Q: Any opinion as to why no new kosher restaurants are opening in Fort Lauderdale? Every place that looks hip and good and especially kosher is in Boca Raton or Hallandale Beach. I grew up here as a Jewish gal. Being Jewish, when I lived in Miami Beach and Aventura, there is kosher-Israeli food to eat, like falafel, hummus and shawarma (which I do not eat as a vegan). I’ve noticed a big jump: from Miami and Miami Beach and Hallandale Beach, they always skip Fort Lauderdale. — Susan Schaffel, Fort Lauderdale
A: Susan, you are right that there is a kosher void in Broward County’s biggest city. First, let’s define kosher, as opposed to “kosher-style,” a term often used by restaurants and delis that serve non-kosher pastrami or corned beef or other delicacies of Eastern European origin.
Restaurants that are strictly kosher are certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. These establishments serve only kosher meat, separate meat and milk products, and make sure a mashgiach, or kosher supervisor, is on-site. I found a few of these not far from the city, but I also wanted to figure out the reason why the options are so limited within Fort Lauderdale’s boundaries.
A Jewish Federation of Broward County report from last year shows Broward’s Jews tend to live in just a few cities, and Fort Lauderdale is not among them. Out of 31 cities in Broward, half the Jewish population is concentrated in Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Davie and Parkland. So the Fort Lauderdale city limits don’t seem to have the Jewish demographic cluster needed to support an abundance of kosher or Israeli restaurants.
Here’s what Joy Prevor, the Jewish federation’s chief impact officer, said when I asked about kosher restaurants in the city:
“The availability of kosher restaurants is largely driven by private business decisions and the economics of operating a kosher establishment, which can be complex and costly. Factors like population density, consistent consumer demand, access to kosher supervision, supply chains, and real estate all play a role. While the city of Fort Lauderdale has fewer stand-alone kosher options, Jewish Broward is fortunate to have a wide range of kosher dining available across nearby neighborhoods.
“Jewish life in Broward is diverse and spread across the county, and food offerings tend to follow where communities live, gather, and sustain long-term demand.”
That said, here are some options not too far from you.
Cook Tomer Levi plates a customer’s order at The Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
There’s The Friendship Grill (1304 E. Las Olas Blvd.; thefriendshipgrill.com), which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. They serve falafel, matbucha (a North African tomato stew), Israeli salad and much more. By eating here, you are doing a good deed: The grill employs adults with developmental disabilities.
Within the city, there are several restaurants that are not kosher or Israeli but offer the falafel and other Middle Eastern items you crave. Here are three:
The Hummus House, 900 NE 20th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 754-247-1310; thehummushouseftl.com
Mini Pita Mediterranean Café, 1019 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale; 954-451-5118; minipitacafe.com (there’s also a Pompano Beach location at 2555 E. Atlantic Blvd.)
Olive & Sea, 1881 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-527-6716; oliveandseaftl.com
And here are a few ORB-certified restaurants, serving vegetarian menu items, that are about a 20-minute drive from downtown, although they are outside the city limits.
Randy Kugler cleans a countertop inside The Friendship Grill, which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Assistant teacher Josh Stedner, right, trains Randy Kugler to use the cash register at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale is shown on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Student Randy Kugler cleans a table in the dining room at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A shawarma plate with pita is shown at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale is shown on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Cook Tomer Levi plates a customer’s order at The Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Randy Kugler cleans a countertop inside The Friendship Grill, which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. Eastern at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California and will be televised live on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+.
Here are more key things to know about the ceremony:
Who’s hosting the Golden Globes?
The comedian and actor Nikki Glaser will return as host for the second year after a well-reviewed 2025 debut when she became the first woman to host the show solo.
Glaser didn’t go easy on the Hollywood crowd, but wasn’t nearly as barbed as she was in her star-making performance in a roast of Tom Brady. In her first monologue she called the ceremony “Ozempic’s biggest night.”
When she was rehired, Glaser said in a statement that it was “the most fun I have ever had in my career” and “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from ‘The White Lotus’ who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.”
Last year’s drew an average of about 10 million viewers, holding steady from the year before. There are far fewer viewers then there were a decade ago, but the Globes remain the most watched awards show after the Oscars and the Grammys.
Who’s nominated for Golden Globes this year?
Oscar front-runner “One Battle After Another” leads all nominees with nine, including acting nods for DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti and a directing nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson.
The Globes divides films between drama and musical or comedy in the top categories, and “One Battle” was categorized as a comedy. Competing against DiCaprio will be Chalamet for “Marty Supreme” and George Clooney for “Jay Kelly.”
Infiniti’s competition includes Erivo for “Wicked: For Good,” Stone for “Bugonia” and Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”
The Danish film “Sentimental Value” was second with eight nominations, including an acting nod for star Renate Reinsve. Her competition on the drama side includes Jessie Buckley from “Hamnet,”Julia Roberts for “After the Hunt” and Jennifer Lawrence for “Die My Love.”
Male actors nominated for dramas include Jordan for “Sinners” and Dwayne Johnson for “The Smashing Machine.”
Grande, Teyana Taylor, Paul Mescal, Adam Sandler and Jacob Elordi are among those nominated in the supporting categories.
The Globes, held annually in early January, are the first major ceremony of the awards season. They’re not exactly an Oscar bellwether — they have an entirely different voting base of journalists and critics — but they’re embraced as a champagne-soaked party with some of the biggest stars in film and television sitting together at tables like a nightclub.
And a Globes win can still help build momentum for a movie or actor’s Oscar campaign, and it’s the first time the public may hear an acceptance speech that may be repeated with some variations for months, leading up to the Academy Awards, held this year on March 15.
