Delray Beach magazine

The Backyard rocks • New age delray

M agaz rida Flo

on iati ine assoc

[ your town - your magazine ]

W BEST NE

11E 2M0 agaziN

See You In The

fuNNy papers

delray’s carTooNisT legacy

Carpe Diem by cafe de fraNce

diNiNg wiTh a freNch acceNT

OctOber/NOvember 2012

Nikki Poulos

a fashioN sTar is BorN

“The Best Real Estate Company in Town�

One of the Top Real Estate Companies in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach in 2012!

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The Most Luxurious Deepwater & Oceanfront Residences

DELRAY BEACH INTRACOASTAL 3-STORY GATED POINT LOT MANSION Incredible three story gated Intracoastal point lot mega mansion for the ultimate yachtsmans paradise and resort living at it’s best!

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AMAZING POINT LOT GATED ESTATE ON THE INTRACOASTAL

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ARI ALBINDER Broker / Owner

WORLDWIDE MARKETING!

THE BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY IN TOWN! www.MiznerGrandeRealty.com

Office: 561-393-7000 Direct: 561-702-0413

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contents [ october/november 2012 ]

[ your town - your magazine ]

editor’s letter [ 10 ]

A new season marks a time to gauge where we’re going.

By Marie Speed

on the avenue [ 13 ]

An Old Square gets a new brand, the golf cart chauffeur brigade, a Backyard that’s the new best hang, and much, much more as autumn in Delray gets under way.

By Bill Citara, ChelSea Greenwood, CaSSie Morien and John thoMaSon

style [ 24 ]

The shirt off your back never looked so good. photoGraphy By aaron BriStol

24 32

dine [ 28 ]

Olivier Le Gloahec of Carpe Diem by Café de France has quietly seized the day with his hearty French cuisine.

By Bill Citara

play [ 30 ]

This fall, take the kids where the wild things are—in your own backyard.

By riCh pollaCk

up close [ 32 ]

A new fashion star is the girl next door, and a mummy’s boy hits it big.

By John thoMaSon

see you in the funny papers

[ 36 ]

Once upon a time, Delray Beach was home to a thriving colony of well-known cartoonists who documented the nation—and Delray—from their “offices” at the Arcade Tap Room.

By riCh pollaCk

new age delray

[ 42 ]

A growing number of alternative healers are finding a hospitable vibe in the village by the sea.

By eMily J. Minor

out & about [ 54 ]

The summer sizzled with fundraisers, tastings and starry nights on the Avenue.

By CaSSie Morien

dining guide [ 61 ]

Delray’s only review-driven guide is your best menu for local dining.

42 2

delray beach magazine

my turn [ 72 ]

Thanksgiving conjures up great memories of simpler times.

By John Shuff

22 october/november

Grab your sunglasses, kick off your shoes and join us for a Mangoes and Margaritas Fiesta!

Plan your escape with a festive package that includes a Luxury Suite or Beachhouse room, two fresh mangoes, two margaritas, fresh baked rum cake, live island music at the tiki bar & unlimited “no worries.”* Fall Travel Dates: BeachHouse Room From One Bedroom Suite From

$169/night $199/night

Call 561-278-1700 for availability or visit cranesbeachhouse.com to book your fiesta...

Your Mangoes & Margaritas are waiting!

No shoes...

No shirt...

No worries.

Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar, now celebrating its 10th anniversary in scenic Delray Beach, is a luxury boutique resort nestled in a lush tropical setting. A perfect place to unwind... A romantic, tranquil, festive, luxurious, Key West-style environment just steps from the Atlantic Ocean.

Coming Up

November 15th! Crane’s will be celebrating the hotel’s 10th anniversary with a party. For more information about our Birthday Bash, check out www.cranesbeachhouse.com.

*Restrictions apply, based on availability. Rates vary by dates of travel and are subject to change. Check online or call directly for Mangoes & Margaritas Getaway prices throughout the year.

561-278-1700 866-372-7263 82 Gleason Street Delray Beach, Florida 33483

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[m a g a z i n e]

group editor-in-chief

marie speed

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editor

kevin kaminski

assistant editor

john thomason

web editor

cassie morien art directors

lori pierino kathleen ross

photographer

aaron bristol

production manager

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contributing writers

bill citara, chelsea greenwood, emily j. minor, rich pollack, john shuff

contributing photographers

cristina morgado intern

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krissy slazyk

senior integrated media sales manager

georgette evans, georgette@bocamag.com account manager

candace rojas, candace@bocamag.com national account manager

carey mckearnan, carey@bocamag.com director of special publications

bruce klein jr., brucek@bocamag.com

special projects manager

gail eagle, gail@bocamag.com

JES publishing 561/997-8683 (phone) 561/997-8909 (fax) www.bocamag.com

magazine@bocamag.com (general queries) editor@bocamag.com (editorial)

Delray Beach magazine is published six times a year by JES Publishing. The entire contents of Delray Beach magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Delray Beach magazine accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and/ or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Delray Beach magazine reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for products. Please refer to corporate masthead.

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october/november

JES publishing

president/publisher

margaret mary shuff group editor-in-chief

marie speed

controller

jeanne greenberg

circulation director

david brooks

subscription services

david shuff

JES publishing

5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487 561/997-8683 bocamag.com

publishers of Boca Raton Delray Beach Mizner’s Dream Worth Avenue Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Annual Salt Lake Utah Bride and Groom Utah Style & Design / O.C. Tanner 2012 Charlie awards Florida Magazine assoCiation charlie award (first place) best feature (Delray Beach) best overall (Boca Raton) best photographic essay (Boca Raton)

silver award

best online presence (Boca Raton) best use of photography (Boca Raton)

bronze award

best in-depth reporting (Boca Raton)

2011 Charlie awards Florida Magazine assoCiation charlie award (first place) best new magazine (Delray Beach) best custom magazine (Worth Avenue)

bronze award

best overall magazine (Boca Raton)

2010 Charlie awards Florida Magazine assoCiation charlie award (first place)

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best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best overall use of photography (Florida Table)

9/20/10 4:31 PM PM 7/27/11 8/2/12 10:42 3:22 AM

Customized make-up & skincare, beautiful skin awaits you!

silver award

best written magazine (Boca Raton)

2009 Charlie awards Florida Magazine assoCiation charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton)

silver award

best written magazine (Boca Raton) best overall use of photography (Florida Table)

bronze award

Located in Paradise Salon 140 NE 2nd Ave, Suite 27 Delray Beach • 561-504-3992 • aspireskincarebeauty.com

best in-depth reporting (Boca Raton)

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3:45 PM5 delray beach8/10/12 magazine

68979 Naked Hair Earth Ad 4.75x4.75_Ad 8/7/12 2:55 PM Page 1

New Age of Beauty Traditional beauty care infused with holistic natural beauty therapies to ease the stress of modern life performed in a fume free, clean air, full-service salon.

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ServiceS directory Delray Beach magazine is published six times a year, with December/January, February, March/April, May/June, July/August/September and October/November issues. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, call us at 561/997-8683. We’d love to hear from you.

[ subscription, copy purchasing and distribution ]

Sugar waxing & eyebrow threading

For any changes or questions regarding your subscription or to purchase back issues, call our subscription services manager David Shuff at 877/553-5363. To inquire about distribution points, ask for circulation director David Brooks at the same number.

Organic, natural & airbrush makeup

[ advertising resources ]

Oncology & organic facials and Microdermabrasion exfoliations

Take advantage of Delray Beach’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, contact Candace Rojas (candace@bocamag.com).

Relaxation massage & Raindrop essential oil treatments

[ 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 and/or locations, etc. Contact Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

561-265-3396 NakedHairSalon.com 10 SE 1st Ave., Delray Beach, FL

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[ story queries/web queries ]

Delray Beach magazine values the concerns and interests of our readers. Story queries for the print version of Delray Beach should be submitted by e-mail to Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com) or Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag.com). Submit information/queries regarding our website to Marie Speed (editor@bocamag. com). We try to respond to all queries; but due to the large volume that we receive, this may not be possible.

[ letters ]

Your thoughts and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for style, grammar and length. We reserve the right to withhold any letters deemed inappropriate for publication. Send letters to the address listed below, or to Marie Speed (editor@ bocamag.com).

[ calendar ]

Where to go, what to do and see in Delray Beach. Please submit information regarding fundraisers, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to editor Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming calendar section is three months before publication (e.g., to list an event in July/ August, submit info by April 20).

[ dining guide ]

Our independent reviews of restaurants in Delray Beach.

A fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Marie Speed.

[ out & about ]

A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Delray Beach. All photos submitted should be clearly identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when); photos will not be returned. E-mail images to people@bocamag.com. Or mail photos to: “Out & About” Delray Beach magazine 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

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october/november

presents

t o s e f • •b

boca • • &

B e yo n d

Save the Date: November 15, 2012 Official Unveiling of the Spectacular, New Courtyard at The Shops at Boca Center Join Boca Raton magazine—and start the season in style—at our annual “Best of Boca & Beyond” celebration at The Shops at Boca Center. Featuring tastings from 30+ restaurants, live music, strolling fashions, jewelry, wine, spirits, an after party and more! Check out the November issue for details.

$50 Tickets available only at bocamag.com

Sponsored in part by:

A portion of the proceeds to benefit:

[ events ] SAVE THE DATE Season is back in full swing, so mark your calendars for happenings in and around Delray Beach!

bEST of bocA & bEyonD

WHAT: In the unofficial kickoff to South Florida’s “social season,” Boca Raton magazine holds a big bash celebrating the best food and libations in the area—and honoring local community icons. This year, the event will honor Lynn University, the Boca Raton Resort & Club, Office Depot, Investments Limited with Jim and Marta Batmasian, and the Jewish Federation.

Tickets are $50; proceeds benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County.

WHErE: Shops at Boca Center, 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton WHEn: Nov. 15, 6–9:30 p.m.

Info: bocamag.com

cHrIS EVErT/rAymonD jAmES pro-cElEbrITy TEnnIS clASSIc

WHAT: Chris Evert teams up with tennis pros and Hollywood celebrities for a fun tennis tournment, as well as a reception and gala, to benefit her charity organization. This year, guest celebs include Christian Slater, Gavin Rossdale and Hoda Kotb, among others.

WHErE: Delray Tennis Center and the Boca Raton Resort & Club WHEn: Oct. 26–28 Info: Prices start at $20 for tennis, $750 for the gala. Visit chrisevert.org

DElrAy bASH

WHAT: This tasting of signature dishes and wine pairngs at Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square, plus a beer pavilion and live band, benefits the American Lung Association.

WHErE: Old School Square Park WHEn: Oct. 6, 7-9:30 p.m.

Info: Tickets $50; call 561/659-7644 or visit thedelraybash.com

THIrD THurSDAy fun-rAISErS

WHAT: In October, enjoy a frosty drink at Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki

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october/november

Bar on behalf of Genesis Community Health. And don’t miss a special Third Thursday in November when the hotel will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Where: Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar, 82 Gleason St. When: Oct. 18 and Nov. 15, 6–8:30 p.m.

Info: 866/372-7263, cranesbeachhouse.com

Delray Beach WIne anD SeafooD feStIval

What: The inaugural event will feature a wide assortment of fine food, wine, and arts and crafts offered by more than 200 exhibitors. Events will include vintner seminars, wine and food pairings, and more.

Where: Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal to Bronson Avenue When: Nov. 10 from 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Info: dbwineandseafood.com

BargaInS & BookS

What: It’s Take Two for this event, which didn’t quite get off the ground earlier in the year. Treasure hunters will enjoy perusing a variety of books, crafts, antiques, novelties, boutique items, crafts and more.

Where: Delray Beach Public Library Parking Lot, 100 W. Atlantic Ave. When: Nov. 10, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Info: 561/441-7385

FALL PACKAGE Package Price $325* ($392 value) | Valid Sept. 15 – Oct. 31, 2012 Includes the following treatments and a complimentary Pink Lady Apple martini.

Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial | 50 min Pink Lady Apple Body Polish | 25 min Swedish Massage | 50 min Eye Lift Treatment Paraffin Hand Treatment

SPA-LI-DAYS PACKAGE

Package Price $262* ($327 value) | Valid Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2012 Includes the following treatments and a complimentary Peppermint Twist martini.

Make sure to sign up on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for the latest Delray-related news and events.

Pumpkin Spice Manicure and Pedicure | 80 min Peppermint Twist Body Polish | 25 min Peppermint Twist Swedish Massage | 50 min Enjoy the spa even if you’re not staying as a guest.

561.665.4950 | theseagatespa.com Open daily 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Located at The Seagate Hotel & Spa 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach

Drop us a line!

Delray Beach wants to hear from you! Please direct all mail to editor@ bocamag.com or send to Delray Beach magazine, 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

october/november

* Tax and gratuity are not included. While supplies last. State of Florida, Department of Health, Massage Establishment. License # MM 23691

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards “2012 Top 75 Spas in the U.S.” seagate-spa_dbm1012.indd 1

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[ editor’s letter ]

By Marie Speed

growing pains & promise Delray Beach gears up for a new season —and more success.

