh, the choices! The chain has a Sunday brunch menu in addition to its main menu, which includes Chinese chicken salad and Cajun jambalaya. Don’t forget about the cheesecakes, from white chocolate and raspberry truffle offerings. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-0344. (Other Palm Beach County locations: CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/802-3838; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/776-3711). $$
Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St., Suite 904. Italian. Cross Naples (thin, blistered crust, judicious toppings) with Connecticut (fresh clams and no tomato sauce), and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the pies coming out of Nick Laudano’s custom-made ovens. The “white clam” pizza with garlic and bacon is killer-good; Caesar salad and tiramisu are much better than the usual pizzeria fare. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/3682900. $$
P.F. Chang’s—1400 Glades Road. Chinese. There may have been no revolution if Mao had simply eaten at the Boca outpost of P.F. Chang’s—the portions are large enough to feed the masses—and the exquisite tastes in each dish could soothe any tyrant. We particularly like the steamed fish of the day, as well as the Szechuan-style asparagus. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-3722. (Other Palm Beach County location: 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/691-1610) $$
The Sandwich Shop at Buccan—350 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Takeout stop. Like big sister Buccan Italian restaurant, the Sandwich Shop is full of flavor and builds your favorite sandwich with just a touch of delicious creativity you won’t find elsewhere. Owned by celeb chef Clay Conley and partners, the menu has hot or cold sandwiches, salads, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Good-sized portions mean the Italian and prosciutto subs include leftovers if you have some willpower.• Lunch daily. 561/833-6295. $$
Shake Shack—1400 Glades Road. American. We’re not sure there is really any such thing as a bad burger joint and when you have a really good one—like Shake Shack— there’s a little piece of heaven just a short order away. Shake Shack in University Commons has great all-Angus burgers, non-GMO buns, and a frozen custard that makes grown men weep. Throw in some crinkle-cut fries and life is the way it should be. And the outdoor patio is a definite bonus in these times. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/932-0847. $
Tap 42 —5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 247. Gastropub. This hugely popular nouveau-Industrial gastropub is not for the faint of eardrums when packed, but don’t let that discourage you. The kitchen here executes the hell out of a short, simple all-day menu. Grilled salmon chopped salad with tomatillo ranch dressing is delightful, as is guacamole studded with fat chunks of bacon and charred corn. Same goes for decadent shrimp mac-n-cheese. The wicked-good chocolate bread pudding with salted caramel sauce would be the envy of any Big Easy eatery. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/235-5819. $
Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen —399
S.E. Mizner Blvd. American. Natural, seasonal, sustainable. You’ll enjoy the varied menu, and won’t believe it’s made without butters or creams. Try the too-good-to-be-true buffalo-style cauliflower appetizer, the seared salmon or buffalo burger, and have apple skillet for dessert. Healthy never tasted so good. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$
Dos and don’ts of growing summer vegetables, from a South Florida expert
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTTAs we head into our sweltering South Florida summer, the heat index tends to make us question what, if anything, can flourish and survive under the sizzling sun. So, can crops grow in the summer? Yes! We sat down with vegetable maven Diane Cordeau, co-owner of Indiantown’s Kai-Kai Farm, to get her tips on cultivating your crops this summer and getting ready for the fall.
Cordeau and her husband, Carl Frost, started as novice farmers with three acres 20 years ago. Today, the produce power couple owns 40 acres, where they grow more than 50 varieties of vegetables, like 15 types of lettuce and 20 kinds of tomatoes. Kai-Kai prides itself on feeding its community through a variety of avenues. Its Farm Market runs on Saturday mornings, its Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, boxes are available year-round, and local, talented chefs host monthly farmto-table dinners in Kai-Kai’s quaint wood barn dining hall.
PREPARE YOUR
Crops need partial shade in the summer, so use shade cloths or tarps. To deter animals,
Cordeau suggests building a fence staked deep into the ground so that animals can’t burrow underneath it and cover the area with mesh. Also, if you harvested in the winter season, you can’t replant in the same area. You must find another space to plant summer crops while you solarize the winter soil by covering it with tarps to control pests (like nematodes) and improve its nu trients. Covering the soil where your tomatoes and peppers, for example, will be planted come fall will prepare it for that season.
You can plant in either, but if you plant directly into the soil, raise the area at least an additional foot above the grass with extra soil. This way, when it rains, the roots have enough room and won’t be flooded. When you’re ready to plant the seeds, do it in a row and at least six inches apart.
CHOOSE YOUR CROP WISELY
Only certain crops will grow in the summer heat and torrential storms. Eggplant, Malabar spinach (on a trellis), black-eyed peas, squash and zucchini are all great contenders. If you want to start small, plant herbs like parsley and basil (Thai or lime) on your shaded patio.
You have to be in the garden daily, watching your crops. Cordeau says to look under each leaf for little yellow eggs that look like a sewing machine made them, and wipe them off. Also, look out for snails and armyworms.
DON’T OVERWATER
Keep in mind summer showers and high humidity. Check the weather; if it’s rainy, don’t water. Also, never water at the end of the day. If you wake up in the morning and your crops aren’t spruced up and happy, they’re telling you they need water. Remember, if you overwater, you’re also watering down the flavor. She says, “the slower the plant takes to grow, the better the taste will be.” So practice patience in your garden.
Always harvest for dinner in the morning when the plants are fresh.
South Florida soil needs to be fertilized, so apply a slow-release fertilizer (not liquid, as it will be washed away with water) about every two months. If you want to step up your gardening game, try making a worm casting tea for essential nutrients your soil needs or your own compost with leftover peels and shavings. “You have to feed the roots, not just the top. If the roots are healthy, the top will grow,” she explains. Cordeau also suggests sending a soil sample to the University of Florida to test how fertile it is. kaikaifarm.com
The French Gazebo —4199 N. Federal Highway. French. Formerly Kathy’s Gazebo, this space has been a staple in our community for 40 years, but its new owners updated the design while keeping the same French classics on the menu like escargots, crêpes, dover sole and duckling. Its vintage character still reigns but now with an airier, contemporary undertone. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/395-6033. • $$$
Fries to Caviar —6299 N. Federal Highway. Contemporary American. Going one better than soup to nuts defines this Boca restaurant, an easygoing, affordable bistro that really does offer fries, caviar and more. Four varieties of fish eggs are shown off nicely crowning a quartet of deviled eggs, while the thick-cut fries complement a massively flavorful, almost fork-tender hanger steak in the classic steak frites.Try the seasonal soups as well. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/617-5965. $$
Gallaghers Steakhouse —2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Steakhouse. At this chophouse, the staff is laser-focused on service, the bar pours stiff drinks, and the kitchen dishes out perfectly cooked steaks—a pure embodiment of what you’d expect from a steakhouse. While Gallaghers proved itself a master of its craft, don’t overlook the other items on the menu, like the stuffed shrimp and veal chop. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/559-5800. $$$$
The Grille On Congress —5101 Congress Ave. American. Dishes at this longtime favorite range from tasty chicken entrees and main-plate salads to seafood options like Asian-glazed salmon or pan-seared yellowtail snapper. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$
Houston’s —1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Contemporary American. Convenient location, stylish ambience and impeccable service are hallmarks of this local outpost of the Hillstone restaurant chain. There are plenty of reasons why this is one of the most popular business lunch spots in all of Boca, including menu items like Cajun trout, the mammoth salad offerings and the tasty baby back ribs. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$$
Il Mulino New York Boca Raton —451 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. From the four pre-menu bites to the after-dinner coffee from freshly ground beans, this is a white-tablecloth venue that delivers on its upscale promises. Try the langostino, the red snapper, the risotto, the pasta, or go for the ceviches, caviars and seafood tower. Save room for dessert and complimentary lemoncello. Make a night of it. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/338-8606. $$$
Josephine’s —5751 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Tradition trumps trendy, and comfort outweighs chic at this Boca favorite. The ambience is quiet and stately but not stuffy, and the menu is full of hearty dishes to soothe the savage appetite, like threecheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$
Kapow Noodle Bar —402 Plaza Real. Asian Kapow delivers an effervescent ambiance that makes you want to relax and stay a while. Its varied menu has something for every craving, from crispy rice and tacos to rolls and even Peking duck. Up your dinner game by reserving a seat at the separate omakase bar serving chef-curated bites that aren’t on the regular menu. And if you’re looking for a memorable night out, book one of the three karaoke rooms.• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-8828. $
Ke’e Grill —17940 N. Military Trail, Suite 700. Traditional American. In this busy dining scene for more than 30 years,
you will find a lot of seafood (fried calamari, blue crab cakes, yellowtail snapper Francaise and lots more), a few steak, chicken, lamb and pork options, and a quality house-made apple crisp. Your traditional choices are baked, fried, breaded, grilled, broiled, sauteed. With Provencal, Francaise, maple mustard glaze, toasted macadamia nut pesto and piccata twists. A consistent crowd for a consistent menu. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$
Kousine Peruvian Asian —1668 N. Federal Highway. Peruvian/Asian. Chef and owner Danny Kou shares his Peruvian heritage with a curated menu of dishes that accurately represent his country’s famous ceviche while introducing patrons to unique dishes that are just as tempting. Kousine’s space is bright and modern, with exposed industrial ceilings complemented with warm woods and greenery. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/430-3337. $$
La Condesa —3320 Airport Road. Mexican. Mexico’s bold, colorful and lively culture is reflected in its cuisine, and it’s evident at La Condesa. This family-owned restaurant’s take on Mexican fare offers a sizable menu with a wide selection of popular drinks and dishes like margaritas, nachos, street tacos and burritos. You can also opt for less mainstream dishes like the mole cazuelitas, and you won’t be disappointed. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/931-4008. $
La Nouvelle Maison —55 E. Palmetto Park Road. French. A dining experience at a French restaurant is never just about satiating your hunger. It’s about the entire experience, and La Nouvelle Maison embraces that joie de vivre from the moment you step inside. Whether you delight in the garlic-infused escargots, steak tartare or beef Bourgogne, none of the classic French dishes disappoint here.• Dinner nightly. 561/338-3003. $$$$
La Villetta —4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas and other classic dishes. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt; it’s de-boned right at tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$$
Max’s Grille offers a mini menu of Fido’s favorites for patio service, including the Barkaroni Pasta complete with carrots and green beans.
