Coronavirus (COVID-19), Is it Time to Worry?

I would be remiss not to briefly address the coronavirus (COVID-19) since it has been dominating the headlines of every media outlet nationally and internationally for the last month. You almost can’t help but get wrapped up in the panic after seeing the stock market tank, listening to reports about bare store shelves and learning that there is a run on Purell and Clorox products. The recent interest rate drop was a bright spot for the real estate industry but the COVID-19 cloud still lingers.

I decided to dial back my hysteria and take a look at what is actually happening in our area, ignoring sensational journalism and varied opinions by medical experts that we’ve seen on the national broadcasts. At the posting of this article, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Palm Beach County. As a matter of fact, the scrolling cover banner of the Palm Beach County Government website is a notice about the 2020 Census, the 2020 Palm Beach County Mobility Planning Summit and a reminder about Outdoor Adventure Day going on today. The Florida Department of Health website doesn’t have any specific advisories for Palm Beach County either. Local authorities are reminding us about general preventative measures like hand washing, but not suggesting a dramatic change in our daily behaviors. 

The major problem with the news coverage is that it is heavily focused on what “could happen” or extreme scenarios abroad and fails to give a true picture of what is happening locally. Since COVID-19 is spread from...

Do You Suffer from Overpricedtosis?

The good news, “season” is almost over, the bad news, “season” is almost over. Am I confusing you? Sorry, let me explain… good news first, soon the traffic will resume to normal, you will be more likely to get into your favorite restaurant and peace and tranquillity will return to our area. The bad news, today marks our second day into the last month of “season” and if you haven’t sold your condo yet, you only have 29 more days to capitalize on the biggest pool of buyers in our area at one time. 

Businesses off all types thrive during this 3 to 4 month period. Realtors are busy shuffling around town the influx of Northerners, trying to turn “seasonal” renters into Buyers and listing more homes on average than they do during the rest of the year. 

But, it’s March 2nd and you haven’t sold your condo yet, should you panic, let’s take stock of the situation. You listed the condo during "season", “check”, you decluttered and made the improvements your Realtor recommended “check, check” and priced it where you wanted, wait, you don’t get a check for the last one. Truth be told, the price you wanted was likely not the Realtor suggested price. 

Don’t be ashamed, it’s common. Sellers in our area are often afflicted with Overpricedtosis during the seasonal months. Overpricedtosis causes Sellers to have price delusions and inspires them to list their condos for more than they are worth...

Looking for something new & exciting to do this upcoming weekend in Boca Raton? If so, Mizner Park Amphitheater has got you covered! Come one come all to The Great Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium & Drink-ory Garden happening under the Boutique Big-Top tent at Mizner Park in Downtown Boca Raton! Presented by Bill S. Swindler & Salto Entertainment, this incredibly outrageous show offers a captivating 90-minute exhibition of classic vintage amusement, live acrobats, & comedy that will transport you back in time to a turn-of-the-century traveling circus. 

Complete with a quirky cast of characters played by award-winning aerialists, acrobats, stunt artists & comedians, prepare to be amazed by the unique talents of Lady Elastic, Miss Synthetic, Dr. Elixir, The Rotatetress, and the eccentric host, Mr. Swindle himself! Event-goers can also meet & greet with show characters & experience a variety of amazing savory dishes and enticing adult beverages in Dr. Elixir’s Drink-ory Garden which opens one hour prior to the start of each show. 

The opening performance will take place Thursday evening, February 13, 2020, at 7 pm, with six additional showtimes scheduled through the weekend before the circus packs up and leaves town on Sunday, February 16th. (See performance date & times below). Ticket prices for ...

This upcoming Saturday & Sunday, January 11th & 12th, 2020, Boca Fest, one of South Florida’s largest juried art shows, will return to Boca Raton for its 33rd Consecutive Year! This highly anticipated annual art festival will feature more than 200 award-winning national artists, blending the work of some of the art world’s all-time favorites with some of the hottest emerging artists in the contemporary art scene. Featuring everything from life-size sculpture, incredible paintings, photography, ceramics, woodworking, one-of-a-kind jewelry, & more, Boca Fest will offer a weekend filled with opportunities to admire and curate the fabulous works of the nation’s top artisans.  

