3 September, 2013 4 4 Comments

100 Things We Love About Boca

September 3, 2013 By 4 Comments

 

Not necessarily in any order..but these are the things that we love about Boca. Send us your picks.

  1. University Commons—As shopping centers go, this one is tops.
  2. Mizner Park—As lifestyle centers go, Mizner Park works.
  3. Patch Reef Park—Large, plentiful activities. Wonderful
  4. Sugar Sand Park—We’ve seen some great hockey games at this standout park
  5. Boca High—Teaching STEM, building leaders
  6. Spanish River High’s Entrepreneurship Academy—Because entrepreneurship is not just the future, it’s the present.
  7. DSW Shoe Warehouse—If you’re a guy, bring a book and relax
  8. Town Center Mall—No better place to people watch
  9. MedUTech—Great positioning for Boca’s brand. Medicine, Education, Technology
  10. Don Estridge Middle School—If there’s a better middle school, we haven’t seen it
  11. Lynn University—We love their international student body and entrepreneurial approach to learning
  12. FAU Stadium—Now if we can only see it filled with fans
  13. Max’s Grille- A classic, with the world’s best crème brule.
  14. Brewzzi’s –Three words: Boca Blonde Ale
  15. The offices of 3CInteractive—Ultra cool digs for an ultra-cool company
  16. Deli On Rye—Always great pastrami.
  17. Bagel Wit A Schmear- www.bagelwitaschmear.com. The owners are great
  18. Saquella—Great sandwiches, great breads, great pastries.
  19. Arturo’s—Classic Italian on U.S. 1 north end of town.
  20. Trattoria Romano—The toast of Palmetto Park Road
  21. Hotdogopolis—Would make the list, if just for the name. But the dogs happen to be delicious
  22. SABR—Soccer Association of Boca Raton, great training ground for kids
  23. Nordstrom’s—Legendary service and a piano player
  24. Prime—We don’t smoke cigars, but we feel cool when we hang out here with friends who do
  25. Uncle Thai’s—Classic Boca restaurant, fantastic Asian food and great service
  26. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy—Progressive thinking by the Boca Chamber of Commerce
  27. IPIC—A great movie going experience and Tanzy’s is wonderful
  28. Villagio—Branzini never tasted so good. A taste of Northern Italy in east Boca’s Mizner Park
  29. Boca Chamber Festival Days—Especially White Coats 4 Care which supports FAU med students
  30. Jazziz Nightlife—A great place to catch great talent, half price wine on Mondays and Tuesdays
  31. The Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Classic Gala—Mingling with the stars at the Boca Resort
  32. Boca Bacchanal-Food and wine, enough said
  33. Boca Raton Historical Society—Preserving the past and Boca’s rich history
  34. George Snow Fund—Investing in tomorrow’s leaders and CEO Tim Snow is simply terrific
  35. Boca Surf and Sail—Great shop and Bob’s daily surf reports on twitter @bocasurfandsail are awesome
  36. Junior League Boca Raton—A tradition of doing great things for so many
  37. Free Summer Concert Series at Mizner Amphitheatre—Great live music helps us deal with the heat
  38. Cinemark Boca—Still the mac daddy for its variety and comfy facilities
  39. Living Room Theatres—Great concept, for the serious cinephile
  40. Shadowood Theatre—A West Boca Oasis for some off the beaten track movies
  41. The Boca Raton Symphonia-If you love classical and we do. https://www.bocasymphonia.org/
  42. A round of golf at Southwinds—Appealing to all levels of duffers
  43. Remembrance Plaza at Lynn University—A tasteful, beautiful and emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
  44. The Wold Performing Arts Center—Scene of the 2012 Presidential Debate, you’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful venue
  45. FAU’s Wide Array of Programs—Lectures, art, music, theater. It’s great to live in a college town. Visit https://www.fauevents.com/online/ for a full listing
