MEET THE NEW HEAD OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
4
OCEAN 10 YEARS LATER
JETSETTING: EXPLORE SWITZERLAND
We craft more than interiors—we curate legacies. Each residence is a masterfully designed sanctuary, where elegance, intention, and individuality converge. Impeccably tailored to reflect your unique identity, our spaces are expressions of timeless luxury—where every detail is considered, and every moment is elevated.
THIS IS NOT JUST DESIGN. THIS IS THE EMBODIMENT OF REFINED LIVING.
FAU graduate Alex Schulze cofounded the eco-business 4Ocean nearly a decade ago with the lofty goal of removing plastic from the world’s oceans. Amid the company’s expanding Boca Raton headquarters, a recently formed nonprofit arm, and a partnership with NFL legend Tom Brady, this homegrown entrepreneur and his new foundation head, Jack Lighton, are doing much more than treading water.
Written by JOHN THOMASON
As the South Florida “season” nears its sell-by date, part-time residents are beginning the process of relocating themselves and their valuables— from boats and priceless artwork to collectibles and horses—to points north and west. Here’s how the other half moves.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS and JOHN THOMASON
The editor, a diplomat’s daughter, led a peripatetic childhood, often moving her belongings from one country to another. But for the most affluent of snowbirds, preparing to move requires more than U-Haul boxes, packing tape and a fresh Sharpie.
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
Meet the high-spirited entrepreneur now running the Boca Raton Historical Society, the successful ad executive who wrote the book on “SuperAging,” and the Hometown Hero bringing sweet dreams and clean beds to the people who need them most. Plus, discover locals’ spring break wish lists, explore #domelife with a Boca-based businessman, and much more.
Written
by TYLER CHILDRESS, CHRISTIANA LILLY and JOHN THOMASON
Our local boutiques have us ready for spring, from unique framed sunglasses to east-west bags and raffia details.
Photography by CHRISTINA MENDENHALL
Our intrepid correspondent made the most of her Swiss Travel Pass—racking up miles on gliders, in gondolas and aboard funicular railways. Plus, we found an oasis in Little Palm Island.
Written by ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON and DAPHNE NIKOLOPOULOS
Miami City Ballet’s new artistic director is injecting youth and vitality into the company’s 40th anniversary season, while always staying en pointe. Plus, the Lynn Philharmonia bids farewell to its longtime dean, the Delray Affair celebrates its 64th year, Air Supply soft-rocks the Kravis Center, and more.
Written by JOHN THOMASON
See what our food critic has to say about Nicholson Muir and Malbec & More. Plus, local culinary innovators share the inspiration behind their bespoke elixirs, jams, slaws and novelties.
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
In this issue’s society pages, HomeSafe supporters celebrated the nonprofit’s mission in 3/4 time, JARC Florida banked six figures at its annual fashion show, Sweet Dream Makers honored multiple milestones at its Addison gala, Boca West toasted one of the most awarded women in popular culture, and more.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
As a grumpy Nobelist once put it, you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. But with our perfect storm of deregulation and rising sea levels, yesterday’s predictable weather events are today’s climate catastrophes—and South Florida may need all the help it can get.
Written
by MARIE SPEED
Visit bocamag.com for bonus items you won’t see anywhere else—extended stories, recipes, news and more.
We couldn’t fit all of our travel writer’s Swiss adventures on page 47. For more of her transportive journey into the mountains and culture of this European mecca, visit bocamag.com/ april-2026.
Miami City Ballet is planning a busy end to its season, with productions of “Carmen,” a lively Spring Mix and a pop-centric beach-y program over the next two months. Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia, featured on page 94, discusses the performances at bocamag.com/april-2026.
At last summer’s Florida Magazine Association Charlie Awards, honoring excellence in magazine writing, design and advertising, Boca magazine collected 23 awards in categories ranging from digital innovation and social media to our creative designs, our special advertising sections, and our investigative journalism, departments and service features—including securing first place in nine categories, among them Best Website in the state. Other honors for first-place Charlie Awards included Best Use of Photography, Best Cover, Best Public Service Coverage, Best Service Feature, Best Feature and Best Social Media. Congrats to the Boca magazine team and to you, our readers, for your continued support.
Don’t miss Boca on everything from FACEBOOK (facebook.com/ bocamag) to INSTAGRAM (@bocamag) and TWITTER/X (@ bocamag) for community news, retail trends, foodie updates and much more.
Think our dining guide is long? You haven’t seen anything until you’ve visited our digital version. We’ve got critic-reviewed restaurants from Jupiter to Miami on the web. Visit the Dining Guide tab to view the guide.
Join Boca magazine’s weekly newsletter, The Scoop, for a roundup of the week’s top web stories. Get everything from city and dining news to arts and community happenings around town delivered straight to your inbox! Visit bocamag.com to sign up!
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christiana Lilly
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“Before you and your staff from Boca Nursing Services started taking care of Helen and I, we existed; now we are living again! Thank you, Rose.”
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Arts & entertainment
Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding galas, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to John Thomason (john.thomason@ bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming A&E section is three months before publication.
Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Christie Galeano-DeMott (christie@bocamag.com).
A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Boca Raton and South Florida. All photos submitted should be identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when). Email images to Tyler Childress (tyler@bocamag.com).
Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients — from Michael J. Fox and Ozzy Osbourne to Linda Ronstadt and Brian Grant — admit that while they have challenges, they are living busy, full lives. It’s a reminder that with newer medications and treatments, PD is a very manageable disease, say specialists with Baptist Health Brain & Spine Care.
“Parkinson’s, like many neurodegenerative diseases, is a slowmoving disease,” says neurologist Sameea Husain, D.O., director of movement disorder neurology at Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “And the medications we have today are very good at mitigating the symptoms.”
An estimated 1 million Americans are living with PD, a progressive disorder that occurs when nerve cells in the brain, particularly those
producing dopamine, begin to degenerate. Men are 1.5-2 times more likely than women to be affected, and while it can be diagnosed at any age, it is more commonly diagnosed in people aged 65 and older.
Early symptoms include constipation, loss of the sense of smell, sleep behavior problems, and anxiety or depression. “These non-motor symptoms appear in the first two to three years of neuronal death, which can be a decade or two before motor symptoms are noted by the patient,” Dr. Husain says.
Our movement disorder experts are often able to diagnose PD by completing a comprehensive medical history and physical and neurological examination alone. When necessary, a DaTscan (dopamine transporter scan) or the alphasynuclein skin biopsy that looks for an abnormal accumulation of alpha-synuclein may be done as well, Dr. Husain says.
Treatments target patient symptoms. Many of the drugs are taken orally, but among the newer and more promising drug delivery systems are pumps
that infuse medications continuously into the small intestine or just under the skin. Physical therapy and exercise are always encouraged to improve quality of life.
For those whose disease does not respond well to medications, there are other possible treatments, including:
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) — a surgical procedure that involves implanting small electrodes in the brain to help control tremors and the other motor features of the disease with electrical impulses
• High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) — a noninvasive procedure that uses highintensity ultrasound beams to thermally ablate the targeted structure in the brain generating the tremors
Our comprehensive movement disorders program, led by our team of experienced specialists, offers a personalized approach that provides compassionate and seamless care.
For more information about the Parkinson’s disease program at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, visit BaptistHealth.net/ MovementDisorders or call 561-955-4600 to make an appointment.
As the disease progresses, it is characterized by other symptoms such as:
• Balance and gait problems
• Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement
• Cognitive changes
• Difficulty swallowing and talking
• Fatigue
• Low voice
• Muscle rigidity and stiffness
• Tremor, often starting in the hand while at rest
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
s a kid, the longest I ever lived anywhere was four years, and that was a long time as a diplomat’s kid. Two or three years was more typical, and was considered generous for families, rather than moving every six months to a year.
So, I know a thing or two about moving. There’s a certain energy to moving day—the sound of packing tape being violently ripped from the roll, the smell of brand-new cardboard boxes reconfigured into sturdy packing cubes, the squeak of Sharpies assigning boxes to rooms, the crunchiness of paper wrapping delicate dishes. Items disappear from shelves, furniture is hauled away, and at the end of the day, all that’s left are nails in the walls and hulking trash bags of junk you finally have the courage to throw out.
For others, their moving day requires specialists. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, I learned about Air Horse One, a Boeing 727 flown by Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation, transporting competitive thoroughbreds to the Olympics, Kentucky Derby and other major horse shows and races.
That got me wondering: What other transportation services do the rich and famous utilize? When snowbirds go home for the summer, what do they leave behind, and what is shipped to their residences in the Hamptons, Aspen or Connecticut?
We looked into it, and wrote about it in our feature on page 58. Artwork volleys from home to home and is carefully reinstalled by experts. Collections of luxury clothing and bags make their way across the country for galas and luncheons in other ZIP codes. And in the fight against flooding and mold, home management companies take on the responsibility of watching over South Florida homes until their owners return in the fall.
And yes, horses trot onto an airplane to their summer stables; when you’re worth more than my life insurance policy, you get a first-class ticket to your northern digs.
In a less literal sense, these pages also hold stories of other people on the move. Our “Boca Interview” with Alex Schulze and Jack Lighton from 4Ocean looks at how this Boca-born organization has grown over the last decade, including a recent collaboration with the GOAT, Tom Brady. You can read
Managing Editor John Thomason’s story about them on page 52. Plus, we sat down with the new executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, Olivia Hollaus (our cover story for this issue), and for jetsetters, Angela Caraway-Carlton shows us how she got around Switzerland without sitting in a single car.
We’re all about Boca Raton. So whether you’re braving the summer humidity with us or reading this from your home up north, thanks for coming along for the ride.
MERLIN BIRD ID: Created by Cornell University, the app identifies the recording you make of birds chirping. Collect birds like you would Pokemon, logging where you heard them. After just a week of using it, I discovered the Earth’s melody.
FLIGHTRADAR24: Aviation nerds probably already have this, which provides live tracking of aircraft overhead, on their phones. Find out where the airplane came from and where it’s headed, as well as get a little FOMO.
Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.
STAR WALK 2: Make sense of the stars in the night sky with this app that identifies the constellation before you and overlays it with an augmented reality image of the creature or deity. It will also identify stars, planets, comets and other celestial objects.
4 National languages in Switzerland
17%
Decrease in NFL concussions from 2023 to 2024 season NFL.com
37 thousand+
Registered boats in PBC Marine Industries Association
“There is nothing I would enjoy more for spring break than spending a week in the Florida Keys, exploring, fishing and relaxing on out-of-the-way beaches.”
— Scott Kohut, deputy director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority
“At this point in my life, my ideal spring break is being on a 'no kids' cruise ship with my wife, sipping a drink and watching a great sunset!”
— Daniel Owen, CFO at the HabCenter
“I’m pursuing a master’s degree while working full-time in a job I absolutely love. Spring break has become a precious time to balance, be present and recharge so I can show up fully for the things I love—my family and friends, work and my studies. Turns out, ‘adult spring break’ is pretty great—just in a completely different way!”
— Margarita Pazmino, director of community relations and development at the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation
As a kid, Dr. David Traster had Lyme disease—but it was misdiagnosed for a decade. This roused his interest in medicine, and as a chiropractic intern, he saw how powerful brain health was.“I saw how quickly doing the right kind of therapies to your brain can make people feel better,” he says.“If people could feel better this quickly and it doesn’t involve drugs, surgeries or supplements sometimes … it made me really interested in how we can optimize brain function.” Today, he is a functional neurologist at the Neurologic Wellness Institute in Boca Raton. With longevity and wellness on the brain—no pun intended—we talked to him about the most vital organ in our body.
About 12% of Americans suffer from migraines. How has our understanding of them changed?
Migraine is the most common brain disor-
der in the world. … We used to think of it as a vascular issue; now migraines are seen as a brain issue where your brain starts to fire inappropriately. I always tell people it’s the “safer” version of a seizure.
And concussions—we definitely take those more seriously now. I worked with a doctor who pioneered treating concussions. Fifteen, 20 years ago nobody treated them; they just kept [patients] in a dark room. … A lot of our therapies and testing is becoming mainstream. It’s almost like someone rolled their ankle and they were told to rest and never rehab.
Even if the MRI and CT is normal, it can still mean a brain injury. I think the challenge is still trying to understand what is the best way to test for it and what is the best way to treat it. I think it’s good that people identify it more. People are taking it more seriously. You see athletes now have concussion protocols. Overall, things continue to improve.
WHEN: April 12 at Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC)
WHAT: The greater Boca Raton community comes together for a walk to raise awareness and funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, with 1- and 3-mile walks starting at 9 a.m. after a short ceremony.
WHEN: April 26 at Royal Palm Place
WHAT: Keep the Sunday Scaries at bay with this weekly farmer’s market, boasting endless vendors with fresh produce, flowers, freshsqueezed juices, artisan wares, live entertainment, gourmet bites and more. Go while you can, because the last market of the season is May 3.
How is the brain so important, yet we know so little about it?
The hardest thing is we don’t have a great biomarker. Everyone knows their cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, but there’s not one test that really tells you about your brain health, and that’s the greatest challenge.
WHEN: April 30 at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
WHAT: Explore the nature preserve, Ashley Trail and boardwalk and discover native and migratory birds; binoculars are recommended while searching for warblers, gnatcatchers, woodpeckers and more.
WHEN: April 11-26
WHERE: Studio One Theatre at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton
COST: $35-$45
CONTACT: 561/297-6124, fauevents.com
The second in a trilogy from playwright Joanna Castle Miller, “INFERNA” follows “CONVERSA” in Theatre Lab’s ’25-‘26 season, but you needn’t have seen the prior play to enjoy this one. It’s set on a mostly empty theater stage, where Castle Miller plays a young playwright who, with the help of a male actor, plumbs the childhood experiences that shaped her faith and career, from church activities to school plays. Castle Miller and her scene partner embark on a series of comedic reenactments, stories from their past and musical performances that shed new light on the various scripts that Castle Miller’s character was expected to follow, ultimately discovering sobering insights about the mentors of her youth.
WHEN: April 23, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
COST: $56.93-$343.86
CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org
Professorial but entertaining, a provocateur but not a partisan, a spiritualist without religion, and a tech-savvy content creator with an aversion to A.I., Sam Harris is a rare breed of public intellectual whose seeming contradictions only enhance his credibility. The 58-year-old native Californian rose to notoriety as a key figure in the New Atheism movement of the 2000s, and his debut polemic,“The End of Faith,” stayed 33 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Later bestsellers addressed topics such as the morality of science and secular spiritualism. But there are few topics in the sphere of ideas that Harris isn’t willing to broach, from meditation and philosophy to free will, ethics and psychedelics. Harris will bring his thoughts on the road for this TED-style presentation on various cultural and scientific flash points.
WHEN: April 25, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach
COST: $108-$118
CONTACT: 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org
Bassist Christian McBride’s most recently formed group is called Ursa Major, and it’s a fitting name: McBride is, indeed, a big bear in the world of jazz. The Juilliard-trained musician’s career has encompassed everything from duo performances to big bands, and he’s appeared on more than 400 records spanning the spectrum of popular music, from Sting to Celine Dion to the Roots to Renée Fleming. Gregarious when he needs to be, McBride is something of an unofficial spokesperson for jazz, having run the Newport Jazz Festival for nine years, and leading his own cruise, McBride’s World at Sea, which departed from Fort Lauderdale in January. He has described Ursa Major, which he formed in 2022 with upstart players in their 20s, as his “all in” band, combining his many musical interests into a tight, grooving, swinging quintet.
WHEN: April 10-12
WHERE: Fort Lauderdale Beach, 1100 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
COST: $365 and up for three-day passes
CONTACT: tortugamusicfestival.com
If SunFest seems to have sunset, then Tortuga’s increasingly eclectic lineups have helped make up for its absence. Headliners for the 13th-annual festival don’t get much bigger than Post Malone, the rapper whose cross-pollinating approach to genre has led to album sales topping 150 million—with nine diamond-certified songs to his name, second only to Drake in that pantheon. While country music continues to dominate Tortuga—the other top-line acts include Riley Green and Kenny Chesney—surprises abound in the undercard. N.W.A. alum Ice Cube, feel-good rockers G. Love & Special Sauce, and jocular rapper Afroman—who sort-of ran for president in 2024 on a pro-weed platform—lend diversity to the lineup while retaining its beach-party ambiance. Twangy traditionalist Dwight Yoakam, Americana siren Amanda Shires and soaring adult-contemporary rockers the Fray are among the nearly 40 other artists on this upbeat docket.
After 10 years, the founder of a growing nonprofit has kept people off the floor and in a bed
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
There’s people who walk past a piece of trash, and then there’s those who pick it up and dispose of it. Suzy Broad, the founder of Sweet Dream Makers, is the latter.
COM-
I cannot walk by something that I can fix.”
— Suzy Broad
Suzy Broad, founder of Sweet Dream Makers
This page is a tribute to community citizens who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership to the city of Boca Raton and is in memory of John E.
A resident of Boca Raton for more than 30 years, she volunteered for The Giving Tree at Temple Beth El, a program where congregants could purchase items for families in need and deliver them to their homes. Here, she saw a problem that needed fixing.
“An infant is sleeping on a mat, and three little girls are sleeping on couch cushions,”she recalls.“It was an easy fix. All I had to do was go buy them a crib and buy them beds, and that’s what my husband and I did.”
According to a study by Sleep in Heavenly Peace, up to 3% of American children don’t have a bed— that’s more than 2 million kids. Reasons range from eviction, mold, escaping a violent home, cost, or a grandparent unexpectedly having to serve as a fulltime caregiver for their grandchild. Some families resort to sleeping on the floor, the couch, or using mats and blankets as makeshift mattresses; this means a poor night’s sleep, and children falling asleep in school.
Broad’s mission expanded from those Giving Tree visits, and she kept a storage unit of household goods and clothing—she remembers one woman getting excited to gift her son, a budding cook, his own CrockPot. Broad also collected communal school supplies for kids to bring for their classrooms, like tissue paper. “Nothing made these kids prouder than to walk up to their teacher and say, ‘I have this for you,’” she says. “Again, an easy fix, an easy way to make somebody feel whole and part of the community.”
Broad incorporated Sweet Dream Makers in 2016, and since 2017, it has provided 34,654 beds to more than 15,000 families in the region. In 2017, the nonprofit provided 917 beds; for 2025, that number was 7,453. Today they are partners with City Mattress, Casper, Baer’s, Exclusive Flooring and Vertical Bridge, companies that either donate or provide mattresses, bed frames, bedding and carpets at a steep discount.
As Broad was fielding requests for beds, it was natural that people just over the county line in Deerfield Beach or Pompano Beach were also asking for beds. This led to Sweet Dream Makers expanding into Broward County in 2021, and then Miami-Dade County.
“Beds need to be taken care of yesterday. A dresser, we can wait. A dining table, we can wait,” she says.“I say that it’s a sign of modern poverty.”
Everybody can relate to what it’s like to sleep on an air mattress. Everybody can relate to sharing a bed with a child. … One of the earlier cases was a grandmother. She lived on her own, [in] a one-bedroom condo. She lived on Social Security and her little bit of savings. She was fine. She never would have asked anybody for help to take care of herself. Her husband had died, [and] her daughter as an adult [was diagnosed with schizophrenia]. She had five grandchildren all of a sudden, out of nowhere, coming to live with her in their one bedroom. … We furnished beds with a priority. We had bunk beds and twin beds.
SOMETHING SPECIAL: We purchased the beds and had them delivered, and asked the kids,“What’s your favorite color? What kind of bedding do you like?” Because we were buying it anyway, why not get them what they want?
NO DOUBT: People ask me all the time, how do you know it’s legitimate? Oh, I see pictures. Nobody would sleep on the floor if they didn’t have to. Nobody would put their children [on the floor]. I mean, can there be people with substance abuse or mental illness? Sure, but that’s where the case manager comes in and makes that referral. I mean, you’d have to be so desperate for food or to pay your rent [to sell your bed].
RIPPLE EFFECT: It’s not just the bed. It’s the attitude of the kids. It’s the parent who’s a caregiver, a low-wage earner. Many are home health aides, for example, caring for us in our homes. Housekeepers. They stock the shelves, they’re checking you out at Walmart, and they can’t afford this item. And then the ripple effect with the bus driver who takes the kid to school, because the kid got a good night’s sleep, and he’s not edgy, he’s not arguing with his friends, and the teacher is able to teach because the kid’s not falling asleep in class. And us as the recipient of care ... we receive those benefits because they got a good night’s sleep, and their kids are taken care of.
sweetdreammakers.org
I always say, when I’m no longer here, no one can say I was boring.”
— Olivia Hollaus
Olivia Hollaus takes the reins of the Boca Raton Historical Society following the 27-year tenure of former Executive Director Mary Csar
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
When Olivia Hollaus was undergoing the extensive interview process for the job of executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, her answer to a question from left field embodied the spirit she would bring to the role that had belonged to Mary Csar for 27 years.
“One of the questions was, ‘what is your spirit animal?’” Hollaus recalls, to which she answered a dolphin, identifying with its versatility, intelligence and cooperativity.“They look like they’re always smiling and always happy, but they’re very smart, and they know that you can’t do it by yourself; you have to work together.”
Hollaus began her professional life as a fish out of water, moving from Boca Raton, where she spent her formative years, to Beijing, where she had studied abroad while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies and Chinese at the University of Florida.“I literally went back to China to work but with no job in place, [and] did not know where I was going to end up. I picked a random date on the calendar after I graduated from UF and went,” she says.
What began as a one-year plan inspired by her passion for the culture turned into 10 as Hollaus landed a marketing job for a private equity firm, navigating the complexities of the Chinese business world through an affability that lends itself to networking and an uncanny ability to find her footing on any terrain. When she moved back to Boca Raton in 2016 to raise her son closer to her family, Hollaus, now a mother of two, leaned into her love of fashion and dove headfirst into her next venture, Protect My Shoes, a business she started that sells shoe stuffers patented by Hollaus that preserve footwear.
community relations director, the polyglot fashionista joined the board of the Boca Raton Historical Society, where she served for six years, including two as president. It was on the BRHS board where all of Hollaus’s seemingly disparate passions and talents finally converged.
“I really kind of went in very naïve, and I wasn’t sure at the beginning how I would be able to lend my time, treasure and talent,” she says.“But fast forward to today, it really just was a very natural progression.”
“Collaboration” was the mantra of Hollaus’s board tenure, which included the development of family programming, local business partnerships, and launching Summer Sips and Sounds in conjunction with Festival of the Arts Boca. Now, as executive director of the BRHS, Hollaus looks to offer more than just the preservation of our local history.
“I think our times are different now,” she says. “Our members are looking not just for the history side of things, but they want a community, and we are a community within a community. I want to really create a cultural hub. So, yes, the history is still the core of our mission, but I think that what I’m bringing is outside-of-the-box thinking and also collaboration.
“I’m very big on collaborations, and to me, I think that when we work all together, we’re much stronger.”
Foremost among Hollaus’s collaborators is former Executive Director Mary Csar, whom Hollaus still keeps on speed dial.
Olivia Hollaus, the new executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society
“I had that idea, and for whatever reason, I think it could be my personality—and sometimes this is probably to a fault, where I don’t always assess—I kind of dove in,” she says.“And the idea turned into something that is actually a full-fledged business.”
Hollaus’ tendency to dive first and learn to swim later is one that served her not just in her career but also in her community. Urged by former Boca magazine Publisher Margaret Shuff while Hollaus worked as the publication’s
“Mary really ushered in our new museum,” says Hollaus.“During the pandemic we closed, renovated and created this dynamic, interactive museum with all these great exhibits, and she really led that effort. I think that really has changed our trajectory.”
Hollaus looks to maintain and expand upon the trajectory that Csar set for the BRHS by bolstering the society’s educational component and community involvement, as well as by laying the foundation for future success for the society.
“I want to make sure that the Historical Society will celebrate its centennial,” says Hollaus.“That’s my job, to make sure we’re solid, that we’re going to continue on through the decades.”
I’m in my eighties now, and I’m still working fulltime, and I love what I do. ... The critical thing I would say to people, in terms of an active lifestyle, is do what you like to do, and life will be good.”
— Larry Wolf
Written by JOHN THOMASON
The stories of people refusing to go gentle into that good night, to quote Dylan Thomas, are myriad. Physicist John B. Goodenough received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry at age 97, in 2019, for his groundbreaking work on lithium-ion batteries. Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira worked beyond his centenary, releasing his final feature film, in 2014, at 104. Jazz saxophonist Marshall Allen, after nearly 80 years as a sideman and large ensemble player, released his debut solo album at age 100 last year. William Shatner went to space at 90.
Boca Raton’s Larry Wolf is delighted by these high-profile examples of what he terms SuperAging, the capacity to get older without getting “old.”The founder and CEO of the marketing consultancy Wolf Group from 1978 to 2004, Wolf developed a client list that included Betty Crocker, Sunbeam and Exxon. He has since dedicated his creativity to, in the parlance of his advertising career,“rebranding” aging. Now in his 80s, Wolf believes that “default aging”— the idea of retiring at 65 or 70,“and declining as gracefully and gently as possible”—is a fallacy, and he’s written two self-help books that support his idea of the seven “A’s” of SuperAging: attitude, awareness, activity, accomplishment, autonomy, attachment and avoidance.“SuperAging,” released in 2023 with co-author David Cravit, peaked at No. 104 on Amazon’s Gerontology Social Sciences bestseller list, and its interactive cousin, the “SuperAging Workbook,” dropped in 2025. Wolf also maintains SuperAging News, a website aggregating the latest information in longevity, wellness and “un-retirement.” He shares a few of his insights with Boca magazine.