The 33rd Annual Boca Fest outdoor art show will be held at Boca Town Center Mall, one of South Florida’s top luxury shopping destinations, conveniently located right off I-95 & Glades Road in the heart Boca Raton. The show will take place from 10 am to 5 pm on both days, in the lot situated at the intersection of St. Andrews Blvd & Glades Road. Admission to Boca Fest is FREE, with plenty of free parking available, as well as valet service. For more event details, including the ...

The City of Boca Raton will host the 43rd Annual Holiday Boat Parade on Sunday, December 15, 2019, from 6:30-8:00 pm. This highly anticipated annual event is the perfect way to experience the holiday season in true South Florida fashion! Parade attendees of years past will attest that you can’t help but get into the holiday spirit with the festive lights glistening off the water and the holiday music flowing from the lavishly decorated vessels as they make their jolly way down the Intracoastal.

Entry in the boat parade is absolutely FREE, and vessels of all sizes, from kayaks & paddleboards all the way up to large yachts, are welcome to participate. Last year’s turnout was absolutely incredible, with more than 30 boats entering the parade and thousands of onlookers! The City of Boca Raton is anticipating this year’s holiday boat parade to be just as well attended and perhaps a bit more competitive.

There will be $10,000 in cash prizes for this year’s winners, offering boat owners all the more reason to participate in this highly celebrated event. Parade entries are judged based on lights, colors, music, and overall effect. Winners will be determined by point total, with a total of 30 possible points per vessel. Enthusiasm also counts, so be sure to have everyone aboard waving and showing their holiday cheer when passing by the judges' stand! Please complete the ...

On Saturday, November 23, 2019, join the local community in kicking off the holiday season at the City of Boca Raton’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting event at Mizner Park Amphitheater & Mizner Plaza in Downtown Boca Raton! Watch as Mayor Scott Singer leads the ceremonial lighting of the City's tree, which will illuminate simultaneously with Mizner Park’s tree located at the south end of the shopping center near Lord & Taylor. Following the traditional tree lighting ceremony, sit back and enjoy a spectacular holiday fireworks display above the amphitheater!

The tree lighting event will also feature plenty of holiday-themed, family-friendly fun & activities including free carnival rides, an artificial ice rink, holiday bounce houses, Santa’s Circus variety show, strolling carolers, stilt walkers, & carnival food available for purchase. There will also be a “Letters to Santa Station,” where kids can write & send their holiday wish lists to the North Pole, as well as the opportunity to take a photo with Santa Claus himself ($5 each).

The event will take place from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Mizner Park Amphitheater, located at 590 Plaza Real in Downtown Boca Raton. Admission to the event is free and open to the public, with limited seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the ceremony & fireworks display. For additional event information please call 561-367-7073. Click here for additional venue information...

On Saturday, November 9, 2019, the Annual Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival, “A Culinary Affair!”, returns for its 10th annual celebration. Recognized as one of the largest food festivals in all of South Florida, the event will take place at Sanborn Square Park in the heart of Downtown Boca Raton. On Saturday evening, from 6 pm to 10 pm, fine wine vintners & top local chefs from the tri-county area will gather for the Grand Tasting, a culinary experience like no other. Enjoy unlimited food tastings, the wildly popular artisanal cheese village, fine wines, premium spirits, and fabulous live entertainment as we celebrate the festival's 10th year! For craft brew lovers, there will also be a designated area inside the Grand Tasting for the 6th Annual Craft Brew Battle, “A Hoppy Affair!”

The 10th Annual Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival will be held at Sanborn Square Park, located at 72 N Federal Hwy in Downtown Boca Raton, just south of Mizner Park. Ticket prices are $75 in advance for General Admission ($125 at the door), or $100 for advance purchase VIP admission ($150 at the door). VIP tickets allow one-hour early admission beginning at 6 pm, with General Admission ticket entry beginning at 7 pm. Group discounts for four or more tickets are available & all ticket prices include UNLIMITED tastings of all food, fine wine, craft beer, & premium spirits. For more information or to purchase tickets, call ...