  46. Old Floresta—Just a great neighborhood
  47. Boca Chamber Political Training Institute—Real world advice for those willing to seek it
  48. Costco—Sure there’s no sign…but at least it’s there
  49. Shake Shack—Danny Meyer’s hot New York concept is in Boca too
  50. Grazing at Whole Foods—Sure it can be pricey, but the food is great.
  51. Sonoma House—May be the best kept secret in Boca. A great, say that again, great venue for events, corporate retreats, conferences and weddings. www.thesonomahouse.com
  52. The Allianz Golf Tournament—For one splendid week in February, the champions descend on Broken Sound. A can’t miss event.
  53. Dancing With the Stars Boca Style—And all for a good cause, the Snow Scholarship Fund. www.ballroombattle.com
  54. Boca Ballet—Even if you don’t love ballet, you have to be impressed that Boca has its own company. Awesome performances since 1991. https://www.bocaballet.org/
  55. Boca Museum of Art—Paintings by the great masters, interesting exhibits and a convenient location at Mizner Park. www.bocamuseum.org
  56. The 4th Generation Organic Market-This east Boca gem is just a joy to visit. Shop or dine, it’s really cool and you’ll come back again and again. https://www.4thgenerationmarket.com/
  57. Offerdahl’s Café Grill—Once “just a bagel place”, Offerdahl’s is so much more. Great sandwiches and a wide ranging menu. And yes, Offerdahl was one heckuva linebacker for the Dolphins. Nice guy too. https://www.offerdahls.com/
  58. Boca Delivery Dudes—We can’t go out all the time, but we can bring restaurants to us thanks to Delivery Dudes. This smart concept puts convenience back into the delivery business with a roster of restaurants that grows every week. https://boca.deliverydudes.com/
  59. Table 42—Grass fed burgers, a huge menu and more pizza toppings than we’ve ever seen.
  60. Baja Café—Chef Pepe…a magician in the kitchen.
  61. Red Reef Golf Course—There’s not too many places where you can golf along the ocean, but this jewel of an executive course is one of them. Magnificent views, reasonable prices, open to the public. www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/golf/redreefexec
  62. Boca Beach Club—Ocean breezes, cold drinks, good food, attentive service. Paradise.
  63. Boca Raton Children’s Museum—Located in downtown Boca, a great place for the kids and educational too. www.cmboca.org
  64. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center—Fun for all ages, a great boardwalk, educational exhibits and lots to see and do. https://www.gumbolimbo.org/ Turtle releases are something to see.
  65. South Beach Park—400 block of North A1A, a picturesque and serene scene.
  66. Boca’s Tennis Centers—Three of them if you love the sport and we do. Patch Reef, Boca Tennis and the Racquet Center. Open 7 days a week. https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/tennis.shtm
  67. Mizner Bark—A dog park with a cute name. But remember you need a permit. Here’s where you get them https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/dogparkflyer.pdf
  68. Pine Tree Camp—a Boca tradition at Lynn U.
  69. The historic Boca Train Depot and Museum—Why? Because we love trains and history. https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/traindepot.shtm
  70. The Recreator-Boca’s bible for recreation. Available online at the city’s site and at City Hall and other public spaces.
  71. Tin Muffin Café—This charming little place on East Palmetto Park Road is perfect for tea, sandwiches, snacks and hanging out.
  72. The south entrance to the city—When you enter Boca from Deerfield Beach on US 1 you know you’ve arrived in a special place. Wide medians, beautiful landscaping, huge lush trees. Impressive.
  73. Valet Parking at Publix—Yes, we’re serious.
