DELRAY Magazine Jan/Feb 2025 by JES Media

10 FUN THINGS TO DO AROUND TOWN

$ 32M CUT: CAN THE ARTS SURVIVE?

Lucille’s

Marcus Neuroscience Institute: Where Innovation Meets Compassion

At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, we recognize the profound impact neurological disorders have on our nation’s health, affecting more than 100 million Americans. These conditions remain the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide. As the region’s first dedicated institute of its kind, we are committed to addressing these challenges directly, offering advanced brain and spine care that embodies innovation and excellence.

Over the past two years alone, we’ve expanded our clinical and research spaces and launched specialized programs, all to provide world-class neurological care to patients in the Palm Beach community. Our recent expansions include a Comprehensive Pain Center, a state-of-the-art neuro-interventional suite, translational research and infusion labs, and a pioneering robotic surgery program.

As we move into our second decade, Marcus Neuroscience Institute is positioned to be

at the forefront of neuroscientific discovery and care — and it’s already happening. Our spine surgeons, for example, use cutting- edge technology, such as augmented reality for precise surgical planning, to treat a full range of back pain and spinal disorders. Meanwhile, our neurologists and team members provide compassionate care for those affected by memory loss and other neurodegenerative diseases, using the latest treatments, including novel medications offered through clinical trials, to slow memory loss progression.

We are proud to hold numerous accolades, reflecting the positive outcomes and world-class care we provide to our patients. As one of only two healthcare organizations in Florida with the Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery, and the first and only center in Palm Beach County with Level 3 Epilepsy Center accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, we continue to set the standard for excellence. Additionally, we are a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.

As the primary site for Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine’s Neurology Residency Program, we are also dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers.

Consider the young mother with epilepsy who can now live independently and care for her son because of the care she’s received here. Or the woman with Parkinson’s disease who continues to work and live tremor-free. These are just two examples of how our physicians and staff positively impact lives.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, visit BaptistHealth.net/MarcusNeuroscienceInstitute or call 561-955-4600.

Welcome to Comprehensive Brain & Spine Care.

At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, healing starts with humanity. That’s why we offer the most advanced treatments for neurological conditions, combined with the most compassionate care. From neurology to pain management and neurosurgery, we have everything and everyone you need to heal and get back to the life you love.

To learn more, visit BaptistHealth.net/MarcusNeuroscienceInstitute or call 561-955-4600.

14 editor’s letter

january/february 2025 57 30

As Florida’s arts organizations face a financial setback, the editor reflects on her formative cultural experiences—and why their preservation is so vital. BY

CHRISTIANA LILLY

17 hot list

A hip Atlantic Avenue steakhouse rebrands, the Festival of the Arts returns for its 36th year, and new wave and country bands pay tribute at Old School Square. Plus, we go “fishing” at a holistic Delray spa, and take a year in review of notable restaurant openings. BY TYLER CHILDRESS AND CHRISTIANA LILLY

23 snapshots

A major donation helped Roots and Wings take flight, the DDA received a well-earned award for revitalizing our downtown, nonprofits banded together for a backpack giveaway, and other recent happenings.

24 top 5/calendar

Futurism and funnel cake fuse at the South Florida Fair, the Delray Beach Playhouse visits Margaritaville, and a literary masterpiece is reborn in ballet form. Plus, an orchid show at the Morikami, a Shakespearean opera at the Kravis, an acclaimed blues singer at Arts Garage and much more. BY JOHN THOMASON

30 up close

Meet the local ATP professional making a racquet at the Delray Beach Open, a former footballer who runs a nonprofit to empower Black boys, and a fellowship-winning taiko drummer who brings the thunder to the Morikami and beyond.

BY TYLER CHILDRESS AND JOHN THOMASON

38 dine

A fusion-y Mizner Park bistro delivers the bold flavors of the Big Easy with a French accent. BY CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

doin’ delray

Our curated survey of fun presents 10 ways to enjoy peak Season in Delray Beach—from candle making and paint splattering to ghost hunting and Skee-Balling.

BY TYLER CHILDRESS, CHRISTIANA LILLY AND JOHN THOMASON

50 grant no quarter

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

BY JOHN THOMASON

57 home

Allow your color scheme to fade to black in the New Year; fluted and scalloped edges surprise and delight; and for the trendiest of dining room tables, it’s all about that base.

BY AMANDA MESA

out & about

Families went down the rabbit hole at the opening of the Bunny Hive, JARC Florida raised five figures at an Old School Square fundraiser, and a Kravis Center gala needed a little space.

BY TYLER CHILDRESS

69 dining guide

Our review-driven dining guide showcases great restaurants in Delray and beyond.

BY TYLER CHILDRESS AND CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

80 community connection

A fixture of many Delray Beach civic organizations over the years, Elizabeth Burrows now helps to shape and share the city’s Black history as president of the Spady Museum’s board of directors.

BY RICH POLLACK

COVER PHOTO: Boca Raton resident Tommy Paul photographed by Michael Campanella/Bildbyran via ZUMA Press. The tennis Olympian will be competing in the Delray Beach Open Feb. 7-16.

MODERN EUROPEAN ELEGANCE FINDS ITS HOME IN WEST PALM BEACH

COME HOME TO MR. C Sales Gallery Now Accepting Appointments 401 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 info@mrcresidenceswpb.com 561.516.3046 MrCResidencesWPB.com

Located in the heart of Downtown West Palm Beach, this timelessly chic residential tower will offer the ultimate South Florida lifestyle. Beaches and boating, Italian-style dining and social spaces are just steps from home.

Residential interiors and amenity spaces reflect the global culture and oceanside energy that gives West Palm Beach its unique character and soul. Rich, natural materials, open, light-filled layouts, ocean-inspired elements and masterful craftsmanship touch every detail of design.

La Tea Da boutique

Fashion

group editor-in-chief

christiana lilly

managing editor

john thomason

web editor

tyler childress

editor emeritus

marie speed

senior art director lori pierino

production manager rafael quiñones

graphic designer james karpinen

photographer andrew millar

contributing writers christie galeano-demott, margie kaye (promotional writing), amanda mesa, rich pollack

director of advertising and marketing nicole ruth

advertising consultants karen kintner, bruce klein jr., jenna russo

special projects manager gail eagle

customer services/video editor

david shuff

561/997-8683 (ph) • 561/997-8909 (fax) 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103 Boca Raton, FL 33487 bocamag.com christiana@bocamag.com (editorial)

SERVICES

Encore

A

city becomes a community when it has the arts

One of my earliest memories of experiencing the arts was going to the ballet as a child. Sitting in the audience, I looked up at the stage at a flock of elegant dancers in tulle skirts, precariously balanced en pointe while kicking up their legs, with feet perfectly turned out. I was taking ballet myself at the time, albeit in pink leather shoes with a sheer skirt around my leotard. I appreciated the strength and pain of ballet, as well as the fact that the dancers’ faces were as relaxed and unbothered as if they were seated next to me. Here, I saw the pros at work and dreamed of maybe sashaying and pas de bourrée-ing across the stage one day.

Spoiler alert, I am not a member of the American Ballet Theatre. However, I’ve absorbed countless cultural experiences since that day. There was “The Producers” on Broadway when I went to New York for the New Year with a friend from college. And from “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Kennedy Center, there’s no better moment than when that chandelier comes swinging over the audience. In December I watched “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” from Miami City Ballet.

And oh, the concerts. My first concert was Snoop Dogg, and I couldn’t believe I was seeing him live and in the flesh. I still felt that way when I saw Alanis Morissette, Common, Weezer, Halsey and Kendrick Lamar. One of the most memorable was John Legend performing at Hard Rock Live, just him and a piano on a bare stage, telling stories in between songs.

Then there have been queer plays at The Foundry in Wilton Manors, a talk from famed pinup photographer Bunny Yeager at NSU Art Museum before she died. I felt seen when I saw “Hapa.me” at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens last spring, an exhibit exploring the mixed-race experience. In November, “Splendor and Passion” was unveiled at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, a collection of 57 masterpieces on loan from the Hispanic Society of America.

This list of arts and culture is not to brag about my track record but to remind me of the concerts, exhibits, films, comedy shows and photography showcases I’ve seen over the years. Hell, I met my husband at a bar when he was playing a happy hour gig. We take all of these for granted.

My list pales in comparison to the set list of our manager editor, John Thomason, who also serves as our arts and entertainment editor. When it was announced that our governor cut roughly $32 million from arts and culture funding for the year, we decided to go beyond the numbers and tell the stories of the cultural institutions who were impacted (page 50). Who they wouldn’t be able to hire, what shows wouldn’t go onstage, and the programs that would have to go on hiatus. Thomason interviewed five arts leaders in Delray Beach and beyond, a drop in the bucket of the more than 50 organizations just in Palm Beach County who won’t receive much-needed dollars.

In our other feature, we highlight the fun things to do right here in Delray (pg. 42), whether you’re in search of a family activity, outdoor adventure or crafty outing. After all, this magazine is all about celebrating all things local.

When you finish this issue, I hope you’re moved to finally go to that symphony or festival you keep hearing about but never seem to have time to attend—to support your local artists and businesses that add so much color to our lives.

TEN OF OUR FAVORITE DELRAY ARTY MOMENTS

1. Getting up close to performers at Arts Garage, from musicians and drag queens to spoken word.

2. Seeing what’s new at the Cornell Art Museum.

3. Art & Jazz on the Avenue, yet another street event the whole family can enjoy.

4. Catching the latest production at Delray Beach Playhouse—“Living on Love” closes at the end of January, and “Dry Powder” opens in April.

5. First Friday Art Walks at Old School Square and the yoga and music at the Coco Market.

6. Introducing your friends to the murals throughout downtown Delray Beach.

7. Free art, four days a week, from mostly Florida artists at Arts Warehouse.

8. The Twilight Concert Series on third Thursdays from November through April with tribute bands at Old School Square.

9. Annual happenings like the Downtown Delray Beach Art Festival (not to be confused with the Downtown Delray Beach Festival of the Arts).

10. The Delray Affair, going into its 63rd year this April and taking over 10 city blocks.

CARINA MASK

SPOTLIGHT Culinary

Juan Chipoco / Chef

CVI.CHE 105

6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton FL 33431 ceviche105.com

From Lima to Boca:

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

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

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

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

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

Photography: Rodolfo Benitez

NEWS AND NOTES FROM DELRAY BEACH

Celebrating a New Year the Delray Way

We’re kicking off 2025 with new additions to Delray’s dining scene and the return of some of the city’s biggest events

By Tyler Childress

The rebranded Avalon Beach House

DELRAY OPEN RETURNS

Those looking for a rematch of last year’s nail-biting bout between Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are in luck when the Delray Beach Open returns Feb. 7 to 16. One of 10 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour events hosted in the U.S. every year, this event draws a crowd of more than 60,000 visitors to watch the sport’s top professionals duke it out for top placement in a hard court tournament. The Delray Beach Open is the world’s only dual event of ATP Legends and ATP 250 top-ranked players. Look forward to a week of festivities including the Delray Beach Open Food & Wine Series, and the Grand Tasting and Valentine’s & Volleys events, which makes its debut this year. 201 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; delraybeachopen.com/en

TWILIGHT TRIBUTE CONCERT SERIES

Old School Square’s beloved Twilight Tribute Concert Series is in full swing, and you won’t want to miss its January and February shows. Hosted on the third Thursday of each month, the concert series features local performers playing through the hits of top artists. On Jan. 16, dust off your cowboy boots for a night of country tributes honoring Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire and Shania Twain. Then, on Feb. 20, celebrate the new wave of the late ‘80s and ‘90s with tribute performances of The Cure, Duran Duran and David Bowie. Tickets are $10 for general admission or $50 for VIP, and concerts will be held rain or shine. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tickets.delrayoldschoolsquare.com.