I

t was a long summer, but we managed to sail through on the trade winds, unlike most of the country, which was pretty well cooked to a crisp. (I’ve always said South Florida gets a bad rap when it comes to summer). And now we slip into season—stone crab season, black-tie season, snowbird season, football season, the works. As usual, Delray Beach appears to be action central (not to mention the Most Fun Small Town in America!) and nowhere is that more evident than at what used to be called Old School Square, now the Delray Beach Center for the Arts.

The “rebranding” of Old School Square (page 14) dovetails with what is happening across the city as it continues to evolve from a small historic resort town to a bustling nightlife and entertainment destination. Just as Old School Square needed to redefine what it was, and secure its rightful identity as a multidisciplinary arts and cultural center, so does Delray need to keep tabs on where it is going.

So far, so good; most towns across South Florida would love to have the issues facing Delray—but we need to recognize them nonetheless. Delray Beach added scores of new restaurants last year, but no new offices downtown; retail shops and small businesses continue to be squeezed by skyrocketing rents, and parking is a problem, whether anyone wants to admit it or not. And then you’ve got that nasty little rehab center business.

Success always comes with growing pains, and it sometimes breeds complacence. The best antidote is to get involved, see who’s proposing what, and let your voice be heard. That’s the best way we can all bring in this new season— starting now.

Enjoy this issue, and take advantage of the uptick in all the action; we’ll see you downtown.

10

1. Riding my bike through the Marina District 2. The view from Buddha Sky Bar 3. Reggie Asbury on piano at O’Grady’s Lounge at the Marriott 4. Vanilla custard at BurgerFi 5. Friday night concerts at The Pavilion

october/november

delray beach magazine

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5 (MORE) things i lOvE abOut DElRay bEach:

8/7/12 3:21 PM

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inside: • hot list • cheers • calendar • great finds

[ 14 ] [ 18 ] [ 20 ] [ 22 ]

on the avenue News aNd Notes from delray beach

Fall news, brews, backyard fun & more The summer is over, but Delray Beach is still a hotter-than-ever destination (just ask Rand McNally) with a new brand for an old school, free golf cart rides to get around town, a spanking new downtown hotel and a shopping center out west that will bowl you over. Literally. Come see what’s new— and notable—in the most fun small town in America.

Strolling the Morikami ‘s gardens just got more high-tech (page 16).

october/november

delray beach magazine

13

on the avenue hot list

fall no-fails

From a great home brew to a free ride to 2012 immersion therapy, start the season with a few new Delray diversions.

By chelsea greenwood

OLD SCHOOL GOES NEW Old School Square has ramped up its image this fall, changing its name to Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square, effective Sept. 4. The change has been a long time coming. It helps position what has been the cornerstone of the city’s resurgence— the renovated school, theater, museum and grounds—as something much more than an event venue.

“Our demographics have changed,” says the Center’s director, Joe Gillie. “They have become younger, and we have a responsibility to work with the community to readdress what it wants.”

Gillie says the Center will have a “different look and feel,” as well as new programs. There will be more emphasis on outdoor offerings (with a brand new $100,000 sound system), like the wildly popular free Friday night concert series at The Pavilion, which will be extended to 16 consecutive Fridays this season.

The Center will step up its theater, its exhibits, its events and its learning programs. Gillie says the offerings will be more interactive and the Center will continue to host community forums to gauge what Delray residents want. Art films are on tap, and a culinary cooking series is being considered. There will be Main Stage events for new audiences, Shakespeare at The 14

delray beach magazine

Pavilion, and a host of popular culture exhibits.

“Our Mission remains the same,” Gillie says.

“We have always been and will continue to be the community gathering place for Delray Beach and a leader in developing partnerships within the community and with other organizations to nurture artistic expression. We will continue to strive to present diverse experiences in visual and performing arts, education and entertainment, and we will always preserve this National Historic Site.”

With the name change, comes a fresh, new logo depicting four arches which represent the Center’s major areas of focus: Events, Theater, Exhibits, and Learning. External changes

to the site, to include creative lighting, signage and art, will be phased in.

In short, the new name helps better describe the true identity of the institution, and its growing stature as an evolving and dynamic cultural center. “We have to honor the fact that we are a multidisciplinary site,” Gillie says.

“And it’s never been more exciting.”

A community celebration is planned for Friday, Oct. 12 with an Open House in the Crest Theatre and Cornell Museum from 5:30 to 7 p.m., a ribbon-cutting at 7:15 and an outdoor concert at The Pavilion with Across the Universe, a Beatles Tribute band, at 7:30. The entire evening is free and open to the public. october/november

GET CARDED

If you haven’t chilled out at the new Breathe restaurant and lounge in downtown yet, here’s some good incentive to do so: The restaurant recently introduced The Breathe Black Card, which entitles guests to different monthly perks, such as discounts on meals, drinks and special events. That can be put to good use while enjoying the Mediterranean-inspired menu, featuring savory favorites like the aubergine salad and a variety of mezze. And don’t leave without a puff or two on a hookah in the lounge, which also features butlers, DJs, bottle service and flat-screen TVs. 401 W. Atlantic Ave., 561/330-4526, breatheindelray.com

STAY IN STYLE

Just in time for the holidays and the social season, Hyatt Place Delray Beach recently made its debut in Pineapple Grove, just behind Old School Square and across from the parking garage. Out-of-town guests will appreciate being in the heart of downtown while staying at the 134-room venue, complete with a lobby bar, outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center with Life Cardio equipment. Other amenities include complimentary hotel-wide Wi-Fi, complimentary a.m. Kitchen Skillet breakfast and round-the-clock room service. 104 N.E. Second Ave., 561/721-8989, delraybeach.place.hyatt.com

WATER WORKS

Nick and Natalie Kusturic

october/november

Need to center yourself before the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Then head to Pineapple Grove to check out Delray’s newest wellness spot, DU20 Holistic Oasis. Brother and sister Nick and Natalie Kusturic offer a variety of Eastern therapies and integrative treatments in their eco-friendly facility. In addition to more familiar offerings such as yoga, tai chi and massage, DU20 also specializes in acupuncture, mesotherapy, the Alexander technique and sound therapy.

But one of the biggest draws is the curiosity-piquing Flotation Experience, in which you lie in 200 gallons of 95-degree water—along with a hefty dose of Epsom salts—to deprive the senses, promote relaxation and reset the body’s hormonal and metabolic balance (available in 60-, 90- and 120-minute sessions). 103 N.E. Second Ave., 561/455-2147, du20.com

delray beach magazine

15

on the avenue hot list

BREW NEWS

Calling all beer snobs! Among a recent crop of local microbreweries setting up shop is the new Due South Brewing Company in Boynton Beach. It may be difficult to find, housed in a warehouse space off High Ridge Road, but it’s worth the hunt. Brewmaster Mike Halker knows his stuff, and the 15,000-square-foot facility produces some true craft masterpieces. When we went, the Southern Saison, Roasted Cocoa Stout and Cat 3 IPA were all winners. Halker plans to keep distribution small and quality high, so stop by for a sampling, a tour and to take some brew home with you. 2900 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach, 561/463-2337, duesouthales.com

TECH TOUR

Mike and Jodi Halker

TO MARKET

Go west, young man, and don’t miss the grand opening of the West Delray Marketplace on Nov. 15.

The much-anticipated complex, spanning 258,000 square feet, centers on Frank

You’ve probably been to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens before, but you’ve never experienced it liked this. The organization recently launched TourOn, a guided tour application used on smart phones. At each of 27 stops in the museum and gardens, it provides guests with information, images and audio to enhance the experience.

Created by David Taylor of Taylor Software Development in Miami, the app also includes a map with GPS to track visitors’ paths and locations in the gardens, as well as an event calendar and a comments section for feedback. 4000 Morikami Park Road, 561/495-0233, morikami.org

Theatres, which comprises 10 screens, and 16 bowling lanes. It’s joined by a Publix; boutiques like White House Black Market, Apricot Lane and Charming Charlie; restaurants like Max’s Grille, Japango and Shula Burger; and a handful

of specialty and service stores.

The November opening of the new Max’s Grille will reflect a revamped concept inspired by the original but also current trends in dining. Cheers to that! 9025 W. Atlantic Ave., delraymarket.com

GET DOWN

Getting around town has never been easier, thanks to the Delray Downtowner. Started by local surfer buddies Stephen Murray, Travis Gleason and Ryan Spaargaren, the service offers free rides around Delray on six electric (and eco-friendly) carts. Pedestrians can simply hop on a passing cart if there’s room, or they can call for pickup from anywhere downtown—including city garages—and surrounding neighborhoods (call to see if you’re close enough). The 20-something entrepreneurs also offer the Reserve Ride + Table service on their website, through which users can book a reservation at one of Delray’s participating restaurants as well as a ride to and from the locale. Also check out the site for bios on the four drivers, snapshots of local scenery that they take around town, a weather report, live cam and more. They also plan on offering a rewards program for riders to earn gift certificates and more. The Downtowner runs Monday through Friday from noon to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 561/702-8519, delraydowntowner.com 16

delray beach magazine

october/november

on the avenue cheers

the backyard

This new down-home hangout has an uptown menu— and a loyal fan base.

By Bill Citar a

From left: Brendan Griffin and Brad Costa

You know You’re on to something when even South Florida’s torrential summer thunderstorms can’t chase people away from an open-air venue.

That venue would be The Backyard, a small funky Keys-style, dive-inspired spot—except a little newer and neater—in an industrial neighborhood in Boynton Beach that at once manages to be both obscure and a few steps off North Federal Highway.

The folks who are on to something—aside from those devoted customers, whom neither lightning, thunder nor pouring rain can discourage—are former financial planner Jim Hall, ex-Duffy’s front-of-the-house maven Brendan Griffin and culinary director, also from Duffy’s, Brad Costa.

The original concept—as Griffin puts it, 18

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“Why don’t we just make a bar that’s really cool?”—hasn’t changed a bit since Hill bought the property and set about demolishing its existing “seedy” bar and turning the space into an eclectic, al fresco watering hole.

It doesn’t get much more fresco than this, a pearocked patch of land whose main structure is a large tiki-style bar in the center, surrounded by chunky, handmade wooden tables and benches, and a generous allotment of palm trees. Off to one side is a gleaming silver 1973 Airstream trailer that Hill purchased in Bradenton and poured some $70,000 into to remake as The Backyard’s “kitchen.” Though the bar is sheltered by a fixed, pitched roof and the tables shaded by canvas umbrellas, the rest of the place is open to the elements. Except the bathrooms, of course.

(There is indoor plumbing.)

Do customers really stick around when the skies open up and pour down water like God’s own firehose?

“If people are there, they don’t leave,” Griffin says, only slightly amazed. “One of the last meetings I had with Jim before I came on board was a Tuesday night. It was raining, about nine o’clock, and the place was packed.”

It’s packed not just because of the funn-funky ambience, either. Though The Backyard’s menu doesn’t often stray from basic bar fare, it’s driven by a white-tablecloth ethos despite the no-tablecloth setting. Much of that ethos is due to culinary maestro Costa, who’s worked in the kitchens of such adamantly not funky restaurants as New Orleans’ Commander’s Palace.

“We wanted a very heavy focus on food and service in a very unpretentious way,” Griffin says.

“Our food is fresh, Florida-based. We make everything from scratch; there’s nothing frozen. Our fish comes right from the boat to the restaurant.”

And whether fish tacos or Buffalo chicken wings, Kobe beef sliders or seared-raw tuna on a bed of Asian slaw, there’s an impressive roster of craft beers to wash them down.

There are some two dozen on tap, and, in keeping with the local Florida philosophy, they include Southern Saison and Caramel Cream Ale from Boynton’s own Due South Brewing Co. The Backyard guys are just getting started, though they’re keeping their plans fun and fluid. “As we move along with this thing, it’s all about what’s really cool to do,” Griffin says.

“We think we’re pretty cool guys, so if we think something is really cool, other people will think the same.”

You know, they’re probably right. october/november

More Cool stuff on the way

aaron bristol

There’s a lot more where The Backyard came from. And there’s a lot more for it too.

Partners Brad Costa, Brendan Griffin and Jim Hall have several more projects in the works for the properties around The Backyard.

Just across Northeast Fourth Street facing North Federal Highway they’re planning a more upscale American café that they hope to open in time for season next year. There’s no name yet, but expect a pricier menu that changes frequently to take advantage of the best and freshest product on the market.

Next door is the site of the trio’s proposed wine-craft beer-cigar bar. No food, but you’ll be able to order off The Backyard menu and bring it over. The menu was recently reworked to expand its selection of best-selling items like tacos and sliders. Also on the agenda is another awning to help fight South Florida’s notoriously fickle weather and a swimming pool to be installed at the rear of the property.

Oh, and that Airstream trailer-turned-kitchen? Hill owns two more, one of which may be retrofitted as a swanky food truck-slashcatering kitchen. That’s all for now. But then, that’s enough, isn’t it?

october/november

Blueberry mojito

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on the avenue calendar

oct./nov. events EvEnt

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W h at

WhErE

c o n ta c t

“Ahoy Maitz!

Pirates and Treasures”

Now through Oct. 28

This exhibition presents pirates, myths and legends through the imaginative paintings of celebrated artist Don Maitz, who created the original Captain Morgan Spiced Rum character.

Cornell Museum of Art

561/243-7922

Pinkalicious 3: A Focus on Women

Oct. 3, 5 p.m.

