BOCA Magazine January 2025

FLORIDA STYLE& DESIGN: HOME TRENDS2025

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Thank you for all you do

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation is grateful to our extraordinary donors who, throughout our history, have given a total of $1 million or more to Boca Regional.* Your continued dedication has enabled our hospital to be the preeminent regional leader in healthcare delivery and the hospital of choice for patients, physicians, employees and volunteers.

*As of October 15, 2024

Rocco and Mary Abessinio

Beverly and Joel Altman

Márton B. Anka

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Assaf

Eleanor R. Baldwin

Stanley & Marilyn Barry and the Barry Family Foundation

James and Marta Batmasian

Jonathan and Laura Beinner

Sandra and Malcolm Berman

Steven E. Bernstein Family Foundation

Cindy Bertuch Rosencrans Life Expressions Program

Given in Loving Memory

Rhoda Sue and Henri Bertuch

Estate of Richard Blackman

Hannah and Leonard Blank

Jean Blechman

Brenda and Jeffrey Bleustein

Estate of Doris G. Bookmyer

Edward and Freyda Burns

Bobby Campbell

The Carpel Family

Toby and Leon Cooperman

Debra and Michael Coslov

Gladys L. Davis

Countess Henrietta de Hoernle

Belle M. Deitch

Peggy and Phillip DeZwirek

Mrs. Elizabeth K. Dodson

Mrs. Esther Ellman

The Ellman Foundation, Inc.

Jan Ellman

Jack A. and Norma Erdle, Harvey and Nadine Erdle and Lee and Brenda E. Moss

Estate of Barbara and Howard Farkas

Diane and Lawrence Feldman

Frances W. Ferrara

Estate of Samuel M. Fineman

Herbert and Ann D. Fisher Family

Meryl and Ron Gallatin

Marla and Steve Garchik

Jean and John Gerson

Joan and Jerry Glassman

Louis B. and Anne W. Green

Martin F. and Tali Greenberg

Jay and Azize Grunin

Barbara C. Gutin

Irving & Barbara C. Gutin Charitable Foundation

Michelle and Michael Hagerty

Lucille Henderson Edmondson

Linda and John W. Henry

John W. Henry Family Foundation

Jeff Hollander

Marissa Hollander

Anne and Norman Jacobson

Ena Kane

In Loving Memory of Robert and Odette Kane

Joan and Myron Kaufman

Amy and Mike Kazma

Bev and Don Kohnken

Kohnken Family Foundation, Inc.

Ronald A. Krancer

Hillary and Rodger Krouse

Iris & Junming Le Foundation

Marc J. Leder Foundation, Inc.

Lawrence E. and Iris C. Lerner

Estate of Robert Z. Lerner

Judy Levis Markhoff

Levitetz Family Foundation, Inc.

Carolyne and Edwin Levy

Diane Lynn DaSilva

Diane Lynn Family Foundation, Inc.

Christine E. Lynn

E.M. Lynn Foundation

MacCutcheon Family Foundation

Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation

Billi and Bernie Marcus

Marcus Foundation, Inc.

Arline and John McNally

Family Foundation

In Memory of Leon Minkoff

Howard and Marianne Minkoff Lerner

Dr. Robyn Moncrief and Mr. Alexander Gellman

Debbie Newman Bernstein

The William and Anita Newman Foundation

Mary Thom Osborne

In Loving Memory of Ray C. Osborne

Estate of Ernest C. Pagel

Estate of Mary K. Parker

Jack and Marilyn Pechter

Terrence and Kim Pegula

Mary and Harold Perper

Nancy and Harold Pontius

Morgan Pressel Foundation

Morgan Pressel and Evelyn & Herbert Krickstein

Marian Prince

Jo Ann and Philip J. Procacci

Norman R. Rales

Beverly and Robert Robb

Ken and Maggie Rosenberg

Matthew and Hilary Rosenthal

Carrie Rubin and the Rubin Obstgarten Family Foundation

Sandra and Marvin Rubin

Dr. Gail Rubin-Kwal and Richard M. Kwal

Phyllis and Harvey Sandler

The Harvey and Phyllis Sandler Foundation, Inc.

Sands Family Foundation

Betsy and Sidney Savelle

Betty and Bill Scaggs

Marla L. Schaefer and Steven Weishoff

Barbara Schmidt

SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION

Richard Schmidt

SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION

Debbie Lindstrom & Bob Sheetz

Robert and Hope Sheft

Cynthia and Bruce Sherman

Estate of Jessica Shoemaker

Billie Shupp

Myrna Gordon Skurnick

Mason Slaine and Daniele Schachter

Martin and Toni Sosnoff

Estate of Simone Stakolt Tolksdorf

Fran and Stuart Steinberg

Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Family

Estate of Mary K. Stewart

Thea and James M. Stoneman

Diane and Richard Templer

Patricia and Harold Toppel

Joseph Trubinsky and Holli Rockwell Trubinsky

Estate of Benjamin Volen

Etoile and Robert Volin

Anita and Norton Waltuch

Helene and Stephen Weicholz

Estate of Kessack D. White

Elaine J. Wold and Family

Madeline and Montague Wolfson

Estate of Jacob Zibulsky

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84

The Back Story

Boca magazine’s auspicious beginnings parallel that of the burgeoning city it has reflected, investigated and shaped over the course of 45 momentous years and more than 300 issues.

Written by MARIE SPEED

92

Grant No Quarter

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ historic veto of $32 million in statewide arts funding for this year’s budget left dozens of Palm Beach County cultural organizations scrambling to keep their finances in the black. Five local arts leaders address the impact and suggest solutions.

Written by JOHN THOMASON

98

Out of Africa

Eight Emmy awards, a Presidential Order of Merit, countless ravishing sunrises, and at least one near-death experience—all in a life’s work for a pair of adventurous conservationists, filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers at Large.

Written by MARIE SPEED

115

Special Section: Florida Style & Design

Kitchens and bathrooms are the functional workhorses of any home—but that needn’t mean they sacrifice aesthetic beauty. Plus, bright colors, natural materials and curvy shapes are on trend for the New Year.

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT AND AMANDA MESA

44 Publisher’s Letter

Our publisher looks back on 45 years of challenges, triumphs and curveballs, from the personal to the professional to the civic.

Written

by MARGARET SHUFF

46 Editor’s Letter

For our special anniversary edition, choosing a cover image meant spelunking hundreds of issues of archives—and embracing a retro-chic window of opportunity.

Written

by

CHRISTIANA LILLY

53 The Local

Meet the news anchor-turned-CEO of one of the Palm Beaches’ most vital nonprofits, and the marketing impresario with a knack—and a four-room studio—for turning ambitions into reality. Plus, celebrate Boca’s upcoming centenary with more than a century’s worth of cocktails, discover why a beloved literacy mascot is better than the average bear, and much more.

Written

by TYLER CHILDRESS, CHRISTIANA LILLY and JOHN THOMASON

64 The Look

Razzle and dazzle with luxe attire perfect for gala season; hold the purse strings with shimmering metallic bags; and embrace color, whimsy and fun textures for women and men alike.

Photography by ANDREW MILLAR

139 Backstage Pass

The city of Boca Raton’s first public art coordinator looks ahead to a beautified future of murals, paintings and sculptures from downtown to Midtown and beyond. Plus, an operatic“Romeo & Juliet,”a futuristic South Florida Fair, a star-studded Pompano Jazz Fest and other January A&E events.

Written by JOHN THOMASON

157 Florida Table: Eat & Drink

See what our food critic has to say about Penelope and Rose’s Daughter. Plus, we separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to gluten intolerance, and we parse the delectable differences between European and American truffles.

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

188 Social

Local celebs put their best feet forward at Boca’s Ballroom Battle, Boca Helping Hands supporters stayed in their lane at a Bowlero fundraiser, runners helped raise six figures for the Education Foundation, and other society happenings.

Written by TYLER CHILDRESS

199 Speed Bumps

Our former editor recalls her humble initiation into Boca’s chichi lifestyle—and her decades of delving underneath it to produce one of the most impactful magazines of the Southeast.

Written by MARIE SPEED

200 My Turn

In this anniversary issue, our late, great publisher gets the last word.

Written by JOHN SHUFF

ON THE COVER:

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ian Jacob

MODEL: Kiana Kaye / CGM Models

FASHION: Dress available exclusively at Nina Raynor, Delray Beach

HAIR & MAKEUP: Bri Soffa

Web Extras

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

THE ANNIVERSARY CONTINUES

We couldn’t fit all of Boca magazine’s many highlights in our 45th anniversary feature (pg. 84). Visit bocamag.com/january-2025 to revisit more of the magazine’s most influential stories from more than four decades of publishing.

STATE OF THE ARTS

Our five arts leaders had so much to say about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ draconian veto of $32 million in statewide arts funding (pg. 92). Continue the conversation with our outspoken experts at bocamag.com/ january-2025.

GOING PUBLIC

This issue, we Take 5 with Boca Raton Public Art Coordinator Veronica Hatch. Explore the city’s new interactive map of all of its public art projects at bocamag.com/ january-2025.

BOCA MAGAZINE WINS BIG!

At this past summer’s Florida Magazine Association Charlie Awards, honoring excellence in magazine writing, design and advertising, Boca magazine collected 17 awards sweeping across 12 categories—including the first-place in eight categories, among them Best Overall Magazine in our subscription bracket. “The Boca magazine staff comes to work every day knowing they are producing the best magazine in Florida,” said Boca magazine Editor Emeritus Marie Speed. “To have the FMA agree with that assessment has always made us proud. … This year was my last awards submission to the Florida Magazine Association, and I am so happy with the recognition our magazines received.”

WELCOME TO PALM PARADISE

We’ve got more stories to tell, so we’re going where other local lifestyle magazines aren’t venturing—jumping off the page and into your ears with a monthly podcast.

Palm Paradise is an entertaining, thought-provoking and engaging podcast series serving Boca Raton and beyond. We invite you to join us and travel to Palm Paradise, now available on your favorite podcasting platforms and YouTube. Visit bocamag.com/palm-paradise-podcast for more.

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.

Best Bites

Think our dining guide is long? You haven’t seen anything until you’ve visited our digital version. We’ve got critic-reviewed restaurants from Jupiter to Miami on the web. Visit the Dining Guide tab to view the guide.

City Watch

Boca Raton is anything but sleepy, and Randy Schultz is the go-to for all the city politics, development and business news you need to know. For updates delivered straight to your email every Tuesday and Thursday, visit the City Watch tab on our website.

Veronica Hatch

GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Christiana Lilly

MANAGING EDITOR

John Thomason

WEB EDITOR

Tyler Childress

EDITOR EMERITUS

Marie Speed

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Lori Pierino

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Rafael Quiñones

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

James Karpinen

PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrew Millar

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Marie Speed, Amanda Mesa, Margie Kaye (promotional writing)

CUSTOMER SERVICE/VIDEO PRODUCTION

David Shuff

FOOD EDITOR

Christie Galeano-DeMott

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Nicole G. Ruth

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION AND SALES SUPPORT

Bruce Klein

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Gail Eagle

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Karen S. Kintner

Jenna Russo

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

1000 CLINT MOORE ROAD, #103, BOCA RATON, FL 33487 561/997-8683 (PHONE) • 561/997-8909 (FAX) BOCAMAG.COM

MAGAZINE@BOCAMAG.COM (GENERAL QUERIES)

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Margaret Mary Shuff

CONTROLLER

Jeanne Greenberg

JES MEDIA PRODUCES:

Boca Raton magazine

Delray Beach magazine 1926 Worth Avenue

Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Annual Salt Lake magazine

Utah Bride and Groom

Utah Style & Design Salt Lake Visitors’ Guide

FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION

BOCA RATON MAGAZINE WINNERS

2024 CHARLIE AWARDS

CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE)

best overall magazine

best overall writing best feature best department

best advertorial story or section best column

best photo essay/series best custom publication (1926)

SILVER AWARD best feature best public service coverage best custom publication (Worth Avenue) best cover photo best use of photography

BRONZE AWARD best overall design best department best public service coverage best advertorial story or section

2023 CHARLIE AWARDS

CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best website (bocamag.com) best custom publication (1926)

SILVER AWARD best overall magazine

BRONZE AWARD best in-depth reporting best advertorial story or section

best editorial, opinion, commentary best department design best custom publication (Worth Avenue) best advertorial story or section

2022 CHARLIE AWARDS

GENERAL EXCELLENCE magazine of the year best overall magazine

CHARLIE AWARD (FIRST PLACE) best overall writing best in-depth reporting best custom publication (1926) best advertising for a client

SILVER AWARD best feature best use of photography

best advertising for a client

BRONZE AWARD best custom publication (Worth Avenue)

DIRECTORY

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Subscription, copy purchasing and distribution

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

Advertising and event resources

Take advantage of Boca Raton magazine’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, or to partner with Boca Raton magazine on a community event, call 561/997-8683 ext. 300, or email nicole@bocamag.com.

Custom publishing

Create a magazine tailored to fit the needs and character of your business/organization. Ideal for promotions, special events, introduction of new services, etc. Contact Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com)

Story queries

Boca Raton magazine values the concerns, interests and knowledge of our readers about the community. Please submit story and profile ideas by email to Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com). Due to the large volume of pitches, the editor may not respond to all queries. Boca Raton does not accept unsolicited, ready-for-print stories.

Web queries

Submit information regarding our website and online calendar to Tyler Childress (tyler@bocamag.com)

Letters

Your thoughts and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for style, grammar and length. Send letters to the address listed below or contact Christiana Lilly (christiana@bocamag.com)

Letter to the Editor

Boca Raton magazine

1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487

Arts & entertainment

Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding galas, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to John Thomason (john.thomason@ bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming A&E section is three months before publication.

Dining guide

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).

People

A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Boca Raton and South Florida. All photos submitted should be identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when). Email images to Tyler Childress (tyler@bocamag.com)

First issue

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

Missing or late issues

Once in a while, production, transportation or the postal service may delay delivery. If you don’t get an issue, or if your magazine is repeatedly late, please call and report your problem to our subscription department at 877/553-5363 or send an email to subscriptions@bocamag.com.

Questions about your invoice

If you have already paid your bill and then receive a new bill, here’s what you should do:

1. If you have paid your bill within the past four weeks, ignore the new invoice. (The computer simply has not given your account credit quickly enough.)

2. It’s most likely that your payment and our notice just crossed in the mail. Check the date on the notice to see when we mailed it.

3. If you get another bill or renewal notice, call our subscription department at 877/553-5363, or send an email to subscriptions@bocamag.com, and we will straighten out the problem.

Change of address

PERMANENT: If you are changing your address, send us your complete old address, complete new address, including ZIP code, and the effective date of the change. You can also leave us a message with your old and new address by calling 877/553-5363.

TEMPORARY OR SEASONAL: Please send us your complete permanent address, your complete temporary address and the dates that you want your issues forwarded.

Back issues

If you are interested in purchasing any back issues, please call 877/553-5363, ext. 233, indicating the issue date you would like. The cost of each issue including shipping and handling is $9.95.

Gift subscriptions

You’ll find a subscription to Boca Raton magazine makes a thoughtful and useful gift that lasts throughout the year. If you’d like more information about giving a gift subscription, please call our subscription department at 877/553-5363.

Online subscriptions

Receive additional savings by subscribing online. Visit bocamag.com for more information.

[ For any of the above services, please contact our subscriptions services department. ] CALL TOLL FREE: 877/553-5363

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WRITE: Boca Raton magazine

Subscription Department

1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487

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Looking Back

The publisher recalls the beginning of Boca magazine, and the people who helped shape it

Written by MARGARET MARY SHUFF

In the Bible, Timothy Chapter 1, Verse 2, says: “I have competed well, I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” This verse was supposed to be part of a eulogy for John Shuff’s memorial service. That never happened, but it speaks to my husband’s character, determination and faith. Yes, faith in God and faith in his neighbor.

COVID had closed Boca down by June of 2020. Visiting John after surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital was difficult. As he grew worse and his time appeared imminent, Dr. Krumholtz, in a cloakand-dagger move, got me into the Rockwell Suites to say goodbye. I was texting with Dr. Sonneborn, and a tape of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was softly playing in the background when John’s enduring spirit left his body. It was a peaceful and positive end to a life that he had determined would make a difference in the world, however small that might be. Looking back today, I realize that that world turned out to be Boca Raton—a small, sleepy town John Shuff discovered by necessity in 1980.

That spring we were preparing to hit golf balls on the driving range of the Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn. I turned around and found

John on the ground. Using the golf cart, he stood up, but that was the last time he played his favorite sport, the last time he was able to walk unaided. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, by that summer he was in a wheelchair, and by the fall our family was poised to start a different life that led to Boca and the launch of Boca Raton magazine.

I remember those early days as though they were yesterday. Chauffeuring my kids to school, I would point out the many trucks loaded with building materials—sand, gravel, cement blocks—all part of what felt like overnight growth. I recall the hard work we put in building the magazine from scratch, getting advertising, hiring the right people. It took John 10 years to find the editor of his dreams, and that was Marie Speed. Marie was recommended by a mutual friend, Joyce Costimiros Wilson, but Marie wasn’t ready to leave Jacksonville. John said,“I’ll call you a year from today, and it’s marked in my calendar.”A year later he called, and Marie said yes. She was the answer to his prayers, and she continued to lead in a smart, thoughtful way for 34 years.

Challenges in the early days included John’s exacting standards when it came to design. Brian Black changed all that. Brian was a talented art di-

rector who added sophistication and a great eye to illustrations, photo shoots, and the use of type and different fonts. Art directors who followed in his footsteps worked to execute according to the standards he set. Today Lori Pierino, our art director for 17 years, takes pride in planning and producing all of our titles. Another employee who elevated JES Media was Diana Riser, one of our early sales directors. And for 26 years, controller Jeanne Greenberg has helped us steer the business aspect of the ship, through lean times and boom times.

Today, Boca is all grown up. The start of that was the development of Mizner Park, initiated in 1983 by community volunteer Jamie Snyder, and built by one-time resident Tom Crocker. That single project was the impetus for growth, showing the world the potential of this little town. Today, Troy McLel-

lan leads the Boca Chamber, touting “Boca Means Business.” Investments Limited has purchased a majority of the shopping strips in town, remodeling them to increase value and also beautifying the town. The Boca Raton casts a wide net internationally and nationally and is owned today by Michael Dell’s MSD Partners. Since Scott Morrison, David Feder and Michael Glennie ran the property, Boca magazine has been connected to this magnificent icon in the heart of Boca Raton.

Our magazine reflects the growth and transformation of Boca Raton, but we couldn’t have done it without our readers, our advertisers and our committed staff.

I know if he were here on this, our 45th anniversary, John would join me in extending a heartfelt thank you to all of you.

Thank you for 45 incredible years

Lynn University’s students, faculty and staff extend our heartfelt appreciation to Boca magazine for connecting our community, highlighting local culture and showcasing the best of Boca Raton and beyond.

Happy anniversary, Boca magazine!

John and Margaret Mary Shuff +1 561-237-7000 | lynn.edu

A Cover Story

A trip to the past inspired the pages of our special anniversary issue

Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY

icking a cover for each issue of Boca magazine is no small task. Everyone on our staff has a different idea of what direction to take, each favoring different images, leading to all-out brawls in the hallway (only kind of kidding).

The pressure was on for this issue, since we are celebrating 45 years in business for the magazine. We needed a cover that would stand out on the newsstands, make people excited to pull it from their mailbox and, most of all, do justice to the magazine’s legacy.

Would it be a collage of covers over the years? A giant 45? A stunning model with a Champagne flute?

Part of putting this issue together was going through the Boca magazine archives, scouring encyclopedias of back issues. It was while sifting through old magazines that we discovered our cover, inspired by the March/April 1998 issue’s cover. That was a special edition, too, celebrating the magazine’s 100th issue. The cover was all black with a small cutout showing a woman holding the magazine. When you flip the page, you realize that image is a magazine held by our cover model. Why not explore something we’ve already done? We wanted to bring back the die-cut cover, just like we did in 1998, and find a 2025 version of the blackand-white dress pulled by the stylist more than two decades ago from Saks Fifth Avenue. Even the up-do seems to be coming back around in style (just hopefully not the pencil-thin eyebrows of the ‘90s). After all, what’s old is new again.

That couldn’t have been clearer as I flipped through the back issues. Over the years, writers have tackled tough issues like opioid addition, domestic violence, child abuse, immigration—all topics that are still top of mind today in 2025. But it’s not all just doom and gloom. Boca Raton’s passion for philanthropy has been a steadfast part of the community, as indicated with our social pages and the galas that have been celebrated for decades. While (some of) the people in the photos may have changed, the mission to do good and give back has never wavered. Neither has our focus on the people making waves around town or our appreciation for the arts (we go in depth into how our cultural institutions need our help now more than ever on page 92).

This cover is just the beginning of our walk down memory lane. Throughout the pages of this magazine, we go back in time to the days when John and Margaret Mary Shuff moved to a little place called Boca Raton and wanted to start a magazine. You can read all about that on page 84, in a feature written by Marie Speed, who was editor for 34 years. Check out the select covers we picked from over the decades; you may even remember reading some of them. You may even recall reading John’s“My Turn”columns over the years. We reran one with sage advice, which you can enjoy on page 200.