DELRAY FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Delray Beach’s annual celebration of the arts returns for its 36th year on Jan. 11 to 12. Touted as one of the best art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist magazine, the festival displays works by both up-andcoming and established artists across the mediums of glass, photography, painting, mixed media, fiber, jewelry and more. The festival grounds stretch from Swinton Avenue all the way down to Northwest Fifth Avenue, and attendees can look forward to food trucks, live entertainment and more. Visit downtowndelraybeach.com for more details.

Subliminal Doubt

Resolvers

Taylor Fritz JUAREZ

A sculpture at Delray’s Festival of the Arts

New to Delray’s Dining Scene

Delray wrapped 2024 with the debut of several new restaurants, and our New Year’s resolution is to sample them all:

Casalina: This new Italian concept in west Delray has a menu packed with the classic staples from the Boot with a dash of American influence. Standout dishes include the charcuterie board with Italian meats and cheeses, and risotto porcini. Pro tip: Add truffle to the risotto.

The Standard: Delray foodies can now enjoy a Boca favorite a little closer to home with the debut of The Standard, which recently opened at the former The OG space. This cocktail bar boasts one of the best happy hour bar bite menus around, with cashew-coated goat cheese balls, sliders slathered in bacon jam, and half-priced flatbreads from 3 to 7 p.m. every day.

Lefkes Estiatorio: Combine the elegance of a coastal Mediterranean villa, a lively nightclub atmosphere, and authentic Greek fare, and you’ve got all the makings of a dreamy dining experience that will transport you to the shores of Athens.

Gabriella’s Modern Italian: This New Jersey import brings elevated Italian fare to Atlantic Crossing. Popular dishes from the Garden State flagship made their way to the Delray outpost, including the spicy rigatoni and the mouthwatering 40-ounce, 45day dry-aged porterhouse.

And don’t miss these restaurants making their debut in the coming months:

Roka Hula: True Grit Hospitality, the culinary geniuses behind Palm Beach Gardens’ Voodoo Bayou, is opening this modern Asian concept at the former Taverna Opa space.

Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill: Boasting the “largest selection of tequila on the East Coast,” this Connecticut import features more than 500 tequilas and mezcals and an authentic Southwest-inspired menu.

AFTER DARK:

AVALON BEACH HOUSE

Avalon Steak & Seafood has made its much-anticipated return with a brand-new look and name: Avalon Beach House. The beloved chophouse retains its coastal charm while adding a dash of boho-inspired design and completely revamping its menu. New favorites to try include the chorizo-stuffed pigs in a blanket, crabcake croquettes loaded with bacon and potato, the decadent red wine braised short rib ragu, and much more. And don’t worry—steak is still on the menu with 8-ounce hanger steaks and filets. The new Avalon is perfect for a late-night visit, with the bar and kitchen remaining open until 2 a.m., with two happy hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and midnight to close. We also have it on good authority there’s a backroom speakeasy, but you didn’t hear it from us. 110 E. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach; avalondelray.com

Shareable plates at Avalon Beach House

Risotto Milanese and Linguini alla Vongole from Casalina

Lamb chops and patio seating at Lefkes

TRY IT, YOU’LL LIKE IT

WTFISH LOUNGE

We put our feet to the test at a Delray Beach fish spa

Iam not a fan of pedicures—I’ve had enough incidents of pumice stones scraped against my ankle or cutting too deep into my cuticles at more than one salon that it’s now impossible for me to relax. I can’t focus on conversation with my friends; I’m staring at my feet and bracing myself for yet another injury. No thank you—I’ll continue doing them myself.

However, I was intrigued by another kind of pedicure—the fish spa. At this tradition popular around the world, especially in Asian countries that I’ve traveled through, customers place their feet into a tank of toothless garra rufa fish to have the dead skin nibbled away. I’d never seen any in the United States until I heard through word of mouth about WTFish Lounge in Delray Beach.

Open since the summer of 2022, WTFish is a family-owned and -operated business that has since expanded to Key West. It seemed like the perfect experience for the revamped “Try It, You’ll Like It,” feature of the magazine. I found a friend who was bold enough to join me, and off we went for our appointment. The two of us were greeted by the owner, Amy, who explained the behind-the-scenes—a filtration system that cycles through water every two minutes, a UV sterilizer to kill bacteria, daily filter changes and weekly water maintenance.

As for the fish staff, they hail from Turkey and are algae-feeding critters. They don’t survive on our dead skin; it’s more of a treat outside of their twice-daily meals. The water is also set to a temperature they prefer, and as with every other customer, our feet were checked for fungus, cuts and other abnormalities.

Counting down, my friend and I gently placed our feet into our individual tanks, which close to 100 garra rufa fish quickly flocked to. We screamed out with laughter, feeling the school of tiny fish wiggling around our feet and tickling them as they went to work. After about a minute, we acclimated to the sensation and were entranced by the tiny fish. I noticed that more were interested in my right foot but slowly worked their way to my left foot. Others hung out on the soles or the ankles, and there was never a painful moment.

Fish spa sessions are 20 or 30 minutes, and during our appointment, countless pedestrians stopped to look through the window as we got our fish pedis. It was almost like we were in a fish tank of our own. Two ladies stopped in, and just like us, they screamed with laughter as the “toothless piranhas,” as Amy playfully called them, got to work. Other guests come in for birthday parties, date nights or just maintenance, enjoying their fish spa time while reading a book.

When our time was up, our feet were patted down to dry off—touching my feet, I could immediately feel a difference. My heels and soles were noticeably softer, feeling like a gentle exfoliation had been done. With gloved hands, Amy rubbed some lotion onto our feet, and my friend and I received a printed photo from during the session.

I guess it just took a school of fish to get over my apprehension toward pedicures. WTFish Lounge, 502 E. Atlantic Ave., wtfishlounge.com

—Christiana Lilly

Close to 100 garra rufa fish get to work at WTFish Lounge

ANDREW MILLAR

Habitat for Humanity Palm Beach County and Wells Fargo partnered up to repair and beautify four Delray Beach homes and the Village Academy School. Nearly 150 Wells Fargo employees volunteered for the project. Pictured: Julia Murphy, Hector Ponte, Liza Hall, Leo Toca, Jennifer Thomason

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was honored with the Downtown Achievement Award by the International Downtown Association for its revitalization of Old School Square. Pictured: The Delray DDA team

Top local chefs crafted delectable bites for the annual Taste of Recovery food festival to raise funds for The Crossroads Club, a Delray nonprofit dedicated to helping those with substance abuse disorders. Pictured: Taste of Recovery co-chairs Joan and Chris Finley

The Delray Beach Housing Authority (DBHA) was joined by Delray Housing Group, AffordableHousing.com, iThink Financial, and Eat Better, Live Better to conduct a free backpack giveaway for local students. Pictured: Emma Tisdale from the DBHA (left) and two local high school students

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens unveiled its “Time Flows like Water: Works by Masumi Sakagami” exhibit, which showcases Sakagami’s intricate canvases inspired by Japanese calligraphy. Pictured: “Blue Sunsun” by Masumi Sakagami

Local nonprofit Roots and Wings Founder Ted Hoskinson was presented with the Catalyst Award by the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation (CADF). The award is given to those that are a “catalyst” for good in the community. Pictured: CADF Grants Administrator Jeff Perlman presenting Ted Hoskinson with a $40,000 check for Roots and Wings

Top 5

The art of Old Florida, a musical for Parrotheads, jazz for Fab Four fans and a science-y South Florida Fair

January/February 2025

5 ]

“Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville”

WHEN: Jan. 31-Feb. 23

WHERE: Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 N.W. Ninth St., Delray Beach

COST: $45

CONTACT: 561/272-1281, delraybeachplayhouse.com

In the Jimmy Buffett mythos, Margaritaville isn’t so much a physical place as a state of mind, or perhaps an aspiration for a post-retirement oblivion. For Parrotheads, it’s a “radiant beacon for their laid-back, frozen-drink-sipping, 3/4time way of life,” to quote Maxim Mower in an analysis for the website Holler. Now, thanks to this jukebox musical, it is, in fact, a place: a rundown hotel in an unnamed Caribbean island, where the show’s male protagonists, a singer named Tully and a bartender named Brick, toil—working hard when they’d rather be hardly working, in the true Buffett spirit. “Escape to Margaritaville” follows their travails as they try to woo a pair of vacationing ladies: Rachel and Tammy, the latter of whom is set to be married to a controlling fiancé named Chadd. That’s pretty much all you need to know about this breezy and appropriately escapist musical, whose main draw is the 24 iconic Buffett tunes performed by the cast, including “Fins,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

4 ]

South Florida Fair

WHEN: Jan. 17 to Feb. 2

WHERE: South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach COST: $15-$45

CONTACT: 561/793-0333, southfloridafair.com

Finally: A South Florida Fair theme that seems specifically targeted to us nerds, techies, Trekkies and futurists. Visitors are invited to “Imagine the Future” at this year’s 17-day extravaganza, thanks in part to an exposition called “Science Fiction, Science Fact,” designed by an Australian company. Its 15 interactive exhibitions explore concepts on the cutting edge of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and metaphysics—even such far-out ideas as telekinesis and invisibility—with titles such as “Beam Me Up,” “Hey, That Robot’s Copying Me,” “Wormholes Through Space” and “Our Quantum Future.” The exposition space is, of course, only one facet of the sprawling fairgrounds, which include midway rides and carnival games, live music and other entertainment (including, befitting the year’s theme, a “Sci-Fi on Ice” show), an agricultural showcase, tours of the historic Yesteryear Village and, of course, funnel cake.

3 ]

Joshua Espinoza Trio: Jazz Meets the Beatles

WHEN: Jan. 19, 7 p.m.

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

COST: $45-$50

CONTACT: 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org

Jazz artists have been covering the Beatles long before genres began melding as fluidly as they do today, whether it’s Ella Fitzgerald’s big-band take on “Can’t Buy Me Love,” Wes Montgomery’s visionary “A Day in the Life,” George Benson’s “Because/Come Together” medley, or countless others. Pianist Joshua Espinoza is the latest in the ongoing lineage of artists to infuse the Fab Four with the improvisatory freedom of jazz. A finalist in the 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition, Espinoza has released two albums with his trio of bassist Kris Monson and drummer Jaron Lamar Davis. His latest is anchored by renditions of “Yesterday” and “In My Life” that take refreshing liberties with the originals while retaining their poignancy. Influenced as much by classical composer Maurice Ravel as by Chick Corea, with a jubilant style that surprises and caresses, Espinoza and his ace band will play these tunes, renditions of classics by Billy Joel and Leonard Cohen, and likely some originals as well.

“Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville” South Florida Fair

Joshua Espinoza, center, with his trio

“Oh, Florida!”