Organized to empower women in business, this annual networking program hosts 20 vendor tables of women working in fields from accounting, law and finance to spa, cosmetology, medical and beauty.

TBA

561/278-0424

Indulgence

Oct. 4, 6 p.m.

This women’s event features hors d’oeuvres and wine amid live music and complimentary personal services, including mini massages, reflexology, henna art, and this year’s hottest hair and makeup tips.

Hyatt Place Hotel

561/266-0003

“The King and I”

Oct. 4–21

The classic romantic musical integrates a boy-meets-girl plot into the historical context of British imperialism in Asia.

Lake Worth Playhouse

561/586-6410

“A Talent for Murder”

Oct. 5–21

A best-selling writer, inspired by Agatha Christie, becomes the victim in this award-winning comedic mystery by Jerome Chodorov and Norman Panama.

Delray Beach Playhouse

561/272-1281, ext. 4

Friday Free Concert Series

Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Live local bands will perform outside at this weekly free concert series. Lawn chairs and/or blankets are recommended.

Entertainment Pavilion at Old School Square

561/243-7922

“Sesame Street Live”

Oct. 12–14

Titled “Elmo Makes Music,” this children’s production finds the Sesame Street Muppets creating music from instruments they never knew existed, from rubber duckies to trash can lids and cookie jars.

Kravis Center

561/832-7469

On the Ave: Rock the Vote

Oct. 18, 6 p.m.

There will be live music, art exhibits and more at this party designed around the Lynn University presidential debate.

Downtown Atlantic Avenue

561/279-1380, ext. 17

Chris Evert ProCelebrity Tennis Classic

Oct. 26–28

Celebrities and tennis legends will compete in this fundraising tournament for Chris Evert Charities, complete with cocktail parties and social galas, dining and dancing.

Delray Beach Tennis Center

561/330-6000

Jake Shimabukuro

Nov. 2

This lightning-fast ukulele sensation plays a wide variety of genres—including jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock—in a high-energy musical stew.

Kravis Center

561/832-7469

“Sesame Street Live,” the Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Jake Shimabukuro

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Guitarist Benise, the cast of “Catch Me If You Can,” and the Thanksgiving Weekend Arts Festival EvEnt

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“Benise En Fuego!”

Nov. 8, 8 p.m.

Guitarist Benise will be joined by an international dance troupe for a show that marries classic hits from Led Zeppelin, Queen, the Eagles, Bach and others to fiery Spanish guitar music.

Kravis Center

561/832-7469

Delray Beach Wine and Seafood Festival

Nov. 10–11

An upscale, gourmet food and wine event presented by the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and intended to promote business growth and development.

East Atlantic Avenue beginning at the Intracoastal bridge

561/279-0907

National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba

Nov. 10–11

The Kravis’ Regional Arts Concert Series begins with two different programs from this acclaimed national orchestra. Pieces by Gershwin, Herrera, Gavilan, Marin, Schubert, Lecuona, Mendelssohn and Prokofiev will be performed.

Kravis Center

561/832-7469

“Catch Me If You Can”

Nov. 13–18

A splashy Broadway musical, based on Steven Spielberg’s hit film, about a teenager who successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer in pursuit of a glamorous life.

Kravis Center

561/832-7469

13th annual Women of Grace Luncheon

Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m.

A heartwarming and inspiring fundraiser that honors five outstanding individuals who have contributed remarkable service to local organizations.

Ritz-Carlton, Manalapan

561/737-7733

Delray Stiletto Race

Nov. 16, 6 p.m.

The race, sponsored by Vince Canning Shoes, benefits the Achievement Centers; prizes are awarded.

downtown Delray Beach

561/266-0003

“The 1940s Radio Hour”

Nov. 16–Dec. 2

Set during the final broadcast of a struggling Manhattan radio station during World War II, this play is highlighted by hit songs from the era, dancing and old-time sound effects.

Lake Worth Playhouse

561/586-6410

“Titanic”

Nov. 16–18

The national tour of the multiple Tony-winning musical recounts the dreams, hopes and aspirations of those aboard the Titanic—and features one of the largest casts ever assembled on the Crest stage.

Crest Theatre at Old School Square

561/243-7922

Artists in the Park

Nov. 17–18 and 24–25, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fine art will be sold and exhibited at this free seasonal fair series sponsored by the Delray Beach Art League.

Veterans Park

czwilliamsart@ bellsouth.net

Delray Beach Thanksgiving Weekend Art Festival

Nov. 24–25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An annual juried art festival of handcrafted artwork including glass, photography, painting, mixed media, fiber, jewelry and much more, sold and exhibited by hundreds of artists.

Northeast Second Avenue in the Pineapple Grove Arts District

561/243-1077

Tree lighting festival

Nov. 29, 5 p.m.

Live entertainment and a cameo from Santa complement the lighting of downtown Delray Beach’s famous 100-foot Christmas tree.

Old School Square

561/279-1380, ext. 3

Bowfire

Nov. 30–Dec. 2

Composed of some of the world’s greatest fiddlers and violinists, Bowfire presents an all-new sounds-of-theseason extravaganza of holiday favorites, with added singing and step dancing.

Crest Theatre at Old School Square

561/243-7922

“The Sound of Music”

Nov. 30–Dec. 16

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s famous musical follows a free-spirited postulate who becomes a governess to an autocratic Austrian in Nazi-occupied Salzburg.

Delray Beach Playhouse

561/272-1281, ext. 4

october/november

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on the avenue great finds

Diggity Dog “Boat” bed, $260, Waggs to Riches

Brenda’s Birds, 324 N.E. Third Ave., 561/278-5394 Petsmart, 510 Linton Blvd., 561/330-3760 Waggs to riches, 505 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/272-8100

welcome to pet-opia

Haute Diggity Dog “Muttgarita” toy, $12, Waggs to Riches

Haute Diggity Dog “Chewy Vuitton” Bed, $130, Waggs to Riches

Treat your furry and feathered friends to these unique pet toys and products!

Braided Rope, $6, Brenda’s Birds

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ToyShoppe® Feather Teaser, $4.99, PetSmart

Creepy Crawly, $9, Brenda’s Birds

october/november

NOVEMBER 2012

D

O

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DELRAY BEACH

1 NUTRITION COTTAGE 7 FITNESS & DANCE STUDIOS 10 FULL SERVICE SPAS 15 WELLNESS CENTERS 50 HAIR AND NAIL SALONS

UNLIMITED BEAUTY!

BEAUTY& WELLNESS

V ILLAGE BY THE SEA

DowntownDelrayBeach.com

■

THANK YOU TO OUR LEGACY PARTNERS

For mobile web site text DELRAY to 45384

/DelrayDDA

561.243.1077 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

@DelrayDDA

Forget that safe nine-to-five look and put a little life in your closet this fall.

Shirt Tales PhotograPhy by aaron bristol

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[style ]

Raspberry Jared Lang shirt, $155, purple Via Vomo shirt, $145, black and teal Maceoo shirt, $155, paisley Jared Lang shirt, $155, all from Jacob Ashton; green Canterbury striped tie, $20, Mercer Wenzel october/november

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[ style ] Orange Torino woven cork belt, $95, Donald J Pliner suede loafer, $245, both from Guy La Ferrera; blue fedora, $75, slip-on shoe, $375, and brown oxford, $330, all from Jacob Ashton

Styled by: Lori Pierino, KathLeen ross 26

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Guy la ferrera Guylaferrera.com 5050 Town cenTer circle Boca raTon 561/620-0011 JacoB ashTon fine menswear shirTisland.com 7 s. swinTon ave. delray Beach 561/865-7335 mercer wenzel 401 e. aTlanTic ave. delray Beach 561/278-2885

Brown hat, $75, orange Jared Lang shirt, $155, both from Jacob Ashton; cobalt Gran Sasso cardigan, $450, green Tatsonian bracelet, $225, from Guy La Ferrera; cuff links, $29, black braided belt, $25, all from Mercer Wenzel

october/november

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[ dine ]

By Bill Citar a

olivier le gloahec

of carpe diem by café de france One French chef seizes the day in Delray Beach.

W

hen many overworked, overstressed Americans look at France, with its 35-hour workweek, guaranteed five weeks of vacation and general joie de vivre, they think, wow, I’d sure like to live there.

When a hungry young Olivier Le Gloahec looked at America, with its stern work ethic, striver culture and celebration of success, he thought, wow, I’d sure like to live there.

Now he does. And he hasn’t lost any of the passion for his business, the prodigious capacity for work, the drive that brought him from a small town outside of Nice in the south of France to downtown Delray more than eight years ago.

Carpe diem By Café de franCe

aaron bristol

110 E. Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach 561/455-2140

Chef le Gloahec fires up some bouillabaisse.

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The sixth generation of a family of French bakers and restaurateurs who opened their first restaurant in 1820, Le Gloahec started his own career at age 20, working his way through every station of the family restaurant, from waiting tables to cooking to washing dishes. A halfdozen years later he felt he needed a change, so he came to the U.S. and spent six months traveling around the country, looking for the right place to open his own restaurant.

In doing so, he “fell in love with the country” and discovered, “I was more born to be october/november

Chocolate fondant

Chef’s PiCks Even though Olivier Le Gloahec has expanded his menu to include slightly less than traditional French dishes like coconut shrimp, chicken piccata and risotto, he proudly recommends a trio of French classics.

American than born to be French.” His work habits—“working seven days a week, not taking vacations”—didn’t endear him to his more laid-back countrymen. “In France,” he says, “they don’t like people who work too much, they get very jealous. Here, if you drive a nice car, nobody says, ‘Oh, look at him, he has a nice car.’

You want the same car? Work, and you will have the same car.”

But it’s not just the work ethic that’s different.

He quickly learned that not only are restaurants different—American restaurants are more segmented by cuisine—but customers are different too. So instead of jumping into a foreign dining pool without a life jacket, Le Gloahec “did my homework,” working at country clubs and other restaurants until he felt he understood the American restaurant and the American diner.

The process “was school for me,” he says.

One of that school’s chief lessons was that American diners “are a lot more demanding.

America is all about service; the customer is always right.” But the customer doesn’t always cook, which makes a difference in his understanding of what’s on the plate. “In France, people cook more,” he says. “When you cook more, you know a little more about food. When you drink more wine, you know a little more about wine. But I think people [in the U.S.] know more and more. That’s why I like Delray. It’s more European. The clientele is more sophisticated.”

That sophisticated clientele took to his restaurant, Café de France, like espresso to his remarkably light, flaky croissants. Le Gloahec turned a minuscule former ice cream parlor at the corner of East Atlantic and Southeast First avenues into a jewel box of a French bakery/restaurant, where those stellar croissants and other pastries shared space with such culinary classics as coq au vin and bouillabaisse.

But there was more and better to be done, so less than three years after opening he reimagined the restaurant, dispensing with the october/november

bakery and installing a whole new kitchen, expanding the menu and adding an expansive patio that more than doubled the restaurant’s seating to 160.

Debuting in December of last year as Carpe Diem by Café de France, the reborn restaurant featured a “more lounge-y” feel, Le Gloahec says, exemplified by large, overstuffed sofas to encourage customers to relax and stay awhile.

And they do.

“When I put the sofas out, people said, ‘You’re crazy, people will stay forever.’ And it’s true. I had a table that stayed five hours. But you know what? If they stayed five hours it meant they enjoyed their time. So if you want to stay here, you’re welcome to stay.”

The reworked menu still includes the tried and true French classics—escargot, duck a l’orange, beef Bourguignon. But now it also includes rosemary chicken flatbread and lobster ravioli and a 10-ounce burger with onion confit and pommes frites.

And that’s not the half of it. Come this December, Le Gloahec will add a full bar and once more rework the menu, adding an extensive DIY element that allows customers to choose a protein and how they would like it cooked, saucing it with one of seven or eight different sauces, and then filling out the plate with a choice of several starches and vegetables.

“People love this,” he says.

“They can make their own meal.

Like they have a private chef.”

Despite a recent health scare, this hardworking restaurateur hasn’t eased up. Nor, he maintains, is he fazed by the constant influx of new, trendy and well-financed restaurants that have found downtown Delray as inviting a location as he has.

“The more restaurants we have, the stronger that makes us.”

Terrine Of fOie Gras. Wellknown in France, less well-known here, it’s “a lot of foie gras,” a whole lobe (or more) of duck liver, cooked in a bain marie (aka, water bath) and pressed until it has a dense, creamy, loaf-like texture.

It’s served cold with apples roasted with butter and sugar.

BOuiLLaBaisse. This traditional Provençal stew originated in Marseilles as a fishermen’s meal using so-called “trash fish.” It starts with a house-made fish stock that’s kissed with saffron, to which is added whatever fish and shellfish are freshest that day. “The more fish, the better it will be,” Le Gloahec says.

Crème BrÛLÉe. One of the simplest but most-loved French desserts, this silken vanilla-flavored custard (Le Gloahec spikes his with a bit of orange zest) gets crowned with a dusting of sugar that, yes, is caramelized with a blowtorch.

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[ play ]

By Rich Pollack

take a walk on the wild side

This fall, get in touch with your inner Discovery Channel.

I

n South Florida, you can catch a glimpse of baby gators, see sharks feeding or explore Everglades wetlands, all within a short drive of Delray Beach.

Here are five family-friendly adventures that are perfect for exploring the world around us.

