 (Press Release) LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. (June 30, 2026) – The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is transforming its galleries into a vibrant marketplace this summer with the debut of Artist Marketplace, a new event series designed to connect the community with Palm Beach County-based creative professionals.
Held on select Thursdays (July 16 and 30, August 6 and 20) from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Cultural Council, the Artist Marketplace invites visitors to browse and shop original artwork, including paintings, photography, jewelry, accessories, greeting cards, and household items and gifts.  SHAKSHUKA (Amrit) (Press Release) SINGER ISLAND, FL – Celebrate the spectacular taste of freedom with an unforgettable oceanfront brunch at Tulā, the signature restaurant at Amrit Ocean Resort, on Sunday, July 5.
Executive Chef Craig Tooker has created a lineup of sweet and savory brunch specials, perfectly paired with sunshine and breathtaking ocean views. July 5 brunch specials:  (Press Release) The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) reported that Tri-Rail recorded its highest Saturday ridership on June 27, 2026, with more than 11,000 rides on the day of the World Cup match between Portugal and Colombia in Miami.
“When the world's biggest sporting event comes to South Florida, Tri-Rail is delivering for fans every step of the way,” said Diane Hernandez Del Calvo, SFRTA Interim Executive Director. “We're proud to be helping residents and visitors enjoy this historic event.”  (Press Release) (West Palm Beach, FL – June 29, 2026) In preparation for this year’s upcoming primary and general elections, the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC) is launching Every Vote Counts!, a comprehensive nonpartisan campaign of voter registration, education, and candidate engagement.
This informative multi-platform outreach is targeted at voters across Palm Beach County, including first-time voters, in the statewide primary on August 18 and the national general election on November 3, 2026. Compelling components of this campaign will include:  (Press Release) Boca Raton, FL (June 29, 2026) – Supporters of Boca Helping Hands (BHH) will rock out to live music by Evolution at “Rock the Relief” on Sunday, July 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Crazy Uncle Mikes, 6450 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Presented by Boca Helping Hands’ Heart & Spirit Society, the event will honor long-time supporter David Gart, Esquire and will serve as a celebration of the organization’s Founder’s Day. Many years ago, David Bart, a member of the social action committee at Congregation B’nai Israel, was asked to attend the initial meeting of representatives from churches and synagogues around Boca to discuss the need to feed the underserved. He is the only founding member of that group still active and is a founding member, and current honorary board member, of the Boca Helping Hands board.
The community is invited to attend the evening, with all proceeds benefiting Boca Helping Hands and its efforts to provide food, hope, and opportunities to local families facing food insecurity. “Each year, we hold a Founder’s Day event to celebrate the people who started our organization,” said Andrew Hagen, CEO of Boca Helping Hands. “We’re excited this year to host something a little different and can’t wait to bring the community together to enjoy great music in support of our mission.” Tickets start from $13.32 per person and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rock-the-relief-benefiting-boca-helping-hands-tickets-1990526389013?aff=oddtdtcreator  (Press Release) Lake Worth Beach, Fla. (June 29, 2026) – The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is now accepting applications for its 2027 Arts Administrators Fellowship, a 10-month leadership development program designed to strengthen the arts and cultural sector from within.
“By investing in arts administrators alongside artists, the Cultural Council reaffirms a core belief: a healthy cultural sector depends on strong, connected leadership,” said Dave Lawrence, CEO & President of the Cultural Council.  Cast of "Cats" (Photo: Carol Kassie) By GERRY BARKER North Palm Beach Life It could be I am the last person on the planet to have never seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats." But now I have. Entr’Acte Theatrix presented the acclaimed musical at the William G Skaff Center in West Palm Beach -- one of only seven productions currently touring the country -- and it was evident how it has charmed and entertained millions since its London debut in 1981.  Cate and the junkyard shoe (NPBL) The energetic cast of junkyard Jellicle cats, with their amazing costumes, sang and danced their way nonstop (the show has almost no spoken dialogue) to the Jellicle Ball, where their leader, Old Deuteronomy, would choose one of them to be reborn. Also impressive was the staging at the William G. Skaff Center, which affords intimate, up-close viewing that almost places the audience onstage with the performers. The musical is based on T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," which is said he originally wrote for his godchildren. And even those who haven't seen it will probably know one of its most famous songs, "Memory," recorded by more than 150 different singers. Afterwards, cast members generously came back out to hang with the audience and pose for photos, much to the delight of our granddaughter, Cate, and Pam. It ended its run on Sunday, June 28, but mark your calendars for their next production, "Mary Poppins," coming this Fall. Stay current by visiting their Facebook page.  Cate and Pam with Old Deuteronomy (NPBL)  L-R: Stephanie Seible, Brandy Miller, Michel Gaber and JalesaHuggin (Press Release) DELRAY BEACH, Fla (June 26, 2026) — Achievement Centers for Children & Families (Achievement Centers) has been recognized by Nonprofits First for maintaining continuous accreditation since the organization’s founding in 2005, marking 20 years of commitment to accountability, transparency, and nonprofit best practices.