WHEN: Jan. 21 to April 20

WHERE: Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach

COST: $28 adults, $14 children for museum admission

CONTACT: 561/655-2833, flaglermuseum.us

Ballet Palm Beach: “The Great Gatsby”

WHEN: Feb. 28-March 2

WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach

COST: $49

CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s immortal novel of privilege and obsession in Jazz Age America, enjoyed a life outside the page from its very inception: A year after its 1925 publication, it was adapted for the first of many film versions, and it’s also inspired an opera, radio plays and even video games. The dance world has been especially bewitched by Gatsby, with numerous ballet adaptations since 2009. It’s easy to see why: The pomp and circumstance of its extravagant settings and Roaring Twenties costumes, as well as the emotional heft and weighty themes of Fitzgerald’s expansive canvas—from the slipperiness of the American Dream to the conflicts between old and new money, to its exploration of gender, race, sexuality and faith in a pivotal American decade—lend themselves to the expressive language of dance. The newest show in Ballet Palm Beach’s season at the Kravis, the company’s “Great Gatsby” offers a vision of both the dazzling surfaces of its title character’s cosseted world as well as the harsher reality underneath the façade. [ 2 ] [ 1 ]

Inconceivable as it may seem now, our state wasn’t always typified by strip malls and golf courses, dumb-criminal memes and alligators in pools. In the era before Henry Flagler’s railroad brought industry and modernity to Florida, vast stretches of swampland were the gators’ “pools,” the beaches were pristine, and the endless natural vistas attracted pioneers and settlers, dreamers and eco-tourists to one of the southeast’s final frontiers. This rich period of Florida’s bucolic history, commonly referred to as “Old Florida,” is the subject of the Flagler Museum’s winter exhibition, whose verdant landscapes capture the raw, sparsely populated wilderness (as well as the early European-settled community of St. Augustine) that once defined the state. The paintings, created by visionaries such as Thomas Moran, John Singer Sargent, Herman Herzog and Winslow Homer, were loaned from Gainesville’s Harn Museum, home to nearly 170 paintings from Samuel and Roberta Vickers’ extensive collection of Florida art.

Ballet Palm Beach’s “The Great Gatsby”

“Fort George Island,” by Thomas Moran, from the Flagler Museum’s “Oh, Florida!”

January/February 2025

Now-Jan. 19:

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

Jan. 17-18:

Parsons Dance Company at Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach; 8 p.m.; $45; 561/8683309, palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/ duncan-theatre. The New York-based contemporary dance company, which performs the diverse repertoire of choreographer David Parsons, has played 445 cities in 30 countries on five continents, and continues its mission of diversity and inclusivity while racking up awards.

Now-March 12:

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

Jan. 24-26:

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

Now-March 16:

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

Jan. 31-Feb. 1:

Pilobolus Dance Company: “re:Creation” at Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach; 8 p.m.; $45; 561/8683309, palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/ duncan-theatre. Continuing to fuse contemporary choreography with gravity-defying contortionism, Pilobolus’ latest production features reimagined works dating all the way back to its founding year, through new compositions created in 2023.

Now-April 26:

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

Feb. 1-2:

Orchid Weekend at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $10-$16 museum admission; 561/4950233, morikami.org. Orchid junkies as well as budding fans of the seductive flower are welcome at this annual celebration, where orchid vendors from Homestead to Jupiter, Myakka City and beyond will discuss and sell their wares and offer tips on orchid care.

“Akira: Architecture of Neo-Tokyo”

“Past Forward”

“Sorolla and the Sea” Parsons Dance Company

Jan. 7-12:

“The Cher Show” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $39$105; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. In this bedazzled Cher bio-musical from writer Rick Elice, three actresses, referred to in the show as Babe, Lady and Star, portray different eras of Cher’s life, and occasionally interact with each other, temporal logic be damned (she did write “If I Could Turn Back Time,” after all). The music, 35 songs deep, is nearly all Cher’s, and the show earned a Tony Award in 2019.

Feb. 8:

Thornetta Davis at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $50-$55; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. Arts Garage hosts the only Florida tour appearance from this veteran Detroit blues siren, who has won more than 30 awards in her native city, recorded two albums with the famed alternative label Sub Pop, and opened for giants from Bonnie Raitt to Etta James and Gladys Knight.

Jan. 10:

Emilie-Claire Barlow at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/4506357, artsgarage.org. This two-time Juno Award-winning Canadian jazz singer’s multilingual material spans American Songbook standards, bossa nova classics and rearranged popfolk favorites, aided by her signature warmth and humor. She is supporting her latest and 13th album, Spark Bird, with songs inspired by all things ornithological.

Feb. 20:

Twilight Tribute Concert at Old School Square Amphitheatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 5 to 9 p.m.; $10 general, $50 VIP; delrayoldschoolsquare.com. Return to the musical era of big hair, synthesizers and the development of MTV with the tribute bands First Wave and Love Song, featuring hits from the Cure, David Bowie, Duran Duran and other new wave staples.

Jan. 11-12 :

Downtown Delray Beach Festival of the Arts on West Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; 561/746-6615, artfestival.com. Hundreds of artists will line the Avenue at this 36thannual winter tradition, in which painting, photography, glass art, mixed media, jewelry and fiber art will be exhibited and sold in an outdoor gallery spanning from Old School Square west to Northwest Fifth Avenue.

Feb. 24-26:

“Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook” at Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 N.W. Ninth St., Delray Beach; 2 p.m.; $55; 561/272-1281, delraybeachplayhouse.com. Tribute artist Suzanne O. Davis re-creates the music and atmosphere of a 1970s Carole King concert, performing King’s landmark album Tapestry along with selections from the prolific Goffin & King Songbook, which included hits for the Beatles, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin and more.

Jan. 17-Feb. 2 :

“The Sound of Music” at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; $40; 561/5866410, lakeworthplayhouse.org. You’ve seen it a thousand times, but there’s always room for one more. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s irresistible crowdpleaser about a postulate who brings joy and music to the busy household of a stern patriarch earned five Tony Awards and spawned nearly a dozen all-time American Songbook standards.

Feb. 28:

Yoko Miwa Trio at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. Endowed with a more harmonious tone than that other famous musical Yoko, this versatile pianist from Japan has released nine albums of mellifluous melodies across a wide range of genres dating back to her auspicious 2000 debut, In the Mist of Time. She is touring with her jazz trio in support of their latest release, the aptly titled Songs of Joy.

Thornetta Davis

“Tapestry”

Yoko Miwa

“The Cher Show”

in Financial Advice and Planning

Elizabeth Bennett, Principal and CEO

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

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

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

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

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

A division of:

TYLER CHILDRESS

Tommy Paul playing at the Delray Beach Open

ABOUT THE DELRAY BEACH OPEN

The Delray Beach Open (DBO) is one of only eight Association of Tennis Professionals events in the country and is the first tournament of the ATP’s outdoor season, drawing more than 60,000 visitors each year. Now in its 33rd year, the DBO is going big on the festivities by introducing the first-ever Delray Beach Open Food & Wine Series with more than 40 local restaurants sharing their best bites and cocktails. Returning events include the Burgers, Bourbon and Brew, where guests can vote on the best burgers in South Florida; Tacos, Tequila and Tennis, which includes taco and tequila samplings to benefit local nonprofit Love Serving Autism; and many more.

Tommy Paul

Will this local ace walk away the champion of the 2025 Delray Beach Open?

Pro tennis superstar and Boca resident Tommy Paul returns to headline the Delray Beach Open (DBO) once again this year, where he looks to upset a potential three-peat victory by Taylor Fritz, who bested Paul in back-to-back DBO bouts in 2023 and 2024.

From the sidelines it might appear that the pair may be rivals, but Paul has a much simpler explanation of the dynamic:

“We’re all competitive, and we all want to win,” he says.

This notion was perhaps best exemplified when Fritz and Paul were

him from his days of playing with his sister, Jessie. But it wasn’t until he and his family moved to Boca Raton when he was 14 that his path to pro tennis player started to fully manifest.

“It opened up a whole new world,” Paul says of South Florida’s tennis scene, which was far more competitive than that of Greenville. But iron sharpens iron, and Paul quickly began building his pedigree, finishing high school online while he focused on tennis. After graduating high school, Paul had plans to attend the University of Georgia until he won the Junior French Open in 2015. From there it was clear to Paul that he

“We’re all competitive, and we all want to win.”

on the same side of the court, teaming up to defeat the Czechian duo of Tomáš Macháč and Adam Pavlásek during the 2024 Paris Olympics and winning the Bronze medal for doubles tennis.

Paul made his first Olympic appearance at the 2020 games in Tokyo, at a time when pandemic restrictions prohibited any fans to be in attendance. It wasn’t until his 2024 appearance that he got to fully experience what it meant to represent Team USA. Between traveling and spending time with his fellow teammates, watching Delray Beach’s Coco Gauff bear the torch alongside LeBron James, and competing on a stage in front of thousands of spectators in the stands (and millions at home), “That was the most American Olympic moment for me,” Paul says.

The long road to the Olympics began when Paul was about 7 years old and playing on the courts of Greenville, North Carolina. Though he played a variety of sports in his youth, his love of tennis stuck with

had what it took to make it in the competitive world of pro tennis.

Since then, Paul has climbed the ranks of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), briefly clinching the No. 1 spot in American men’s tennis and (as of writing) currently No. 12 in the world in singles. Paul credits Brad Stine, who has been his coach since 2020, as being instrumental in improving his game to where it is today.

When Delray magazine caught up with Paul for this story, he was looking ahead to a grueling month of training at courts around Boca Raton in December before heading to the Australian Open in late January and the Dallas Open in early February. After all that traveling, Paul says he’s ready for the home court advantage of playing at the DBO.

“I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again,” Paul says. Don’t miss Tommy Paul at this year’s Delray Beach Open, from Feb. 7-16 at Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. For more information visit delraybeachopen.com/en.

Andre Thaddies

A Delray native helps empower Black boys to become future leaders

In retrospect, Andre Thaddies knows he grew up poor. But at the time, to a child who was none the wiser, Delray Beach in the 1970s was “awesome,” he says. “Everyone we lived next to was poor. … You didn’t know that the lights weren’t paid, and that’s why they were off for a few days; [you thought] there was just something wrong with the electricity.”

Thaddies and his two siblings—an older sister and younger brother— were raised by a mother who instilled discipline and positive habits in her children, from prompting each to play an instrument to encouraging their athletic interests. For Thaddies, his role models, be it Mom or his coaches, helped him avoid the darker alleys of his rough neighborhood. Though he always followed the straight and narrow, drugs were everywhere, and Thaddies knows cousins and uncles and aunts who had been incarcerated. A childhood friend was sentenced to 30 years for murder, in what Thaddies describes as a “common theme.” He knows at least two people who have been shot.

The approach of Connect 2 Greatness extends to select parents as well. “As the moms were dropping [their boys] off [to the meetings], we said, ‘don’t leave. You can have a space as well to converse about what it’s like trying to raise young Black boys as a single mom. So we created Women of Boys.”

Andre’s and Cassondra’s focus on Black boys arose from specific needs. “When you look at homelessness, it’s a lot of Black men coming out of prison without a place to live,” Thaddies says. “In Palm Beach County schools, all the lowest test scores were African-American boys. The top truancy rate was from African-American boys. So having two boys [ourselves], it’s like, how can we help? Let’s not complain about the problem and not try to offer any solutions.”

The achievement of “greatness” varies per student. For some, it may mean moving from a D average to a C. For others, it’s showing vulnerability in a culture that may not seem to value it. Some will blaze a path straight to college. Each year, during Spring Break, Connect 2 Greatness tours its mentees to both Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly

“It’s an inclusive organization that’s for the boys and by the boys. We listen to them a lot more than most people could imagine.”

“I don’t tell these stories to the kids, because I don’t want to do that ‘scared straight’ stuff,” he says. The “kids” are the participants in Connect 2 Greatness, the Boynton-based nonprofit launched by his wife, Cassondra, in 2016. Thaddies is the full-time executive director of the organization, whose mission is to “empower and inspire African American/Black boys to be leaders and change makers in the world.” Its programs include the Boys to Men Leadership Academy, an initiative to instill values of responsibility and positivity in Black middle schoolers; the Connecting Future Leaders High School Program, which continues to shape its students into model citizens; and Lunchbox Talks, in which Black mentors or coaches speak to their mentees over lunchtime at six area public schools.

