Boca Raton magazine

Wild Kingdom back ya rd zoos

Stella Mccartney the boca interview

‘Tis The season

arts and ev e nts

or

ma ida

gazine

as

Fl

cia so

ovBeeST magarall 2012zine

bocamag.com

tion

the [only ] boca raton magazine

15

local leaderS

SHaking Up Boca & Beyond

Big, Bold & Brilliant

Holiday Jewelry

$5.95 December/january 2013

1 2>

0

74470 17264

2

Bal Harbour Bal Harbour Shops 9700 Collins Avenue (305) 868-0118 Palm Beach 240 Worth Avenue (561) 655-6655 Hermes.com

TIME ON YOUR SIDE

Berlin · Paris · london · new York · Palm Beach · ToronTo

www.basler-fashion.com

Les Bijoux Mizner Park 306 N Plaza Real Boca Raton, FL 561.361.2311 Lesbijoux.com

pa n e r a i . c o m

design a n d technology.

luminor 1950 10 days gmt - 4 4mm

Available exclusively at Panerai boutiques and select authorized watch specialists.

BOCA RATON BOUTIQUE • 318 Plaza Real • 561-361-6526 PALM BEACH BOUTIQUE • 150 Worth Avenue • 561-833-8955

Boa Bang Green.

Chronograph in 18K red gold adorned with tsavorite, tourmaline and green sapphire baguettes.

Python-print dial set with 8 diamonds.

Rubber and python strap. www.hublot.com •

twitter.com/hublot •

facebook.com/hublot

REINVENT YOURSELF

GRANDE REVERSO LADY ULTRA THIN Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 846/1 There is only one Reverso like yours.

The Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin, symbol of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ingenuity since 1833, is the perfect combination of iconic style and watchmaking genius.

Crafted at the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, its second face immortalises a key moment in the life of today’s perpetually reinvented woman. Choose your moment.

YOU DESERVE A REA L WATCH

Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique Mizner Park 312 Plaza Real Boca Raton, FL 33432 (561) 368-3866 www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

Entirely invented and manufactured in- house fpjourne.com

Octa UTC - Ref. UTC Collection Boutique Universal Time, Coordinated Sapphire Earth disc with current view of time zones division 18K solid Gold movement Red Gold case and black dial

THE BOUTIQUES BOCA RATON 310 North Plaza Real, T +1 561 750 2310, fpjourne@lesbijoux.com PARIS

GENEVA

NEW YORK

MIAMI

TOKYO

BEIJING

HONG KONG

From our family to yours, wishing you an amazing 2013!

Hairstyling Hair Coloring Bridal & speCial events nails pediCures Make-up artistry skin Care

eScApe the ordinAry And experience the extrAordinAry S.W. corner of St. AndreWS Blvd. & GlAdeS rd. | 6100 GlAdeS rd. in BocA rAton 561.482.9610 | WWW.SAlonoASiSofBocA.com | open 7 dAyS A Week connect With uS on SAlonoASiS ~ As Seen On Style Network ~

IWC. Engineered for men.

Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN. Ref. 3880: Contrary to what you might think, a pilot’s life is full of hardship. Whether he’s cruising at 30,000 feet or stuck on an aircraft carrier far from home, there’s plenty he has to leave behind. One thing he’ll never part with, however, is his IWC, and who could blame him? It comes in a 46-mm case made of rugged high-tech ceramic and titanium together with displays that could easily come straight from the cockpit. And that’s not something he’ll give up in a hurry. Mechanical chronograph movement | Self-winding | 68-hour power reserve when fully wound | Date display | Stopwatch function with minutes and seconds | Flyback function | Small hacking seconds | Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields | Screw-in crown | Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides | Water-resistant 6 bar | Ceramic | IWC. Engineered for men.

Journeys to Treasu Acro Every Continent save with exclusive rates from reid travel

AMENITIES INCLUDE: � $1000 Per Suite

SHIPBOARD CREDIT PLUS � Up To $500

SHIPBOARD CREDIT AMEX platinum/centurion � Economy Air

BUSINESS CLASS UPGRADE OPTION � Butler for Everyone � Gratuities � Beverages � Open Seating Dining

EXCEPTIONAL VALUE ON THESE 2013 ITINERARIES May 16 • 12 days • Southampton to Copenhagen • Silver Whisper June 9 • 10 days • Monte Carlo to Athens • Silver Spirit July 22 • 10 days • Alaska, roundtrip Vancouver • Silver Shadow Sept 4 • 12 days • Black Sea, Athens to Istanbul • Silver Cloud All amenities/pricing based on double occupancy, restrictions may apply Single rates available upon request

www.reidtravel.com 561/395-6670 • 800/248-8404 326 E. Palmetto Park Road Boca Raton, Florida

Ships’ Registry: Bahamas

let reid travel reserve the world for you

TM

Florida’s fabulous new Blowout Salons

Step in.

�l�at �ut.

Check for more details and opening dates: www.Cloud10Florida.com

The simple solution for your complex divorce.

Jeffrey D. Fisher, Esq. Odette M. Bendeck, Esq.

Fisher & Bendeck, P.A. B oar d C ertif ie d Mar ital a n d Fa m i ly L aw A t t o r n e y s 501 South Flagler Drive, Suite 450 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Tel. 561.832.1005

For information visit: fisherbendeck.com

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

Only we can spend two years for you to read the date better.

And we hope you will notice.

The Lang 1 hs probbly wo more wrds th y other wtch duri

of the Lang 1, its dil ws elred exctly proportiolly, d  totlly

the pst two decdes d with its fce hs become the mbssdor of the

ew movemet ws developed for this purpose. A closer loo is eeded

Manak. With the ew Gan Lang 1, A. Le & Söhe hs cir-

to discover its ewly developed fcets –  deree of udersttemet tht

cumspectly eriched its lecy: to sfeurd the hrmoious equilibrium

reects the vlues upheld by A. Le & Söhe. www.lange-soehne.com

Mizner Park · 306 North Plaza Real · Boca Raton, FL 33432 · Tel. (561) 361-2311 · www.lesbijoux.com

Be sure to stop by and check out all of our new stores!

Sawgrass Mills will have you saving like it’s nobody’s business. Save big on thousands of name-brand items throughout the mall and shop the new big names that have joined our already stellar line up. You will get more of what you need for less than you’d expect at new stores like Columbia Sportswear, DKNY, Greg Norman, Maxstudio.com Outlet, Steve Madden, and UGG Australia. High style. Low prices. Every day.

at the crossroads of flamingo road and west sunrise boulevard . easy access from i - 595. i - 75 and sawgrass expressway 954-846-2350

In 1839, Vacheron Constantin created the famous pantograph, a mechanical device allowing for principal watchmaking components to be reproduced with total precision. Elevating the quality of its timepieces even further, this invention, which also revolutionized Swiss watchmaking, would propel the brand into the future.

www.vacheron - constantin.com

www.thehourlounge.com

Faithful to the history upon which its reputation is built, Vacheron Constantin endeavours to maintain, repair and restore all watches it has produced since its founding: a sign of excellence and confidence, which continues to elevate the brand’s name and stature.

Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon Calibre 2260 18K 5N pink gold, Silvered opaline dial, Hallmark of Geneva, Hand-wound mechanical movement, Tourbillon, Ă˜ 42 mm RĂŠf. 89000/000R-9655

Happy Holidays!

Whether you’ve been a good girl or bad girl this year, your hair will look amazing!

BOCA RATON’S FIRST BLOW DRY SALON ALL BLOWOUTS wash included . . . $35 Go Signature Straight w/bounce Go Glam Lots of Loose Curls Go Straight Sleek and Smooth

Go Beachy Wavy, Sexy Go Pony Sleek and High Wash Blow & Go™

ADD ONS, MAKEUP, MEMBERSHIPS, PACKAGES AND MORE!!

BOOK APPOINTMENTS ONLINE • WALKINS WELCOME • GIFT CERTIFICATES

The Polo Shoppes • 5030 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton • (561) 989-8911 VISIT US AT BLOW-GO.COM

Celebrating 10 Years of

PLAYERS. PONIES. POLO.

LILA PHOTO

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Polo Every Sunday

January 6 - April 21, 2013 3667 120th Avenue South Wellington, Florida 33414 561.282.5303 | Internationalpoloclub.com

P O L O

C L U B

P A L M

B E A C H

TUCKED AWAY IN THE HEART OF BOCA RATON IS A RARE TREASURE—VERDI JEWELERS. Lovers of exquisite jewelry come from far and wide to this one-of-a-kind boutique, searching for something unique.

With a powerful combination of quality, value and integrity, Verdi Jewelers offers highly personalized service in an intimate environment designed to give clients the undivided attention they deserve.

Our clients have been a vital part of our success for the past 23 years.

It is their ongoing support and loyalty that have allowed us to expand Verdi and to become one of the benchmarks for fine jewelry in Florida.

For those of you who have yet to discover the treasures of Verdi, we invite you to visit us and experience the difference.

Breathtakingly Brilliant

DiamonDs

in

Platinum From our exclusive collection

78 Royal Palm Place • Boca Raton, FL • 561-393-3532 www.verdijewelers.com

IMPERIALE COLLECTION

78 Royal Palm Place • Boca Raton, FL 561-393-3532 • www.verdijewelers.com

CLASSIC COMBINATION 18k gold multicolor sapphire and diamond collection of earrings, bracelets and ring.

78 Royal Palm Place • Boca Raton, FL • 561-393-3532 www.verdijewelers.com

Pure adrenalin

Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Cooper T71/73, 1963

78 Royal Palm Place • Boca Raton, FL 561-393-3532 • www.verdijewelers.com

78 Royal Palm Place • Boca Raton, FL • 561-393-3532 www.verdijewelers.com

LUXURY AT ITS FASH hen the world’s foremost designers want to impress, they come to Town Center at Boca Raton. And so should you. Come discover luxury with all the trimmings.

Famous for the white shirt, she introduced her full line of highly styled natural fabric and fiber products here at Town Center at Boca Raton.

The distinctive tartan pattern graces an exceptionally diverse array of fine clothing and accessories.

Bold contemporary Italian stylings inspired by the timeless beauty of Greek and Roman art, in jewelry, watches, handbags, and more.

A rich Italian heritage of writing instruments, portfolios and desk sets making its U.S. debut at Town Center at Boca Raton.

Master watchmakers train for 10 years to develop the skills to build timepieces revered the world over for precision and beauty.

An international, boutiqueflavored brand of clothing and accessories from the winner of countless design and humanitarian awards.

One of Madison Avenue’s first boutiques specializing in leather and clothing, it’s one of only 10 stores in the country.

Champion of up-andcoming young designers and the first retailer to introduce the creations of Coco Chanel to the U.S. Menswear that blurs the line between fashion and art with masterful employment of design, aesthetics and creativity.

Creating wardrobes from one-on-one consultations, individualized service, and a true passion for of-the-moment trends.

Having created its first retail boutique at Town Center at Boca Raton, it has come to be known for its highly collectible watches, sunglasses, and jewelry.

Colorful dresses, tunics, resortwear, accessories and footwear inspired by the authentic Palm Beach lifestyle.

Since the 1800’s, creator of fine, fashionable, and functional handmade luggage, clothing, jewelry, and accessories.

The renowned classic American designer of the latest jet-set styles in men’s and women’s apparel and accessories.

SHIONABLE FINEST. The company whose eminently collectible writing instruments and timepieces evoke the spirit of the quest for perfection.

First watch on the moon in 1969 and choice of NASA, these timepieces set the standard for precision and good looks.

One of only ten stores in the U.S., with award-winning designs in timepieces, sunglasses, footwear, and more.

From the iconic style of Polo to the ultimate luxury of Purple Label, here are legendary looks from a legendary designer.

Featuring beautiful shoes, handbags and accessories for the stylish modern woman, this is the Brazilian brand’s first U.S. store.

In its third century of crafting exquisitely designed products known the world over for their sheer grace and beauty.

In everything from its sportswear to its home furnishings, the signature style says wind down, kick back, and chill out.

Caftans, cardigans, tunics, children’s swimwear, jewelry, handbags, shoes, and sunglasses in a preppiebohemian style.

Dedicated to excellence for over 166 years in the manufacture of mechanical watches, its first U.S. boutique debuted here at Town Center at Boca Raton.

The premier designer’s only full retail store in Florida, with high-end, high-quality basics for the style-conscious wardrobe.

isit us this holiday season and luxuriate in our impressive mix of upscale and elite specialty shops. Six outstanding department stores invite your consideration, along with more than 220 stores to discover. Dine in one of our many restaurants, from The Capital Grille and Legal Sea Foods to our Cafes at Boca.

Join us. For the holidays. For the fashion. For the luxury.

Opening Night • February 15 Private Preview Benefiting

HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Audrey Gruss HDRF Founder & Chairman

BE ABSOLUTELY SMASHING THIS HOLIDAY!

S

STYLISH ATTENTIONS, WARMLY RECEIVED. Expect a warm reception when you create your winter wardrobe from style of exceptional quality and appeal, attending to fashion’s every little detail.

BLOOMINGDALE’S • MACY’S • NEIMAN MARCUS • NORDSTROM • SAKS FIFTH AVENUE • SEARS 6000 GLADES ROAD, BOCA RATON, FL 33431 SHOPPING LINE® 561.368.6000

The Equestrians Golf Club

The Wanderers Club, named for the winning team of the first United States Open Polo Championship, is a classic pairing of golf and polo. This perfect blend of sport and lifestyle is a welcome retreat for every member of the family. Located in the heart of North America’s premier equestrian community.

For membership inquiries, call The Wanderers Club at 561.795.3501. info@wanderersclubwellington.com • wanderersclubwellington.com 1900 Aero Club Drive • Wellington, FL 33414

Introducing Maus&Hoffwoman.

By popular demand we have greatly increased our Women’s Collection.

Come in and be surprised.

Your first time won’t be your last.

Surprisingly PALM BEACH

FORT LAUDERDALE

NAPLES

WWW.MAUSANDHOFFMAN.COM

Brand New Name 12 Years in Boca Raton • 26 Years in Business The Finest Quality, Service & Reputation

The New Diva Collection in 18 karat Rose Gold

Always One Step Ahead

jewelers • designers • gemologists

Mizner Park 421 S. Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432 | 561-210-5222 | www.CristinoJewelers.com

Palm Beach | worth-avenue.com

Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors” Barron’s Magazine Bloomberg Top Wealth Managers Wealth Manager Magazine Best 250 Financial Advisors in America Worth Magazine

Access to Assets Shouldn’t Be a Concern.

It Should be a Given.

Wealth Management starts with transparency. We believe that financial planning isn’t about taking your money and investing it. It’s about investing your money and delivering returns on it. Which is why we insist that our clients maintain complete access to their money and assets, never take a commission and implement only customized financial planning and investment strategies. As fiduciaries, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of responsibility and trust. Your interests come first — always.

Call us today to learn more. horancm.com

(855) To-Horan (864-6726) • (561) 350-1410

Download the free ROYAL PALM PLACE App today for a complete lifestyle guide to Royal Palm Place!

Available for both iPhone and Android

OďŹƒcial Partner of

We moved to West Boca!

Celebrating 32 years in Boca & Delray.

Quality – Integrity – Reliability 21073 Powerline Road, #37 — Boca Raton, FL 33433 561-994-3330 – DavidSternFineJewelry@gmail.com – DavidSternFineJewelry.com

Holiday Party

You’re Invited: Thursday, December 6th, 6 p.m. - until the martinis run out!

By invitation only, please call or register online.

Quality – Integrity – Reliability 21073 Powerline Road, #37 — Boca Raton, FL 33433 561-994-3330 – DavidSternFineJewelry@gmail.com – DavidSternFineJewelry.com

December/January 2012-13, Vol. 32, Issue 7

features

132

The Influencers

Meet the individuals—some familiar, some surprising, all of them passionate—who are helping to chart a course for Boca’s future in a variety of categories. by kevin kaminski, emily minor, marie speed and john thomason

144

BrIng IT on home

Step inside 10 dazzling and distinct Florida rooms and find out what makes these interior spaces as functional as they are striking. by brad mee

154

call of The WIld

Panthers, cheetahs and other wildlife populate the neighborhoods of western Palm Beach County thanks to the animal advocates that maintain sanctuaries in residential communities.

AAron Bristol

by lisa lucas

A bengal tiger patrols his turf at McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington. when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

45

99 dec./jan. 2012-13 vol. 32 no. 7

89

departments

56Mail

Readers comment on articles in recent issues of Boca Raton.

58

Editor’s lEttEr

An e-mail from an old friend of the magazine reminds us that the connection to Boca Raton can be an emotional one. by kevin kaminski

61

CurrEnts

Boca Raton keeps you connected to South Florida with the latest trends, tips and news in four categories.

61 shop: Add the following unique items to your holiday shopping list.

67 Body: Treat yourself to the latest spa specials; local health news 75 travEl: Experience the Dominican charms at Casa de Campo; resort buzz 81 a&E: Holiday entertainment; highseason Hot List; poetry comes to life

89

Florida taBlE

Our food editor whets your holiday appetite with the Rolls-Royce of epicurean combinations—Champagne and caviar.

Also, we feature our cocktail of the month, check out what’s happening on the local restaurant front and put calzones to the Challenge.

99

stylE

Brilliant pieces from the area’s most dynamic jewelers take center stage in a dazzling holiday showcase.

46

[ bocamag.com ]

106FaCEs

223 spEEd BuMps

Meet a transgender radio host fighting the good fight, one of the area’s premier charity auctioneers, and a Boca woman on a mission abroad to change the lives of victims of sex trafficking.

The author vows to make some changes in 2013.

by kevin kaminski, marie speed and john thomason

It’s the season to give back to the community, a spirit of philanthropy embodied by Joan Wargo.

114 Q&a

by marie speed

224 My turn by john shuff

She’s the daughter of rock royalty, but Stella McCartney has made a name of her own as one of the fashion world’s top designers.

167

dining guidE

Don’t leave home without it—our comprehensive guide to the best restaurants in South Florida, including Tanzy in Boca and Union in Delray Beach.

209 our town

Spend time with the local people who make our community so special— including an eighth-grader who turned a bullying experience into a business—and learn where to donate or volunteer during the holiday season.

by kevin kaminski, cassie morien, marie speed and john thomason

215 pEoplE

You might just see some familiar faces in our snapshots from talked-about social events in and around Boca Raton.

On the cOver

PhOtOgraPher: Billy Coleman StyliSt: David Fittin/artistmanagement.net MOdel: Francieli Morawski, Mega Model Management/Miami art directOrS: Lori Pierino, Kathleen Ross hair and MakeuP: Davide Calcinai/ artist-management.net ManicuriSt: Claudia Molano from Salon Oasis FaShiOn: Bellarri earrings in 18-karat gold with diamonds and gemstones, $10,800; Garavelli spiral band in 18-karat gold with black, champagne and white diamonds, $9,300; Garavelli necklace in 18-karat gold with diamonds, $12,500; ring in 18-karat rose gold with diamonds and black onyx, $11,950; all pieces from cristino Fine Jewelry, Mizner Park, Boca Raton (561/210-5222)

by cassie morien december/january

190 YEARS AGO

A MAN BET ON HORSES AND CHANGED WATCHMAKING FOREVER .

In 1821, Nicolas Rieussec changed watchmaking forever with the invention of the first chronograph. Today, the Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph Automatic is a tribute to 190 years of the chronograph’s technical evolution. 43 mm stainless steel case, skelleted horns and sapphire crystal back, black calfskin strap with white stitching. Crafted in the Montblanc Manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland.

town center at boca raton •

visit and shop montblanc . com

bocamag.com WEB ExTRAS

Check out these bonus items related to stories in the December/January issue of Boca Raton and events in our area: STELLA COMES TO BOCA: Boca Raton takes viewers behind the scenes at the Dec. 3 appearance by Stella McCartney, as the famed fashion designer debuts her spring readyto-wear collection—as well as her store within a store—at Saks Fifth Avenue inside Town Center at Boca Raton.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 2013:

A&E editor John Thomason counts down his 10 best picks for New Year’s Eve events in and around Boca.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Food editor Bill Citara recaps the culinary year in Palm Beach County.

THE BOCA MINUTE: Video

editor Jen Stone keeps viewers in the know on where to go with the lowdown on upcoming events.

Models showcase the spring 2013 Resort collection of Stella McCartney (far right).

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Learn more about the organizations in and around town where you can donate time or make contributions during the holiday season.

BLOG CENTRAL

Stay connected to the community with our team of bloggerS: A&E: John Thomason takes readers inside the arts with concert, exhibition and movie reviews, cultural news and profiles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Dining: Bill Citara breaks down the tri-county restaurant scene— from new reviews to the

48

[ bocamag.com ]

latest buzz—every Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

DElrAy BEAch: Marie Speed reports every Thursday on news and events in the Delray world.

Shopping: Discover upcoming trunk shows, store openings,

money-saving tips and fashion trends Tuesday through Thursday with Jo Peswani and Cassie Morien.

community: Special correspondent Rachel Almeida and our in-house team keep you on top of news in and around Boca throughout the week.

december/january

an engagement to remember

Exclusively at

800.4mayors mayors.com | miami fort lauderdale palm beach orlando boca raton tampa bay atlanta

bocamag.com The Naked TruTh featuring Angela Lutin

Last year, throughout high season here in Boca, I attended several parties and mixers specifically for singles. Each experience was worse than the last. I’m an attractive woman in my mid-30s—but I’m terrible with first impressions. I fumble my words, I’m awful at small talk, and then I withdraw.

This year, I’ve vowed to do better. Any advice?

—Looking for a boost in Boynton Just like a home run hitter takes frequent batting practice, a single woman needs serious flirting practice, especially before an important event where everyone in the room is available. Begin swinging the bat now in preparation.

The more comfortable you become talking to strangers, the more confident you will be. Strike up conversations everywhere—the market, the post office, a restaurant.

Anywhere you can practice your skill, do so. The subject is not as relevant as gaining a comfort level with impromptu communication.

When party season rolls around, these five tips will help you impress all would-be suitors:

1. Be prepared with three good conversation starters.

Walk into the room able to talk about a current event in the news, something unique that you find interesting and a humorous anecdote that would engage anyone.

2. Perfect your bio elevator pitch. In 30 seconds or less, be able to articulate what you do and who you are. Get it down cold. This is most often where people stumble and lose the conversation. If you don’t know who you are, then why should they?

3. Talk less, listen more.

Rather than fumbling over words, use fewer of them.

Don’t try to fill every second with conversation. Let the other person lead. Ask a question, and let them

reply. Then ask a relevant follow-up question.

4. Good dialogue is like a Ping-Pong match. Don’t make it an interview. It’s OK to cut your losses and move on. If one conversation does not go smoothly, not all is lost. Instead of withdrawing, try again with someone new and with a different approach.

5. Have fun. Don’t put expectations on yourself to perform perfectly. I can assure you that everyone in the room is feeling a few butterflies.

Most importantly, remember that it’s a numbers game. The more often you swing, the better your chances. As Babe Ruth so famously said, “Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.”

Do you LIKE Boca Raton magazine?

Write on our Facebook wall: [ ] MarTha Karas Licari shared that she loves Boca Raton magazine.

abouT The Naked TruTh

Follow Boca Raton’s popular dating blogger, Angela Lutin, every Thursday at bocamag. com. No topic is off limits for the single mom, television personality, relationship coach and advice columnist, who shoots from the hip about everything from dating in the workplace to problems in the bedroom. Send your questions to nakedtruth@bocamag.com.

ENTER TO WIN!

Visit our Facebook page each month for chances to win tickets, gift cards and more!

[ ] MThreeiMage thanked us for always keeping them up to date with all the latest and greatest news. [ ] Brad WaLKer and Tracey sachLis both participated in our Tastemakers of Mizner Park giveaway and won a pair of passports to the food and wine event.

Follow us

[ ] KiM canavan wrote that she loves Sunday evening happy hour at Delray’s Buddha Sky Bar, in response to our blog about its expansion plans. [ ] Marie Therese MiLio sanTo congratulated us on our recent Florida Magazine Association honors.

50

[ bocamag.com ]

/ bocamag december/january

Boca Raton, town centeR Mall, 5800 Glades Rd. call 561.393.9100, VIsIt saKs.coM/BocaRaton, download tHe saKs aPP oR FInd Us on FaceBooK, twItteR and saKsPoV.coM.

MANOLO BLAHNIK

BOCA RATON

KAREN ZAMBOS JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

the [only] boca raton magazine group editor-in-chief

RIcK OwENS LILIES MAJESTIc FIORENTINI + BAKER HANdwRITTEN L’AGENcE

marie speed

editor

kevin kaminski

assistant editor

john thomason

web editor

cassie morien video editor

jen stone

senior art director

lori pierino

art director

kathleen ross

Celebrating 25 Years

photographer

aaron bristol production manager

ROYAL PALM PLACE BOCA RATON 561-367-9600 LAS OLAS FT. LAUDERDALE 954-524-2585

adrienne acton

production assistant

lisa law

contributing writers

lisa lucas, melissa malamut, john shuff

contributing photographers

HELMUT LANG

deborahjames_brm1212.indd 1

10/19/12 10:02 AM

SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE | SAVE

billy coleman, steven martine, mary mccartney, cristina morgado, scot zimmerman food editor

bill citara

home editor

mizner park boca raton, fl 561.447.4545

a unique boutique for stylish kids

OVER 87 Designers including:

cool savings!

25

SAVE

%

your purchase

•True Religion •Robert Graham •Splendid •Juicy Couture •Luna Luna •and more... girls/boys clothing from infants to 14.

please mention this ad

Excludes Sales Items | One per customer | Exp. Dec. 24, 2012

SugarPlumFairyBoca.com

brad mee

editorial/web interns

rachel almeida, ashley reiner

account managers

georgette evans, candace rojas national account manager

carey mckearnan

director of special publications

bruce klein jr.

special projects manager

gail eagle

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

magazine@bocamag.com (general queries) editor@bocamag.com (editorial) Boca Raton magazine is published seven times a year

by JES Publishing. The entire contents of Boca Raton magazine is 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.

Online Code: BOCAMAG25

52 sugarplumfairy_brm1212.indd [ b o c a m a g . c o m ]1

10/17/12 12:15 PM

december/january

JES publishing

president/publisher

margaret mary shuff group editor-in-chief

marie speed

controller

jeanne greenberg

circulation director

david brooks

subscription services

david shuff

JES publishing

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

Boca Raton / Delray Beach / Mizner’s Dream / Worth Avenue / Boca Raton Chamber Annual / Salt Lake / Utah Bride and Groom / Utah Style & Design / O.C. Tanner

Florida Magazine association 2012 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best feature (Delray Beach) best photographic essay (Boca Raton)

silver award best overall online presence (Boca Raton) best use of photography (Boca Raton)

bronze award best in-depth reporting (Boca Raton)

2011 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best new magazine (Delray Beach) best custom publication (Worth Avenue)

bronze award best overall magazine (Boca Raton)

2010 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton)

silver award best written magazine (Boca Raton)

2009 charlie awards charlie award (first place) hun ti Ghos t

sout h nG in

Fl or id

M ida

agazine A ss

BeS

tion

T overal honors l

silver/bronze awards com

2003-2011

boca mag.

best written magazine (Silver: Boca Raton) best in-depth reporting (Bronze: Boca Raton)

the

a rato [only] boc

n magazin

e

2008 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton) best single, original B&W photo (Boca Raton)

Autumn Fashion

silver/bronze awards best editorial/commentary/opinion (Silver: Boca Raton) best overall design (Silver: Boca Raton) best department (Silver: Boca Raton) best overall use of photography (Bronze: Boca Raton) best department (Bronze: Boca Raton) best in-depth reporting (Bronze: Boca Raton)

when U want to know

wn for ShowdeoSidency the Pr lynn

bate Final De sts the sity ho univer

socialmedia_brm1112.indd 1

Be Social & Join our network

10/11/12 11:12 AM

a

Flo r

saramique_brm1212.indd 1

ia oc

best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton)

we post daily updates featuring shopping, dining and a&e picks, local buzz and more.

@Bocamag

/Bocamag

Bocamag.com [ b o c a m a g .9/17/12 c o m ]9:45 AM 53

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

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

[ advertising resources ] Take advantage of Boca Raton’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, contact manager Carey McKearnan (carey@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 Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

[ story queries ] Boca Raton magazine values the concerns and interests of our readers. Story queries for our print version should be submitted by e-mail to Marie Speed (editor@ bocamag.com) or Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag. com). We try to respond to all queries, but due to the large volume that we receive, this may not be possible.

[ web queries ] Submit information regarding our website and online calendar to Cassie Morien (cassie@bocamag.com).

[ letters ]

WILD AND WONDERFUL WOMENSWEAR GARDEN SHOPS 7050 W PALMETTO PARK RD (AT POWERLINE) BOCA RATON FL 33433 (561) 447 4117

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

Letter to the Editor Boca Raton magazine 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

[ arts & entertainment ]

fillyandcolt_brm1212.indd 1

Sign up today!

10/15/12 3:23 PM

Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding fundraisers, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to A&E editor John Thomason (john.thomason@bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming Arts & Entertainment section is three months before publication (e.g., to list an event in July/August, submit info by April 20).

[ dining guide ] Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Marie Speed or Kevin Kaminski.

e-newsletter

[ people ]

Weekly dining, shopping + entertainment picks from the editors of bocamag.com 54 thescoop_brm1112.indd [ b o c a m a g . c o1m ]

9/17/12 9:47 AM

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).

E-mail images to people@bocamag.com.

december/january

[ directory ] tHANK yoU For SUBScriBiNG to BOCA RATON MAGAZiNe! We appreciate your business, and we want you to get the most from your subscription. This customer guide will help you contact us for all your subscription needs.

[ first issue ] Your first issue will be mailed four-to-six weeks after receipt of your order. Subsequent issues will arrive every other month and monthly in November and February.

Purchase $250 worth of gift cards and receive a Seagate Signature Beach Tote.* Enjoy 50% savings on Elemis’ limited edition holiday gift sets.*

[ 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 e-mail to: subscriptions@bocamag.com.

[ if you have 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 e-mail 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, indicating the issue date you would like. The cost of each issue including shipping and handling is $9.95.

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards “2012 Top 75 Hotel Spas in the U.S.”

561.665.4950 | theseagatespa.com Open daily 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Located at The Seagate Hotel & Spa 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach * While supplies last. State of Florida, Department of Health, Massage Establishment. License # MM 23691

[ 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.

SHG 33324 DecJan_BocaMag_Spa_Hlf Pg_4c_MECH.indd 1 seagate-spa_brm1212.indd 1

10/19/12 4:28 PM 10/19/12 4:58 PM

[ 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 E-mail: subscriptions@bocamag.com Write: Boca Raton magazine Subscription Department 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

when U want to know

3DSquared_brm1212.indd 1

AM [ b o c a m a 10/19/12 g . c o m 10:03 ] 55

mail Hail to tHe Countess On behalf of the birthday gala honorary chairs, gala chairs and committee, thank you for the wonderful and descriptive article, “The Countess Turns 100” [Our Town, September/October issue].

Also, on behalf of the National Society of Arts and Letters, I sincerely thank you for the great coverage of the Red Rose Dinner Gala [People section in the same issue]. There is a great photo by Barbara McCormick of our honoree, Jan McArt, with Christine Lynn and John Gallo. It is such an honor to celebrate the talents and lives of our competition winners and the NSAL Lynn University scholarships for strings, piano and theater arts winners.

I am so proud of the staff of Boca Raton magazine and your recent award for being voted the very best magazine in Florida by the [Florida Magazine Association] for the [fourth time in five years].

Congratulations to one and all.

Alyce E. Erickson Boca Raton

Kula Kudos

209 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432 561.392.1902 evelynrolleder_brm1212.indd 1

10/22/12 1:42 PM

[Irwin Kula’s] views are very interesting and thoughtful [Q&A with Irwin Kula, Sept. 5, A&E blog]. People are looking for God in different ways. Many current religious leaders have not figured out how to help individuals cope and reach out to God and really understand Him in their everyday lives.

Mimi bocamag.com

salon talK It is amazing to see [so many female] entrepreneurs investing money in a business they believe in [“Backyard Blow Dry Salons,” Sept. 5, Shopping blog].

With their expertise, I am positive that they will not only be the best in their field, but they will need to expand before they know it! Congratulations—and thank you Blow and Go for starting out by giving back to Boca Raton Regional Hospital. You are [an inspiration] to all female entrepreneurs!

Alyssa Vigeant bocamag.com

56 groveopticians1_brm1212.indd [ bocamag.com ]1

10/16/12 9:20 AM

december/january

Family First First and foremost, I want to thank John Shuff for his piece on the importance of family: “Taking Ownership.” [My Turn, September/October issue] This was my first time reading Boca Raton magazine, and what an incredible first impression!

I must admit that our family unit has not been perfect. However, I’m not sure any family could claim perfection. Relationships always require continual effort, and therefore family is always a work in progress.

Growing up, we spent every dinner at the table, but I had an alcoholic father, and meals were nothing short of torture. But, my mother, sister, and I grew closer because of the hardships we faced, especially when we moved away from him four years ago.

One year ago, my mother remarried, and it was time to learn a new family with new people. In the beginning, when we were all making an effort to learn [about] each other, we ate as many meals together as possible.

Eventually, our meals usually found us in front of the television, not really speaking to one another.

John Shuff is spot on. We are divided in this country on so many levels—the country at the top, all the way down to community, and then family at the bottom. It seems we have lost sight of what is really important. ... I fear that people are forgetting how to communicate effectively face to face. We are losing that essential skill it takes to forge bonds with humans, even with those who live under the same roof.

And yet, the old saying still holds truth: We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. The family unit really is a microcosm in which you can view the state of the country. A pyramid cannot balance on its point. We need to rebuild from the bottom up. Family, then community, all the way up to country.

When I discovered this article, I took it home and insisted everyone sit at the table for dinner. We talked. We laughed. We shared. We thought. We grew closer.

Since reading this article, we have made sure that every dinner is around the table, not the TV, and no cell phones are allowed.

A seemingly simple thing as coming together for dinner is really so much more.

It’s bringing our family back together. And your reminder of the importance of fighting for that is such a gift.

Meghan Mooney e-mail when U want to know

wyndhamdeerfield_brm1212.indd 1

groveopticians2_brm1212.indd 1

10/22/12 12:39 PM

[ b o c a m a g10/16/12 . c o m ]9:20 AM 57

editor’sletter [ by kevin kaminski ]

Welcome Home W

hen regional magazines like Boca Raton are at their best, they connect readers and community with vignettes that entertain, educate and inspire. Often, as is the case with this holiday issue of Boca Raton, we’ll push all three of those buttons in a single story or department.

Look no further this month than “The Influencers” (page 132), which introduces readers to 15 local difference-makers helping to steer Boca and beyond toward a brighter future through avenues that range from business and research to activism and philanthropy. Or the profiles in our Faces section (starting on page 106), which, in the span of a few pages, drop readers into the worlds of gala auctioneering, transgenderism and global sex trafficking—including a harrowing first-person account of the latter, unspeakable atrocity.

From time to time, we’re also reminded that Boca Raton can connect readers and community on a far more personal level.

Four years ago in this space, we shared with readers the story of Wayne Brouhard.

He and his wife, Michelle, originally from California, had vacationed at a hotel in South Florida that contained a copy of Boca Raton. The coverage and advertisers in that particular issue, Wayne told us at the time, played a major role in the Brouhards’ decision to move to Boca in the summer of 2002. He and Michelle would become faithful subscribers to our publication.

But in the winter of 2008, Wayne wrote to tell us that he was canceling his subscription and moving back to California with his young son, Tyler, then 3. For the previous two years, Michelle had valiantly battled stage 4 breast cancer, but the disease eventually spread to her bones and liver.

Wayne’s wife of 13 years died in October

58

[ bocamag.com ]

2007, just shy of her 40th birthday. Michelle had cared for Tyler throughout the ordeal, stopping in the final weeks only because the cancer left her bones too fragile to risk holding her son.

In the days leading up to Michelle’s funeral in Seattle, Brouhard was blindsided by yet another emotional blow. His father had died at age 88.

In his letter four years ago, Wayne wrote that Boca Raton always would have a special place in his heart—but that he needed to take Tyler out West, raise him with the support of family and friends, and try, somehow, to mend his aching heart.

We hadn’t heard from Wayne since. But then, just a few weeks before our deadline for this issue, a familiar e-mail address appeared in my inbox with two jpeg images.

“I have kept the old copies of Boca Raton magazine so Tyler [could understand] our interest and connection to our dream of living in Boca—and the magazine that sparked the interest years before [he and Michelle ultimately moved there],” Wayne wrote. “The connection to Florida still draws us back for a yearly vacation.

