(PRESS RELEASE)_(Boca Raton, FL – August 29, 2018) “If nominations for the first couple of Palm Beach County music were held, vocalist Jill Switzer and multi-instrumentalist Rich Switzer would be near the top of the list of candidates,” according to Florida Weekly.

Fans of the deliciously delightful co-hosts of The Morning Lounge on Legends 100.3 FM, now have a great opportunity to enjoy them live in The Radio Hour with Jill & Rich on Saturday, September 8, at The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum, 7901 N. Federal Hwy. in Boca Raton.

Backed by a stellar band – Paul Shewchuk on upright bass, Frank Derrick on drums, and Lindsay Blair on guitar – Jill and Rich will swing, sway and seduce the audience with songs like Too Darn Hot, Lies of Handsome Men, Europa and Mr. Paganini.

The musical married twosome will be joined on stage by celebrated Broadway and cabaret star Avery Sommers, as well as two Young Artist Award winners from the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook: Chris Santiago (2018/19) and Clanaven Baldonado (2015/16).

Pre-show dining begins at 6 pm, with the performance at 8 pm, followed immediately by dancing. Tickets are $125 each for dinner, show and dancing, and $55 - $65 for show only. They are available for purchase now by going online at www.TheWick.org or by calling 561.995.2333. The concert is sponsored by Legends 100.3 FM and Humana.

About Jill & Rich Switzer:

The co-hosts of The Morning Lounge on Legends 100.3 FM, daily from 6 to 10 am, Jill & Rich Switzer have both had sterling musical careers.

Jill has headlined at Birdland in NYC, locally at The Colony’s Royal Room, and with the Palm Beach Pops, and has shared the stage with Ann Hampton Callaway, John Pizzarelli, and Mary Wilson of The Supremes, to name a few, and has recorded with The Four Freshmen and Nicolas King. She has released several CDs including By Special Request, and is the author of The Diva Next Door: How to Be a Singing Star Wherever You Are.

Rich is a gifted pianist/composer, who has been entertaining audiences in South Florida for the past 32 years. His four CDs of melodic piano instrumentals have made a significant mark musically, beginning with his debut release, Quiet Storm. He’s also an honorary Board member of The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Miami, FL- August 30, 2018) – This Labor Day weekend is the last chance for families to take advantage of Brightline’s Kid Ride Free promotion. Up to two children 12 years of age or younger will receive complimentary tickets on Brightline with the purchase of one adult Smart service ticket. There is no better time for families to experience a South Florida getaway than over the long holiday weekend, with endless entertainment options for fun in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

We encourage families to create memories in South Florida together this Labor Day Weekend and take advantage of the last chance to score free tickets for kids,” said Brightline Vice President of Marketing Johanna Rojas. “Brightline makes it easy for kids and their parents, grandparents or guardians to experience the best in South Florida dining, shopping, outdoor adventure and children’s attractions.”

Riders of all ages are encouraged to explore some of South Florida’s favorite family locales located a short walk or Lyft ride from Brightline’s three stations. Found in the hub of their cities’ centers, each station is a gateway to adventure offering space exploration to shark tanks, sculpture gardens and even a ball games conveniently calling for family adventure.

In Miami, families can have a blast enjoying engaging, educational experiences like the Frost Museum of Science and the Miami Children’s Museum, or cheering on their favorite baseball players at Marlins Park. In West Palm Beach, families can enjoy the Palm Beach Zoo or Mounts Botanical Gardens for an outdoor adventure or opt for an afternoon of shopping and dining at CityPlace. In Fort Lauderdale, families can explore the Museum of Discovery and Science and the NSU Art Museum or cool off with a Water Taxi ride around the city.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Parkland, FL (August 29, 2018) -- Actions for Change, an organization launched by Marjory Stoneman Douglas parents Doug & Jennifer Zeif, has teamed up with Shine MSD and Change the Ref, both born out of the tragedy of the February 14th Stoneman Douglas shooting in Parkland, to create the inaugural “Actions for Change Food and Music Festival” fundraiser on Sunday, September 30th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, Florida. The evening will feature sweet and savory bites, cocktails, a beer garden and a musical performance by nationally known artists. Tickets can be purchased at actionsforchange.com.