Attitude is the most critical of all the seven A’s. It umbrellas all the others, because if you believe that you can live longer, and that life can continue to be fulfilling, then you’re motivated to become more aware, to accomplish, to nurture your attachments, to practice the other six A’s. But if you have a negative, pessimistic attitude, it works against your longevity, your health span, your quality of life. There’s all kinds of scientific research on what a critical variable attitude is.
ON HIS OWN HEALTHY-AGING REGIMEN: You have to continually challenge yourself with doing new things.
I’m working with a tai chi master, and trying to master tai chi swordsmanship. You’ve never seen anything more ridiculous than me wielding a tai chi sword. But it’s very challenging, and kind of fun actually.
I’m big into exercise. I do my morning warm-up every day. I do Pilates intermittently. I’m an avid walker. I swim. Diet is very important, but it’s really very simple—portion control, avoid processed foods and sugars, eat primarily vegetarian, and above all, enjoy what you’re doing. … Mental exercise is as critical as physical exercise. I started to study Spanish, but I’m way too busy with work.
ON “BLUE ZONES,” WHERE RESIDENTS OFTEN LIVE PAST 100: Way back when, I had an Italian food company as a client; I coined the term,“spaghetti that was too good to leave in Italy.”And we went back to a little town in the middle of Sicily called Valledolmo. And I remember noticing a tremendous amount of very old people, but to get anywhere in Valledolmo, you had to walk up and down incredibly steep hills. People there were moving and exercising. So when you look at the blue zones, [in] one way or another, [residents are] all active, they’re all moving, and they all have a great sense of community. They all eat essentially very healthy diets. They intrinsically follow all the basics.
ON GOING TOO FAR WITH ANTI-AGING TECHNIQUES: The point of life is enjoying it. To be too obsessed with exercise, with diet, takes away from your quality of life. I eat fundamentally a very healthy diet, but I’ll break down a couple of times a month and have a really good steak. You have to indulge yourself and do the things you like to do, and you’ve got to take time off for recreation. There’s nothing wrong with sitting down for a few hours and watching a good movie or a good TV series. It’s critical that you say,“to hell with a rigid regimen,” and make time to enjoy yourself.
Nicklaus Children’s at Boca Raton offers comprehensive pediatric and prenatal cardiology care delivered by the Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute. Families have access to advanced diagnostics and the nationally recognized expertise they trust, with same-day or next-day appointments available* when concerns arise. Because here, your child matters most.
Town
Baguette and shoulder bags have come back into rotation
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LOEWE sunglasses, $645, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN feathered sandals, $1,195; both from Saks Boca
WALTER BAKER knit top, $158, leather shorts, $498, and bag, $498; all from Walter Baker
Knits, feathers and fun leather—we’ll take all of the above
26 Restaurants + Galleries, Spas, Boutiques and More
Beach days call for sunnies of all colors and shapes
TOM FORD men’s sunglasses, $390; from Saks Boca DANSHARI Maeko sunglasses, $550, LAPIMA Serena sunglasses, $700, BVLGARI Serpenti sunglasses, $590, MAYBACH The President sunglasses, $2,850, PRESS Speedster sunglasses, $825; all from Grove Opticians
DOLCE & GABBANA slingback pumps, $1,495, VALENTINO tote, $1,350, BALENCIAGA tote, $895; all from Saks Boca
WALTER BAKER bag, $448; from Walter Baker
PRESS Barracuda sunglasses, $825; from Grove Opticians
Woven accessories are calling our names
“The care here is thoughtful. They know just when to step in and when to let me do my own thing. I feel supported, respected, and surrounded by people who genuinely care about me.”
– Gloria F., Assisted Living
CELEBRATING THE ART OF LIVING BEAUTIFULLY AT EVERY AGE.
The season calls for neutrals with a punch of pastel
It’s a low-cost entrance, and something that’s not only functional, that’s in open space, but that’s coollooking.”
— Barry Sendach
A Boca Raton-based dome business aims to redefine housing, camping and more
Written by JOHN THOMASON
Asturdy glamping site, protected from the elements. A self-contained restaurant pop-up. A playground in a bubble. A minimalist home. Maybe even a pod on Mars someday. The reasons people purchase domes vary as widely as the myriad options from Boca Raton-based DomeSpaces.com, one of the leading providers of this increasingly popular option for alternative living, camping and entertaining.
Many of DomeSpaces’ offerings conjure futuristic sci-fi sets, including the stylish Glass Pyramid for the discerning glamper, and the CAS1040, whose elongated tube shapes resemble the sandworms in “Dune.” Yet the technology to create such spaces has existed for a century.
While American architect Buckminster Fuller coined the term “geodesic dome” in the late 1940s, the first domes—engineering marvels, based on geodesic polyhedrons, that distribute stress evenly throughout the structures and can therefore withstand heavy loads for their size—date to 1926. But according to Barry Sendach, a west Boca resident who founded DomeSpaces in 2017, the global trend in dome living only caught on about a decade ago, starting in Europe and South America.
Prior to the dome boom, Sendach says, the practice of designing each space was largely DIY.“People were fanatics, and they’d come up with their own domes,” he says.“They’d make them out of fiberglass. They’d make them out of steel parts and wood, and they’d live in it. And then, maybe 10 or 12 years ago, it just came along that they can make them less expensive.”
Sendach likens domes’ sudden resurgence to an example of the adaptive unconscious from Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller “Blink.”“People see things, and then if the right people adapt to it, it kind of catches on, especially with social media these days,” he says, noting the many influencers touting domes as lowcost, environmentally friendly homes.
in 2023, and contestants lived in three of his 23-foot domes in the final season of “Deal or No Deal Island” last year. His customers include the Girl Scouts of the USA, wellness gurus in Costa Rica, the operators of Burning Man and a NASA engineer. This year’s Golden Globes-winning actress/singer Teyana Taylor and former NBA player Iman Shumpert are among his celebrity clients.
At first blush, the business seems like a far cry from Sendach’s previous life, as a New York-based importer and exporter of decorative fabrics for the home. But aesthetics and design play just as important a role in the development of domes.“If you had something that didn’t look right, you wouldn’t buy it,” he says.“I don’t care if it’s a car or a pair of sneakers.”
To that end, DomeSpaces can customize many of its models, from the most psychedelic-looking exteriors to the most austere. The Cardinal House, with its domed roof meeting in a point like a classic opera house, exemplifies the latter, resembling the sort of structure where a country priest could live a monastic life.
DomeSpaces ships its inventory throughout the world, from ski resorts in Colorado to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Prices vary per level of luxury and style, with glass-enclosed domes fetching the highest value. A conventional glass geodesic dome runs from $21,500 to $76,000, while the intimate, 10-foot Dining POD goes for just $4,600.
While Sendach doesn’t believe his domes will replace traditional concrete-block structure homes, he recognizes that for many customers—especially the budget-conscious and “off the grid” types—his products indeed function as primary single-family homes.
Barry Sendach, founder of
DomeSpaces
And, like Zoom and Purell, DomeSpaces saw a pandemic-related boost in sales, with domes serving as ideal isolation pods.“During COVID, we sold them for schools, we sold them for yoga studios, we sold them for gyms. We sold them for people who had elderly parents. In case they caught COVID, they put them in the backyard.”
Sendach’s products, manufactured overseas but stocked, in many cases, in a Florida warehouse, are continuing to have a cultural moment. DomeSpaces domes appeared on an episode of “NCIS: Hawai’i”
“A 30-foot-diameter dome is close to 700 feet. It’s about the size of these one-bedroom apartments that you see along the highway, those three-story walkups, including the whole kitchen, bathroom, closet, sitting area and bedroom. Those are about 650 to 700 feet. That’s one dome that you could buy equipped for about $12,000 and have yourself a place to live.”
Because of their reflective properties, some of his mirrored domes, Sendach says, can “almost” be seen from outer space, adding “they’re really strong, for snow, for wind, for rain, even earthquakes. It’s a lowcost entrance, and something that’s not only functional, that’s in open space, but that’s cool-looking.”
Broten Garage Door
See Switzerland in a new light on an exhilarating journey from east to west on the country’s most inventive modes of travel
Written by ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
Whether it’s gliding through fairytale villages on scenic trains, tilting skyward in panoramic gondolas, or rattling up near-vertical funiculars, Switzerland has mastered the imaginative (and ever-punctual) art of travel. Armed with an all-in-one Swiss Travel Pass—which offers unlimited travel by bus, boat and those Instagram-worthy panoramic trains, along with free access to more than 500 museums and attractions— discover a Switzerland beyond the usual headliners.
St. Gallen: Storybook Charm and UNESCO Gems
GETTING THERE: One-hour train ride from Zurich
Within minutes of grabbing my bag at Zurich Airport, I find my way to the underground train station and set off on a direct, one-hour ride to St. Gallen. The efficiency is almost disarming; no chaos, no confusion, just a smooth glide east as quaint villages flicker past my window.
St. Gallen is a small city that flies under most travelers’ radars, yet it wows me with storybook streets and natural beauty. The magic lies in its car-free old town, where cobblestone streets weave past sidewalk cafés, chocolate shops and buildings dressed in overflowing flower boxes.
My eyes are constantly drawn upward, taking in the timber-framed houses with elaborate bay windows (or oriels) adorned with animals and mythical creatures— once status symbols bragging the owners’ wealth.
It’s worth sliding on felt slippers to visit the Abbey Library, set on a UNESCO World Heritage site and arguably one of the most exquisite monastic libraries in the world. Ornamental wooden bookshelves with carved cherubs stretch toward a vaulted ceiling where pastel Rococo frescoes speak stories of religion and science. Just as compelling is the Textilmuseum St. Gallen, which traces the city’s legacy as a global textile powerhouse. Inside: an immersion of delicate lace, intricate embroidery and hand-drawn design patterns. Both museums are included with my Swiss Travel Pass, which feels like insider access.
One afternoon, I take the funicular up to Three Ponds, where natural swimming pools, wooded trails and grassy clearings invite lingering. From the edge of a quiet ravine, with cows grazing nearby, I’m rewarded with sweeping views of the historic city and Lake Constance shimmering on the horizon.
STAY: Hotel Einstein St. Gallen, a refined base just minutes from the train station and old town.
Pilatus: Dragon Lore and Mountain Thrills GETTING THERE: Voralpen-Express from St. Gallen to Lucerne, around 2.5 hours
While most tourists post up in dreamy Lucerne, I’m headed somewhere far more mythical—a mountain where dragons were once rumored to dwell and where transportation mirrors their high-flying nature. From Lucerne’s train station, it’s a bus to Kriens, then a gondola ride that lifts me steadily above green pas-
tures dotted with grazing cows. The higher we climb, the more dramatic the views become, with Lake Lucerne glinting below and jagged peaks rising ahead.
One of the main attractions is the Pilatus Ropes Park at the Fräkmüntegg station, where you can teeter across suspended obstacles or strap into a paraglider seat to float through the forest. But the real thrill is the Dragon Ride, a cable car with panoramic windows that whisks passengers to the summit of Mount Pilatus. In just four minutes—650 meters straight up—I’m treated to breathtaking views and a few stomach-dropping moments, especially when the cart drifts into thick mist and the mountain vanishes. After a gentle tap, we arrive safely at the top.
It’s easy to see why Pilatus is whispered to be a bygone dragon territory. As I navigate the Dragon Trail, a short walking path that winds along a ridge with rock tunnels and crevices, clouds and mists drift moodily across the landscape. I half expect a dragon to emerge and chase me through the stone cutouts. I don’t spot one—but I do encounter a few ibex, wild goats with climbing skills that seem to defy gravity.
Spending the night at the secluded hotel perched atop the mountain is a must. When day-trippers disappear, a profound quiet settles in. The whipping winds outside my room make me briefly question whether the hotel might be plucked from the moun-
This page, clockwise from left: Abbey Library in St. Gallen, Dolce Riviera in Vevey, Three Weieren, Pilatus Dragon Glider, view from Pilatus
tain; somehow, that only adds to the magic.
And because this journey centers on Switzerland’s inventive modes of travel, I descend the mountain on the steepest cogwheel railway in the world: the bright-red Pilatusbahn. Even with its dramatic incline, the ride is slow and steady, inviting one to sit back and simply absorb the landscapes.
STAY: Since 1890, Hotel Pilatus-Kulm has held court atop the mountain, with a Belle Époque restaurant that delivers an elevated experience. Stay for the epic sunrises and sunsets.
GETTING THERE: Board the GoldenPass Express in Interlaken (and maybe indulge in Prestige Class with a glass of Champagne and caviar) to gaze at the passing alpine landscapes through panoramic windows on an unforgettable three-hour, 15-minute journey to Lake Geneva.
When I arrive in Vevey, the scenery shifts so dramatically that it feels like I’ve crossed into another country altogether. Palm trees line the waterfront, and Lake Geneva stretches out in shades of blue, feeling more like the French Riviera than the Alps. It’s no wonder that Charlie Chaplin and Ernest Hemingway once found inspiration (and peace from the public eye) here.
My days here unfold slowly along the lakeside promenade, where it’s a constant itinerary of sunbathing on lakefront platforms and slipping into the clear, cool water. A giant stainless-steel fork juts from the lake—a playful nod to the nearby Alimentarium
food museum and the region’s deep culinary roots. In Vevey’s old town, I wander cobbled streets and settle into Les Trois Sifflets for a Swiss essential: bubbling cheese fondue. There’s also the chance to once again whip out my Swiss Travel Pass to peruse the Swiss Camera Museum and Musée Historique de Vevey.
Above the town rise the terraced Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site where ancient vineyards cascade toward the lake. One evening, I ride the funicular up the hillside for golden hour at L’Epicurienne restaurant, sipping crisp white wine made from Chasselas grapes grown just below my feet.
STAY: Hotel des Trois Couronnes, where the spa’s indoor pool, sauna, cold showers and sun-soaked terrace make lingering inevitable.
This page, clockwise from top left: Gelmerbahn cable car in Guttannen, Voralpen Express in central Switzerland, Vevey Old Town, “The Fork” in Vevey
WEB EXTRA: For more of our travel writer’s adventures in Switzerland, visit BOCAMAG.COM/ APRIL-2026.
Three reasons to escape to Little Palm Island now
Written by DAPHNE NIKOLOPOULOS
Since 1988, the single biggest reason to visit Little Palm Island has been the castaway glow that comes from being on a secluded, private island. The four-acre retreat reachable by boat from Little Torch Key has perfected “do nothing time” with Gumby Slumber cocktails, toes-in-the-sand dining, and thatch-roofed bungalows with romantic private beaches. Looking for an excuse to visit—or return? Here are three. littlepalmisland.com
1.
Is there anything more precious than a key deer? The diminutive ungulates, which are native to the Lower Keys and very much endangered, swim to Little Palm Island from nearby mangrove islands to forage. They’re so innocent they’ll come right up to you for a close encounter of the most adorable kind—just don’t touch or feed them. Furthermore, the Little Palm water is so clear that you can observe the prolific marine life from a kayak, standup paddleboard, or Boston Whaler (all available on-island). At night, hang out by the docks and watch the tarpon and snook feeding frenzy; by day, be on the lookout for sharks, turtles, and, if you’re lucky, a manatee lolling in the sea grasses.
The all-you-can-eat experience is an occasion to be anticipated (read: come hungry) and savored. It works like this: come Sunday morning, you’ll put on your island finest and settle into a seaside table or terrace banquette for the next two or three hours. Then you’ll sip Champagne or a bloody mary— glasses are bottomless—and nibble on monkey bread while you wait for your small plates (which are actually not that small) to arrive. In food nirvana, you’ll find the closest hammock and nap for the rest of the afternoon.
Most Floridians don’t realize the world’s third-largest coral reef is in our backyard. Part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Looe Key, off Big Pine Key, is a treasure trove of marine life and offers some of the best snorkeling on the planet. Through its Paradise with a Purpose package in partnership with Mote Marine Labs, Little Palm Island will whisk you to the Looe Key reef for a day of snorkeling, during which you’ll encounter a head-spinning array of fish—the usual tropical suspects, plus bigger fish like grouper and sharks—in spectacular terrain and Windex-blue water. A naturalist swims out with guests to help spot and identify wildlife and interpret the experience.
After nearly 10 years of stewarding our seas, 4Ocean’s co-founder and foundation director reflect on their homegrown success story
Written by JOHN THOMASON
lex Schulze just wanted to surf.
It was 2015 when the 25-year-old graduate of Florida Atlantic University visited Bali, Indonesia with a group of friends to ride its legendary surf breaks. Instead of a coastal idyll, “what we found was an overwhelming amount of plastic on the shorelines,” Schulze recalls. “Just outside of the airport, right in Kuta, in the downtown area, there were just football fields of plastic washing up. … And what we couldn’t understand is the amount of fishermen that were taking plastic out of their nets and just throwing it back into the ocean. There was plastic constantly getting caught in the propellers.”
The trip would become the stuff of legend—the a-ha moment that birthed 4Ocean, the business Schulze founded in 2017 with partner Andrew Cooper.“There are fishermen that are struggling to provide for their families, to be able to make
a living, because of this material, because of this pollution,” Schulze says, of 4Ocean’s inspiration.“What if we could switch the economic model from paying them to collect fish to getting plastic? That was the first idea and concept that we had, and we brought it back to Florida.”
Schulze and Cooper began with cleanups in South Florida, buying secondhand boats from Craigslist and hiring captains. To subsidize them, they started selling apparel—signature artisan-made bracelets, designed from recycled ocean plastic, for $24, T-shirts with the brand’s logo for $30—vowing to remove a pound of trash from the ocean for every product sold.
Nine years after its founding, 4Ocean is recognized among the world’s most successful environmental businesses. Its staff, originally comprising only Schulze and Cooper, now numbers 300, with operational bases in Bali and Java, as well as Boca. (Cooper left the company in 2020.) 4Ocean made Forbes’“30 Under 30—Social Entrepreneurs” list in 2019, and this past February, the group celebrated a
milestone of 50 million pounds of trash removed from our oceans, in a ceremony at Spanish River Park attended by Boca Raton leaders and philanthropists.
The company enhanced its reach last year with the establishment of the 4Ocean Foundation, a nonprofit arm headed by Jack Lighton, former CEO of Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. Initiatives funded through the foundation include 4Ocean’s expanded, Boca-based cleanup headquarters, where custom-made ocean-cleaning technologies, such as aquatic drones and Roomba-style sand sifters, are being built.
Most recently, 4Ocean Foundation partnered with Team Brady, Tom Brady’s E1 Series offshore powerboat racing team. The foundation committed to removing 100 kilograms of plastic from the ocean for every point earned by the team in the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship (which Team Brady won), a pledge it will double for 2026.
Schulze and Lighton sat down with Boca magazine to discuss the progress of 4Ocean—and the work that still needs to be done.
Outline the problem. Why and how does so much plastic wind up in and around our oceans?
Schulze: There’s a lot of different numbers out there, but it’s estimated over 34 billion pounds of plastic enters the ocean every year. And so you hear these large numbers, and it’s very overwhelming. But I can tell you from personal experience traveling to these different areas that we are very blessed in the United States to have waste management infrastructure. When you toss something away or recycle it, it really does go, to you, away. You don’t have to deal with that.
In these developing countries that we’ve traveled to, we see issues
where they have a lack of waste management infrastructure. Materials develop and build up in their backyards and literally end up polluting the waterways and the rivers and the coastlines that they deal with. So this material is entering the ocean at an absolutely explosive rate. And these plastic components are not only damaging wildlife in these different areas, but they’re being ingested by wildlife.
Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. Jellyfish is one of their staple diets. That’s a big component, where a lot of turtles are dying from consuming plastic bags or microplastic. … It’s also making its way into the food chain, so we, as humans, are being affected by microplastic as well. Basically, it’s an endocrine disruptor. It’s affecting hormones overall. And it’s estimated that we are consuming a credit card’s worth of plastic per month right now. Plastic acts as a sponge and really does suck up a lot of toxic chemicals.
So it’s creating problems all around the world, and the number of pounds of plastic that’s produced yearly is exponentially increasing, which is why we are working very hard to clean the ocean. But we also educate on how we can reduce the amount entering the ocean in the first place.
How did you approach fixing such a daunting problem?
Schulze: One of the phrases that I really like is,“Think global, act local.”And so that’s one thing that we really wanted to try and do, is view a model that we could set up, that we’d be successful to implement on a local-based level, but something that could scale to a global effort.
For anybody that has done cleanups before, it’s not easy. You’re in the sun, you’re sweating, you’re pulling crazy volumes of plastic.
“I love the fact that 4Ocean’s mission is crystal, crystal clear. We don’t try to do everything for everyone. We clean the ocean, the rivers, the coastline, and we educate people.”
—Jack Lighton
And it’s very hard to reach these different areas, with the machinery and equipment needed.
And so it was very overwhelming when we started, but we really wanted to go for progress, not perfection … the idea of, can we find a way to fund this? Can we start out with a local cleanup and expand it? That was more along the lines of keeping our sights set on the future but keeping our head down in terms of the work, to build this brick by brick, to be able to expand captains and crew and grow our cleanup operations at a large scale.
What are some of the countries where you’ve had the biggest impact?
Schulze: The biggest impact is, without a doubt, Indonesia. We did set up operations in Haiti for a while, but there was so much political unrest, and the president got assassinated, and it was no longer safe to travel there, and so we were not able to continue operating. Lighton: A lot of our local readers will say, why Indonesia? Why aren’t we doing it in Boca? We are doing it in Boca. And Alex and 4Ocean have been working with the city of Boca for a very long time. But Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. It’s part of the Coral Triangle. Alex has pinpointed the areas
around the world where 4Ocean and 4Ocean Foundation can have the maximum impact, meaning we’re removing more quantities there than we would ever be able to remove in some parts of the United States. … The ocean is one body of water, and it all moves around on currents.
You started 4Ocean as a for-profit business. Are there things you could do as a for-profit that you couldn’t as a nonprofit?
Schulze: Yes. When we first started, we looked at what it would look like to do a nonprofit 501(c)(3), or to do a business. We wanted to look at it as an aspirational brand. Starting out initially as a foundation would have limited us to be able to do certain things, such as operate internationally with very minimal yellow tape. If we want to go set up a cleanup operation, we go and set up essentially like a business: We hire people locally, we get started, we file the necessary permits, and we’re off to the races. I really was inspired by what Yvon Chouinard and Patagonia were able to do [The outdoor apparel company has a foundation arm, Patagonia Action Works, focusing on
environmental causes. —Ed]. I knew that I wanted to build a brand that would have a lasting impact.
And so we’ve seen people that have built these movements. You see Yeti, you see Patagonia and Toms Shoes, and these brands that have a concept that builds people around an idea. I do believe, at the end of the day, we have to make cleaning the ocean and sustainability cool. I talk a lot about leveraging athletes, influencers, celebrities. That was one of the main focuses, starting out with a brand and a business.
And we did start out as a business, but we’re a public benefit corporation. As an LLC, you are purely accountable to direct return to shareholder value. As a public benefit corporation, the mission is held on the same level as the bottom line, not purely as far as shareholder interest.
Speaking of your brand, how does it feel to see your iconic logo sticker on the back of some stranger’s car?
Schulze: It’s pretty cool. That’s one of the funnest things. I get texted all the time of people in different countries, different states, just sending us photos of the stickers on people’s laptops or on the back of cars, and it’s so cool to see that level of commitment to the clean ocean movement.
How has the 4Ocean Foundation expanded the mission, and how did it get off the ground?
Lighton: Alex helped launch the foundation at a point in time where 4Ocean, the public benefit corporation, really matured and had the cleanup operations in a very sophisticated, very effective way. I have been very fortunate to run a number of nonprofits, both here in South Florida and then internationally. I’ve known Alex for a long
time, and he supported me personally and professionally when I was at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. We aligned on the mission, but we really aligned personally, and that means a lot to me.
When Alex explained his vision for the model of 4Ocean, which is very similar in structure to what Patagonia has created, to me as a nonprofit executive, that was incredibly intriguing. Many nonprofits establish themselves with a vision, and then they have to fundraise to build every single piece of the infrastructure. … Alex had already built the infrastructure, and then a portion of that system was essentially inherited and taken over by the Foundation. It was effective. It was built. It was established, blueprinted, and very, very scalable from day one.
And to me, as a nonprofit leader, I’m all in to build the infrastructure of a world-class organization. But wow, was it fun to step into 4Ocean Foundation and know that we had the blueprinted support of essentially a battle-tested business infrastructure. It is a world-class change from how most philanthropies are set up, not to mention having an independent, outstanding board of directors and all of the tools made available to us by 4Ocean. It really allowed the foundation to launch year one and catapult to over 3.5 million pounds of pollution collected in year one. It’s just an outstanding number.
