What better way to spend a random Tuesday than join some friends and hop on the Brightline for a "care free- car free" ride to Miami, and then on via Lyft to explore a new Happy Hour destination in Downtown/Brickell.  This time we landed at American Social. The popular Miami eatery has a great location adjacent to the Miami River, where couches and tables under wide umbrellas await.

Their Happy Hour runs from 4-8 pm, and besides half-off beers and cocktails, they offer a nice selection of bar bites and munchies at good prices. We tried the Avocado Toast ($5) and Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon ($3). Yum! And the service was great as well.

While you enjoy your food and drinks, you can watch the boats go up and down the river.  On this occasion, besides the usual yachts that ply Miami waters, we were a little startled to see a full-fledged tanker going by ever-so-slowly. We weren't entirely sure how it made it under the bridge.

If you're looking for a great place to chill, American Social will put you in a sociable mood. Give it a try!

(PRESS RELEASE)_(Lake Worth Beach, FL – July 17, 2019) Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County today announced the 2019-2020 season of the popular series CULTURE & COCKTAILS. For the 15th season in a row, from November 2019 through April 2020, five fascinating conversations will be held at The Colony Hotel’s Coral Ballroom, located at 155 Hammon Avenue in Palm Beach.


​
November 4
New Faces, Favorite Places
A Conversation with Cultural Executives

+ Elliot Bostwick Davis, Director & CEO of the Norton Museum of Art. She joined the Norton in March after spending the past 18 years as chair of the Art of the Americas department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

+ Erin Manning, Executive Director of the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. She came to the Whitehall mansion in 2016 from the Historical Society of Princeton in New Jersey, where she served nine years as executive director.

+ Dr. Philip Rylands, President & CEO of the Society of the Four Arts. He assumes this position in September after serving as a founding director and, most recently, as Director Emeritus of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy.

Interviewed by Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County

(PRESS RELEASE)_West Palm Beach, Fla. – On Thursday, July 11, celebrate National Mojito Day with a festive, olé-inspired sip from City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill in Rosemary Square.

The perfect potion for summer quaffing, a traditional mojito is fashioned with rum, muddled mint, sugar, lime juice, and soda water. 

Garden-to-glass lovers will swoon for City Cellar’s homage, the Dragonberry Strawberry Mojito ($10). Crafted by Shawn Powell, the restaurant’s beverage manager and mixologist, the boozy blockbuster pops with strawberry purée, fresh mint, Bacardi Dragonberry, and a twist of lime poured over ice and crowned with club soda. 



​Dragonberry Strawberry Mojito

2.5 oz. Bacardi Dragonberry Rum
1 oz. Real Strawberry Purée
8 fresh mint leaves 
3 lime wedges
½ oz. simple syrup
Club soda
1 strawberry (garnish)  

Directions: In a shaker glass, muddle mint leaves and lime wedges. Add rum, strawberry purée, and simple syrup. Shake briskly then pour mixture over ice into a pint glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.

City Cellar is located at 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, Florida. For more information or reservations, call (561) 366-0071 or visit citycellarwpb.com.

(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – July 8, 2019) “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,” raved 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 when they present JILL & RICH In Concert, August 3 & 4, as part of the popular Palm Beach Dramaworks Sounds of Summer Series.

The dynamic duo—along with some special surprise guests—will pay tribute in word and song to some of their favorite Great American Songbook artists, including a centennial celebration of the legendary Nat King Cole.

The performances in The Don & Ann Brown Theatre at Palm Beach Dramaworks, located at 201 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, are scheduled for:

+ Saturday, August 3 at 8 pm
+ Sunday, August 4 at 2 pm

The cost to attend is only $35. Tickets are available by calling the Palm Beach Dramaworks box office at 561-514-4042 or online at www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

About Jill & Rich:

The married co-hosts of The Morning Lounge on Legends 100.3 FM, daily from 6 to 10 am, 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. She released the CD 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)_West Palm Beach, Fla. – Ladies and gentlemen, start your appetites. On National Fried Chicken Day, Saturday, July 6, celebrate your gastronomic right to pollo perfection. 

Head to City Cellar in Rosemary Square for lunch, where executive chef Rolando Anoceto will be serving up a Southern-style chicken sandwich ($16.50) soaked in buttermilk and double-dredged for extra crispiness. The architecturally stacked stunner is loaded with pickles, gem lettuce, and a tangy 3-mustard honey sauce. Feeling quaffy? Pair your meal with a selection from the restaurant’s wine list, which recently received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 

Flap your wings over to the new American Craft Aleworks at the eastern end of Clematis Street. The new gastropub and brewery is the perfect dinner spot where beer aficionados can tuck into a foamy craft brew and ale-brined crispy chicken sandwich ($13) topped with lettuce, onion, tomato, smoked jalapeno aioli, and served with hand-cut fries. 

City Cellar is located at 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach. For more information, visit citycellarwpb.com or call (561) 366-0071.

American Craft Aleworks is located at 200 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. For more information, visit americancraftaleworks.com or call (561) 425-5799.   

(LAKE PARK NEWS)_Here in Lake Park, we envision every child having the best learning opportunities available, beginning with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. That's why every year, The Town of Lake Park hosts the Back To School Extravaganza!
 
This event provides backpacks, school supplies, haircuts/styles, access to important health information, entertainment, food, face painting and more - ALL FOR FREE!

We hope to serve every student who attends, but we depend on financial support from businesses and organizations like yours. If you want to do your part, please contact the Special Events Dept. at (561) 840-0160. Every little bit helps!