The goals of the event are four-fold:

• Provide healing by bringing love, light and hope through the arts
• Register people to vote 
• Raise national awareness about gun violence
• Raise funds for organizations committed to helping all of our nation’s youth

“We can never take back the events of that day, but our hope is that by mobilizing the next generation, no other community will experience what we have gone through,” Zeif said. “This Action for Change event is just our way of creating purpose out of pain. We felt like we had to do something and trying to soothe this community felt like the right thing to do.  Doing ‘nothing’ was not an option.”

FOOD
More than 30 highly acclaimed chefs from across the globe will participate, many of whom are James Beard Award winners and/or Michelin Star rated.  Participants include:
Suzanne Goin, Los Angeles
Marc Vetri, Philadelphia
Kimberly Lallouz, Montreal
Art Smith, Chicago
Danny Boome, U.K. & NY
Gabriela Camara, Mexico City/San Francisco
Michael Kornick, Chicago
Bradley Kilgore, MIami
Jeremy & Cindy Bearman
 and many more.

MUSIC
Live music will take place throughout the evening, with anticipated performances by nationally recognized artists (to be announced shortly.) 

​(PRESS RELEASE_)Palm  Beach  County,  Fla.  –America's  love  affair  with  the  all-mighty  cheeseburger  spans  almost  a  hundred  years  of  juicy,  lip-smacking  delight  and  on  Tuesday,  September  18,  it's  time  to  celebrate. 

Here  are  the  top  five  cheeseburgers  to  sink  your  teeth  into  on  National  Cheeseburger  Day: 

Enjoy  America's  Best  Tasting  Burger  at  Habit  Burger  Grill  while  raising  funds  for  No  Kid  Hungry.  Its  Charburgers  are  cooked  over  an  open  flame  and  were  named  the  best  tasting  burger  in  the  nation  by  a  leading  consumer  magazine.  The  Habit  Restaurant,  Inc.  is  continuing  its  commitment  to  help  end  childhood  hunger  in  America  by  partnering  with  No  Kid  Hungry  for  a  fourth  year.  Over  the  past  four  years,  The  Habit  has  raised  over  $1  million  for  the  No  Kid  Hungry  campaign,  providing  millions  of  meals  for  kids  across  the  country.  All  seven  South  Florida  locations  will  participate  in  the  charity  partnership.  The  Habit  will  be  collecting  donations  for  No  Kid  Hungry  and  offering  guests  who  donate  $3  or  more  to  the  No  Kid  Hungry  campaign  a  free  Charburger  with  cheese  certificate,  good  on  a  return  visit  August  28  through  October  2,  2018. 

Get  ready  to  unleash  your  inner  cowboy  at  Burger  Bar  in  Palm  Beach  Gardens  because  The  Lone  Star  is  coming  to  town.  The  fully  loaded  prime  beef  blend  burger  is  topped  with  cheddar  cheese,  crispy  onion  rings,  thick-cut  bacon,  mayo,  and  BBQ  sauce.  Served  on  the  hip,  gourmet  burger  joint's  signature  bun,  this  cheeseburger  will  have  your  taste  buds  yelling  "yeehaw!"  before  the  last  bite. 

The  Beauty  and  the  Beeeef  is  grilling  up  a  mélange  of  drool-worthy  and  seismically  sized  8-ounce  Angus  "beefwiches"  like  you've  never  experienced  before.  Take  a  bite  out  of  the  Super  Pac  Man,  a  superhero  of  smoked  bacon,  cheddar  cheese,  mac  n'  cheese,  caramelized  onions,  and  red  onion.  But  the  real  wow  factor  of  this  gourmet  burger  is  its  bun  --  breaded,  deep-fried  mac  n'  cheese.

 Feeling  hungry?  Take  on  the  12  oz.  Mr.  Bigg  at  Grease  Burger  Bar  in  downtown  West  Palm  Beach.  Covered  in  melted  pepper  jack  cheese,  flame-grilled  to  perfection  in  a  cast-iron  skillet  and  crowned  with  deep-fried  Applewood  smoked  bacon,  caramelized  frizzled  onions,  and  warm  garlic  aioli,  it's  a  delicious  piece  of  gastro-pub  art.  