Check out the Palm Beach County Local Real Estate Market Update for September 2019 below. The following real estate market update & performance summary is based on the latest statistics reported by the Florida REALTORS®, providing a year-over-year comparison of 2018 & 2019 market data for the month of September.

CLOSED SALES
The September 2019 market stats from the Florida REALTORS® reveal that there were 129 more single-family homes sold in Palm Beach County last month compared to in September 2018, representing a 10.5% increase in total closed home sales. On the other hand, the latest market data show that sales for condos & townhomes in Palm Beach County decreased 5.6%, with 58 fewer condo/townhome sales in September 2019 compared to the same time last year.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE
The latest market stats for September 2019 show a median sales price of $355,000 for single-family homes in...

Author: Melissa Dawson 
Contact: mdawson@mybocaparks.org

BOCA RATON – The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District removed the “Interim” tag from Briann Harms' job title, officially promoting her to Executive Director. 

“Briann's dedication to the Boca Raton community and her effectiveness as the interim made this an easy decision for us,” Commission Chairperson Susan Vogelgesang said. “She stepped into the Executive Director position and met or exceeded all expectations, proving to be a tremendous asset for the Boca Raton community.” 

Harms quickly proved herself as an effective leader during a results-filled nine months as the District's interim director. 

During her tenure as interim, which began in January, the District resurfaced the tennis courts and playground at Patch Reef Park and recently finished installing three environmentally friendly artificial turf fields there. The District also renovated the batting cages and added shade structures at Sugar Sand Park, and completed Swim and Racquet Center construction, giving the District a new home for its offices and meetings.

Harms led the effort to improve the District's...

On Saturday, October 5, 2019, join the City of Boca Raton’s Recreation Services Department for the First Annual BarkFest! at Mizner Bark Dog Park! This FREE pet- & family-friendly event will feature food vendors for pets & their human companions, a mobile grooming station, canine performers, pet adoptions, a DJ, as well as a pet costume contest which is certain to be the highlight of the day!

The costume contest will begin at 12pm with FREE registration from 10am to 11:45am (limited slots available). Pets and their pet parents are welcome to dress in their favorite costumes for the chance to compete for some amazing prizes in the following categories: “Most Creative,” “Funniest,” “#Twinning-Match Your Pup,” “Spookiest,” “Best Homemade,”  “Cutest,”, and the Grand Prize, “Best in Show”! 

BarkFest! will take place from 10am-2pm at Mizner Bark Dog Park located at 751 Banyan Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33431. ***PLEASE NOTE: Dogs must be leashed (6ft maximum leash) on the festival grounds - dogs with...

Author: Melissa Dawson 
Contact: mdawson@mybocaparks.org

BOCA RATON – The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District (The District) voted on Monday to pursue a bond, most of which will fund the development of Boca Raton's new public golf course to be built at the former site of Ocean Breeze.

“We want to ensure Boca Raton residents have the best facilities at a reasonable cost. After spending 24 months researching the project, we are eager to move ahead with the Boca National Golf Course, giving Boca Raton residents the destination facility they requested,” District Commissioner Bob Rollins said.

Complying with a request from the City of Boca Raton, the District spent two years researching what city residents wanted from their new course.

The District vetted 17 golf course designers and, with community feedback, contracted with renowned designers Nick Price and Tom Fazio (Price/Fazio) to design a facility that includes an 18-hole course, an 11-hole short course, practice facilities, a learning center and a temporary clubhouse, all of which will be open to the public.

 When completed, Boca National would immediately become one of the premier public golf facilities in the nation.

...

Author: Melissa Dawson
Contact: mdawson@mybocaparks.org

BOCA RATON – Todd Deering heard plenty of positives about the new artificial turf fields being installed at Boca Raton's Patch Reef Park.

On Saturday Sept. 7, when the Boca Raton Braves played on those fields for the first time, he found that the new surface exceeded the hype...