The first Boys to Men Leadership Academy Meeting, on a Thursday evening at the Carolyn Sims Community Center in Boynton, included eight sixth-grade boys and one seventh-grader. “We thought we had a list of topics we wanted to share,” Thaddies recalls. “But the boys would come in talking about their real-life stuff. So at that point we realized, let them make the schedule. It’s not about us; it’s about them.

“That’s when my whole philosophy changed. It’s an inclusive organization that’s for the boys and by the boys. We listen to them a lot more than most people could imagine. I have not been 13 years old in 42 years. So I don’t know what it’s like to be 13 now, with a camera everywhere you go, with social media.”

White Institutions in the Atlanta area. The organization now runs a chess club, and it has supported camping trips and rodeo excursions, introducing its pupils to new experiences and cultures.

While Thaddies may not focus on his own past when he mentors future generations, his life story is emblematic of the greatness he preaches. After attending Atlantic High School in Delray, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota. By graduation (his bachelor’s was in sociology), he had accepted a humbling job at a group home for developmentally disabled adults. “Your relationships with them probably mean more to them than you think,” he says. “They need you—not just to give them their meds, or to help them put their clothes on, but to be a person that they can have human contact with.”

Andre met Cassondra while in Minnesota, and after marrying and having two children, they moved back to Delray Beach in 2001 to be closer to family, wherein Andre took a coaching position at Atlantic High. He still coaches its track team, but other passions, including a three-year stint as director of Youth & Education at Urban League of Palm Beach County, and a directorship with the poverty-combatting nonprofit Pathways to Prosperity, have fallen by the wayside as Connect 2 Greatness has grown.

“I was getting pulled in so many different directions,” he says. “It was like, I’ve been giving all these organizations my energy for the last 20 years. How about we give it all to my own organization?”

Andre Thaddies

Noah Garbarino

With a Japanese residency in the works, a taiko performer hopes to drum up new interest in his musical passion

Rolling thunder, a barreling locomotive, a stadium full of stomping feet: Whatever your metaphor of choice, none quite do justice to the churning, visceral experience of attending a concert from Fushu Daiko, our region’s premier Japanese taiko drum ensemble. Close your eyes, and you could be taking part in a shamanic journey of pure tribal rhythm. Open them, and you’re witness to a choreographed ballet of strength, control and superhuman speed the likes of which you’re unlikely to see in any other format. For the performers, 15 minutes of nonstop sweat equity can feel like an hour’s worth of exercise.

“Taiko is a physical discipline as well as a musical practice,” says Delray Beach’s Noah Garbarino, a member of Fushu Daiko since 2017. “It’s different than playing percussion small and close to the drums. We do all these

After attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando and playing guitar, he switched his focus back to taiko. In his dedication to the form, he found little room for other musical pursuits. “It gets very intense, with the training,” he says. “It just became the main focus as a necessity to get better and feel like I’m communicating the art form with justice.”

Taiko’s history is indelibly linked to Japan’s. It is said to have originated as early as 588 CE, and its rhythms have been deployed as wartime motivators, music in kabuki theatre, and a soundtrack for national ceremonies. Taiko groups sprang up in the United States beginning in the late 1960s, with Fushu Daiko—its name derives from the Japanese word for “Florida,” the common Japanese prefecture suffix “shu,” and a conjugation of taiko— launching in 1990.

As one of the state’s major taiko groups, Fushu Daiko maintains a prolific

“We do all these big movements and choreography and try to convey themes and moods as well as rhythms. We always say, it’s music performance but also dance and martial arts—all of that combined.”

big movements and choreography and try to convey themes and moods as well as rhythms. We always say, it’s music performance but also dance and martial arts—all of that combined.”

A generally shy person offstage, Garbarino talks softly but carries a big stick—or a bachi, to be more precise; that’s the drumstick, usually crafted from white oak or bamboo, that creates such a resonant sound on the barrelshaped chū-daiko drum; enormous, gong-sized ō-daiko; or handheld okedō.

“At its core, it can be very intense—a bunch of drummers together playing the same movements,” he says. “But also, it can be very unique and stripped-down to smaller ensembles, using different tones of drums and rhythms. So we try to vary it a lot during the show, because an hour of super-fast, intense drumming would be a little overwhelming.”

A Delray Beach native, Garbarino, 39, has been drawn to music since middle school, when he picked up the tuba. At Atlantic High, he joined the marching band. Attending a Fushu Daiko performance at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens while in high school inspired him to try taiko. “Without the Morikami, Fushu Daiko wouldn’t exist,” he says. “That’s our home base, for sure.”

performance schedule throughout the state, with Garbarino estimating it plays 90 to 100 concerts per year. These days, Garbarino lives Japanese music close to 24 hours a day. He teaches taiko to aspiring drummers on Sunday nights from Fushu Daiko’s Davie dojo, practices twice weekly with the group, and has recently begun learning the 13-string koto, the national instrument of Japan, which means additional hours of daily practice.

Garbarino aims to further his expertise of taiko with a monthlong residency in Japan. Last May, he became one of 10 artists countywide to secure a $7,500 Artist Innovation Fellowship from the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. The grant will allow him to learn how to build and repair taiko drums from Japanese craftspeople—and fulfill a need in Florida’s under-resourced taiko scene.

“I’d like to learn how the instrument works,” he says. “When you know the ins and outs, you have an appreciation for it while you’re performing. [In Japan], the same families have been building drums, and still use hand tools. There’s just a magic in them that’s hard to reproduce. I want to bring those techniques home, so we can keep our group thriving, and hopefully grow the community too.”

Noah Garbarino

Shrimp and grits

Bienvenue, Penelope

Mizner Park’s newest addition exudes the whimsy and elegance of the French Quarter

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

Penelope nailed its aesthetic. It touts itself as a French concept with southern charm, blending bistro elegance with a New Orleans spirit. So, while I was expecting certain dishes to be present, I wasn’t sure what to anticipate with the design. Would it be a hokey tribute to Mardi Gras or a splurgy special-occasion restaurant?

White cascading flowers, a tasseled parasol and a neon sign drew us in. Once inside, Penelope’s personality is a whimsical mix of Disney’s Haunted Mansion with vibrant New Orleans flair—in the best possible way. Illuminated multicolored umbrellas ebb and flow down from the ceiling while macabre art peers at us as we walk to our table. It could have been kitschy, but instead, it’s balanced with soft blue Venetian plaster walls and dainty sconces to capture the city’s impactful aesthetic and subdued, otherworldly essence.

Once seated in our cozy booth by the kitchen, that nod to its architecture is fostered with intricate white iron railings, suggesting a French Quarter balcony overlooking the city. Kaleidoscopic Chihuly-like chandeliers illuminate the powder-blue plush cushions and the expansive mural reminiscent of Louisiana’s picturesque bayou that now surrounds us. I’m entertained and delighted even before my first bite.

The menu features a variety of New Orleans, southern and Frenchinspired dishes, such as pimento cheese dip, oysters casino, shrimp po’boy and bouillabaisse. It also offers several well-labeled gluten-free dishes (or

those with a GF alternative). We opted for a family-style dinner, so we shared the buttermilk biscuits ($11), mac and cheese bites ($14), gumbo ($15), fried chicken ($25), and shrimp and grits ($33).

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

The mac and cheese bites were a wonderful surprise; instead of the fried balls I imagined, delicate noodles were filled with melted gruyere and topped with creamy mornay (béchamel) and crispy panko breadcrumbs. These are worth a try. The two main entrées were equally as appealing. The fried chicken delivered what you’d want in the dish—a crispy, tender selection of buttermilk fried chicken with a spicy maple sauce with hints of NOLA’s own Crystal hot sauce.

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

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

Mac and cheese bites

Gumbo

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Messy fun at artNEST

Doin’ Delray

From ghost hunting and candle making to a hidden supper club, explore these out-of-the-box ways to experience Delray Beach.

Written by Tyler Childress, Christiana Lilly and John Thomason

he weekend rolls around, and analysis paralysis sets in—so much to do, and yet nothing to do at all.

To celebrate the unique flavorings of Delray Beach, we’ve curated a list of out-of-the-box activities around town. How about splashing paint on a wall, or taking a stroll in search of ghosts? Perhaps resurrecting your pinball muscles for a retro date night, or taking to the putting greens for nostalgic fun? And the next time you go shopping, we’ve got a boutique where you can discover your new favorite local creator. Here in Delray, it’s easy to break free from the regular. For those times that your happy hour haunt has grown stale, when dinner and a movie seems mundane, or you’re tired of the same old-same old, keep reading to find your next adventure.

A pink roseate spoonbill, which can be found in Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Radcliffe’s Speakeasy & Supper Club

411 E. Atlantic Ave., Suite D, Delray Beach; 561/243-9463; thewineroomonline.com/delray-beach-the-speakeasy Perfect for: Date night

We’ll tell you if you promise to keep it on the down low, but The Wine Room, made famous in Delray for its system of tasting a preposterously vast collection of wines, has its own speakeasy. Radcliffe’s can be found past a red curtain in the corner of The Wine Room, or you can enter the cool way by using a secret password at the blue door in the alley behind the restaurant (check @wineroomdelray on Instagram for daily passwords).

Inside is a sultry, intimate dining room with deep red accented decor, dim lights, and a bar that a bootlegger could only dream of—particularly fitting given that the 100-year-old space was actually a taproom during Prohibition. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, the speakeasy’s drink menu features a slew of colorful cocktails like the Raven with black charcoal-infused Wheatley Vodka, lime and demerara.

As for the “supper club” portion of the speakeasy, Chef Blake Malatesta (of MIA Kitchen & Bar and 50 Ocean) has prepared a specially curated menu that includes lobster étouffée, a mouthwatering 32-ounce pork shank, and Malatesta’s famous Radcliffe’s Crown, with frenched slow-roasted chicken drumsticks, truffle whipped potato, and bacon mushroom chicken butter.

Tip: Make your dream charcuterie board a reality with à la carte selections from The Wine Room’s more than 80 artisanal cheeses and meats from around the world.

artNEST Delray

2275 S. Federal Highway, Unit 340, Delray Beach; 561/562-8897; artneststudios.com

Perfect For: Families, girls’/guys’ night, parties

Whether you’re a parent with little ones or a grownup looking for a fun night out that doesn’t consist of the same tired activities, there’s artNEST, an art studio where the rules get thrown out the window (along with paint on the walls).

Children can make their own slime, splatter paint (while wearing adorable raincoat cover-ups), beat drums covered in glow-in-the-dark paint, create tie-dye masterpieces, concoct their own magic potions and so much more. At artNEST, kids are encouraged to play, explore and push the boundaries—without their grownups having to worry about cleaning up. The artNEST studio is perfectly set up for birthday parties, with packages including cheese pizza, water and juice, birthday signs and a table, and other necessities. Just bring your own cake. Adults are encouraged to get in on the fun, too. There are packages such as glow-in-the-dark splash parties, canvas painting or whatever your creative mind can come up with. This is a fun take on girls’ nights out, birthday parties or even team-building exercises without the lame icebreaker questions.

Tip: artNEST also offers camps for kids and tweens for non-school days, including lunch and snacks. They can also come to you with out-of-studio activities.

Butterfish en papillote

The Eagle Has Landed cocktail

Little ones can enjoy birthday parties and camps at artNEST GYORGY PAPP

BRIAN BURKARD

COSIMO SCIANNA

PopStroke

1314 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561/800-4520; popstroke.com/venues/delray-beach Perfect for: Game day, boys’ night

Tiger Woods lends his star power and pedigree to this elevated mini golf concept, which features two nine-hole courses designed by the golf legend and his TGR Design team. Far from the traditional putt-putt experience, the holes at PopStroke include synthetic turf fairways, greens, realistic roughs and sand bunkers—but don’t be intimidated. Both courses are designed with accessibility in mind and can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels, and the fun continues on the 19th hole at PopStroke’s bar and restaurant.