Schulze: I was fortunate to be able to do a panel discussion with Tom at the E1 event that was held down here in Miami. And this is an amazing thing; more celebrities are getting involved with sustainability-based activations. They’re becoming more aware of what’s happening across the world when it comes to plastic pollution, and the impacts it is having on both humans and wildlife.
“I’m thrilled that people like Tom Brady, the GOAT, are driving sustainability forward, because we need to make sustainability cool.”
—Alex Schulze
I had the chance to connect with Tom. It was pretty intimidating. He was locked into a conversation. We had a very busy event, and there were people everywhere, and he and I got a chance to talk for five to seven minutes, and he was just locked in. He’s very passionate about ocean conservation. And so for him, with E1 supporting sustainable race series, they wanted to partner with 4Ocean as their sustainability partner to help fund the cleanup of plastic from the ocean.
Lighton: You can imagine that Tom Brady doesn’t put his fingerprint on an organization unless they’re ready, they’re validated, and they’re verified. So it was a huge honor to have him come onboard. And so much has come off of that. To see the commitment that Team Brady has to sustainability in all levels of their team’s operation, and then their desire to do something incredibly tangible with us, which is clean up the ocean, we could see, hear and feel that Team Brady was operating at another level.
Schulze: Many people are so intimidated by the overwhelming facts and statistics around plastic, and does it really matter the straw that I use or this bottle that I use, and does it really have an impact? What I like to tell everyone is, take baby steps. We’re starting out with the lowest hanging fruit that our captains and crew are finding on a daily basis—single-use plastic bottles, plastic shopping bags, plastic cutlery, disposable red plastic cups—all the
materials that you use on a daily basis that provide a certain level of convenience.
We just encourage [people] to take one at a time. Let’s just tackle water bottles. Make a commitment, or at least try: Instead of buying water bottles, I’m going to bring a reusable bottle with me everywhere that I go, and I’m going to try and refill that. Then the next thing, I’m going to put reusable bags in my car when I go to the grocery store, and I’m going to turn down those plastic bags.
Plastic is a wonderful material. Plastic is not the enemy, at the end of the day. It’s the application or the utility of the plastic that has to be targeted. Plastic by nature is amazing—it’s lightweight, it’s cheap to produce, it’s mold-resistant, fire-resistant, rot-resistant. But when you put it into application like single-use plastic, that might be used for six minutes going from the grocery store to your home, and then you’re going to toss it out and it lasts forever, that is the kind of thing we try to target here at 4Ocean.
So what I would recommend to individuals out there is just start small. Little acts add up, and collectively we could have a massive impact together.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS & JOHN THOMASON
It might take multiple trips to the park to spot a roseate spoonbill or pileated woodpecker in the wild, but snowbirds are not among Florida’s most elusive“species.”As you know all too well if you’ve driven on a road or tried to make a restaurant reservation or visited Costco during the winter months, our population explodes between October and May. Approximately 1 million additional residents alight to the Sunshine State during the winter and spring, according to Florida Realty Marketplace.
While the majority of snowbirds are retirees in their 60s and older, younger
Marine Transport
It’s a long drive from Florida to New York, but it’s even longer when you’re hauling a 53foot center console yacht. Paul Laird, founder and owner of Marine Transport, knows the route well, making the trip regularly with everything from humble 25-footers to Goliath
residents, many in their 40s and 50s, have begun to embrace #snowbirdlife thanks to the convenience of remote work. Whatever their age, snowbirds tend toward highnet-worth individuals whose accumulated treasures—from boats and luxury cars to priceless artworks and antiques—often travel with them between homes.
With Boca Raton ranking among the top Florida cities for snowbirds, and with “The Season” winding down, we reached out to five area professionals who can help take a load off for this discerning clientele.
megaboats in the 80-foot range in tow.
“I have no limit on the size I can do,”
Laird says.“To me, it depends on how big somebody’s checkbook is. I can do any size you want if you want to pay for it.”
There’s a characteristic bluntness to
Laird, informed by more than 25 years of expertise; he can look at any boat and tell you on the spot how much it would cost to transport it to the Northeast or out to the Midwest, where much of his snowbird business comes from.
“A 25-foot boat from here to New York would be in the $5,000 to $6,000 range,”says Laird.“A 53 HCB [a luxury brand of center console yachts–Ed.], that would be $15,000.”
Weight, Laird says, makes no difference. When you’re hauling boats along the inconsistent road terrain of eight different states across the span of a few days, it’s the length and width that make all the difference.“If you haul 10 cars, it’s the same weight as hauling a 53 HCB,” says Laird, adding that there are regulations and permits for hauling oversize loads that vary across states.
“You have to have permits, you can only run in daytime, you have restrictions on where you can go, you have restrictions on what time you can go,” explains Laird.“Every state is different. Some states you can travel 24/7, like Kentucky and Tennessee.
Florida you can travel seven days a week but only sunup to sundown.”
Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in fines up to $1,000 and, in extreme cases, revocation of permits.
“All that stuff adds a lot of time as far as us getting from point A to point B,” Laird says.“You can do a 25-footer from New York to Florida in a day and a half, two days at most. A 53-footer this time of year [winter, due to shorter days–Ed.] could take three to five days depending on restrictions.”
Still, for Laird, it’s not the regulations or elements that are the biggest hindrance; it’s the roads themselves.
“There’s things that are out of our control, like roads. We can run air ride trailers, which helps, but we still can’t control a state’s roads. … Not all roads are like Florida’s. Most of
them are way, way worse,”says Laird, in particular citing Louisiana’s pocked roads as a treacherous stretch for boat transporters.
Trips are made by Laird or a member of his team, with boats hauled by semi trucks loaded with custom-built boat trailers. As an added service, clients can request that Laird and his team shrink-wrap the boat and secure materials inside so nothing is damaged in transit. When the boats arrive, the expectations are always the same from clients.
“They just want to make sure a boat shows up with no scratches and damage to it,” says Laird, whose record speaks for itself among clients, who feel comfortable enough to not even request the optional GPS tracking service.“Most of my stuff is word of mouth, so if they already called me, then they already know me.”
“If you haul 10 cars, it’s the same weight as hauling a 53 HCB,” says Laird, adding that there are regulations and permits for hauling oversize loads that vary across states.
— Paul Laird
The day before his interview with Boca magazine, Fortress Storage owner Tom Burns had received a call from a client: Half a million dollars in Hermès bags needed to be picked up. His tone suggested that assignments like this are common—a typical Thursday, in this case—for a company that handles collections exceeding billions of dollars in value.
“There have been copies of the Declaration of Independence that we’ve handled,” Burns recalls.“Princess Diana’s dresses traveled all over the country, and we were involved when they were doing that.”
Everything from World Series trophies to dinosaur fossils and the original motorcycle from “Easy Rider” have been transported on Fortress’ specialized trucks.“It’s anything that requires care, security, appropriate temperatures, chain of custody.”
Burns, 41, is the second-generation owner of the family business launched by his father-in-law in 1981. The flagship Fortress, opened in Miami in 1983, lives up to its name as a facility whose hundreds of vaults contain items of immeasurable value, climate-controlled and protected through nine levels of security. A second Fortress, in Boston, opened later. Fortress’ local clients
extend from the Keys to the Palm Beaches and westward to Naples, and luxury moving services have been a part of its business model since the beginning.
“Each item is obviously unique, so we have to come up with a specific packing plan for each item,”Burns says. His drivers—all trained in the practice of fine-art handling— control designated art trucks, delivering Florida snowbirds’ most priceless items on cross-country journeys to and from Aspen, Jackson Hole, the Hamptons, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and other points northeast and west. Two drivers, rotating duties behind the wheel, stop only to refuel.
Arriving at the client’s seasonal home often involves more than just uncrating the precious cargo; it can also mean full-home installs.“Some of these projects take a month of getting a home ready in terms of what we’re putting in it. So these are very large-scale installations,” Burns says, always with an eye toward white-glove service— sometimes literally.
“We did a home recently that was in your area, and everything was white—the floors, the walls, the marble, the counters, the furniture, everything,”he says.“So we had to buy special non-marking shoes for our employees
to wear in the house. Obviously we wear gloves when we’re handling items, but if they’re handling big items, and they’re having to put their whole arm around them, they’ll wear sleeves that go all the way up the arm.
“These homes now in South Florida are really complete design visions and installations of the owners and the design team. So we are part of executing that carefully. And we say that in our business, only 100% perfect works, because of the expectations of our clients and their teams.”
While handling multimillion-dollar items on an everyday basis might inure someone to the novelty of such inventories, Burns still finds himself gobsmacked by some of the treasures that enter through the Fortress walls.
“When we are handling dinosaur fossils that are millions of years old, that’s when you really feel the responsibility of what you’re doing,” he says.“Because you’re like, this object has lasted this long. We’ve dealt with Egyptian collections and Greek and Roman collections, and things that tell the story of people and how there’s been a need to make art for millennia. So to be involved in the caretaking and continuation of that is always a little bit humbling and meaningful.”
Contrary to a certain television theme, a horse isn’t a horse, of course. Equines constitute more than 400 different breeds, with various personalities, needs and vocations. In the world of equestrian sports alone, there are hunters, jumpers, dressage horses, polo ponies, eventers, drivers, vaulters and endurance horses, not to mention animals kept for trail riding, rodeos and personal use. Whatever their area of expertise, they’re all welcome on the large-bodied cargo planes of the Dutta Corporation.
Founded in 1988 by longtime horseman J. Tim Dutta, the namesake company has emerged as, in Dutta’s words,“the largest shipper [of horses] in the world.”The Dutta Corporation has been the official transporter of the Winter Equestrian Festival for more than 30 years, servicing an industry that, in 2025, generated $536.2 million in economic impact for the county, according to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Much of Dutta’s business, which is based in Wellington, is seasonal, with owners transporting their beasts to second homes or show fields in Argentina, Mexico, Europe, California, Doha and Saudi Arabia. During the peak winter equestrian season in Florida, Dutta ships close to 2,000 horses in and out of Wellington and Ocala.
This growth has been exponential. When Dutta started the company, equine transport was “in its infancy,” he says.“Horses were being transported by freight forwarders and not specialty horse transport companies. And mine was one of the first ones that was staffed, in every layer of the operation, by lifelong horse people.” Dutta’s own horses have competed in dressage in the U.S. and Europe, and he and his son Timmy, who serves as the company’s South American sales and special projects manager, play polo in their spare time.
“If you don’t know horses, you won’t
be able to deliver excellence,” Dutta says. “It’s not moving a bag of potatoes. It’s a
living animal. Most are very expensive, and people’s dreams and lives are intertwined to it. So you cannot make a mistake.”
The company’s cargo planes—777s, 747s or 767s—can fit up to 83 horses in Jet Stalls of various sizes and price points, similar to humans opting to fly coach, business or first class. Similarly, in terms of their flight demeanor, horses are “like you and me,” Dutta says.“Some people need a rosary and a gin and tonic; other people go to sleep. Some are nervous nellies, and some don’t care. Some are road warriors. … We have to read our horses and get to know them, and go from there” to determine if sedation or tailored comfort is needed.
Whether the cargo in question is headed to an event venue in the Middle East or a personal homestead in Maine, Dutta, as much as anyone in his business, appreciates its value, in terms both actual and sentimental, personal and professional. He enjoys building rapports with repeat clients—discerning customers who know the difference between a smooth flight and a cramped ground transport of their signature asset.
“To go to California, it’s four days on the truck, whereas nine hours by plane,” he says.“If you’ve got a few million dollars tied up on a horse, what would you do? It’s a no-brainer.”
Whether it’s outfitting the artistic vision for a megayacht or transporting Robert Indiana’s iconic “Hope” sculpture—all of its three tons and 13 feet in height—to its permanent home in downtown Manhattan, every day and every assignment is unique at Rosenbaum Art Services.
“We’ve installed sculptures at the John Hancock building in Chicago [The 14th-tallest building in the U.S.—Ed.],” recalls Howard Rosenbaum, owner of the eponymous business.“We sell artwork to cruise ship lines. When they outfit a ship, they buy a major collection. That has to all be synchronized with when the ships are in port, and when they’re leaving. … It’s a fun business, and it’s been exciting.”
Snowbirds utilizing Rosenbaum Art Services to transport their most precious art to their various homes place trust in Rosenbaum’s reputation as a gallerist—Rosenbaum Contemporary, on Yamato Road, is a staple of Boca’s art scene, with roots dating back to its first location, in Fort Lauderdale, in 1979—and in Howard’s passion for all things fine art. In addition to shipping, handling and storage through Rosenbaum Art Services, he runs a custom framing division.
“We’re a fully vertical, one-stop shop for people who are collectors, or looking to be collectors,” he says.“For people who love art, who are not necessarily collectors, we introduce them to younger artists, and that’s why we have the two galleries [The other is on Palm Beach.—Ed] servicing not only the local market, but we ship internationally and around the country.”
Part of the planning for a Rosenbaum moving job is developing bespoke solutions for clients.“You can make an assumption that everything’s going to be hung normally,
five feet off the ground, but that’s not necessarily true,” he says.“We could show up in an installation where this needs to be hung over a staircase, where we need special scaffolding to carry through on the process properly. … Art installation is not just about having a picture hanger and a hammer. Our installers have been in the business, many of them for decades, and they understand how to work with materials, how to handle the art so it’s archival, so nothing in the process damages the artwork.”
For Rosenbaum, success has meant seldom declining a project, from entire outdoor sculpture gardens to room-sized installations.“We’ve installed monumental Botero sculptures that are 30 feet in height, that require multiple cranes,”he says.“We many times have to deliver artwork to high-rises for major collectors, where we actually have to remove the windows and work with our crane operator and hoist the work through, let’s say, a terrace or a large removed window on a penthouse floor of a major condominium on Boca beach or Miami Beach.”
With a client list that includes celebrities, athletes and Fortune 500 CEOs, Rosenbaum has moved“major works by some of the greatest and most well-known contemporary and modern masters,”he says. His clients’ common denominator is an attachment to the items that goes beyond placing them on a pedestal and forgetting about them.
“Some have very sentimental value,” he says.“Other [owners] enjoy the work, but it also is an investment, so it’s part of their portfolio. Many of the works they’ve spent a lifetime acquiring, so there’s a lot of stories, a lot of history. It means a lot to them.”
right, overseeing an installation
When it comes to protecting your home while you’re away, you can never be too selective on who is going to be checking in.
“What we feel is the difference between home watch as an amateur type of setup versus how we’re trying to attack the market is licensed inspections,” says Michael Karp, co-founder of Boca Raton-based property management company Zoozah. It’s this licensing—done by InterNACHI standards, the leading association for home inspectors—that separates someone who answers a Craigslist ad for house sitters and a professional that looks over and manages the property in rigorous detail.
Zoozah takes its name from the Hebrew word “mezuzah”—the sacred parchment affixed to the door of Jewish homes that doubles as a blessing and signification of a home’s adherence to the Torah—and the business began as a koshering service for traveling Orthodox Jews. It has since morphed into an all-inclusive home service covering everything from home watch and concierge services to facilitating home services through a network of vetted vendors.
For Zoozah’s clients,“we’re set up to handle the concierge aspect of the home and lifestyle management, and then also the weekly inspections that we can get the data from, so that we can make sure that whenever they get there, everything is as it needs to be,” Karp says.
When a licensed home inspector conducts a walk-through of a home, they’re looking at not just the things that would be obvious to the untrained eye, but subtler details that could point to larger issues. The largest issue of all, in South Florida’s merciless humidity, is mold.
“With snowbirds, they’re not South Florida natives, and they don’t get the mold situation down here, that it’s everywhere,” Karp explains.“Mold is almost inevitable down here, but you need to catch it as quickly as you can. There’s a big difference between catching mold within one week versus catching it within one month.”
Zoozah home inspections begin with a full-on residential inspection to gauge the overall home health, and then transition to weekly or monthly inspections depending on the tier selected from Zoozah’s subscription model. The flagship subscription
Zoozah Founders Michael Karp and Jared Kaplan
“With snowbirds, they’re not South Florida natives, and they don’t get the mold situation down here, that it’s everywhere.”
includes detailed weekly inspections of the interior and exterior of the home and mail collection with an optional digitization service. In addition to mold, inspectors also look for any signs of water penetration; check the home’s overall electrical, structural and plumbing integrity; and assess storm-preparedness.
Zoozah’s flagship subscription model also includes management of up to 10 vendors, which for most clients include utilities and HOAs, but can also include optional vendors from Zoozah’s curated network of home care service providers. Flagship members also have access to the concierge service, an amenity particularly appreciated by their mostly snowbird clientele.
“Think of a general concierge when you go to a hotel. It’s kind of combining that
—Michael Karp
level of white-glove support,” says Karp, with Zoozah providing everything from vehicle transport from the airport to stocked fridges and flowers on the table.
All costs and services, as well as digitized important home documents, can be accessed through Zoozah’s proprietary app, designed by Karp, whose background is in data science. The idea being that clients can have all information related to their homes at their fingertips, while leaving the everyday management to Karp and his team.
“We want to take all of that stress off the client,” Karp says.“They shouldn’t have to worry about those things. Just move it on over to us and we’ll handle all the details. You go back to playing tennis or wherever you want to be in the world.”
Champion of Children Award Recipient Vertical Bridge
Honorary Chairs
Dr. Tara & Tony Ruberg
STEP AHEAD SPONSOR LEAPS AND BOUNDS SPONSOR
Burns Family Foundation
Event Chair
Danielle Rosse
FOOTPRINT SPONSOR
Christine E. Lynn, E.M. Lynn Foundation
Proceeds benefit Best Foot Forward’s academic success and student support programs for foster and at-risk youth.
Scan the QR code to purchase tickets, or for more information, please visit BFFBash.org.
Top Doctors spotlights select physicians who have been carefully chosen for their standing and contributions to the medical communities in which they serve.
Florida Magazine Association (FMA) Award-winning section
Rafael C. Cabrera, MD, FACS
SPECIALTIES: Aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery; facial rejuvenation/reconstruction
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
B.A. with Distinction, Cornell University, NY
MEDICAL TRAINING: New York University School of Medicine
RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP: General and Plastic Surgery Residencies, Wound Healing and Microsurgery Fellowship, New York University Medical Center, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery; Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
At Plastic Surgery Specialists of Boca Raton, excellence is the foundation of every procedure performed by Dr. Rafael Cabrera. His aesthetic mission is simple: to enhance your natural beauty by subtly reversing the signs of aging. He is a renowned reconstructive surgeon specializing in skin cancers, including extensive basal and squamous cell reconstruction, Mohs repairs, and melanoma excisions, with and without sentinel lymph node biopsies. His state-of-the-art facility features three fully accredited operating suites, allowing most procedures to be performed safely under local anesthesia.
With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Cabrera understands that achieving the best aesthetic results doesn’t always require aggressive techniques. “The best way to attain a harmonious result is not to maximally use one tool but to employ a variety of methods for optimal outcomes.” He believes that anatomy dictates the procedure. His philosophy has earned him a longstanding reputation in the community, building trust and gratitude among countless patients.
He prides himself on creating natural-looking results that enhance rather than overly alter one’s appearance. “Ironically, achieving a subtle, natural look sometimes requires significant skill and effort,” he adds. Dr. Cabrera adopts a thoughtful, patientfocused approach. “If something isn’t right for you, I will recommend a more appropriate alternative,” he assures. He conducts thorough evaluations to determine the sources of signs of aging and stress, providing honest opinions on available options. Restoring a youthful appearance often requires a tailored plan that incorporates both surgical and nonsurgical techniques such as fat grafting, platelet-rich plasma, and a wide array of skin treatments.
SPECIALTIES: Refractive cataract and corneal surgery
UNDERGRADUATE: Harvard University
MEDICAL TRAINING: University of Florida
RESIDENCY: Ophthalmology, University of Virginia
As the second-generation refractive surgeon leading the team at Cohen Laser & Vision Center, Dr. Joshua Cohen has enjoyed the “privilege of a lifetime” to work alongside his now-retired father, G. Richard Cohen, MD, who founded the clinic in 1992: “I can’t say enough about what an amazing opportunity it’s been to work with my dad and build from that legacy.”
Joshua Cohen has continued the family-owned ethos nurtured by his father. “Our reputation has been built off this idea that we want to treat patients with respect to foster a personal relationship before any procedures are planned. It’s important that patients know all their options and trust the process, especially when vision is at stake.” To achieve outstanding results, Dr. Cohen consistently adopts the latest technologies and surgical techniques, like EVO ICL and custom-ablation LASIK. He also presents research at local and national conventions.
In addition to comprehensive eye care, “we specialize in advanced laser cataract surgery, and we have experience with all the latest intraocular lens technologies,” he says. The Center also offers corneal crosslinking and CTAK, which is a custom-fit corneal inlay for keratoconus. CLVC is also currently recruiting patients for an FDA trial for Opti-K™, a pioneering presbyopia treatment. “We try to get patients out of glasses and contacts so they can live their best lifestyle in South Florida without worrying about those hindrances,” he says.
SPECIALTIES: Reproductive Endocrinologist, Fertility Specialist, Double BoardCertified in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
MEDICAL TRAINING: University of Florida
RESIDENCY: Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell in New York City
FELLOWSHIP: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Reproductive Medicine Associates in New Jersey
SPECIALTIES: Medical Director, Reproductive Endocrinologist, Fertility Specialist, Board-Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology
MEDICAL TRAINING: University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University
RESIDENCY: Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Temple University in Philadelphia
FELLOWSHIP: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Reproductive Medicine Associates in New Jersey
Recognized among the top 10% of fertility clinics nationwide by Newsweek for the past three years, Boca Fertility is a trusted source for all manner of fertility care. Drs. Roberts and Margolis lead the team with a shared compassion for every patient’s story and circumstances. “Fertility medicine allows me to apply complex physiology and advanced technology while supporting patients through one of the most emotional and vulnerable experiences of their lives,” Margolis says.
Established in 1982, Boca Fertility achieved the first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) birth in Palm Beach County. Some 44 years later, the clinic has evolved alongside advancements in fertility technology. “We use advanced embryology and laboratory technologies to optimize embryo development and selection, along with high-resolution ultrasound and individualized treatment protocols tailored to each patient,” Margolis says. “The technology supports thoughtful clinical decision-making rather than replacing it, ensuring that each patient receives care that is both innovative and personalized.”
Eli S. Levine, MD Cardiology
SPECIALTIES: Interventional cardiology, clinical cardiology, endovascular surgery, advanced cardiovascular imaging
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
Psychobiology and microbiology, UCLA
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Ross University School of Medicine, with Honors
INTERNSHIP/RESIDENCY: UCLA School of Medicine
FELLOWSHIPS: Advanced cardiac imaging, Yale University School of Medicine; Cardiology, University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine; Interventional Cardiology/Endovascular Surgery, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Triple board-certified interventional cardiologist Dr. Eli Levine started his private practice in 2016. With decades of prestigious medical training, expertise and clinical studies to his credit, he knew he wanted to make an impact in South Palm Beach County’s medical landscape, offering patients world-class cardiac care. In just nine short years, he has become one of the busiest cardiologists in the area and one of the highest volume operators in Palm Beach County.
“Our comprehensive practice focuses on minimally invasive surgical and medical treatment of heart, vascular and venous disease and specializes in complex invasive heart and vascular procedures, including coronary artery stenting, lower extremity arterial stenting, stress testing, cardiac PET imaging, echocardiograms, loop recording implantation, heart catheterization, endovascular repairs, TAVR (aortic valve replacement), Watchman device implants and minimally invasive valve repairs.
“In keeping with the latest technology in interventional cardiology, we also perform Shockwave Coronary Lithotripsy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses sonic waves to break up calcium deposits in highly diseased calcified arteries, further reducing need for open heart surgery with better outcomes.
“For detection of coronary artery disease, in addition to nuclear stress testing, we use coronary CTA and calcium scoring, both of which are non-invasive and highly accurate. These tests, done together, will lead to a much higher rate of early diagnosis and detection so we don’t have to worry about those surgical events in the future,” Dr. Levine explains.
SPECIALTIES: Cosmetic Breast & Body Specialist: Complex breast revisions, abdominal contouring, the “Mommy Makeover”, Liposculpting, Brazilian butt lifts
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: Bachelor of the Arts - Rutgers University Honors College & New Jersey Institute of Technology
MEDICAL TRAINING: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
RESIDENCY/FELLOWSHIP: Combined General Surgery & Plastic Surgery Fellowship; Chief Intern, Chief Fellow; One of the first DO students in the country to be accepted into a combined plastic surgery fellowship
Mosca Plastic Surgery has become a sought-after destination for cosmetic surgery in the Boca/ Delray area of South Florida. Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Kevin Mosca, internationally known as @DrBocaRaton on social media, attracts patients from around the world for his meticulous skill set in complex procedures in the cosmetic breast and body field of expertise.
Dr. Mosca’s results-driven approach allows him to see beyond what patients initially request. “I don’t view this as a sales opportunity,” he explains. “It’s an opportunity to help people achieve the best version of themselves by treating the whole patient—not just through surgery, but by motivating them with lifestyle modifications.”
Patients often describe their transformations as “life-changing,” a sentiment Dr. Mosca finds most rewarding. “The gratitude from truly happy patients makes it all worthwhile,” he says.
