Schnellenberger field dedication
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton - Sept. 13
A big sign for a big man. The turf at FAU’s stadium is now officially Schnellenberger Field, in honor of the school’s legendary former football coach and now goodwill ambassador, Howard Schnellenberger. The sign, just inside the southwest gate, is huge, appropriate for the man, but pronouncing it is another story. Don’t be surprised if it evolves simply into “Howard’s House.”
ABOVE: (l-r) Howard Schnellenberger is joined by his wife Beverlee, FAU President John Kelly and his daughter Carly and wife Carolyn at the FAU field dedication. Photo provided
By Thom Smith
Comings and goings.
As the most unusual MMXIV, otherwise known as twenty fourteen, begins to wind down, the superstitious and the merely curious will gaze at crystal balls, the digital equivalent of Ouija boards (the real ones take too long to set up), iPads, and a variety of leaves (whether or not Amendment 2 passes), to build a template for MMXV.
The big question in Delray Beach: Who will replace Joe Gillie as president and CEO at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts? Gillie first attracted attention locally in 1978, playing the lead in Promises, Promises at Jan McArt’s Royal Palm Dinner Theatre in Boca Raton. The Virginian then moved to Caldwell Theatre as an actor and publicist and sang and danced in the road tour of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas before taking the Delray job in 1992. Tasked with creating a full-service center for visual, musical and dramatic arts, Gillie likes what he sees.
The center is flourishing, and “I’m at an age where I can retire,” he said. “I’m not retiring from life; I still have things to do in my bucket list. I was an artist before I was in theater and I want to do some painting … and I’d like to go back on stage.” Gillie will sign out next September, but he announced a year early to foster a seamless transition with his replacements, as many as three individuals — CEO, COO and programmer.
“I just finished a new five-year strategic plan in January,” Gillie said. “I’m not gonna leave ’em holding the bag. Look at how we’ve grown in the last 20 years, but we’ve still got a long way to go. It’s been my life. I can’t just walk away.”
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The sky’s the limit for America’s new sweetheart, Ariana Grande. Although she hasn’t lived in Boca Raton for years, she’s become even more of a favorite daughter as her musical career blasts through the stratosphere. Grande, now 21, first commanded attention in 2002 when, as Ariana Grande-Butera, she appeared in the title role of Little Palm Family Theatre’s production of Annie, the script co-adapted by her mother and Little Palm board member Joan Grande.
A year later the family was back for The Wizard of Oz, with 9-year-old Ariana as Dorothy (Judy Garland was 16), brother Frankie (bounced last month from Big Brother) as dance captain and mom in the wings. After building her credits in community theater, she got her Broadway break in 2009 in the all-kids musical 13 — home schooling replaced North Broward Prep — and a year later she was playing Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious.
Only time will tell if child phenom becomes international legend. Her “Honeymoon Tour” brings her to Miami’s American Airlines Arena March 28, a guaranteed sell-out, unless recent reports are true and she alienates her fan base. Media reports have her demanding to be photographed only from the left side, refusing to answer questions and being rude to fans who won a contest to hang out with her backstage. The New York Daily News reported the she was all smiles, signed autographs and posed for photos during a recent appearance at a New York radio station, but in the elevator immediately after leaving, she said, “I hope they all (expletive) die.” Perhaps she just had a rough day. Perhaps she’s watching too many Justin Bieber clips. At this point, the city has no plans to proclaim a “Grande Day.”
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Prediction: Trader Joe’s will soon challenge CVS and Walgreen’s for every vacant corner at major intersections. If Amendment 2 passes, all three will be trying to find a way to sell medical marijuana … organically grown, of course. Meanwhile, as the next Joe’s opens in Boca Raton, Delray Beach scuttlebutt gives the new shopping center an F for aesthetics and accessibility — in other words, ugly buildings and cramped parking. Check back next year when we see if Yogi Berra was right: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
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How real is reality TV? Well, if you believe Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Miami is on the same plane as Ken Burns’ study of the Roosevelts, you’re in a different universe. Despite the Miami titling, the show took viewers to Ft. Lauderdale and even to Boca Raton. One of the three featured brokers, Lauderdale-based Samantha DiBianchi, is an FAU grad. Featured prominently was 1000 Ocean, the pricey Boca Inlet condo project developed by an affiliate of LXR, which runs the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
The show injected comedy into a Boca Raton segment when one agent proposed staging a bikini contest to attract “potential buyers,” some of whom actually were professional actors and extras who had neither the inclination or the ability to buy even the cheapest $3 million unit.
