Boca magazine January 2019

BEST NEW DRINKS, DINING & DIVERSIONS

BOCAMAG.COM

12 NEW YEAR TO-DOS ✓ FALL IN LOVE! ✓ TRAVEL! ✓ UNPLUG!

$5.95

0

cover JAN19 FPO2.indd 3

JANUARY 2019

0 1>

74470 17264

2

12/7/18 4:15 PM

Mayors 2-pgspred_BRM0119.indd 2

12/6/18 5:51 PM

Mayors 2-pgspred_BRM0119.indd 3

12/6/18 5:51 PM

PICTURE PERFECT TRANSITIONAL-STYLE HOME

I T ' S

T I M E

F O R

E L L I M A N

2352 Queen Palm Road, Boca Raton | $3,950,000 | Web# RX-10461300

ROCHELLE LECAVALIER Broker Associate M: 561.866.0811 rochelle.lecavalier@elliman.com 1111 LINCOLN RD, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139. 305.695.6300 © 2019 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. IF YOUR PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY LISTED WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE BROKER, PLEASE DISREGARD THIS OFFER. IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO SOLICIT THE OFFERINGS OF OTHER REAL ESTATE BROKERS. WE COOPERATE WITH THEM FULLY. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

DouglasElliman_BRM0119.indd 2

12/6/18 5:35 PM

elliman.com/florida NEW YORK CITY | LONG ISLAND | THE HAMPTONS | WESTCHESTER | CONNECTICUT | NEW JERSEY | FLORIDA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | MASSACHUSETTS | INTERNATIONAL

DouglasElliman_BRM0119.indd 3

12/6/18 5:40 PM

DISCOVER THE ARTISTRY OF LIVING ALINA invites you to come home to a feeling of spaciousness and serenity. This curated collection of extraordinary private residences, villas and penthouses is the expression of GarciaStromberg’s highly artistic vision. ALINA’s lush outdoor promenades connect to the heart of Boca Raton, where al fresco dining, upscale galleries and couture boutiques are all just moments away. Envelop yourself in the captivating greenscape of neighboring Boca Raton Resort and Club golf course, the beauty of nearby beaches and fresh ocean breezes.

ALINA is a visionary masterpiece that redefines luxury downtown living.

THE LIVING ART Priced from under $1M to over $6M SALES AND MODEL GALLERY 300 SE MIZNER BLVD, BOCA RATON, FL 33432 MIZNER PARK PREVIEW GALLERY 430 PLAZA REAL, BOCA RATON, FL 33432 ALINABOCARATON.COM 561.990.2979

OR AL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. THIS OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONDOMINIUM AND NO STATEMENT SHOULD BE RELIED UPON IF NOT MADE IN THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY, THE CONDOMINIUM UNITS IN STATES WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION CANNOT BE MADE. PRICES, PL ANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PRICING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. EL-AD GROUP, LTD. (“EL AD”) IS NOT THE PROJECT DEVELOPER. THIS CONDOMINIUM IS BEING DEVELOPED BY ALINA BOCA RATON LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILIT Y COMPANY (“DEVELOPER”). ANY AND ALL STATEMENTS, DISCLOSURES AND/OR REPRESENTATIONS SHALL BE DEEMED MADE BY DEVELOPER AND NOT BY EL AD AND YOU AGREE TO LOOK SOLELY TO DEVELOPER (AND NOT TO EL AD AND/ OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES) WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL MAT TERS REL ATING TO THE MARKETING AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONDOMINIUM AND WITH RESPECT TO THE SALES OF UNITS IN THE CONDOMINIUM. IMAGE IS ARTIST’S CONCEPTUAL RENDERING.

Alina_BRM0119.indd 1

11/26/18 9:12 AM

INNOVATIVE JEWELRY BUYING & LENDING SOLUTIONS RECEIVE UP TO $500,000 IN 48 HOURS

RECENT DEALS

ROLEX GMT-MASTER II We loaned $12,000!

3.75 CARAT DIAMOND PLATINUM RING We paid $24,000!

DAVID YURMAN CABLE CLASSIC BRACELET We loaned $200!

2255 GLADES RD, SUITE 324A, BOCA RATON, FL 33431 • 561.988.8464 2202 N. WESTSHORE BLVD. SUITE 200, TAMPA, FL 33607 • 813.367.3372 DIAMONDBANC.COM

Diamond Banc_RecentDeals_BRM0119.indd 1

12/4/18 5:07 PM

solo

Traveling

plus

single supplement as low as 25%

plus

extra savings from Reid Travel on these 2019/2020 cruises

EUROPE

just got better

Enjoy Regent Seven Seas all inclusive amenities

May 10, 2019/10 nts

Rome to Barcelona $200 pp onboard credit

May 4, 2020/10 nts

Athens to Monte Carlo

May 14, 2020/10 nts

Monte Carlo to Barcelona

®

it’s all included ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE

FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions FREE Pre-Paid Gratuities FREE Unlimited WiFi FREE Specialty Restaurants FREE Unlimited Beverages including Fine Wines and Premium Spirits

The Reid Advantage provides over 45 years of experience in luxury travel, personal service, connections and trust.

Contact Reid Travel today for more information

561/395-6670 800/248-8404 326 E. Palmetto Park Road Boca Raton, Florida

www.reidtravel.com Restrictions apply. Contact Reid Travel for full terms and conditions. Ships’ Registry: Marshall Islands.

ReidTravel_brm0119.indd 1

11/28/18 1:00 PM

T EC H N I C A L

B U T

T H I N

PA N E R A I B O U T I Q U E

B O C A R ATO N - 3 1 0 P L A Z A R E A L

PA N E R A I . C O M

Y51854PANER_PAM943_Boca 1 Les Bijoux Polaris&Panerai.indd Mag_9x10875_v4.indd 2

•

+1 561 361 6526

11/26/18 3:23 2:31 PM PM 11/26/18

TM

RO AL PALM PLACE TM

Your Style For Life

TM

Fun, Fashionable and Fabulous!

International Restaurants Fashion Boutiques Fine Jewelry Fine Art Salons & Spas Specialty Shops Financial & Legal Services Class A Offices Luxury Rental Residences PETS WELCOME!

Federal Highway, South of Palmetto Park Road, Downtown Boca Raton www.royalpalmplace.com

BRM_0918.indd 11 RoyalPalm Place BRM0119.indd

7/23/18 9:09 9:02 AM 12/7/18

9

features JANUARY

2019

›

VO L . 39, I S S U E 1

82

Game Changers

Meet 10 individuals who are beautifying, unifying and shaking up Boca Raton right now, from activists, arts leaders and law enforcers to restaurateurs, retailers and clergy.

By GARY GREENBERG

94

Of Human Bondage

Florida is responsible for an alarming percentage of sexual slavery cases in the U.S. We explore the issue through the story of a local victim—and the efforts of advocates to stop the traffic.

By CHRISTIANA LILLY

100

12 Things to Try This Year In this time of clean slates and fresh beginnings, resolve to live better in 2019 by venturing out, decluttering, unplugging and much more.

By MARIE SPEED

Irvin Lippman

Month 2000

TOC_WEB TOC JAN19.indd 9

••••

bocamag.com

11/30/18 3:51 PM

departments JANUARY 2019

›

VO L . 39 , I S S U E 1

34

121

42 22 Editor’s letter

61 The Biz

113 Backstage Pass

In this noisy, workaday grind, taking a breather to reconnect with old friends is not only healthy—it’s essential.

We catch up with an entrepreneur’s quest for life everlasting, a P.R. executive’s revved-up preference for“wind therapy,”and an FAU faculty member with a cerebral specialty.

Palm Beach Opera’s general director brings an egalitarian spirit to an elite, centuries-old art form. Plus, our calendar features more than 30 ways to welcome the new year on a cultural note.

By MARIE SPEED

25 The Local

By GARY GREENBERG

By JOHN THOMASON

Business owners transform a bland industrial park into an emerging art walk, a bee removal specialist’s job really stings, and an opera singer’s success story strikes a chord.

Plus, Amara Cay catapults Islamorada into a luxury hideaway, a crisis negotiator keeps us hanging on every word, and more.

69 Feel Good Two years after Ryan Owens became the first military casualty of the Trump administration, his brother John discusses his legacy—and the beachfront race that bears his name.

Meanwhile, a“bubbly”new fitness regimen for women welcomes its first Boca location.

121 Dining Guide

By ERIC BARTON, EMILY CHAIET, GARY

By LISETTE HILTON

By LYNN KALBER

77 Home

151 The Scene

Begin the New Year with a new look, thanks to tips from a celebrity interior designer, a legendary fashion designer, and DIY repurposers. Additionally, a pop culture artist reminds us why Mickey Mouse rocks.

Recent soirees involved mall dancing, Habitat building, bowling for bread and more.

By ROBIN HODES

The author didn’t let a physical handicap prevent him from hurtling down Utah’s snow-capped slopes—a reminder that a little self-confidence can go a long way.

GREENBERG, CHRISTIANA LILLY, MARIE SPEED AND JOHN THOMASON

42 Dress Code Silver toes, a new generation of wallets and more winter style trends.

Photography by AARON BRISTOL

57 #LoveBoca Boca magazine highlights its partners and brand with a series of fun events— including Halloween at the Addison, and “Food Critics Dish,” the second entry in our “Boca Chats” discussion series.

bocamag.com

TOC_WEB TOC JAN19.indd 10

••••

Our review-driven guide to the finest dining in South Florida spotlights Driftwood, Kathy’s Gazebo and Ke’e Grill.

Plus, in this issue’s Challenge, the “devil” is in the details.

By CHRISTIANA LILLY

160 My Turn

By JOHN SHUFF

January 2019

11/30/18 3:52 PM

EXQUISITE FURNISHINGS. BRILLIANT DESIGN. LEGENDARY SERVICE.

Find out more about our complimentary design services at ROBBSTUCKY.COM BOCA RATON SHOWROOM | 1353 North Federal Hwy., Boca Raton FL 33432 | (561) 931-2700 NAPLES • FORT MYERS • SARASOTA • CORAL GABLES • BOCA RATON

Robb&Stucky_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 9:16 AM

BOCAMAG COM

12 Web Extras

Visit bocamag.com for bonus items you won’t see anywhere else—extended stories, recipes, news and more.

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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.

Melissa Therese Then

HUMAN TRAFFICKING January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and we tackled the difficult topic on page 94. Go online at bocamag.com/january-2019 for an interview with an advocate on the front lines of rescuing victims, right here in South Florida.

SING IT You read about Melissa Therese Then’s talent on page 32, but how about we let you listen to her, too? Visit bocamag.com/ january-2019 to hear her sing and some extra Q&As.

Best Bites 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 food tab to view the guide.

CRISIS MODE We continue the conversation from Take 5 on page 114 with Daniel Biaggi, who talks about the biggest crisis onstage from his 10 years at the helm of Palm Beach Opera. Visit bocamag. com/january-2019.

City Watch

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.

Daniel Biaggi

bocamag.com

TOC_WEB TOC JAN19.indd 12

••••

Join the Club: Be a Member

We’ve curated a brand-new membership program tailored just for our loyal readers! We’re redefining what it means to be a subscriber by introducing experiences that go beyond the pages of our magazine. Register at bocamag.com to join this exclusive group and start enjoying a wide array of special discounts, events, giveaways, and more throughout South Florida.

January 2019

11/27/18 6:18 PM

POLARIS CHRONOGRAPH THE REBIRTH OF AN ICON First introduced in 1968 as a diver’s watch, the Polaris is brought back to life 50 years later in a contemporary version, equipped with the Manufacture Calibre 751H, as part of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection designed, manufactured and assembled in-house. www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

BocaRaton_JLC17511_PolarisChrono.indd 1 Les Bijoux Polaris&Panerai.indd 1

11/6/18 12:34 PM 11/13/18 4:38 PM

GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Marie Speed MANAGING EDITOR

John Thomason WEB EDITOR

Christiana Lilly EDITORIAL INTERN

Emily Chaiet SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Lori Pierino GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alecsander Morrison PHOTOGRAPHER

Aaron Bristol PRODUCTION MANAGER

George Otto CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Eric Barton, Gary Greenberg, Lisette Hilton, Robin Hodes, John Shuff VIDEO PRODUCTION/CUSTOMER SERVICE

David Shuff

FOOD EDITOR

SCULPTURES BY GINO MILES

Lynn Kalber

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

Suzanne Norton Davis DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RESEARCH AND SALES SUPPORT

Bruce Klein ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Elise Benson Tanya Plath Marc Ruehle SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Gail Eagle MARKETING DIRECTOR

Portia Smith DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Olivia Hollaus

MURANO MOSAICS PERSISTENCE AND EVOLUTION

AN EYE FOR NATURE: PAINTINGS AND PRINTS BY MORTON KAISH

 � � � �

Boca Raton magazine is published seven 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.

253 Barcelona Road • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 www.ansg.org • Gallery Hours: Wed-Sun, 10 am - 4 pm Non-member admissions: $15 adults, $10 seniors, $7 students bocamag.com

••••

January 2019

NortonSculpture_BRM0119.indd 1

Masthead services JAN19.indd 14

12/7/18 7:42 AM

12/7/18 8:55 AM

2

APPLE INSURANCE IS ON THE JOB Rick Jultak started his career as a certified court Mediator but moved into insurance to work with family who needed help expanding their business into South Florida. Jultak ran their South Florida agencies for seven years before forming Apple Insurance with partner Marc Fine in 2010.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS The Leading South Florida Agency for Florida Blue, Apple Insurance and Financial Services is a full-service agency providing a complete range of insurance products, from major medical insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance to long-term care coverage, dental plans, accident plans and pet insurance. Apple now also provides property and casualty insurance.

With insurance, you really need people who are masters of their products.

We specialize in understanding our clients’ needs and in providing face-to-face consulting.

CLAIM TO FAME Apple Insurance and Financial Services provides a one-stop shop for insurance and eliminates the need for multiple agencies. It is the largest Florida Blue provider in South Florida and focuses on matching clients with skillful agents who then find the best policies for their needs at the best prices.

Apple Insurance recently moved their Headquarters to Boca Raton purchasing over 7000 square feet of magnificent office space to accommodate all of the current and potential clients in a comfortable atmosphere. Apple also has expanded its services into home, auto and liability insurance as the result of an acquisition of one of South Florida’s largest independent firms. Apple’s property and casualty agents have more than 60 years of combined industry knowledge.

Bringing over 100 highly trained agents in all areas of insurance under one Apple Family Tree.

3010 N. Military Trail, Suite 310 • Boca Raton, FL 33431 561-614-2400 • www.appleinsurance.com

AppleIns-BusProfileAd_BRM0119.indd 23

12/7/18 7:32 AM

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 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER

Shawntia Jones

JES MEDIA PRODUCES:

Boca Raton magazine Delray Beach magazine Mizner’s Dream Worth Avenue Boca Raton Chamber Annual Salt Lake magazine Utah Bride and Groom Utah Style & Design Salt Lake Visitors’ Guide

FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION 2018 CHARLIE AWARDS CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best commentary (Editor’s Letter) SILVER AWARD best department (Backstage Pass) BRONZE AWARD best overall writing best in-depth reporting (Slimed!)

FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION 2017 CHARLIE AWARDS CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best column (City Watch) best department (Backstage Pass) best overall online presence SILVER AWARD best overall design best overall writing best use of photography best redesign best in-depth reporting (South Florida Rocks!)

WILD AND WONDERFUL WOMENSWEAR

FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION 2016 CHARLIE AWARDS

GARDEN SHOPS 7050 W PALMETTO PARK RD (AT POWERLINE) BOCA RATON FL 33433 (561) 447 4117

SILVER AWARD best feature design best overall design best overall writing

SKIF TRUNK SHOW JANUARY 18 & 19, 2019

bocamag.com

••••

January 2019

Filly&Colt_BRM0119.indd 1

Masthead services JAN19.indd 16

CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best overall magazine best editorial/commentary (City Watch) best overall use of photography

12/7/18 7:37 AM

12/7/18 8:55 AM

Modernelevated

Actual View

Ultra Luxe Mid-Townhomes FROM THE

$800,000s

This extraordinary Boca Raton address is now over 80% sold out, with only 15 premium residences remaining. Enjoy Boca living at a higher level with a truly maintenance-free lifestyle, sleek European-style

finishes,

breathtaking

nature

preserve views, and convenient personal elevator.

Make a new beginning, before it all comes to an end.

FINAL PHASE — MOVE-IN READY NEW FURNISHED MODEL

t

1820 NW 42ND DRIVE, BOCA RATON | MODERNEBOCA.COM | 561.300.6787

DESIGNER DECORATED MODEL OPEN DAILY

MONDAY – SATURDAY 10 AM TO 5 PM | SUNDAY NOON TO 5 PM

REALTORS WARMLY WELCOMED. PRICING, FEATURES AND AMENITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Kotler-ModerneBoca_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 9:24 AM

DIRECTORY

Subscription, copy purchasing and distribution

For any changes or questions regarding your subscription, to purchase back issues, or to inquire about distribution points, call circulation at 877/553-5363.

Advertising and event resources

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 sales@bocamag.com.

Custom publishing

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 Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

Story queries

Boca Raton magazine values the concerns, interests and knowledge of our readers about the community.

Please submit story and profile ideas by email to Marie Speed (editor@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.

Web queries

Submit information regarding our website and online calendar to christiana@bocamag.com.

Letters

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 to Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

Letter to the Editor Boca Raton magazine 1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487

Arts & entertainment

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.

coton frais

Dining guide

™

French inspired blanc resort wear, accessories, home and gifts Boca: Boca Center • 5150 Town Center Circle • 561-620-5888 Jupiter: Fresh Market Village • 287 East Indiantown Road 561-406-5522 • www.cotonfraisfashion.com bocamag.com

••••

Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Lynn Kalber (lynn@bocamag.com).

People

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.

January 2019

Coton Frais BRM0119.indd 5

Masthead services JAN19.indd 18

12/7/18 3:40 PM

12/7/18 4:07 PM

SUBSCRIBERS

First issue

Boca Raton magazine is published eight times a year, with in-season single issues and off-season combined issues. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, call us at 561/997-8683. We’d love to hear from you.

Barbara Katz Special Occasion Trunk Shows

Missing or late issues

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.

Questions about your invoice

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.

TOM & LINDA PLATT 1/17/19-1/18/19 DIANAIRA 2/21/19-2/22/19 The GRAYSE 3/7/19-3/8/19

Change of address

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.

Back issues

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.

Gift subscriptions

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.

Online subscriptions

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

The Commons of Glades Plaza 2240 NW 19th Street, Suite 601, Boca Raton, FL 561.391.1066 • barbarakatz.com January 2019 BarbaraKatz_BRM0119.indd 1

Masthead services JAN19.indd 19

••••

bocamag.com

11/27/18 11:42 AM

12/7/18 8:55 AM

Feel the excitement!

33rd

BOCA CENTER ON MILITARY TRAIL 561-394-5551 | GROVEOPTICIANS.COM

Dan & Rob

“We travel the world to handpick eyewear you won't see anywhere else.”

GroveOpticians-FP_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 9:31 AM

AmericanHeritage_BRM0119.indd 1

12/4/18 4:09 PM

22

FROM THE EDITOR

Better Year Ahead Reset the focus on the people who matter Written by MARIE SPEED

his issue kicks off the New Year with a list of people making a difference in Boca Raton—and a much heavier piece about human trafficking in our area, which is not for the faint of heart. Two articles highlighting good news and bad, which is how our lives are, navigating a path between the two, deciding what to fight for, what to celebrate.

This day-to-day balancing act can get better if we decide to live better (See “12 Things To Do in 2019,”page 100). Like my busy and hyper-responsible friend Kelly, who made a pledge to herself two years ago to Say Yes To Fun. And she did. The woman I know who started her days at dawn at her desk and was on call 24/7 to settle problems makes time these days for things like Oktoberfest in Lantana, the Old Key Lime House for Gator games, flitting off to Morocco, taking impromptu weekends to Sanibel or to D.C. to see old friends.

I can relate to that last part. My idea of making life better this year is to turn down the radio noise of work and chores and social obligations and reconnect with the people I love. I just spent a weekend in North Florida with some boys I have known forever. Willie Mickelberry, an integral part of my writing group in grad school, lives in L.A. now, writing screenplays and poetry and painting up a storm; he is brilliant at all three. Kit Bowes, handsome ex-pilot, is retired and gracious and up for anything. And he loves to feed us.

The legendary snake man George Van Horn, who started Reptile World outside Orlando decades ago, was there, regaling us with tales of snake hunting in South America—a king cobra bite almost took him out—and the enduring memories and magic of the Miami Serpentarium.

And my friends here, the ones I can’t see enough—Brian and Carla and Mary and Joyce, to name a few—are people who can be easily persuaded to make field trips to a new restaurant in West Palm, a big cat preserve in Wellington, an orchid show in Homestead. These people are as unstoppable as they are fully engaged. They are the catchers’ mitt of my life, and I need to reach out to them more.

In 2019, I am going to do all of that. Many of the kids I grew up with in St. Petersburg are still there, a five-hour drive away. My friends in Jacksonville and Gainesville and St. Augustine and New York are out there, like lights in the dark, illuminating the past we share, ready to warm up our worlds with the simple act of connecting again. This is how to make 2019 better: Make friendship a priority. Honor the test of time. Start choosing the life well-lived—and well-loved.

Edit letter JAN19.indd 22

11/30/18 3:54 PM

FullPageAd_MAKE IT YOURS_style_3.pdf

1

11/29/18

4:37 PM

Make it your...

STYLE

 Bikini  Casual Dress  Dancing Shoes After a little break, on to finding the perfect little black dress.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

WHAT WILL YOUR STORY BE...

DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH is a place for fashionistas, trend-setters, and style-hunters alike, offering one-of-a-kind shopping, with over 50 unique clothing and accessory shops. From bikinis and bling to eastern inspired glam and garb, every shop in Downtown Delray is ready to outfit you for a wide array of occasions.

We invite you to shop Downtown Delray Beach and make it your style!

Dining | Beaches | Art & Culture

Family Fun | Nightlife | Shopping

DowntownDelrayBeach.com/Story #DowntownDelray

See Delray Fashion on the Runway

January 23-27, 2019

at Delray Beach Fashion Week

DelrayFashionWeek.com DowntownDelrayAuth_DBMJF19.indd 1

12/7/18 10:15 AM

Experience the excitement of over 70 live table games including blackjack with real dealers and real cards. Open 24/7.

LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.

casinococo.com Must be at least 21 years old to play Slots and Table Games or to receive Player’s Club benefits. Must be 18 or older to play Live Poker. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.IT.

SeminoleCCCasino_BRM0119.indd 1

11/13/18 4:49 PM

25

THE LOCAL Willie the Bee Man (turn to page 38 for more)

LOCAL Lead JAN19.indd 25

BY T H E N U M B E R S B O C A C H AT T E R H OT L I S T DREAMER HERO H O W D O E S I T F E E L? E X P E RT S T E WA R D D R E S S CO D E A RT S WO RT H T H E T R I P

› › › › › › › › › › ›

26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 52 54

11/29/18 10:35 AM

26

THE LOCAL

BY THE NUMBERS

Year in Review As we begin the New Year, we take a look at the highs and lows of 2018.

17

The number of lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High on Feb. 14.

29.2 million

$205K PLUS

Money raised collectively by Boca Ballroom Battle 2018 winners Nancy Dockerty and Christopher B. Warren.

American viewers who were glued to their television screens during the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

16 feet

The length of Meghan Markle’s wedding veil, a custom silk beauty with embroidered flowers from each of the 53 British Commonwealth nations.

$10

The starting ticket price to ride the Brightline, a train with which we have a lovehate relationship (ahem, quiet zones).

18,000

Boca Raton voters who went to the polls to vote for a new mayor for the city, after Susan Haynie was arrested and stepped down from her post.

135

Minutes in the Marvel film “Black Panther,” the highest-grossing movie of the year.

bocamag.com

••••

April 2017

LOCAL by the numbers JAN19.indd 26

11/27/18 4:51 PM

PLASTIC SURGERY OF THE FACE

creating a natural, healthy and more youthful appearance Surgical Specialist Focused Uniquely on the Face, Neck, Eyes, Forehead Non-surgical Aesthetics And Expert Injector of BotoxÂŽ and Dermal Fillers

with feminine artistry, grace and aesthetic sensibility Individualized Treatment The Doctor’s Personal Care A Beautiful Patient Experience

model is an actual patient

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Over 20 Years Experience

DrHernandez.com 561-750-8600 4799 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida

DrHernandez_BRM0119.indd 1

11/26/18 1:58 PM

28

THE LOCAL

BOCA CHATTER

DON’T-MISS EVENTS

1.5.72 Date Pres. Nixon signed bill to build space shuttle

1.11 Human Trafficking Awareness day

1.15 Martin Luther King Day

—Knowitall.org

WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

WHAT: Twelve weeks of top-ranked show jumping and dressage events with Olympian and amateur competitors from all over the world in the winter equestrian capital of the U.S. WHEN: Jan. 9 to March 31 WHERE: Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington COST: $20 to $2,500, depending on kind of ticket CONTACT: pbiec.coth.com

SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR

WHAT: Livestock, rides, concerts and more during 17 days of fun this month! Everyone waits all year for racing pigs and funnel cakes; the rest is just gravy.

WHEN: Jan. 18 to Feb. 3 WHERE: South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach COST: Children, $8; adults, $15; seniors, $9 CONTACT: southfloridafair.com

ART PALM BEACH

WHAT: This accessible and perfectly sized contemporary art exhibition includes about 70 international galleries representing emerging art in painting, pho-

Art Palm Beach

tography, sculpture and ceramics, and one-of-a-kind pieces. There are espresso bars, VIP areas, restaurant samplings and more in the heart of downtown West Palm.

WHEN: Jan. 16-20 WHERE: Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach COST: $15 online, $20 at door CONTACT: nextlevelfairs.com And save the date(s) for the upcoming Boca Raton Championship, Feb. 4 to 10!

Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.

What is the No. 1 thing on your bucket list this year?

“As a young girl, I must have read Misty of Chincoteague over a thousand times cover to cover!

My passion for horsemanship continued through college but fell by the wayside as my career took hold. More recently, I began riding again; this second act of my love affair with horses is at the top of my bucket list for 2019!

—JOANNE POLIN, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, POLIN PR

“Riding my bicycle from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. via the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath with five good friends from Boca Raton.”

—TIM SNOW, PRESIDENT, GEORGE SNOW SCHOLARSHIP FUND

“I would like my great grandchildren (all six!) to come visit me.”

—HAROLD GIPE (WHO RECENTLY TURNED 103), FORMER BASE COMMANDER AND CAPTAIN, U.S. COAST GUARD, HOTEL EXECUTIVE, AVID GOLFER AND BOCA RATON RESIDENT FOR 35 YEARS

bocamag.com

LOCAL chatter JAN18.indd 28

••••

January 2019

11/30/18 3:55 PM

29 Trend Watch

TOP WINTER CRUISES YOU CAN BOOK NOW

It’s the height of winter social season in South Florida; here are some looks we love.

—Lindsey Swing Rutu Bhonsle

Whitney Roper and Lauren Jacob of Reid Travel have a cruise for everyone this winter. But three we liked were:

ARUN NEVADER/GETTY IMAGES

Eighties for the Ladies The eighties called and they want their shoulders back. Bright colors, big shoulders and patterns are all back.

