Weekend Best Bets: Tennis, 60 Days of Fun and Elton

Emmy winner Dick Hyman will be at the Arts Garage tonight and Friday

Emmy winner Dick Hyman will be at the Arts Garage tonight and Friday

Support Tomorrow’s Promise

Tomorrow’s Promise is a charter school originally founded by two members of the Delray Beach Police Department, the late, great Officer Johnny Pun and Community Service Officer Fred Glass.

For more than a decade now, the school– under the leadership of our friend Marjorie Waldo– has done a great job with kids who need a little extra attention.

On Saturday, you can support this great cause, eat healthy food and listen to great music at a benefit hosted by the Delray Beach Initiative, a new group formed to raise money to help Delray kids.

From 6:30-9:30pm visit DIG restaurant, 7777 E. Atlantic Ave, and listen to the songs of Steve Martel, Jimmy Durkin and Max Dubose.  A $10 suggested donation will benefit the school.

Bring your friends and spread the word.

Tennis Finals

This weekend marks the semifinals and finals of the Delray Beach Open.

It has been a glorious week of tennis at the Delray Beach Tennis Stadium with personalities ranging from Andy Roddick and Kei Nishikori to the Bryan Brothers and breakout American star Steve Johnson delighting fans.

There’s still time to catch the end of the event and experience tennis up close and personal–the Delray way.

Visit www.yellowtennisball.com for tickets and more information.

60 Days of Fun in Boca

Well folks, we’re in the midst of The City of Boca Raton’s 60 Days of Family Fun. And fun it is with music, live entertainment and family-centric activities at Downtown Boca’s Mizner Park Amphitheater. 

Here’s a brief summary of what you can expect in the coming weeks.

Sunday, February 23 – 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Arts Power’s Production of:  Are You My Mother?: This national touring theatre production brings to life the beloved children’s book by P.D. Eastman with two matinee performances.  The first event will take place under the “Big Tent,” bring blankets or chairs. Chairs will also be available on site for $5.00.

Saturday, March 1 – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

1st Annual Health & Wellness Experience: Presented by the City of Boca Raton, CBS12 and Sun Sentinel, the 1st Annual Health and Wellness Experience will be the “must-see, must attend” health and wellness event in South Florida.  The free, interactive event will offer something for every age and every interest including medical screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, celebrity appearances and activities for the kids.  As part of National Bike Month a kid’s safety & fun zone will offer bike helmet safety tips, demonstrations and fittings.  For more information, please call 561.881.0702 or visit www.thewellnessexperience.org.   The event is FREE and takes place under the tent.

All events are rain or shine.  There is limited parking in Mizner Park garages.  Attendees are encouraged to park for free and walk from City Hall and the libraries. For more information, visit www.mizneramphitheater.com or www.downtownboca.org.  For recorded information call (561) 544-8600.

Early Elton at Crest Theater

We love Elton John.

In fact, Dave has a collection of eyewear that honors the legendary rocker.

But we really prefer his early years to the late career schmaltz. At least I do. Dave’s middle name is Schmaltz.

That’s why we are recommending the show “Early Elton” at the Crest Theatre, this Friday at 8 p.m.

This dynamic show is a tribute to the music Elton John wrote and sang during his “Trio Period “ with Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, from 1970-1972.

 Featuring Jeff Kazee (piano and vocals), Rich Pagano (drums and vocals) and John Conte (bass and vocals), the show is sure to appeal to those who love Elton’s work. 

As the story goes, Elton’s label didn’t have the funds to send him out on a U.S. tour with a full band, but Elton needed to promote his pending releases. 

He brought Dee and Nigel on board and rearranged the songs and vocals to fit within the limitations of this trio. Suddenly, a new sound emerged that was both raw and poignant.

The rest as they say..is history.

For more information, visit www.delraycenterforthearts.org

Arts Garage has packed weekend

The venerable Arts Garage offers two cool performers this weekend.

Winner of an Emmy and seven “Most Valuable Player Awards” from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Dick Hyman performs two distinctly different concerts this week.

  THU 2/20 | 7:30PM – History of Jazz.

FRI 2/21 | 8PM – The Great American Songbook.

Visit www.artsgarage.org for tickets.

On Saturday night, Manuel Valera and New Cuban Express will play at 8 p.m.

Lauded by Billboard magazine and others, Valera is a rising star in the jazz world and he will be right here in Delray.

Have a great and safe weekend!

P.S.

Head over to Third and Third tonight for their first anniversary party. Great food and music and walk over to nearby Artist’s Alley at Third Avenue and Third Street to see and meet some great local artists.

 

 

 

Delray’s Teen Sensation Makes Splash at U.S. Open

Duval rocks the Open

Duval rocks the Open

Victoria Duval, 17, of Delray Beach stunned the tennis world earlier this week by knocking off 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Duval pulled off the stunner of the tournament by knocking off the 11th seed from Australia 5-7, 6-4, 6.4. Duval showed a veteran’s poise in defeating Stosur on center court before a large crowd.

The magic didn’t last as Duval fell 6-2, 6-3 to  Daniela Hantuchova  in the second round.

Still, it was an auspicious debut for Duval who showed impressive court speed and steely nerves in her first Open. Ranked 296th in the world, Duval was playing in just her second major tournament.

Her debut caught the attention of national media including a feature on CBS News that recounted her rough road to the Open. https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57600705/victoria-duvals-tough-road-to-u.s-open-helps-her-thrive/

Born in Miami but raised in Haiti, Duval was held hostage at gunpoint as a 7 year-old during an incident at a relative’s house.

When Haiti was struck by a catastrophic earthquake in 2010, her father, a doctor, was trapped under rubble and suffered devastating injuries. He is doing better now, but the road to recovery was long and emotional.

Duval was lackluster in her second round defeat. She told the Associated Press she just couldn’t get it going during her second round match.

Still. her Open performance will be remembered by an American public anxious for a new generation of American tennis talent.

Duval’s charismatic personality and sense of humor coupled with a promising game may signal a bright future.