Nevertheless, 1000 Ocean, according to its website, is sold out. As for Million Dollar Listing Miami’s future, poor ratings may put it in foreclosure.
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The dramatic changes that have transformed the old Bridge Hotel in Boca Raton into the Waterstone Resort and Marina, now part of the Doubletree by Hilton chain, extend to its food and beverage program.
“We plan to incorporate a boat cruise — likely a catamaran — on Saturday nights before dinner. You could do the cruise and reserve for dinner at Waterstone Bar & Grill,” said Greg Kaylor, general manager. The hotel has the only dock-to-table dining available directly on the water in Boca Raton.
There, new chef Steven Zobel has created a menu of sharable plates, using locally sourced foods when possible and sustainable products as available.
An outdoor grill will be added to the waterside patio restaurant, Boca Landing, which already features a raw bar of Florida ingredients. Snapper ceviche, seared yellowtail and filet mignon steak tartare are part of the keep-it-simple philosophy of Boca Landing.
Indoors at the Waterstone Bar & Grill on the first floor, the dining room is glass-enclosed — with water views from every seat.
The upstairs room, formerly Carmen’s, has been converted into a ballroom/meeting space. Special holiday dinners and private events are planned for the rooftop area, including Thanksgiving buffet, Christmas and New Year’s dinners.
The restaurants and hotel are open to the public.
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Son of Wildflower. All indicators point to a deal with Hillstone Restaurant Group — Houston’s — to build a new restaurant on the northwest side of the bridge on Palmetto Park Road. No offense to Houston’s … waterfront restaurants are fun. Some even serve good food. But the parties face major issues before the first cocktail is served: Traffic congestion at the intersection of Palmetto Park Road and Fifth Avenue is far worse than when Wildflower shut down in 1999. And dockage is an issue, especially for inexperienced boaters who aren’t familiar with the current in the Intracoastal. If I were a mayor and my town owned the property, as Boca does, I think I would bypass the rent money and expand Silver Sand Park to the north side of the bridge.
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Care to disagree? The most livable city in the nation, according to the financial website 24/7 Wall St., is Newton, Mass., a Boston suburb. Back at No. 11, just behind Flower Mound, Texas, and Johns Creek, Ga., is Boca Raton.
The rankings were based on census data on such variables as crime, jobs, education and housing costs for the 550 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more. Though Boca Raton didn’t excel in any category, it did rank fifth in leisure amenities such as restaurants, bars, libraries, golf courses, fitness centers, marinas, museums, recreation and theaters.
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Not all the pork is in politics. Once this election is over, the trash talk can be replaced by raves for the smoked pork … and beef … and chicken … and lamb. After all, barbecue knows no politics, is tasty, the prices are reasonable, usually, and the variety of preparation styles is broad.
Starting in the ’60s, the go-to spot in West Palm Beach was Blue Front, first at the corner of Tamarind and 15th Street and then on Palm Beach Lakes west of Australian until it closed around the turn of the century. Annie Nelson, wife of founder Norris Nelson, continued to market Blue Front’s legendary sauce, until entrepreneur/developer/entertainer David Paladino bought the company in 2011 and also bought the deco-style former Kristine’s restaurant on North Dixie in Lake Worth.
Paladino was a force behind the creation of CityPlace in West Palm Beach. He also was an entertainer, working local gigs with a Sinatra songbook, backed up by top jazzmen. He approached Blue Front with the same style — the funkiest décor of any restaurant in the area, live music with the likes of the Susan Merritt Trio, a lively bar, and of course the ’cue slathered in Norris’ sauce. Dave’s son Tom in charge.
New in town are two smokers, both linked to the Mississippi River yet as different as Cajun and cornfed.
Just opened in the Polo Shops at the corner of Military Trail and Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton is VooDoo BBQ & Grille, straight from New Orleans, with two big smokers (environmentally friendly), a welcoming staff, some chippy sauces, a brisket that management swears makes a great pot roast and, natch, great background music.
Surprising as it may seem, East Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach had no barbecue spot until last month, when Smoke BBQ replaced the Asian-inspired Union at 8 E. Atlantic. Union bosses Scott Kennedy and Steve Chin remain, but they’ve added a smoking addition: pitmaster Bryan Tyrell, back in the states after gigs in South Africa and London (Bodean’s). Tyrell made a name for himself in Kansas City with the “Slaughterhouse Five” competition barbecue team out of Oklahoma Joe’s. The Delray Beach pit is envisioned as a prototype for a chain. Stay tuned.