Who’s getting a lifetime achievement award?
Helen Mirren will be honored with the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for a life of work on screen, and Sarah Jessica Parker will get the Carol Burnett Award for her career in television.
Mirren and Parker this week will get a separate Beverly Hilton gala, a recording of which will air Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS and also stream on Paramount+ on what’s being called “Golden Eve.”
Mirren, 80, an Oscar winner for her 2006 portrayal of Elizabeth II in “The Queen,” has also won three Golden Globes and is up for a fourth this year for her role in the series “MobLand.” She was named a Dame of the British Empire in 2003 in acknowledgment of her artistic achievements.
The award dates to 1952, when it was given to the legendary filmmaker DeMille himself. Other recipients include Walt Disney, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Viola Davis.
Parker will get the much newer Carol Burnett Award, presented to an honoree who has “made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen.” The 60-year-old Parker, who won six Golden Globes and two Emmys as the star of “Sex and the City,” is being honored for her work as actor and producer.
The award was launched in 2019, when it went to Burnett. Other winners include Norman Lear, Ryan Murphy and Ellen DeGeneres.
The overriding theme defining television in recent years has been a fear of the new. Which is why reboots and spinoffs continue apace, with old titles brought back from the dead (“Scrubs”) or from the not-so-distant past (“The Night Manager”) and intellectual property milked within an inch of its life (somehow HBO has yet another “Game of Thrones” series coming our way).
It’s as if everyone in Hollywood ran out of new ideas all at once. Don’t blame writers, but executives who are rapidly shepherding their industry towards irrelevance with an over-reliance on reworked IP, while original ideas are left unproduced. In better news, the winter Olympic Games are this year, with the opening ceremony taking place Feb. 6 on NBC. (The Super Bowl is that Sunday as well.)
“The Pitt”
The Pittsburgh-set medical drama from “ER” showrunner John Wells is back for a second season, premiering almost exactly a year after it first debuted. Imagine, a streaming series returning on a reliable schedule! Dr. Robby (“ER” veteran Noah Wyle) is back once again, overseeing the managed chaos, student doctors and medical residents of his emergency department. One of the best examples of competency as comfort, something we could all use more of at the moment in real life. From Jan. 8 on HBO Max.
“The Night Manager”
Stylish and prestige-y as hell, Season 1 of this Tom Hiddleston spy drama premiered (squints) eight years ago. Welp, this is how TV works today. Season 2 follows Hiddleston’s character across the UK, Spain, Colombia and France as he “races to expose a conspiracy designed to destabilize a nation.” From Jan. 11 on Amazon.
“Hijack”
The first season of this “Die Hard” ripoff starring Idris Elba took place on a seven-hour flight from Dubai to London. For the entirely unnecessary second season, the setting is now a subway in Berlin that’s been taken hostage. If Elba’s character doesn’t say “Why does this keep happening to me?!” at any point, then what are we even doing here? From Jan. 14 on Apple TV.
“Ponies”
“Game of Thrones” alum Emilia Clarke stars in this 1977-set Cold War thriller about two women (the other is played by Haley Lu Richardson) who become CIA operatives after their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in Moscow. The pair become “ponies” in the parlance — persons of no interest — in order to uncover the truth of what really happened. From Jan. 15 on Peacock.
Peter Claffey in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” (Steffan Hill/HBO/TNS)
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Another “Game of Thrones” spinoff. A prequel, this one takes place a hundred years before the events of “GoT,” as two unlikely heroes wander through Westeros: “A young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.” From Jan. 18 on HBO.
“Steal”
Here I am typing “Game of Thrones” again because the show’s alum Sophie Turner returns to TV in this thriller about a heist at a British pension fund investment company: “But who would steal billions of pounds of ordinary people’s pensions and why? DCI Rhys (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) is determined to find out, but as a recently relapsed gambling addict, Rhys must keep his own money problems at bay while dealing with the secret agendas and competing interests at the center of this far-reaching crime.” From Jan. 21 on Amazon.
“Drops of God”
I really liked the first season of this emotionally engrossing drama about two young wine experts who battle for a massive inheritance. The series was also criminally underseen, likely because: 1) Apple’s approach to promotion leaves much to be desired; 2) there are no recognizable (American) stars; and 3) that title, which makes sense once you’ve seen the show, but otherwise … nope. It’s back for a second season and if you’ve been missing that frisson of discovery in your TV viewing, this one is worth seeking out. From Jan. 21 on Apple TV.
“Bridgerton”
Not a fan of this show, but plenty are, so mark your calendars. The Shonda Rhimes historical romance returns for Season 4, with a focus on the family’s second-eldest son, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), who falls for a servant who sneaks into a masquerade ball. Netflix is chopping the season into two parts. From Jan. 29 on Netflix; the second half premieres Feb. 26.
“Dark Winds”
This adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, with their stories of the Navajo Tribal Police in the 1970s, continues with a fourth season about a missing Navajo girl, which takes our investigators out of their usual setting and sends them to the underbelly of organized crime in Los Angeles. A tick or two better than your typical cop show, star Zahn McClarnon is reason enough to watch. From Feb. 15 on AMC.
“Scrubs”
The medical comedy from the early aughts is back, reuniting the old gang: J.D. (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison), Elliot (Sarah Chalke), Carla (Judy Reyes) and John C. McGinley’s memorably tangy Dr. Cox. New cast members include Vanessa Bayer and Joel Kim Booster. The premise appears to be the same as it was, picking up where the show left off. From Feb. 25 on ABC.
