Barrys Buzz - March 26, 2014

   Boca Mayor Susan Welchel will be honored for her 20 years of service 5:30 pm-7:30 p.m. March 26 at the Boca Raton Marriott in Boca Center to benefit the non-profit 501 (c) 3 Spirit of Giving Network. Tickets are $50. RSVP at www.spiritofgivingnetwork.com or call 561-385-0144 for more information.

    The Tri-county animal shelter on Boca Rio Road in West Boca, has been renamed the Tri-County Animal Rescue and undergoing a capital campaign.

     Through March 31, customers at Macy’s Boca Furniture Gallery, 9339 Glades Road, Boca Raton can donate $1 or more at the register, with 100 percent of the donations benefiting Sandalfoot Cove Park.

   Red, The Steakhouse at 1901 N. Military Trail is closing Sunday after a two year run and sold their lease to Farmer’s Table, next door.

    State Senator Maria Sachs is backing a bill to phase out dog racing at the Palm Beach Kennel Club and open the door for slot machines in the county.

    The Palm Beach Post reported that Boca Raton financial advisor Paul Shumack who signed up customers at $3500 each, is the focus of an FBI nationwide investigation after numerous complaints of an alleged investment scam involving electronic virtual concierge kiosks placed in hotels, hospitals, casinos and businesses customized for client services, but has denied wrongdoing.   

     Private equity powerhouse Blackstone Group continues its spending spree buying South Florida single family homes for investment rentals. Court records show since the first of the year Blackstone has picked up 200 homes at an average price of $241,000. Property records show the company owns around 1,200 Palm Beach County homes and an estimated 7,000 homes in Florida with the largest concentration in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach with 256 home buys in the past year.

   Palm Beach billionaire Wilber Ross has wrapped up his four-year stint as director of Bank United and will leave the board after getting a huge break from the FDIC and three other private equity firms by taking over the bank after it was seized by the Feds, shelling out $250 million initially for the stock and has walked away with an estimated $500 million in subsequent stock sales of the 90 branch bank in South Florida with assets of $13 million.   

    The Men’s Wearhouse $1.8 billion takeover of Jos. A. Bank will mean a consolidation of the South Florida apparel stores and probably the end of competitive discount sales. No longer will buy one-get two free and other hyped up sales incentives be touted on megabuck TV buys on major TV channels, with an estimated 250 jobs slashed from the payrolls of 35 South Florida stores in the merger.     

    The New York Times reported that the U.S. Justice Department wildly inflated post-recession financial fraud investigations led to little or no convictions. South Florida was the hotbed of the mortgage fraud meltdown, yet the FBI’s Miami office gave financial fraud a low priority. Blatant criminal activity by brass at Countrywide Mortgage and Washington Mutual led to no prosecutions by cooking the books but the Feds said otherwise.  

    President Obama signed the Flood Insurance bill that backed off huge premium rate hikes for South Florida homeowners. A previous bill was passed two years ago requiring homeowners to buy flood coverage that charged back breaking premiums of thousands of dollars that were unaffordable and the uproar caused Congress to reverse the law, which more than 5,000 Palm Beach County homeowners were affected.

     Despite high prices, South Florida is picking up more than its share of college Spring Breakers this year. Weary of constant winter storms, college kids are throwing caution of cash and credit cards to the winds and looking for warm breezes and sunny beaches, despite South Florida’s seasonal prices that command an average $200 per night for modest hotel rooms.   

    Slow Burn Theatre Company presents Chess, through April 5 in the West Boca Performing Arts Theatre at West Boca High School, 12811 W. Glades Road, Boca Raton. Call 1.866.811.411 or visit www.slowburntheatre.org for tickets and further information.

   The Plaza Theatre, 262 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan presents Dirty Blonde, March 27-April 13. See www.theplazatheatre.net or call 561.588.1820.     

  The G-D of Isaac is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs through April 20. Visit www.stagedoortheatre.com or call 954.344.7765 for tickets and more information.

   American Idiot is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, through April 6. Go to www.browardcenter.org or call 954.462.0222 for tickets.

   Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.

    Cafe Cinematheque Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs is every Thursday at 10:30am at Movies of Delray 561-638-0020 and Friday at 1:00pm at Movies of Lake Worth 561-968-4545. Visit www.moviesofdelray.com for more information.