  74. Boca Inlet—Great place for boating and for watching some really cool vessels.
  75. Boca Public Library—We love that the library has evolved with the times, with services like Zinio which allows you to read your favorite magazine online and Freegal which enables patrons to download as many as 156 songs a year (and keep them).
  76. Coconut Cove Water Park—Long slides and a river ride make this a perfect place to beat the heat.
  77. Sports Immortals Museum—If you love sports (and we do) you’ll want to visit this museum of memorabilia. Highlights: Josh Gibson’s jersey, autographed racquets from Agassi, Evert and Sampras and Sonny Liston’s robe. https://www.sportsimmortals.com/index.html
  78. Boomers—Been around for a while, but still a fun place to play games, hit the mini golf links and take the kids.
  79. Yamata Scrub—This piece of natural Florida at 601 Clint Moore Road is a great place to stretch your legs and catch a glimpse of nature.
  80. Boca Airport—A fun place to see some really cool private jets. We once saw James Brown exit a nifty plane complete with entourage back in the day.
  81. Royal Palm Plaza—When you think of how a shopping plaza in Florida should look, this is it. Elegant feel, eclectic businesses and walkable. Located on U.S. 1 in south Boca.
  82. Athletes Edge—Located in the Tom Oxley Athletic Center, 7777 Glades Road, Athletes Edge is where the elite go to train. But weekend warriors are welcome as well.
  83. Breakfast at The Bridge Hotel—A hidden gem, with great waterfront views.
  84. Mozart Café—Modern Israeli cuisine in Boca Del Mar. Try the Balkan pizza, a blend of Israeli and Italian flavors. https://mozartcafeusa.com/
  85. Starbucks on North Federal Highway—A lively scene every morning and afternoon, great for people watching.
  86. Boca Farmers Market and Grill-Can’t beat the convenience of grilled food to go and fresh produce and vegetables. Located at 1949 NW Boca Raton Blvd.
  87. Dubliner Irish Pub—Shepherd’s pie and fish n’ chips and lively conversation too. Mizner Park staple.
  88. Boca Helicopters—Because an aerial view of a place gives you a whole different perspective. https://bocaratonhelicopters.com
  89. The downtown Boca website–www.downtownboca.org
  90. Saturdays at Sanborn—Fit and fun in downtown Boca every Saturday and 9 am and 10:30 a.m. Take a yoga class and then explore restaurants, shops and museums.
  91. The Annual Brazilian Beat—A tribute to Boca’s burgeoning Brazilian population. This year’s street festival is Sept. 6. Music and a Zumba Showcase.
  92. Sanborn Square Park—Any day. Picturesque and perfect.
  93. Old City Hall—They don’t build them like that anymore..they should. Designed by Addison Mizner and opened in 1927.
  94. Old Course, Broken Sound—For the discerning golfer
  95. Karen Lynne Gallery—Karen Lynne chose Boca for her first east coast gallery. She has two on the west coast: LA and Beverly Hills. Oils and sculptures from exciting new artists in Royal Palm Place. www.karenlynnegallery.com
  96. Great Place to Start a Business—No less an authority than www.zoomprospector.com ranked Boca #2 for best place to start a new company. We agree. The eco dev website cited 11 factors in ranking Boca so high including quality of the workforce, proximity to quality universities and number of startups.
  97. We love that Boca punches above its weight—Despite still being a relatively small city, Boca ranks #3 in in concentration of the largest public companies in Florida. Boca tied with Miami!  Impressive to say the least.
  98. Boca Hospital—A community hospital in every sense of the word and among the top 50 in the nation.
  99. The Schmidt College of Medicine—It’s great that Boca will feed its health care system with its own medical school on the campus of FAU.
  100.  1,497 acres of parks—And they are immaculate.