With the rise of social media and unrealistic beauty standards, Dr. Mosca emphasizes the importance of discussing realistic, achievable and safe outcomes. Over the years, his aesthetic philosophy has evolved to favor a more natural enhancement— results so refined they “keep the public guessing,” a hallmark of exceptional plastic surgery.
David
Obstetrics and Gynecology
SPECIALTIES: Obstetrics and Gynecology
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
Johns Hopkins University
MEDICAL DEGREE:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
RESIDENCY: North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical Center
BOARD CERTIFICATION: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. David Lubetkin is an experienced professional who has been in private practice in Boca Raton since 1996. He and Dr. Daniel Lorido offer a full scope of comprehensive obstetrics and gynecologic services— from annual exams and addressing gynecologic issues to prenatal care, preconception counseling, hormone replacement therapy, and pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. “We have an ultrasound tech in our office and can perform surgery in our operating room, as well as hysteroscopy and colposcopy procedures.” As the supervising physicians for Boca Midwifery, Dr. Lubetkin and Dr. Lorido provide collaborative care to patients of midwives. In addition, they are among the very few practitioners who are VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)-friendly, boasting a 77% success rate.
Daniel R. Lorido, MD, MPH
Obstetrics and Gynecology
SPECIALTIES: Obstetrics and Gynecology
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: University of Miami
MEDICAL DEGREE: University of Miami
RESIDENCY: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Daniel Lorido provides in-person care at the practice of David Lubetkin, MD, in Boca Raton and is affiliated with Boca Raton Regional Hospital. A bilingual South Florida native, he completed his residency training in June 2025 and has been practicing with Dr. Lubetkin since August 2025. Dr. Lorido is especially proud of his collaboration and teamwork with the midwives at Boca Midwifery and his great relationship with birth providers in the field, including doulas, therapists, chiropractors, and others who are involved in birth work. He, along with Dr. Lubetkin, is known for listening to his patients’ concerns, explaining their conditions, and helping them select a suitable treatment plan. He is a skilled laparoscopic surgeon and is thrilled to be back home in South Florida.
Robert S. Bader, MD
SPECIALTIES: Skin cancer detection & treatment, Mohs’ surgery, dermatologic plastic surgery, laser treatments, thread lifting, toxins & fillers
UNDERGRADUATE: The George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts
MEDICAL TRAINING: The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Doctorate of Medicine with distinction
FELLOWSHIP: Mohs’ and Dermatologic Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Dermatology--a program affiliated with Columbia University
RESIDENCY: Dermatology, Allegheny University Hospitals-Hahnemann, Philadelphia, PA; Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Dr. Robert S. Bader’s formula for success in his full service dermatology practice, R.S.B. Dermatology Inc., is to be honest with his patients, to work with them to find the best treatment options from a surgical and medical standpoint and from a cosmetic standpoint, he strives to make people look as youthful and natural as possible with the least amount of risk and cost.
“My focus is to provide a full-service dermatology experience, where you come to one comfortable office and get almost any skin-related procedure performed on the premises: fillers, toxins, age spot treatments, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, acne scar treatments, micro-needling with radiofrequency, earlobe repair, and blood vessel removal. I also perform sclerotherapy for leg veins, laser hair removal, stretch mark treatments, scar treatments, surgical and non-surgical fat reduction, eyelid rejuvenation, threadlifts, and minilifts. I listen to my patients’ desires and try to achieve their goals, while working within their budgets,” Bader explains.
“In this area of the country, the cost of medicine is significantly higher. I want to make myself affordable for everyone who needs my services. Whether a patient has a growth, rash, skin cancer, or is coming in for cosmetic surgery, I have my patient’s best interests in mind and strive to give them the best care and experience possible,” he says.
Internal Medicine
SPECIALTIES: Internal Medicine and Primary Care
RESIDENCY: Florida Atlantic University
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
BOARD CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE:
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)— Internal Medicine
Dr. Areeba Awan provides highly personalized, patient-centered care with expertise in preventive medicine, weight management, IV therapies, menopause/perimenopause hormone optimization, and comprehensive chronic disease management. Boca Prestige Concierge was founded out of a shared conviction that exceptional medicine requires time, direct access, and true physician-patient relationships - elements increasingly absent in traditional healthcare settings. Boca Prestige Concierge is an intentionally designed micro-practice, independently physicianowned and operated, allowing the physicians to care for a limited number of patients without time constraints. The physicians maintain privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and personally follow their patients through every stage of hospitalization.
Internal Medicine
SPECIALTIES: Internal Medicine and Primary Care
MEDICAL TRAINING: Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine
RESIDENCY: Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine Residency Program
FELLOWSHIP: University of Miami Fellowship Program, Hospice/Palliative Medicine
CERTIFICATIONS: Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine; Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
Dr. Jessica Eichler is a board-certified physician specializing in Internal Medicine. She is the cofounder of a concierge primary care practice in Boca Raton delivering highly personalized, relationshipbased care in a private-office setting. Dr. Eichler combines evidence-based medicine with advanced wellness and longevity services and brings extensive experience caring for medically complex and critically ill patients. She’s known for her compassionate, thoughtful, and unhurried approach to care, emphasizing accessibility, continuity, and long-term physician-patient partnerships. “There are no midlevel providers; we always see our own patients, and cover each other, so care is continuous.”
Leonard Kaufman, MD, FACS
SPECIALTIES: Urology, Men’s Sexual Health, Prostate Health
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: Emory University, Bachelor of Arts, Biology
MEDICAL TRAINING: University of Kansas School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine
RESIDENCY: University of Nebraska Medical Center General Surgery, Urology
FELLOWSHIP: University of Illinois at Chicago Urology- Male Infertility/ Andrology
POSTGRADUATE: University of Miami, MBA, Health Management & Policy
With extensive medical training and more than 25 years in practice, urologist Dr. Leonard Kaufman brings a deeply personal, relationship-driven approach to men’s health. His philosophy centers on treating the whole man first, with urology as part of a broader commitment to vitality, longevity and quality of life.
Dr. Kaufman believes men’s health is 15 years behind women’s health and is determined to help close that gap through proactive, personalized care.
He is widely trusted for helping men with deeply personal health concerns, including low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, prostate health and infertility. He has built long-term relationships with men who feel comfortable discussing concerns they’ve never shared with another physician, often extending beyond urology into energy, mood, heart health and overall wellness.
In his MDVIP-affiliated practice, Dr. Kaufman serves as the first call for men’s health and vitality. With a smaller patient panel and more time per visit, he creates highly personalized care plans. His annual MDVIP Wellness Program includes advanced screenings designed to identify risk factors early, helping patients with prevention and attaining better long-term health outcomes. Patients also benefit from same-day or next-day appointments and minimal waiting. Dr. Kaufman is available after hours for urgent matters.
“My mission is to help my patients achieve better overall health, vitality and long-term wellness, with me by their side as a trusted partner.”
SPECIALTIES: Plastic surgery, facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty, body contouring, plastic surgery for men
MEDICAL TRAINING: University of Miami
RESIDENCY: General surgery at Mayo Clinic, plastic surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine
FELLOWSHIP: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Andrew Ress developed his passion for plastic surgery early on in his medical training, gravitating to the specialty’s ability to repair all manner of cosmetic issues and defects caused by cancer or traumatic injuries. “I really like the idea of patching people up and putting them back together, and the sheer variety of procedures that we perform in plastic surgery can literally be from head to toe,” he says.
After 29 years at [liv] Plastic Surgery, his state-ofthe-art surgical center and med spa in Boca Raton, Dr. Ress has kept his zeal for improving patients’ lives through the more than two dozen procedures his clinic offers, from injectables and deep plane facelifts to hair transplants, mommy makeovers and skin cancer removals—the latter achieved through [liv] AI SkinScreen, a non-invasive, cutting-edge cancer screening technique. Additionally, “we do all the deep-plane and nano-fat facial procedures, basically what Ms. Kardashian had done,” he says. Always looking to discover technological breakthroughs that can help patients and doctors, his lab research on botulinum toxins was awarded a patent.
“For plastic surgeons, I’m very low-key,” he adds. “I enjoy getting to know my patients. I believe in just being yourself, helping people and pursuing happiness.” This positive attitude is reflected by Ress’ 400-plus 5-star reviews.
Morales, MD, FASAM
SPECIALTIES: Psychopharmacology, Addiction
MEDICAL TRAINING: Rutgers College of Pharmacy, Ross University School of Medicine
RESIDENCY: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Psychiatry
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS: Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine
As a longtime professional musician, Dr. Aldo Morales had witnessed firsthand, in many of his colleagues, the effects of alcohol and substance use. So, when it came time to sharpen his psychiatry focus on a particular subspecialty, the normalization of brain chemistry through psychopharmacology seemed like a natural fit. “I was no stranger to the environment in which people were drinking and using substances,” Dr. Morales recalls.
That spark of inspiration has led to a nearly 40year career in psychiatry. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Morales, a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is on the faculty of FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. While he says medications are often employed to counteract the negative effects of alcohol and substance use, the goal is always to restore health and lead individuals on a path of recovery. “The human body is very resilient,” he says. “Eventually, even if we don’t employ medications, people can get better with the right guidance.”
His latest project, an outpatient detox program in collaboration with Next Level Recovery, allows certain patients to undergo medically supervised detox from the comfort of their homes. “And then, once we do the detox, well, that just opens the door to the rest of what follows, which is: a new life,” he says.
SPECIALTIES: Plastic and reconstructive surgery
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: BA, magna cum laude, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
MEDICAL SCHOOL: MD, Weill Cornell Medicine, NYC, NY
INTERNSHIP: General Surgery, Presbyterian New York Hospital (Cornell Campus, NYC, NY), Plastic Surgery
RESIDENCY: General Surgery, Presbyterian New York Hospital (Cornell Campus, NYC, NY); Plastic Surgery, Presbyterian New York Hospital (Cornell Campus, NYC, NY)
FELLOWSHIP: Hospital For Special Surgery (concurrent, NYC, NY), Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital (concurrent, NYC, NY)
Dr. Cucin is a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in the full gamut of plastic and reconstructive procedures to achieve Beauty of the Face, Breast and Body. He has garnered a reputation as the “Nose Guru,” further specializing in rhinoplasty (nose reshaping). He notes that the nose is the most prominent feature of the face and can enhance or detract from your eyes and smile. In an hour-long rhinoplasty procedure, he can make a permanent change in the way people interact with the patient, more so than any other procedure in his repertoire.
SPECIALTIES: Plastic and Aesthetic surgery
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
MEDICAL SCHOOL: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
RESIDENCY: Harvard Medical School; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Dr. Brandon Elnekaveh is a board certified plastic surgeon who completed two residency programs, one in general surgery and a second in plastic surgery, where he specialized in aesthetic surgery. He offers a wide range of aesthetic procedures for the face, breasts and body, as well as vaginal rejuvenation surgery, in a state-of-the-art facility. Dr. Elnekaveh delivers personalized care through his compassionate approach and expertise and holds licenses to practice medicine in New York and Florida. He has privileges at multiple hospitals, including Broward General Hospital.
Concierge
SPECIALTIES: Internal Medicine, Concierge Medicine
MEDICAL TRAINING: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
RESIDENCY: University of South Alabama Medical Center
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
American Board of Internal Medicine
Concierge Medicine
SPECIALTIES: Internal Medicine, Concierge Medicine
MEDICAL TRAINING: Lincoln Memorial UniversityDeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
RESIDENCY: Hackensack Meridian Health –Palisades Medical Center
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine
Concierge medicine practices have grown 83% from 2018 to 2023, according to recent data from Harvard Medical School. Concierge Medicine of Boca Raton, which services patients from Boca to Boynton Beach, has emerged as the region’s gold standard for this thriving, membership-based model.
“Concierge medicine offers patients direct access to their physician, longer appointment times, and a highly personalized approach to care,” says Dr. Caitlin Prickett, who is available for her patients on a 24-7 basis. “It allows for proactive, preventionfocused medicine rather than reactive, episodic care, with an emphasis on optimizing long-term health, not just treating illness.”
Drs. Prickett and Schaumberg tailor their care to each individual’s goals, risk factors and lifestyles, and they offer telehealth or in-person visits when appropriate, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies to increase diagnostic accuracy and patient comfort. “We go above and beyond the standard of care at the practice by incorporating advanced lab testing, AI-driven cardiovascular imaging, whole-body MRIs, body composition testing and cognitive screening tools,” Dr. Prickett says. “These allow us to detect risk earlier and personalize treatment plans, helping patients achieve optimal health and performance.”
Contact Concierge Medicine of Boca Raton to schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet.
SPECIALTIES: Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: BS, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
MEDICAL TRAINING: MD, Northwestern University School of Medicine
INTERNSHIP: Columbia University St. Luke’sRoosevelt Hospital, NYC
RESIDENCY: Mount Sinai Medical Center, NYC
FELLOWSHIP: National Institutes of Health; Mount Sinai Medical Center, NYC
Dr. Stuart Isaacson is an internationally recognized expert in Parkinson’s disease, with more than 300 scientific publications and a history as lead investigator in global research programs. A boardcertified movement disorder neurologist, Dr. Isaacson established the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton in 1999, a nonuniversity academic center with a team of clinicians, nurses, research coordinators and social workers who combine a comprehensive approach to treatment with access to one of the largest Parkinson’s clinical research centers in the U.S. The Center’s vision that “No One Should Have to Wait for Parkinson’s Care” ensures new patient evaluations with a movement disorder specialist within one week.
SPECIALTIES: Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: BA, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
MEDICAL TRAINING: MD, UT Southwestern School of Medicine, Dallas, TX
INTERNSHIP: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
RESIDENCY: Harvard Medical School / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
FELLOWSHIP: University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Dr. Sagari Betté is a board-certified, fellowshiptrained expert in movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease who joined the Center in 2019 and became Assistant Director in 2024. “Our Center complements clinical care and research, offering daily lectures, therapy, counseling, and exercise available at no cost to the community, supported by the Parkinson’s Research and Education Foundation.”
Vivian Hernandez, MD, FACS
SPECIALTIES: Plastic Surgery of the face and non-surgical aesthetics
MEDICAL TRAINING: General Surgery, Cornell University Teaching Hospital
RESIDENCY: University of Illinois Hospital at Chicago
FELLOWSHIP: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, New York University Hospital/Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital; Aesthetic Fellow, Drs. Baker & Gordon, Miami, FL
Dr. Vivian Hernandez sets herself apart as a premier board-certified plastic surgeon in Boca Raton. Female patients in particular derive comfort from working with a plastic surgeon who has a unique insight into their aesthetic goals and desires.
The doctor’s personalized boutique-like practice is focused uniquely on the face and is distinguished by her signature style of care. Having trained with many of the nation’s top plastic surgeons, she is uniquely positioned to provide numerous options for the person considering facial rejuvenation, from plastic surgery of the face to a complete range of non-surgical treatments. Along with her surgical expertise, Dr. Hernandez is also a skilled injector for dermal fillers and other rejuvenating injectables including Renuva. Even for her nonsurgical treatments, she applies the same care and artistry to make her outcomes as natural and pleasing as possible.
Dr. Hernandez believes in creating a youthful, natural look and that the best results should be noticeable in the right way. That means your friends, coworkers and loved ones will only see a more rejuvenated, confident you.
“The aging process takes its toll, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally,” Dr. Hernandez says. “I want to make my patients feel good about themselves again. I enjoy my work and strive to help each individual find the right procedure to recapture a radiant self-image that reinforces their confidence and self-esteem.”
Top Dentists spotlights select dental experts who have been carefully chosen for their standing and contributions to the healthcare communities in which they serve.
Part of an award-winning medical spotlight recognized by the Florida Magazine Association (FMA)
SPECIALTIES: The Center focuses on personalized treatment for people with periodontal (gum) disease, missing teeth, dental implants and complications encountered with previous treatment. Our treatment methods are tailored to each patient’s individual needs using innovative and scientifically proven strategies.
South Florida Center for Periodontics & Implant Dentistry (SFCPID) has provided personalized, state-of-the-art care in Boca Raton for more than 35 years. They consistently work to optimize dental care for their patients through refined skills, innovative ideas and new technology while prioritizing individualized care and customer service.
“At SFCPID, we focus on restoring and maintaining healthy teeth and gums and beautiful smiles. When this isn’t possible due to decay, trauma or periodontal disease (bone loss), we create new smiles and replace teeth with implant dentistry. We are globally known in implant dentistry to seamlessly replace esthetically sensitive teeth quickly as well as a full arch of teeth in one day. Our first international publication on our methods and results in full arch replacement was in 2001 with a 99% success rate! Today, we are even better,” explains Dr. Jeffrey Ganeles.
“Our doctors know that suddenly losing a tooth due to a fracture, cavity or abscess is frightening, disorienting and debilitating. Sometimes these teeth can be repaired by your dentist with a filling or a crown. But when they can’t, call us and we can often replace the failed tooth with an implant and a temporary crown the same day. The months-long process from the past to have a tooth replaced is often obsolete. With six dental specialists in the practice, there is always someone on call to promptly address dental emergencies. Appointments do not require a referral; just call the office whenever the need arises!”.
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Frederic J. Norkin, DMD
Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery Fellow, ITI
André Barbisan De Souza, DMD, MSc Diplomate, American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry Fellow, ITI
Liliana Aranguren, DDS, MDSc
Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery Fellow, ITI
Jeffrey Ganeles, DMD, FACD
Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery Fellow, AO, ITI Board of Directors, Academy of Osseointegration
Samuel Zfaz, DDS
Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery Fellow, ITI
Ovadia Chocron, DMD
Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery
SPECIALTIES: General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Veneers and Smile Makeovers, Implant Restorations
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: BS, Biology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
DENTAL TRAINING: NYU College of Dentistry
RESIDENCY: General Dentistry, Oral Surgery concentration; Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY
Dr. Christopher Sepe’s vision has always been to bring general dentistry and specialists under one roof, ensuring the highest standard of care for his patients.
Fulfilling that goal, Dr. Sepe has recently expanded and modernized his practice, with a newly renovated facility and cutting-edge technology creating a premier destination for comprehensive dental care, welcoming a carefully curated, highly skilled team of specialists, including an endodontist, oral surgeon and periodontist.
Sepe is known for his patient-centered philosophy, “Redefining Excellence in Dentistry,” taking his time to listen, explain treatment options and build trusting relationships.
“Just as each patient’s personality is different, so are their unique dental needs. I take the time to understand their goals, calm and address any fears, and make each person feel at ease throughout each and every procedure. I build lasting relationships with my patients,” Sepe explains.
His commitment in excellence extends to his partnerships with a top local lab for that perfect “Smile Design” and investment in advanced technologies such as 3D imaging and cone beam innovation.
With precision, innovation and personalized care, Sepe Dental continues to shape future comprehensive dentistry, one patient at a time.
Zarina Staller, DMD
SPECIALTIES: General and preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, advanced technology
DENTAL TRAINING: Doctor of Dental Sciences: Colegio Odontologico Colombiano, Bogota, Colombia; Doctor of Dental Medicine: Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine, Davie, FL
Dr. Zarina Staller’s patients have their mouths open in awe before they even “open wide” in her dental chair. Mesmerized by the collection of her award-winning underwater photos, they already feel a sense of calm as they are warmly welcomed into her world.
“I am like an old-fashioned practitioner, taking the time, face to face, to build a relationship and trust factor with my patients first, then listening to why it is they came to see me. Many convey that they need a second opinion,” she relays. “I am proud that they have heard about my reputation about being a dentist who doesn’t try to sell them highpriced unnecessary procedures. Rather, I apply my talents and expertise to fix what’s needed in the most appropriate way, always striving to be their source of comfort and confidence for all their dental needs.”
Dr. Staller stays on top of the latest dental technology, including two procedures she offers for squeamish patients: The dreaded gooey impressions are now replaced by a computerized procedure that takes images of the mouth and transfers them to the lab within minutes. And for those with needle phobia, a computerized anesthesia system similar to IV sedation is used to deliver drops of anesthetic instead of a syringe.
In addition to her full-scope dental practice and various artistic endeavors, Dr. Staller shares her knowledge by teaching cosmetic dentistry to third-year dental students at Nova Southeastern University and works with Army soldiers to ensure their dental health for their upcoming deployment.
SPECIALTIES: Cosmetic and advanced restorative dentistry, smile makeovers, porcelain veneers, facial esthetic rejuvenation
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: University of Michigan, University of Florida
DENTAL TRAINING: Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine, DMD; Spear Education Faculty Club Member; American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry; International Academy of Facial Esthetics
Dr. Amanda Sindledecker is the visionary for the Sindledecker Center for Advanced Dentistry and Facial Esthetics, located in a historic building that has graced downtown Boca Raton for more than 45 years. Her passion is personalized patient care, where she strives to provide the absolute best dental and esthetic services. The Sindledecker team has been transforming the lives of thousands of loyal patients over four generations.
“My focus has always been on cosmetic dentistry and the life-changing results I am able to give my patients through smile enhancement. I see their faces light up and shine from within. The confidence a beautiful smile can give is priceless.”
Dr. Amanda truly blends her creativity, artistry and skill into every unique detail for her smile design. “We perform a variety of aesthetic services including customized porcelain veneers, smile enhancement with wrinkle-relaxers, dermal fillers and facial lasers. We use the latest technology and a personal expert ceramic artist to transform someone’s entire mouth in a matter of weeks.”
Nancy Rozs, an expert medical esthetician and licensed laser technician, is a valued member of the Center, providing customized skin care solutions and innovative esthetic treatments. She utilizes the Center’s new Helix C02 laser for skin tightening and resurfacing, the newest Virtue RF microneedling device, and the brand-new PHYSIQ 360 for body contouring.
“I feel truly blessed and honored to be able to do what I love and share my innate gifts in this incredible practice that my parents started more than 45 years ago. I can provide the most advanced cosmetic dentistry and facial esthetic care all under one roof,” Dr. Amanda shares.
Dr. Koval Orthodontics
SPECIALTIES: Treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children and Adults, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Meniere’s disease, TMJ/TMD, occlusomuscular disease and other conditions
DENTAL TRAINING: DMD degree, Boston University, specialty in Orthodontics; Master of Science degree, Odessa State Medical University; currently conducting clinical research training at Harvard Medical School
World-renowned orthodontist, researcher, inventor and Diplomate of American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Svitlana Koval launched Dr. Koval Orthodontics in 2024, specializing in treating children and adults with sleep-disordered breathing disorders, craniofacial anomalies and myofunctional disorders.
At Dr. Koval Orthodontics, airway orthodontics offers a modern, health-focused approach to improving breathing and overall wellness for both children and adults. This treatment method begins by gently expanding the upper jaw to create more space in the mouth and nasal passages, followed by orthodontic adjustments to properly align the teeth and lower jaw. By increasing airway volume, patients often experience better breathing, improved sleep quality, enhanced energy levels and long-term health benefits.
Each patient’s journey starts with a detailed consultation that includes 3D CBCT imaging, digital scans, photographs, TMJ evaluation and sleep assessments. Dr. Koval works closely with primary care physicians and sleep specialists to gain a full understanding of each patient’s airway and sleep health.
Based on this comprehensive evaluation, a customized treatment plan is created. Options may include MARPE/MSE/FME expanders, gentle Piezocorticotomy procedures*, myofunctional therapy to improve muscle function, and braces or Invisalign for alignment. Additional appliances may be used to support proper facial growth and development.
*Dr. Koval’s research role as Principal Investigator includes effects of 3D Guided Midpalatal Pieozocorticotomy Mini screw-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion in adults for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Functional Cosmetic Dentistry
SPECIALTIES: Cosmetic Dentistry, Advanced Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
DENTAL TRAINING: University of Pennsylvania, Dawson Academy, Full mouth rehabilitation, International Academy of Sleep
DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE: Residency at St. Francis Hospital, Clinical Faculty Temple University, Maurice H Kornberg School of Dentistry
Dr. Martine Forrester Cadette redefines the dental experience by focusing on complete oral health and wellness, with a foundation of getting to the root cause of dental problems that people face.
“When new patients come in for a consultation and routine dental cleaning, typically lasting 90 minutes, we often discover the progression of gum disease, which can lead to a variety of serious health conditions if left untreated,” Dr. Forrester explains.
“Chronic inflammation throughout the body has very harmful effects on many of our metabolic systems. Poor sleep and poor breathing have deleterious effects on a patient’s overall health and longevity. If you treat somebody’s airway, it has downstream effects since everything comes through your mouth. Just having good nutrition can decrease inflammation in your entire body and being able to sleep well allows your body the time it needs to rejuvenate, decreasing your risk of dementia,” Dr. Forrester explains.
“As a cosmetic dentist, I take this biomimetic, holistic and natural airway dentistry approach to all the beautiful smiles that I create. We all want to look good, but I know we also need to feel good.”
Dr. Forrester recently graduated with a Diplomate from the International Academy of Sleep. “My practice is focused on overall health, airway health and treating sleep apnea. The addition of my latest accreditation is making sure I am super qualified to do it all,” she assures.