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The Omphoy will soon be history. The Palm Beach oceanfront resort will get a new name and new management. Owner Jeff Greene has hired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to manage the soon to be renamed hotel which also will get a facelift, expanded spa and new dining concept. Kimpton manages 61 hotels and 76 restaurants in 27 cities, including three in Miami/Miami Beach and the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa.
Whatever the concept, Greene next year will face a new challenger on Royal Palm Way. The old Heart of Palm Beach Hotel will become the Palm House, but it’s anything but a renaming. Over the past decade, owners seemingly changed faster than the tide through Palm Beach Inlet.
Palm Beach investor Bob Matthews had first shot, envisioning the Palm House as a luxury boutique condo hotel and spa. But when he ran into money problems, the opportunistic investor Glenn Straub picked it up at a foreclosure sale for $10 million. Then last September, Straub lost control to a limited liability investor group managed by Ryan Black, a New York-based real estate consultant.
Meanwhile, the grapevine has Matthews back in the picture, a world-class spa, a special-event space that could accommodate 150-250 guests and challenge The Breakers and Mar-a-Lago for medium-sized charity galas, Sirio Maccioni’s first Le Cirque Brasserie and rooms being sold to investors for anywhere from $2.5 million to $5.5 million.
The owners welcome anyone with the means, but their target market is the filthy-rich international traveler, who might want to spend a couple of weeks in Palm Beach in February, London in May, the Med in August and Buenos Aires in in December.
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No longer a wasteland. The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County continues to improve programming both at its headquarters in Lake Worth and around the county. Re-purposed/Re-seen at the main gallery through Oct. 18 examines the art of recycling and provides resources to local educators and their students to creatively reuse previously discarded materials.
The council’s popular Culture & Cocktails series at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach resumes Nov. 3 with an appearance by author James Patterson and his wife, Sue, a photographer. They are collaborating on a documentary, Murder of a Small Town, about Belle Glade and Newburgh, N.Y., two of the most violent cities in the U.S.
Future C & Cs: Business leader Wilbur Ross and wife, Hilary, an author and society columnist, join photographer Harry Benson and wife, Gigi (Jan. 12); design and fashion mavens Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan (Feb. 2); motion picture distributor and the force behind Dania’s DCOTA design center Charles Cohen and wife, Cio, a former model turned advertising executive (March 2), and nine-time Tony winner and dancer Tommy Tune (April 6).
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With his bushy beard and portly countenance, Charlie Daniels seemed old when he first played West Palm Beach Auditorium in the mid-’70s. He’s been back since but on Oct. 11, two weeks before he turns 78, he and his mean fiddle will be in high cotton, his first gig at the Kravis Center, to kick off its 2014-15 season.
Then from Dec. 16-21, for something completely different, the much anticipated smash, The Book of Mormon will put a raucous explanation point on a totally bizarre year.
Early highlights in between: Last Comic Standing Live Tour (Nov. 2), Don McLean and Judy Collins (Nov. 9), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Nov. 11-16), the Russian State Symphony Orchestra with Vladimir Feltsman, piano (Nov. 18-19), Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam (Nov. 19), Miami City Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet (Nov. 21-23), So You Think You Can Dance (Nov. 26), Camelot (Dec. 2), comedian Lewis Black (Dec. 13) and Palm Beach Pops with Manhattan Transfer (Dec. 14). And that’s just the beginning.
Jan Norris contributed to this column.
Thom Smith is a freelance writer. Contact him at thomsmith@ymail.com.
Goodbye wishes
The Little House, Boynton Beach – Sept. 14
Chrissy Benoit (center), raises a glass to her customers at festivities for the final day of The Little House at the Ruth Jones Cottage in downtown Boynton Beach. Benoit is moving on to opportunities in Central Florida. There’s no word yet on what will move into the space. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
Birthday wishes for Ruth Jones
Boynton Beach – Sept. 19
Boynton Beach pioneer Ruth Jones, whose former home became The Little House, celebrated her 91st birthday over a dinner of her daughter Emily’s corned beef brisket and scalloped potatoes with more than 20 family members and friends. ABOVE: Ruth Jones (left), with daughter Michele Jones and fellow pioneer Charlotte Weaver. Scott Simmons/The Coastal Star
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