For sports fans looking for a new haunt, PopStroke has a full-service restaurant and bar, with TVs and jumbotrons to watch your favorite team. The restaurant offers a wide selection of bites, ranging from grilled wings and tuna tartare to tacos and flatbreads, and food and drink service is also available on the courses. The cherry on top is the onsite ice cream parlor, which boasts 20 premium flavors and signature shakes.

Tip:

PopStroke’s boozy shakes make for decadent desserts. We recommend the Chocolate Peanut Butter Wasted, made with Screwball peanut butter whiskey,

vanilla ice cream, Kahlua and chocolate syrup.

The winding greens of PopStroke

Dine and catch the game at PopStroke

Delray Beach Ghost Tours

561/666-7906; delraybeachghosttours.com

Perfect for: Date night for history and mystery buffs

Delray Beach is such a beloved village that even the dead don’t want to leave it. And for a city that’s been settled since 1884, the number of residual spirits can be as high as our Christmas tree.

Since 2013, Wicked Delray Ghost Tours founder Marilyn Egan has been sharing a few of the city’s most famous spooky stories while walking her guests through Delray’s favorite haunts. While Egan still occasionally leads the tours—clad in witchy accouterments and often carrying a lantern for atmosphere—various guides, including theatre students from FAU, have continued Egan’s legacy as the rebranded Delray Beach Ghost Tours. Delray’s history and its paranormal lore are intertwined in this enterprise.

Available 365 days a year, the itinerary takes tour-goers from Veterans Park to Deck 84 and the Marina District, where they learn about the wreck of the S.S. Inchulva and the incorporeal sailors still adrift at sea; to the Blue Anchor, a 19th century London pub whose facades and interior features—and a poltergeist named Bertha Starkey—were imported to its latest iteration here in downtown Delray; and to the Colony Hotel, where spectral bellhops have been seen and phantom noises have been heard. At the end of the tour, guests take home a ghostly souvenir: a compass, a leather bracelet or a tiny glow-in-the-dark skeleton.

Tip:

You needn’t require shoe leather to experience Delray Beach Ghost Tours. For $13.99, pre-recorded virtual tours can be enjoyed from anywhere. And for deep-pocketed paranormal enthusiasts, VIP Vehicle Tours are available from the comfort of a chauffeured Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, SUV or sedan.

Throw Social

29 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 800/561-0755; throwsocial.com/delray Perfect for: Girls’/boys’ night out, game day

Based in Washington, D.C., Throw Social landed with a second location in Delray Beach in 2022, and the party hasn’t stopped. The sprawling property is aesthetically reminiscent of Florida in the 1960s, including a restaurant, four bars, backyard games and a new self-pouring cocktail wall. Take your pick of dancing to live music, LED table tennis, board games, light-up shuffleboard, cornhole, giant Jenga, darts—and that’s just the start of it.

To go all out, book a cabana for a birthday party, bachelorette/bachelor party or just because. Don’t forget to order a shareable drink for your friends to enjoy together, such as the Preppy Purse Punch, Shark Attack Fishbowl and Patron Margarita Tree. At the cocktail wall, explore the 20 taps for your choice of seven cocktails, one seltzer, five wines and seven beers.

Be sure to check Throw Social’s rotating calendar of events for specials, watch parties, themed holiday bashes, tailgates and even brunches for kids or, as they say around here, lil’ flockers.

Tip: There is no booking fee for cabanas on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Toast to photo-worthy cocktails

A spooky girls’ night out

Cornhole at Throw Social

Silverball Retro Arcade

19 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach; 561/266-3294; silverballmuseum.com/delray-beach

Perfect for: Date night, nostalgic fun

The Silverball Retro Arcade speaks to our inner child with its dazzling array of more than 80 classic pinball machines and dozens of arcade games. Remember life before taxes and hangovers, when the only thing that mattered was blowing your allowance money to beat the high scores? Let Silverball take you back to those days.

While any visit to Silverball isn’t complete without a game of Ms. Pac-Man or a round on a vintage Indiana Jones pinball machine, the arcade is also home to tabletop favorites like air hockey and shuffleboard, and the addictive-regardless-of-age Skee-Ball.

For food and drinks, look no further than TILT!, the bar and restaurant with a menu of All-American classics ranging from hot dogs and hamburgers to funnel cakes and corn dogs. From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, get half-priced drinks and $7 bites during happy hour, then on weekends enjoy live tunes from local DJs.

Tip: Silverball hosts Two for $35 Tuesdays, which includes two entry passes for the price of one from noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday Fun-day with four half-day admission passes for $45.

Putt’n Around

350 N.E. Fifth Ave., Delray Beach; 561/450-6162; puttnaround.net

Perfect for: Family fun

If you’re not quite ready for the Masters and are looking for a more casual mini golf experience, Putt’n Around is the perfect destination for a family outing. Putt’n Around has 36 holes divided between two courses atop lush botanical gardens. The “Everglades” course offers a challenge-free experience through 18 holes with minimum obstacles, while veteran putt-putters can test their skills on the “Ocean” course and navigate the tricky water hazards. Food and drink service is also available on the courses, with fairway fare that includes burgers, hot dogs and appetizers, as well as craft beers on tap.

Tip: Take advantage of Putt’n Around’s various discounts, including $1 off canned alcohol and $2 off draft beer during happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; $1 off rounds of golf for first responders and veterans all day every day; and group discounts of $1 off per golfer in groups of 12 or more.

Silverball Retro Arcade

Cozy up to the bar at TILT!

Putt’n Around

Candle Land

415 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561/501-5412; candlelanddelray.com

Perfect For: Girls’ night, parties

For the crafty set, make a reservation for a spot at Candle Land. It’s fit for a solo date, or gather up your friends for a unique get-together, ending with everyone walking out with their own soy candle creation. First, guests are guided to a wall filled with different colored vessels, selecting one that speaks to them for their candle, then choosing a scent—new ones include Sweet Vanilla, Hibiscus Palm, Fun-Funetti Cake, Mahogany Resort and more. Armed with your tools, follow along with the instructors to insert the three wicks and pour the soy wax. Finally, choose from glitter and dried flowers to top the candle to your liking. The candles will take about 45 minutes to set, so either hang out at the studio or stroll on Atlantic Avenue for some shopping or a meal. Make a party out of a Candle Land gathering and bring along your favorite beverages for your crew to enjoy. On Wednesdays, the studio also hosts flower-arranging workshops!

Tip: Candle Land will also hold your candles for 30 days if you need to return another time. Can’t get enough of candle making? Come back with your empty vessel and you’ll get a discount on your next candle.

Delray Beach Kollective

424 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 954/614-8600; kollectiveshop.com

Perfect for: An outside-the-(big)-box shopping experience

Part clothing shop, part art gallery and part Spencer’s Gifts, the ingredients of this downtown Delray space are eclectic and ultimately insufficient to describe its whimsical charm. The brainchild of local artist Joshua Tiktin, who also operates Kollectives in the hip enclaves of Wynwood and Las Olas, Delray’s iteration opened in 2022 and features art, crafts and attire from some 55 regional artists. Collectively (or kollectively?), they offer easily more than 1,000 unique items in a compact space neighboring Lemongrass, where no iota of wall space goes unused.

Expect stylish clothes and jewelry galore, along with countless unexpected pleasures: a wine stopper topped with a bejeweled ladybug, a flask shaped like a zucchini, a colorful retro speaker modeled after an ’80s Ghetto Blaster. Where else can you find sticks of palo santo, luxe pickleball gear and comically oversized slippers all in the same place? The Kollective operates as a co-op of sorts, whose various “member” artists run the register on a rotating basis, and they are more than happy to show you around their wonder emporium.

Tip: Peruse the shop carefully, with an eye toward discounts: Each vendor operates independently, and some offer month-long specials.

Candle Land

Choose a vessel at Candle Land

Finds at Delray Beach Kollective

Wares from Delray Beach Kollective

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

13270 Jog Road, Delray Beach; 561/493-6000; visitdelraybeach.org/plays/wakodahatchee-wetlands

Perfect for: A nature getaway close to home

Birding is bountiful in the wilds of western Delray Beach, but like the regal great blue heron, Wakodahatchee Wetlands stands above the rest. Celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, the constructed wetlands, with their copious manmade islands and shrubs, have provided refuge for more than 178 bird species; there’s a reason the wetlands are an essential strand of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

A comfortable stroll through its three-quarter-mile elevated boardwalk yields a chorus of tweets, squawks, grunts, titters and chitters from its winged, leathery and furry denizens, from the prehistoric-looking spiky iguanas sunning on the water banks to the laughing gallinules whooping it up on the ponds. Photographers with top-of-the-line SLR cameras frequently prowl the boardwalk, hoping to capture the perfect image of a nesting egret, a stoic alligator or a majestic roseate spoonbill in flight, its flamingo-pink hue a flash of pastel amid a mosaic of earth tones.

And just know that when you visit Wakodahatchee, you’re enjoying one of Delray’s vital civic projects. A former wastewater utility property, it recycles 2 million gallons of water daily, returning back billions of freshwater gallons.

Tip:

We’re at the beginning of the very best time to visit Wakodahatchee.

Wood storks and herons migrate to our coast to lay their eggs in the winter, so January and February provide the opportunity to witness hatchlings maturing into adults. By spring, they establish rookeries on the mini islands, flooding them by the hundreds.

Great egret

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

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

y its nature, the Florida Division of Arts & Culture is an uncontroversial agency. It’s not supposed to make news. But when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed some $32 million in arts and culture grants in Florida’s 20242025 state budget last June, its work captured the public’s attention for all the wrong reasons. Six hundred and forty organizations statewide lost funding in the veto, including 51 organizations in Palm Beach County. These organizations were expecting—and had budgeted for—state grants of $10,000 and up, with many of the larger nonprofits set to receive more than $70,000.

DeSantis’ historic and unexpected veto sent instant shockwaves through Florida’s arts world. The affected organizations sent panicked emails, brimming with anger and disbelief, urging their supporters to help make up the unexpected shortfalls through private donations. The local arts leaders I interviewed months later for this feature were still reeling from the impact and shared similar sentiments.

When she read the news, “I was just staggered—speechless,” recalls Annabel Russell, executive director of the Symphonia, which would have earned $42,300 through the grant.

“I had to read it twice. It didn’t make any sense; it still doesn’t make any sense, to be honest.”

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

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

Getting from the Division of Arts & Culture’s funding recommendations to the governor’s pen is a process that is usually boilerplate and bipartisan and boring, in the ways much good governance is boring. Part of Florida’s Department of State, the division collects grant requests from nonprofit arts and culture organizations throughout the state, vets and scores and ranks the requests through a rigorous process, and decides which organizations are most deserving of state funds. It then submits its funding recommendations to the state legislature for approval.

Lawmakers then adjust the numbers, and send their final allocation to the governor for his signature. As a requirement, all of the funding—from a 10-year low of $6.6 million in the 2018-2019 legislative session to a 10-year high of $58.7 million in the 2022-2023 session—is matched dollar-by-dollar by the recipient organizations. The grants have been a critical element of many cultural nonprofits’ budgets since 1977.

More than two weeks after the veto, in response to the

deluge of media and arts-organization inquiries, DeSantis explained his decision, citing a single production at the Tampa International Fringe Festival that he deemed sexually inappropriate and unworthy of state funds. (Tampa Fringe would have received $7,369; its organizers later penned an unsuccessful open letter to DeSantis urging him to sacrifice their portion of the state funding so that the rest of the monies could be restored.)