     Watch Barry Epstein live featuring One Plus One Band George and Marion Frega, AllBrite Window Cleaning and Home Services owner Scott Westman, Certified Hypnotist and Comedy Hypnotist Glenn Miller and Sun-Sentinel editorial columnist Kingsley Guy on www.wrpbitv.com at 10 pm Thursday and 10 am Friday to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres. You can be on too to promote your business or profession. Call 561.852.0000 for details. You can also watch the TV shows ON Demand on wrpbitv. Just click on this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/barryepsteinlive.

    Noah, Sabotage and Cesar Chavez opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. The Lunch Box opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres, the Movies of Delray and the Classic Gateway in Ft. Lauderdale. Movies of Delray also opens Noah and Budapest Hotel.

  Journey for Faith is 6 p.m. March 28 at the Sonoma House, 220 NE 11^th St. Boca Raton. Visit https://epilepsyfl.nationbuilder.com/faith or call 561.756.9474.

   The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards is the Nat King Cole Generation Hope concert, 6:30 p.m., March 28 at the Wold Performing Arts Center, Lynn University. For more info and sponsorship opportunities, email; info@natkincolegenhope.org or call 561.213.8209.

      Palm Beach Dramaworks presents Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate, March 28-April 27 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. Visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org or call 561.514.4042 for tickets and further information.

   The 12th annual "Boca Bacchanal," benefiting the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum will feature a weekend of wine, food and luxury March 28-30. Visit www.bocabaccanal.com or call 5611.395.6766 ext. 101 or email info@bocahistory.org.

   Boca Raton Green Market, in its 17th year, has farm-to-table, freshly-picked produce (organics, too) from local growers, plants and flowers, bakery items and lots more,  8am to 1pm every Saturday and featuring “It Takes Two” (Zella and Phil) performing a wide variety of musical selections at the sw parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S. Fed. Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd. Call (561) 299-8684.

  The Boca Raton Junior League's Birthday Party for Dr. Seuss is 10 am – 2 pm March 29 at the Community Garden, next to the Downtown Library. Cost of Admission: One package of diapers for the League's Diaper Bank.  

    FAU’s Making Waves Gala is 6:30 p.m. March 29 at the football stadium tower. Tickets are $150. Call 561.297.6144 or visit www.faugala.info.

  Another great Pop, Rock & Doo Wop show is 8 p.m. March 29 at the FAU Barry & Carole Kaye Performing Arts Center, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Call 561.693.3632 or visit www.poprockdoowopp.com for tickets and more information.

   Upcoming shows at the Delray Beach Playhouse at 950 NW 9th St. in Lake Ida Park, off Swinton Ave. Delray Beach include: The Pajama Game, March 29-April 20; 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.

   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 Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County “Everyone Counts” Super Sunday is March 30. For information on Super Sunday opportunities or to RSVP, visit www.jewishboca.org/supersunday or contact Marcy Lippman at 561-852-3271 or email marcyl@bocafed.org.

  Bolshoi Ballet live simulcast from Moscow is 7 pm March 30 at the Movies of Delray.

  Boca city residents and the public are invited to the swearing-ceremony for Boca City Mayor Susan Haynie, Council members Michael  J. Mullaugh, Scott M. Singer and Robert S. Weinroth, 10:30 a.m. March 31, City Hall Council Chambers, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, with light refreshments served.

   Boca West $100,000 purse Charity Golf Challenge is March 31. Tickets are $475 per person. Call 561.488.6980 or email foundation@bocawestcc.org.

 Visit http://www.bocawestfoundation.org/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=369142&ssid=281889&vnf=1for more information.

   The Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations' Meeting is 8:30 am, April 1st, at the Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. (next to City Hall). Meet the New Boca Raton Airport Authority, Executive Director, Clara Bennett, a Tribute to Outgoing Mayor Susan Whelchel and Community Spotlight: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

     Diana Ross headlines the Boca West Foundation Charities Concert for Children on the lawn starting at 6 pm. April 1 with charities selling tickets keeping 100% of the tickets they sell. Visit http://www.bocawestfoundation.org/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=369142&ssid=281889&vnf=1

 for further information.