Happy anniversary, Boca magazine, with many more years to come.

CARINA MASK

Congratulations on 45 years of excellence

Boca Raton Regional Hospital is proud to celebrate Boca Magazine’s remarkable milestone of 45 years in publishing. Your dedication to providing insightful, quality editorial on lifestyle, culture, and community has made you an essential part of our lives.

As the world evolves, Boca Magazine remains a trusted source of inspiration, connecting us to what matters most. Thank you for continuing to enrich our homes and hearts with every issue.

Here’s to many more years of keeping us in the know!

Frederic J. Norkin, DMD

André De Souza, DMD Liliana Aranguren, DDS, MDSc

Jeffrey Ganeles, DMD, FACD

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The Center’s cohesive team of all board-certified (or eligible) dentists continually stay ahead of the curve with advanced procedures and technologies including TeethToday® immediate tooth replacement, 3D digital x-rays, in-office optical scanning, 3D printing, LANAP® laser-assisted gum surgery, Pinhole® gum grafting, regenerative endoscopic periodontal regeneration, accelerated orthodontics, permanent solutions to “gummy smiles” and much more.  They are also the first practice in the world to offer Yomi® robotic-assisted surgery, the first and only FDA-approved robotic system designed for dental implant surgery.

OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER

The newest addition to their curated team of experts is Ovadia Chocron, DMD, who earned his degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, graduating with distinction for academic excellence. From a general practice residency in Brooklyn, NY to a multispecialty private practice, Dr. Chocron went on to specialize in periodontology at Nova Southeastern University. He completed research on outcomes of bone regeneration procedures useful to treat teeth and dental implants. Dr. Chocron has lectured on various topics including his research, health connections between periodontal disease and the rest of the body (the Perio-systemic link), microbiology and periodontitis. He received a first-place award for his research at the North American International Team for Implantology (ITI) conference in 2023.

At SFCPID, patients benefit from digital technology, sedation options and a skilled team driven by a commitment to superior, individualized, efficient and excellent results.

Samuel Zfaz, DDS

Ovadia Chocron, DMD

Happy Anniversary Boca Magazine!

For the las 45 years, Boca magazine has produced an award-winning publication that informs, entertains, and spotlights all that matters in our community. Congratulations on this milestone anniversary and thank you for providing us with the highest caliber of a lifestyle magazine, year after year.

FORCE FOR JUSTICE, FOCUSED ON YOU.

At Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen, we are a tight-knit team of attorneys and industry professionals working closely together with each other and with our clients. Individually, we excel. Together, we change the world.

grossmanroth.com

and Planning

Elizabeth Bennett, Principal and CEO

For Certified Financial Planner ™ Elizabeth Bennett, managing money is more than a career—it’s a passion, and its roots are personal. Bennett’s father died when she was 7, and her widowed mother became so overwhelmed with financial burdens that she had declared bankruptcy by the time Elizabeth turned 18. Bennett went on to earn a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University so that she would not fall into similar financial hardship.

Now, as head of Intercoastal Wealth Planning in Boca Raton, she shares her insights from nearly 35 years in finance with a wide range of clients, designing custom plans to steer them toward financial freedom and independence. These include widows and divorcees, soonto-be retirees, and others undergoing major life changes.

Bennett is familiar with the mistakes that amateur investors often make without the advice of a professional fiduciary— such as playing the stock market ineffectively. Bennett is an expert at reversing these habits, and excels at providing solutions for her clients during times of market volatility.

“I pride myself on building a client’s portfolio based on what their risk tolerance is,” she says. “We always start with a financial plan. I need to understand who you are and what your goals are, and where you are today, so I can help you get to where you want to go.”

Contact Elizabeth’s office to schedule a private, complimentary consultation on your financial planning and investment needs.

A division of:

publishing!

Congratulations, Boca Magazine for an incredible 45 years of excellence in

For nearly half a century, you’ve been the heart and voice of our community, sharing stories, spotlighting businesses, and creating a space for all that makes Boca Raton extraordinary.

As a valued partner for thirty years, the Boca Chamber is proud to celebrate this milestone with you. Thank you for consistently raising the bar, inspiring our local businesses, and keeping us connected. Here’s to many more years of success, impact, and community-driven storytelling!

Community.

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Half of students are not reading at grade level by third grade, a crucial time when children pivot from learning to read, to reading to learn. Thankfully, at the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, the kids have a secret weapon: “Teddy.”

The “concreature” first arrived in 2016 when the Boca Raton Museum of Art offered to loan two pieces to the center from its storage. The first is multicolored panels “Through the Looking Glass: North, South, East, and West” by Dorothy Gillespie, and “Teddy” by Ross Bonfanti.

“The first thing when you walk into a museum, they tell children, ‘Don’t touch,’” says Kristin Calder, CEO of the Literacy Coalition.“I love to introduce them to Teddy, because the first thing I say is, ‘Guess what, you can touch him!’ I encourage people to come over and give him a pet on the head.”

Made of concrete and toy parts collected from thrift stores, Teddy is dapper with a bow tie and has experienced some wear, indicated by fuzz escaping from his stitching. Over the years, he’s been read countless books by numerous children. For 35 years, the literacy coalition has worked to improve reading in both children and adults to set them up for success. With a mascot like Teddy, readers have an impartial audience.

“We really are about achieving literacy but also celebrating literacy,” Calder says.

Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.

We

are celebrating 45 years. What is an important anniversary for you?

“When my brother Scott and I started working together in 2022 on his business, Universal Mobile Bears, where we bring a mobile teddy bear stuffing station to parties and events. It’s a good bonding experience for us, and we’re getting more and more involved with the community.”

Jason Stromberg, assistant at Universal Mobile Bears

“Dec. 31, 2008, when I became a dad to my son, starting the journey to four kids with my wife. Our last child was born May 18, 2018, a 10-year journey!”

Reggie LaRoche, assistant VP of orthopedic care at Boca Raton Regional Hospital

“My wedding anniversary marks the beginning of my favorite chapter: marriage and motherhood. Creating a loving home and family has been my most important job, and I cherish every moment spent with my loved ones.”

Katherine Zuber, area director of philanthropy at Trustbridge Hospice Care

A student reads to artist Ross Bonfanti’s “Teddy” sculpture

Don’t-Miss Events

NIGHT MARKET

WHEN: Jan. 9, 6-9 p.m., Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton

WHAT: Support your local businesses during the first Night Market of the year! Bring family and friends to Sanborn Square to try foods from area vendors, like Black Cat Bakery and Pop-A-Bao, as well as finding your new favorite creators from a market of more than two dozen artisans and crafters. Think dog treats, vintage clothing, jewelry, resin art, crystals, candles and more. It’s the perfect opportunity to find a gift that’ll have the receiver asking,“Where did you get this?”

THE AMERICANS WHO COLLECTED SPAIN: FROM MEADE TO MEADOWS

WHEN: Jan. 19, 3-4 p.m., Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton

WHAT: Coinciding with the museum’s exhibit,“Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and its Empire,” showcasing 57 paintings on loan from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, this lecture brings together three experts on the history of collecting Spanish art in the U.S. Hear from Dr. Amanda Dotseth and Linda P. and William A. Custard as they discuss the boom of notable Americans of the Gilded Age to lesser-known collectors amassing works from Spain.

WHEN: Jan. 17-19, 2025 at South County Regional Park, 12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton

WHAT: Formerly the Boca Strawberry Festival, this berry-filled weekend has moved from Mizner Park to the larger park for a threeday strawberry extravaganza. Fill up on berry goodness with strawberry beverages, rides, live music, the “America’s Got Talent” Stunt Dog Show, inflatable villages, a petting zoo, golf simulator truck and strawberry decorating.

TAKE

BOCA HISTORY HOME

In a kickoff to centennial celebrations for the city of Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Historical Society is releasing a limited number of copies of Dream City: A Pictorial History of Boca Raton. Travel over the last 100 years and watch the city grow from a little-known farm town to a burgeoning cultural and economic hub in South Florida, all through the lens of the everyday people who call Boca Raton home. The coffee table books are $100 and can be purchased at bocahistory.org.

TIME MACHINE

We look back at 1980, when Boca magazine’s inaugural issue was in the works.

SUPER BOWL WINNER: Pittsburgh Steelers

HIGHEST GROSSING FILM: “The Empire Strikes Back”

BILLBOARD SONG OF THE YEAR: “Call Me” by Blondie

POPULATION OF BOCA RATON: 49,505

PRESIDENT: Jimmy Carter, who was beat by Ronald Reagan in November

NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING

FICTION BOOK: “The Bourne Identity” by Robert Ludlum

TOP CHRISTMAS GIFT: Sony Walkman

HEADLINES: U.S. boycotts Olympics in Moscow; Rubik’s Cube, “Pac-Man” and Post-Its debut; U.S. beats the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics (“Miracle on Ice”); WHO declares smallpox eradicated; CNN’s first transmission; 1,700 Americans die in a heat wave; first recorded use of “yuppie;” John Lennon is killed

SOFLO STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

“POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM

ALIVE”

WHEN: Jan. 9-26

WHERE: Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

COST: $56-$61

CONTACT: 305/9496722, arshtcenter.org

Nothing is sacred in the not-so-hallowed halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in this gleefully vulgar farce from up-and-coming playwright Selina Fillinger. Despite the acronym in the title, the (male) president of the United States doesn’t have a speaking part in Fillinger’s all-female satire, but his louche actions—calling his wife the “c” word while caught on camera—set in motion the zany antics of a rogues’ gallery of Beltway archetypes. The president’s convicted-felon sister, his mistress, his press secretary, his chief of staff, and aforementioned humiliated wife, as well as a White House intern and an eager reporter, converge in an effort to quell an escalating crisis.

SYMPHONIA CONCERT II

WHEN: Jan. 12, 3 p.m.

WHERE: St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 N.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton

COST: $55-$90

CONTACT: 561/376-3848, thesymphonia.org

Anytime the Symphonia can book a guest appearance from renowned classical guitarist Jason Vieaux is a coup for Boca’s signature orchestra. A musical omnivore, Vieaux boasts a repertory that stretches from Spanish, Argentine and West African music to blues and rock forms. A true crossover artist, Vieaux was the first classical guitarist to perform a Tiny Desk concert at NPR, and jazz virtuoso Pat Metheny wrote an entire suite for Vieaux to play. He joins the Symphonia as a soloist for “Concerto For Guitar and String Orchestra” from modern Mexican composer Samuel Zyman. Continuing the theme of still-living composers, the Symphonia’s Concert II also includes “Souvenirs” from Richard Danielpour, a composer raised here in Palm Beach County. Beethoven’s stirring Symphony No. 7 completes the program.

RICHARD BLANCO

WHEN: Jan. 27, 12 p.m.

WHERE: Wold

Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton

COST: $15

CONTACT: 561/237-9000, lynn.edu

From making history in 2013 as the first immigrant and first openly gay person to read a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration, to being commissioned by a major magazine to write one of the first poems about the coronavirus pandemic, Richard Blanco is never more than a step or two removed from major national and global events. Few poets can claim such a lofty mantle, and the plaudits have continued: He has collaborated with classical musicians for a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, and U2 projected Blanco’s inaugural poem “One Day” at stadiums around the world during its 2017-2019 Joshua Tree Tour. At this appearance, part of Lynn’s Dialogue Speaker Series, Blanco will read select poems and then converse with Lynn professor Robert Watson about his service as a poet laureate and his commitment to social justice.

EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW

WHEN: Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach

COST: $45-$50

CONTACT: 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org

Those not entrenched in the passionate but insular world of birding may not be familiar with the term “spark bird”—shorthand for the particular avian that sparked one’s lifetime curiosity for our feathered friends. Dive into the latest material from two-time Juno Award-winning Canadian jazz singer Emilie-Claire Barlow, and you’ll hear the phrase a lot: Her 13th album, Spark Bird, dropped in 2023, with songs inspired by all things ornithological, and with a different bird illustration to accompany each track. Whether or not you can identify a goldfinch from a sparrow, you’ll doubtless by enchanted by Barlow’s multilingual material, which spans American Songbook standards, bossa nova classics and rearranged pop-folk favorites, aided by her signature warmth and humor.

Jason Vieaux

Emilie-Claire Barlow

Richard Blanco

MARK MORGAN

Interiors by Brown would like to congratulate Boca Magazine on 45 years of publishing. Thank you for being a pillar of the community. Wishing you many more years of success!

Interiors by Brown would like to congratulate Boca Magazine on 45 years of publishing. Thank you for being a pillar of the community. Wishing you many more years of success!

“[Giving back] keeps you both mentally and physically fit, and you fulfill a purpose, which is a very important thing. … You have to have some purpose in life.”

—Art Polacheck

Art Polacheck

At 96, this World War II veteran keeps paying it forward

Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY

Sitting on the couch of his Boca Raton condo, Art Polacheck is scrolling through his Facebook account to show me photos from his latest trip to Washington, D.C.

He and veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars made the trek to the nation’s capital through the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, where they were able to visit the memorials built in their honor. Chaperoned by a guardian—a local friend who offered to help him on the trip—Polacheck was wheeled around and took photos in front of the World War II and the Iwo Jima memorials, and he witnessed the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. He also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

At 96 years old, Polacheck is one of about just 1% of the remaining surviving veterans of World War II. He enlisted in the military at 17 years old in Chicago—it appears the military was willing to overlook his age because of his experience with radios. After six weeks of boot camp at Fort Dix in New Jersey, he was shipped off to Okinawa in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

“My job was to code and decode messages using Morse code, and I got [to be] quite an expert at that,” he says.“I could receive about 18 words a minute … it’s all with Morse code and also a special code that they developed that the Japanese wouldn’t be able to receive.”

The war ended eight months after he deployed, but he remained on the island for another two years, where he climbed Mount Fuji. When he returned stateside,

he moved to the warmth of Florida to attend the University of Miami through the G.I. Bill to study economics. From there, Polacheck opened a television and radio store and then went into mail-order medical supplies.

Now retired and living in Boca Raton, Polacheck is still serving his community as he nears 100. He’s an active member of the Rotary Club of Boca Raton, which meets once a week, and he volunteered his time for many years as a tutor and mentor for students. For the past 15 years, he has made his way to Boca Helping Hands twice a week, where he packages food, makes sandwiches, and fills pantry bags. A classic car enthusiast, he has also hosted car shows with the

Rotary Club to benefit Boca Helping Hands—in 2024, the show raised $10,000. Polacheck can no longer drive, and when asked how he gets around, he replies nonchalantly,“Uber.”

WHY BOCA HELPING HANDS?

I had some culinary arts [experience], meaning I did cooking in the Army as well, and I cooked even before the Army. In other words, one of my highlights of my younger life was preparing food and help[ing] others in need.

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED TO VOLUNTEER? It fills the purpose that I feel is important in the community. You’d be surprised how many people come to our front door, about 300 a day.

WORDS OF WISDOM? Keep moving. Those are the two words that I can leave with you. You have to constantly be moving. If you’re sedentary, if you’re just sitting, you’re going to atrophy and go downward. Try to stay positive. Help the community where you can, and don’t sit.

SAVE THE DATE: Join Polacheck on Sunday, Jan. 5 at Boca Helping Hands, 1500 N.W. First Court in Boca Raton, for his next charity car show.

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. Shuff.

Art Polacheck at boot camp in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1944

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK

BOCA MAGAZINE!

As Boca magazine celebrates its 45th anniversary, we wish to congratulate you on your amazing track record of consistently raising the bar with innovative special sections, historical content, and resources that matter in our daily lives. It’s not easy to remain at the top of your industry in a world that has seen magazines come and go. Here’s to your continued success and growth, with gratitude for all of your hard work throughout the years!

Infinite Content

A marketing entrepreneur’s new business aims to foster the potential of fellow creatives

Written by JOHN THOMASON

As Bill Gates famously popularized in a prescient 1996 essay, “content is king.” If there’s a queen of content in Boca—or at least an aspirant to the throne—it’s Portia Smith-Dejean, whose new business, A Content Studio, has provided tangible examples of this nebulous noun for a striking variety of local organizations and individuals.

Smith-Dejean, a former director of marketing for this magazine, opened A Content Studio in a suite of Boca Raton offices on North Dixie Highway this past June, a kind of catch-all for both legacy and new media: It’s a place to record podcasts and videocasts, photo shoots and music videos and infomercials. Some companies have recorded their telephone hold music in one of its acoustically tailored spaces. And with all equipment, from state-of-the-art micro-

its classic podcast aesthetic of emerald-green sofas flanked by faux plants; the Sahara Room, whose elegant Southwestern trappings suggest a Sedona salon; and the Posh Room, a sanctuary of pinks and reds whose cheeky humor is expressed in the neon text art above the sofa that reads “Do Epic Shit.”

Designing the spaces, Smith-Dejean says, unlocked talents she didn’t know she had: “We watched a bunch of YouTubes on DIY, just trying to figure it out like everybody else, but it was so rewarding to see the end result. I did all of the interior decorating, and the final result went exactly as I had envisioned, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard.”

The business’ first six months have been off to the races. Smith-Dejean, who runs A Content Studio with her husband and their eldest daughter—with some

We want to help people unleash their creativity. There are so many roadblocks that people put in their own way. ... We just try to make that journey a little easier for them.” —Portia Smith-Dejean

phones to 4K cameras and adjustable LED lighting, provided by A Content Studio, Smith-Dejean’s clients need only bring their creativity.

“It gives them a space safe,” says Smith-Dejean. “When you go to some of these podcast studios, it’s extremely intimidating. And maybe you don’t know all the jargon, or you don’t have all the equipment. And the fact that we know exactly what that feels like, to be in their shoes, that’s where we have an advantage. We’re very empathetic, and we hand-hold a lot of our clients through the process.”

For Smith-Dejean, the idea germinated from the opportunity to upgrade her own podcast. Since 2019, she has been co-host of the Miami Poshcast, a lifestyle show whose subjects have ranged from sustaining a small business during the pandemic to attending Coachella as a 30-something.

“We started out just doing it at our kitchen and at locations that were mom-and-popish-looking,” she recalls.“We had our eye on this one space that was next to my husband’s office, and it had multiple rooms. I was like, you know, that would be cool.”

And so after acquiring the space, Smith-Dejean and her husband, Steve, spent months transforming the bland corporate offices into the content backdrops of Smith-Dejean’s dreams. Clients can utilize up to four carefully curated rooms: the Royale Room, a goldand-white haven of luxury; the Bamboo Room, with

assists from FAU interns—has worked with clients including Yelp, the prebiotic soda company Poppi, the apartment-leasing firm 10X, and the content streamers Holistic Business Network. Two local magazines have hosted photo shoots there, and rappers have shot music videos in the studio.

For Smith-Dejean, a Miami native and a second-generation Jamaican of immigrant parents, A Content Studio is one facet of a larger enterprise, Miami Posh, that she launched in 2013 as an ecommerce boutique. It has grown since. The studio is part of its media division, as opposed to its retail and marketing departments, though clients may benefit from combining its services—by, for instance, utilizing Smith-Dejean’s 20 years of marketing expertise to promote the content they record in her studio.

“We want to help people unleash their creativity,” she says.“They can get in their own head, give themselves a lot of obstacles—I’m guilty of doing it for sure. Sometimes I’ll put an age stamp on it; I’m 42, I don’t have any business doing this on the internet. There’s so many roadblocks that people put in their own way. And we want to help them unleash all the ideas that they’re hearing internally.

“They know it’s good,” she adds.“Something is aligning with them to have that feeling or message, but they’re intimidated. We just try to make that journey a little easier for them.”

Portia SmithDejean

The New Face of the Fuller Center

As Fuller Center’s new CEO, Eric Roby charts a course to make the organization known to all local families who need a helping hand

Written by TYLER CHILDRESS

Eric Roby’s face is one that is known to many South Floridians. As a news anchor on CBS 12 for 17 years, he covered all things Palm Beach County, from the lighter side of life to hard-hitting issues affecting local residents. Now, he’s bringing his knowledge of the area and his passion for serving the community to the Fuller Center as the organization’s new CEO.

“I got into journalism because I wanted to be the voice for the voiceless,” says Roby.“Now I’m in nonprofits because I want to be able to help someone who doesn’t have that voice or needs a little bit of help more directly.”

families, offering reduced-cost out-of-school care, summer camp, education, a myriad of resources for struggling parents, specialized care for children with disabilities, and much more—to a service area that has expanded to more than 60 zip codes from North Miami up to Riviera Beach. As the Fuller Center has grown, so too has the need for its services in Boca Raton.

“It wasn’t [chance] that we grew in this neighborhood, because this is where the population needed us,” says Roby of the area near the Fuller Center’s East Boca campus.“These homes now, surrounding the Fuller Center, are $800,000. So, if you’re just starting out and you’re making frontline working

“I got into journalism because I wanted to be the voice for the voiceless. Now I’m in nonprofits because I want to be able to help someone who doesn’t have that voice or needs a little bit of help more directly.”