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

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

“For whatever reason, the arts always seem to be the political football,” says Dave Lawrence, president and CEO

of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, which advocates for cultural funding. “For the life of me, I can’t understand why. I believe that there is a place for public funding in the arts, for what it does for our economy, for what it does for our communities, for education, for our quality of life. There is a role for government to play in funding the arts.

“There are some that will not share that sentiment. And unfortunately, we get caught in the

The Arts and Culture Economy by the Numbers

$335.3 million

Economic impact of arts and culture in Palm Beach County

4,360

Jobs created by the arts in Palm Beach County

$57.2 million

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

87%

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

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

middle of this a lot of times. That is a real concern, but I think it’s up to us to show just how deep and wide the impact is, and that government funding can spur so many other investments and contributions in the arts. It’s an important piece of the pie to have that public support, to make sure that our organizations are thriving and serving the public good.”

Making Cuts

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Here we are, just after organizations were emerging from the last few years of the hell that was COVID,” adds Lawrence, of the Cultural Council. “So this was precisely not the time for another huge setback like this. The organizations were just

Stephanie Owitz of Levis JCC

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

—Annabel Russell, executive director of the Symphonia

coming back to full steam, the excitement and the energy and the plans were all there, and now we’re dealt this huge blow.”

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

The Art of Funding

To grasp why this $32 million is so significant is to understand the byzantine world of cultural arts funding. Organizations survive through a patchwork of public grants and private donations,

with a budget that is naturally inconsistent year over year, dictated by donors’ whims, by the state of the economy, by major news events. (The low of $6.6 million in funding for the 2018-2019 year resulted from a confluence of factors, from inaccurate revenue projections to the Hurricane Irma recovery.)

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

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

Give Back to the Arts

To support the organizations featured in this story, contact them below. For the entire list of organizations that lost funding through the veto, turn to page 54 or visit palmbeachculture.com/impact/arts-advocacy/state-of-florida-arts-funding-qa.

ARTS GARAGE

561/450-6357 artsgarage.org/donate

THE SANDLER CENTER AT LEVIS JCC

561/852-3200 levisjcc.org/culture

THE SYMPHONIA

561/376-3848 thesymphonia.org

THEATRE LAB AT FAU

561/297-2337

fau.edu/artsandletters/theatrelab/donate/alliance

Annabel Russell

Funds Lost in Palm Beach County

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

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

Aequalis, $18,800

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, $51,724

Ballet Palm Beach, $23,500

Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts, $42,300

Boca Ballet Theatre Company, $58,750

Boca Raton Historical Society, $42,300

Boca Raton Museum of Art, $70,500

Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, $42,300

Boynton Cultural Centre, $37,835

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, $70,500

Center for Creative Education, $70,500

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

City of Riviera Beach, $70,500

Cox Science Center and Aquarium, $70,500

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

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, $70,500

Digital Vibez, $16,450

Palm Beach State College, $70,500

Florida Atlantic University, $29,140

Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, $70,423

Historical Society of Palm Beach County, $57,270

Lake Worth Cultural Renaissance Foundation, $5,640

Lighthouse ArtCenter, $70,500

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, $70,500

Loxahatchee River Historical Society, $70,500

Lynn Conservatory of Music, $70,500

Maltz Jupiter Theatre, $70,500

Memory Trees, $11,750

Norton Museum of Art, $70,500

Palm Beach Dramaworks, $70,500

Palm Beach Opera, $70,500

Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, $9,400

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

School of the Arts Foundation, $70,280

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

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, $27,244

Sunfest of Palm Beach County, $70,500

The Armory Art Center, $ 70,500

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

The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, $70,500

The Lake Worth Playhouse, $60,364

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

The Morikami, $70,500

The Palm Beach Symphony Society, $70,500

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

Village of Royal Palm Beach, $70,500

Village of Wellington, $70,500

Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, $42,300

Of course, ticket sales are a source of revenue as well, but their portion of the pie is seldom as significant as the average audience member might assume. No arts organization, up to behemoths like the Metropolitan Opera, can run on ticket sales alone. For Theatre Lab, whose individual tickets run $32 to $45, ticket sales are responsible for less than 20% of its budget.

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

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

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

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

Marjorie Waldo of Arts Garage

Moving Forward

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

—Matt Stabile, executive director of Theatre Lab

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

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

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

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

Lawrence hopes the veto will serve as a wake-up call for arts organizations to increase engagement with decision-makers at the local and state levels. “There are probably a lot of organizations, if I asked the question to them, ‘have you invited a legislator to one

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

of your events this year?,’ there might not be many hands that go up in the room. Something like this shows that it’s important for them to reach out to the legislators and have them see all of the good things that the cultural organizations are doing to help our communities.”

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

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

Dave Lawrence of the Cultural Council

Matt Stabile of Theatre Lab

Paint it Black

The color of night is making a striking comeback in today’s interior design

Santa Barbara Taper Rattan Pendant Lights and Carson Counter Stools from Serena & Lily, Palm Beach

BACK TO BLACK

Black is timeless, versatile and always on trend. When used as an accent color, it can dress up any space by adding a bold splash of contrast and sophistication.

1. Chains Throw - $1,875, Frette, Bal Harbour, frette.com 2. Christian Lacroix Sol y Sombra 4-Piece Dinnerware Set - $369, Williams-Sonoma, Boca Raton, williams-sonoma.com 3. Storm Cloud Wall Art - $108, Anthropologie, Palm Beach Gardens, anthropologie.com 4. Coco Lamp - $375, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com 5. Darma Stools - starting at $595, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com 6. Sogno Chaise Lounge - $1,599, Crate & Barrel, Boca Raton, crateandbarrel.com 7. Elaine Smith Kasai Ebony Lumbar Pillow - $145, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com

1. Alphaville Capsule Dining Table - $6,500, Jonathan Adler, Miami, jonathanadler.com 2. Bernhardt Sereno Round Dining Table - $3,888, Perigold, perigold.com 3. Sonali Oval Dining Table - $2,198, Anthropologie, Palm Beach Gardens, anthropologie.com 4. 79-inch Modern Gold Spiral Dining Table - $1,959, Povison, povison.com 5. John-Richard Collection Branches 44-inch Round Dining Table - $5,160, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com 6. Navar Round Dining Table - $2,311, Perigold, perigold.com 7. Four Hands Oranda Dining Table - $2,999, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus. com 8. Fuso Dining Table - $3,885, Scan Design, Miami, scandesign.com

TURN UP THE BASE

When gathering around a table, give your guests something to talk about with a show-stopping base that turns heads.

FLUTED FANCY

Bring a dose of tactile beauty to your room or tablescape with fluted, grooved and scalloped pieces that feel as good as they look.

1. Symphony Glassware Set - 16 oz. Fluted Highball ($7), Double Old-Fashioned ($6), 81 oz. Pitcher ($25), 10 oz. All-Purpose Wine Glass ($7), 6 oz. Coupe ($8), Crate & Barrel, Boca Raton, crateandbarrel.com 2. Meyda Lighting Metro Fusion Pendant - $1,350, Perigold, perigold.com 3. Miseno Indy Bathroom Storage - $1,384, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Boca Raton, fergusonshowrooms.com 4. Nessa Round Chandelier - $4,630, Hive, Palm Beach, hivepalmbeach.com 5. Hewitt Table Lamp - to the trade, Palecek, palecek.com 6. Marilyn Faux Shagreen Scalloped Side Table - $1,563, Neiman Marcus, Boca Raton, neimanmarcus.com. 7. Brooks Chest of Drawers - $5,495, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com 8. Dutchbone Madison Swivel Lounge Chair - $1,432, Perigold, perigold.com

WISH & SHOES

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

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

16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach • 561.638.7700

287 E. Indiantown Road, #B-01 Jupiter, FL 33477 • 561.821.9474

211 S. 4th Street, Highlands, NC • 828.944.9474

125 US Highway 64 W, Cashiers, NC 28717 • 828.900.9474 wishandshoes.com

THE VOLEN CENTER: A PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY

Serving from Broward to Palm Beach County, The Volen Center enhances the well-being of South Florida seniors by educating and advocating on their behalf and providing health care and supportive services that meet their physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs. Contact us to schedule and learn about our program and services.

1515 West Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton FL 33486 561-395-8920 ext. 272. volencenter.com

BOCA NURSING SERVICES, INC

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

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

GRAND OPENING OF THE BUNNY HIVE

WHERE: The Bunny Hive in Delray Beach

WHAT: The Bunny Hive, a social club for children and their parents, made its Delray Beach debut with a lively grand-opening ceremony. More than 125 local families toured the new studio and enjoyed light bites as well as playtime with their little ones. With locations across the country, the Delray Beach location is the first South Florida outpost. The Bunny Hive offers a unique setting for parents and kids alike to connect with others in the community while enhancing early childhood development through its myriad of classes including arts and crafts, culinary exploration and dance.

The Bunny Hive Hoboken owner Michelle Vigder and her son, Bennett

The Bunny Hive Delray owners Jordan and Lauren Kocen with their kids, Penina and Everlee

Kids enjoying snack time at The Bunny Hive

Playroom at The Bunny Hive

The Bunny Hive teacher Lara Snyder

Daniel Brenan and his son, Beau LEXI KAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Lexi Finnigan and her son, River

“SIP IN SPACE”

WHERE: The Kravis Center

WHAT: Members of the Young Professionals of the Kravis Center were joined by the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach Young Professionals, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and Young Friends of Palm Beach Symphony to host an out-of-this-world networking event at the Kravis Center. Attendees toured the Kravis Center’s immersive VR “Space Explorers: The Infinite” exhibit before enjoying cocktails and a social hour at the Space Bar. “The Sip in Space event was a unique fusion of cosmic adventure and networking,” said Kravis Center Director of Annual Giving Ali Rehm. “We look forward to hosting more events that spark meaningful connections and enrich our community through the arts.”

Chris McGinley, Brianna Sullivan

Alyssia Jaume, Jordana Wollmann

Molly Segal, Jenn Sherm, Ana Martinez

Henry and Amy Weismann

Jeff and Ali Rehm

Alexa Evans, Dana Munson

Danica Sun, Veronica Barducci

Felix Rivera, Matthew Brinz, Taniel Koushakjian

Katie Velotta, Kathleen Joy

Mary Jacobs, Victoria Piroso

Brendan and Dominique Sullivan

Mary Lewis, Steve Moews

COCKTAILS FOR JARC

WHERE: The Vintage Gym at Old School Square

WHAT: More than $30,000 was raised to benefit JARC Florida’s mission of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the 14th-annual Cocktails for JARC, co-chaired by Justin Tompkins and Sean Casper. More than 120 guests attended the event, which included cocktails and light bites. Funds raised went toward the purchase of a new wheelchair van for JARC Florida residents.

“As our JARC residents continue to age, it’s essential that we provide them with the support and tools they need to navigate life comfortably and confidently,” said JARC Florida CEO Jeff Zirulnick.

Kate Tompkins, Janet Cohen, Jill Tompkins, Jennifer Tompkins Sue and Alan Rosenthal, Fiona and Bill Markel

Chase Jenkins, JD Lorenzo, Ryan Goessel, Perry Meltzer, Michael Wells

Howard and Lois Kozlow, Carin and Scott Friedman

Event Chairs Sean Casper and Justin Tompkins

Claudia Langton, Marques Joyner

Richard and Lauren Koblick, Jordyn Gechter, Perry Chencin

Michele George, Nicole Zimmerman, Jerry Kaplan, Audrey Greenwald

Chris Rice, Blair Novy, Justin Tompkins, Erin Rice, Shaelyn Novy

Richard and Doreen Garetano

dining guide

Your resource for Greater Delray Beach’s finest restaurants

STAFF PICK

Josie’s Ristorante

Following a recent renovation, this old-school Italian restaurant has been given a modern flair

It’s the time of year when Atlantic Avenue starts to get a little crowded as the snowbirds make their way south for the winter and the reservation lists fill up at our local haunts. That’s why there’s no better time for a drive north to Boynton Beach for a visit to Josie’s Ristorante, where diners can enjoy chef Mark Militello’s classic Italian fare in a sleek, newly renovated space.

