(Press Release) November 12, 2025 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) — The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has named Palm Beach County artist Sharon Lee Hart as the recipient of the inaugural Distinguished Woman Artist’s Prize. The Council announced the prize to an audience of about 200 people at the opening reception of its Main Gallery exhibition, Fiber Optics, last week, presenting a giant check for $10,000 as a surprise to Hart.

The new prize, which is funded for the next five years by artist Suzi K. Edwards through the Henry L. Kimelman Foundation, champions established female artists at an inflection point in their career. In addition to developing her artistic development and achievements, Hart will have the opportunity to exhibit her works at the Cultural Council or a collaborating institutional exhibition within the next five years.

(Press Release) WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The holiday season shines bright at Hilton West Palm Beach with the debut of Jingle & Mingle, a festive outdoor bar experience filled with cozy firepits, lounge seating, and a lineup of spirited events for all ages.
 
Guests can sip their way through a curated menu of seasonal cocktails like the Santa’s Cocoa Clause (bourbon, hot chocolate, orange liqueur), Mint Condition Espresso, and S’more The Merrier (Michter’s bourbon, toasted marshmallow cordial, chocolate bitters). For those craving something cozy, the Mull It Over wine and Peppermint Patty Cocoa offer warm winter comfort. Pair your drink with bites like the Holiday Grazing Platter, Artisan Cheese Selection, or the S’mores kit for fireside fun.

(Press Release) (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) – The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County proudly celebrated the 2025 GoTeach! Classroom Grant Awards on October 30 at the Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation in Lake Worth Beach. More than 200 educators, students and community leaders gathered to recognize the achievements of 143 grant recipients from 54 schools, marking a record-breaking year for the program.
 
The Education Foundation awarded 89 GoTeach! Classroom Grants, providing $200,000 in funding to support innovative classroom projects across Palm Beach County. GoTeach! Classroom Grants focus on the priority areas of Literacy, Career and Technical Education, Increasing Graduation Rates, Student Resiliency, STEM Education including Artificial Intelligence and Financial Literacy, Teacher Quality and support for underperforming students. 

(Press Release) ​West Palm Beach, Fla. (November 11, 2025) – The Raymond F. Kravis Center and producers Lia Vollack, John Branca and John McClain are thrilled to announce the cast for the smash-hit musical, MJ, when it makes it West Palm Beach premiere February 10 – 15. Tickets will go on sale Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. online and 12 p.m. at the Box Office or by calling 561.832.7469.

(Press Release) ​Boca Raton, FL (November 11, 2025) – Men Giving Back South Palm Beach County, a Boca Raton-based membership organization supporting nonprofits throughout South Palm Beach County, awarded over half a million dollars to local charities during its 2025 Golden Grants Evening on November 5, 2025. Over 200 members, nonprofit nominees, and invited guests of Men Giving Back gathered at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for the 5th annual event, enjoying live music, top-shelf cocktails, and dinner as they honored representatives of the 12 charities selected as finalists for this year’s major grants.  

(Press Release) Delray Beach is about to jingle all the way to the beat of Rock & Roll! South Florida’s favorite holiday tradition is back — bigger, louder, and filled with more heart than ever!

 Billy Cunningham, top South Florida real-estate powerhouse and one of the founders of The Starboard Group, a team of highly skilled real estate professionals and entrepreneurs who also founded The Starboard Foundation, joins forces once again with Daniel Hartwell, the visionary concert producer behind United We Rock Foundation and The International Beatles On The Beach Festival.

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Photos by Gerry and Pamela Barker

Van Leeuwen, which started as an ice cream food truck in New York, has grown to over 100 locations nationally and counting, and we celebrated the opening of its storefront in West Palm Beach's trendy NORA district at a private grand opening event on Monday.

This was our first visit to the NORA (North Railroad Avenue) District, an impressive new development north of downtown that has that budding Brickell/Wynwood vibe.

“What started nearly 20 years ago as a scoop truck on the streets of New York has grown far beyond what we imagined, and we’re so excited to bring Van Leeuwen to Palm Beach,” said Ben Van Leeuwen, co-founder and CEO in their press release. “Palm Beach County’s vibrant community, and laid-back coastal charm make it the perfect place for our next scoop shops. We can’t wait to share our ice cream with locals and visitors alike — good ice cream that makes you feel good.”

​You could say their whole brand is built around "feeling good." The signage on the wall inside says it all: "A Life Without Anything Good Is Bad." And when you sample their ice cream, you won't have anything to feel bad about, even those extra calories. As their founders say, "Yes, our ice cream has fat. And that's okay. It's good-good, not good-bad."

With over 25 flavors, including a selection of vegan choices, where to start? Besides the standard vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, there's BIGFACE Coffee Affogato, Honeycomb, Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Brownie, Pistachio (made with Sicilian pistachios from Mount Etna), Marionberry Cheesecake, and Earl Grey Tea. And of course a special flavor for their Floridian fans: Key Lime Pie.

As a nod to Palm Beach, Van Leeuwen has partnered with Palm Beach-born brand Lilly Pulitzer to feature limited-time ice cream cups and a Lilly sundae featuring Key Lime Pie ice cream, Fabbri Strawberries, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbs.

Along with their location in Miami and in the NORA District, you can find them in Palm Beach Gardens (11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave). and in Delray Beach's Sundy Village.

My favorite flavor? Assisted by the store manager, Fiona, I went with Honeycomb, with caramel topping. Take it from me: It's good-good-good.

(Press Release) ​(Boca Raton, FL – November 11, 2025) Just days after her hour-long PBS Special, internationally acclaimed and Boca-based singing sensation Deborah Silver has received her first GRAMMY Award nomination for Basie Rocks!, her album with The Count Basie Orchestra. It has been nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. The next annual GRAMMY Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
 
A chart-topping, two-time #1 Billboard jazz vocalist, Silver’s dazzling new recording reimagines classic rock hits with swinging big band arrangements on which she is joined by The Count Basie Orchestra, including songs by The Beatles, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton, and more.