Boca Festival days was started by the Chamber of Commerce as a way to attract business during the off season month of August. It has evolved into an annual party/fundraiser/ activitysession and this year is no exception.

On tap this week are acting classes for students at the Caldwell Theatre, dueling pianos at FunKey Nutz to benefit Kids in Distress, an American Songbook contest to benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County and the Morikami Bon Festival on Saturday, August 9th from 5 - 9.

The signature event of the festival is the wine tasting, this year to be held on August 16th at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. " Wine and All That Jazz ....and More" will feature over 100 wines for sampling. Other interesting programming include a tennis tournament benefiting Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services, a ballroom dance battle featuring local politicians to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund and a Tropical Nights Martini Party at Bova.

Events vary in price and information about all activities can be found at www.bocaratonchamber.com.

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If you are looking for something other than the usual dinner and/or a movie, check out The Improv Comedy Club at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The club features both top names and rising comedy stars in multiple shows on weekend evenings.

Last weekend featured home grown comedian Wayne Federman and Saturday Night Live alumni Jimmy Fallon. The show was excellent with memorable comedy routines that targeted universal themes of blogging, gps systems, and celebrities. The jokes were timely, topical and hysterical and made for a really enjoyable evening. Upcoming shows include Cedric The Entertainer, Bruce Bruce and Richard Lewis.

The seating is an intimate table style venue providing everyone with a close up view. There is a cover charge for the show and a two drink minimum with food available for purchase. Free parking is offered in the Lucky Street garage which is adjacent to The Improv. Tickets and show schedules can be found at http://www.improvftl.com.

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No more teachers, no more rules. . . . . . . Palm Beach County public schools ended Friday, June 6th and it is time to play. Homework, tutors and extra-curricular activities are on hold until fall and it is time to enjoy South Florida. Even though it's an understatement to stay it is a little warm, this is an ideal time to be a tourist in your own town. Her are some suggestions for things to do.

1. Go to the beach. It is so easy to forget that we have the magnificent ocean right in our backyard. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy swimming and the scenery.

2. Visit a water park. There are both public (Coconut Cove) and private water parks nearby and they are especially fun for the younger set.

3. Check out the local museums. Lunch at Mizner Park and a trip to the Boca Museum are always a good way to fill a day.

4. Engage in your sport of choice. Public golf and tennis courts have greater availability. Rent a sailboat at the Delray beach. Visit a local gym or just do laps in the nearest swimming pool.

5. Hit your favorite restaurants. Catch the summer specials and chat up the host so that you can get in when winter comes.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the lazy days of summer.

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One of my New Year's resolutions for the City of Boca Raton was that the city moves forward on the long discussed proposal to build an ice rink on land near the new Spanish River library. In January, the city put out a request for proposal asking for a 90,000-square-foot facility with two NHL-sized rinks and a third Olympic-sized rink. It also requested amenities such as seating, a store, a fitness area, lockers, a sports medicine facility, and a restaurant.

In response to the request, the city received two bids neither of which met the exact specifications of the city. The first proposal, submitted by a company called Incredible Universe, calls for 290,000 square feet and a price tag of $55 million more than three times the size of the city request. The second proposal is from Rink Management Services Corp. and has a price tag of $11.2 million for a 70,000-square-foot rink but has only two ice rinks and no restaurant.

Due to recent newspaper coverage regarding the background of one of the owners of Incredible Universe, Incredible Universe has stated that it will not present its' proposal to the city. This leaves only the Rink Management proposal which is smaller than the city hoped.

The city acted in good faith and in response to citizen requests in moving forward on this project but has now run into the proverbial wall of ice. The city can either move forward on the smaller project or table the idea until a later time. Of course, there are no guarantees that there will ever be a better time to build an ice rink. There is no question that an ice skating facility will be a benefit to our community. The city just needs to decide if this is the right proposal at the right time.