Daggerwing nature Center, South County regional Park

11200 Park aCCeSS roaD BoCa raton 561/629-8760 pbcgov.com/parks/nature/ daggerwing_nature_center/ Located within South County Regional Park on the western edges of suburban Boca Raton, the Daggerwing Nature Center is home to a variety of animals that can be found both inside the center’s exhibition hall and during a half-mile walk through a natural Florida wetland environment. “It’s always an adventure every time you go out,” says Kelli Dorschel, the center’s manager.

Don’t MiSS: The baby alligator feeding on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

“Sani,” Daggerwing’s resident 1-year-old alligator, is one of the nature center’s main attractions.

conservation and rescue programs, but the nature center also helps visitors learn about other coastal creatures, from crabs and spiders to snakes and tortoises. Outside, visitors walk through the hardwood hammock on a quarter-mile boardwalk. Or stop by the center’s sea turtle rehabilitation facility, where sick and injured turtles are treated.

Don’t MiSS: This summer, Gumbo Limbo opened four new saltwater

guMBo liMBo nature Center

1801 n. oCean BlvD. BoCa raton 561/338-1473 gumbolimbo.org Steps away from the ocean, Gumbo Limbo is well-known for its sea turtle 30

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Opposite page: Sharks at Sandoway Center, turtles at Gumbo Limbo. This page: Tigers at Palm Beach Zoo

sea tanks in open-air pavilions, each representing different marine habitats.

Two shallow tanks represent a near-shore reef environment and a coastal mangrove community, while the two deeper tanks represent a tropical coral reef and an artificial reef setting. Visitors can look into the tanks through side windows and also from the top.

Palm Beach Zoo

1301 Summit Blvd.

WeSt Palm Beach 561/547-9453 palmbeachzoo.org Spend a day at the Palm Beach Zoo and you’ll have a chance to see as many as 1,400 animals, including 65 species that are either endangered or threatened. From black bears to baby monkeys and tigers to tapirs, there’s a lot to see at the zoo, but not so much that you’ll feel overwhelmed. “The Palm Beach Zoo is an easy zoo,” says spokesperson Gail Eaton. The zoo also offers educational and interactive shows daily, with a bird show at 11 a.m. every day and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends, and a “Wild Things” show happening every day at 1 p.m. don’t miSS: The Palm Beach Zoo is home to three Malayan tigers born in May of last year at the zoo. It’s also home to Maya, a 4-year-old jaguar who can be found in the Tropics of the Americas area.

SandoWay houSe nature center

142 S. ocean Blvd. delray Beach 561/274-7263 sandowayhouse.org Housed in a two-story Old Florida coastal home built in 1936, Sandoway provides visitors with a chance to learn about the area’s freshwater and marine environments through a series of exhibits. An observation deck offers ocean views, and an expansive october/november

porch has a variety of sea creatures including Florida lobsters, fresh-water turtles and Speedy, the gopher tortoise. The second floor houses one of Florida’s largest seashell collections, and there is also a butterfly garden. don’t miSS: At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the center’s nurse sharks get their daily meal of squid, shrimp and fish at Sandoway’s Coral Reef Pool.

Lion Country Safari

South Florida Science muSeum

4801 dreher trail n.

WeSt Palm Beach 561/832-1988 sfsm.org Explore outer space in the planetarium and observatory, or the undersea world while peering into the aquarium. The museum hosts more than 50 permanent and traveling exhibits, including a new “Treasure!” traveling exhibit running until early January. There are 360-degree presentations in its digital planetarium as well as laser concerts, including the recently added “Michael Jackson: Laser Spectacular.” don’t miSS: “Night at the Museum” on the last Friday of every month, weather permitting, is a popular event that features themed activities for children and offers guests a chance to see the night sky from the museum’s observatory.

2003 lion country SaFari road loXahatchee 561/793-1084 lioncountrysafari.com Lion Country Safari is a vintage (and magical!) 600-acre drive-through animal attraction, featuring everything from plains animals like antelopes and impalas to a rhino/zebra section. In addition, check out the famous lion enclosure, monkey islands, Cape buffalo, freeranging giraffes and more. An adjacent kiddie area features a ferris wheel, paddle boats, miniature golf course and petting zoo—as well as a café and splash area. don’t miSS: Feeding the giraffes on the raised platform.

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[ up close ]

t

by John Thomason

nikki poulos A South Florida fashion star is born.

T

he office of fashion designer Nikki Poulos is always a work in progress, because Poulos never stops working.

Her latest completed dresses hang on a rack to one side of a dining room, which opens into the workspace.

Fabrics of all colors, shapes and sizes fill every inch of space on a long industrial table, where Poulos’ assistant Ariel, a student at FAU, makes alterations. Rough sketches of projected designs are tacked onto the walls, along with images of models wearing Poulos’ designs.

“It’s an amalgamation. I start with the designs, then separate into which belongs in which collection,” says Poulos, wearing one of her own strapless dresses as she hovers over the controlled chaos. “Nothing is definitive. It’s always going to be an organic process, and I can never say at the beginning how it’s going to turn out in the end.”

Poulos lives in a single-story home in a laid-back beachside town near Delray Beach. The place is so reclusive that GPS satellites don’t know it exists, and it has a lot of character—which is fitting for Poulos, because she was a character on a hit NBC reality series.

This past spring, Poulos competed against 13 designers from across the country in the debut season of “Fashion Star,” an Elle Macpherson-hosted show in which contestants fought to sell their creations to Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M. More than 4 million viewers each week watched Poulos make it all the way to the second-to-last episode. Not bad for a woman who grew up on a 54,000-acre cattle farm in the Australian outback.

“We were super-isolated,” Poulos recalls of her childhood. “My mother was really creative; she was always redecorating the house with full-on graphic ’70s wallpaper. I was always around that, and I’ve always been creative, as a kid in the country with a little hand sewing machine.”

In the early ’90s, Poulos began her first business venture, an eco-friendly children’s clothing line launched long before the green movement became a cause celebre. A degree in Tropical Marine Biology followed, thanks to the University of Miami’s scholarship exchange program, and she eventually became

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second-in-charge for the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Conservation Program. After five years of studying coral reefs from Martin to Monroe counties, Poulos wanted to flex her design muscles again, so she moved up to Palm Beach County for the environment and lifestyle (she’s also a surfer and foodie, which explains her love of Delray).

Poulos is known for her colorful, vintage-inspired, print-based maxis, swimwear, jumpsuits and resort wear. “My line is made for the woman who wants to leave the house in the morning, look amazing, feel amazing, but end up at dinner, because that’s how our modern lives are,” she says. “With the resort collection, I’ve always termed it as ‘From Beach to Dinner.’”

But “Fashion Star” required her to step outside of her niches, even designing her first men’s line. The experience was as intense and nerve-rattling as it looked on TV, and the already slim Poulos dropped 10 pounds during the shoot.

“But it was really amazing,” she says. “The premise of the show was that the designs would be available for purchase the next day, and my designs sold out within minutes. The things for H&M crashed their website. I think I sold out the fastest of everybody on the show.”

As a small-business owner who has been running her own line for three years, Poulos oozes confidence that, if she didn’t humble herself with disclaimers such as “It’s not that I’m such a fashion innovator,” could be conceived as arrogance. At any rate, she’s had every reason to boast. Her collections have been featured in Elle, Fitness and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and her line is available at Anthropologie and, locally, at Love Shack on Atlantic Avenue. Her business has boomed since the notoriety of “Fashion Star,” with her website traffic rocketing from 20,000 hits a month to 80,000.

Poulos is already developing her summer 2013 line, but unlike a lot of other designers, she doesn’t seek out trending forecasters online.

“I chose to do this because I wanted to become master of my own destiny,” she says. “Why would I do what other people think I should do? That’s not being the master of my own destiny. I buck the trends by being my own trendsetter. I feel like I’m truer to myself and my product, and it’s more exciting.” october/november

An All-AmericAn Aussie

aaron bristol

Poulos firmly believes in supporting her local economy, and everything she designs is made in the United States. “People say, ‘You could produce so much cheaper offshore if you produce in South America.’ But I’m not interested in that. Sure, I could make a little more money, but I’m happy doing this. I get to provide someone local to me with a job. I employ three seamstresses out of house. To me, it’s a no-brainer. Why would I want to do anything else? No matter how big I get, I’d like to maintain a U.S. production facility. That would be the epitome of doing sensible, smart business that gives back something to your environment.”

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[ up close ]

by John Thomason

n

marcus corwin From rock promoter to mummy’s boy,

N

early 40 years ago, Marcus Corwin was a college dropout taking a career gamble as a rock promoter. Today, the 57-year-old Delray resident is a millionaire businessman and semiretired attorney with a plum new office overlooking the verdant Broken Sound golf course in Boca Raton.

For Corwin, “anything is possible” isn’t a corny platitude on a bumper sticker. It is a life philosophy that guided him from his risky Point A—abandoning his studies at the University of Maryland—to his über-successful Point B: creating a touring museum exhibition called “Mummies of the World,” a hit with audiences and critics that has earned him $7 million.

“They say that when you go rock climbing, you’re on this rock, and you can’t see the next thing to hold on to,” Corwin says. “But they ask you to step up, and when you step up, even though you are afraid to do so, you’ll find it.

It’s the same way in life. If you put yourself out there and show up and have a good attitude, opportunities will present themselves.”

Corwin speaks softly but with the motivational aplomb of a self-help guru. His track record shows that he practices what he preaches.

Inspired by the story of a group of friends who pooled together $10,000 to promote a Jethro Tull concert, Corwin abandoned college at age 20 to pursue a career in rock promotion.

For his first event, he rented out a high school auditorium, paid two local bands $300 each to perform, rented an orange juice machine from a McDonald’s and charged a $3 cover. Not long afterward, he was booking Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel and others in Maryland’s largest venues.

Corwin produced roughly 700 concerts over a 10-year period. At age 28, he returned to college, graduating from the University 34

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of Baltimore with a law degree in 1983 and passing the Maryland Bar in 1984. (In sharing his life story, Corwin supplements his narrative with an impressive multitude of facts and figures; he has a “Rain Man”-like ability to call up exact dates.)

And why Delray? Corwin says he always liked the weather here, and thought enough ahead to take the Florida bar the year after he passed the Maryland Bar in 1984. “There came a time when I just said, ‘I don’t have to get old and retire to enjoy the benefits.’

In 1992, I came down here looking for a place to live and to open my law office, and I did. I first opened it in Boca Raton; in the ’90s, when Delray started to come alive, I moved to a community in Delray Beach where I still live.”

Through a number of coincidences that he credits to his faith and to his confidence, Corwin found his specialty around that time in pursuing intellectual property fraud, particularly the piracy of pay-perview television. He spent most of the ’90s prosecuting what was then $8.5 billion in intellectual property theft annually.

Then, in 2006, another coincidental friendship led Corwin to invest in, and ultimately take over, a human-anatomy exhibition called “Our Body: The Universe Within.” Despite no experience in the museum business, he ran the touring exhibit with gusto.

“The real joy was [that] I learned a whole new trait,” he says. “The model was similar to producing a Broadway show. You come up with a concept. You create the collateral, the marketing materials. You produce the sets, then put it out to the public and hope they come.”

The public came. “The Human Body” raked in $4 million in Orlando and $6 million in Detroit before Corwin sold the enterprise to

Premiere Exhibitions, the company behind “Bodies: The Exhibition,” for $5 million in cash.

This experience ultimately brought Corwin to his latest pride and joy: “Mummies of the World: An Exhibition,” a collection of 150 real mummies, on loan from a German collection, dating back 3,000 years before the birth of King Tut. The largest exhibition of its kind ever assembled, “Mummies” is in the midst of a seven-city United States tour. It ran all summer at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry, the only Florida venue for the exhibition.

But Corwin’s greatest pleasure came two years ago, when he gave the commencement speech to students at his alma mater. He lectured on the very stage where he had promoted concerts by the Four Tops four decades earlier.

“The message I gave to the students is the message I give today to everybody,” he says. “In life, have confidence in yourself. If you get your mind set, confidence will lead you on.” october/november

aaron bristol

this risky businessman made it work.

u o Y See e h T In s r e p a P y n n Fu Delray Beach was once home to a thriving cartoonist colony.

by Rich Pollack

ong before there was Scott Adams’ “Dilbert” and Jim Davis’ “Garfield,” well-known cartoon characters like Casper Milquetoast and Mickey McGuire were coming to life in Delray Beach, drawn by members of a cartoonist colony who migrated from suburban New York to Florida every winter during the 1930s and ’40s, Working in small studios, some tucked away above the venerable Arcade Tap Room, the artists would sketch out drawings that would be seen by millions around the world a few days later.

Like the strips the cartoonists created—Fontaine Fox’s “Toonerville Folks” and H.T. Webster’s “The Timid Soul” —the memories of those days when the cartoonists were frequently sighted at the bars, restaurants and markets of the fledgling town have faded over time.

But listen carefully, and you quickly get a sense that these winter visitors (whose arrivals were reported 36

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throughout town each year with some excitement) were a source of great pride for the community—and a source of great entertainment, not just because of the antics of the characters they drew, but also because of their own quirky behavior.

