Dave Feder, former Boca Resort &Club COO, Fontainebleau Miami Beach President, Arizona Biltmore General Manager and current FAU Board of Trustee member is the new Vice President and Managing Director of the Trump National Doral, overseeing the more than $300,000 renovation, which will make it the finest golf course in the country.
Boca is the only city in the country that will have two Houston’s with a Dec. 2015 opening on the former Wildflower waterfront site on Palmetto Park Road.
The Palmetto Park Road bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for two days, Jan. 22 and 23.
The newly remodeled Cumberland Farms on 441 in West Boca is open with an opening price of $3.34 for regular gas.
The $250 million Sinai Residences to be completed in 2015 on the campus of the Jewish Federation in West Boca is already 70% sold out prior to the Tuesday groundbreaking which will also have a fitness center, kosher food and access to campus cultural events. Call 561.221.1102 for more information.
A new Boca Regional Hospital Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at 690 Meadows Road was approved by the city’s Planning & Zoning Board.
Brooklyn Water Bagel will open a new location in Boca Raton.
City National Bank of Florida relocated its Glades Road Banking Center to a 5,000 sq.ft. Boca Del Mar center at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road
Michael Steele was appointed Vice President, Investor Relations of Office Depot, formerly in the same position with Office Max.
Milagro Center Operations Director Barbara J. Stark was promoted to Executive Director.
Florida Panther owner Vinnie Viola’s securities trading company which grossed $270 million last year, is set for an IPO this spring which will net him millions more. Viola paid $240 million for the $20 million per year money losing Panthers and he also listed his Manhattan mansion for a record $114 million. Team execs will ask the Broward County Commission for $70 million over 14 years to help manage the county owned BB&T Center in Sunrise.
South Florida Real Estate pros say it is tough to get a mortgage right now as lenders are very skittish about the Feds looking over their shoulders and it is only going to get worse. New Consumer Protection Bureau rules went into effect recently that tightened borrower’s loan qualifications, limited points and fees lenders can charge, as well as new standards lenders must abide by when foreclosing.
Florida State University’s Football Bowl championship should translate into an additional $10 million in ticket sales and $7 million more in licensing fees, along with alumni increased donations and school merchandising in all sports programs should hit around $3 million a year.
The embattled Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, continues to be a dysfunctional nightmare. Credit ratings giant Experian revealed Obamacare’s website is riddled with security breaches and consumer’s personal information is at risk, plus the mixed immigration status of South Florida’s Hispanic population has turned off Latino enrollment. Many consumers with Obamacare verified enrollment are finding they lack coverage at doctor’s offices and hospitals.
AutoNation sold its internet sales operation for $11 million to mammoth internet car sales company Autobytel, which will now have 5,200 dealers across the U.S. in its lineup. AutoNation will still run a website under its national brand after it converted from individual dealer names.
The state Public Service Commission which critics say is a lap dog for Florida Power & Light, approved a rate hike of $13 per month for FP&L customers not using Smart Meters and pay a one-time fee of $106. The giant utility states that 38,000 consumers are still on the old meters and they expect around 26,000 of them will convert to Smart Meters when the penalties kick in to avoid the rate hike.
Millions of dollars of state legislators’ campaign accounts will be pumped up by casino advocates and the Seminole Tribe, looking to protect their turf.
There are 7,250 slot machines in South Florida, which netted $200 million in 2013 and South Florida gambling has a $5.3 billion economic impact .
42 St. has been extended to Feb. 15 at the Wick Theatre and Costume Museum, 7901 N. Fed. Hwy. Call 561.995.2333 or visit www.thewick.org for tickets.
Laughing Matters continues through March 22, 2014 and the Wizard of Oz is Jan. 7-19 at the Broward Center For the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Avenue. Fort Lauderdale. Tickets at www.browardcenter.org or call 954.462.0222.
Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl, Skip Sheffield and Barry Epstein discussing the Oscars on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
Watch Barry Epstein live featuring former Congressman Ron Klein, Provenance Wealth Advisors Financial Planner Paul Carman, Original Florida Follies showgirls Ruth Trimmer & Joanie Helgessen and United Credit National Sales Recruiter Monica Y. WIlliams on www.wrpbitv.com at 10 pm Thursday and 10 am Friday to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres. You can also watch the TV shows ON Demand on wrpbitv. Just click on this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/barryepsteinlive.
I Frankenstein, Gimme Shelter and The Past opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace. The Best Offer and Knights of Badassdom opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres. The Invisible Woman opens at the Movies of Delray and Lake Worth.
Girl Scout cookies for sale at the Boca Raton Green Market for the next 3 weeks! The Market, in its 17th year, has farm-to-table, freshly-picked produce (organics, too) from local growers and lots more, 8am to 1pm every Saturday at the southwest parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S. Fed. Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd in downtown Boca Raton.