Salsa and Cha-Cha Dancing with Grigol Kranz
When: Saturday, July 6 and July 20
Who: Ages 15+
Time: 3–4 p.m. (Salsa); 4-5 p.m. (Cha-Cha) 
Cost: Members, $5; Non-Members, $8 

Lace-up and hit the dance floor with champion ballroom dancer, Grigol Kranz. Learn the art of salsa and cha-cha dancing in a fun and social environment. All levels are welcome. Comfortable shoes and clothing required.

For more information, call (561) 968-9622 or visit ymcapalmbeaches.org. YMCA of the Palm Beaches is located at 2085 South Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach.

(NORTH PALM NEWS)_From Communications Manager Ed Cunningham: "Village fireworks show set for Thursday night at the golf course The Annual Village Fireworks show returns to the Country Club for the Fourth of July! The event includes live music, family fun games and food.

More details here.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (June 25, 2019) — Jungle Island, South Florida’s popular eco-adventure attraction, reinvents an ancient Buddhist tradition with a Magic City twist through the debut of Luminosa, Festival of Lights. In partnership with Zigong Lantern Group and China Lantern International, which is the #1 industry leader in Chinese Lantern Festivals worldwide, the park will invite visitors from around the globe to marvel at a nighttime jungle filled with giant lanterns, beautifully hand-crafted out of colorful silk by Chinese artisans, from October 5, 2019 to January 8, 2020. 

Luminosa will take guests on a memorable journey through light across 13 of the park’s 18 acres. The journey tells a magical story of the jungle, which begins with an exploration of wildlife, birds, bloom and the beautiful Biscayne Bay. It then writes a chapter into the future through a story of transformation, rooted in adventure and infused with Miami’s new vibrant urban art identity. 

“Luminosa at Jungle Island is certain to be one of the most Instagram-worthy and talked about events of the season,” says Curtis Crider, Jungle Island’s general manager. “Between the rich history behind the festival and its beautiful pageantry set within a jungle-like setting, this must-see installation will be a celebration of two cultures coming together and the rebirth of an iconic South Florida attraction.”  

A few of the visual delights will include oversized orchids and flowers, a demure cassowary and striking silk parrots in the Birds and Blooms exhibit; a sea of glowing jellyfish in the Biscayne Bay display; some of the world’s rarest animals down Jungle Trail; to 100-foot wide by 20-foot tall panoramic scenes of Miami’s most iconic destinations decked out in Chinese graffiti art in the Miami Style exhibit. All lanterns will be illuminated by environmentally-friendly LED lights and made out of water-proof and fire-resistant materials, supported by steel frames.  

Elie Mimoun, Partner at ESJ Capital Partners, owners of Jungle Island, adds: “Our vision for the evolution of Jungle Island is to include regularly scheduled events and experiences that bring the spirit of the jungle to life. Luminosa reinforces this position and appeals to all audiences in search of discovery and adventure within the context of nature and wildlife.” 

The Chinese Lantern Festival is believed to date back 2000 years ago to the Eastern Han Dynasty when Buddhist monks would light lanterns in the temples. Traditionally, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival. The lanterns are thought to symbolize people letting go of their pasts and celebrating a new future, much like Jungle Island. 

“Our joint effort with Jungle Island has influenced our design team to create something truly extraordinary,” adds Justin Corsa, executive director USA, China Lantern International. “Local Miami flair combined with eastern craftsmanship will result in one of our most creative and innovative exhibits to date.''

For this regularly sold-out festival, tickets go on sale today. The cost is $35.95 per adult and $30.95 per child. To purchase tickets, visit www.jungleisland.com. Sponsorships are also available. Email sponsorship@jungleisland.com  

(BRIGHTLINE NEWS)_As Fourth of July weekend approaches, Brightline (soon to be Virgin Trains USA) offers a stress-free, car-free alternative to celebrate the holiday. South Floridians and visitors alike can enjoy a cold brew or glass of wine, kick back and ride in style to watch the fireworks and celebrate America’s Birthday. Designed with comfort in mind, Brightline provides top service and amenities to every passenger, creating an unforgettable experience.

From Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7, fares start at $10 for Smart service. Additionally, Kids under 12 Ride Free in Smart service through September 30th. All tickets can be purchased online.

With celebrations taking place in all three counties, Brightline is the most convenient way to see it all. Located just steps from Virgin Miami Central, guests can visit “Food, Fireworks, and Fun!” at Bayfront Park, “FIRE and ICE” 4th of July Fireworks viewing from the Waters of Biscayne Bay or the 4th of July Dinner Cruise at Bayside Marketplace. In Fort Lauderdale, Bahia Mar will host its Absolut 4th of July Pool Party and Concert and along Fort Lauderdale Beach A1A and Las Olas Blvd, families can enjoy the 4th of July Spectacular. Fort Lauderdale’s newest lifestyle hotel The Dalmar will also be celebrating the holiday with a Fireworks Viewing party at Sparrow, the hotel’s 25th floor rooftop bar and lounge. Locals and guests can take in some of the best views and enjoy special dishes like Negroni Watermelon Salad. More details can be found in the flyer here and reservations can be made through OpenTable.

West Palm Beach will be full of live music, a military honor ceremony and games for the entire family at Red, White, Brew and BBQ at Rosemary Square, The Fourth on Flagler Celebration West Palm Beach Waterfront, or the 3rd Annual Run for Freedom at Palm Beach County Convention Center.

From July 4th - 7th, Brightline stations are hosting one-of-a-kind, in-station activities in honor of Independence Day.

On July 4th at Virgin MiamiCentral, riders can arrive early to enjoy free popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, and drink specials at Good to Go before boarding the train

On July 6th at Virgin MiamiCentral, riders can meet their favorite SuperHeroes and even ride with them on the train.  Face painting and cotton candy are also available at select stations. 

On July 7th at the Fort Lauderdale Station, it’s Sunday Funday. Miami Children’s Museum will travel north for a kid-friendly slime making and kids face painting throughout the day.