“I have healed enough that I’d like to resume my magazine subscription. ... Warm regards.”

We’re honored to welcome Wayne back to Boca Raton. We’re equally honored, and forever indebted, to all of you for supporting a magazine that never stops striving to connect this community in ways that leave a lasting impression.

Thank you—and happy holidays.

Wayne Brouhard with son Tyler

december/january

porsche design

porsche design smartphone

ß9981

Timeless style by Porsche Design meets state-of-the-art technology by BlackBerry ®: the exclusive P´9981 Smartphone. Communication as the interplay between elegant design and intelligent technology. For all who make decisions with style. porsche-design.com Aventura Mall | Nordstrom Court | 305 792 0091 Town Center at Boca Raton | Fountain Court | 561 391 0790

ExCEllENCE

In academics.

In athletics.

In the arts.

IN lIfE.

Pine Crest students earn numerous national academic, science and technology awards. They win dozens of district and state championships, in athletics and the arts. They perform in world-class venues and compete with worldclass athletes.

Pine Crest graduates are accomplished scholars, authors, patent holders and philanthropists. They climb mountains, swim lakes, study nanoparticles, and write award-winning plays. They star on TV, on Broadway, on basketball courts, and on football fields. They work for the government, the media, not-for-profits and multinational corporations. They are successful entrepreneurs, lawyers, military officers and medical professionals. And more.

Pine Crest students and alumni share one thing--a commitment to excellence in all that they do.

open house Wednesday, JanuaRy 23 u 5:00-7:00pm

Please email us at pcadmit@pinecrest.edu or call 954.492.4103 to RSVP.

Boca Raton campus 2700 st. andrews Boulevard Boca Raton, Florida 33434

WWW.PINEC R ES T. ED U

currents [ by cassie morien ]

shop Tech and Talk

Check out our holiday gift ideas for the techie on your list, including smart phone monogramming here in Boca.

Also: Three fashion experts discuss the hottest trends for spring 2013.

Push my button Boca’s Bliss Monogramming offers customized smart phone cases and iPhone home buttons.

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

61

currentsSHOP [1]

Geek CHIC Treat friends and family to a

[2]

variety of stylish technology gadgets this holiday season.

[3]

[4]

HOLIDAY BLISS

[6]

[5]

[7]

[8]

Shopping for personalized items—or just need an instant dose of happiness?

Stop by Bliss Monogramming (111 E. Boca Raton Road, 561/395-7048, blissmonogramming.com).

Owner Diane Bliss (pictured) has been creating candy-colored, monogrammed items for 30-plus years.

“Nothing is safe with us, with monogramming,” Bliss says with a laugh. “If it’s white or blank, we’ll put a monogram on it.”

The local company has been embellishing smart phone cases for the past four years but recently began creating initials for the iPhone and iPad’s home button.

“They’ve been really popular because everybody loves to add a little personality to their phone without spending a whole bunch of money,” Bliss says.

For only $3, Bliss will create four vinyl home buttons with one, two or three letters, in the color of your choice.

“Turquoise is really hot right now,” Bliss says. “I think lime green will be good for Christmas.”

The shop also has a plethora of other products to be customized, including iPad hard and soft cases, wine glasses and holiday ornaments.

[1] Poodle USB hub, $12, fredflare.com [2] POP phone handset, $29.95, fredflare.com [3] Gizmon iCA iPhone case, $55, fredflare. com [4] Crayola ColorStudio HD, $29.99, Apple, Town Center at Boca Raton [5] The iPhone Photo Printer, $159.95, hammacher. com [6] Electric Friends, $69.99, Staples, Boca Raton [7] iHome iPod boombox, $199, Urban Outfitters, Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens [8] mamaRoo baby music station, $199.99–$239.99, Rooms for a Prince & Princess, Boca Raton 62

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

MORE, MORE, MORE. STILL FOR LESS.

JetSuite adds another private jet option to its fleet of Phenom 100s with the introduction of the JetSuite Edition CJ3, available for all flights east of the Mississippi. Fly further than before, with room for 6 passengers and onboard WiFi, all for only about 15% more than our Phenom 100 fares. Generate your guaranteed quote online today.

866 -779-7770 JetSuite.com ©2012 JetSuite® All Rights Reserved. All flights operated by JetSuite Air, FAR Part 135 Certificate #9SUA667M. CJ3 service currently offered East of the Mississippi. Flights further West possible but subject to higher rates. For lowest cost service area go to JetSuite.com.

ARGUS PLATINUM RATED

currentsshop

fashion forecast: spring 2013

Three fashion experts weigh in on the upcoming spring season— and their insights may surprise you.

Jacque ellis TiTle: Assistant vice president/corporate special events at Simon Property Group Background: Ellis has more than 16 years of event-planning experience; she helped to create Simon Fashion Now in 2008.

TransiTions: “Designers are doing a lot of transition trends from season to season [versatile lines that would work in more than one season.] I was happy to see it again from fall [2012] to spring 2013. I think with the rules not being as rigid, it gives the fashionista more ways to incorporate different looks.”

LeaTher: “Spring leather was shown a lot on the runway. It’s different from fall, with spring hues and some crackle finishes. Lots of that leather detail is done in a lighter weight, and we were seeing it in jackets, dresses, and even skirts.”

CoLor: “From a color standpoint, aquatic blues, pinks and peachy creams were certainly shown [at New York Fashion Week], and then a lot of the black-andwhite combination.” sheer: “For those more daring, there are a lot of sheer blouses and sheer detailing, offering some of that peek-a-boo effect with cutouts. There are ways to wear sheer if you like to be more covered up. [Otherwise], there will be opportunities, with cutouts and sheer detailing, to show a little skin.” sTripes: “I noticed that on the skirts, off-the-shoulder tops—and even gowns— there seemed to be a lot of standout stripes, both vertical and horizontal.”

64

[ bocamag.com ]

caThy ann sauer & BoBBy WollenBerg TiTles: Owners/buyers for Nina Raynor Background: The venerable Delray boutique (1031 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/2765714)—which carries specialty evening designs, special-occasion dresses and sportswear pieces—is celebrating its 55th anniversary.

news in hues ■ “Color, color, color. Orange is huge,” Wollenberg says. “We are not calling it orange though; it’s ‘tangerine.’”

■ “Other colors this year are yellows, cobalt blues, and greens,” Sauer adds.

in The deTaiLs ■ “There are a lot of strapless and oneshoulder gowns. ... Gowns with little belts, you will see a lot of that,” Sauer says. “Peplums are a huge trend. We saw peplums on jackets and dresses. We saw a couple of them on coats. ... Dresses are back; sheath dresses are going to stay.”

■ “The Chanel influences are everywhere, as it always will be,” Wollenberg adds.

vinTage Looks ■ “Because of the ‘Downton Abbey’ [series] and ‘The Great Gatsby’ [movie] coming out, some designers are creating a vintage sort of look,” Sauer says.

To Trend or noT To Trend ■ “We always try to stay current,” Wollenberg says. “We touch on trends, but our store is never going to be the trendiest store around.”

■ “You have to be careful with trends,” Sauer adds. “It’s better to just go classic or be true to yourself, like what color looks good on you, or what silhouette looks good.

Don’t try to get too trendy; trends come and go. What we sell are investment pieces.”

spencer anTle TiTle: Creative director/founder of Island Company Background: The international resort-wear brand is headquartered in West Palm Beach, with a beautiful boutique in Palm Beach (311 Worth Ave., 561/655-3231).

survivaL TaCTiCs: “The idea is that if we live to see 2013, everybody is going to want to be clean, comfortable and classic. Because the idea of wearing leopard print after possibly being nuked into oblivion is probably going to be a lot less comforting than wearing soft linen and a yummy jersey.”

From isLand Company: “[2013 is] going to be classics that you can keep wearing five years from now. Some of the small changes for us are creating a bit more Mediterranean cocktail of sorts; it may have a Greek-Med or Capri [vibe] but still feel like it would do just as well in Nantucket or St. Barts. Not only [will] you feel like you fit in, but you’ll feel like you are pushing the envelope.” don’T seCond guess: “The real reality is, if you followed the way that you eat, you would dress very plainly. You would dress comfortably and wear what suits your personality correctly. But people tend to second-guess their decision making.” originaLiTy: “If you are original, you should have the ability to be weird. Look at Betsey Johnson. Look at Marc Jacobs, before he got rid of heroin and found yoga.

The guy was wearing a pair of beat-up old chinos, and he had a long haircut and some knobby little Woody Allen glasses.

Now he’s a rock star, but it’s still the same look. Tom Ford, he must have the exact size razor for his scruff, the same black shirt buttoned down to his navel, which he wears every single day. Steve Jobs, what did he wear? A black turtleneck. Those are the people you want to run toward.” december/january

currents [ by melissa malamut and lisette hilton]

body Treat Yourself

The holiday season is filled with its share of joys, but the planning, the cooking, the parties and the out-oftown visitors also can induce a bit of stress. Turn the page to unwind at one of the area’s top spas—where relaxation is definitely on the menu.

The Four Seasons Signature Massage

when

want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

67

currentsBODY

Spa Central The special treatments/rooms at the following rejuvenation retreats in and around Boca promise plenty of stress-busting relief.

SeaSide Cabana MaSSage Where: Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach ContaCt: 100 S. Ocean Blvd., 561/5336000, ritzcarlton.com What: Listen to the sound of the waves while, for 60 minutes, a massage therapist uses a combination of Swedish, deep-tissue and Shiatsu techniques to take the stresses of life away.

PriCe: $240

UltiMate Spa FaCial Where: Eden Day Spa ContaCt: 213 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, 561/447-7700, edendayspa.net What: This all-encompassing 85-minute treatment already includes the typical “add-ons”—refreshing eye treatment,

exfoliating lip treatment, and collagen and elastin cream mask. All this, plus a hand and foot massage.

PriCe: $140

the palM beaCh SUn reCovery ritUal Where: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach ContaCt: 2800 S. Ocean Blvd, 561/5822800; fourseasons.com/palmbeach What: Moisturize your skin after a day in the sun with this 50-minute session that includes a cooling clay wrap and a soothing scalp massage.

PriCe: $140

hana hydrotherapy rooM Where: The Maui Spa & Wellness Center ContaCt: 2100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton, 800/768-6259, themauispa.com What: Relax in a copper tub, detox in a state-of-the-art infrared sauna, take a dip in the cold plunge pool or wash away your stresses with Swiss and deluge showers. It’s your choice.

PriCe: $20 with a treatment, $30 without

Make it MiaMi

■ canYOn RancH lives up to the hype at its Miami Beach location (6801 Collins Ave., 305/5147000; canyonranch.com/miami beach) with a 70,000-square-foot spa—the largest in Florida—that boasts Turkish baths and a deluxe spa “igloo.”

■ at ManDaRin ORiental in Miami (500 Brickell Key Drive, 305/913-8288, mandarinoriental. com/miami/spa), guests can spend an hour—or the whole day—at one of the six private spa suites. The three-level main spa offers luxurious facials, massages and other therapies based on traditional Chinese medicine.

The Maui Spa & Wellness Center

My thai Where: Eleven Spa Delray ContaCt: 1440 N. Federal Highway, 561/278-1100, elevenspadelray.com What: It’s like a personal yoga session and massage in one. For 80 minutes, a therapist stretches the body and compresses acupuncture points.

PriCe: $165

Shop and Spa Experiences Eau Spa at The RitzCarlton, Palm Beach

68

[ bocamag.com ]

1. HalcYOn DaYs salOn & spa

2. salOn Oasis (6100 Glades Road,

inside Saks Fifth Avenue (Town Center at Boca Raton, 561/620-1110, halcyondayspa. com): Enjoy a Spa Ritual pedicure ($48) after a long day of shopping—without leaving the store.

561/482-9610, salonoasisofboca.com): In addition to its hair services, this popular Boca salon across from Town Center offers facials for women (Double Oxygen, $110) and gentlemen ($85).

december/january

currentsBODY

health headlines

Race calendaR December

Here’s the latest news and notes from the medical and research communities in Boca and beyond.

Workouts that matter: A study by researchers at Florida atlantic University suggests that women in their 50s can get important aerobic benefits from exercising only minutes at a time. The caveat: The exercise has to be intense.

FAU researchers studied 10 women in their 50s and 60s to determine if brief highintensity exercise would create an aerobic benefit typically associated with endurance exercise. FAU’s Michael WhitehUrst, a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine, conducted the study.

He says the women wore weighted vests representing 10 percent of their body weight while performing squats. Over an eight-week period, the women were able to complete 100 squats in four to five sets of 20 to 25 repetitions, with 90-second rests between sets. The entire workout took around 10 minutes.

Whitehurst and colleagues took muscle tissue samples from the women’s thighs before and after exercise.

The researchers compared what they found among the exercising women to a group of women that did no exercise.

They found the women who did the intense exercise increased the ability to produce energy, which is an indication of your aerobic capacity, by more than 200 percent.

70

[ bocamag.com ]

“You can get a substantial aerobic-cardiovascular training effect by doing very brief highintensity exercise—similar to an endurance-exercise session lasting 30 minutes or more,” Whitehurst says. “But women who are over 50 should always consult their physicians before they start a vigorous exercise program.”

In a flash: Boca raton regional hospital recently announced that it is the only medical facility from West Palm Beach to South Broward to offer a type of CT scanner called soMatoM. The new technology can scan the entire body in three to four seconds—compare that to the 30 seconds it takes to scan the body with a typical 64-slice CT scanner. It’s so fast that patients can flinch without disrupting the image quality.

Plus, they no longer need to hold their breath or be sedated.

Better still, the Somatom reduces radiation exposure by as much as 90 percent when compared to traditional CT scanners.

Patients who might benefit include people with heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

GenesIs further evolves: A longtime obstetrician and gynecologist has joined the staff at genesis coMMUnity health, giving the Boynton Beach clinic that serves people with limited or no health insurance more options than ever for its patients.

alan dinnerstein, a resident of Boca Raton, will provide prenatal care to local expectant mothers.

Caring for patients who have little or no insurance is nothing new for Dinnerstein, 73, who has practiced obstetrics and gynecology since 1969. He joined a similar local program, Bethesda Memorial Hospital’s clinic care program, in 1986 and was the program’s director from 2004 to 2009.

JumpInG hoops: Jace provo (inset, below), chief of medical affairs for the national BasketBall association, has joined the sports medicine program at West Boca Medical center. In his role with the NBA, Provo oversees health care for the women’s and men’s basketball leagues. ...

Healthgrades, which provides consumers with information about physicians and hospitals, named West Boca one of the nation’s top hospitals (a “5Star” recipient) for gynecologic surgery.

One interesting statistic to come out of the report, according to a release: “Women who choose to have a gynecological procedure at a hospital rated five stars in gynecologic surgery by Healthgrades have a 56 percent lower chance of experiencing complications compared to a 1-star hospital.”

5 boca PaL HoLiDay miLe (downtown boca raton, 7 p.m., runnersedgefoundation.org)

8

it’s a WonDerfuL run 5K & 1K (Pope John Paul school, 8 a.m., 561/212-5982)

15

sPanisH river cHurcH river run 5K run/WaLK (7:30 a.m., accuchiptiming.com)

30

33rd annuaL boca 5K/10K (spanish river Park, 7:30 a.m., boca5k10k.com)

January

13

Levis Jcc fLamingo five 5K & 5-miLer (south county regional Park, 7:30 a.m., levisjcc.org/5k)

19

boca cHristian torcH run 5K run/WaLK (boca raton christian school, 7:30 a.m., 561/361-1950)

20

mDa muscLe WaLK & 5K run (Dreher Park, West Palm beach, 7:30 a.m., www2.mda.org/ palmbeachfl)

december/january

Youth, Confidence & Vitality Look and feel your best at any age!

Breast Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Breast Liposuction Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Breast Asymmetry Body Contouring Abdominoplasty Arm Contouring

Dr. Keusch is proud to announce CeLLuLa Ze: the brand new FDA-a pprove technology for Cellulite d !

Visit our w www.dr ebsite at keus for amazin ch.com g before and after photos.

FaCe and neCk Botox Exilis Therapy Eyelid Lift Facelift Fraxel Re:pair Laser Resurfacing Juvederm Neck Contouring Sculptra Laser Lift with SideLaze 800

Buttock Lift

skin Care and Laser Center BLU U Light Acne Therapy

Cellulaze

Elite MPX Laser

Exilis Therapy Liposuction Medial Thigh Lift Smartlipo Thigh Contouring Total Lower Body Lift

Exilis Therapy IPL Photofacials Laser Hair Removal Laser Vein Removal Sapphire Three Photofacial Sclerotherapy

Like us at www.FaCeBook.CoM/drkeusCh and Be the First to Learn aBout our sPeCiaLs!

Excellence in plastic surgery, in our 22nd year!

Cristina F. keusCh, M.d., P.a.

950 Glades Road, Suite 3 Boca Raton, FL 33431 Tel. 561-368-9455 Fax 561-394-8210 www.drkeusch.com

IN TRAVEL Paradise is just a click away with our new Travel blog!

Discover thrilling trips, ranging from staycations to worldly getaways.

Escape the day with exclusive deals and discounts, the latest buzz on South Florida resorts and spas, behindthe-scenes tours of exotic destinations—and more.

For reservations and information, please contact your professional travel agent:

Fugazy International Travel

6006 SW 18th Street, Suite C9, Boca Raton, Florida 33433

561-447-7555 74 Fugazy.indd [ b o c a1 m a g . c o m ]

10/3/12 11:24 AM

Let us inspire your next great adventure!

Bon voyage with bocamag.com!

december/january

currents [ by kevin kaminski ]

travel Paradise, Dominican-Style

More than four decades after its debut as a playground for the corporate set, Casa de Campo continues to charm visitors from all over the world with a sprawling yet sequestered retreat that includes some of the most scenic golf on the planet.

Fast Facts: Casa de Campo

Where: The resort is on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic.

Travel: American Airlines offers direct flights (about 2 hours and 25 minutes) out of Miami to La Romana International Airport, which is just down the road from the resort. accommodaTions: 185 hotel rooms and suites—as well as more than 1,700 private villas, some valued in the neighborhood of $25 million sporTs/advenTures: 63 holes of golf for hotel/resort guests (all designed

by Pete Dye), 13 tennis courts, equestrian and shooting centers, water sports, deep-sea fishing, full-service marina dining/enTerTainmenT: Six fine dining establishments and seven bars tied to the resort; more than a dozen other restaurants on the property conTacT: casadecampo.com.do when U want to know

The Dye Fore course at Casa de Campo

[ bocamag.com ]

75

currentstravel The amphitheater at Altos de Chavon

reasons to vIsIt casa de campo Looking for a Caribbean getaway that combines everything from epic golf and world-class cuisine to 16th-century splendor and modern amenities? Check out this crown jewel of the Dominican Republic.

1. If It’s good enough for sInatra: Back in the day, Casa de Campo was a company retreat for the boys at Gulf+Western. But after placing the welcome mat outside its corner of the Dominican Republic, it didn’t take long for discerning travelers to come knocking.

Celebrities, especially, have found this 7,000-acre mix of verdant landscape and seaside splendor inviting—in part because it manages to feel like a country within a country yet secluded at the same time.

No wonder the resort has played host to everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and Sting to Joe DiMaggio and, yes, the Kardashian family (which filmed an episode of their reality show here last year). Still, nothing validates a destination on the cool meter like an appearance by Frank Sinatra,

who opened the resort’s Greek-style amphitheater atop Altos de Chavon in 1982 (the event was filmed as an HBO special).

2. yesterday vIllage: Speaking of Altos de Chavon, this replica of a 16thcentury Mediterranean village, built on a plateau overlooking the Chavon River, may be one of the most charming spots in all of the Caribbean. In addition to the 5,000seat amphitheater, cobblestone streets, Euro-inspired Catholic Church, throwback craft stores, and restaurants and bars, the site includes a full-blown school of design for students interested in fashion, fine arts, graphic design or interior design.

3. golf to dye fore: For decades, Teeth of the Dog—the Pete Dye-designed tropical version of Pebble Beach—has drawn critical acclaim for its parade of holes along the Caribbean Sea (including one of the most devilish par 3s of all time).

But when it comes to jaw-dropping layouts and knee-knocking challenges, the 7,740yard Dye Fore course—with seven cliff-side holes just begging for wayward shots—has a world-class bite all its own. The dramatic True oceanfront dining at The Beach Club

by Le Cirque

elevation changes, slick greens and wildly sloping fairways are trouble enough, but even the most composed golfer may need something to take the edge off after a seemingly endless stretch of drives, irons and approaches that bring a 300-foot drop to the Chavon River into play.

4. epIcurean delIghts: The Beach Club by Le Cirque, brought to you by the same family that runs the legendary New York restaurant of the same name, combines the menu magic of its big-city brethren with I-never-want-to-leave-thistable views of the turquoise sea at Minitas Beach. Don’t forget to ask about private cooking lessons with affable and sublimely talented Luca Banfi, chef at The Beach Club; it’s a guaranteed highlight of your stay. The same can be said for the breakfast buffet at Lago Grill—and servings of deepfried French toast that redefine the term decadent.

5. the lIttle thIngs: Guests at Casa de Campo navigate the property in golf carts; the resort features a marina that recalls an Italian seaside village, complete with a main piazza filled with boutiques and restaurants; the eco-friendly Casa de Campo Spa doesn’t have the over-the-top indulgences of some stateside sanctuaries, but the results of the treatments (conducted indoors or outdoors) are pure bliss nonetheless; the engaging guides at the equestrian center will regale guests with celebrity stories if prompted during a horseback ride; the resort has invested more than $52 million in renovations over the past few years—including chic, contemporary upgrades to the hotel suites.

luca banfi, chef at the beach club by le cirque, dishes on three mouthwatering recipes—including plantain gnocchi with fresh tomato sauce—only at bocamag.com.

76

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

currentstravel

The new pool at PGA National Resort & Spa

Travel Buzz Check out what’s happening on

the hospitality front in and around Boca—including a new look for a classic golf resort and an ode to the perfect season.

Makeover aT PGa: The November re-opening of its original 18-hole tract—the renovated Fazio course (formerly, the Haig course)—is far from the only enhancement at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens (400 Avenue of the Champions, 800/863-2819). One of the country’s premier golf resorts has poured more than $100 million into renovations for everything from room, spa and pool upgrades to a new restaurant (Ironwood Steak and Seafood) and cocktail-hour spot (iBar).

Accommodations at the 379-room resort received a major overhaul, including sleek, contemporary bedding and furnishings, new carpet and wall coverings, and 42-inch flat-panel televisions. The clubhouse bar/ grill, renamed Bar 19, and the Palm Terrace (formerly the Citrus Tree Café) also received face-lifts, as did the 40,000-square-foot spa. As for the Fazio course, one of five 18hole layouts on the property, expect to see completely reconfigured greens, bunkering and tee boxes.

MiaMi heaTs uP: Behind creative collaborators and partners including Philippe Starck and Lenny Kravitz, SLS Hotel South Beach (1701 Collins Ave., 888/606-1595) is proving to be the perfect East Coast complement to the famed SLS The Bazaar restaurant at SLS Hotel South Beach

resort in Beverly Hills. Since its opening in June, the 140-room property—which encompasses the last historic Art Deco structure on Collins Avenue (the former Ritz Plaza Hotel)—has drawn raves for Starck’s “dream world” design that meshes pre-existing elements with Latin, Asian and contemporary influences. SLS company culinary director José Andrés, a James Beard award-winning chef, is earning kudos of his own for The Bazaar and its intriguing mix of Spanish- and Latin-style dishes. Adding to the area’s see-and-beseen vibe is Hyde Beach, a cool pool lounge by day—and a hip indoor/outdoor party spot by night.

season with an “Undefeated Experience” of its own. Now through Dec. 20, the Westin Beach Resort & Spa (321 N. Fort Lauderdale Blvd., 954/467-1111) is offering a two-night package starting at $675 that includes a chef’s table dinner with wine pairings at Shula’s on the Beach, the hotel’s signature restaurant and part of the culinary empire run by Don Shula, coach of the 1972 Dolphins. For those attending a Miami home game during their stay (Dec. 2 vs. the Patriots, Dec. 16 vs. Jacksonville), the Westin will provide a chauffeured ride to Sun Life Stadium—and a kickoff bucket of beer to start your tailgating festivities.

Delray’s laTesT: The Pineapple Grove district in Delray has welcomed a more traditional business hotel to the neighborhood—the 134-room Hyatt Place.

Smartly appointed rooms range from boardroom “suites” with a king bed to quaint spaces with two queens. Amenities are minimal—a second-floor rooftop pool and a 24-hour fitness center—however, guests can indulge in complimentary French toast, waffles, pancakes and other breakfast treats in the guest kitchen. The lobby bar, meanwhile, has quietly emerged as a cool spot for singles and professionals to kick back.

The “PerfecT” GeTaway: A Fort Lauderdale hotel is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Miami Dolphins’ 17-0

78

[ bocamag.com ]

Don Shula

december/january

Join us at the January 12, 2013 – Boca raton rEsort & cluB

ElainE J. Wold, Honorary Chair Celebrating the state-of-the-art

Wold Family Center for Emergency Medicine Recognizing these outstanding physicians: Marc Bergman, M.D. C. Robert Johnson D.O. Habibollah Ghanavati, M.D. Joseph Kleinman, M.D. Sandra Hirsch, M.D. Mark Rubenstein, M.D. Burak Ilsin, M.D. Anthony Salvadore, M.D. For more information, please contact Sandra Longo, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, 561-955-3249, slongo@brrh.com or visit our website, www.brrh.com, click on Foundation and Foundation Events Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 to $100,000 Tribute ads in the keepsake Ball Journal are available Individual tickets are $400

Natasha Singh, M.D. Stephen Steinberg, M.D. Randall Taubman, M.D.

T h e

L e g e n d s

C o n T i n u e

T h e O l d C O u r s e aT B r O k e n s O u n d F e B r u a r y 4 - 1 0 , 2 0 1 3 | B O C a r aT O n , F l

For Ticketing & Event Information www.ALLIANZCHAMPIONSHIP.com | 561.241.4653 Club 18 presented by South Florida business Journal: $175 per ticket 4th Annual “Grapes on the Green” Wine Event: $85 per ticket Michelob ultra Partners Club: $75 per ticket | Good-Any-One Day Grounds Pass: $20 per ticket All Proceeds Benefit

a&e arts

&

currents [ by john thomason ]

e n t e rta i n m e n t

Light the Way

As always, high season in South Florida brings its share of worldclass entertainment to town— including the famed Trans-Siberian Orchestra (pictured). Read on for the lowdown on upcoming events and holiday spectaculars.

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

81

currentsa&e

the HOT list Jackie evancho Where: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd.

Details: After this pint-sized opera sensation brought the house down on “America’s Got Talent” in 2010, her YouTube hits ballooned and the floodgates opened. Not long afterward, Evancho became the youngest top 10-selling debut artist in U.S. history. Her Kravis appearance supports her fifth album, a collection of movie tunes that includes “Pure Imagination” and “What a Wonderful World.” tickets: $50 and up contact: 561/832-7469, kravis.org

Dec. 12

Dec. 6–9

11Th annual arT basel MiaMi beach The icebook Where: The FAU Library’s Jaffe Center for the Dec. 7–9 Book Arts, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton Details: Billed as “possibly the smallest live performance in the world,” The Icebook is a revolutionary art project from British artists Davy and Kristin McGuire. Combining literature, cinema and theater, the artists enact an epic fairy tale on the miniature scale of a pop-up book, turning the pages to create a three-dimensional narrative with paper and light. Get your tickets now; each entrancing, 50-minute performance only can be viewed by a dozen people at a time. tickets: $15 contact: 561/297-0226

Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach Details: If you’re an art lover, you know the drill. For four days in December, every year, Miami becomes the most important art city in the country, with collectors, critics, aficionados, celebrities and musicians converging to enjoy the work of more than 2,000 artists from 260-plus galleries around the world. And it doesn’t end there: Every art-housing space in the tri-county area saves its best material for this weekend, and Miami’s nightclubs will be filled with intimate concerts by top-tier bands. tickets: $24-$42 contact: 305/674-1292, miamibeach. artbasel.com

The legenD of ZelDa: syMphony of The goDDesses

Dec. 9

82

[ bocamag.com ]

Where: Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Details: There was a time when video gamers and classical music enthusiasts were completely different audiences. Not anymore—video games have matured into sophisticated adult products, and classical music has spread to a younger, hipper demographic. “The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses” reflects this cultural merge. It’s the first video game-themed concert to showcase a complete four-movement symphony and chorus, performed in front of videos projecting iconic images from the Zelda franchise, a Nintendo cash cow that has sold more than 62 million copies. tickets: Starting at $35 contact: 305/949-6722, arshtcenter.org december/january

Motionhouse: “scattered”

Jan. 22–23

Where: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd.

Details: Water covers more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface, but it’s 100 percent the focus of “Scattered,” the 18th full-length production from one of the United Kingdom’s most groundbreaking dance companies, Motionhouse. The spectacle, which integrates film projection and circus-style aerial showmanship, takes place on a huge curved floor —similar to a skateboarder’s halfpipe—which transforms into an ocean, waterfall, scorching sun and other impediments to the intrepid troupe of contemporary dancers. tickets: $28 and up contact: 561/832-7469, kravis.org

Jan. 25

Mike BirBiglia: “My girlfriend’s Boyfriend” Where: Coral Springs Center for the Arts Details: Mike Birbiglia gets around. In addition to traveling the country as a comedian and contributor to public television’s “This American Life,” Birbiglia is an actor and notorious sleepwalker who, last winter, slept in a Macy’s store window for a week during Downy’s “Clean Sheet Week” Challenge. (We assume he kept the sleepwalking at bay.) His travels continue with the South Florida premiere of his latest one-man show, “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend,” a hilarious exposé of his lifetime of romantic blunders. tickets: $35 contact: 954/344-5990

when U want to know

Quartetto Bernini

Jan. 8

Where: Flagler Museum Details: This chamber quartet is serious about playing ancient string music as it was performed when the composers wrote it. So serious, in fact, that its members play on two violins, a viola and a cello dating to the 17th century, courtesy of master Italian craftsmen. This only adds to the acclaimed group’s ambitious repertoire, including Bach’s “The Art of the Fugue” and Mozart’s complete string quartets. But Quartetto Bernini’s passion lies in rediscovering forgotten Italian pieces by renowned composers (Paganini, Rossini) as well as lesser-known ones (Cambini, Radicati). tickets: $60 contact: 561/655-2833, flaglermuseum.us

[ bocamag.com ]

83

currentsa&e

’Tis the Season for Entertainment Check out this selection of special holiday performances throughout South Florida.

THE NUTCRACKER What: It wouldn’t be the holidays in South Florida without the 100-foot Christmas tree at Old School Square, Santa’s Enchanted Forest and Miami City Ballet’s lavish rendition of “The Nutcracker,” the pre-eminent production of the timeless classic. Choreographed by George Balanchine, this version boasts a 100-member international cast and eyepopping special effects.

Where: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale When: Dec. 14–16 Cost: $20–$74 Info: 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org

THE SANTALAND DIARIES What: For the second year in a row, local playwright Michael McKeever steps in front of the stage as a martini-sipping narrator leading viewers through his experience performing as a Macy’s SantaLand elf. Tony winner Joe Mantello adapted the play from David Sedaris’ personal—and comically horrifying—account of retail elfdom.

Where: The Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton When: Dec. 13–23 Cost: $35–$40 Info: 866/811-4111, paradeproductions.org

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA What: Frantic strings, thunderous drums, heavenly choirs and pyrotechnics highlight the live premiere of this acclaimed orchestra’s rock opera, “The Lost Christmas Eve.” Released on CD in 2004, the 23-track, narrative-driven album is the multiplatinum conclusion to the band’s Christmas trilogy.

Where: BB&T Center, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise When: Dec. 14, 4 and 8 p.m.

Cost: $30–$67 Info: 954/835-8000, thebbtcenter.com 84

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

The Boca Minute Be in the know on where to go.

with Jen Stone Check out bocamag.com/videos for the lowdown on upcoming events and promotions in our area. bocaminute_brm1212.indd 1

HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE What: Spirited boat owners will steer their yachts and catamarans—decorated with mechanical Santas, reindeer, Christmas trees and other holiday confections—along the Intracoastal Waterway toward the C15 Canal in Delray Beach. This tradition turns 41 this year. Boca Raton also has its own free boat parade; see page 212 for more details on that event.

Where: Leaving from Boynton Beach Inlet, 1900 N. Federal Highway When: Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Cost: Free Info: 561/737-3256 ext. 219

PAUL TODD’S “ILLUMINATED” What: Paul Todd has been called a modern-day Mozart, and he even looks like a 19th-century composer. Also a writer, arranger and singer, Todd is the keyboard virtuoso behind the interactive concert “Illuminated,” in which each audience member is given a lighted wand. Todd’s percussive orchestral music has been calibrated to sway the lights, creating a holiday Kumbaya vibe. And you thought waving lighters was just for rock ballads.

Where: Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive When: Dec. 9, 7 p.m.

Cost: $28–$70.75 Info: 954/344-5999, coralspringscenterforthearts.com

the

nutcracker George Balanchine’s

tm

December 14-16 Broward Center

December 20-24 Adrienne Arsht Center

go s! nut Tickets $20 – $74 call

305.929.7010 877.929.7010

toll free

miamicityballet.org

COMING UP Next

LOURDES LOPEZ

PROGRAM II: TRADITION AND INNOVATION Broward center – January 18-20 kravis center – January 25-27

ARtiStic DiREctOR

MCB IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THE FLORIDA COUNCIL ON ARTS AND CULTURE. FUNDING FOR THIS ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE BROWARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BROWARD CULTURAL COUNCIL AND GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU. MCB PROGRAMMING IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL, THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, CULTURAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM, CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800) 435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. MCB REGISTRATION NUMBER: CH1034. GeorGe Balanchine’s The nuTcrackerTM, CHOREOGRAPHY BY GEORGE BALANCHINE © THE BALANCHINE TRUST. PHOTO © 2008 LOIS GREENFIELD.

954-462-0222 browardcenter.org

when U want to know

10/23/12 4:34 PM

miamicityballet_brm1212.indd 1

561-832-7469 kravis.org

305-949-6722 arshtcenter.org

[ b o c a m a g10/22/12 . c o m ]1:41 PM 85

spotlight currentsa&e

Poetic License

Miles Coon

A prehistoric Art form is enthusiAsticAlly embrAced in delrAy beAch, thAnks to miles coon.

f

or many of us, poetry is the stuff of 18th-century bards, inscrutable scribblers and ivory tower academes—a world of lofty, abstract literature inaccessible to the masses.

But it also can be used to get girls.

“My love of poetry began in high school,” says Palm Beach resident Miles Coon, founder of the Palm Beach Poetry Festival, hosted each January since 2004. “As I went on to college, I found poetry useful, because I was anxious to find the comfort of young women. Frankly, the lines of William Butler Yeats worked better for me than my own.”

Over a 50-minute interview with Boca Raton, Coon recited from memory the Yeats poem that melted hearts during his youth—an erudite if long-winded pickup line called “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven”—along with four other poems, complemented before and after by Coon’s enthusiastic analysis. His interview answers turn inexorably toward iambs and stanzas, and to listen to Coon speak is to capture the pulse of poetry then and now.

So it’s ironic that Coon, who will turn 75 in January, didn’t receive a master’s in poetry until 2002, from New York’s Sarah Lawrence University. After a 30-year career in the manufacturing business ended acrimoniously, he began to write poems “like a madman.” His passion started with online workshops and continued with his college degree. Still thirsty for poetic camaraderie, Coon found that the only game in town was the Robert Frost Poetry Festival in Key West.

“I thought, why should people have to travel all the way to the southernmost

point in our country to experience a great poetry festival?” he recalls. “The very first festival I put together was at Lynn University, and it was just a weekend. The poets appearing at that first festival were taking a huge chance.”

The chance paid off, with every workshop selling out and with crowds of 300 packing auditoriums to hear celebrated poets like Billy Collins and Patricia Smith. The festival ended with a budget surplus and has been expanding ever since, finding comfortable residence in the Center for the Arts at Old School Square. The festival now runs six days and features eight workshops, craft talks, evening readings, panel discussions and a raucous night of slam poetry.

Coon’s goal remains to re-brand poetry as a fun and engaging experience, by all and for all. For some, who have been indoctrinated against poetry from their earliest experiences, the challenge is an uphill battle.

“For many of us, our first experience of poetry was in school, when a teacher would ask someone in the class to please read a poem written in the 17th or 18th century,” he says. “The student would find that he didn’t understand what they were reading. And then the teacher would ask the most forbidding question of all: ‘What does that mean?’