Le Rivage —450 N.E. 20th St., Suite 103. French. Don’t overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery. That would be a mistake, because the dishes that virtually scream “creativity” can’t compare to the quiet pleasures served here—like cool, soothing vichyssoise, delicate fillet of sole with nutty brown butter sauce or perfectly executed crème brûlee. Good food presented without artifice at a fair price never goes out of fashion. • Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$
Loch Bar —346 Plaza Real. Seafood. This sister restaurant to Ouzo Bay includes fried oysters, moules frites and Maryland crab cakes. The bar offers literally hundreds of whiskeys, a noisy happy hour crowd and live music most nights. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/939-6600. $$
Los Olivos Bistro —5030 Champion Blvd. Argentine. The family-owned bistro’s menu honors familial Argentine roots with typical crave-worthy dishes like empanadas and plenty of red meat. Still, it also honors the cuisine’s Spanish and Italian influences with its standout paellas and housemade pasta. • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/756-8928. $
Louie Bossi’s —100 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This jumping joint serves terrific Neapolitan pizza (thin crust), but don’t miss the other entrées. Start with a charcuterie/ cheese plate and grab the amazing breadsticks. All breads
and pastas are made on the premises. Other faves include the carbonara and the calamari, and save room for house-made gelato. Unusual features: Try the bocce ball court included with the retro Italian décor. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/336-6699. $$$
Luff’s Fish House —390 E. Palmetto Park Road. Seafood. A renovated 1920s bungalow houses this shipshape restaurant, in addition to two large, outdoor deck and patio areas. It’s known for familiar dish names with new tweaks: smoked fish-hummus dip, falafel fish fritters, crab guacamole, mussels in coconut curry broth, plus the paella on Sundays only. Don’t leave without the enormous slice of the Key lime pie, topped with meringue on a graham cracker crust. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/609-2660. $$
Maggiano’s —21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. Do as the Italians do, and order family-style: Sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, a salad, two pastas, two entrées and two desserts. The menu also includes lighter takes on staples like chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$
Mario’s Osteria —1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian. This popular spot features rustic Italian fare in a sleek environment. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes” are on the new menu, as are butternut squash ravioli and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$
Matteo’s —233 S. Federal Highway, Suite 108. Italian. Hearty Italian and Italian-American food, served in giant “family style” portions, needs no reinventing. Though there is no shortage of local restaurants cooking in that genre, it’s the details of preparation and service that make Matteo’s stand out. Baked clams are a good place to start, as is the reliable chopped salad. Linguini frutti di mare is one of the best in town. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-0773. $$
Max’s Grille —404 Plaza Real. Contemporary American. After 24 years in Mizner Park, This modern American bistro is a true local classic. The food and decor are both timeless and up to date, and the ambience is that of a smooth-running big-city bistro. Service is personable and proficient. The menu is composed of dishes you really want to eat, from the applewood bacon-wrapped meatloaf to the wickedly indulgent crème brûlèe pie. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/368-0080. $$
Meat Market — 2000 NW 19th St. Steakhouse . Meat Market has infused Midtown Boca Raton with glamour. Its posh interiors and high energy complement its diverse menu that revolves around steak but is also sprinkled with daily specials and sushi that shouldn’t be overlooked. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/245-6777. $$$$
Medi Terra —301 Via de Palmas #99. Mediterranean. Embracing western Mediterranean cuisine, the menu is seasonal and revolves around what the owners can freshly source, so make sure to wait for the specials before making any final decisions. The father-son duo bought Ristorante Sapori in Royal Palm Place and redesigned it to reflect their passion for Mediterranean cuisine. Lunch and Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/367-9779. $$
Morton’s The Steakhouse —5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 219. Steakhouse. There’s seemingly no end to diners’ love of huge slabs of high-quality aged beef, nor to the carnivores who pack the clubby-swanky dining room of this meatery.
While the star of the beef show is the giant bone-in filet mignon, seasonally featured is the American Wagyu New York strip. Finish off your meal with one of the decadent desserts.• Dinner nightly. 561/392-7724. $$$$
New York Prime —2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steakhouse. This wildly popular Boca meatery Monday, Monday packs them in with swift, professional service, classy supper club ambience and an extensive wine list. And, of course, the beef—all USDA Prime, cooked to tender and juicy lusciousness over ferocious heat. The bone-in rib-eye is especially succulent, but don’t neglect the New York strip or steak-house classics like oysters Rockefeller, garlicky spinach and crusty hash browns. • Dinner nightly. 561/998-3881. $$$$
Patio Tapas & Beer —205 S.E. First Ave. Spanish. Be transported to the Iberian Peninsula with a variety of tapas. Chef Bryant Fajardo, who trained under celebrated chef José Andrés, specializes in one of Spain’s most traditional and iconic cuisines and delivers both classic selections like Manchego cheese and anchovies alongside premium nibbles like seared duck and foie gras. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/419-7239. $
Prezzo —5560 N. Military Trail. Italian. A reincarnation of a popular 1990s Boca venue, this version has updated the dining room, kept the yummy oven-baked focaccia bread slices, and added a 21st-century taste to the menu. Don’t miss the tender bone-in pork chop, thin-crust pizza and seafood specials. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are on the menu, too. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/314-6840. $$
Rafina —6877 S.W. 18th St. Greek. If you find the ambience of most Greek restaurants to be like a frat party with flaming cheese and ouzo, this contemporary, casually elegant spot will be welcome relief. Food and decor favor refinement over rusticity, even in such hearty and ubiquitous dishes as pastitsio and spanakopita. Standout dishes include the moussaka, the creamy and mildly citrusy avgolemono soup and the precisely grilled, simply adorned (with olive oil, lemon and capers) branzino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3673. $$
Red Pine Restaurant & Lounge —1 Town Center Road. Chinese. The menu is designed to be enjoyed family-style, with substantial portions of classic dishes like house-made vegetable eggrolls, fried rice and General Tso’s chicken, to name a few. The space is bright and lively, with floorto-ceiling windows, an expansive bar, and several dining spaces accentuated with crimson banquettes. • Dinner Tues-Sun. 561/826-7595. $$
Ruth’s Chris —225 N.E. Mizner Blvd., Suite 100. Steakhouse. Not only does this steakhouse favorite emphasize its New Orleans roots, it also distinguishes itself from its competitors by just serving better food. The signature chopped salad has a list of ingredients as long as a hose but they all work together. And how can you not like a salad topped with crispy fried onion strings? Steaks are USDA Prime and immensely flavorful, like a perfectly seared New York strip. The white chocolate bread pudding is simply wicked. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 651 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544; 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660.) $$$$
If Italy isn’t on your summer trip list this year, you can still feel like you’re embracing la dolce vita as you sip on this beloved lemon-infused liqueur. Limoncello can be an aperitif or digestif, but with its sweet potency, it can easily replace a dessert. Originating on the Amalfi Coast, it’s made with Amalfi lemons, but you can easily whip up your own version at home with lemons, a neutral spirit (like vodka) and sugar. An important note to consider before you start is that you need to plan ahead to give the lemon peels and chosen spirit at least one week (the longer, the better) to sit undisturbed to infuse. Celebrate National Limoncello Day on June 22 with a handcrafted limoncello. Salute!