“Scarpetta”
A crime thriller based on Patricia Cornwell’s book series about the forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta, played by Nicole Kidman. According to the marketing blurb: “With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, this unrelenting medical examiner is determined to serve as the voice of the victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing. Set against the backdrop of modern forensic investigation, the series delves beyond the crime scene to explore the psychological complexities of both perpetrators and investigators, creating a multi-layered thriller that examines the toll of pursuing justice at all costs.” From March 11 on Amazon.
You’ve probably never cirque-d like you can with Paranormal Cirque.
The human circus — eschewing animal acts for dazzling derring-do from acrobats and athletes — is making its South Florida debut Jan. 9-19 in a big-top tent to be set up in Miramar Regional Park. And unlike other circuses that crisscross Broward and Palm Beach counties, Paranormal Cirque is not for the whole family.
“We’re bringing our R-rated horror circus with a haunted attraction pre-show,” says Steve Copeland, a comedian and spokesman with Cirque Italia, the show’s Bradenton-based producer. “It’s rated R cuz there’s lots of bad language, there’s adult humor, there’s skimpy and revealing costuming. No nudity, unless you maybe buy the performers a couple drinks, but no nudity in the show itself. Miramar better get ready for a heck of a good time.”
According to Copeland, some of the acts include:
A juggling Beetlejuice.
A motorcycle on a thin wire “… high above your head with a lovely lady performing on a trapeze hanging underneath.”
“A woman who can shoot a bow and arrow with her feet.”
“A woman hanging by her hair.”
“A duo performing amazing acrobatics on roller skates.”
There will also be comedy, magic illusions and more.
“We’re a strictly non-animal circus, although some of our performers do eat like animals,” he adds. “You’re going to see awesome acrobatics, beautiful aerial acts, you’re going to see feats of strength and daring and death-defying death stunts — all with a horror theme. So all of the acts are performed by zombies, by ghosts, by werewolves, by vampires. There’s also a lot of comedy, which people don’t expect. In fact, a lot of the R rating comes from the comedy.”
Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to see Paranormal Cirque, but teenagers (ages 13 through 17) can attend as long as they have an adult guardian.
Copeland continues, “And in addition to two hours of Vegas quality R-rated power circus entertainment, you get a haunted attraction free show that begins an hour before show time and it’s free with the admission ticket. So, you don’t have to pay anything extra, it’s included in the price of the ticket. And it’s a walk-through haunted house starring the same performers that you’re going to see in the show. They’re going to scare the heck out of you. So, maybe bring a change of underwear.”
The show’s parent company, Cirque Italia, was started by Manuel Rebecchi in 2012 and now has seven touring companies. Rebecchi is the nephew of the late Moira Orfei, a famous Italian circus performer and actor.
“If you knew him — you loved him,” Liebman wrote in an Instagram post. “A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing. Our hearts are so broken. He will be very, very missed.”
With more than 125 credits to his name — including two upcoming films — Whitlock was a versatile actor capable of adapting to many different roles. His most frequent collaborator was Spike Lee, who Whitlock worked with on “25th Hour,” “She Hate Me,” “Chi-Raq,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods.”
On the small screen, he was most famous as corrupt state senator Clay Davis on HBO’s “The Wire.” Whitlock appeared sporadically in the first four seasons before joining the main cast for the final season.
The show introduced many to Whitlock’s trademark, the drawn out expletive “sheeeeeit,” uttered by his characters in apparent disbelief. Whitlock said he picked up the tic from an uncle, then brought it to his first two films with Lee.
By the time he made it to “The Wire,” producers and writers wrote it into the script for him, leading to a number of memorable moments and dozens of on-the-street fan interactions.
Whitlock returned to HBO in 2014 on “Veep” as defense secretary George Maddox, who unsuccessfully competes for a presidential nomination against Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character.
His final role came as Metropolitan Police Chief Larry Dokes in the Netflix miniseries “The Residence,” following a recurring role as the mayor of New Orleans in Showtime’s “Your Honor.” His voice will be heard in the Disney Pixar animated sci-fi film “Hoppers,” due out in March.
One of the best things about South Florida is that our subtropical climate means we can have festival fun just about all year long. With that in mind, welcome to SoFlo Festivals, Fairs & Festivities, a new feature that will give you a monthly look ahead to celebrations throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties. Here’s our list for January, but keep coming back to this post because we’ll continue to add events. Also, prices may not reflect taxes and fees.
LAS OLAS ART FAIR
This is Part 1 of the well-known fair that features more than 200 artists in “pop-up” galleries, with a wide range of sculptures, paintings, mixed media, glasswork, pottery and more available for purchase. The pet-friendly event has a fully vetted, juried selection of fine art. By the way, Part 2 will be Feb. 28-March 1.
WHEN: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 3-4 WHERE: Along East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, stretching from Southeast Sixth Avenue (near Tunnel Top Plaza) to 11th Avenue (near Himmarshee Canal) COST: Free INFORMATION: 561-746-6615; artfestival.com
Ceramics artist Justin McKinney greets customers from his booth at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Patrons enjoy the weather and the art at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Marlene Kurland paints in her booth at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Patrons walk past a hummingbird by steel artist Rommel Ricuarte at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Patrons check out photography by Matt Lerer at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Painter FJ Sweet wraps up a painting for a customer at his booth at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Patrons pass the booth of Michael Kuseke at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Janice Hudson and her Great Pyrenees check out art and people at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Crowds enjoy the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Michelle Penrod, left, and Caitline Shearsmith, owners of the Elbo Room, walk away with a painting by Gerardo Lecesse that depicts the iconic Fort Lauderdale landmark, at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Crowds enjoy the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Crowds enjoy the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Ceramics artist Justin McKinney greets customers from his booth at the 38th Las Olas Art Fair in Fort Lauderdale, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
New, never-produced-anywhere plays will get readings at this festival put on by Palm Beach Dramaworks in downtown West Palm Beach. Each reading is followed by a post-performance discussion.