It was a regular occurrence, for example, for the debonair Fox, perhaps the most famous of the group, to drive his small Ford convertible down Atlantic Avenue on the way from his beachfront home to an office he rented above the Tap Room.

Often Fox would stroll over to Love’s Drugs, the drug store Fred Love’s father owned at the corner of Atlantic and Northeast Fourth avenues, sit at one of the three or four tables near the soda fountain and order a Coca-Cola or a cherry phosphate.

“He always wore a little hat, like a pork pie hat, and he would put it on the chair and then sit down on it,” recalls the 90-year-old Love, a teenager at the time. “I guess he did that because we didn’t have a hat rack.” october/november

Local legend has it that Fox would often wear his sweater the way he found it in the morning; sometimes it would be inside out and sometimes right side out. And that Webster, known as “Webby,” occasionally wore a hat with an unexplained bullet hole in it.

While their idiosyncrasies brought the artists local attention, it was their work and its impact that put them in the national spotlight.

“These cartoons helped form the culture of the United States, because everyone in the country was reading the same thing every day,” says Dottie Patterson, archivist at the Delray Beach Historical Society, which exhibited the works of the colony’s main artists in 1989 and still maintains a sizable collection of their work.

With the national exposure came a bit of celebrity, especially since cartoons back then received a lot more attention than they do today.

“Fontaine Fox was a name that anyone in the country would have recognized,” says longtime Delray Beach october/november

resident Ernie Simon, who delivered newspapers to Fox’s home in the 1940s. “At the time we had cartoons, radio and the movies. That was it for entertainment.”

Local notables in their own right, the cartoonists blended easily into the community.

“They were acknowledged as pretty important people, but the community adjusted to them,” Simon says. “The sense back then was not to bother any of the important people who came in the winter.”

Still, most everyone in town knew when the cartoonists were here and what they were doing.

“It wasn’t any secret that they were here,” says Betty Diggans, whose father-in-law, and then her husband, served as postmasters in Delray Beach. “Back then the town was so small, you knew who everybody was.”

Comprised mostly of New Yorkers who were all friends, the eccentric little colony had several syndicated artists, including five whose work was perhaps the best known.

Roth’s depiction of himself and fellow cartoonist H.T. “Webby” Webster

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Fontaine Fox

A friend of Webster’s, Fox is believed to have come to Delray Beach in the late 1920s and later built his home on North Ocean Boulevard (where local developer Frank McKinney lives now). Fox’s strip, “Toonerville Folks,” which featured the famous “Toonerville Trolley that met all the trains,” began in 1913 and ran until 1955, appearing in as many as 300 newspapers during its heyday. Like Webster, Fox rented office space in the Arcade Tap Room building and was known to work late into the night creating gags that featured an array of characters including “The Skipper,” who guided the trolley, and Aunt Eppie Hogg.

Fox, described as a “slight angular man with a moustache,” eventually bought property on Southeast Seventh Avenue and hired famed architect John Volk to build three cottages, which he often rented to other cartoonists.

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Herb rotH

Perhaps the most well-known of the cartoonists who wintered in Delray Beach, Roth worked for the New York World and the New York Herald Tribune. As an assistant to Webster, Roth spent several winters living in a cottage on North Swinton Avenue, where the Cason Cottage is now, and later lived on North Ocean Boulevard not far from Fox. He and Webster, who shared an office over the Arcade Tap Room, both created cartoons for the Delray Beach News, with Roth’s appearing on the front page and Webster’s cartoon appearing on page two. Roth’s local strip included many residents and chronicled life in Delray Beach, from housing and transportation issues to the impact of World War II on the town. He would often give originals of his drawings for the local paper to residents who appeared in them.

W.J. “Pat” enrigHt

A political cartoonist, Pat Enright was known for his John Q. Public topical cartoons that appeared in newspapers such as the New York American, the New York Evening World and the New York World Telegram. Described by those who knew him as a charming, thoughtful man, Enright was an early environmentalist who also wrote and illustrated a children’s book, Al Alligator. A longtime resident of Delray Beach, who lived on Northwest 12th Street in the Lake Ida area, Enright later went to work as october/november

an editorial cartoonist for the Miami Herald—commuting by train—and later, the Palm Beach Post. He was said to be able to draw an elephant in 10 seconds, but no one has mentioned how fast he could draw a donkey.

Opposite page: Fontaine Fox comments on his photo.

Above: a Roth cartoon for the Delray Beach News

Denys Wortman

A contemporary of Fox and Webster, Wortman was the creator of “Metropolitan Movies,” which appeared six days a week in The New York World and New York Telegram from 1924 to 1954. Over the years, the single-panel strip portrayed daily life in New York, even when Wortman was in Florida, creating a believable world filled with everyday people working in offices or diners or struggling to keep afloat during the Great Depression.

Jim raymonD

Raymond was known primarily as the cartoonist who worked with Chic Young on “Blondie,” the nationally syndicated strip. In the 1950s Raymond became the lead artist on “Blondie” and developed the style that is still in use today. Well-known in the Delray Beach community, Raymond is believed to have used a neighbor here as a model for the evolving appearance of Elmo, Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead’s pesky young neighbor. He was also known to sign the register at the Delray Playhouse, where his wife often was a cast member, using a quick sketch of Dagwood Bumstead. delray beach magazine

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H.T. WebsTer

The first of the artists to come to Delray Beach, Webster was the creator of several comic strips, the most famous of which was “The Timid Soul,” featuring Casper Milquetoast. A large, pipesmoking man, Webster first came to the area in 1927, living in Gulf Stream, then a winter haven for the international polo community, and worked in a studio above the Tap Room. Based in New York and syndicated nationally, Webster also created a one-panel strip that appeared in the Delray Beach News and that often reflected his belief in an expanded role for women. Other strips created by Webster, who was described by local historians as being shy and retiring, were “Bridge,” “The Thrill that Comes Once in a Lifetime” and “Life’s Darkest Moments.”

Right, H.T. Webster by Denys Wortman; below, two Webster wartime cartoons

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Why Delray?

Other artists who lived in the Delray Beach area in later years included Jim Berry, creator of “Berry’s World,” and Fred McCarthy, who drew “Brother Juniper,” and George Shelhase, whose work appeared in numerous magazines and periodicals, and who was quite the ladies’ man in Briny Breezes in his day.

While it’s not known exactly how the Delray Beach cartoonist colony came into being, Dottie Patterson and others familiar with the city’s history believe that the town’s reputation in the 1920s and ’30s as being more casual than Palm Beach may have played a role.

“Delray Beach was known as the place where you could be yourself and no one would bother you,” Patterson says.

By the late ’20s and ’30s, Delray Beach had become a winter colony of prominent people who didn’t want the formality that came with the Palm Beach lifestyle.

Among those who would come to visit were the famous poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay, who spent a few winters in Delray Beach during the mid-1930s, and Nina Wilcox Putnam, a novelist and magazine writer.

Chances are that any of the well-known writers and artists who came to Delray Beach for the winter would have rubbed elbows with the cartoonists, probably at the Arcade Tap Room, which was a favorite gathering place of the time.

“The Arcade was the one sophisticated hangout in town,” says Ernie Simon, who remembers that it was a gathering place for the international polo community, as well as of the cartoonists.

With an open courtyard in its center, complete with a big fishpond in the middle, it evolved as a landmark, known for its outstanding food and popular bar, where it was possible october/november

for everyday people to rub elbows with the famous.

For the cartoonists, having an office overlooking the courtyard proved to be convenient, according to Patterson, who says it was not uncommon for Roth, Webster or Fox to look down and see a familiar face or two and then join them.

“It wasn’t unusual for them to have drinks and a conversation with whoever was there,” Betty Diggans remembers.

As Delray Beach grew and as the cartoonists aged, the colony began to wither. By the mid-1950s, most of the original members had either died or had stopped coming south for the winter.

What they left behind, however, remains an important part of the town’s history.

“People in town were proud that the cartoonists were here and that they were producing something that was a part of everybody’s everyday life,” Diggans says.

Rendering of the Arcade building by its architect, Sam Ogren Sr.; Enright, Roth and Williams on Delray Beach

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Delray Beach is a viBrant huB for alternative healing anD wellness.

By EMILy J. MINOR

W

e all want to feel good, right? Hop out of bed in the morning, ready to take on the day, joints all limber, brain chugging along like clockwork?

But sometimes we need help—and sometimes the family doctor doesn’t seem to have answers.

For years, at least in mainstream circles, holistic medicine and homeopathic treatments were considered kooky, wacky. A little bit nuts.

Not anymore. Last year, Americans spent an estimated $38 billion on alternative medicine.

And these days, downtown Delray Beach is becoming the perfect nucleus for New Age entrepreneurs.

“Delray Beach is an arts district, so people live alternative kinds of lifestyles,” says commercial real-estate agent Cecelia Boone. “It’s perfect for that.”

So we dropped in on a few holistic folks— newcomers and old hands—who want to make you feel better, right down to your weary soul.

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ElizabEth Ossip,

licensed clinical social worker Her business: Breathwork, by appointment.

215 N.E. 22nd St., Delray Beach, 561/7566033, yogasol.com Her patH: Some people start out in the mainstream and veer off to the avant-garde.

For Ossip, 55, it was the opposite. Twentysome years ago, as a young professional in Deerfield Beach, she worked at a healing center and learned about breathwork, a technique involving slow, connected breathing that can reach into a patient’s subconscious. “It was fascinating to me,” says Ossip, who’s used it ever since. Years later, she went back for her master’s degree to learn more-established treatments. Still, she’s not your typical therapist. “I would refer to my practice as being very holistic-oriented,” she says.

“It’s really fabulous in terms of anti-aging.

Think about it. There’s all this talk about oxygen treatments. Well, by just breathing more effectively and more efficiently, we can oxygenate our bodies from the inside out.”

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Her beliefs: Not everyone lies on the couch for 45 minutes and remembers their birth, but it can happen. Which is why Ossip believes that connecting to those first moments of life can resolve adult conflict.

The thinking behind all this? Sometimes, if the birth was traumatic (and, really, what birth wasn’t traumatic from the baby’s point of view?), we might be drawn to trauma and crisis in our adult lives, because that’s what we know. “The breath can be a way to resolve that,” she says. “By going back to that experience, we can release.”

Her story: Elizabeth Ossip’s life has been somewhat untraditional since she was an adolescent, studying at a New Hampshire boarding school that followed the beliefs of Austrian idealist philosopher Rudolf Steiner. After all, it’s not every high school girl who helps grow her own food and studies such things as biodynamic agriculture and anthroposophical medicine.

“It was a very spiritually oriented environment,” she says, about those early days away from home.

The esoteric individualism has stuck with her, propelling Ossip into a private practice that is based on spirituality and awareness. Today, looking back, she admits it was just a lucky fluke that she ended up at that school. (Her parents were older and rather traditional, but the Steiner school was simply near home.) And she still tries to practice those early teachings in her personal life, emotional life and through her diet. Through the years, she’s been a vegetarian and a vegan, today indulging only moderately in chicken and fish.

“I’m not dogmatic,” she says. “I don’t really prescribe to any one thing. I’ll eat anything, but I don’t eat a lot of meat and I try to focus on fruits and vegetables.”

The night before this interview, what did she have for dinner? “Actually, pizza,” she confesses, laughing. “But it was vegetarian.”

For more information about Elizabeth Ossip, visit yogasol.com.

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“I try to maintain this place as a spiritual oasis.

Sometimes people come in here and say, ‘I’ve had a very bad day. I just want to walk around.’”

Carlos a. Diaz

ritter, store owner His business: Shining Through, a store that sells alternative books, cards and music.

His patH: Thinking back, it was politics that pushed Diaz Ritter into changing his life.

A native of Argentina, he was working there in 2000 when his country’s economy began to collapse. He was a hotel executive, managing four different properties, his livelihood directly connected to the dying tourism industry.

“I decided to come back to the States after 25 years,” he says. “I went from being a total workaholic to a more spiritual way of life.”

His beliefs: You have to nurture the body and the mind with good food, good thoughts and quiet reflection.

For Diaz Ritter, morning meditation helps. “If you have to get up very early and leave because you have all this crazy

work waiting for you, you cannot have this life,” he says.

“Being a workaholic, you lose a lot.”

His story: Even though Shining Through has changed hands since it first opened 20 years ago, it’s still the center of Delray’s cosmic universe. Here, amid the books and the temple bells, devoted patrons come for everything from quartz crystals to handbooks on kindness to Ken Ishii CDs for evening relaxation.

After leaving the rat race, Diaz Ritter came to Delray Beach and worked alongside a business partner who had bought the New Age store from original storeowner Shannon Nance. For about 12 months, Diaz Ritter and Michael Stevenson carried on Nance’s local legacy, still catering to the spiritual community she had so carefully culled. Then, in 2001, Diaz Ritter took the reins and rode solo into the future. Today, he has third-generation

customers who love to regale him with their memories of this little Atlantic Avenue refuge that smells of incense and can invoke both a chuckle and a tear.

“The other day, a woman said to me that she used to come here with her grandmother,” he says. A lot of Diaz Ritter’s loyal customers are recovering addicts and alcoholics, a struggle he never went through but deeply appreciates.

So how does a former work junkie slow down this much?

“I would say I began to change at the age of 40,” says Diaz Ritter, who will only say he’s over 60 now. “They say that at 40 you have your crisis, and I guess I did.”