—Eric Roby

The transition from a local news anchor to the head of a nonprofit may seem like an unlikely career trajectory, but as Roby will tell you, the jobs have more in common than you might think.

“Nonprofits are very similar to the environment of a newsroom,” says Roby.“There’s never enough time, never enough people, there’s always an emergency, never enough money, and you just gotta roll up your sleeves—it doesn’t matter who you are—and get the job done.”

Roby takes the reins of the organization from Ellyn Okrent, the Fuller Center’s former CEO of 12 years who, during her tenure, significantly increased the organization’s budget and services provided. The next step, Roby says, is continuing to expand Fuller Center’s services and to break out of the “Boca bubble.”

“We like to say that the Fuller Center is the bestkept secret,” says Roby.“We are fairly well-known in Boca Raton, not so well-known outside [of Boca].

“It is a part of my goals to make sure that we’re no longer that best-kept secret. I want other people to know.”

The Fuller Center began as a small, affordable daycare for local laborers more than 50 years ago, but it has since evolved into a comprehensive resource for

salaries, which 92% of our families are frontline workers, that might not be affordable.”

Being located in Boca Raton also comes with its own advantages, particularly having such a robust donor base. The programs at the Fuller Center are designed to not be self-sufficient so that no costs are passed on to families, a model that has been supported by Boca residents for generations.

“[It’s] the generosity of the Boca Raton community wrapping their arms around this center and making sure that we can flourish year after year,” says Roby. “Without that support, we wouldn’t be here today.”

For Roby, helping these families is paying back dues for the time that was invested in him by mentors throughout his life. A first-generation college student, Roby was able to successfully break the cycle of poverty in his family. His experience has taught him that a better life is just an opportunity away.

“I had so many people that looked out for me that didn’t have to, to make sure that I was able to achieve my goals,”says Roby.“Now it’s my turn to make sure that other children have that same opportunity.”

For more information about the Fuller Center or to make a donation, visit fullercenterfl.org.

Eric Roby reads to preschoolers at the Fuller Center

Heavy Metal

Turn heads with metallic accessories

JIMMY CHOO sandals, $1,125, BALENCIAGA bag, $3,100; both from Neiman Marcus

GEDEBE bag, $925, from Michelle Farmer Metallic wrap, $49.99, from Vêtu Boutique

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Creating Beautiful Smiles for Over 35 Years!

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◆ Fillings without Drilling with Non-contact Laser and often No Novacaine

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Dual wavelength laser which can perform fillings without drilling. Photobiomodulation Laser for jaw pain. Smooth Laser anti-aging facial rejuvenation.

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Dr. Rosenbusch has over 35 years of experience focusing on cosmetic dentistry and has extensive training in using the Fotona Dual Wavelength Laser. Dr. Rosenbusch is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Implant Prosthodontic Section of ICOI, and the Florida Dental Association. He is a Diplomat of the ICOI (International Congress of Oral Implantologists). Member of The Seattle Study Club. Masters level in Aesthetic Dentistry at the Rosenthal Institute in New York.

Curve Appeal

Welcome the New Year with

RENE CAOVILLA stiletto, $1,730, from Neiman Marcus

URBAN EXPRESSIONS clutch, $134, from Baciami Moda

MICHELLE FARMER jacket, $2,300, shorts, $795, top, $550; all from Michelle Farmer

If

are you waiting for?

Tight Laced

The delicate fabric shows off its tough side

VÊTU jacket, $189.99, and pants, $189.99; both from Vêtu Boutique MALIPARMI slingback, $268, brooch, $110, both from Filly + Colt

TONYA HAWKES clutch, $1,350, from Nina Raynor

Happy 45th Anniversary

BOCA MAGAZINE

The International Jewelers Exchange is thrilled to congratulate Boca magazine on its 45th anniversary! As one of your original, long-time advertisers, we have had the pleasure of watching your company grow and become one of the finest publications in South Florida. From one institution in Boca Raton to another, we applaud you!

AVENTURA | 19275 Biscayne Boulevard (One block south of Aventura Mall)

BOCA RATON | Glades Road, one block west of the Turnpike BOYNTON BEACH | Corner of Boynton and Military Trail Open Tuesday - Saturday 11am-5:30pm | www.intljewelers.com

Pull fashion inspiration from the courts

Playful Streak

Do away with the ordinary

CALIBAN shirt, $365, PROGRESS sweater, $575, MAC jeans, $255; all from Filly + Colt CUOIERIA bag, $380, from Wish & Shoes

20Years

JackDell’Accio FOUNDER &CEO

Cheers Through the Ages

As we celebrate the New Year as well as the 45th anniversary of Boca magazine, here are our picks for the top libations of bygone eras and today

Written by TYLER CHILDRESS

1910’S - FRENCH 75

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz. gin (we recommend Beefeater)

½ oz. fresh lemon juice

½ oz. simple syrup (sugar dissolved in equal parts water)

3 oz. Champagne

TO MAKE: Shake gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then strain into a coupe glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

1920’S - JACK ROSE

INGREDIENTS:

1½ oz. apple brandy (We recommend springing for the 12-year-aged Laird’s Rare Apple Brandy)

¾ oz. fresh lemon juice

½ oz. grenadine

TO MAKE: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

1950’S - NEGRONI

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz. gin (again, Beefeater)

1 oz. Campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

TO MAKE: Combine all ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice, then stir until chilled and garnish with an orange peel.

1970’S - HARVEY WALLBANGER

INGREDIENTS:

1¼ oz. vodka (We recommend Tito’s or Grey Goose)

½ oz. Galliano L’Autentico liqueur

3 oz. orange juice

TO MAKE: Pour vodka and orange juice into a tall glass filled with ice and stir. Top with a Galliano floater and garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries.

1980’S - MIAMI VICE

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz. light rum (Bacardi does the trick), divided

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 oz. fresh lime juice

2 oz. cream of coconut or Piña Colada mix

2 oz. pineapple juice

TO MAKE: Add 1 oz. of rum, strawberries, lime juice and crushed ice into a blender and blend until smooth to make a strawberry daiquiri. Pour mixture into a glass and set in the freezer. Rinse blender, then add remaining rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream (or Piña Colada mix) and crushed ice, blending until smooth. Pour the mixture on top of the strawberry daiquiri and garnish with a pineapple slice.

2020’S - ESPRESSO MARTINI

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ oz. vodka (for a sweeter martini, use vanilla vodka)

1 oz. Kahlúa

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The Back Story

As Boca magazine turns 45 this year, we take a look at the business that grew up with Boca

Written by MARIE SPEED

When John Shuff fell on a Greenwich, Conn., golf course in 1980, it marked the beginning of a seismic upheaval in the lives of his family—one that would ultimately lead to the sleepy city of Boca Raton, Fla., and the launch of a lasting tribute to its growth and identity.

Shuff was a rising star back then in the New York world of publishing and communications, the CFO and vice president of powerhouse Capital Cities Communications, before it bought ABC. His diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, which had caused that fall in an ordinary round of golf, set the stage for a life reinvented—culminating in a move to Boca, and the founding of Boca Raton magazine. On this, the magazine’s 45th year in business, I sat down with John Shuff’s widow (he died in 2020), Margaret Shuff, to talk about the origins of the magazine, and how it has helped shape the city.

“As you know, John collapsed on a golf course in late spring of 1980, and by summer he was in a wheelchair,” Shuff says.“By that time, Cap Cities was sending a limo to pick him up at home in Greenwich because he couldn’t even make it to the train station.”

The Shuffs knew it was time to make a change, to relocate to a place that was flat, with a temperate climate that would be easier on a man with MS to navigate. John toured South Florida, starting with the west coast, but it was a call from then-Penn Central CEO Dick Voell that steered them east.

“We didn’t find any community over there we thought was great. But Dick Voell was running Penn Central, and Penn Central owned Arvida at the time. One of our accounting friends called Dick Voell

and told him to call John Shuff and tell him about Boca Raton. Voell said, ‘We’re going to blow that town out. We have all this property, and we’ve got a huge plan.’ And, of course, Boca already had IBM.”

The Shuffs, 39 and 40 at the time, relocated to Boca in 1980 and incorporated Boca Raton magazine; by 1981, they had an inaugural issue, working out of a building that still stands at the corner of Federal Highway and Northeast Second Street, across from Burger King. The space came with desks, and they initially had a staff of 10, including the Shuffs. Margaret Shuff has said over the years that starting a magazine might have been a shrewd business decision, but it was also one that “helped get a sick man out of bed.”

And that it did.

Back then Boca Raton was still largely unknown, aside from the growing presence of IBM and the business community that sprung up around it. Prior to then it had been mostly a retirement haven anchored by the then-Boca Raton Resort & Club and a relatively short history as a farming town, complete with bean fields and a railroad stop. IBM, however, and the arrival of Arvida Corporation as well as Mizner Park, marked the beginning of dramatic growth and development that has not stopped since.

Shuff recalls Boca back then as “very quiet, very sleepy.” She says there weren’t many restaurants,“maybe a few good ones. But within those first 10 years, the growth happened in Boca. Dick Voell was right: Boca went from absolute Sleepyville to becoming a real city.”

The magazine, of course, was witness to that transformation.

The inaugural issue of Boca magazine

Ads from the ‘80s: Arturo's, Lilly

Shuff says the initial challenges were learning about the community, delivering the best product— and executing its ultimate distribution.

“Once we got the advertising and put it all together—I remember doing it on beds in my mother-inlaw’s house, because John was so critical of our staff at the time—we’d be ripping apart all of the edit and redoing it. Once we got the edit and the photography done, it was getting the book out there. We had good advertising. Almost from the beginning we had Blums of Boca, we had Publix, we had some banks, we had the Esplanade [in Palm Beach], we had Lilly Pulitzer pages, because Lilly was right on Dixie Highway where that banyan tree got cut down. The big thing was getting it distributed, and that was what mostly I was tasked with.”

The magazine was well accepted from the start, with advertisers rallying around it, a testimony to the boom-boom era of the 1980s in Boca.

Another early advertiser was the College of Boca Raton—now known as Lynn University. The Shuffs became friends with founders Don and Helen Ross; the couples would help plan the school’s annual gala and hit the dance floor together.

In those days, John Shuff was the mastermind of a magazine he wanted to be first-rate, and Margaret Shuff was the grand executor of making it all happen, from contributing some editorial to getting the publication out in the community.

“I went and interviewed people in their homes, and I went and sold advertising at Royal Palm Plaza [now Royal Palm Place], but the main thing I did was get those magazines out there. So I would put them in my little Honda, the back seat, the front seat, and I would go all the way to Fort Lauderdale to Cunningham’s Drugstore, B Dalton Books, and I would open

Pulitzer, Nina Raynor and IBM

up outlets,” she remembers.“The distributor wouldn’t take us in West Palm because they didn’t ‘know’ us. [Later, they found that the owner did know them from John Shuff’s role at Fairchild Publications, and they were picked up.—Ed.] … I opened over 130 outlets. I had my therapeutic sandals and my chinos, and I just went to town. … I had tons of energy back then, and I got it out there.”

Challenges in the early days included John Shuff’s exacting standards when it came to design and editorial, still in its early stages.

“He wanted it to look like a national magazine or better—that was always him. The history articles we had in those first books were amazing, and I know that was John. He said, ‘We’ve got to know this town; people need to know this town.’ So he pushed history a lot in the beginning. He’s the one who set the standards for the product.”

The magazine was well accepted from the start, with advertisers rallying around it, a testimony to the boom-boom era of the 1980s in Boca. People also started reading it—and subscribing to it—as it began to reflect what and who Boca Raton was, including community news and events, homes, local history, local business. But it was the magic word “people” that solidified its success—and would define it for decades to come.

“It was received very well by readers, because we put all their photos in the book. People loved seeing their photos in the book, and we actually did them in color, which was amazing. [Before, they had been in black-and-white in newsletters and newspapers.] …

The Debbie-Rand Hospital Ball album—that’s what we called it—was two pages, and it included all the movers and the shakers in Boca. Don Wargo with Christine Lynn, Dorothy Schmidt, Tina Blum, all kinds of people.

“And then we did a whole thing on events—museum events, listings of events in the back … Joan Diamond was our food editor, and she did a really good job [There were seven restaurants in the dining

John and Margaret Shuff: Affiliations and Awards

Affiliations

MARGARET SHUFF: United Way of Palm Beach County, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Saint Andrew’s School, FAU College of Nursing, Junior League of Boca Raton, Lynn University, Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League

JOHN SHUFF: Boca Raton Historical Society, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Palm Beach and Martin County Community Foundation, Boca Raton Chamber Symphony

Awards

JOHN SHUFF: MS Champion of the Year (MS Society Utah State Chapter), OPAL Award (Rotary Club of Boca Raton)

MARGARET SHUFF: DIAMOND Award (Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce), Junior Achievement Innovators Award (Junior Achievement of South Florida)

THE SHUFFS: Outstanding Business Leader Award (Northwood University), Boca Raton Award (Lynn University and the City of Boca Raton), Small Business Leaders of the Year (Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce), Walk of Recognition honorees (Boca Raton Historical Society), President’s Award (Gold Coast Public Relations Council)

The Shuffs, middle, receive an award from Northwood University

list back then—Ed.]. I think it was accepted pretty fast. We paid for our printing bill with the money from our subscriptions; that was huge.”

Shuff adds that an early dining star was created by the Gismondi family, a longtime advertiser, who built and opened Arturo’s in 1983.

“Today, the grandson, Arturo Gismondi, owns Trattoria Romana, Luffs and La Nouvelle Maison. All these restaurants, beginning with the first [Arturo’s was named for the grandfather], set the stage for quality dining in Boca.”

Just as highlighting local people brought life to the burgeoning magazine, the Shuffs knew that community was central to their endeavor, and their community involvement became a core value of the organization.

“Once it caught on, we were asked to join boards. John was on the historical society board, he was on the hospital board, he was on the Palm Beach-Martin County Community Foundation Board. I was on the United Way board, and that was a big deal in Boca in those days.”

The couple became a fixture at social events, chairing galas and immersing themselves in community initiatives, like advocating for Mizner Park and the young symphony orchestra and the growing community hospital.

The magazine also recruited local contributors.

“We tried to get people involved who lived here. Gayle Hackett wrote for us, Joan Diamond, Ray Stack, Jackie Ashton—there were people like that who made such a difference in bringing the community to us.”

As the magazine grew, it upped its game and started winning statewide awards for both design and editorial. It interviewed the “big guns of the day,” people like Arvida developers Bill Shubin and John Temple, White Sox and Bulls co-owner Bob Judelson, Dania Jai Alai owner Steve Snyder and, later, South Florida celebrities, from the late Pete Rose to Irving R. Levine, Chris Evert, Ariana Grande, Dave Barry and countless others. The magazine also did not shy away from more investigative pieces that viewed issues

A staff holiday photo from 1991. Center: Jeff Bell. Clockwise from bottom: Candi Pillitteri, Brooke Lange, Mitch Fredericks, Linda Piera, Alex Roumain, Brian Back, Marie Speed, Kathy Henner, Paula O’Brian

Social photos are still a popular part of the magazine.

Editorial Highlights Over the Years

Aside from fun articles like dining finds, people, décor and travel, the magazine has tackled substantive issues from the start. Here is a very small sampling.

• “How Boca Helped Win the War” was the untold story of the battle against Germany’s submarine blitz. (March/ April 1982)

• “The Stream of Despair” shared how eastern Palm Beach County’s migrant farmworkers struggled to get a toehold on fair labor practices. (Winter 1985)

• “Portrait of a Serial Killer” explored Christopher Wilder’s gruesome killing spree, and the questions that remained six years after his death. (July/August 1990)

• “Mizner Park: The Flap, the Facts, the Future” took a look—including the financials—on how the controversial (at the time) Mizner Park was a boon to Boca Raton. (March/April 1992)

• “Sleeping With the Enemy” explored the subject of domestic violence from

June 1992)

• “The Faces of Hate” addressed the South Florida group that wanted an all-white America, believed there was no Holocaust, and pointed to a worldwide Jewish conspiracy. (March/April 1993)

• “Everglades Comeback” showed how, one year after Hurricane Andrew, the Everglades began healing in a surge of new growth. (July/ August 1993)

• “Pearl City: The

reported on Pearl City— the Boca no one really wanted to talk about. (September/October 1993)

• “Prescription for Addiction” showed how America’s stealth sickness could start with a simple prescription—and end up in the emergency room. (May/ June 1994)

posed the controversial question of how much an expensive football program would really help FAU. (September/ October 2001)

• “Who Are We?” was an exposé of Boca’s lifestyle trends by zip code, from size of diamonds to bedroom shenanigans. The article used authentic survey methodology and created a stir, ending up on the 6 o’clock news the day the surveys hit Boca mailboxes. (January/ February 2000)

• “Voices of the Holocaust” profiled concentration camp survivors living in Boca Raton. (January/February 2000)

• “Love for Sale” explored how the world’s oldest profession was flourishing in South Florida, thanks, in large part, to the internet. (November 2007)

George Snow” examined the unsolved mysterious death of a local developer as he flew national news crews in his helicopter over the Bahamas. (December 2011/January 2012)

• “The Gunshine State” detailed Florida’s love affair with guns after the deadly shooting spree in Parkland. (September/ October 2018)

“It was received very well by readers, because we put all their photos in the book. People loved seeing their photos in the book, and we actually did them in color, which was amazing.”

affecting the community, everything from an early photo essay by Joyce Brock on migrant farm workers (who lived in shacks on the fringes of Boca) to articles on domestic violence, drug abuse, climate change and more. As one of its taglines from years ago said, “Boca magazine is more than just a pretty face.”

Following its early success, the Shuffs launched a publication in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1989, after their initial vacation to the area, which would become their summer home for the next few decades. That magazine, Salt Lake, spawned Utah Style and Design and Utah Bride and still retains its role as the leading

— Margaret Shuff

magazine of the mountain west. Living in Park City, Margaret Shuff says John “was able to discover a sense of freedom through the National Ability Center while skiing in a sit-ski tethered to an instructor the winter of 1989.” He met the organization’s founder, Meeche White, and served on the board of the National Ability Center for a term. He sit-skied for several years before it became too exhausting. Limiting their time to summer and fall, the Shuffs found Utah to be a cool respite from Florida’s humid summers for a man with MS.

Other JES Media Titles

• Worth Avenue magazine, for the Worth Avenue Association

• 1926, for The Boca Raton

• Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Directory, for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Other titles over the years: Florida Table, Fast Track, South Florida Style and Design

By the late 1990s, Boca magazine, like all publications, entered a new age: the dawn of digital publishing and the emergence of the internet as a world-changing communications medium. Shuff recalls that John Shuff was all in on the technology, and he bought computers and state-of-the-art software for everyone immediately. Later, he steered the company to be the first publication in Florida to go “computer-to-press,” which revolutionized the printing process.

A new age had arrived, and Boca magazine, now the flagship publication of JES Media and South Florida, was on the vanguard of the change.

In the years since then, Boca magazine launched several other titles, assumed a custom publishing division, and started an award-winning website at bocamag.com. Boca magazine has received more than 225 awards from the Florida Magazine Association to date, and it is now regarded as one of the preeminent lifestyle publications in the Southeast.

John succumbed to complications from his MS in June of 2020, leaving Margaret to continue the work they had started together decades ago. His high standards, once seen as impossibly daunting, were now shared by a seasoned staff, which had been schooled

in the publication’s values. And the magazine, which he once described as his “passion,” has carried on.

Although Boca magazine faces new challenges daily as a print publication in a digital age, Margaret still sees it as an integral and relevant part of the community, and the region at large. She has seen Boca Raton transform itself over the years, as has the magazine— but regards all the changes as positive.

“My god, Boca Raton became a sophisticated city; it used to be a town—a small, sleepy town that changed immensely. … I go to events now, and I know very few people. It’s unbelievable how it’s changed, and I think it’s a young person’s town. The school system is jam-packed—the private schools have waiting lists. The securities and financial industries have come here from New York, and they are going to Miami, they are going to West Palm, but they are living in Boca. … That choice we made all those years ago to come here was the best one we could have made. The west coast does not have the business base that Boca has, and that business base is what galvanized this city.”

And when it comes to her beloved Boca magazine, Margaret also believes it was a good choice—then, now and into the future.

“My god, Boca Raton became a sophisticated city; it used to be a town—a small, sleepy town that changed immensely.”

— Margaret Shuff

“Print is not going to go away anytime soon, especially the kind of print we do. As long as we keep it relevant, community-based and with a lot of interesting information—the people, the businesses, the places, what is happening—I do not see it going away.”

After 45 years, Margaret Shuff is still Boca magazine’s biggest cheerleader. It may have been a dream at one time “to get a sick man out of bed,” but that dream was fulfilled and, after 45 years, the magazine has become part of the very fabric of Boca Raton.