Five theatrical works, still in development, will receive readings at Palm Beach Dramaworks in downtown West Palm Beach from January 9-11 during the eighth annual Perlberg Festival of New Plays. (Palm Beach Dramaworks/Courtesy)
TASTE OF DANIA BEACH
There will be food trucks, a Little Chefs Cooking Station, games, contests, face painters, live performances by Adam Uhlan Band and Life in Technicolor and more. There will also be exclusive access to local food and beverage vendors with the purchase of a Tasting Experience wristband. Free shuttles will run to and from the Casino at Dania Beach from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Jan. 10 WHERE: City Hall Plaza, 100 W. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach COST:
Two L-39 Albatros jet fighters, which you can see in action at the Mach 1 – Salute to Service Air Show in Jupiter. (Curtis Noble/Courtesy)
MACH 1 — SALUTE TO SERVICE AIR SHOW
Originally, the idea was to have this high-flying high-five on Veterans Day back in November, but then the government shutdown grounded those plans. Now the inaugural Mach 1 — Salute to Service Air Show is jetting into January with aerial performances from two L-39 Albatros jet fighters and other aircraft, set against the backdrop of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
Waterfront venue Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street is hosting the official watch party with lawn games and live music. NFL icon Joe Namath and business partner/lifelong bestie Charles Modica have three venues in one with Charlie & Joe’s: There’s The Beacon, Lucky Shuck Oyster Bar & Taphouse and a rooftop tapas bar called Topside at the Beacon. All will offer dining specials.
Lucky Shuck will have a Southern-style barbecue plate ($25).
The Beacon will have front-row seating during the air show, with children age 12 and younger dining for free with the purchase of an adult entree.
Topside at the Beacon will have a VIP rooftop experience that includes two drinks, an all-you-can-eat buffet, a raffle entry, and an acoustic guitar/country music performance by Cole Cash (noon-2 p.m.; $80 a person).
First responders, active military and veterans can pick up a 15% discount card for Charlie & Joe’s, valid for one year.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Warriors Choice Foundation and Saddle & Sea Foundation.
WHEN: noon-5 p.m. Jan. 11 WHERE:
See the air show all along the banks of the Loxahatchee River near the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
A L-39 Albatros jet fighter, which will be part of the Mach 1 – Salute to Service Air Show in Jupiter. (Curtis Noble/Courtesy)
ARTISANS OF WINE & FOOD
This will be the sophomore staging of this SoFlo sip-and-sup experience staged at The Boca Raton, the resplendent resort celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026 that is partnering with oenophile omniscient Napa Valley Vintners of California. Chef-tastics such as Jet Tila, Mario Carbone, Taek Lee, Alex Espinoza, Guy Savoy and Massimo Falsini are scheduled to lend their gastronomic greatness along with a who’s who from the wine world. “We’re bringing Napa Valley’s finest vintners and world-class chefs together for a weekend that celebrates craft and community,” said Daniel A. Hostettler, president & CEO of The Boca Raton. “After last year’s incredible response, we’re raising the bar in every way, offering guests an even more immersive experience. Unlike other food and wine weekends, here it’s the vintners, winemakers and owners that our members and guests have the opportunity to engage with.”
WHEN: Jan. 15-18 WHERE: The Boca Raton club & resort, 501 E. Camino Real COST:
A la carte tickets are $150-$778.24
Weekend passes are $2,848.24
Wine auction proceeds from A Vintners Gala: Carbone at Artisans of Wine & Food on Jan. 17 will benefit Place of Hope in Palm Beach County and the Napa Valley Vintners Youth Wellness Initiative.
For the fourth time, this annual jam (get it?) will return with strawberry treats — or what they call Strawberry Yummies or “Strummies”. Expect vendors as well as the Berry Big Bite Contest, Berry Bonanza Adventure Maze, Strawberry Shortcake Bounce House, Strawberry Playland, Strawberry Soft Play Area (for toddlers), Pop-Up Shopping Village, golf simulator, derby and water race games, petting zoo, an America’s Got Talent Stunt Dog Show and more.
WHEN:
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 17-18
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival
The movie poster for “Ethan Bloom,” which was filmed in Miami. (Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival/Courtesy)
DONALD M. EPHRAIM SUN & STARS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This will be the fourth year for this film festival that brings a wide mix of movies to Palm Beach County. Highlights for this edition include an opening night gala featuring the set-in-Miami, coming-of-age comedy “Ethan Bloom,” and a closing night frock-doc on fashion/footwear designer Kenneth Cole titled, “A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole.”
COST:Tickets are $16.79, $17.25, $40.25 (“Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere”), $103.50 (“Ethan Bloom”) and $125 (Kenneth Cole documentary) INFORMATION:sasiff.org
WELLINGTON’S TASTE & TOAST
This al fresco cocktail and culinary event is returning for a second year to The Mall at Wellington Green. Guests, 21-and-over, can sample gourmet bites from local restaurants and chefs as well as sip cocktails, wines and premium spirits. DJ Roberto will be spinning. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
The third annual Boca International Jewish Film Festival (BIJFF) will be extending its cinematic reach, according to organizers.
The slate of movies, red carpets, receptions, talks and meet-and-greets will continue to be staged mostly in Boca Raton and Delray Beach but there will also be a showing in Lake Worth Beach and a series of screenings in Deerfield Beach.