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
Awell-designed, well-thought-out, and well-executed tablescape sets the mood for a dinner party or event before a syllable is uttered. But creating this masterpiece is easier said than done. So, we asked Alisa Chirdaris, owner of Pialisa and South Florida’s premier fête stylist extraordinaire, for her industry tips and tricks to ensure a flawless tablescape design.
Chirdaris turned her photography hobby into a career pivot when she became a wedding photographer upon moving back to the States after quitting London’s corporate world in search of more balance in her life. But after shooting one uninspired tablescape after another, she turned her deflated attitude into another career shift and opened Pialisa Party Equipment Rentals six years ago. Now, instead of complaining about an event’s lack of creativity, she could do something about it by helping her clients fashion soirées that are equally effortless and striking. By renting dinnerware delivered straight to their door, her clients don’t have to do the dishes after hosting a long evening, and Chirdaris is happy to take that chore off their plate (pun intended). Is there anything better than that?
“On a surface level, we provide high-end tableware for events, but it’s much more than that,”she explains.“Our company matters because we really care about our clients. That’s what our company is about. That’s who we are. The product could be anything—it’s the service that matters.”
DETERMINE THE THEME
Think about the mood you want to set for the event. Is it a sophisticated affair or a casual, relaxed gathering? Your tablescape is your party’s first impression, so also consider the emotions you want your guests to feel when they enter. Calm? Excited?
Whether you want your table’s color to be on trend with Pantone’s color of the year (peach fuzz), or want to incorporate a tried-and-true classic blue-and-white palette, Chirdaris recommends weaving your personality into the event. If you love color and want to host a lively event, don’t choose just white and gold. Create an ombre table arrangement where it starts at red on one end and continues through the colors of the rainbow.
Select linen textures that align with your theme and where the party is. Is your event in a warm, sunny setting? Pick a soft, light linen. Or is it in the snowy mountains? Choose a cozy but sophisticated velvet. Also, look around to see what you can pull from your environment to incorporate into your design. In Florida, we have palm leaves and bright seasonal vegetables.
How can you honor them and make them feel special? “The details make it unique and special,” Chirdaris says. Personalizing a menu with their names is nice, but take it up a notch. If it’s a hot day, add a fan to the place setting. If it’s cold, a wrap to stay warm will show them you care.
When thinking about the table design, try something different, like placing the tables in a U-shape or square so that everyone can see each other and feel like part of the conversation. And lean in to using place cards for seating assignments. Chirdaris suggests sitting people together that don’t know each other but you hope will hit it off.“I like to unite people, and I want them to walk away with new friends.”
EAT & DRINK RESTAURANT
EVENT PLANNER: One Inspired Party; CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Johanna Dilone; DESIGN & DECOR: Gilded Group Decor; TABLETOP RENTALS: Pialisa; RENTALS: Nuage Designs; PHOTOGRAPHER: Manolo Doreste
Seasons 52 —2300 Executive Center Drive. Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is firstrate, from salmon roasted on a cedar plank to desserts served in oversized shot glasses. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-9952. (Other Palm Beach County location: 11611 Ellison Wilson Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/625-5852.) $$
SeaSpray Inlet Grill —999 E. Camino Real. American. Unobstructed views of Lake Boca Raton, soaring palm trees and coastal décor peppered with fringed umbrellas all set the mood for a relaxing experience that will make you feel as if you’re on vacation. The menu accommodates different dietary preferences with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Don’t sleep on the pear tortellini pasta starter; it’s a star item. Portions are hearty and can be easily shared. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/226-3022. $$
Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton. American. The dimly lit chandeliers, burgundy velvet curtains and smooth Sinatra lyrics set the mood for a memorable evening that’s dedicated to fine dining without pretention. With a seasonal menu that’s ever changing, you can rest assured that whatever husband and wife chef-proprietors Tom and Jenny Finn prepare for you, it will truly be special and made with love. • Dinner Thurs.-Sat. 561/347-6260. $$$$
Taverna Kyma —6298 N. Federal Highway. Greek/ Mediterranean. Hankering for a traditional Greek meal, and a menu that offers just about everything? This is where you want to try the meze plates (cold, hot, seafood, veggie), saganaki, grilled entrees and kebobs. From the taramosalata to the branzino and pastitsio, servings are generous and good. Don’t forget dessert. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-2828. $$
Trattoria Romana —499 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This local mainstay does Italian classics and its own lengthy list of ambitious specials with unusual skill and aplomb. The service is at a level not always seen in local restaurants. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if they include impeccably done langostini oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner nightly. 561/393-6715. $$$
Twenty Twenty Grille —141 Via Naranjas, Suite 45. Contemporary American. You’ve probably licked postage stamps that are larger than Ron and Rhonda Weisheit’s tiny jewel box of a restaurant, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm, sophistication and imaginative, expertly crafted food. Virtually everything is made in-house, from the trio of breads that first grace your table to the pasta in a suave dish of tagliatelle with duck and chicken confit. Don’t miss the jerk pork belly and grilled veal strip loin. • Dinner nightly. 561/990-7969. $$$
Villagio Italian Eatery —344 Plaza Real. Italian
The classic Italian comfort food at this Mizner Park establishment is served with flair and great attention to detail. The reasonably priced menu—with generous portions—includes all your favorites (veal Parmesan, Caesar salad) and some outstanding seafood dishes (Maine lobster with shrimp, mussels and clams on linguine). There is a full wine list and ample people-watching given the prime outdoor seating. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/447-2257. $$
Vino —114 N.E. Second St. Wine Bar/Italian. An impressive wine list of some 250 plus bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of choices, especially among Italian and California reds. The menu of “Italian tapas” includes roasted red peppers with Provolone, as well as ricotta gnocchi with San Marzano tomatoes. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/869-0030. $$
Yakitori —271 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Asian. This Japanese restaurant that has sat for nearly a decade in Royal Palm Place is still welcoming devoted diners and delivering consistent, premium dishes. Sip on one of its refreshing cocktails like the lychee martini or green tea mojito before perusing the vast menu that offers everything from sushi and sashimi to fried rice, ramen and entrées from the robata grill. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/544-0087. $$
Boon’s Asian Bistro —19605 N. State Road 7. Japanese/Thai. This is one of two Boon’s (the other is in Delray Beach), and it’s where the rush to eat excellent sushi started. The fast-moving staff is choreographed to deliver dishes such as shrimp pad Thai that’s light, delicate and happily filled with shrimp. The Thai fried rice is unusually delicate too, with lots of egg, and is some of the best around. The sushi rolls are as fresh and inventive (try the Daimyo roll) as they are beautifully presented. Go early or call for a reservation. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/883-0202. $$
Chloe’s Bistro —6885 S.W. 18th St. Italian. One of the few venues that’s on the water, with food to match the view. Try the seafood linguine, the large snapper filets in Marechiara sauce, and the desserts to end on a sweet note. House-made pasta and a good wine list ensure a pleasant, satisfying meal. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/334-2088. $$
City Fish Market—7940 Glades Road. Seafood. A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house with a lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked with care and little artifice. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/487-1600. $$
Ditmas Kitchen —21077 Powerline Road. Contemporary kosher. This west Boca restaurant is named after a Brooklyn avenue in a district known for its food. Here you’ll find very good casual food, and no dairy products are used. Try the Hibachi salmon, all-kale Caesar salad, the shnitzel sandwich. • Dinner Sun.-Thurs. 561/826-8875. $$$
DVASH —8208 Glades Road. Mediterranean. The menu, a collection of Mediterranean fusion dishes with a variety of daily specials, caters to an array of diets, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. The Cohen family, who previously owned Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar in Coral Springs for more than a decade, now welcomes diners to this West Boca restaurant that’s tucked away in the Publix Greenwise strip mall. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/826-7784. $$
Oli’s Fashion Cuisine —6897 S.W. 18th St. Modern American. With the unusual name comes a menu sporting lobster risotto to tuna tacos, grilled mahi and more. There are Italian, vegetarian, steak, flatbreads, salads and desserts, all pleasing to the eye and palate. Inside is a bit noisy, so try the outdoor, lakeside patio for a quieter meal. • Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast weekends. 561/571-6920. $$
Sunday Brunch is an institution at 800 Palm Trail Grill, where peach cobbler pancakes, Key West conch fritters and pancake tacos share a decadent menu of approximately 30 options.