Usama Ishtay

ARUN NEVADER/GETTY IMAGES

Dahil Republic Of Couture

Down to Earth Lighten up! Earth tones—with a different style spin—are back with a vengeance in 2019.

Atelier Nicola D’Errico

All Dolled Up We’re getting all dressed up because we have places to go, and this season is all about a dress with layers, frills and a fancy disposition.

ARUN NEVADER/GETTY IMAGES

Dahil Republic Of Couture

Atelier Nicola D’Errico

Under the Sea Make a splash this season! Designers are full-on mermaid with netting, pukas and more.

Feathers & Frills Feathers, fringe and frills give you dimension and movement in 2019.

Stay Golden Mellow yellow is the color this season with shades of lemon, marigold and butter.

1 A Silver Galápagos or Celebrity Flora small-ship cruise to the Galápagos Islands, best known as the site of Charles Darwin’s 1835 scientific expeditions that studied the geology, botany and animals found there.

Stars of the archipelago include the Galápagos Tortoise, the blue-footed booby and colonies of sea lions.

2 A small ship to the Sea of Cortez adjacent to the Baja Peninsula, accessible from December to March, for stunning wildlife viewing, from whale sharks, grey whales and sea lions to (if you are very, very lucky) an endangered vaquita porpoise. The Sea of Cortez is biologically the “richest body of water on the entire planet,” with more than 900 varieties of fish.

3 Japan by small ship is another great option, especially on a cruise that circumnavigates the country, stopping in premier hotels in the heart of Osaka and Tokyo, and nearby cities like Kagoshima and Nagasaki, exploring temples and shrines, volcanoes and pearl farms. Think sumo wrestling, geishas, taiko drumming and more.

January 2019

LOCAL chatter JAN18.indd 29

••••

bocamag.com

11/27/18 5:12 PM

30

THE LOCAL

HOT LIST

Walter Isaacson New Year/ New Plays Festival WHERE: Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach WHEN: Jan. 4-6 COST: $15 per play; $50 for entire festival CONTACT: 561/5144042, palmbeachdramaworks.org Palm Beach Dramaworks’ New Year’s resolution is to unveil more plays to the public, and this inaugural festival satisfies the yin for the new. Five plays still in development will receive readings performed by casts of area professionals—several by writers who are household names in regional theatre both locally and nationally. These include Michael McKeever’s “Red, White, Black and Blue,” William Francis Hoffman’s “Drift,” Carter Lewis’ “With,” and Joseph McDonagh’s “Ordinary Americans.”

WHEN: Jan. 8, 3 p.m.

WHERE: Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza,

Palm Beach COST: $35 CONTACT: 561/655-7226, fourarts.org Steve Jobs was“the ultimate icon of inventiveness, imagination and sustained innovation.”Albert Einstein was “the paramount icon of our age. … a locksmith blessed with imagination and guided by a faith in the harmony of nature’s handiwork.”The personality of Henry Kissinger is “brilliant, conspiratorial, furtive, sensitive to linkages and nuances. … charming yet at times deceitful.”These are a few of the observations of Walter Isaacson, one of the preeminent biographers of our time, whose hulking explorations of the most influential figures in politics, science, technology and art help us understand them in new ways—and assist us little people, too. That’s certainly the case with his latest achievement, Leonardo da Vinci, a painstaking exploration into the provenance of genius. In his appearance at the Four Arts, he’ll explain how Da Vinci’s gifts can help the rest of us improve ourselves.

Penn & Teller WHEN: Jan. 31, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole

Way, Hollywood COST: $40-$85 CONTACT: 800/745-3000, myhrl.com Penn Jillette may have slimmed to a fraction of his former bulk, but the trickery he accomplishes with his longtime partner, Raymond Teller, is as robust as ever. If anything, the routines from Las Vegas’ longest-running headliners of alltime have become more sophisticated as their careers have evolved from comedy-magic pioneers to eagle-eyed judges on The CW’s “Penn & Teller: Fool Us!” Penn & Teller devise elaborate illusions that deconstruct conventional formulae and upend our expectations. Who knows what they’re hiding up their sleeves for this year’s tour?

“Henry Box Brown” WHERE: Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami WHEN: Jan. 10-12 COST: $25 CONTACT: 305/949-6722, arshtcenter.org

This hip-hop musical, on tour following its world premiere in 2018, is about slavery, survival and the postal system. It charts the real-life journey of Henry Brown, born into bondage in antebellum Virginia, who mailed himself in a stifling dry-goods box to the free state of Pennsylvania. Brown, who burned his hand with sulfuric acid to get out of work, climbed into the box and, with the help of stealth abolitionists, spent 27 days traveling on wagon, railroad, steamboat and ferry, breathing through a single discrete hole. His story has become legend, aided by his exploits later in life: As a refugee slave, Brown became a touring magician and lecturer. In “Henry Box Brown,” the Roots’ Karl “Dice Raw” Jenkins raps his way through Brown’s extraordinary story alongside three actors, six dancers and a score that blends symphonic sounds with urban beats.

bocamag.com

LOCAL Hotlist JAN19.indd 30

••••

January 2019

11/30/18 3:56 PM

AN OCEANFRONT ADDRESS 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Af ter waiting more than three decades for a new direct oceanfront living oppor tunit y in Delray Beach, Ocean Delray has become the most highly-anticipated residential of fering in South Florida. This visionar y oceanfront enclave, designed by award-winning architect Randall Stof f t, seamlessly blends modern sophistication with natural, coastal elements. Intelligent living spaces, beautiful surroundings, and ex traordinarily chic design await just 19 for tunate homebuyers.

1901 SOUTH OCEAN BOULEVARD, DELRAY BEACH | (800) 793-9783 | OCEANDELRAY.com

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. All dimensions, features, and specifications are approximate and subject to change without notice. Brokers warmly welcomed.

OceanDelray_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 11:07 AM

32

THE LOCAL

DREAMER

High Notes

Behind a Boca-based opera singer’s unlikely rise Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY

M

WEB EXTRA: Want to hear Melissa sing? Visit BOCAMAG. COM/JANUARY-2019.

bocamag.com

••••

elissa Therese Then has learned that you never know until you try. Trying things on a whim has lead Then to attend a top music conservatory, perform in Germany, go onstage at the Wick, and even sing before one of the biggest boxing matches in recent history.

“I always underestimate myself because [I’m not] as experienced as my other peers,”she says. Indeed, Then didn’t grow up a child prodigy—she has no anecdotes of singing with perfect pitch as a toddler. Instead, she accidentally discovered her talent in high school when a teacher encouraged her to take vocal lessons.

Born in the Philippines, Then came to the U.S. as an infant when she was adopted.

She grew up in Plantation, started playing piano at 6, and moved to Boca Raton in elementary school. She attended North Broward Preparatory School and joined the choir in high school.

“The teacher came up to me and said, ‘You should think about taking voice lessons,’” she remembers.“I told my mom; she said ‘Oh yeah, right, there’s no way.’”

The teacher convinced her mom otherwise, and so they made the drive from Boca to Tamarac for weekly lessons. It was there she learned that not only did she have a voice, but she excelled in opera.

“It just felt so beautiful and so free,”Then says.“It just took me to a different world. ... In pop songs you sing

about love, but here we’re singing about nature, the river, it’s actually appreciating our surroundings. I liked that.”

She continued to blend in with the choir at school—until she was given a solo during a school performance. She belted“Summertime”from “Porgy and Bess,” introducing herself to the world as a singer.“I’m not going to lie, I actually felt really good and I knew I wasn’t so terrible of a singer,”she says.

When it came time to look at colleges, Then took a chance and auditioned for notable music programs, including the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she was accepted. She spent a year there but returned home to Palm Beach Atlantic University to be closer to her family.

There, she was chosen to attend the Saarburg Festival in Germany, where she studied the language and performed from town to town.

After singing at a prayer service before the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight in 2015, she landed the role of Rosalia in “West Side Story”at the Wick in 2017.

She also served as the understudy to the lead female role of Maria.“I’ve seen the movie 19 times and the Broadway [musical] twice,”she says.

Today, Then teaches performing arts at North Broward Prep, sings at St. Jude Catholic Church every Sunday, and teaches dance classes through the Vixen Army brand, where she says she can “sweat it off and let things go.”

January 2019

LOCAL dreamer Therese JAN19.indd 32

11/27/18 6:16 PM

ENNIS PLASTIC SURGERY BEAUTIFUL MEDICINE™

Sometimes Pictures Really Are Worth A Thousand Words

ACTUAL PATIENT

Real Self Top 100 Leading Doctors of Cosmetic & Aesthetic Medicine | Transaxillary No Scar on the Breast Augmentation | Top 10 Plastic Surgeon in Florida based on Patient Reviews Leading Plastic Surgeons of the World | America’s Top Plastic Surgeons | Congressionally Awarded Artist | Double Board Certified

L. Scott Ennis, MD, FACS 561-266-4439 | 233 S Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, FL | www.EnnisMD.com

EnnisPS_DBMJF19.indd 1

12/7/18 10:04 AM

34

THE LOCAL

HERO

Fuller Lives

Florence Fuller Child Development Centers continues to aid impoverished children and their families Written by EMILY CHAIET

— Ellyn Okrent

Okrent on the Florence Fuller playground with kids

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL hero Okrent JAN19.indd 34

O

n the outside, Boca is a charmed city.

Yet beneath the glitz and glam, more than 32 percent of the families in Boca Raton are considered impoverished. This hidden community lives at or below what the United Way defines as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, meaning they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Florence Fuller Child Development Centers are here for those children and families.

Serving 800 kids and 600 of their family members, these centers aim to provide children with a pathway out of poverty.

Florence Fuller provides children with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack every day, along with medical screenings for vision, dental, hemoglobin levels, hearing and more.

The organization also helps their parents, offering them career counseling and childcare classes.

“It’s a lot smarter to make an investment in keeping children healthy than repairing damaged adults,”says Ellyn Okrent, CEO of Florence Fuller.“The outcome of what we do here is much more beneficial, and we are much more able to ensure that kids can reach their full

potential than having to repair them when they’re broken.”

Okrent worked in child welfare before starting her career at Florence Fuller in 2012, which has allowed her to see the importance of helping children early on. Among Boca’s conspicuous wealth, it can

be hard to see its poverty, but Okrent says awareness is the best solution for this engrained issue.

“There are so many things that are set up to make these people fail, and that’s why it’s so complicated,” she says.

“It’s really a systemic problem that’s much bigger than Boca. It’s

worldwide. I think if we’re ever going to really have peace and a good community we need to find a way to take care of the people who take care of us.”

For more information on how to support Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, visit ffcdc.org.

AARON BRISTOL

It’s a lot smarter to make an investment in keeping children healthy than repairing damaged adults.”

January 2019

11/27/18 6:15 PM

Welcoming our Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and full-time aesthetic injector, Melissa Alvarez MSN, APRN, FNP-BC.

BODY CONTOURING Abdominoplasty Arm Contouring Bra Fat Roll Buttock Lift Cellulaze Exilis Ultra Therapy Liposuction Medial Thigh Lift SculpSure Smartlipo Thigh Contouring Total Lower Body Lift

FACE & NECK Botox Eyelid Lift Facelift Fraxel Re:pair Laser Resurfacing Juvéderm Kybella Laser Lift w/ Precision Tx Neck Contouring Sculptra Volbella Vollure Voluma™ XC

years

EX

CE

C

29

OF

BREAST Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Breast Liposuction Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Breast Asymmetry

E B R AT I N G

Look & feel your best… at any age!

EL

CELLE

N

SKIN CARE & LASER CENTER Exilis Ultra Therapy Fraxel Laser Icon Laser IPL Photofacials Laser Hair Removal Laser Vein Removal Sapphire Three Photofacial Ulthera SilkPeel SkinMedica Peels SkinMedica Products

CRISTINA F. KEUSCH, M.D., P.A. 950 Glades Road, Suite 3 • Boca Raton, FL 33431 T: 561-368-9455 F: 561-394-8210

Selected as a Top Doc for the 8th consecutive year!

/DRKEUSCH Like us to be the first to learn about our specials!

DrCKeusch_DBMJF19.indd 1

12/4/18 9:59 AM

36

THE LOCAL

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

The Negotiator

A crisis responder explains how it feels to negotiate kidnap-for-ransom swaps Written by JOHN THOMASON

You can hold a guy in the bathtub in a small apartment for a week —tie him up, feed him once in awhile—and not have anyone notice, but the longer it goes on, the more likely it is to be detected.”

— Dan Donahue

bocamag.com

••••

A

s a crisis response negotiator, Fort Lauderdale resident Dan Donahue has one of the most sensitive jobs in the private sector. The retired military intelligence officer (who asked to use a pseudonym for this story) is the lifeline between kidnappers and the families of their captives, between pirates and hostages, between extortionists and their victims.

In the 18 years he’s been in the business, he’s never lost a victim. Nearly 10 of those years have been with Terra Firma Risk Management, the kidnap response company he launched with four British partners with intelligence and/ or military backgrounds. In Donahue’s own words: “The first thing you do when you talk to the kidnapper is ask, ‘How do I know you have the victim? Let me talk to them.’ And they’ll generally refuse. Then you say, ‘I have to be sure that you’re not some guy calling up from a store somewhere. So I’m going to give you three proof-of-life questions that only the victim knows the answer to.’ These are questions you’ve set up in advance with the family.

Captors have life or death power over the captives, but they have nothing to gain by really hurting the person. The kidnapper understands that the hostage is a piece of merchandise. If they damage the merchandise, they’re not going to get as good a business deal.

Having said that, they will try to use the threat of hurting the hostage to get you to capitulate

or increase your offer as part of the negotiation.

For the kidnappers, it’s almost always about money. If you follow the rules, they’ll follow the rules, and everyone will go home safe at night. There are certainly political cases, and there are cases [when] it can get a little complicated. And that has to do with my longest case, the kidnapping of a medical doctor in Latin America; he happened to be married to a well-to-do woman. It was guerrillas that kidnapped him. They wanted a doctor to take care of some of the older leaders. That negotiation lasted for a little over a year.

These days, a week might be a more likely amount of time, because law enforcement’s gotten a lot better, wealthy people have more security, everyone is a lot more vigilant, and there are cameras around. You can hold a guy in a bathtub in a small apartment for a week— tie him up, feed him once in a while—and not have anyone notice, but the longer it goes on, the more likely it is to be detected. It’s common for days to go by with no communication. The kidnappers will use silence to pressure the family; the role of psychological pressure can be great.

What I tell clients is, ‘you need to be comfortable with ambiguity.’ Anything can happen in terms of the person at the other end of the phone. You can’t let your emotions intrude.

I don’t think anyone doing this has that problem. I don’t have that many wrinkles, do I?”

January 2019

LOCAL how does it feel JAN19.indd 36

11/27/18 6:21 PM

Return to the Life You Love

ADVANCED MINIMALLY INVASIVE ROBOTIC ASSISTED SURGERY CLOSE TO HOME Broward Health is pleased to offer advanced robotic technology designed to offer greater precision, flexibility and control. At Broward Health hospitals, experienced surgeons use robotic technology during many types of surgeries including general, colorectal, gynecological, urological and more.

Benefits of robotic surgery may include: • Faster recovery

• Less pain & risk of infection

• Less blood loss and scarring

• Quicker return to normal activities

To find a robotically trained surgeon, visit BrowardHealth.org/Find-Doctor.

Celebrating More Than 80 Years of Caring.

BrowardHealth.org • Follow us:

BrowardHealth_BRM0119.indd 1

11/29/18 4:59 PM

38

THE LOCAL

EXPERT

Buzz Worthy

Willie Sklaroff’s job truly is the bees’ knees Written by JOHN THOMASON

There’s been an increase in bee boxes in the state of Florida— beehives that are commercially rated, that beekeepers send out to pollinate the crops.

People started becoming aware [that bees were disappearing], and they became beekeepers.”

AARON BRISTOL

— Willie Sklaroff

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL expert BEE JAN19.indd 38

W

illie Sklaroff keeps a busy, noisy house.

In his home office in Aventura, three of his 18 cats clamor among the tables, scratching posts and windowsills, while two caged cockatiels punctuate the air with a running commentary.

Meanwhile, his many phones light up with the relentlessness of the Congressional switchboard: He has three in his office, two in the kitchen, one in the bedroom, one in the bathroom.

An incoming call triggers a chorus of chimes throughout the house. All of his business numbers—he purchased separate lines for Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, plus a Spanish-language line—route directly to Sklaroff. It’s a hectic time for the tri-county area’s most famous bee removal specialist.

Known as Willie the Bee Man—if you’ve attended the Wick or Palm Beach Dramaworks, you’ve seen his playbill ads—Sklaroff was working as a kindergarten teacher when he began removing

unwanted hives from clients’ houses. Eventually, the income he earned from bee removal superseded his teachers’ salary, and he’s been running his business full-time for the past 15 years. An avuncular advocate for bee education, he speaks to schools about his work and the importance of nature’s pollinators, sometimes dressed in honeybee regalia. For this story, Boca readers are his pupils.

On preserving bees: We always want to do live removals.

That doesn’t always work out, for many reasons. The hives may or may not be healthy. The stress alone sometimes kills the bees. We probably lose 50 percent of the hives that we take out—in transportation, in dying off.

I had a beehive out here that seemed to be doing great, and I opened it up to work on it. All the bees were gone. They just got up and left.

On job restrictions: I will not even try to do a second-story house. You’re cutting things out, you’re on a ladder, honey will drip—it will be dangerous and slippery for the technician.

On preventing the formation of hives: You could bee-proof your house, which means sealing up every crack or hole that’s an eighth of an inch or bigger.

And that’s almost impossible to do.

Most people never caulk underneath the flashing on top of their roofs, and there’s always a space between the roof and the boards. How do the bees find these spots? Who knows.

Places where bees could go is almost anywhere there’s a void: hollows of trees, of telephone poles, both concrete and wood ones. They can go into cinder blocks, holes next to pipes, even electrical cables.

On honeybee loss: Because of the media, people are thinking that we’re losing our bees, and they want to save all the bees they can save. This is old history. The new history is that there’s been an increase in bee boxes in the state of Florida—beehives that are commercially rated, that beekeepers send out to pollinate the crops.

People started becoming aware of [the problem], and they became beekeepers.

The number of hob-

byists increased up to almost 5,000 from fewer than 500.

On differences between bees: Any bee, European or Africanized, could become aggressive at any time. It could be a scent on the person, it can be a vibration of a lawnmower, it can be an engine of a car.

European honeybees will only send out four or five, or maybe 10 to 20, bees after a threat. Africanized honeybees will send out hundreds to thousands after you at one time. European honeybees will chase you, but by the time you get to the front yard from the backyard, only one or two are still bothering you. Africanized honeybees are known to follow a quarter mile after you. They’ll hover if you jump into a pool.

On occupational hazards: Andre, one of our Certified Pest Control Operators, has been stung, I think, 112 times over a 12-year period. I’ve probably been stung that many times in one month. A lot of times I’ll be stung, and by the time I get home, I don’t remember where I got stung.

January 2019

11/30/18 3:58 PM

39

December 2017

LOCAL expert BEE JAN19.indd 39

••••

bocamag.com

11/27/18 6:24 PM

40

THE LOCAL

STEWARD

A New Hope

A onetime Peace Corps volunteer continues to spread goodwill and philanthropic values to Boca’s Generation Z Written by GARY GREENBERG

It’s not business as usual, but rather business as unusual— a force for good. I tell our students that what we’re doing here can make a difference.”

— Jerry Hildebrand

bocamag.com

••••

J

erry Hildebrand is passing the torch of social activism to a new generation. Initially inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s ambition to spread peace and prosperity throughout the world, Hildebrand has spent his entire life working toward that goal.

He started out as an early Peace Corps volunteer, and is now passing along his knowledge as director of the Center for Social Impact at Lynn University. The groundbreaking program encourages business students to use their entrepreneurial skills to not only make money but also to help solve global problems.

Hildebrand believes the students of Generation Z (born after 1995) seem eager to take up the mantle of JFK’s dream.“Their mantra is they want to do good, and they want to do well,” Hildebrand notes.“They don’t want to be poor, but they want a life of meaning.

Social entrepreneurship allows them to do both.”

Lynn University’s progressive president, Kevin Ross, is all-in, recruiting Hildebrand from a similar program in California and building the Social Impact Lab, likely the largest facility of its kind in the nation. Lynn students spearheaded the drive to earn their school the designation of a Fair Trade University. Results can

already be sipped in the school cafeteria where Starbucks coffee has been replaced by Vega, a fairtrade, organic brand from Nicaragua.

At 76, Hildebrand still exudes the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a Sixties-era Peace Corps volunteer.

“My parents didn’t understand why I was going to Peru to work for five cents an hour,” he recalls.

“I lived with the indigenous people in huts with mud walls and dirt floors.

It was a transformative experience.”

Later, he was a paid campaign worker for Robert Kennedy’s presidential run, which ended tragically with the candidate’s assassination. The following summer, RFK’s widow Ethel asked Hildebrand to come to Hyannis Port to help mind her brood.

“Everyone was there that summer,” he says.”Rafer Johnson, Andy Williams, Jim Whittaker, John Glenn, Rosey Grier.

Every weekend somebody like that would come, because Ethel wanted her boys to have role models.”

Now, Hildebrand is the role model.“Lynn has become a breeding ground for social entrepreneurship,” he says.“Everyone here is on the front lines.

We just had kids come back from Macedonia, Costa Rica, Belize and Rwanda. This generation can change the world.”

January 2019

LOCAL steward Hildebrand JAN19 copy.indd 40

11/30/18 3:59 PM

BEFORE HAPPY PLACE...

A PL ACE. YOU FIND YOUR

YOU NEED

Your new happy place is actually an exclusive collection of happy places— designer shops and upscale boutiques with popular nightlife, fine dining and casual dining experiences.

SHOP

DINE

Allen Edmonds Boutique A La Mode Chico’s Coton Frais En Vogue Grove Opticians Guy La Ferrera

Hoffman’s Chocolates Joseph’s Classic Market Jos. A. Bank Scout & Molly’s Silver’s Fine Jewelry Total Wine & More Vertu Fine Art

Brio Tuscan Grille Café 5150 Giano Gelato McDonald’s Morton’s Panera Bread Rocco’s Tacos

Starbucks Sushi Ray Tap 42

5 1 5 0 TO W N C E N TE R C I R C L E MILITARY TRAIL • JUST NORTH OF PALMETTO PARK

Shops@BocaCtr_BRM0119.indd 1

11/26/18 11:05 AM

THE LOCAL

DRESS CODE

VALENTINO slingback silver heels, $895, Neiman Marcus Boca TOM FORD embellished heel slingbacks, $2,990, Neiman Marcus Boca CHANEL tweed slingback heels, $875, Neiman Marcus Boca

Glitter Bomb

Dress Code Wardrobe Stylist JENNA DEBRINO/ HOT PINK STYLE

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 42

This season. party shoes are silvered and sparkled and ready for dancing

January 2019

11/28/18 10:14 AM

Cristino_brm0119.indd 1

12/6/18 5:23 PM

44

THE LOCAL

DRESS CODE

YSL heart wallet, $895, Neiman Marcus Boca BALENCIAGA red wallet, $650, Neiman Marcus Boca FENDI wallet, $490, Neiman Marcus Boca VALENTINO wallet, $395, Neiman Marcus Boca Black & white woven wallet, $40, Closet 911

Show Me the Money The new wallets are slim and trim and very trendy bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 44

January 2019

11/28/18 10:14 AM

SHOP Let fashion industry stylist Peggy Pashayan, former VP at DKNY, create your wardrobe . . .

CLOSET 911 . . . and transform your closet into your personal boutique.

129 Via Naranjas • Boca Raton, FL 33432 917-952-3816 • closet911.com

ORGANIZE Actual Client Closet

Closet911_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 10:23 AM

46

THE LOCAL

DRESS CODE

Neutral Territory Calm things down with these muted winter shades

Geometric purse, $128, Coton Frais Boca JIMMY CHOO leather slingback heels, $725, Neiman Marcus Boca CHIARA FERRAGNI glitter shoe, $558, Filly & Colt Boca Scarf, $98, Coton Frais Boca

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 46

January 2019

12/3/18 11:37 AM

South Florida’s Premier AC Service Provider When Was The Last time an A/C Company Sent You Their Technician’s Name and Information Before He Arrived at Your House?

Serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin & Southern St. Lucie Counties

Providing the Highest Level of Customer Service & Satisfaction Since 1995 561-270-4448 • cousinsair.com Cousins air_DBMJF19.indd 1

12/5/18 7:46 AM

48

THE LOCAL

DRESS CODE

Hot Toppers

A jaunty fedora is the best heads-up this season

TOQUIFINA pink fedora, $57, beige fedora, $320, Closet 911 SCALA straw hat, $38, Coton Frais Boca BAILEY fedora, $60, Lord & Taylor

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 48

January 2019

11/28/18 10:14 AM

HealthyLiving_BRM_0119.indd 1

12/7/18 11:42 AM

50

THE LOCAL

DRESS CODE

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO black leather boots, $1,290, Neiman Marcus Boca ALDEN suede chukkas, $555, Maus & Hoffman Palm Beach LINDBERGH classic boots, $279, Lindbergh JUNK DE LUXE black racer boots, $400, Lindbergh

DRESS CODE RETAILERS: CLOSET 911, 129 Via Naranjas, Boca Raton FILLY & COLT, 7050 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton NEIMAN MARCUS, 5860 Glades Road, Boca Raton COTON FRAIS, 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton MAUS & HOFFMAN, 312 Worth Ave., Palm Beach LINDBERGH, 1000 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton

bocamag.com

••••

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 50

January 2019

11/28/18 10:14 AM

51 Boots Made for Walking

The ankle boot is kicking it up a notch this year

LOCAL Dresscode JAN19.indd 51

11/28/18 10:14 AM

52

THE LOCAL

ARTS

Building a Boca Artwalk Can a soulless industrial park off Spanish River become Boca’s very own arts district?

Written by ERIC BARTON

W

hen Dominic Peri and his partners opened Prosperity Brewers off Spanish River Boulevard last March, it wasn’t like they expected much from the neighborhood.

No doubt Prosperity Brewers looked modern and cool inside, with its reclaimed wood walls and Edison bulbs hanging over polished concrete floors. But outside it was all industrial park, tucked in behind a Tire Kingdom and the railroad tracks just west of Dixie.

And then, on opening night, something totally unexpected happened.“It was through the roof. It was unbelievable,” Peri says.

“There must have been 125 cars parked outside and like 400 people walking around.”

The brewery’s opening night coincided with a little upstart artwalk that might just become something big. It’s still in the initial steps, but the organizers are hoping to turn

the industrial park into an arts neighborhood called the New Boca Art and Design District, modeled after Wynwood in Miami or Antique Row in West Palm Beach.

The artwalk is held on the third Friday of the month in the alley running behind the Flamingo House and Prosperity Brewers. It’s attracted about 20 vendors selling everything from paintings to handmade jewelry. Food trucks come, and live music sets up right there in the alley. Artists who occupy a few of the warehouse bays open garage doors to give access to their galleries.

“Our goal was always to grow a nice little creative community here,” says Amber Tollefson, co-owner of the Flamingo House shared office space in the neighborhood and one of the main instigators of the artwalk.“Let’s give people from Boca Raton somewhere other than Mizner Park.”

Organizers put the artwalk

on hold this summer while they worked out the permitting process.