Les Rich — who co-founded the festival along with Wendy Honig and Arleen Roberts — says, “This year we’re going to expand to Deerfield. It’s kind of an experiment, but we’re going on five days in Deerfield at the Paragon Theater. They renovated the theater and it’s really good and I think we’ll do very well there. And maybe we’ll expand beyond that. I mean someday maybe we will change the name to the Florida International Jewish Film Festival.”
The schedule and ticket prices are available at JFilmBoca.org.
Screenings will take place:
Feb. 21-28 at Cinemark Bistro Boca Raton and XD
March 1-15 at Movies of Delray
March 18-22 at Paragon Theater Deerfield
PROLOGUE
That’s not all that is happening. Even though the festival runs Feb. 21-March 22, there are some big events jumping off in January, including a sneak peek Big Reveal on Jan. 14 at the Movies at Delray.
“We do this every year … for free, we have the Big Reveal,” Rich explains. “People come, they can see trailers of all the different films that we’re going to show in the festival. And our patrons go and they choose which film they want to sponsor and we give the patrons first dibs on what films they want to go to. And then thereafter, like a week or two later, we’ll open for ticket sales to the general public.”
There will also be a Cinebash Opening Celebration on Jan. 26 at The Wick Theatre & Museum Club in Boca Raton.
“We’re going to have a dinner and we’re going to show the world premiere of a film called ‘Tova’ about Tovah Feldshuh,” Rich says. “And at this event Tova Feldshuh will be coming and we’re going to give her a Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s going to be a really big event at the Wick Theatre. They’re intending to make a big national event out of it. It’s a really, really good documentary by a filmmaker named David Serero. So David Serero is also a famous opera singer. And I will try to get between David and Tova to do a little singing together. That’s my goal.”
CLOSE-UP ON THE FEELINGS
Along those lines, nurturing the community is the main goal of the motion picture celebration, explains Honig.
“One of the things that we do with the festival is we entertain, we educate, we inspire,” she says “Okay, that’s all good. So do most film festivals. The one thing that we do that sets us apart from other festivals is that we embrace community. We know that there’s a need for events, parties, get-togethers, eating together, being together, and it’s really terrific when that happens because we’re building community and relationships.
It’s one thing when you just show a movie. I can show a movie and you go to the movie quietly with your popcorn and then you leave. We’re not like that. It’s a very different feeling. They get to meet and greet with movie stars, with different speakers.”
Another thing they are bringing back is the Movie Shorts Program, which will be on Feb. 1 at Movies of Delray
“We have a short film competition and people vote for which short film they like the best,” Rich explains. “And this year it’s a really good selection of short films that we have.”
Honig adds, “During COVID Les created the largest program of Jewish short films to keep people entertained. And I think to this very day, it probably is the largest of all online Jewish short films programs.”
BIJFF
“From Darkness to Light” – a documentary about Jerry Lewis’ unreleased movie “The Day the Clown Cried” – will be screened at the Boca International Jewish Film Festival. (BIJFF/Courtesy)
OPENING CREDITS
Rich remembers that the trio has been involved in producing film festivals here in South Florida for decades.
“Wendy actually started many, many years ago,” he recalls. “Probably almost for 20 years now. She started up in Palm Beach. She worked at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival. Then Wendy and I worked at the Palm Beach International Film Festival many years ago.”
Honig and Rich ran a Jewish sidebar showcase at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, which shut down in 2017.
Then from 2017-2023 they ran the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival at the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center. That festival has been rebranded and is run by the JCC.
Honig also ran two screening committees of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, one in Boynton Beach and one in Palm Beach Gardens.
Arleen Roberts was on the Screening Committee at Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival and all the versions of the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival. When the Boca International Jewish Film Festival started in 2024, she became a director.
“There’s a tremendous amount of people moving into the South Florida area,” Honig adds. “They’re moving into Boca, they’re moving in all over the place. If you go to downtown Boca, you realize how many people are moving in. There is such a great need for them to have a festival like this. You know, not everyone plays golf, not everyone plays pickleball. There are people that really love this and love coming together and meeting people and making friends and having parties and doing events together.
I think it’s a very important thing. So for the very nominal fee of a ticket, they get to come in and they get to see these speakers and the movie stars and make friends. It’s just such a wonderful time.”
HOT FLICKS PICKS
Here are, in no particular order, just a few of Honig and Rich’s BIJFF highlights.
“ADA: MY MOTHER THE ARCHITECT”
Honig — “We are 501c3 and we give money to Jewish and Israeli charities. And one of the charities that has partnered with us is The Technion, which is the technical university in (Haifa) Israel. We will be having a film called ‘Ada: My Mother The Architect.’ And Ada graduated from The Technion and Ada’s daughter made the film and … will be at the film (screening). And also we’ll have a speaker from Technion speaking. And afterwards they’re doing a dessert buffet at the theater.”
“LUCKY STAR” AND “LOST IN TERRITORIES”
Honig — “We also have a lot of comedies. And this year, I have two that I really love. One is called ‘Lucky Star.’ It’s a French film (titled ‘La Bonne Étoile’). And the other one is ‘Lost in Territories.’ It’s hilarious.”
“PARTING THE WATERS”
Rich — “We’ve got a film about … Michele Kuvin Kupfer, an Israeli Olympic swimmer. She’s originally from Palm Beach, Florida. It’s called ‘Parting the Waters.’ So that’s another film that’s going to be very, very popular.”