Oliv Pit Athenian Grille —6006 S.W. 18th St. Modern Greek. The owners’ goal of bringing together the best of Greek cooking under one roof, much like the melting pot that is Athens, is covered here in an extensive menu. The best way to enjoy the food is to share it: the Pikilia trio with tzatziki, spicy feta and eggplant spread is a starting place. Try the mix grill platter and the hearty red Greek wine. End the night with a unique, velvety frappe cappuccino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-2049. $$
Skyfin Asian Bistro —8221 Glades Road. Asian. After nearly a decade of dishing out elevated Beijing cuisine at MR CHOW inside the posh W South Beach, chef Aden Lee left his sous chef
position to venture out on his own. Here, you’ll find both playfully named sushi rolls and fresh sashimi alongside protein-rich house specials, fried rice and noodles. Don’t miss the Toro Roll and Tangerine Peel Beef. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/556-1688. $$
Villa Rosano—9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian. You can be forgiven for imagining yourself in some rustic Italian hill town as the smells of garlic and tomato sauce waft through the air. Start by sopping up the house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto and delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/470-0112. $$
Driftwood —2005 S. Federal Highway. Modern American. Take food combos that sound unusual (popcorn sauce, avocado chocolate ice cream) but that taste wonderful and you’ve got Chef Jimmy Everett’s ideas on the table. They don’t last long, because they taste terrific. Try the smoked swordfish, the lobster with pickled okra, ricotta dumplings, the burger with gouda, the grilled octopus and pastrami’d chicken breast with roasted cabbage. • Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/733-4782. $$
Josie’s Italian Ristorante—1602 S. Federal Highway. Italian. Famed chef and South Florida culinary godfather Mark Militello is back at Josie’s after a brief stint at Boca’s Prezzo, and his magic in the kitchen of this cozy, old-school Italian restaurant is duly noted. His influence is evident in the daily specials, but old favorites like beefy short rib meatballs, an upmarket version of the classic San Francisco cioppino, and Josie’s signature veal Bersaglieri (veal medallions with artichokes, olives and roasted peppers in lemon-white wine sauce) don’t fail to satisfy either. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/364-9601. $$
Prime Catch —700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood
Waterfront restaurants are few and far between in our neck of the woods, and those with good food are even more rare. Prime Catch, at the foot of the Woolbright bridge on the Intracoastal, is a best-kept secret. The simple pleasures here soar—a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$
Sushi Simon 1628 S. Federal Highway. Japanese It’s been called “Nobu North” by some aficionados, and for good reason. Local sushi-philes jam the narrow dining room for such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like snapper Morimoto and tuna tartare. Creative, elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$
50 Ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$
800 Palm Trail Grill—800 Palm Trail. American. This contemporary space is serving up American fare and classic cocktails. The menu has a steak-and-seafood-house feel to it but without any stuffiness. Instead, you’ll find dishes that entice the palate, like the loaded baked potato eggrolls and Wagyu boneless short rib. • Lunch and dinner daily, with patio dining. 561/865-5235. $$$
Akira Back —233 NE Second Ave. Japanese Chef Akira Back’s Seoul restaurant earned a Michelin star a few years ago and now he’s showcasing his talented take on Japanese cuisine at his namesake restaurant inside The Ray hotel. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Back blends his heritage with Japanese flavors and techniques he has mastered to deliver dishes that are unique to him. With plates made to be shared, the menu is divided into cold and hot starters followed by rolls, nigiri/sashimi, robata grill, mains and fried rice. Dinner. 561/739-1708. $$$$
Amar Mediterranean Bistro —522 E. Atlantic Ave. Lebanese. From the moment you step inside, there’s a familial feeling, a hidden gem that everyone is drawn to. Amar is a quaint bistro amidst the buzzy Atlantic Avenue that serves Lebanese food. But this isn’t your typical hummus and pita joint. Here, the proprietor’s family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5653. $$
Angelo Elia Pizza • Bar • Tapas — 16950 Jog Road. Italian. Nothing on the menu of Angelo Elia’s modern, small plates-oriented osteria disappoints, but particularly notable are the meaty fried baby artichokes stuffed with breadcrumbs and speck, delicate chicken-turkey meatballs in Parmesan-enhanced broth, and Cremona pizza with a sweetsalty-earthy-pungent mélange of pears, pancetta, Gorgonzola, sun-dried figs and mozzarella. • Lunch Tues.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/381-0037. $
Atlantic Grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/Contemporary American. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa is home to a 450-gallon aquarium of tranquil moon jellyfish and a 2,500-gallon shark tank. Savor inventive cuisine that takes the contemporary to the extraordinary. Bold flavors, inspired techniques and the freshest ingredients make every meal a culinary adventure. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/665-4900. $$
Avalon Steak and Seafood—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/Steakhouse. The enticing reasons we all go to a steakhouse are present here—boozy cocktails, a diverse wine list, dry aged steaks, prime cuts, rich accompaniments, decadent sides and more. The menu is then enhanced with a selection of seafood like a raw bar medley of oysters, shrimp and crab alongside the customary octopus, fish, scallops and lobster. Don’t miss Avalon’s signature dish, the Angry Lobster. • Dinner nightly. 561/593-2500. $$$$
Bamboo Fire Cafe —149 N.E. Fourth Ave. Caribbean. The Jacobs family joyously shares its Latin and Caribbean culture through food that’s bursting with bright island aromas and flavors. Tostones, plantain fries and jerk meatballs share the menu with curry pork, oxtail and conch. A quintessential Delray gem. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/749-0973. $
Bar 25 Gastropub —25 S.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach. American. Taking inspiration from the Northeast, the menu boasts staples like Philly cheesesteak, Rhode Island clams, pierogis, Old Bay fries and plenty of mootz (aka mozzarella). Loyal to its gastropub DNA, dishes here aren’t complicated or complex but satisfying, interesting takes on the familiar without being boring. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/359-2643. $
Beg for More Izakaya —19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese Small Plates. The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No sushi. And that’s fine. Try the takoyaki (octopus balls), the crispy salmon tacos and anything with the addictive kimchi, such as the kimchi fried rice. There are pasta, teriyaki and simmered duck with bok choy dishes—or 16 varieties of yakitori (food on skewers). You’ll be back to beg for more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-8849. $$
Brulé Bistro —200 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The regular menu of this Pineapple Grove favorite always has satisfying dishes. Its specialties include crab tortellini with black truffles, chicken meatballs with coconut broth and cashews, plus signature dessert pistachio crème brùlée. Spirits and house cocktails steeped in speakeast style are paired with an ever-changing menu. Outside tables offer the best option for conversation. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-2046. $$
Burt & Max’s —9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This bastion of contemporary comfort food in west Delray is approaching local landmark status, forging its own menu while borrowing a few dishes from Max’s Grille, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, including a stellar truffle-scented wild mushroom pizza. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$
Cabana El Rey —105 E. Atlantic Ave. Cuban tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue, including starters like mariquitas (fried banana chips) and main courses such as seafood paella (think mussels, shrimp, clams, conch, scallops and octopus). • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9090. $$
Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian. This multiple Delray Beach-award winning restaurant has sparkling service, comfort food taken to a higher level, and a setting just steps from the Atlantic. A success from day one, they dish up big flavors in a tiny space, so call for reservations. Try the calamari fritto misto, then the rigatoni pomodoro and leave room for dessert. Or come back for breakfast. • Open daily from breakfast through dinner. 561/274-9404. $$
Casa L’Acqua Ristorante Italiano —9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Casa L’Acqua is touted as a fine-dining establishment, and correctly so; diners can expect white tablecloths, tuxedoed staff and attentive service. The wine list is Italian-focused but does offer a variety of bottles from around the world, and each dish is expertly prepared with sizable por tions. The main dining room, with its vibey bar and wine cellar, is cozy, and so is its fully enclosed patio in the back. • Dinner nightly. 561/563-7492. $$
City Oyster —213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$
Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar —25 N.E. Second Ave. Asian. Local hospitality veterans Tina Wang and chef Jason Zheng continue to grow their restaurant empire with this concept. The extensive menu caters to any palate, dietary restriction or craving and features both traditional and creative dishes. Soups and salads lead into sushi selections and appetizers divided into cool and hot. Cooked and raw rolls are followed by rice, noodle, land and sea entrée options. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Sunday brunch. 561/908-2557. $$
Wh ile summer brings us mangoes—and in South Florida, sometimes we end up with more mangoes than we know what to do with—we shouldn’t forget about the other tasty tropical fruit: the papaya. Aside from being creamy and sweet, it’s also loaded with antioxidants, fiber and folic acid, and has been seen to help with digestion and reduce inflammation. Originally from Central America, it now also flourishes in Asia and other parts of the world. While you may be inclined to scoop the seeds out, they are edible and traditionally have been used as an antiparasitic. Some studies have shown that certain compounds in the seeds support liver health. So, what are some enticing ways to enjoy this healthy treat? Cool down with papaya popsicles, or add prosciutto over slices of papaya for an appetizer. Dried papaya can be a sweet afternoon snack, add them to a smoothie in the morning, or cut them in half, remove the seeds and grill them for a new side dish.