 

 

16 August, 2013 2 2 Comments

Places To See and Be Seen: An Insider’s Guide to Local Hot Spots

August 16, 2013 By 2 Comments
Where the action is...

Where the action is…

Like lots of towns, Boca Raton and Delray Beach have what’s known as “it” places, haunts to see and be seen.

You know the description, restaurants, cafes and other hot spots where the movers and shakers make deals, break bread and toast the future.

Here’s a look at our subjective (with a capital S) list:

Boca Raton

  • The Grille—For years, this spot strategically located near tons of businesses on Congress Avenue near Yamato Road, has been a go-to place for business leaders. It’s so popular—and parking is so limited—that if you don’t get there at 11:45 a.m. you might not get a table for lunch. Who will you run into? Techies, investment bankers and real estate moguls.
  • Max’s Grille—This mainstay remains hugely popular. Located right next to the valet stand at Mizner Park, visitors can feast on good eats, the best crème brule on the planet and watch the steady stream of Bentley’s, Rolls Royce’s and Lexus’ pull up to dine. Who will you run into? Wealthy investors, visiting titans of industry, philanthropists and a smattering of politicians.
  • The Boca Resort & Club—The legendary pink hotel attracts a world class clientele and has hosted presidents and royalty. It also is well-known for its legendary conferences many of them business or finance oriented featuring speakers that range from Fed Chairmen to Fortune 100 CEOs. Who will you run into? Masters of the universe.
  • Abe & Louie’s—This Boston-based steak house attracts a large business crowd for lunch and for dinner. Who will you into? Count on seeing civic and business leaders, big wigs from FAU and and elected officials.
  • J Alexander’s –Located in the hugely popular University Commons, J Alexander’s is a smartly designed restaurant. The lunch crowd draws a lot of civic leaders, academics and business types. After six, the bar scene is lively and chock full of a who’s who of people making it happen in Boca.
  • Seasons 52—Located on the busy Glades corridor, Seasons 52 is busy for lunch and dinner. Who will you run into? Attorneys, bank presidents and people looking to watch their calories but still eat well.
  • Tom Sawyer’s—A breakfast and lunch hot spot for many, many years, Tom Sawyer’s on Second Avenue is non-descript from the outside, but step inside and you are sure to see lots of interesting peeps: Who have we seen there recently? Prominent land use attorneys, city officials, VIP’s from Delray looking to get out of town for a discreet lunch, a former editor of the National Enquirer and FAU coaches. Great food and reasonable prices make this a perennial favorite.
  • Uncle Thai’s—Boca Center is a major gathering spot for VIP’s for lunch and dinner. Uncle Thai’s is a long time institution popular with university figures, elected officials, real estate players and top sales and marketing professionals.
  • Houston’s—Yes, we know it’s a chain. But it is a cool chain and a very popular spot for business meetings. Boca’s tech and financial sector loves the place.
  • Capital Grille—Another chain, but this one is at the venerable Mall at Town Center, located near lots of businesses on bustling Glades Road. Hospital officials, public company CEO’s and investors love the ambience and the food.
  • Rocco’s Taco and Tequila Bar—Another Boca Center gathering spot for Boca’s most influential. Chock full of business visitors from the nearby Marriott and local leaders.
  • Prime Cigar and Wine Bar—Located at 2240 NW 19th Street #916, Prime is…well…a prime spot for business men. This is the place that ad agency principals, restaurateurs, real estate investors, developers, bankers, high powered executives and others come to relax at all hours of the day. It was Mark Twain who said: “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man’s enjoyment of his cigar.” This is the spot for people who believe in that adage.
Tramonti: Ideal for business

Tramonti: Ideal for business

 

Delray Beach

  • City Oyster—Delray’s business scene is a lot less formal than Boca’s, more board shorts than Bentley’s but don’t let the casual atmosphere fool you. There’s plenty of high commerce happening in the village by the sea. City Oyster is a political hot bed, with rivals eyeing each other to see who’s dining with whom. But aside from the political stuff (which is kind of silly), there’s plenty of business conducted over lunch at this beautifully designed restaurant which opens to the busy Atlantic Avenue.
  • Prime—This “supper” club also does a healthy lunch business with business types enjoying the view of Atlantic Avenue and nearby Worthing Park. Who will you see? Real estate investors, techies, bankers and non-profit execs.
  • Tramonti—Tramonti is busy for dinner and for lunch. Here’s where you’ll see visiting celebrities, high net worth investors, developers and their attorneys. The food is superb and so is the service.
  • Cabana El Rey—Popular with city leaders, local artists, non-profit leaders and creative types Cabana El Rey features a vibrant outdoor dining scene. We have seen Scottie Pippen of the Bulls and Sofia Vergara of Modern Family dining there (not together).
  • Brule Bistro—This smart and eclectic local bistro is a highlight of Pineapple Grove and popular with power players who don’t need to be seen on Atlantic Avenue. Developers, architects, philanthropists and foodies flock to Brule.
  • Caffe Luna Rosa—Busy for all three meals, but especially for breakfast. Popular with business types who need to remind themselves that they live near a beach. The restaurant offers great views of the Atlantic. Located at A1A and Atlantic. And some of the breakfast dishes are named after local figures (the French toast is named after me).
  • Smoke Inn Delray Beach—Popular with business types who like a good cigar. Cozy and cool perfect for good conversations.
  • The Sail Inn—Not an obvious choice, but a good one. This is where you’ll see locals go to blow off steam including ex mayors, former commissioners, city staffers, business types etc. Why? Because it’s a New York Yankee bar and that alone makes it cool.

 

8 August, 2013 0 Comments

A Beer Lover’s Heaven–Craft Beer Craze Hits Boca/Delray

August 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Craft Beer Lovers Have Plenty to Cheer About

Craft Beer Lovers Have Plenty to Cheer About

It’s a great time to be an American beer lover.