After months of negotiation, the artwalk returned in November with a new permit.

Plans to cover the warehouse buildings with murals is a step that will help make the area feel more like an arts district, she says.“It is the beginning of something great,” says city council member Andrea O’Rourke.“When they get the murals out there, it’s something that will really flip the switch.”

So far, promotion of the artwalk has been fairly quiet as organizers ironed out the details, Peri says.

But he predicts a big push in 2019 to turn the artwalk into a major draw for Boca.

“For a while it was just, hey, let’s see if we can get this thing up the hill, to now, where it’s, hey, look at us up here,” Peri says.“All the elements are there. We just need to refine and then raise the volume.”

Participating artists from Boca’s new artwalk

bocamag.com

LOCAL art walk JAN19.indd 52

••••

January 2019

11/27/18 6:42 PM

THE STORY OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE EYES OF ARTISTS

In Mizner Park 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432 BOCAMUSEUM.ORG

These exhibitions have been made possible by the Museum’s Leadership Fund with major support generously provided by: the Estate of Ardele L. Garrod, Isadore & Kelly Friedman Foundation, Jody H. & Martin Grass, PNC Bank, Anne & Scott P. Schlesinger, Jennifer & Marc Bell, Dalia & Duane Stiller, Susan & Eric Kane and the Laurence W. Levine Foundation, Angela & John DesPrez III, El Ad National Properties, Lisette Model Foundation, Trish Savides, Schmidt Family Foundation, the Museum’s Friends Auxiliary, and those who wish to remain anonymous.

IMAGE: Marion Post Wolcott, Winter Visitors from Nearby Trailer Park, Picnicking Beside Car on Beach, Near Sarasota, Florida [detail], 1941, Gelatin silver print. Acquired 2018. Museum purchase with funds provided by the Isadore and Kelly Friedman Collection Fund.

BocaMuseumofArt_BRM0119.indd 1

11/27/18 11:59 AM

It Only Takes 2 Minutes...

33rd

To Get Hooked!

BOCA CENTER ON MILITARY TRAIL 561-394-5551 | GROVEOPTICIANS.COM

Dan & Rob

“We travel the world to handpick eyewear you won't see anywhere else.”

GroveOpticians-half_BRM0119.indd 1

p.53.indd 53

11/27/18 5:17 PM

12/7/18 11:03 AM

54

bocamag.com

THE LOCAL

••••

LOCAL worth the trip JAN19.indd 54

WORTH THE TRIP

January 2019

11/27/18 6:46 PM

55 Amara Cay

This boutique resort in Islamorada offers a new spin on the Keys: chic and tropical with a whimsical island vibe Written By MARIE SPEED

I

recall the days when a trip to Islamorada meant your first beer was at Alabama Jack’s and your second was after you scored a very inexpensive mom-and-pop motel within a three–mile radius of the Lorelei, where you would have your third beer. In those days, it was a simpler weekend getaway of fish sandwiches, boiled shrimp, maybe fishing out of Bud and Mary’s and a Key Lime pie from Manny and Isa’s.

These days, in a combination of post-Irma redevelopment and a growing affluence among homeowners and visitors, Islamorada has come on up, as the Jeffersons might have said, with the next generation of getaway lodging: island-y chic, top-notch amenities and a cool contemporary vibe. Not quite luxury, but very close—and Opposite and below, the pool deck/tiki bar and beachfront at Amara Cay

night and day from the quirky island motels we used to frequent.

Amara Cay is a prime example.

This 110-room boutique resort on the ocean side has both style and content, with a beautiful freeform pool, a lobby that evokes the South Pacific (complete with living air plant wall, suspended rattan chairs, tropical greenery) and an open vista to the beach and turquoise seas beyond. There is a tiki bar, thatched huts and hammocks on a white sand beach (rare in the Keys) and a seaside dock/sunbathing deck. An outdoor game lawn has jumbo Jenga, foosball and ping-pong, and at night the fire pits are lit so guests can relax in Adirondack chairs with a nightcap in the soft ocean breezes.

Dining at Amara is breakfast and lunch at the Reelburger just off the lobby and lunch outdoors,

at the tiki bar. It’s not gourmet dining but it’s good—and perfect when you just want to stay put.

Our retired food critic, who lives in Key Largo, thinks dining in the Keys has gone by the wayside, but we think you can still get a great dinner at Ziggie and Mad Dog’s, Pierre’s and Kaiyo. More casual spots are M.E.A.T. Eatery & Taproom and Ciao Hound at the Postcard Inn (a sister property of Amara Cay) or Lazy Sands, which has a great waterside view.

Amara Cay has a clean simplicity mixed with a whimsical island vibe; two-plus hours door-todoor and you’re in the Keys, the place where everything begins to make sense again, and troubles really do seem to melt away. This charming resort is an excellent spot to get all that going, and then some.

From top, Amara’s fire pits at night, the swirly pool and the tropical lobby

AMARA CAY RESORT 80001 Overseas Highway Islamorada 305/664-0073

January 2019

LOCAL worth the trip JAN19.indd 55

••••

bocamag.com

11/27/18 6:46 PM

Experience Boca At Its Best

Authentic. Independent. Remarkable. Waterstone Resort & Marina is the definitive choice for experiencing the best South Florida has to offer. This AAA Four Diamond award-winning boutique hotel features two incredible restaurants – Waterstone Rum Bar & Grill and the elegant Boca Landing – as well as spectacular event space and easy beach access.

Discover the best Boca has to offer at Waterstone Resort & Marina.

999

EAST

CAMINO

REAL

W AT E R S T O N E B O C A . C O M

|

BOCA

|

5 6 1. 3 6 8 . 9 5 0 0

R AT O N

|

FLORIDA

33432

#BEINTRIGUED # W AT E R S T O N E B O C A

Waterstone_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 11:50 AM

57

MUÑOZ PHOTOGRAPHY

#LOVE B

Halloween at The Addison

January 2019

LoveBoca JAN19.indd 57

CA

••••

bocamag.com

11/28/18 10:31 AM

58

#LOVEBOCA

Boca Chats: Food Critics Dish

1

What: Food lovers gathered at Ouzo Bay in Mizner Park to enjoy an evening of food, drinks and insights from regional experts. After enjoying light bites and drinks, 40 people listened to a panel of food critics: Lynn Kalber of Boca magazine, Michael Mayo of the Sun Sentinel and Liz Balmaseda of the Palm Beach Post. The seasoned critics discussed what they look for in restaurant ambience, their most memorable dishes, food items that are just so passé and much more. The event was Boca magazine’s second discussion in its new “Boca Chats”series.

Where: Ouzo Bay 2

3

4

5

6

1. Brian McKeever, Ginger Livingston and Jesse Bratter 2. Cassandra Narine and Micheline Hollaus listen to the talk.

3. Michael Mayo of the Sun Sentinel talks about his job as a food critic.

4. Steven Mednick and Julia Johnston 5. Cary Roman, Sandra Tribioli and Michael Budd 6. Sandra Tribioli and Gail Eagle

bocamag.com

LoveBoca JAN19.indd 58

••••

January 2019

11/28/18 10:31 AM

59 1

2

3

1. A member of the undead surprised guests on the dance floor.

2. An executioner jumps out in the London Dungeon 3. Angela DiGiorgio, Jennifer Ferlita, Lindsey Swing, Lilly Robbins, Jessica Zelaya, Jessica Smolla and Vanessa Shermeta 4. A contortionist greeted guests at the entrance of the party.

Silver Scream What: Hundreds of monsters, superheroes and ghouls attended the biggest party of the year at The Addison’s“Silver Scream” Halloween gathering. The event venue was transformed into an homage to classic horror films, with nods to Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy and the Werewolf of London.

This included a frightening walk-through of the London Dungeon, fit with scream-worthy appearances by Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd and other British characters. For the first time, children were invited early to attend a kid-friendly Monster Bash. Boca magazine served as the media sponsor for the night, Daniel Events decorated, and ticket proceeds benefited Slow Burn Theatre Company.

Where: The Addison

5. Anthony Hamedl, Christina Groom, Nathan Dils, Kaitlyn O’Neill and Conor Walton

4

6. Guests who purchased VIP tickets were treated to an ornate dinner in Dracula’s castle.

5

MUÑOZ PHOTOGRAPHY

6

January 2019

LoveBoca JAN19.indd 59

••••

bocamag.com

11/28/18 10:31 AM

Construction Continues Construction continues on the 4 new mausoleum buildings, with a completion date of April 2019.

Call today to schedule a tour I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

Fritz Miner – Manager

BocaMausoleum_BRM0119.indd 1

The Grace, Heritage, Dignity and Repose buildings will be a wonderful addition to the existing 26 buildings the Mausoleum offers as a final resting place for the community.

Pre-Construction Pricing Now Available This is your chance to own at exceptional pre-construction prices, with 0% financing available.

Boca Raton

CEMETERY & MAUSOLEUM Dignity That Lasts Forever

561-391-5717 • bocaratonmausoleum.com 451 SW 4th Avenue • Boca Raton 12/5/18 9:43 AM

61

THE BIZ

AARON BRISTOL

Dr. James Galvin

January 2019

BIZ JAN19.indd 61

••••

bocamag.com

11/28/18 11:35 AM

62

THE BIZ

PRIME MOVER

Death is Not an Option When I was 8 years old I was told I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it.

In that moment and every single day of my life thereafter I thought I’d have to try some way around this death issue.”

AARON BRISTOL

— Bill Faloon

bocamag.com

BIZ JAN19.indd 62

••••

Bill Faloon’s quest to live happily forever after Written by GARY GREENBERG

I

t may seem ironic that Life Extension honcho Bill Faloon has a degree in mortuary sciences, but it was all part of a master plan that originated in his youth.

“When I was 8 years old, I was told I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it,”recalls the co-founder and director of the Life Extension Foundation.“In that moment, and every single day of my life thereafter, I thought I’d have to try to find some way around this death issue.”

A few years later, he read a Sunday newspaper article about cryonics, the concept of putting the dearly departed into a deep freeze until technology advances to the point where their bodies can be fixed and resuscitated.“At that point, I realized that death wasn’t 100-percent inevitable,”Faloon says.

He decided to study mortuary sciences because cryonics involved an embalming process. After earning a degree in his native Pittsburgh, Faloon moved to South Florida to escape the cold as well as promote cremation as a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to burial, and further pursue his interest in cryonics. In the late 1970s, Faloon met fellow cryonics enthusiast Saul Kent, and they started what would become the Life Extension Foundation by publishing a newsletter called the Anti-Aging News.

In it, they revealed nutrients—such as coenzyme Q10 and fish oil’s DHA—that could potentially reduce disease risk and slow the aging process. When readers complained about not being able to find some of the nutrients, Faloon and Kent began formulating supplements and selling them. They created a business arm of the Foundation, the Life Extension Buyer’s Club, and things snowballed from there.

“We accidentally got into the dietary supplement business and are now the world’s largest consumer-based anti-aging medical group,”says Faloon, who settled in Boca Raton with his wife and two sons in 2004.

Life Extension has thrived despite battles with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which seized the company’s products in 1987 and indicted Faloon and Kent in 1991 for helping to promote off-label uses for prescription drugs.“It’s been a case of them attacking us, and us winning in court,” Faloon says. ››

January 2019

12/6/18 5:34 PM

The Business & Professional Division (B&P) is the premiere business network for local Jewish professionals to grow their business, broaden their networks and make a difference by helping others.

Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

BREAKFAST NETWORKING SERIES INTERACT AND MAKE AN IMPACT February 22, 2019 April 5, 2019

RSVP Today: jewishboca.org/bpnetworking

May 17, 2019 June 26, 2019

All Programs Begin: 8:00 am Wyndham Boca Raton 1950 Glades Road | Boca Raton

For more information, contact: Sonni Simon, Director, Business Philanthropy 561-852-3128 | sonnis@bocafed.org

$18 per person

A minimum gift of $1,000 to the 2019 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend.

Breakfast Networking Series Chairs: Elyssa Kupferberg and Gary Lesser B&P Division Chairs: Benjamin Gene and Wendi Lipsich Dietary Laws Observed B&P Division is generously sponsored by:*

This event is generously sponsored by:*

In-Kind Sponsors:

Exclusive Magazine Sponsor:

*As of 11/15/18 The IRS requires us to inform you that the cost of your couvert is not tax-deductible.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OR (850) 410-3800 OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

JewishFederation-B&PBreakfast_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 10:44 AM

64

THE BIZ

BEHIND THE BIZ

›› The products of the Fort Lauderdale-based supplement juggernaut are based on the latest scientific research, and much of the information is disseminated in Life Extension magazine.

“We are trying to live forever, and we take our own supplements,” notes Faloon.“So the quality control we put into our products goes beyond any other brand.”

Faloon readily admits that dietary supplements aren’t enough. He says he pores through some 100 scientific papers a day seeking new

ways to help him achieve his goal of immortality. He, himself, seems willing to try anything that has science behind it, including taking 25 dietary supplement products a day, using prescription medications such as the diabetes drug metformin, and trying alternative and even experimental therapies.

He credits infusions of coenzyme NAD+ for helping him to overcome a potentially deadly genetic bone marrow condition, and he expresses high hopes for young plasma transfusions, among other things.

Whatever Faloon is doing seems to be working. At 64, he’s trim with a full head of dark hair, and he boasts of having a sharp mind and endless energy.

“Through our Society for Age Reversal, I work with researchers from every major country,” he says.“...Not everyone wants to live forever. But the prospect of living indefinitely means you can do everything you’ve always wanted to do because there is no age threshold.”

Rebel With a Cause Behind a local PR professional’s high-octane hobby Written by GARY GREENBERG

Americans aged 65 and over in 2016

98 million Americans aged 65 and over in 2060

bocamag.com

BIZ JAN19.indd 64

••••

AARON BRISTOL

46 million

P

ublic relations whiz Adrienne Mazzone has combined her skills at promotion with her passion for motorcycles to help the Fury Road RC do a lot of good work.

On weekdays, the 50-year-old mom of two runs the Boca Raton-based TransMedia Group PR agency. But on Tuesday nights and weekends, she hops on her speedy Indian Scout bike to hit the road with the riding club. The Fury Roadsters not only scoot all around South Florida for fun but also have raised thousands of dollars for charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Natural High, Phantom Rescue, Emy’s Promise and RettSyndrome.org.

“When you can combine something you love to do with a way to help people, it’s a win-win situation,”says Mazzone, events coordinator and partner in the club founded by Dre and Kala Sloan.

Mazzone used her PR savvy to create a media footprint for Fury Road, and now books a variety of charity and community events, many targeting disabled or disadvantaged children.“The kids are fascinated with motorcycles,”she says.“They want to look at the bikes, touch them, hear them, sit on them...”

But perhaps the best thing about being a member of Fury Road is“feeling the wind therapy,” Mazzone says.“You’re too busy concentrating on the road and friends around you to think about bills or work or worries. You’ve just got the wind in your face and unbridled joy in your heart. It’s a sense of personal freedom.”

January 2019

12/3/18 1:47 PM

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County (HFHSPBC) celebrates the power of 70 CEO and C-Suite leaders who joined together to raise funds and literally build a safe, decent and affordable home for a dedicated, hard-working, low income family in our own backyard. Collectively creating the “House that CEO’s Built” in South Palm Beach County – for its 2018 Annual “Corporate Leaders in Action” CEO Build fundraising event – both harnessed and celebrated the unstoppable power of mission-driven leaders to come together to help transform their community with an inspiring “hand up, not a hand out”.

“Building alongside the Habitat Partner Family with other business leaders is one of the most rewarding experiences as you see the impact of your investment in the family and community, yielding dividends in their lives and in building a stronger community for everyone. The camaraderie of the CEO Build continues throughout the year and everyone looks forward to our next CEO Build to help a new, hard-working family achieve their dream of not just building a house, but creating a home and changing the trajectory of the family for generations.”

CEO Build 2018 Honorary Chair Paul Adkins, Chairman, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Paul Adkins

Chairman and CEO Build 2018 Honorary Chair Florida Peninsula Insurance Company *CEO Build Home Sponsor

Mark Atkins

Vice President Line Tec, Inc.

Jason Aube

Palm Beach County Market President BB&T Bank

Richard Bagdasarian CEO RCB Consulting

Ivan Baron

Tournament Chairman Delray Beach Tennis Tournament

Clara Bennett

Executive Director Boca Raton Airport Authority

Bernard Borghei

Executive VP of Operations and Co-Founder Vertical Bridge

Aaron Bowles

President TJ Bowles Electric

Michael Browdy Project Executive DPR Construction

Jesse Flowers

Rudy Llerena

George Petrocelli

Debi Fogel

Connor Lynch

Steve Politziner

Mitch Fogel

Jack Maloney

Robyn Raphael-Dynan

Robert Friedman

Joe Martin

Sal Saldana

Peter Gary

Henry Martin

Arturo Scroggie

Jason Hagensick

Troy McLellan

Penny Shaffer

Barry Halperin

Joseph Meeler

Leon Silverstein

Community President CenterState Bank Administrator Fogel Law Group Esquire Fogel Law Group President RMF Financial, Inc.

Founder & CEO Pinnacle Advertising President & CEO YMCA of South Palm Beach County President Halperin Foundation

Manish Hirapara CEO PeakActivity

Rick Howard

President Sklar Furnishings

Bradley Hurlburt

Cheryl Budd

President & CEO Community Foundation of Palm Beach & Martin Counties

Daniel Cane

Clayton Idle

CEO Budd Solutions President & CEO Modernizing Medicine

John M. Cappeller, Jr.

Associate Publisher South Florida Business & Wealth (SFBW)

David Israel

Founder & President Cappeller Law

Senior Director of Marketing Trustbridge

Charles Deyo

Mark Jackson, Ph.D.

Vice President & COO D&B Tiles Distirbutors

President & CEO Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Pastor Boca Raton Community Church

Thomas Moraca

President & CEO Habitat for Humanity of SPBC

Patricia Nobles

Christian Leighton

Doug Paton

Partner Lighthouse List & Media Source Chief Operating Officer Flagship Solutions

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County President and CEO, Randy Nobles “Sustainable community growth begins with a stable home foundation for families and children. We are fortunate to have a business community in South Palm Beach County that understands the need to build communities from the ground up, just as they build their companies. This innovative program has been developed specifically for CEO and C-Suite Leaders who lead by example and are not afraid to roll their sleeves up to make a real difference in the lives of others.”

Public Relations Director ADT Security Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Innovation Bluegreen Vacations

Vice President & CDO Habitat for Humanity of SPBC

Mitch Feldman

Bob Tucker

Ahmad Wardak

Vice President, Real Estate Development Vertical Bridge

Robert Orr

HabitatHumanity_BRM0119.indd 1

President and Managing Director Boca Raton Resort & Club

Randy Nobles

Ken Lebersfeld

www.habitatsouthpalmbeach.org 181 SE 5th Avenue Delray Beach, FL 33483

John Tolbert

Executive Director Boca Raton Bowl at ESPN

Jerry Fedele

Founder and President Leighton Design

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Raymond James

Doug Mosley

Kari Oeltjen

Michael D. Spears Investments, LLC.

Scott Sullivan

Proprietor Ouzo Bay

Brittney Kocaj

Michael D. Spears

Executive Vice President CBIZ

Derek Morell

Doug Fash

President George Snow Scholarship Fund

Chuck Stout

CEO Moraca Builders

Buddy Norman

CEO West Boca Medical Center

Tim Snow

Bill Mitchell

Jon Kaye

CEO Capitol Lighting

CFO Kaufman Lynn Construction

District Director Northwestern Mutual

David Falk

President & CEO Boca Raton Regional Hospital

Doug Simms

Brad Mitchell

Regional Manager and Florida Market President Comerica Bank

South Florida Market President Florida Blue CEO Aldora Aluminum and Glass Products

Credit Consultant Retail & Small Business Wells Fargo

CFO Hill York

Tax Senior Manager Crowe, LLP

President Bermuda Landscaping & Design

Director Daszkal Bolton LLP

Jason Katz

Founder & CEO Sunflower Landscaping

General Manager Town Center at Boca Raton

Vice President Allegiance Home Health

Rob Dodson

Chief Operating Officer & CMO Kaye Communications, Inc.

Vice President of Operations RCC Associates

CEO FirstLantic Healthcare

Professor Lynn University

LPO and CPO Falk Prosthetics & Orthodics, Inc.

President Good Karma Brands and ESPN WPB

Chief Operating Officer Plastridge Insurance

President & CEO Cendyn Vice President Shamrock Restoration

Director of Catering Boca Raton Resort & Club

Dr. Eugene Winakor

Optometrist, Retired Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

Jay Whelchel

Principal Whelchel Real Estate Services, Inc.

Scott Wyler

President III Capital Management & AVM, L.P.

Noam Ziv

Executive Director of Development El-Ad National Properties

Make your plans for CEO Build 2019 October 18th-19th, 2019 For more information, please contact Kari Oeltjen, Vice President & CDO of Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County, at 561-819-6070 or koeltjen@hfhboca.org

12/7/18 10:37 AM

66

THE BIZ

— Dr. James Galvin

Preventing Brain Drain Straight talk from FAU’s chief brain health expert Written by GARY GREENBERG

D

r. James Galvin is one dementia researcher who isn’t focusing on a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“I’m going to let you in on a secret,”says Galvin, a neurologist and founding director of Florida Atlantic University’s Comprehensive Center for Brain

Health.“Doctors can’t cure disease, with the exception of most bacterial infections and some cancers. Everything else we just treat. So if we can’t cure diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, multiple sclerosis or any other disease, it’s unrealistic to think that we’re suddenly going to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“But we can prevent it. And if you don’t develop a disease, there’s no need to cure it.” Galvin, 54, came to FAU from the faculty at New York University three years ago because he had the opportunity to build a brain health center from the ground up. The key element in it is the Dementia Prevention Program, which evaluates risk through a battery of medical and cognitive tests as well as psychological and lifestyle assessments.

Once risk factors are identified, a personalized prevention or treatment plan can be devised.

“We personalize the plan because a one-sizefits-all approach fits no one,”says Galvin, a Boca resident and married father of three sons.

“Each person is different, their needs are different, and their responses to what you do to them are different.”

The program has a clinical side to treat patients as well as a research side to test the effectiveness of the individualized plans. A multifaceted team including a gerontologist, an integrative nutritionist, nurse practitioners, clinical social workers and physical therapists is spearheaded by Galvin, one of the world’s leading experts in cognitive aging, dementia and neurodegenerative disease. Along with developing a dozen copyrighted diag-

nostic instruments for early detection of these mind-wasting conditions, he has published more than 200 scientific papers and has directed more than 50 clinical trials for dementia treatments.

Galvin says he always wanted to be a doctor and became interested in neurology after watching his grandfather deteriorate and die from dementia spawned from Parkinson’s disease.

“I saw how the neurologists could do nothing to help my grandfather,” recalls Galvin.“So the focus of our program is: How can we change that? We concentrate less on disease, disability and death, and more on health, vitality and capabilities. Our goal is not to make you live longer, but better.”

You can participate in the Dementia Prevention Program by contacting FAU’s Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at 561/297-0164.

Dr. Galvin

bocamag.com

BIZ JAN19.indd 66

••••

AARON BRISTOL

Doctors can’t cure disease, with the exception of most bacterial infections and some cancers ... So if we can’t cure diabetes, arthritis, or MS it’s unrealistic to think that we’re going to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.”

PERSONNEL PROFILE

January 2019

11/28/18 11:35 AM

Full Primary Care Services Jorge I. Montalvan, MD • David B. Hevert, MD • Janice S. Plaxe, DO Randall M. Taubman, MD • Paul Diamond, DO • Steven M. Sherman, MD • • • • • • •

Internal Medicine Practice Intensive Diagnostics Full Lab On-Site Ultrasound & Bone Density Registered Dietitian Medicare + Most Insurances Premiere MD Services Available

561-394-3088 GladesMedical.com 3848 FAU Blvd., Suite 210 Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Exclusively at Glades Medical Group

NOW OFFERING

VIVACE

Frac tional Mic ro - Ne e dle RF S ys te m

VIVACE!

The newest breakthrough in skin treatment is micro-needling using radio frequency. This non-surgical treatment contours and tightens skin on face, neck and body.

• No Surgery • Reduces Fine Lines • Minimize Pore Size • Improve Skin Tone • Instant Results • Virtually Pain-Free • No Downtime • Computer Precision

Call us today for your free consultation.

GladesMedicalGroup_BRM0119.indd 63

MedSpa Aesthetics Services • Fillers • Botox® Wrinkle Relaxers • Micro-Needling • Facials & Skin Care • Sclerotherapy • Permanent Make-up • Health Coaching Glades Medical Group 3848 FAU Blvd. Suite 210 Boca Raton, FL 33431

ageless@gladesmedical.com

AgelessEnergetics.com

561-394 -5160 12/6/18 6:03 PM

TOGETHER, WE CREATE REAL IMPACT. The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County connects our Jewish community. Together, we take care of those in need. We advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves — to live a life with dignity and respect.

We work together to build a dynamic Jewish future at home, in Israel and around the world. We inspire a passion for learning, responsibility and community. Together, we innovate, we ideate, and we celebrate.

Get involved at jewishboca.org

or call 561-852-3100 for more information

JewishFederationGirl_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 10:52 AM

69

FEEL G

D

Figurella

Feelgood JAN19.indd 69

11/28/18 11:53 AM

70

FEEL GOOD

IN MEMORIAM

Honoring a Fallen Warrior In tribute to his late brother, a former Navy SEAL goes beyond the headlines Written by LISETTE HILTO

F

ormer Navy SEAL and Deerfield Beach resident John Owens was mourning the death of his brother when he decided he had to do something to honor his legacy. Also a SEAL, William “Ryan” Owens was 36 when he was killed during a raid on Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen.

The father of three, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, served the U.S. as part of the military’s elite for 18 years.

He was killed in action January 29, 2017, while trying to help a wounded SEAL team member.

John Owens, who still serves the U.S. government in support of the war on terror at age 43, says he watched in horror as reporters scrambled to cover the news on Ryan, the first member of the military to die under the Trump Administration.

The stories were more about the politics than the man, he says.

“Ryan was an extremely successful SEAL Team Six operator for this country, with hundreds of successful missions—heartbreaking missions for him where he lost friends. But he kept going. There are so many traits you can

Top, John and Ryan Owens; right, Ryan Owens

bocamag.com

Feelgood JAN19.indd 70

••••

learn from him … that were overshadowed by the political rhetoric,” Owens says.

Owens has taken it upon himself to raise awareness about Ryan, who he calls a 6-foot-3, 230-pound “beast of an athlete, good-looking stud,” who was so much more than that last mission. Ryan was funny and amazing, even by tough military standards, Owens says.

Ryan earned a Silver Star, the third-highest decoration for valor in combat, after leading a mission to free a village in Africa that had been under the rule of Boko Haram jihadists. The team fought for 74 hours straight. Ryan was credited with saving many of his soldiers’ lives during those days.

Owens says one of his most treasured memories with his brother came after that mission, close to New Year’s, about a year before Ryan died.

Ryan and his family visited John and his family in Deerfield, and the brothers spent alone time chewing tobacco, drinking a few beers and talking about the experience.

“He had just basically had what you could call a crowning achievement of

his career on the battlefield. He described it with humor and grace and said things like, ‘You should have seen the guys in action,’”Owens says.“He was so happy to be home and with his family and to have done that.”