The Plaza Theatre, 262 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan has Renee Taylor, My Life on a Diet, to Feb. 9 and Dirty Blonde, March 27-April 13. See www.theplazatheatre.net or call 561.588.1820.
Larry Ferber has a movie club 10 a.m. every Sunday at the FAU Living Room theatres, followed by discussion. Call 757.617.1936 for more information.
The Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival is Jan. 16-26 at the Frank Delray Marketplace Theatres and other venues. Visit www.pbjff.org or call 1.888.318.0071.
The South Florida Fair runs through Feb. 2 at the Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach. Call 561.793.0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com.
Crimes of the Heart runs through Feb. 23 at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs. Visit www.stagedoorfl.org or call 954.344.7765 for more information and ticket reservations.
Sol Theatre presents J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, through Feb. 2, 3333 N. Fed. Hwy. Boca. Call 561.447.8829 or email www.solchildren.org.
On January 22, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. in Zinman Hall on the Federation campus at 9901 Donna Klein Boulevard, Boca Raton, the JJCF will present a collective thank you to the Golden Givers with a Golden Gathering breakfast event. All are invited to enjoy Bagels with Golda, a one woman, audience-participatory show featuring Joan Wolfberg as Golda Meir. Cost is $18. Call call 561-852-6090 or email kristylo@bocafed.org.
Wiesenthal is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs, Jan. 22-March 16.Visit www.stagedoortheatre.com or call 954-344.7765 for tickets. For more information, visit www.wiesentahltheplay.com or www.facebook.com/wiesentaltheplay.
Mark your calendars: www.carqualifier.com will be launching 5 to 5 p.m. Jan. 23 at 6001 Broken Sound Parkway, Boca, Suite 100. RSVP to bepstein@carqualifier.com.
Craig Ehrnst’s Boca City Council campaign fundraiser is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Artistic Elements, 400 E. Palmetto Park Road, RSVP to 561.750.1554.
TFRW – Today’s Federated Republican Women’s Club, features State Rep. Bill Hager, 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at Bogart’s Producers Room on the Premiere level of the Boca Palace Cinemark Theatre, 3200 Airport Road. Cost is $25 per person, including appetizers and cash bar. RSVP to tfrwgop@gmail.com.
Slow Burn Theatre presents Parade, Jan. 23- Feb. 9 at the West Boca Performing Arts Theatre in West Boca High, 12811 West Glades Road. Call 866.822.4111 for tickets and group sales or visit www.slowburntheatre.org.
The Boca Raton Theatre Guild presents “Pippin” Jan. 24-Feb. 9 at the Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail. Call 561.347.3948 or visit www.brtg.org or go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boca-Raton-Theatre-Guild/103606986210?fref=ts.
The free 5th annual Boca Raton Fine Art Show is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 25 & 26 Downtown Boca, on Federal Highway, from Palmetto Park Road north to NE 2 St., adjacent to Sanborn Square Park. Federal Highway will be closed to traffic. Call 941.755.3088 or visit www.hotworks.org for more information.
The Beach Boys will be at the 52cnd annual Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball, Jan. 25 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, celebrating the hospital’s establishing the new Marcus Neuroscience Institute, honoring benefactors Bilii and Bernie Marcus and recognizing 13 physicians. Tickets are 4400 with levels of sponsorship. Visit www.https://donate.brrh.com/ball?erid=13119&trid=1c200f48-41cb-4abf-b845-98f02f9aefa6 or call 561.955.5168 for tickets.
The West Boca Community Council will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a free health and safety fair 11 a.m. to 3 pm. Jan. 26 and a free concert by the cover band Riverdown at 7 p.m. at the Sunset Cove Amphitheatre in the Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum South Florida luncheon, is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, featuring International jurist and survivor of the Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps, Judge Thomas Buergenthal. Call 561.995.6773 or visit www.southeast@ushmm.org for more information.
Wake Up Florida 2014 Elections has its kick-off dinner 6-8 pm. Jan. 27 at the Boca Marriott, 5150 Town Center Circle, with recording artist Lou Galterio as special guest. Tickets are $50, tables of 10, $500. RSVP to feamanforfloridasfuture@gmail.com.
Weight Watchers Group CEO Florine Mark speaks at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Business & Professional Division (B&P), 8 to 10 am. Jan. 29 in Zinman Hall on the Federation campus. Registration at $36 is available at www.jewishboca.org/icon or sonnies@bocafed.org, 561.852.3128. Future guests include Saks Fifth Avenue CEO Stephen Sadove on March 26.
