(PRESS RELEASE)_(Lake Worth, FL – December 10, 2018) The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County today announced that the popular series CULTURE & COCKTAILS returns next month with the second of five fascinating conversations this season at The Colony Hotel Coral Ballroom, located at 155 Hammon Avenue in Palm Beach.

January 7
COLLAGE MIRAGE
A Conversation with artist Bruce Helander

An arts critic and writer, curator and creative talent, Bruce Helander has been hailed as “the most recognized and successful collage artist in the country.” A former White House Fellow for the National Endowment of the Arts and winner of the South Florida Cultural Consortium fellowship for professional achievement in the visual arts, he was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame in 2014. His work is in over 50 museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Smithsonian, the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and other prestigious institutions.

Interviewed by Deborah C. Pollack, art historian, gallery owner, and author of several books including Palm Beach Visual Arts

 The remaining three CULTURE & COCKTAILS of this season will include:

+ February 4: A conversation between real estate developer, film producer/distributor and vineyard owner Charles S. Cohen and Dr. David Breneman, President & CEO of The Society of the Four Arts

 + March 11: A conversation between art collector Christine Aylward and Daphne Nikolopoulos, Author & Editor-in-Chief of Palm Beach Illustrated

+ April 8: A conversation between legendary broadcaster Dick Robinson and Rich & Jill Switzer, celebrated cabaret performers and co-hosts of The Morning Lounge on Legends 100.3 FM

(MEDIA RELEASE)_Ketel One Family-Made Vodka joined designers Jonathan Simkhai and Forward by Elyse Walker as they celebrated their exclusive capsule collection at Art Basel Miami Beach. Close friends of the designers’ -- including models and tastemakers in the fashion industry -- attended the private dinner where they toasted to the designers and honored their artistry and creativity.

Guests enjoyed an elevated cocktail experience where from Ketel One Vodka with three specialty cocktails crafted specifically for this event. Cocktails included the Art Basil (Ketel One Vodka, yuzu, basil, soda water); the Miami Mule (Ketel One Vodka, cucumber, Aperol, Giffard Pamplemousse, ginger beer); and the South Beach Sunset (Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose, rose syrup, citrus trifecta, pink prosecco).

(PRESS RELEASE)_BOCA RATON, FL, December 6, 2018 --  Oliv Pit Athenian Grille, a fine casual authentic Mediterranean restaurant, has new owners, a refreshed look, new menus and new chef. Located at the Shoppes at Village Pointe on Southwest 18th Street in Boca Raton, the menu has been greatly expanded.

The restaurant is now owned by one of the original owners, Emmanuel Vlahos, along with new partners Yuri Tsyganov and Konstantin Galkin. The new executive chef is Ayal Kitches from Tel Aviv who has brought his recipes for pita wraps and hummus to Oliv Pit.  International restaurant consultants, KnowHow, provided guidance on giving diners the best possible experience.

The new menu includes a variety of salads, as well as gyros, small plates, appetizer spreads, and pita wraps, as well as top quality beef, lamb and seafood. 

Vegetarians and vegans will enjoy the new plant-based Impossible Foods gyro, pita and burger. Additional dishes that are vegan, vegetarian, paleo and gluten free are available at the restaurant.

Family style dining, with an expanded selection of dinner platters, is now available for take-out. There is also a new kid’s menu and a new catering menu.

The menu features 16 starters ranging from $5 to $15, including Paprika Spread with roasted red peppers, red wine vinegar and herbs; Zucchini Croquettes with fried zucchini, dill, feta and herbs with tzatziki; Wood Grilled Octopus with capers, a preserved lemon vinaigrette and parsley; and Smoky Grilled Eggplant with bell peppers, green onions, parsley, Greek olive oil and garlic.

Salads range from $9-$11 and include a Greek Caesar Salad, Signature Green Salad and a Beet Salad.

Pita Wraps are $9 and include New York Strip Steak, Gyro, Lamb Meatballs, Pork Skewers, Chicken Breast, Chicken Thigh, Salmon, Sautéed Oyster Mushrooms, Grilled Vegetables and Impossible Burger.

The menu features nine main courses ranging from $16-$38. Choices include Mixed Grille Platter for Two with lamb, gyros, New York strip minute steak, chicken breast and pork; Seafood Platter for Two with prawns, octopus, fried calamari and salmon; Lamb Chops with Australian grilled lamb chops, lemon potatoes, olives and a garlic confit; Grilled Branzino with lemon, capers, preserved lemon vinaigrette and herbs; Roasted Prawns with tomato and garlic confit and an Impossible Platter with impossible burger, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, garlic confit and olive oil.

Desserts are $5 and are Greek Yoghurt with Greek honey and salted pistachios, Baklava , Orange Cake and Chocolate Cake.

Of particular note are the Blue Zone menu items. Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live to be over 100 years old in good health on a regular basis. Ikaria, an isolated Greek Island is one of the five Blue Zones in the world as identified by National Geographic and some dishes from that island will be featured.

Fine Greek wines are available along with select Greek beers.

The restaurant is the first in the United States to use barbecue briquettes made of olive pits for grilling its meats.  This process is popular in Greece and elsewhere in Europe, as the olive pits do not contain carcinogens found in charcoal.  

“We are excited to relaunch the Oliv Pit concept and believe the delicious new menu, along with the outstanding new chef, will fill the void in fine casual Mediterranean dining in South Florida.”

The 84-seat restaurant features an open kitchen and outdoor seating in both the front of the restaurant and in the back courtyard.  The restaurant was designed by Greek architect and designer Maria Mergoupi. 

Oliv Pit is located in the Shoppes at Village Point, 6006 SW 18th St, Boca Raton, FL 33433, phone: 561.409.2049.  The restaurant is open daily and the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.   

For more information please visit olivpit.com or follow on social at:  Facebook.com/olivpit, @olivpit. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_Perk up with a great cup of caffeine and lively banter at the YMCA of the Palm Beaches! Enjoy the art of social small talk at Senior Coffee and Conversation on Friday, December 21, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite books, puzzles, and board games. Free for YMCA seniors and SilverSneakers® members. For more information, call (561) 968-9622 or visit ymcapalmbeaches.org. The YMCA of Palm Beaches is located at 2085 South Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Look out, South Florida. The White Walkers are coming for you on Thursday, December 6, at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.  

No need to run, just head to the NYY Steak Dugout for NYY Steak and Smoke on Thursday, December 6, from 7-9 p.m. Enjoy handcrafted, White Walker by Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky cocktails, Caldwell Collection cigars from Caldwell Cigars, and a supernatural selection of NYY Steak’s signature bites. 

Inspired by the most enigmatic and feared characters on Game of Thrones – the limited edition White Walker by Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky is chill-filtered for a smooth and approachable flavor and offers rich seasonal flavors of vanilla, red fruits, and orchard fruits.  

NYY Steak and Smoke Menu: 

Passed Items 

Scotch Glazed Sea Scallop with Tart Apple and Pear Jam, 
Vanilla Maple Seared Duck Breast Crostini, Herb Chèvre, Colorado Lamb Chops,  
Blueberry Mint Marinade, Société Blue Cheese Fondue, and Spiced Autumn Demi 

Carving Station 
30-Day Dry-Aged Prime Beef 

Dessert 
Sticky Toffee Cake with White Walker Crème Anglaise 

Cigars 

Long Live the King 
The King is Dead 
Midnight Express 

Tickets are $175 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Customer Service at (954) 585-5379 or visit CasinoCoco.com.  Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is located at 5550 NW 40th Street, Coconut Creek.