BIJFF
“Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold” will be a part of the 3rd annual Boca International Jewish Film Festival. Szold founded Hadassah, the Jewish women’s service organization and rescued thousands of children from Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe. (BIJFF/Courtesy)
“LABORS OF LOVE: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA SZOLD”
Honig — “We have five showings of ‘Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold.’ Henrietta Szold founded (Jewish women’s service organization) Hadassah. You probably know of Hadassah Medical Center in Israel. But more than that … she founded nursing in Israel, midwifery, she had a thousands of children from Germany (and Nazi-occupied Europe) brought over to the Youth Aliyah program. They would put up children … in kibbutzes. So it was really fantastic, saved their lives. Henrietta Szold was amazing. But I’m going to tell you what makes it exciting. The filmmaker will be there for two of the showings. And the filmmaker is Abby Ginzberg.”
Honig says that Ginzberg is the granddaughter of the love of Szold’s life, who married another woman. “The granddaughter decided to make this film about the person who loved her grandfather. And what she says, which is really, I think, pretty wonderful is, if Henrietta Szold had married her grandfather, she’d be making matzo ball soup. She’d be, you know, cooking and cleaning. Instead, she changed the world.”
Rich adds, “The Hadassahs are going to put on a big Hadassah event. That’s going to be March 1st and March 2nd. It’s going to be in Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth. So that’s going to be a very big event because the Hadassahs are huge in Southern Florida. They are really going to be flocking to this film.”
BIJFF
The movie poster for “Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold.” (BIJFF/Courtesy)
“AARON SAPIRO: THE JEW WHO SUED HENRY FORD”
Honig — “So … that is something Jews don’t know about. There was a Jew that sued Henry Ford, I didn’t know this. And (Ford) had to shut down his anti-Semitic, The Dearborn Observer. I think he also had to shut down one of his plants and he had to issue a public apology. Everyone knows that Henry Ford was antisemitic, but they didn’t know about this one courageous man, who was a lawyer, stood up and actually won.”
Rich — “We’re having Robert Watson…he’s a local professor … from Lynn University. So he’ll … be discussing the film, antisemitism and the historical context and be interviewing the filmmaker Gaylen Ross. That’s what we do. We get speakers, some of them are local, some of them national. We’re more and more trying to get the speakers to come in, just to add some interest to all the films.”
“JERUSALEM ’67”
Honig — ” ‘Jerusalem ’67’ is the first feature film about the Six-Day War in Israel. The film is about a woman, who was sort of a hero, that fought in the war. She was the first, or one of the first women, who were able to pray at The Wailing Wall. Usually the men were there. She was very courageous; had to choose between her kids and the war and she rolled up her sleeves and went to war.”
“THE EVERYTHING POT”
Rich — “Our closing film, which we’ll be announcing fairly soon, we’re going to have a star — Lisa Edelstein. It’s a film called ‘The Everything Pot’ and that’s going to be our closing film at the Movies of Delray. And ‘The Everything Pot’ is a comedy. Do you remember the show ‘House’ on television? He was a doctor. He had a girlfriend; That was Lisa Edelstein.”
Honig — “So ‘The Everything Pot’ is a zany, quirky movie … where this woman, she gets an invitation to a wedding of a former person that she worked with that was much younger than her. And Linda’s (character) is happily married at this point in the film. She buys the (wedding couple) an everything pot. The wedding is canceled and they want their pot back. At one point she climbs over a fence … trying to get the pot back and she falls into their yard. It’s very cute.”
BIJFF
Broadway icon Tovah Feldshuh will make an appearance at the Cinebash Opening Night event for the Boca International Jewish Film Festival on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 at The Wick Theatre in Boca Raton. The evening will also include the world premiere of “Tovah,” a feature-length documentary by opera star David Serero. (BIJFF/Courtesy)
BIJFF
Israeli directors/writers Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis have expanded their Oscar-nominated short film “Aya” into the feature film “Dead Language,” which will be screened at the Boca International Jewish Film Festival. (BIJFF/Courtesy)
The historic Royal Poinciana Playhouse — a onetime Palm Beach cultural nexus that’s lain dormant for the past two decades — is being reincarnated in a grand style befitting the island’s cachet.
A phased opening began this fall for the new Glazer Hall, a $30 million-plus revitalization of the Regency-styled theater where the first full-length American classical ballet, “The Princess,” premiered during its inaugural 1958 season — and no less than the grand dame of the stage, Helen Hayes, starred in revivals of “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Glass Menagerie” in the early 1960s. New programming is scheduled to kick into high gear in January with “The Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai Circus” on Jan. 22, singer Corinne Bailey Rae on Jan. 23 and “An Evening with James Patterson & Mike Lupica,” on Jan. 25, with a wide variety of acts in the weeks to follow, https://glazerhall.org/#events.
“The great thing about this venue is that it’s going to be everything for everyone,” says Allison Stockel, who’s served as the center’s executive director since April. She compares the variety of the programming to that of Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut, which she previously operated.
“One weekend was like a microcosm of what the entire season looked like,” Stockel says. “You know, there was a dance program next to a comedy, next to family, next to rock, next to pop or jazz or opera. And that’s what we’re going to do here.”
Stockel adds that sponsors will also be doing some special cocktail parties and dinners for members, alluding to Glazer Hall’s multipurpose dynamic as a non-profit theater, cultural center and event space.
“All sorts of things are going to be happening,” she says.
Courtesy
Glazer Hall co-founders and co-chairs Jill and Avie Glazer.
Photo courtesy of Glazer Hall
The revitalization of the once-illustrious facility began about five years ago. Originally called The INNOVATE, the name was changed to Glazer Hall in honor of co-founders and co-chairs Jill and Avie Glazer, longtime Palm Beach residents whose vision, dedication and a financial commitment of more than $15 million have been central to the project.