It’s not always easy. Diaz Ritter says he has as many lookers as ever, but not as many buyers—the economy, he says, sighing. But he’d never go back to the way it was. “If you want a spiritual life,” he says, “you have to invest time in it.”

For more information about Shining Through, visit shiningthru.com.

october/november

Lisa KeLLy,

licensed massage therapist; doula (birthing and labor coach) Her business: The Red Tent, a healing arts center for women Her patH: As a young kid just out of high school back in the 1980s, Kelly found herself working in Delray Beach. “I was meant to be here,” she says. Through the years, she practiced massage at a chiropractic office, and then branched out on her own.

“My first practice was essentially doing (massage) house calls for rich people,” she says.

About 12 years ago, she began working as a labor coach, assisting with both home and hospital births. In January 2010, she opened The Red Tent on Swinton Avenue in downtown Delray Beach. october/november

Her beliefs: Kelly, 44, works only with women, providing everything from acupuncture and prenatal yoga to Ayurveda (Indian medicine) and Mayan abdominal massage.

She and her staff focus heavily on nutrition, body work and holistic health, for all cycles of a woman’s life.

“We do a lot of spiritual stuff, but we do a lot of health stuff, too,” she says.

Her story: Kelly’s evolution from massage therapy to running The Red Tent was years in the making. Little by little, bit by bit, she says, she followed her heart toward the wholebody work that she does today.

Kelly found the space for her business on Swinton Avenue, a small 1937 cottage with a shady red-brick patio, on a city lot lush with palms, ixora and hibiscus. “This is such a special place,” Kelly says. “What we’re doing is really so unique.”

aaron bristol

“People are moving here from all over and they are open to holistic health. i’ve really noticed it in the past year. they don’t think it’s weird. they already know what it is. i feel like Delray beach is another asheville (north Carolina).”

Kelly says that the name of her business was inspired by The Red Tent, a novel by Anita Diamant. The well-known book is the story of the tent where women were sent during Biblical times for menstruation and childbirth, sequestered from the rest of the village. There, they found refuge in each other.

“I felt like this house had been waiting for me,” she says.

While she does love physical change and spiritual evolution, Kelly says she still finds great joy in her doula work, helping expectant mothers stay healthy, and then helping them through childbirth.

“Women choose home birth because they want to have what they want at their birth,” she says. “They don’t want what the hospital is offering them. They want control.”

For more information about The Red Tent, visit redtentwellness.com. delray beach magazine

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Marc D. ThoMpson,

online business owner

His business: VirtuFit; long-distance personal training, done online in front of two separate computers via Skype.

His patH: When Marc Thompson’s wife, Melvalean, died unexpectedly in 2008, he was forced into some big decisions. He had four children, the youngest just 4 years old at the time. “I couldn’t put them in daycare,” he says.

So Thompson took his established career as a personal trainer—his brand had always been a whole-body, holistic approach—and fashioned it into a stay-at-home-dad job.

His bright idea? Train far-away clients via online video program Skype, which he now does from his Lake Ida home. Even the locals love it. “I have a client who lives six blocks

away, and he’ll call me up and say, ‘Marc, it’s raining. Can we Skype?’ About 75 percent of my business is virtual.”

His beliefs: You have to work the mind with the body. So when Thompson is in his garage-turned-studio, working out with his clients video-to-video, he first just tells them what to do, and then he shows them. “I want them to use their brain,” he says. After they catch on, they work out together, in tandem— just as though they were standing together in the very same room. (Ahh, the beauty of the Internet.) Thompson even has a big-screen monitor so his clients look (almost) life-size.

His story: If you are what you eat, then Thompson is good to go, considering what he ingested one recent morning: cereal made of chia seeds and hemp seeds, served with

almond milk and a banana with some almond butter as a post-breakfast snack. Then, a little before 9:30, he ate homemade organic chili and two scrambled eggs.

“I believe in variety,” he says. “It allows you to have more progression in whatever you do.”

For years, up in Pennsylvania and then in Florida, Thompson was always something of an offbeat personal trainer, deliberately merging “the kinesiology and the cognitive.”

“As much as I bring to my fitness, it’s not enough,” Thompson says. “We need all different aspects to be healthy and well.”

So he pushes his clients to branch out, and Delray Beach has the perfect community for that. After all, he’s used everything from tai chi to acupuncture to rolfing, a special kind of deep-tissue massage.

For more information about VirtuFit, visit virtufit.net.

aaron bristol

“i’m 47 years old, and i’ve never been hospitalized, never had surgery, never taken a prescription. i kick the butt of most 20-year-olds.”

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“When I was little, I used to see a lot of shadows, and I would hear a lot of voices. And my aunt (a working psychic) would say, ‘See. Someday you’re going to do what I do.’”

DeirDre AbrAmi,

practitioner

Her business: Intuitive healing, coaching and speaking.

Her patH: Abrami started out on a traditional path. She went to college, studied business, got married, had a baby. For years, she worked in catering. Then they found a brain aneurysm during the birth of her second baby, a boy.

“Right after my son, everything changed,” she says. “I began feeling things and seeing things,” she says.

Today, she makes a living with her powers and has just signed on to open a new center in Pineapple Grove this fall.

Her beliefs: Everyone has some sort of intuition, Abrami says. And, although she calls herself a healer, that doesn’t mean laying hands on an old woman in a wheelchair and making her walk. Abrami’s work is more about emotional healing, sensing problems and helping clients overcome them. Most of her work is done by phone and starts with questions and answers, so she can offer guidance through the client’s energy. Indeed, Abrami calls herself the middleman—talking to a client, collecting all the little clues about where life has been or should go, then giving those clues meaning.

“A lot of women come to me with emotional issues that they want to release, and I give them the tools to go out there and do amazing things.” october/november

She’s big on visualization and says that’s how she was able to rid herself of her brain aneurysm. For 20 days, she listened to a voice that told her to visualize it being gone, and then it was.

Her story: When she was a girl growing up in New York, Abrami’s aunt, Joan Balarezo Passeggio, was a bit of a celebrity psychic, always on the radio or helping police crack a case. So medium work and readings were always a part of her life. But she shunned it.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing that.’”

Still, since childhood, she’s always been aware of odd, spiritual sensations, encroaching shadows and voices.

Then, after the 2003 birth of her son—and the discovery of the possibly fatal aneurysm—she says she could no longer turn her

back on her own powers. She began to have visions, seeing things about friends that they didn’t want her to know–perhaps an affair, or an unannounced pregnancy.

“I began to keep a journal,” she says now.

Her husband at the time warned her to keep quiet. “That’s crazy,” he told her.

But within a couple of years, after she listened to her intuitive inner voices—which sometimes spoke to her, quite literally—she knew she wasn’t crazy, not by a long stretch.

She knew for certain that she was indeed a psychic, and a sixth-generation one. (The gift goes back to her great-great-great-grandparents.)

“It didn’t happen overnight,” she says, about what she calls her “coming out.”

“Now I tell everybody.”

For more information about Abrami, visit thehealingcenteronline.com. delray beach magazine

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erer Photo by Wayne D. Sch

special advertising section

F

irst, it was an All-American City—twice. Then the stakes got higher when Delray Beach was one of several small towns in the country up for Rand McNally’s “Most Fun Small Town in America,” a competition it won handily a few months ago. The national exposure that ensued came as no surprise to locals, snowbirds and longtime visitors who have known for years that Delray Beach was one of South Florida’s best-kept secrets for a great vacation.

And, indeed, Delray has it all, from fine dining and gorgeous beaches to a vibrant downtown and fun hotels and resorts. There are museums, Segway tours, deep-sea fishing and kite boarding. There is golf and shark feedings and fashion shows and jazz. There are festivals, a 100-foot Christmas tree, farmers’ markets and Elvis. And it only gets better.

Welcome to Destination Delray—the most fun small town in America and your perfect South Florida experience.

SpECiAl ADvERTiSiNg SECTioN

AttrActions & diversions

Visitor’s Guide

The Delray Center for the Arts at Old School Square is the town’s cultural center and includes: the Cornell Museum of Art and American Culture, the 323-seat Crest Theater and the outdoor Entertainment Pavilion.

Corner of Atlantic and Swinton avenues.

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is the former home of the late Solomon D. Spady, who was the most prominent African-American educator and community leader in Delray Beach from 1922 to 1957. 170 N.W. Fifth Ave., 561/279-8883, spadymuseum.com Delray Yacht Cruises at Veterans Park in Delray Beach offers cruises down the Intracoastal waterway as well as private charters aboard the Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray. 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/243-0686, delraybeachcruises.com.

The Sandoway House Nature Center is in a historic 1936 beachfront home on the National Register of Historic Places and preserved as a unique Nature Center. 142 S. Ocean, Delray Beach, 561/274-7263.

The only museum in the United States devoted to Japanese culture, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens features a 32,000-squarefoot building, as well as the one of the largest Japanese gardens of its kind. 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, 561/495-0233.

A diving trip to the reefs off Delray Beach provides an up-close view of marine life, from small reef fish such as sergeant majors and angelfish to rays and an occasional barracuda. The “Delray Wreck” is just 150 yards off the south end of Delray’s public beach. The Scuba Center, 885 S.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach, 561/278-7020, scubadelray.com The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, 30 minutes west of Delray, covers about 145,000 acres in the northern Everglades and has walking and bike trails, canoeing, boating (there are three boat ramps), fishing, etc. 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, 561/732-3684, loxahatchee.fws.gov. Airboat Rides are offered at the refuge’s southern end through Loxahatchee Everglades Tours, 15490 Loxahatchee Road, Parkland, 800/683-5873.

At the south end of Delray’s beach is Delray Beach Water Sports, renting all kinds of beach toys, from Hobie cats to kayaks. 401 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/279-0008, delraybeachwatersports.com bocamag.com/delray

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Great Places to Stay crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & tiki Bar This intimate oasis has a laid-back, tropical vibe, complete with live music and quite an in-the-know scene at its Tiki Bar. [ 82 Gleason St., Delray Beach, 561/278-1700, cranesbeachhouse.com the colony Hotel & cabana club This historic resort hotel in the center of downtown Delray is home to the hotel’s famous "Porch Bar" overlooking vibrant Atlantic Avenue, and also has a charming private beach club with quaint, Old Florida Club atmosphere. [ 525 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/276-4123, thecolonyhotel.com delray Beach Marriott Right across A1A from the beach, this comfortably appointed hotel features the excellent Seacrest Grill and nightly entertainment in O’Grady’s Lounge. [ 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/274-3200, delraybeachmarriott.com Historic Hartman House This little gem of a B&B is a historic landmark that recalls “an easier, gentler time,” while offering modern amenities like Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. [ 302 N.E. Seventh Ave., Delray Beach, 866/7872302, delraybeachbedandbreakfast.com the seagate Hotel and spa One of the newest properties in town, this luxury boutique hotel is perfectly situated between the beach and downtown, and it has a beach club. [ 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 877/57-SEAGATE, theseagatehotel.com sundy House Famous for its lush tropical gardens and romantic atmosphere, Sundy House also has great dining and is close to all the Atlantic Avenue action. [ 106 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, 561/272-5678, sundyhouse.com Wright By the sea This comfortable beachfront hotel is loaded with Old Florida charm, from its palm-shaded nooks to its observation deck on the ocean. A Delray favorite for generations. [ 1901 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/278-3355, wbtsea.com

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[ out & about ] 1

boca ballet theatre

Boca Ballet Theatre patrons and guests gathered at the Ora Sorensen Gallery in Delray Beach to raise money for Boca Ballet Theatre’s production “Spring Fever.” Surrounded by exquisite still lifes from the Ora Sorensen collection, guests enjoyed savory hors d’oeuvres, wine and cocktails, and craft beer. [ 1 ] Madelyn Savarick and Dan Guin [ 2 ] Susan and Jim Fedele, Walker and Anne Henderson, and Margo Henderson [ 3 ] Cindy and Kelsey Surman [ 4 ] Vanessa Boltz, Jane Tyree, and Ron and Miriam Tobias [ 5 ] Sharon Alpert

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man & woman of the year

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society held its inaugural South Palm Beach County Man and Woman of the Year grand finale celebration at the Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club. The evening featured cocktails, dinner and a silent and live auction. Nicole Lord, a Boca Raton resident and Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, was honored as the 2012 Woman of the Year, having raised nearly $38,000 to help advance the mission of LLS. Benjamin Werber, who was honored as the Man of the Year, raised more than $14,000. [ 1 ] Benjamin Werber and Nicole Lord

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crane’s beachhouse fun-raiser

Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel and Tiki Bar kicked off its third annual series of Fun-Raisers. The first event was a benefit on behalf of the Take Heed Theater Company, which performs at Old School Square’s outdoor pavilion in downtown Delray Beach. More than 100 guests of the theater attended the poolside event and helped raise more than $2,600. [ 2 ] April and Ted Steiger [ 3 ] Claudia and Steven Faraldo [ 4 ] Glenn Glazer with Andrew, Mark, Dylan & Kelly Ostrowski [ 5 ] Samuel Spear, Niki Fridh, Kenya Spear

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[ out & about ] 1

happy feet

Delray Beach’s Village Academy recently celebrated the completion of its Dancing Classrooms program with 70 family members, staff, students and community members. The special event included testimonies from the participating students, and demonstrations of meringue, tango, rumba and swing dancing. Dancing Classrooms is a nonprofit, 10-week program that teaches fifth graders throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties how to ballroom dance and learn other social skills. [ 1 ] Donica Adrian and Georgemael Pierre

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home sweet home

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County celebrated the dedication of two new homes in Delray Beach.