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Thanks to my fellow blogger, Tina Korn, of West Boynton for the following articles offering suggestions of thing to do with visiting guests or when you have a day free to be a tourist in your own backyard.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is located in Boca Raton, Florida at
Red Reef Park, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Twenty acres of Boca Raton's Red Reef Park include a nature center and sabal palm
hammock, coastal dunes, and mangrove wetlands. There are a variety of mammals,
birds, reptiles and fish. Rare and endangered species such as the manatee, the
brown pelican, the osprey and sea turtles can sometimes be observed. A beautiful
butterfly garden and a boardwalk offer tranquil settings for a lovely stroll. Climb the
40 foot observation tower and look out over the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal.
This center aims to make visitors aware of the need to preserve and protect nature.

Gumbo Limbo is open from Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 4PM and
Sunday: 12PM to 4PM. They are closed on New Year's Day, 4th of July,
Thanksgiving and Christmas day. There is no charge but a “suggested ”donation
of $ 3.00 per person. Their nature-themed gift shop has imaginative gifts.
1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton 561-338-1473 gumbo@gumbolimbo.org.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Wakodahatchee Wetlands was constructed by Palm Beach County Water Utilities
Department on 56 acres into a thriving wetlands habitat. Approximately two
million gallons per day of highly treated reclaimed water is used to maintain this
wetlands habitat, in a park-like setting. The name is derived from a Seminole Indian
phrase meaning "created waters."

"The Wakodahatchee Wetlands have attracted an abundant variety of wildlife,
including turtles, frogs, otters, alligators and more than 150 different species of birds.
There is a three-quarter mile boardwalk that winds through three of the wetland's ponds,
allowing visitors the opportunity to read interpretive signs and learn about water
purification, wetlands ecology, natural history and the interdependence of people
and their environment. The existing pond berms have been planted with native
plants using natural landscaping techniques to provide extensive planted buffers,
which eliminate views from the top of the berms into the adjacent neighborhoods.
The constructed wetlands benefit the community in a variety of ways, combining
the seemingly unrelated functions of water treatment, wildlife habitat and recreation
into a wetland ecosystem that is fully accessible to the public. Environmentally,
it detains storm waters, protecting downstream areas from flooding. It naturally
purifies waters containing nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, without
using fossil-fuel energies or producing sludge." (From the Wakodahatchee
Wetlands Web page and the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department brochure).

Wakodahatchee Wetland is located in Delray Beach, Florida, on the east side of
Jog Road, between Woolbright Road and Atlantic Avenue. The wetland is open to
the general public from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Tours of
Wakodahatchee Wetland are conducted on the second Tuesday of every
month at 9:00 A.M., and on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:00
P.M., during winter months. The tour lasts approximately one hour, and the tour
group size is limited to 20. Space on the tour must be reserved in advance.
For reservations or questions about the wetland, please phone (561) 641-3429.

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is located
two miles south of Boynton Beach Boulevard, off U.S. 441. It is one of 538 refuges
in the National Wildlife system. There are many activities to enjoy and lots of wildlife
and nature to see. The refuge was established in 1951. In total, the refuge includes
over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat, and is home to the American alligator
and as many as 257 species of birds may use the refuge's wetland habitats.

In addition to being a home to wildlife, the refuge offers many recreational opportunities:
Walking trails, a canoe trail, bike trail, boat ramps, fishing platform,
observation towers, butterfly garden, and a visitor center.

There is a 400 acre cypress swamp. A boardwalk into the swamp even gives the visitor
a chance for an up-close swamp experience, without any danger.
Daily Schedule: Refuge opens at 5:00 A.M. and closes at 6:00 P.M.
Visitors Center: Open Wed - Fri 9:00 - 4:00; Sat and Sun 9:00 to 4:30.
Golden Age Passport gives you free admission.
$5.00 per vehicle.

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World class tennis takes place in Delray Beach this weekend at the International Tennis Championship finals. The semi-finals start Friday, February 15 and culminate in the finals on Sunday the 17th at the Delray Beach city tennis courts on Atlantic Avenue and Swinton.

Players in the singles semi-finals include number 5 ranked James Blake, Vince Spadea, Sam Querrey, Robby Ginepri and local Mardy Fish. In addition, to the singles there are doubles matches with such players as the crowd pleasing Bryan brothers.

I attended the Thursday, February 14th day matches and caught some great tennis, watching American's Fish and Ginipri prevail. The tennis level is amazing, the event is well organized and it is enjoyable to try and second guess the line judges.

