Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Barrys Buzz Dec. 25, 2013

     The Wolf of Wall Street, the four star movie opening Christmas Day, is based on Danny Porush, played by Jonah Hill in the movie, a former stockbroker who now runs a medical supply company in Boca Raton after serving 39 months in prison. See http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/12/wolf-wall-street-martin-scorsese-jonah-hill-danny-porush-jordan-belfort.
    South Florida home short sales could hit some road blocks, if the current Congress doesn’t act in the next few days and insider predicts they won’t, so the Mortgage Debt Relief Act will expire, which means that any debt forgiven in a short sale will now be taxed as income. Before, it wasn’t. Short sales have become a major player in South Florida’s Real Estate market and the new tax ramifications could mean a certain hit to sales.
   State owned Citizens Property Insurance, one of Florida’s most hated companies, has come under heavy fire once again for cutting a $6 million deal reeked with conflict according to critics and hired a West Palm Beach law firm with ties to a former Citizens president, which will bill a huge $520 bucks per hour and several state lawmakers called outrageous.
    35,000 of South Florida unemployed will be slammed with a double whammy next year, with state and federal jobless programs slashed 16 paid weeks, compared to 48 weeks paid this year and the state unemployment benefits on line website, which is the only way to apply, is a nightmare to navigate with customer service swamped with bureaucratic incompetence, like “welcome to healthcare.gov.”
    It’s three strikes and you’re out for Loehman’s the discount clothing chain retailer, a major player in South Florida for years, which made its third trip to bankruptcy court in a decade and threw in the towel for Chapter 7 liquidation, due to heavy debt loads and stiff competition.  
    University graduates in the state are facing double trouble. A degree is coming up with mounting student loan debt and a bleak job market. 53% of FAU grads face $20,380 each in student debt loan, 50% of FSU grads have $23,486 each in student loan debt and 41% of UF grads have $21,000 in debt.
    Laughing Matters continues through the New Year 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 on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
 Forbidden Broadway Alive and Kicking is Dec. 26-31, The Midtown Men is Dec. 31 and Porgy and Bess is Jan. 7-12 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach. Tickets are at www.kravis.org or call 561.832.7469.
    Barry Epstein live is on www.wrpbitv.com at 10 pm Thursday and 10 am Friday. Watch to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres.  You can now watch the TV shows ON Demand on wrpbitv. Just click on this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/barryepsteinlive.
    The Wolf of Wall Street, Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Grudge Match, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and 47 Ronin opens today at the Boca Cinemark Palace & Premiere theatres and the Regal Entertainment Shadowwood theatres. Justin Bieber’s Believe opens at the Regal Entertainment Shadowwood Theatres. The Pin opens Friday at the FAU Living Room Theatre. Grudge Match, The Wolf of Wall Street and Philomena, opens at the Movies of Delray. Grudge Match, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, opens at the Movies of Lake Worth.
     RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women is now to Jan. 5 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre, with two special New Year’s Eve champagne performances at 4 and 9 p.m. Tickets at www.brtg.org  call 866.811.411. For more information, call 561.445.9244, email kassie@gmail.com.
    The Last Night of Ballyhoo runs through Dec. 31 and 9 to 5: The Musical runs through Jan. 19 at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, to Jan. 19. Visit www.statedoortheatre.com or call 954.344.7765 for tickets.   
     The Plaza Theatre, 262 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan has Renee Taylor, My Life on a Diet, Jan. 16-Feb. 9 and Dirty Blonde, March 27-April 13. See www.theplazatheatre.net  or call 561.588.1820.  
      Palm Beach Dramaworks presents The Lion in Winter, to Jan. 5, at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Call 561.514.4042 or visit www.palmbeachtramaworks.org for ticket information and reservations.
     Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is at the Palm Beach County Convention Center Dec. 25-29. Tickets start at $15. Call 1.800.745.3000 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. More information is at www.ringling.com.
     Missy McArdle Rovinelli is featured New Year's Eve at the Lake Worth Playhouse with the Glen Rovinelli Orchestra, Anita Smith, Mace Graham and a rocking 12-piece big band. A lovely way to ring in the New Year! Call for tickets; 561-586-6410.
       The Boca Raton theatre Guild presents Marilyn: Forever Blonde, Jan. 9-11, 2013 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111. Visit www.marilynforeverblonde.com,call 561.445.9244 or email ckassie@gmail.com.
    The Friends of the Boca Raton Library Foreign Film Series presents 35 Shots of Rum, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 400 NW 2 Ave. Free admission and complimentary refreshments will be served. Register at www.bocalibrary.org to reserve your seat.
    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 is Jan. 17-Feb. 2 at the Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach. Call 561.793.0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com.
    The Rotary Club of Boca Raton 2014 OPAL honorees Gary Peters, Irving Gutin, Karen and Howard Weiss, Anthony Comparato and Cecil Roseke, chaired by Doug Mummaw, Neil Saffir and Peter Baronoff will be Jan. 18 at the Club of Boca Pointe, announced club president Julie Vianale. Call 561.477.7180 or email Claudia@rotaryclubbocaraton.com. for more information and reservations.
   The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club will feature a Mayoral debate for the City of Boca Raton, moderated by the “Prince of Palm Beach County” Andre Fladell and a Meet the Council candidates, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Bogarts, on the Premiere level of the Cinemark Palace, 3200 Airport Road, just north of Glades Road. Membership, reservations and further information can be done on www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com or call 561.852.0000.
      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 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at 6001 Broken Sound Parkway, Boca, Suite 100.
   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 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 Instititue, 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.
  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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
     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!
     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.
    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.
   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.
    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.
      42 St. is at Boca Raton High School, Feb. 27- March 2. Visit www.bocatrama.com or call 561.338.15333 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.
    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.
    Save the Date: 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.
     Merry Christmas to all celebrating the holiday.

     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.comwww.http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com  as on his website: www.publicrelations.nu.                

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