That joy when team members see their mates still alive after a mission is indescribable, according to Owens, who says he has lost most of the SEAL team members close to him over the years.“No matter what happens, when you lose one of your own guys it’s tough. And Ryan had experienced that in his life, his career, many times,” John says.

Probably the worst of those losses was on August 6, 2011. An Army helicopter, Extortion 17, crashed in Afghanistan, killing half of the Gold Squadron members—one of the four squadrons of SEAL Team Six. Ryan wasn’t on the Army helicopter that day, which became known as the greatest single-incident loss of American life in the war in Afghanistan.

“When Extortion 17 went down and we lost all these guys, Ryan brought these guys home and helped to comfort the families. The depth of this man was never-end-

ing,” Owens says.

Despite the extreme danger and anguish that came with the brothers’ chosen lives as SEALs, that night hanging out together was one of the happiest in John’s memory of his brother. Ryan insisted on going outside to share his stories that night, so he’d spare the wives and kids inside from worry.“We’re being eaten alive by mosquitoes. We’re laughing.

We’re hugging,” Owens says.“God, I miss that.”

To spread the word about Ryan’s life and raise money for a South Florida memorial to honor him, John and his wife Holly Owens launched the annual Ryan Owens Memorial Run, a four-mile race on Deerfield Beach that will enter its third year in November. The beach run mimics what SEAL hopefuls do weekly during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, or BUDS, training.

The couple also holds an annual fundraising dinner event through their Naked Warrior Project foundation (nakedwarriorproject. org) each November.

Once Ryan’s memorial is built, the foundation will fund memorials for other fallen SEALs, according to Owens.

January 2019

11/30/18 4:00 PM

71 A CHARITY RUNNERS’ RUNDOWN

Sure, it’s good to run local races for fitness and competition, but it’s also an opportunity to give back. South Florida is home to lots of races for causes, including walks and runs focused on building awareness and raising money for heart disease, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism and more.

These are just a few local races for a cause: • AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE (AVDA) hosts an annual Race for Hope in Lake Worth on Jan. 12. Avdaonline.org • The annual AUTISM SPEAKS walk in West Palm Beach is scheduled for March 3, 2019.

Autism Speaks supports research into causes and better treatments for autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. Autismspeaks.org.

• RUN FROM THE RAYS, on April 28 in Boca Raton, supports melanoma and skin cancer awareness, research, early detection and treatment for those unable to afford it.

Safesunfoundation.com • Boca Raton Regional Hospital presents its annual RUN FOR THE RIBBONS at the Lynn Cancer Institute in June to fund supportive programs for people with cancer. Brrh.com • Proceeds from the EVERY BOOB COUNTS 5K RUN/ WALK in October in Lake Worth benefit efforts to increase breast cancer awareness, promote the importance of early detection and provide support and resources to local people who need help. Theebcfoundation.com

january 2018

Feelgood JAN19.indd 71

••••

bocamag.com

11/28/18 11:53 AM

DO IT FOR YOU ____ PurLife Boca Raton 561.826.4577 purlifefitness.com

Untitled-9 2

11/29/18 3:10 PM

Look great. Feel better. Enjoy life.

Of course, the results are worth it, but they’re just the reward. Whether you’re here to hit the weights, grab a bite, or visit the salon, you don’t come to Pur just for the reward.

You come for you. DO IT FOR YOU! Holiday gift cards available.

PurGreens Boca Raton 561.826.4300 purgreens.com

Untitled-9 3

PurStrands Boca Raton 561.826.4576 purstrands.com

11/29/18 3:09 PM

74

FEEL GOOD

FITNESS

For Women Only

A novel ladies’ fitness regimen offers a bubbly workout Written by LISETTE HILTON

You're not on your own. A big part of the method is the support and motivation.”

— Chiara Migani

I

f going to the gym and dieting don’t sound at all appealing to women who want to lose weight, stay in shape and boost metabolism, there’s another option.

Figurella, which opened in downtown Boca Raton in 2016, uses a science-based method developed in Italy in the 1980s to help women shed pounds and get in shape. And while clients have to exercise and eat right, there’s nothing ordinary about the approach.

Figurella’s Miami-based general manager, Chiara Migani, says clients (women only) start with a consultation, where experts trained in the Figurella method learn about them, take measurements and design a personalized approach to weight loss and fitness. The individual programs

might be different, but all are based on three parts.

One part, which takes up 30 minutes of every hour-long Figurella session, involves doing exercise in a bubble. Figurella uses a thermogenic bubble device that is controlled to the temperature of each client’s body. Working out in the bubble burns fat and boosts metabolism more efficiently than traditional workouts, according to Migani. The metabolic rate increase many achieve in a 90-minute workout can be done in 30 minutes in the bubble.

The exercise isn’t random. A personal trainer takes clients through individualized regimens.

“You’re not on your own. A big part of the method is the support and motivation,” Migani says.

A 15-minute immersion in an oxygen bath is next. The

oxygen, Migani says, penetrates the skin and goes through the bloodstream to detox the body and keep metabolism running high for 72 hours. The final 15 minutes are spent talking about nutrition, taking measurements and learning how a client’s body is changing and reacting to the Figurella method.

“Nothing is magic,” Migani says. But the combined approach works because clients participate two or three times a week, and Figurella experts are with them every step of the way, she says.

The Boca Raton Figurella facility is the first for the franchise in Palm Beach County. Miami resident Cristina Lelli owns the local Figurella, as well as locations in Miami and Italy. For more information, call 561/779-3397 or visit figurellausa.com.

Figurella owner Cristina Lelli

bocamag.com

Feelgood JAN19.indd 74

••••

January 2019

11/28/18 11:53 AM

When it comes to treating prostate cancer,

this is a time machine.

It’s the Accuray CyberKnife® M6™ System. And for men with prostate cancer, it’s a time machine.

That’s because it can reduce the amount of time needed for radiation therapy of the prostate from nine weeks to one.

It’s also pain free, requires no anesthesia and allows for an immediate return to normal activities.

And at the Lynn Cancer Institute, we combine it with the use of the SpaceOAR® System, which spares rectal tissue in men receiving prostate cancer radiation therapy.

The CyberKnife M6. It’s surgery without a knife…a game changer in radiation therapy. There are less than 20 in the entire country. One of them is at the Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. For more information, call 561.955.4000 or visit BRRH.com.

BocaRatonRegHosp_BRM0119.indd 1

11/26/18 12:47 PM

PRESENTED BY

magazine

SAVE THE DATE

March 25, 2019 5:30 pm-9 pm Rain Date: March 26 Downtown Delray Beach on East Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to East Fifth Avenue (U.S. 1) SPONSORED BY

House_SavorTheAve_0218.indd 76

Take your seat among the 1,000 foodies lucky enough to partake in Florida’s most elegant (and five-blocklong!) dinner table. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach transforms into a magical haven featuring the city’s many beloved culinary establishments. Enjoy the views, the decor and the celebration.

For a list of participating restaurants and menus, visit bocamag.com/savor-the-avenue-2019 and downtowndelraybeach.com/savortheave

B E N E F IT T IN G

12/7/18 11:35 AM

77

H

ME

Karl Lagerfeld, from his new book Cassina as Seen by Karl

January 2019

Home JAN19.indd 77

••••

bocamag.com

11/28/18 12:15 PM

78

HOME

ACCESSORIES

In With the New

The New Year brings fresh, innovative design. If one of your resolutions is to “up your interior game” in 2019, right here is a great place to start!

Written by ROBIN HODES

BOOK SMART For the first time ever, a legendary fashion designer has collaborated with a furniture manufacturer on a photographic project.

In addition to his eponymous label, Karl Lagerfeld has been a major creative force behind such luxury brands as Chanel and Fendi. Bring stylish sophistication to your coffee table with the new book Cassina as seen by Karl, by regarded publisher Gerhard Steidl, which unveils Lagerfeld’s unique perception and vision of a selection of furniture by luxury provider Cassina that he has personally chosen from the most emblematic symbols of modern and contemporary design. The book is presented within a space entirely decorated and brought to life by large-format reproductions of Karl Lagerfeld’s photographs, while numerous screens display backstage footage of the photo shoot. $125, steidl.com

MOUSE IN THE HOUSE Since his introduction in 1928, the public has adored Mickey Mouse and his playful, winning personality. Leblon Delienne Pop Sculpture Workshop is passionate about pop culture, and offers rare collectible pieces that breathe life into our favorite characters. The company is recognized for initiating collaborations between international designers and artists. In celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday, it has introduced the Mickey Rock collection. World-renowned artist Arik Levy has created an abstract, multifaceted piece that forms an extraordinary connection with Mickey. “Mickey does not just look funny and cheerful, he now looks proud and satisfied,” says Levy. Available in three sizes, the Mickey Rock collection is for all fans of this transgenerational icon, as well as collectors of art and design. leblon-delienne.com

Home JAN19.indd 78

CLEAR THE WAY To be completely transparent, we favor the Milan-based furniture company Kartell over all other brands that use plastic in their designs. Kartell features the most inventive yet simple pieces by such famous designers as Philippe Starck, Ron Arad and Anna Castelli Ferrieri. Kartell is wonderful at home, but for design on-the-go, it offers a line of handbags and totes, so you can carry see-through style with you. kartell.com

11/28/18 12:15 PM

79 STAR-QUALITY WALLS Martyn Lawrence Bullard is an award-winning interior designer renowned for his range of styles and eclectic—yet sophisticated and inviting—interiors. His A-list clientele includes Cher, the Kardashians, Tommy Hilfiger and Sir Elton John.

He has long been an ardent fan of wallpaper designer Cole & Son and has used its wallpapers in his work for decades. His signature collection includes a range of panels that create an instant impact and a dramatic design effect.“When approached to work with Cole & Son, it was a true match made in decorating heaven,” says Bullard.“My love for the art of wallpaper and the passionate thirst for inventive and individual design from the Cole & Son team has made for a recipe that has proven delicious.”Cole-and-sun.com, martynlawrencebullard.com

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Devin Chase (inset)

Repurposing, a popular DIY design trend, allows you to unleash your inner creativity and give a new life and identity to something you already own and love. Tables, chairs, chests, lamps and just about any other home design element you can think of can be updated to correspond with the latest style trend. The best part? You already possess it, so there’s no need to go out and buy something new. Devin Chase of Jewel Toned Interiors is an expert on repurposing.“Imagination is key,”says Chase.“It’s important to keep an open mind when repurposing, as many ideas and possibilities might arise.”

Chase recommends hiring a professional for more elaborate and difficult repurposing projects. To demonstrate the technique, she took this originally brown chair (pictured left), sanded it and painted it matte black. Then she had the cushion and pillow custom-made for added comfort, using a fabric with the capability to withstand exterior elements.“The repurposed chair is now more dressed-up and can be used as an indoor or outdoor accent piece,” she says. jeweltoned.com

Set In Concrete Concrete is the go-to material of the moment. It’s durable, stain-resistant, environmentally conscious and budget-friendly. Architects and interior designers are loving it, using concrete in a variety of applications from walls to furniture to kitchen countertops and more.“We have seen a major rise in demand for concrete-designed vanities and sinks in both the residential and commercial markets,” says Mario Buscemi of Concrete Furniture Store in Delray Beach. Available in a wide variety of colors and textures, concrete is completely customizable, and versatile enough to complement any modern décor.

Home JAN19.indd 79

FAST FACT:

All design-related industries, from fashion to interiors, graphic to branding, turn to Pantone for color intelligence.

Color is among the most vital components when it comes to design. Below are some fascinating statistics.

93

percent of people use color as the determining factor for purchases

60

thousand number of times faster visuals are processed by the brain than text

892

number of versions of the color white currently carried by Benjamin Moore paints

0

The number of men who identified purple as their favorite color, according to a recent study

11/28/18 12:16 PM

VOTED BEST FLOORING AND HOME DESIGN!!!

FLORIDA’S LARGEST AND BEST SELECTION FLORIDA’S LARGESTAND ANDBEST BESTSELECTION SELECTION FLORIDA’S FLORIDA’S LARGEST LARGEST AND BEST SELECTION The Results Theare Results The Results are The are Results

are Amazing!!!

Amazing!!!

Amazing!!!

Amazing!!!

Tiles Tiles Tiles Tiles Tiles

Carpets Carpets Carpets Carpets Carpets

Since 1983

Kitchens Kitchens Kitchens Kitchens Kitchens

Wood & Laminate Quartz & Granite Wood Laminate Quartz Granite Wood&& &Laminate Laminate Quartz Quartz&& &Granite Granite Wood Quartz & Granite Wood & Laminate VVOTED VOTED V V VOTED V VOTED V VOTED

BEST BEST BEST of BEST ofBoca Boca of Boca 2012, 2013, 2014,

of Boca 2012, 2013, 2014, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2016&2014, &2017 2017 2012, 2016 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2017 2015, 2015,2016, 2016&&2017!!!

2017

| CUSTOM | TILE | MARBLE | Granite/Quartz | WOOD | BATHROOMS KITCHENS CABINETS | CABINET REFACING CARPET | TILE | MARBLE | GRANITE | WOOD | BATHROOMS CARPET KITCHENS | CUSTOM CABINETS | CABINET REFACING

| 5THTH | 1964 NE 5THTH 561.393.0021 AVENUE SHOPS AVE | BOCA RATON 561.393.0021 5 5 561.393.0021| || TH 5TH AVENUE AVENUE SHOPS SHOPS| || 1964 1964 NE NE TH 5TH AVE AVE| || BOCA BOCA RATON RATON 561.393.0021 5 AVENUE SHOPS 1964 NE 5 AVE BOCA RATON TH AVENUE SHOPS | 1964 NE 5TH TH AVE | BOCA RATON 561.393.0021 | 5TH Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1

Refacing Refacing Refacing Refacing Refacing

www.ContinentalBoca.com www.ContinentalBoca.com www.ContinentalBoca.com

www.ContinentalBoca.com Intercontinental Installation CGC035911 • PBC#U-20663 Intercontinental www.ContinentalBoca.com Intercontinental Installation Intercontinental Installation CGC035911 CGC035911 •• PBC#U-20663 PBC#U-20663 Intercontinental Intercontinental Intercontinental Installation CGC035911 • PBC#U-20663 Intercontinental Intercontinental Installation CGC035911 • PBC#U-20663 Intercontinental Installation CGC035911 • PBC#U-20663 Intercontinental Intercontinental

Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1 Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1 Continental DBMJF19.indd 1 Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1 Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1 Continental_7.25x4.75_VotedBestHomeDesign.indd 1

8/27/17 10:08 PM 8/27/17 10:08 PM 8/27/17 PM 12/5/18 10:08 9:51 AM 8/27/17 10:08 PM 8/27/17 10:08 PM 8/27/17 10:08 PM

HISTORY ALIVE! The Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum announces a campaign to build new exhibits at the History Museum.

The new exhibits will document Boca Raton’s history from pre-history to the early 2000s and will include: Timeline exhibit • Pioneer exhibit • Addison Mizner exhibit • WWII and IBM exhibits • New Research Library • And more!

Call (561) 395-6766 ext. 101 or visit www.bocahistory.org/ history-alive for more information.

Join us in celebrating our local history!

BRHistorical Soc&Museum 0119.indd 1

p.80.indd 80

11/13/18 3:22 PM

12/7/18 11:56 AM

robinsonmediagroup_brm0119.indd 1

12/7/18 12:00 PM

82

Game Ch a Meet 10 people who are making an indelible imprint on

Craig Sommer

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 82

Rabbi David Steinhardt

••••

Rev. Andrew Sherman

Troy McLellan

Vincent Gismondi

January 2019

12/5/18 10:44 AM

83

h angers

n

the growth and evolution of our community.

Irvin Lippman

Mark Gensheimer

Denis Estimon

Deborah Shuart

Chief Dan Alexander

Written by GARY GREENBERG

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 83

••••

bocamag.com

12/5/18 10:45 AM

84

Business WHO: Troy McLellan, 52, President & CEO of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce WHAT HE DOES: A 21-year veteran at the Chamber, McLellan nurtures business growth for its 1,400-plus members through networking opportunities, seminars, workshops, marketing and political advocacy.

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 84

••••

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Even before becoming CEO, McLellan initiated the Trustee Program to create an opportunity for business leaders to engage with the Chamber to improve the local economy. He’s since developed programs to nurture Boca businesses, including Successful Women in Business, Business Professionals

Under 40, Small Business Exchange, International Business Alliance, Young Entrepreneurs Academy and BLU-PAC (Business Leaders United for Boca Raton Political Action Committee).

WHY HE LOVES HIS WORK: “Boca is an unbelievably wonderful place to live, learn, work and play. I love coming

to work every day and trying to find solutions to all our challenges. Helping that small business that might be struggling or keeping a big business like Office Depot from moving out of town is exciting. There’s never a dull moment. The fire in my passion to help this community prosper continues to burn hotter for me every year.”

January 2019

12/3/18 4:29 PM

Faith WHAT: Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association (BRICA) WHAT IT DOES: Founded by the Rev. Andrew Sherman of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church and Rabbi David Steinhardt of B’Nai Torah Synagogue, the association of local clergy members promotes unity between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities.

WHY IT’S A GAME-CHANGER: Inter-religious conflict has a long and ongoing history of creating tension in the world.

Through monthly meetings and joint projects—such as Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, a nonprofit to help the homeless find jobs, housing and stability in their lives—BRICA breaks down barriers that separate us. The leaders hope that BRICA can serve as a global model of how interfaith conversation can take place.

Rabbi David Steinhardt and the Rev. Andrew Sherman

WHY THEY LOVE THEIR WORK: Sherman:“I love the fact that I can speak about what is most important in peoples’ lives and touch peoples’ lives with the presence and power of God’s love, and try to embody that in my life, my words and my actions.”

Steinhardt:“My work enables me to come close to people of all different ages and situations in their lives, and through the relationship, create comfort and meaning.”

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 85

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 4:29 PM

86

Law & Order WHO: Dan Alexander, 51, Chief of Boca Raton Police Services WHAT HE DOES: Alexander oversees a department with 324 employees, including 216 sworn officers. He took the helm in 2006, and the crime rate in Boca has dropped 30 percent in the last 10 years.

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Alexander's innovative approach to policing runs the gamut from protection to budgeting to marketing as he taps into technology to not only fight crime but also connect with the community. He stresses a proactive approach, using social media and other tools to raise awareness among residents. He also emphasizes ongoing training of officers, including a state-of-the-art “shoot, don’t shoot” simulator.

WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT HIS WORK: “I love the city.

Historically, Boca Raton has been very supportive of public safety. Our mission—to serve and protect—is a noble calling.

It’s one of the most important things the government does, and it gives us a great sense of pride to go out there and make sure our residents are safe. I get excited about providing the best police services we can. It’s cool to be a police officer.”

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 86

••••

January 2019

12/3/18 4:29 PM

87

Downtown WHO: Mark Gensheimer, 57, President and CEO of Penn-Florida Companies WHAT HE DOES: Gensheimer launched Penn-Florida in 1987 and has become a kingpin developer in Boca Raton. His luxury, high-profile projects span the state and encompass commercial, residential, hospitality, mixed-use, industrial and private club development. His Boca projects include Via Mizner and University Village.

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Penn-Florida is now developing the Residences at Mandarin Oriental and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, one of just six in America. Bringing the exclusive Mandarin brand to Boca Raton was a coup for both the city and Penn-Florida. The project further advances Boca’s continually growing reputation as a worldclass destination as well as a great, sophisticated city in which to live, work and raise a family.

WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT HIS WORK: “Development allows us to begin with a vision and transform that vision into a finished product.

It is very satisfying, particularly when the product is unique. I believe you must strive every day to be better than you were the day before.

There are no substitutes for hard work and discipline. Never settle for less than your best.”

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 87

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 4:29 PM

88

Arturo Gismondi, Rosaria Gismondi, Vincent Gismondi

Dining WHO: The Gismondi Family, Restaurateurs WHAT THEY DO: The late family patriarch, Arturo Gismondi, immigrated to New York from Italy in 1955, started out by washing dishes, then became a chef and opened up a successful Italian restaurant. His sons followed in his footsteps, moving operations to Boca Raton, and his grandson now has three downtown restaurants offering three different cuisines.

WHY THEY ARE GAME-CHANGERS: The late Joseph Gismondi and his brother Vincent introduced fine Italian dining to Boca Raton when Arturo’s Ristorante debuted on the north side of town in 1983. Their innovative dishes

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 88

••••

include Spaghetti alla Gismondi, homemade pasta in a flambé vodka marinara sauce with smoked salmon and onions, prepared tableside. Joseph’s son, also named Arturo, owns three popular downtown Boca restaurants, Trattoria Romana, La Nouvelle Maison and Luff’s Fish House. Like Dennis Max and Burt Rapoport and others, the Gismondis have helped bring fine dining to Boca Raton—and the legacy continues.

WHY THEY LOVE THEIR WORK: Vincent, 69:“I enjoy greeting the customers and keeping them happy. It is a family business as my wife and two daughters all work here, and we love providing great food and service that keeps our customers coming back again and again.”

January 2019

12/3/18 4:29 PM

89 The Arts WHO: Irvin Lippman, 70, Executive Director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art WHAT HE DOES: The former director of the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Lippman came out of retirement to“help out” the Boca museum “for a few months”during a transition of leadership, and is still running the show four years later.

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Lippman has a holistic view of art, and sees the museum in Mizner Park as the centerpiece of a community replete with both natural and manmade beauty. He’s overseen major renovations to enhance the museum’s promenade and expand its sculpture garden so art transcends the building’s walls. He also chairs the Art in Public Places initiative, with the inaugural undertaking a mural project in Red Reef Park.

WHY HE LOVES HIS WORK: “With its seaside setting, Boca Raton is a place of great natural beauty, and I enjoy the challenge of creating that same sense of joy and spirit within the city. I work with wonderful people, and every day is exciting when you’re dealing with the arts. The museum is a jewel box here in Mizner Park, and it’s very rewarding to see it realize its potential.”

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 89

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 4:29 PM

90 Activism WHO: Denis Estimon, 19, Program Director of the national nonprofit Be Strong WHAT HE DOES: Estimon promotes We Dine Together, a program designed to unite students by encouraging them to eat together, along with other communal activities.

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Estimon started We Dine Together at Boca Raton Community High School in 2016 to break down the barriers that so often separate high school students. Since he graduated, his organization has merged with the anti-bullying group Be Strong, and as of the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, there were 157 We Dine Together clubs in 44 states.

WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT HIS WORK: “My whole life is dedicated to helping people help people.

What I like best is seeing lives being changed. After one meeting in Texas recently, a girl came forward and said that she’d been thinking about ending her life, but because of the club she did not. That’s my favorite part—to see all those students coming together to make a difference, it’s just the best thing ever.”

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 90

••••

January 2019

12/3/18 4:29 PM

91

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 91

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 4:29 PM

92 School Spirit WHO: Craig Sommer, 43, Principal of West Boca Community High School WHAT HE DOES: Sommer oversees all aspects of school operations, with the most vital being the safety of its 2,200 students, maximizing their academic achievement, and recruiting and maintaining a staff of 125 highly qualified teachers.

WHY HE’S A GAME-CHANGER: Under Sommer's leadership, West Boca has become Palm Beach County’s top-rated public high school in academics.

Innovative curricula, including academies in medicine, performing arts, draft and design, computer science and culinary arts, offer students training and real-world experience in their fields of interest. His bond with the students was evident when he joined them for a 12-mile march to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High to honor the victims of the tragic Valentine’s Day 2018 shooting and make a statement to the world about school safety.

WHY HE LOVES HIS WORK: “There’s nothing better in life than having a job in which the better you get at it, the more the kids, and community as a whole, benefit. It’s a net positive all around. How great is that? The school spirit comes from the kids. I just want to be a part of the team that gets them excited about being in school.”

bocamag.com

game changers JAN19bb.indd 92

••••

January 2019

12/3/18 4:29 PM

93 Fashion

WHO: Deborah Shuart, Co-owner of Deborah James WHAT SHE DOES: Shuart manages the merchant end of the high-end women’s clothing boutique she and her husband Steven opened in 1987, which includes hand-selecting all of the merchandise.

WHY SHE’S A GAME-CHANGER: In the age of Amazon and other online retail outlets, it’s not easy for a small, brick-and-mortar business to survive, no less thrive. But Shuart now has two shops, including one in Boca’s Royal Palm Place, and is slated to open a third.

She credits her success to

traveling all around the country and over to Europe to find unique new products by emerging designers, so her loyal customers know they won’t look like everyone else. The shops don’t carry anything that Amazon has, and when designers get too commercial, Shuart ends the relationship.

WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT HER WORK: “Going to the various markets and shows to find good stuff to bring to my customers is both fun and exciting.

I love to see my selling reports, which are like my report cards, because they mean the merchandise is being accepted by my customers and is putting a smile on their faces.”

January 2019

game changers JAN19bb.indd 93

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 4:30 PM

94

bocamag.com

human trafficing JAN19.indd 94

••••

January 2019

12/3/18 2:19 PM

95

Of Human Bondage The nasty secret of human trafficking in South Florida is out— here is one woman’s story, and what local lawmakers are doing about it Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY

January 2019

human trafficing JAN19.indd 95

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:19 PM

C

96

Cindy Alvarado was actually at a graduation party.

It was a rare night that she was not turning tricks— but she was tired. Empty. Going through the motions.

She recalls the exact moment her pimp,“Grace,” rounded the corner of a hallway and stopped in front of her.“You owe me $5,000,”she said.“And I want it this weekend.”

That small encounter was all it took, after all this time. Alvarado knew in that moment that it was over; she wanted out.

She walked outside and called 911.

“I’m a prostitute,”she heard herself telling the operator.

The operator asked why she didn’t just stop. She told her she couldn’t—she had to pay her friend or she would be exposed. That’s when she heard a word that has stayed with her ever since: coercion. She was directed to the Lake Worth Police Department, where she learned another term: human trafficking.

“FOR ME MY WHOLE LIFE JUST CRUSHED IN THAT MOMENT. I WAS A SLAVE. MY BEST FRIEND SOLD ME FOR $300.”

Cindy Alvarado

bocamag.com

human trafficing JAN19.indd 96

••••

“That was a very hard moment for me, because for six and a half years, I gave up everything and every relationship I had because I was ashamed of being a prostitute,”Alvarado says.“And [then here are] people in law enforcement telling me ‘You are not a prostitute. You are a victim of human trafficking.’That changed my life.”

For years, Alvarado was forced to have sex with up to 20 men every day, then hand over the money. She’s part of a statistic that’s growing in Florida, landing the Sunshine State as the third in the nation for sex and labor trafficking. (California and Texas are in the top two.) “[The] 1-95 corridor brings in all kinds of trafficking victims,” says Meghan Carton of Polaris, a national advocacy group serving trafficking victims and survivors.“It brings them into illicit massage businesses...and commercial fronts, like cantinas/illicit bars, and it absolutely brings victims into hotels and motels.”

I HAVE A JOB FOR YOU

Born and reared in Costa Rica, Alvarado was working at a call center in her early 20s when she met Grace*, a fellow employee. The two of them were struggling young mothers, and they quickly hit it off, eventually becoming roommates. While visiting her family in Virginia, Grace had a job opportunity for Alvarado: Come to the U.S. for 10 days to be a babysitter for her family. They would pay for her plane ticket and $1,000 for her time.

“I didn’t [think] anything bad since we lived together and everything,”Alvarado says.

When Alvarado landed at Dulles International Airport, she was picked up by Helen*, whom Grace said was her mother-in-law. Soon, Alvarado learned she was not there to babysit.