Or, as the late John Shuff said on the occasion of the magazine’s 25th anniversary,“Although life presents us with an uncertain future, we believe that each of us has a great deal of control over our destiny. Our commitment to the axiom ‘Deliver more than you promise’ will continue to motivate us to publish relevant and meaningful products. ... Thanks for the memories, Boca Raton.”

WEB EXTRA: For more standout Boca magazine stories over the years, visit BOCAMAG.COM/ JANUARY-2025.

John Shuff, right, on a sit ski in Utah

The Florida governor’s historic $32 million grant veto exposes systemic problems in the state’s arts-and-culture economy—prompting local organizations to search for new solutions

Written by John Thomason

y its nature, the Florida Division of Arts & Culture is an uncontroversial agency. It’s not supposed to make news. But when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed some $32 million in arts and culture grants in Florida’s 2024-2025 state budget last June, its work captured the public’s attention for all the wrong reasons. Six hundred and forty organizations statewide lost funding in the veto, including 51 organizations in Palm Beach County.

These organizations were expecting—and had budgeted for—state grants of $10,000 and up, with many of the larger nonprofits set to receive more than $70,000. DeSantis’ historic and unexpected veto sent instant shockwaves through Florida’s arts world. The affected organizations sent panicked emails, brimming with anger and disbelief, urging their supports to help make up the unexpected shortfalls through private donations. The local arts leaders I interviewed months later for this feature were still reeling from the impact and shared similar sentiments.

When she read the news,“I was just staggered— speechless,” recalls Annabel Russell, executive director of the Symphonia, which would have earned $42,300 through the grant.“I had to read it twice. It didn’t make any sense; it still doesn’t make any sense, to be honest.”

“I was shocked and disappointed and frankly worried about how we were going to proceed,” says Stephanie Owitz, vice president of arts, culture and learning for Levis JCC in west Boca, which was slated to receive $60,865, plus an additional $500,000 Cultural Facilities Grant, a line item designed to support the renovation, construction or acquisition of facilities for arts organizations. “We’ve received this grant since 2017, so we’ve become quite reliant on it.”

“I was in denial that this could possibly have happened,” adds Marjorie Waldo, president and CEO of Arts Garage in Delray Beach, which was itemized for $70,500. “We have not seen it happen in the time I’ve been here, all eight years of receiving this grant. … I was stunned by the decision. It was just out of nowhere.”

Getting from the Division of Arts & Culture’s

funding recommendations to the governor’s pen is a process that is usually boilerplate and bipartisan and boring, in the ways much good governance is boring.

Part of Florida’s Department of State, the division collects grant requests from nonprofit arts and culture organizations throughout the state, vets and scores and ranks the requests through a rigorous process, and decides which organizations are most deserving of state funds. It then submits its funding recommendations to the state legislature for approval.

Lawmakers then adjust the numbers, and send their final allocation to the governor for his signature. As a requirement, all of the funding—from a 10-year low of $6.6 million in the 2018-2019 legislative session to a 10year high of $58.7 million in the 2022-2023 session—is matched dollar-by-dollar by the recipient organizations.

The grants have been a critical element of many cultural nonprofits’ budgets since 1977.

More than two weeks after the veto, in response to the deluge of media and arts-organization inquiries, DeSantis explained his decision, citing a single production at the

Tampa International Fringe Festival that he deemed sexually inappropriate and unworthy of state funds. (Tampa Fringe would have received $7,369; its organizers later penned an unsuccessful open letter to DeSantis urging him to sacrifice their portion of the state funding so that the rest of the monies could be restored.)

“I know plenty of people who have reached out and called their representatives,” says Matt Stabile, executive director of Theatre Lab, a professional theatre company based at FAU.“But unfortunately, the decision is kind of insulated, because the governor made what seems to have been a solo decision. He is not able to run for reelection as governor, so it cost him nothing.”

The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

“For whatever reason, the arts always seem to be the political football,”says Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, which advocates for cultural funding.“For the life of me, I can’t understand why. I believe that there is a place for public funding in the arts, for what it does for our economy, for

what it does for our communities, for education, for our quality of life. There is a role for government to play in funding the arts.

“There are some that will not share that sentiment. And unfortunately, we get caught in the middle of this a lot of times. That is a real concern, but I think it’s up to us to show just how deep and wide the impact is, and that government funding can spur so

The Arts and Culture Economy by the Numbers

$335.3 million

Economic impact of arts and culture in Palm Beach County

4,360 Jobs created by the arts in Palm Beach County

$57.2 million

Tax revenues to local, state and federal governments generated by the arts in Palm Beach County

87%

Percentage of Americans that believes arts and culture are “important to their community’s quality of life and livability.”

Source: Americans for the Arts/Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study

many other investments and contributions in the arts. It’s an important piece of the pie to have that public support, to make sure that our organizations are thriving and serving the public good.”

Making Cuts

The organizations felt the pinch of the depleted funding immediately. In the wake of the governor’s veto, the Florida Cultural Alliance, a statewide nonpartisan advocacy network, surveyed 120 Florida cultural organizations, asking,“Because of the elimination of funding, we will be forced to …”The majority, 81%, answered “make adjustments and continue with our plans.” Forty-eight percent said they would have to cancel events for the public; 34% responded that they would have to reduce staff or eliminate a position; and so on. Five percent would “discontinue our operations.”

“We have heard through direct and indirect conversations about programs that are going to have to be shelved for the year, or layoffs have had to happen at some organizations,” Lawrence says.“The impact is greater, the smaller the organization’s budget size. We heard from one of the applicants that their grant was $13,000 on a $50,000 budget. So that is a significant piece of their operating revenue that is going to be very difficult for them to come by. The effects are wide-reaching and pretty severe for some organizations.”

Arts Garage quickly shortened its theatre season from four plays to three, reduced its box-office hours, and shelved a software tool to begin to recoup the shortfall.

As for the JCC,“We have made some minor staff adjustments,” says Owitz.“We’re already a small staff. The goal is to still present the full season, but it’s more work on fewer people.”

Nearly everyone I spoke to for this feature stressed the punishing timing of the veto, landing a few years after the existential damage nearly wrought by the COVID pandemic. Palm Beach County arts patrons skew older, and many were just beginning to return to the performing arts after years of caution.

“We’re all just building back from a horrific pandemic,” says Russell, of the Symphonia.“We really didn’t need this, because we’ve all been working so hard for the past two or three years to get back to full running. This was going to be the season where we’re fully back to normal, and then suddenly, it’s taken away from us again.”

“Here we are, just after organizations were emerging from the last few years of the hell that was COVID,” adds Lawrence, of the Cultural Council.“So this was precisely not the time for another huge setback like this. The organizations were just coming back to full steam, the excitement and the energy and the plans were all there, and now we’re dealt this huge blow.”

Stephanie Owitz of Levis JCC

“This was going to be the season where we’re fully back to normal, and then suddenly, it’s taken away from us again.”

—Annabel Russell, executive director of the Symphonia

The veto even has downstream effects beyond the organizations directly affected. As the head of an organization that did not seek funding through the Division of Arts & Culture, Theatre Lab’s Matt Stabile is concerned about donor fatigue.“Suddenly you have every organization that that donor supports coming out hat in hand, saying, ‘we need to make this up,’”he says.“I use the Morikami as an example, because one of our supporters at Theatre Lab is also a big supporter of the Morikami. I know for a fact that Morikami lost $74,000 they thought was going to be granted by the state this season. So they’re going to go to their donors to make that up. And if that donor has to look and go, I only had x amount of dollars to give this year anyway; now how do I divvy that up between these multiple organizations who are all coming to me, asking me to help make up what they used to get from the state?”

The Art of Funding

To grasp why this $32 million is so significant is to understand the byzantine world of cultural arts funding. Organizations survive through a patchwork of public grants and private donations, with a budget that is naturally inconsistent year over year, dictated by donors’ whims, by the state of the economy, by major news events. (The

low of $6.6 million in funding for the 2018-2019 year resulted from a confluence of factors, from inaccurate revenue projections to the Hurricane Irma recovery.)

Arts Garage’s Waldo described the funding vagaries as a “roller coaster. It is a systemic problem, and that problem existed long before the governor’s veto. Grant funding is incredibly fragile. You can take a large granting organization that the pitch you make in one year rewards you with a grant, and then two years later their funding priorities have changed. The view on which organizations receive assistance from the city or CRA, or how much, is a constant conversation.”

Lawrence says that a better way for arts funding may be on the horizon, one disentangled from politics.“There have already been conversations about, is there an ongoing funding mechanism where this is moved out of that political, every-year cycle that would save it from these threats of vetoes? … A dedicated funding source for the arts has always been something that is a very attractive thing to look at, because it would remove us from the political whims.”

Of course, ticket sales are a source of revenue as well, but their portion of the pie is seldom as significant as the

Give Back to the Arts

To support the organizations featured in this story, contact them below. For the entire list of organizations that lost funding through the veto, visit palmbeachculture.com/impact/arts-advocacy/state-of-florida-arts-funding-qa.

ARTS GARAGE

561/450-6357 artsgarage.org/donate

THE SANDLER CENTER AT LEVIS JCC

561/852-3200 levisjcc.org/culture

THE SYMPHONIA

561/376-3848 thesymphonia.org

THEATRE LAB AT FAU

561/297-2337 fau.edu/artsandletters/theatrelab/donate/alliance

Annabel Russell

Funds Lost in Palm Beach County

Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, $60,865

Adoph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, $500,000 Cultural Facilities Grant

Aequalis, $18,800

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, $51,724

Ballet Palm Beach, $23,500

Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts, $42,300

Boca Ballet Theatre Company, $58,750

Boca Raton Historical Society, $42,300

Boca Raton Museum of Art, $70,500

Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, $42,300

Boynton Cultural Centre, $37,835

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, $70,500

Center for Creative Education, $70,500

Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park, $11,750

City of Riviera Beach, $70,500

Cox Science Center and Aquarium, $70,500

Creative City Collaborative of Delray Beach (Arts Garage), $70,500

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, $70,500

Digital Vibez, $16,450

Palm Beach State College, $70,500

Florida Atlantic University, $29,140

Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, $70,423

Historical Society of Palm Beach County, $57,270

Lake Worth Cultural Renaissance Foundation, $5,640

Lighthouse ArtCenter, $70,500

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, $70,500

Loxahatchee River Historical Society, $70,500

Lynn Conservatory of Music, $70,500

Maltz Jupiter Theatre, $70,500

Memory Trees, $11,750

Norton Museum of Art, $70,500

Palm Beach Dramaworks, $70,500

Palm Beach Opera, $70,500

Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, $9,400

Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, $70,500 Resource Depot, $11,750

School of the Arts Foundation, $70,280

Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing America, $9,494

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, $27,244

Sunfest of Palm Beach County, $70,500

The Armory Art Center, $ 70,500

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, $2,300

The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, $70,500

The Lake Worth Playhouse, $60,364

The Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches, $6,359

The Morikami, $70,500

The Palm Beach Symphony Society, $70,500

The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches, $70,500

Village of Royal Palm Beach, $70,500

Village of Wellington, $70,500

Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, $42,300

average audience member might assume. No arts organization, up to behemoths like the Metropolitan Opera, can run on ticket sales alone. For Theatre Lab, whose individual tickets run $32 to $45, ticket sales are responsible for less than 20% of its budget.

“I joke in some of my curtain speeches that if not for our donors, an average ticket at a theater would have to cost over $200 to just sustain what we do,” Stabile says. “And that’s absurd. We don’t have a great history in this country, in the last 50 years-plus, of funding the arts appropriately, especially when compared to Europe.

“And we operate under this capitalist market idea that people will pay for the things they want. And that’s probably true with goods and services. But I don’t think that’s true for culture and the arts. I think those things are more of a way to demonstrate an advanced society than they are something that’s commodified. Because as soon as you commodify it, you’re going to get what people complain about with movies and Broadway today, where all we’re seeing is rehashing of things we’ve already seen, or big glitz and glamour.”

For the Symphonia, ticket sales cover 25% of the operating budget—a drop in the bucket for a company whose investments include first-rate orchestral musicians and world-class guest conductors and soloists.“Live art is expensive,” the Symphonia’s Russell says.“End of story. For all of us, at whatever level—if you look at an opera company or a ballet company, they’ve got massive sets, massive costuming. The productions cost a huge amount of money. Even for us, for our orchestra, to put on one concert, it costs us roughly $45,000 to $50,000. You cannot recoup it in ticket sales.

“But then again, there’s nothing like a live performance. You cannot replicate it sitting on your sofa watching a performance on television. It’s not the same as sitting in a dark house, watching or listening.”

Marjorie Waldo of Arts Garage

Moving Forward

If there’s a silver lining to the funding veto, it’s been the response from the organizations and their donors. The Symphonia organized a campaign called Step Into the Breach to urge its supporters to chip in a little extra money to make up the shortfall. Arts Garage’s similar campaign, Call to Action, has enjoyed success that surprised even Waldo.“People came out in droves—anything from $5 donations, to the highest was $20,000,” she says.

As Stabile reminds us, though, should private donors make up the shortfall, it risks sending a message that government funding is unnecessary.“It’s a dangerous approach for any organization to take right now, to ask the donors, be they individuals or corporations, to make up this difference,” he says.“Because what terrifies me is that when that happens, it’s the easiest thing for the state to come back and say, ‘see, you never needed this anyway.’ So it’s not just about this year’s budget; it’s like … how is that money ever going to get put back in? That’s really concerning to me.”

Waldo is concerned, too, but she has a different take. “Rather than the fact that the [state] money ‘wasn’t needed,’ I hope that it shows the governor and the legislature at the state level, and the city and county—all political interests—how important the community feels about arts and culture. Because it crosses political lines. It doesn’t matter if they’re Republicans or Democrats or independents, or anywhere around that circle. All of those who donated believe it’s an important part of our community and our world and our lives. I’m hoping that [DeSantis] and his team see that the donations don’t mean that those dollars weren’t needed, but instead, that our work is valuable and is needed, and that it should be supported.”

Lawrence hopes the veto will serve as a wake-up call for arts organizations to increase engagement with decision-makers at the local and state levels.“There are

“The decision is kind of insulated, because the governor made what seems to have been a solo decision. He is not able to run for reelection as governor, so it cost him nothing.”

—Matt Stabile, executive director of Theatre Lab

“The arts are a way that we as humans can come together.”

—Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

probably a lot of organizations, if I asked the question to them, ‘have you invited a legislator to one of your events this year?,’ there might not be many hands that go up in the room. Something like this shows that it’s important for them to reach out to the legislators and have them see all of the good things that the cultural organizations are doing to help our communities.”

The Cultural Council will continue to do its part to advocate funding for grant programs by, among other initiatives, traveling to Tallahassee and meeting with House and Senate members on the key appropriation committees. Lawrence and his team will convey that “arts and culture do so much for our community, around education, around preventing crime, and city beautification, and proving property values, and economic impact, and tourism. If you pull back even further, the arts are a way that we as humans can come together. A perfect example of this is right after 9-11. The very next day, those legislators came out on the steps of the Capitol, and together they sang. That was their first reaction.

“The arts help us come together and share our challenges, our successes and our grief, and right now in this world, at this particular time, we need the arts so that we can share our common humanity with each other,” he adds.“I know that gets a little touchy-feely, but at the end of the day, on top of all of those reasons, the arts are a way that humans can communicate on a base level and share their joys and concerns.”

Dave Lawrence of the Cultural Council

Matt Stabile of Theatre Lab

Dereck and Beverly Joubert are helping save Africa’s wildlife—one species at a time

Written by Marie Speed

t’s a life most people could not imagine—or sustain. Being stalked by lions, attacked by Cape buffalo. Living in a tent in Kenya, rising before dawn to drive into the bush to photograph elephants in the dim rosy forest light. Yet it is the protection of these wild and endangered animals—and more—that has become the focus of Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s life’s work in conservation.

The Jouberts—who are straight out of Central Casting when it comes to dashing African explorers—founded Great Plains Conservation (and its Foundation), which is headquartered in Jupiter. However, most of their time over the last 40 years has been spent in the African bush, first as burgeoning photographers and, later, as internationally known conservationists and filmmakers. The South African couple now bears the prestigious title of National Geographic Explorers at Large, joining an elite group of achievers that includes Bob Ballard, who discovered the Titanic; Louise Leakey, third-generation paleontologist of the revered Leakey family; Sylvia Earle, legendary oceanographer; and ANDREW HOWARD

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Out of Africa

Alexandra Cousteau, ocean environmentalist and granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau. The couple was awarded the Explorers Medal in 2021, the club’s highest honor.

Their work? Over time, the couple has founded several ambitious initiatives to save Africa’s wildlife, in tandem with a growing number of programs that help educate and improve the surrounding local communities through food, schools, job training and even soccer teams.

At the beginning, however, the Jouberts were just kids out of school who knew they both wanted a different kind of life.

“We were born in Africa,” Dereck says.“Grew up in South Africa … but the real Africa is somewhere else. We started exploring and ended up in Botswana, where we are now citizens. … We met in high school and knew we wanted to get out there. My brother was the famous wildlife artist Keith Joubert; he was always coming back with bullet holes and straw in his beard—it seemed like a romantic life, so why not?”

Beverly says,“I told my parents when I was 12 years old, ‘I’m not going to live the same kind of life that you have lived, an urban lifestyle. I really do need to explore.’ I knew I wanted to be out there. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew that was the key. I met Dereck when I was 18 or 19, and I knew we were soul mates and we both had the same desire.”

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“When the sun comes up in Africa, it is magical. It is in that magical hour that you fall in love with Africa every morning. It’s so soft and so beautiful.”

– Dereck Joubert

The couple landed in Botswana, where they began studying lions at the Chobe Lion Research Institute for a minimum stipend, teaching themselves to take pictures and make films. When they needed to earn more money, they’d travel back to South Africa to film commercials. And Beverly began learning sound production—they trained in every aspect of filmmaking from the ground up, the two of them functioning as an entire film crew, operating out of their vehicle—which, years later, is now a customized Land Cruiser kitted out with open sides, rotating seats, and sandbags to stabilize camera gear.

Then came the auspicious day a BBC film crew came in and asked if they could see some of the Jouberts’ footage. And then asked if they could use it. It ended up in a National Geographic film, and that became the start of a distinguished career that would result in more than 40 films, eight Emmys and a passion to save wildlife.

“What happened is we started doing these films,” Dereck says.“We were totally in awe of wild Africa, in love with it. We’d wake up every dawn to the call of lions, and you can’t not fall in love. We were in love. We were in love with this place. We were living in paradise [in the middle of Botswana in a place called Savute]. We were Robinson Crusoe; we were Adam and Eve. We were sleeping out under the stars.”

Clockwise from top left: Beverly and Dereck Joubert, a sundowner while on safari, lions in Zimbabwe, and giraffes in the Masai Mara of Kenya

The Jouberts at a Glance

• The Jouberts have published 12 books, produced 40-some films for National Geographic, and written half a dozen scientific papers as well as many articles for National Geographic magazine. Beverly is also an acclaimed photographer for National Geographic and has had exhibitions displayed globally.

• The Jouberts have received eight Emmy Awards (and 22 Emmy nominations), a Peabody Award, a Grand Teton Award, multiple Golden Panda Awards, a World Ecology Award (along with the UK’s King Charles, National Geographic Explorer in Residence Sylvia Earle and paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey), and a Presidential Order of Merit awarded by Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama for their conservation work.

• They are National Geographic Explorers at large, and in 2021 were awarded the Explorers Medal, the club’s highest honor.

However, this idyllic time gave way early on to a more complicated reality.

“We started coming across animals that were poached,” Dereck says.“And running into hunters who wanted to kill them. We ran into government policies that wanted to issue licenses for this, and around the age of 28 or 29 we realized paradise is not forever; it’s a little bit broken in places. If we ever look back at our films now, the first films we did were, ‘Look at how amazing this place is,’ and the second phase of our filming was, ‘This is an amazing place, but unless we take care of it, it’s not going to be amazing forever.’ And then the third phase of our careers was, ‘It’s amazing, right? But here’s what we have to do to fix it.’”

Out of these issues arose the Jouberts’ first initiative, the Great Plains Foundation’s Big Cats Initiative, followed by several others, including Rhinos Without Borders. Beverly says in the past 50 years, due to deforestation, human encroachment, poaching and more, the lion population had dropped from up to 100,000 to less than 25,000 today. There have been severe drops in the leopard and cheetah populations as well. The Jouberts decided to undertake an “emergency intervention” to turn the tide by funding a range of projects, including encouraging communities to build lion-proof livestock dens, and compensating cattle owners for cattle killed by lions.

“We started the Masai Olympics,” Dereck says,“which is changing the narrative of Masai from killing lions as a sport to doing sport as a sport.”

• The Jouberts’ films have received widespread attention. More than a billion people across 127 countries are estimated to have viewed one of their early films, “Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas.” Their 2011 documentary “The Last Lions,” filmed in Botswana, has become a powerful ambassador for lions in the wild, reaching more than 350 million people globally. “The Last Lions” won Best Theatrical Film at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, among other awards.