“That sort of teaching—where the poem is presented as a riddle or a puzzle—makes people feel either too stupid to get it or not sensitive enough to get it, but in both instances the student comes away saying, ‘This is something I’m going to avoid in the future.’ It’s a shame, because there’s so much in poetry that is fun, that can be very amusing, enlightening and engaging—more like music than like math.

“I wrote an ad once that said, ‘If you hate poetry, the Palm Beach Poetry Festival is for you.’ That’s all I ask of the public. Give it a shot.”

LEND THEM YOUR EARS

What: The Palm Beach Poetry Festival When: Jan. 21–26 Where: Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach tickets: $8–$12 for public readings, more for workshops contact: 561/243-7922, palmbeachpoetryfestival.org

From left: Poets appearing at this year’s festival include B.H. Fairchild, Billy Collins, Laura Kasischke, John Rives, Tony Hoagland and Tracy K. Smith 86

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Does MeMory Have tHe Power to CHange tHe worlD? absolutely. learn How. Join us at a free, daylong public event as we mark 20 years of honoring memory and inspiring action.

Participate in idea workshops / View rarely seen archival films / Meet with Museum curators / Honor local Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans

boCa raton 12/9/2012 MarrIott boCa Center 5150 town Center Circle boca raton, Fl 33486

regIster now by calling 866.998.7466 or visit ushmm.org/neveragain for a complete schedule of events.

USHMM-BR-Magazine-HorizontalAd-Boca-20121910-v1.indd 1 holocaustmuseum_brm1212.indd 1

10/19/12 1:07 PM 10/19/12 4:15 PM

kravis_brm1212.indd 1

10/18/12 4:48 PM

If it has to be better, it has to be Better Party Rentals.

Better Party Rentals can provide you with what you need to create the special touch you are looking for. Our professional staff, which has over 40 years in the event planning industry, can help plan and manage your events. Call us for all your rental needs.

Serving South Florida | 954-429-2880 or 561-893-9900 | www.betterrentals.net Like us on Facebook:

/BetterPartyRentals

[ 90 caviar 92 the big drink 94 the buzz 96 the boca challenge ]

floridatable [ by bill citara ]

Taste of Luxury

Calling caviar “fish eggs” is like calling a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud “transportation.” Then again, while a Rolls can transport passengers from Point A to Point B, caviar can transport diners to an entirely different plane of luxury. Learn more about the dish that makes holidays even more special, and then wash it down with the perfect caviar complement—Champagne.

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

89

floridatable

Know Your Fish Eggs Mere facts don’t convey the ineffable pleasures of these pricy, lusted-after Fish Eggs of the Gods. However, you do need to know basic terminology when it comes to caviar.

Caviar: True caviar is the processed and salted roe of several species of wild sturgeon, traditionally only from the Caspian and Black Seas; these days, it typically refers to the roe of those species from anywhere in the world. “Caviar” from species other than sturgeon is identified by species (i.e., salmon caviar) or called simply “roe.”

Malossal: Russian for “little salt,” indicating that minimal salt was used in the processing, hence a higher-grade product.

Beluga, osetra, sevruga: The three major types of caviar, each from a different species of wild sturgeon. Beluga, the largest, lightest-colored and most expensive of the three, is considered the finest. Osetra caviar is generally rated below beluga and is smaller and firmer. Sevruga is the smallest and strongest-flavored of the trio, also the least expensive. toBiko, Masago: These are the types of fish roe typically seen in sushi bars. Tobiko is flying fish roe, sometimes colored and flavored with everything from squid ink to wasabi.

Masago is the slightly smaller roe of the capelin and is often used in place of tobiko.

HaCkleBaCk, paddlefisH: Caviar from two species of American sturgeon that, quality-wise, continues to improve even though the price is substantially less than imports. Wild species are found mostly in the Missouri/ Mississippi river systems but are now also being farm-raised.

DiD You Know?

The word “caviar” is derived from the Persian word for “egg.” The ancient Persians, in fact, were the earliest producers of caviar—which is best served cold (and thus often presented in an ice-chilled bowl). Though it does possess a pop of vitamin B12, watch out. It’s also high in cholesterol.

WHERE TO BUY ◆ Cod and Capers (1201 U.s. Highway 1, north palm Beach, 561/622-0963): Imported and domestic caviars year-round, including bowfin, Russian osetra and sevruga.

Prefers sustainable product. Prices $10 to $190 per ounce.

◆ pop’s FisH Market (131 W. Hillsboro Blvd., deerfield Beach, 954/427-1331): Carries a range of caviars—from salmon to sevruga to osetra—as well as domestic paddlefish and hackleback. Prices from $10 to $200 per ounce. Can special order any caviar for next-day delivery.

◆ Marky’s (800/522-8427, markys.com): Miami-based online retailer carries imported and domestic wild and farm-raised sturgeon caviars. Also whitefish, trout, salmon and more. Prices $2.81 to $300 per ounce.

◆ WHole Foods (1400 Glades road, Boca raton, 561/447-0000): Imported and domestic caviars year-round, including Russian sevruga, American hackleback and paddlefish. Prices $8 to $135 per ounce.

90

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Stretch Your caviar

Here are a few simple, easy, tasty—and bUdget-conscioUs— Uses for caviar.

◆ DevileD eggs: Mash yolks with sour cream and dill and top with tiny spoonful of caviar.

scoop out flesh, mash with butter and chives, fill potato halves and top with sour cream and caviar.

◆ spreaD: Mix cream

◆ smokeD salmoN

cheese, sour cream, fresh dill or chives and lemon juice. Gently fold in caviar. serve with toast points.

pizza: Brush storebought pizza dough with olive oil and bake until crisp. remove from oven, spread with thin layer of cream cheese and paperthin red onion slices; top with smoked salmon, and

◆ New potatoes: slice small red potatoes in half and roast until tender.

TUNA TARTARE WITH EAST/WEST GUACAMOLE recipe coUrtesy of JoHn belleme execUtive cHef, stépHane’s 2006 n.w. execUtive center circle, boca raton, 561/893-8838

PrEParation: Combine tuna, olive oil, green onion and sea salt in glass or stainlesssteel bowl. Mix, taste and adjust seasoning. guacamole 1 avocado, peeled and seeded 1 tablespoon each minced green onion and ginger when U want to know

◆ FaNcy scrambleD eggs (pictured): slice off tops of eggs with sharp knife and pour contents into bowl. Mix with chives, salt and white pepper, and scramble until soft. spoon cooked eggs back into shells, top with sour cream and caviar. serve standing up in egg cups or on bed of rock salt.

John Belleme executive chef, Stéphane’s

1/2 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon minced jalapeño 1/2 teaspoon roasted sesame oil Sea salt to taste PrEParation: Combine ingredients in glass or stainless-steel bowl and mash. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Final PrESEntation: Place 2.5-inch ring molds on plates and place 1/4 of tartare mixture inside, smoothing out with back of spoon. Top each with 1/4 of guacamole and smooth again. Garnish with 1/4 of tobiko and drizzle with wasabi oil.

Remove ring molds.

Serve with toast points.

AAron Bristol

tartare 12 ounces sushi-grade tuna, diced very small 2.5 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 1 tablespoon wasabi oil 1 tablespoon sliced green onion 2.5 ounces tobiko 3/4 cup East/West guacamole (see below) Sea salt to taste

dollops of sour cream and caviar.

[ bocamag.com ]

91

floridatable

big drink the

Ask the Sommelier Kevin Fegan, general

manager/sommelier at Max’s Harvest in Delray Beach (169 N.E. Second Ave., 561/381-9970) offers a selection of Champagne buys based on your holiday budget. under $25

MoËt’s Red CaRpet GlaMouR Recipe couRtesy of tanzy 301 plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/922-6699

1 chilled Champagne flute 1 ounce chilled Hum Botanical Spirit 1 ounce sour mix Moët & Chandon Réserve Impériale

CRIsTINA MORgADO

InstructIons: Add Hum and sour mix to flute. Fill with Champagne.

GarnIsh: Add a rose petal.

92

Poema Brut Cava: Vibrant aromas of ripe peaches, pears and toasted bread. Layers of flavor include orange rind and spice that persist through an elegant finish. A great value.

Gruet BlanC de noirs: Rich and complex, this Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico is quite a surprise in its elegance. Berry aromas and creamy texture. Try with fresh berry tart.

$25 to $50 Gosset Brut exCellenCe: As oldschool as it gets. Only juice from the first and best pressing is used. Powerful, full-bodied, compelling; some say legendary. Perfect with lobster.

Bellavista FranCiaCorta Cuvée Brut: A superb example of Italy’s best, reasonably priced méthode champenoise wine. We pour it at the restaurant with roasted Medjool dates with Marcona almonds.

$50 and uP domaine Carneros 2006 la rêve BlanC de BlanCs: “La Rêve” is French for “the dream,” and Domaine Chandon’s tête de cuvée is just that.

When asked to go hog wild, nothing comes to mind quite like La Rêve.

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Celebrating our 11th Annual Wine & Food Weekend!

SIP, SAVOR & BID

through the event’s world-class weekend of The Bacchus Bash, Vintner Dinners and The Grand Tasting.

March 22-24, 2013

H ighlights include:

One Weekend - Eight Events - Variety of Ticket Packages Celebrated Chefs and World-Class Vintners Friday Night’s Bacchus Bash featuring 14 chefs and vintners, extraordinary cuisine and wine, and lively auction bidding.

Exclusive Vintner Dinners The Grand Tasting welcomes a new Beer Garden

Benefiting

Event Tickets & Info

The Heritage Education & Historic Preservation Programs of the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum

Like us!

/BocaBacchanal

Tickets on sale now!

BocaBacchanal.com 561-395-6766, ext. 101

Follow us!

2013 Partners

@BocaBacchanal

floridatable Fried calamari pad thai at Table 26.

Inset: Chefs Steven and Joanna Polowy

buzz the

Rebel Yell: The kitchen at Rebel House (297 E. Palmetto Park

Chef Michael Saperstein of Rebel House in Boca Raton

Table foR 26: You can’t really get a table for 26 at Table 26 (1700 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561/855-2660), though Buzz would bet that owners Eddie Schmidt and Ozzie Medeiros, who’ve been pampering local diners in Palm Beach and Nantucket for many years, would do their best to accommodate you.

The duo’s latest venture channels a bit of both places, starting with a cozy but elegant dining room all done up in Nantucket-y blue and white, with lots of comfy banquettes and little nautical touches.

94

[ bocamag.com ]

The husband-and-wife team of Steven and Joanna Polowy handle things in the kitchen, with executive chef Steven turning out comforting dishes with a multicultural twist—like fried calamari “pad Thai,” and sea scallops with ratatouille and black olive vinaigrette.

Meanwhile, pastry chef Joanna whips up classics like summer fruit cobbler and strawberry shortcake.

Oh, and the 26? It’s the latitude of Palm Beach.

Sammie Time: Burt Rapoport isn’t letting any arugula grow under his feet. Not only has the proprietor of Henry’s, Bogart’s and Deck 84 gotten together with original Mango Gangster Mark Militello to add some swell new dishes to his restaurants’ menus; not only is he prepping for the debut late next year at Delray Marketplace of Burt & Max’s, he and partner Dennis Max’s spin-off of Max’s Grille; but he’s got a new sammie shop as well.

That would be E&J’s Sandwich Shop (814 Atlantic Ave., 561/8261790), named after Deck 84 chef Jon Greening and GM Eric Clark, which wedged into the postage stamp-sized space once home to Delray’s Old School Bakery (which supplies the bread for E&J’s sandwiches). They’re slapping all sorts of good things between two slices of bread, from foot-long hot dogs and house-made meatballs to Rapoport’s own “Burto’s”—roast turkey and beef, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. buzz off: During this year’s long off-season, several local restaurants dropped like flies. Gone is Philippe by Philippe Chow, which arrived in Boca last summer with a splash, then promptly sank like stone, preceded by some of the worst word of mouth Buzz has heard in more than 20 years of covering the culinary scene. ... Also suffering a TKO was classic patty purveyor Hamburger Heaven, a Palm Beach institution for 65 years that suffered one of those landlord-tenant disagreements. (Happily, we hear it is resurfacing on Clematis Street!) ...

Finally, a pair of West Palm Beach spots that never found their footing closed: Gratify gastropub and Reef Road. Buzz in peace. december/january

cristina Morgado

Road, 561/353-5888)—the new artsy-funky, neo-urban hipster joint in Boca—is shouting, “Down with bland, boring food.” The results—menu options like pork belly tater tots and roasted Wagyu bone marrow—have diners shouting its praises (when, that is, they’re not shouting at each other over the ear-bleeding din at peak dining hours).

The rebels in charge are partners Michael Saperstein (chef) and Evan David (general manager), the culinary subversives behind Deerfield Beach’s Charm City Burgers and El Jefe Luchador. At Rebel House, they’ve infused a bit of SoHo into BoCa, decking out an otherwise nondescript strip mall space with mismatched furniture, eclectic touches like an old piano and antique wooden hand truck, graffitistyle murals all over the walls and a headless stripper mannequin.

The mostly small plates may not be revolutionary, but they certainly push the local gastronomic envelope with goodies like foie gras French toast, Vietnamese-style chicken wings and braised brisket meatloaf.

Give me liberty or give me chicken-n-waffles with candied bacon syrup!

floridatable the boca challenge

calzones T

he pocket is a many splendored thing.

Pants have them. Pool tables have them. Thieves pick them.

Quarterbacks stand in them. Rich people have deep ones. And politicians line their own.

Cuisines have pockets too.

Empanadas, pot stickers, gyoza. Samosas, pasties, pirozhki. And, of course, calzones—essentially a pizza that’s been folded in half, stuffed with meats and cheeses, crimped at the edges, baked or deep-fried and served with a little marinara. “Calzone” means “pants leg” in Italian, which gets the point of stuffing across, though not altogether gracefully. Like pizza, the calzone is hearty, accessible, unpretentious eating—a complete meal you can eat out of hand.

Since caviar and Champagne is covered in this section, we decided to spare readers more holiday-themed fare for the Challenge. Then again, if you’re like us, calzones could be on your holiday menu—at least during the barrage of college bowl games. To maintain consistency, all were ordered with sausage, onions and black olives. Points were awarded for crust, fillings, sauce and value, then averaged to get a total score.

—Bill Citara CRUST

FILLINGS

SAUCE

VALUE

OVERALL

ANThONy’S COAL FIREd pIzzA

You certainly get what you pay for here, a mammoth calzone packed with high-quality ingredients, though the crust was too “well done” and the tomato sauce over acidic. $23/large

BIG CITy pIzzA

About the size of a folded-over manhole cover, this monster gives you lots to eat but its components are all undistinguished pizzeria caliber. $15.25/ large.

GRImALdI’S

This giant was the capo di tutti capi of the tasting—gorgeous to look at, delicious to eat (quality sausage, kalamata olives, herbed ricotta) and well worth its high price. $22/small.

mELLOw mUShROOm

A solid contender in our calzone sweepstakes, this substantial, half moon-shaped pie was as good to eat as it was pretty to look at. A good deal at $11.25/small.

NICk’S

Smaller and pricier than the others but first-rate ingredients (like tasty sausage and real kalamata olives) make a big difference. It’s worth the $20.

ratings:

fair

Anthony’s Coal Fired pizza, 115 N.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach, 561/2787911

96

[ bocamag.com ]

good

Big City pizza, 222 N.W. 51st St., Boca Raton, 561/997-5656

very good

Grimaldi’s, 1 N. Clematis St., Suite 110, West Palm Beach, 561/833-8787

excellent

mellow mushroom, 25 S.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach, 561/330-3040

Nick’s New haven Style pizzeria & Bar, 2240 N.W. 19th St., Boca Raton, 561/368-2900

december/january

Flavors of Boca proudly presents

February 7, 2013 • FlavorsoFboca.com

~ c u l i n a r y f e s t i v a l~

Music

Entertainment

Haute Cuisine & Beverages Silent Auction Packages & Much More!

south Florida's top restaurants are coming to the shops at boca center on February 7th!

Flavors of Boca, formerly known as Chocolate Decadence, promises to be an exciting culinary experience where local chefs put their best food forward with design, style and flair as they feature South Florida's most fashionable food and haute cuisine. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to draw more than 800 guests.

Proceeds benefit the numerous charitable organizations that are supported by the Junior League of Boca Raton.

Visit flavorsofboca.com to reserve your VIP tickets for you and your closest friends.

The Junior League of Boca Raton qualifies as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling Toll Free within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State 1-800-435-7532.

HotWorks.org Presents

Boca Raton Fine Art Show

January 19 & 20, 2013

Yoram Gal, Painting

Juried Fine Art & Craft Show

Downtown Boca Raton, On Federal Hwy at Palmetto Park Rd (Roads Closed from Fri, Jan 18, 1pm until Sun, Jan 20, 10pm)

Free Admission and Free Parking – Sat, Jan 19 & Sun, Jan 20, 10am-5pm Daily HotWorks.org Sponsor of the Institute for the Arts & Education, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization

™

style Earrings in 18-karat white gold with emeralds, blue sapphires and diamonds; cuff in 18-karat rose gold with topaz and diamonds; cuff in 18-karat yellow gold with sapphires and diamonds; 18-karat whitegold and diamond ring with tanzanite; all prices upon request; all pieces from Verdi Jewelers, Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton (561/393-3532)

All ThAT PizAzz

Add elegance and sparkle to any high-season look with exquisite pieces from the area’s top jewelers.

PhoTogrAPhy by Billy Coleman

[ bocamag.com ]

99

Vianna yellow-gold ring with prasiolite, smoky quartz and diamond, $4,450; white-gold and yellow-gold diamond bangles, $8,250 each; rosegold diamond bangle, $8,250; Damiani Mimosa collection white-gold ring with pink, yellow and white diamonds, $33,845; white-gold and pink-gold ring with diamond, $13,000; Roberto Coin Ipanema collection yellow-gold and prasiolite ring, $1,700; Vianna white-gold ring with London blue topaz and diamond, $6,450; Vianna white-gold ring with amethyst and diamond, $7,375; Vianna yellow-gold bracelet with quartz, aquamarine and diamond, $18,000; Damiani “Mimosa� collection white-gold earrings with diamonds, $69,790; all pieces from Mayors, Town Center at Boca Raton (561/368-6022)

style

Bird of Paradise pendant in yellow gold with round diamonds, garnets and sapphires, $27,600; Magic Alhambra six-motif necklace in white gold with pavĂŠ diamonds, $59,000; Jackie O. cuff in yellow gold, $36,100; Rose de Noel ear clips in yellow gold with diamonds and white mother of pearl, $23,500; Cosmos ring in white gold with diamonds, $53,000; all pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels, Mizner Park, Boca Raton (561/955-8802)

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

101

Silver rose-cut sapphire bangle, price upon request; 18-carat white gold diamond bracelet, $31,275; diamond and green tourmaline ring in white gold, price upon request; cabochon and rutilite ring with yellow gold, $3,330; emerald (5.5 carats), diamond and sapphire (42 carats) earrings in white gold, $15,950; white-gold ring with pear-shaped diamond, price upon request; white-gold ring with center diamond and surrounding diamonds, price upon request; all pieces from David Stern Fine Jewelry, Boca Raton (561/994-3330)

Stylist: David Fittin/ artist-management.net Model: Francieli Morawski, Mega Model Management/Miami Art directors: Lori Pierino, Kathleen Ross Hair and makeup: Davide Calcinai/ artist-management.net Manicurist: Claudia Molano from Salon Oasis 102

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

style Emerald and diamond necklace set in white gold; cabochon, sapphire and diamond earrings set in white gold; diamond ring with brilliantcut diamonds set in white gold; Rolex Daytona in white gold with yellow mother-of-pearl dial and diamonds; Chopard Happy Sport set in yellow gold with diamondencrusted case, bezel, clasp and dial; all prices upon request; all pieces from Jewels in Time, Shoppes at the Sanctuary, Boca Raton (561/368-1454)

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

103

a portion of the proceeds will go to crohn’s & colitis Foundation.

jewels in time ShoppeS at the Sanctuary

4400 n. Federal highway, Boca raton, Florida 33431 (1/4 mile south of yamato road, on the east side of the street)

(561) 368-1454 ▼ (888) 755-tIMe www.jewelsintime.com

Specializing in fine new & pre-owned timepieces Diamonds ▼ Fashion & estate Jewelry ▼ Buy - Sell - trade not an authorized agent, representative or affiliate of any watch appearing in this advertisement. all watch names, dials & designs appearing in this advertisement are registered trademarks in the u.S.a.

faces

a few minutes with the people who help define south florida

Giselle Meza

A former cover girl gives life-chAnging hope in nepAl to victims of sexuAl slAvery— A nightmAre thAt this BocA resident understAnds All too well.

B

efore leaving Nepal, to which she makes an average of five nearly 9,000mile pilgrimages from Boca Raton each year, Giselle Meza never fails to share a goodbye cry with Parmila.

Parmila is one of the original 12 rescued victims of sex trafficking offered medical care, food, safe housing—and the chance to heal—

by Puresa Humanitarian, the organization launched by Meza in late 2006. By the time missionaries in India rescued Parmila and brought her back to Nepal, she was 40 and suffering from HIV. She had been a sex slave since being abducted by traffickers at age 9.

“Can you imagine? Your whole life in a brothel?” Meza, 44, says from an outdoor restaurant table at Mizner Park. “She was shunned by her [original] village after [being rescued]—to them, she was an outcast, an untouchable. Parmila thought she was going to die on the streets until we took her in.”

For the better part of two hours, the former model will bare her soul with a quiet dignity. But now, in the final minutes of an interview, her tone and her gaze harden.

“I don’t think there’s one day when I’m in Nepal where the thought doesn’t cross my mind,” she says.

“This could be me.”

On paper, nothing about Meza’s life suggests that her interest in the estimated 15,000 Nepalese girls kidnapped or sold each year, trafficked to India and forced into prostitution—most of them between ages 9 and 12, although Puresa cared for one victim who was 6—is anything more than the passionate cause of a woman inspired to give back.

As a youngster growing up in Costa Rica, Meza watched her mom somehow find time 106

[ bocamag.com ]

to donate food to lepers and counsel local prostitutes, teaching them how to make crafts and helping them find legitimate work.

“The harder we had it—and my mom worked all sorts of jobs to support my [three] sisters and I—the more she went out to help others,” says Meza, herself a mother of two teenaged sons. “That’s been the law of my life.”

But even as that life unfolded in ways that many young girls could only dream about— traveling to 58 countries during a prolific, decade-long run as a fashion and swimsuit model that landed her on the covers of magazines from Marie Claire to international editions of Vogue and Elle—Meza was harboring a horrific secret.

At age 14, living alone with her mother in Lake Oswego, Oregon (an affluent suburb of Portland), Meza was befriended by a “beautiful woman in her mid-20s who drove a beautiful car.” The woman took Meza to dinners and shared stories about feeling alone because her family was all over the world.

“I was feeling the same,” Meza says. “My mom was working three jobs, my sisters were gone, and here was this woman who, in my mind, was like a princess. Somehow, by being her friend, I was going to help my mom.”

The woman invited Meza to travel with her to New York. Meza lied to her mother and told her that she was spending the summer at camp in Oregon with her friends. In New York, the woman, who had a posh apartment on the Hudson River, lavished Meza with more dinners and expensive clothes.

“Finally, she asked me to go to London with her,” Meza says. “She said she had family there; we would just go for a few days.

By this time, I felt like she loved me. This woman was going to change my life. I had built up the fairy tale in my mind.”

From the airport in London, a driver took the woman and Meza to a sprawling multistory flat filled with parlor rooms, gilded furnishings and crystal chandeliers that, to a 14-year-old, seemed like Buckingham Palace.

That is, until Meza woke up thirsty in the middle of the night.

“I walked into this huge kitchen,” Meza says, “and there were probably 20 Middle Eastern men sitting on the floor eating, in their traditional way. I quickly left and walked down this long hallway; each parlor room had Middle Eastern men. In one room, they were playing instruments and drinking.

In another room, there were naked women.”

The next morning, Meza tried to speak to the woman about what she had witnessed, but something had changed. The woman was now demanding and detached. She instructed Meza to wear certain clothes and, for the next three nights, accompany her to exclusive restaurants with the Middle Eastern men. She was not to speak or eat.

“Finally, one night, she called for me,” Meza says. “There was a room filled with men. I understood, at that point, what was going on. ... These were elite, ruling-class men—ages 20 through 65. The woman told me that these men were going to be with me.

There was no escaping. ... I was trapped.

“The sickness of how entitled they feel to take you ... It’s so inhumane. No matter what class they were, these men were dogs. They didn’t care about this little girl. They just cared that they got what they paid for.

“And I was a reusable commodity.” december/january

A Brutal Truth

Steven Martine

Young girls in poverty-stricken regions of Nepal are easy prey for traffickers, who go into the mountains and villages and lure them with everything from promises to candy. But that’s not the only avenue when it comes to sexual slavery.

“By day, young girls working at [certain] carpet factories make these beautiful handwoven rugs,” Meza says. “By night, those girls are forced to become sex slaves. You’ll see these incredible cars go through the gates of the factory—these are the businessmen of Nepal.

Often, a girl gets pregnant, she has a baby, and it becomes this ongoing community of forced labor and sexual slavery.”

Left and right: Meza (also above) helps to counsel and often prays with victims while in Nepal.

Where to Donate

To support Puresa Humanitarian by purchasing one of its products, visit puresa.org. Those interested in making a monetary donation can send checks made out to Puresa Humanitarian to 5970 S.W. 18th St., Suite 102, Boca Raton, 33433. when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

107

faces Meza’s Parisian-style, top-floor parlor with exquisite draping over the bed became a “room of hell and torture.” For a week, she was forced to have sex with what she will only acknowledge as a parade of men.

“I was so victimized and so abused that I would just lay in the bathtub and cry,” she says. “I was a 14-year-old virgin before that week. I couldn’t scrub myself clean enough. ... You can heal and restore, but you can never erase those memories.”

After being told by one of the men that he was taking her back to his country the following morning, Meza plotted her escape.

She made it past guards posted downstairs— only to be confronted by the driver from her first day in London.

“I walked up to him and said, ‘I need to go to the airport. Can you take me please?’

He nodded, and he didn’t say a word,” Meza says. “We drove to the airport [in silence]. I don’t know why he helped me. Maybe [he had seen too many] little girls go into that London flat and never come out.”

Decades later—having only shared the

108ninaraynor_brm1212.indd [ b o c a m a g . c o1m ]

story with her then-husband (she would later tell her sons)—Meza accompanied missionaries on a trip to Calcutta, where she witnessed conditions in the red-light district for some of the 300,000 Nepalese women currently exploited throughout Asia as part of the $39 billion human trafficking industry.

She knew that she had found her calling.

“There are thousands of women in the brothels; they sleep on filthy cots, and they keep their babies under the cots while they’re ‘working,’” Meza says. “I felt such a connection to those women. I didn’t want to leave; I wanted to pull them out.”

Instead, she created an organization that not only restores the dignity of rescued trafficking victims but also gives them a chance to start life anew. In addition to counseling and health care, Puresa offers those interested the opportunity to help produce organic bags and fashion-related products—the sales of which go back into the organization.

More than 300 rescued victims have found work through Puresa.

“We’re not a factory; we could [close] this

tomorrow,” Meza says. “The women work only when they feel they want to or [when they are] ready to learn something. It’s about keeping them from ever having to go back into the brothels.”

With financial help from Life Outreach International, Puresa now has land in Nepal on which it plans to build a complex that can host 100 rescued children and its entire production center—giving people like Parmila reason to believe in miracles.

“Parmila is a different person,” Meza says, beaming with pride. “She now volunteers to help with all the young girls who come in.

Here’s a victim who was so brutalized, and now she’s come all the way around and feels healed and empowered.

“So, yes, she cries when I leave Nepal. And I cry with her.”

—Kevin KaminsKi

For the complete transcript oF Giselle meza’s harrowinG tale, visit bocamaG.com.

d e c e m10/11/12 b e r / j a2:06 n u aPM ry

“The Best Real Estate Company in Town” Our Worldwide Marketing will Sell Your Home for Top Dollar!

Vinnie Morea Over $245 Million Sold in 2011 & 2012!!!

561-212-9933 President, Luxury Condominium Division

Over 200 luxury condominiums Sold!

JuST liSTeD!

The grande private gated intracoastal Mansion

TOScana Mizner granD

Boca Harbour island

Mediterranean Deepwater Masterpiece

preSiDenTial JuST SOlD!

por la Mar - Brand neW Beachside Mansion

incredible Three Story gated intracoastal point lot Mega Mansion with 270 ft. of Waterfrontage! point lot Dream estate

excelSiOr

Tropic isles Deepwater estate on Wide canal

Mizner TOWer JuST SOlD

luxuria SOlD $4.5 M!

royal palm Yacht & country club’s Finest gated Trophy golf course Mansion!

JuST SOlD lake rogers Deepwater estate with South exposure

Worldwide Marketing Ari Albinder, Broker/Owner (561) 702-0413 155 NE Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Take a Virtual Tour of our magnificent properties at www.MiznerGrandeRealty.com

faces Boca Britany

B

eginning in 1988, Brian Somers, aka “Boca Brian,” was a fixture on the Neil Rogers Show. He followed the talk-radio king from station to station until the late Rogers’ bitter end, providing him with more than 8,000 voice-acted comedy bits and songs, created from scratch. Many of them even made it to national syndication through outlets like Dr. Demento’s radio show.

A lot has changed since then. Boca Brian no longer lives in Boca Raton, having lost his home to the financial crisis; he moved to Margate in the spring of 2012. And, though you can’t tell from his radio voice, he’s no longer Brian.

In October 2000, Boca Brian became Boca Britany, a purse-carrying bombshell with shoulder-length blonde hair, lipstick, prominent makeup and shaved legs.

“I woke up one day and said, ‘Screw this, I want to be a girl,’” says Somers, 39. “It was like a snap. And this saved my life. I was very insecure around people. I was a crazy

Jackie Mason Gets Curious In 2011, Somers appeared as an extra in a pool scene in the independent film “Goldberg P.I.,” a comedy vehicle for Jackie Mason.

When the cameras stopped rolling, Mason walked up to Somers and quipped, “You, uh ... you got your utensils down there?” Somers chatted with the comedy icon for 20 minutes and struck up a friendship.

110

[ bocamag.com ]

person on the air, but I’d go to restaurants and the wait staff would pass me over. I did the [gender transformation], and it renewed my confidence level.”

A self-professed “oddity,” Somers is unlike a majority of transgenders. Growing up as a man, Brian never had the inherent feeling that he was born of the wrong gender. He also did not have operations to his anatomy.

As Britany, she remains in a relationship with the same woman that Somers had been involved with as Brian. What’s most striking about Britany Somers is her normalcy. She has conveyed this on the Neil Rogers-esque radio show that she hosts weekends on WWNN-1470 in Palm Beach County.

“Not all trannies are bawdy drag queens that breathe fire out of their mouths and have eyelashes a foot long,” she said during a May 6, 2012 broadcast. “The community I’m a member of is afraid of its own shadow.”

Her cause—revamping the image of transgenders in the public eye—extends well beyond the occasional radio rant. “I call it GLB ... T,” she says. “By the grace of the gays go us. I have screamed, I’ve stomped my feet, I’ve blogged, I’ve written articles, but it’s like I’m throwing a tiny pebble at a mountain.”

Somers is currently writing a book about this subject called Living a Broad. She’s given invaluable speeches to psychology students at Miami-Dade College, and for six months, she served in a volunteer capacity as transgender liaison for the FAU College of Medicine’s Cultural Correctness and Standardized Patient Program.

Money is hard to come by for Somers, and it has been since 2001, when Clear Channel began to monopolize the radio market. She works piecemeal jobs these days, unable to find enough sponsors to extend her weekend show to longer than 30 minutes. She sold her car to help develop

colleague Jorge Rodriguez’s SoFlo Radio Internet venture in 2009 (as reported in the September/October issue of Boca Raton), which still hasn’t developed a profit model.

She chain-smokes to deal with the stress.

Still, being a woman has led to more highlights than lowlights—despite the funny looks she receives from passersby.

“Usually the looks I get are cool,” she says. “If I get a negative look, you get used to it. I got enough negative looks when I was a boy. My favorite look is the doubletake—guys who were attracted to me initially, and then figure that something’s wrong. [They] go, ‘harrumph,’ and walk away ... then stop, turn around and go, ‘hmm.’”

Somers pauses, taking a drag off her cigarette.

“You’ve got to have a sense of humor. A lot of people take it too goddamn seriously. I always say it takes balls to be a girl.”

—John Thomason december/january

AAron Bristol

Transgender radio hosT/acTivisT

FROM SPORTS INJURIES TO CHRONIC PAIN, WE’RE DEDICATED TO YOUR RECOVERY.

Whether you’re an elite athlete recovering from injury or a victim of chronic pain searching for relief, Atlantic Grove Chiropractic and Rehabilitation (AGCR) offers the latest in state-of-the-art treatments to help get you on the road to recovery.

Founded by Dr. Hessam Khatami, Florida Atlantic University’s Official Team Chiropractor since 2009, AGCR’s experience with athletes from all sporting disciplines keeps it on the cutting edge of musculoskeletal conditions. AGCR Specializes in Active Release Technique

(ART), Graston Technique, and Kinesio Taping, therapies that are effective in finding and eliminating internal scar tissue; the basis for many muscular, joint, and spine related dysfunctions.

Contact us today to find out more about how Dr. Khatami and Atlantic Grove Chiropractic and Rehabilitation can help diagnose and eliminate the cause of your pain.

401 W. Atlantic Ave. Ste. 015 Delray Beach, FL 33444 Ph: 561-455-4850 | Fax: 561-330-6097 | info@atlanticgrovechiro.com

Neil by the Numbers 50: Major events he does a year $100,000: Largest single bid 5 to 7: Number of weekend events going on in Boca during season $1 million+: Largest single night at an auction

20: Number of years in Boca Raton 2: Number of tuxedos he owns 6 and 6: Number of cowboy hats and pairs of cowboy boots he owns

faces The Best Auction Items Saffir says the most popular auction items aren’t necessarily the lavish trips or the jewelry but those items that promise an experience. A walk-on part on a TV show, or his personal favorite, watching Monday Night Football at home with then-Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler.

“We raised $25,000 on that item,” he says. “And Jay Fiedler shows up, he’s this great guy, and kids from all over the neighborhood come over and he’s throwing the ball to them out in the yard.

That was priceless.”

Neil Saffir AUctioneer

AAron Bristol

I

f you’ve been to one or two black-tie events over the past few years, then you already know Neil Saffir, the whirling dervish in a tux and a cowboy hat doing his level best to extract every last dollar from your wallet. Saffir is the man with a mike and a smile who appears after the dessert course to conduct the charity auction, the cash call, the emotional appeal.

And he’s very, very good at it.

“I genuinely love people,” he says. “I intimately get to know the organizations I work for. I don’t just walk in the door and call the auction. I visit the organizations. I know their mission, their sponsors. I know why these people are involved, and I know the children and the people they help. It’s what I was born to do.”

Saffir attended his first auction—all art and antiques—when he was 8. He knew on the spot that that was what he wanted to do with his life. There was something about entertaining people while actually doing work that intrigued him, although he didn’t make the leap until he was grown, married and his wife was expecting their first child.

Back then, among other occupations, he when U want to know

had been a lumber salesman, owned an IT services company and taught karate. But nothing stuck.

“It was 23 years ago,” he recalls. “My wife said, ‘If there is anything you have ever really wanted to do, now is your time, because life is going to change.’ So I went to auction school at the National Auctioneer Training Center [in Sanford, Fla.] and started working in auctions.”

There are all kinds of auctioneers, from fast-talking livestock men to automobile people, to those who specialize in antiques, tobacco, boats and real estate.

Although Saffir can talk fast with the best of them, his specialty is benefit or charity auctions, which, he says, is hands-down the most rewarding line of auction work.

The niche requires its own cadence, he notes, its own kind of audience interaction and, most of all, significant “product knowledge.” He learns about every charity he works for, has numerous meetings, and hones in on the mission—which he wants guests to keep at the top of their minds when he’s asking them for bids.

“You have to make sure people under-

stand the mission, that they are not just bidding on that trip to the Bahamas,” Saffir says. “That bid is helping that charity do what it does.”

Over the years, he’s been involved in his share of emotional episodes—none more inspirational than an auction that raised money for a child with a brain tumor. All of the items had been bid on when a child approached him with a jar that contained $180 in loose change.

“I asked if anyone else in the room wanted to match that $180, and every single person raised their hands,” he says. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Nights like that, and there have been hundreds, are why Saffir loves his work.