When they arrived at the apartment, she says Helen gave her instructions on how to talk to the men who were arriving, how to use a condom, and how to accept the money. Helen ripped off Alvarado’s clothes and changed her into a skimpy outfit from a closet filled with high-heel shoes and lingerie.

“She was behind me the first time, because she was making sure for the first date that I did everything exactly how she wanted it,” she says.“She just smiled at him and she told him, ‘Just treat her like the new one and break her [in].’”

That day, she says she saw 10 people. Over the next week and a half, she worked from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On the last day, Helen took her to the mall to buy her things for her children, gave her $200, and put her on a plane back to Costa Rica—with a return ticket.

When she got home, exhausted and traumatized, the

January 2019

12/3/18 2:19 PM

97 brother of Helen, the pimp whom she had just left, approached Alvarado in front of her house.

He was there to“remind” her that she would have to go back to the U.S. and that she could not tell anyone what had happened. When he opened his phone and showed her pictures of her children at school, she knew it was real and that her family was in danger.“I totally understood that that was not a joke, and I was already inside this game,”Alvarado says. * Names of the accused have been changed in this story, as they have not been convicted.

ON THE BOOKS

With Florida, particularly South Florida, ranking nationally for human trafficking, advocates and lawmakers have been working to institute changes. In the 2018 legislative session, Florida State Sen. Lauren Book drafted a bill that Lauren Book would allow victims to sue hotels and motels who “knowingly, or in reckless disregard of the facts, engage in human trafficking.”

With so much of Florida’s business balanced on the entertainment and tourism industries, part of the hotel lobby pushed back.

They fought on language in the bill. They asked how someone is expected to know if trafficking is going on in the first place. According to the Tampa Bay Times, both Disney and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association were listed as agencies lobbying against the bill.

Michael Haggard Even so, the bill flew through the Senate and it was thought to be a sure thing, but it was pulled at the 11th hour when Book feared that it wouldn’t pass in the House. Human trafficking advocacy groups were shocked— countless victims had come forward to share their stories to lawmakers.

What happened?

A survivor of sexual assault herself, Book founded the nonprofit Lauren’s Kids in 2007 and has been an advocate for children and victims of crime. Her office did not respond to multiple calls and emails from

WHO ARE THE BAD GUYS?

CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, traffickers aren’t

hiding in the shadows and abducting people from alleyways. It’s a lucrative business that generates an estimated $150 billion-plus a year, more than half from sex trafficking. Traffickers come in all forms. The professionals at Polaris, an organization that combats trafficking, have seen traffickers of all races and backgrounds.

“I would say most people assume traffickers are international or not American citizens, and they would assume that they are sort of involved in all types of crime, which sometimes isn’t the case,” says Polaris’ Rochelle Keyhan.

In illicit massage parlors, many of the traffickers are women and Asian—however, Florida is an outlier, with many Hispanic illicit massage parlors.

Also, many traffickers hide their dirty secret while giving off the facade of living seemingly normal lives, working regular jobs or running legitimate businesses.

However, most of this is based on anecdotal experience. More detailed information is not available because studies haven’t been conducted—with so few prosecutions, the information hasn’t been available.

“You get access to that information when the investigations happen and you get on the inside,” Keyhan says. “It will be more feasible the more we focus on these types of traffickers.” But there is one common thread: human traffickers take advantage of the fact that when selling humans, they can be sold over and over again.

Boca magazine for a statement.

“To act like there wasn’t some sinister plot to kill the bill, it’s outrageous. It’s really outrageous to do it to those type of victims,”says Michael Haggard, an attorney and the president of the advisory board of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

During session, survivors of human trafficking re-

“TO ACT LIKE THERE WASN’T SOME SINISTER PLOT TO KILL THE BILL, IT’S OUTRAGEOUS. IT’S REALLY OUTRAGEOUS TO DO IT TO THOSE TYPE OF VICTIMS.” counted their stories of being raped multiple times a day in hotel rooms, some as minors. Many times, staff knew or turned their backs to the crimes, they said.

When asked if the motel workers knew what was going on, Alvarado says in her experience, they did, then names off a list of hotels and motels where workers were given instructions not to bother them or were paid to turn away.

January 2019

human trafficing JAN19.indd 97

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:19 PM

98 “She instructed [employees] to leave the towels on the side if [they] didn’t see the door open,”she says.“My traffickers talked to the receptionist to tell her to not disturb [us], and she would give her a very good tip. So they knew. All the hotels I worked in, my traffickers talked to the receptionists and the people who cleaned it. They knew.”

Haggard notes that if a hotel’s managers can be held responsible for a customer slipping on a puddle in the lobby, they should also be keeping their eyes open for the telltale signs of trafficking—payments in cash, lots of men going in and out of a hotel room, requests for an extended period of time without housekeeping visits.

SHE’S PART OF A STATISTIC THAT’S GROWING IN FLORIDA, LANDING THE SUNSHINE STATE AS THE THIRD IN THE NATION FOR SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING.

PLACE OF HOPE WHEN LAURA CUSACK does

trainings with schools, corporations and religious groups about human trafficking, two numbers make their mouths drop: Up to 60 million people around the world are being trafficked, and that Florida is No. 3 in the nation.

“They’re shocked,” Cusack says. “It makes me realize how much awareness training is needed to continue to not only educate them of the problem but empower people to do something about it.”

As human trafficking

bocamag.com

human trafficing JAN19.indd 98

••••

education and prevention coordinator at Place of Hope, a foster care placement agency serving Vero Beach to North Broward County, she provides training as well as hits the streets to help law enforcement find missing children. While foster children and runaways are especially at risk, children living otherwise normal lives are also targeted.

“It really comes down to what makes you vulnerable and how that trafficker is able to exploit that,” Cusack says. It can be as simple as reaching out to teens on social media, then escalating to an in-person relationship.

Part of Cusack’s train-

ing is also in schools, to talk to students about how pimps recruit victims, and the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Every month, bearing pictures, Cusack and volunteers appear at the front desks of hotels around town, asking receptionists if they’re seen the victims. So far, staff has been eager to help; some employees even have reached out requesting training.

“We’ll see more hotels that will want that training in response to that bill,” she says of Book’s trafficking bill.

“It's motivated many hotels to get on board.”

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out,” Haggard says.“Why would any responsible business want this going on in their property?”

Thankfully, some businesses are not waiting for a law to be passed. Countless companies in the tourism industry have signed the ECPAT Code of Conduct to combat the sex trafficking of children. Last year, Marriott Hotels made human trafficking training mandatory in all of its hotels. In an opinion piece for USA Today, Arne Sorenson, the CEO of Marriott International, recounted how a 12-year-old boy was saved from a New Orleans hotel when an employee saw him with two older men, one of whom said,“I might take this one home.”

“It is an unfortunate reality that traffickers sometimes use hotels to exploit victims and commit their crimes. But rather than wish it were otherwise, we decided to make our 6,000-plus properties worldwide part of the solution,” Sorenson wrote.

Polaris has been tracking bills like Book’s throughout the country. The successful ones specifically include language about the business profiting from the trafficking and that it knew or“should have known” what was going on. These laws also hold accountable commercial-front brothels and illicit massage parlors—there are at least 1,000 in Florida, the second-highest in the nation, according to Polaris.

“We were excitedly awaiting Florida joining the very few states who have this law, so we were pretty bummed that it didn’t pass,”says Rochelle Keyhan, director of Disruption Strategies at Polaris.“[People think] that it should basically be all on law enforcement, but landlords are signing leases and managing properties where this stuff is happening. They should be on notice.”

SOLD FOR $300

Alvarado was flown back and forth between the United States and Costa Rica. The lives of her children, their father and her family were threatened if she informed the authorities. She ended up giving up custody of her children and didn’t tell anyone what was happening.

In the trafficker’s apartment were women and girls of all ages, including a minor and her mother. To “sell the fantasy,”as Alvarado was told to do, she took advantage of her youthful looks and told customers she was 18. She could see 20 men in a day, and the word“no” was not allowed. If she didn’t meet a quota, she wasn’t allowed to go on trips outside with the rest of the group. Cell phones weren’t allowed.

Food couldn’t be eaten between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The victims weren’t allowed to speak to one another.

Their passports, wedding rings, and other personal

January 2019

12/3/18 2:19 PM

99

Human trafficking hot spots in Florida and the United States. Florida has the third-most labor and sex trafficking cases in the country, according to Polaris.

possessions were kept from them.

After a year of being passed through different traffickers—including being thrown out on the street when she started telling clients she was there against her will—Alvarado ended up in Florida working directly for her friend, Grace. The rule was she would tell her where to be and what amount she would owe her.

If Alvarado didn’t show up, Grace would expose her.

In 2012, she was arrested for prostitution.

“I had to bail myself out,”Alvarado says.“I didn’t say that I was working as a prostitute for somebody who was forcing me. I just kept quiet.”

Over the years she was trafficked, she tried to take her life five times. She was constantly in debt to this or that trafficker. Each time, she would hand over $1,000, or $3,000, or $5,000. It was at that party, in 2016, when she went face-to-face with Grace, that Alvarado hit rock bottom. No one there knew what was going on between her and Grace, or her instructions to bring her $5,000 for a weekend’s worth of “work.”

She had had enough.

“I was not talking to anybody about what was going on. No one [understood] why I was such a bad mom to leave two children like that in another country to come and pursue her dream in the United States.

[Grace] helped [build] that image of me,”she says.

Even after she called 911 that night to turn herself in, after the operator told her she was not a prostitute, Alvarado couldn’t shake the shame. She was safe with police, but she tried to kill herself.

“For me, my whole life just crushed in that moment,”she says.“I was a slave. My best friend sold me for $300.

“That was the time, the moment, I realized I wasn’t a prostitute.”

In the emergency room, she was moved by the

patience and care given by a nurse. He listened to her tell her story, and reaffirmed that she was a victim.

He brought to her a list of local organizations and mental health professionals to help. One of them was Hepzibah House in Boynton Beach.

“It really takes a long, long time to completely move beyond the trauma and to live adaptively, to begin to see their mindset change from ‘This is who I am, this is all I am, my life is over, I have no value now,’ to begin to see that shift to where, ‘OK, I do have a future, I can move beyond this,’”says Becky Dymond, the founder of Hepzibah House.

The charity provides mental health counseling, trauma therapy, life and job skill training, and case management. Alvarado’s story, Dymond says, is common among the human trafficking victims who come to her for help—someone being promised one thing, and instead finding themselves in sex or labor trafficking. However, she says, most of the cases she comes across involve local women.

“Most of the women we work with are domestic abuse survivors, and we estimate somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 women are being commercially sexually exploited in Palm Beach County. That’s just with the data that we can verify,”she says.

Today, Alvarado is working at a call center; her goal is to attend school to become a sonographer. She doesn’t speak with her children—she says she doesn’t feel safe doing so until her traffickers are in jail. Her traffickers are currently under investigation—victims of human trafficking often have a hard time finding justice since their cases are complicated, involve multiple jurisdictions, and can face a statute of limitations. Even so, she’s more confident these days, and she’s learned to speak up about her experience.

“They should be the one hiding, not me,”Alvarado says.“They should be the one fearing me.”

Get Help PLACE OF HOPE: 561/775-7195; placeofhope.com HEPZIBAH HOUSE: 561/386-0031; hepzibahhouse.org NO MORE TEARS: 954/324-7669; nomoretearsusa.org HUMAN TRAFFICKING COALITION OF THE PALM BEACHES: htcpb. org SOUTH FLORIDA HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE: sfhumantraffickingtaskforce.org NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE: 888/373-7888; humantraffickinghotline.org NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN: 800/8435678; missingkids.com POLARIS: polarisproject. org

January 2019

human trafficing JAN19.indd 99

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:19 PM

12 100

It’s a whole new year; get o

THINGS TO TRY THIS YEAR

Written by MARIE SPEED

bocamag.com

12 things JAN19.indd 100

••••

January 2019

12/3/18 2:35 PM

101

et out there and shake a few things up

JANUARY LOSE 20 POUNDS… OR MORE

This is the time of year everyone signs up for the gym, buys the Bowflex, starts the cookie diet or initiates a radical cleanse (which is an image most of us do not need to harbor).

People may choose from Weight Watchers or keto or Nutrisystem or Atkins or South

Beach—whatever the current diet du jour is.

But you can also just take a commonsense approach with no gimmicks, no points, no miracle supplements— starting with deciding 1) You are fine just the way you are, and 2) losing weight is more for your own health and well-being than it is for measuring up to societal standards and 3) self-loathing is a dead end. Accept yourself as you are. In fact, love that self of yours like there’s no tomorrow.

And here are five commonsense ways to tackle the weight issue: INTAKE: What you take in is more important than exercise when you are trying to lose weight. Avoid junk foods, processed foods, sugar, diet sodas, snacking between meals, high-carb white foods. You know what to do. Instead, choose low-carb, high-protein

alternatives, lots of veggies, and more fish than meat.

SEE WHAT’S MISSING: Find out what your nutritional deficiencies are and correct them.

Excellent nutritional tests are available from Genova Diagnostics at gdx.net. A common deficiency is Vitamin D; Vitamin D supplements can promote weight loss.

SLEEP: Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can cause weight gain by increasing

appetite and decreasing metabolism.

ALCOHOL: It’s all fattening, so ease up on the cocktails. You don’t have to go all nuclear on this, but cut back your intake and the pounds will come off faster.

GET MOVING: Exercise helps boost metabolism, which helps your body burn fat. Find something you like to do. Do not try a marathon or a Pilates class designed for animals. Just get moving.

January 2019

12 things JAN19.indd 101

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:35 PM

102

FEBRUARY FALL IN LOVE

Ok, so this is easier said than done, but studies show that falling in love has solid health benefits. A Time magazine article featuring Dr. Helen Riess, director of the

Elegant Introductions owners Dr. Nancy Gold, left, and Barbara Golfarb

bocamag.com

12 things JAN19.indd 102

••••

Empathy and Relational Science Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of The Empathy Effect, says the first thing love does is make you happy through the release of the brain chemical dopamine.

“That is a mood intensifier, so people feel extremely positive and very appreciated,” Riess says. That stage of love is followed by a more mature variation, marked by the release of another brain chemical, oxytocin, which Riess says “not only gives you ‘warm and fuzzy’ feelings for your partner, but it can also be good for your health.

“When people feel securely attached, their stress levels go down,”

she says.

So we know love may decrease anxiety, but having someone in your corner may also encourage you to take better care of yourself, go to the doctor, see the dentist, work out. And then there’s that sex thing, which everyone knows makes you healthier and more connected to your own body.

All this adds up, and data shows it may even help you live longer. Dr. Nancy Gold, a psychologist and cofounder of Elegant Introductions, says,“We know it’s certainly healthier, but feeling connected is so important to us. That’s how it is in the animal kingdom; we are all paired up.”

Time magazine adds, “Studies suggest …

Married couples have been found to have lower rates of substance abuse, lower blood pressure and less depression than single peers.”

And here in South Florida, being paired up can mean a difference as simple as having someone to do things with, a liberation from Netflix bingeing alone in your jammies, or having a built-in escort to all those black-tie galas.

So why not throw your hat in the ring?

Some ways you can start the search for your soul mate include online dating like Match.com or apps like Bumble, Hinge or Plenty of Fish, or simply by joining any number of groups depending on your interests, from pickleball

teams to young professional or arts organizations, beach cleanup groups and biking and running clubs. You could also hire a matchmaking service.

Dr. Gold says,“People don’t necessarily know what they’re going to be attracted to, what’s going to be the key to their heart. Sometimes they just have to experience it.”

So go on—give it a whirl. The night is young.

MARCH DECLUTTER

Ilene Becker can save you from yourself.

As owner of I Declutter U, Becker can help you clean out those overflowing cabinets and drawers and garages and get organized.

Streamlined. Sorted out and squared away.

“Clutter clouds your insides; it causes a lot of inner stress. … It stops you from doing other things in life. …

There are a lot of people who have psychological issues when it comes

January 2019

12/3/18 2:35 PM

103 Ilene Becker

APRIL

AARON BRISTOL

$TICK TO A PLAN

to holding onto stuff.

They want to go forward in life, but they keep holding onto things that keep them behind, [missing out] on opportunities.”

Becker wants to liberate her clients from this kind of paralysis; she asks them what their needs and goals are, and then dives in. For example, if she needs to tackle a garage she begins by sorting out the contents into groups she calls “friends.”

“I like to take everything out, and I put it with its ‘friends’—all the stuff for car washing together, the sports equipment, the beach

stuff. And then you can see what you have. Most people can’t find something, so they run out and go buy it—sometimes four or five times.

So if you see you have six things that are the same, you get rid of the broken or used ones.”

Next comes her handyman with shelving, and Becker starts organizing. She also has estate buyers and flea market people on call when it comes to buying items, and donates castoff items to charities as well. Becker does everything from boxing up and disposing of items to reorganizing space, wardrobing, and

even teaching clients how to fold things more efficiently. She says the hardest items to part with are those with sentimental value, or passed-down “things that they think they should keep.”

But her advice is simple: “You keep the things that evoke real memories for you; do not keep them just because they were given to you. If you don’t need an item, can’t use it or it doesn’t bring back memories of somebody, then I would really put it in the pile to give to charity.”

You can reach Becker at 954/415-6268.

It’s all about the money.

No matter how Zen you try to be, that nagging discrepancy between your paycheck and your bills gets old after awhile. So maybe this is the year you try something new.

Boca resident Elias Janetis, founder and CEO of Squeeze.com, a personal finance company, specializes in allowing consumers to search for the best deals on recurring household bills—all in one place.

In addition to the website, Janetis offers these five ways to get the year off to a good financial start.

1. MAKE A LIST OF ALL DEBTS Making a list of all your debts will help you get a clear picture of what you owe and how much interest you are paying.

This list will also include your bank’s

January 2019

12 things JAN19.indd 103

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:35 PM

104

AARON BRISTOL

lingering balances.

Consider signing up with a debt counselor where you would pay a fixed amount each month negotiated with your creditors through the counseling service, which manages payments to the creditors.

You could also opt to not use a credit card all together, which might seem impossible, but it can be done.

Elias Janetis cutline

bocamag.com

12 things JAN19.indd 104

overdraft protection, which—don’t kid yourself—is also a debt in the form of a glorified payday loan. Getting a clear view of how much interest you are paying will help prioritize which debts you pay down first.

Another way to look at your credit is to pull a credit report, which you can do for free at annualcreditreport.com.

2. NEGOTIATE WITH CREDITORS You may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate.

Or, if you have student loans, there are programs that can help you lower your monthly payment.

Many creditors are willing to work with you—all you need to do is ask.

3. PAY OFF DEBTS WHEN POSSIBLE Excess or discretion-

••••

ary income should be diverted toward paying off debts to avoid interest charges and penalties. Experts suggest spending at least 15 percent of your paychecks on debt. Consider taking on freelance or parttime work, and use any savings or tax refunds to settle what you owe.

4. CONTROL SPENDING Spending more money than you make will always get you into trouble. You can trim expenses by cutting the cable or bundling services to consolidate more of your monthly bills.

5. TACKLE CREDIT CARD DEBT Pay off more than the minimum balance per month to get rid of

MAY

GO ON A LOCAL ADVENTURE

If you are a skydiver or a spelunker or a scuba diver, you already likely

have this adventure thing down pat, but for the rest of us, discovering Florida’s natural world (or some of its attractions!) allows real context for the Florida dream—and will open your eyes as to why you live here.

R A BIKE RIDE in Shark Valley or a walk out west at Loxahatchee will warm you up for the magic that is the Everglades. But we best like the option of gliding through the Everglades in a pole boat with a guide. Get up close to gators, wading birds and all the sights and smells of this mythical primal swamp—without noisy airboat or boat motors. Breathe in that tannin smell and listen to the occasional splash of a fish. Yep, the river of life. Dive in. Everglades Adventure Tours, 40904 Tamiami Trail, Ochopee, 800/504-6554, evergladesadventuretours. net; $109 for a two-hour pole boat tour, or rent a tiki hut for $200 per night.

R STEP INTO A WIND TUNNEL and experience the thrill of flying—

Indoor skydiving at iFLY

January 2019

12/3/18 2:35 PM

105 without leaving terra firma.“Indoor skydiving” gives you a simulated free-fall in a wind tunnel, and a little practice means you can fly. Yes. Right there. iFLY, 11690 W. State Road 84, Davie, 954/280-4359, iflyworld. com; $70 and up.

EDUARDO SCHNEIDER

Lorem ip

JUNE

READ SOME BOOKS

This could be part of unplugging (see no.

12), but it’s also, to risk sounding really high-minded, a return to civilization. Reading is the antithesis of screaming reality TV and game

shows; it is quiet, solitary, deeply entertaining and can transport you around the world and back (or forward) in time. It makes you smarter (there are studies on this), boosts your writing ability, increases your vocabulary and introduces you to great ideas. Now, no one’s judging if you slip a few Oprah books into your reading list, or if you find a guilty pleasure in reading mysteries, true crime or romance novels.

You are reading again.

And that is a start.

The second-best thing about reading is that you get to go to bookstores.

And we really love South Florida’s independently owned Books & Books, which was founded by Mitch Kaplan (who also co-founded the Miami Book Fair in 1984) in 1982 in Coral Gables.

Today, Kaplan has stores in Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Grand Cayman, Key West and even the Adrienne Arsht Center.

His imprint on South Florida’s literary world is legendary; he is our Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Books & Books is our City Lights bookstore. We asked Mitch what reading meant to him, and this is what he told us:

“To read is to live. I read fiction and find catharsis in fictional lives lived. I read history, memoir and books on politics, science and philosophy to learn about myself. I make a living finding books for others. I find more satisfaction than I deserve in knowing I’ve found something meaningful for someone else to read. My highest calling is to help develop the next generation of readers. And, once a lifetime reader, you don’t need much else to lead the richest life possible.”

Mitch Kaplan

January 2019

12 things JAN19.indd 105

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:35 PM

106

Whitney Roper, left, and Lauren Jacob of Reid Travel; right, safari pals

JULY

TAKE A BIG TRIP

There is nothing like a massive life-changing trip to the other side of the world to adjust your attitude. Big trips give you a global point of view, broaden your perspective, and feed

bocamag.com

12 things JAN19.indd 106

••••

that adventurous soul of yours like nothing else can. Lauren Jacob and Whitney Roper at Reid Travel suggest three destinations that are especially mind-bending for your next big trip: R ANTARCTICA IS BIG THIS YEAR. “We took an expedition cruise; it was truly spectacular,” Roper says.“Glaciers are a big

draw, as well as wildlife like penguins and seals.”

The average cost of a trip like this is $12,000, not including international airfare.

R TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY VIA PRIVATE JET is the ultimate luxury. Roper says there are now many small group trips (12-44 people) on private jets, and

“you can do a country by private jet or around the world [and] see and experience destinations in a completely different way.”You land at private airports, avoid wasted hours on long drives and will enjoy the luxury of air travel without crowds, bad food and cramped seating. (That alone would be worth it.) Depending on trip

January 2019

12/3/18 2:35 PM

107 length and duration, private jet travel can range from about $45,000 to $145,000 per person.

R THE AFRICAN SAFARI is everyone’s favorite trip and offers a multitude of experiences from walking safaris, luxury tented safaris, gorilla trekking and more. You can go to Kenya and Tanzania during the great migration in search of the Big Five (lion, African leopard, rhinoceros, African bush elephant, African buffalo), or to South Africa for a wine country add-on. Good tours average $12,000 per person, not including airfare.

AUGUST TAKE A WALK

Get out. Walk in the morning, or after dinner.

Walk to the store. Walk on the beach. Get out and walk the Marsh Trail at the Loxahatchee Preserve (10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach) and get up close with alligators and wading

birds. Stroll through the gardens of Morikami Park (4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach) or along the waterfront on Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.

Not only does walking get you unplugged and out in the world, but it can be a lifesaver, according to the Mayo Clinic, which says walking can: R Maintain a healthy weight R Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes R Strengthen your bones and muscles R Improve your mood R Improve your balance

and coordination The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits.

At top, Morikami Park; below, Shark Valley at Everglades National Park

January 2019

12 things JAN19.indd 107

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:35 PM

108

SEPTEMBER GET A MASSAGE

So who says no to a

bocamag.com

12 things JAN19.indd 108

••••

martini after work?

Turns out some savvy customers say no to that and yes to a yummy massage instead. Think of it as a happy hour for your body.

There are all kinds of massages and even more delivery systems—you can get a traditional Swedish version (gentle, kneading), a deep massage (slower and more forceful), a sports massage (similar to Swedish but targeted at athletes) or a trigger point (focuses on those tight muscle fibers—think too much computer time). You can get massages with hot

stones and acupuncture and all kinds of oils— there are a gazillion variations, but they all add up to a refreshing and restorative experience.

Massages also reduce stress, muscle tension and anxiety (helllooooooo!), can relieve joint pain and are thought to help everything from migraines to fibromyalgia.

So what are you waiting for? Whether you opt for something spa-licious or have someone meet you at your home, this 2019 idea is all about selfcare. And it’s time you started doing that.

OCTOBER

WRITE A LETTER

OK, so we may err on the side of Old World quaint here, but we are sticking to it. Try writing a letter this week to an old friend, a relative, new friend, a lover. On real stationery, with a real pen (fountain pen optional). Tell he or she you are thinking about them, what your day is like, what it feels like where you live, whatever you feel like saying, then stick it in an enve-

Lorem ipsum

January 2019

12/3/18 2:35 PM

109 lope, slap a stamp on it and send it on its merry way. Imagine how fun it will be to open a mailbox and find a letter amid all those Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons.

Lorem ipsum

NOVEMBER LEARN A LANGUAGE

South Florida is the international template for America. We have it all: an infusion of people from South America and Cuba, relocating Russians, islanders,

Africans and more. So why do so many of us only speak English?

This could be the year you break out of that provincial little bubble of yours by learning a second language.

Become a citizen of the world, cast off those isolationist shackles and learn something new in the meantime. World Class Languages in Boca offers one-on-one instruction on Spanish, Russian, German, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese and Arabic, for starters.

Call 561/289-3527.

DECEMBER UNPLUG

This is a big one. Most people spend hours a day in front of a screen, staring at a phone, wired into earbuds, or playing video games. In a sense, this is nothing less than immersion in a technological parallel universe—an alternate

reality where ‘friends’ are tiny Facebook icons, and text messages stand in for real conversations with other human beings. We’ve all seen people (sometimes whole families) at restaurants, each of them mesmerized by their own phones.

We love the idea of breaking up with this dependence in 2019— maybe not entirely,

but at least taking a breather so you can reconnect with real flesh-and-blood people.

Talk. Clink your wineglasses. Hold hands.

Go shopping. Sit on the beach and stare at the waves, talking abut nothing and everything.

Call instead of text. Turn off the computer. Take a vacation from Netflix.

It’s great out here in the real world; rediscover sound and light and colors and humans and smells and music.

Other benefits include: R No more tech neck and reduced lower back pain R Better sleep R Improved memory and retention R Greater productivity R More in-the-moment-ness (You can simply be here now instead of photographing it for posterity.)

Lorem ips

Go on, get a life. You deserve it.