This cozy, family-owned restaurant is looking better than ever after the renovation, which gave its dining room a more modern, elegant atmosphere. The booths and chairs have been completely redone, making for much more comfortable seating, and the space feels livelier with vintage artworks and “Leave the gun, take the cannoli” spelled out in a pink neon sign on the wall. But the biggest change to Josie’s is one that alfresco diners will particularly enjoy.

Those who opt for patio seating can take in views of the Intracoastal, a major aesthetic upgrade from the previous scenery of parking spaces and trees, which was cleared out by recent construction. The view also pairs well with bottomless mimosas during Josie’s Sunday Brunch, where menu highlights include pillow-y

IF YOU GO

zeppoli, a crab and lobster cake Benedict topped with Old Bay hollandaise, and more.

Despite the changes, menu favorites like the beefy short rib meatball appetizer remain, alongside classic pasta dishes and meat entrees of chicken or veal that come in a preparation of your choosing—from a lightly fried veal Francese swimming in a lemon and white wine sauce to the tried-and-true chicken parmigiana covered in a San Marzano tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella.

Whether you choose to sit indoors or outdoors, plan a Happy Hour visit from 2 to 6 p.m. daily (or 9 p.m. to close for the late night Happy Hour) to take advantage of deals on small-plate dishes like the smoked crostini salmon with goat cheese, smoked salmon and ciabatta bread, or select 12-inch pizzas.

650 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach; 561/364-9601

PARKING: Valet and lot

While we recommend sampling some of the heartily portioned entree dishes at Josie’s, you could visit for dessert alone and not be disappointed. The bar makes an excellent espresso martini that pairs well with any of the decadent dessert offerings, like the towering 16-layer devil’s food chocolate cake or the peanut butter Oreo bar with a crunchy Oreo crust sandwiched between two layers of creamy peanut butter.

HOURS: Sun. - Thurs.: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri. and Sat.: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

PRICES: $9 - $42

WEBSITE: josiesristorante.com

—Tyler Childress

Josie’s Salmon

Challah French toast from Josie’s

DINING KEY

$ Inexpensive: under $17

$$ Moderate: $18 to $35

$$$ Expensive: $36 to $50

$$$$ Very expensive: $50+

DELRAY BEACH

50 Ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$

800 Palm Trail Grill—800 Palm Trail. American. This contemporary space is serving up American fare

and classic cocktails. The menu has a steak-and-seafoodhouse feel to it but without any stuffiness. Instead, you’ll find dishes that entice the palate, like the loaded baked potato eggrolls and Wagyu boneless short rib. • Lunch and dinner daily, with patio dining. 561/865-5235. $$$

Akira Back—233 N.E. Second Ave. Japanese. Chef Akira Back’s Seoul restaurant earned a Michelin star a few years ago, and now he’s showcasing his talented take on Japanese cuisine at his namesake restaurant inside The Ray hotel. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Back blends his heritage with Japanese flavors and techniques he has mastered to deliver dishes that are unique to him. With plates made to be shared, the menu is divided into cold and hot starters followed by rolls, nigiri/sashimi, robata grill, mains and fried rice. Dinner nightly. 561/739-1708. $$$$

Amar Mediterranean Bistro—522 E. Atlantic Ave. Lebanese. From the moment you step inside, there’s a familial feeling, a hidden gem that everyone is drawn to. Amar is a quaint bistro amidst the buzzy Atlantic Avenue that serves Lebanese food. But this isn’t your typical hummus and pita joint. Here, the proprietor’s family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. • Dinner nightly. 561/278-3364. $$

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

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

Bamboo Fire Cafe—149 N.E. Fourth Ave. Caribbean. The Jacobs family joyously shares its Latin and Caribbean culture through food that’s bursting with bright island aromas and flavors. Tostones, plantain fries and jerk meatballs share the menu with curry pork, oxtail and conch. A quintessential Delray gem. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/749-0973. $

Beg for More Izakaya—19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese Small Plates The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No sushi. And that’s fine. Try the takoyaki (octopus balls), the crispy salmon tacos and anything with the addictive kimchi, such as the kimchi fried rice. There are pasta, teriyaki and simmered duck with bok choy dishes—or 16 varieties of yakitori (food on skewers). You’ll be back to beg for more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-8849. $$

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

Burt & Max’s—9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This bastion of contemporary comfort food in west Delray is approaching local landmark status, forging its own menu while borrowing a few dishes from Max’s Grille, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, including a stellar trufflescented wild mushroom pizza. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$

Uni pasta from Beg For More Izakaya

Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. Italian. This multiple Delray Beach-award winning restaurant has sparkling service, comfort food taken to a higher level, and a setting just steps from the Atlantic. Open since 1993, and a success since then, they dish up big flavors in a tiny space, so call for reservations. Try the calamari fritto misto, then the rigatoni pomodoro and leave room for dessert. Or come back for breakfast. • Open daily from breakfast through dinner. 561-274-9404. $$

Casa L’Acqua—9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Diners can expect white tablecloths, tuxedoed staff and attentive service at this fine-dining restaurant. The wine list is Italian-focused but does offer a variety of bottles from around the world, and each dish is expertly prepared with sizable portions. The main dining room, with its vibey bar and wine cellar, is cozy, and so is its fully enclosed patio in the back. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-7492. $$

City Oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$

Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar—25 N.E. Second Ave., Suite 208. Asian. Local hospitality veterans Tina Wang and chef Jason Zheng continue to grow their restaurant empire with this concept. The extensive menu caters to any palate, dietary restriction or craving and features both traditional and creative dishes. Soups and salads lead into sushi selections and appetizers divided into cool and hot. Cooked and raw rolls are followed by rice, noodle, land and sea entrée options. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Sunday brunch. 561/926-9434. $$

Costa By OK&M—502 E. Atlantic Ave.. Contemporary American. Contemporary American. Costa takes chef/ owner Coton Stine’s dedication to farm-to-table fare to an elevated level with its seasonal menu. Working closely with local farms and vendors, Stine curates deliciously healthy dishes that tempt your palate while fueling your body. For those with dietary restrictions, the dishes are clearly labeled gluten-free or vegan, which adds a sense of ease to the experience. The corner space is comfortable and embraces natural elements with its wicker chairs, lanterns, greenery and expansive sliding doors. • Dinner nightly. 561/5016115. $$

Cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-

house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$

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

Deck 84—840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the stellar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey seasonal cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/665-8484. $

Eathai—1832 S. Federal Highway. Thai. If you’re craving approachable and affordable Thai food, put Eathai at the top of your list. While you can expect to find curries, noodles, soups and fried rice on the menu, the dishes here aren’t the typical ones you’ll find around town. Indulge in the Thai chicken French toast or crispy duck breast with lychee curry sauce or oxtail basil fried rice to savor the true talent of owner and chef Sopanut Sopochana. • Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. 561/270-3156. $

El Camino —15 N.E. Second Ave. Mexican. This sexy, bustling downtown spot is from the trio behind nearby Cut 432 and Park Tavern. Fresh, quality ingredients go into everything from the tangy tomatillo salsas to the world-class fish tacos clad in delicate fried skin, set off by tart pineapple salsa. Cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros are the perfect dessert. And check out the margaritas, especially the smoky blend of mezcal and blanco tequila. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5350. $$

Elisabetta’s—32 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. An ornate Italian spot, with classically prepared dishes including spiedini shrimp, burrata de prosciutto bruschetta, costoletta di vitello (veal), a guanciale pizza, cacio e pepe pasta, malfadine Amatriciana and gemelli puttanesca. Portions are large and that, thankfully, goes for the homemade gelati, too. The best seating outdoors is the second-floor balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue. • Lunch and dinner daily; weekend brunch. 561/650-6699. $$

The Grove —187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Grove, which has been tucked inside the tranquil Pineapple Grove District for nearly a decade, continues to surprise diners with its vibrant dishes. The upscale but casually comfortable nook has

an international wine list that spans the globe and a seasonal menu that’s succinct and well-thought-out. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/266-3750. $$$$

The Hampton Social—40 N.E. Seventh Ave. American. The Hampton Social is known for its “rosé all day” tagline, but it doesn’t just slay its rosé; its food is equally as tempting. It does a standout job of incorporating its casual coastal aesthetic into not just its décor but also its menu, from its seafood-centric dishes to its droll cocktail names like the vodka-forward I Like It a Yacht. Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/404-1155. $$

Henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/206-1896. $$

Il Girasole—2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. If you want Northern Italian in a low-key atmosphere, and nobody rushing you out the door, this is your spot. Start with something from the very good wine list. Try the yellowtail snapper, the penne Caprese and the capellini Gamberi, and leave room for the desserts. Reservations recommended. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$

J&J Seafood Bar & Grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on Atlantic Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (who is also the chef) and wife Tina— serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$

Jimmy’s Bistro—9 S. Swinton Ave. International Jimmy’s Bistro is a casual neighborhood concept serving consistently delightful dishes from a diverse menu that can transport diners to Italy with house-made pasta or Asia with its delicate dumplings and tender duck. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5774. $$$

Joseph’s Wine Bar—200 N.E. Second Ave. Mediterranean-American. Joseph’s is an elegant, comfortable, intimate nook in Delray’s Pineapple Grove, and an ideal place for a lazy evening. This family affair—owner Joseph Boueri, wife Margaret in the kitchen, and son Elie and daughter Romy working the front of the house—has all tastes covered. Try the special cheese platter, the duck a l’orange or the rack of lamb. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/2726100. $$

La Cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean. Popular venue since 2001, with Greek and Italian dishes and more. Highlights are seafood paella, roasted half duck and grilled jumbo artichoke appetizer. Lots of favorites on the menu: calf’s liver, veal osso buco, branzino, seafood crepes. Nice outdoor seating if weather permits. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$

Latitudes—2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Modern American You should come for both the sunset and the food. This oceanfront restaurant is a gem tucked inside the Delray Sands resort. From the airy, bubbly interior to the raw bar, the décor is soothing and fun. Try the lobster and crab stuffed shrimp, the miso-glazed Skuna Bay salmon, the branzino or the veal Bolognese. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-6241. $$$

Le Colonial—601 E. Atlantic Ave. Vietnamese French. Le Colonial radiates classic elegance that is as sophisticated as it is comfortable. Created to showcase Vietnamese cuisine and its French influences, Le Colonial has a standout method of curating classic Vietnamese dishes that appeal to various palates, from meat lovers and pescatarians to vegetarians and everyone in between. The space immediately transports you back to Saigon’s tropical paradise of the 1920s. Lush birds of paradise and palms line the halls that lead into intimate dining nooks throughout the 7,000-squarefoot restaurant. • Lunch (on weekends) and dinner. 561/566-1800. $$$

Lemongrass Bistro—420 E. Atlantic Ave. PanAsian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this a popular destination. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/5670442. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton, 561/544-8181; 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/733-1344). $

Cha Gio at Le Colonial

NEIL JOHN BURGER

Lulu’s—189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Lulu’s in Pineapple Grove offers a relaxed ambiance with unfussy, approachable food. The quaint café is open every day and serves an all-day menu including breakfast until 3 p.m. and a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées that are ideal for an executive lunch, lively tapas happy hour, casual dinner or late night snack (until 2 a.m.). • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/453-2628. $