“Every single night we are onstage, we help find a cure for something, we help put kids in school. There is nothing more rewarding than what we do. There’s nothing in our industry where you can make a bigger difference—I’ve sold millions of dollars of real estate at auction, and it’s wonderful. But nothing’s more rewarding than an auction that sends kids to cancer camp.”

—MArie Speed [ bocamag.com ]

113

spotlight [ by kevin kaminski and cassie morien ]

She Can Work it Out

On the eve Of a persOnal appearance in BOca tO celeBrate the deBut Of her shOp within saks fifth avenue at tOwn center, designer Stella Mccartney dishes On her creatiOns, her passiOns, her mOm’s influence and grOwing up as the daughter Of a Beatle.

114

[ bocamag.com ]

When did you first realize that your father Was one of the iconic figures of music history and not just “dad?”

I grew up pretty normal. School, dinner, telly, bed. Although, sometimes, there was mad stuff—like hanging out with Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson. It didn’t seem mad at the time.

I was just hanging out with Mum and Dad’s friend. Except maybe Michael Jackson; I knew who he was.

looking back at your early years in the industry, hoW do you think the criticism you faced as a 25-yearold With the last name mccartney shaped the Way that you’ve approached your career?

I used to get so angry with the constant association with the name, and I think that anger fueled the spotlight more. It would have been so wrong to pretend it hasn’t done great things, opened many doors for me and given me that interesting outlook on life.

It’s just a pity that sometimes people judge you before you come into a room. But at this point, I know who I am—and I know where I am going. That’s all that matters.

I think when I was younger, I was a little bit december/january

photo courtesy of mary mccartney

S

he’s a world-famous fashion designer, whose sophisticated, sexy pieces are favored by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst. She also has a separate line for children under 12, as well as fragrance and skin-care products. This summer, she designed athletic apparel for the entire Great Britain team at the London Olympics. And, like her late mother, Linda, she’s a devout environmentalist and animal rights activist.

Oh yes. She also happens to be the daughter of rock royalty.

Not that Stella McCartney ever has been one to rest on the family laurels.

She’s a self-made entrepreneur who, with dogged determination and an original fashion sensibility, has earned the respect of industry peers. But it didn’t come easy. Some 15 years ago, after McCartney was named creative director at Chloé in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld famously quipped, “Chloé should have taken a big name.

They did, but in music, not fashion. Let’s hope she’s as gifted as her father.”

McCartney proved Lagerfeld wrong—and everyone else who doubted her potential to become a household name on her own. Her collections, which can be found in more than 50 countries, recently earned Brand of the Year at the 2012 Luxury Briefing Awards in London.

Locals will have an opportunity to see that brand in all its splendor starting this month when McCartney debuts her store within a store at Saks Fifth Avenue inside Town Center at Boca Raton. To mark the occasion, she’ll make a rare South Florida appearance Dec. 3 at Saks, where the mother of four will showcase her 2013 ready-to-wear collection at an invite-only event.

“There are chic women all over the world, and they all appreciate beautiful, luxurious things,” says McCartney, whose collections also are available at Neiman Marcus inside Town Center. “The women in Florida are no different in that sense.”

In an exclusive interview with Boca Raton, the fashion icon recently touched on a variety of topics—including what it was like to grow up as the daughter of Paul McCartney.

Stella ComeS to BoCa When: Dec. 3 Where: Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center at Boca Raton What: An invitation-only event/ fundraiser to celebrate the opening of the Stella McCartney shop at Saks. Guests will receive an exclusive sneak preview of the designer’s spring 2013 ready-towear collection. tickets: $100 Beneficiary: All proceeds from the event go to Florence Fuller Child Development Centers.

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

115

spotlight

McCartney showcased pieces from her 2013 Resort collection at this New York event.

more irreverent. I guess as you mature as a person, you just evolve and that inevitably has reflected on my work as a designer.

I think it’s important to constantly push yourself, and I continuously try to do so.

For one thing, the brand has expanded into different categories now; not only do we have the main ready-to-wear collection, we have kids, lingerie, a performance line with Adidas, a fragrance, and they all need to somehow relate to each other. We have evolved slowly but steadily.

I’m trying to live in the moment. We still have more to ... build on as a brand, and I’m looking forward to that.

You’ve spoken before about Your mother’s influence on certain passions in Your life. are there specific recollections that You have of Your mother in terms of her commitment to animal rights and environmentalism?

My mother taught me to be aware of my responsibilities and [to be] ethically conscious. I would like to think that this can be reflected in the way that I approach both business and life in general.

She was a strong woman in her own delicate way. She would have loved the products we’ve developed, and it’s a shame she never got to see them. I cherish all of the 116

[ bocamag.com ]

things she did when she was alive; she was incredibly brave. In my opinion, she influenced many people, but nobody recognized that until she died.

You are a lifelong vegetarian, and You strictlY avoid fur and leather in Your work. You also take other steps to remain sustainable, including a windpowered headquarters. whY is being environmentallY sustainable so important to You and Your brand?

First, it’s important for me to say I’m not perfect and that, for me, it is about the principle. Sustainability is important, recycling is important. I think it is a mindset. Everyone can do really simple things to make a difference, and every little bit counts, [but] there is still a long way to go.

My first job is to be a fashion designer.

My first job is to make desirable, luxurious, beautiful clothing and accessories that women want to buy. But I will always take the opportunity to use a beautiful organic fabric.

I obviously don’t use any animal skins or furs in my collections, which has a huge impact on the planet.

My first decision is always based on: Can I do this in a more environmental way without sacrificing design. If I can,

then there is no reason not to. About 50 million animals die for the sake of fashion ever year, which is extremely wasteful.

[This] significantly contributes to climate change; farming uses a lot of water, energy and land, devastates forests and pollutes oceans.

There are a lot of alternatives to using leather in accessories. We use PU [polyurethane] made in Italy, and not PVC [polyvinyl chloride], but also velvets, cottons, linens, raffias, sustainable wood, recycled nylons ... at the end of the day, it’s more creative.

do You feel added pressure when designing for a movie star or someone in the spotlight who will receive a report card for that fashion?

Relationships are important to me, and I really value them. But ... for any dress to be successful, it needs to be the right dress for the right person.

I think the minute you try [on] a dress— and it’s not right and you force it—that’s when you run into problems. The dress needs to fit that person’s personality and their confidence level; if it doesn’t, [the dress] won’t work.

In my experience when a person feels comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing, it’s a huge success. december/january

Your clothing has a sensibilitY that suits the working-class woman more than the extravagant avant-garde tYpe. do You feel Your work ethic and career aspirations are translated into Your collections?

My focus when designing has always been about women; women are who inspire me. What I really try to do is sort of have a conversation with my woman about what her needs are; [we’re] trying to make statements [without] overwhelming the person wearing the clothing.

I think it’s really important to feel that you’re an individual when you wear clothes. Our brand very much sort of stands for that, trying to give women an opportunity to dress themselves in a creative way without screaming or shouting in a room.

Your 2013 spring readY-to-wear collection is an arrangement of menswear for women and

w h europeanauto_brm1212.indd e n U w a n t t o k n o w1

unique feminine silhouettes. what are You most proud of in this new line?

I love spring, it is one of my favorite seasons. It’s about enjoying the new beginning in a sense.

This collection is really about innocence and inspiration; it’s about bringing light, laughter and a breeze and warmth into your wardrobe.

It is full of vibrant color and a lot of texture. There is also a lot of print and a play on textures and materials. Tailoring plays on the masculine, bringing in twists and turns in the lapel work, accompanying colors, folding materials, and inserting fringing in the back of a man’s tailored jacket.

for the 2012 london olYmpics You were in charge of designing the kits for great britain’s athletes. what was that experience like for You? The project really meant a lot to me being a British designer and working with team

Great Britain. It was an exciting job and quite a challenge. It led me to really push myself as a designer; the role entailed a million things with a lot of guidelines.

I had to identify what makes a country, to show the pride of the nation and translate that into clothing, while taking into account the necessary technical achievement.

It also involves looking at the best athletes in the world and [to] do them proud, and [trying] to help enhance and support their performance.

Another aspect is how to look masculine and feminine within that and still keep the dignity of the athlete. It also requires considering how everything will come across visually on television when billions of people are watching it, and [to] try to make it different.

The experience has really gone beyond anything I’ve ever done before. Being a fashion designer, this is not the type of opportunity that normally comes your way. I feel really very lucky and privileged.

[ b o c a m a g . c10/3/12 o m ] 2:58 PM 117

wEstErn nut Superior quality gourmet gifts guaranteed to satisfy the most discriminating taste. Priced from $10 to $200. Shop our upgraded and IMPROVED website, loaded with easyto-use features and internet specials, or call today for a free catalog.

Salt Lake City 800/825-9912 westernut.com

ElEmEnts thErapEutic massagE At Elements, our therapists take the time to understand your body's problem areas and learn about your wellness goals. We pride ourselves with matching the right therapist to meet your individual pressure and therapeutic needs. Enjoy our New Client Special: A 55-minute massage for $49 (reg. $89).

The Polo Club Shoppes 5030 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton 561/241-6690 touchofelements.com/bocaraton

lEs bijoux Oiseaux de Paradis volutes between-the-finger ring in yellow gold with Tsavorite and demantoid garnets, yellow, mauve, and pink sapphires, and round diamonds.

Alhambra Talisman timepiece set in pink gold with diamond case and mother of pearl dial, 40mm case, Swiss Quartz movement.

Mizner Park 308 North Plaza Real, Boca Raton 561/955-8802 vancleefarpels.com

special advertising section

Great Gift Ideas Slip into the festive spirit of the season with gifts for all of the special people in your life.

Verdi jewelers Verdi Jewelers of Boca Raton offers the finest collection of unique and original designs. Verdi’s creations withstand changing trends and are meant to last a lifetime for the classic, chic woman. At Verdi Jewelers, only impeccable is acceptable. Featured are Roberto Demeglio’s Ceramic cuffs in 18k white or rose gold and diamonds. Available exclusively at Verdi Jewelers.

78 Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton 561/393-3532 verdijewelers.com

the maui spa & wellness center Give the gift of ... Aloha!

Purchase a gift certificate of $200 or more and receive a $20 gift card to use on your next visit.

2100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton 561/395-7733 themauispa.com

special advertising section

a s p e c i a l p r o m ot i o n

december/january dec

9

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum 20th Anniversary National Tour Does memory have the power to change the world?

Absolutely. Learn how. Join us at a free, daylong public event Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., marking 20 years of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Marriott at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle 866/998-7466 • ushmm.org/neveragain

jan

31

jan

19-20

Boca Raton Fine Art Show Come to the Boca Raton Fine Art Show on Jan. 19–20, 2013, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with a new location on Federal Highway at Palmetto Park Road. All work is original and handmade at this high-quality, juried fine art and fine craft show. Free admission and parking.

Downtown Boca, corner of Federal Highway and Palmetto Park Road • 941/755-3088 • hotworks.org

feb mar

22 3

2nd Annual Country Club Chef Showdown

Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

The second annual battle of the Country Club Chefs will be hosted by last year’s winner, Boca West Country Club, on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 10 p.m. The chefs compete in this Iron Chef-style event, creating a signature dish from the same main ingredient. Participating clubs include: Addison Reserve, Broken Sound, St. Andrews and Woodfield.

20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton 561/265-6042 • hpbcf.org

Mac is back in 2013! John McEnroe returns to the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, Feb. 22– March 3, the only ATP tournament in the world featuring a Champions Tour event and World Tour event. Headliners also include tennis greats John Isner, the Bryan brothers, Mats Wilander, Carlos Moya and more!

30 N.W. First Ave., Delray Beach 561/330-6000 • yellowtennisball.com

SAVE THE DATE | DEC. 8th 2012

TOY DRIVE Boca Center’s

COME SEE IT SNOW IN THE BOCA CENTER COURTYARD!

• Bring 1 Unwrapped Gift (benefitting the Children’s Home Society of Florida) for a Child & Receive a FREE Photo with Santa!

• Breakfast with Santa at BRIO Tuscan Grille from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. By Reservation only— call 561-392-3777 • Photos with Santa & Special Friends from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Balloon Artists, Face Painting, and other FREE fun holiday activities for the kids in the Courtyard • Let it Snow! Snowfall effects every 15 minutes in the Courtyard from 10am-Noon!

Dec. 8th 2012

• For additional details and announcements about this event, be sure to follow us on www.bocacenter.com, facebook, and twitter

Verizon is a global leader in delivering innovative communications, information and entertainment.

The ShopS aT Boca cenTer SuiTe 223

561-392-7011

verizon_brm1212.indd 1

T h e D U X 速 B e D | h e a D B o a r D s | acc e s s o r i e s | F i n e L i n e n s | D o w n aTLanTa, Ga 1220 West Paces Ferry Road 404.869.1075

10/3/12 duxiana_brm1212.indd 12:59 PM 1

Boca raTon, FL 5250 Town Center Circle 561.416.2235

soUThern Pines, nc 280 NW Broad Street 910.725.1577

DUXiana.coM

10/19/12 3:52 PM

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary

The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail 561-620-0011 www.guylaferrera.com someguy@fdn.com

Esquire magazine's Gold Standard recipient for one of the 30 Best Men's Stores in America for the past 10 years!

The ShopS aT Boca cenTer SuiTe 131

561-353-1350 AT&T_brm1212.indd 1

date

location

EVERY DAY

SHOPS @ BOCA

time

5:30 AM 9:00 PM

Starbucks_2010.indd 1 10/22/12 3:26 PM

10/14/10 3:22 PM

Holiday celebrations to fit most any budget…

Luncheons • Receptions • Tastings • Dinners or bring the celebration to your home or office with Morton’s Prime To Go!

Morton’s The Steakhouse 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton 301-392-7724 • mortons.com Visit our website for reservations, gift cards or information on all our South Florida locations.

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM. Mortons_brm1212.indd 1

10/22/12 11:30 AM

The Shops at Boca Center 5250 Town Center Circle #127 561.394.5067 oggimurano_brm1212.indd 1

803B E. Las Olas Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.764.7750 10/17/12 4:08 PM

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

“Where people are treated like gold!”

buyers of estate jewelry | insurance appraisals | no sale is ever final

5250 Town CenTer CirCle, SuiTe 121 BoCa raTon, Fl 33486 ph 561-368-4247 | Fax 561-368-4289

The Shops at Boca Center | 5250 Town Center Circle #133 Boca Raton, Florida 33486 | Tel: 561.362.0350

A La Mode_BRM1212.indd 1 10/25/12 11:24 AM

SilversFineJewelry_BRM1212.indd 1

10/12/12 9:19 AM

When You're Hot You’re Hot For 25 years Uncle Tai's has been spicing up Boca raton

SuShi Bar

•

hiBachi

•

Lounge & Patio

The Shops at Boca Center 5250 Town Center Circle, Suite #111

561-394-9506 • sushiray.com

Please Call Us for Reservations: 561-368-8806 The Shops at Boca Center | 5250 Town Center Circle Boca Raton

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-98043.3125_UncleTais.indd or visit us on1 the web at www.bocacenter.coM. 10/18/12 11:36 AM

sushiray_brm1212.indd 1

10/3/12 11:17 AM

Tasti-D-Lite.indd 1

10/23/12 11:31 AM

Buying and Selling Andy Warhol Tom Wesselmann Roy Lichtenstein Damien Hirst Robert Indiana and many others

Carole Feuerman 2012 Serena with Cap (4 colors) Archival Mixed Media Print with Varnish Edition of 30 24" W x 33.5" H (each piece)

5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33486

561-368-4680

www.vertufineart.com

gary@vertufineart.com

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca vertufineart_brm1212.indd 1 10/9/12raton.

2:35 PM for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

THE SHOPS AT BOCA CENTER

561.392.7181

En VOGUE Pretty girls turn heads. “en VOgue” girls break necks.

SCENE STEALERS the shops at boca center 5050 town center circle #235 boca raton // 561.750.1901 Monday-tuesday 10-6 & wednesday-saturday 10-10

CHICOS.COM

EnVogue_brm1212.indd 1

10/9/12 4:27 PM

HigH

FasHion

From Day to Night...

SELECT FROM 40 DRAFT BEERS & OVER 100 IN THE BOT TLE SHOW ALL NFL & COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING AND BAR HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 4 - 7PM GREAT PLACE TO HOLD YOUR FAMILY OR COMPANY HAPPY HOURS OR DINNERS

SPECIALS

Simon Chang Exclusively at Duo Moda

The shops at Boca Center suite 119, next to starbucks Military Trail 1 mile n. of Palmetto (561) 361-9001

Mon. - Baby Back Ribs $10.99 Tues. - Haddock Fish Fry $8.99 Wed. - Shrimp Fest (25 Shrimp cooked the way you want them) - $10.99 Thurs. - 1 1/4 Pound Maine Lobster - $14.99 Sat. - 12oz Prime Rib - $12.99 Sun. - 1 1/4 Pound Maine Lobster $14.99 & Prime Rib $12.99 5050 TOWN CENTER CIRCLE, BOCA RATON ( ACROSS FROM ROCCO’S TACOS)

561-544-8000 • WWW.THEENGLISHTAP.COM

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM. 10/19/12 9:43 AM

DuoModa_BRM1212.indd 1

Whether you choose to have a new hair design and color, browse through our exclusive product lines, treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure, enjoy a rejuvenating facial and skin treatment, or relax with a full body massage we invite you to a new level of beauty.

So come and enjoy free make up consultation and be dazzled with our jewelry selection. We look forward to seeing you soon at Spalano Salon and Spa. The Shops at Boca Center • 5250 Town Center Circle Suite 125 • Boca Raton, Florida 33486 • 561/391-8803

Whether you choose to have a new hair design and color, browse through our exclusive product lines, treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure, enjoy a rejuvenating facial and skin treatment, or relax with a full body massage we invite you to a new level of beauty.

Spalano-BRM2010.indd 1 10/22/10 So come and enjoy to a free uphair consultation andcolor, be Whether you choose havemake a new design and browsewith through our exclusive product lines, treat yourself dazzled our jewelry selection.

We look forward to seeing to a manicure and pedicure, you soon at Spalanoenjoy Salona rejuvenating and Spa. facial

3:57 PM

and skin treatment, or relax with a full body massage

inviteCenter you to a new level ofTown beauty.

The Shops atweBoca • 5250 Center Circle Suite 125 • Boca Raton, Florida 33486 • 561/391-8803 So come and enjoy free make up consultation and be dazzled with our jewelry selection. We look forward to seeing you soon at Spalano Salon and Spa.

Bella

The Shops at Boca Center • 5250 Town Center Circle

Spalano_brm1212.indd 1 Suite 125 • Boca Raton, Florida 33486 • 561/391-8803

boutique

Spalano-BRM2010.indd 1

10/12/12 2:30 PM

10/22/10 3:57 PM

get the new look.

Give a gift

Get a Gift!

Receive a $20 Gift for you and for every $100 in Gift Cards Purchased*

boca center 5050 town center circle suite 230 boca raton, fl 33486 561.393.3883

tHE SHopS at Boca cEntEr (561) 392-3777 5050 toWn cEntEr circlE SuitE 239 Boca raton, Fl 33486

*Free gift valid: 1-1-13 thru 3-17-13 Promotion expires 12-31-12

B rio i talian.com

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

BellaBoutique_brm1212.indd 1

10/3/12 11:16 AM

We provide the highest-quality meats, seafood, produce and Italian prepared entrées with personalized attention and value that our customers seek.

Whether you are shopping for groceries, looking for Italian specialty items, or need catering for your next special event, we can help!

Let our Catering Professionals assist you in planning the perfect holiday party.

5250 Town Center Circle Boca Raton • 561-347-2314 4409 Northlake Blvd Palm Beach Gardens • 561-799-0322 10479 Southern Blvd.

Royal Palm Beach • 561-204-4405

Go to our website to see our Catering Menu josephsclassicmarket.com

Joseph'sMarket_brm1212.indd 1

10/25/12 11:31 AM

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

THE EXPERT IN MEN’S APPAREL

15% Off Any Single Regular Priced Item.

expiration date 1/31/13 excludes shoes, watches, gift cards and rentals. Cannot be combined with any other offer or with the Corporate Card discount.

the Shops at Boca Center 5050 town Center Circle Suite 213 Boca raton

561.367.1140 www.josbank.com

JosABank_brm1212.indd 1

10/25/12 11:27 AM

Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca raton. for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

132

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

s s r r e e c c n n e e u f fIInn llu The

With innovative spirit, big-picture understanding and unyielding determination, the following 15 locals are charting a future course for our community in categories ranging from health care and education to philanthropy and business.

By Kevin Kaminski, Emily Minor, Marie Speed and John Thomason

Jon Robertson Dean, Conservatory of MusiC, Lynn university Reviewing the debut performance of 9-year-old pianist Jon Robertson at New York’s Town Hall, the New York Times called him a “pintsized Paderewski.” It’s no surprise this Jamaican-born prodigy would achieve a long and distinguished career as a musician and guest conductor for top symphonies around the world. Academia followed, and, after a dozen years chairing the music department at UCLA, Robertson brought his passion to Lynn University beginning in 2005. Since then, he’s elevated Lynn’s conservatory to one of the world’s finest.

How challenging is it to make it into the Lynn Conservatory?

It’s very challenging. ... If I can talk you out of being a music major, you shouldn’t be a music major. It’s a hard, bitter, difficult road, and if you don’t have the emotional, intellectual and sometimes physical shock absorbers to go down that road, you shouldn’t be doing it. We have reached the point where the level of people who come to audition is getting higher and higher, because they realize that we exist. But you are auditioning with available slots in mind.

Next year, there will be one slot open in flute. when U want to know

What have you done to raise the stature of this university’s conservatory?

One of the interesting aspects of our conservatory is its size. We’re able to do things here that Juilliard and Indiana cannot do, because they’re so large. Indiana cannot guarantee that every single person that comes to the institution will, for every semester or quarter, play chamber music. The next point is our tremendous scholarship program; everyone here is on scholarship. And lastly, we’ve built a world-class faculty.

What is your ultimate goal with the conservatory?

My biggest goal right now is for the conservatory to be endowed.

There’s got to be somebody in Palm Beach County that would like their name to be in the same verbiage as Eastman and Curtis and Juilliard. [Otherwise], my goal is to maintain excellence. And maintenance is a beast. Getting to the top is one thing. Staying at the top is even harder. you’re also a motivational speaker. What do you drive home the most in your speeches?

One of the things I speak a great deal about is discipline. I define discipline as the ability to do a great job at something you don’t like.

That’s one of the major ingredients in vision—the discipline to be disciplined. That’s what divides the dreamers from the visionaries. [ bocamag.com ]

133

From left: Judith Teller Kaye and Betty Grinnan

Andrew Duffell president and ceo, research park at Fau Background: As a European Studies graduate, with a special focus on political science, from Scotland’s University of Aberdeen, the last place Duffell thought he would wind up was a university research park in Boca Raton. Since January 2011, he’s focused his ambitious lasers on making a segmented area of FAU the top researchand-development institution in the state. hoW he is making a diFFerence: Duffell has revamped the awareness of the Research Park. “There had been a drift in [these companies’] outreach to the university, and the university’s outreach to them,” Duffell recalls. “Everyone had gotten involved in their own world and forgotten what a research park really should be. That’s something I’ve worked on over the last two years, trying to reinvigorate those relationships and build new ones.” As a result, the 20-some tenants working to shape the future in the Research Park have increased their regional profiles; press coverage has expanded, and the Park is now a more attractive destination for companies in fields as diverse as aerospace and defense, software development, health care IT and consumer behavior analysis.

What the Future holds: As the technological frontier of FAU’s signature themes of biotechnology, coastal and marine research, and contemporary societal challenges, the possibilities are endless—from Lockheed Martin robots refashioned for use in port security to revolutionary advances in health care.

134

[ bocamag.com ]

Betty Grinnan and Judith Teller Kaye Founders, Boca citizens For Fiscal responsiBility Betty Grinnan, former school librarian for what is now North Broward Preparatory School, teamed up with Judith Teller Kaye, former partner with global management consulting firm Accenture, a few years ago when they were members of Friends of the Library. The duo embarked on a mission to make sure the new downtown library was built—and then they became the driving force to make it a priority for the city.

Today, the same two women are taking on the city’s budget after forming Boca Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility. Grinnan and Teller Kaye send out newsletters, attend city council meetings and spread the word about Boca Raton’s looming fiscal crisis brought about by the rising costs of police and fire services—and the vast unfunded pension benefits.

Grinnan says it all came about when the city seemed to ignore their concerns.

“For some time I have been concerned about the rising cost of public safety, particularly the fireman’s contract,” she says.

“We got a copy of the contract the city of Boca had signed and analyzed it. We then did a PowerPoint presentation during the public process goal-setting session for the city this spring.

“There was no action taken. There was no response given to our very detailed analysis of the problem. Therefore, we decided to start a newsletter and inform citizens about the problem.”

“We need people to ... let [council members] know there will be a political consequence if the city council does not act to solve this problem.”

What is your strategy now and what are the obstacles before you?

Grinnan: Our strategy includes continuing to inform the citizens through the newsletter. ... Our obstacles are twofold—two huge obstacles. The power of the police and fire unions, which the politicians nationwide have been reluctant to take on, and second, the [fact that] the fireman’s contract does not come up for renegotiation until September 2014. Nothing will happen in our city unless three of the five council members direct our city staff to develop a plan to solve the problem of the rising costs of public safety and the unfunded pension plan.

What could this issue spell for the city?

Teller Kaye: Financial disaster, higher taxes [and the] sweeping out of other public services. Police services are going up 5.8 percent, and fire-rescue services are going up 5.6 percent. This year, they are also raising taxes. Taxes are going up, the waste management fee is going up, and that amount is being used, in part, to fund the increase in police and fire services.

What do you need people to do?

Teller Kaye: We need people to call, write and talk to city council members and let them know there will be a political consequence if the city council does not act to solve this problem.

december/january

Sarah Martin ExEcutivE dirEctor, dElray BEach MarkEting coopErativE Background: Martin’s not a real Florida girl, but you’d never guess that from her proud sentiments about Delray Beach. A native of Jonesboro, Ark., Martin, 32, left after high school to earn a fine-arts degree from Florida Atlantic University. Her first job was with the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, working on public art. She left town for a while, branching off on her own in Miami, but she returned to public work in Delray in 2006. Since taking the lead of the marketing cooperative two years ago, Martin has done nothing but put Delray on the map. how shE is Making a diffErEncE: For starters, Martin’s ideas are just plain fun, and she can draw a crowd for everything from a concert to a cocktail party. Wanna spruce up the annual Christmas tree lighting? Then bring in Santa via helicopter. Wanna spiff up a beach party? Shoot off some fireworks. So when Delray found itself in the finals for the title of “Most Fun Small Town in America” (Spoiler alert: They won!), Martin and her team dreamed up some truly fantastical fun times to woo the judges.

First snorkeling and sailing, followed by a Jet Ski ride. Then a massage and back to their rooms at the historic Seagate Hotel. But the real feather in the cap was a road rally, concocted by Martin and her team, that took judges all over town—to parks and beaches and a few hidden spots—with townsfolk standing along the way, cheering and yelling great things about Delray Beach. Hmmm.

Wasn’t that a bit like bribery? Martin laughs.

“We were just showing off how fabulous our community was,” she says. what thE futurE holds: Martin wants to offer more pop with the town’s smaller events and embrace the notion that not every successful city party has to create a traffic jam. “We don’t always necessarily have to draw 12,000 people,” she says, “but we want to draw notoriety.” So far, with her at the helm, that hasn’t been a problem.

“Being the Most Fun Small Town in America is getting us a lot of national media.

We’ll be in an atlas that Rand McNally is producing. We’re in a mobile app. It’s really putting us on the map.”

s r e c n when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

135

“My main concern is making sure our students receive a good education.�

136

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Wayne Gent Superintendent, palm Beach county School diStrict Wayne Gent, 58, is in his first full year as superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools, and so far, so good. (Even the horrible flooding during the second week of the school seems like ages ago.)

As head of the 174,000-student district, Gent faced everything from changing teacher standards to budget cuts to family socioeconomic struggles when he sat down in his new office chair last February. early into the job you went on a listening tour of the county. What did you hear?

One thing that I heard was that folks were really pleased with our school district, particularly our business community. We want to work closer with them in marketing the positives that many folks don’t know about. A lot of people don’t know about our career centers, and we need to do a better job of marketing them. do you think technology has to be a part of today’s classroom learning?

Absolutely. Technology is changing every day, and we certainly have to meet that need. It’s crucial. It’s crucial not just for the success of our students but for the success of our country. there is a lot of discussion among teachers about core teaching standards versus the continuation of the Fcat. What’s going to happen in Florida?

We’re going to common core (across-theboard learning standards). That’s going to happen. It’s really going to raise the bar for our students and enable them to compete nationally and globally. But it’s important that we tie this into our teacher training; we’re going to have to work on that.

Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

My eighth-grade history teacher, Mr. Mantiachi. ... I like that he engaged the students. You knew that he cared about you. He made history fun and exciting; he brought it to life.

when U want to know

“What’s impressed me [since moving to Boca 12 years ago] is the generosity of this community. At any point in time, when there is a need in the area, there is a tremendous rally.”

Jackie Reeves preSident, Junior league oF Boca raton Background: The one-time research and asset management expert for Citigroup and Credit Suisse in New York has emerged as a go-to financial source for the likes of CNBC and FOX since joining Bell Rock Capital seven years ago.

In addition to managing money for her clients, Reeves and husband Jason have ventured into entrepreneurial waters— literally. The couple started (and has since sold) Duck Tours, the amphibious vehicles used to explore South Florida. hoW She iS making a diFFerence: Reeves’ husband likes to say that his wife can’t help but effect change. As current president of the local Junior League, Reeves is doing just that—and more—by building on the already-formidable brand and empowering the Boca chapter’s more than 700 members. She’s opened up general

membership meetings to other community nonprofits and enhanced the continuing education component (like the national trainer who spoke at a fall meeting about innovative fundraising strategies). She’s also built on the work established by prior administrations and pushed the League to continue anticipating needs. “When various events and community opportunities are happening,” Reeves says, “I want to make sure we’re always at that table helping those nonprofits figure out how to get it done.”

What the Future holdS: Inspired by the documentary “Miss Representation,” which asserts that women remain underrepresented in positions of authority and decision-making, Reeves sees the League, as part of its ongoing obligation to train future female leaders, “rolling out more support and infrastructure around building self-esteem.”

In addition, expect the League to become more issue-based in its initiatives. This year, primary issues include child welfare, hunger and nonprofit training.

s r ce [ bocamag.com ]

137

Tandy Robinson local driver of the impact 100 movement Background: After a career in finance in Atlanta and Washington, Robinson returned to Delray Beach about 10 years ago, got married, had a baby and now works in wealth management for Goldman Sachs.

While visiting a client in Vero Beach she learned about a refreshing new way to give back—Impact 100—where 100 (or more) women give $1,000 each and then vote on which charity to give it to (after several finalists present their cases at one group meeting). The inaugural Impact 100 in Boca, held this past year, was a resounding success; 148 woman donated $1,000 each, allowing the organization to give one grant of $100,000 and four of $12,000 each. The Parent-Child Center in Riviera Beach earned the top prize for its new trauma team. “I think it’s efficient philanthropy,” Robinson says. “[We] can say to local nonprofits, ‘Think big—if we were to drop $100,000 into your laps, what would you do with it?’ I have never done something that direct or that meaningful before.” how she is making a difference: Robinson believes that streamlining philanthropy this way allows more women to get involved and has a larger imprint on specific charities. (Although a subcommittee narrows the charities to five finalists, most of the donors go to only one meeting—and then decide who will receive the money. No galas, no dinners, no auctions—one check, one vote, one meeting.) “For me, personally, it is this idea of trying to balance it all, trying to have a full-time job, trying to have a family and just wanting to be direct about the giving. I think people in general today want to be more thoughtful, strategic and efficient with their time. ... One hundred thousand dollars can make a meaningful impact.” what the future holds: “I’d like us to eventually give two or three [rounds of] grants annually—and to see more generations of women come together to give back to the local community,” Robinson says.

138

[ bocamag.com ]

“It’s the idea that, wow, I can give $1,000 and come to one meeting and make such a difference.”

december/january

s r e c n e u l f In

Daniel Cane

CEO, MOdErnizing MEdiCinE

In the first minute of a conversation with Daniel Cane, the Lake Worth High grad mentions that he started the educational software giant Blackboard from his dorm room at Cornell University, that it went public in 2003 after five rounds of fundraising, and that the company sold in 2011 for $1.6 billion.

When noted that he relays this Zuckerberg-esque tale as casually as if he were sharing his breakfast order, Cane laughs.

“It’s very anticlimactic to sell a company that you build with your hands and heart,” says the 35-year-old entrepreneur. “It’s about the journey, the people and the culture, not the financial events.”

Yet another groundbreaking journey— this time in health care—has led Cane to his latest venture, Moderning Medicine, based in FAU’s Research Park. This software innovation, tailored specifically for the moment to dermatology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology and optometry, allows physicians in those fields to quickly tend to everything from clinical documentation to billing to writing prescriptions through a cloud-based “Electronic Medical Assistant.”

“I’m doing this,” he says, “because it needs to be done.”

much you try to educate them on the benefits of being paperless or e-prescribing, if they use your system and lose productivity, they’ll stop using the system.

Why tackle something so challenging instead of staying in a familiar field—education?

I’m a switched-on personality. I don’t do it for the glory, and it’s not for the challenge.

It’s that health care needs my help. It’s so backwards in this country, and it’s not any one person’s fault. Doctors are trying to treat the patient, make a living and not get sued.

I came into this knowing that I could build a much better way for doctors to document

what they do. They spend two to three hours a day documenting; let’s start with that. Software, if it’s built right, can make that easier.

Where will the company be five years from now?

We want to dominate the surgical specialty market. ... But you have to stay disciplined.

We get approached on a daily basis by someone not in a domain we’re focused on—the head of a 70-provider practice in gastroenterology who wants to buy our system and guarantees us $50,000 a month in billing. It’s hard not to follow the money.

But we have a plan. We know where we’re going and why.

What kind of lessons did you learn through your experiences with Blackboard?

Something like Blackboard is not a once-ina-lifetime opportunity unless you decide to leave it there. Of my seven co-founders, three are CEOs of other companies that are funded, doing well and growing. ... There’s nothing that prevents us from transforming an industry. For industry to evolve, someone must be ambitious enough to try. I looked at health care in that way 14 years later.

Where has Modernizing Medicine succeeded where other companies have failed in terms of health care and the internet?

Health care is so diverse and so broad, and the big companies that have come in have left. They’ve said we aren’t capable of solving this problem. Even Google aborted an attempt to standardize health informatics.

The one thing that we’ve understood, which must be working because we’re growing like a weed, is that you have to solve the problem of efficiency. If doctors can’t save time using it, they won’t. No matter how when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

139

s r e c n e u l f In Pete Martinez

Chairman of the board, Palm beaCh mediCal eduCation CorPoration

baCkground: Who would have thought that an IBM guy, who spent 32 years growing the changing computer industry, would end up tackling health care? But there are two things that always bugged Martinez.

Health care and education. So he retired five years ago to gather steam for the nation’s first investor-backed medical school.

“I wanted to do this when I could still throw a very hard punch,” says Martinez, who just turned 59. how he is making a differenCe: Some things just don’t make sense, and Martinez has spent the last few years studying the health care industry and how it works, uncovering all those nonsensical realities. Like patient records: Why aren’t they centrally computerized? “It’s amazing that you can take your car to the Toyota dealership and they can call up the information on that car and help you,” he says.

“Yet, for a human being, we can’t do that.

We have to call. We have to pry. We have to get the X-rays. It’s completely obsolete.”

Another thing? The paper trail. “The health industry is keeping the fax machine industry alive,” he says. And then there are the alarming projection numbers: By 2025, there will be a shortage of 130,000 doctors in America, if we do nothing. Enter Palm Beach Medical College, coming soon to our community on the heels of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU. The difference? This would be the first standalone, for-profit medical school that will issue four-year degrees. what the future holds: Palm Beach Medical College—Martinez says they plan to sign a deal for space in Boca Raton—will be top of the line, technologywise, and the inaugural gang will arrive in the fall of 2013. “The first class that the students take will be the technologies of medicine—electronic medical records, clinical decision support systems, high-definition imaging, telemedicine, simulators, animation, social networks for doctors.”

“What keeps me going? Every morning I wake up and I say, ‘This day is radically different from any other day in my life.’

And that’s what energizes me—to be creative and live life to the fullest.”

140

[ bocamag.com ]

Andrea Faria President, brazilian business grouP baCkground: Faria, 45, is a Brazilian businesswoman who, for years, has helped run her family’s aircraft fleet management and sales business. Since the United States is the largest aviation market in the world, Faria was always making trips to the States.