There are bands performing, food stands and even a temporary restaurant run by Bova's, making this a fun place to spend some time over the weekend. With the predicted good weather this is an ideal place to be.

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Although it took almost four years to build, cost much more than expected, and is the subject of a lawsuit against the original contractor, the City of Boca Raton Spanish River Library appears poised to be a huge success.

The Library opened with a grand flourish on Saturday, January 26th. Over 2,000 people attended the first day ceremonies which included clowns, magicians, a bounce house and a harpist.

My informal survey of the initial crowd was overwhelming positive and I wholeheartedly concur with this sentiment.

The architectural details that comprise the physical building have a mediterranean flair and make the premises a visual delight. The library itself is well thought out and provides something for everyone.

There's a teen room that specializes in teen books, a children's computer lab with specially pre-programmed games, a tiny tots reading room called pooh's corner, a cafe situated next to a beautiful outdoor terrace, conference rooms available for rent, an adult computer lab, a gift shop and a plentiful assortment of books, books on tape and videos.

Programs for the new library are scheduled to start immediately and include Story Time, Tween and Teen programs, a Sunday speaker series and a Book Club. The hours of operation are 9 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 9 to 6 Friday and Saturday and 12 to 8 on Sunday.

Having such an amazing library and great programming really was worth the wait.

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Over 25,000 people jammed Flagler Boulevard in West Palm Beach on Saturday, January 19th for the Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure. Young and old, men and women, children and pets, including one dyed pink standard poodle, all joined together to run or walk 5 kilometers to help find a cure for breast cancer.

As in past years, I participated in the Race for the Cure and once again saw the strength of our communities' efforts to fight this horrible disease. Groups carried banners representing churches, synagogues, schools, businesses, counties, and civic organizations. People wore the event t-shirt or donned one of the own and adorned themselves with pink parasols, hats, necklaces and boas.

Especially moving were the tribute signs worn by many of the participants. Pinned on their backs were lists either in memory of deceased family members and friends or in honor of those who had breast cancer. The number of names was overwhelming, highlighting the need to find a cure for this disease.

The event is in its 17th year and is part of a nationwide effort started by Palm Beacher Nancy Brinker after her sister died of breast cancer. This year organizers anticipated revenues of $1.5 million for the West Palm Beach walk.

The walk itself took less than an hour and I can't think of a better or more meaningful way to have spent my Saturday morning.

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Upcoming events:
Thursday, January 24 at 9 p.m. - Republican Presidential Debate at FAU
Saturday, January 26 at 10 a.m. - Opening of the City of Boca Raton Library on Spanish River Boulevard
Thursday, February 7 at 6 p.m. - Junior League of Boca Raton Chocolate Decadence, Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail 561-620-2553 or visit www.JLBR.org.

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On the third floor of the Florida Atlantic University library, lies a treasure trove of art works disguised as books. The Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection of Books as Aesthetic Objects contains over 4000 books handmade by artists. The books were created more for their artistic merit than content and each one is a mini masterpiece.

The collection was started and donated by Arthur Jaffe and his late wife Mata. Arthur is a curator for the collection and has a hands on role in continuing to grow and exhibit the books. I attended a special exhibition that he arranged and it was delightful to see the books and the joy and pride he took in displaying them.

The books are housed in a 4800 square foot center which is open to the public by appointment. In the atrium right outside of the center, there are continuing exhibitions which are displayed at all times that the FAU library is operating. In addition, many of the books are available for viewing online at http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/jaffe.htm .

Visiting the Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection is a trip to a combination art gallery and library. It's an enchanting collection and a town treasure for Boca Raton.

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I love Boca Raton and I would not want to live anywhere else in South Florida. Even though I am a strong advocate for our city, I believe that we need to continue to strive to make Boca the best it can be. As we start 2008, I propose the following resolutions:

1. Safety first. All crime, including purse snatching, robbery, carjacking and even sadly murder, needs to be addressed and stopped now. Everyone - police, elected officials, judges, businesses, ordinary citizens - should act in concert to show that there is a zero tolerance for any type of crime in Boca.

