Palm Beach Restaurant Week will be held October 20-26, so mark your calendars NOW. Styled after the famous New York Restaurant Weeks, for $20.08, three-course lunches will be offered at restaurants that are said to include Café Boulud, Café L’Europe, Charley’s Crab, Flager Steakhouse (at the Breakers), Michael R. McCarty’s, Ocean Bistro at the Four Seasons, Renato’s and the Ritz Carlton. The Palm Beach County Convention Center and Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce are involved in the planning.
Join in MISSION POSSIBLE 2008 on August 7th from 6-8:30 pm at Town Center, and take on the role of sleuth in a mystery mission. Proceeds benefit The Haven, a local home for boys age 9 to18 who have been placed in protective care by the state. Sample more than 100 wines and many hors d’oeuvres on August 16 from 7-9 pm at WINE & ALL THAT JAZZ at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Gear up for 5k walk August 19 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Marriott Boca Center. Goal is to collect $375,000 for MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER. Local celebrities will compete on the dance floor on August 28th, 6-9:30 pm at Pavillion Grille, 301 Yamato for the BOCA BALLROOM BATTLE with proceeds benefiting the George Snow Scholarship Fund. Local business leaders and representatives from area nonprofit and media groups are working together to present these events and many others (40+) throughout the month of August. C’mon over and don’t miss all the fun!
Waterbrook Peninsula LLC has filed for bankruptcy. Your editor recently visited the project and took these photos. The property is on a small peninsula with water on three sides, on Federal Highway and the intracoastal waterway. It was planned to have 40 luxury condos, 20 town homes and 10 large single family homes. Construction is almost complete on the condos and single family homes but town homes have been delayed. This bankruptcy, where National City Bank foreclosed on a $26-MM mortgage, highlights the down market conditions.
WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSE?
$500,000,000!
Did you know that FAU’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center in West Palm Beach is one of the nations oldest nature centers and serves annually more than 25,000 students, 750 teachers and 12,500 adults? A 36-credit course resulting in a master’s degree program in environmental education, needing no additional state funding due to funds from a Pine Jog endowment, is being planned by the Florida Department of Education. It is noted that this is one field where there is a critical teacher shortage. There will be a conversion available from a track in the approved master’s degree in curriculum and instruction to a stand-alone degree in environmental education. The student can choose either to complete the track or transfer to the new degree program. The new program will be held in collaboration with FAU’s Pine Jog Environmental Center. The first Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified “green” elementary school in the state is located on the pine Jog campus. An existing College of Education instructor who focuses on environmental education will be assigned to the program. Funds also come from a continuing contract with the Palm Beach County School Board.
“Letters of interest” in bidding were requested in the past for the 4.67-acre parcel of airport land, recently designated as non-aviation land (not needed for airport use). The bids received did not meet all the requirements, and another request has been made by the Airport Authority. This is the undeveloped land near the Muvico Theater and Premier Aircraft on Airport Road. Approved uses include business and professional offices, retail uses, banks and financial institutions, hotels and motels, educational institutions, radio or tv studios, indoor theaters, bowling alleys, recreational facilities and medical offices. Potential developers would need a conditional use permit from the city. Information about the proposal can be found at www.BocaAirport.com
The Florida Lottery is offering an 8-week “Summer Cash” drawing across the state to tap into the public’s frustration with sky-high gas prices. Prizes include “Gas for a Year” and “Gas for Life.” Tickets are $5. Grand prize is $250,000. 
Festival Days was established by the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness and funds for non-profit organizations and to boost business during a “slow month.” Last year $200,000 was raised for non-profits including The Haven, Boca Helping Hands, American Cancer Society, Kids in Distress, Volunteers for the Homebound & Family Caregivers and the Wildlife Care Center. The Chamber pairs “for-profit” and “non-profit” organizations. The official Chamber Boca Festival Days even is Wine & All That Jazz, to be held on Saturday, August 16th, 2008 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club on Camino Real. Upscale dress or business attire for this even, an opportunity to preview over 100 wines and fresh, handmade European style chocolates, plus music and dancing. For the full schedule of almost daily events, go to the online events calendar at www.BocaRatonChamber.com or email dsalazar@bocaratonchamber.com. You can support these events as a “Community Builder, “Community Partner”, or “Community Friend.” A list of organizations you can choose to support is on the events calendar for Festival Days. Call Desire Salazar at 561-395-4433, ext 235.