Hal Spielman will speak at a free lecture for men and women on “Suddenly Solo, A Lifestyle Road Map for the Mature Widowed or Divorced Man,” from 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 29 at the Faulk Center for Counseling, 22455 Boca Rio Road, West Boca.
Boca Vice Mayor Susan Haynie and candidate for Mayor has a fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Jan. 29 at Segreto Restaurant, 39 SE 1st Ave. RSVP to Events@susanhaynie.com or call 561. 290.9498. To learn more or donate online, visit www.SusanHaynie.com.
Inside the mind of John Lithgow; actor, musician, author, arts advocate 11:30 a.m. luncheon Jan. 30 Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion. For sponsorship opportunities and to register to attend the event, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/Foundation/STEAM.
The Last Schwartz is Jan 30-Feb. 23 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s studio Theatre. Tickets at www.paradeprocutions.org or call 866.811.4111.
Palm Beach Dramaworks presents Harold Pinter’s Old Times Jan. 31-March 2 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. Tickets are at www.palmbeachdramaworks.org or call 561.514.3042.
Madame Christine Argillet, daughter of Salvador Dali’s legendary publisher and confidante Pierre Argillet will be at the Wentworth Gallery, Town Center Mall 6 – 9 p.m. Feb. 1. RSVP to towncenter@wentworthgalllery.com or call 561.338.0804.
Upcoming shows at the Delray Beach Playhouse at 950 NW 9th St. in Lake Ida Park, off Swinton Ave. Delray Beach include: You Can’t Take it with You, Feb. 1-Feb. 16; The Pajama Game, March 29-April 13; Doubt, May 24-June 8, and musical memories shows include; Come Fly With Me, Harlem On My Mind, Call Me Madam, Good News and Make Someone Happy. Visit www.delraybeachplayhouse.com or call 561.272.1281 x 4 for more information. Tickets are $30. Call 561.272.1281 x 4 for reservations.
Friction Farm Folk Duo will be performing at the Sunday Matinee Music Series Concert on Sunday, February 2, 3-4pm, at Spanish River Library located on 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton. The concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Boca Raton Library and is open to the public, free admission. Register at www.bocalibraryorg to reserve your seat.
The Original Florida Follies returns Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23 to Olympic Heights Theatre, 20101 Lyons Road. Tickets are $28. Call 561.749.0016, 561.338.6860, 561.720.1880, 561.392.8253 or visit www.theoriginalfloridafollies.com for more information. Don’t miss it!
The 2014 Allianz Championship, the first full-field PGA Champions Tour event of the season will tee-off with a celebrated roster of golf legends at The Old Course at Broken Sound Club from February 3-9 for the eighth consecutive year in Boca Raton.
Retired Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz will discuss his new book, “Taking the Stand: My Life I the Law” at the inaugural Gilda Mallin Boca West Hadassah Book & Author Luncheon Feb. 3 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Dr. Boca Raton. Call Fern Jacoby at 561.392.1658 or Dottie Pierce at 561.852.9720 for tickets or more information.
The Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations candidates’ forums will be 8:30 am. to 10 a.m. for Mayoral candidates and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for City Council Candidates Feb. 4 at 6500 S. Congress Avenue. For more info, call 561.859.4931 or email andiorouke22@gmail.com.
Homeland star Mandy Patinkin will speak at “The Event 2.4.14”, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. For more information, call 561.852.3374 or email: lorigo@bocafed.org.
A tribute to the late Maestro Bob Lappin by the Palm Beach Pops will be 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Kravis Center with guest conductor Lee Musiker, longtime music director and conductor for Tony Bennett, featuring Broadway star Christine Andreas, acclaimed pianist and singer Tony DeSare, big band songstress Lynn Roberts, trumpeter and vocalist Longineu Parsons and former Pops concertmaster and violinist Mary Rowell. This one-time concert will not only honor the memory of Maestro Bob Lappin by recounting many of the wonderful musical memories over the past 21 seasons, but proceeds will support the ongoing Palm Beach Pops Music & You In-School Youth Education Program for underserved Palm Beach County Schools. Enjoy a magical musical evening as only the Pops can deliver and assist the continuing mission to Keep the Music Playing in our schools and community. Tickets are $29 and up. Call 561.832.7677 for reservations and more information.
Casablanca will be 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Theatre Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St. Delray Beach. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Call 561.450.6357 or visit www.artsgarage.org.
The Anti-Defamation League will honor President George W. Bush and Mei Sze & Jeff Greene February 6, 2014 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. RSVP to florida@adl.org or call (561) 988-2919.
Phyllis & Harvey Sandler, Jan Savarick, Shirley & Allan B. Solomon and Jaime & Zachary Keyes will be honored at the Levis JCC Casino Royale Feb. 8, 2014. Email cindyb@levisjcc.org or call 561.852.3253 or visit www.levisjcc.org/casino for more information and reservations.