The recognition was presented as part of Nonprofits First’s 20th anniversary celebration, honoring organizations that have remained continuously accredited since the beginning of the program.  Catherine Barker By CATHERINE BARKER
Special to North Palm Beach Life Photos: Pam and Gerry Barker Editor's Note: Catherine Barker is a native Floridian and also our 13-year-old granddaughter. This is her account of seeing both "Colosseum" and "Napoleon" at the PBS Studios in Boynton Beach. If you were to sit me down and lecture me about Napoleon or the Colosseum, I wouldn't be interested. Sure, I might learn a thing or two, but it wouldn't leave me craving more. When it's fun and engaging, it grabs my attention and educates me as well. I've found that when it involves me in learning, it sticks longer, rather than telling me the facts face-to-face or reading it in a book. Going into the PBS Napoleon and Colosseum experiences, I expected a VR experience where I sat down and it took me to a place in history, as it was the last time I went to the Titanic experience. But this time was different. When I first walked in, there was a desk where we signed in and lockers to put our stuff down. Along with that, there was a photo booth that took your photo and generated what you would look like if you lived in the certain time periods that Napoleon and the Colosseum occurred. I enjoyed the variety of options to choose from in the photo booth along with the option to not use AI to generate your photo. Once we put our stuff down and had our photos taken, we walked down a hallway with two paths -- one going into the Colosseum experience and one going into the Napoleon experience. The first one we did was the Colosseum. We walked into a room with screens projecting across the walls. It was an educational video that showed us life as a gladiator living In ancient Rome. I liked how there were clear sections in the video that talked about the society living in Rome and who got to sit on each level of the Colosseum. The way the projection stretched around us made the video more immersive in my opinion, so I enjoyed that. The video for Napoleon was similar except it was on a regular screen. Despite this, it had clear sections from start to finish, describing his coronation, meeting Josephine, and being a general. Along with the videos, there were paragraphs about Napoleon and the Colosseum, with items on display much like a museum. There was also an interactive screen showing Napoleon where if you press and hold, you can ask it a question, and Napoleon gives you an answer with the use of AI. Me and Gigi (my grandmother) couldn't help but laugh at Gaz (my grandfather) asking him funny questions. While the videos and interactive features were enjoyable, my personal favorite part of the experience was the VR. We walked into a big room with people guiding us on the controls of the VR headset and what to do. Unlike the VR experience on Titanic, where you sat down and it took you on a journey to the shipwreck, we actually got to walk around with how big the room was. And to make sure we don't accidentally bump into anyone, each person who also had a headset on looked like a white outline of a mannequin from my headset. There were also boundaries to make sure we don't accidentally bump into the wall while walking around. Something I liked about the experience were the interactive features like objects you can pick up and throw with your hands. In the Colosseum VR experience, a little boy guided us, not only just through the Colosseum, but also showed us what an average home and a bustling market in Rome looked like. We did eventually get to the Colosseum and watched from above, viewing the other people watching the gladiators as well. I enjoyed the switch of point of view from a spectator to a gladiator, taking us from the top of the Colosseum to the center, where the gladiators fought. I liked how the experience showed us what the Colosseum was truly like, and didn't sugarcoat it by any means. It showed us what it was like to be a gladiator, and the social hierarchy that determined whether you get a better or worse view of the fight. One new thing I learned was that women could also be gladiators along with men in ancient Rome Compared with the Napoleon VR experience, there were not as many interactive features, but it was still very immersive, showing us Napoleon fighting in battles along with many other soldiers. It also showed us the beautiful architecture of Paris and how many iconic structures were built, one of these being Notre Dame. I liked the changing in scenery, and the amount of detail put into the experience was incredible. It just shows us how the legacy of Napoleon lived on even after his death and how it affected the world around us. In my opinion, I loved how it felt as if you were really experiencing history rather than reading about it as we normally do. I recommend going to the PBS Napoleon and the Colosseum experiences as it was very informative and fun as well. You'll also learn a thing or two about history! For more information, check out the PBS website. |
ABOUTExploring what to see and do in North Palm Beach and the South Florida area. Your hosts are Pam and Gerry Barker. 
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