“The Royal Poinciana Playhouse has languished in the dark for far too long. We felt it was time to turn on the lights and bring this jewel box back to life,” says Avie Glazer, who owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and with his wife shares a passion for philanthropy.
“It was the board that said, you know, with just the amount of sweat equity, you guys deserve this,” Stockel says in explaining the name change for Palm Beach’s first new nonprofit arts organization in more than 60 years.
What emerged from the Glazers’ vision and equity is a 27,000-square-foot performing arts center that retains the exterior appearance of the Royal Poinciana Playhouse as well as some interior architectural details, such as architect John Volk’s historic staircase and certain color schemes.
“And so it has the same feel,” Stockel says. “You don’t walk in thinking that you’re in a different space. You walk in thinking, ‘Wow, this looks similar to what I remember it to be.’”
However, that is largely where the similarity ends.
“From the outside, it looks exactly the same, but it’s a different theater,” Stockel says. “It used to be, you’d walk into a very small lobby. And there was no water view. Now the lobby is front to back. You walk in and you see the water at the other end. There’s also a water-view terrace. Prior to a show, members can go out and have cocktails out there.”
Water is also the focus of perhaps the most distinctive feature of the renovation — instead of a traditional backdrop, the scene behind the theater’s stage can be a live view of the Intracoastal Waterway.
“Now you can do something where if you have a solo artist who doesn’t want a lit-up screen behind them, they can have the view of the water and the sunset,” Stockel says. “And because it’s a multipurpose space, when you have parties and private events, well, it’s just the most gorgeous view.”
There is a 1,200-square-foot, second-floor space for those events in addition to the option to reconfigure the theater’s seating, which has been halved from the original capacity of 800 to now 400 seats.
“So that’s very different as well,” Stockel says. “But it’s going to have really everything — state-of-the-art equipment for lighting and sound and movies. And the bathrooms are twice the size of what they used to be.”
Does the center’s director expect that the limited capacity will lessen the venue’s own “star power,” so to speak?
“No, while the seating may be less, it’s going to have big names, because, look, a performer is going to get what a performer is going to get. Right? It’s whatever they cost. I ran a 500-seat theater and we would get Willie Nelson and Kristen Chenoweth and Squeeze and Blondie and major names that would perform in theaters four times our size.
“So the difference is that your tickets are going to be a little higher, right? Because if an artist costs, you know, $100,000, and then you have your expenses, divide that by the seats, and that’s your ticket price. I mean, it’s simple math.”
But, Stockel points out, there’s a payoff for the audience. “What you get as a patron is the ability to see these amazing names, these really world-renowned performers in a tiny, intimate venue. It feels like you’re seeing them in your living room. I think that was the allure of the venue that I used to run and that’s going to really be the allure of this.”
Courtesy
A projected rendering of a Glazer Hall event.
Photo by Brian Graybill
Show starters
Programming at Glazer Hall is scheduled to kick into high gear in January 2026, with a wide variety of acts to follow, https://glazerhall.org/#events.
Though we lost countless dining institutions in 2025, South Florida restaurants, like hope, spring eternal.
Yes, the 36-year-old Fort Lauderdale icon Tom Jenkins’ Bar-B-Q is gone, but in short order we’ll have a smoked-meat smorgasbord in Drinking Pig BBQ in Delray Beach and the West Palm Cowboy Club, two places we’re eagerly anticipating. We said goodbye to Char-Hut Pembroke Pines, another stone-cold classic, but it’s hard to sulk knowing that Charm City Burger Co., coming this winter to Boca Raton, also crafts an exceptional patty. Are they true-blue successors? No, but it’s heartening to know these MVPs are coming.
Consider other reasons the state of our restaurant union remains strong: Mangos, the bygone tropical Las Olas lounge, and Pelican Landing, the beloved dockside bar at Pier Sixty-Six, both are making long-awaited comebacks. Fancy doughnut slinger Mojo Donuts is expanding.
So call us optimistic about South Florida’s new crop of 2026 restaurants, which are all vying to survive and thrive long enough to be called classics. Below are the 10 new eateries we’re anticipating in the new year.
Note on projected openings: These are hot-take projections based on what owners and developers expect at the time of publication, not gospel, so don’t be surprised if they open ahead or behind schedule.
BROWARD COUNTY
ICRAVE / Courtesy
This updated rendering gives an inside peek at the new Sweetwaters in Fort Lauderdale. (ICRAVE/Courtesy)
The centerpiece of the multimillion-dollar revival of Fort Lauderdale’s Huizenga Park, this enormous sit-down (6,140 square feet, plus a 3,500-square-foot riverfront patio) comes from Specialty Restaurants Corp., operators of Miami icon Rusty Pelican. So we have high hopes for this two-story, glass-walled restaurant that broke ground in November after a two-year delay — even without any announced menu. The 291-seater is destined to become the big draw of Huizenga Park’s revival, along with a renovated park fountain, a dog run, new public seating and restrooms.
