Always on the lookout for a new breakfast spot, we heard good things about this place in a strip center on Northlake near Prosperity Rd. -- Debra's Place, to be exact. A longtime mainstay for locals and seasonals alike, we were obviously late to the party on this one.

Arriving on a recent Saturday morning, it was packed -- a fairly common occurence, we understand. Nothing fancy, it's strictly old-school, with one row of booths and a long counter. We must have hit it just right: One booth was available.

Open for breakast and lunch daily, 5 am to 2 pm (5 am to 1 pm on Saturday and 6 am to 1 pm Sundays), you have lots of choices at great prices. A complete breakfast starts at under $4. We opted for one order of two eggs with cheese, grits and toast, and another for one egg, sausage, hash browns and toast. My goodness -- the portions were generous.

They are also reknowned for their BBQ. We'll definitely be back to report on that as well.

Debra's Place is located at 785 Northlake Blvd. Be sure and come hungry.

PLEASE JOIN ME in congratulations our precious grand-daughter, Catherine, recently honored at her pre-school for "Taking a Nap."As much as I take pride in her accomplishments, school has definitely changed from what I remember. Now I'm curious about what other awards they hand out. "Coloring In the Lines"? Doesn't matter ... you go, girl!

(Press Release)_Loggerhead Marinelife Center recently said goodbye to selling plastic bottles on campus – just in time for Earth Day.
 
Now, the Center sells only sustainably-packaged beverages on campus – including LMC’s Tortuga Café, the first establishment to participate in the Center's Ocean Friendly Restaurant program, set to launch this May. 
 
More than 80 percent of water bottles end up in landfills, composing the majority of litter on beaches and in oceans, according to EcoWatch. Eliminating plastic bottles from campus will keep thousands of single-use bottles out of these landfills – and the ocean.
 
“For those who don’t work in the retail business, it may seem easy to stop selling plastic bottles – which would be true if we stopped selling beverages altogether,” said Tommy Cutt, LMC’s chief conservation officer. “There are still very few options available to replace water bottles. Those that exist do not have distribution processes like larger vendors. It took months of coordination and planning with sales reps and distributors to make this happen.”

This on-campus sustainability initiative is one of many for Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Last year, staff members formed a Campus Sustainability Committee to reduce environmental impacts in day-to-day workflows and created an off-campus garden filled with green peppers and lettuce varieties to help feed LMC’s green sea turtle patients.
 
This summer, LMC’s gift store will begin offering only reusable bags to guests.
 
“One step at a time, we’re implementing simple solutions with a huge impact,” said Kate Fratalia, LMC’s director of retail operations. “We’re excited to continue accelerating our conservation impact throughout the Center’s retail operations – and hopefully inspire others to do the same.”
 
For more information about Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s sustainability initiatives, visit marinelife.org/campus-sustainability.

The signs in The Gardens Mall have been promoting the impending arrival of Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant for many months. Seven days ago, it had its official opening. Cooper's Hawk is a chain; it originated in Chicago and now has locations in eight states. Our friends from Chicago raved about it, so we headed over to check it out.

Located on the second level, across from Mrs. Field's at the Sears end of the mall, it is both elegant and casual at the same time. As you enter, you almost feel as if you are in a winery in Napa. There is a long counter with a wall of wine bottles and a friendly greeter inviting you to sample a selection of reds and whites.

The decor is beautiful and the wait staff pleasant, efficient and friendly. You'll need some time to peruse the extensive menu. Many of the selections are matched with a recommended wine, which is a nice touch. They also offer wine flights, as well as membership in a Wine Club. Wine is everywhere, which is okay by us.

Our food was excellent, starting with a warm loaf of preztel bread, accompanied by warm (not cold, hard-as-a-rock) butter. We started with an order of potstickers, which were perfectly steamed over a bed of Asian slaw with dipping sauce. Delicious!

Pam opted for the turkey burger, while I went with the beer-battered, Cod fish sandwich. Priced at $12, both looked great and tasted as good as they looked. The desserts were tempting, but no room this time around.

Patio seating is an option if you prefer outdoor dining. Judging by the crowd, word is getting round Cooper's Hawk is open for business in Palm Beach Gardens.

For that, we say "cheers." Listen to our podcast:

BrickTops -- the new Palm Beach Gardens eatery that has taken over the space where River House was by the PGA Bridge -- has been open almost two weeks. North Palm Beach Life headed over for lunch to check it out.