In 2005, Faria moved here and made South Florida her base. how she is making a differenCe: Brazil’s economy is booming, which means more Brazilians are looking toward South Florida for investment opportunities. The Business Group helps unveil these opportunities, providing assistance to the growing Brazilian population with networking connections, investment opportunities and crucial social relationships. “[We’re trying to] support the Brazilians who live and work here and also the Americans who are willing to do business with Brazil,” she says. Faria recently took over as the group’s president; their membership stands at about 120. It’s a small percentage given the estimated 250,000 Brazilians who live in the tri-county area, but she thinks they’ve made some serious inroads, especially with marketing themselves to South Florida cities. (Pompano Beach works with their group, promoting key events, like Brazilian Citizenship Day.) “The biggest challenge is the difference in cultures,” says Faria, who says Brazilians are a little bit more informal. “We try to teach our members to be prepared for these differences.” what the future holds: Promote.

Market. Hobnob. Then hobnob some more.

“We definitely want to strengthen our relationship with cities like Boca Raton.” december/january

Chris Miracolo ExEcutivE chEf, Max’s harvEst Background: Chris Miracolo has been cooking for 20 years, starting at his parents’ Long Island hospital diner and including a string of pizza places.

But it was his culinary epiphany, during a dinner at Norman’s in Coral Gables when he was 20, that led him on a journey from Miami to Dallas to Denver and, ultimately, into the kitchen at Max’s Grille in Boca. A year ago, he opened Max’s Harvest to rave reviews; the Delray restaurant is regarded as one of South Florida’s top farm-to-table dining experiences. how hE is Making a diffErEncE: Miracolo likens the farm-to-table platform and all it entails to a “new-found religion” that has changed his life—and will ultimately reduce the carbon footprint in South Florida. He is “maniacal” about recycling, he’s learning about new types of locally grown vegetables, and he advocates for local farmers. “We have a genuine interest in cooking right, eating right, respecting the land and understanding the entire scope of what goes into doing that,” he says. “Buying locally cuts down on our carbon footprint. There are fewer fossil fuels needed to transport the food, fewer chemicals put into your food to give it shelf life, and you are supporting the local economy.” what thE futurE holds: Miracolo says he could not have predicted the success of Max’s Harvest and the passion of the staff—or how the farm-to-table concept has opened him up to new ways of using fresh foods. The next step would be going full-on back to the farm, if he had his way. “I would eventually like to incorporate some sort of working farm onto a restaurant, something I could design from the ground up and truly see what it’s like to grow the food, to have the animals providing the dairy. That would be utopia.” when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

141

Steven Sponder CEO, VplEnish BaCkgrOund: In 1995, Sponder successfully pitched Microsoft a business plan for the early incarnation of its MSN network—a service that linked restaurants and hotels to suppliers. “I actually spoke on a stage with Bill Gates in Vancouver,” says Sponder, 49.

“For me, that was the pivotal business moment. I realized that other people appreciated what I could create.” Over the years, Sponder estimates that he’s been involved in—either as adviser/investor or his own startup—some 25 different businesses and restaurants, including BizProLink, a collection of industry-specific Web communities that provided business-to-business tools for which he raised some $10 million in venture capital (VC) funding. hOw hE is making a diffErEnCE: Sponder never fails to make time for the next generation of entrepreneurs, mentoring hundreds of local students (most from FAU)—and, in some cases, investing in their dream. He pulls no punches when it comes to criticism, however, and tells students that experience in their field of entrepreneurial dreams is crucial when it comes to potential investors. “I’m a VC-funded entrepreneur, and I have the battle scars from the countless rejections of business plans,” he says. “I know what people need to see in a business plan, and I know how to advise the entrepreneur on how to get funding.” what thE futurE hOlds: Sponder is convinced that his latest venture—Vplenish, the vitamin boost (produced by Equal) in a sweetener packet—can be a billion-dollar global brand. The packets, which provide 25 percent of daily vitamin requirements, contain micro-coated granules that eliminate any taste. Of the 10 million packets produced last year, 1.5 million were distributed to malnourished people in more than 50 countries through the Vplenish-the-World Foundation.

142

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Yvonne Boice

e c n e u l f In Connie Siskowski

President/founder, AmericAn AssociAtion of cAregiving Youth

Yvonne Boice PhilAnthroPist, owner of the shoPPes At villAge Pointe BAckground: In 1986, after the death of husband Grant, Boice inherited his Shoppes at Village Pointe, a fledgling retail center on the border of Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton. It was overwhelming at first, but Boice eventually embraced the project as her own. She signed Outback Steakhouse as an early tenant and has built the center into a 77,000-square-foot, multipurpose hub for families. how she is mAking A difference: “I was raised as a young child to give back to the community and to those in need,” Boice says. She serves on about a dozen boards and has represented the United States at four international women’s business conferences, where she promoted volunteerism and helped to empower women in Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, Berlin and Bolivia. whAt the future holds: Boice agreed to organize a fundraising luncheon in 2013 for the Palm Beach State College Foundation board’s STEM program—provided the foundation change the name to STEAM, to incorporate Arts into the Science, Technology, Education and Math disciplines. Now called Full STEAM Ahead, the program hopes to create 1,000 new scholarships. Boice also has become involved with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, the nation’s largest nonprofit targeting sexual violence. “This organization needs to be brought into the public eye,” she says.

when U want to know

BAckground: Educated at Johns Hopkins and New York University, Siskowski’s background is broad—but it always focused on helping people. Hospice, home health, nursing home care; she’s done them all. Last spring, Siskowski, 65, was recognized as a CNN Hero—that is, an “everyday hero who changes the world.” The group she founded helps children deal with the pressures of caring for chronically or fatally ill loved ones. how she is mAking A difference: Siskowski was an 11-year-old schoolgirl when she found herself caring for her sick grandfather. While she loved her grandfather and wanted to be there for him, the experience left a lasting impression. After all, she was the one who found him dead at 2 in the morning when she took him his meds.

As a young adult, Siskowski chose health care as her profes-

sion from the get-go. Today, she helps the hidden population of caregiving youth: children who care for a sick parent or sibling or grandparent and often face those challenges alone. Started in 2006 at Boca Raton Community Middle School, AACY last year helped 500 children with everything from finding social services to homework tutoring to getting a day off just to be a kid. “We work with them so they can walk through this happier and stronger and not go through what I did,” she says. whAt the future holds: The nation is her oyster, and she knows it. “Our ultimate goal is that no child in the United States should have to drop out of school to provide care for a family member,” she says.

AACY is currently working on adding chapters in four states, and there’s been early discussion about two more. For Siskowski, that means only 43 states to go.

for profiles on two more local influencers—and the longer versions of the 15 featured stories— visit bocamag.com.

Connie Siskowski

“The people who are touched by what we do were in this role as a child.

They wish this support had been there for them.” [ bocamag.com ]

143

Bring it on

hOmE

E

xpertly designed interior spaces never fail to produce as many questions as they do kudos. How can that room be so functional—and so sophisticated? Why do the bold colors dazzle instead of overwhelm? How is that look even possible? Boca Raton put such questions, and countless others, to the designers of 10 stunning Florida spaces.

The following tips and techniques—more than 60 in all—will help make any space sensational ... including yours.

By Brad Mee

TIPS For THe

FOYER

[ ] A dYnAmic cEiling tREAtmEnt adds depth and character to the overhead surface—but it also lowers it visually to make the vast space feel more comforting. [ ] FlOOR-tO-cEiling dRApERiEs accentuate the room’s height while softening the hard edges of the window wall. A large-scaled, upholstered valance provides weight and links to the furnishings through its complementary fabric. [ ] limitEd wOOd FinishEs and a muted color palette help shape the room’s serene ambience. [ ] thE dEsignER chOsE a thin-legged, contemporary console to deliver style and scale to the entry without introducing undesirable bulk. [ ] thE miRROR’s cuRlicuE FRAmE repeats the circular pattern of the ceiling, helping to unify the overall design. Its muted gold frame provides relief from the dominant silver accents. [ ] pEwtER-tOnEd nEwEl pOsts dress the stairs with modern flair.

InterIor desIgn by: Patty Gilbert, Brown’s Interior Design, Boca Raton

144

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Ed ButEra, IBI dEsIgns

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

145

TIPS for The

living rooM

[ ] A wood grid, inset 3 inches into the ceiling, adds visual height while lending definition to the living room area from above.

[ ] low furniTure profiles and stylized see-through pendant lights allow for unobstructed ocean views.

[ ] The designer pAssed on a conventional console for the entry. Instead, he inset three illuminated niches for the homeowners’ collection of Asian artifacts.

[ ] The oversized cockTAil TAble provides a central, easy-to-reach surface in the room’s spacious seating area.

[ ] gold-Toned sofAs provide a solid backdrop for the patterned rug, pillows, benches and accents. Common colors unify the assorted fabrics and finishes.

146

[ bocamag.com ]

[ ] AsiAn heAd sculpTures—ideally scaled for the large, open space—help drive the room’s design.

InterIor desIgn by: Steven G, Interiors by Steven G, Pompano Beach december/january

TIPS for The KITCHEN

desIgn soUrCes

[ ] To HElp uNIfy THE KITCHEN with the adjoining living room, the designer inset the ceiling with wood featured in a different manner on the living room floor. [ ] lIgHT-ColorEd CaEsarsToNE countertops, porcelain tile floors and mosaic backsplash complement the rich wood tones and prevent the space from appearing too dark. [ ] CusTom IroN pENdaNT lIgHTs accent the kitchen with the home’s underlying Asian-inspired design. [ ] a THICK, polIsHEd sToNE top crowns the countertop with an eyecatching organic pattern providing relief from the room’s solid surfaces. [ ] IllumINaTEd, glass-froNT CabINETs showcase sparkling glassware while breaking the plane of solid wood doors. [ ] WITH No supErfluous moldINgs or ornamentation, the cabinetry delivers a streamlined, modern vibe.

b.desIgn Miami 305/753-4176 Steven G

brown’s InterIor desIgn 4501 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton 561/368-2703 brownsinteriors.com

InterIors by steven g 2818 Center Port Circle, Pompano Beach 954/735-8223 interiorsbysteveng.com

InterIor desIgn by: Steven G, Interiors by Steven G, Pompano Beach when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

147

Jody Smith

TIPS for The

MASTER BEDROOM [ ] TwO vERTicAl MOlDing strips anchor the headboard with architectural detailing. The upholstered headboard features an ideal height for the room’s lofty ceiling. [ ] ARTiSTicAlly BEvElED MiRRORS serve as large-scale art behind the nightstands. Their large reflective surfaces expand the room visually. [ ] TAilORED DRApERiES DRESS the windows in timeless style. [ ] SyMMETRicAlly pAiRED lAMpS, mirrors and stools create calming balance. [ ] MOnOchROMATic BEDDing and darkwood finishes foster the room’s sophisticated, uncluttered vibe. [ ] SEE-ThROugh lAMp BASES add style without bulk.

InterIor desIgn by: Jody Smith, Brown’s Interior Design, Boca Raton

TIPS for The

MASTER BEDROOM [ ] OvERSizED, clEAn-linED MOlDing performs as an architectural valance above the floorto-ceiling drapery panels.

Patty Gilbert

[ ] ExpAnSivE, SiMply fRAMED MiRRORS span the width of the broad bedside tables, performing like windows that fill the room with reflected light. [ ] ORnATE lAMp BASES add surprising frill to the understated decor. [ ] A lARgE, DARk hEADBOARD anchors the bed with visual weight while adding softness with its tufted, upholstered design. [ ] SiMplE pATTERnS and a hushed color palette shape the room’s peaceful character.

InterIor desIgn by: Patty Gilbert, Brown’s Interior Design, Boca Raton

148

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

TIPS for The

GUEST BEDROOM [ ] An ExpAnSivE wAll Of MiRRORS behind the tufted leather headboard visually doubles the space and ocean views (beyond the sheer draperies) inside this unit at One Thousand Ocean in Boca Raton. [ ] A clEAn-linED SOffiT encircles the room’s perimeter, adding architectural interest, hiding the drapery rod and providing a spot from which to suspend the TV. [ ] iTAliAn MOnORAil liGhTinG subtly and stylishly illuminates the room. [ ] A lARGE RUG DEfinES the sleeping and lounge area while adding color and warmth. [ ] ThiS chic SiTTinG AREA replaces the conventional bench at the foot of the bed. [ ] nOTicE hOw ThE lAck of patterns fosters the room’s serene, uncluttered vibe.

InterIor desIgn by: Steven G, Interiors by Steven G, Pompano Beach

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

149

150

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

TIPS for The

BIG PICTURE [ ] CEIlInG and wall “BUmPoUTs” add bold architectural interest while defining the distinct living, dining and vestibule areas of this large, open room at One Thousand Ocean in Boca Raton. [ ] whITE lEaThER UPholsTERy provides durability and chic style. [ ] whITE laCqUEREd BUIlT-Ins add sheen and storage without bulkiness. [ ] low, sTREamlInEd fURnITURE profiles don’t interfere with the ocean views. [ ] ThE sqUaRE dInInG TaBlE accommodates eight people and provides a modern shape and seating arrangement that eliminates conventional host and hostess chairs at each end. [ ] RazoR-ThIn GRoUT lInEs add a seamless touch to the floor’s porcelain tile treatment. [ ] lEd lIGhTInG anImaTEs the room, from highlighting the architectural bump-outs to creating jewel-like statements along the ceiling and for the art in the dining room.

InterIor desIgn by: Steven G, Interiors

by Steven G, Pompano Beach

“flooring and lighting are the most important keys to successful design in a home.”

—Steven G

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

151

“Dark walls can actually make a room seem larger.”—Sarah Barber-Bazail

TIPS for The

DINING ROOM [ ] DaRk paINt Makes the walls visually recede, causing the room to appear larger. [ ] a ROuND table cONtRIbutes to easier traffic flow; the glass top promotes the open, airy design. [ ] the cuRveD settee fits this round table and is a chic alternative to matching chairs. [ ] a cOwhIDe RuG aNchORs the seating area with a casual, free-form shape and appears less static than a round or square rug. [ ] NOtIce hOw the stateMeNt-MakING drumenclosed chandelier performs like stylized jewelry. [ ] velvet-cOveReD chaIRs meld into the wall color to further the room’s spacious feel. [ ] pOlIsheD chROMe nailheads add some bling. [ ] tO Make a DaRk ROOM fIt an otherwise light-colored interior, repeat a trim and ceiling colors to visually link the disparate spaces. Here, a white ceiling and matching trim does the trick.

InterIor desIgn by: Sarah Barber-Bazail, B.design, Miami 152

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

TIPS for The

BATHROOM [ ] THe BAck wAll’s flOOR-TO-ceiling marble tiles lift the eye upward. [ ] A wARM gRAy wAll cOlOR complements the room’s Calcutta Gold marble. [ ] UnfRAMed, MiRRORed Medicine cabinets deliver uncluttered style while complementing (rather than competing with) the nearby sconces. [ ] THe wOOd TABle inseTs (with Kohler sinks), finished with a marine-grade varnish, anchor the room with weight and a warm tone. [ ] A wOOd sTUMp AccenT TABle adds an organic element to the modern space. [ ] A nepTUne RUBy BATHTUB performs like functional art. [ ] cAlcUTTA gOld MARBle Tiles featured in assorted sizes—24-inch square on the back wall, 6-inchesby-24-inches on the vanity wall and 12-inches-by-24inches on the floors—add understated pattern play.

InterIor desIgn by: Sarah Barber-Bazail, B.design, Miami

“A powder room should be fun and statementmaking.”

—Sarah Barber-Bazail

TIPS for The

pOwdeR ROOM [ ] THe lARge-scAle wAllpApeR animates the room and visually expands the small space with its diagonally running pattern. [ ] A MiRRORed fRAMe adds chic detail to the mirror without cluttering the wall with a contrasting element. [ ] BlAck lAMpsHAdes repeat the color of the floor’s hand-painted cement tiles, unifying the decor. [ ] AiRy, pOlisHed cHROMe legs add a timeless element without the bulk of a vanity cabinet. [ ] THe sOlid-wHiTe TRiM And sink provide relief from the room’s bold patterns.

InterIor desIgn by: Sarah Barber-Bazail, B.design, Miami

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

153

aaron Bristol

Is that a Bengal tiger in the neighbor’s backyard? It could be if you live in one of the populated communities of western Palm Beach County, where renowned animal advocates host sanctuaries for exotic wildlife from panthers to cheetahs.

Bengal tigers kick back at McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington.

154

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

By Lisa Lucas

slight rumbling accompanies an early-evening mist that settles lightly on a canopy of palm fronds. It sounds, at first, like a distant thunderstorm announcing its impending arrival.

But this call has no connection to the weather—only to the wild. It’s the roar of an African lion, a bellow that sets off a chorus of cawing parrots, chirping frogs, and whistling squirrel monkeys and lemurs.

The symphony of safari sounds seems at once familiar and completely unexpected. That’s because the setting is so far out of Africa—

when U want to know

and so close to homeowners in western Palm Beach County.

At McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary—smack dab in the middle of a residential community, The Acreage, in Wellington—owner Mike McCarthy oversees a collection of 21 wild cats and more than 175 rescued, surrendered or seized wild animals. The roll call includes everything from white tigers and venomous snakes to injured birds and deserted exotic tortoises.

Rescues and seizures by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials explain many of the cases. But every animal has a story—like the Bengal tiger taken in by McCarthy after police, making an arrest at a Motel 6, discovered it inside a hotel room. Without the willingness of a local sanctuary owner to care for these homeless animals, most would be put down.

[ bocamag.com ]

155

156

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

“There are people who buy cubs, breed them, make money and then get rid of them because it’s too expensive to keep them as adults,” McCarthy says. “But I would never exploit or mistreat an animal like that. That’s not what I do.”

M

cCarthy’s private animal kingdom, which he has run for the past 22 years, is one of five “sanctuaries”—not including Lion Country Safari, the drivethrough park in Loxahatchee—in Palm Beach County. Combined, these sanctuaries, each one within a stone’s throw of a neighbor’s home, maintain more than 100 wild cats.

Those are the ones on the record. Officials from the FWC say that there’s no telling how many more people are harboring exotic and dangerous pets without permits or licensing. Or if there are others like the self-proclaimed “tiger whisperer,” who is raising a Florida panther cub in his one-bedroom condo in Boca Raton.

(See sidebar on page 160.)

But if neighbors at The Acreage are concerned about the National Geographic special playing out in their community, it doesn’t show. In fact, Stephanie Schmidt, whose house is only yards from the tiger and lion enclosures, calls the daily chorus emanating from the sanctuary “comforting.”

“It’s the best alarm system you could ever have,” says Schmidt, who can even hear the cats from the nearby elementary school at which she teaches. “We’re so used to it that we hardly hear it anymore. ... It really is pretty cool to live next door to [the sanctuary].”

Cool or not, tending to exotic animals in a residential setting raises its fair share of questions and, at times, criticism. For people like McCarthy, however, it’s a simple matter of following your heart and doing the right thing.

Eventually, McCarthy made his way back to South Florida and soon found a home at Lion Country Safari. He started out once again handling reptiles, but eventually he became one of the main animal keepers.

When he first moved to The Acreage, McCarthy was taking care of three wild cats. But his interest in rescuing exotic wildlife and stemming the tide of black market trading/purchasing of such animals quickly turned into a calling.

“There are people who buy cubs, breed them, make money and

aaron Bristol

SnakeS to Sanctuary McCarthy, 56, and his wife, Aneth, whom he met while on safari in Tanzania, preside over a slice of African heaven in Wellington. But his road to South Florida actually started in Michigan where, after a family vacation to Miami introduced him to snakes, he joined a local reptile club run by a curator at the Detroit Zoo. “When I was 16, I went on my first ‘collecting field trip’ to Arizona and brought back about five rattlesnakes,” he says. “I thought they were beautiful.”

McCarthy’s mother wasn’t as enamored. So, with five dollars in his pocket and a backpack stuffed with rattlesnakes, he ditched school and hit the road. He hitchhiked from Michigan to Florida— and to the front door of the Miami Serpentarium, where he landed a job cleaning cages for $1.60 an hour.

After surviving a near-fatal bite from a venomous snake—an incident that required several months in the hospital—McCarthy moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., and worked for Gary Cohen, a petstore reptile supplier. McCarthy would later work with Cohen in Panama, where the two collected fer-de-lance pit vipers, trading their venom to the government to make anti-venom. when U want to know

Opposite page: Mike and Aneth McCarthy with a white tiger at their sanctuary. Above: McCarthy holds a rattlesnake.

then get rid of them because it’s too expensive to keep them as adults,” McCarthy says. “But I would never exploit or mistreat an animal like that. That’s not what I do.”

Instead, McCarthy gives a home to such abandoned animals.

In turn, they give him an educational platform. As he began to acquire more animals—and more land—McCarthy started conducting educational birthday parties and school appearances. The response was overwhelming. For the past 20 years McCarthy has [ bocamag.com ]

157

made more than 6,000 presentations (reaching some 500,000 students, he says) without a single injury or mishap.

“That’s how I built this place,” he says, crediting the educational component for his success. “I always tell the kids that these wild animals are not meant to be pets and to not try this at home.”

The truth, however, is that it’s not all that difficult to “legally” keep wildlife in a residential community.

Anyone with time, land and a few hundred bucks can obtain a “Class 1” animal permit (see sidebar, opposite page)—which allows owners to keep everything from tigers and lions to cougars and chimps.

Licensing through the state involves 1,000 hours of experience (a five-days-a-week internship of about six months) and a minimum of five acres of property. All animal enclosures must meet with standards and code specifications of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and United States Department of Agriculture (which enforces the Animal Welfare Act). Owners must pass annual inspections by both agencies.

In her role as an inspector with the FWC in Florida, Shannon Wiyda regulates the import/export of exotic animals, inspects enclosures and diets at sanctuaries, and enforces the laws of exhibition. According to Wiyda, McCarthy is totally compliant and has had only one minor “episode” involving a tiger that escaped from its cage but never wandered off his property.

“Mark’s place is very safe, and he always complies to anything we say needs fixing,” Wiyda says.

“Most of his animals are rescues, and he also rehabilitates local injured birds of prey. We’ve never gotten any complaints from neighbors.”

Schmidt, McCarthy’s next-door neighbor, says that even the one incident was blown out of proportion.

“I felt so sorry for Mark,” Schmidt says. “I know how dedicated he is to those animals, and when the one cat got out of its cage, the community went nuts. There were helicopters flying over, they locked down the schools. ... But it turned out the tiger never left the property. He was asleep just [outside] the enclosure.” [Note: McCarthy’s son tranquilized the tiger, which was placed back in its enclosure.]

The Department of Health also gives McCarthy’s sanctuary a clean bill of inspection, something he and Aneth work hard at maintaining. Starting at 6 in the morning, McCarthy, Aneth and two of their four employees feed all the animals and then make a second round to clean up their “mess” before the warmth of the day brings out flies. Employees keep a daily “Fly Kill Tally” on a board in the prep kitchen; the effort seems to pay dividends. Flies are nowhere to be found during a recent tour of the facility.

Still, the incident with the loose cat prompted a citation for 158

[ bocamag.com ]

aaron Bristol

Permission Granted

Left: Aneth holds a lemur. Above: A lion at McCarthy’s sanctuary

“[Given] what we know now about [Steve Sipek’s] noncompliance, it’s more of a hazard than a novelty to have tigers in your backyard,” a neighbor says.

“A lot of us have small children.

The thought that they are one fence away from a potentially lethal scenario is worrisome.”

december/january

“improper enclosure” and also drew the wrath of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which slammed McCarthy despite never sending an official to tour his sanctuary.

“When the Palm Beach Zoo had two bears get loose off zoo grounds, they didn’t [receive] a citation and nothing from PETA,” McCarthy says. “It doesn’t make sense.”

The Tarzan FacTor PETA and some smaller animal activist groups continue to criticize private wildlife owners like McCarthy for keeping exotic and large cats in captivity. The spotlight on local sanctuary owners has intensified in the past decade—in part because of an actor who once played Tarzan on the big screen.

Croatian-born Steve Sipek, who starred in a pair of Spanishlanguage versions of the Tarzan series in the early 1970s, first made headlines in 2004 when his 600-pound Bengal tiger, Bobo, escaped from his five-acre property in Wellington.

After being on the loose for 26 hours, Bobo was shot and killed with an assault rifle by an FWC officer. The incident triggered a nationwide outcry and even provoked death threats to the FWC. An official agency report stated that, although the officer had no training with big cats and there was a significant delay in the arrival of the tranquilizing team, he acted in sound judgment.

“It’s tragic that Bobo had to die, but it wouldn’t have happened if Sipek had been following the rules in the first place,” McCarthy says. “In 1985, the FWC changed the law that [stated] you could no longer keep Class 1 animals as pets, but he was grandfathered in. The inspector at the time turned a blind eye and didn’t enforce the codes—so Sipek got away with inadequate housing and care for his cats.

“His place [was] like ‘Sanford and Son’ with cats.”

The FWC agreed.

“It is certainly not the best facility,” inspector Wiyda says. “He was not compliant with the codes and standards of enclosures or cages; he didn’t have the proper permits.”

Can Anyone Own a Tiger?

That depends on whether those interested have the means—and take the time—to obtain the proper permit. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists three “classes” of animals that require permits.

Class I This category includes animals that “pose a significant danger to people,” are potentially life-threatening and may not be kept as pets— think lions, tigers and bears (oh my!), as well as chimps, crocodiles, leopards, baboons and cheetahs. Anyone possessing a Class 1 animal must guarantee financial responsibility and must have a minimum of five acres with enclosures that meet strict specifications (cages must be bound by a minimum 8-foot fence of no less than 11.5-gauge chain link). Permitting requires a minimum 1,000 hours of experience in caring, feeding and handling the species.

Class II This class includes wildlife that can pose a danger to people but isn’t life-threatening. Animals include ocelots, lynx, bobcats, alligators, honey badgers, clouded leopards and giraffes. The facility must be on at least two-and-a-half acres and meet the same enclosure requirements as Class 1 wildlife. Permitting requires a minimum 500 hours of experience, and applicants must pass a written examination given by the Division of Law Enforcement.

Class III Any small wildlife or exotic species not listed under Class I or Class II. Permits are required but applicants need to contact the FWC for specific regulations.

For a complete list of Class I and II species—and detailed requirements—go to http://myfwc.com/ license/captive-wildlife.

Former “Tarzan” actor Steve Sipek and his Bengal tiger. when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

159

Observations like these eventually culminated in Sipek’s arrest in February 2012 and the confiscation of his two lions and one leopard.

“The FWC removed the animals to protect public safety and place [the animals] in a healthy and safe facility,” wrote Maj. Curtis Brown, head of the FWC’s Captive Wildlife Sections, in a statement after the arrest. “The facility repeatedly failed to correct violations, there were multiple bites and escapes, fencing and caging deficiencies, lack of a USDA permit and [he was] feeding animals an improper diet.”

Sipek’s companion, Melanie Boynes, also was cited for permit violations but was not arrested. When Boca Raton magazine spoke to Boynes, she declined to comment except to say, “Those cats are our children, and we want them back.”

One of Sipek’s neighbor’s, who asked not to be identified, said the community, which once supported Sipek and his big cats, is not so sure now.

“We used to think it was OK; the cats didn’t bother us,” the neighbor says. “But after Bobo escaped—and what we know now about [Sipek’s] noncompliance—it’s more of a hazard than a novelty to have tigers in your backyard.

The Rogue RescueR

A Boca animal advocate with a past heeds a different call of the wild.

A self-proclaimed cat whisperer is discussing his work while bottle-feeding an eight-week-old Florida panther. As intriguing as this scene is on its own, it’s even more curious given the backdrop. Travis “Tropical Trav” Carlson is sitting in the living room of his waterside condo in Boca Raton.

Carlson doesn’t own a sprawling sanctuary, but he does have a special permit for infant and endangered species that allows him to keep wildlife like “Lady P”—which was purposely separated from his father after being born at a Miami sanctuary because male panthers are known to kill their offspring. His neighbors are aware of his status as a “go-to” rescuer.

“I get calls any time day

160

[ bocamag.com ]

or night to help animals in distress, if their health is being compromised,” Carlson says. “Like if there is a change of ownership, illness, they are wounded, traumatized or need to be moved.” In fact, he had to cut an interview short because he was “moving monkeys in Miami.”

Critics call Carlson reckless for interacting with full-grown wild cats with no weapons or protection—or for taking a white Bengal tiger on a jet-ski ride. ShanTravis Carlson

“I understand he loves them, but a lot of us around here have small children. The thought that they are one fence away from a potentially lethal scenario is worrisome.”

A WomAn on A mission Just a few miles from McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary lives another player on the “big cat” stage. Judy Berens owns and operates a pristine shelter, Panther Ridge, for cougars, panthers, leopards and even a cheetah on Palm Beach Pointe Boulevard in Wellington.

The native of Minneapolis—a petite woman with bright eyes, cropped blonde hair and a trademark straw hat—was married and living at the Polo Club in Wellington when she took in her first wild animal.

“I loved visiting McCarthy’s [sanctuary] and decided I wanted to do something like that,” Berens says. “In my 30s I decided to get licensed. I did my apprenticeship with a woman down here who had ocelots. That’s where I got my first cat, an ocelot named Sabrina.”

Berens would walk Sabrina around the community on a leash.

non Wiyda, an inspector with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, has only heard about Carlson’s exploits, but she still calls him a “thrill seeker.”

That label is certainly an apt description of Carlson’s past. After a stint in military high school, he wound up in Los Angeles living fast and furious. He was a concert promoter-turned-drug dealer and did three years at Fulsom prison. During his time in the concert business, he came across musicians

who owned lions or tigers; Carlson became enamored with the wild cats. When he got out of prison, he decided to dedicate his new life to rescuing exotic animals, focusing mostly on tigers.

Carlson has founded Green Field Reserve, which looks to assist organizations with rescues and to, hopefully, raise enough money to open a facility.

“Yes, I guess I am crazy, but kind of borderline genius crazy,” Carlson says. “People may be dubious at first, but once they see me work and how the animals benefit by my techniques, their doubts are subdued. I get the animals to do things outside their comfort zone that they don’t realize is for their own benefit. Instead of force, I go in with open arms.”

He must be doing something right, he says, because “I’m still alive and in one piece.”

For more information visit greenfieldreserve.com.

december/january

Clockwise from right: Judy Berens and her ocelot; Phoebe the caracal (left) and Duma the serval; a cheetah gets a snack.

aaron Bristol

“The neighbors here don’t seem to mind at all,” she says. “I don’t take in lions and tigers, so there is no noise factor to contend with. And I have yet to get a complaint or have any incidents.”

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

161

McCarthy and a feathered friend.

The neighbors didn’t utter a word—until she began caring for a sickly cougar that she nursed back to health.

“That brought me here,” says Berens, 56, pointing to the 10 impeccably landscaped acres that she and her 15 cats now call home. As she tells the story, Berens, who has since divorced, made the property’s former owner an offer she couldn’t refuse. She invested all of her savings and a substantial inheritance to open Panther Ridge.

Though not as densely populated as The Acreage, the community in which Berens’ sanctuary resides is still a residential area.

There are four nearby houses and horse farms, but there is ample property between Berens and her neighbors.

“The neighbors here don’t seem to mind at all,” she says. “I don’t take in lions and tigers, so there is no noise factor to contend with.

And I have yet to get a complaint or have any incidents.”

Well, not exactly.

In March 2008, Berens was mauled by her two cheetahs—Charlie

Clouded leopard

Survival Stories Sanctuaries have become a safe haven for seized and surrendered animals with no place to go. Here’s how some of the animals arrived in western Palm Beach County. [ 1 ] In the early 1990s, Miami DEA agents raided a drug house where two clouded leopards were being used as guards for the illegal stash. When agents stormed the garage, the leopards briefly escaped. FWC officials apprehended them and took

162

[ bocamag.com ]

Puma

the animals to the Miami Metro Zoo. The zoo then turned them over to Mark McCarthy’s sanctuary. [ 2 ] After learning during an interview with McCarthy just how easy it was to buy big cats (especially in Texas), an undercover journalist went on the black market and purchased a tiger. He then called McCarthy and asked, “Now what do I do with it?” Tristan the tiger soon found a home at McCarthy’s sanctuary. [ 3 ] The owners of a puma in North Carolina asked Judy Berens to temporarily

and Matt—while feeding them during a fundraising event. Berens was inside the cage with the animals; the guests were never in danger. Doctors at Delray Medical Center treated her for some 40 puncture wounds, but Berens has no visible scars.

When asked about the incident, she says that she underestimated the anxiety created in the cheetahs by such a large crowd of people.

Nearly two years later, in February 2010, a visitor to the sanctuary wrapped her fingers around the cage of a jaguar’s enclosure.

The cat attacked her hand—and tore off the woman’s thumb.

“Of course it was a terrible thing to happen, but it could have been avoided if the woman had followed the very stringent rules we have here,” Berens says. “We can’t control the consequences of people who defy the regulations.”

Berens settled with the USDA, paying a $2,786 fine, but there were no sanctions placed on the sanctuary. In fact, an interview with Dave Sachs, a spokesperson for the USDA, and a review of online

White tail deer

house the cat at Panther Ridge while they complied with new enclosure requirements. It turned out that North Carolina had changed its laws on possession of animals—and the owners never intended to take the puma back. [ 4 ] A mom called McCarthy in a panic because she gave her pet lion cub’s formula to her 18-month-old baby by mistake. McCarthy warned the mom how dangerous it was to have a wild cub in the same home as an infant; within months, the young lion cub arrived at McCarthy’s sanctuary.

[ 5 ] A man in Palm Bay claimed he had found a white tail deer fawn abandoned on a weekend hike.

He raised the deer in his home with several dogs, but after two years it became too much to handle.

The deer had kicked and dented the front door of his house but was too domesticated to release into the wild. McCarthy says that when the man pulled up in his driveway, the deer was actually riding in the front seat, tame as could be.

“Imagine what other drivers witnessed,” McCarthy says.

“I’m sure it caused a couple of crashes.”

december/january

aaron Bristol

The cats alone eat about 1,000 pounds of beef and chicken per week. Last year, McCarthy says, it cost approximately $370,000 to operate his sanctuary.

USDA reports, reveals that in four inspections over the past two years, Berens’ record is clean. There are no noncompliance reports.

The mauling incident has done nothing to diminish Berens’ affection for Charlie, which she brought from Africa at great expense, considerable red tape and a pledge to contribute time and attention to Cheetah Outreach in South Africa.

“Charlie is a representative of his species, which is now a seriMcCarthy handles a spider during an educational session.

ously endangered animal,” she says. “He serves as an educational tool to bring awareness to the plight of this amazing animal.”

But Charlie is hardly alone at Panther Ridge. She introduces a reporter to each of her 15 cats, sharing personal asides about the animals along the way—like Amos, the black leopard with a rose fetish, or Bella, the jaguar that has a pet frog. As she enters their enclosures, her face lights up.

Berens is clearly in her element. She adores her cats—and she is firmly committed to public education about the “challenges these animals face in the wild, the problems related to private ownership, and the programs around the world that are trying to help reestablish their populations.”

Cost of the Kingdom Such passion comes with a price tag. And it’s a steep one. Small cats grow quickly into 500-pound animals that require lots of care—and lots of food.

“I would say at least $2,000 a month [for food],” says Berens about her 15 cats. “Plus, most new cats need their own enclosures or there will be fighting or mating—neither of which we want.”

And then there is the time and attention element. One of Berens’ cats, a 3-year-old jaguar, was rejected by her mother. Berens bottle-fed the cat for months, and then housebroke the jaguar. continued on page 222 when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

163

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

2013

CAST YOUR VOTE You’ve dined, savored and gathered at restaurants all over the South Florida area, now it’s time to give them what they deserve.

Vote for those restaurants that you absolutely adore! You’ll automatically enter yourself in to win a $100 dining certificate at one of the winning establishments!

Final ballot deadline is January 13, 2013

VOTE TODAY AT bocamag.com/RCA2013

dining south fla.

guide

[ 168 ] [ 172 ] [ 174 ] [ 178 ] [ 180 ] [ 182 ] [ 184 ] [ 186 ]

tanzy review union review cheap eats holiday helper pB Food & wine Festival only in Boca only in Boynton discovery

TANZY TAKES OFF See why our critic is raving about dinner and a movie at iPic Theaters in Mizner Park— home to the Mediterraneaninspired dishes (including the Livornese-style sea bass pictured) delivered by the culinary team at Tanzy. Turn the page for more on this Boca hot spot.

when U want to know

cristina morgado

stars next to restaurants in the guide: Boca raton Hall of famer

[ bocamag.com ]

167

dining

guide Inside at Tanzy. inset: Chef Andre Lane

review

TANZY

301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/922-6699

i

f Tanzy were a movie it would be “Under the Tuscan Sun,” with perhaps a bit of “Ratatouille” and “Babette’s Feast” thrown in. blend of sweet basil, mint and The movie conneccoriander), plus a solid list of tion is a real one, as the California and Italian wines.