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
Cut 432 —432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wetaged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$
Costa By OK&M—502 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Costa takes chef/owner Coton Stine’s dedication to farmto-table fare to an elevated level with its seasonal menu. Working closely with local farms and vendors, Stine curates deliciously healthy dishes that tempt your palate while fueling your body. For those with dietary restrictions, the dishes are clearly labeled gluten-free or vegan, which adds a sense of ease to the experience. The corner space is comfortable and embraces natural elements with its wicker chairs, lanterns, greenery and expansive sliding doors. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/501-6115. • $$
Dada—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. The same provocative, whimsical creativity that spawned Dada the art movement infuses Dada the restaurant, giving it a quirky charm all its own. The comfort food with a moustache menu has its quirky charms, too, like shake-n-bake pork chops with sweet-savory butterscotch onions, and a brownie-vanilla ice cream sundae with strips of five-spice powdered bacon. The wittily decorated 1920s-vintage house-turned-restaurant is, as they say, a trip. • Dinner nightly. 561/330-3232. $$
Deck 84 —840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the stellar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey seasonal cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/665-8484. $
Drift —10 N. Ocean Blvd. American . Inside the Opal Grand Resort & Spa, the restaurant’s coastal décor is polished with warm woods, textured stone walls, rope detailing and living walls. The bar is spacious, and several nooks overlook the ocean and the buzzy Atlantic Avenue. The all-day menu covers all the bases. You’ll find easy dishes to snack on after the beach, or if you’re craving an extended Happy Hour experience, enjoy the cheese board, hummus, baked oysters and poke alongside casual burgers, flatbreads and salads. The entrées offer something for everyone, including chicken, steak, lamb and fish. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-3289. $$
Eathai —1832 S. Federal Highway. Thai. If you’re craving approachable and affordable Thai food, put Eathai at the top of your list. While you can expect to find curries, noodles, soups and fried rice on the menu, the dishes here aren’t the typical ones you’ll find around town. Indulge in the Thai Chicken French Toasted or Crispy Duck Breast with Lychee Curry Sauce or Oxtail Basil Fried Rice to savor the true talent of owner and chef Sopanut Sopochana. • Lunch and dinner daily, except Tuesday. 561/270-3156. $
El Camino —15 N.E. Second Ave. Mexican. This sexy, bustling downtown spot is from the trio behind nearby Cut 432 and Park Tavern. Fresh, quality ingredients go into everything from the tangy tomatillo salsas to the world-class fish tacos clad in delicate fried skin, set off by tart pineapple salsa. Cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros are the perfect dessert. And check out the margaritas, especially the smoky blend of mezcal and blanco tequila. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5350. $$
Elisabetta’s —32 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. An ornate Italian spot, with classically prepared dishes including spiedini shrimp, burrata de prosciutto bruschetta, costoletta di vitello (veal), a guanciale pizza, cacio e pepe pasta, malfadine Amatriciana and gemelli puttanesca. Portions are large and that, thankfully, goes for the homemade gelati, too. The best seating outdoors is the second-floor balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue. • Lunch and dinner daily; weekend brunch. 561/650-6699. $$
everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$
Il Girasole —2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. If you want Northern Italian in a low-key atmosphere, and nobody rushing you out the door, this is your spot. Start with something from the very good wine list. Try the yellowtail snapper, the penne Caprese and the capellini Gamberi, and leave room for the desserts. Reservations recommended. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$
J&J Seafood Bar & Grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on Atlantic Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (who is also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. This is is a bona fide local go-to spot that never disappoints. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$
Jimmy’s Bistro —9 S. Swinton Ave. International. Jimmy’s Bistro is a casual neighborhood concept serving consistently delightful dishes from a diverse menu that can transport diners to Italy with house-made pasta or Asia with its delicate dumplings and tender duck. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5774. $$$
Joseph’s Wine Bar —200 N.E. Second Ave. Mediterranean-American. Joseph’s is an elegant, comfortable, intimate nook in Delray’s Pineapple Grove, and an ideal place for a lazy evening. This family affair—owner Joseph Boueri, wife Margaret in the kitchen, and son Elie and daughter Romy working the front of the house—has all tastes covered. Try the special cheese platter, the duck a l’orange or the rack of lamb. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-6100. $$
La Cigale —253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean. Popular venue since 2001, with Greek and Italian dishes and more. Highlights are seafood paella, roasted half duck and grilled jumbo artichoke appetizer. Lots of favorites on the menu: calf’s liver, veal osso buco, branzino, seafood crepes. Nice outdoor seating if weather permits. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$
Latitudes —2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Modern American. You should come for both the sunset and the food. This oceanfront restaurant is a gem tucked inside the Delray Sands resort. From the airy, bubbly interior to the raw bar, the décor is soothing and fun. Try the lobster and crab stuffed shrimp, the miso-glazed Skuna Bay salmon, the branzino or the veal Bolognese. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-6241. $$$
A Nose For Wine
Michael Haycook, chef at The Grove and a Culinary Institute graduate, is also the restaurant’s sommelier, a post he previously held with Daniel Boulud Group.