• The Jouberts’ efforts—as filmmakers, conservationists and explorers—have one aim: to save the wild places of Africa, and to protect the creatures that depend on them. Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama recently said it well: “Theirs is a lifelong passion; for each other, for big cats, for Africa. … they are true ‘children of Africa.’”

“Fear is part of our survival.”

—Beverly Joubert

There was a compulsory education component to engage the whole community, and to teach them “a live predator was worth more to them than a dead one,” given the economics of wildlife tourism.

Rhinos Without Borders is one of the Jouberts’“rewilding” initiatives, in which they physically remove animals from poaching hot spots or land affected by drought to other locations where they will be protected and thrive.

“Rhinos were under siege with a rate of 1,215 being killed in 2014, when the rhino relocation program started,” Beverly says.“At that point it tipped the scales that rhinos couldn’t breed fast enough. We needed to move some rhinos out of hot spots and put them in safe zones and let them breed up again.”

The same is being done with elephants and other species like wildebeest and giraffes; one campaign, which is ongoing, involves 3,000 some animals. But where to relocate the animals? Dereck and Beverly realized that the available land was shrinking, and in the founding of Great Plains Conservation, they decided to simply start acquiring it. They have bought up leases on 1.6 million acres of land from people“in critical places”in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana, meaning that the locals“become our partners.”

They also built 20 high-end safari camps and exclusive-use suites across Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe to maintain the connection to the local communities, and provide jobs in the process. [The company is privately held, and the shareholders do not take dividends; any profit is reinvested into growing the amount of conserved land under Great Plains protection and investing in conservation and community projects.—Ed.]

“Other than getting payment for the lease, the community is getting educated and trained to be able to work in our lodges,” Dereck says.“The kids get a curriculum on the environment and on animals in particular; they all feared animals, because they only knew of the horror. They never respected them. Then we started a kids’ conservation camp. … We have managing directors in each country. … We are very proud that 99% of the people are locally born in that country.

“The Great Plains initiative is based on two fundamentals: One is generating revenue so we can pay for the conservation but also under the category of revenue, creating jobs for 870 people,” Dereck adds.“For every person we hire, we put food in the mouths of another seven people. But also the people who visit us feel moved

Clockwise from top left: a rhino is relocated to a safe haven by Great Plains Conservation; lion cubs; elephants are observed on safari; Sitatunga Private Island at the RéserveCollection Safari Camp; and a scene from a Joubert film

Zebras (right) and lions (below) in the Masai Mara in Kenya

“We were Robinson Crusoe; we were Adam and Eve. We were sleeping out under the stars.”

– Dereck Joubert

to leave something behind for the communities or for the conservation. So half of what we generate through the Foundation comes from our guests; that is amazing.”

Other programs the Jouberts have founded include tree planting, building bridges for high-flood areas, women’s empowerment, solar power and school food programs— they estimate they are feeding approximately 12,700 students a school lunch every day in Kenya, with 4 million meals served since the program started in mid 2022. The founding of soccer teams has also been a big hit, to add a fun quotient to children’s educational programming.

But it hasn’t been all passion-fueled conservation and advocacy. The Jouberts have also faced occupational hazards, like occasional run-ins with the locals.

Beverly says,“In the field, you know there are things that can be a danger, but the calmer you are, the more alert you are. You are going to enjoy that experience, and you aren’t going to be attracting everything to you. A situation will happen. Like the time an elephant had just given birth and the little one came to us, which infuriated the cow, and she hit us, smashed into our vehicle. She lifted us up and we came rocking down.

“Obviously in that moment I was shaking like a leaf. We knew we had to get out of it one way or another; neither she nor her calf was going to be hurt, nor were we going to be hurt. … Fear is part of our survival.”

Still, neither Dereck nor Beverly could have foreseen the evening in 2017 that they were attacked by a Cape buffalo, and Beverly almost died.

Dereck explains,“The short version of the story is that the buffalo attacked us both and Beverly was gored. We were walking from one tent to another at twilight—[the buffalo] was injured, but we did not know that at the time, and he just came out at us. He broke my rib, cracked my hip, and got Beverly with a horn in underneath her arm and through her neck and into her face, and ran off with her. I was able to get up and run and kick him in the side and get her off of him.”

“When he did that,” Beverly remembers, “I slid off the horn.”

Although she had a lacerated throat and punctured lung, Dereck got her back to camp, only to have her bleed out. He said she died technically at 2:32 in the morning.

“I brought her back, but I couldn’t get help in; you can’t fly over the Okavango Delta at night. … I am holding Beverly’s hand and saying, ‘If only I can get another half an hour with her.’ She died again at 4:40. I brought her back at dawn, and we were able to get her out.”

It was a night that changed their lives forever, reordering

priorities, caring less what others thought, caring more about action than awards. And most of all,“making a determination to enjoy every single moment in life.”That translates to living in the present, fundraising to support their mission (South Florida is a regular stop) and, as much as they can, experiencing life in Africa, day by day.

“So we wake up really early in the bush,” Dereck says. “4, 4:15, so we can get into the field across the river so we can find something. Find the lions, find the elephants before sunrise. Because when the sun comes up in Africa, it is magical. It is in that magical hour that you fall in love with Africa every morning. It’s so soft and so beautiful.

“We’ve had moments where we’ve come across elephants in the mist, and they are these gigantic ships just sailing through—you can see the mist following in behind them as they go—and then they disappear—as if they are ghost ships. To capture that on film is like the Holy Grail for us. We’ve seen it a dozen times, more than that, but every morning we hope for another one of those.”

For more information on how to help the Great Plains Foundation, visit greatplainsfoundation.com. For a safari with Great Plains Conservation, visit greatplainsconservation.com.

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Top, Beverly and Dereck Joubert, and children at the Great Plains Mobile School Clinic

SAM DAVIES

Our heartfelt congratulations to Boca Magazine…

… for reaching the incredible milestone of 45 years in publication. Here's to the next 45 years of innovation, storytelling, and excellence!.

“Warmest congratulations again on this impressive anniversary!”

Anita Casey, Voyage Boutique

Walk-in closet custom designed by California Closets

A Dynamic Duo

Kitchens and bathrooms work just as hard as they play, balancing durable materials with dazzling colors, lighting and finishes to create stylishly livable spaces.

Both comfort and style drive today’s bathroom and kitchen designs. Whether traditional and elegant or contemporary and bold, these rooms are aesthetically appealing, but they are also functional workhorses that homeowners spend endless hours in. These local designers have mastered the art of creating luxurious and livable kitchens and bathrooms.

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

KITCHEN: The Heart of the Home

Angela Reynolds Designs

When designer Angela Reynolds’ clients asked for their holiday home to feel like a sophisticated boutique resort, she responded with an idyllic retreat where they can host family and friends among a mix of minimalist lines, rich textures and subtle, luxurious materials. She teamed up with Waterview Kitchens and Hobgood Construction to bring the Japandi/wabi-sabi-inspired kitchen to life. Wabi-sabi design celebrates the beauty of natural imperfections, so Reynolds chose oversized, woven palm tree fiber light fixtures to introduce organic calmness. While Japandi style is known for its simplicity and harmony, Reynolds also added bold drama by pairing the deep contrasting colors of dark walnut stain and white highgloss lacquer. To foster the resort aesthetic, Reynolds outfitted the standout Cristallo quartzite island—nearly 20 feet long—with two faucets to allow for multitasking, a setup especially helpful when hosting. It also gives the space a professional, high-end look.

Despite their large scale, the pendants feel perfectly balanced due to their inherent transparency. Stools: Olivya Stone; Pendants: Buri Bulb from Ay Illuminate

Laure Nell Interiors ▲

This warm contemporary kitchen is extra special to Laetitia Laurent, founder of Laure Nell Interiors, because it’s hers. She designed the modern, streamlined space inside her 3,800-square-foot East Boca home with her family and friends in mind. Laurent’s passion for design matches her love for cooking and hosting, so her kitchen needed to be both functional and beautiful. Slab cabinet doors sans hardware keep things sleek and tidy, and Laurent confesses it was also a practical decision to minimize the risk of bumps or snags for her young children. The space’s contrasting colors add depth and a hit of drama. Soft cashmere-hued cabinets team with bold dark brown porcelain countertops, grounding the space while helping to define it within the larger living and dining areas.

LTA Interiors

“I wanted to create a kitchen where workhorse appliances are seamlessly concealed to maintain a polished look. My favorite feature in this space is how integrated everything feels. It’s those thoughtful details—hidden storage and high-end, functional features—that really make the kitchen a perfect blend of beauty and practicality.”

To update their client’s kitchen, the design trio gave it a modern California aesthetic by combining natural and moody tones for a contemporary but relaxed ambiance. The team also omitted hardware on the Melamine cabinets to accentuate their streamlined design. The client, a family with two young boys, also wanted to focus on functionality. The designers responded with a large column-style refrigerator, a sleek coffee bar and plenty of storage. They also created an expansive Dekton island and added integrated seating for the family to share meals and also do homework. The island’s open display cubes are repeated on the breakfast nook’s wall to unify the kitchen and casual dining area.

This kitchen overlooks the 4,052-square-foot home’s great room. Stools: Maidenhome

The matte cabinets’ beige undertones pick up the gold veining in the countertop, creating a smooth flow between the two materials. Porcelain: Dekto Consentimo; Stools: Moe’s Furniture

TORI

SIKKEMA

NICK

MELE

LTA Interiors

The trio of designers who make up LTA Interiors—Lynn Berney, Tracy Gould, Alexa Evans—worked together to create this modern kitchen for their clients. The Boca Bridges homeowners wanted a bespoke design that still fit their growing family’s needs. The team opted for an organic design for the kitchen of their 3,969-square-foot home, where varying shades of wood tones are balanced by interlacing white to maintain a crisp aesthetic throughout. Oak cabinetry supports the spacious quartz island designed for family gatherings over casual meals. For a hint of chic durability, the oak stool seats were upholstered in vinyl, while the bolsters are faux shearling.

“I love all the varying wood tones and textures that create a rich, warm space,” says Evans.

Omitting pendants kept the attention on the kitchen and its minimalistic style. Stools: Thomas Hayes Studio

Lynn Berney, Tracy Gould and Alexa Evans

BATHROOMS: The Soap Stars

SHOP TALK

A South Florida store dishes on the hottest trends in kitchens and bathrooms.

Farrey’s Lighting, Bath, Kitchen and Hardware Xiomy Marshall, decorative bath & hardware/lighting consultant

What’s trending in bathrooms right now?

• Minimalist designs with earthy tones, natural materials and organic textures that bring a sense of calm and connection to nature.

• Spa-like bathrooms that blend luxury and sustainability with eco-friendly shower systems that prioritize efficiency without compromising on luxury.

• Technology integration—think digital shower controls and smart mirrors with built-in lighting.

What are clients most asking for these days?

• We’re seeing a significant demand for products that combine style with high functionality. Clients are leaning towards fixtures offering aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency in lighting, such as integrated LED lighting solutions.

• Luxury finishes for fixtures and hardware like brushed brass or matte black.

• Overall, there’s a strong interest in pieces that elevate design while making everyday use more efficient and comfortable.

The space’s classic style emphasizes a harmonious blend of traditional elements with modern details. Chair: GW Interiors; Sconces: John Richard; Cabinet hardware: Modern Matter

GW Interiors ▲

Working alongside the firm’s founder Gil Walsh (top), principal interior designer Ashleigh Wilson (bottom) created this classically designed bathroom that is both stylish and functional. Soft blue accents coordinate with the primary bedroom’s color palette, while curated details elevate the serene space, including custom-designed vanities and millwork and the built-in Robern medicine cabinets. Sky-blue calcite slabs from the countertop, tub surround, bench and shower border feature mitered edges as well as a waterfall detail that creates a seamless, elegant look that delivers a touch of luxury and visual continuity to the room.

“This bathroom was meticulously designed to be both visually stunning and highly functional, offering a peaceful retreat with a timeless yet contemporary feel,”Walsh says. “It’s a clean, classic style with a modern, no-frills approach, designed for a relaxing spa-like feel,”Wilson adds.

DAN

CUTRONA

Angela Reynolds Designs

In this 7,500-square-foot home on the shores of Singer Island, Angela Reynolds’ clients decided that one primary bathroom wasn’t enough, so they tasked her design team to create two dazzling spaces, each with its own distinct personality. The downstairs bathroom offers a VIP experience to guests but could, in the future, also provide the homeowners an option for aging in place with single-floor living. Upstairs, the sprawling water views are a backdrop to the second primary bathroom. Both spaces showcase stunning oversized showers with dual shower heads that can be tailored to preferred water pressure and temperature.

The upstairs bathroom’s centerpiece is an impressive 3-D textured woven marble wall and an oversized freestanding tub. The room’s soothing tones add to its calmness, while LED light washing the Cristallo quartzite slabs on the shower walls and countertops creates subtle contrast, elevating the space’s luxurious feel.

“This bathroom design seamlessly blends functionality with serene elegance.”

For the downstairs bathroom, Reynolds leaned toward a bold and modern style, blending high-contrast elements with sleek, contemporary finishes. She calls it “modern luxe minimalism,” featuring clean lines, a dramatic marble wall and sculptural lighting. The bathroom’s focal point, the Panda Extra marble slabs, creates an abstract, artful shower wall design that evokes movement and adds glamour. However, the designer admits that her favorite feature is the tub and shower’s layout, with its zero-entry design that enhances the space’s open, airy feel while ensuring accessibility. It’s ADA-compliant without sacrificing style.

ABOVE: “The combination of sleek, high-end materials and understated yet bold elements strike the perfect balance between luxury and minimalism, creating a modern, artfully curated space,” Reynolds explains.

BELOW: “Adding a touch of artistry, the African beaded chandelier provides a soft, textural element, enriching the space with visual interest and completing the serene, spa-like atmosphere,” Reynolds says. Chandelier: Palecek; Marble: Traccia from Lithos Design; Tub: Victoria and Albert

KEEN ON COLOR

Vibrant color is always at home amid Florida’s endless summer. Bring spaces to life with pastels, earth tones and bold hues in unexpected places, from sinks and sconces to kitchen appliances.

1. Native Trails freestanding soaking tub, $6,743, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Boca Raton, fergusonshowrooms.com. 2. Rhode Pendant, $498, Serena & Lily, Palm Beach, serenaandlily.com. 3. Smeg x Dolce & Gabbana Collection, Sicily Is My Love Tea Kettle, $700; Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com. 4. Agadir bowls, $135-$175, Jayson Home, jaysonhome. com. 5. Trullo storage container by Fabio Novembre for Kartell, $195, Lumens, lumens.com. 6. Tom Dixon Bump 2-piece tall glasses set, $110, Saks Fifth Avenue, Boca Raton, saksfifthavenue.com. 7. Solid ribbed bath towel set, $195, WilliamsSonoma, Boca Raton, williams-sonoma. com. 8. Ultramarine bar cart, $1,600, Jonathan Adler, Miami, jonathanadler.com.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Transform your home into an all-natural oasis with earthy materials that offer texture and style while evoking the outdoors—think shell, driftwood, cane and coral, to name a few.

1. Dutchess chandelier, $3,900, Anthropologie, West Palm Beach, anthropologie.com 2. Balboa rattan bar stool, $828, Serena & Lily, Palm Beach, serenaandlily.com 3. Coco mirror in white faux coral, $3,830, Hive, Palm Beach, hivepalmbeach.com 4. Sedona Honey open tote, starting at $35, Crate & Barrel, Boca Raton, crateandbarrel.com 5. Knot dining table, $3,900, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com 6. Strings Attached lounge chair, to the trade, Palecek, palecek. com.

North Building Expansion Section Expected Completion 2026

The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery & Funeral Home is Expanding

The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery Announces Expansion of North Building

The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery and Funeral Home is pleased to announce the expansion of its North Building, which continues to expand on the beautiful property located in the center of Boca Raton, Florida. The project is aimed at enhancing the services and facilities available to the community at our convenient all-in-one location. This expansion underscores our commitment to providing a serene and respectful environment for families to honor their loved ones.

The North Building expansion will add approximately 2,000 spaces across two levels, featuring both indoor, airconditioned spaces and an outdoor mezzanine overlooking our serene natural preserve with sunset views. This project includes new elegant marble crypts, additional private Legacy Rooms for large families, and semi-private salons. Designed to meet the needs of our growing community, this expansion ensures that families can remain together in a tranquil final resting place within our beautiful property in the heart of the city.

“We are excited to embark on this phase of expansion, which reflects our dedication to serving our South Florida

families with the utmost care and compassion,” said Garrett Jacobs, CEO of The Gardens of Boca Raton. “This new addition to the property will continue to provide a peaceful and safe environment for families and loved ones.”

Construction is already underway, with an expected completion date 2026. During this period, The Gardens of Boca Raton will continue to operate and provide services to the community without interruptions.

About The Gardens of Boca Raton

The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery and Funeral Home is family-owned and operated and is South Florida’s most prestigious all faith above-ground cemetery and funeral home. Whether you are preplanning for the future, or a loved one has suddenly passed, we are here to help. We provide families funeral services and a final resting place, all in one location.

For more information about the expansion or to schedule a tour, please contact The Gardens of Boca Raton at (561) 403-1632 or visit our website at www.thegardens.com

SHAPE UP

Gentle curves, asymmetrical shapes and fluid silhouettes are here to stay, working their way into everything from wall accessories to light fixtures and beyond.

1. Omnia Twist 2-piece flute glass set, $115, Saks Fifth Avenue, Boca Raton, saksfifthavenue.com 2. Bellamy single bathroom vanity set, $2,852, Perigold, perigold. com 3. Arteriors Valen ice bucket, $950, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com 4.Tiny round accent lamp, $329, Hive, Palm Beach, hivepalmbeach.com 5. Leda tables, starting at $895, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com 6. Foxx round natural wood dining table, $2,299, Crate & Barrel, Boca Raton, crateandbarrel.com

Swaying palm trees, lush green grass and flowering shrubs are as indigenous to Florida as the year-round sunshine. With the inherent natural beauty of our landscapes, insects and pests find themselves at home as well, often wreaking havoc in our picturesque paradise.

For more than 30 years, Evergreen Lawn & Pest Control has been providing customers in Florida with the highestquality, full-service lawn care, shrub and tree care, pest control, termite and mosquito treatments, aeration services with a custom fertilization plan, and so much more.

Evergreen’s customers benefit from a full scope of services rendered by a dedicated team of insured specialists who have the expertise to not only beautify the exterior greenery of the residential and commercial properties but eliminate the pests that make their way inside as well.

Branch Manager Justin Braden explains, “No matter how well a property is maintained, with Florida’s tropical climate, ants, mosquitoes, roaches, mice, rats, termites and other pests inevitably make their way inside. With our turnkey scope of services, and eco-safe treatments applied from the exterior of the property and throughout the premises, customers can enjoy their lifestyle without the nuisance of unsightly pests. With convenient monthly bundle packages, customers may select to combine lawn care, termite and pest control services to serve their individual needs, for low monthly payments.”

Braden adds, “What truly sets us apart as Florida’s toprated lawn and pest control company is our superior, timely customer service, with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. It doesn’t get any better than that,” he says with pride.

Photography: Michael Connor

CLINICAL CARE FOR FLAWLESS SKIN

“Only dermatologist I’ll ever go to! Dr. Bader and his staff are so friendly and go above and beyond. Really makes me feel like I’m getting the best care. I highly recommend giving them a try, you won’t be disappointed!”

- Francis C.

“My husband and I have been Dr. Bader’s patients for 20 years. Dr. Bader and his staff are the epitome of professionalism, knowledge and compassion. If you are seeking excellence, visit RSB Dermatology.”

- Patricia R.

YOU DESERVE THE BEST!

Based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, our family-owned and operated company has been in business since 2000. Our dermatologist, Dr. Robert S. Bader, is recognized as one of the best Dermatologists and comes highly recommended because of his broad experience, knowledge, honesty, and dedication.

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL?

At RSB Dermatology, we not only treat your skin, but we consider our patients family. We are always available for consultation and we will be happy to have a oneone conversation. You can book an

ROBERT S. BADER, MD

Dr. Robert S. Bader’s is Ivy League trained, board-certified, and graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences with Distinction, and is Fellowship trained in Mohs’ and Dermatologic Plastic Surgery, at Affiliated Dermatology, a program affiliated with Columbia University.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

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A top-tier agent with Premier Estate Properties, Geri Penniman is ranked among the top 1 percent of real estate professionals nationally—and highly respected for her inside knowledge of some of Boca Raton’s most exclusive estate enclaves, including Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The reasons are quite simple.

Geri provides her esteemed buyers and sellers with the value of experience accrued over more than 30 years. While Geri has achieved well over $400 million in career sales, she is never about volume. Her focus is highly personal, very one-on one.

Geri explains it this way: “My role is that of a trusted resource for luxury real estate. I help my buyers and sellers effectively navigate a complex market and guide them in key decisions to ensure that they derive the greatest possible benefit, the highest return on investment. My relationships with my clients go well beyond closing, and may even include tax and legal referrals. Many of them I have worked with time and again.”