2. Open the Spanish River Boulevard library. The slow pace of building is starting to rival Gaudi's famous church, La Sagrada Familia, as the library was approved by public referendum in 2003 with construction started in 2004. It looks beautiful from the outside and now is the time to finish the project and let everyone enjoy this new public facility.

3. Build an ice rink. Recreational activities benefit both locals and visitors, making it a big plus for our city.

4. Bring back the boat parade. Traditions are what make the most lasting memories. We need to continue and support all city wide events to create a strong sense of community.

5. Plan for the future. Give the voters proposals as to long range plans for developing a downtown that links Royal Palm Plaza and Mizner Park and address road congestion, water purification safety and hurricane preparedness.

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Ready, set, go ....... ever since Black Friday, it feels as if we are in a race with the holiday season. There's the rush to buy presents and the hurry to get ready for and attend holiday parties. The pace gets so hectic it's an accomplishment just to make it through each day and complete some of your to do list.

Other than the standard platitudes, about starting early, staying on budget and keeping organized, there really is no answer to this annual holiday dilemma. The only thing you can do is to focus on what is important to you. As they say, don't sweat the small stuff.

Try and spend some time each day living in the present and not always planning for the next event. Enjoy being with your family and friends and take time to savor the special moments. Keep up with family traditions because they are truly what everyone will remember and cherish.

If it's not already part of your family tradition, the Boca holiday parade which takes place on Federal Highway on December 5th is always a fun event. The parade is a real mom and pop affair with lots of homemade floats. It brings out the true community spirit of Boca and is one of those activities that make wonderful memories.

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You know that the South Palm Beach County Women’s Tennis Association season is in full force when you start seeing more women in tennis outfits at Publix. Tennis matches for all levels started Monday, September 17, 2007 and continue through May, 2008. Over twelve hundred women from their twenties upwards participate in the league’s weekly matches.

Teams are composed of up to sixteen players from various country clubs, neighborhoods, community centers and public courts. There are nine divisions and anywhere from seven to fourteen teams in a division, with division one being the strongest players. Matches start at 10 a.m. and conclude with lunch hosted by the home team. Depending on how you play and/or the venue, lunch can be the highlight of the day.

Changes to the league this year include a new rule about footfaults and the addition of flexible scheduling for matches on weeks taking place near religious holidays. Rule books have been distributed to all team captains and rosters and team scores will continue to be available and updated throughout the year at www.spbcwta.org. There are still openings on several teams and if you are interested in joining the league refer to the website.

Good luck to all players and especially Swim and Racquet Club Team 4. Let the games begin!

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Quick, what’s pink and twenty seven stories high in Boca Raton? If you guessed the Tower at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, you know your Boca hotels. The hotel, designed by renowned architect Addison Mizner over 80 years ago, is a cool historical treasure given Boca’s history of new cookie-cutter developments. The resort is also a great place for a quick weekend getaway if you know how to take advantage of being a local.

Although the hotel limits daily visits to those who pay a substantial sum and join as Members, anyone staying overnight gets full run of all the facilities. As any savvy Floridian knows, if you go during low or shoulder season you can snag a good deal and get to be king or queen of the hill at reduced rates. Another alternative for better rates is to bid on a hotel package in one of the myriad local charity silent or live auctions. The hotel often donates rooms and/or golf and sometimes you can get a good deal on a two night stay.

Disappointingly for now the Beach Club is closed for renovations. The pool area at the beach is not scheduled to reopen until April, 2008, while the Beach Club hotel rooms will not be available for occupancy until 2009. Even without the Beach Club, however, there are plenty of activities available.

My family recently took advantage of the off season rates and had a blast. My husband played golf on the resort course and raved about the magnificent setting. The on site marina has a variety of boating options and we loved our trip on the Ocean Breeze catamaran. There is a beautiful pool, multiple clay tennis courts, a well equipped fitness room, a croquet course and a first class spa complete with exotic treatment options.

The restaurants at the hotel are good but like everything else very pricey. We had a celebratory dinner at Old Homestead and it was excellent. A less expensive option for locals is to simply drive off property and enjoy your favorite Boca restaurant. Being a resident, you can take advantage of the hotel on your terms and benefit from this town treasure.

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