Construction is ongoing as they apply the finishing touches, but just follow the signs off PGA Blvd. on the north side of the drawbridge and you'll end up at the complimentary valet stand.

While the white exterior says Key West, the interior is upscale and modern. With a sunny day, blue skies and a cool breeze, we asked our very well-dressed wait-person (the staff all dress well, BTW) for patio seating. What goes better with lunch than watching the yachts go by, and the privileged class enjoying their privileges?

Pam decided on the fish tacos ($16), and I joined her. We chose wisely. The blackened fish was cooked perfectly, and the accompanying salsa was just right.

Another outdoor dining option is the Tiki Hut, right by where the boats dock. Our waiter said they are still working out the bar menu, so give them some time. 

As a bonus for our visit, the vintage Presidential yacht Honey Fitz sailed by. Five different Presidents have used it, including JFK. She's a beauty and a definite head-turner as diners got out their camera phones.

BrickTops is located at 2373 PGA Blvd., across the water from Seasons 52. Judging by the crowd, the word is already out.

Related Blog: The Honey Fitz Sighted

SAX AT THE SAND BAR_ Saxophonist David Kupsick hit the right notes at The Sand Bar Thursday night, April 20. Located in Sandpiper's Cove Restaurant and Bar at Old Port Cove in North Palm Beach, patrons enjoyed Happy Hour food and drink along with Kupsick's jazzy vibes, with the blue water of the IntraCoastal providing the perfect backdrop. Get more information about the Sand Bar's musical lineup here. (Photo by North Palm Beach Life).

Lunchtime diners at the new BrickTops waterfront restaurant on PGA got a bonus when the vintage Presidential yacht Honey Fitz sailed by on Friday, April 21. Used by five different Presidents, including JFK, it's regal lines draw attention everywhere she goes. You can see more of the interior in our story here.

(Press Release)_The 2017 Jupiter Medical Center Loggerhead Triathlon athlete registration is now open. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 5th at Carlin Park in Jupiter, Florida. This race is expected to sell out quickly so be sure to register early.
 
The Jupiter Medical Center Loggerhead Triathlon produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce is one of the longest enduring triathlons in the state of Florida. Dating back to 1985, triathletes have made the trip to Jupiter year after year to enjoy the magnificent oceanside setting, the family-friendly atmosphere, and the competition. The event has become a "must do" on the southeast race circuit and has spawned some of the top triathletes in the United States.

Click for more information

(Press Release)_Brightline, the only privately-funded express intercity passenger rail system in the country, has been named “2017 Business of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce of The Palm Beaches. The innovative transportation company received the prestigious honor at the 2017 Business Awards Breakfast held this morning at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. West Palm Beach is home to the Brightline train station and its railroad operations center, Workshop b. 

“Brightline is quickly becoming part of the fabric of the Palm Beaches’ community.  We look forward to bringing guests to local businesses with our express train service beginning this summer,” said Brightline CEO David Howard. “It is an honor to be recognized with this award from the business community and I thank the Chamber for their enthusiastic support of Brightline.”    

“Brightline has already brought tremendous benefit to Palm Beach County,” said Dennis Grady, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. “As the city continues attracting new businesses and residents, a reliable and convenient alternative transportation system connecting us to the major destinations is critical for our continued success.”

The downtown West Palm Beach station is located at 260 S. Quadrille Plaza in West Palm Beach. Welcoming guests to downtown West Palm Beach from Fort Lauderdale and Miami later this summer, the station spans 60,000 square feet and will include a parking garage, retail space and residential units. Guests will have access to ride-sharing/taxi options, rental cars and shuttle services, as well as the ability to connect to the Palm Tran, Tri-Rail and downtown trolley system.

The station is within walking distance to the government administration offices, Clematis Street District, CityPlace, Centennial Park and Waterfront. Brightline’s Workshop b, a 12-acre railroad operations facility that serves to repair, maintain, clean and store its trains, is also located in West Palm Beach, about a mile from the station. Once Brightline service begins, this facility will serve as the on-duty location for Brightline’s train crews.

Introductory express service will begin between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale in late July, followed by service to Miami in late August. The company is anticipating a grand opening and official launch of the train service in September.