By Thom Smith
For decades the family yacht tied up at local marinas, the better for dad to entertain big clients and the family to enjoy a little respite from Northeast winters.
Malcolm Forbes died in 1990, but the wining and dining aboard Highlander has continued, albeit at its seasonal berth in Fort Lauderdale. So it isn’t like Steve Forbes is unfamiliar with Palm Beach. In fact, he’s a welcome guest at many homes on the island.
But until a few weeks ago, the businessman, unsuccessful presidential candidate and editor and publisher of Forbes magazine had never been to the home — the estate most synonymous with Palm Beach: Mar-a-Lago.
On a whirlwind tour for Northwestern Mutual to drum up business among its clients and prospects and to inspire company agents, Forbes teamed with Northwestern CEO John Schlifske to host a luncheon of beef filet and sea bass in the grand ballroom and to offer his take on the economy.
“I think within five years, the dollar will again be tied to g-o-l-d.”
“A weak dollar means a weak recovery.”
In investing, “Emotions are your enemy; consistency is the key.”
Since Mar-a-Lago’s owner was elsewhere, weighing a decision to withdraw — as pace car driver for the Indy 500 — Forbes and Schlifske took a brief look around Mar-a-Lago on their own. After climbing the iron spiral staircase in the parlor, Forbes could only shake his head.
“It’s amazing,” he said.
Asked if he still harbored any political ambition, the affable Forbes laughed and answered, “I’m an agitator now; I’m in my Tom Paine mode.
Advice for Trump? Silence and a smile.
Speaking of big oceanfront homes, Casa Pugilista is for sale … again. Well, that’s not really the name, but pugilism did buy it for boxing promoter Don King. Now he hopes he’ll have less of a fight trying to sell the Manalapan estate. Asking price: $19.95 million. That’s down from $27.5 million in 2009, but up from the $14.3 they (technically King’s wife, Henrietta) paid for the two adjacent lots and houses in 1999.
King, whose Only In America offices lie on the east side of I-95 in Deerfield Beach, turns 80 in August. Henrietta died in December. When he first put it up for sale, he said the kids were grown and it was time to downsize. Now he has even more reason to sell.
So what does $19.95 million bring?
Three acres, 300 feet of beachfront and two docks on the Intracoastal, two houses, two pools, a tennis court, a generator, a grill big enough to barbecue 100 slabs of ribs, an illuminated replica of the Statue of Liberty facing the ocean. The larger house (18,000 square feet) has nine bedrooms. The smaller “guest” house (6,800 square feet) includes five bedrooms, an outdoor cabana with kitchen and an ice cream parlor.
What, no Whelchel!
Contestants for the Fourth Annual Boca’s Ballroom Battle have been announced, and not a Whelchel on the list to defend the family honor. Boca Mayor Susan Whelchel won the inaugural event in 2008 and her business executive son Jay “hustled” his way to the title last year. Other first family members, however, have insisted they aren’t willing to risk public embarrassment.
So this year’s charity competition, set for Aug. 19 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, will include: travel agent and philanthropist Yvonne Boice, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Executive V.P. Ingrid Fulmer; Bell Rock Capital Managing Director Jackie Reeves; Boca Community Hospital trustee, super volunteer and grandma Pat Thomas; plastic surgeon Dr. Rafael Cabrera; Boca West boss Jay DiPietro; Mercedes Benz of Delray Beach GM Ralph Mesa; and, dancing clean-up, Bryan Tindell, Waste Management’s director of disposal operations in South Florida.
The competitors are paired with dancing pros from Fred Astaire Dance Studio to entertain guests who pay $150 each ($200 for seating at the edge of the dance floor, $1,500 for a table) for the George Snow Scholarship Fund. Tickets at (561) 347-6799 or scholarship.org.
Boosted by an infusion of $1.5 million by the city, the resuscitation of Boca’s Mizner Park Amphitheater continues, despite the occasional bump. Already-announced Selena Gomez is set for July 28, but Glee’s Matthew Morrison has canceled his July 13 gig. Promoters say his new album, just released in mid-May, needs more time to build interest.
But you lose some and you win some. Newly added on Sept. 10 is one of the most ingenious pairings in recent memory. Fans have been absorbing the music of Return To Forever and Frank Zappa for more than four decades. Return To Forever, led by Chick Corea, has been at the forefront of jazz/rock/fusion, while Zappa’s similarly creative and bizarrely unpredictable Mothers of Invention tantalized audiences. Zappa died from prostate cancer in 1993, but son Dweezil has kept the spirit alive with Zappa Plays Zappa.
In addition to Corea at the keyboards, Return To Forever, version four, includes original member Stanley Clarke on bass, Lenny White on drums, Australian Frank Gambale on guitar, plus a new element: violin, by none other than Jean-Luc Ponty.
It may have opened in the space formerly occupied by the International Museum of Cartoon Art, but the latest news out of Zed451 is no joke. After three struggling years, the Mizner Park eatery has closed its doors. Managers blamed the economic collapse of 2008 and “continuing market conditions.” Growing competition from nearby restaurants and the loss of the movie theaters at Mizner Park, certainly didn’t help.
It’s a shame to lose a business and a good citizen. The steakhouse served its meals rodizio style (with meats served on skewers and carved tableside) and, with its closing, donated leftovers to Boca Helping Hands.
With a June 1 arrival in Delray Beach, Dennis Max says he is going back to his roots … in the soil of California. Max, whose Max’s Grille in Mizner Park continues to flourish, has taken over two storefronts on Northeast Second Avenue in Pineapple Grove. Max’s Harvest will be simpler — in décor and in food.
“People are realizing how important it is to get the freshest food, not trucked across the country and days or weeks old, and not sprayed with harmful chemicals,” Max told food blogger Jan Norris. “It’s become more of a concern in America, but it’s something Europeans have done forever. They go to the market every day to shop for their food for that night.”
While customers may be attracted by duck from France and asparagus from California, he sees the value in the trend toward home-grown.
“So many people are starting small farms,” Max said. “We want to encourage them whenever we can. It’s not always possible in every instance, but we’re trying to be much more conscious. “
A year ago, life couldn’t have been worse for Tony Bova. The longtime Boca restaurateur was up to his noodle in debt, thanks largely to his partnership with Ponzi schemer Scott W. Rothstein.
Bova declared bankruptcy; he shut down Bova Cucina and Bova Ristorante. About the only thing he didn’t lose was his nerve. Last July, in the old Ristorante spot at 1450 N. Federal, he quietly opened VIVO Partenza. A year later, thanks to the money troubles plaguing McCormick & Schmick, Bova is expanding westward again, reviving his original Mario’s concept at University Commons on Glades Road just east of I-95. Look for a late-July opening.
For those who prefer food and drink from far away, Carmen’s Top of the Bridge in Boca has launched “Wines of Passion: The Best of South America.” The summer series offers twice monthly “Tastings & Tapas,” hosted by Frank Reider, and monthly dinners pairing South American wines with signature dishes prepared by Executive Chef Dudley Rich.
Thom Smith is a freelance writer. Contact him at thomsmith@ymail.com
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