Wallenberg, A New Musical Drama is 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 & 13 at the Lynn University Wold Center for the Performing Arts, 3601 N. Military Trail in Boca Raton.
Tickets at 561.237.9000 or visit www.wallenbergthemusical.com for more information.
The new season of House of Cards with Kevin Spacey and Al Sapienza premieres on Netflix Feb. 14.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will speak at FAU 3:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Go to www.https://www.fauevents.com/online to purchase tickets.
Philanthropist Yvonne Boice is among those honored at a Boca Chamber Diamond Award lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm. Feb. 21 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place. Visit http://web.bocaratonchamber.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1847 or call 395-4433 for tickets.
The Caribbean Cowboy Ball is 6 pm. Feb. 22, 2014 at Red Reef Park. Tickets are $175. Call 561.347.6799 or www.scholarship.org for info.
Whole Foods Market Co-CEO Walter Robb speaks at the Lynn University Dively Frontiers in Globalization Lecture 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Wold Performing Arts Center, 3601 N. Military Trail Boca. Tickets are $25. Call 561.237.9000 or visit www.events.lynn.edu/ively.com.
42 St. is at Boca Raton High School, Feb. 27- March 2. Visit www.bocadrama.com or call 561.338.1533 for more information and reservations.
The West Boca High School Drama Dept. presents Young Frankenstein Feb. 28-March 8. Tickets are $15. Call 561.672.2066. Upcoming shows include Death by Dessert, April 25 & 26.
Evening Star Productions presents Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Feb. 28-March 16 at Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Fed. Hwy. Visit www.eveingstarproductions.org or call 561.447.8829 for more information.
The Harlem Globetrotters will play at the FAU arena on March 3 and 8. Go to www.harlemglobetrotters.com or call 1.800.745.3000 for ticket information.
Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will open the 8th Annual Festival of the Arts Boca on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, accompanied by Festival Orchestra Boca under the direction of Festival Music Director Constantine Kitsopoulos. Perlman will return to the Festival stage on Sunday, March 9 at 7 p.m. for the Florida premiere of his new program of traditional Jewish and Klezmer music with celebrated Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul. Arturo Sandoval, Forte, Cirque de la Symphonie, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Danna Deveare Smith and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance company highlight the 2014 Festival of the Arts Boca, March 6-15. Early bird tickets of $39 (regular price is $125) are available through Dec. 31. Call either 561.368.8445 or too free: 866.571.ARTS or visit www.festivaloftheartsboc.org for more information or reservations.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to JARC’s 29th Annual Gala Dinner Dance March 9, 2014 at West Boca Country Club.
Palm Beach Dramaworks presents “Some Enchanted Evening”, 14th annual Spring Gala, 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tax deductible tickets are $500 and tables of ten are $5,000. Call 561.4042 ext. 106 for reservations and information.
John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will be the guest speaker at the AFMDA 2014 Humanitarian Awards cocktails, dinner and entertainment, honoring Eileen & Michael Goldman, March 16 at St. Andrews Country Club. Call 561.835.0510 or e-mail palmbeach@afmda.org.
Florida’s Annual Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities will take place on March 22, 2014, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM at Spanish River Park and A1A in Boca Raton. The Bash is the nation’s largest, free, fun-day for people with special needs, their care givers and family members. The 6th Annual Bash is expected to draw 6,000 attendees from South Florida and beyond. Tax deductible contributions should be directed to The Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities, PO Box 99, Boca Raton, FL 33429. For further information call: 561-715-2622.
Lynn University political professor Dr. Robert Watson will discuss Jewish Contributions to the American Revolution, 7 p.m. March 24 as part of the 2014 ADL Lecture Series at Boca West, 20583 Boca West Drive. Call 561.988.2935 or email lsalvin@adl.org for tickets. Further information is at www.florida.adl.org/event/join-us-for-the2014-adl-lecture-series-at-boca-west-lecture.
Former Miami Dolphin and now owner of Offerdahl’s Café Grill John Offerdahl will be the keynote speaker for the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s 12th annual Inspiration breakfast fundraiser, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 8 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
www.westbocaleaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at Hurricane Grill & Wings in the Mission Bay Shopping Center, next to Office Max, 10125 Glades Road, 33498 on alternate Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Cost is $60 per quarter. Check out the website for openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
Thanks to David Weir and the South Florida Business report for contributing to this column.
Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com, the www.luxurychamber.com, the www.westbocaleaders.com and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com and www.publicrelations.nu. His motto is: Public Relations is the enemy of anonymity. email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on www.bocatribune.com, www.facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com – www.http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com as on his website: www.publicrelations.nu.