January 2019

12 things JAN19.indd 109

••••

bocamag.com

12/3/18 2:35 PM

ADOLPH & ROSE LEVIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER PHYLLIS & HARVEY SANDLER CENTER PRESENTS

RADIO SPONSOR

A SHOWCASE OF PERFORMANCES, MEMORABILIA, LECTURES AND MORE Honorary Grand Chair: Elaine Grossinger Etess

Event Co-chairs: Robin Kabat and Karen Lazar; Memorabilia Curator: Ann Schwartz

FEB 1 - MAR 1, 2019 LEVIS JCC SANDLER CENTER • BOCA RATON, FL

561-235-7418 • levisjcc.org/sandler

A&RLevis-Catskill_BRM0119.indd 1

11/20/18 8:47 AM

SCOTS KNOW RIGOR WITH HEART

Saint Andrew’s School MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

Scots achieve academic excellence, inspired by peers and faculty who encourage safe risk-taking. They flourish not because they are pressured to, but because they learn to self-motivate in a community that fosters healthy relationships.

In a positive school culture where students grow in mind, body, and spirit, they feel inspired to set lofty personal goals and reach them.

Teachers maintain a rigorous curriculum, and they do so with heart.

Recognized as a leading independent school in the Episcopal tradition, Saint Andrew’s School is a day and boarding school for students in grades Pre-K through 12 3900 Jog Road

StAndrewsSchl_BRM0119.indd 1

.

Boca Raton, Florida 33434

.

561.210.2000

.

www.saintandrews.net

12/7/18 12:09 PM

Unico_SIP_SMOKE_SWIRL_BRM0119.indd 1

12/11/18 1:37 PM

113 B A C K S TA G E PA S S

Farewell Angelina, performing Jan. 31 at the Crest Theatre

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 113

11/29/18 10:26 AM

114 IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Palm Beach Opera’s “La Traviata” WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach WHEN: Jan. 25-27 COST: $20-$155 CONTACT: 561/8327469, kravis.org

cutline

bocamag.com

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 114

••••

December 2018

11/29/18 10:27 AM

B AC K S TAG E PA S S

TAKE 5

115

Daniel Biaggi

Palm Beach Opera’s general director brings a historic art form into the 21st century Written by JOHN THOMASON

T

he opera world can have a reputation as being mannered, even stuffy—an elite pastime dating to the time of monocles and corsets. But Daniel Biaggi believes opera should be for everyone.

“That’s why we have free tickets,” he says.“We make sure that regardless of socioeconomic background, you have access to the arts. And when we realize people can’t come to us anymore, we take opera to them, through some of our programs.”

Now entering his 10th year as general director of Palm Beach Opera, Biaggi has made significant strides in democratizing the art form to broader audiences. He conceived Opera @ the Waterfront, a free, grant-winning concert for the community hosted at a downtown amphitheater. He has expanded his company’s educational programming with children’s performances and series such as One Opera in One Hour, Lunch & Learn and the LGBTQ-centric Opera Out Loud.

Biaggi has brought in English-language programming, including the world-premiere production of the American opera “Enemies, A Love Story.”Under his leadership, Palm Beach Opera implemented Summer Opera Nights, a low-cost, themed evening of food, games and operatic performances, at West Palm Beach’s hip Elizabeth Avenue Station.

Then there’s the core opera season at the Kravis Center, which runs from January to March, this year offering “La Traviata,”“Don Giovanni” and “Die Fledermaus,” continuing a tradition of excellence that has nourished the county for more than 55 years.

Biaggi, a classically trained singer, vocal coach and opera ambassador, shares the high notes of his job with Boca mag.

What are your considerations when programming a season?

It’s in many ways a balancing act. We try to do everything two to three years in advance, so we have time to figure out how the creative teams will work. Of course, there are certain financial considerations that we take into account

to make sure we can balance shows where we know we’ll have almost a sold-out house—“La Traviata,”“Madama Butterfly”—with the second-tier or third-tier operas.

It’s tricky, because you only get three shows a season.

Exactly. We say in essence we have three

times a year to get it right, because we’re always only as good as the last production we did. So we do want to make sure we’re careful what we program.

What do you think attests to the continued popularity of opera?

It’s the fact that it’s live

Are you concerned that the opera audience is graying, and that not enough young people attend?

From my perspective, no. It’s OK to realize that opera is something you aspire to, that takes a little time, and that grows on you. The span of ages in the hall is

“[Opera is] all artisanship in the end. It’s highly skilled human labor that cannot be replaced by computers. We can enhance it with audiovisual techniques, but in the end, it’s the deepest core of what makes humans human.”

—Daniel Biaggi

and unamplified. There’s nothing that can replace the sensation of having a live orchestra and live voices communicating with you directly. You feel it. It’s a sensory experience.

Have the classics of the operatic repertoire changed much in the centuries since they were written?

What’s remained the same is the libretto and the music. … They are timeless in their own right. What’s changed is the attempt to keep a perceived relevance to modern-day audiences by trying to adapt the storylines and transport them into different timeframes, like setting“La Traviata”in 1950 or 2050, and creating a space odyssey.

maybe from 55 to 95. In your 30s and 40s, you’re building your family, your career, and you have other interests.

What we need to do is to give everyone an introduction to opera between 2 and 20, which is exactly what we’ve done through the expansion of our community engagement and education programs. This year we’re planning over 200 events throughout Palm Beach County, in the schools, so that we create future audiences by giving them a taste when they’re very young.

We’re just not going to be what the sports world might be or the non-classical music world might be. We’ll never be full of 25-yearolds. As long as the halls are full, we’re doing the right thing.

WEB EXTRA: To read about how Palm Beach Opera handled the biggest crisis in Biaggi’s tenure, visit BOCAMAG. COM/JANUARY-2019.

January 2019

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 115

••••

bocamag.com

11/29/18 10:31 AM

January 2019

116

B AC K S TAG E PA S S

Jan. 4: “TAPESTRY: THE CAROLE KING SONGBOOK” at Mizner Park Cultural Center, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $35; 844/672-2849, miznerparkculturalcenter. com. Tribute artist Suzanne O. Davis re-creates the music and atmosphere of a 1970s Carole King concert, performing King’s landmark album Tapestry along with selections from the prolific Goffin & King Songbook, which included hits for the Beatles, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin and more.

Marcia Ball

Jan. 8: “THE FOUR SEASONS” WITH DAVID KIM AND THE SYMPHONIA at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.

Sunday; $65-$75; 561/2437922, oldschoolsquare. org. Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, lets his hair down at this casual, intimate Symphonia performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece and Bach’s “Brandenberg Concerto No. 3.”

bocamag.com

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 116

••••

CALENDAR

Jan. 4: WATERMELON SLIM at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $35$45; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. The only artist in history to receive 12 Blues Music Awards over two consecutive years, William Homans—aka Watermelon Slim—sings with gruff passion and plays his slide guitar lap-style, leading his band through fierce and fiery compositions.

Watermelon Slim

Jan. 8-13: “ON YOUR FEET!” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; $29-$89; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. The tunes immortalized by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, including “Conga,” “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You” and “Get on Your Feet,” complement the touring production of this zesty and heartfelt musical based on the singers’ inspiring and vertiginous lives, courtesy of Kravis on Broadway.

Jan. 4:

Jan. 4-6:

MARCIA BALL at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 9 p.m.; $30-$50; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit. com. A piano virtuoso from the Gulf Coast, Ball’s bluesy blend of classic R&B, Cajun, zydeco and boogie-woogie has earned her five Grammy nominations and a reputation as a rollicking live performer.

NEW PLAY FESTIVAL AT THEATRE LAB at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; $15-$20 per event or $90 for festival pass; 800/564-9539, fauevents.com. Theatre Lab’s annual festival premieres six plays performed by professional actors in staged readings—including new works by Emily Feldman, Johnny Lloyd, Dan Clancy and FAU’s own Desmond Gallant.

Deborah Silver

“Tapestry”

Jan. 9-Feb. 3:

Jan. 9-Feb. 3:

“OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES” at Mizner Park Cultural Center, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $45-$65; 844/672-2849, miznerparkculturalcenter. com. Audiences are free to loosen their Borscht belts at this Catskills-style comedy road show, in which “Morty,” “Bunny,” “Nathan” and the rest of the silver-haired cast kvell their way through one-liners, skits, songs and monologues.

“HAVING OUR SAY” at Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; $25-$30; 866/811-4111, primalforces.com. In this heartfelt drama based on a best-selling memoir, two elderly sisters born in the late 19th century to a former slave share their experiences in the civil rights movement, from Bessie’s barrier-breaking dentistry career to Sadie’s integration of the New York City school system.

January 2019

11/30/18 4:09 PM

117 Jan. 5:

Jan. 5-6:

Jan. 6:

Jan. 6:

“THE RELUCTANT DRAGON” at Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $6-$8; 561/3473948, willowtheatre.org. In this family production, based on a beloved 1898 short story by Kenneth Grahame, a boy discovers a seemingly dangerous dragon, only to find that the beast would rather recite Shakespeare than fight.

THE CAPITOL STEPS at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; $65-$75; 561/243-7922, oldschoolsquare.org. Founded by a group of moonlighting Congressional staffers, this durable troupe of political satirists has been skewering presidents, senators and the news for more than three decades—injecting much-needed levity into the fractious news cycle.

CONNOISSEUR CONCERT 2 at Roberts Theater at St. Andrew’s School, 3900 Jog Road, Boca Raton; 3 p.m.; $50-$84; 866/687-4201, thesymphonia.org. The second concert of the Symphonia’s season features guest conductor Kensho Watanabe and violin soloist David Kim performing compositions by Bach, Schubert, Massenet and Tchaikovsky.

MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $35-$45; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org.

Hailed as a virtuoso by “60 Minutes,” Florida’s Marcus Roberts lost his sight at age 5, which did little to dim his burgeoning musical talent.

Now a masterly jazz musician and composer, he leads his first-rate trio through complex rhythms and free improvisations.

The Capitol Steps

Jessica Lang Dance

Gary Valentine

Jan. 8: DEBORAH SILVER at Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $30; 561/237-7000, lynn.edu. Vocalist Silver, a Billboard-charting artist from here in Palm Beach County, performs American Songbook treasures from her album The Gold Standards, along with a smattering of blues, country, opera, jazz and pop.

“On Your Feet”

Jan. 10-27:

Jan. 11-12:

Jan. 11-12:

Jan. 12:

Jan. 12-13:

“A SHAYNA MAIDEL” at Beifeld Auditorium at Levis JCC, 21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton; $25-$40; 561/5582520, levisjcc.org. This off-Broadway success by Barbara Lebow centers on two Jewish sisters, only one of whom escaped Nazi-occupied Poland at the dawn of World War II, who meet in New York City as virtual strangers years later.

GARY VALENTINE at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 8 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday; $35-$45; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Though not as well-known as his brother, Kevin James, Valentine has forged a distinctive comedy career, including nine seasons on James’ “The King of Queens” and opening stints for Jerry Seinfeld.

JESSICA LANG DANCE at Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College, 4200 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth; 8 p.m.; $49.75; 561/9677222, duncantheatre.org. A Juilliard graduate and former member of Twyla Tharp’s dance company, Lang founded her own NYC-based company in 2011, and has been showered with awards and commissions. She brings her dynamic, contemporary choreography to Lake Worth for the first time.

“CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE: RUMOURS” at Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $20-$75; 561/2437922, oldschoolsquare.org.

Known for its note-for-note re-creations of rock masterpieces, Classic Albums Live will take on Fleetwood Mac’s 11th album and its crowning achievement, which sold 40 million copies on the strength of singles “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams” and more.

MARC BROUSSARD at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; $45-$65; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. This top-charting progenitor of “Bayou Soul” blends a philanthropic spirit with a powerful baritone and a swampy musicality that marries funk, blues, R&B, rock and pop. Arrive early for southern rockers the Vegabonds.

January 2019

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 117

••••

bocamag.com

11/30/18 4:10 PM

118

B AC K S TAG E PA S S

CALENDAR

Jan. 14-15:

Jan. 16:

Jan. 17-Feb. 24:

Jan. 18:

MUSICWORKS: EARLY ELTON at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $47-$57; 561/2437922, oldschoolsquare.org.

Eschewing Elton John’s later hits, this tribute concert features Sir Elton classics such as “Take Me to Pilot,” “Levon” and “Amoreena,” performed by members of the Fab Faux and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

“FUNNY GIRL” at The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; $75-$95; 561/995-2333, thewick.org. “Funny Girl” charts the tumultuous biography of comedian and singer Fanny Brice, a stage-struck vaudeville ingénue who became a star of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1910. The musical’s classic numbers “People,” “You Are Woman” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” later evolved into crossover hits for the show’s original star, Barbra Streisand.

BRAZILIAN VOICES at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $35-$45; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. This 26-member, all-female choir, headquartered in Weston, performs a dynamic repertoire showcasing the singers’ rich, harmonic interpretations of Brazilian jazz and samba favorites.

Jan. 13: JAKE EHRENREICH’S “A JEW GROWS IN BROOKYLN” at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 2 and 7 p.m.; $35-$45; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Earning comparisons to Billy Crystal’s “700 Sundays” and Bill Murray’s “SNL” lounge singer sketch, this monologue/concert from actor-musician Ehrenreich explores his engaging life story as the American-born son of Holocaust survivors.

EMILY SKINNER AND ALICE RIPLEY at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $65-$75; 561/243-7922, oldschoolsquare.org. A highlight of the Crest’s Cabaret Series, these versatile Broadway talents—who starred together as conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton in the offbeat musical “Side Show”—perform selections from that show, their Duets album, and more.

Jake Ehrenreich

Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley

Jan. 19:

Jan. 21-26:

MAX RABINOVITSJ TRIO at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $30-$45; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org. In his native Belgium, Rabinovitsj learned to play the violin at age 8 while hiding from the Nazi occupation. After emigrating to the U.S., he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music and has been a solo violinist and concertmaster for world-class orchestras.

He’ll perform an eclectic set alongside a cellist and pianist.

PALM BEACH POETRY FESTIVAL at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 561/243-7922, oldschoolsquare.org.

The 15th-annual Delray tradition features six days of workshops, readings, lectures, panel discussions, manuscript conferences and social events. This year’s guest poets include Ellen Bass, Campbell McGrath, Eleanor Wilner and Aracelis Girmay.

bocamag.com

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 118

••••

Jan. 25-26: AN ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH MATISYAHU AND DUGAN at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7 and 9 p.m.; $65$105; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Influential reggae-rocker Matisyahu, who integrates Orthodox Jewish themes into his eclectic music, will perform an intimate acoustic set, playing stripped-down versions of hits, obscurities and new material that will showcase his soulful voice and beat-boxing abilities.

Judy Gold

Jan. 25-27: “ROMEO AND JULIET” at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday; free; 561/3937890, mizneramp.com. This year, for its annual touring Shakespeare Under the Stars production, Florida Shakespeare Theatre is presenting the Bard’s timeless tale of warring families and young lovers forced into tragic circumstances.

Cirquesco

Jan. 30: JOHN FORD COLEY at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $57-$77; 561/243-7922, oldschoolsquare.org. The second half of the American soft-rock duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, this classically trained piano and guitar player continues to tour theaters, performing legacy hits like “I’d Really Like to See You Again” and “Love is the Answer.”

January 2019

11/30/18 4:11 PM

Jan. 19:

Jan. 19:

CIRQUESCO at Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $50-$70; 561/237-7000, lynn.edu. Developed by South Florida impresario Kevin Black, Cirquesco marries cirque theatrics with a burlesque edge, creating a singular vibe that’s equal parts European circus and international dance show.

JUDY GOLD at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7 and 9 p.m.; $35-$45; 561/4839036, bocablackbox.com.

A longtime road warrior in the standup scene, this prolific Emmy winner has guest-starred on more than 30 shows in 25 years, and created two solo plays: “25 Questions for a Jewish Mother” and “The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom.”

PAUL WINTER CONSORT

AT ST. GREGORY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH DOWNTOWN BOCA RATON

JANUARY 20 AT 3:30 PM Matisyahu

Jan. 30-31: TAB BENOIT at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 8 p.m.; $40-$60; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit. com. This Delta blues-style guitarist, singer and environmental activist has been plying his trade for more than 35 years and 20 albums, twice winning the Blues Music Awards’ Best Contemporary Male Blues Artist.

Tab Benoit

Jan. 31: FAREWELL ANGELINA at Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $45-$55; 561/2437922, oldschoolsquare. org. This up-and-coming all-female country band has earned praise from Rolling Stone and opening slots for Kenny Chesney and Jake Owen on the strength of its double-guitar, double-violin sound. Its covers of “Radioactive” and “House of the Rising Sun” are worth a listen.

PAUL HIS CONSORT HAVE PERFORMED AROUND THE WORLD, FROM NEW YORK’S CARNEGIE HALL TO THE MIHO MUSEUM IN JAPAN. THE GROUP HAS ALSO PIONEERED A NEW GENRE OF EARTH MUSIC, INTERWEAVING CLASSICAL , JA , WORLD MUSIC ELEMENTS WITH VOICES FROM WHAT WINTER CALLS THE GREATEST SYMPHONY OF THE EARTH. SINCE 1980, PAUL THE CONSORT HAVE BEEN ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST GOTHIC CATHEDRAL , NEW YORK’S THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE, WHERE THEY HAVE PRESENTED OVER 100 SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE WINTER

SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATIONS .

COMING UP FEBRUARY 3...

WYCLIFFE GORDON 4:00 PM FOR TICKETS GO TO: STGREGORYSBOCA .

EVENTBRITE .COM BRINGING WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES TO BOCA RATON

GO TO WWW.STGREGORYSEPISCOPAL .ORG TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2018-19 CONCERT SERIES.

StGregoryEpiscopal_BRM0119.indd 1

BackstagePass JAN19.indd 119

January 2019

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 7:59 AM

12/7/18 8:59 AM

Delray’s premier seafood restaurant.

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER DAILY | HAPPY HOUR 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY – SUNDAY For reservations, visit TheAtlanticGrille.com or call 561-790-8568.

Located at The Seagate Hotel | 1000 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach

SHGAtlanticGrille_BRM0119.indd 1 SHG 53006 Boca Mag_Jan-2019_FP_4C_Atlantic Grille_MECH.indd 1

11/27/18 12:49 5:37 PM PM 11/27/18

121

Lobster bisque at Kathy’s Gazebo

Diningguide JAN19.indd 121

K AT H Y ’ S G A Z E B O R E V I E W D R I F T WO O D R E V I E W KE’E GRILL REVIEW C H E F S P OT L I G H T BOCA CHALLENGE

› › › › ›

122 124 126 130 136

AARON BRISTOL

DINING GUIDE

12/7/18 9:25 AM

122

DINING GUIDE

REVIEW

Top, chef Miguel Martinez flanked by owner Claudio Pedron and waiter Jose Garcia; right, the Dover sole

Kathy’s Gazebo Café 4199 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/395-6033

I I F YO U G O PARKING: Parking lot, valet HOURS: Lunch Mon.Fri., 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner Mon.-Sat., 5:30 to 10 p.m.

PRICES: Lunch entrees $12.95$34.95; dinner entrees $25.95-$52.95 WEBSITE: kathysgazebo.com

bocamag.com

Diningguide JAN19.indd 122

••••

t’s easy to see why dinners at Kathy’s Gazebo Café can last for two or three hours.

It’s also easy to understand why more than 30 years have passed since it opened.

First, there’s the décor. The fancy dining room is full of mauve fabric, dark wood and dusky rose lighting, which means women look their elegant best. High-backed velvet booths surround the room, while mirrors line one wall and men in dinner jackets gaze at their dates across fresh bouquets on white tablecloths.

It’s all about traditional French elegance. There’s a less formal café area, where you can dine in shorts and short sleeves, with a kitchen view and conversation with the chefs. Plus a patio for cool nights. The food is the same, but not the ambience.

First come drinks and canapés (cream cheese mix on crackers and cheese straws). After you sip and nibble, relax and chat for a bit.

Only then you are handed menus and you must focus on food for a bit. This is the way everyone used to dine: drinks, canapés, debating the menu. No rushing, shoveling and making a beeline out the door.

It’s an experience, and it’s civilized.

The tender escargot served in shells are bathed in garlic and white wine sauce, in a gold-toned serving dish. The liver and caramelized onions made for a moist, perfectly cooked-to-order entree, with crispy bacon in a red burgundy sauce.

The Dover sole—at $52.95, the most expensive dish—is flown in from Holland, gently boned at the side of the dining room after the fish is presented at the table. Then, it melts in your mouth. There’s a

reason this is a signature dish.

Coq au vin was served as a special, with haricots verts, linguine, mushrooms and parsley, and chicken braised in a red wine sauce with lardons (bacon), where the bird considerately fell off the bone.

The extensive menu has hot and cold appetizers, soups (Kathy’s gazpacho is a fave), salads and entrees ranging from veal, lamb and lobster to snapper, duck and bouillabaisse. Desserts include a Grand Marnier soufflé, crème brûlée, chocolate cheesecake with Irish Baileys, a raspberry pillow with layers of berries and crème custard and more—all rich, well-crafted finishes.

This is classical dining, with prices to match. But it’s wise to remember that good food never goes out of style.

AARON BRISTOL

Written by LYNN KALBER

January 2019

12/7/18 9:25 AM

BAHAMAS BOCA BY WAY OF

HAS NEVER BEEN CLOSER 72 Luxury Oceanview units located in picturesque West End Grand Bahama island.

Departing Boca Executive airport and arriving at Old Bahama Bay private airstrip.

Full Service resort including restaurant, beach bar, activities center, SCUBA, deep sea fishing charters, eco tours, full service spa, and much more!

$175 per night Boca Mag special.

Reservations CALL 1-888-983-6188*

www.oldbahamabayresorts.com *BLACKOUT DATES DO APPLY.

OBB ResortBRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 12:17 PM

DINING GUIDE

REVIEW

AARON BRISTOL

124

Clockwise from bottom: hand-cut spaghetti, half-tail of lobster and chicken and dumplings

Driftwood

2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, 561/733-4782 Written by LYNN KALBER

I

I F YO U G O PARKING: Parking lot HOURS: Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to “late”; Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

PRICES: $8-$31 WEBSITE: driftwoodboynton.com

bocamag.com

Diningguide JAN19.indd 124

••••

haven’t had a chance yet, but I want to try everything on Driftwood’s menu. Every dish.

And most of the cocktails, too.

You haven’t had these dishes before, but you’ll want them again.

There are complimentary boiled peanuts, normally part of the Deep South (hint: That’s not where we live). These taste like tiny, soft, slightly zesty potatoes and have been boiled in a mixture of red pepper flakes, coriander, citrus peel, garlic and paprika. This constitutes the start of a Driftwood addiction.

The descriptions tug at your appetite and your imagination— no unusual ingredients you can’t pronounce, but combinations you’ve never thought of before.

Popcorn sauce? Avocado chocolate ice cream? This is comfort food elevated to a higher level at a nice price. Plus, the ingredients are local and often organic, and it all looks terrific.

These flavor meldings spring from the mind of chef/owner Jimmy Everett. He’s a SoFla native who went to the Culinary Institute

of America, then worked for inventive chefs (Wylie Dufresne, Michael White) and opened restaurants, including Valentino Cucina Italiana in Fort Lauderdale. But he wanted his own place, so he and wife/co-owner Ilia Gonzalez-Colon bought the former Scully’s site in Boynton Beach, and debuted Driftwood in early 2018.

Take a bite of the hand-cut spaghetti ($14) topped with a sunny Holman’s egg yolk, with pecorino and thin shavings of black truffle.

“It’s like you’ve never had spaghetti before,” said my guest. After tasting the tender pasta’s smooth, buttery flavor with a sharp pecorino twinge and the truffle tickling your palate, the only rational response is to keep slurping.

One of the specials was smoked swordfish ($14) sitting on an Italian crescensa (cow’s cheese) sauce, with avocado chunks, croutons and parsley. The fish tasted like it was cooked over a slow campfire; it was smoked for five hours. The mild sauce was a perfect partner; all the components meshed.

We also tried a half-tail of lobster with pickled okra, sliced fingerling potatoes and broccoli rabe in a popcorn beurre blanc sauce (yes, they reduce popcorn down to this sauce, $17). It was a delicate mouthful with lots of pleasant taste surprises: sweet lobster, slightly bitter rabe, tangy okra, light sauce with a faint popcorn taste.

The ricotta dumplings with the chicken/dumplings dish ($16) were thin, long and light, the chicken tender and flavorful. The avocado chocolate ice cream sandwiches ($6) were light green and rich—the avocado’s contribution— and sweet with the chocolate. My half was gone in four bites.

I’m going back for the burger (gouda, pickled green tomato, smoked onion, $14), the grilled octopus ($17), the local fish ceviche ($14). Also the pastrami’d chicken breast with roasted cabbage, Bob’s potatoes and Swiss fondue ($22).

Our server said it’s her favorite and that it “hugs your soul.”

I think that describes Driftwood to a T.

January 2019

12/7/18 9:25 AM

Celebrating 25 Years “ I F YOU M A K E GR E AT i ta l i a n FOOD T H E Y W IL L COM E ” Offering Complimentary Transportation To & From Area Hotels Open For Dinner Nightly Private Rooms Available for Parties of 6–45 499 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton • 561-393-6715 www.trattoriaromanabocaraton.com TrattoriaRomana_BRM_0119.indd 1

12/7/18 11:12 AM

126

Clockwise from bottom: yellowtail snapper Francaise, fried calamari appetizer, breaded blue crab cakes

DINING GUIDE

REVIEW

Ke’e Grill

17940 N. Military Trail, Suite 700, Boca Raton, 561/995-5044

T I F YO U G O PARKING: Parking lot HOURS: Sun.-Fri., 5 to 9 p.m.; Sat., 5 to 9:30 p.m.

PRICES: Entrees $28.95-$39.95; some are market price WEBSITE: keegrillbocaraton.com

bocamag.com

Diningguide JAN19.indd 126

••••

his large restaurant in a Boca Raton strip mall is jam-packed. It’s been that way for more than 20 years.

What’s the secret?

Consistency.

Although the Ke’e Grill was sold four years ago to restaurateurs Philippe Roux and Alain Tallard, who also own Henry’s, Apeiro, Tom Sawyer’s Boca and Cool’a Fishbar in Palm Beach Gardens, nothing was changed that disturbed the faithful. The crowd skews elderly, but we sat next to a couple of 40-somethings who eat there every week. The beat goes on.

Named after a beach on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the décor sports bamboo on the walls and ceiling, with white beach umbrellas dotting the dining room and

huge mounted marlins eyeballing the crowd. The menu is largely seafood, with a few steak, chicken, lamb and pork options. Your traditional choices are baked, fried, breaded, grilled, broiled, sautéed— with Provencal, Française, maple mustard glaze, toasted macadamia nut pesto and piccata twists.

Asked about a little zest in the very good side of Spinach Maria, our server said a tiny bit of red pepper flakes were used, and if it was too spicy, he could replace it.

It was not spicy. In fact, the spiciest thing on the table was the blue crab remoulade sauce that came with the breaded blue crab cakes.

And that wasn’t very spicy.

Safe—or, if you prefer, bland— was the more common thread in the fried calamari appetizer

($14.95), the spaghetti side, and the dough shell around the apple crisp ($9.95) that was made inhouse. Standouts were the large lobster pieces on top of the very good yellowtail snapper Française ($36.95), a special that night. The blue crab cakes ($35.95) were tender but not remarkable.

Also standing out was the service, which was excellent both at the bar and at the table.

The menu is fairly pricey, and it’s quiet enough for conversations. Be aware that even with a reservation, you can expect to wait for a while before being seated. Unless you choose to eat at the bar—a not unpleasant idea.