Perhaps that is because Geri’s micro-market analytics and insights, her level of discreet concierge service, proven program of results-driven marketing, national and international connections through Premier Estate Properties’ Incomparable Global Network, and her artful negotiating acumen all work to create such a seamless experience for her valued clientele—one that is every bit as stellar as her commitment to helping each of her clients achieve the very best result.

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From her own successful international textile business in Argentina to a flourishing career as an diamond award-winning agent with Lang Realty in Boca Raton, Ana Londono has kept her international roots firmly planted, amassing a vast client base of eager buyers.

“I knew a lot of people internationally due to my business travels. When I moved here, I was immediately inundated with interested clients. Working with Lang provided me with all of the tools and support to easily make deals happen,” she shares.

Ana has been living in one of the most soughtafter waterfront locations in Boca Raton, Chalfonte, for 20 years. She was a five-term, 10-year member of the Board of Chalfonte and considers herself a resident expert.

The 500-550 S. Ocean Blvd. address became the mecca for the majority of Londono’s real estate transactions, especially after the tired building from the ‘70s underwent massive renovations and transformed into a modern beachside destination for her to market to her discerning clientele.

“I am always so excited to share all the glorious amenities of the Chalfonte with clients from around the world. Just like I did with my family, they fall in love in a moment and see themselves living here. I’d love to be your neighbor. Please contact me about my newest spectacular listings at The Chalfonte,” she invites.

ANA LONDONO

Boca Raton Insider

FIDF - ST. ANDREWS GOLF TOURNAMENT

As you know, the residents of Palm Beach County are among the most philanthropic and supportive when it comes to the State of Israel and organizations that enhance the lives of Jewish people. At this critical moment, the State of Israel finds itself at an inflection point, fighting for its very existence. Supporting the FIDF (Friends of the Israel Defense Forces) is now more crucial than ever. Please join us at our annual St. Andrews Golf Tournament on Monday, February 24th for a fabulous day of golf, rounded off with an exciting program and a splendid buffet dinner! All proceeds will support Israel’s soldiers and the various programs FIDF offers. Please get in touch with us!

561-483-2220 • boca@fidf.org • fidf.org

BOCA NURSING SERVICES, INC

Rose Glamoclija, RN, is the founder and administrator of Boca Nursing Services for over three decades. The concierge private nursing care is made available in the comfort of your home, hospital room, facilities stay and while residing at assisted living or rehabilitation facilities. With compassion, and concern for every person they serve in the surrounding areas in four counties. Rose provides guidance and resources for families needing in-home support nursing care.

342 E. Palmetto Rd 255 Sunrise Ave. Ste 200 Boca Raton Palm Beach 561-347-7566 561-833-3430 bocanursing.com

WISH & SHOES

Wish & Shoes is Boca/Delray’s premiere women’s boutique. Featuring clothing, shoes, handbags jewelry and accessories from some of the hottest American & European designers, Wish & Shoes has built a solid reputation through the years of sourcing many unique items that you won’t find anywhere else. Women who know fashion shop at WISH! Those who don’t, WISH they did.

325 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL • 561.919.9474

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wishandshoes.com

Pedro Núñez del Valle, Saint Cecilia [detail],

BACKSTAGE PASS

PAUL

Ronnie Baker Brooks, performing Jan. 23 at Funky Biscuit

“Art

is not only a catalyst to learn; art solves problems. Working with artists is a wonderful way to teach about how art can really change the landscape of our city.”

—Veronica Hatch

Veronica Hatch

The

city’s first public art coordinator on why Boca itself is the best canvas

Written by JOHN THOMASON

Asea turtle bobbing its head above water on the west wall of Red Reef Park; a roseate spoonbill swooping down at a beach tunnel entrance along A1A; a whimsical steel figure, captured mid-jump, at Wildflower Park. This is just a sample of the more than 20 pieces of art—murals, sculptures, installations and rotating exhibitions— that beautify Boca Raton’s public spaces. Most have been unveiled only in the past five years, part of an ongoing public-art initiative in the city that coalesced in 2023 with the establishment of a permanent Public Art Boca program and an official public art coordinator, Veronica Hatch.

Hatch, a native of Ecuador, has lived mostly in Boca Raton since she immigrated to the U.S. in the 1990s. She acquired a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from FAU, class of 2017. She most recently served five years in the education department at the Norton Museum of Art before her appointment as Boca’s first public art coordinator, in fall 2023.

Boca has been later than its neighboring cities in creating the position; Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and FAU are among the more than 60 Florida cities, counties and educational institutions to have launched a public art program. Hatch has been quick to make up for lost time. Her new PACT (Public Arts City Team) recently created an interactive map, available for view and download through the City of Boca Raton’s website, that lists every example of public art in Boca, from the vibrant maritime murals at Red Reef; to sculptures at Sanborn Square, Silver Palm Park and more; to the rotating exhibitions at the Spanish River and downtown libraries. And she promises much more to come, including the city’s first mosaic mural, by naturalist artist James Prosek, at Sugar Sand Park, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District.

Why is it important for Boca to have a robust public art infrastructure?

The establishment of the permanent public art program was a priority for the city back in 2020. It was established at a vital time for our city. When I look at the past 10 years, our neighboring cities have prioritized ways to engage with residents and visitors, because it creates more meaningful and artistic ways to connect. So I’m thrilled this position came at this time. I’m happy to see all the things around our city that are making us an arts and culture hub.

What are the first pieces you would direct people to,

as examples of the best public art in the city?

There were multiple successful murals placed all around our coastal lines. The tunnels on both sides of A1A are beautiful ways to reflect not only on what’s around us, but the work the artists did there. And the mural at Mizner Park, which welcomes visitors through those amphitheater gates, is a beautiful reminder of not only visual arts, but music and performance.

What locations are priorities for more public art? Always downtown. It’s a wonderful space. But one of my priorities is to bring public art to Wildflower Park, Sanborn Square and, hope-

fully, the South Beach Pavilion. We’ll have some exciting projects for those sites.

Is there a set of things you look for that constitutes a great work of public art, as opposed to something that might work better in a museum?

We should be inspired by what’s around us. Creating a program that’s unique and authentic to Boca Raton is a priority to me. There’s plenty of muses, and by muses, I call our beautiful parks and beaches, our beautiful history with architecture. So I am looking forward to working with artists that are diving into practices that reflect on nature, that reflect on our local environment, and that enrich our cultural landscape.

You have an art education yourself. How does your professional experience as an art maker inform the art you select as an art coordinator?

A lot of the work I did at the [Norton Museum of Art] came from observation about painting and colors and working with ceramics … that touch, that feel, and being able to create with your own hands. I would love for that to come through in terms of the learning component. The time that we spend observing a work of art and learning from other people’s perspectives, that’s a lot to do with empathy. When you hear other people’s perspectives when you look at a work of art, it’s eye-opening, and that’s something we need. Hopefully I’ll get to create foundations for this program that allow the learning experience to come about when we experience public art.”

January 2025

Now-Jan. 19:

“Past Forward: Native American Art from the Gilcrease Museum” at Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach; $10; 561/655-7226, fourarts.org. Through his eponymous museum, influential art patron Thomas Gilcrease helped affirm Native American art in the western canon. Culled from the museum, “Past Forward” features selections from more than 3,000 years of indigenous art, from ancient stone carvings to contemporary oils.

Jan. 5-6:

Renée Fleming at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 2 p.m. Jan. 5, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 6; $40-$125; 561/8327469, kravis.org. On Jan. 5, the golden-voiced soprano will perform nature-inspired songs from the classical, romantic and contemporary eras, chosen from her Grammy-winning project Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene. The following morning, Fleming will present on “Music and the Mind,” her ongoing exploration of the healing power of the arts.

Now-March 9:

“Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $15-$18; 561/832-5196, norton.org. “Strike Fast, Dance Lightly” explores the long lineage of boxing through the artists who have defined, celebrated and critiqued it across time. Its more than 100 artworks span from the late 19th century to the present day, and are as varied and complex as the sport itself.

Now-March 12:

“Hot Glass” at Cornell Art Museum, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; free, with donations welcomed; 561/654-2220, downtowndelraybeach.com. Glass artists from both Florida coasts, plus their national and international counterparts, showcase their glass art in three galleries and the atrium of the Cornell—including artists featured in the Netflix glass-blowing competition series “Blown Away.”

Jan. 7-12:

“The Cher Show” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $39-$105; 561/8327469, kravis.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 (she did write “If I Could Turn Back Time,” after all). The music, 35 songs deep, is nearly all Cher’s, and the show earned a Tony Award in 2019.

Jan. 8-19:

“My Old Lady” at the Levis JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton; various show times; $30-$40; 561/558-2520, levisjcc.org. In this dramedy from prolific playwright Israel Horovitz, a divorced and down-on-hisluck middle-aged man inherits the perfect Parisian apartment in which to reverse his fortunes—only to discover an unexpected elderly tenant who has been granted lifetime habitation rights under French law. Humor, revelations and an unlikely communion ensue.

“Hot Glass”

“Past Forward: Native American Art from the Gilcrease Museum”

“The Cher Show” “Strike Fast ...”

Now-March 16:

“Sorolla and the Sea” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $10-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. Joaquín Sorolla, an artist born in Valencia, Spain, found his muse in the Mediterranean Sea and the people, vessels and natural phenomena that swayed and danced upon it. Featuring approximately 40 works, “Sorolla and the Sea” is a rare survey of this master’s relationship to his central focus, divided into five subsections.

Jan. 9-10:

Now-March 30:

“Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and its Empire” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org. Chronicling the Golden Age of Spanish Painting, these 16th and 17th century works are glorious in every definition of the word, often conceived with the intention to bring spectators closer to God. Rarely seen oils by El Greco, Diego Velázquez and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo are among the paintings on display.

Now-April 26:

“Akira: Architecture of Neo-Tokyo” at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; $10-$16 museum admission; 561/495-0233, morikami. org. This exhibition pays homage to the minds behind the 1989 box-office smash “Akira” by presenting 59 original production backgrounds, layout drawings, concept designs and image boards that have never been shown outside of Japan, including such definitive visuals as its kinetic motorcycle chase scene.

“The Extraordinary Card Magic of Jason Ladanye” at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $83-$128; 561/4839036, bocablackbox.com. In the casino world, the house always wins—unless, perhaps, you’re Jason Ladanye, whose talent for card cheat hacks helped inspire a career as a sleight-of-hand entertainer whose close-up magic has wowed celebrities and influencers.

Jan. 16-Feb. 16:

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; various show times; $94-$109; 561/995-2333, thewick. org. “Beautiful” explores King’s rise from forming a hit songwriting team with her husband, Gerry Goffin, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in music history. What makes this Tony-winning musical stand out is that it portrays its subject as a real person—a reluctant star who still manages to shine.

Now-May

30:

“Boca Raton 1925-2025: Addison Mizner’s Legacy” at Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; $8-$12; 561/395-6766, bocahistory. org. This exhibition spotlights architect Addison Mizner’s creativity via artifacts produced and imported by Mizner Industries—Corinthian column capitals, fireplace mantels, floor and roof tiles, and more—as well as videos, photographs, drawings and maps charting his century of influence.

Jan. 17:

Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $40$130; 561/832-7469, kravis. org. Under the direction of renowned conductor Riccardo Muti, the legendary Windy City ensemble will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4 in F Minor,” Schubert’s so-called “Unfinished” “Symphony No. 8 in B Minor,” and Bellini’s overture from the opera “Norma.”

Jan. 17-Feb. 2:

“To Life 5” at Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton; various show times; $46; 561/347-3948, sugarsandpark.org. Director Shari Upbin presents her fifth iteration of this song-and-dance-filled toast to the contribution of Jewish composers to the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood, featuring anecdotes, fun facts and tunes from “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Guys and Dolls” and more.

Jason Ladanye Chicago Symphony Orchestra

“Akira: Architecture of Neo-Tokyo”

“Sorolla and the Sea”

January 2025

Jan.

17-Feb. 2:

“The Sound of Music” at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; $40; 561/586-6410, lakeworthplayhouse.org. You’ve seen it a thousand times, but there’s always room for one more. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s irresistible crowd-pleaser about a postulate who brings joy and music to the busy household of a stern patriarch earned five Tony Awards and spawned nearly a dozen all-time American Songbook standards.

Jan. 24:

“Past Lives” screening at Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach; 2 p.m.; $10; 561/655-7226, fourarts. org. Filmmaker Celine Song’s tender 2023 triptych, following childhood friends who meet two more times in adulthood, each 12 years apart, is about the mysterious intensity of platonic connections—the implacable bond between people that, should you believe in soul connections, dates back across the centuries. Universally acclaimed, this two-time Oscar nominee is worth every rave.

Jan. 17-Feb. 2:

South Florida Fair at South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; $15-$20; 561/7905225, southfloridafair.com. Centered on a theme of “Imagine the Future,” this year’s fair features 15 interactive exhibits on the blurring of science fiction and reality—including “Sci-Fi on Ice!”—plus daily parades, five stages of music and entertainment, carnival rides and games, an agriculture and livestock program, and more.

Jan. 17-18:

Parsons Dance Company at Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach; 8 p.m.; $45; 561/868-3309, palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/ duncan-theatre. The New Yorkbased contemporary dance company, which performs the diverse repertoire of choreographer David Parsons, has played 445 cities in 30 countries on five continents, and continues its mission of diversity and inclusivity while racking up awards.

Jan. 24-25:

Pompano Jazz Fest at the Great Lawn, 20-98 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach; 1:45-10 p.m. Fri., 1-10 p.m. Sat.; free or $200 for VIP pass; pompanobeacharts.org. Now in its fourth year, this festival continues to expand and reflect the ever-evolving definitions of jazz, from its traditional forbears through its numerous fusions and innovations. A dozen acts will perform across two stages, including headliners Randy Brecker, Joshua Redman and Judith Hill.

Jan. 24-26:

Palm Beach Opera’s “Roméo et Juliette” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun.; $25-$170; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. Charles Gounod’s French-language 1867 opera remains one of Shakespeare’s most rewarding adaptations, one that takes moderate liberties with the source material but retains its beating heart and tragic conclusion. The violent aspects of the Bard’s blood-feud story are toned down in favor of an effulgent romanticism, including four love duets.

“Past Lives”

Joshua Redman, center, at Pompano Jazz Fest South Florida Fair

Jan. 19:

Joshua Espinoza Trio at Arts Garage, 180 N.E. First St.; 7 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org.

Espinoza, a jazz pianist with rigorous classical training, blends composition and improvisation in this program titled “Jazz Meets the Beatles,” featuring his mellifluous interpretations of tunes by the Fab Four, Billy Joel and Leonard Cohen. His firstrate accompanists are Kris Monsoon on bass and Jaron Lamar Davis on drums.

Jan. 19:

Peter Cincotti at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $45-$95; 561/8327469, kravis.org. At 18, this prodigious vocalist/ pianist became the youngest artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts with his 2003 debut. He remains a “killer on the keys,” to quote his latest album title, playing originals and covers from Lady Gaga, John Lennon and Coldplay with imagination and sophistication.

Jan. 23:

Ronnie Baker Brooks at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $35-$45; 561/3952929, funkybiscuit.com. The son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks has forged a formidable career of his own playing Chicago-style electric blues. He has earned acclaim as a “monster guitarist” who carries the torch of progenitors like Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

Jan. 23:

Kansas at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 N.W. 40th St., Coconut Creek; 8 p.m.; $80-$182; 954/9776700, casino.hardrock.com/ coconut-creek. A going concern since 1973—with the exception of a one-year hiatus—Topeka’s most beloved classic rock stalwarts celebrate their 50th anniversary with hits from their 16 albums, with original members Phil Ehart on drums and Rich Williams on guitar leading the charge.

Jan. 28:

Vitamin String Quartet at Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs; 7:30 p.m.; $31.75-$53.15; 954/344-5990, thecentercs.com. Renowned for its deployment in soundtracks from “Bridgerton” to “Doctor Who” to “Westworld,” this multitudinous collective of string musicians has produced more than 400 albums of classical-crossover covers of artists as wide-ranging as Taylor Swift, the Weeknd, Fall Out Boy and Radiohead.

Jan. 31:

The Weight Band at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 8 p.m.; $50-$60; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com. More than just a tribute to legendary Americana group The Band, The Weight Band features former Band musicians including Jim Weider, along with Band songwriters and associates, who perform iconic numbers such as “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight” and “Ophelia,” alongside original Americana tunes cut from a similar cloth.

Jan. 31-Feb. 1:

Pilobolus Dance Company: “re:Creation” at Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach; 8 p.m.; $45; 561/868-3309, palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/ duncan-theatre. Continuing to fuse contemporary choreography with gravity-defying contortionism, Pilobolus’ latest production features reimagined works dating all the way back to its founding year, through new compositions created in 2023.

Jan. 31-Feb. 23:

“Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville” at Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 N.W. Ninth St., Delray Beach; $45; 561/272-1281, delraybeachplayhouse.com. Buffett’s iconic songs propel this jukebox musical, which captures its inspiration’s “five-o’clock somewhere” ethos with a story about a part-time bartender and a troubadour who work at a run-down Caribbean hotel and attempt to woo a pair of vacationing ladies.

Kansas

Joshua Espinoza Trio

Parsons Dance Company

Ronnie Baker Brooks

TODD BURNSED

PAUL NATKIN

THE GREATER BOCA RATON CULTURAL CONSORTIUM, INC.

Boca Ballet Theatre 561-995-0709 mail@bocaballet.org

Boca Raton Museum of Art 561-392-2500 info@bocamuseum.org

Boca Raton Historical Society & The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum 561-395-6766 office@bocahistory.org

Florida Atlantic University College of Arts & Letters 561-297-3810 theatre@fau.edu

Florida Intergenerational Orchestra of America (561) 922-3134 info@flioa.org

Festival of the Arts Boca 561-571-5270 info@festivalboca.org

Find it all at

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 561-544-8605 info@gumbolimbo.org

The HARID Conservatory 561-997-2677 info@harid.edu

Lynn University 561-237-9000 tickets@lynn.edu

Mizner Park Amphitheater 561-393-7984 MiznerAmp@myboca.us National Society of Arts and Letters judiasselta@gmail.com

Sugar Sand Park 561-347-3900 sugarsandpark@myboca.us

The Studio in Mizner Park (561) 203-3742 info@thestudioatmiznerpark.com

The SYMPHONIA 561-376-3848 info@thesymphonia.org

The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum 561-995-2333 boxoffice@theWick.org

Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County 561-281-8600 yomail@yopbc.org

We’ve got more stories to tell...

So we’re going where other local lifestyle magazines aren’t venturing— jumping off the page and into your ears with a monthly podcast.

With Boca magazine’s strong presence in the market, coupled with our hosts’ community engagement, Palm Paradise is an entertaining and thought-provoking podcast series. We invite you to join us and travel to Palm Paradise.

Listen to Palm Paradise on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeart Radio. You can also watch our antics on Youtube.

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email Nicole Ruth at nicole@bocamag.com

ON VIEW

JANUARY 31 – MARCH 29, 2025

On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Boca Raton, the Cultural Council will present both historical images of the city and contemporary works by Palm Beach County artists who pay homage to the themes of architecture, culture, and the city’s residents while also looking to the future as the famous resort destination continues to evolve.

Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building Main Gallery

601 Lake Avenue Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460

Tuesday – Saturday, 12 – 5 p.m. Free and open to the public palmbeachculture.com/exhibitions

Exhibition generously sponsored by:

RalphPapa, Tower at Mizner Park (detail)

SPOTLIGHT Culinary

Juan Chipoco / Chef

CVI.CHE 105

6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton FL 33431 ceviche105.com

From Lima to Boca:

Chef Juan Chipoco’s CVI.CHE 105 brings Peruvian Fusion to Palm Beach

South Florida’s culinary scene has become more vibrant with the opening of Juan Chipoco’s CVI.CHE 105 in Boca Raton. Known for its award-winning Peruvian ceviches, as well as a wide range of traditional, seafood and Nikkei cuisine dishes, CVI.CHE 105 has become a culinary staple, capturing the hearts of diners across Miami. Now, with its newest location at Town Center at Boca, Chipoco is set to bring his celebrated blend of flavors to Palm Beach County.

Chipoco’s journey from Lima to South Florida is a story of passion, resilience and triumph. Starting from scratch after arriving in the U.S. with limited resources, he used hard work, determination and vision to build a culinary empire. What began as a single restaurant in Downtown Miami has grown into a beloved brand with six thriving locations, each reflecting his dedication to quality and cultural pride. Alongside CVI. CHE 105, Chipoco also operates INTI.MO and Pollos & Jarras. His flagship CVI.CHE 105 alone serves nearly 6,000 diners daily and has been recognized as one of Miami’s best restaurants for over a decade, making it a must-visit spot.

“We’re thrilled to bring the spirit of CVI.CHE 105 to Boca Raton,” Chipoco shares. “This location is about more than just food; it’s about creating an experience that celebrates our heritage and culture, bringing the best of Peruvian cuisine.”

From signature ceviches to fusion inspired Nikkei dishes, CVI.CHE 105 Boca Raton promises an unforgettable dining experience.