The Grove —187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Grove, which has been tucked inside the tranquil Pineapple Grove district for nearly a decade, continues to surprise diners with its vibrant dishes. The upscale but casually comfortable nook has an international wine list that spans the globe and a seasonal menu that’s succinct and well thought out. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/266-3750. $$
The Hampton Social —40 N.E. Seventh Ave. American. The Hampton Social is known for its “rosé all day” tagline, but it doesn’t just slay its rosé; its food is equally as tempting. It does a standout job of incorporating its casual coastal aesthetic into not just its décor but also its menu, from its seafood-centric dishes to its droll cocktail names like the vodka-forward I Like It a Yacht. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/404-1155. $$
Henry’s —16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of
Le Colonial 601 E. Atlantic Ave. Vietnamese French. Le Colonial radiates classic elegance that is as sophisticated as it is comfortable. Created to showcase Vietnamese cuisine and its French influences, Le Colonial has a standout method of curating classic Vietnamese dishes that appeal to various palates, from meat lovers and pescatarians to vegetarians. The space immediately transports you back to Saigon’s tropical paradise of the 1920s. Lush birds of paradise and palms line the halls that lead into intimate dining nooks throughout the 7,000-square-foot restaurant.• Lunch (on weekends) and dinner daily. 561/566-1800. $$$
Lemongrass Bistro —420 E. Atlantic Ave. PanAsian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this a popular destination. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-5050. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton, 561/544-8181; 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/733-1344). $
Lionfish —307 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. Focusing on sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, Lionfish’s menu is diverse while its coastal décor is both stylish and comfortable. Choose from oysters, octopus, specialty sushi rolls, fresh catches and, of course, the namesake white flaky fish in a variety of preparations including whole fried and as a bright ceviche. Make sure to save room for the Key lime pie bombe dessert. • Dinner nightly, brunch weekends. 561/639-8700. $$$
Lulu’s—189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Lulu’s in Pineapple Grove offers a relaxed ambiance with unfussy, approachable food. The quaint café is open every day and serves an all-day menu including breakfast until 3 p.m. and a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées that are ideal for an executive lunch, lively tapas happy hour, casual dinner or late night snack (until 2 a.m.). • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/453-2628. $
MIA Kitchen & Bar—7901 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$
The Office —201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/276-3600. $$
Papa’s Tapas —259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $
Park Tavern —32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders, chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$
Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar —5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$
Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. While not your traditional Italian trattoria, it is a place to find new favorites and revisit old standards updated with delicious ingredients and high standards. Try the Monet-colored lobster risotto, or house-made pasta, pizza, bread and desserts. From the mushroom arancini to the tiramisu, you will be glad Owner/Chef Suzanne Perrotto is in the kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/271-9423. $$
Salt7—32 S.E. Second Ave. Modern American. All the pieces needed to create a top-notch restaurant are here: talented chef, great food, excellent service. From the pea risotto to the crab cake to the signature steaks and a lot more, this is a venue worth the money. There is new ownership here and private rooms.
special events and a yummy catering menu. Downtown Delray dining never looked so good. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Brunch Sunday. 561/274-7258. $$$
Sazio —131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$
Taki Omakase —632 E. Atlantic Ave. Japanese. Taki Omakase, a shining example of omakase done right, has opened not one but two locations in our community (the other is at 1658 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton). It is pricy—an experience is more than $100 per person—but it’s worth it, with one caveat: You must enthusiastically love eating raw fish. Every night is different because it prides itself on importing fish, meat and seasonal ingredients from Japan that arrive daily. So, if you do pine for the delicacies of the sea, buckle in and get ready for the talented chefs at Taki Omakase to guide you through a culinary journey unlike anything else.• Dinner nightly, lunch hour Fri.-Sun. 561/759-7362. $$$$
Terra Fiamma —9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/4955570. $$
Tramonti —119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world where restaurants chase trends with the relentlessness of Casanova in full Viagra heat, Tramonti stands out as a classic outpost of authentic Italian cookery. Not trendy hardly means stodgy, however, as evidenced by expertly crafted, robustly flavorful dishes like the signature spiedini di mozzarella Romana, spaghetti al cartoccio and braciole Napoletana. Torta della nonna is a triumph of the highly refined simplicity that lies at the heart of true Italian cuisine. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-1944. $$$
Piano Man
Complementing the white-tablecloth ambiance of Cafe L’Europe, the restaurant welcomes musician David Crohan to perform Thursdays through Saturdays on its grand piano.
Vic & Angelo’s —290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Larger than personal pies, thin-crust pizzas are family-friendly, while you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini, fluffy purses filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. For a protein, try the traditional chicken parmigiana, a hearty portion of paper-thin breaded chicken breast topped with a subtly sweet San Marzano sauce under a gooey layer of fresh mozzarella, and a substantial side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$
Oceano Kitchen —512 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach. Contemporary American. Chefs and owners Jeremy and Cindy Bearman have a talent for crafting a simple daily menu of ever-changing dishes that explode with flavors and are curated with thoughtfulness and the utmost detail. Genuine hospitality is at the core of their restaurant. For newcomers, it’s cash only and it doesn’t take reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait. Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/400-7418. $$$
Paradiso Ristorante —625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is
also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean salt-crusted branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$
The Station House —233 Lantana Road. Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 6 pounds) and are reasonably priced. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. $$
Bice —313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$
Buccan —350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Casual elegance of Palm Beach meets modern culinary sensibilities of Miami at the first independent restaurant by chef Clay Conley. The design offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (wood-grilled burgers) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). • Dinner nightly. 561/833-3450. $$$
Café Boulud —The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. This hotel restaurant gives Palm Beach a taste of Daniel Boulud’s world-class cuisine inspired by his four muses. The chef oversees a menu encompassing classics, simple fare, seasonal offerings and dishes from around the world. Dining is in the courtyard, the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Dinner nightly. 561/655-6060. $$$
Café L’Europe —331 S. County Road. Current International. A Palm Beach standard, the café has long been known for its peerless beauty, the piano player, the chilled martinis and the delicious Champagne and caviar bar. Try one of its sophisticated classics like wiener schnitzel with herbed spaetzle, grilled veal chop and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$
Echo —230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$
Henry’s Palm Beach —229 Royal Poinciana Way. American Bistro. Part of The Breakers’ restaurant properties, this venue opened in 2020 and is an elegant addition to The Island. Try the pigs in a pretzel dough blanket, beer can corn, the lobster roll, butter crumb Dover sole and chicken pot pie. All comfort food with a Palm Beach twist, and it’s all delicious. • Lunch and dinner daily. 877/724-3188. $$$
HMF—1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive, oh-so-contemporary small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onion-Parmesan dip with house-
made fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos and Korean-style short ribs. The wine list is encyclopedic. • Dinner nightly. 561/290-0104. $$
Imoto —350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$
Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse “Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steakhouse but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$
Renato’s —87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist— like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$
Austin Republic—4801 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. The casual backyard atmosphere sets the scene for chef James Strine’s unpretentious barbecue with a unique Mexican flair. The menu isn’t extensive, but all the barbecue greats are there alongside its Mexican counterparts. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork share the space with tacos, burritos and enchiladas. And don’t sleep on the chicken sandwich. Trust us. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. $
Banko Cantina—114 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Northern Mexican. Start with the Adelita cocktail and don’t look back. The bacon-wrapped shrimp, the Al Carbon steak tacos and the house guacamole add up to a full-flavor dinner. The west-facing rooftop bar is a nice sunset option, and the Pan de Elote (homemade sweet cornbread with vanilla ice cream and berries) is a delightful end to the evening. • Dinner daily. 561/355-1399. $$
Café Centro —2409 N. Dixie Highway. Modern American. A cornerstone in the Northwood neighborhood, this venue draws because of a complete package: food, drinks and great nightlife and music. Take some char-grilled oysters, add shrimp pesto capellini or a marinated pork chop with polenta, plus local singing fave Tessie Porter, and you have a fun and delicious night out. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/514-4070. $$
French Corner Bistro & Rotissorie 4595 Okeechobee Blvd. Classic French. It’s France in a tiny venue, with big-taste dishes that include all the faves: beef bourguignon, rack of lamb, duck à l’orange, frog legs Provencale,
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is hosting Sado: The Way of Tea Demonstration on Saturday, May 11. The traditional tea ceremony, or sado, is rooted in the country’s history and is a calming and enlightening experience. The 45-minute shows will demonstrate the art of preparing, presenting and drinking green tea. They will run at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and cost $5 with paid admission into the gardens. If you have a mom who loves tea, this could be a fun and relaxing experience to kick off Mother’s Day weekend. 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; 561/495-0233; morikami.org
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
veal kidneys, tender branzino and simple desserts to end the meal. Reservations are mandatory for dinner. • Lunch and dinner Mon.Sat. 561/689-1700. $$
Grato —1901 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. “Grato” is Italian for “grateful,” and there is much to be grateful for about Clay Conley’s sophisticated yet unpretentious take on Italian cookery. Anyone would be grateful to find such delicate, crispy and greaseless fritto misto as Grato’s, ditto for lusty beef tartare piled onto a quartet of crostini. Spinach gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce are a revelation, so light and airy they make other versions taste like green library paste. Don’t miss the porchetta either, or the silken panna cotta with coffee ice cream and crunchy hazelnut tuille. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/404-1334. $$
Leila —120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. Flowing drapes and industrial lighting complete the exotic decor in this Middle Eastern hit. Sensational hummus is a must-try. Lamb kebab with parsley, onion and spices makes up the delicious Lebanese lamb kefta. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/659-7373. $$
Marcello’s La Sirena —6316 S. Dixie Highway. Italian . You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$
Pistache —1010 N. Clematis St., #115. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as coq au vin and steak tartare. All that, plus guests dining al fresco have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Centennial Park. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$
Tropical Smokehouse —3815 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. When you take the distinct tastes of Florida/Caribbean/Cuban dishes and pair them with barbecue, you end up with a place you visit a lot. Local celeb chef Rick Mace smokes the meats himself, and his recipes include all kinds of citrus in tasty spots (sour orange wings, pineapple carrot cake); you’ll discover new favorite flavors. Don’t miss the BBQ pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Try the hot and sweet hushpuppies or the homemade chorizo queso in this very casual spot that we can happily say is also unique—there’s nothing else like it. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/323-2573. $$
Chanson —45 N.E. 21st Ave. Contemporary American/French. A little bit of Palm Beach, a little bit of Italy comes to Deerfield Beach in the form of this elegant, sophisticated restaurant in the oceanfront Royal Blues Hotel. Service is as stellar as the views from the cozy, modestly opulent dining room, notable for the 1,500-gallon aquarium embedded in the ceiling. Consistency can be an issue with the food, but when it is good it is very good. • Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tues.-Sat., brunch Sun. 954/857-2929. $$$
Oceans 234—234 N. Ocean Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Contemporary American. One of the only oceanfront (as in, on the beach) options in South Florida, this familiar-with-a-twist venue is fun to both visit and eat. Try the Infamous Lollipop Chicken Wings, a starter that could be an entrée. Seafood is definitely top-shelf, as are the desserts. A true Florida experience. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-2539. $$
Let’s Do (Meatless) Lunch
For lunch on weekdays, the hip vegan outpost Planta offers the Power Plant special: a starter, a signature dish and a cookie for $28.