The craft beer movement continues to grow nationally but also in Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

Local brewer Due South is about to be joined by Delray-based Saltwater Brewery (www.saltwaterbrewery.com) which will offer a tropical beer garden, tours and a tasting room when it opens later this year at 1701 West Atlantic Avenue.

Saltwater Brewery is riding a wave that has made craft brewing a national phenomenon.

During the first six months of 2013, American craft beer dollar sales rose 15 percent and volume grew 13 percent, according to the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colo.

That adds up to approximately 7.3 million barrels of beer sold by small and independent craft brewers, up from 6.4 million barrels during the first half of 2012, BA notes. American craft beer continues to grow despite decreased overall beer sales, which were down 2 percent through the first six months of the year.

“Demand for beer produced by small and independent brewers has never been higher, as evidenced by increased production and the hundreds of new breweries joining the playing field each year,” said Paul Gatza, director of BA. “Beer drinkers nationwide are responding positively to high-quality, full-flavored, diverse offerings from American craft brewing companies that continue to innovate and push the envelope.”

As of June 30, 2,538 breweries were operating in the United States, which is an increase of 446 breweries since June 2012. BA also lists an additional 1,605 breweries in planning stages at the year’s midpoint, compared with 1,252 a year ago. As of June 30, the count of craft breweries was at 2,483, showing that 98 percent of U.S. brewers are craft brewers.

“More breweries are currently operating in the U.S. than at any time since the 1870s,” Gatza said. “With each new brewery opening, American craft brewers are reinforcing the U.S.’s position as the world’s most diverse brewing nation.”
Indeed.

Here’s a guide to some of the hot spots for craft beers in Boca Raton and Delray Beach:

  • Coffee District—Don’t let the name fool you, the Coffee District in Pineapple Grove has an excellent collection of craft beers. Our favorites: Oskar Blues, a Colorado and North Carolina-based brewer with some great pale ales and Southern Tier Choklat. The district, 325 N.E. Second Ave., packs 18 taps into its 1,600 square foot space and offers a relaxing environment and knowledgeable staff.  www.mycoffeedistrict.com. P.S. The Beer Advocate gives the Coffee District a 95 rating, which equates to world class. We agree.
  • Mellow Mushroom—Yes, we know it’s known for great pizza, but have you seen their beer menu? It’s virtually endless…we lost count at 160 different beers and ciders. You’ll have fun with the names as well: “Hazed and Infused”,  “Florida Swamp Ape” and of course, the legendary “Monk in the Trunk.” Mellow Mushroom has a beer club, we suggest you join and explore—responsibly of course. Visit 25 SE Sixth Ave.
  • Park Tavern—Located at 32 SE Second Ave., overlooking Worthing Park and bustling Atlantic Ave., Park Tavern is an attractive eatery/bar with a classic Americana feel. Park Tavern offers a wide range of beers and craft spirits from places as diverse as France and Boynton Beach. Our favorites: Angry Orchard (from Cincinnati)  Goose Island (from Chicago) and Caramel Cream Ale (from Due South in next door Boynton Beach). Go to www.parktaverndelray.com for a full menu.
  • Blue Anchor—No discussion about beer is complete without a mention of the legendary Blue Anchor, 804 E. Atlantic Ave. A great English pub with soccer on the telly, interesting food and great characters, The Blue Anchor is said to be haunted, but perhaps the spirits just like the beer.  We love their “hand drawn” ales including Hobgoblin from the Wychwood Brewery in London  and America’s own Old Thumper made by Shipyard.  The Blue Anchor also offers pear and raspberry ciders. Visit www.theblueanchor.com for all the details and some ghost stories.
  • Tryst—Located in the heart of the Ave at 4 E. Atlantic Ave., Tryst will surprise you with their selection of beers on tap.   From German pilsners and Belgium wheat beers to the rare find such as Big Eye from California, Tryst is a delight. Visit www.trystdelray.com  for a look at all this gastopub offers.
  • Brewzzi—This Boca Raton microbrewery has become a fixture on the Boca beer scene. Located at 2222 Glades Road, Brewzzi (www.brewzzi.com) brews beers on site including traditional German lagers. We like Black Duke and of course, Boca Blonde.
  • Brickyard Microbrewery—7050 W. Palmetto Park Road., has 50 microbrews on tap from around the world. We like most of them, but especially the Raspberry Heifeweizen and the offerings from Cigar City Brewing.  Visit www.brickyardbocaraton.com
  • Yard House—This tasteful chain has a great spot in Boca’s Mizner Park not far from the IPIC Theatre. Honey, wheat, malty, dark, seasonal, it’s all there. www.yardhouse.com
  • Miller’s Ale House—With two locations in east and west Boca, Miller’s is well-known for its selection. Beer lovers can choose from among 75 different beers. Sea Dog, Rogue Dead Guy and Third Shift among the favorites.
  • Funky Buddha Lounge—With a name like Funky Buddha, it has got to be good. And it is. Located at 2621 N. Federal Highway in Boca, the Buddha has a brewery in nearby Oakland Park, so you know their devotion is real. They also supply home brewers– which is beyond cool.  More than 110 beers, some brewed on site. An awesome beer lover’s heaven. Visit www.thefunkybuddha.com for more info.