Mediterranean-esque restauFor the most part, the cuirant is both adjacent to and sine flaunts a welcome “Back part of the über-swank iPic to the Future” simplicity, relyTheater complex at Mizner ing on quality ingredients and Park, albeit less overbudget careful cooking rather than Hollywood blockbuster than culinary special effects. Those well-financed calibrations adult indie. were a touch IF YOU GO Which means, off in gnocamong other chi carbonara PrIce ranGe: things, that with pancetta Entrées $18–$37 it is not the and peas, becredIt cards: place to attract ginning with All major cards those chatthe rich cream HOUrs: Mon.–Thurs. tering, texting sauce—clasteenagers who sically just 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., make moviea blend of Fri. 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., going the aural pancetta fat Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., equivalent of a and beaten Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. root canal. eggs, perhaps As for the loosened with menu, it’s pretty much “The a spoonful of pasta water. The Italian Job,” executed with peas, alas, were undercooked, both precision and panache. and the gnocchi was on the It’s not the only roster of gummy side of perfection. temptations, however. Tanzy’s Still, terrific fried squash prominently featured bar disblossoms (see sidebar) saved penses an array of refreshing the day, and the kitchen rightadult beverages, like assorted ed itself with a pair of entrées.

Mojitos (made with the house Twin fillets of pristinely fresh

168

[ bocamag.com ]

branzino were quickly panseared and gilded simply with an unctuous lemon butter, allowing the delicate flavor of the Mediterranean sea bass to shine. And a mammoth bonein veal chop that could have been served in “Jurassic Park” was a prehistoric delight, its meat rosy and full of flavor and almost as tender as the bright lemon-oregano-ouzo butter that glazed its surface.

Tanzy offers a novel dessert presentation called Chocalocello, an edible chocolate cup brimming with a thick, boozy chocolate liqueur, swirled by an equally edible chocolate spoon. And if you really want to eat on “The Cutting Edge,” there’s a trio of ethereal rosemary beignets dusted with sea salt and candied sugar with a plop of rosemary-olive oil gelato that boldly—and quite deliciously—goes where not too many beignets have gone before.

Like a meal at Tanzy, it’s a little taste of “La Dolce Vita.”

Almost every restaurant has a booze bar. Not too many, though, have a Parma Bar. Think of it as a sushi bar for Italian carnivores, offering a small selection of Italian cheeses and cured meats, from Puglia burrata and Parmigiano-Reggiano to prosciutto San Danielle and the hot Italian coppa. The kitchen does good things with veggies too, especially the not-to-be-missed squash blossoms, stuffed with lemony ricotta, given a feather-light tempurastyle coating, then crisply and greaselessly fried before being presented with glazed onions and a drizzle of balsamic syrup. Think of them as a “Roman Holiday” for your mouth.

Red velvet bread pudding

—Bill Citara

december/january

crisTiNA MorgAdo

Belly Up to the parma Bar

dining

guide

Dining Key $ Inexpensive: Under $17 $$ Moderate: $18–$35 $$$ Expensive: $36–$50 $$$$ Very Expensive: $50 +

palm beach county boca raton abe & louie’s —2200 W. Glades Road.

Steaks. This outpost of the Boston steak house cooks up slabs of well-aged, USDA Prime beef like nobody’s business. Two of the best are the bone-in ribeye and New York sirloin. Start with a crab cocktail, but don’t neglect side dishes like steamed spinach and hash browns. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$

arturo’s ristorante —6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Arturo’s quiet, comfortable dining room; slightly formal, rigorously professional service; and carefully crafted Italian dishes never go out of style. You’ll be tempted to make a meal of the array of delectable antipasti from the antipasti cart, but try to leave room for main courses like giant shrimp with tomatoes, cannellini beans, rosemary and an exceptionally well-done risotto.

• Lunch Mon.–Fri. 561/997-7373. $$$ assaggio del forno—3011 Yamato Road.

Italian. West Boca gets a casual, contemporary café featuring with-it Italian-esque dishes and ubiquitous Italian-American favorites. Try the swordfish with tapenade and sautéed spinach, rib-sticking rigatoni with Sunday gravy, and an estimable rendition of the classic tiramisu.

The three-course, $29.95 prix fixe menu is one of the best deals in town. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/613-6460. $$

biergarten—309 Via De Palmas. 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 170

[ bocamag.com ]

pretzel with a trio of dipping sauces and an upscale burger featuring Florida Wagyu beef, knockwurst, cheddar cheese and more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $

bistro provence —2399 N. Federal Highway. French. With the convivial ambience and hearty good food of an authentic Parisian bistro, this inviting, unpretentious restaurant deserves its local popularity. Mussels are a specialty, and roasted duck is excellent too. • Dinner nightly. 561/368-2340. $$

bonefish grill—21069 Powerline Road.

Seafood. Market-fresh seafood is the cornerstone—like Chilean sea bass prepared over a wood-burning grill and served with sweet Rhea’s topping (crabmeat, sautéed spinach and a signature lime, tomato and garlic sauce.) • Dinner nightly. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/732-9142; 9897 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561/965-2663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$ 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 Wagyu beef carpaccio to a lighter version of the hardy chopped salad 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 daily. 561/368-1077. $$$ carmen’s—999 E. El Camino Real. continental. The Rat Pack lives and the view of the Intracoastal is sublime at this throwback restaurant on the top floor of the Bridge Hotel. The menu mixes the familiar with a few more modern updates. Favorites include a mild-tasting Caesar salad and tender charbroiled filet mignon.

Cocktails are a strong suit. • Dinner Thurs.–Sat. 561/368-9500. $$$ caruso ristorante —187 S.E. Mizner Blvd.

Italian. Former Chicago chef-restaurateurs Lillo and Gina Teodosi bring big-city dining to town. The ambience is welcoming, the service rigorously professional and the food is so lovingly prepared it makes even the most familiar dishes special. Among them: a farm-fresh caprese salad, giant truffle-perfumed veal chop and zabaglione that’s made to order. The light,

feathery, delicate gnocchi are merely the best in South Florida. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/367-7488. $$$

casa d’angelo —171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Angelo Elia’s impeccable Italian restaurant is a delight, from the stylish room to the suave service to the expansive wine list, not to mention food that’s by turn elegant, hearty, bold, subtle and always delicious.

Dishes off the regular menu make excellent choices, like fat prawns wrapped in pancetta and grilled. But pay attention to specials like pan-seared snapper and scallops in a spicy, garlicky cherry tomato sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/338-1703. $$$ the cheesecake factory—5530 Glades Road. american. Oh, the choices! The chain even has a Sunday brunch menu in addition to its main menu, which includes Chinese chicken salad and Cajun jambalaya. Don’t forget about the cheesecakes—from white chocolate and raspberry truffle offerings. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-0344. (Other Palm Beach County locations: CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/802-3838; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/776-3711) $$

chops lobster bar—101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. 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 Australian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with crab. • Dinner nightly. 561/3952675. $$$$

cuban café—3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd. cuban. Diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $7.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $ curries & more—217 E. Palmetto Park Road. Indian. There’s a lot more than just curries at this cozy Indian restaurant—crisp, beignetlike pakoras, perfect for dipping in one of three mild but flavorful chutneys; tender and juicy grilled meats and poultry; an array of palatepiquing vegetarian dishes. The curries are good, too. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. Dinner Sun. 561/392-2999. $ december/january

GET YOUR REPS IN J O I N U S F O R A L L - Y O U - C A N - E AT F L O R I D A S T O N E C R A B, E V E R Y M O N D AY N I G H T F O R O N E L O W P R I C E

Savor the freshest Florida Stone Crab. From our traps to your table in hours.

“Best Service” – Boca Raton Magazine Readers’ Choice Award, 2010-2011 “Best Dessert” – Boca Raton Magazine “Award of Excellence” – Wine Spectator Magazine

In Mizner Park at

351 Plaza Real

561 391 0755

Make your reservation today at www.trulucks.com

dining

guide

The popular Uber Sexy Steve roll at Union

review

UNION

8 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/330-4236

F

orming a more perfect union, as George Washington could tell you (if he weren’t dead), is not all that easy.

Forming a more perfect Union, the downtown Delray Asian/sushi restaurant, isn’t all that easy either. Do you go the full Momofuku, turning out cutting-edge Asian-esque cuisine for hip urban foodies? result is the small Union menu of “Asian Do you go the other way, retreating to the comfort food” to appeal to conservative safety of vaguely Asian palates and Candyfish’s ubiquities so as not larger menu of wacky-maki to scare the children sushi rolls (see sidebar) to IF YOU GO and horses? Or do you garner a few ounces of hipminimize the Asian ster cred.

PRICE RANGE: $9–$25 menu and let sushi do The execution in the CREDIT CARDS: the heavy lifting?

Union kitchen is solid, All major cards Union, it seems, though if there are any HOURS: Tues.–Wed. 5 p.m.– has done all of the complaints they’re that the midnight, Thurs.–Sat. 5 p.m.– above, though with menu is pretty prosaic and 2 a.m. Closed Sun. and Mon. the dropping of the that many dishes have at slightly more advenleast one cloyingly sweet turous opening menu element. So very nicely done and inclusion of Candyfish Gourmet Sushi salt-and-pepper calamari—lightly breadas a sort of restaurant-within-a-restaurant, ed, crispy, greaseless—receive a way sweet, it’s pretty much gone with Door No. 3. The not very sour sweet-n-sour sauce.

Delicate shrimp and chicken pot stickers get a drizzle of sweet, kaffir lime-scented panang curry sauce; crunchy-tender (but hardly volcanic) “volcano” chicken wings get what tastes like the same sauce for the calamari, reduced to a glaze. And grilled salmon strewn with a wealth of properly al dente vegetables gets a garlic-pepper sauce light on the garlic and pepper but heavy on the ... you guessed it, sweet.

One place you do appreciate all that sweet stuff is Union’s chocolate fondue, a bubbling cauldron of good-quality milk and dark chocolates with ripe strawberries, bananas, marshmallow pretzel sticks and toffee cookie bar square for dipping. Now that’s one perfect union.

—Bill Citara

Stuffed avocado pouchette

Fish Candy If you like elaborate sushi rolls that meld all kinds of fish and shellfish with cream cheese, fruit, vegetables and assorted sauces, you’ll like Candyfish Sushi’s roster of nothing-succeeds-like-excess wacky-maki. One of the more intriguing items is a good-humored take on a Hong Kong-style dish that had its 15 minutes of fame in the 1990s. The Honey Shrimp Walnut Roll takes all the relevant pieces—tempura shrimp, candied walnuts, sweetish mayonnaiselike sauce—and makes them into a sweet but appealing sushi roll.

172

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Find THE FUN YOU

see what’s iN the cards Find 2,300 of the hottest slot machines, live blackjack and the one and only CoCo Party Pit. The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is South Florida’s premiere destination for fun and gaming.

Corner of 441 & Sample rd • SeminoleCaSinoCoConutCreek.Com

GAMBLE

Must be at least 21 years old to play Slots and Table Games or to receive Players Club benefits. Must be 18 or older to play Bingo and Live Poker. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.IT.

GAMBLE

WITH CARE

WITH CARE

dining

guide

gary woo asian bistro —3400 N. Federal Highway. Chinese. Everything about this popular restaurant is restrained—the ambience, the decor, the presentations. And the food can be that way, as well. Even supposedly spicy dishes are bereft of heat. Still, the ingredients and preparation are first-rate.

Try the duck spring rolls to start, and then enjoy steak kew or Grand Marnier prawns.

• Lunch Mon., Wed.–Fri. Dinner Wed.–Mon. 561/368-8803. $$

cheap eats

El JEfE luchador

27 S. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, 954/246-5333

T

he Mexican dishes at El Jefe Luchador burst with color and personality to match the restaurant’s quirky, energetic decor. As its name implies, the luchador, or Mexican pro wrestler, is the restaurant’s theme. Mounted luchador masks gape at customers from one wall, opposite a busy montage of comic strip and magazine cutouts of shirtless luchadors in the throes of victory.

The menu, both in its dishes and its aesthetic design, is an artistic playground, with concoctions like the Ultimo Dragon (carnitas taco with salsa and kimchee slaw) and the Vampire (pollo asada torta with salsa rojo, Oaxaca cheese, jalapeños, among other ingredients) accentuated with cartoon drawings. It’s a style familiar to enthusiasts of Deerfield’s Charm City Burgers, the flagship restaurant of El Jefe chef/owner Michael Saperstein and general manager Evan David.

The upstart restaurateurs launched El Jefe Luchador in May 2011 to fill a void for authentic Mexican street food in a dining landscape overpopulated with louder, simpler Tex-Mex options.

“A lot of Americans don’t see a big difference,” David says. “With Mike’s skill set in the kitchen, we thought we could bring the real spices and real products that would be used in a high-quality establishment in Mexico City.”

174

[ bocamag.com ]

Nacho Libre at El Jefe

Saperstein describes El Jefe’s dishes as “more subtle, but a deeper flavor” than similarly priced competitors like Tijuana Flats. Everything at El Jefe is cooked to order, and the Angus-quality beef is butchered, brined and grilled in a threeday process before it enters a $2.50 taco.

The El Jefe difference comes across in such dishes as the El Jardinero salad—a perfect mixture of spice, texture and flavor, with tender chicken (or the meat of your choice) laid atop lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, queso fresco, tortilla strips, roasted corn and a killer chili lime vinaigrette dressing.

If it’s available, try Jefe’s Smokin’ Bowl, an original combination of meat, salsa, rice, beans, pico and other toppings mixed together in a bowl, like great nacho toppings without the nachos. Finish off your meal with an ultrarich chocolate flan—every bite is a knockout.

—John ThomASon

More to Munch on Restaurateurs Saperstein and David are gradually building their empire of creatively cooked, low-priced gourmet dishes. Their company, E&M Munchies, also runs the Rebel House in Boca Raton, and El Jefe Luchador is planning an expansion in the food court of Town Center at Boca Raton.

grand lux cafe —Town Center at Boca Raton. American. The Cheesecake Factory’s sister brand is an upscale take on the original formula, with an atmosphere inspired by the great cafes of Europe. The menu offers a range of international flavors, and the specialty baked-to-order desserts are always a big hit. • Lunch and dinner daily; breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. 561/392-2141. $$ the grille on congress —5101 Congress Ave. American. Dishes range from the aptly named “big ass” T-bone steak (a generous 32-ouncer) to more healthful options like pistachio-crusted snapper or simply grilled yellowfin tuna. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$ houston’s —1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. American. With rustic features like butcher-block tables and comfy padded leather booths, Houston’s has successfully created a “nonchain” feel, although there are more than 40 nationwide. The menu is straightforward—big burgers on sweet egg buns, Caesar salad, roasted chicken, filet mignon—but it’s not lacking in ingenuity. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$ jake’s stone crab —514 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Seafood. Jake’s has made a name for itself with delicious claws and excellent service. Crusty hash browns and nutmeg-flavored creamed spinach are fine accompaniments. Lobster and filet mignon surf ’n’ turf comes generously adorned. • Dinner Wed.–Sun. 561/347-1055. $$$

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 three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly, except Tues. 561/988-0668. $$ december/january

dining

guide

kapow noodle bar—431 Plaza Real.

Pan-Asian. This wickedly stylish Asian-inspired gastropub delivers a delicious and inventive punch to the taste buds. Among the hardest hitters are plush-textured green tea-cured salmon with micro and fried basil and longan berries stuffed with yuzu kosho gelee, and cheesecake springrolls with a nothing-exceeds-like-excess banana caramel dipping sauce. • Dinner daily.

561/347-7322. $ kathy’s gazebo café—4199 N. Federal Highway. Continental. This local stalwart smoothly rolls along with its signature blend of French and Continental dishes. The ornate, formal dining room and equally formal service are anomalies these days but are comforting nonetheless. Classic dishes like creamy lobster bisque, house-made duck paté, broiled salmon with sauce béarnaise and dreamy chocolate mousse are as satisfying as ever. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/395-6033. $$$ kee grill—17940 N. Military Trail. American. The attraction here is carefully prepared food that is satisfying, flavorful and reasonably priced. The fist-sized crab cake is a good place to start, followed by sea bass with a soy-ginger-sesame glaze. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$

la rosa nautica—515 N.E. 20th St. Peruvian.

Expect no ambience, no pretensions, low prices and food that satisfies on a very high level. Good starters include antichuchos, chunks of grilled beef heart, and causa, a terrine-like layering of mashed potatoes and chicken salad. Ceviche and the lomo saltado are among the best in South Florida. • Lunch daily. Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/296-1413. $$ la tre—249 E. Palmetto Park Road. Vietnamese. For almost two decades, this elegant little spot has been celebrating the delicate, sophisticated flavors and textures of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. A house signature, shrimp tossed with coriander curry pesto, is an inspired riff on Vietnamese classics.

Service and wines match the refinement of the cuisine. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-4568. $$ la villetta—4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt, deboned tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious.

• Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$ 176

[ bocamag.com ]

legal sea foods—6000 Glades Road. Seafood. This faux-New England-ish seafooder in Town Center mall satisfies with a roster of fresh fish and shellfish, well prepared and competently served by an earnest young staff. The signature clam chowder is made in corporate kitchens but is still better than most, while crab cakes chock-full of sweet-tasting crab and hardly any binders have even fewer equals.

There’s a selection of DIY fish and sauces too.

And for dessert, what else but Boston cream pie?

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/447-2112. $$

max’s grille—404 Plaza Real, Mizner Park. Contemporary American. Though its signature California-influenced cookery and “American bistro” ambience are no longer furiously trendy, this stylish restaurant is as popular as ever due to consistently tasty and well-prepared food. Dishes run haute to homey, from seared-raw tuna to meatloaf wrapped with bacon. And don’t miss the luscious crème brûlée pie for dessert. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-0080. $$

le rivage—450 N.E. 20th St. French. It’s easy

morton’s the steakhouse—5050 Town

to overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery tucked away in a strip mall off Federal Highway. 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. • Lunch Tues.– Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$

Center Circle. Steak house. 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. The star of the beef show is the giant bone-in filet mignon, which trumps with unusually deep and meaty flavor. The side of Grand Marnier soufflé is a cloud of luscious, citrus-y beauty that says while beef may be what’s for dinner, I am what’s for dessert. • Dinner daily. 561/392-7724. $$$

maggiano’s—21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. The concept is that of a neighborhood spot where families might congregate for great food, fun music and a good time. Do as the Italians do and order family-style, sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, two salads, two pastas, two entrées, two vegetables and two desserts. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$

mario’s osteria—1400 Glades Road. Italian.

This popular spot is swanky in its reincarnation, but the rustic Italian and Italian-American fare keeps with an osteria’s humbler pretensions.

Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes”—basically deconstructed eggplant Parm—are on the new menu, as are posh veal osso buco ravioli in truffle cream sauce and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$

matteo’s—233 S. Federal Highway. Italian.

Matteo’s brand of hearty Italian and ItalianAmerican 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 daily. 561/392-0773. $$

new york prime—2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steak house. This wildly popular Boca meatery 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 daily. 561/998-3881. $$$$ nick’s new haven-style pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St. Italian. Cross Naples (thin, blistered crust, judicious toppings) with Connecticut (fresh clams and no tomato sauce), and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the pies coming out Nick Laudano’s custom-made ovens. The “white clam” pizza with garlic and bacon is killer-good; Caesar salad and tiramisu are much better than the usual pizzeria fare. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-2900. $

ovenella—499 S. Federal Highway. Italian.

Fernando Davila’s modestly stylish ristorante promises “a new take on Italian classics.”

Pizzas from the oak-fired oven are a joy, and vegetarian lasagna is good enough to make the meat version obsolete. Don’t miss one of the inventive cocktails, like a sweet-smoky-salty bacon-maple old fashioned. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner daily. 561/395-1455. $$ december/january

S E I R E V I L DE :00PM E T A R O P R 2 C O F R O M 1 1 : 0 0 A Mle a-t 3rear of restaurant } take { pick up and

out availab

561-368-2900

WWW.NICKSPIZZERIABAR.COM 2240 NW 19th St.

•

Glades Plaza Suite 904 • Boca Raton, FL 33431

dining

guide

p.f. chang’s—1400 Glades Road. Chinese.

There may have been no revolution if Mao had simply eaten at P.F. Chang’s—the portions are large enough to feed the masses—and the exquisite tastes in each dish could soothe any tyrant. We particularly like the steamed fish of the day, as well as the Szechuan-style asparagus.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-3722. (Other Palm Beach County location: 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/691-1610) $$

piñon grill—6000 Glades Road. Contempo-

holiday helper Catering to your high-Season Needs Want to host an unforgettable party—without all the work?

Hire one of these talented local catering firms to make your life a lot easier.

actually come to your house and stage a party, but they will prepare whole meals for you to pick up. Plus, they have an appetizer menu that is pure genius.

Known for: American gourmet cooking and their legendary garlic spaghetti ContACt: 561/278-3349

CryStal Bay CatererS

potioNS iN MotioN

Address: 1728 Avenida Del Sol, Boca Raton signAture event: They can do it all (and have been for 25 years), from “breakfast in bed for two” to large weddings, holiday parties and intimate dinner parties with 10 to 12 guests.

Known for: Quality food and service ContACt: 561/338-4742, crystalbaycaterers.net

Address: 1120 Holland Drive, Boca Raton signAture event: They started out as the life of the cocktail party, but have expanded into catering and do it all now, from boat shows and beer fests to weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Known for: Pairing gourmet food items with specialty cocktails, depending on the theme of the event ContACt: 561/989-8879

la Stella’S Address: 159 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton signAture event: They do everything from weddings and showers to all kinds of parties, but their wine dinners are always a big hit.

Known for: Lots of popular menu items, with a legendary Sunday gravy ContACt: 561/544-2081

MariaNNe’S Address: 803 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach signAture event: Marianne’s doesn’t

178

[ bocamag.com ]

Silver SaC CateriNg Address: 127 N.W. 13th St., Boca Raton signAture event: Silver Sac does everything, but it specializes in dinner-by-the-bite events, as well as imaginative themed parties—like the “Retro Dinner Party” or the New England “Beach-y” bash.

Known for: A signature dish you won’t find anywhere else: green grape, spicy Florida lobster and toasted marshmallow shooter ContACt: 561/392-6630, silversaccatering.com

rary American. The menu seemingly lists every recent trendy dish to come out of modern American restaurant kitchens, but Piñon succeeds with spot-on execution, mammoth portions and reasonable prices. Try the grilled artichokes with a zippy Southwestern-style rémoulade, a pair of giant crab cakes with more of that good rémoulade or a chocolate-peanut butter pie that is the irresistible definition of lusciousness. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/391-7770. $$

racks downtown eatery + tavern—402 Plaza Real. Contemporary American.

Though the menu generally falls under the heading of modern American comfort food, that can mean anything from elegant presentations like the jaw-dropping lobster cobb salad to homier offerings like burgers and pizza, fiery Buffalo-style calamari, succulent chicken roasted in the wood-fired oven and an uptown version of everyone’s campfire favorite, s’mores.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-1662. $$

raffaele—508 Via De Palmas. Italian. The highly evolved simplicity that is the glory of true Italian cuisine is on display—from sea-sweet lump crab and earthy-tasting green beans lightly dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to squid ink tagliolini with just a bit of delicate tomato sauce and shellfish. Oven-roasted quail wrapped in pancetta and stuffed with sausage, pine nuts and raisins is exquisite. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner daily. 561/392-1110. $$ red the steakhouse—1901 N. Military Trail. Steak house. While it does provide the level of comfort, luxury and beef-centric cuisine affluent carnivores demand, Red does so with a lighter, fresher and more casual touch. It also serves some of the best—and best cooked— steaks in town. Try the succulent, gum-tender steak tartare. Meat not on your menu? Gulf shrimp in a seductive white wine-garlic-Dijon butter sauce will have you lapping up every last drop. Do the giant donut holes for dessert. • Dinner daily. 561/353-9139. $$$ december/january

The bus stops here.

TheMexicanByMax.com Royal Palm Place | 133 SE Mizner Blvd | Boca Raton, FL | 561-300-5280

dining

guide

renzo’s of boca—5999 N. Federal Highway.

ristorante saporissimo—366 E. Pal-

Italian. The buzzword is fresh at Renzo’s. Fish is prepared daily oreganata or Livornese style, sautéed in white wine with lemon and capers or grilled. Homemade pasta is artfully seasoned, and Renzo’s tomato sauce is ethereal. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-3495. $$

metto Park Road. Tuscan. This little restaurant is making culinary magic. Here, a taste of Italy is brought to life with rabbit cacciatorá (Tuscany style), veal ossobuco, homemade pasta with wild boar sausage, and a tasty rack of venison.

Homemade desserts, including tiramisu, panna cotta and zuppa ingles, will take your breath away. Service is out of this world. • Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/750-2333. $$$

ristorante sapori—301 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Italian. Sapori features fresh fish, veal and chicken dishes imbued with subtle flavors. The grilled Italian branzino, the veal chop Milan and the zuppa di pesce served over linguine are especially tasty, and the pasta (all 17 kinds!) is available in full and half orders, with your choice of 15 zesty sauces. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/367-9779. $$

rosario’s—145 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. A simple menu reading doesn’t reveal the quality of ingredients and the skill that go into each dish. Often fusty and rubbery clams casino is remarkably light and fresh-tasting. Perciatelli Amatriciana is hearty, meaty and finely

THE INSIDE DISH SIxTH ANNuAl PAlm BEAcH FooD & WINE FESTIvAl

Three questions with festival director David Sabin about the five-day culinary spectacular that has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Why did you decide to expand the event from one day to five days last year?

We were looking for more brand recognition and credibility in the world of food and wine festivals, which are popping up all over the place now. The relationships started to come together; before we knew it, it had snowballed into this five-night event. This year, we’ve added daytime events as well— we’re up to 13 events over five days.

We’ve had overwhelming response from people who attended last year’s event; it gave us the green light to continue to grow the event into something that would compare on a national level with major food and wine festivals.

What specifically distinguishes this event?

The history of Palm Beach is what we have going for us. We focus on showcasing the venues and settings right here in our backyard. But we’re also

180

[ bocamag.com ]

ruth’s chris steak house—225 N.E. Mizner Blvd. Steaks. This is a refreshing departure from the ambience common to many steak houses; the room is comfortable, and conversation is possible. Naturally, we come here for the steak (they are sublime), but the lobster and fish are great. All your favorite sides are here, too.

• Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660; CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544) $$$

IF You Go

bringing in amazing award-winning chefs and [television] personalities. is part of this a response to the stereotype of palm Beach as Being insulated—thus alloWing the festival to pull Back the curtain on the culinary offerings in the community?

It really is an opportunity to showcase this amazing culinary destination. We don’t try to position ourselves to be like a festival you’d find elsewhere. The experience here is different than in Aspen, Pebble Beach or even South Beach.

But the talent here is explosive. We’re trying to leave a mark; our guests will enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences— like re-creating the Le Cirque dining room inside The Breakers. That will be magical.

And that’s what this event is about: magic.

—kevIn kamInSkI

David Sabin and Daniel Boulud

crafted, while the signature chicken Rosario’s (with sausage, potatoes and peppers) is full of old-fashioned goodness. Effortlessly competent service and unpretentious ambience add to the experience. • Dinner daily. 561/393-0758. $$

WHEN: Dec. 7–11 WHErE: Destinations in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach

HIGHlIGHTS: Celebrity Chef Golf Cup and Food Truck event hosted by Robert Irvine of the Food Network (Dec. 7 at The Breakers’ Rees Jones Course); Daniel and Friends, culinary treats and cocktails prepared by chef Daniel Boulud and his team (Dec. 7 at Café Boulud in Palm Beach); Corks and Champagne with Bites by Norman Van Aken (Dec. 8 at Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy in West Palm Beach); An Evening with Le Cirque, as Boulud and a host of esteemed chefs prepare a dinner in honor of Le Cirque owner Sirio Maccioni (Dec. 8 at The Breakers); Food4Thought, a farm-to-table event at Swank Specialty Produce’s organic farm (Dec. 9); sixth annual Grand Tasting at 150 Worth, with wine makers, artisans and some 30 chefs from restaurants in Miami, Palm Beach, New York and New Orleans (Dec. 11). cHArITY coNNEcTIoNS: Chef Dish Back, supporting the participating chefs’ nonprofits of choice. Benefiting charities include: Table to Table, Feeding South Florida, Share Our Strength and Disabled Veterans National Foundation TIckETS: 855/428-7849, pbfood winefest.com

december/january

r i s tO r a N t e

For 29 years the family tradition continues...

distiNguished restauraNt Of NOrth america

Authentic itAliAn cuisine New elegaNt OutdOOr PatiO available perfect for After dinner drinks + cigArs

Open daily for dinner and lunch (M-F) and special events for parties of 6-150. Live music nightly.

6750 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton | 561-997-7373 | www.ArturosRestaurant.com

dining

guide

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, 561/6255852) $$

ONLY IN BOCA

Player’s sPorts lounge

6450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/241-6081

T

hough a banner outside the building touts it as the official home of the New York Jets—and its website features logos for the Rangers, Knicks and Yankees— Player’s Sports Lounge aspires to be more than a local and vocal refuge for transplanted fans of the Big Apple’s pro franchises.

Owner Marc Siegel wants his sophisticated setting to bring a touch of class to the beer-and-wings ambience associated with sports bars.

To that end, he’s invested more than $300,000 in the space once occupied

by Neighborhood Sports Bar, adding a state-of-the-art music system, a private cigar lounge and chic aesthetic improvements.

As part of the plan to make it a destination spot, Player’s is hosting a live sports radio show on Thursdays— with occasional drop-ins by sports celebs. In addition, the lounge broadcasts pay-per-view UFC and boxing events.

The menu also aspires to be more than your average sports bar with everything from rib-eye steak and seared ahi tuna entrées to cheese steak sliders, fajitas, bacon-wrapped shrimp with Asian slaw, and sausage and peppers—all reasonably priced.

Another touch that sets it apart: Individual TVs in each booth, allowing guests not in a New York state of mind to watch whatever game they want.

—kevIn kAMInSkI

182

[ bocamag.com ]

sushi ray—5250 Town Center Circle. Japa-

truluck’s—351 Plaza Real. Seafood. This stylish and sophisticated Mizner Park restaurant applies the steak house formula of classy, clubby ambience, formal service and an extensive wine list to seafood from across the nation, generally with success. Crab is the specialty here and there are myriad versions—stone, Dungeness, Alaskan, soft-shell and more. Crispy soft-shells stuffed with crab and andouille are very good, if served without a drizzle of ketchup-y sauce on top. • Dinner nightly. 561/391-0755. $$$

nese/Sushi. Impeccably fresh and exactingly prepared sushi and other Japanese specialties are on display. The Nobu-esque miso sea bass gives a taste of this modern classic at a fraction of the price of the original, while the chef’s sushi assortment offers a generous arrangement of nigiri and maki for an exceedingly reasonable $20. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/3949506. $$

uncle julio’s—449 Plaza Real, Mizner Park.

Mexican. Taking Tex-Mex cuisine gently upscale with better-quality ingredients and more skillful preparation, this colorful eatery offers a bit more than just the usual Mexican culinary suspects.

You can get frog’s legs and quail, as well as favorites like beef and chicken fajitas, and one of the only palatable tamales around. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/300-3530. $

table 42—399 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. A

uncle tai’s—5250 Town Center Circle.

Chinese. In an area with more cookie-cutter Chinese restaurants than cookies, Uncle Tai’s stands out for the elegance of its decor, the professionalism of its service and its careful preparation of familiar and less-familiar dishes.

The “specialties” section of the menu has exciting dishes, like the Hunan vegetable pie, finely minced veggies sandwiched between sheets of crispy bean curd skin, and Hunan-style lamb, whose seared and succulent meat shows off the kitchen’s skill in the use of wok qi. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-8806. $$$

contemporary Amer-Italian osteria with pizza is as good a way as any to describe Gary Rack’s reborn Coal Mine Pizza. The menu is compact but offers many mix-and-match opportunities done with great attention to detail. The results are on your plate in the form of irresistible chicken wings spiked with lemon, scallions and Parmesan; linguine in deliriously rich and creamy pesto and tiramisu so good it transcends cliché. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/826-2625. $$

taverna kyma—6298 N. Federal Highway.

Greek/Mediterranean. Few present Greek cuisine better. Expertly prepared dishes cover the spectrum of Mediterranean cuisine, from cold appetizers (dolmades; grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs) to hot starters (spanakopita, baked phyllo with spinach and feta cheese) to mouthwatering entrées like lamb shank (slowcooked in a tomato sauce and served on a bed of orzo), massive stuffed peppers or kebobs.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/994-2828. $$ trattoria romana—499 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This local mainstay does Italian classics and its own lengthy list of ambitious specials with unusual skill and aplomb. The cozy dining room is a welcome respite from the outside world, and service is at a level not always seen in local eateries. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if it includes impeccably done langostini oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner daily. 561/393-6715. $$$

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 bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of choices, especially among Italian and California reds. The menu of “Italian tapas” includes tasty breaded and fried artichoke hearts, a trio of Italian sliders (topped with three different cheeses), ravishing ricotta and fig-stuffed ravioli with prosciutto, balsamic syrup and brown butter.

• Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/869-0030. $ december/january

GIFT CARD

The perfect seasonal accompaniment.

Recipe for a joyful holiday ONE PART STYLE • ONE PART TASTE • ONE PART RHYTHM

Delray’s hottest bar scene • sensational new menu • live entertainment featuring Orson Whitfield Experience our new 2,500-gallon shark tank.

Open Daily • Happy Hour 4 – 7 pm Delray’s Best Brunch Sat & Sun 9 am – 2:30 pm For information or reservations, visit theatlanticgrille.com or call 561-665-4900 At The Seagate Hotel, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Å Scan for special offer and entertainment schedule

dining

guide

vivo partenza—1450 N. Federal Highway.

Italian. On the heartier side of the menu is an appetizer of three giant meatballs in a wellmade San Marzano tomato sauce that could easily serve as an entrée. More delicate fare includes a brilliantly prepared salmon. Do the zabaglione with fresh berries for dessert. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561-750-2120. $$

west boca city fish market —7940 Glades Road. seafood. A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house. The whole package is here: friendly and efficient service, lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked Chinois chicken salad at The Little House. Inset: Chrissy Benoit

with much care and little artifice. Do sample the fresh oysters and the plump crab cake.

Simply griddled fish is an honest, uncomplicated pleasure. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

561/487-1600. $$

phuket thai restaurant—Palms Plaza, 22191 Powerline Road. thai. It’s nothing to look at—just another little restaurant in another west Boca strip shopping center. But appearances can be deceiving; this restaurant serves excellent and authentic Thai cuisine in a cozy and unpretentious atmosphere. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/447-8863. $$

tempted thai & sushi—21065 Powerline Road. thai/Japanese. There’s more than sushi to lure you here, though the sushi is up to the caliber of local competitors. There’s an extensive menu of Thai dishes and Thai- and Japanesestyle creations, among them spaghetti in a fiery green curry sauce with grilled shrimp; a sushi roll with sheets of seared-raw New York steak; and a zippy take on tuna tartare that gilds the fish with kimchee sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/353-2899. $

ONLY IN BOYNTON

The LiTTLe house 480 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/420-0573

T

here are lots of big flavors coming out of Chrissy Benoit’s Little House. And it is a little house, the 823-square foot former Ruth Jones Cottage, which was picked up and moved a few blocks to its current location as part of Boynton Beach’s effort to revitalize its downtown.

But size hasn’t really mattered to Wolfgang Puck alum Benoit, who previously made postage stamp-sized Havana Hideout such a local fave in Lake Worth that it wound up featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

The Little House’s bigger menu gives Benoit more chance to strut her culinary stuff, whether her take on Puck’s famed Chinois chicken salad or ridiculously luscious stacked salad of creamy-textured eggplant, mozzarella and tomatoes with basil-balsamic dressing.

Culinary boundaries haven’t much

184

[ bocamag.com ]

mattered to Benoit either. She cheerfully casts them aside to turn out such disparate dishes as a rich, cheesy savory bread pudding, plush India butter chicken that would be a hit in New Delhi, slow-roasted pulled pork sandwich with smoky chipotle cole slaw, and pineapple upside-down cake that may be the best you’ve ever tasted. And all these big flavors come at little prices.

I’m big on this Little House.