The dishes are not wildly creative, but they aren’t trying to be.

What they are is consistent.

AARON BRISTOL

Written by LYNN KALBER

January 2019

12/7/18 9:25 AM

From the owners of Jimmy’s Bistro in Delray Beach...

Boca Raton’s Best New Restaurant:

Fresh Fish, Local Produce, Garden Salads & Artisan Soups

Open 7 Days a Week 3:30pm - 10-ish pm

Featured Menu Specialties: Crispy Roasted Half Duck, Day Boat Diver Scallops

Beautiful Outdoor Garden Patio for Dining & Private Parties

Happy Hour: Food & Drink Specials: 3:30pm - 7:00pm Everyday Creative Cocktails & Top Flight Wines

6299 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton | 561-617-5965 | www.friestocaviar.com

FriestoCaviar_BRM0119.indd 1

12/6/18 5:49 PM

128

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

DINING GUIDE Palm Beach County BOCA RATON 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 ice-cold martini or glass of red wine from the truly impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch/ brunch Sun.-Fri., dinner nightly. 561/447-0024. $$$$

Arturo’s Ristorante—6750 N. Federal

Filet mignon at Boca Landing

Highway. Italian. 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. $$$

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. $$

DINING KEY $: Under $17 $$: $18–$35 $$$: $36–$50 $$$$: $50 and up

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 128

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. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/981-8986. $$

Boca Landing —999 E. Camino Real. Contemporary American. The Waterstone Resort & Marina’s signature restaurant, Boca Landing, offers the city’s only waterside dining and shows off its prime location and views. Heavy on small plates, the menu features tuna crudo, fried calamari and a killer cheese and charcuterie board. Probably the best dish, though, is the charred filet mignon with a red wine bone marrow reduction, with wickedly luscious house-made hazelnut gelato coming in a very close second. • Dinner nightly.

561/226-3022. $$$ Bonefish Grill—21065 Powerline 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, 561/965-2663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$

Brio Tuscan Grille —5050 Town Center Circle, #239. Italian. The Boca outpost of this national chain does what it set out to do—dish up big portions of well-made, easily accessible Italian-esque fare at a reasonable price. If you’re looking for bruschetta piled with fresh cheeses and vegetables or house-made fettuccine with tender shrimp and lobster in a spicy lobster butter sauce, you’ll be one happy diner. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/392-3777. (Other Palm Beach County locations: The Gardens Mall, 3101 PGA Blvd., 561/622-0491; CityPlace, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., 561/835-1511) $$

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. $$

January 2019

12/7/18 9:26 AM

129 Butcher Block Grill—7000 W. Camino Real.

Steakhouse/Contemporary American. This casual steakhouse with a Mediterranean twist, an all-kosher menu, and a local, seasonal, sustainable ethos gives the stuffy old-fashioned meatery a swift kick in the sirloin.

Beef here is all-natural and grass-fed, delivering big, rich, earthy flavor. Seafood, whether raw (tuna tartare) or simply grilled (wild-caught salmon), is palate-pleasing as well. Don’t miss the fresh mozzarella, made and assembled into a salad at your table. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3035. $$$

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 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. Angelo Elia’s impeccable Italian restaurant is a delight, from the stylish room to the suave service to the

Burtons_BRM0119.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 129

expansive wine list, not to mention food that’s by turn elegant, hearty, bold, subtle and always delicious. Dishes off the regular menu make excellent choices, like chargrilled jumbo prawns with artichoke, arugula, lemon and olive oil. But pay attention to specials like pan-seared snapper and scallops in a spicy, garlicky cherry tomato sauce. • 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. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/955-6001. $$$

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). $$

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. 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, seabass Bouillabaisse, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. • Dinner nightly.

561/997-0027. $$

Chops Lobster Bar —101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. 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. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$

Cuban Café —3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30. Cuban. Diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $7.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $

January 2019

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 8:03 AM

12/7/18 9:26 AM

130

DINING GUIDE

CHEF SPOTLIGHT

Sam Horrocks A journeyman chef’s new gig is the epitome of “farm fresh” Written by LYNN KALBER

— Sam Horrocks

C

hef Sam Horrocks’ career includes a lot of different toques. He’s been a personal chef.

He was in the kitchen at big-name local restaurants—chef de cuisine for the opening of The Regional Kitchen & Public House, sous chef at Pistache, employment at Cholo Soy Cocina, Café Boulud and Cucina dell’Arte in Palm Beach.

Then he put on the Daddy hat and raised his new son at home until he was asked to take on his newest gig last summer: resident chef at Swank Farms.

What appeals to you about your new job?

I am at a point in my life where I can’t do the restaurant grind anymore. I have a new child, and I want to be more involved in my family. I didn’t have that opportunity in my past jobs. I stopped working as a chef and helped out around town.

Then Swank Farms approached me. This season, with the chefs coming from other parts of the country [as part of the dinner events], that will be a great experience.

SWANK FARMS 14311 North Road, Loxahatchee 561/202-5648 swankspecialtyproduce.com

bocamag.com

Diningguide JAN19.indd 130

••••

You’ll be working with a large number of chefs—one dinner has 24 of them!

What’s your game plan?

It’s communication—to know where everybody’s at. If I don’t know what areas are lacking or where we need help, I won’t be able to save the day. Communication is always key to any event or any service. All around, that’s the most important thing.

We will be serving multi-course dinners, where the chefs take care of their own stuff, making sure everybody is where they need to be to make it flow. Behind the scenes, it’s a hurry, and plates to count, and stuff to get ready to go.

The Easter and Mother’s Day brunches are all yours, right?

Those are fun, I really enjoy brunch. It’s a personal favorite for me to eat. It’s not just your standard daily breakfast.

People tend to indulge, so you can have a little more fun with it.

What’s your favorite meal that you don’t cook?

I actually have a dining-out soft spot. I worked at Pistache for years, and sometimes I just crave what they have. I love their steak au poivre. The food is very consistent. For me, there’s great food, but consistency is so important. Getting what you had last time you dined is so important.

AARON BRISTOL

I cook a lot at home. It’s my laboratory for trying and failing.

January 2019

12/7/18 9:26 AM

DINING GUIDE

DaVinci’s of Boca —6000 Glades Road.

Italian. Expect carefully prepared Italian fare that will satisfy both traditionalists and the more adventurous. The former will like crisp, greaseless fried calamari and hearty lasagna made with fresh pasta.

The latter will enjoy creamy burrata with prosciutto, bacon jam and arugula and a branzino served with spinach, clams and shrimp. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/362-8466. $$

Domus Italian Restaurant—187 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. The “Best Spaghetti & Meatballs Ever” dish is pretty darn close to being just that. The burrata with tomato carpaccio, melt-in-your-mouth Dover sole almondine, orecchiette con sausage and linguine vongole are part of a very good menu. From Sicilian fish salad to veal piccata, a light calamari fritti to chicken Parmesan, you can find something for all appetites. Save room for the tartufo. • Dinner nightly. 561/419-8787. $$$

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

t i p e e K

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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. $$

Farmer’s Table —1901 N. Military Trail.

American. 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 Buddha Bowl, with veggies, udon noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/417-5836. $$

Frank & Dino’s —39 S.E. First Ave. Italian.

The Rat Pack is alive and well here in both décor and soundtrack. So, too, are traditional Italian dishes such as Dentice oreganata, capellini Pomodoro and tiramisu.

But you may want to get there early for one of the longest happy hours around (11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays) for Damiano meatballs, filet mignon sliders or antipasto misto between lunch and dinner. • Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner nightly. 561/218-4636. $$$

Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen—399 S.E. Mizner Blvd. American. Natural, seasonal, sustainable.

! y t rp et

131

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. $$

Grand Lux Cafe —6000 Glades Road, inside Town Center at Boca Raton. American. The Cheesecake Factory’s sister brand is an upscale take on the original formula, with an atmosphere inspired by the great cafes of Europe. The menu offers a range of international flavors, and the specialty baked-to-order desserts are always a big hit. • Lunch and dinner daily; brunch on Saturday and Sunday. 561/392-2141. $$

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

CLEANING DIAMOND GRINDING HONING SEALING MAINTENANCE & POLISHING RESTORATION MARBLE, SATURNIA, STONE, GRANITE, QUARTZ & TRAVERTINE LICENSED & INSURED

SINCE 1992 | 561.392.3500

FREE ESTIMATES RELIABLE SERVICE January 2019

Intercontinental_DRMJF19.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 131

••••

bocamag.com

12/5/18 9:57 AM

12/7/18 9:26 AM

132

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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. $$$

Jimmy’s Fries to Caviar —6299 N. Federal Highway. Contemporary American. Going one better than soup to nuts defines Jimmy Mills’ Boca restaurant, an easygoing, affordable bistro in the old Darbster space 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. $$

Kapow-Aoke

For the most fearless among us, Kapow! Noodle Bar offers karaoke with food and drink specials from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays.

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 three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$ Kapow! Noodle Bar—431 Plaza Real. PanAsian. This Asian-inspired gastropub delivers an inventive punch to the taste buds. Among the hardest hitters is its angry shrimp dumplings and the char sui pork belly bao bun. The Saigon duck pho is yet one more reason to go.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/347-7322. $$

Kathy’s Gazebo Café —4199 N. Federal Highway. Continental. This local stalwart smoothly rolls along with its signature blend of French and Continental dishes. The Gazebo is classic and formal, with equally classic dishes like creamy lobster bisque, house-made duck paté, broiled salmon with sauce béarnaise and dreamy chocolate mousse are as satisfying as ever. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/395-6033. $$$

Ke’e Grill—17940 N. Military Trail, Suite 700.

American. The attraction here is carefully prepared food that is satisfying, flavorful and reasonably priced.

The fist-sized crab cake is a good place to start, followed by sea bass with a soy-ginger-sesame glaze. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$

La Nouvelle Maison—455 E. Palmetto Park

La Nouvelle Maison

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 132

Blvd. French. Elegant, sophisticated French cuisine, white-glove service and a trio of (differently) stylish dining rooms make Arturo Gismondi’s homage to Boca’s storied La Vieille Maison the home away from home to anyone who appreciates the finer points of elegant dining. The cuisine showcases both first-rate ingredients and precise execution, whether a generous slab of silken foie gras with plum gastrique, posh lobster salad, cookbook-perfect rendition of steak frites and an assortment of desserts that range from homey apple tart to bananas Foster with chocolate and Grand Marnier. • Dinner nightly. 561/338-3003. $$$

Buzz Bites I SOBEWFF 2019 Expands to the Palm Beaches

W

ith a month until the 2019 South Beach Wine & Food Festival starts on Feb. 20, there are still tickets available for some events.

The Crave Greater Fort Lauderdale series of events starts the festivities with its opening event Feb. 20, a dinner hosted by Donatella Arpaia, PJ Calapa and Michael Chavez. The festival runs from Feb. 20-24.

Arpaia, a James Beard Award-nominated chef, Michelin-starred restaurateur and cookbook author, will join Calapa (executive chef/owner of Manhattan’s Scampi) and Terra Mare’s Executive Chef Chavez at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel.

A big first this year is the only Palm Beach County dinner, featuring chefs Lindsay Autry, Clay Conley and Martha Stewart. They are teaming up Feb. 21 at Autry’s The Regional Kitchen & Public House from 7 to 10 p.m. for a dinner blending traditional Southern cooking with East Coast flavors and rustic Mediterranean accents.

After that, the 100-plus events flow fast and furious—and with as many bubbles of fun as a Dom Perignon party.

While most of the festivities take place in Miami-Dade, there are nine events in Fort Lauderdale and one in Hollywood this year, in addition to the West Palm Beach dinner. Tickets range from $35 to $325.

New to the lineup this year are: WINE & CHEESE HAPPY HOUR hosted by Martha Stewart TASTE JAMAICA hosted by Cindy Hutson & Delius Shirley MANGIA AFTER DARK hosted by Marc Murphy SUNSET STONE CRAB hosted by Emeril Lagasse For tickets, call 877/762-3933 or visit sobewff.org.

—Lynn Kalber

January 2019

12/7/18 9:26 AM

133 La Tre—249 E. Palmetto Park Road. Vietnamese. For almost two decades, this elegant little spot has been celebrating the delicate, sophisticated flavors and textures of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. A house signature, shrimp tossed with coriander curry pesto, is an inspired riff on Vietnamese classics. Service and wines match the refinement of the cuisine. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-4568. $$ 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. $$$ 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. $$

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. $$ Madison’s —2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle.

American. This location is something of a Bermuda Triangle for restaurants, with at least four restaurants preceding this local outpost of a Canadian chain that

styles itself a “New York grill and bar.” What Madison’s has going for it is an exceedingly handsome and capacious space, and service that is as professional as it is personable. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/9940808. $$$

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. $$ Mario’s Osteria —1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian. This popular spot is swanky, but the rustic Italian fare keeps with an osteria’s humbler pretensions. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes” are on the new menu, as are butternut squash ravioli and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$ Matteo’s—233 S. Federal Highway, Suite 108.

Italian. Hearty Italian and Italian-American food, served

v

Come Experience the Finest Craft Brewery in South Florida A PERFECT MARRIAGE of TASTE & TRADIDION Using old world recipes with modern technique and precision, Barrel of Monks crafts beer that is complex, unique and delicious.

Experience the difference.

1141 S Rogers Cir #5, Boca Raton, FL (Between Military & Congress) www.barrelofmonks.com

January 2019

Diningguide JAN19.indd 133

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 9:26 AM

134

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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, Dennis Max’s 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. $$ Morton’s The Steakhouse—5050 Town

AARON BRISTOL

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. $$$$

A succulent entree from True

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. $$$$ Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria

Fish Tales

Marco Pindo, Ristorante Sapori’s chef for 25 years, is credited for bringing Chilean sea bass and other seafood favorites to South Florida menus.

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 134

—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. 561/368-2900. $$

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) $$

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, risotto croquettes, thin-crust pizza and seafood specials. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are on the menu, too. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly.

561/314-6840. $$ Rack’s Downtown Eatery + Tavern— 402 Plaza Real. Contemporary American.

Though the menu generally falls under the heading of modern American comfort food, that can mean anything from elegant presentations like the jaw-dropping lobster cobb salad to homey offerings like burgers and pizza, fiery Buffalo-style calamari, succulent chicken roasted in the wood-fired oven and an uptown version of everyone’s campfire favorite, s’mores. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-1662. $$

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. $$ Ristorante Sapori —301 Via de Palmas,

Ouzo Bay Greek Kouzina—201 Plaza

Royal Palm Place. Italian. Sapori features fresh fish, veal and chicken dishes imbued with subtle flavors.

The grilled Italian branzino, the veal chop Milanese and the zuppa di pesce served over linguine are especially tasty, and the pasta (all 17 kinds!) is available in full and half orders, with your choice of 15 zesty sauces. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/367-9779. $$

Real. Greek-American. This sleek Mizner Park destination combines Maryland and Greek dishes, reflecting the flagship Ouzo Bay in Baltimore. You’ll find classic Greek dishes done right here: the spanakopita, dolmades and baklava are excellent. A large variety of fish are flown in daily and served whole or deboned, but always well prepared. Try the crab cakes with your ouzo. Opa! • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/757-0082. $$$

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

January 2019

12/7/18 9:26 AM

135 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.) $$$$

Seasons 52 —2300 Executive Center Drive.

Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is first-rate, 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.) $$

Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton. American. Chef/owner Jonathan Fyhrie has a unique, elegant, one-seating, prix-fixe dinner and only six tables. The decor reflects the food, which is innovative in unexpected but attractive ways.

Open since 2004, this restaurant’s staying power proves the pull of a beautiful space, amazing food and special attention from a talented staff. The velvety lobster bisque is a signature dish. The night’s options can include rack of lamb, filet au poivre, wild Scottish king salmon, crispy duck and more, all done beautifully. Plan on a two-to-three-hour dinner. It’s worth it. • Dinner nightly. 561/347-6260. $$$$ Sushi Ray —5250 Town Center Circle, Suite 111.

Japanese/Sushi. Impeccably fresh and exactingly prepared sushi and other Japanese specialties are on display. The Nobu-esque miso sea bass gives a taste of this modern classic at a fraction of the price of the original, while the chef’s sushi assortment offers a generous arrangement of nigiri and maki for a reasonable $22. • Lunch Mon.–Fri., dinner nightly.

561/394-9506. $$ Tanzy—301 Plaza Real. Italian. Part of the swanky iPic Theater complex (though it does not service the theater), this handsome spot relies on quality ingredients and careful preparation instead of culinary special effects and car chases. The Parma Bar, a sort of sushi bar for meat and cheese fanatics, also does terrific quattro formaggio fiocchi and spiced pear. The scarletta pepper steak and bone-in pork chops are excellent, as are the braised Angus beef short ribs with toasted pearl barley and collard greens. For dessert, try the red velvet bread pudding and your choice of a trio of sorbets. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly.

Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/922-6699. $$ 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. $

Taverna Kyma—6298 N. Federal Highway.

Greek/Mediterranean. Few present Greek cuisine better. Expertly prepared dishes cover the spectrum of Mediterranean cuisine, from cold appetizers (dolmades—grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs) to hot starters (spanakopita, baked phyllo with spinach and feta cheese) to mouthwatering entrées like lamb shank (slowcooked in a tomato sauce and served on a bed of orzo), massive stuffed peppers or kebobs. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-2828. $$

Temper Grille —9858 Clint Moore Road.

American tapas. Even though it’s a tapas place, the portions are large, so plan to share your dishes or take home leftovers. Try the Temper Yakisoba noodles spicy or hot, lamb pops, shrimp bites and steak chimmis. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/717-8081. $$ 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. $$$

True —147 S.E. First Ave. American. True is the only place in South Florida to eat authentic Baltimore crab cakes. This small, unpretentious venue reminds us of a Key West food shack. The food is fabulous. Try anything with crab (crab dip, crab soup, crab sliders), but don’t miss the bacon-wrapped dates, beef brisket sliders and Fetacomply salad.• Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/417-5100. $$ True Food Kitchen—6000 Glades Road.

Eco-chic health food. This chain was co-founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the health food guru, so dishes here reflect the “anti-inflammatory” diet he prescribes. You’ll find some delicious items that won’t require a loosening of the belt. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly, so if the terrific edamame dumplings are available, grab them. Same for the burger, herb hummus and desserts.

There’s bound to be something for all tastes.• Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/419-8105. $$

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

Buzz Bites II Happy Hour for the Over-30 Crowd

W

e’ve seen it repeatedly, so it’s officially a thing. Older folks—let’s say between 30 and 70—go out for dinner during happy hours. Yesterday’s “early bird” is today’s happy hour.

This wouldn’t sound unusual, except diners are sitting in bar areas crowded with noisy 20-somethings and listening to music not from their era. These folks are out for the great food and drink deals, if not necessarily the ambience.

You can find any kind of food you want—and enjoy plenty of eating and sipping for $40 a couple. Here are some places to jump on this train: Yard House—3 to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Offers half-off appetizers (includes items such as poke nachos, classic sliders, boneless buffalo wings and fried mac & cheese), and pizzas; $2 off beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. 201 Plaza Real, Mizner Park, Boca Raton; 561/417-6124 El Camino—4 to 7 p.m. daily. Sit at the bar or the booths facing the bar for the daily specials, starting with $2 chips and salsa, chicharrónes and tacos and $4 brisket quesadillas. Drink $3 beer in bottles, or $4 on draft, $5 margaritas and cocktails, and $3 wine. 15 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 561/865-5350 Batch Gastropub—4 to 7 p.m. Mon.Fri. at the bar, 4 to 6 p.m. in rest of dining room. Includes half-off all liquor, draft beer and batch cocktails; wine by glass up to $13; $8 appetizers. 14813 Lyons Road, Delray Beach; 561/877-0000 Cut 432—5 to 7 p.m. daily. Offers $5 cocktails, $3 house wine, $4 house spirits and $5 plates including hummus, deviled eggs, ceviche, onion rings, fish dip, mini burgers and more. 432 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561/272-9898 Death or Glory—4 to 7 p.m. daily. Offers $1 off all beers, $6 house wines, $6 cocktails. Bar bites start at $5 (Brussels sprouts, crispy chickpeas, wings) and go to $15 (vegan burger, cheeseburger and fries). 116 N.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach; 561/808-8814 —Lynn Kalber

January 2019

Diningguide JAN19.indd 135

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 9:26 AM

136

DINING GUIDE

BOCA CHALLENGE

Deviled Eggs

T

hey can be wobbly when packed with ingredients, but deviled eggs are the darlings of potluck meals. They disappear first because they are a perfect bite—a great happy hour dish.

As happens in the menu world these days, these familiar one-bite wonders used to be something you could count on: Egg whites formed the ideal dish, while yokes and mustard and/or mayonnaise meant creamy goodness inside. Now they are gussied up with caviar, bacon, blue cheese, relish, hot sauce and chicken skins. They can tower at 2 inches high, which means gracefully eating one is about as successful as eating Jell-O with a fork.

We put our dignity by the door and dove into local deviled egg creations—all to save you the effort!

—LYNN KALBER

APPEARANCE

TASTE

CREATIVITY TOTAL These had yokes made more yellow from mustard and topped with fresh parsley. There was a tang—not from the mayo, Ding’s pickle relish or scallions, but from the bit of hot sauce and smattering of fresh ground peppercorns on top. This was a bite with zest, smoothness and a great, surprising crunch. Five to a serving: $10.

HONOR BAR

Filled with yolks mixed with blue cheese and bacon bits, these are piped into a small ice-cream-cone shape. The blue cheese made these bites thicker and creamier than others, but the bacon bits were chewy, not crisp. Six to a serving: $5 on the happy hour menu.

PARK TAVERN Honor Bar

340 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach 561/209-2799 honorbar.com

Park Tavern

32 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach 561/265-5093 parktaverndelray.com

With a half-dozen deviled eggs to an order, these perky bites have sugar-cured bacon and homemade pickle relish. The bacon adds a sweet tang, the relish adds crunch and color. It’s a tasty morsel but not memorable. $9.

J. ALEXANDER’S

J. Alexander’s

1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton 561/347-9875 jalexanders.com

DRIFTWOOD

Driftwood

2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach 561/733-4782 driftwoodboynton.com

RATINGS: fair

bocamag.com

Diningguide JAN19.indd 136

••••

You can’t see much yellow yolk with these—they are smoked, then covered by the green tomato relish, pickled mustard seeds and crispy chicken skins. The result is an extremely tasty flavor combo: tart, sweet, crunchy, crispy. A bit messier and more liquid than the others, but we didn’t care. Six to a serving: $7. good

very good

excellent

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

now open!

Newly added to Mizner Park lies Loch Bar, a classic seafood house.

Centered around one of the region’s largest raw bars, it complements Boca Raton’s largest whiskey menu and a wide selection of local craft beers and hand-crafted cocktails.

Loch Bar serves both lunch & dinner and hosts live music 7 days a week!

Mizner Park 346 Plaza Real | Boca Raton, FL LochBar.com

reserve a seat on the

mediterranean Ouzo Bay offers contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with a strong Greek influence. The menu includes fresh whole fish flown in from around the world, fine-quality cuts of grass-fed lamb, prime beef, and cage free chicken. The signature blue lighting decor throughout the restaurant creates an upscale atmosphere for the perfect dining experience.

Ouzo Bay is open for dinner Sunday–Saturday, lunch Monday–Friday, and brunch on Sundays.

Mizner Park 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 561.757.0082 | OuzoBay.com

AtlasRestGrp_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 2:51 PM

138

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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 200 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. $$

WEST BOCA

EDUARDO SCHNEIDER

Boon’s Asian Bistro —19605 N. State

Panzanella salad from 3rd and 3rd

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. $$

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.

Pit by Pit

By using olive pits as briquettes for cooking, Oliv Pit favors a healthier alternative to traditional charcoal.

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. $$$

La Ferme—9101 Lakeridge Blvd. French/Mediterranean. Classic style and classically oriented French cuisine come together at this elegant yet comfortable restaurant in a west Boca shopping mall. Though there are a few Asian and Italian-inflected dishes on the menu, at its heart Le Ferme (“the farm”) is as French as the Eiffel bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 138

Buzz Bites III 20th-Annual Garlic Fest Spices Up February

F

or 20 years, garlic lovers have united at the South Florida Garlic Fest to eat more than enough of their favorite bulb. The aromatic festival returns Feb. 9-10 at John Prince Park, 4759 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth.

Along with garlic everything—garlic ice cream (yes), garlic curry chicken shish kabobs, your flaming garlic shrimp, garlic London broil, garlic Italian sausage, garlic fries, garlic wings—will be lots of live entertainment. There’s even a Garlic University, where kids can plant their own garlic gardens to take home! With all the pungent, albeit tantalizing olfaction at the fest, you’ll need some space to gaze at water, take a breath of clean air and go back for more.

Fun fact: Did you know garlic is part of the lily family?

Starting on Feb. 9, from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., you can enjoy as much garlic as you can eat, along with drinks and entertainment. The fun continues on Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Purchase food and drink tickets at dbgarlicfest.com.

—Lynn Kalber

Tower. Start with the foie gras terrine and proceed to lamb rack or pan-seared salmon with braised baby artichokes.

C’est délicieux. • Dinner nightly. 561/654-6600. $$$

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. $$ Tempura House —9858 Clint Moore Road, #C112. Japanese/Asian. Dark wood, rice paper and tiles fill the space. An appetizer portion of Age Natsu, fried eggplant, is a consummate Japanese delicacy. Don’t miss the ITET roll with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, tempura flakes and eel sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/883-6088. $$

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

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. $$

BOYNTON BEACH Bar Louie —1500 Gateway Blvd., #100.

Established 1991

Eclectic. Attempting to split the difference between happening bar and American café, Bar Louie in the sprawling Renaissance Commons complex mostly succeeds, offering burgers, pizzas, fish tacos and a variety of salads, all at moderate prices and in truly daunting portions. In South Florida’s world of trendy and expensive bistros, this is a welcome relief. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/853-0090. $

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. $$

Monday–Saturday: 7am to 10pm Sunday: 7am to 3pm

BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 80 S. Federal Highway • Deerfield Beach, FL • (954) 480-8402

www.olympiaflamediner.com OlympiaFlameDiner_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 8:09 AM

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. $$

French Continental

Sushi Simon —1614 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. $$

DELRAY BEACH 3rd and 3rd—301 N.E. Third Ave. Gastropub.

This quirky, individualistic, obscurely located little place is one of the most important restaurants in Delray. The menu changes frequently, but hope the evening’s fare includes plump scallops with caramelized mango sauce, stunning

Established 1981

Rediscover the classic

4199 N. FEDERAL HWY. s BOCA RATON s 561.395.6033 s KATHYSGAZEBO.COM January 2019 KathysGazeboBRM0119.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 139

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 8:24 AM

12/7/18 9:27 AM

140

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

delicious roasted cauliflower with Parmesan mousse and bacon, and wicked-good espresso panna cotta on it at your visit. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/303-1939. $$

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. $$

LIBBY VOLGYES

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 sweet-salty-earthy-pungent mélange of pears, pancetta, Gorgonzola, sun-dried figs and mozzarella.

• Lunch Tues.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/381-0037. $

Guapo with spicy tuna, blue crab and foie gras from Buddha Sky Bar

Apeiro Kitchen & Bar —14917 Lyons Road.