DDS, DMD
Michael Liss, DDS, DMD
Periodontist
& Dental Implant Specialist
SPECIALTIES: Oral periodontal plastic procedures, treatment of gum recession, single implants, full arch implant reconstruction, Zygomatic implants, minimally invasive bone reconstructions
DENTAL TRAINING: DDS University Paris VII; DMD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
POSTGRADUATE: Certificate in Periodontics, Tufts University, Boston, MA; Certificate in Implant Surgery, Branemark Course, Kramer Institute, Boston, MA
RESIDENCY: Surgical Implants, Branemark Clinic, University of Leuven, Belgium
Established as a leading periodontal and implant specialist, Dr. Michael Liss applies the most advanced techniques and technologies available in modern dentistry. His clinical work spans a wide range of sophisticated procedures, including periodontal surgery (favoring teeth preservation vs. implants), treatment of gummy smiles, minimally invasive sinus lift procedures and periodontal plastic surgeries, including treatment of gum recession and correction of papilla deficiencies. Dr. Liss performs single-tooth implants, implants in the esthetic zone, full-arch implant reconstructions using All-on-X techniques, and highly complex cases involving full-arch bone augmentation. He is also experienced in soft tissue management around implants and the treatment of failing implants. These procedures require not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of both hard and soft tissue biology—areas in which he excels.
One of Dr. Liss’s primary areas of specialization is bone reconstruction. For patients who are told they are not candidates for implants due to insufficient bone volume, he focuses on rebuilding lost bone so that implants can still be placed successfully. Whenever possible, he performs these procedures using growth factors to enhance healing and improve long-term outcomes.
Focusing on real, meaningful outcomes and renewed options for patients who may have thought they had none, Dr. Liss’s goal is to provide predictability in the procedures he performs and to enhance patients’ quality of life.
April 18, 2026 at 7:30pm April 19, 2026 at 2:00pm
Join us for our Spring Repertory Concert, featuring a charming mixture of classical, neoclassical and contemporary works, including Dan Guin’s Voyage Classique.
August 1, 2026 at 7:30pm August 2, 2026 at 2:00pm
Boca Ballet Theatre is proud to present this ballet by Marius Petipa, choreographer of The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. La Bayadère is a classic tale of love and betrayal set in mythical India. Known for its dramatic story and the iconic “Kingdom of the Shades,” this ballet is a jewel of 19th-century choreography.
Having the opportunity to give the next generation of dancers that possibility of growth is what keeps me very much motivated about dance right now.”
— Gonzalo Garcia
Miami City Ballet’s new artistic director aims to keep dancers and audiences on their toes
Written by JOHN THOMASON
Ayear ago, Gonzalo Garcia did not expect to be living in South Florida, let alone leading one of the state’s preeminent arts organizations. Nor did Miami City Ballet expect to be bidding farewell to then-Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez on the cusp of the company’s 40th anniversary season. Lopez, who had been helming the organization since 2013, announced her departure with two years left in her contract.
“I’m sure it was a shock for them,” Garcia says.“She had a change of heart, and a change of heart sometimes means an opportunity for an institution to reassess what direction they want to go, and pump fresh energy. And I think that’s what they did with me.”
Indeed, Garcia is so fresh from his dance career he might as well have arrived to Miami vacuum-sealed. He retired from performance only in 2022, capping a 15-year run as principal dancer with New York City Ballet (NYCB), preceded by nine years with San Francisco Ballet. Just before his selection as Miami City Ballet’s artistic director, at age 45, Garcia coached dancers as repertory director at NYCB.
In his decades in the industry, Garcia has not only danced many of ballet’s iconic roles—including leads in “Giselle,”“Romeo and Juliet” and “The Nutcracker”—but he established relationships with today’s top choreographers. He is eyeing several for his first full season at Miami City Ballet beginning in the fall.
What drew you to dance as a child, and what still draws you to it today?
WEB EXTRA:
Garcia discusses Miami City Ballet’s final performances of its 2025-2026 season—including runs of “Carmen” and “Jewels” at the Kravis Center—at BOCAMAG.COM/ APRIL-2026.
I was very hyper. Whenever there was music, I seemed to react to it, and wanted to be part of that. And then eventually, I would see singers with backup dancers, and I would mimic it, and I would say, I want to do that. My mom and dad, who didn’t come from an artistic background, decided, once a week, let’s take him to a ballet school— probably to get rid of me for a little bit—and see what happens.
They quickly realized that I really liked it, but I also had some talent. And it turned out that María de Ávila, who was my first mentor of dance, had a school a block away from our home. … I was taken in right away. And that was it. I never looked back.
I have the same sort of passion for it. It’s who I am in many ways.
You’ve led bilingual outreach efforts to expand ballet’s reach and relevance. Why is that important, particularly in Miami?
I feel that it is important for the community to feel included in the narrative. I see Miami City Ballet as one of the strong organs of the cultural world of Miami. … Music and dance is a really big world, so I want the whole community to be part of that world. As someone that came onto the stage when I was 15 years old and I didn’t speak a lot of English, I found a lot of [Spanish-speaking] people through my life in the dance world.
Are there new directions that you hope to take the company in your first full season as artistic director?
Even before I got the job, I dreamed about what a season would look like. So as soon as I landed here, I was eager to unveil a draft of what I thought could be my first season. And people were like,“slow down, you’ll get there.” I was lucky that my season, everybody sort of loved, and it’s now in the middle of being green-lighted. And while I’m doing that, which is the ‘26-’27 season, I’m starting to think about ‘27-’28.
Have you witnessed audience demands changing for what they want in ballet performance?
Dramatically it has changed. Inevitably, generations keep moving, and that’s already a change. But COVID really sped up the process in many ways. People are more selective. … People don’t want to go to the ballet just to watch a show. They want to feel part of an experience that starts before they get to the theater, maybe, and then in between the performance. Entertainment has shifted, so the way you present dance also has to shift. There is a wave of people wanting new stories that represent a younger generation, or stories
that feel more relevant than some of the stories we’ve been seeing, especially in the traditional works. But also there is a huge comeback of the classics, of those masterpieces that people feel comfort in.“Swan Lake”is still the biggest seller. So is“Romeo and Juliet.”These big numbers in dance are not things that people are tired of. We know from ticket sales that they work. So that’s part of the conversation.
One of the big stories involving the arts in South Florida has been the loss of funding. Is Miami City Ballet feeling the pinch?
One hundred percent we’re feeling the pinch. I don’t know of any arts
organization that is not feeling the pinch at different levels.
Arts and culture are so important for humanity to keep moving forward. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity of expressing who we are, of challenging ourselves.
That’s why it’s important for me, especially as I’m new, to ... keep this community and this company alive in many different ways—not just surviving but thriving.
I’m very much finding ways to collaborate with other arts organizations here in South Florida. … I’m trying to think of ways to take this challenge as an opportunity to grow, not to stay still. We’ve got to stay together and keep this going forward, even if these are challenging times.
12:
“Camelot” at the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; $119; 561/9952333, thewick.org. One of the most enduring achievements of composer Frederick Loewe and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, “Camelot” riffs on the Arthurian legend and is flush with a timeless romanticism, netting four Tonys for its 1960 Broadway premiere. The Wick’s production is sure to be among its most lavish and enchanting shows of the season.
24:
“May I Help You, Madame?” at Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach; $28 museum admission; 561/655-2833, flaglermuseum.us. The Flagler’s high-season exhibition explores the making of the modern department store—from its origins at institutions such as Le Bon Marché in 19th century Paris through modern purveyors like Bergdorf Goodman and Lord & Taylor—and its role in transforming the lives of the women who shopped and worked at these palaces of commerce.
April 7-12:
“A Beautiful Noise” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $51.75-$172.50; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. This award-winning Broadway musical puts Neil Diamond on the couch. Book writer Anthony McCarten structures the show as a series of therapy sessions in which Diamond’s psychiatrist reads the singer’s lyrics back to him, triggering memories of his life in song—and performances of more than 25 of his hits.
Now-Oct. 11:
“Exploring Jess: Beat Generation Visionary” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org. A staple of San Francisco’s Mission District in the 1950s and beyond, single-named painter Jess is one of the more underrated artists to emerge out of the 1950s Beat Generation, creating maximalist work that integrated concepts of alchemy, chemistry, the occult, literature and popular culture.
9:
Fran Lebowitz at Glazer Hall, 70 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $143.50$172.50; 561/576-7860, glazerhall.org. The humorist, gadfly and quintessential New Yorker, whose connections to figures from Martin Scorsese to Andy Warhol have propelled more than a half-century in public life, will showcase her indelible wit and general gift of gab.
April 10:
“Lee” at Society of the Four Arts Gubelmann Auditorium, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach; 2 and 5:30 p.m.; $10; 561/655-7226, fourarts.org. Concluding Four Arts’ seasonal film series, this 2023 biopic stars Kate Winslet as pioneering war correspondent Lee Miller, who transitioned from fashion model to photographer and overcame gender inequities in Europe and America to capture the horrors of the Second World War.
John Primer at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 9 p.m.; $50.09$60.42; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. Having trained under mentor Muddy Waters, Primer was a fixture in the legendary Chicago blues scene of the 1950s and ‘60s, and has recorded on 87 albums, including more than 20 under his own name. He continues to perform the ragged classics of Chicago blues with grit and authenticity.
Miami City Ballet: “Jewels” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $46$241.50; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. This suite of three mini ballets by George Balanchine, inspired by the choreographer’s visit to jewelers Van Cleef & Arpels, includes “Emeralds” (set in a misty forest in 19th century France), “Rubies” (in a sassy Jazz Age nightclub) and “Diamonds” (a tribute to the pageantry of Imperial Russian ballet).
April 11:
Bluegrass in the Pavilion at Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach; 3 p.m.; $45; 561/655-2833, flaglermuseum.us. The Flagler’s annual bluegrass concert features a rare performance from one of the genre’s standard bearers: Mandolin and banjo player Doyle Lawson and his band Quicksilver, formed in 1979 and that mostly retired from touring in 2021. A band from the current generation of bluegrass, Carson Peters and Iron Mountain, opens the show.
“The Crucible” at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; various show times; $95; 561/5144042, palmbeachdramaworks.org. Playwright Arthur Miller took inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials for this 1953 masterwork, in which the pagan rituals of a group of women in a Puritan colony come under investigation by a local preacher. Subtextually addressing the McCarthy hearings of Miller’s time, the play continues to find contemporary resonance.
April 10-12:
“A Piece of My Heart” at Schmidt Family Studio at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; various show times; $25; 561/237-9000, lynn.edu/ events. Shirley Lauro’s touching drama is based on the true story of six women—five nurses and a country singer on a USO tour—who assisted the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. The play charts the women’s lives before, during and after their transformative time in Southeast Asia.
April 4:
Walter Smith III at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $65.50-$70.50; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org. This dynamic tenor saxophonist has released 11 albums as a leader and 16 more as a sideman for jazz greats such as Terence Blanchard and Christian Scott. His inviting trio, rooted in the smallband, adventurous tradition of John Coltrane, makes a rare visit to Delray Beach that’s a must-attend for hardcore jazz heads.
April 10-12:
Delray Affair on Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Delray Beach; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri.Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.; free; delrayaffair.com. Delray’s signature arts event for 64 years, this art fair spreads across seven city blocks, with tents lined up to the nines, offering treasures of art and craft, painting and sculpture, abstract and figurative, budget-friendly and extravagant, stamp-sized and nearly roomsized. Like Delray itself, much of their inventory is whimsical, coastal and distinctive.
April 11-12:
The Symphonia: “Vienna’s Riches” at the Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 7 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.; $58-$95; 561/376-3848, thesymphonia.org. Symphonia Conductor Alastair Willis, clad in period-specific clothing, will transport audiences to 18th century Austria in this immersive musical presentation. The program includes a performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 35, aka the Haffner Symphony.
April 10-26:
“Matilda the Musical” at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; various show times; $40-$116; 561/586-6410, lakeworthplayhouse.org. This Tony-winning musical owes its origins to a Roald Dahl novel about a titular, imaginative 5-year-old who changes the lives of those around her while overcoming obstacles. The controversial English humorist Tim Minchin reined himself in to provide the music and lyrics, resulting in a show that has won 47 international awards.
19:
14:
Ballets Jazz Montreal: “Dance Me” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $46.01$149.50; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. One of Montreal’s foremost artistic exports, Leonard Cohen forged a career as one of the English language’s great poets and songwriters, with a canon spanning 60 years. This Canadian ballet troupe performs a new suite of dances set to Cohen’s eternal music, including “Hallelujah,” “So Long, Marianne” and “Famous Blue Raincoat.”
Bria Skonberg at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.; $78$83; 561/450-6357, artsgarage. org. Though born in Canada, this Juno Award-winning trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist roots her sound in the classic New Orleans swing tradition, crediting Louis Armstrong as a foundational inspiration. Also co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Society, she tours in support of her seventh album, 2024’s “What It Means,” recorded with top musicians from the Crescent City.
“Fully Committed” at Island Theatre at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter; various show times; $65; 561/575-2223, jupitertheatre.org. Jamison Stern, who stars on the Emmy-winning series “After Forever” on Amazon Prime, plays more than 40 characters in this deliriously paced solo comedy—most centrally an out-of-work actor named Sam, who takes a job as a reservationist at an elite Manhattan restaurant, juggling patrons’ eccentric demands alongside his career woes.
22:
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis at Society of the Four Arts Gubelmann Auditorium, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach; 2 and 5:30 p.m.; $40; 561/655-7226, fourarts.org. An eminent figure in performing, programming and popularizing contemporary jazz for more than 40 years, trumpeter Marsalis wrote the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He brings his 15-piece jazz orchestra to Palm Beach for an intimate performance.
April 23:
“Iconic American Voices: Celebrating America at 250” at University Theatre at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $10; 561/297-6124, fauevents.com. As part of FAU’s ongoing celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the university’s Symphony Orchestra will perform a diverse selection of patriotic works, from Sousa’s “The Liberty Bell” and Bernstein’s “Divertimento for Orchestra” to a John Williams orchestral suite and a tribute to Abraham Lincoln.
Air Supply at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $57.51-$402.51; 561/8327469, kravis.org. Celebrating its 50th anniversary tour, Australian soft rock duo Air Supply returns to play the earworms that have melted hearts for generations, including eight top-five Billboard hits—“Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Here I Am” and “Even the Nights Are Better” among them.
“By Any Other Name” at University Theatre at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; various show times; $35; 561/297-6124, fauevents. com. Shed of the problematic men in their lives, nine of the women from William Shakespeare’s corpus—including Juliet, Ophelia, Helena, Hermia and Viola—gather in an enchanted forest to commiserate, challenge gender roles and forge new identities in this new pop-rock musical from playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer and composer Daniel Green.
April 24-25:
Learnmore Jonasi at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $33.50; 561/4839036, bocablackbox.com.
Gifted with an exuberant energy, a motley sense of style and an infectious laugh, this towering 6-foot-plus comedian from a small village in Zimbabwe specializes in observational, self-deprecating humor about clashes in culture and politics, which led to his fifth-place finish on “America’s Got Talent” in 2024.
Dr. Jon Robertson Tribute Concert at Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 6:30 p.m.; $100; 561/237-9000, lynn.edu/ events. Lynn University celebrates its influential dean, who retires at the end of the spring semester. Conductor/ Music Director Guillermo Figueroa leads the Lynn Philharmonia through compositions by Shostakovich and Strauss, with proceeds benefiting the Jon Robertson Endowed Scholarship for Conservatory students.
April 19:
Charles Calello & His Big Band at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $73.03$128.50; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Eighty-seven years young and with 15 Grammy nominations to his credit, former Four Seasons singer Calello will perform hits popularized by his Frankie Valli-led vocal group along with iconic favorites from Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and more, backed by a 17-piece orchestra.
April 25:
Liz Callaway at the Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $31.70-$92.60; 561/3763848, thesymphonia.org. A theatrical powerhouse for more than 45 years, Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along” and also starred in “Miss Saigon,” “Cats” and “Baby.”
The Emmy winner with 11 solo albums to her credit will share some of her favorite selections from film and the stage at this cabaret show.
April 30-May 1:
Celebration of the Arts 2026 at Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m.; $35-$50; 561/237-9000, lynn.edu/events. Lynn University’s gifted music and theatre students showcase their talents at this end-ofthe-school-year extravaganza—a choreographed selection of Broadway and pop tunes, comedic scenes and more.
April 30-May 31:
“The Cher Show” at the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; $119; 561/995-2333, thewick. org. In this bedazzled Cher bio-musical from writer Rick Elice, three actresses, referred to in the show as Babe, Lady and Star, portray different eras of Cher’s life, and occasionally interact with each other, temporal logic be damned. The music, 35 songs deep, is nearly all Cher’s, and the show earned a Tony Award in 2019.
Clockwise from above: bread pudding, Amatriciana Pasta, Prime Angus center-cut filet
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
My nose picked up the scent of wood burning before I even stepped out of the car. We eat with all our senses, and chef James Muir had them revving on all cylinders with a simple fire pit adjacent to the front steps. I hadn’t tasted one bite and was already excited for what was to come.
The historic Ruth Jones cottage has been transformed into a whimsical butcher shop that moonlights as a Michelin-recognized steakhouse. The home was originally a 1940s single-family home relocated to its current site on Ocean Avenue. These days, the original fireplace overlooks the palm-tree-clad bar and a TV dedicated to James Bond movies, while the dining room’s vintage and modern design is perfectly juxtaposed. I especially admired the contemporary bubble chandelier with exposed filaments, a nostalgic detail.
PARKING: Lot & street parking
HOURS: Tues. – Sat., 4 – 10 p.m.
PRICES: $12 – $285
WEBSITE: nicholsonmuir.com
When he opened Nicholson Muir in 2022, the Argentine chef honored his roots by naming his concept after his family’s original last name; his great-grandfather dropped “Nicholson” when he moved from Scotland to Argentina. Muir also celebrates his heritage by cooking over live fire with Argentine quebracho wood and natural charcoal, drawing inspiration from fellow Argentine and lauded chef Francis Mallmann. As the butcher shop grew in popularity for its specialty dry-aging, unique cuts and knowledgeable staff, Muir put his formal culinary training and fine-dining experience to work by expanding the concept into a full-service, white-tablecloth steakhouse.
There are several ways to enjoy Nicholson Muir:
a 15-course or nine-course omakase menu, a family-style experience, an early-bird three-course menu, and the classic à la carte, the route I chose. We started with the Me So Crispy ($21) and Me So Creamy ($24) appetizers. The former consists of two separate bitesized portions: American wagyu tartare topped with a restrained sriracha aioli over a light crispy potato cake and a spicy tuna tartare on crispy rice. The latter is another two-bite portion, but this one features a perfectly seared scallop on crispy, subtly sweet polenta nibble and a croqueta stuffed with dry-aged beef and a creamy béchamel sauce. I split them, but I could have easily eaten all four pieces happily by myself.
The main courses were the Amatriciana housemade pasta ($32) and, of course, I had to try the steak, so I indulged in a Prime Angus center-cut filet ($96). In true Argentine fashion, it was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, letting the meat’s flavors take center stage. The Roman pasta delivered with its crisp guanciale and tomato-Pecorino Romano sauce.
Speaking of cheese, the mac and cheese side is a must-have, because it’s made with duck confit and duck fat crumbs that will tempt you into licking the ramekin clean. Not to be outdone, the bread pudding ($14) is one of the best desserts I’ve ever had (and that is no hyperbole). The heath and chocolate bread pudding, topped with vanilla ice cream, floats in a spellbinding coffee-chocolate ganache sauce, expertly balanced to deliver a delicately sweet end to the evening. I will come back just for this, and you should too.
TUESDAY, MAY 5TH 2026 | 6 : 30 PM
LYNN UNIVERSITY | WOLD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
®
Thank you to our Honorary Chair: Christine E. Lynn In loving memory of our dear friend and devoted supporter, Elaine Wold.
Above, a glass of Bordeaux. Right, clockwise from top left: baked dates, escargot, provoleta, brisket bruschetta, Argentine trifle
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
AIF YOU GO
PARKING: Complimentary garage parking
HOURS: Tues. – Sat., 5 – 10 p.m.
PRICES: $8 – $26
WEBSITE: malbecandmore.com
best-kept secret. Off the beaten path. Undiscovered. These are words we use to describe a hidden gem, and that’s exactly what Malbec & More is. Daniela and Carlos Perez left their home country, Argentina, in 2023 and never looked back. With a goal of becoming entrepreneurs, the couple moved to South Florida in search of a business opportunity. When they stepped into the Cheese & Wine Café in Lantana, they knew it was their new home.
Then, late last year, they rebranded the local watering hole into Malbec & More, an homage to their home country’s beloved wine. The eight-seat jewel box features a spacious bar, perfect for enjoying one of Carlos’s carefully curated and regularly rotated wine flights. On the evening I visited, I tried the red flight ($33) with two
pours from California, one from Argentina and an Italian import. For those who love white wines or bubbles, or want a combination, Carlos has you covered. Speaking of flights, chef Carlos, who makes his own sourdough, offers a pizza flight with a choice of his four signature pies that I can’t wait to try on my next visit.
Where Carlos excels in tapas, pizzas and charcuterie platters, Daniela is the smile who greeted us when we arrived, and she masterfully guided us through the menu. We started with the baked dates ($15). The hearty nature’s candy is stuffed with Gruyère, drizzled with local honey and wrapped in a crispy bacon strip that hit all the right notes on my palate. We also tried Carlos’ golden provoleta ($15), which I only wish had been served with bread. Luckily, our third tapa, the escargot
($15), came bubbling with ample garlic and butter—and his sourdough slices. Daniela suggested we try the brisket bruschetta ($12), and the tender eight-hour braised meat topped with caramelized onions and gooey mozzarella did not disappoint.
For the finale, we chose Carlos’ take on a classic Argentine trifle ($11). His creation has an extra-creamy consistency thanks to the ricotta and dulce de leche they import from Argentina. The final layer is the chocolinas, or chocolate biscuits, which he crumbles for a decadent and satisfying end to the meal.
Malbec & More is the couple’s American dream come true, and a hidden gem this special shouldn’t be hidden. Tip: Next time you visit, make sure to ask about Malbec, the owners’ Corgi.
Sunset Cove Amphitheater at South County Regional Park
388 Italian Restaurant By Mr. Sal—3360 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This family-owned outpost of its Long Island flagship prides itself on nostalgic, quintessential dishes. Pastas like alla vodka, marinara and spicy rigatoni share the menu with chicken and veal entrees in beloved preparations like masala, Milanese and parmigiana. Choose from half or whole portions to share with the table. It’s also known for its lively ambiance, so come here for an Italian feast but stay for the party. Dinner nightly. 561/794-3888. $$$
Abe & Louie’s—2200 Glades Road. Steakhouse. All Americans are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. At this posh, comfortable (and expensive) meatery, the USDA Prime steaks are indeed thick, juicy and perfectly cooked, also massively flavorful and served in enormous portions. Don’t miss the New York sirloin or prime rib, paired in classic steakhouse fashion with buttery hash browns and uber-creamy creamed spinach. Chased with an ice-cold martini or glass of red wine from the truly impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$$
AlleyCat—297 E.Palmetto Park Road. Japanese. Chef Eric Baker’s Japanese izakaya, or a casual spot for drinks and bites, is serving up dishes like sushi, dumplings and fried rice that have an unexpected whimsical element. Here you’ll find king crab tacos and hot fried chicken alongside the hamachi ponzu and spicy scallop roll. And to deliver the freshest sushi in town, he has partnered with celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana of Sushi by Bou. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/353-5888. $$
$: Under $17
$$: $18–$35
$$$: $36–$50
$$$$: $50 and up
Arturo’s Restaurant—6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. After 40 years of feeding our Boca community, the Gismondi family is still going to great lengths to take care of its patrons, who, over the years, have become honorary family members themselves. Arturo’s brings generations of diners together with its warm ambiance, classic and consistent Italian fare, and its award-winning 1,000+-bottle wine cellar. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Fri., dinner Sat.-Sun. 561/997-7373. $$$
Basilic Vietnamese Grill—200 S. Federal Highway. Vietnamese. This popular restaurant offers satisfying food and reasonable prices. Plus, there’s bubble tea. Opened in 2014, it has a wide range of Vietnamese favorites, such as cha gio tom
heo, fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls, all kinds of pho, noodle bowls, chicken curry and more. • Lunch and dinner six days a week; closed Tuesdays. 561/409-4964. $$
Bluefin Sushi and Thai—861 N.W. 51st St., Suite 1. Sushi/Thai. Arrive early for a table at this Asian hot spot—it’s popular with no reservations for parties fewer than six. Don’t skip the tempura lobster bomb, big in both size and taste. The ginger snapper will impress both Instagram and your stomach. Try the chicken satay and pad Thai. Bluefin offers a variety of dishes from multiple cultures, all well done. • Dinner daily. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 561/981-8869. $$
Burtons Grill & Bar—5580 N. Military Trail. New American. Known for its reliable food as well as its non-gluten, Paleo and “B Choosy” kids menu, the first Florida location for this restaurant is deservedly crowded, so make reservations. Don’t miss the General Tso’s cauliflower, the pan-seared salmon (Paleo), the crab cakes or the Key lime pie. Popular half-portions are available, too. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/465-2036. $
The Capital Grille—6000 Glades Road. Steaks. This is one of more than three dozen restaurants in a national chain, but the Boca Grille treats you like a regular at your neighborhood restaurant. Steaks, dry-aged if not Prime, are flavorful and cooked with precision, while starters from the pan-fried calamari to the restaurant’s signature spin on the Cobb salad (lunch only) are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/368-1077. $$$
Casa D’Angelo—171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Chef Rickie Piper, who has mastered the menu and cuisine of this fine-dining staple for more than a decade, knows when to say when with both plating and ingredients. His dishes, including the sides and accompaniments, are visually appetizing and aromatic. A grilled veal chop easily 3 inches thick proved tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms served alongside in a marsala added earthiness. • Dinner nightly. 561/996-1234. $$$
Casimir French Bistro—416 Via De Palmas, Suite 81. French. Take a trip overseas without leaving the city and enjoy excellently prepared traditional French dishes, such as duck l’orange or beef bourguignon, or go with Cajun chicken and veal Milanese. The comfortable dining room is a Parisian experience, as is the apple tarte tatin. This is a local favorite, and may we add they have what is as close to real French bread as anyplace in Boca?
• Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/955-6001. $$$
Chez Marie French Bistro—5030 Champion Blvd. French. Marie will greet you at the door of this nicely decorated, intimate, classic French restaurant tucked in the corner of a strip shopping area. This feels like an intimate neighborhood bistro and is a welcome discovery. From escargot encased in garlic butter, parsley and breadcrumbs to a tender duck a l’orange to an unforgettable crepe Suzette, you’ll be in Paris all evening. Voila! Also on the menu: pan-seared foie gras, tasty onion soup, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. French food in an unassuming atmosphere.• Dinner Mon.-Sat. (closed on Mon. in summer) 561/997-0027. $$
Chops Lobster Bar—101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. There is nothing like a classic chophouse every now and then for a special dinner. At this upscale downtown restaurant, steaks are aged USDA Prime—tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked under a 1,700-degree broiler. There’s all manner of fish and shellfish, but you’re here for the lobster, whether giant Nova Scotian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with lobster. Let’s face it: Trendy menus come and go, but a great steakhouse is a win-win on all occasions. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$
Corvina Seafood Grill—110 Plaza Real S, Boca Raton. Seafood. The seafood-centric menu incorporates South Florida’s varied Latin and Caribbean culinary influences into it. Peruvian and Honduran ceviches share the menu with Brazilian fish stew. You’ll also find plantain crusted corvina in a Creole curry sauce alongside Jamaican jerk chicken and island spiced pork ribs. With a focus on sourcing local ingredients, the menu spotlights several daily specials so look out for those. Then there’s the indoor/outdoor bar that invites you to come in and stay a while, especially during its daily happy hour. • Dinner & Sunday Brunch. 561/206-0066. $$
CVI.CHE 105—6000 Glades Road. Peruvian. Classic Peruvian ceviches share the menu with contemporary takes. Chef Juan Chipoco flexes his skills and imagination in both the kitchen and the whimsical space’s design. The menu features tiraditos, causas, sushi rolls and entrées like the lomo saltado and aji de gallina. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/221-0940. $$
Dorsia—5837 N. Federal Highway. Continental. The simple pleasures of the table—good food, personable service, comfortable ambience—are what this modestly stylish restaurant is all about. The menu has a strong Italian bent, evidenced by dishes like a trio of fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with an airy three-cheese mousse, and a cookbook-perfect rendition of veal scaloppine lavished with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and a tangy lemon-white wine sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/961-4156. $$
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood —201 Plaza Real. Steak & Seafood. Eddie V’s is famous for its seafood and premium steaks, but this restaurant has also perfected the art of entertaining with nightly live music and a few tableside surprises. • Dinner nightly. 561/237-0067. $$$$
Farmer’s Table—1901 N. Military Trail. American. In the pantheon of healthy dining, Farmer’s Table is a standout in Boca, one of the first restaurants to elevate natural foods to fine dining. Fresh, natural, sustainable, organic and local is the mantra at this both tasty and health-conscious offering from Mitchell Robbins and Joey Giannuzzi. Menu highlights include flatbreads, slow-braised USDA Choice short rib and the popular Ramen Bowl, with veggies, ramen noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/417-5836. $$
For an affordable bite at any time, consider these durable chains and homegrown Boca favorites— where the attire is understated and reservations are rarely necessary.
Biergarten—309 Via De Palmas, #90. German/Pub. Part vaguely German beer garden, part all-American sports bar, this rustic eatery offers menus that channel both, as well as an excellent selection of two-dozen beers on tap and the same number by the bottle. The food is basic and designed to go well with suds, like the giant pretzel with a trio of dipping sauces and the popular “Biergarten burger.” • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $$
Cuban Café—3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30. Cuban. One thing Boca needs more of is coffee windows—and real Cuban restaurants. Part of the charm of South Florida is its melting pot of Latin cultures, and Cuba is the granddaddy of them all. Which is undoubtedly why diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $10.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich, the media noche and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. Full bar. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $
Los Olivos Bistro—5030 Champion Blvd. Argentine. The family-owned bistro’s menu honors familial Argentine roots with typical crave-worthy dishes like empanadas and plenty of red meat. Still, it also honors the cuisine’s Spanish and Italian influences with its standout paellas and housemade pasta. • Lunch and dinner Mon.Sat. 561/756-8928. $
Rocco’s Tacos—224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and more than 425 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2131; 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/808-1100; 5090 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/623-0127) $
The Sandwich Shop at Buccan—350 S. County Road, Palm Beach and 1901 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Takeout stop. Like big sister Buccan Italian restaurant, the Sandwich Shop is full of flavor and builds your favorite sandwich with just a touch of delicious creativity you won’t find elsewhere. Owned by celeb chef Clay Conley and partners, the menu has hot or cold sandwiches, salads, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Good-sized portions mean the Italian and prosciutto subs include leftovers if you have some willpower.• Lunch daily. 561/833-6295. $$
Tap 42—5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 247. Gastropub. This hugely popular nouveau-Industrial gastropub is not for the faint of eardrums when packed, but don’t let that discourage you. The kitchen here executes the hell out of a short, simple all-day menu. Grilled salmon chopped salad with tomatillo ranch dressing is delightful, as is guacamole studded with fat chunks of bacon and charred corn. Same goes for decadent shrimp mac-n-cheese. The wicked-good chocolate bread pudding with salted caramel sauce would be the envy of any Big Easy eatery. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/235-5819. $
Tropical Smokehouse—3815 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. When you take the distinct tastes of Florida/ Caribbean/Cuban dishes and pair them with barbecue, you end up with a place you visit a lot. Local celeb chef Rick Mace smokes the meats himself, and his recipes include all kinds of citrus in tasty spots (sour orange wings, pineapple carrot cake); you’ll discover new favorite flavors. Don’t miss the BBQ pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Try the hot and sweet hushpuppies or the homemade chorizo queso in this very casual spot that we can happily say is also unique—there’s nothing else like it. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/323-2573. $$
Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen—399
S.E. Mizner Blvd. American. Natural, seasonal, sustainable. You’ll enjoy the varied menu, and won’t believe it’s made without butters or creams. Try the too-good-to-be-true buffalo-style cauliflower appetizer, the seared salmon or buffalo burger, and
have apple skillet for dessert. Healthy never tasted so good. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$
Gallaghers Steakhouse—2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Steakhouse. At this chophouse, the staff is la-
ser-focused on service, the bar pours stiff drinks, and the kitchen dishes out perfectly cooked steaks—a pure embodiment of what you’d expect from a steakhouse. While Gallaghers proved itself a master of its craft, don’t overlook the other items on the menu, like the stuffed shrimp and veal chop. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/559-5800. $$$$
The Grille On Congress—5101 Congress Ave. American. Dishes at this longtime favorite range from tasty chicken entrees and main-plate salads to seafood options like Asian-glazed salmon or pan-seared yellowtail snapper. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$
Houston’s—1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Contemporary American. Convenient location, stylish ambience and impeccable service are hallmarks of this local outpost of the Hillstone restaurant chain. There are plenty of reasons why this is one of the most popular business lunch spots in all of Boca, including menu items like Cajun trout, the mammoth salad offerings and the tasty baby back ribs. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$$
Il Mulino New York Boca Raton—451 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. From the four pre-menu bites to the after-dinner coffee from freshly ground beans, this is a white-tablecloth venue that delivers on its upscale promises. Try the langostino, the red snapper, the risotto, the pasta, or go for the ceviches, caviars and seafood tower. Save room for dessert and complimentary lemoncello. Make a night of it. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/338-8606. $$$
Josephine’s—5751 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Tradition trumps trendy, and comfort outweighs chic at this Boca favorite. The ambience is quiet and stately but not stuffy, and the menu is full of hearty dishes to soothe the savage appetite, like threecheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$
Oysters cost just $1 a piece at Luff’s Fish House on Monday nights.
Kapow Noodle Bar—402 Plaza Real. Asian. Kapow delivers an effervescent ambiance that makes you want to relax and stay a while. Its varied menu has something for every craving, from crispy rice and tacos to rolls and even Peking duck. Up your dinner game by reserving a seat at the separate omakase bar serving chef-curated bites that aren’t on the regular menu. And if you’re looking for a memorable night out, book one of the three karaoke rooms.• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-8828. $
Kasumi—999 E. Camino Real. Japanese. As the Waterstone Resort & Marina’s second waterfront restaurant, this modern Japanese eatery delivers an elevated level of cuisine. Its shareable menu features sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi and a variety of larger entrées. • Dinner nightly. 561/226-3033. $$$
Ke’e Grill—17940 N. Military Trail, Suite 700. Traditional American. In this busy dining scene for more than 30 years, you will find a lot of seafood (fried calamari, blue crab cakes, yellowtail snapper Francaise and lots more), a few steak, chicken, lamb and pork options, and a quality house-made apple crisp. Your traditional choices are baked, fried, breaded, grilled, broiled, sauteed. With Provencal, Francaise, maple mustard glaze, toasted macadamia nut pesto and piccata twists. A consistent crowd for a consistent menu. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$
Kousine Peruvian Asian—1668 N. Federal Highway. Peruvian/Asian. Chef and owner Danny Kou shares his Peruvian heritage with a curated menu of dishes that accurately represent his country’s famous ceviche while introducing patrons to unique dishes that are just as tempting. Kousine’s space is bright and modern, with exposed industrial ceilings complemented with warm woods and greenery. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/430-3337. $$
La Condesa—3320 Airport Road. Mexican. Mexico’s bold, colorful and lively culture is reflected in its cuisine, and it’s evident at La Condesa. This family-owned restaurant’s take on Mexican fare offers a sizable menu with a wide selection of popular drinks and dishes like margaritas, nachos, street tacos and burritos. You can also opt for less mainstream dishes like the mole cazuelitas, and you won’t be disappointed. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/931-4008. $
La Nouvelle Maison—55 E. Palmetto Park Road. French. A dining experience at a French restaurant is never just about satiating your hunger. It’s about the entire experience, and La Nouvelle Maison embraces that joie de vivre from the moment you step inside. Whether you delight in the garlic-infused escargots, steak tartare or beef Bourgogne, none of the classic French dishes disappoint here.• Dinner nightly. 561/338-3003. $$$$
La Terraza Tapas & Bar—21170 St. Andrews Blvd. Spanish. La Terraza Tapas & Bar instantly transports you to Spain. Its brick barrel ceiling, moody lighting, crimson walls and wooden furniture create a charming, rustic aesthetic reminiscent of a Spanish taverna. Start with the Tabla Terraza charcuterie board before enjoying a few warm tapas, like the croquetas de jamon, camarones ajillo and octopus. • Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun., dinner Mon.-Tues. 561/576-3040. $$
La Villetta—4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas and other classic dishes. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt; it’s de-boned right at tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$$
Louie Bossi’s—100 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This jumping joint serves terrific Neapolitan pizza (thin crust), but don’t miss the other entrées. Start with a charcuterie/cheese plate and grab the amazing breadsticks. All breads and pastas are made on the premises. Other faves include the carbonara and the calamari, and save room for house-made gelato. Unusual features: Try the bocce ball court included with the retro Italian décor. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/336-6699. $$$
Luff’s Fish House—390 E. Palmetto Park Road. Seafood. A renovated 1920s bungalow houses this shipshape restaurant, in addition to two large, outdoor deck and patio areas. It’s known for familiar dish names with new tweaks: smoked fish-hummus dip, falafel fish fritters, crab guacamole, mussels in coconut curry broth, plus the paella on Sundays only. Don’t leave without the enormous slice of the Key lime pie, topped with meringue on a graham cracker crust. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/609-2660. $$
Maggiano’s—21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. Do as the Italians do, and order family-style: Sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, a salad, two pastas, two entrées and two desserts. The menu also includes lighter takes on staples like chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$
Mario’s Osteria—1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian. This popular spot features rustic Italian fare in a sleek environment. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes” are on the new menu, as are butternut squash ravioli and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$
Matteo’s—233 S. Federal Highway, Suite 108. Italian. Hearty Italian and Italian-American food, served in giant “family style” portions, needs no reinventing. Though there is no shortage of local restaurants cooking in that genre, it’s the details of preparation and
service that make Matteo’s stand out. Baked clams are a good place to start, as is the reliable chopped salad. Linguini frutti di mare is one of the best in town. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-0773. $$$
Max’s Grille—404 Plaza Real. Contemporary American Since 1991, this modern American bistro in Mizner Park has been a true local classic. The food and decor are both timeless and up to date, and the ambience is that of a smooth-running big-city bistro. Service is personable and proficient. The menu is composed of dishes you really want to eat, from the applewood bacon-wrapped meatloaf to the wickedly indulgent crème brûlèe pie. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/3680080. $$
Meat Market — 2000 NW 19th St. Steakhouse. Meat Market has infused Midtown Boca Raton with glamour. Its posh interiors and high energy complement its diverse menu that revolves around steak but is also sprinkled with daily specials and sushi that shouldn’t be overlooked. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/245-6777. $$$$
Medi Terra—301 Via de Palmas #99. Mediterranean. Embracing western Mediterranean cuisine, the menu is seasonal and revolves around what the owners can freshly source, so make sure to wait for the specials before making any final decisions. The father-son duo bought Ristorante Sapori in Royal Palm Place and redesigned it to reflect their passion for Mediterranean cuisine. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/367-9779. $$
Mia Rosebud—150 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. The menu is precise, focused on what Mia Rosebud does well: USDA Prime steaks and Italian specialties, including house-made
pastas. And make sure to save room for the massive slices of cake that are just as indulgent as they look. • Dinner nightly. 561/462-3000. $
Morton’s The Steakhouse—5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 219. Steakhouse. There’s seemingly no end to diners’ love of huge slabs of high-quality aged beef, nor to the carnivores who pack the clubby-swanky dining room of this meatery. While the star of the beef show is the giant bone-in filet mignon, seasonally featured is the American Wagyu New York strip. Finish off your meal with one of the decadent desserts.• Dinner nightly. 561/392-7724. $$$$
Motek—5377 Town Center Road. Mediterranean. Located in Midtown Boca’s Restaurant Row, this family-owned restaurant is known for its Mediterranean and Israeli-inspired menu. A variety of hummus, latkes and labneh za’atar share the menu with classics like the lamb shawarma, beef kebab and salmon skewers. Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/922-3319. $$$
Narbona—5250 Town Center Circle. Uruguayan. This restaurant-market hybrid offers house-made pasta, private-label herbs and honey, fresh fish and meats, grab-and-go prepared items, and countless Narbona Wine Lodge wines. You can also opt for a sit-down lunch or dinner at its central restaurant or at one of its two bars. The menu, with Italian and Spanish influences, features its pasta alongside a selection of meat and fish dishes. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/692-3933. $$
New York Prime—2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steakhouse. This wildly popular Boca meatery Monday, Monday packs them in with swift, professional service, classy supper
club ambience and an extensive wine list. And, of course, the beef—all USDA Prime, cooked to tender and juicy lusciousness over ferocious heat. The bone-in rib-eye is especially succulent, but don’t neglect the New York strip or steak-house classics like oysters Rockefeller, garlicky spinach and crusty hash browns. • Dinner nightly. 561/998-3881. $$$$
Patio Tapas & Beer—205 S.E. First Ave. Spanish. Be transported to the Iberian Peninsula with a variety of tapas. Chef Bryant Fajardo, who trained under celebrated chef José Andrés, specializes in one of Spain’s most traditional and iconic cuisines and delivers both classic selections like Manchego cheese and anchovies alongside premium nibbles like seared duck and foie gras. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/419-7239. $
Prezzo—5560 N. Military Trail. Italian. A reincarnation of a popular 1990s Boca venue, this version has updated the dining room, kept the yummy oven-baked focaccia bread slices, and added a 21st-century taste to the menu. Don’t miss the tender bone-in pork chop, thin-crust pizza and seafood specials. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are on the menu, too. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/314-6840. $$
Rafina—6877 S.W. 18th St. Greek. If you find the ambience of most Greek restaurants to be like a frat party with flaming cheese and ouzo, this contemporary, casually elegant spot will be welcome relief. Food and decor favor refinement over rusticity, even in such hearty and ubiquitous dishes as pastitsio and spanakopita. Standout dishes include the moussaka, the creamy and mildly citrusy avgolemono soup and the precisely grilled, simply adorned (with olive oil, lemon and capers) branzino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3673. $$
Mia Rosebud shines as Boca Raton’s most preeminent Italian Steakhouse.
Lauded for its USDA Prime cuts, quintessential Chicago-style Italian classics, and locally caught seafood, this South Florida outpost of the 50-yearold, family-owned Rosebud Group offers one of the longest happy hours— and best steakhouse burgers in town.
Our Rosebud Signature BRICK CHICKEN
Rosebud signature whole, crispy pan-roasted chicken, broccolini, oregano white wine sauce
Local entrepreneurs share an unwavering passion for bringing their delectable products to us
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
MUNYON’S PAWPAW
As veteran spirits executives, Joe Colucci and Paul Massey always had the itch to launch their own. But they never expected their lightbulb moment to come during a visit to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, where the duo was introduced to the legendary Dr. James M. Munyon. Munyon grew up in a humble Connecticut household and worked as a salesman, singer, songwriter, theatrical agent and publisher. But he made his fortune with his cure-all elixir, Munyon’s Paw-Paw; at its peak, the papaya-based drink made $170 million annually. He purchased the island now known as Munyon’s Island, just north of Peanut Island, in 1901. There, he built a 21-room boutique hotel and planted more than 2,000 varieties of roses alongside tropical fruit trees. Munyon died in 1918, and his legacy faded until 2023, when Colucci and Massey revived the brand. Today, the bittersweet aperitif uses the original recipe, along with all-natural ingredients free of artificial dyes and preservatives, blended with a premium American grain spirit for a Florida drink that resembles a marriage of Grand Marnier and Campari. It can replace Cointreau in a margarita, replace simple syrup and bitters in an Old Fashioned, or simply be enjoyed over ice with tonic. munyonspawpaw.com
SARAH’S SLOW JAM
This hobby-turned-flourishing side hustle has created a full-circle moment for Sarah Cohen, whose great-grandparents, Pearl and Justin, ran a produce stand in Flamingo Park in the 1920s. Jam making was a way to pass the time while she waited for her bar exam results; today, Cohen represents foster children through the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and creates jam as an artistic release.“I have two passions, justice and jam,” she quips. Her regionally sourced fruit and ingredients, including local cane sugar, are crafted into marmalades, sweet jams and peppery jellies. She shines with unique flavor combinations like mango jalapeño jam and mango butter. Her tropical pepper jellies have been a hit as grilling glazes for seafood and chicken, and her smooth mango butter takes plain yogurt to a whole new level. sarahsslowjam.com
It all started with a family recipe and a desire for Alexandra Baker to share her Haitian heritage. After tinkering with her cousin’s pikliz, a beloved Haitian condiment, Baker gave it her own twist and launched her premium product line in 2022. The classic pikliz resembles a peppery, pickled cabbage-and-carrot slaw. Baker’s Caribbean seasoning is made with fresh vegetables and is preservative-, additive- and sugar-free. The brand features three versatile products: a spicy pepper relish, a puréed version of the classic made with her proprietary blend of five flavorful peppers; a pikliz-infused hot honey made with raw wildflower honey; and an ultra-puréed pikliz hot sauce.
“Haitian culture is about perseverance and being incredibly industrious,” she says.“I feel like pikliz is the quintessence of that.” Baker shares CEO duties with her husband, Troy, and their daughter, Sofia, works the West Palm Beach GreenMarket stand when visiting from college. inthekitchenwithalexandra.com
Ori Gilinsky’s passion for food began while he served as a chef in the military. When he pitched his idea for an ice cream brand to his dad, Ronen, the patriarch recruited his other son, Tal, to launch the Delray Beach-based family business. As for naming the brand, Ronen explains, “Lily is my daughter. Her name became the foundation of the brand, symbolizing family, heart and the playful spirit behind everything Lily’s represents.” Ori masterfully crafts Lily’s unique flavors, drawing inspiration from the family’s world travels while staying true to using only real, natural ingredients free of artificial colors, preservatives and dyes. The brand offers kosher and vegan-friendly options too. The family is also laser-focused on supporting our community through its philanthropic efforts.“Giving back isn’t an afterthought for us; it’s a core part of who we are and how we grow,” Ronen says.
com
Red Pine Restaurant & Lounge—1 Town Center Road. Chinese. The menu is designed to be enjoyed family-style, with substantial portions of classic dishes like house-made vegetable eggrolls, fried rice and General Tso’s chicken, to name a few. The space is bright and lively, with floor-to-ceiling windows, an expansive bar, and several dining spaces accentuated with crimson banquettes. • Dinner Tues-Sun. 561/826-7595. $$
Rino’s of Boca—39 S.E. First Ave. Italian. Guests can expect nightly live entertainment that pairs perfectly with its Italian-American dishes like rigatoni vodka, bucatini carbonara, veal parmigiana and chicken marsala.• Dinner nightly. 561/244-8282. $$$
Seasons 52—2300 Executive Center Drive. Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is first-rate, from salmon roasted on a cedar plank to desserts served in oversized shot glasses. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-9952. (Other Palm Beach County location: 11611 Ellison Wilson Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/625-5852.) $$
SeaSpray Inlet Grill—999 E. Camino Real.
American. Unobstructed views of Lake Boca Raton, soaring palm trees and coastal décor peppered with fringed umbrellas all set the mood for a relaxing experience that will make you feel as if you’re on vacation. The menu accommodates different dietary preferences with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Don’t sleep on the pear tortellini pasta starter; it’s a star item. Portions are hearty and can be easily shared. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/226-3022. $$
Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton. American. The dimly lit chandeliers, burgundy velvet curtains and smooth Sinatra lyrics set the mood for a memorable evening that’s dedicated to fine dining without pretention. With a seasonal menu that’s ever changing, you can rest assured that whatever husband and wife chef-proprietors Tom and Jenny Finn prepare for you, it will truly be special and made with love. • Dinner Thurs.-Sat. 561/347-6260. $$$$
Stage—5377 Town Center Road. International. Located in Midtown Boca’s lively Restaurant Row, Stage offers a globally inspired menu with options for everyone, including many gluten-free and vegan choices. Award-winning chef Pushkar Marathe’s commitment to supporting local farms is clearly reflected here. Be sure not to miss the lychee ceviche and Niman Ranch churrasco. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/409-2376. $$
Taverna Kyma—6298 N. Federal Highway. Greek/Mediterranean. Hankering for a traditional Greek meal, and a menu that offers just about everything? This is where you want to try the meze plates (cold, hot, seafood, veggie), saganaki, grilled entrees and kebobs. From the taramosalata to the branzino and pastitsio, servings are generous and good. Don’t forget dessert. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-2828. $$
Trattoria Romana—499 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian This local mainstay does Italian classics and its own lengthy list of ambitious specials with unusual skill and aplomb. The service is at a level not always seen in local restaurants. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if they include impeccably done langostini oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner nightly. 561/393-6715. $$$
The 30th anniversary of Fort Lauderdale’s signature festival will be April 24. The beloved avenue will become a pedestrian-friendly esplanade and host more than 40 talented local chefs, along with celebrated breweries, distilleries and wineries. VIP admission will be elevated to ensure a memorable anniversary celebration and includes early admission, access to the VIP wine garden and its premium wineries, and a kickoff party. Proceeds benefit the American Lung Association and its advocacy and research missions. lasolaswff.com
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
Twenty Twenty Grille—141 Via Naranjas, Suite 45. Contemporary American. You’ve probably licked postage stamps that are larger than Ron and Rhonda Weisheit’s tiny jewel box of a restaurant, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm, sophistication and imaginative, expertly crafted food. Virtually everything is made in-house, from the trio of breads that first grace your table to the pasta in a suave dish of tagliatelle with duck and chicken confit. Don’t miss the jerk pork belly and grilled veal strip loin. • Dinner nightly. 561/990-7969. $$$
Villagio Italian Eatery—344 Plaza Real. Italian
The classic Italian comfort food at this Mizner Park establishment is served with flair and great attention to detail. The reasonably priced menu—with generous portions—includes all your favorites (veal Parmesan, Caesar salad) and some outstanding seafood dishes (Maine lobster with shrimp, mussels and clams on linguine). There is a full wine list and ample people-watching given the prime outdoor seating. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/447-2257. $$
Yakitori—271 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Asian. This Japanese restaurant that has sat for nearly a decade in Royal Palm Place is still welcoming devoted diners and delivering consistent, premium dishes. Sip on one of its refreshing cocktails like the lychee martini or green tea mojito before perusing the vast menu that offers everything from sushi and sashimi to fried rice, ramen and entrées from the robata grill. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/544-0087. $$
Boon’s Asian Bistro—19605 N. State Road 7. Japanese/Thai. This is one of two Boon’s (the other is in Delray Beach), and it’s where the rush to eat excellent sushi started. The fast-moving staff is choreographed to deliver dishes such as shrimp pad Thai that’s light, delicate and happily filled with shrimp. The Thai fried rice is unusually delicate too, with lots of egg, and is some of the best around. The sushi rolls are as fresh and inventive (try the Daimyo roll) as they are beautifully presented. Go early or call for a reservation. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/883-0202. $$
Chloe’s Bistro—6885 S.W. 18th St. Italian. One of the few venues that’s on the water, with food to match the view. Try the seafood linguine, the large snapper filets in Marechiara sauce, and the desserts to end on a sweet note. House-made pasta and a good wine list ensure a pleasant, satisfying meal. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/334-2088. $$
City Fish Market—7940 Glades Road. Seafood. A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house with a lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked with care and little artifice. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/487-1600. $$
The West Boca restaurant specializing in Mediterranean fusion now has a food truck, complete with customizable menus, available for private events.