More than 100 friends and community members attended the celebration ceremony, with the new homeowners Claretta Pickett and Lakesia Harris. Most of the work on both homes was done with volunteer labor, including the new homeowners. Generous support for the construction was provided by Broken Sound Club and Deerfield Builders Supply. In addition to their monetary contributions, these sponsors donated more than 200 hours of service using staff, family members and friends. [ 2 ] The Harris Family with Deerfield Builders

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all shook up

Saint Joseph’s Episcopal School recently held its annual auction at Quail Ridge Country Club and celebrated the evening with a shake, rattle and roll with the help of Elvis impersonator Scott Ringersen. Guests enjoyed dinner, cocktails, music and a successful auction bidding. After 17 years, the auction remains the key fundraising event for the school, helping support the athletic, art and financial aid programs, as well as improvements to the campus. [ 4 ] Tami Pleasanton and Bill Swaney [ 5 ] Lori Rex and Darlene Rowley

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princess party

On Mother’s Day, Delray Beach’s Serenity Styles Salon hosted a very special mother-daughter event. Girls between 4 and 10 years old were treated to makeup, jewelry and manicures. As the mothers were pampered, the girls also enjoyed haircuts, braids, curls and hair straightening.

Snacks, pizza and drinks were served. [ 1 ] Mothers and daughters at Serenity Styles Salons

Design • Home Furnishings • Accessories Delray Beach 117 NE 5th Ave. • 561.278.0886 North Palm Beach 1400 Old Dixie Hwy. • 561.845.3250 West Palm Beach 1810 S. Dixie Hwy. • 561.249.6000 Westhampton Beach 83 Main Street • 631.288.0258 www.excentricities.com

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Delray Beach magazine’s

Preview Calendar October/november 2012

pellegrino’s Welcome to Pellegrino’s Ristorante of Boca Raton, serving authentic Southern Italian food. Also introducing Mama’s Meat & Gravy with pasta on Sundays. Summer special: Enjoy 20 percent off the entire check on Wednesdays and Thursdays (dining room only, expires Oct. 25). Happy Hour is from 5–6:30 p.m. at the bar, featuring half price on select drinks and the bar menu. The restaurant is open at 5 p.m. Wed.–Sat. and 4 p.m. Sunday; it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Oct. 1, open 7 days.

the seagate spa The Seagate Spa was recently named one of the “Top 75 Hotel Spas” in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler. Fall into paradise with a signature massage, skin care or body treatment. For information on specials and events visit theseagatespa.com.

3360 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton 561/368-5520 pellegrinosofboca.com

1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 561/665-4900 theseagatespa.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

rejuvenate aging skin with our certified “electrical estheticians” The aestheticians at Bella Reina Spa have been certified as “Electrical Estheticians” by Ageless Esthetics. This means that they can change the muscle structure and the DNA levels of the skin using electrical impulses and special serums. Electrical Estheticians are trained to help rejuvenate aging skin. Their goal is to make cells healthy, so they produce more collagen and elastin. “The Microcurrent NonSurgical Facelift” includes six modalities (Detox Peel, Hydro-dermabrasion, Electric Current Lift, LED Light Therapy, Ultrasonic Infusion, Stem Cells and Peptides) in one treatment and is the ultimate rejuvenation experience for anyone 30 years or older.

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dining guide Your resource for Greater DelraY beach’s finest restaurants

review BURGERFI

6 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/278-9590.

Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 to 1 a.m.

T

he slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Hamlet was forced to suffer have nothing on the indignities visited upon the fast-food hamburger.

Over the past McDecades, this icon of American gastronomy has been hammered harder than a bent nail, reducing what should be a simple, flavorful, inexpensive meal to a vaguely meat-like hockey puck with all the taste and character of a politician in full campaign heat. Its sole remaining attribute is that it’s cheap.

But the fast-food burger is fighting back.

The first shots in the battle were fired by chains like Five Guys, which promised better food and a better experience than the various McBurger franchises. Now comes a local player, BurgerFi, promising an even better burger, a more varied menu and an ambience that’s more casual dining than frantic shoveling.

october/november

if You Go Price ranGe: $6–$10 creDit carDs: All major cards Don’t miss: Burgers of course— and fries and custards It appears the Fi Folks have succeeded.

The burger here—all-natural Black Angus beef—is more flavorful than the assorted Mc’s and Guys, whether a single “All the Way” burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and “secret sauce”) or the $10 Ultimate Cheeseburger, which adds the same garnishes to a pair of ground brisket burgers, plus Swiss and blue cheeses.

You can customize your burger too, choosing from a roster of free add-ons like mayo, relish and grilled onions, also from a list of “premium” toppings like fried egg, cheeses, onion rings and hickory-smoked bacon. Speaking of onion rings, they’re big, thick, tasty and crunchy, only the slightest bit greasy. Thin-cut french fries are better than typical franchise McFries too, modestly crisp and appropriately salted.

If burgers don’t stuff your bun, there’s a selection of hot dogs. I liked the meaty, nicely grilled Wagyu dog, given the Texas treatment with chili, molten cheese and hot sauce. The menu offers decent wines and

The BurgerFi burger is as distinctive as its bun

craft beers too, plus frozen custards in all manner of guises. Try the Beach Blast, a sugary overload of chocolate custard with peanut butter and brownie chunks, as well as chocolate chips and sprinkles, all of which will ease the pain of any slings and arrows that come your way.

—Bill Citara

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[ dining guide ] Dining Key

pudding with rum crème anglaise (an occasional special) is pure wickedness. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/665-4900. $$

$ Inexpensive: under $17

brulé bistro—200 N.E. Second Ave., Suite 109.

$$ Moderate: $18 to $35 $$$ Expensive: $36 to $50 $$$$ Very expensive: $50+ delray beach 32 east—32 E. Atlantic Ave. contemporary american. At a time when chefs and restaurants seem to be constantly shouting their own praises, Nick Morfogen and 32 East go quietly about their way of serving thoughtfully conceived, finely crafted dishes with a minimum of fuss and artifice. The menu changes daily, but recent examples of Morfogen’s culinary expertise include plump scallops given an elegant bouillabaisse treatment and fork-tender venison with a terrific Asiago-fig risotto. When the food is this good, you don’t need to shout. • Dinner daily. 561/276-7868. $$$ atlantic grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafoodcontemporary american. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa mines quality ingredients for maximum flavor. A light, chunky gazpacho with soothing cucumber cream is perfect warm-weather dining, and though braised short ribs with mashed potatoes is heartier fare, it’s hard to resist the gum-tender meat ringed by a silken potato purée. The butterscotch-white chocolate bread

american. This cozy Pineapple Grove restaurant has small tables as well as less formal seating, a market counter and a wall of very good wines. It has the ambience of an intimate neighborhood bistro (you can take out gourmet meals as well) with the culinary IQ of a very fine restaurant. It is local Delray at its best, with entrées like Snake River Kobe flank au poivre to Maine lobster bisque with fennel pollen to veal scalloppini. This may be your catcher’s mitt for great downtown dining when you can’t decide where to go.

• Lunch and dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/274-2046. $$

buddha sky bar—217 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asia-meetsindustrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline.

Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, while rock shrimp tempura and Wagyu tenderloin 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 Wed.–Sun. 561/450-7557. $$

cabana el rey—105 E. Atlantic Ave. cuban tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray Beach. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue. Mariquitas (fried banana chips) are a tasty way to start your meal. For dinner, seafood paella is a winner, with mussels, shrimp, conch, octopus, scallops and clams. And the churrasco is terrific. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9090. $$

caffé luna rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian.

This favorite is always lively, and alfresco dining is the preferred mode. Entrée choices are enticing, but we went with the penne alla vodka with pancetta, tomato and basil. Also delicious was the costoletta di vitello, a center-cut 14-ounce veal chop lightly breaded and served either Milanese or parmigiana.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the cheesecake imported from the Carnegie Deli. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9404. $$

casa di pepe—189 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. A welcoming staff, familiar Italian dishes done right and moderate prices define this cozy spot with a spacious outdoor patio. Two could share the fist-sized meatball with fresh-tasting tomato sauce and dollop of milky basil, before moving on to house-made linguine with clams, tender veal Francese and one of the best versions of tiramisu this side of Veneto. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/279-7371. $$ city oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as crab-stuffed shrimp with jalapeño cheddar grits, bacon, shiitake mushrooms and warm vinaigrette. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$

cucina mio—16950 Jog Road. Italian. There are many Italian restaurants in our culinary universe, most mining familiar culinary territory. This popular eatery does so, too, offering sturdy renditions of Italian favorites in enormous portions at correspondingly modest prices. The menu highlight is perhaps tiramisu, rarely made as well as it is here. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/499-9419. $$

cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

Steak house. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner daily. 561/272-9898. $$$

d’angelo trattoria—9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Ital-

Truffled mac-and-cheese and the team from Cut 432: Brandon Belluscio, Anthony Pizzo and Bryan Albe

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ian. Don’t go expecting all the tired old “Italian” culinary clichés at Angelo Elia’s wickedly stylish trattoria. Instead, open your palate to more authentic and exciting Roman-style cuisine, like roasted veal bone marrow with brisk caper-parsley pesto, creamy-dreamy burrata with roasted fava beans and watercress salad, the classic tonnarelli cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”) and the best gelato this side of a real Roman trattoria. • Dinner daily.

561/330-1237. $$ october/november

[ dining guide ] and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$

Max’s Harvest ‘s Swank Farms heirloom tomatoes with watermelon, red onion and feta; inset, Chris Miracolo

house of siam—25 N.E. Second Ave. Thai. The normally riotous flavors of Thai cuisine are muted at this charming, family-friendly spot, but that seems to suit diners just fine. Dishes, well-prepared and generously portioned, include steamed chicken and shrimp dumplings with sweet soy dipping sauce and crisp-fried duck breast in a very mild red curry sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/330-9191. $$

il girasole—1911 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 30 years. The food is fine hearty Italian, with excellent service. Try the veal Kristy or the frogs legs. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$ j&j seafood bar & grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on the Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3390. $$

deck 84—840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the steallar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey apple cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner daily. 561/665-8484. $

dig—5199 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Proprietor Robert Greenfield has turned the former Greenfield’s restaurant into organichealthy-sustainable DIG (“Doing It Green”).

Luckily, diners don’t have to suffer in pursuit of gastronomic rectitude with dishes like plump pan-seared diver scallops with pineapple-mango salsa, and luscious chocolate mousse cake. The four different greens mixes at the salad bar are crisp and pristinely fresh. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily.

561/638-0500. $$ fifth avenue grill—821 S. Federal Highway.

American. Since 1989, this upscale tavern has been a Delray favorite. The straightforward menu focuses on entrées, especially the famed Allen Brothers beef; choose from numerous cuts and preparations—and add a lobster tail for good measure. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/265-0122. $$ 64

delray beach magazine

gol! the taste of brazil—411 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak house. The classic churrascaria formula— grilled meats, served until you can’t eat another bite—is done efficiently and quite satisfyingly. Start off at the well-provisioned salad bar, which offers more than three dozen preludes to meat eating, among them well-made calamari and ham salads, rounds of smoky eggplant, and rich and delightfully old-fashioned four-cheese chicken. Meats with a bit of fat are the best choices, especially the garlicky sirloin, slices of medium-rare flank steak and hugely flavorful beef ribs.

• Dinner daily. 561/272-6565. $$ greek bistro—1832 S. Federal Highway. Greek.

If you care more about well-prepared, generously portioned and fairly priced food than Opa!-shouting waiters, you’ll love this modest little restaurant.

Flaky, overstuffed spanikopita and miraculously light and delicate beef meatballs should be at the top of your appetizer list, and though entrées don’t always reach those heights, both a long-braised lamb shank and grilled whole snapper are certainly satisfying.

And the baklava is great. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/266-8976. $ henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant from Burt Rapoport 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

jimmy’s bistro—9 S. Swinton Ave. Eclectic. Look up “cozy” and “charming” in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of Jimmy Mills’ tiny restaurant. Jimmy’s cheerily unpretentious atmosphere applies to the eclectic menu, which flits from China to Italy to New Orleans at will. Best bets are a lovely salad of ripe tomatoes and fresh, milky house-made mozzarella; a rich, elegant version of lusty Cajun etouffee; and caramelized bananas in puff pastry with silken vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. • Dinner daily. 561/865-5774. $$ la cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean. It’s a pleasure watching the professionals here at work.

That extends to the kitchen, which turns out gently updated and classically oriented dishes notable for the quality of their ingredients and careful preparation. Sweetbreads in chanterelle cream sauce are simply glorious; a barely grilled artichoke with mustardy remoulade is gloriously simple. And watching your server skillfully debone a whole (and impeccably fresh) Dover sole is almost as satisfying as eating it. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$ lemongrass bistro—420 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau panAsian fare make this original Lemongrass and its three younger siblings some of the most popular eateries around. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge, as evidenced by impeccably fresh salmon, tuna and yellowtail sushi.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-5050. $ october/november

Perfect Balance.