Photography: Rodolfo Benitez

Mac and cheese bites from Penelope

Top: Burrata and heirloom tomato salad. Bottom: Nutella cheesecake. Right: Short rib pappardelle. Far right: Chef Suzanne Perrotto and Pastry Chef Megan Lee

Rose’s Daughter

169 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 561/271-9423

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

After opening in 2019, Rose’s Daughter swiftly amassed a loyal following. Chef-owner Suzanne Perrotto had already spent a decade establishing herself as a respected chef and local with her first restaurant, Brulé Bistro. Where Brulé focuses on global dishes, Rose’s Daughter is an ode to Perrotto’s mother, Linda Rose, the family’s Italian roots and its beloved recipes.

The cozy restaurant has a front patio, a perfect perch for pairing pasta and people watching, and its back patio is a spacious space to enjoy a shaded al fresco aperitivo and meal.

IF YOU GO

PARKING: Street and lot parking

HOURS: Wednesday –Thursday, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday 4 p.m. –11 p.m.; Sunday 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

PRICES: $12 – $38

WEBSITE: rosesdaughterdelray.com

We started with the house-made burrata and heirloom tomato salad ($18) and the recommended spinach dumplings ($12). Visually, the burrata salad was underwhelming, with only five small tranches of tomato among the arugula. The menu also mentioned a basil and walnut pesto that we couldn’t pinpoint.

With the spinach dumplings, we expected traditional dumpling dough stuffed with spinach, but instead, a ceramic oval gratin dish overflowing with pecorino cream sauce arrived. When we spooned into the dish, we found what seemed more like ricotta and spinach balls that were overpowered by black pepper.

When I expressed my confusion to the waiter, he acknowledged the concern and confessed it wasn’t the first time he’d heard similar feedback about the

dish’s misleading name.

However, Rose’s Daughter shines with its housemade pizza and pasta. The mushroom and Galloni Prosciutto pizza ($19) in a Neapolitan-inspired crust was fluffy with a slightly toasted rim. It was topped with a hearty amount of arugula and drizzled with aged balsamic, bringing all the flavors together.

All the house-made pasta looked delicious, so our attentive waiter suggested we try Perrotto’s famous short rib pappardelle ($30), featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2023. The short rib is cooked for 18 hours before the uber-tender meat is mixed with fresh pasta, truffle paste, peas and an indulgent Parmesan bechamel sauce. Topped with Grana Padano cheese, the dish was al dente, perfectly seasoned, and a noteworthy standout that I’d happily order again and again.

There are plenty of great end-of-meal spirits to sip on, and it was hard to pick just one house-made dessert to share. We opted for the Nutella cheesecake ($12), which provided an excellent, sweet and chocolatey way to end the evening.

Rose’s Daughter, as Pineapple Grove’s neighborhood restaurant, brings our community together through its well-executed pizzas and pasta, and for that, we’re much better for it.

ANDREW

BY MICHELIN STARRED CHEF, MICHAEL MINA

Clockwise from bottom: Fried chicken, gumbo and shrimp and grits

Penelope

431 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 561/896-1038

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

It’s admirable when a restaurant gets its vibe just right. That praise amplifies when the restaurant takes engaging risks—whether with its menu, design or both.

IF YOU GO

PARKING: Street and lot parking

HOURS: Monday – Sunday, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

PRICES: $11 – $33

WEBSITE: penelopeofboca. com

Penelope nailed its aesthetic. White cascading flowers, a tasseled parasol and a neon sign drew us in. Inside, its personality is a whimsical mix of Disney’s Haunted Mansion with a vibrant New Orleans flair. Illuminated umbrellas ebb and flow down from the ceiling while macabre art peers at us. It’s balanced with soft blue Venetian plaster walls and dainty sconces to capture the city’s impactful aesthetic and subdued, otherworldly essence.

Intricate white iron railings suggest a French Quarter balcony above the city. Kaleidoscopic Chihuly-like chandeliers illuminate the powder-blue plush cushions and the expansive mural reminiscent of Louisiana’s picturesque bayou that now surrounds us. I’m entertained

and delighted even before my first bite.

The menu features a variety of New Orleans, southern and French-inspired dishes, such as pimento cheese dip, oysters casino, shrimp po’boy and bouillabaisse. It also offers several well-labeled gluten-free dishes. We opted for a family-style dinner, so we shared the buttermilk biscuits ($11), mac and cheese bites ($14), gumbo ($15), fried chicken ($25), and shrimp and grits ($33).

The biscuit wasn’t the fluffy, buttery cloud I’m accustomed to, but its slight staleness disappeared when I dipped it into the thick gumbo topped with white rice. Floating inside the golden roux, bits of chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage and crunchy fried okra clung to it, making the biscuit a perfect vessel. The dish is hearty and makes for an ideal comfort meal for a cool winter day.

The mac and cheese bites were

a wonderful surprise; instead of the fried balls I imagined, delicate noodles were filled with melted gruyere and topped with creamy mornay (béchamel) and panko breadcrumbs. The fried chicken delivered—a crispy, tender selection of buttermilk fried chicken with a spicy maple sauce with hints of NOLA’s own Crystal hot sauce.

The grits were creamy and cheesy with massive shrimp and bacon lardon, adding an extra layer of devilishness. The dish is topped with a frothy Subculture coffee foam that was unexpected but thoroughly enjoyable. Both Penelope and Kapow are part of Sub-Culture Group’s portfolio, and as Penelope is located in Kapow’s former Mizner Park location, I appreciated how they tied the concepts together.

Penelope honors a blend of cuisines and delivers comforting fare in a whimsical scene, which I applaud.

FLORIDA TABLE Dining Guide

Palm Beach County BOCA RATON

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. $$

DINING KEY

$: 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. $$$

Tartufo at 388 Italian Restaurant by Mr. Sal

AARON BRISTOL

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. $$

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. $$

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. $$

Everyday Favorites

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 housemade 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. $$

The French Gazebo —4199 N. Federal Highway. French. Formerly Kathy’s Gazebo, this space has been a staple in our community for 40 years, but its new owners updated the design while keeping the same French classics on the menu

like escargots, crêpes, dover sole and duckling. Its vintage character still reigns but now with an airier, contemporary undertone. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/395-6033. • $$$

Fiolina Pasta House —5377 Town Center Road. Italian. Fiolina is swanky, effortlessly easing into Boca’s idyllic, sophisticated style. Playful floral prints and vibrant pops of reds are the backdrop to la dolce vita-inspired artwork, an indoor-outdoor bar, and a sprawling terrace checkered with scarlet umbrellas and plush furniture. The menu takes you on a journey through award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi’s native land, with regional dishes spanning the Italian peninsula. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun., weekend brunch. 561/473-9400. $$$

Gallaghers Steakhouse —2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Steakhouse. At this chophouse, the staff is laser-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. $$$

Keep On Shuckin’

Tuesday is Oyster Night at Loch Bar, complete with $1 oysters and half-priced bottles of rosé all night.

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. $$

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. $

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 housemade 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 Villetta —4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas and other classic dishes. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt; it’s de-boned right at tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$$

Le Rivage —450 N.E. 20th St., Suite 103. French. Don’t overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery. That would be a mistake, because the dishes that virtually scream “creativity” can’t compare to the quiet pleasures served here—like cool, soothing vichyssoise, delicate fillet of sole with nutty brown butter sauce or perfectly executed crème brûlee. Good food presented without artifice at a fair price never goes out of fashion. • Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$

Loch Bar —346 Plaza Real. Seafood. This sister restaurant to Ouzo Bay includes fried oysters, moules frites and Maryland crab cakes. The bar offers literally hundreds of whiskeys, a noisy happy hour crowd and live music most nights. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/939-6600. $$

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

Duckling at La Nouvelle Maison

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 After 24 years in Mizner Park, This modern American bistro is a true local classic. The food and decor are both timeless and up to date, and the ambience is that of a smooth-running big-city bistro. Service is personable and proficient. The menu is composed of dishes you really want to eat, from the applewood bacon-wrapped meatloaf to the wickedly indulgent crème brûlèe pie. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/368-0080. $$

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. $$

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. $$$$

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOCA MAGAZINE

A Gluten Guide

Everything you wanted to know about gluten but were afraid to ask

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

Gluten has become a buzzy word, but what exactly is it? Jan. 13 marks National Gluten-Free Day to recognize those living with gluten-related health issues, raise awareness, and aid those in need. We sat down with Amy Levine Cohen, a veteran functional nutrition expert and gluten-free foodie who works with individuals and families interested in giving up gluten for good.

After moving from New York City to Boca Raton during the pandemic, Cohen, who has been gluten-free for more than 15 years, was inspired by our local restaurants’ standout gluten-free menus. She wanted to create a resource to give gluten-free families a stress-free dine-out experience, so she teamed up with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), a national nonprofit working to“make life easier for everyone living gluten-free”through support groups, education, food safety research and its certification program. Cohen helped revitalize its 2008 Chef to Plate program with stricter standards. The first of its kind run by a national nonprofit, the gluten-free locator connects diners with restaurants, food trucks and bakeries serving gluten-free options. The program is launching nationally this year after a pilot in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.

“I wanted to help those in the community who want or need to be gluten-free,” Cohen says.“Everyone deserves to have delicious food, enjoy every bite and not have to do the dishes.” What is gluten? It’s a protein in certain grains. It is often used to bind ingredients together to keep a certain shape or provide elasticity or stretchiness, as it does for dough.

Common gluten intolerance symptoms: Bloating, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain. Gluten intolerance vs. celiac disease; what’s the difference? Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten. If your bloodwork comes back negative for celiac, you can be diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Pro tip: Before getting any bloodwork done, your diet must include gluten so that your immune system’s antibodies can be tested. Where does gluten exist in food? Mainly in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, farro, malt and brewer’s yeast.

Where it gets tricky: Sometimes gluten can be hidden in “natural flavors.” Other times, ingredients like maltodextrin, an additive and sweetener, can be made of wheat unless derived from corn, potato or rice. Other household items may also include gluten, like shampoo and laundry detergent.

What is “gluten-free” on packaging? Since 2014, the FDA has required that the presence of gluten be less than 20 parts per million. It must not include any ingredient that has any wheat, rye, barley or crossbreeds of these grains and any ingredient derived from them that has not been processed to remove gluten.

Shopping tips: Read ingredient labels and check for third-party certifications, such as the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), which uses a rigorous 80-point standard to ensure safe gluten-free products.

Benefits: Eating whole foods may include improved digestion, reduced inflammation, improved energy and clearer skin. Work with

your doctor or nutritionist to ensure you get all your essential nutrients, and learn what supplements to take if necessary.

Tips on going gluten-free: If one person is gluten-free—especially a child—it’s helpful for the whole immediate family to be gluten-free. Being in it together and supporting one another is a game changer. Start with an elimination diet to see if your symptoms improve. Eliminate gluten for three to six weeks; two months or longer is ideal. If you want to hack your health, also eliminate corn, rice, soy, quinoa and buckwheat, as they can molecularly mimic gluten. Keep a journal to track how you feel. Then, slowly reintroduce one at a time. What criteria must restaurants meet for Chef to Plate? They must meet the following criteria: Have plans implemented for safe production, service and display practices for gluten-free options; have an established method for verifying the gluten-free status of ingredients and menu options; provide a dedicated space and equipment (where necessary) to prevent cross-contact with gluten; use proper identification for gluten-free options, avoiding terms like“gluten-friendly”or“celiac safe”; handle all gluten-free orders with the same level of care, without asking questions like“is this a preference or an allergy?”; ensure there is a way for guests to identify that their meal is gluten-free easily.

Eating out tips: Find restaurants that clearly label their menus. If you order fried food, ask if the fryer is dedicated to gluten-free foods only. Note if the server is proactive about asking about allergies or intolerances—they should guide you to what’s safe for you to enjoy. Pro tip: Sushi rice may be made with rice vinegar that contains gluten. Ask for gluten-free rice or opt for sashimi. Soy sauce has wheat, so request gluten-free tamari.

Favorite local restaurants with stellar gluten-free menus? Burtons Grill & Bar, Garden Butcher, Vale Food Co, Wild Celery and Joey’s Home Bakery-Gluten Free. Visit the Chef to Plate site for a full list: gluten.org/ctp-participating-locations. Follow Amy @givingupglutenforgood and learn more at givingupglutenforgood.com.

While this story provides information and tips, you should always speak with your doctor first.

Chickpea pasta is a gluten-free alternative

Amy Levine Cohen

EAT & DRINK RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

mildly citrusy avgolemono soup and the precisely grilled, simply adorned (with olive oil, lemon and capers) branzino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3673. $$

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 housemade 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. $$

Ruth’s Chris —225 N.E. Mizner Blvd., Suite 100. Steakhouse. Not only does this steakhouse favorite emphasize its New Orleans roots, it also distinguishes itself from its competitors by just serving better food. The signature chopped salad has a list of ingredients as long as a hose but they all work together. And how can you not like a salad topped with crispy fried onion strings? Steaks are USDA Prime and immensely flavorful, like a perfectly seared New York strip. The white chocolate bread pudding is simply wicked. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 651 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544; 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660.) $$$$

Seasons 52 —2300 Executive Center Drive. Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is firstrate, 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. $$$$

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. $$$

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. $$

Vino —114 N.E. Second St. Wine Bar/Italian. An impressive wine list of some 250 plus bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of choices, especially among Italian and California reds. The menu of “Italian tapas” includes roasted red peppers with Provolone, as well as ricotta gnocchi with San Marzano tomatoes. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/869-0030. $$

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. $$

WEST BOCA

There’s an App For That Boon’s Asian Bistro now has its own app for iOS and Google Play users—a faster way to order its sushis, curries, soups, salads and wok-fired dishes while on the go.

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. $$

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. $$

Oli’s Fashion Cuisine —6897 S.W. 18th St. Modern American. With the unusual name comes a menu sporting lobster risotto to tuna tacos, grilled mahi and more. There are Italian, vegetarian, steak, flatbreads, salads and desserts, all pleasing to the eye and palate. Inside is a bit noisy, so try the outdoor, lakeside patio for a quieter meal. • Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast weekends. 561/571-6920. $$

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. $$

BOYNTON BEACH

Driftwood —2005 S. Federal Highway. Modern American. Take food combos that sound unusual (popcorn sauce, avocado chocolate ice cream) but that taste wonderful and you’ve got Chef Jimmy Everett’s ideas on the table. They don’t last long, because they taste terrific. Try the smoked swordfish, the lobster with pickled okra, ricotta dumplings, the burger with gouda, the grilled octopus and pastrami’d chicken breast with roasted cabbage. • Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.-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. $$

Tony Fries at Ditmas Kitchen

AARON BRISTOL

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. $$

DELRAY BEACH

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. $$$$

Amar Mediterranean Bistro —25 SE Sixth Ave. Lebanese. From the moment you step inside, there’s a familial feeling, a hidden gem that everyone is drawn to. Amar is a quaint bistro amidst the buzzy Atlantic Avenue that serves Lebanese food. But this isn’t your typical hummus and pita joint. Here, the proprietor’s family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5653. $$

Angelo Elia Pizza • Bar • Tapas — 16950 Jog Road. Italian. Nothing on the menu of Angelo Elia’s modern, small plates-oriented osteria disappoints, but particularly notable are the meaty fried baby artichokes stuffed with breadcrumbs and speck, delicate chicken-turkey meatballs in Parmesan-enhanced broth, and Cremona pizza with a sweet-salty-earthy-pungent mélange of pears, pancetta, Gorgonzola, sun-dried figs and mozzarella. • Lunch Tues.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/381-0037. $

Avalon Beach House —110 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/ Steakhouse. The enticing reasons we all go to a steakhouse are present here—boozy cocktails, a diverse wine list, dry aged steaks, prime cuts, rich accompaniments, decadent sides and more. The menu is then enhanced with a selection of seafood like a raw bar medley of oysters, shrimp and crab alongside the customary octopus, fish, scallops and lobster. Don’t miss Avalon’s signature dish, the Angry Lobster. • Dinner nightly. 561/593-2500. $$$$

Buzz Bite I

Boca Raton Night Market

The monthly Night Market continues into the New Year with its 2025 season of dates: Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 and May 1. Held at Sanborn Square, the evening brings food trucks, local artisans and live music together. Regardless of what you’re craving, the culinary scene delivers options from tacos and burgers to coffee and sweet treats.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

Our journey started in Roslyn, NY, rooted in the belief that great food is a celebration of

North Federal Highway Boca Raton, FL 33431

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. $$

Brulé Bistro —200 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The regular menu of this Pineapple Grove favorite always has satisfying dishes. Its specialties include crab tortellini with black truffles, chicken meatballs with coconut broth and cashews, plus signature dessert pistachio crème brùlée. Spirits and house cocktails steeped in speakeast style are paired with an ever-changing menu. Outside tables offer the best option for conversation. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-2046. $$

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. $$

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. $$

Costa By OK&M —502 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Costa takes chef/owner Coton Stine’s dedication to farm-to-table fare to an elevated level with its seasonal menu. Working closely with local farms and vendors, Stine curates deliciously healthy dishes that tempt your palate while fueling your body. For those with dietary restrictions, the dishes are clearly labeled gluten-free or vegan, which adds a sense of ease to the experience. The corner space is comfortable and embraces

Buzz Bite II

Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s sixth-annual festival returns Jan. 13-19 with its signature grand tasting, delectable events, celebrity chefs, dinner series, cooking classes and plenty of fun. The weeklong culinary extravaganza’s chef headliners include Fabio Viviani, Nancy Fuller, Jason Smith and Alex Belew.

Attendees can look forward to events, including Bar Fight! A Spirited Competition hosted by Rooftop@WLO; a journey of Asian-inspired cuisine at Wok ‘N Roll; BBQ at the Beach hosted by Jason Smith; the family-friendly Picnic in the Park; and Beachside Brunch, hosted by Nancy Fuller.

Those who want to learn from the experts can participate in the hands-on classes, including Farmhouse Rules with Nancy Fuller, The Art of Ramen at Temple Street Eatery, Flavors of Spain with Jorge Montes, Country Bling Cooking with Jason Smith, and several wine seminars for oenophiles. For more information and tickets, visit vlfoodwine.com.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

natural elements with its wicker chairs, lanterns, greenery and expansive sliding doors. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/501-6115. • $$

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 wetaged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$

Dada—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. The same provocative, whimsical creativity that spawned Dada the art movement infuses Dada the restaurant, giving it a quirky charm all its own. The comfort food with a moustache menu has its quirky charms, too, like shake-n-bake pork chops with sweet-savory butterscotch onions, and a brownie-vanilla ice cream sundae with strips of five-spice powdered bacon. The wittily decorated 1920s-vintage house-turned-restaurant is, as they say, a trip. • Dinner nightly. 561/330-3232. $$

Deck 84 —840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary 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. $

Truffle in Paradise

American-grown truffles are gaining traction, but how do they compare with their beloved European counterparts? We chat with local chefs and a truffle-growing expert to discover the pros and cons of this infatuating fungus.

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

There’s nothing quite like having a black truffle slowly shaved over your pasta. Its delicate slices land lightly over your dish as the glimmering eyes of your neighbors peer over. You can feel the room pulsate with ravenous excitement. Truffles, a type of fungus that exists in symbiosis with host trees (like oak and hazel), live underground on the root of these trees, making them hard to find. Then, their freshness and intensity decline drastically from the moment they are harvested, so expeditious distribution is also necessary. Truffles have been a lesson in scarcity, exclusivity and a race against time—perhaps until now.

While foodies might be more accustomed to truffles hailing from Italy or France, dozens of truffle species grow in North America. Robert Chang founded the American Truffle Company (ATC) to cultivate and push American-grown Périgord black truffles into the forefront. Using its proprietary technology, ATC works with landowners to inoculate the trees as saplings (or attach truffle spores to the roots). What started as a passion for eating the highly prized truffles transformed into a decade-long enterprise—alongside his partner, Dr. Paul Thomas, a world-renowned mycologist—of educating landowners, chefs and the public about American-grown black truffles.

Chang explains that because they are not driven by terroir, like wine, truffles of the same species from various parts of the world have

similar aromas and tastes. Compared to the lengthy distribution process European truffles must undergo before arriving at our dinner table, American truffles can go from farm to kitchen overnight.“Because American black truffles are fresher and, therefore, more potent, they typically command a 10% to 20% premium over their European counterparts. Chefs can use less to achieve the same effect as a oneweek-old European truffle, which justifies the higher per-pound price. This is precisely why ripe, just-picked strawberries are more valuable than week-old strawberries,” he says.

So, what do our local chefs think about American-grown truffles, and where can you savor them locally? Chef Paul Niedermann from Jupiter Grill and chef Coton Stine from Costa Delray share their insights on the truffles they’re sourcing from the Pacific Northwest.

CHEF PAUL NIEDERMANN

Why choose to work with American-grown truffles?

Truffles have a short shelf life, so when the option to source closer to get the freshest product became available, I jumped at the chance!

What types of American-grown truffles have you worked with, and why?