 

25 July, 2013 0 Comments

5 Quirky Things We Love About Boca and Delray

July 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The charming Blue Anchor Pub just may have a ghost

The charming Blue Anchor Pub just may have a ghost

With all due respect to the Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and the tourism bureau, sometimes the best things about cities can’t be found in a brochure.

In that spirit, we offer 5 quirky things we love about Boca Raton and Delray Beach.

In no particular order:

  1. www.bocasurfcam.com –this elegantly simple website provides a real time, easily refreshed, view of Boca’s beach. Images update every minute so you can see the waves and maybe even some of your friends playing hooky on a Monday morning. The same site offers a link to www.lakebocacam.com which is a beautifully picturesque view of Lake Boca with the Boca Resort in the background. The City of Boca Raton provides a cool view of South Beach at www.evsboca.com with up to the minute weather conditions. Depending on the time of day, you can usually see some pretty spectacular boats on the Lake Boca cam. A word of caution: viewing these cams while you work may lead to a strong desire to ditch the suit and tie and head to the beach.
  2. If you love local history (and we do) you may want to check out the Spanish River Papers, a scholarly publication produced by the Boca Raton Historical Society. The papers celebrate their 40th anniversary this year and offer a treasure of documents and papers outlining Boca’s rich history.

Printed back issues are available for purchase; our favorite is volume III published in 1975 which include lots of information about Frank H. Cheseboro (1850-1936) one of Boca’s first permanent residents who kept a daily diary of early Boca life. It seems Mr. Cheseboro and his sister Libby got lost for five days in the Florida “flatwoods” in 1935—when Mr. Cheseboro was 84 and his sister 81—an ordeal that was chronicled in local newspapers. Facing “buckets” of mosquitos and conditions equaled only by the harsh conditions of the Everglades, Alaska’s wilderness and Death Valley, Libby and Frank survived and lived to tell about it. Apparently they got lost on the way to Detroit after they left US 1 near Hobe Sound. Their tales and many others can be found online at www.bocahistory.org.

  1. Is the Blue Anchor Pub in Delray haunted? Absolutely, according to legend.

For a hundred years or more The Blue Anchor has been haunted by the spirit of a young woman called Bertha Starkey who was stabbed to death at the bar by her jealous seafaring husband after he found her in the arms of another man. Her footsteps and spine-chilling wails were often heard by employees after the pub closed for the night at its original location in England.

Even today, at its Delray Beach location, the haunting appears to continue.

Strange, unexplained events have been documented in a host of TV and newspaper accounts. “How do you explain the eerie sounds of footsteps in the ceiling late at night or the sudden shattering of a half-inch thick reinforced glass shelf behind the bar on the anniversary of Bertha’s gruesome demise? “asks British owner Lee Harrison. “And how do you explain table candles extinguishing themselves and then re-igniting seconds later? Or heavy kitchen pots lifting themselves off meat-cleaver size hooks and crashing to the floor? It’s all very creepy!

In fact, experts in the field of paranormal studies have told us they are not aware of any previous case where a ghost has travelled more than 4,000 miles to set up residency in another country.”  As they might say, only in Delray.