   The Little River Band is at the Crest Theatre at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Delray Beach, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. April 1,  to benefit Florida Fishing Academy programs. Tickets are $50. RSVP to Rich@FloridaFishingAcademy.com or call 561.470.7727 for more information.

   Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton presents the 16^th Annual Honor Your Doctor Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. April 3, at Broken Sound Club to benefit the Helen M. Babione Medical Scholarship Fund, Call 561.212.8866, email robintromp@aol.com or visit www.rotarydowntownbocaraton.org for tickets or more info.

    The Palm Beach International Film Festival is April 3-10. Call 561.362.0003 or visit www.pbifilmfest.org for tickets theatres and more information.

  Steel Magnolias is at The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum, 7901 N. Fed. Hwy. April 3 to April 20. Call 561.995.2333 or visit www.thewick.org for tickets. The 2014/2015 season includes: Swing, Oct. 23-Nov. 16; Mame, Dec. 4-Dec. 28; La Cage aux Folles, Jan. 8-Feb. 15; Man of La Mancha, Feb. 26- March 22; Oklahoma, April 2-April 26 and Dames at Sea, May 7-24. Order tickets at www.thewick.org or call 561.995.2333.

   The American Fine Wine Competition and Gala benefitting Deliver the Dream is 6:30 pm – 11 pm April 4 at the Boca Resort & Club, with David Letterman announcer Alan Kalter and Hilary Kole. Tickets are $310. Visit www.americanfinewinecompetition.org or call 305.627.3409 for more information.

   Coaching the Mature Driver: Florida law requires drivers over 55 to receive discount on their auto insurance for three years when they take this course. Some insurance companies allow drivers 50 and over to receive the discount. This course is designed for senior drivers, age 55 and older to review the effects of aging and driving and how to compensate for the physical and mental changes to promote defensive driving. The state of Florida has approved this course for insurance discounts, which last for three years. Course may also be court ordered. Class fee: $12. April 7   9 a.m. – 4 p.m.   South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. To register, visit www.safetycouncilpbc.org or call 561.845.8233 or 1.800.640.2415 for further information.

   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.

   Gossip columnist Jose Lambiet is the featured speaker at the www.GoldCoastTigerBayClub.com lunch, 11:30 a.m. April 8 at City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road opposite the Turnpike. RSVP on the site or call 561.852.0000 for more information and reservations.

  Keep the Faith "Bon Jovi Tribute Experience" Comes to Boca to help raise research funds for ALL cancers. 7:00 p.m. April 16 at the Funky Biscuit, 303 SE Mizner Blvd.  Tickets are $15-$25. The first 50 people get a complimentary drink. Comedian and cancer survivor Wayne Felber opens. If you love Bon Jovi and hate cancer, join us for an amazing night. Please purchase tickets in advance at www.funkybiscuit.com and look at upcoming events.

     The Boca Raton Republican club features a dinner and book signing with former Congressman Allen West, 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 17 at Deer Creek Golf Club, 2801 Deer Creek Country Club Blvd. Deerfield Beach. Costs are $40 members, $50 guests, $200 seating with Allen West, $400 Table sponsor (10) RSVP by March 23 to www.http://bocagop.com/Boca_GOP_Events.html or email info@bocagop.com for more information.

    The Trouble With Doug is 7:30 p.m. April 23-May 11 at the Arts Garage, 180 NE 1^st St. Delray. Visit www.artsgarage.org or call 561.450.6357 for tickets.

    The West Boca High School Drama Dept. presents Death by Dessert, April 25 & 26. Tickets are $15. Call 561.672.2066.

    Florida will offer a 15-day sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness supplies from June 1-14. During that time period, Floridians can purchase flashlights, batteries, weather radios and other basic hurricane supply items, all tax-free. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.

      The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Nov. 11-16; The Book of Mormon, Dec. 16-21; Flashdance – the Musical, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 2015; Anything Goes, March 10-15, 2015; Memphis, April 7-12, 2015 and Pippin, April 28-May 3, 2015. Subscribers will get renewals in April. General public tickets will go on sale midsummer. To order go to www.kravis.org/broadway or call 561.832.7469. 

     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.

     You can win a pair of tickets to an upcoming movie at any Regal Entertainment Cinema Theatre. Send an email to pr@publicrelations.nu and two winners will be chosen each week.

     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