I have used the Oregon black truffle. I chose it for its nutty yet fruity flavor, which makes it perfect for pasta dishes.

What sets them apart?

There is a little bit of sweetness to them and a finish of fruit. That, to me, is what sets them apart from a Burgundy (truffle). The taste is similar but different at the same time.

What are some of your favorite dishes you’ve used them in?

Eggs, mashed potatoes and a simple fresh pasta. Do you think American-grown truffles have a future?

If it got into the hands of more chefs, I’m certain they would be more involved in the conversation.

CHEF COTON STINE

Why choose American-grown truffles?

I always prefer sourcing from my backyard when possible, so I find it appealing to explore North American truffle varieties and find that my guests also love hearing that their food ingredients are local. Morning harvest to your plate, is my motto. When I am in Italy and France, I will enjoy their truffles! European truffles are robust and so special. They are also far away and very expensive.

What do you like about the Oregon truffles? I find them to be rich, earthy and a little nutty. The white (truffles) are milder, which adds an elegant touch to many dishes.

What does the future hold for American truffles?

The flavors are grand, just like we would expect from a great truffle. I don’t really compare their flavors to our neighbors’, as they are unique to our country. As our truffles become more tangible, I believe that American truffles definitely have a future in our culinary market among chefs, foodies and households.

What are your favorite truffle dishes?

Garlic king trumpet mushroom omelet, forest toast with mushrooms duxelles on rustic bread, wild mushroom bisque, Burgundy braised short rib and house-made pasta in a creamed mushroom cognac sauce.

ATC will host the annual Napa Truffle Festival on Jan. 17-20 for those interested in learning more about American truffles. Guests can expect to sample exclusive American truffle dishes made by chefs from around the world. ATC will also host a scientific and business seminar for those interested in the industry’s business side.

For more information, visit napatrufflefestival. com and americantruffle.com.

Pasta with porcini mushrooms and truffle

Dr. Paul Thomas and Robert Chang

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. $$

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. $$

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. $$

Henry’s —16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$

Il Girasole —2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. 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. $$$

Lemongrass Bistro —420 E. Atlantic Ave. PanAsian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this a popular destination. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-0442. (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. $

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. $$

Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar —5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$

Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. While not your traditional Italian trattoria, it is a place to find new favorites and revisit old standards updated with delicious ingredients and high standards. Try the Monet-colored lobster risotto, or house-made pasta, pizza, bread and desserts. From the mushroom arancini to the tiramisu, you will be glad Owner/Chef Suzanne Perrotto is in the kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating. • 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. $$

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. $$$$

Fire Starter

Feeling a little nippy this winter? Cozy up for some Italian fare at Terra Fiamma’s outdoor fire lounge.

MIA Kitchen & Bar —7901 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 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. $$$

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. 561/278-3796. $$

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. $

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, thin-crust 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

Shrimp bao buns at Lulu’s

AARON

BRISTOL

Buzz Bite III

BocaFest

Mizner Park will host the annual BocaFest celebration on Jan. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests can look forward to downtown Boca Raton being energized with live musical performances, a tempting beer garden and a marketplace spotlighting our talented local artists. After the festivities, pop into one of Mizner Park’s restaurants for a light bite or cocktail. Eddie V’s and Loch Bar offer an upscale setting, Max’s Grille and Kapow are the steady staples, or opt for Yard House and American Social for a lively, sports bar ambiance.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$

LAKE WORTH BEACH

Oceano Kitchen —512 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach. Contemporary American. Chefs and owners Jeremy and Cindy Bearman 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. For newcomers, it’s cash only and it doesn’t take reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait. 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 musttry. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$

LANTANA

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. $$

PALM BEACH

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 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 housemade 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 Japa-

nese-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. $$$

WEST PALM BEACH

Austin Republic —4801 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. The casual backyard atmosphere sets the scene for chef James Strine’s unpretentious barbecue with a unique Mexican flair. The menu isn’t extensive, but all the barbecue

greats are there alongside its Mexican counterparts. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork share the space with tacos, burritos and enchiladas. And don’t sleep on the chicken sandwich. Trust us. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. $

Banko Cantina—114 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Northern Mexican. Start with the Adelita cocktail and don’t look back. The bacon-wrapped shrimp, the Al Carbon steak tacos and the house guacamole add up to a full-flavor dinner. The west-facing rooftop bar is a nice sunset option, and the Pan de Elote (homemade sweet cornbread with vanilla ice cream and berries) is a delightful end to the evening. • Dinner daily. 561/355-1399. $$

Café Centro —2409 N. Dixie Highway. 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 & Rotissorie — 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. $$

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. $$$$

WILD AND WONDERFUL WOMENSWEAR

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. $$

Planta—700 S. Rosemary Ave. Vegan. For those who savor every juicy, tender and flavorful bite of a well-prepared burger, patronizing a vegan establishment may seem like a sacrilegious act. But what if a restaurant served up plant-based dishes that surprised your taste buds with exploding flavors? Here vegans don’t have to worry about ingredients making the cut, and non-vegans can enjoy approachable and appetizing plant-based dishes that won’t make you yearn for a steak. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/208-5222. $$

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. $$$

Broward County DEERFIELD BEACH

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. $$

Voyage Boutique has been sharing authentic French Fashion with South Florida for over 20 years.

400 Gulfstream Blvd, Delray Beach FL 33444

Monday - Saturday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm 561-279-2984

Voyage Boutique may be tucked away from the bustling Avenue, but it stands out as a pinnacle of fashion. Whether you’re in search of casual wear, attire for a special occasion, or an elegant ensemble for a soiree, you’re guaranteed to discover it within our unique boutique.

When embarking on international travels, setting sail on a cruise, or preparing for the holiday season, your search ends here. Allow us to elevate your wardrobe with style and a touch of ‘je ne sais quoi.’

Voyage Boutique also serves as your European haven for handbags, belts, shoes, gifts, and more. We cater to all sizes, ranging from XS to 3X, and offer in-house alterations for a perfect fit.

Come join us for a shopping experience that transcends the ordinary and when you do, don’t forget to mention that you found us in Boca Mag.

CHAIRS:

Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center

Be a part of Jewish Film Festival presented by the Levis JCC

February 8 - 22, 2025

Featuring more than 30 Israeli and Jewish-themed feature films, shorts, documentaries and comedies from around the world. Enjoy entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking stories, connect with our community, and learn from filmmakers, producers, actors and directors at screenings and special events throughout the year.

Movies of Delray • Levis JCC

Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community

ARI AXELROD

Sunrise Sunset; My Year in Anatevka Music Director, Lawrence Yurman Wednesday, February 26, 7:30 pm

Thursday, February 27, 2:00 pm

Featuring all the songs you know and love from A Fiddler on the Roof, “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Rich Man,” “Miracle of Miracles,” and some gems you might have missed. Join Ari as he relives his unprecedented year in Anatevka, which was simultaneously taking place during an unprecedented year for Jews around the world in the wake of October 7th.

Alan B. and Charna Larkin Symposium on the American Presidency 2025 The Presidency After the 2024 Election: The Story So Far and What Comes Next

Joe Scarborough former United States Congressman, and co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe

February 20, 2025 4 pm, Kaye Auditorium Florida Atlantic, Boca Raton fauevents.com 561-297-6124

561-922-8287 or visit levisjcc.org/performingarts

BOCA’S BALLROOM BATTLE

WHERE: The Boca Raton

WHAT: Local philanthropists paired up with professional dancers at Fred Astaire Dance Studios for another record-breaking year of fundraising for the George Snow Scholarship Fund. This year’s dancers raised an incredible $1.37 million to benefit under-resourced students, with the top totals being $220,000 and $390,000 from Matt Williams and Zoe Lanham, respectively. Guests enjoyed a dazzling Las Vegas-inspired theme as well as hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a silent auction before watching the “Rolling Eight” dancers face off. Former competitors Danielle Rosse and Brad Winstead co-chaired the event, which was sponsored by Amy and Mike Kazma, the James and Marta Batmasian Family Foundation, Boca magazine and many more.

1: Loreta Kriksciukaityte, Alex Price

2: Dr. Jacqueline Moroco, Jan Clancy

3: Matt Williams, Sayra Vazquez

4: Loreta Kriksciukaityte, John Clidas

5: Brad and Haley Winstead

6: Al Goldberg, Sayra Vazquez

7: Sarah Doyle, James Brann

8: Robin Deyo, Katherine Deyo, Laura Stoltz, Samantha Vassallo

9: Kali Williams, Danielle Rosse

10: Matt Williams, Zoe Lanham

11: JC Meyer, Gina Harrow

12: Denise

Alman, Renata Sans de Negri, Kirsten Stanley, Fran Nachlas, Gloria Hosh, Carrie Rubin

HEROES FOR EDUCATION 5K

WHERE: John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach

WHAT: More than 1,600 Palm Beach County students, families and education heroes from more than half of the county’s schools laced up their running shoes and raised more than $120,000 to support the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County’s (EFPBC) various programs and initiatives. The morning kicked off with all-ages entertainment such as the Kids One Mile Fun Run and Kids 100-yard Dash before runners (or walkers) began the 5K race. Winners of the race were awarded grants from the EFPBC that were distributed to 28 local schools. Winning teams included Panther Run Elementary School, Binks Forest Elementary, Forest Hill High School and more. Sponsors included Boca West Children’s Foundation, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Optum and more.

7:

1: Forest Hill High School team

2: Presley Young, Mila Young, Maddox Young

3: Tami Sorgente 4: April Kinloch, Crystal Jones

5: Michael J. Burke, James Gavrilos with Harper the dog

6: Tim and Toshimi Abe-Janiga

Sara Cino, Chelsea Keester

BOWLING FOR BREAD

WHERE: Bowlero

WHAT: More than 200 supporters of Boca Helping Hands (BHH) hit the lanes at Bowlero in Boca Raton and raised funds to provide 41,000 meals for the BHH weekend meal program. Kids from several South Florida children’s charities were in attendance, including 4KIDS of South Florida, Inc., Achievement Centers for Children & Families and Fuller Center, as well as members of the Florida Atlantic University football team. Trophies were awarded to the top three highest scorers, which were Waypoint Residential (across two games) and The Law Offices of Pamela Higer-Polani. Event sponsors included the Gary Peters Family Foundation, Humana, the Lee Pearlson Steinberg Foundation and more.

1: FAU Football players Federico Maranges and Andre Lamas with bowler from participating children’s charity

2: Bowling for Bread winners Waypoint Residential

3: Team Florida Peninsula, Bowling for Bread sponsors

Dennis May, Brandon Waller, Alan Poland, Rabbi Greg Weisman, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Capt. David Moss, Brad Orsini, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cory Gray

2: Audrey Glickman blowing the shofar, as she did in the documentary

3: Brad Orsini, Christine Hunschofsky, Audrey Glickman, Rabbi Greg Weisman, Brandon Waller

JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY SCREENING OF “A TREE OF LIFE”

WHERE: Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

WHAT: To honor the lives lost during the 2018 antisemitic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County hosted a screening of “A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting.” The documentary offered a moving portrait of the 11 victims, and after the screening a panel was hosted and moderated by Jewish Community Relations Council Chair Rabbi Greg Weisman, and included testimony from a survivor of the shooting, Audrey Glickman. The screening and panel delivered a resonant message for communities to stand resiliently together against hate.

1:

DAY OF 200,000 MEALS

WHERE: Kravis Center

WHAT: More than 1,000 Palm Beach County Food Bank (PBCFB) volunteers came together to prepare 200,000 meals for families in need throughout the county. Across three shifts throughout the day, volunteers packed the Kravis Center’s Gimelstob Ballroom to pack up pasta meals that would each feed a family of six. “We’re blown away by the generosity of our community,” said PBCFB CEO Jamie Kendall. “From the volunteers who came with smiles to our incredible partners at the Kravis Center, this day was about much more than food—it was a powerful display of how deeply Palm Beach County cares.” Event sponsors included the Kravis Center, Lessing’s Hospitality Group, Michelle Hagerty and many more.

1:

2: Zekera Christopher, Rosemonde Norzea, Andrea Rendon

3: Charlotte Vermaak, Danielle Coffaro

4: Marti LaTour, Diane Quinn

5: David Luther, Claire Schrotenboer, Giovanna Triana, Maddie Andrews

6: Robyn Hankerson-Printemps, Tim Redding, Jamie Kendall

7: Eric Schwartz, Katia Saint-Preux

8: Kaylae Vivies, Natalie Hrycak, Elizabeth Goldstein

9: Bob O’Connell, Linda Roman

10: Nubia Ortega, Kathleen Mason, Carolyn

Wil Romelus, Alicia Queen Trice, Anders Ace Lubeus

Felde

HANLEY FOUNDATION’S BOCA CELEBRITY COOK-OFF

WHERE: Waterstone Resort & Marina

WHAT: The Hanley Foundation’s annual Boca Celebrity Cook-off returned for its third year to raise funds for those with substance abuse disorders. It was the first event of the Boca Chamber of Commerce’s Festival Days event series, which brings together local businesses to make a difference in the community. More than 150 guests enjoyed a friendly cooking competition between local celebrities including George Petrocelli, Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Jan and Matt Savarick and more, which was judged by Boca Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Troy McLellan. Winners included Jan and Matt Savarick, who won the People’s Choice Award, and David Dweck and Bruce Spizler won the blind tasting. Sponsors included Waterstone Resort & Marina and Allegiance Home Health & Rehab.

1: George Petrocelli, Dr. Nathan Nachlas

2: Katie Burke, Pamela Higer-Polani

3: Shaun Borges, Victoria Jones and Troy McLellan

4: Neil Saffer, Andrea Levine O’Rourke

5: Matt Savarick, Jan Savarick

6: Bruce Spizler, David Dweck

January 2025 issue. Vol. 45 No. 1. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Media, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Media is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton, South Florida At Its Best; bocamag. com; Florida Table; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published 8 times a year (September/October, November/December, January, February, March, April, May/June and July/August) by JES Media. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $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.

Please join us for the BOCA RATON REGIONAL HOSPITAL

62nd Annual Ball

AN EVENING WITH

Saturday, February 1, 2025 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Secure your sponsorship or table at https://onecau.se/ hospitalball25 or you can scan the QR code.

Proceeds will expand and enhance patient care services at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

For more information please contact Alyssa Kern at Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation 561-955-3538 or via email at akern@baptisthealth.net. You can also contact Terrie Mooney at 561-955-6634 or via email at terrie.mooney@baptisthealth.net. You will not want to miss one of the most anticipated social events of the year.

Ball Chairs

Dr. Gail Rubin-Kwal and Richard Kwal

Daniele Schachter and Mason Slaine

Honorary Chairs

Rocco and Mary Abessinio

Barbara C. Gutin and Cheryl A. Elliott

Why Choose Us?

Compassionate Care: We provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to fully express yourself and to be heard.

Tailored Solutions: Every journey is unique. We work with you to create a plan that fits your needs.

Proven Techniques: Benefit from evidencebased practices that empower you to overcome challenges.

Serving the South Florida Community for over 14 years

Boca Behavioral Health Solutions, LLC 2499 Glades Road, Suite 108 Boca Raton, FL 33431

About the Club

Forty-five & Counting

One longtime editor adds her birthday wishes to Boca magazine

Written by MARIE SPEED

Given Boca magazine is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, I had to weigh in on my time with the magazine—which was 34 years, start to finish. That sounds like an eternity—but it doesn’t feel like that. I remember what I wore my first day; I remember driving my 1988 Jeep Sahara to the office. I remember all kinds of details from my first years at the magazine, when I learned about Boca and South Florida and hurricanes and charity galas and how very different I was from this new world I was in.

I remember the first time I was invited to a planning meeting for a charity gala; they called it a “brown bag” luncheon, where you were supposed to bring your own lunch. When I got there with my Gracie’s sub in my brown bag, I was starving. I sat down with the other women whom I did not know and proceeded to unwrap my sandwich as the meeting began. To my horror, I realized almost immediately that literally no one else had brought a brown bag of any kind. There was no food. The ladies sat, hands folded, listening; only I had a massive Italian sub looming on the table before me. It was then I realized Boca women did not eat.

There were a million things like that at first. The giant overdone houses we photographed, the tables at the very back of the ballroom relegated to single women at the party, the row of Lamborghinis and Ferraris nestled next to the valet stand at Mizner Park. The Glades Road gas station that sold Dom Perignon.

But all that took a backseat as I dove into my job as editor. Those were the years we started the annual Best of Boca feature, and instituted a review-driven Dining Guide—the only one left in the state, to my knowledge. We started the Sexiest Bald Man in Boca contest, and launched a Cover Girl competition. We invited local residents to do blind taste tests here at the office, from Best Pizza and Best Fried Chicken to Best Cosmopolitan. We expanded from six times a year to eight times a year. We added custom publications and launched a few of our own titles. We became even more involved in the community, hosting Chamber breakfasts, manning booths at all the arts shows, sponsoring and attending charity events. This involvement in the community, long a core value of John and Margaret Shuff’s (read more on page 84), cemented our place in a growing market and earned us the ongoing position as the magazine of record for Boca Raton.

Those years were also formative ones for me here as I became more involved in the community.

I met people, I went to things, I wrote about the people and places and issues facing all of us here. The magazine became my passport to a community that opened its arms and its heart to me as the years passed—and showed a character far beyond the row of Lamborghinis lined up at Mizner Park. One moment stands out in all this, and that was when I was asked to dance for the George Snow Scholarship Fund’s Boca’s Ballroom Battle. I was at a complete loss when it came to raising money. And that’s when the Boca people—some I barely knew—came out of the woodwork to support me, sending money to the George Snow Scholarship Fund in my name. One after another after another. I’ll never forget it.

The history of the magazine is that kind of love affair with its readers. It’s a little part of my history, and a large part of the history of Boca Raton, reflecting the transformation from a town into a city that has supported it for 45 years. I am happy to have been a small part of that, and I wish Boca magazine many more happy birthdays.

Marie Speed

Marie Speed competed in Boca’s Ballroom Battle in 2013

Pick up the phone and renew an old friendship, cultivate existing ones and begin to tear down the barriers that separate you from those you love.”

—John Shuff

A Little Help From My Friends

Sage advice from our late publisher that still lives on in 2025

Written by JOHN SHUFF

The late John Shuff, founder of Boca magazine, wrote his column “My Turn” from 1996 until his death in 2020. In honor of the magazine’s 45 years, we are rerunning his column from November/December 1997.

The holidays have always been benchmarks in my life. In 1962, I was discharged from the Coast Guard two days before Christmas. I still remember waiting for the bus on Fourth Street in Cincin nati, the snow falling thickly, the holiday music in the street, then coming home on Section Road in the snow toward the yellow light of the house, the warm smell of pan-fried chicken enveloping me when Mom opened the door. Four days later I gave my girl, Margaret Mary Scanlan, an engagement ring—the same day her parents celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary.

The last of our parents died this year, and David and Molly have grown up and moved away. From now on it will be, more often than not, Margaret Mary and me, as we enter a time in our lives that brings a new significance to the meaning of friends as family.

We’ve made special friendships in every city we’ve lived in, from Chicago, Cincinnati, Buffalo, New York, Detroit, Belleville and Greenwich, to Boca Raton and Salt Lake City.

Each friend represents a special part of our life together.

Four years later during Christmas, Marg and I moved to Buffalo from Cincinnati, where I began a new career with Capital Cities Broadcasting. In 1970, we adopted our son, David, on December 19. He was wrapped in a light blue blanket, his eyes deer-like and brown, large in the small face. We left the adoption agency, and Margaret Mary placed him in the bassinet in the back seat of the station wagon. It was then, as I started the car, that we both started crying; it had been so long and, now, we had our first baby.

Ten years later, in late December 1980, our family moved from Greenwich, Connecticut, to Boca Raton to start our publishing business. And later, in 1989, we launched the first issue of Salt Lake City magazine during the holiday season.

The holidays seem to have marked these milestones in our lives, changes in the family, new homes and businesses. But this year things will be different, as Margaret Mary recently reminded me.

“I just realized that this will be the first Christmas we will spend without parents or children,” she said.

Norman Douglas once said,“To find a friend, one must close one eye; to keep him, two.” Entering into a friendship involves revealing yourself to another, becoming vulnerable, honest. It’s not easy to admit my failures as a parent, a businessman and a husband; the fact that my early business career success was acquired at the expense of intimacy with my young family; that only after I became disabled would I understand my priorities had been twisted, that they had to be redirected to family and friends.

Just the other day my college roommate called. In 35 years, we had seen each other once and talked on only a handful of occasions. In earlier conversations he had confided that his life had been a rousing financial success and a personal failure. However, after a bitter divorce and dealing with his son’s drug problem, things were much better. The way we talked marked the way we had both changed, the way we were able, after all these years, to give to each other. This holiday season, pick up the phone and renew an old friendship, cultivate existing ones and begin to tear down the barriers that separate you from those you love. This year, our friends will be the special gift in our holiday season, a rediscovery of this extended family, a new way to remember the holidays.

The Shuff family: David, Margaret Mary, Molly and John.

Authentic Italian Cuisine