Vegans  and  meat-eaters  alike  are  raving  about  the  edgy  Veggie  Cheeseburger  at  Death  or  Glory,  Delray  Beach's  popular  bar  and  restaurant.  The  plant-based  patty  is  made  from  a  mixture  of  mushrooms,  onions,  beets,  tamari,  vegan  Worcestershire  sauce,  and  forbidden  rice,  a  black  delicacy  once  reserved  for  Chinese  Emperors  to  ensure  good  health.  The  savory  burger  is  topped  with  house-made  pickles,  raw  onions,  white  cheddar  and  fancy  sauce,  a  mixture  of  ketchup,  dijon,  mayo,  Worcestershire  sauce  and  Tabasco  and  served  on  a  potato  bun.  

PRESS RELEASE_(Palm Beach Gardens, FL – August 27, 2018) Colleen Smith, Artistic Director of Ballet Palm Beach today announced the 2018-2019 performance schedule of the highly acclaimed professional ballet company.

“This season holds so many possibilities for Ballet Palm Beach. So much new: new dancers, new works and a new venue; and yet so much tried and true: our wonderful dancers, our beautiful Nutcracker at the Kravis Center, and a season of great storytelling ballets,” says Smith, who has choreographed five full-length ballets based on literature such as Wonderland, Gatsby, and Snow White. “Sharing it all with our community will be a joy.”

Upcoming performances by Ballet Palm Beach include:

November 2-4

+ Friday at 7:30 pm
+ Saturday at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
+ Sunday at 4 pm                

Gatsby

Gatsby is the transformation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel, The Great Gatsby, into compelling dance drama. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the tale is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway, neighbor to the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy Buchanan leads to amazing wealth and tragic endings. Gatsby is the creation of Artistic Director Colleen Smith with music by Django Reinhardt, Fats Waller, Richard Whiting, Aaron Copland and other greats from the 1920’s. (Ages 10 and up)

The King’s Academy
Page Family Center for the Performing Arts
8401 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach

 November 30-December 1
+ Friday at 7:30 pm
+ Saturday at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

The Nutcracker

Ballet Palm Beach leaps into the season with holiday classic, The Nutcracker, the coming-of-age story of Marie who receives a mysterious gift on Christmas Eve. Adventures ensue as Tchaikovsky’s score draws Marie into a terrifying battle with the Mouse King, past a mystical snowstorm, and to the prince's Enchanted Kingdom. (For all ages.)

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – Dreyfoos Hall
701 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach

PRESS RELEASE_Miami, FL- (August 24, 2018) –  Brightline announced its new Select service available for  bookings today, elevating the experience both on-board and in-station between downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Designed for leisure and business travelers seeking a premium travel alternative, the new Select service is the latest iteration of the innovative guest experience on the only hospitality focused passenger rail service. Select service is now available and bookable on the enhanced Go Brightline app.

“We are reimagining train travel based on the feedback and interest of our guests,” said Brightline’s President and COO Patrick Goddard. “It’s more than connecting cities and people but providing a hospitality focused approach to transform the journey. The new Select service has been thoughtfully designed and implemented, from the wine selections to the on-board food offerings.”

Brightline Select service begins from the moment guests arrive with inclusive station parking. The enhanced Select Lounge in the three South Florida stations will offer curated food and beverage items throughout the day. From opening to 11 a.m., the Select Lounges will offer an unlimited complimentary breakfast spread with warm, freshly baked goods by Zak the Baker, fresh whole fruits, yogurt parfaits, fruit cups and daily freshly squeezed orange juice until 11 a.m. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., guests traveling on Select will enjoy seasonal healthy offerings and a self-serve wine and champagne station. After 3 p.m., Select Lounge guests can enjoy self-service beverage stations offering champagne, wine and beer, along with imported Italian charcuterie and cheese, and freshly-baked bread. Freshly brewed Illy coffee, assorted teas and an assortment of PepsiCo products and bottled water are also available throughout the day. During the weekends, the lounges will feature special surprises for guests, like a mimosa or Bloody Mary station.

PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI, Fla. – August 23, 2018 – Today Brightline, Florida’s new hospitality-focused express intercity passenger rail service, welcomed City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and approximately 30 community leaders from the Tampa Bay region. The mayor received a first-hand look and overview about the economic and tourism impacts Brightline has had on South Florida from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis. During the day, the mayor and the delegation visited MiamiCentral and 3 MiamiCentral, traveled on Brightline and toured the Fort Lauderdale Brightline station. 

“The potential for Brightline to connect Orlando and Tampa is a game changer for the I-4 corridor,” said Mayor Buckhorn. “These two cities are attracting the best and the brightest, some of the country’s largest sporting events, and drawing tourists from around the world. I always say, our Achilles heel is transportation, and this will be a solid step in the right direction. I look forward to working with Brightline and can’t wait to see it completed.”

Brightline is currently engaged in the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Request for Proposal (RFP) process to allow private investment in a high-speed rail connection connecting Orlando and Tampa.

“It was exciting to show Mayor Buckhorn and business leaders from the Tampa Bay region the overwhelming positive impacts Brightline is having in South Florida,” said Patrick Goddard, Brightline president and chief operating officer. “Connecting Brightline to Orlando and Tampa is important for our state’s future growth and national competitiveness, and we look forward to continuing our work with Mayor Buckhorn and the statewide visionaries who are supporting our efforts to realize this goal.”

Village News: "The driving range at the Village golf course is temporarily closed for maintenance and upgrades. It will reopen in late September with new grass and other improvements."

From North Palm's Ed Cunningham: "We continue recognizing the 62nd anniversary of the Village with this historical tidbit: The Parker drawbridge on U.S. Highway 1 at the north end of the Village golf course was built in 1926. It was named after the first pioneer family documented to live year-round on the mainland. Mr. Parker was the first full-time bridge tender and was on call 24 hours a day, and the county built him a house on stilts just east of the bridge."

Here's another history factoid from Ed:

"Do you know where the first documented commercial establishment was built in what is now known as the Village of North Palm Beach? It was the Hygeia Hotel on Munyon Island! Named after the Greek goddess of health, the hotel was marketed as a health spa, drawing business from Palm Beach. After a short existence, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1917."  More info about Munyon Island at John D. MacArthur State Park can be found here: bit.ly/2MdBf4q

PRESS RELEASE_MIAMI, Fla. – August 16, 2018 – Brightline, Florida’s new hospitality-focused express intercity passenger rail service, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County have joined forces to strengthen Miami’s cultural movement. The newly announced partnership enables Arsht Center guests to easily travel between West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale to Miami on Brightline while enjoying in-station and on-board entertainment that aligns with the top cultural attraction.

“Brightline is more than a way to connect destinations but a venue to experience a performance or exhibit before you even arrive at the theater,” said Johanna Rojas, vice president of marketing for Brightline. “We are delighted to partner with the Arsht Center and look forward to curating special and unique art-themed trains and events. This partnership will engage guests by creating another avenue to immerse themselves in culture.”

Theater-goers are encouraged to travel by Brightline for the upcoming ArtsLaunch2018, a complimentary annual celebration at the Arsht Center to kick off Miami’s arts season and celebrate the Center’s official box office opening on Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. Created by the Arsht Center in partnership with the local arts community and DWNTWN Art Days, ArtsLaunch2018 includes a Community Village featuring more than 100 of South Florida’s cultural organizations, mini performances, interactive workshops, chef demos, kids’ activities, walking tours, food and beverage vendors, live bands, DJs and more. Brightline guests may easily access the Arsht Center by using the Metromover or Lyft, Brightline’s official rideshare partner.

Leading up to ArtsLaunch, Brightline will feature weekend cultural activations both in-station and on the trains beginning Saturday, August 18. Guests can look forward to seeing performances by DJ Kumi, Birdman’s Clambake, Sol + The Tribu and exhibitions including Larry the Magician and The Frank Booth Cotton Candy. Programming will continue through September.

“The partnership between Brightline and the Arsht Center offers an enhanced guest experience for thousands of show-goers who attend performances each year, particularly those coming from Broward and Palm Beach counties to experience downtown Miami’s cultural transformation,” said Suzette Espinosa Fuentes, vice president of communication for the Arsht Center. “We look forward to working closely with Brightline to further expand and amplify the South Florida arts experience, which is truly the way to connect communities.”

For more information, please visit www.gobrightline.com.