MIA Kitchen & Bar—7901 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$

The Office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take

on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-3796. $$

Papa’s Tapas—259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $

Park Tavern—32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders, chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$

Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar—5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and

service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$

Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian

While not your traditional Italian trattoria, it is a place to find new favorites and revisit old standbys updated with delicious ingredients and high standards. Try the Monetcolored lobster risotto, or housemade pasta, pizza, bread and desserts. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/271-9423. $$

Sazio—131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$

Taki Omakase—632 E. Atlantic Ave. Japanese. Taki Omakase, a shining example of omakase done right, is pricy but worth it, so long as you love eating raw fish. Every night is different, because it prides itself on importing fish, meat and seasonal ingredients from Japan that arrive daily. So, if you do pine for the delicacies of

The Volen Center was made with the active and social senior in mind, offering a jam-packed schedule of things to do every week. From live music and dancing to themed parties, art classes, games, exercise classes, discussion groups and local trips and outings, your only problem will be finding enough hours in the day to do it all!

the sea, buckle in and get ready for the talented chefs at Taki Omakase to guide you through a culinary journey unlike anything else. Dinner nightly, lunch hour Fri.Sun. 561/759-7362. $$$$

Terra Fiamma —9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/495-5570. $$

Tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world where restaurants chase trends with the relentlessness of Casanova in full Viagra heat, Tramonti stands out as a classic outpost of authentic Italian cookery. Not trendy hardly means stodgy, however, as evidenced by expertly crafted, robustly flavorful dishes like the signature spiedini di mozzarella Romana, spaghetti al cartoccio and braciole Napoletana. Torta della nonna is a triumph of the highly refined simplicity that lies at the heart of true Italian cuisine. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-1944. $$$

Veg Eats Foods—334 E. Linton Blvd. Creative Vegan. This is comfort food for everyone; the dishes will impress carnivores, too. Smell the fresh coconut vegetable curry soup, which tastes as good as it sounds. Try the grilled brawt sausage, the Ranch chixn, the banh mi and a Ruben—all from plant-based ingredients that will fool your taste buds. • Lunch daily. 561/562-6673. $

Vic & Angelo’s—290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Thin-crust pizzas are family-friendly, but you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and a tiramisu. • Dinner nightly, brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$

LAKE WORTH BEACH

Paradiso Ristorante—625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian

menu. The Mediterranean salt-crusted branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$

PALM BEACH

Bice—313 Worth Ave. Italian. This venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$

Buccan—350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Casual elegance of Palm Beach meets modern culinary Miami at this hot restaurant by chef Clay Conley. The design offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (wood-grilled burgers) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). • Dinner nightly. 561/833-3450. $$

Café Boulud—The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. This hotel restaurant

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. • Dinner nightly. 561/655-6060. $$$

Café L’europe—331 S. County Road. Current international. A Palm Beach standard, the café has long been known for its peerless beauty, the piano player, the chilled martinis and the delicious Champagne and caviar bar. Try one of its sophisticated classics like Wiener schnitzel with herbed spaetzle, grilled veal chop and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$

Echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

HMF—1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onionParmesan dip with fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas and Korean-style short ribs. • Dinner nightly. 561/290-0104. $$

Imoto—350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos

and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$

Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse. “Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steak house but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$

Renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist—like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$

The Sandwich Shop at Buccan—350 S. County Road. Takeout stop. Like big sister Buccan Italian restaurant, The Sandwich Shop is full of flavor and builds your favorite sandwich with just a touch of delicious creativeness you won’t find elsewhere. Owned by celeb chef Clay Conley and partners, the menu has hot or cold sandwiches, salads, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Good-sized portions mean the Italian and prosciutto subs include leftovers if you have some willpower. • Lunch daily. 561/833-6295. $$

Trevini Ristorante—290 Sunset Ave. Italian. Expect a warm experience, complemented by a stately but com-

fortable room and excellent food. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/833-3883. $$$

PALM BEACH GARDENS

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 nightly. 561/627-2662. $$

WEST PALM BEACH

Café Centro—2409 N. Dixie Highway. Italian. There are many things to like about this modest little osteria— the unpretentious ambiance, piano Thursday through Saturday during season, 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 and gilds snowy fillets of grouper with a soulful Livornese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/514-4070. $$

Grato—1901 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. “Grato” is Italian for “grateful,” and there is much to be grateful for about Clay Conley’s sophisticated yet unpretentious take on Italian cookery. Anyone would be grateful to find such delicate, crispy and greaseless fritto misto as Grato’s, ditto for lusty beef tartare piled onto a quartet of crostini. Spinach gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce are a revelation, so light and airy they make other versions taste like green library paste. Don’t miss the porchetta either. • Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. 561/404-1334. $$

Leila—120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. Flowing drapes and industrial lighting complete the exotic decor in this Middle Eastern hit. Sensational hummus is a must-try. Lamb kebab with parsley, onion and spices makes up the delicious Lebanese lamb kefta. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/659-7373. $$

Marcello’s La Sirena—6316 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$

Pistache—1010 N. Clematis St., #115. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as coq au vin and steak tartare. Plus, guests dining al fresco have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Centennial Park. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$

Shrimp pesto cappellini at Cafe Centro

Rhythm Café—3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/833-3406. $$

Rocco’s Tacos—224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and more than 200 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. Made-to-order guacamole is a good place to start. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Also at 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/808-1100.) $

Table 26°—1700 S. Dixie Highway. Contemporary American. Take a quarter-cup of Palm Beach, a tablespoon of Nantucket, a pinch of modern American cookery and a couple gallons of the owners’ savoir faire, and you have Eddie Schmidt’s and Ozzie Medeiros’s spot. The menu roams the culinary globe for modest contemporary tweaks on classically oriented dishes. Try the fried calamari “Pad Thai.” • Dinner nightly. 561/8552660. $$$

BOCA RATON

388 Italian Restaurant By Mr. Sal —3360 N. Federal Highway. Italian . This family-owned outpost of its Long Island flagship prides itself on nostalgic, quintessential dishes. Pastas like alla vodka, marinara and spicy rigatoni share the menu with chicken and veal entrees in beloved preparations like masala, Milanese and parmigiana. Choose from half or whole portions to share with the table. It’s also known for its lively ambiance, so come here for an Italian feast but stay for the party. Dinner nightly. 561/794-3888. $$$

Abe & Louie’s —2200 Glades Road. Steakhouse. All Americans are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. At this posh, comfortable (and expensive) meatery, the USDA Prime steaks are indeed thick, juicy and perfectly cooked, also massively flavorful and served in enormous portions. Don’t miss the New York sirloin or prime rib, paired in classic steakhouse fashion with buttery hash browns and uber-creamy creamed spinach. Chased with an ice-cold martini or glass of red wine from the truly

impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$$

AlleyCat—297 E.Palmetto Park Road. Japanese. Chef Eric Baker’s Japanese izakaya, or a casual spot for drinks and bites, is serving up dishes like sushi, dumplings and fried rice that have an unexpected whimsical element. Here you’ll find king crab tacos and hot fried chicken alongside the hamachi ponzu and spicy scallop roll. And to deliver the freshest sushi in town, he has partnered with celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana of Sushi by Bou. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/353-5888. $$

Arturo’s Restaurant—6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. After 40 years of feeding our Boca community, the Gismondi family is still going to great lengths to take care of its patrons, who, over the years, have become honorary family members themselves. Arturo’s brings generations of diners together with its warm ambiance, classic and consistent Italian fare, and its award-winning 1,000+-bottle wine cellar. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Fri., dinner Sat.-Sun. 561/997-7373. $$$

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

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

400 Gulfstream Blvd, Delray Beach FL 33444

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

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

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

Josie’sRistorante

Basilic Vietnamese Grill—200 S. Federal Highway. Vietnamese. This popular restaurant offers satisfying food and reasonable prices. Plus, there’s bubble tea. Opened in 2014, it has a wide range of Vietnamese favorites, such as cha gio tom heo, fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls, all kinds of pho, noodle bowls, chicken curry and more. • Lunch and dinner six days a week; closed Tuesdays. 561/409-4964. $$

Bluefin Sushi and Thai—861 N.W. 51st St., Suite 1. Sushi/Thai. Arrive early for a table at this Asian hot spot— it’s popular with no reservations for parties fewer than six. Don’t skip the tempura lobster bomb, big in both size and taste. The ginger snapper will impress both Instagram and your stomach. Try the chicken satay and pad Thai. Bluefin offers a variety of dishes from multiple cultures, all well done. • Dinner daily. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 561/981-8869. $$

Burtons Grill & Bar—5580 N. Military Trail.

New American. Known for its reliable food as well as its non-gluten, Paleo and “B Choosy” kids menu, the first Florida location for this restaurant is deservedly crowded, so make reservations. Don’t miss the General Tso’s cauliflower, the pan-seared salmon (Paleo), the crab cakes or the Key lime pie. Popular half-portions are available, too. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/465-2036. $

The Capital Grille—6000 Glades Road. Steaks. This is one of more than three dozen restaurants in a national chain, but the Boca Grille treats you like a regular at your neighborhood restaurant. Steaks, dry-aged if not Prime, are flavorful and cooked with precision, while starters from the pan-fried calamari to the restaurant’s signature spin on the Cobb salad (lunch only) are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/368-1077. $$$

Casa D’Angelo—171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Chef Rickie Piper, who has mastered the menu and cuisine of this fine-dining staple for more than a decade, knows when to say when with both plating and ingredients. His dishes, including the sides and accompaniments, are visually appetizing and aromatic. A grilled veal chop easily 3 inches thick proved tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms served alongside in a marsala added earthiness. • Dinner nightly. 561/996-1234. $$$

Elizabeth Burrows

President, Spady Cultural Heritage Museum Board of Directors

THEN: Elizabeth Burrows knows Delray Beach. Born and raised here, Burrows, 42, has spent much of her career working for either local government or nonprofit organizations. A graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in public relations, Burrows later went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Miami. Over the years, Burrows has worked for the Delray Beach Police Department in its records department, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as an after-school program council, and spent several years working for the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency with responsibilities for marketing and economic development. She also served on the board of the Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative and had an internship with the city’s public information office. Burrows has worked for numerous nonprofits, including Old School Square and the United Way of Palm Beach. She now works as the grants manager for 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast and continues to run the Life Edit Project, a coaching business she founded in 2017. She is the daughter of Leonard Butler, a Delray Beach native and longtime resident, and Lula Butler, the longtime former director of the City of Delray Beach’s Community Improvement Department.

NOW: In 2007, while working for the CRA, Burrows took a tour of the Spady Museum when she saw a familiar face while looking at an old photo of a group of young women. “It was my Aunt Lillian,” she says. “That’s when it hit me—The Spady isn’t just telling random history, it’s telling my family’s story. At that moment, my support for the Spady became personal.” Burrows said she decided right then that she would do whatever it takes to support the museum, which focuses on collecting and sharing the Black history of Delray Beach and all of Palm Beach County. Over the years, Burrows has been a resource for the museum staff, including Executive Director Charlene Farrington. In 2021, Burrows joined the museum board and became president of the board in January 2023. With Burrows at the helm, the museum will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the home of Solomon D. Spady—a revered school principal who arrived in 1922—which houses the museum. On Jan. 20, the museum will also be celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with its “I Have a Dream” brunch at Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach with guest speaker Don Mizell, Esq.

“The Spady Museum is an anchor for the Black community of Delray Beach. Culturally, it is a gathering point that brings people together to learn, celebrate and to save our Black history before it disappears.”

BY MICHELIN STARRED CHEF, MICHAEL MINA

DELRAY Magazine Jan/Feb 2025

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14 editor’s letter

17 hot list

23 snapshots

24 top 5/calendar

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