—bIll cItara

PJ Party Adding to the charm at the Little House is the restaurant’s Sunday brunch, an instant classic with a slew of expertly prepared breakfast favorites, plenty of Benoit specials—and an open invitation for anyone who dines there to come in their pajamas.

tempura house—9858 Clint Moore Road, #C-112. Japanese, asian. Dark wood, rice paper and tiles fill the space. An appetizer portion of Age Natsu, fried eggplant, is a consummate Japanese delicacy. Don’t miss the ITET roll with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, tempura flakes and eel sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/883-6088. $$ villa rosano—9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian. Step into the dining room, and you could be forgiven for imagining yourself in some rustic Italian hill town as the smells of garlic and tomato sauce waft through the air. Start by sopping up the house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto, delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese and one of the few versions of tiramisu to actually hold your interest. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/470-0112. $$

boynton beach bar louie—1500 Gateway Blvd. eclectic.

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

december/january

Restaurant & Lounge

Dine

Drink

Dance

It’s a new day at 75 Main. New menu. New management.

Attentive service and eclectic food. Enjoy fine dining in our inviting restaurant or getup and dance in our comfortably chic lounge.

Delight in our late night tapas menu. You’re invited to experience the fusion of Southampton warmth and South Florida cool.

75maindelray.com 270 E. Atlantic Avenue Downtown Delray Beach

www.facebook.com/75MainDelray

561-243-7975

www.twitter.com/75MainDelray

dining

guide

china dumpling—1899-5 N. Congress Ave. Chinese. The dim sum basket is an absolute must-try. A choice of signature steamed dumplings are likewise spot on. The steak kew is delicious, and the clay pot casseroles are mighty enticing. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/737-2782. $ prime catch—700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood. Simple pleasures soar—full-belly clams, fried sweet and crispy, or a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$

discovery

Lantana Jacks Bar & GriLL 308 N. Dixie Highway, Lantana, 561/847-4158

K

MicheLe Boyet

ick off your heels and head north because a new slice of paradise has popped up in Palm Beach County. Seasoned restaurateurs David Thall, Kevin Walters and Charles Steadman are the brains behind converting the old Lantana Ale House space into the new Lantana Jacks Bar and Grill.

The relaxed, beachthemed hideaway offers a refreshing combination of classic American grub and Caribbean-style seafood, as well as vacation-worthy cocktails.

Take a seat at one of the high-top surfboard tables (designed to better catch a drink than a wave), or steer yourself to the shipinspired bar. If the entertainment on the multiple flat-screen TVs doesn’t hold your attention, then check out one of the nights with live music.

The menu includes

plenty of seafood treats— including Prince Edward Island mussels served in white wine with light cream, garlic and herbs.

Jacks also adds a playful twist on classic dishes, by offering rock shrimp macn-cheese and a half-dozen crabby deviled eggs— stuffed with red pepper, horseradish and lump crab.

Craving a little Caribbean spice? Order the guava barbecue pulled pork (served with cole slaw and fries) or the baked jerk chicken wings.

On the cocktail side, check out the Pear Me Up, a frozen concoction featuring two types of rum (including Bacardi 151), lime, and pear puree. Equally refreshing, and with a similar kick, is Jack’s Mojito with its house-infused golden apple rum.

The spirit star, however, is Jack’s Rum Barrel. An

Sliders at Lantana Jacks

actual drink-sized barrel that serves four people is delivered to your table; inside is a mixture of three types of rum, fresh citrus, house-made cardamom syrup and, according to the menu, “good times.”

Still hungry? Jacks kills the local competition by not only offering coconut rum cake and Key lime ice cream pie for dessert, but also a simple but decadent plate of warm chocolate cookies with an ice cold glass of milk. Cheers!

—CaSSie Morien

Manic Mondays Start the workweek off with a discounted classic at Lantana Jacks. Every Monday is All-American Burger Day; savor half-pound, hand-formed cheeseburgers with a side of salted crinkle-cut fries for just $6.

sushi simon—1614 S. Federal Highway.

Japanese/sushi. Local sushi-philes jam the long, narrow dining room for a taste of such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (only on Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like the sublime snowy snapper Morimoto and opulent tuna tartare. Creative and more elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$ delray beaCh 32 east—32 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary american. At a time when chefs and restaurants seem to be constantly shouting their own praises, Nick Morfogen and 32 East go quietly about their way of serving thoughtfully conceived, finely crafted dishes with a minimum of fuss and artifice. The menu changes daily, but recent examples of Morfogen’s culinary expertise include plump scallops given an elegant bouillabaisse treatment and fork-tender venison with a terrific Asiago-fig risotto. When the food is this good, you don’t need to shout. • Dinner daily. 561/276-7868. $$$ atlantic grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood-Contemporary american. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa mines quality ingredients for maximum flavor. A light, chunky gazpacho with soothing cucumber cream is perfect warm-weather dining, and though braised short ribs with mashed potatoes is heartier fare, it’s hard to resist the gum-tender meat ringed by a silken potato purée. The butterscotch-white chocolate bread pudding with rum crème anglaise (an occasional special) is pure wickedness. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/665-4900. $$

buddha sky bar—217 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asia-

186

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

meets-industrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline. Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, while rock shrimp tempura and Wagyu tenderloin skewers with twin chimichurri sauces touch the heart and the taste buds. Veggie fried rice is exemplary thanks to the kitchen’s application of wok chi. • Dinner Wed.–Sun. 561/450-7557. $$

cabana el rey—105 E. Atlantic Ave. Cuban tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray Beach. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue. Mariquitas (fried banana chips) are a tasty way to start your meal. For dinner, seafood paella is a winner, with mussels, shrimp, conch, octopus, scallops and clams. And the churrasco is terrific. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/2749090. $$

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

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

veal chop lightly breaded and served either Milanese or parmigiana. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the cheesecake imported from the Carnegie Deli. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9404. $$

casa di pepe—189 N.E. Second Ave. Italian.

A welcoming staff, familiar Italian dishes done right and moderate prices define this cozy spot with a spacious outdoor patio. Two could share the fist-sized meatball with fresh-tasting tomato sauce and dollop of milky basil, before moving on to house-made linguine with clams, tender veal Francese and one of the best versions of tiramisu this side of Veneto. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/279-7371. $$ city oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood.

This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as crab-stuffed shrimp with jalapeño cheddar grits, bacon, shiitake mushrooms and warm vinaigrette. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining.

561/272-0220. $$

Op

cucina mio—16950 Jog Road. Italian. There are many Italian restaurants in our culinary universe, most mining familiar culinary territory.

This popular eatery does so, too, offering sturdy renditions of Italian favorites in enormous portions at correspondingly modest prices. The menu highlight is perhaps tiramisu, rarely made as well as it is here. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/499-9419. $$

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

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

d’angelo trattoria—9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Don’t go expecting all the tired old “Italian” culinary clichés at Angelo Elia’s wickedly stylish trattoria. Instead, open your palate to more authentic and exciting Roman-

en Christmas

Give the gift of fish this holiday, and when you purchase $200 worth of gift cards from one of our restaurants, enjoy a lobster dinner on us.

Town Center in Boca Raton

•

561.447.2112

www.legalseafoods.com

1 w hlegalseafood_brm1212.indd en U want to know

BoCA RAToN MAGAZINE

[ b o c a m a g . c10/3/12 o m ] 5:22 PM 187

dining

guide

style cuisine, like roasted veal bone marrow with brisk caper-parsley pesto, creamydreamy burrata with roasted fava beans and watercress salad, the classic tonnarelli cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”) and the best gelato this side of a real Roman trattoria.

• Dinner daily. 561/330-1237. $$

deck 84 —840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contem-

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

porary American. Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes.

Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the steallar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey apple cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner daily. 561/665-8484. $

house of siam—25 N.E. Second Ave. Thai.

The normally riotous flavors of Thai cuisine are muted at this charming, family-friendly downtown spot, but that seems to suit diners just fine. Dishes, generally well-prepared and generously portioned, include steamed chicken and shrimp dumplings with sweet soy dipping sauce and crisp-fried duck breast in a very mild red curry sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

561/330-9191. $$

fifth avenue grill—821 S. Federal Highway.

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

561/265-0122. $$

il girasole—1911 S. Federal Highway.

Northern Italian. This South Florida classic is not trendy, but it offers a level of comfort and consistency that has been bringing people back for 30 years. The food is fine hearty Italian, with excellent service. Try the veal Kristy or the frogs legs. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$

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

561/272-6565. $$

greek bistro —1832 S. Federal Highway.

Greek. If you care more about well-prepared, generously portioned and fairly priced food than Opa!-shouting waiters, you’ll love this modest little restaurant. Flaky, overstuffed spanikopita and miraculously light and delicate beef meatballs should be at the top of your appetizer list, and though entrées don’t always reach those heights, both a long-braised lamb shank and grilled whole snapper are certainly satisfying. And the baklava is great. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/266-8976. $ 188

[ bocamag.com ]

j&j seafood bar & grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on the Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3390. $$ jimmy’s bistro—9 S. Swinton Ave. Eclectic.

Jimmy’s cheerily unpretentious atmosphere applies to the eclectic menu, which flits from China to Italy to New Orleans at will. Best bets are a lovely salad of ripe tomatoes and fresh, milky house-made mozzarella; a rich, elegant version of lusty Cajun etouffee; and caramelized bananas in puff pastry with silken vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. • Dinner daily.

561/865-5774. $$

la cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean.

True professionals turn out gently updated and classically oriented dishes notable for the quality of their ingredients and careful preparation.

Sweetbreads in chanterelle cream sauce are glorious; a barely grilled artichoke with mustardy remoulade is gloriously simple. Watching your server skillfully debone an impeccably fresh Dover sole is almost as satisfying as eating it. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$

lemongrass bistro—420 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this original Lemongrass and its three younger siblings some of the most popular eateries around. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge, as evidenced by impeccably fresh salmon, tuna and yellowtail sushi. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-5050. $ max’s harvest—169 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Dennis Max, instrumental in bringing the chef and ingredient-driven ethos of California cuisine to South Florida in the 1980s, is again at the forefront of the fresh, local, seasonal culinary movement. Max’s Harvest soars with dishes like plump Cedar Key clams with house-made tasso, savory bourbonmaple glazed pork belly, and crispy-skinned wild sockeye salmon with yuzu-truffle vinaigrette. • Dinner daily. 561/381-9970. $$

the office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. It’s a safe bet that your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports red leather and cowhide chairs, more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/276-3600. $$

park tavern—9 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The guys from Cut 432 have done it again with this hip, casual modern American tavern. The menu is both tightly focused and tightly executed, whether terrific Maryland crab cake featuring fat chunks of succulent crab or crisply sautéed pork belly with apricot mostarda. And for the best meal deal this side of free, don’t miss the behemoth slab of tender, juicy prime rib for a near-saintly $29. • Dinner daily. 561/265-5093. $$

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

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

Starters and desserts fare better than entrées, especially plump, crabby Maryland-style crab cakes and indecently luscious chocolate bread pudding. Service is a strong suit too, so with a bit of work this good-looking restaurant will fully live up to its name. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/865-5845. $$$ december/january

The Italian Restaurant on the Beach Proudly serving you for 19 years!

hall of fame boca raton magazine readers’ choice 2008 best ItalIan readers’ choice award 2009, 2010, 2012 best wIne lIst boca raton magazine 2008, 2012 best seasIde breakfast spot boca raton magazine 2008 best outdoor dInIng 2010, readers’ choice award 2004, 2006 best brunch boca raton magazine 2006, 2012 best oceanfront dInIng readers’ choice award 2005, 2010 best brunch palm beach post best oceanfront ItalIan palm beach post wine spectator award of excellence 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 34 South Ocean Boulevard, Delray Beach • 561-274-9404 facebook.com/caffelunarosa caffelunarosa.com • Open 7 days, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch.

Live Entertainment. Valet Parking.

dining

guide

sundy house—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. Everyone knows about the spectacular garden, home to hundreds of species of exotic plants. But the comforting-contemporary food deserves notice too, realized in such dishes as expertly fried calamari with zesty Moroccan-style aioli; savory rack of lamb crusted with herbs, mustard and horseradish; and pistachio-crusted salmon with marinated fennel, artichoke, sherry wine and a citrus gastrique served with black rice. Portions are enormous. • Lunch Tues.–Sat. Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-5678. $$

Aloha Kakou.

tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. With its roots in New York’s Angelo’s of Mulberry Street, this venue is always packed. Homemade stuffed manicotti is aromatic and glorious.

Tramonti’s platter for two, containing fillet marsala, veal cutlet with prosciutto, fried zucchini and potato croquettes, is terrific. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining.

561/272-1944. $$ tryst—4 E. Atlantic Ave. Eclectic. It’s tough to beat this hotspot with the lovely outdoor patio, well-chosen selection of artisan beers and not-the-usual-suspect wines, and an eclectic “gastropub” menu of small and large plates.

Try the crisp-fried rock shrimp with chipotlemayonnaise sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/921-0201. $$ vic & angelo’s—290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian.

God is in the details at this upscale trattoria, and He doesn’t miss much, including stellar service and an outstanding wine menu. Ingredients like Buffalo mozzarella, house-made pastas and San Marzano tomatoes are first-rate, and execution is spot on. Try the “Old School” meatball to start, the whole-wheat tagliatelle with garlic and chili-infused olive oil and the perfectly cooked veal chop. Portions are substantial. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-9570. $$$

massages Body TreaTmenTs holisTic services facials nail care

LAkE worth

themauispa.com 2100 NW Boca Raton Blvd.

Boca Raton, FL 33431 561.395.7733 Scan for monthly specials!

190

couco pazzo—915-917 Lake Ave. Italian.

Despite the name, there’s nothing crazy about the cooking at this homey eatery. It’s the hearty, soul-satisfying Italian cuisine we’ve all come to know and love. Spaghetti Bolognese is a fine version of a Northern Italian classic; house-smoked mozzarella—breaded, fried and presented with a tangy tomato-basil fondue—is equally tasty.

• Dinner nightly. (Tues.–Sun. during summer).

561/585-0320. $$

[ bocamag.com ]

MauiSpa_BRM1212.indd 1

paradiso ristorante—625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso.

Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean sea bass branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/547-2500. $$$

safire asian fusion—817 Lake Ave. PanAsian. This stylish little restaurant offers food that gently marries East and West, plus a roster of more traditional Thai dishes and inventive sushi rolls. Menu standouts include tempura-fried rock shrimp or calamari cloaked with a lushfiery “spicy cream sauce.” Expect neighborly service and reasonable prices. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/588-7768. $

LANtANA the station house—233 Lantana Road.

Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 8 pounds) and are so reasonably priced that getting a taste of one without reservations is highly unlikely. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487.

(Other location: 1544 S.E. Third Court, Deerfield Beach, 954/420-9314) $$$

PALM BEACh bice—313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island for the see-and-be-seen crowd. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, sautéed chicken breast and stuffed 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). But they’re all good. Dinner daily. 561/833-3450. $$

café boulud—The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. december/january

10/9/12 9:17 AM

Pr em ier Bo Co ca nsi Ra gnm ton ent ’s Bo uti que

HIGH FASHION CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE years ago Serendipity was created to offer the Boca Raton Florida area a very unique shopping experience to purchase pre-loved luxury goods at a great price as well as a venue to consign luxury items. We are proud to mention Serendipity was voted for 10 straight years the BEST consignment store in the area. Serendipity is an exclusive designer consignment boutique that specializes in upscale designer fashions, designer handbags, jewelry and various accessories.

Call our boutique:

561 338-0656 Visit our location:

2200 West Glades Road Glades Plaza, Boca Raton

&CONSIGN

SHOP for

years we do it best. Consign with us, it pays.

dining

guide

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 (not available during summer), the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 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. $$$

cha cha’s—150 Worth Ave. Latin/Tapas. A

caridad_brm1212.indd 1

10/24/12 11:00 AM

variety of small plates, from Mexican tacos and Argentine empanadas to Spanish potatoes make up the menu of this elegant yet casual pan-Latin eatery. Though not every dish is successful, the best ones—crusty-creamy papas bravas, savory shrimp and scallion crêpe, buttery cauliflower and fennel gratin, and indecently luscious dulce de leche pot du crème—will make your taste buds do a happy dance. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-8800. $$

chez jean-pierre—132 N. County Road.

French. Sumptuous cuisine, attentive servers and a see-and-be-seen crowd are hallmarks of one of the island’s premier restaurants. Indulgences include scrambled eggs with caviar and the Dover sole meunière filleted tableside. When your waiter suggests profiterolles au chocolat or hazelnut soufflé, say, mais oui! • Dinner Mon.– Sat. 561/833-1171. $$$

cucina dell’ arte—257 Royal Poinciana Way. Italian. The wide range of items on the menu and the great quality of Cucina’s cuisine, combined with its fine service, ensures a fun place for a casual yet delectable meal—not to mention being a vantage point for spotting local celebs. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Outdoor dining. 561/655-0770. $$

echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam and is spec-ta-cu-lar. Crispy jumbo shrimp with soybean plum sauce is delectable, the Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the Mongolian beef tenderloin 192lamirage_brm1212.indd [ b o c a m a g . c1o m ]

10/18/12 11:43 AM

december/january

is perfection. Sake list is also tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

imoto—350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/ Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his alwaysbustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. The mille-crêpe cake is 20 layers of lacy, mango-sauced goodness. • Dinner daily. 561/833-5522. $$

Holiday Catering, TooJay’s Style.

Sumptuous Party Platters Delicious Hot Entrees Lavish Desserts Home or Office Delivery & Set Up

leopard lounge and restaurant — The Chesterfield Palm Beach, 363 Cocoanut Row. American. The restaurant offers excellent food in a glamorous and intimate club-like atmosphere. In fact, it’s advisable to make early reservations if a quiet dinner is the objective; the place becomes a late-night cocktail spot after 9. The menu is equally decadent. • Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner daily. 561/659-5800. $$

nick & johnnie’s—207 Royal Poinciana Way. Contemporary American. Expect flavorful, moderately priced California-esque cuisine in a casual setting with affordable wines and young, energetic servers. Try the short-rib or jerk chicken quesadillas as appetizers, and don’t miss the four-cheese tortellini as a main course.

• Lunch and dinner Mon.–Sat. Breakfast Sun. 561/655-3319. $$

renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is comfortably 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. $$$

the restaurant — Four Seasons Resort, 2800 South Ocean Blvd. Contemporary American. With casual, yet refined ambience, The Restaurant is the premier dining venue at the Four Seasons Palm Beach. Savor fresh Atlantic seafood in a contemporary setting complemented by innovative cocktails. Don’t miss the mouthwatering dessert selections. Live entertainment is featured on Saturday nights. • Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/533-3750. $$$$ when U want to know

WWW.TOOJAYS.COM

BOCA RATON Polo Shops (561) 241-5903 Regency Court (561) 997-9911 Glades Plaza (561) 392-4181

REAL. GOOD. FOOD.

toojays_brm1212.indd 1

10/23/12 11:26 AM

s ’ o n le legri

P

te ran999 o t 1 st. is

r

E

Celebrating Our “12th Year” Anniversary Rated 4 Stars & Top 100 Restaurants in South Florida - Sun Sentinel Top 50 Restaurants Of Old School Cooking - Boca Magazine

Every Sunday Mama’s Meat In The Gravy Over Pasta Boca Plaza 561.368.5520 3360 N. Federal Highway (South of Spanish River Blvd. East Side Of Fed Hwy.) Boca Raton, FL 33431

PRIVATE V.I.P. Room Available 12 - 24 People www.pellegrinosofboca.com

pellegrinos_brm1212.indd 1

[ b o c a m a g10/17/12 . c o m ] 12:51 PM 193

dining

guide

ta-boó—2221 Worth Ave. American. This self-described “American bistro” is less typical “American” restaurant or classical French “bistro” than it is posh-casual refuge for the see-andbe-seen crowd in and around Palm Beach. The eclectic menu offers everything from roasted duck with orange blossom honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/835-3500. $$ trevini ristorante —290 Sunset Ave. Italian. Maitre d’ Carla Minervini is your entrée to a warm experience, complemented by a stately but comfortable room and excellent food. We love the crispy fillet of herb-crusted sole in a rich, buttery sauce and the veal scallopini in a lemon caper Chardonnay sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/833-3883. $$$

pAlm beAch gArdens cabo flats—11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave. mexican. Mexican cuisine often has more personas than Madonna. This highly stylized cantina adds another—that of California’s Chi-

194

[ bocamag.com ]

cano culture. All your favorite Mexican dishes are there, as well as enormous margaritas, but also niftier items like the terrific tuna ceviche in “tomatillo broth.” • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/624-0024. $

café chardonnay—4533 PGA Blvd. contemporary American. This longtime stalwart never rests on its laurels. Instead, it continues to dish finely crafted American/Continental fare with enough inventiveness to keep things interesting. The popular herb-and-Dijon-mustard rack of lamb, regular menu items like duck with Grand Marnier sauce, and always superlative specials reveal a kitchen with solid grounding in culinary fundamentals. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/627-2662. $$ WellIngTOn pangea bistro—10140 W. Forest Hill Blvd. contemporary American. Add culinary influences from the tropics, Europe, Asia and Latin America to a trio of chefs from the Four Seasons Palm Beach, plus one Venezuelan

designer-turned-restaurateur, and the result is this smartly modern bistro that’s bringing a real sense of gastronomic adventure to Wellington. Every dish sports an element that will tickle your taste buds, whether crunchy Asian slaw on ahi poke flatbread or beguiling lemongrass-kaffir lime vinaigrette with a slab of various blackened fish. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Sat. (Dinner only during summer months) 561/793-9394. $$

WesT pAlm beAch b.b. king’s blues club—550 S. Rosemary Ave. American. The restaurant at this club-dining spot won’t leave you singing the blues, but it will leave you wishing for more than a spoonful of the lusty flavors of its Southern/New Orleans cuisine. Punch up the flavors of pan-fried catfish and shrimp with jambalaya sauce and chickenfried chicken on a bed of mac ’n’ cheese, and you could let the good times roll. Buffalo wings, fried pickle chips and luscious banana bread pudding are good bets. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/420-8600. $

d e c e m b enr o/ jvaenmu ba er yr

cabana las palmas—533 Clematis St. Nuevo Latino. With its bold, vibrant decor and flavors, this colorful restaurant is a treat for the palette and palate. Must-orders include mariquitas, thin, crispy plantain slices that are the irresistible Cuban answer to potato chips; cookbook-perfect ceviche of shrimp, octopus and calamari that shows how chili heat can be both fiery and subtle; and the signature “Coco Cabana,” a habanero and coconut milk-infused curry with a wealth of veggies, tubers and fat, succulent shrimp. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/833-4773. $$

café centro—2409 N. Dixie Highway. Italian.

There are many things to like about this modest little osteria—the unpretentious ambience, piano nightly after 7 p.m., the fine service, the robust portions and relatively modest prices. And, of course, the simple, satisfying Italian cuisine.

The kitchen breathes new life into hoary old fried calamari, gives fettucine con pollo a surprisingly delicate herbed cream sauce, gilds snowy fillets of grouper with a soulful Livornese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/514-4070. $$

when U want to know

china beach bistro—407 Northwood Road. Chinese. South Florida may not be a hotbed of fine Chinese cuisine, but anyone who loves the incredibly diverse, sophisticated food of the Middle Kingdom should be fired up about this chic restaurant. From exquisite dim sum (like steamed chicken and mushroom dumplings perfumed with kaffir lime leaf) to a superb version of Peking duck with impossibly crisp skin, tender meat and house-made pancakes, the food here is a revelation. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-4242. $ 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. Take your Turkish coffee to the patio for an arguileh (water pipe) experience. • 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. Another top choice is the chicken breast, pounded thin and filled with fontina and prosciutto. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/5853128. $$

pistache—101 N. Clematis St. French.

Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as mussels mariniere, coq au vin and steak tartare. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$ rhythm café—3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/8333406. $$

rocco’s tacos—224 Clematis St. Mexican.

Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as

[ bocamag.com ]

195

dining

guide

For an

exceptional

Shopping experience!

well as upscale variations on the theme and some 150 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. Made-to-order guacamole is a good place to start, perhaps followed by a grilled yellowtail (an occasional special) with mango-pineapple salsa. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County location: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2133) $

204 e. atlantic ave Delray Beach, Fl 33444 561.272.6654

1185 third St. So. naples, Fl 34102 239.643.8900

Mon-Wed 10am-9pm thu-Sat 10am-11pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Mashpee commons cape cod, Ma 02649 508.477.3900

www.uniqueboutiquejewelry.com uniqueboutique_dbm1212.indd 1

10/15/12 9:13 AM

Professional Health Care You Can Trust 24 Hours a Day • Since 1983 EXPICARE Nursing Agency is a recognized leader in home health care and has been placing caregivers in clients’ homes throughout Palm Beach County for over 29 years. � � � �

A+ Rating

License #HHA20336096

Registered Nurses License Practical Nurses Home Health Aides Live-ins

Call EXPICARE today to learn more about our services.

Boynton Beach: 561.736.1422 Boca Raton: 561.392.0844 Toll-free: 855.730.9895 � www.expicare.com 196expicarenursing_brm1212.indd [ b o c a m a g . c o m ]1

10/3/12 1:36 PM

umi fishbar + grill—2401 PGA Blvd.

Asian fusion/sushi. The tired Asian fusion genre is worked so carefully and sensitively here that it all seems new again. Choices abound on the fusion and sushi menus, but highlights include fluffy Chinese-style pork buns with heritage pig filling, terrific Mexican-style corn cooked on the robata grill and Nobu-esque sake-miso-marinated sea bass that’s a symphony of delicate and lusty flavors. • Dinner daily. 561/472-7900. $$ top of the point —777 S. Flagler Drive.

Contemporary American. The food is not only good but surprisingly adventurous, and the service is exceptional at this Intracoastal spot.

Though there are plenty of steaks for the more conservative of palate, the edgier offerings, like smoky grilled octopus with “Catalan salad,” are definitely worth going out on a limb for. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/832-2424. $$$

browArd county deerfield beACh brooks—500 S. Federal Highway. Continental.

Brooks remains a reliable source for fine cuisine.

Guests may choose from an à la carte menu or the more economical “complete menu,” which includes first course, entrée and dessert and a bottle of wine. There also are plenty of alternatives to seafood, including duck, rib-eye or rack of lamb. • Dinner Wed.–Sun. 954/427-9302. $$$

tamarind asian grill & sushi bar —949 S. Federal Highway. Asian. Quiet and soothing, this multicultural venue serves sushi, sashimi, yakitori and wide-ranging Japanese appetizers, but Tamarind also presents a full menu of Thai classics and a sake lounge.

Try the complex masaman curry. Finish with the red bean or green tea ice cream. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-8009. $$ december/january

12TH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT • 291 • 7 FOR ALL MANKIND • 10 CROSBY BY DEREK LAMM • ALC • ALICE + OLIVIA • AARON ASHE • AT PIECE • ATKO • BCBG MAXAZRIA RUNWAY • BLU MOON • BOULEE • BOYOD • BY CHANCE • CAMILLA • CAMILLA AND MARC • CHASER • CHELSEA FLOWER • CLOVER CANYON • CURRENT/ELLIOTT • CUT 25 • DAVID LERNER • ELIZABETH & JAMES • ENZA COSTA • ESCAPE BY MATHEW WILLIAMSON • ETOILE ISABEL MARANT • EQUIPMENT • FINDERS KEEPERS • GEMMA • GENERATION LOVE • GENETIC DENIM • GODDIS • GOLDSIGN • GRYPHON • HANKY PANKY • HAUTE HIPPIE • J BRAND • JAMISON • JENNIFER HALEY • JENNIFER

fort laUderdale 15th street fisheries —1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. Entrées come with soup, salad, a sorbet course and fresh breads. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily.

954/763-2777. $$

3030 ocean—Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, 3030 Holiday Drive. american. The menu is heavy on seafood and changes several times a week. We recommend the sautéed Florida red snapper or the indulgent butter-roasted Maine lobster. For dessert, try the popular roasted banana crème brûlée. • Dinner nightly.

954/765-3030. $$$

bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel, 1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary american.

This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food.

The menu is surprisingly diverse, with everything from seafood chowder, burgers and pizza to cherry-glazed breast of duck. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/626-1701. $$

ZEUNER • JENS PIRATE BOOTY • JEROME DREYFUSS • JOIE • JUST CAVALLI • KRISA • LINE • LNA • LOVE SAM • LOVE QUOTES • MADISON MARCUS • MARA HOFFMAN • MASON BY MICHELLE MASON • MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MCQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN • MINKPINK • MINNIE ROSE • MISSONI SCARVES & SHOES • MONROW • MW BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MOTHER DENIM • MYNE • NATION LTD • NAVEN • OF TWO MINDS • PARKER • POUR LA VICTOIRE • RACHEL ZOE • RAMY BROOK • RAQUEL ALLEGRA • RD INTERNATIONAL • ROBBI & NIKKI • ROBERT RODRIGUEZ • SEATON • SJOBECK • SON OF JOHN • SMYTHE • STRETTA • SYDNEY EVAN • T BAGS • TAJ • TIBI • TOLANI • TOP SECRET • TORN BY RONNY KOBO • TT • VEDA • VINTAGE CHANEL • WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND • WILDFOX • WINK • 12TH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT • 291 • 7 FOR ALL MANKIND • 10 CROSBY BY DEREK LAMM • ALC • ALICE + OLIVIA • AARON ASHE • AT PIECE • ATKO • BCBG MAXAZRIA RUNWAY • BLU MOON • BOULEE • BOYOD • BY CHANCE • CAMILLA • CAMILLA AND MARC • CHASER • CHELSEA FLOWER • CLOVER CANYON • CURRENT/ELLIOTT • CUT 25 • DAVID LERNER • ELIZABETH & JAMES • ENZA COSTA • ESCAPE BY MATHEW WILLIAMSON • ETOILE ISABEL MARANT • EQUIPMENT • FINDERS KEEPERS • GEMMA • GENERATION LOVE • GENETIC DENIM • GODDIS • GOLDSIGN • GRYPHON • HANKY PANKY • HAUTE HIPPIE • J BRAND • JAMISON • JENNIFER HALEY • JENNIFER ZEUNER • JENS PIRATE BOOTY • JEROME DREYFUSS • JOIE • JUST CAVALLI • KRISA • LINE • LNA • LOVE SAM • LOVE QUOTES • MADISON MARCUS • MARA HOFFMAN • MASON BY MICHELLE MASON • MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MCQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN • MINKPINK • MINNIE ROSE • MISSONI SCARVES & SHOES • MONROW • MW BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MOTHER DENIM • MYNE • NATION LTD • NAVEN • OF TWO MINDS • PARKER • POUR LA VICTOIRE • RACHEL ZOE • RAMY BROOK • RAQUEL ALLEGRA • RD INTERNATIONAL •

9647 Brighton Way

3013 Yamato Road

Boca Raton Hotel & Resort

Beverly Hills

Boca Raton

EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEMBERS & HOTEL GUESTS

310.278.6200

561.394.0899

561.394.0899

alenetoo.com alenetoo_brm1212.indd 1

10/23/12 11:03 AM

bistro mezzaluna—741 S.E. 17th St. Italian. The bistro is all Euro-chic decor—mod lighting, abstract paintings. It also has good food, from pastas to steaks and chops and a wide range of fresh seasonal fish and seafood.

Don’t forget the phenomenal wine list. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/522-6620. $$

bongusto ristorante—5640 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-kept secret, featuring dishes that will meet the standards of those who savor authentic Italian. Mussels with scallions, garlic and heavy cream sauce is an appetizer highlight. Involtini capricciosi—tender-rolled veal stuffed with spinach, prosciutto and fontina cheese—is equally satiating, while the yellowtail snapper oreganatta melts in your mouth. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 954/771-9635. $$ by word of mouth—3200 N.E. 12th Ave. eclectic. It’s not just the words from the mouths of satisfied customers that make this obscurely located restaurant so consistently popular; it’s the homey, satisfying food that goes into those mouths. The menu changes, but you can always count on home cooking with a gourmet spin, like pork tenderloin with raspberry jalapeno sauce, or coconut-crusted snapper. Go all out when U want to know

cucinamio_brm1212.indd 1

[ b o c a m a g .10/19/12 c o m ] 3:04 PM 197

Boca Raton magazine’s

Preview Calendar december 2012 / January 2013

sAKs FIFTH AvENuE bOCA rATON WElCOMEs AWArD-WINNINg DEsIgNEr sTEllA MCCArTNEy Saks Fifth Avenue is pleased to welcome British fashion designer Stella McCartney to its Boca Raton flagship store for a personal appearance and fundraiser to benefit Florence Fuller Child Development Centers. To mark the occasion, the luxury retailer will host a private cocktail party in honor of the designer Dec. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. During the invitation-only event, which also celebrates the much-anticipated opening of the Stella McCartney shop within Saks, guests will enjoy an exclusive preview of McCartney’s Summer 2013 ready-to-wear collection. Tickets are $100, and 100 percent of the ticket sale proceeds will be donated to Florence Fuller. saks Fifth Avenue 5800 glades road, boca raton 561/620-1230 saks.com/bocaraton

JETsuITE JetSuite provides private air travel with efficient operations, acute attention to detail, acclaimed customer service, and industry-leading safety practices. Offering a fleet of Phenom 100s from Embraer and the JetSuite Edition CJ3 from Cessna, the company continues to redefine private aviation. jetsuite.com

THE MEXICAN by DENNIs MAX OPENINg EArly NOvEMbEr Dennis Max’s latest dining concept, The Mexican, will debut at Royal Palm Place in grand fashion. Come join us for happy hour (daily, 4 to 7 p.m.) and the best Mexican street food in Boca Raton. Bring this ad and receive a complimentary house margarita or guacamole.

133 s.E. Mizner blvd., boca raton 561/300-5280 themexicanbymax.com

If you’d like to participate in this special promotion, e-mail sales@bocamag.com.

dining

guide

with any of a dozen or so unique desserts, cakes and pies. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Wed.–Sat. 954/564-3663. $$

Cara ElysE S ki n C ar e & M edi -S pa State of the Art Skin Care exclusively at GLOSS Salon

] Look and feel “Spa”tacular everyday with extraordinary facials, peels, waxing and microdermabrasion.

café martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Italian. What’s the magic that has people lining up? We pondered the question over crispy calamari in marinara sauce, tender meatballs and sweet-buttery scampi with huge shrimp, followed by intensely flavorful veal osso buco.

Our conclusion: explosive flavor, attention to all the details and fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Waiters whisper the night’s specials as if they’re family secrets. • Dinner daily. 954/561-2554. $$

] Skin tags, unwanted freckles, sun spots, broken capillaries?

Ask about our Clinical Spot Removal Treatment. ] All facials are 85 min. and include the neck and decollete.

café sharaku—2736 N. Federal Highway. Fusion. This Japanese-French restaurant features sophisticated offerings, from an ethereal bay scallop soufflé with an unctuous sauce Americaine to roasted duck breast with a divine port-foie gras sauce. • Dinner Tues.–Fri. 954/563-2888. $$

canyon—1818 E. Sunrise Blvd. Southwestern. Billed as a Southwestern café, this twist on regional American cuisine offers great meat, poultry and fish dishes with distinctive mixes of lime, cactus and chili peppers in a subtle blend of spices. The adobe ambience is warm and welcoming, with a candlelit glow. • Dinner nightly.

954/765-1950. $$

Caramya Elyse

Spa Director & Medical Esthetician

facebook.com/CaraElyseskin 561-988-9391 222 yamato rd, #104 Boca raton, 33431 (next to Panera)

caraelyseskincare_brm1112.indd 1

10/4/12 9:43 AM

casablanca café—3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining.

954/764-3500. $$ casa d’angelo —1201 N. Federal Highway.

Italian. Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The veal chop is grilled and blanketed in a thick layer of Gorgonzola.

A delightful pasta entrée is the pappardelle con porcini: thick strips of fresh pasta coated in a light red sauce and bursting with slices of porcini mushrooms. • Dinner nightly.

954/564-1234. $$

chima—2400 E. Las Olas Blvd. Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept— all the meat you can eat, brought to your table— is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The prime rib, sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. • Dinner daily. 954/712-0581. $$$ when U want to know

Gloss Salon__brm1212.indd 1

[ b o c a m a g .10/24/12 c o m ] 9:49 AM 199

Boca Raton magazine’s

Preview Calendar december 2012 / January 2013

international Polo CluB Palm BeaCH International Polo Club Palm Beach is the premier polo destination in the world. The 2013 Palm Beach Polo Season opens Jan. 6 and concludes 16 weeks later with the USPA 109th U.S. Open Polo Championship final April 21. Polo matches are open to the public.

photo by Alex Pacheco

3667 120th ave. s., wellington 561/204-5687 internationalpoloclub.com

sara mique evening wear Introducing our new Luxurious Ponte Knit Collection in customized separates, suits and dresses. Sara Mique has created beautiful, unique evening wear and casual separates for the individualist for more than 30 years. Our collections are designed and handmade on-site in our beautiful showroom/studio and are a favorite for all.