Mediterranean. West Delray diners have another reason to stay in their neighborhood with this stylish, contemporary Mediterranean eatery. Apeiro’s menu spans the entire Mediterranean, with dishes like Moroccan-spiced lamb ribs, 14-ounce double-cut pork chops, and fluffy meatballs adorned with tomato sauce, ricotta and pesto. The apple crostata, baked in a wood-burning oven, is one of the best desserts in town. • Dinner nightly. 561/501-4443. $$ Atlantic Grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/ Contemporary American. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa is home to a 450-gallon aquarium of tranquil moon jellyfish and a 2,500-gallon shark tank. Savor inventive cuisine that takes the contemporary to the extraordinary. Bold flavors, inspired techniques and the freshest ingredients make every meal a culinary adventure. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/665-4900. $$

The Banyan—189 N.E. Second Ave. American.

Trivial Pursuit

Match wits with fellow craft-cocktail imbibers every Thursday evening at 7 at Batch Gastropub’s weekly trivia night.

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 140

ic. The heirloom tomato and feta salad is a highlight with Champagne vinaigrette dressing. Also popular are the brisket and short rib burgers, the avocado toast and the chicken Caesar. But the drinks are what you’ll remember.

• Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/877-0000. $$

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 menu changes daily but some faves here include filet mignon carpaccio, seared tuna poke, seared diver scallops, slow-cooked lamb pappardelle, and more. Oh, and the Meyer lemon tart? ‘Nuff said. Outside tables offer the best option for conversation. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/274-2046. $$

Buddha Sky Bar —217 E. Atlantic Ave. #3. Pan Asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asia-meets-industrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline. Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, while rock shrimp tempura and Tokyo beef skewers with twin chimichurri sauces touch the heart and the taste buds.

Veggie fried rice is exemplary thanks to the kitchen’s application of wok chi. • Dinner nightly. 561/450-7557. $$

Burt & Max’s —9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Burt Rapoport and Dennis Max have struck gold with their first collaboration in years, bringing an accessible and affordable brand of contemporary comfort food to west Delray. A few dishes from Max’s other eatery, Max’s Grille, have made the trek, 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. $$

Snuggled under its namesake banyan tree in Pineapple Grove, this modern restaurant boasts a bright pink neon bar with bright cocktails, too. Try the purple Aviation gin cocktail paired with the Maryland crab bites or the Yum Yum Shrimp with spicy-sweet sriracha aioli. Sliders, tacos, mac trios and flatbreads do not disappoint. Order the crème brûlée cheesecake if it’s available. • 561/563-8871. $$

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. $$

Batch Gastropub —14813 Lyons Road. Gas-

Cabo Flats—Delray Marketplace, 14851 Lyons Road. Mexican. Mexican cuisine often has more personas than Madonna. This highly stylized cantina adds another—that of California’s Chicano culture.

All your favorite Mexican dishes are there, as well as

tropub. Definitely try the homemade batches of cocktails on tap, which give this west Delray gastropub its name.

The artisanal mixes boast ingredients such as H.M. Tonic No. 22—the crisp, tangy part of a very good gin and ton-

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

Parlez-vous Franรงais?

located in the 5 Palms Building | 455 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton (561) 338-3003 | LNMbocaraton.com offerING Complimentary Transportation To & From Area Hotels

private parties up to 50 People top 100 Restaurants for foodies in america

LaNouvelle_BRM0119.indd 1

es

2016

en

l

e

Pr

ab te d b O pe nT y

12/7/18 2:54 PM

DINING GUIDE RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

T H E B R OWA R D C E N T E R P R E S E N T S Horsehead Nebula Photo Credit: NASA | @jodisolomonspeakersinc

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson The Cosmic Perspective

enormous margaritas, but also niftier items like the crispy tuna tacos. Try the restaurant’s famous avocado fries with garlic and cilantro, and finish off with Captain Crunch deep-fried ice cream. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/499-0378. $

Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. 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. Open since 1993, and a success since then, 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. $$

City Oyster —213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This

JANUARY 22 Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium @ FAU Campus Boca Raton

TICKETS at ticketmaster.com or 866.730.1006 STUDENT TICKETS AVAILABLE

Broward Ctr-deGrasseTyson_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 8:36 AM

The World’s Finest Man Made Gems

Diamond Quality Cubic Zirconia Set in Solid 14K Gold, 18K Gold & P LATINUM

Seeing is Believing!

Visit us today and experience Palm Beach’s best kept secret for over 35 years!

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. $$

Cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steakhouse 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 wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$ Dada—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. The same provocative, whimsical creativity that spawned Dada the art movement infuses Dada the restaurant, giving it a quirky charm all its own. The comfort food with a moustache menu has its quirky charms, too, like shake-n-bake pork chops with sweet-savory butterscotch onions, and a brownie-vanilla ice cream sundae with strips of five-spice powdered bacon. The wittily decorated 1920s-vintage house-turned-restaurant is, as they say, a trip. • Dinner nightly. 561/330-3232. $$

Deck 84—840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary

Eternity Bands in 14K Gold starting at $450

Mystique of Palm Beach

Martini Studs in 14K Gold starting at $125/pair • • • • •

Ideal Jewelry for Traveling Customer Conndentiality Thousands of styles available Custom Design & Replica Specialists Serving Jewelry Lovers since 1978

250 WORTH AVENUE , PALM BEACH FL 33480 (561) 655-3008 | MYSTIQUEGEMS.COM bocamag.com

••••

January 2019

Mystique_DBMJF19.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 142

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. $

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

12/5/18 7:34 AM

12/7/18 9:27 AM

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. $$

Fifth Avenue Grill—821 S. Federal Highway.

American. Since 1989, this upscale tavern has been a Delray favorite. The straightforward menu focuses on entrées like lamb osso buco and tenderloin brochette teriyaki. Add a lobster tail for good measure. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/265-0122. $$ The Grove—187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Chef and sommelier Michael Haycook and Dining Room Manager Paul Strike change their menu biweekly, turning out dishes exhilarating in their freshness, creativity and elegant simplicity. An appetizer of octopus with olive oil, crushed potato aioli and lemon is outstanding. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/266-3750. $$ Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar— 1841 S. Federal Highway. American. You don’t have to worry about calories (most dishes are under 500), you don’t have to worry about finding something you haven’t tried before (new items are added every three months) and freshness is the silent ingredient throughout. Try the pesto Caprese flatbread, the supergrain salad and the steak or salmon or chicken.

Desserts offer big tastes in small jars. • Lunch and dinner daily; brunch on weekends. 561/266-3239. $$ Henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$

Il Girasole—2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. This South Florida classic is not trendy, but it offers a level of comfort and consistency that has been bringing people back for more than three decades. The food is fine hearty Italian, with excellent service. Try the veal Kristy or the calves brains. • 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. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$

Jimmy’s Bistro —9 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. This small gem off noisy Atlantic Avenue is big on taste and ambience, and has been busy since 2009. You can travel the world with dumplings, conch fritters, pork schnitzel, rigatoni Bolognese, étouffée and more. Reservations are recommended at this laid-back, comfortable venue. • Dinner nightly.

561/865-5774. $$ Cosa Duci _BRM0119.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 143

January 2019

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 8:39 AM

12/7/18 9:27 AM

144

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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.

CRISTINA MORGADO

True culinary professionals turn out gently updated and classically oriented dishes notable for the quality of their ingredients and careful preparation. Sweetbreads in chanterelle cream sauce are glorious; a barely grilled artichoke with mustardy remoulade is gloriously simple.

Watching your server skillfully debone an impeccably fresh Dover sole is almost as satisfying as eating it. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$

Rustico pizza from Terra Fiamma

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. $$$ 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). $

Garden Fresh

Walk off the calories at Sundy House’s famed weekend brunches with a stroll in its Taru Garden, a tropical paradise featuring more than 5,000 plants.

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. $$

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 144

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. $$$ 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. Thanks goes to Executive Chef Paul Niedermann, who won TV’s notorious “Hell’s Kitchen” show, and his talent is displayed here on the plate.

• Dinner Mon.-Sat. Brunch Sunday. 561/274-7258. $$$ Sardinia Enoteca—3035 S. Federal Highway.

Italian. Dinner can be pricey at this sister property to the Miami Beach Sardinia, but that problem is solved by ordering half-portions of the paellas and pastas, plus the option for a quartino of wine (always a plus). The light goat cheese ravioli is lip-smaking. The arancini appetizer’s five balls of Sardinian couscous with ground meat and spices pop with flavor, and two orders could serve as dinner. Try the mozzarella bar or the chef’s tasting menu with paired wines. Loyal diners have found Sardinian sweetness here.

• Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/332-3406. $$$ Sundy House—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. It’s fine dining served in arguably the most beautiful restaurant and gardens in Delray. Menus are seasonal and imaginative. Try any of the fresh local fish dishes. • Lunch Tues.–Sat. Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/272-5678. $$

rary American. The guys from Cut 432 have done it again with this hip, casual modern American tavern. The menu is tightly focused and tightly executed, whether Maryland crab cakes featuring fat chunks of succulent crab or the behemoth slab of tender, juicy prime rib for a near-saintly $29. Don’t miss the decadent soft pretzel bites. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$

Taverna Opa—270 E. Atlantic Ave. Greek. Yes, you can order a side of belly dancing and napkin tossing with your moussaka and baklava at this chain. But the moussaka and baklava are very good; so is the rest of the food at the downtown Delray outpost. Also worth your while (and appetite) are appetizers like melitzanosalata, whipped eggplant with orange zest and roasted red pepper, and tarama, a creamy emulsion of bread, olive oil and salmon roe. Whole grilled bronzino is finished with lemon and orange juices for a citrusy flavor boost, while tongue-tying galaktoboureko goes baklava one better by adding vanilla-scented custard to golden, flaky phyllo. • Dinner nightly. 561/303-3602. $$

Prime—29 S.E Second Ave. Steak/Seafood. Prime is aptly named for its heart of the action location, classy neo-supper club decor, extensive wine list and roster of de-

Terra Fiamma—9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian.

The pleasures of simple, hearty, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Among

Park Tavern—32 S.E. Second Ave. Contempo-

bocamag.com

signer steaks. Starters and desserts fare better than entrées, especially plump, crabby Maryland-style crab cakes and indecently luscious chocolate bread pudding. Service is a strong suit too, so with a bit of work this good-looking restaurant will fully live up to its name. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5845. $$$

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

145 the pleasures you should enjoy are 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. 561/495-5570. $$

Tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world

Paradiso Ristorante —625 Lucerne Ave.

Buccan—350 S. County Road. Contemporary

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. $$$

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. $$$

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. $$$

food. 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 so reasonably priced that getting a taste of one without reservations is highly unlikely. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. $$$

LAKE WORTH

PALM BEACH

Couco Pazzo—915-917 Lake Ave. Italian. Despite

Bice—313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the

the name, there’s nothing crazy about the cooking at this homey eatery. It’s the hearty, soul-satisfying Italian cuisine we’ve all come to know and love. Spaghetti Bolognese is a fine version of a Northern Italian classic. • Dinner nightly.

(Tues.–Sun. during summer). 561/585-0320. $$

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. $$$

LANTANA The Station House —233 Lantana Road. Sea-

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 (not available during summer), 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. •

January 2019 MasterPool BRM0119.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 145

••••

bocamag.com

12/4/18 10:20 AM

12/7/18 9:27 AM

146

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$

Chez Jean-Pierre—132 N. County Road. French.

Sumptuous cuisine, attentive servers and a see-and-be-seen crowd are hallmarks of one of the island’s premier restaurants.

Indulgences include scrambled eggs with caviar and the Dover sole meunière filleted tableside. When your waiter suggests profiterolles au chocolat or hazelnut soufflé, say, mais oui! • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-1171. $$$ 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. $$$ 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. $$ Tacos al Carbon from Banko Cantina

Leopard Lounge and Restaurant—The Chesterfield Palm Beach, 363 Cocoanut Row. American. The restaurant offers excellent food in a glamorous and intimate club-like atmosphere. In fact, it’s advisable to make early reservations if a quiet dinner is the objective; the place becomes a late-night cocktail spot after 9. The menu is equally decadent. • Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner daily. 561/659-5800. $$

Kefta To Go?

If you enjoy Leila’s Mediterranean cuisine but don’t enjoy the dinner rush, the restaurant serves its offerings every Saturday at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket.

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

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 146

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. $$$

Ta-boo—2221 Worth Ave. American. This self-described “American bistro” is less typical “American” restaurant or classical French “bistro” than it is posh-casual refuge for the see-and-be-seen crowd in and around Palm Beach. The eclectic menu offers everything from roasted duck with orange blossom honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/835-3500. $$ Trevini Ristorante —290 Sunset Ave. Italian. Expect a warm experience, complemented by a stately but comfortable room and excellent food. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/833-3883. $$$

WEST PALM BEACH 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. Italian.

There are many things to like about this modest little osteria—the unpretentious ambiance, piano Thursday through Saturday during season, the fine service, the robust portions and relatively modest prices. And, of course, the simple, satisfying Italian cuisine. The kitchen breathes new life into hoary old fried calamari, gives fettucine con pollo a surprisingly delicate herbed cream sauce, gilds snowy fillets of grouper with a soulful Livornese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/514-4070. $$

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

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

arturos_brm0119.indd 1

12/7/18 5:26 PM

148

DINING GUIDE

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

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. $$

The Regional Kitchen & Public House —651 Okeechobee Blvd. Southern with Mediterranean twist. Across from the PBC Convention Center and next to Kravis Center for the Performing Arts means it’s a shoe-in for an excellent pre-theater meal. Or a post-theater drink and nosh. Executive Chef/ Co-owner Lindsay Autry’s version of pimento cheese (prepared tableside), fried chicken, pickled shrimp and tomato pie are dishes you thought you knew, until you try these. Memorable, delectable comfort food, and bartenders who know what they’re doing. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/557-6460. $$

CRISTINA MORGADO

Rhythm Café —3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual

Roasted duck from Table 26

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. 561/833-3406. $$

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) $

All in the Family

Tradition’s Eric Heintz is a seventh-generation chef whose grandmother’s restaurant in Alsace, France, has been in the family since 1829!

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. $$$ Tapeo —118 S. Clematis St. Spanish. The casual dining is downstairs, and it’s more formal on the second

bocamag.com

••••

Diningguide JAN19.indd 148

floor, but the paella Valenciana and red sangria is just as tasty in both. A colorful dining room is backdrop to tapas you won’t want to share. Try the home-smoked, cured salmon plate, camarones al Ajillo, tortilla Espanola or blackened ahi tuna with seaweed salad and soy reduction. It’s traditional with a few current additions, and it adds up to a good dinner. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/514-0811. $$

Broward County

DEERFIELD BEACH Chanson —45 N.E. 21st Ave. Contemporary American/French. A little bit of Palm Beach, a little bit of France come 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. 954/8572929. $$$

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. $$ Tamarind Asian Grill & Sushi Bar —949 S. Federal Highway. Asian. Quiet and soothing, this multicultural venue serves sushi, sashimi, yakitori and wide-ranging Japanese appetizers. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-8009. $$

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 amusebouche 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. $$

LIGHTHOUSE POINT 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. $$$

January 2019

12/7/18 9:27 AM

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. $$$

POMPANO BEACH 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. $

Don’t miss visiting Florida’s favorite deli.

TooJay’s offers the classic recipes and flavors of a New York style deli. We specialize in hearty portions of homemade comfort foods, handcrafted sandwiches and made-from-scratch soups, salads and baked goods.

Celebrating 37 years of Simply. Great. Food.

Open Daily. Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner!

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 mid-1980s. 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. $$$

Boca Raton: 3013 Yamato Road | (561) 997-9911 • 5030 Champion Blvd | (561) 241-5903 2240 NW 19th St | (561) 392-4181

COCONUT CREEK 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. $$$$

TooJays_BRMJF19.indd 1

12/3/18 10:46 AM

“Before you and your staff from Boca Nursing Services started taking care of Helen and I, we existed; now we are living again! Thank you, Rose.”

-Dr. K.D.

FORT LAUDERDALE 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. $$

Rose Glamoclija, R.N. Founder and Administrator

3030 Ocean—Harbor Beach Marriott Resort,

It’s The Personal Touch That Makes The Difference

Offering Quality Private Duty Nursing Care and Care Management Services Since 1993 Available 24 Hours a Day • • • • •

Registered Nurses Licensed Practical Nurses Certified Nursing Assistants Home Health Aides Physical Therapy

• • • • •

Lic#HHA20196095

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. $$$

Companions Live-Ins Homemakers Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy

Serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin & St. Lucie Counties WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM.

342 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Suites 1 & 2 Boca Raton, FL 33432

255 Sunrise Avenue, Suite 200 Palm Beach, FL 33480

Fax (561) 347-7567

Fax (561) 833-3460

(561) 347-7566

(561) 833-3430 January 2019

bocanursing_brm0119.indd 1

Diningguide JAN19.indd 149

••••

bocamag.com

12/7/18 8:46 AM

12/7/18 9:27 AM

featuring...

Friday, February 1, 2019 Cory Kahaney

Star of Comedy Central, Late Show with Steven Colbert, Conan, and America’s Got Talent

Join us at the Delray Beach Marriott for this high-spirited night of cocktails, fabulous food and hilarious comedy.

Sponsorships and party tables Available Now. Individual tickets on sale after 1.1.19

Jennifer Schmuckler & Chiara Clark Co-chairs

For Sponsorship Information: please contact Kae Jonsons at 561.266.0798 or kae.jonsons@delraylibrary.org

sponsors

Delray Public_BRM_0119.indd 1

11/26/18 1:43 PM

151 THE SCENE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY KICK-OFF WHITE COATS 4 CARE DANCE WITH ME BOWLING FOR BREAD

> > > >

152 154 156 158

Rosie Martin and Lise Orr of Habitat

scene JAN19.indd 151

11/29/18 10:08 AM

152

THE SCENE

Kari Oeltjen, Rick Howard, Mary Wong, Beth Johnston and Randy Nobles

Kari Oeltjen, Marilyn Weinberg and Bonnie Kaye

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WOMEN BUILD KICK OFF WHAT: Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County hosted WOMEN Build 2018, a fundraiser for a deserving low-income woman and her family. More than 100 people attended the event, donning pink hard hats and pink sapphire and diamond bling. Each WOMEN Builder pledged to raise or donate at least $1,000 to the $150,000 homebuilding goal.

As each woman meets their goal, they’ll also work on the construction site to help build the home. Jay Feder Jewelers gifted a pair of $8,000 rose gold earrings adorned with pink sapphires and diamonds as an incentive award.

WHERE: SKLAR Furnishings

CARLOS ARISTIZABAL

Ethel Isaacs Williams, Cheryl Budd and Sophia Ecclestone

Arlene Herson, Kim Champion, Suzy Garber, Nancy Colman, Debby Thomas and Bonnie Kaye

bocamag.com

scene JAN19.indd 152

••••

Denise Amato and Micki Drazen

January 2019

11/29/18 10:08 AM

Jew Je ewe wels in Time m me Specializing in fine new & pre-owned timepieces Diamonds ♦ Fashion & Estate Jewelry ♦ Buy-Sell-Trade

Shoppes at the Sanctuary 4400 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (1/4 mile south of Yamato Road on the east side of the street)

(561) 368-1454 ♦ (888) 755-TIME ♦ JewelsInTime.com Not an authorized agent, representative or affiliate of any watch appearing in this advertisement. All watch names, dials & designs appearing in this advertisement are registered trademarks in the U.S.A.

jewelsintime_brm0119.indd 1

12/7/18 12:41 PM

154

THE SCENE

WHITE COATS-4-CARE WHAT: After Florida Atlantic University’s newest class of medical students received their white coats, more than 225 donors and students celebrated with a donor appreciation reception. More than $132,000 was raised at the event, which will be used to “dress and equip” the class. In each student’s white coat, a note from a White Coats-4-Care donor was tucked in a pocket.

WHERE: FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine Carl Schacter, Dr. Philip Boiselle, Constance Scott, Linda Petrakis, Lewis Fogel

Patti Carpenter, Skeets Friedkin, Dr. David Levenson, Robin Smollar, Rick Howard, Pat Howard

Kim Champion, Jon Kaye, Constance Scott, Bonnie Halperin

Eighth-annual White Coats-4-Care Committee

bocamag.com

scene JAN19.indd 154

••••

DOWNTOWN PHOTO

Arlene Herson and Dr. Allen Konis

January 2019

12/3/18 3:28 PM

Gulf Stream School empowers students to succeed, inspires intellectual curiosity, celebrating both effort & accomplishment.

Academic Vigor Character Participation We invite you to schedule a tour and learn what we have to offer.

3600 Gulf Stream Rd, Gulf Stream, FL 33483 tel: (561) 276-5225 • www.gulfstreamschool.org

GulfStreamSchool BRM0119.indd 1

11/27/18 4:57 PM

156

THE SCENE

Tony Dovolani, Sharon DiPietro, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Jay DiPietro and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Monica Mayotte, Bonnie Kaye, Pam Casanave

DANCE WITH ME WHAT: Professional hoofers from “Dancing with the Stars” opened their 12th Dance With Me dance studio right here in Boca Raton, the first location in the Sunshine State. Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani celebrated the opening of the studio with an evening of dance lessons, photos, drinks and light bites.

WHERE: Dance With Me at Town Center mall

Scott Notowitz, Shari Notowitz, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Hank Yunes, Marci Yunes, Tony Dovolani

bocamag.com

scene JAN19.indd 156

••••

KAYE COMMUNICATIONS

Noam Ziv, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Rene Stern, Tony Dovolani, Monica Mayotte, Bonnie Kaye

January 2019

11/29/18 10:08 AM

The

Center of it All

for Arts, Culture & Learning in Boca Raton Literature, Professional Theater, Concerts, Comedy, Film, Art, Pottery, Adult University Lectures and more!

Sunday University

Nationally recognized authors and speakers on the essential topics of the day.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm • Sally Kohn, The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing our Humanity • Randi Hutter Epstein, Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything

• Jeremy Balkin, Millennialization of Everything: How to Win When Millennials Rule the World

Steven Levenson, Tony Award Winning Playwright of Dear Evan Hansen Co-chairs: Alicia Spero and Joanna Drowos

From the show’s creators comes the groundbreaking novel inspired by the hit broadway show Dear Evan Hansen.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 7:30 pm

LEVIS JCC SANDLER CENTER, BOCA RATON levisjcc.org/sandleracl • 561-235-7418

Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center 21050 95th Avenue S., Boca Raton, FL 33428

A&RLevis-CtrofitAll_BRM0119.indd 1

11/20/18 8:49 AM

158

THE SCENE

Lee Tannenbaum, Melissa Tannenbaum, Andrea Tromberg and Jeff Tromberg

Jim “Raff” Rafferty, Gary Peters and Greg Peters

BOWLING FOR BREAD WHAT: More than 400 children and supporters of Boca Helping Hands headed to the bowling alley to support the charity’s food drive. Children from 14 different nonprofits joined in on the fun. At the end of the day, guests not only raised money but also collected 63 pounds of food, benefiting various children’s nonprofits. Boca Helping Hands assists the community with job training, mentoring, medical and dental care vouchers, and financial assistance to those in crisis.

WHERE: Strikes@Boca

Charles Coward and Mel Lazerick

JJ The Clown, Cutie Pie and Ashley Brown

bocamag.com

scene JAN19.indd 158

••••

January 2019 issue. Vol. 39, No. 1. 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 (ISSN0740-2856) is published eight 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: $19.95/9 issues, $29.95/18 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $5.95. 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.

January 2019

11/29/18 10:08 AM

Bark After Flying to new heights at Privaira Hangar 3690 Airport Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431

February 16, 2019 | 6:30 pm Purchase event tickets at CharityChampionsFL.org

Dark “Champion is a state of mind”

BarkAfterDark_BRM0119.indd 1

11/26/18 10:16 AM

160

MY TURN

Running on High Pushing yourself beyond what you think you can do is the key to growth and confidence Written by JOHN SHUFF

I learned that the magic key to building self-confidence is to simply try. It took me 50 years to do what I truly belived was impossible.”

— John Shuff

bocamag.com

My Turn JAN19.indd 160

••••

M

argaret Mary and I came to Park City, Utah, at the invitation of a friend, for Autumn Aloft in the fall of 1988. During that visit, in an uncharacteristic moment of impulse, we bought a home.

As it turned out, it’s one of the better decisions we have made in our married life. From the outset, baffled friends asked questions like: “What are the Mormons really like?” or “Can you even get a drink in Utah?” or “Why Utah?”The answer is once you experience Utah’s culture, its history, its people and its scenic beauty, you’ll begin to understand.

But there is more to this story. In 1990, I made a decision that changed my life and my attitude toward it. At that time I was in the 15th year of my now 43 years with multiple sclerosis. I won’t get into the details, but suffice it to say I was a bored, lazy, out-of-shape couch potato.

When I was told Park City Resort has a Handicapped Sports program I decided I would drop by, get information and decide whether, at age 50, I should try something I’d never done before: ski. I rationalized that if President George H.W. Bush could parachute out of a plane at age 73, I could ski.

As it turned out, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to wheel through the doors of the Park City Handicapped Sports (now known as the National Ability Center) office in the winter of 1990. I was by then disabled, confined

to a wheelchair, having lost the use of my legs 15 years earlier.

My odyssey began wrapped in a sit-ski tethered to my instructor, Peter, a veteran who had lost his right leg when he stepped on a land mine in Vietnam. I was nervous, but the idea of becoming active and independent was compelling, and overrode any fears I had of trying something so radically different and new.

The ride up the lift was exhilarating: white-capped mountains against deep blue skies, pine and aspen trees bowing under mounds of snow, wind whipping my chapped lips and face as miniature skiers schussed the slopes below.

The ascent was quiet, peaceful, the only sound my breathing as we neared the top.

As we approached the lift station, Peter reminded me that the only way I could maneuver my sit-ski was with three-inch ski poles wrapped around my wrists; my arms and upper body were my new legs.

As I looked down the mountain falling away before us, I began to question my judgment. For a moment I forgot I couldn’t walk; I wanted to abandon my ski and hottail it back to the lodge. My blood pressure rose, my throat was like parchment and the adrenaline was pumping. So, I flipped over the run’s edge and began a heart-stopping experience—a rush that I had never felt, careening down the slope at what felt like warp speed, the sled whipping and

The author on his sit-ski

bumping past the tree line.

After four hours, I was exhausted and delighted that I had put my toe in the water and done something that friends had considered risky for a novice.

I continued the program for five years. During this time I learned that eliminating predispositions and jumping hurdles you believed too high builds a sense of accomplishment, a real boost in self-worth.

I learned the magic key to building that self-confidence is to simply try. It took me 50 years to do what I truly believed was impossible. By overcoming my fears and discovering possibility instead, I gained more confidence and had a much better self-image.

At the end of the day I came to the realization that, handicapped or not, we all need to believe in ourselves.

So as we tiptoe into the New Year, extend yourself beyond those self-imposed limits. I promise you will be a healthier, more balanced person—one whose gyroscope will always be pointed north.

January 2019

11/30/18 4:15 PM

Health • Medicare • Dental • Vision • Life Long Term Care • Accidental • Critical Illness Homeowners • Automobile • Watercraft • Pet Call us at 561.614.2400 for all of your insurance needs!

See our ad on page 15.

Apple Insurance_BRM0119.indd 1

12/7/18 7:29 AM

Mayors_BRM0119.indd 1

12/6/18 6:01 PM