  1. Another only in Delray experience can be had at the Sundy House, 106 S. Swinton Ave. Once the home of the city’s first mayor, this meticulously restored property is said to be Delray’s oldest home and was built in 1902. But aside from its historic charm, there are a couple of quirky facts that make the Sundy House one of a kind. The restaurant and hotel is immersed in what is known as the Taru Gardens a tropical oasis that features several hundred species of plants and trees from all over the world. More than 100 of the species provide something that can be eaten, often at the restaurant. Back in 1998, before owner Tom Worrell purchased the property, the Sundy House featured a shell rock parking lot and a few trees. Since then it has been transformed into a completely unique environment that also includes a natural swimming pond. It simply has to be experienced to be believed. Free educational tours are given at 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The tour is a can’t miss experience.
  2. If you are an adventurous sort you may want to dive or snorkel the Delray Wreck. Located about 150 yards offshore on the south end of the beach, the wreck of the S.S. Inchulva has been intriguing divers from decades. The S.S. Inchulva wrecked after a vicious hurricane on Sept. 11, 1903. It now sits on the ocean floor in five pieces waiting to be explored by divers and other daring souls. Nine people out of a 28 member crew were lost in the tragic wreck, but a magistrate cleared the captain of all blame. The wreck of the Inchulva inspired entrepreneurs John and Jenna Ferber to create an interactive “movie” entitled “The Search for Linton’s Treasure”. Participants wander Delray looking for clues to the missing treasure. Visit www.delrayinteractivemovie.com for information and tickets.

What are your favorite “quirky” spots and activities in Boca and Delray? Send us a line and we’ll include them in an upcoming feature.

 

 

26 June, 2013 0 Comments

Delray Place Seen As Catalyst for South Federal Highway

June 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Delray Place hopes to jumpstart a new look for South Federal Highway.

Delray Place hopes to jumpstart a new look for South Federal Highway.

Support is building for a new $30 million, 100,000 square foot retail center on the southeast corner of U.S. 1 and Linton Boulevard.

Delray Place, proposed by the Boca Raton based Retail Property Group, is planning an ambitious new shopping center featuring restaurants, neighborhood retail and possibly a Trader Joe’s supermarket, the first in the area.

The project has been through an 18-month “odyssey” of neighborhood meetings and advisory board hearings, but seems to have finally won the support of the adjoining neighborhood, Tropic Isles, with a few exceptions.

The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce is putting its muscle behind the project which will go the City Commission on July 9 for final approval.

If the commission gives the go-ahead, Retail Property Group, plans an accelerated schedule and hopes to open in July 2014.

[Read more…]

26 April, 2013 4 4 Comments

Elev8 Sports Institute

April 26, 2013 By 4 Comments

Elev8 Sports Institue
ELEV|8 Sports Institute is a multi-sport training and instructional business. The core product of ELEV|8 is a player development system that avails to every age and skill level. The Institute’s innovative player development system is intelligently designed to engage athletes in a progression of training programs that will “elevate” them to their next level and empower and propel them throughout their careers. ELEV|8 currently offers programming in baseball, basketball and lacrosse for all ages and skill levels including novice, advanced, elite and professional athletes. The mission for ELEV|8 is “Training Excellence”.

ELEV|8 is owned by Donald Uderitz. ELEV|8 was formed in April 2012. The company had operated under the name “The Bucky Dent Baseball School” for the past 37 years and earned the reputation as one of the world’s premier baseball schools. Mr. Uderitz acquired and has been operating Bucky Dent as a baseball training and camp destination facility since 2005.

In 2011, Mr. Uderitz outlined a vision to create an elite multi -sport athletic training business where best-in-class systems to train and develop athletes of all ages and skill levels challenge the status quo.
Elev 8 athletes have access to world-class professional coaches and trainers who offer innovative and cutting-edge training and developmental techniques steeped in the traditional core fundamentals that they learned throughout their careers.

In 2012 Elev8 began implementing the vision and the training programs were expanded to include the following programs:

• The Elev8 9-month residential Academy where elite domestic and international high school-aged student-athletes and post grad athletes live on our campus, attend local schools and train full-time in our player development system.

• The ELEV|8 Basketball program- With the acquisition of “Ganon Baker Basketball” our program has become the most competitive training program in the nation. Ganon Baker is one of the most respected basketball trainers in the world and is now the Executive director of our basketball program. Ganon currently has the best selling instructional DVD and runs over 220 instructional events around the world.