Planta—700 S. Rosemary Ave. Vegan. For those who savor every juicy, tender and flavorful bite of a well-prepared burger, patronizing a vegan establishment may seem like a sacrilegious act. But what if a restaurant served up plant-based dishes that surprised your taste buds with exploding flavors? Here vegans don’t have to worry about ingredients making the cut, and non-vegans can enjoy approachable and appetizing plant-based dishes that won’t make you yearn for a steak. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/208-5222. $$
Rhythm Café —3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/8333406. $$
Rocco’s Tacos —224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and more than 425 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2131; 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/808-1100; 5090 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/623-0127) $
Table 26°—1700 S. Dixie Highway. Contemporary American. Take a quarter-cup of Palm Beach, a tablespoon of Nantucket, a pinch of modern American cookery and a couple gallons of the owners’ savoir faire, and you have Eddie Schmidt’s and Ozzie Medeiros’s spot. The menu roams the culinary globe for modest contemporary tweaks on classically oriented dishes. Try the fried calamari “Pad Thai.” • Dinner nightly. 561/855-2660. $$$
Tradition —626 S. Federal Highway. French. This is a petite place with a large following, for good reason. Owners Eric and Anais Heintz start meals with an amuse-bouche and a menu that spans the length of France. Order a creamy Caesar salad with a light anchovy-based dressing. Try the coq au vin (sauce cooked for two days), and if you like calves’ liver, this is the best you’ll find in the area. End with a Grand Marnier soufflé (worth the 15-minute wait), and make your next reservation there before going home. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. 954/480-6464. $$
Cap’s Place 2765 N.E. 28th Court. Seafood. Eating here requires a boat ride, which is very SoFla and terrific for visitors. This is one of—if not the only—family-run, old-Florida seafood restaurants you’ve never heard of, open since the 1920s. The heart of palm salad is the best and purest version around. Seafood abounds; fish can be prepared nine ways and much more. (There are non-seafood dishes that are done well, too.) Go for the short boating thrill and for the food. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 954/941-0418. $$
Le Bistro —4626 N. Federal Highway. Modern French. The menu is modern and healthy—98-percent gluten-free, according to chef Andy Trousdale and co-owner Elin Trousdale. Check out the prix-fixe menu, which includes pan-roasted duck to beef Wellington. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/946-9240. $$$
Seafood World —4602 N. Federal Highway. Seafood
This seafood market and restaurant offers some of the freshest seafood in the county. Its unpretentious atmosphere is the perfect setting for the superb king crab, Maine lobster, Florida lobster tails and much more. Tangy Key lime pie is a classic finish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/942-0740. $$$
Calypso Restaurant—460 S. Cypress Road. Caribbean. This bright little dining room and bar (beer and wine only) has a Caribbean menu that is flavorful, imaginative—and much more. Calypso offers a spin on island food that includes sumptuous conch dishes, Stamp & Go Jamaican fish cakes and tasty rotis stuffed with curried chicken, lamb or seafood. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Fri. 954/942-1633. $
Darrel & Oliver’s Café Maxx —2601 E. Atlantic Blvd. American. The longstanding institution from chef Oliver Saucy is as good now as when it opened in the mid1980s. Main courses offer complex flavor profiles, such as the sweet-onion-crusted yellowtail snapper on Madeira sauce over mashed potatoes. Parts of the menu change daily. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sunday. 954/782-0606. $$$
NYY Steak —Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 N.W. 40th St. Steakhouse. The second incarnation of this Yankees-themed restaurant swings for the fences—and connects— with monstrous portions, chic decor and decadent desserts. The signature steaks are a meat lover’s dream; seafood specialties include Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 954/935-6699. $$$$
15th Street Fisheries —1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/763-2777. $$
3030 Ocean —Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, 3030 Holiday Drive. American. Now led in the kitchen by Adrienne Grenier of “Chopped” fame, the new-look 3030 has a farm-to-table focus, along with an emphasis, as always, on locally sourced seafood. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-3030. $$$
Bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel, 1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary American. This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food. The menu is surprisingly diverse. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/626-1748. $$
Bistro Mezzaluna —1821 S.E. 10th Ave. Italian. The bistro is all Euro-chic decor—mod lighting, abstract paintings. It also has good food, from pastas to steaks and chops and a wide range of fresh seasonal fish and seafood. Don’t forget the phenomenal wine list. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/522-9191. $$
Café Martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Italian. Standouts include crispy calamari in marinara sauce and flavorful veal osso buco. Our conclusion: explosive flavor, attention to all the details and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Waiters whisper the night’s specials as if they’re family secrets. • Dinner nightly. 954/561-2554. $$
Canyon —620 S. Federal Hwy. Southwestern. Billed as a Southwestern café, this twist on regional American cuisine offers great meat, poultry and fish dishes with distinctive mixes of lime, cactus and chili peppers in a subtle blend of spices. The adobe ambience is warm and welcoming, with a candlelit glow. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-1950. $$
Casablanca Café —3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/764-3500. $$
Casa D’Angelo—1210 N. Federal Highway, #5A. Italian. Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The marinated grilled veal chop is sautéed with wild mushrooms in a fresh rosemary sauce. A delightful pasta entrée is the pappardelle con porcini: thick strips of fresh pasta coated in a light red sauce and bursting with slices of porcini mushrooms. • Dinner nightly. 954/564-1234. $$
Chima —2400 E. Las Olas Blvd. Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept—all the meat you can eat, brought to your table—is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. • Dinner nightly. 954/712-0580. $$$
WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM
Our Federation has been and will continue to be the cornerstone of Jewish life in South Palm Beach County. As a community of doers, we are focused on providing support, solidarity and critical funds to our partner agencies in Israel, at home and around the world as they come to the aid of our families and friends.
With you, we can organize, repair, advocate for and rebuild the pillars of Jewish life. Our impact is only possible with your investment in Federation, which creates positive change and a pathway forward, here, in Israel and around the world.