Ditmas Kitchen—21077 Powerline Road. Contemporary kosher. This west Boca restaurant is named after a Brooklyn avenue in a district known for its food. Here you’ll find very good casual food, and no dairy products are used. Try the Hibachi salmon, all-kale Caesar salad, the shnitzel sandwich. • Dinner Sun.-Thurs. 561/826-8875. $$$
DVASH—8208 Glades Road. Mediterranean. The menu, a collection of Mediterranean fusion dishes with a variety of daily specials, caters to an array of diets, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. The Cohen family, who previously owned Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar in Coral Springs for more than a decade, now welcomes diners to this West Boca restaurant that’s tucked away in the Publix Greenwise strip mall. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/826-7784. $$
Embarcadero 41—8188 Glades Road. Peruvian. Embarcadero 41 offers exceptional Peruvian and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) cuisine. This family-owned establishment has four locations, including one in west Boca. Order a bright ceviche and a sushi roll—or two— and you’re sure to be completely satisfied. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/405-6014. $$
Oliv Pit Athenian Grille—6006 S.W. 18th St. Modern Greek. The owners’ goal of bringing together the best of Greek cooking under one roof, much like the melting pot that is Athens, is covered here in an extensive menu. The best way to enjoy the food is to share it: the Pikilia trio with tzatziki, spicy feta and eggplant spread is a starting place. Try the mix grill platter and the hearty red Greek wine. End the night with a unique, velvety frappe cappuccino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-2049. $$
Skyfin Asian Bistro—8221 Glades Road. Asian. After nearly a decade of dishing out elevated Beijing cuisine at MR CHOW inside the posh W South Beach, chef Aden Lee left his sous chef position to venture out on his own. Here, you’ll find both playfully named sushi rolls and fresh sashimi alongside protein-rich house specials, fried rice and noodles. Don’t miss the Toro Roll and Tangerine Peel Beef. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/556-1688. $$
Villa Rosano—9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian. You can be forgiven for imagining yourself in some rustic Italian hill town as the smells of garlic and tomato sauce waft through the air. Start by sopping up the house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto and delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/470-0112. $$
Driftwood—2005 Federal Highway. American. Driftwood consistently serves inventive dishes infused with chef Jimmy Everett’s fine-dining experience. It also stands out thanks to its dedication to guests, local purveyors and talented staff. Farmto-table isn’t just a cliché saying here. Everett’s goal as a native South Floridian is to support local farms and fishermen by sourcing hyperlocal ingredients. The menu may change based on what’s available. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/733-4782. $$
Josie’s Italian Ristorante— 650 E. Woolbright Road. Italian. This cozy, family-owned restaurant is looking better than ever after a renovation that gave its dining room a more modern, elegant atmosphere in which to enjoy chef Mark Militello’s classic Italian fare. It’s easy to fill up on the hearty portions of its pasta and meat entrees, but be sure to save room for dessert to try the absolutely decadent sixteen layer chocolate cake. In the cooler months, opt for patio seating for waterfront views. • Lunch Mon.Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/364-9601. $$
Prime Catch—700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood Waterfront restaurants are few and far between in our neck of the woods, and those with good food are even more rare. Prime Catch, at the foot of the Woolbright bridge on the Intracoastal, is a best-kept secret. The simple pleasures here soar—a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$
Sushi Simon 1628 S. Federal Highway. Japanese. It’s been called “Nobu North” by some aficionados, and for good reason. Local sushi-philes jam the narrow dining room for such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like snapper Morimoto and tuna tartare. Creative, elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$
50 Ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$
800 Palm Trail Grill—800 Palm Trail. American
This contemporary space is serving up American fare and classic cocktails. The menu has a steak-and-seafood-house feel to it but without any stuffiness. Instead, you’ll find dishes that entice the palate, like the loaded baked potato eggrolls and Wagyu boneless short rib. • Lunch and dinner daily, with patio dining. 561/865-5235. $$$
Akira Back—233 NE Second Ave. Japanese. Chef Akira Back’s Seoul restaurant earned a Michelin star a few years ago and now he’s showcasing his talented take on Japanese cuisine at his namesake restaurant inside The Ray hotel. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Back blends his heritage with Japanese flavors and techniques he has mastered to deliver dishes that are unique to him. With plates made to be shared, the menu is divided into cold and hot starters followed by rolls, nigiri/sashimi, robata grill, mains and fried rice. Dinner. 561/739-1708. $$$$
Warm into summer with this festival celebrating the refreshing watermelon. On April 11 and 12, the family-friendly event will feature watermelon-inspired fare along with fun carnival rides and inflatables. For those with a hearty appetite and competitive spirit, there will also be a watermelon-eating contest. 12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton; soflowatermelonfest.com
Galeano-DeMott
Amar Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar—25 S.E. Sixth Ave. Mediterranean. No longer a quaint bistro, this new version is buzzing with energy while still as charming and welcoming as ever. Dishes deliver solid, bright flavors that honor owner Nicolas Kurban’s Lebanese roots, as his family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. On some evenings, there is belly dancing entertainment. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5653. $$
Avalon Beach House—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This steakhouse was transformed into a chic coastal haven for seafood and lively cocktails. Its menu features a variety of casual dishes like ahi tuna poke, fish tacos, double smash burger and short rib ragu. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/593-2500. $$
Bamboo Fire Cafe—149 N.E. Fourth Ave. Caribbean. The Jacobs family joyously shares its Latin and Caribbean culture through food that’s bursting with bright island aromas and flavors. Tostones, plantain fries and jerk meatballs share the menu with curry pork, oxtail and conch. A quintessential Delray gem. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/749-0973. $
Beg for More Izakaya—19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese Small Plates. The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No sushi. And that’s fine. Try the takoyaki (octopus balls), the crispy salmon tacos and anything with the addictive kimchi, such as the kimchi fried rice. There are pasta, teriyaki and simmered duck with bok choy dishes—or 16 varieties of yakitori (food on skewers). You’ll be back to beg for more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-8849. $$
Bourbon Steak
1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Acclaimed chef Michael Mina’s second outpost of his famous steakhouse features a sophisticated coastal aesthetic that’s both bright and relaxed. Start with Mina’s signature duck fat fries, then enjoy a USDA prime hormone-free steak or local fish dish that will be complemented by impeccable service. Dinner nightly. 561/656-8070. $$$$
Brulé Gastro-Kitchen—200 N.E. Second Ave. Modern American. After nearly two decades, chef-owner Suzanne Perrotto remains committed to using locally sourced ingredients, creating dishes that are both inventive and comforting, and offering warm hospitality. If you’re craving a juicy burger, try hers. You won’t be disappointed. The fish tacos and ceviche are also standouts. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/274-2046. $$
Diner
This special menu at Deck 84 features delicacies designed for Fido, including the Beggin’ for Beef, Chasin’ the Chicken and Fetch the Fish.
Burt & Max’s—9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This bastion of contemporary comfort food in west Delray is approaching local landmark status, forging its own menu while borrowing a few dishes from Max’s Grille, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, including a stellar truffle-scented wild mushroom pizza. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$
Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian. This multiple Delray Beach-award winning restaurant has sparkling service, comfort food taken to a higher level, and a setting just steps from the Atlantic. A success from day one, they dish up big flavors in a tiny space, so call for reservations. Try the calamari fritto misto, then the rigatoni pomodoro and leave room for dessert. Or come back for breakfast. • Open daily from breakfast through dinner. 561/274-9404. $$
Campi Italian—233 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. The Ray Hotel’s Campi Italian exudes a warm, relaxing ambiance. It’s perfect for an aperitivo and excels in pasta. Contemporary glass chandeliers
illuminate its swanky bar and cozy rattan booths, while crisp white tablecloths adorn the tables. • Dinner nightly. 561/576-8366. $$$
Casa L’Acqua Ristorante Italiano—9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Casa L’Acqua is touted as a fine-dining establishment, and correctly so; diners can expect white tablecloths, tuxedoed staff and attentive service. The wine list is Italian-focused but does offer a variety of bottles from around the world, and each dish is expertly prepared with sizable portions. The main dining room, with its vibey bar and wine cellar, is cozy, and so is its fully enclosed patio in the back. • Dinner nightly. 561/563-7492. $$
Chez Henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$
City Oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$
Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar—25 N.E. Second Ave., Suite 208. Asian. Local hospitality veterans Tina Wang and chef Jason Zheng continue to grow their restaurant empire with this concept. The extensive menu caters to any palate, dietary restriction or craving and features both traditional and creative dishes. Soups and salads lead into sushi selections and appetizers divided into cool and hot. Cooked and raw rolls are followed by rice, noodle, land and sea entrée options. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Sunday brunch. 561/926-9434. $$
Cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$
DADA—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary. You’ll find playful dishes that are artfully crafted and warm hospitality in this historic home. Start with its famous dates, and for a comforting dish that won’t disappoint, try the meatloaf. Its cheeky interiors are a nod to the namesake art movement, yet the home’s history is also reflected in its lived-in wood floors and stone fireplace. • Dinner nightly, brunch Sundays. 561/330-3232. $$
Deck 84—840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American
Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the stellar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey seasonal cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/665-8484. $
Drift—10 N. Ocean Blvd. American. Inside the Opal Grand Resort & Spa, the restaurant’s coastal décor is polished with warm woods, textured stone walls, rope detailing and living walls. The bar is spacious, and several nooks overlook the ocean and the buzzy Atlantic Avenue. The all-day menu covers all the bases. You’ll find easy dishes to snack on after the beach, or if you’re craving an extended Happy Hour experience, enjoy the cheese board, hummus, baked oysters and poke alongside casual burgers, flatbreads and salads. The entrées offer something for everyone, including chicken, steak, lamb and fish. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-3289. $$
Boca Bacchanal
The annual wine fête is back. The fundraiser’s exclusive Vintner Dinners on April 9 and 10 will feature famed winemakers sharing their creations during an intimate five-course dinner at a local philanthropist’s home or historic venue. Then on April 12, the Grand Tasting will take place at The Addison, with more than 200 premium wineries, breweries and distilleries paired with bites by some of our local chefs. Proceeds will benefit the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum and the Boca Raton Historical Society’s mission of historic preservation and advocacy. bocahistory.org/boca-bacchanal
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
creative new take on a classic ceviche
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
Chef Pushkar Marathe is Indian, but Stage, his Midtown Boca concept, is not. Its roots may honor his Indian heritage, but the branches of Stage’s food philosophy are shaped by Marathe’s globetrotting. Stage (pronounced staaj, as in a culinary internship, not a performing platform) spotlights culinary delights from around the world, including Korean barbecue ribs, duck confit rolls, green chickpea hummus, patatas bravas and Marathe’s take on butter chicken masala and coconut curry.
Marathe prides himself on showcasing as many local products as possible. When he visited Naga Gardens in Loxahatchee and saw endless rows of lychee trees, a lightbulb went off. During a memorable dinner with legendary Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio, he had insisted there were no rules for making ceviche and that the dish didn’t even have to contain fish. So Marathe threw himself into creating the lychee ceviche recipe that now adorns both his Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton menus during summer.
While the lychee fruit is indispensable, his take on the leche de tigre marinade, which is vegan and gluten-free, is truly the star. The sweet and spicy sauce with a tropical flair is made by pressing fresh coconut, using cilantro stems (instead of the leaves, which may be too overpowering), Thai chili to counterbalance the sweetness, thinly sliced red onions first bathed in ice water to lessen their pungency, lime juice and sea salt from local purveyor Palm Beach Salt Co.
Last year, he harvested 2,000 pounds of lychee over the summer to supply his two restaurants and had two cooks peeling them every three days for the ceviche. Marathe is excited to share with his guests the idea that ceviche doesn’t have to be fish, as they experience the creativity he and his staff offer.
“As chefs, it’s our responsibility to open people’s minds about new flavors and trying new things,” he says.
Serves 4–6 people
LECHE DE TIGRE:
2 cups peeled and seeded lychees
½ cup lychee juice
3 Kaffir lime leaves
1 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons peeled, ground or chopped ginger
½ lemongrass stalk, chopped
1 Thai chili, chopped
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
½ cup cilantro stems
½ cup shocked* sliced red onions
*(soaked in ice bath for 15 minutes)
1 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend for approximately 5 minutes.
2. Strain through a fine-mesh chinois or a China cap strainer. Set aside.
THE CEVICHE:
4 cups peeled and seeded lychees
2 limes juiced
1 cucumber, sliced thin
1 red onion, sliced thin and shocked in ice bath
1 Thai chili, chopped
½ cup cilantro stems, chopped
½ cup chives, chopped
½ cup coarse, flaky sea salt
PREPARATION:
1 Place lychees in a chilled bowl, and add salt to your liking. Mix well.
2 Add fresh lime juice. Mix well.
3 Add cucumber, onion, cilantro stems and chili. Mix well.
4 Distribute ceviche mixture to 4 or 6 serving bowls.
5 Add lychee leche de tigre sauce to each bowl. Garnish with chives.
CHEF’S TIPS:
• Peeling is not scary: Don’t be intimidated by it. With the skin still on, use a very sharp knife and cut down the middle, through the seed.
• Keep it cool: No one wants to eat room-temperature ceviche. To keep it cold while you assemble it, fill a bowl with ice and a little water to make an ice bath, then place another bowl on top. Mix ingredients in that chilled bowl.
• Patience pays off: Wait until lychees are in season locally to make the dish. Buying them out of season ensures they’re imported and not at peak freshness.
• Drink pairing: Sip on a Sancerre, a dry Riesling or Stage’s Young, Fresh and Green cocktail.
Eathai—1832 S. Federal Highway. Thai. If you’re craving approachable and affordable Thai food, put Eathai at the top of your list. While you can expect to find curries, noodles, soups and fried rice on the menu, the dishes here aren’t the typical ones you’ll find around town. Indulge in the Thai Chicken French Toasted or Crispy Duck Breast with Lychee Curry Sauce or Oxtail Basil Fried Rice to savor the true talent of owner and chef Sopanut Sopochana. • Lunch and dinner daily, except Tuesday. 561/270-3156. $
El Camino—15 N.E. Second Ave. Mexican. This sexy, bustling downtown spot is from the trio behind nearby Cut 432 and Park Tavern. Fresh, quality ingredients go into everything from the tangy tomatillo salsas to the world-class fish tacos clad in delicate fried skin, set off by tart pineapple salsa. Cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros are the perfect dessert. And check out the margaritas, especially the smoky blend of mezcal and blanco tequila. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5350. $$
Elisabetta’s—32 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. An ornate Italian spot, with classically prepared dishes including spiedini shrimp, burrata de prosciutto bruschetta, costoletta di vitello (veal), a guanciale pizza, cacio e pepe pasta, malfadine Amatriciana and gemelli puttanesca. Portions are large and that, thankfully, goes for the homemade gelati, too. The best seating outdoors is the second-floor balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue. • Lunch and dinner daily; weekend brunch. 561/560-6699. $$
Gabriella’s Modern Italian—40 N.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Craveable, modern Italian American cuisine in a gorgeous space with a stunning circular bar and outdoor patio. The Parm Bar is the star of the menu, but there are several
noteworthy supporting players like the housemade tagliatelle, meatballs and tiramisu. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/9163001. $$$
The Grove—187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Grove, which has been tucked inside the tranquil Pineapple Grove district for nearly a decade, continues to surprise diners with its vibrant dishes. The upscale but casually comfortable nook has an international wine list that spans the globe and a seasonal menu that’s succinct and well thought out. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/266-3750. $$
The Hampton Social—40 N.E. Seventh Ave. American. The Hampton Social is known for its “rosé all day” tagline, but it doesn’t just slay its rosé; its food is equally as tempting. It does a standout job of incorporating its casual coastal aesthetic into not just its décor but also its menu, from its seafood-centric dishes to its droll cocktail names like the vodka-forward I Like It a Yacht. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/404-1155. $$
Il Girasole—2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian If you want Northern Italian in a low-key atmosphere, and nobody rushing you out the door, this is your spot. Start with something from the very good wine list. Try the yellowtail snapper, the penne Caprese and the capellini Gamberi, and leave room for the desserts. Reservations recommended. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$
J&J Seafood Bar & Grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on Atlantic Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (who is also the chef) and wife Tina—serves
up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. This is is a bona fide local go-to spot that never disappoints. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$
Jimmy’s Bistro—9 S. Swinton Ave. International. Jimmy’s Bistro is a casual neighborhood concept serving consistently delightful dishes from a diverse menu that can transport diners to Italy with house-made pasta or Asia with its delicate dumplings and tender duck. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5774. $$$
Joseph’s Wine Bar—200 N.E. Second Ave. Mediterranean-American. Joseph’s is an elegant, comfortable, intimate nook in Delray’s Pineapple Grove, and an ideal place for a lazy evening. This family affair—owner Joseph Boueri, wife Margaret in the kitchen, and son Elie and daughter Romy working the front of the house—has all tastes covered. Try the special cheese platter, the duck a l’orange or the rack of lamb. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-6100. $$
La Cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean. Popular venue since 2001, with Greek and Italian dishes and more. Highlights are seafood paella, roasted half duck and grilled jumbo artichoke appetizer. Lots of favorites on the menu: calf’s liver, veal osso buco, branzino, seafood crepes. Nice outdoor seating if weather permits. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$
Latitudes—2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Modern American. You should come for both the sunset and the food. This oceanfront restaurant is a gem tucked inside the Delray Sands resort. From the airy, bubbly interior to the raw bar, the décor is soothing and
fun. Try the lobster and crab stuffed shrimp, the miso-glazed Skuna Bay salmon, the branzino or the veal Bolognese. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-6241. $$$
Le Colonial 601 E. Atlantic Ave. Vietnamese French. Le Colonial radiates classic elegance that is as sophisticated as it is comfortable. Created to showcase Vietnamese cuisine and its French influences, Le Colonial has a standout method of curating classic Vietnamese dishes that appeal to various palates, from meat lovers and pescatarians to vegetarians. The space immediately transports you back to Saigon’s tropical paradise of the 1920s. Lush birds of paradise and palms line the halls that lead into intimate dining nooks throughout the 7,000-square-foot restaurant.• Lunch (on weekends) and dinner daily. 561/566-1800. $$$
Lefkes Estiatorio—33 S.E. Third Ave. Greek. This redesigned space, inside the former Delray Beach Market food hall, is home to Greek wines, traditional Greek classics, and a few contemporary takes on the cuisine. Make sure to save room for the baklava. If you’re looking for a lively late-night Mykonos vibe, complete with napkin throwing and pulsating tunes, Lefkes also delivers. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/908-2331. $$$
Lemongrass Bistro—420 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this a popular destination. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-0442. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton, 561/544-8181; 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/733-1344). $
Lulu’s—189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Lulu’s in Pineapple Grove offers a relaxed ambiance with unfussy, approachable food. The quaint café is open every day and serves an all-day menu including breakfast until 3 p.m. and a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées that are ideal for an executive lunch, lively tapas happy hour, casual dinner or late night snack (until 2 a.m.). • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/453-2628. $
MIA Kitchen & Bar—7901 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$
Start the workweek, appropriately enough, at The Office, where every Monday, diners can order a beer, burger and bourbon shot for just $24.
The Office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/2783796. $$
Papa’s Tapas—259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $
Park Tavern—32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders,
chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$
Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. Chef-owner Suzanne Perrotto, who also owns Brulé Bistro, celebrates her family’s Italian roots and its beloved recipes here—especially when it comes to her house-made pizza and pasta. Perrotto’s famous short rib pappardelle was even featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Dinner Wed.-Sun. • 561/271-9423. $$
Sazio—131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$
Table 165—165 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary. The quaint Pineapple Grove restaurant is a contrast of moody drama and glowing cheeriness with its vintage Art Nouveau bar and dazzling adjacent dining room. Chef Coton Stine’s continued advocacy for locally sourced ingredients and her enthusiastic support for our Florida farms really shine here in dishes like the seafood rassa. • Dinner Wed.-Mon. 561/266-3629. $$$
Taki Omakase—632 E. Atlantic Ave. Japanese. Taki Omakase, a shining example of omakase done right, has opened not one but two locations in our community (the other is at 1658 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton). It is pricy—an experience is more than $100 per person—but it’s worth it, with one caveat: You must enthusiastically love eating raw fish. Every night is different because it prides itself on importing fish, meat and seasonal ingredients from Japan that arrive daily. So, if you do pine for the delicacies of the sea, buckle in and get ready for the talented chefs at Taki Omakase to guide you through a culinary journey unlike anything else.• Dinner nightly, lunch hour Fri.-Sun. 561/759-7362. $$$$
Terra Fiamma—9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/495-5570. $$
Tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world where restaurants chase trends with the relentlessness of Casanova in full Viagra heat, Tramonti stands out as a classic outpost of authentic Italian cookery. Not trendy hardly means stodgy, however, as evidenced by expertly crafted, robustly flavorful dishes like the signature spiedini di mozzarella Romana, spaghetti al cartoccio and braciole Napoletana. Torta della nonna is a triumph of the highly refined simplicity that lies at the heart of true Italian cuisine. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-1944. $$$
Vic & Angelo’s—290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Larger than personal pies, thincrust pizzas are family-friendly, while you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini, fluffy purses filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. For a protein, try the traditional chicken parmigiana, a hearty portion of paper-thin breaded chicken breast topped with a subtly sweet San Marzano sauce under a gooey layer of fresh mozzarella, and a substantial side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$
Oceano Kitchen—512 Lucerne Ave. Contemporary American. Chefs and owners Jeremy and Cindy Bearman, James Beard-nominated toques who trained under rock stars such as Daniel Boulud and Joel Robuchon, have a talent for crafting a simple daily menu of ever-changing dishes that explode with flavors and are curated with thoughtfulness and the utmost detail. Genuine hospitality is at the core of their restaurant. Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/400-7418. $$$
Paradiso Ristorante—625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean salt-crusted branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$
Ravish Off Ocean—210 E. Ocean Ave. International. Ravish Off Ocean is a delightful dining experience less than a mile from the powdery sands of South Palm Beach. The coastal vibes are evident here with sea-inspired options like local fish ceviche, tuna tartare, fish tacos and a daily catch. • Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. 561/588-2444. $$
The Station House—233 Lantana Road. Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks
and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 6 pounds) and are reasonably priced. • Dinner nightly. 561/801-5000. $$
Acqua Café—2875 S Ocean Blvd. Italian. This quaint neighborhood restaurant serves quality Italian favorites with a coastal twist. It’s part of the Al Fresco Hospitality Group portfolio, which also includes Via Mizner’s legendary Renato’s.• Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/547-0005. $$$
Bice—313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$
Buccan—350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Casual elegance of Palm Beach meets modern culinary sensibilities of Miami at the first independent restaurant by chef Clay Conley. The design offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (wood-grilled burgers) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). • Dinner nightly. 561/833-3450. $$$
Café Boulud—The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. This hotel restaurant gives Palm Beach a taste of Daniel Boulud’s world-class cuisine inspired
by his four muses. The chef oversees a menu encompassing classics, simple fare, seasonal offerings and dishes from around the world. Dining is in the courtyard, the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Dinner nightly. 561/655-6060. $$$
Café L’Europe—331 S. County Road. Current International. A Palm Beach standard, the café has long been known for its peerless beauty, the piano player, the chilled martinis and the delicious Champagne and caviar bar. Try one of its sophisticated classics like wiener schnitzel with herbed spaetzle, grilled veal chop and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$
Echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$
Henry’s Palm Beach—229 Royal Poinciana Way. American Bistro. Part of The Breakers’ restaurant properties, this venue opened in 2020 and is an elegant addition to The Island. Try the pigs in a pretzel dough blanket, beer can corn, the lobster roll, butter crumb Dover sole and chicken pot pie. All comfort food with a Palm Beach twist, and it’s all delicious. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/206-1896. $$$
HMF—1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent
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of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive, oh-so-contemporary small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onion-Parmesan dip with house-made fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos and Korean-style short ribs. The wine list is encyclopedic. • Dinner nightly. 561/290-0104. $$
Imoto—350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$
Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse. “Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steakhouse but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$
Renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist—like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$
Banko Cantina—114 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Northern Mexican. Start with the Adelita cocktail and don’t look back. The bacon-wrapped shrimp, the Al Carbon steak tacos and the house guacamole add up to a full-flavor dinner. The west-facing rooftop bar is a nice sunset option, and the Pan de Elote (homemade sweet cornbread with vanilla ice cream and berries) is a delightful end to the evening. • Dinner daily. 561/355-1399. $$
The Blue Door—5700 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. The Blue Door’s vibrant hospitality welcomes you the moment you step through the arched, sapphire-hued entrance. Its lush landscaping and casual yet refined menu take you straight to the southern European coastline. • Dinner nightly. 561/360-2064. $$$
Happy hour at Pistache includes two small plates for $25, with options including Burgundy escargot and Pâté de Campagne.