“This is incredible. This is awesome,” said Deering, President of the Braves youth football organization. “The kids actually came out for the first time on it today, loved it. Loved the feel of it. It's basically like real grass, too. Safety wise the kids are loving it. We love it.”

When complete, the $4 million Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District project that began in March will create three new turf fields for community use in place of what previously were natural turf fields. 

The new turf fields require less maintenance, affording more time for play. And the new drainage system underneath the fields eliminates the need to cancel games because of soggy fields.

Two of the multi-purpose fields are already complete, with the third scheduled to open by the end of the month. Fields will have permanent lines for football, lacrosse and soccer, but can be used for most any sport that requires a field.

Come join the end-of-summer celebration at Boca’s annual "Wine & All That Jazz!" party on Saturday, August 24, 2019! Presented by the Boca Chamber of Commerce and JM Lexus, this exclusive event will take place at the luxurious Boca Raton Resort & Club, bringing together the “who’s who” of the Boca Chamber & the local community. 

Featuring more than 100 varieties of wine, spirits, and beer, as well as dinner entrees by the bite, guests will have the opportunity to indulge in an array of adult beverages and culinary delights from over 15 of Boca’s top restaurants. The event will feature a live band performing smooth jazz in the main event room, which will later transform into a dance party when they turn up the volume with top hit music from yesterday and today. "Wine & All That Jazz!" will also feature an exciting raffle with a host of amazing prizes including wine baskets, spa packages, concert tickets, & more! VIP passes are available for those seeking the red carpet treatment, granting access to an ultra-exclusive, private VIP lounge offering gourmet cuisine, fine wine, and live entertainment by DJ Chris Prime.

Whether you are a...

Development of Hillsboro El Rio Park Phase II in southeast Boca Raton is now underway with an expected opening at the end of 2019. This 14-acre, city-owned parcel of land located on the south side of SW 18th Street between Dixie Hwy & the El Rio Canal, will be the site of the City of Boca Raton’s newest waterfront park. Phase I of the Hillsboro El Rio Park, which is located on the north side of SW 18th Street, has been open to the public since 2002. 

Though plans for completing phase II of the Hillsboro El Rio Park have been in the works for several years, a renewed commitment to the development of the City’s waterfront park sites has now taken priority. After receiving input from nearby Boca Raton residents and the Parks and Recreation Board, a new and improved site plan was created for phase II which is estimated to cost approximately $7.8 million. By the end of 2019, the new Hillsboro El Rio Park Phase II will be open to the public from dawn till dusk, offering the following amenities:

• Walking/Jogging Paths 
• Fitness Station
• Children's Playground
• Four Pickleball Courts
• Two Tennis Courts
• Basketball Court
• Sand Volleyball Court
• Picnic Pavilions
• Canoe/Kayak Soft Launch Area
• Public Restrooms & Parking

For the latest updates & additional info about Phase II of the Hillsboro El Rio Park please visit the City...

We are pleased to announce that the Summer in the City Series will be returning to Downtown Boca Raton for a sensational 2019 season! Sponsored by the City of Boca Raton, the Summer in the City Series will feature an exciting lineup of eight FREE concerts & events which will be held between June 7th and August 9th at Mizner Park Amphitheater. The 2019 schedule is packed with fantastic, family-friendly events, including live musical tribute concerts, yoga, art, games, and even an outdoor viewing of the 2018 award-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody.” 

This year's Summer in the City Series will kick off on Friday, June 7, 2019, with a thrilling Battle of the Bands concert! This competitive event will showcase the musical talent of eight carefully selected local bands, each battling it out for the coveted title of "Best Band." The competition will be broken into two categories, with three finalists competing in the Teen category and five finalists in the ages 20+ category. The winners in each age group will not only win bragging rights amongst their fellow musicians, but each winning band will also receive a $1,500 cash grand prize! Battle of the Bands judges will include select officials from the City of Boca Raton as well as representatives from AEG and Live Nation. What better way to kick of the 2019 Summer in the City Series than featuring some of the top musical talent that exists right here in Boca Raton? Be sure to come out and show your support!

The complete lineup of events for the 2019 Summer...