As part of this acquisition, ELEV|8 acquired “Ganon Baker Nation”, which includes over 40 elite basketball trainers around the world, including the technology platform that supports this business line.

The head coach of the Academy basketball team is Tony Tucker .Highly regarded worldwide as one of the premier elite youth and high school basketball player development specialists , Tony has successfully run other basketball academies throughout his career including the IMG Basketball Academy.

• The ELEV|8 Lacrosse program-With the acquisition of the “Snipers Lacrosse Club” Tony Lowe has become the Executive director of our Lacrosse program. Tony developed Snipers into one of the elite lacrosse development programs in the Southeastern United States and has recently contracted with Major League Lacrosse to run the 2012 Major league Lacrosse All-Star Game at Florida Atlantic University.

Jeff Goldberg was hired as Director of Coaching for the program. Jeff is the most successful Lacrosse coach in Florida Lacrosse history and is the head coach of our teams.

• The Elev8 Baseball program- Luis Alicea became the Executive Director of our baseball program. After playing 13 years in the Major Leagues, Luis worked for the Red Sox organization as a manager of several minor league clubs in their player development system and culminated his career as first base coach of the 2007 World Series Championship Team.

11 April, 2013 0 Comments

Boca Museum of Art

April 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Boca Museum of Art
The Boca Museum of Art celebrates, presents, interprets, collects, preserves, encourages, and inspires creativity.

Deeply rooted in the history of its city, the Boca Museum of Art exemplifies the cultural impact and “ripple effect” of the arts in small towns across America. In Boca Raton, the Museum’s roots reach back to the late 1940s, when a group of socially active women came together to form the town’s first organization, a civic club, with the goal to build a small library. Two library board members, philanthropist Hildegarde Schine and socialite Roberta MacSpadden had been appointed to organize an Open House. They met in the 1920s Town Hall, where an estimated 1,000 people flooded the Library Open House, which included an exhibition of paintings, borrowed from friends and loaned by galleries from Palm Beach to Miami. There and then, the Library Association decided they should form an organization to further this interest in the fine arts. In 1950, The Art Guild of Boca Raton was born.

In 1961, construction of the first Art Guild building commenced, and in the fall of 1962, the Art Guild dedicated the building on Palmetto Park Road that the Museum occupied until January 2001, and that now houses its school of art. Growth and expansion have been steady ever since those first years. Within seven years, the building required an expansion, and three studio classrooms were added. In 1973, the Art Guild officially became a not-for-profit corporation, and twelve years later – in 1985 – changed its name to the Boca Raton Museum of Art. In 1978, the Museum hired its first full-time Director, and began a serious program of collections acquisition and changing exhibitions. By the late 1980s, the Board of Trustees began to address the need for future expansion to accommodate the growth of the Museum’s collections.

In late 1997, the Museum made a commitment to build a new facility in downtown Boca Raton’s Mizner Park. On January 24, 2001, the new Museum at Mizner Park was officially opened to the public debt-free. The 44,000 square foot facility makes possible increased exhibition, education and collection galleries; to add public meeting and program areas; and to enhance fourfold the Museum’s programming capabilities. It is a permanent architectural symbol of the City’s pride in its past, commitment to the present, and faith in the future.

In June 2001, the Museum began expansion of its Art School on Palmetto Park Road, which now includes eight classrooms and a faculty/student exhibition gallery. The school offers over 100 weekly classes taught by more than 50 highly experienced instructors with annual attendance of nearly 3,000 students of all ages.

In January 2013, the Museum debuted a new logo and officially shortened its name to Boca Museum of Art.

Reaching its sixth decade, the Boca Museum of Art looks toward the future with renewed enthusiasm. The Museum continues to attract people of all ages with its permanent and traveling exhibitions, educational gallery, and sculpture garden. Lectures, film & video series, docent and cell phone tours, special events, and children and family programming expand the visitors experience throughout the year. A Grand Hallway, stunning Sculpture Garden and large catering kitchen makes the Boca Museum of Art the ideal place for meetings and social gatherings.

As “The Official Fine Arts Museum for the City of Boca Raton.” the Museum plays a key role in enhancing the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of Boca Raton and its surrounding communities, and has maintained the reputation of being one of South Florida’s leading cultural institutions, attracting more than 200,000 visitors annually to its galleries and programs.