WHERE: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood
WHAT: South Florida’s most rockin’ charity event returned for its 21st year, bringing together some of the biggest names in rock royalty to benefit South Florida’s most vulnerable populations. Chaired by Rex Kirby, Kelly Smallridge, and Larry and Gina Melby, this year’s HomeSafe Rock & Roll Party raised a staggering $400,000 to assist victims of domestic and child abuse. Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain returned to host the festivities, which included a full-course dinner, open bar, silent auction and live performances from McBrain’s Bad Company tribute band, Dodgy Enterprise. During the night’s celebrations, Bob Sheetz and Debbie Lindstrom were honored as this year’s HomeSafe Heroes for their long-running support and dedication to the nonprofit. Sponsors included the Harcourt M. & Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, Steven E. Bernstein Family Foundation, Stoops Family Foundation and more.
1: Lori Keezer and Steve Bernstein
Gina and Larry Melby 3: Rex Kirby and Kelly Smallridge 4: Andy Trunk and Laura Sylvester
5: Jeff and Aggie Stoops
6: Steve Bernstein, Maggie Rosenberg, Mark Turnipseed, Tim Quinn, Ken Rosenberg
7: Kinny Madori and Clara Acero
8: Neil and Doris Gillman
9: Alex Henderson, Abby BernsteinHenderson, Mariana Garcia, John Mast
10: Debbie and Ward KelloggTR
11:
WHERE: The Boca Raton
WHAT: History came alive at The Boca Raton for the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum’s Officers Party. The elegant affair, hosted by WPBF-TV’s Steve King, celebrated the opening of the museum’s “Florida in WWII” exhibit, which highlights the largely unknown yet critical role the Sunshine State played in the Second World War. The resort’s Valencia Ballroom was decorated in a stunningly attentive re-creation of a 1940s dance hall, and guests enjoyed drinks, dance and food all inspired by the era.
Zoe
2: George Petrocelli and Emily Snyder
3: Arlene Herson, Donna Biase, Gloria Hosh, Zoe Lanham
4: The Boca Raton CEO Daniel Hostettler
5: Gloria Hosh, Terry Fedele, Katrina Carter-Tellison, Denise Alman
6: Rick Rose and Emily Snyder
WHERE: Boca West Country Club
WHAT: Local nonprofit ChildNet hosted its ninth-annual Care for Kids Palm Beach Luncheon to benefit foster youth and families throughout the county. The sold-out event was an absolute success, raising $126,000 for activities and items for more than 1,300 Palm Beach County children. The luncheon was chaired by WPECTV CBS 12 Anchor Liz Quirantes, and the Champion for Children Award was presented to Embracing Smiles Founder and CEO Taryn Cooper for her support of ChildNet and dedication to assisting children in foster care. Also honored was Cooper Orthodontics, which received the Community Advocate Award for its advocacy, education and volunteering on behalf of foster kids.
1: Larry Rein, Taryn Cooper, Justin Cooper, Andrew Cooper and Amy Black
2: Liz Quirantes and Josefa Benjamin
3: Kim Sarni, Stephanie Seltzer, Melanie Smit and Kellie Hensley
4: Larry Rein and Steve Light
5: Renee Johnson, Yvette Drucker, Fran Nachlas, Donna Biase and Shanny Tozzi
6: Neiko Shea, Susan Eby and Donna Eprifania
WHERE: Boca West Country Club
WHAT: The Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (Levis JCC) kicked off its annual Jewish Film Festival at a red carpet event that featured appearances by acclaimed concert pianist John Bayless and filmmaker Stewart M. Schulman. Returning for its eighth year, the three-week festival celebrated the masterworks of Jewish filmmakers including screenings of “Bau, Artist at War,” about a couple who were wed at a concentration camp during WWII, and “Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre,” featuring footage and survivor accounts from the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre at the Nova music festival in Israel. Guests enjoyed a live performance by Bayless as well as the Southeast premiere of his and Schulman’s documentary film “Left Alone Rhapsody,” about Bayless returning to his career after suffering a stroke that left him only able to play piano with his left hand.
1: Standing from left, Marty Haberer, Dr. Stewart Krug and Judy Levis Krug, Stewart Schulman, Lisa Barish; Seated, John Bayless, Nina Rosenzweig, and Cindy Bergman
2: At proclamation event: Michele Hillery, Lisa Barash, Mayor Maria Sachs; Judy Levis Krug, Marcia Mizrahi, Nina Rosenzweig, Alberto Jordat
3: Screening Committee: Allan and Patricia Kahane, Marcia Mizrahi, Ellen Cohen, Gayle Belenzon, Donna Ganslaw, Lisa Barash, Nina Rosenzweig, Fran Siegel, Paula Baker, Robin Broidy and Sherri Samuels
4: Donna Ganslaw, Fran Siegel and Paula Baker
5: Marisa and Matthew Baker
6: Lisa Barash and Sherri Samuels
7: Edward and Ellen Cohen
8: Martin and Nina Rosenzweig
9: Steven Clarfield and Nina Rosenzweig
May/June 2024 issue. Vol. 44, No. 5. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Media, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Media is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton , South Florida At Its Best; bocamag.com; Florida Table ; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN07402856) is published 8 times a year (September/October, November/December, January, February, March, April, May/ June and July/August) by JES Media. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $24.95/8 issues, $34.95/16 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $6.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.
There’s a lot of wealth here and that’s important, but there is such a feeling of community. ... People know each other and support each other.”
—Jerry FedeleThis power couple has helped transform Boca Raton since the day they arrived 15 years ago
Written by MARIE SPEEDTerry and Jerry Fedele came to Boca Raton in 2008 so Jerry could assume the top job at what was then the Boca Raton Community Hospital, which, as Jerry describes it, “had lost its way,” losing $120 million the year before. A corporate health care counsel-turned-hospital-CEO, he was flush with having turned around the massive Allegheny General bankruptcy, arguably the largest health care failure in U.S. history—and he focused that laser attention on Boca Community Hospital. He did indeed “save” the hospital while his wife, Terry, set out to immerse herself in community service, working over the years with everyone from FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Green Memory and Wellness Center, and the Lynn University Conservatory of Music, to the YMCA of South Palm Beach County, Boca Raton Historical Society, Boca Raton Regional Hospital and on and on; the list is extensive. Although they have been here only 15 years, the Fedeles have made an indelible imprint on the city.
WHEN IT COMES TO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?
TERRY: My passion is health care, children and education. The impact on those three things can make the life of the people within one’s community so much better.
JERRY: My focus is on education; that’s why the George Snow Scholarship Fund is such a focus of my efforts. Education fundamentally changed my life. My grandfather was an Italian immigrant coal miner. I could never have imagined growing up as a blue-collar kid having the kind of life I have today…
AFTER RETIREMENT, WHY DID YOU TWO STAY IN BOCA?
JERRY: I just fell in love with the place. There’s a lot of wealth here, and that’s important, but there is such a feeling of community… people know each other and support each other…
Terry and Jerry Fedele
WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT YOU’VE HAD SINCE YOU’VE LIVED IN BOCA?
JERRY: What I’m most proud of is growing that able community hospital into just a spectacular academic medical center.
TERRY: For me, it’s being a respected community member. I think I’ve helped all the nonprofits I’ve been involved with. As a fairly new board member at the Y when it was their 50th anniversary two years ago, I suggested that they take the whole year and celebrate and culminate in a gala. They’d never done a gala before. We put the gala together, and we made almost $2 million, and they were shocked. I think they just expected to break even and have the marketing recognition, but I felt that by putting a strong committee together—which I did—we could achieve more.
WHY IS GIVING BACK IMPORTANT TO YOU?
This page is a tribute to community citizens who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership to the city of Boca Raton and is in memory of John E. Shuff.
TERRY: This community embraced us as soon as we arrived. It was amazing and overwhelming—I didn’t expect that. That really pivoted me to want to give back to the community, because I believe it’s a two-way street. … I say all the time, we are in paradise, and it’s the people here who make it paradise.
TERRY: For me, I feel like life has been good to me. I grew up blue-collar; my parents didn’t have much. I put myself through college. I’m proud of that. So in my heart of hearts I feel like it’s been important for me to give back and help others so they can have the same opportunities. If I can help somebody else, I want to do that. It gives me great satisfaction.
JERRY: Pretty much the same. I’ve lived a life beyond my wildest imagination, and that has encouraged me to give back.