Café Centro—2409 N. Dixie Highway. Modern American. A cornerstone in the Northwood neighborhood, this venue draws because of a complete package: food, drinks and great nightlife and music. Take some char-grilled oysters, add shrimp pesto capellini or a marinated pork chop with polenta, plus local singing fave Tessie Porter, and you have a fun and delicious night out. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/514-4070. $$
French Corner Bistro & Rotisserie— 4595 Okeechobee Blvd. Classic French. It’s France in a tiny venue, with big-taste dishes that include all the faves: beef bourguignon, rack of lamb, duck à l’orange, frog legs Provencale, veal kidneys, tender branzino and simple desserts to end the meal. Reservations are mandatory for dinner. • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/689-1700. $$
Grato—1901 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. “Grato” is Italian for “grateful,” and there is much to be grateful for about Clay Conley’s
sophisticated yet unpretentious take on Italian cookery. Anyone would be grateful to find such delicate, crispy and greaseless fritto misto as Grato’s, ditto for lusty beef tartare piled onto a quartet of crostini. Spinach gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce are a revelation, so light and airy they make other versions taste like green library paste. Don’t miss the porchetta either, or the silken panna cotta with coffee ice cream and crunchy hazelnut tuille. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/404-1334. $$
The House—7301 Georgia Ave. Modern American. Located inside The Park, West Palm Beach’s public golf course, The House has a bright contemporary aesthetic with massive floor-toceiling windows that spotlight the course’s natural beauty. The menu is approachable and offers something for everyone. It also features unique and interesting takes on dishes like spiny lobster corn dogs. • Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun., weekend brunch. 561/530-3791. $$
Lamarina—4050 N. Flagler Drive. Mediterranean. Pair sprawling mega-yacht views with shareable Mediterranean-inspired plates. Located at Safe Harbor Rybovich Marina, this waterfront restaurant features a seafood-focused menu. Try the Lamarina sushi roll for a flavor-packed experience, or choose the Maine lobster spaghetti, a savory dish that will satisfy. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/371-8380. $$$
Leila—120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. Flowing drapes and industrial lighting complete the exotic decor in this Middle Eastern hit. Sensational hummus is a must-try. Lamb kebab with parsley, onion and spices makes up the delicious Lebanese lamb kefta. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/659-7373. $$
Marcello’s La Sirena—6316 S. Dixie Highway. Italian . You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$
Pink Steak—2777 S. Dixie Highway. Steakhouse. This steakhouse offers plenty of choice cuts and classic chophouse appetizers, such as Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail, but don’t miss the other noteworthy options, like sushi and beef tartare. The pink-hued space is accented with tropical murals, plush avocado-green booths, plume-like chandeliers and plenty of flamingoes. It’s undoubtedly a vibe. • Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. 561/557-9083. $$$$
Pistache—1010 N. Clematis St., #115. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as coq au vin and steak tartare. All that, plus guests dining al fresco have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Centennial Park. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$
Rhythm Café—3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/833-3406. $$
Table 26°—1700 S. Dixie Highway. Contemporary American. Take a quarter-cup of Palm Beach, a tablespoon of Nantucket, a pinch of modern American cookery and a couple gallons of the owners’ savoir faire, and you have Eddie Schmidt’s and Ozzie Medeiros’s spot. The menu roams the culinary globe for modest contemporary tweaks on classically oriented dishes. Try the fried calamari “Pad Thai.” • Dinner nightly. 561/855-2660. $$$
Chanson—45 N.E. 21st Ave. Contemporary American/ French. A little bit of Palm Beach, a little bit of Italy comes to Deerfield Beach in the form of this elegant, sophisticated restaurant in the oceanfront Royal Blues Hotel. Service is as stellar as the views from the cozy, modestly opulent dining room, notable for the 1,500-gallon aquarium embedded in the ceiling. Consistency can be an issue with the food, but when it is good it is very good. • Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tues.-Sat., brunch Sun. 954/857-2929. $$$
Oceans 234—234 N. Ocean Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Contemporary American. One of the only oceanfront (as in, on the beach) options in South Florida, this familiar-with-a-twist venue is fun to both visit and eat. Try the Infamous Lollipop Chicken Wings, a starter that could be an entrée. Seafood is definitely top-shelf, as are the desserts. A true Florida experience. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-2539. $$
Tradition—626 S. Federal Highway. French. This is a petite place with a large following, for good reason. Owners Eric and Anais Heintz start meals with an amuse-bouche and a menu that spans the length of France. Order a creamy Caesar salad with a light anchovy-based dressing. Try the coq au vin (sauce cooked for two days), and if you like calves’ liver, this is the best you’ll find in the area. End with a Grand Marnier soufflé (worth the 15-minute wait), and make your next reservation there before going home. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. 954/480-6464. $$
Cap’s Place 2765 N.E. 28th Court. Seafood. Eating here requires a boat ride, which is very SoFla and terrific for visitors. This is one of—if not the only—family-run, old-Florida seafood restaurants you’ve never heard of, open since the 1920s. The heart of palm salad is the best and purest version around. Seafood abounds; fish can be prepared nine ways and much more. (There are non-seafood dishes that are done well, too.) Go for the short boating thrill and for the food. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 954/941-0418. $$
Le Bistro—4626 N. Federal Highway. Modern French. The menu is modern and healthy—98-percent gluten-free, according to chef Andy Trousdale and co-owner Elin Trousdale. Check out the prix-fixe menu, which includes pan-roasted duck to beef Wellington. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/946-9240. $$$
Seafood World—4602 N. Federal Highway. Seafood This seafood market and restaurant offers some of the freshest seafood in the county. Its unpretentious atmosphere is the perfect setting for the superb king crab, Maine lobster, Florida lobster tails and much more. Tangy Key lime pie is a classic finish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/942-0740. $$
Calypso Restaurant—460 S. Cypress Road. Caribbean. This bright little dining room and bar (beer and wine
only) has a Caribbean menu that is flavorful, imaginative—and much more. Calypso offers a spin on island food that includes sumptuous conch dishes, Stamp & Go Jamaican fish cakes and tasty rotis stuffed with curried chicken, lamb or seafood. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Fri. 954/942-1633. $
Café Maxx—2601 E. Atlantic Blvd. American. The longstanding institution from chef Oliver Saucy is as good now as when it opened in the mid-1980s. Main courses offer complex flavor profiles, such as the sweet-onion-crusted yellowtail snapper on Madeira sauce over mashed potatoes. Parts of the menu change daily. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sunday. 954/7820606. $$$
South Bar & Kitchen—165 N.E. First Ave. Southern. Serves southern comfort cuisine in a dazzling space with plush emerald-green banquettes, warm wood detailing, and a spacious indoor/outdoor bar leading out to an expansive terrace and second bar. • Dinner Tues.-Sun., weekend brunch. 954/890-2000. $$
NYY Steak—Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 N.W. 40th St. Steakhouse. The second incarnation of this Yankees-themed restaurant swings for the fences—and connects— with monstrous portions, chic decor and decadent desserts. The signature steaks are a meat lover’s dream; seafood specialties include Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 954/935-6699. $$$$
15th Street Fisheries—1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/763-2777. $$
Bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel, 1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary American. This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food. The menu is surprisingly diverse. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/626-1748. $$
Bistro Mezzaluna—1821 S.E. 10th Ave. Italian. The bistro is all Euro-chic decor—mod lighting, abstract paintings. It also has good food, from pastas to steaks and chops and a wide range of fresh seasonal fish and seafood. Don’t forget the phenomenal wine list. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/522-9191. $$
Café Martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Italian. Standouts include crispy calamari in marinara sauce and flavorful veal osso buco. Our conclusion: explosive flavor, attention to all the details and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Waiters whisper the night’s specials as if they’re family secrets. • Dinner nightly. 954/561-2554. $$
Casablanca Café—3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/764-3500. $$
Casa D’Angelo—1210 N. Federal Highway, #5A. Italian. Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The marinated grilled veal chop is sautéed with wild mushrooms in a fresh rosemary sauce. A delightful pasta entrée is the pappardelle con porcini: thick strips of fresh pasta coated in a light red sauce and bursting with slices of porcini mushrooms. • Dinner nightly. 954/564-1234. $$
Chima—2400 E. Las Olas Blvd. Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept—all the meat you can eat, brought to your table—is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. • Dinner nightly. 954/712-0580. $$$
Taverna Opa—410 N. Ocean Drive. Greek. Bring all your friends here and order a million mezes (Greek appetizers). Try the keftedes, Greek meatballs, and the lamb chops or snapper, which is filleted at the table. Don’t be surprised when your waiter pulls you up on the table to dance. • Dinner nightly. 954/929-4010. (Also: 270 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/303-3602). $$
Blue Moon Fish Company—4405 W. Tradewinds Ave. Seafood. This is one of the best spots in Broward County for waterside dining. Choose from a raw bar and fish nearly every which way, as well as daily, seasonal fish specials. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sun. 954/2679888. $$$
Bourbon Steak—19999 W. Country Club Drive. Steaks. Michael Mina’s elegant steak house in tony Turnberry Isle features impeccable service, an encyclopedic wine list and a roster of USDA Prime Angus, Wagyu and Kobe steaks. • Dinner nightly. 786/279-6600. $$$$
The Palm— 9650 E. Bay Harbor Drive. Steaks. The portions are giant, but you’ll surely clear your plate of 3- to 7-pound jumbo Nova Scotia lobster or a tender filet mignon. S&S cheesecake shipped from the Bronx is pure heaven. • Dinner nightly. 305/868-7256. $$$
Pastor-ization
Alberto Pastor, who took over the kitchen at the former Pascal’s on Ponce in 2025, has injected bold Basque flavors into the French-focused menu.
Il Mulino—1800 E. Sunrise Blvd. Italian. This modest, unpretentious Italian restaurant doesn’t attempt to reinvent the culinary wheel. Instead, it dishes up big portions of simple, hearty, flavorful food at extremely reasonable prices. Zuppa de pesce is a wealth of perfectly cooked seafood over linguini in a light tomato-based sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/524-1800. $
MAASS: Chef’s Counter—525 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Contemporary. MAASS was the only Fort Lauderdale restaurant awarded a Michelin star in 2025. While it’s considered chef Ryan Ratino’s third starred restaurant, one must clarify that it was only The Chef’s Counter, the 14 seats overlooking the open kitchen, which received the honor from the iconic gastronomic guide. The menu offers two prix fixe Japanese-inspired menus that differ in price and duration. • Dinner nightly. 954/256-0000. $$$$
Sea Watch—6002 N. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. For a righton-the-beach, welcome-to-Florida dining experience, there’s Sea Watch. Decked out in a pervasive nautical theme, this is definitely tourist country, but it’s pretty and on the beach. The perfect entrée for the indecisive: The broiled seafood medley brochette, with lobster tail, jumbo shrimp and scallops, yellow squash, zucchini, mushrooms and pineapple. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/781-2200. $$
Caffe Abbracci—318 Aragon Ave. Italian. The dining room is handsome and understated, a fitting ambience for Miami’s movers and shakers. That’s just part of the draw of Abbracci, though the regional Italian fare has achieved its own status as some of the best in the Gables. You can’t go wrong with the porcini risotto or the pounded veal chop “tricolore.” • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 305/441-0700. $$
Pastor at Pascal—2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd. French. When Pascal Oudin ran the kitchen at the Grand Bay Grand Café, his tropical take on French cuisine earned him national acclaim. His follow-up restaurant, now helmed by Alberto Pastor, offers a more streamlined, but still contemporary, French menu. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 305/444-2024. $$$$
WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM.
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Caring for older adults has been a lifelong vocation and a heartfelt commitment for Judith Uzzi. A licensed social worker and certified care manager, she is the clinical program director of MorseLife Care Management & Counseling. She provides individual, family, and group counseling, and coordinates personalized care management services to help chronically ill older adults live with dignity and support. Under Judith’s guidance, the program is expanding behavioral health access for seniors in our community with a standard of excellence.
4847 David S. Mack Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33417 561-570-2821 morselife.org
WHERE: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
WHAT: HomeSafe’s annual Classic Rock & Roll Party returned for its 23rd year to rock the house before a sold-out crowd of more than 400 revelers at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain once again hosted the festivities, which included a performance by Billy Joel band member Mike DelGuidice. The event, co-chaired by Steve Bernstein and his daughter, Abby BernsteinHenderson, raised more than $750,000 to benefit HomeSafe’s mission of protecting and servicing survivors of child abuse and domestic violence. The evening also included honors for exemplary HomeSafe supporters such as Rob Vargas, who was presented the HomeSafe Hero Award, and nine HomeSafe team members, including CEO Matthew Ladika, who have served the organization for more than 20 years. Sponsors included the Harcourt M. & Virginia W. Sylvester Family Foundation, the Steven E. Bernstein Family Foundation, the Stoops Family Foundation, Boca magazine and many more.
1: Maria and Todd Roberti
2: Larry and Gina Melby
3: Laura Barker, Patty Larkin, Matthew Ladika, Samantha Skaletsky
4: Clare Malfitano and Jayne Malfitano
5: Ana and Andrew Waldman
6: HomeSafe Hero Rob Vargas and Rebecca Vargas
7: Celebrity Host Nicko McBrain with co-chairs Abby Bernstein-Henderson and Steve Bernstein
8: Kelly Smallridge, Rex Kirby
9: Jo Ann and Philip Procacci, Carrie Rubin
10: Ward and Debbie Kellogg
11: Fern Schmidt, Jim MacCutcheon
12: Jeff and Aggie Stoops
13: Doris and Neil Gillman
WHERE: Boca West Country Club
WHAT: JARC Florida, a nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, celebrated its eighth-annual “Fashion Show With Heart” fundraiser, bringing in more than $171,000 for the organization. The fashion show included 17 JARC Florida beneficiaries who hit the runway alongside their families, friends and JARC board members to strut confidently in apparel provided by Shop Finally and Scales Gear. Chaired by Paula Rosenblum and honorary co-chairs Annette Stone and Kelly Blackman Stone, this year’s fundraiser directly benefited the Dr. Allen & Annette Stone Adult Day Training Program at JARC Florida, which gives the adults they serve the tools they need to succeed through vocational training. “This event truly embodies the spirit of JARC Florida—community, joy and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to shine,” said JARC Florida CEO Jeff Zirulnick. “Seeing our clients celebrated in such a meaningful way is what makes this event so special.”
1: Annette
2: Jordan Levine, Chani Levine
3: Sandy Kransdorf, Sheila Greenberg
4: Cheryl Cherney, Judy Zuckerman, Elizabeth Levine, Fran Nolfo
5: Myrna Weinberg, Sandra Walker
6: Nona London, Paula Rosenblum, Roz Wolfe
7: Lori Eisenberg, Jill Swimmer
WHERE: The Addison
WHAT: The storied grounds of The Addison were transformed into a lush oasis for Sweet Dream Makers’ flagship fundraising event. The nonprofit, which provides beds and bedding for local families in need, raised more than $700,000 during the night’s festivities, funds that will support more than 2,000 beds for families in need.
Hosted by Doris and Neil Gillman and Abby Bernstein-Henderson, the celebration included live music, an auction and a lavish food spread. The more than 250 guests also joined Sweet Dream Makers in celebrating a slew of milestones, including providing more than 35,000 beds for local residents since 2016. Also celebrated was founding board member Tim Lewis, Sr., who was awarded the 2025 Sweet Dream Maker of the Year.
1: Tim Lewis, Sr. (center) with his family
2: Alex Henderson and Abby BernsteinHenderson
3: Beverly Altman, Doris Gillman
4: Sweet Dream Makers board members
5: Cristina Lewis, Zoe Lanham, Abby Bernstein-Henderson, Kelly Fleming
6: Suzy Broad, Neil and Doris Gillman, Brian Broad
WHERE: Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club
WHAT: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s annual “Securing our Future Soirée” returned for its seventh year, raising $290,000 to benefit teen programs and operations at the Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton. Co-chaired by Jessica Miley and Kathleen Cammarata and honorary chair Michelle Hagerty, the festive, nautical-themed evening included live and silent auctions as well as a dueling piano performance and poignant remarks from 2025 Palm Beach County Youth of the Year Phildensy Jean, who shared with the crowd the importance of the club in his and his family’s life. Event sponsors included Michelle Hagerty, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Power & Light and more.
1: Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Hope Blum, Elyse Filon, Fran Nachlas, Todd Blum
2: Alex Price, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County President & CEO Jaene Miranda
3: Christine Pulver, Dan Guggenheim
4: Austin and Mandy Bohman, Lindsay and Kevin Bourke
5: Robert and Kristen Stevenson, Jessica and Thad Miley
6: Matt Jennings, Andy Thompson, Derek Witte
7: Amanda Thomas, Brittany Moyer, Katie Zitzmann
8: Donna and Barry Goldberg
9: Jessica Miley, Kathleen Cammarata
10: Linda Dolbrus, Lydia Fort
11: Dr. Phildensy Jean, Garlens Morilus
12: Renata Cammarata, Amanda Witte, Megan Jennings
WHERE: Boca West Country Club
WHAT: As one of the few elite performers to achieve EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning) status, it’s not easy to narrow down the works and legacy of Barbra Streisand for a single celebration, but the South Palm Beach/North Broward Chapter of JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options) managed to pack its fundraising luncheon with plenty to love for admirers of the original “Funny Girl.” Presented by Ned Dorman, “Funny Girl: An Homage to Barbra Streisand” drew a crowd of community leaders and JAFCO supporters to celebrate all things Streisand over mimosas and performances from the multi-hyphenate’s extensive catalog while raising funds for JAFCO’s work with at-risk children and families across South Florida.
1: JAFCO Godparents: Debra Bacharach, Debbie Bernstein, Shelley Banks, Jodi Gottlieb, Helene Weicholz, Susan Feinberg, Ellen Freling, Leslie Wolf, Barbara Schwartz
2: Linda Beermann, Rochelle Sampson, Susan Lyman, Greg Fried
3: Diane Lynn performing Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
4: Madelane Shane, Kim Waltuch, Shelly Adler, Kathy Lowenthal and Debbie Bernstein light the Candle of Hope
5: JAFCO CEO Dr. Justin Kohlhagen
6: Luncheon Chairs Rochelle Sampson and Susan Lyman
April 2026 issue. Vol. 46 No. 4. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of Palm Beach Media Group, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of Palm Beach Media Group is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton, South Florida At Its Best; bocamag.com; Florida Table; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published 9 times a year (September/October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May/June and July/August) by Palm Beach Media Group. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $24.95/8 issues, $34.95/16 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $6.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.
YOUR TRUSTED CONNECTION BETWEEN NEW YORK & FLORIDA
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APRIL 8
GLAZER HALL’s debut season is here, delivering an unforgettable experience with a star-studded lineup of world-renowned performances.
Samantha Fish & Tab Benoit Two Tours Collide Tour
APRIL 9
Fran Lebowitz
Author, actor, and public speaker. Interviewed by Paul Shaffer.
APRIL 10
Paul Shaffer & Special Guest Valerie Simpson With the Palm Beach Symphony
APRIL 11
BODYTRAFFIC Award-winning, LA-based dance company.
APRIL 12
Ratatouille Sensory-Friendly & Traditional Screenings Big dreams, fine dining, tiny chef.
APRIL 15
Susan & James Patterson: The Mother-Daughter Book Club
A book signing, discussion, and lunch. Includes a copy of the book.
APRIL 18
Inaugural Season Gala Sheryl Crow
Nine-time GRAMMY Award® winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
APRIL 19
Mike Super Magic & Illusion
APRIL 21
The Four Lives of Jackie O Discussion and lunch with historian René Silvin.
APRIL 22
Ocean
Starring David Attenborough Special Earth Day Celebration featuring the Palm Beach Symphony and singers from Palm Beach Opera.
APRIL 23
Ron Delsener Presents A film about the king of rock. Q&A with director Jake Sumner.
APRIL 24
Forever K-pop
A high-energy, live concert celebrating today’s biggest K-pop hits.
APRIL 25
Megan Hilty
Tony Award® nominee. Cabaret and dinner seating available.
APRIL 26
The One and Only Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
The greatest dance, swing, and romantic ballads!
APRIL 27
Curated by Christie’s Speaker Series All That Glitters... What Separates a Jewel From a Masterpiece?
Beyond price tags: iconic collections and trends.
APRIL 29
Healthy With a Side of Happy With Author/Lifestyle Guru
Sabrina Rudin & Actress/ Fancy Peasant Founder Anastasia Ganias-Gellin Signed book and food demo.
APRIL 30
Broadway’s Bad Boys Your favorite Broadway villains.
MAY 5
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen Featuring Patrick Myers
MAY 6
Curated by Christie’s Speaker Series
The Business of Bags: Collectible Handbags at Auction
Discover what makes handbags collectible investments.
MAY 7
Anthony Roth Costanzo GRAMMY Award®-winning countertenor.
MAY 8
Herbie Hancock 14-time GRAMMY Award® Winner
MAY 9
Davi Sings Sinatra Cabaret and dinner seating available.
MAY 11
Minority Report
Featuring a Q&A With AI Expert Nicholas Mohnacky When technology convicts before crimes occur.
MAY 12
Jason Mraz
Still Yours 2026 East Coast Tour
Multiplatinum, multi-GRAMMY Award® winner best known for songs – “I’m Yours,” “I Won’t Give Up,” and more.
AND SO MUCH MORE!
3+ hours nature immersion and play daily
Weekly field trips
Hands-on experiences
Child-centric instruction
1:9 teacher to student ratio 342 N.
cocoplumnatureschool.org NOW ACCEPTING Grades K-5 applications
A new kind of spring night is coming to Palm Beach Zoo. Rhythm in the Wild is an evening experience with live music, special animal moments, and relaxed after-hours energy. Every ticket supports wildlife conservation, so your night out makes a difference.
Marie Speed
those highs and lows, a larger storm is brewing
Written by MARIE SPEED
It’s fair to say my mother, Betty Speed, was obsessed with weather, having earned the alias “Weather Betty” by the time she was 40. I remember right after we moved to Florida, in 1963, we spotted our first water spout over Tampa Bay. My mother, who was from Kansas, recognized a tornado when she saw one and ordered us to fill the bathtub with water (I am still not sure why) and promptly called my father’s office to let him know we were in imminent mortal danger. We were assured that distant water spouts posed no threat to our little Pa trician Point ranch house, but it was a lesson learned: Always respect the weather.
Weather Betty is gone now, but all three of her kids inherited her meteorological passion. My late brother Barry in California practically waxed poetic when he talked about the marine layer coming in at his Mission Viejo house, or the Santa Ana winds roaring through in January. My sister Missy in Colorado is also so inclined, starting every conversation I have with her with the exact temperature today and yesterday, where snow is expected on the front range, or how dry it is this year.
Weather is our love language, I suppose, but we’ve earned it. My family endured the Big Thompson flood in 1976 and the 1982 Lawn Lake dam failure in Estes Park, Colorado; my brother did two tours in steamy Vietnam and went through more than one blizzard in Massachusetts. I’ve had more than my share of hurricane evacuations, and I can smell rain 60 miles away. Weather may be what you have when you don’t have much else to talk about, but it’s also big and uncertain and mysterious and compelling. What weather is not, however, is climate, which I like to think of as a bunch of weathers stacked together over the course of 30 years or so.
And climate is starting to overtake weather as my particular obsession.
For example, like everyone else, I kind of liked that weird subfreezing string of arctic days we had in February, and wondered at temperatures reaching lows not seen in 100 years in some places. (On February 2, both Vero Beach and Fort Pierce set new records for the coldest temperature ever recorded in February.) It is these extremes that give me a new kind of chill, and don’t even get me started on hurricanes. Hurricanes today are bigger, meaner and more frequent; this past season, some weather geeks were postulating whether we needed to invent a new Category 6 level storm.
And heat? Three months from now, we’ll be hunkered down in our houses by 11 every morning. Forget fogged-up glasses and hot steering wheels. Last summer was among the top 10 warmest in Florida, with one July heat wave sending heat indices to 115 degrees in some parts of the state. Add in rising sea levels and shrinking polar ice, and “weather” is starting to feel pretty creepy these days.
As if that weren’t enough, the recent government repeal of the EPA’s “endangerment finding” (the scientific foundation for emission standards) has pretty