Local. Sustainable. Simple.

Pineapple Grove, Delray Beach | 561.381.9970 | maxsharvest.com

healthy & delicious! , c i n a g r O Organic American comfort food prepared with robust bravado by one of South Florida’s most talented chefs.

Get ready to enjoy South Florida’s healthiest dining alternative.

• fresh-made soups, breads, sandwiches & salads • pastas & full dinners • assorted homemade pastries & desserts • handpicked organic wines & microbrews

The Green Gourmet 16950 Jog Road Delray Beach 561-455-2466

Award g n i winn ! e cuisin

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[ dining guide ] max’s harvest—169 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Restaurateur Dennis Max, instrumental in bringing the chef and ingredientdriven ethos of California cuisine to South Florida in the 1980s, is again at the forefront of the fresh, local, seasonal culinary movement. Max’s Harvest soars with dishes like plump Cedar Key clams with housemade tasso, savory bourbon-maple glazed pork belly, and crispy-skinned wild sockeye salmon with yuzutruffle vinaigrette. The made-to-order donuts are pure decadence. • Dinner daily. 561/381-9970. $$

old calypso—900 E. Atlantic Ave. Island. The restaurant is airy and wide-open, but the draw is the Intracoastal view. A popular happy hour takes place at the center bar, and during Sunday brunch, music is added. The food is reliable and consistent, from a rich roasted-corn and crabmeat chowder to real fried green tomatoes to crispy fried lobster tails.

• Brunch Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/279-2300. $$

the office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. It’s a safe bet that your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports red leather and cowhide chairs, 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. $$

prime—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak/Seafood. Prime

Pellegrino’s summer sPecials 20% oFF entire check Wednesday & Thursday, expires 10/25/12 in our Dining room at The Bar Happy Hour 5 - 6:30 Weekly 1/2 Price on selected Drinks 1/2 Price on our Bar menu every sunday mama’s meat in The gravy over Pasta closed monday’s & Tuesday’s until 10/1/12 Boca Plaza 561.368.5520 3360 n. Federal Highway (south of spanish river Blvd. east side of Fed Hwy.) Boca raton, Fl 33431 www.pellegrinosofboca.com listen to us on WinZ 940 am sPorTs animal WiTH amigo & DiZZ m-F 3-5

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is aptly named for its heart of the action location, classy neo-supper club decor, extensive wine list and roster of designer 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.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5845. $$$

scuola vecchia—522 E. Atlantic Ave. Neopolitan pizza. They like to say they make the “best pizza under the sun” and, well, we just have to agree. This bright new pizza and wine place makes a certified and serious Neopolitan pizza—according to standards set forth by The Associazone Pizzaliola Napolentani (APN). That means light flavorful dough, spanking fresh imported ingredients—and about as far away as you can get from the American smeary cheesy greasy version. Try the Kesté pizza: imported fresh bufula mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, proscuitto di Parma, rucala, shaved gran cru, extra virgin olive oil and basil. Pair that with a nice vino and you are transported to a pizzeria in Naples. In short: This is a don’t-miss Delray dining experence. Go now. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/865-5923. $ october/november

[ dining guide ] sundy house—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. Everyone knows about the spectacular garden, home to hundreds of species of exotic plants. But the comforting-contemporary food deserves notice too, realized in such dishes as expertly fried calamari with zesty Moroccanstyle aioli; savory rack of lamb crusted with herbs, mustard and horseradish; and pistachio-crusted salmon with marinated fennel, artichoke, sherry wine and a citrus gastrique served with black rice.

Portions are enormous, so bring your appetite.

• Lunch Tues.–Sat. Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-5678. $$

South Florida’s Top Seaside Italian Restaurant 2012 Readers’ Choice Winners: Best Italian Best Sunday Brunch Best Wine list 34 S. Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach • 561-274-9404 caffelunarosa.com • facebook.com/caffelunarosa

DownloaD our free app for iphone!

Open 7 days, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch.

Live Entertainment. Valet Parking.

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tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. With its roots in New York’s Angelo’s of Mulberry Street, this venue is always packed. Homemade stuffed manicotti is aromatic and glorious. Tramonti’s platter for two, containing fillet marsala, veal cutlet with prosciutto, fried zucchini and potato croquettes, is terrific. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-1944. $$ tryst—4 E. Atlantic Ave. Eclectic. It’s tough to beat this hotspot with the lovely outdoor patio, well-chosen selection of artisan beers and not-the-usual-suspect wines, and an eclectic “gastropub” menu of small and large plates. Try the crisp-fried rock shrimp with chipotle-mayonnaise sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/921-0201. $$

vic & angelo’s—290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian.

God is in the details at this upscale trattoria, and He doesn’t miss much, including stellar service and an outstanding wine menu. Ingredients like Buffalo mozzarella, house-made pastas and San Marzano tomatoes are first-rate, and execution is spot on. Try the “Old School” meatball to start, the whole-wheat tagliatelle with garlic and chili-infused olive oil and the perfectly cooked veal chop. Portions are substantial. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/2789570. $$$

boynton bEACh bar louie—1500 Gateway Blvd. Eclectic. Attempting to split the difference between happening bar and American café, Bar Louie mostly succeeds, offering burgers, pizzas, fish tacos and a variety of salads, all at moderate prices and in truly daunting portions. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/853-0090. $

bocamag.com • 877-553-5363, ext 222 Sales tax included. Outside U.S. add $45 postage; cash repayment in U.S. currency. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of first issue. For questions or additional information, please call 877/553-5363, ext. 222.

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china dumpling—1899-5 N. Congress Ave. Chinese. The dim sum basket is an absolute must-try.

A choice of signature steamed dumplings are likewise spot on. The steak kew is delicious, and the clay pot casseroles are mighty enticing. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/737-2782. $ october/november

prime catch—700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood. Simple pleasures soar—full-belly clams, fried sweet and crispy, or a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$

sushi simon—1614 S. Federal Highway. Japanese/sushi. Local sushi-philes jam the long, narrow dining room for a taste of such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (only on Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like the sublime snowy snapper Morimoto and opulent tuna tartare. Creative and more elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$ Lake worth couco pazzo—915-917 Lake Ave. Italian. Despite 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; house-smoked mozzarella—breaded, fried and presented with a tangy tomato-basil fondue—is equally tasty. • Dinner nightly. (Tues.–Sun. during summer).

561/585-0320. $$

Two Great Choices Park Tavern is a neighborhood restaurant focusing on farm fresh ingredients, craft beers, seasonal cocktails and small production wines.

Our ingredients are sourced to assure they are local, when possible and come from the highest quality artisans.

Cut 432 is a bold, high-energy, modern steakhouse and bar—with an intense focus on prime beef, inventive side dishes, abundant raw bar, and uniquely prepared seafood, not to mention chic décor and eclectic wine list

EST. 2011

Food + Drink PARK TAVERN 32 SE 2ND AVENUE, DELRAY BEACH ATLANTIC AVENUE | WORTHING PLACE 561-265-5093 PARKTAVERNDELRAY.COM

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CUT 432 432 EAST ATLANTIC AVENUE DELRAY BEACH 561.272.9898 CUT432.COM

8/16/12 3:53 PM

paradiso ristorante—625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean sea bass branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/547-2500. $$$

safire asian fusion—817 Lake Ave. Panasian. This stylish little restaurant offers food that gently marries East and West, plus a roster of more traditional Thai dishes and inventive sushi rolls.

Menu standouts include tempura-fried rock shrimp or calamari cloaked with a lush-fiery “spicy cream sauce.” Expect neighborly service and reasonable prices. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/588-7768. $ LaNtaNa the station house—233 Lantana Road. Seafood.

If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 8 pounds) and are so reasonably priced that getting a taste of one without reservations is highly unlikely. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. (Other location: 1544 S.E. Third Court, Deerfield Beach, 954/420-9314) $$$ october/november

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For Sponsorship Opportunities Please Call: (561) 265 3797 Ext. 109

13th Annual 13th Annual

presents

International marketing • advertising • sales promotion

RACING TO STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE 5K, 10K, KID’S DASH!

Saturday • October 13, 2012 Saturday • October 13, 2012 7:30am at Anchor Park (A1A) • Delray Beach, FL 7:30am at Anchor Park (A1A) Delray Beach, FL

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES See Inside for Details 5K, 10K, KID’S DASH

Saturday • October 13, For more information call: 561-265-3797 ext. 109

7:30am at Anchor or visitPark us online(A1A at NEW www.avdaonline.org Delray Beach, FL 5K, 10K, KID’S DASH!

Register Online at: www.avdaonline.org

SPONSORSHIP OPPORT ®

See Inside for Details Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Inc.

[ my turn]

By John Shuff

The author’s mother, Mary Shuff, with Tommy, John and Paul

thanksgiving Make it a day you’ll remember.

T

here are meals and then there is Thanksgiving, the source of a lifetime of memories and nostalgia, of grainy home movies—the meal that, for me, has defined family, friends and food for most of my life.

Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s was that kind of meal, a time when food became the centerpiece of a carefully planned and executed weeklong event. In fact, coaches today could have taken a lesson from Mom in game-day preparation, which required hours of menu planning, careful shopping, staggered cooking and prep sessions, all in service of the main event for which everyone had been salivating for weeks.

I remember hitchhiking from Notre Dame in South Bend to our home in Cincinnati dreaming of the Thanksgiving meal already under way in her kitchen. When I hit the back door, the smells of mince and pumpkin pies enveloped me. The sage and sausage dressing bubbling atop her Roper range wafted out to the backyard. That alone made the freezing 300-mile trip worthwhile.

But the best was yet to come: Turkey Day dinner, where our family gathered to give thanks—and then inhale Mom’s feast. The spread that took days to prepare was polished off in less than 30 minutes.

Mom’s table was always elegant for the holidays: a freshly pressed Irish linen tablecloth with two silver candelabra, elaborate silver and china place settings, coffee cups and wine goblets. My brothers and I each had freshly polished napkin rings engraved with our first names, encircling starched napkins big enough to cover our thighs and extend halfway down our legs.

Finally, before we said grace, Mom turned down the chandelier above the dining table, leaving the room softly dim and silent, the flickering of tiny points of candlelight in the gleaming silverware.

Then came the feast: tomato aspic salad, two types of stuffing (sausage and oyster), string beans with almonds, brussels sprout with diced country ham, candied yams, mashed potatoes with 72

delray beach magazine

homemade gravy, turnips, fresh cranberry salad, pocket dinner rolls from the Virginia Bakery with Irish butter and, of course, pumpkin and mince pies with fresh whipped cream.

Before the star of the day appeared—the turkey—Mom gave each of us a small glass into which she poured some Meier Sauterne. Raising her glass, she gave a simple prayer of thanks for our family’s blessings. I remember looking at my brothers and giggling as we sipped the wine, knowing that this was a special treat reserved for the adults.

But the coup de grace was to come as the beautifully brown turkey was delivered from the oven and placed in front of my dad. It was showtime, the moment my father coveted. Like Zorro brandishing his sword, Dad took his electric knife from its carrying case and meticulously carved thin slices of white meat from the breast of our beloved turkey.

Once the general’s duties were discharged, Dad sat down, which was the green light to dig in. I vividly recall the white china dinner plates covered by a panoply of fall colors: red, green, yellow, brown, orange—Thanksgiving colors, and my favorite dishes to this day.

Most of us have these kinds of memories, holiday images that bring a smile to our faces and a tug to our hearts. Meals like my mom’s are an example of how much she cared about her family.

This Thanksgiving, open your heart to an extended family— God’s family—those people who are alone or hurting or hungry.

Make their day special by inviting them into your home, or serving them food, or donating time or money to organizations dedicated to their cause. Make a difference in a life. Make this Thanksgiving special for them—and more meaningful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012.

For locations or charitable organizations that need your help this Thanksgiving, visit our website at bocamag.com. october/november

new!

luxurious Rental Townhomes & Apartments Ready for Occupancy Brand new and open for occupancy, Seabourn Cove is an exclusive gated enclave leasing garden apartments and townhomes in the coveted Boynton/Delray Beach area. This community is the nation’s largest green multi-family community as developed under National Green Building Standards. ~~~ This elegant new coastal community enjoys an ideal location minutes from the beach. Relax amongst our lush tropical landscaping, winding walkways and gated privacy with a tranquil ambiance. Come and enjoy our newly upgraded apartments featuring amenities that you would find in high end homes. Visit our website for more information.

www.SeabournCove.com | Toll Free: 1-855-812-COVE (2683) | 561-752-0009

EXPERIENCE OUR NEW 2,500-GALLON SHARK TANK Catch our fresh new menu featuring local seafood and produce

The Recipe for a Perfect Evening ONE PART STYLE • ONE PART TASTE • ONE PART RHYTHM

Delray’s hottest bar scene • sensational seasonal menu • live entertainment featuring Orson Whitfield

For information or reservations, visit theatlanticgrille.com or call 561-665-4900 At The Seagate Hotel, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave.  Scan for special offer and entertainment schedule

*Tax and gratuity not included.

Open Daily • Happy Hour 4 – 7 pm • Delray’s Best Brunch Sat & Sun 9 am – 2:30 pm