4800 w. Hillsboro Blvd., suite B6, Coconut Creek 954/531-6800 saramique.com

miami City Ballet Miami City Ballet presents “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker”™ at Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale Dec. 14-16. This holiday spectacular features glorious sets and costumes, magical special effects, beautiful music and exceptional dancing by international stars. Tickets from just $20.

305/929-7010 or 877/929-7010 miamicityballet.org

If you’d like to participate in this special promotion, e-mail sales@bocamag.com.

dining

guide

china grill—1881 S.E. 17th St. Pan-Asian.

“Less is more” is not the mantra of this huge edition of Jeff Chodorow’s iconic nouveau pan-Asian eatery. The food, too, is all about more—more of it, more flavor and more satisfaction with dishes like plum and sesameglazed lamb spareribs and deeply savory Korean-style kalbi beef. • Breakfast and dinner daily. 954/759-9950. $$$

eduardo de san angel—2822 E. Commercial Blvd. Mexican. Try master chef Eduardo Pria’s pan-sautéed Florida blue crab and yellow corn cakes. As far as soups go, there’s the pasilla-chile-flavored chicken broth with fresh “epazote” (fried corn tortilla strips, sliced avocado, sour cream and homemade cheese). The pan-seared beef tenderloin filet mignon has so much gusto, it’s far too much to consume in one sitting. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 954/772-4731. $$$ emunah café—3558 N. Ocean Blvd. Kosher, organic. Don’t let the New Age “spirituality” of this renovated restaurant throw you off. Instead, focus on the fresh, organic ingredients that are incorporated into inventive sushi, soups and salads and (mostly) Asian-influenced entrées. • Lunch and dinner Sun.–Thurs. Sat. late evening hours. 954/561-6411. $ hi-life café—3000 N. Federal Highway.

American. Get ready to enjoy delicious food and excellent service inside this unpretentious but pretty venue. Check out the Cajun kisses, jalapeños stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Hi-Life has a nice contemporary wine list with good choices by the glass. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/563-1395. $$

mystiquecreatedgems_brm1212.indd 1

10/19/12 9:53 AM

FACIAL REJUVENATION SPECIALIST

Vivian Hernandez M.D., F.A.C.S. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Specialist in Face, Neck, Brow & Eyelid Surgery Facial Fillers, Botox & Laser Treatments ®

il mulino—1800 E. Sunrise Blvd. Italian. This

Full Service Skincare Center & Permanent Make-up

modest, unpretentious Italian restaurant doesn’t attempt to reinvent the culinary wheel. Instead, it dishes up big portions of simple, hearty, flavorful food at extremely reasonable prices.

Zuppa de pesce is a wealth of perfectly cooked seafood over linguini in a light tomato-based sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/524-1800. $

Accredited Surgical Facility with Overnight Suite

Member

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

indigo—Riverside Hotel, 620 E. Las Olas Blvd.

Seafood. Enjoy delightful alfresco dining while sampling fresh seafood and exotic specialties.

Dependable choices like ahi tuna is joined by more intriguing dishes like sea bass and salmon, and landlubbers will enjoy a selection of steaks and chops. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/467-0045. $$ when U want to know

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

www.DrHernandez.com ∙ 561.750.8600 ∙ 4799 N Federal Hwy ∙ Boca Raton FL Dr. Hernandez.indd 1 drhernandez_brm1212.indd 1

1/11/11 2:24 PM [ b o c a m a g . c10/3/12 o m ] 2:21 PM 201

a

natr nk Si

Fra

Michael Bublé

Jack Jon

Natalie C

es

ole

Vic Damone

Tony Bennett

Our mission is to preserve and perpetuate the music, character and history of the Great American Songbook. Our vision is that this great music of our country will remain accessible to those who grew up with it, so their children will learn and understand its history, and it will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Through the generosity of our donors, we have not only kept this genre alive but deliver it to thousands of people, both young and young at heart.

e Our internationally syndicated radio show, Dick Robinson’s “American Standards by the Sea” is heard weekly on commercial and public radio stations (locally on three great radio stations, and on WXEL TV (PBS), Saturdays at 6:30 PM) and on our streaming website, yachtamusic.com.

Doug Evans & Dick Robinson

e This year, we will host our first annual fund-raiser “Café Society Night” at The Colony Hotel where we will bestow

our Legends’ Awards. Proceeds will support an annual vocal competition, and the winner will record a performance in a professional studio, be aired nationwide on our radio show and receive a cash honorarium to continue training.

e We are also creating “A Teacher’s Guide to the Great American Songbook” for use in the classroom.

Join us to keep the music playing. Your commitment will ensure that the Great American Songbook will not only survive but thrive for generations to come. Please make your tax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)3 today. Visit preserveourgas.org or call 800.723.4698 for more information.

Founder/Chairman: Dick Robinson President: Douglas C. Evans Ambassadors: Lois Pope, Founder The Lois Pope LIFE Foundation Hermé de Wyman Miro, Founder & President International Society of Palm Beach *Society’s Honorary Board of Advisors

340 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite 317-319, Palm Beach, FL 33480

dining

guide

Johnny Vinczencz made his mark at Boca’s Maxaluna and Max’s Grille and (the former) De La Tierra at Delray’s Sundy House. Now in his own restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard, Vinczencz has evolved. As for the impressive wine list, Johnny V has more than 600 selections. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 954/761-7920. $$

sea watch—6002 N. Ocean Blvd. Seafood.

For a right-on-the-beach, welcome-to-Florida dining experience, there’s Sea Watch. Decked out in a pervasive nautical theme, this is definitely tourist country, but it’s pretty and on the beach.

The perfect entrée for the indecisive: Sea Watch medley, with lobster tail, jumbo shrimp and scallops broiled in butter, garlic and white wine.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 954/781-2200. $$

shula’s on the beach—Sheraton Yankee Trader, 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

Steaks. This steak house on the beach provides what could be the best ocean view in two counties. Meat is the focus, with a compact menu of all your faves, as well as your new favorite steak, Mary Anne: two mouthwatering 5-ounce filets in a creamy cognac and shallot sauce. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/355-4000. $$

sublime—1431 N. Federal Highway. Vegetarian. Not only does the menu offer an alternative to animal agriculture, the company’s profits support animal welfare. The haute vegetarian cuisine delivers with dishes like mushroom ravioli and the Tuscan quiche. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/539-9000. $ sunfish grill—2775 E. Oakland Park Blvd.

EVERY MARKET DEMANDS IT’S OWN STRATEGY. WHAT’S YOURS?

DOUGLAS SOLD

St. Regis Bal Harbor $24.6 Million

SOLD

One Thousand Ocean PH $10.4 Million

NEW EXCLUSIVE

Il Paradiso $9.85 Million

SOLD

One Thousand Ocean $4.82 Million

Woodfield Country Club $4.5 Million

Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club $4.45 Million

Senada Adzem | 561.322.8208 | Senada@EllimanFlorida.com 444 E Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL | SenadaAdzem.com | EllimanFlorida.com

douglaselliman_brm1112.indd 1

Subscribe Today!

10/22/12 2:20 PM

The gift that lasts all year!

Buy one subscription, give another to someone special—$19.95 combined— and, as a bonus, you’ll both receive 6 free issues of our newest publication, Delray Beach magazine.

E. Las Olas Blvd., #110. Italian. Sink yourself into oversized booths with elegant white tablecloths and prepare to dive into excellent signature bone-in steaks. The menu includes chops and a diverse array of fresh fish and pasta dishes. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

954/462-9119. $$

when U want to know

NEW EXCLUSIVE

Senada, thank you for all your hard work in selling my unit at One Thousand Ocean. Getting it done in 6 weeks in a difficult market was extremely impressive. Your client and dealmaking skills are terrific and I enjoyed working with you both as a buyer and a seller” Len Potter, President, Wildcat Capital Management

timpano italian chophouse —450

see our complete tricounty dining guide at bocamag.com.

One Thousand Ocean #608 $3.95 Million

NEW EXCLUSIVE

NEW EXCLUSIVE

One Thousand Ocean $6.79 Million

SOLD

>

Seafood. Think inventive, sophisticated food, the kind that made the original Pompano Beach restaurant a major destination. Its take on tuna tartare is still the gold standard, and you can’t go wrong with entrées like onion-crusted salmon or the grilled Atlantic swordfish. • Dinner Tues.– Sat. 954/561-2004. $$

NEW EXCLUSIVE RESIDENCE 404, ONE THOUSAND OCEAN

©2012. Owned and operated by Douglas Elliman Florida, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity

johnny v—625 E. Las Olas Blvd. American.

NEW YORK | MIAMI | BOCA RATON | WESTCHESTER | LONG ISLAND | THE HAMPTONS

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

suboffer_brm1212.indd 1

bocamag.com 877-553-5363, ext 222 [ b o c a m a g .10/23/12 c o m ] 3:49 PM 203

EN PAULA DE E

ERT IR VIN

WWW.SOBEFEST.COM

LR

AY

ERN MM ANDRE W ZI

EM

S GA LA IL ER

NIG EL L A LA WSON

B

SE

LAY YF B OB

RA

CH AE

Y FIERI GU AN NE

BU RR EL L

MO

RIM OT O

ROB

PRESENTED BY

FEBRUARY 21-24, 2013 GET TICKETS NOW!

SOBEFEST.COM 877.762.3933 TITLE

PRESENTING

PLATINUM

OFFICIAL CARD

HOST & BENEFITING

HOST HOTEL

DIAMOND

Confirmed sponsors as of September 2012

PREMIER

SPECIAL THANKS

PRESENTED BY

WWW.SOBEFEST.COM

Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament hosted by: José Andrés date:

Saturday, February 23, 2013 time:

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM

location: Turnberry Isle Resort,

19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura

Bobby Deen

OurTown celebrating people from all walks of life who make our community proud

The 30-MinuTe inTerview A local eighth grader with an entrepreneurial spirit—and a warm heart—tells how she turned a bullying experience into a business idea during a half-hour conversation with Boca Raton.

[ 1 ] Rebecca ZeRbo, 13, may be in eighth grade at Eagles Landing Middle School in Boca, but she’s already established herself as a bona fide businesswoman, graduating from the inaugural class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) through the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and Florida Atlantic University.

Her idea, centered around an anti-bullying program, ultimately won first prize—and a $30,000 scholarship—at a national young entrepreneurs competition in Rochester, N.Y.

aaron bristol

More on Zerbo >>

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

209

OurTown Rebecca ZeRbO:

The 30-MinuTe inTeRview (cOnT.) [ 2 ] Zerbo created a series of

cards (“Positive Pocket”) printed with upbeat affirmations designed to buoy the

confidence of kids struggling with bullying issues and low selfesteem. Zerbo knows the little cards work—she invented them to help combat her own bullying experience. [ 3 ] “Everyone teases me about

my height—I’m really short,” Zerbo says. “This girl took my folder and my stuff, and she threw it to everyone and called me some unflattering names that were really hurtful. I cried, and I failed a math test. That night, I created a card with positive sayings on it—and that’s how Positive Pocket originally came to be. When I took it to school, I realized that it worked.

I was feeling anxious in one of

my classes, so I pulled out [one of the cards] and it made me feel really good about myself.” [ 4 ] That first card was a piece of handwritten paper, taped and laminated. Today, there are several business card-sized versions with sayings like “Hope for today, believe in tomorrow, dream forever!” or “Be yourself ... everyone else is taken.” [ 5 ] Zerbo thinks bullying is worse now because kids can be anonymous. “You have the Internet, Facebook, cell phones ... kids can say really mean things to people and not get caught. Now, it’s so intense that people are committing suicide because of it.”

[ 6 ] Zerbo’s idea was selected

to enter the YEA! Regional Business Competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she won first prize for Positive Pocket—and a $30,000 scholarship to either RIT or the University of Tampa. [ 7 ] There are 25,000 Positive

Pocket cards in circulation at schools throughout South Florida. Celebrity fashion stylist Rachel Zoe posted information on Facebook about the program, which sent requests through the roof. Zerbo also sells bracelets through her website (positivepocket.org) and is working on new products.

boca by the numbers

Here are some of the figures connected to stories in this issue of Boca Raton.

(Go to the page in parentheses for more on this topic.)

1,300

$35.3 billion

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 26 of 2011, according to ComScore, Americans spent this much money alone on online shopping. (page 61)

$34,500

This is the price of 2 pounds, 3 ounces of Almas, the most expensive caviar in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The Iranian “black gold” comes from the eggs of an albino sturgeon that swims in the Caspian Sea. (page 89) 210

[ bocamag.com ]

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are not only 1,300 species native to our state—but nearly 300 non-native species of fish and wildlife that now call Florida home. (page 154)

$18 million

This is the asking price for the 35,000-square-foot estate, Punta Minitas, rented by the Kardashian family during its 2012 vacation at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. (page 75)

22

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University is home to 22 high-tech tenants engaged in cutting-edge research and development. (page 134)

$144,000

Boca mayor Susan Whelchel, in a June 2012 article in the Sun-Sentinel, acknowledged that this is the average cost to the city of every fire department employee—just one of the budget items that local activists Betty Grinnan and Judith Teller Kaye believe could cripple Boca Raton financially. (page 134)

90

According to a 2011 report commissioned by the National Center for Transgender Equality, 90 percent of the 6,450 survey participants experienced harassment, mistreatment or discrimination at work. More than 25 percent had lost a job due to being transgender. (page 110) december/january

Hometown Heroes

Where to Volunteer

Show the community you care. Follow the lead oF theSe local charitieS—and make a diFFerence thiS holiday SeaSon.

AMerICAn ASSoCIAtIon oF CAreGIVInG Youth What: This national, locally headquartered, nonprofit provides support services for more than 1.3 million children and young adults in the U.S. who care for injured, ill, elderly or disabled family members. how to help: Monetary donations help young caregivers with school supplies, respite services and in-home tutoring sessions.

Contact: Call 561/391-7401, or visit aacy2.org.

the GIVInG tree What: The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El provides needy families, senior citizens and kids aging out of foster care with necessities throughout the year. During the holidays, volunteers deliver dinners and gifts throughout the community, including Dixie Manor and Boca Island East residents. how to help: Donate clothing, furniture, toys and food.

Contact: 561/391-8900, or e-mail the givingtree@tbeboca.org

BoCA helPInG hAnDS What: Boca Helping Hands provides hot meals and groceries, six days a week, to families, the elderly and anyone in need. The organization collects items year-round for meals, its pantry program and homeless kits. how to help: Donate nonperishable items to the Food Center at 1500 N.W. First Court.

Contact: 561/417-0913, or visit boca helpinghands.org

CArIDAD Center What: The center offers free health services to the uninsured, working-poor families of Palm Beach County. During the holidays, warm meals and gift cards to purchase food are donated to families. how to help: Donate canned food items and supermarket gift cards, or inquire about the Adopt-A-Family program.

Contact: 561/853-1638, or e-mail Ryan Morris at rmorris@caridad.org

FAMIlY ProMISe What: This interfaith charity organization provides shelter, food and life skills for homeless families in our area. how to help: Donate basic necessities, furniture, toys and Publix gift cards.

Contact: 561/265-3370, or visit family promisespbc.org.

when U want to know

Jim Gavrilos (left) of Boca Helping Hands

SPIrIt oF GIVInG netWorK What: More than 50 Palm Beach County nonprofit organizations participate in an effort to assist children and families in our area. how to help: Some 3,000 hang tags—with gift wishes from children connected to nonprofits in the area—will be distributed at participating banks, hospitals, restaurants, schools and supermarkets in Boca. Select one, and purchase the gift for that child. Cash donations and gift cards also are accepted.

Contact: 561/385-0144, or visit spiritof givingnetwork.com

toYS For totS What: This national U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program collects gifts for underprivileged children. how to help: Bring an unwrapped toy (suggested price is around $10) to one of the drop-off locations throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Contact: Visit toysfortots.org.

DeBBIe-rAnD turnS 50 the Face: Joan wargo is a charter member, longtime board member and one-time president of Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

The nonprofit auxiliary organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary. “We’re here to serve the patients. I get more out of volunteering than I put into it,” she says. “It’s very satisfying to see patients get healthy.” the back Story: Debbie-Rand was formed in 1962 by the late Gloria Drummond after two of her children died of poisoning because the nearest medical facility was too far away. Since spearheading an initial fundraising campaign to pave the way for Boca’s first community hospital, Debbie-Rand has raised more than $29 million to help improve—and save—the lives of Boca residents. the cauSe: Hundreds of volunteers per year have contributed more than 6 million combined hours of service in more than 60 fields—from outpatient therapy and intensive care to calling Bingo numbers and donating time at the famed Debbie-Rand gift shop. This compassionate organization can always use more help around the holidays; to volunteer, call 561/9554098 or visit brrh.com/volunteer.

honorInG WArGo For more on the tireless work of Joan Wargo, turn to John Shuff’s “My Turn” column on page 224.

[ bocamag.com ]

211

OurTown

Slice of

Life

Ed Polokoff

Author, formEr monEy mAnAgEr At mErrill lynch Ed Polokoff likes to say that the qualities he’s most admired in his mentors and role models have, to some extent, rubbed off on him. That may be true, but as those who know him best can attest, Polokoff also is as original as they come—the kind of person who never fails to make those around him feel special.

Just ask his former clients at Merrill Lynch. For the better part of 50 years, Polokoff successfully managed the fortunes of a select group of customers, eschewing the lure of upper management in New York City for a simpler, stress-free life in Buffalo. Before that,

he fought the Japanese in World War II and anti-Semitism at home.

He’s a jazz aficionado and a golf addict—but those loves pale next to his affection for wife Gina.

If he wanted to, Polokoff could crow about a lifetime of travel, accomplishment and more—especially given that he’s 89 but looks (and plays golf like) someone 25 years younger. Instead, the Boca resident cobbled together an assortment of experiences and pearls of wisdom for the recently released book Mother Merrill is Dead.

He shares some of that wisdom with Boca Raton.

■ “I was convinced that I’d never come back alive from World War II. But I was willing to die. That was the one war we had to win. And I had a fierce desire to help this country defeat Hitler.”

■ “I know so many guys who went up that corporate ladder, and most of them are dead. They died earlier than they should have because of the stress. They all had so many problems and responsibilities. My responsibility was only to my customers. And I took good care of them.”

■ “I was pretty good at what I did, but there are no geniuses when it comes to money management. You hear guys brag about being ‘experts’; that’s bullshit.”

■ “I loved baseball. I wanted to be like Pee Wee Reese. Even though I was short, I was strong and fast; I hit .439 in high school.

So I made the team at Duke University, but I’d hear my teammates saying under their breath, ‘Jews aren’t athletes; what is he doing here?’ It hurt. But there was a lot of anti-Semitism back then. I ignored it. And I overcame it.”

BocA BArgAins

CheCk out these three great finds—only in our baCkyard.

212

[ bocamag.com ]

■ “Everything about me is lucky.

Including being 89.”

hanukkah under the stars PriCe: Free Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 Plaza real, 561/314-2832) What’s the deal? this holiday celebration, which starts at 5 p.m. on Dec. 14, will feature music, kids’ activities, a gourmet food truck expo, crafts and more. Hanukkah and shabbat services begin at 7:30 p.m.

■ “I’m 23 years older than my beautiful wife, Gina. When I first met her, I wouldn’t tell her my age. Not until she fell in love with me. By the time I told her, it was too late.”

holiday boat Parade

artful stroller tours

PriCe: Free Where: intracoastal Waterway/red reef Park (1400 n. state road A1A) What’s the deal? Expect to see more than 50 decorated yachts and sea vessels—and the requisite display of fireworks—at the 36th annual Boca raton Holiday Boat Parade on Dec. 8. Bleacher seating is available at red reef Park.

PriCe: Free with museum admission Where: Boca raton Museum of Art (501 Plaza real, 561/392-2500) What’s the deal? on the fourth tuesday of the month, at 10 a.m., the museum invites moms with infants (18 months or younger) to tour the current exhibits. single strollers and front-carrying baby carriers are welcome.

december/january

AAron Bristol

■ “In 1944, we were on a landing ship in the Pacific, fighting the Japanese in the Philippines. They bombed us; one went right through the ship. The ship in front of us went down in 11 seconds.

Sure I was scared; men were dying all around me. But I never panicked. We had jobs to do.”

the perfect holiday gift

For Family, Friends and colleagues The Old Course at Broken Sound February 4 - 10, 2013 | Boca Raton, FL

Who Will you Play With?

Fuzzy zoeller

chamPionshiP Pro-am

Bernhard langer

Tom lehman

graPes on the green Presented by the boca raton bridge hotel

“social PoWer & Play” For charity Overlooking the 18th green, wine connoisseurs and golf enthusiasts will get the chance to sample “reds and whites on the green”at this special “event within the event” that benefits Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

In addition to indulging in the varietals from international vineyards, attendees will enjoy socializing, delicious gourmet foods from top local restaurants, appearances by golf legends and live entertainment.

Fred Funk

The Old Course at Broken Sound | Boca Raton, FL Wednesday, February 6th and Thursday, February 7th

Women’s PoWer breakFast, clinic & Pro-am With annika sorenstam This event gives women of all skill sets a chance to play 9 holes with a PGA Champions Tour Player during the week of the Allianz Championship.

This fun-filled day includes a private clinic hosted by a PGA Champions Tour professional, power breakfast, and a fabulous gift package. Leave the men at home and at the office and reserve your foursome today!

skybox and other Packages

“uPclose…and Very Personal” during chamPionshiP Play club 18 presented by south Florida business Journal: $175 per ticket 4th annual “grapes on the green” Wine event: $85 per ticket michelob ultra Partners club: $75 per ticket good-any-one day grounds Pass: $20 per ticket

For Ticketing & Event Information www.ALLIANZCHAMPIONSHIP.com | 561.241.4653 For Holiday Gift Giving Use Promo Code: GIFT for a 10% discount (Effective until 12/20/12)

All Proceeds Benefit

Boca Raton

spotlights the most exciting

events in the tri-county area

Photo by Lew Lautin

[1]

[ 1 ] Randi Morris-Greene, LeeAndria Ross and Stacy Atwater

Fall Fashion Preview & launch Party

where: Town Center at Boca Raton about the event: Boca Raton magazine and 150 exclusive guests enjoyed savory bites and sweet cocktails from local restaurants in celebration of Boca’s latest issue and the fall fashion season.

Guests were treated to stylish presentations with on-trend fashion tips from Town Center retailers.

when U want to know

sPecial thanks to: Blue Martini Legal Sea Foods Stir Crazy Bistro N California Pizza Kitchen Town Center at Boca Raton Ellen Korelitz

[ bocamag.com ]

215

people [2]

Fall Fashion preview & launch party (cont.) [ 2 ] Karen Mazurek, Martine Kahres and Sherry Zepatos [ 3 ] Kimberly Read and Jane Ciraulo [ 4 ] Vivian Drozdoff, Linda Saltz, Connie Siskowski, Marci Goldner, Eileen Gold and Jodi Appelman [ 5 ] Angelica Roberts, Joanne Deutsch and Gail Herbst [ 6 ] Lena Mintz, Michelle Reider and Michele Tygar

[3]

[4]

[6]

Lew Lautin

[5]

216

[ bocamag.com ]

december/january

Fall Fashion Preview & launch Party (cont.)

[7]

[ 7 ] Peter Baronoff and Carmel Pasquale [ 8 ] Dawn DeMarco and Elise Berrin [ 9 ] Barbara and Samantha Alavi [ 10 ] Sara Newton and Angela Lutin [ 11 ] Alina Francisco, Angel Melendez, Cassie Morien and Ashley Fenton

[8]

[9]

[ 10 ]

[ 11 ]

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

217

people preserving Time

[1]

[1]

Where: The Shops at Boca Center About the event: To commemorate the newly renovated courtyard at The Shops at Boca Center, the mixed-use complex buried a capsule under the walkway, brimming with Boca-centric items. Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch at Uncle Tai’s before helping to bury the box with a golden shovel. Proceeds from the event benefited the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Bell Education Foundation.

[ 1 ] Georgette Evans and Candace Goldstein [ 2 ] Nicole Flier and Sarah Pearson [ 3 ] Judi Sweet and David Hammond [ 4 ] Mary Csar and JC Perrin [ 5 ] Kevin Ross

[2]

[4]

218

[ bocamag.com ]

[3]

[5]

[2]

[1]

Mr. Stud Finder

Where: The Shops at Boca Center AboUt the event: Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County hosted its first “Mr. Stud Finder” bachelor auction as part of Boca Festival Days. Ten of South Florida’s most eligible and philanthropic bachelors participated in the event, which raised more than $9,000 for the organization. Aaron Papero received the highest bid of the night and was crowned “Mr. Humanitarian 2012” for his fundraising efforts.

[ 1 ] Aaron Papero and Sarah Medcalf [ 2 ] Jenai Harris

white Coat CereMony

Where: Florida Atlantic University AboUt the event: FAU’s incoming Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine class received their first white coats while attending a ceremony to symbolically confirm their commitment to the profession of medicine. The time-honored tradition took place in the Barry and Florence Friedberg Lifelong Learning Center on campus.

[3]

[ 3 ] Sixty-four students recite their professional oath.

[4]

the real houSewiveS oF MiaMi

Where: Miami AboUt the event: Bravo Media’s stars of “The Real Housewives of Miami: Season 2” celebrated their premiere episode with an official VIP launch party in Miami.

Guests enjoyed a “Miami 2.0” soiree with cocktails, dinner-by-the-bite treats and live entertainment.

[ 4 ] Lisa Hochstein, Adriana De Moura, Ana Quincoces, Karent Sierra, Elaine Lancaster, Lea Black, Larry Zinn, Marysol Patton and Alexia Echevarria

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

219

people Fashion’s Fight against parkinson’s

Where: South Beach, Miami About the event: In conjunction with Miami Swim Week, the national philanthropic organization Fashion’s Fight hosted a glamorous evening showcasing the season’s hottest swimwear collections. The star-studded event, which took place poolside at Highbar at Dream South Beach, benefited the Wilkins Parkinson’s Foundation.

[1]

[ 1 ] Pharis Willauer [ 2 ] Henry Santos, Shannon Rusbuldt and Bret Lockett [ 3 ] Vincent de Paul [ 4 ] Nicole Zuralow [ 5 ] Donna Bavely

[2]

[3]

[4]

220

[ bocamag.com ]

[5]

december/january

[1]

Miniature Golf

[2]

Where: Boca Raton About the event: More than 200 people gathered at the Boca Raton Museum of Art for an unusual exhibition—a fully playable, miniature golf course designed by artists from across the country. Opening-night attendees tested their putting skills and admired the craftsmanship of this unique exhibit.

[ 1 ] Mateo Goldberger [ 2 ] Samantha Marks, Annabel Seidemann and Jackie Marks

fourth annual Junior leaGue of Boca raton Golf classic

[3]

Where: Boca Raton About the event: The Junior League of Boca Raton held its fourth annual golf classic at Broken Sound Club. Golfers enjoyed an 18-hole scramble at the gorgeous course, a putting contest, a betting hole, raffles and more. The event also included a buffet lunch, and unlimited cocktails and snacks throughout the day.

[ 3 ] Brooke Qualk, Caron Dockerty and Nancy Dockerty [ 4 ] Veronica Kraft, Meghan Shea, Anne Grigsby, Shelley Mitchell, Suzanne Bower, Stacy Goff and Renata De Negri [ 5 ] Kelly Carson and Shelley Mitchell

[4]

when U want to know

[5]

[ bocamag.com ]

221

Call of the Wild

Looking good FeeLs gReAT!

continued from page 163

A.D. CArlson, MD Medical director / ceo

Botox Juvéderm restylane Perlane dysPort sculPtra vivité

Hormonal rePlacement tHeraPy “low-t” testosterone tHeraPy erectile dysfunction tHeraPy sPider vein treatment laser facial skin reJuvenation non-surgical face lift

ADC Aesthetic RejuvenAtion & Wellness centeR of BocA 900 nW 13 stReet, ste. 302 | BocA RAton | (561) 362-2972 Phone (561) 362-2970 fAx | ADcAestheticWellnessofBoca.com

aniacarlson_brm1212.indd 1

10/19/12 4:18 PM

“Before you and your staff from Boca Nursing Ser vices star ted taking care of Helen and I, we existed; now we are living again! Thank you, Rose.”

-Dr. K.D.

Rose Glamoclija, R.N. Owner and Administrator

It’s The Personal Touch That Makes The Difference

Offering QuaLity Private Duty nurSing Care anD Care ManageMent ServiCeS Registered Nurses Licensed Practical Nurses Cer tified Nursing Assistants Home Health Aides Physical Therapy

• • • • •

Companions Live-Ins Homemakers Speech Therapy Occupational Therapy

Serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin & St. Lucie Counties 342 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Suites 1 & 2 Boca Raton, FL 33432

340 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite 322-B Palm Beach, FL 33480

Fax (561) 347-7567

Fax (561) 833-3460

(561) 347-7566

1 ] 222bocanursing_brm1212.indd [ bocamag.com

Lic#HHA20196095

Available 24 Hours a Day • • • • •

(561) 833-3430

10/10/12 1:39 PM

“Bella grew up in my house,” she says.

“It was like having a newborn baby but no diapers. I had to teach her to use wee-wee pads, wake up every two hours to feed her and tend to her if she was ill. It really is a lifetime commitment, like a child, in sickness and in health.”

Berens estimates that it costs approximately $100,000 a year to keep Panther Ridge, a nonprofit since 2003, running.

That includes feeding, housing, vet care and staff. Having invested all of her own money, she relies on weekly tours of the sanctuary, donations from family foundations, private benefactors who can “adopt” a cat and, mostly, small fundraisers at Panther Ridge.

At McCarthy’s sanctuary, with its 175 rescued animals, the costs are considerably higher. The cats alone eat about 1,000 pounds of beef and chicken per week.

“Plus, keeping up with their enclosures, dealing with illnesses and shots, keeping a good staff, and the cost of insurance, permits and licensing,” McCarthy says. “It can be staggering.”

How staggering? Last year, McCarthy says, it cost approximately $370,000 to operate the sanctuary.

In addition to three tours a day (except on Sundays) and the school/camp presentations, which cover some costs, McCarthy also relies on private donations. His largest benefactor is aviation tycoon George Batchelor. McCarthy supplied big cats for one of the philanthropist’s parties, and the two men, both World War II buffs, hit it off.

But even with such support, there is always a need for funding. McCarthy is asked why someone, in the middle of a residential community in Wellington, would dedicate so much to this cause, no matter how noble.

“I love my animals,” he says. “They are my life and have been for the last 25 years. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

December/January 2012-13 issue. Vol. 32, No. 7. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Publishing Corp., and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Publishing Corp. is strictly prohibited: Florida Funshine and Florida Style. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published seven times a year (September/October, November, December/January, February, March/April, May/June and July/ August) by JES Publishing Corp. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M, 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: $14.95/7 issues, $19.95/14 issues. Single copy $5.95. 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.

december/january

speedbumps [ by marie speed ]

The author and a friend kayaking in a paintng by William Mickelberry

Notes on the New Year Making a list May be step one in learning how to live right.

I

know it’s a mathematical phenomenon that the more years under your belt, the shorter a year becomes.

(You are not getting older; you are simply becoming more fractured, in a sense.) Looking ahead to this new year I think I am still wandering around in the late summer of 2012, wondering how we got here, what lies ahead. Sometimes I want to just stand up and say, OK, stop it now, slow down, put the iPhone 5 back in the box, rewind the sex tape, un-tweet the Twitter and take the 3 out of 3-D for a minute or two.

But the world is officially at warp speed these days and there is no turning back; we have to learn to keep dancing as fast as we can, maybe gangnam style, if that weren’t already old news.

I have to make a list every day now just to keep up—I am even making lists on weekends, stuff like “wash the dog” or “defrost lamb chops.” Making lists is how you keep up, how you make the world into bite-sized chunks.

So I have decided to do the same thing for the whole next year, for all of 2013. Things I want to do, things I never want to do or see again, hopes and dreams, little reminders that life can be good, if we can only exert a wee bit more control over it.

1. Things i have To do aT leasT once This year: Rent Clyde Butcher’s apartment at the swamp and kayak the Turner River the next day; make coq au vin the way Julia Child did; get a massage; buy a pair of saddle shoes.

2. Things i never wanT To see again: political

when U want to know

advertisements; Honey Boo Boo; bra straps; another kind of slider on a menu.

3. goals: Once and for all, learn how to make my phone call somebody without yelling at that tiny woman who lives inside it; ride my bike to the Whale’s Rib; try to read Ulysses one more time; go to the movies by myself.

4. lose: All those 2012 pounds; my tabloid habit; my hopeless crush on Brian Williams; underwear from Target; fights on Facebook.

5. gain: More nights out with friends; ability to paddleboard for more than eight minutes; closet space; more Skypes with my brother; field trip to Key Biscayne; a savings account.

6. remember To be graTefUl for: My dog Sophie, who is not only all telepathic, but renders excellent advice and also likes to watch the sun come up with me most mornings; people I work with who catch even the most elusive of typos; people I work with, period; roasted brussel sprouts; Brian Williams (I can’t help myself); Chico’s platinum slim-fit jeans; the fact that I do not live in Libya.

This list is only a start; I know I will be adding to it as the days and months spin out. I think the idea is to be proactive, to start building a life that celebrates something, that is full without being chaotic, that keeps work in its place. To remember what it’s like to appreciate the long ride, the after-dinner conversation, the daydream on a dock.

For me, 2013 will be life in the slow lane for a change— and I’m making every minute count.

[ bocamag.com ]

223

Here’s to Joan Wargo

Joan and Don Wargo

Boca Raton thanks a person who truly understands that it’s better to give than receive.

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

— Mother Teresa

W

hile we are unwrapping presents on Christmas Day, there are people ladling soup at homeless shelters. While we dream of building a new home, there are people fixing the walls of houses ravaged by a hurricane. While we cuddle up in an armchair and read to our child, a volunteer somewhere is talking quietly with a runaway at a safe house.

While we kiss our spouse goodnight, someone is filling out paperwork for the latest guest at a battered women’s shelter.

They are volunteers, the backbone of today’s fragile society.

They represent the good and caring that defines a community. They aren’t always the people who write the biggest checks, [ by john shuff ] but they do make the biggest difference.

They are the people who walk among us and understand the meaning of giving. They are not engaged in these activities for adulation or for personal gain. Their giving is out of love for other human beings. They are individuals who find time between job responsibilities, family commitments and social schedules to reach out to those in need. For them, the disenfranchised strangers they help are God’s children;

myturn

224

[ bocamag.com ]

people in desperate need of someone who cares.

The embodiment of volunteerism in Boca Raton is Joan Wargo. The former nurse moved to Boca Raton in 1958 with husband Don, who later started the town’s first OB/GYN practice. Since then, she has immersed herself in the DebbieRand Memorial Service League, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. This venerable organization, the volunteer arm of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, has contributed some $29 million to the hospital over the past several decades—and more than 7 million hours of volunteer service.

However, it has done even more than that; it has established a standard of community giving in Boca Raton.

Joan Wargo is a focused and passionate woman when it comes to Debbie-Rand. Since becoming a charter member of the organization in the mid-1960s, she has donated many hundreds of hours and helped improve the quality of care at our hospital. Debbie-Rand is Boca Raton—and Joan Wargo is the symbol of Debbie-Rand.

Possibly the reason people like Joan Wargo give so much of themselves is the sheer personal satisfaction they derive in helping others. Or perhaps they know the power of example—that their dedication and commitment inspires others to work together, to build something, to create good.

Whatever drives them, we all are the beneficiaries.

So thank you, Joan. And, to all of our readers, we wish you a happy and blessed holiday season.

For a listing of organizations in our community that help those in need or those who can’t take care of themselves, turn to page 211—and, also, visit bocamag.com. december/january

Take a drive on the wild side.

Introducing the all-new 2013 SL550.

Test-drive it today at Mercedes-Benz of Delray.

1001 Linton Blvd. • Delray Beach • Just East of I-95 • 877-890-2433 • MBDelray.com Pictures are for illustration purposes only.© 1996-2012 AutoNation, Inc.

Twinkling Magic Alhambra Necklace, white gold and diamonds.

Haute Joaillerie, place Vend么me since 1906

BAL HARBOUR - 9700 Collins Avenue - 305-866-0899 BOCA RATON - 308 North Plaza Real - 561-955-8802 PALM BEACH - 202 Worth Avenue - 561-655-6767 www.vancleefarpels.com