Ember & Vine / Courtesy
A rendering of the new Ember & Vine, a Napa Valley-inspired restaurant opening this summer in Coral Springs. (Ember & Vine/Courtesy)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, power couple Eddie and Christina Pozzuoli have shaken up the west Broward ‘burbs with neighborhood sit-downs that radiate cozy comforts, from hand-rolled pasta under candlelight at Eddie & Vinny’s in Coral Springs to soul-warming brisket po’boys at sporty Parkland pub Dear Olivia. That trend will continue with this Napa Valley-esque restaurant from P Hospitality Group, inspired by a recent birthday outing in California wine country. “When we went to Napa, we were like, ‘How cool would it be to transport this feeling home, but without making it feel pretentious?’ ” Eddie Pozzuoli explains. Their answer, for now, is this rough-draft menu under chef Jeff Tunks, offering coffee and pastries by day and Mediterranean-leaning entrees cooked over an open hearth by night. Picture everything from wood-roasted oysters, diver scallops and garlic prawns to grilled Wagyu picanha, Roman-style pinsa and lamb chops, paired with uncommon California, French and Italian varietals. The Pozzuolis say Ember will repurpose the existing bar-adjacent open hearth left behind by Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas, which closed here in early December.
Mojo Donuts Courtesy
A decadent selection from Mojo Donuts, which plans to open a Coral Springs location this spring. (Mojo Donuts/Courtesy)
Mojo Donuts
2810 N. University Drive, Coral Springs; MojoDonuts.com OPENING: Spring
Yes, Broward is cluttered with more fancy doughnut rivals than when this tasty pastry pioneer opened its Pembroke Pines flagship in 2013. But owner Shawn Neifeld has always kept his head above the powdered-sugar fray, outlasting most with trays of accolades, among them appearances on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (for the short-lived but delicious Miami mashup Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken) and a No. 4 ranking on Yelp’s “Top 100 U.S. Donut Shops 2022” list. After some growing pains, Mojo will rise at The Walk of Coral Springs with a raft of sinful flavors, including decadent Cuatro Leches, Guavecito, Oreo Speedragon, Salty Caramel Cheese and Log Cabin Bacon. Be still, my arteries.
Pelican Landing
2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; PierSixtySix.com OPENING: Spring/summer
We get it: Pier Top, with its lavish rotating lounge and stylish brunch, is reason enough to explore the $1 billion makeover of Pier Sixty-Six, the sprawling resort icon that reopened in January. But arguably the most beloved and relaxing of Pier Sixty-Six’s nine new restaurants (!) is the dockside Pelican Landing, a jewel of a bar on the Intracoastal Waterway framed by megayachts where carousers kick back with fruity tipples, conch fritters and PBR against a majestic fading sun. It’s a piece of quintessential Old Fort Lauderdale that we’re glad to see coming back.
Fettle Design / Ian Garraway for San Carlo / Courtesy
A watercolor rendering of the dining room at Signor Sassi, a London-based Italian restaurant and celebrity magnet that’s expected to open in Hallandale Beach’s Atlantic Village later this winter. (Fettle Design/Ian Garraway for San Carlo/Courtesy)
Signor Sassi
1006 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., SanCarlo.co.uk OPENING: This winter
Never mind that Signor Sassi’s website calls this new location “Signor Sassi Miami” — out-of-towners mislabel our region so often it’s practically tradition — but this high-end London staple and celebrity magnet will actually occupy Hallandale Beach’s buzzy Atlantic Village district. No menu is available yet for this first U.S. location, but if it’s anything like the 41-year-old flagship, this Italian sit-down will offer a swanky see-and-be-scene, with no less than four black truffle dishes, occasional pop-ins from famous faces (Rihanna, The Rolling Stones and Mary J. Blige have all rolled through), creamy housemade ravioli, ossobuco with risotto and an unmissable tiramisu.
Mangos
9 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Opening: Late summer
South Floridians of a certain vintage — that is, anyone who remembers Las Olas pre-pandemic — may recall this beloved locals’ lounge with tropical motifs, live bands and cozy bar food that reigned for a quarter-century until closing in 2017. (They may also recall the short-lived, oddball Euro-Italian revival that replaced it a year later under the same name.) Now The Restaurant People’s Tim Petrillo (S3, Nubé, YOLO, Java & Jam), longtime landlord of the Mangos building, tells the Sun Sentinel he’s rebooting it himself. Details are slim for now, but after a recent teardown at 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., Petrillo says the new Mangos will retain the loungy vibes while adding a menu of health-conscious, Mediterranean-Asian cuisine.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
1 OAK STUDIOS for Slab Daddy BBQ / Courtesy
West Palm Cowboy Club is envisioned as a new country-western-themed restaurant and nightclub with barbecue and live music. (1 OAK STUDIOS for Slab Daddy BBQ/Courtesy)
West Palm Cowboy Club
200 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; WestPalmCowboyClub.com OPENING: This winter
A country-western-themed restaurant and nightclub with live music programmed by … South Florida’s own DJ Diplo? If anyone can make the transition from dubstep to the Texas two-step, it’s Grammy-winning producer Thomas Wesley, who as “musical director” (the venue’s term) will preside over a two-story venue where “beer, barbecue and basslines collide,” as hyped in a news statement. (Translation: He’ll be in charge of live-music bookings, karaoke nights and special events.) The cowboy club’s other VIP is Adrian Ricouz (owner of Miami’s Slab Daddy BBQ, ex-chef of Allapattah’s Hometown BBQ), who’ll present a Latin-accented BBQ menu of brisket, ribs and pulled pork, plus dishes including cornbread and caviar, barbecue-inspired pizza and Southern-style brunch.
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
The Emperor burger and fries from Charm City Burger Co., photographed at the Deerfield Beach flagship location. Charm City is expected to migrate to downtown Boca Raton in early 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Charm City Burger Co.
201 NW First Ave., Boca Raton; CharmCityBurgerCo.com OPENING: This winter
Evan David and Mike Saperstein’s 17-year-old joint is royalty in South Florida’s burgerdom, lauded for winning countless patty brawls (Riverwalk Burger Battle and Boca Burger Battle come to mind) and for the savory simplicity of its crowning handheld: The Emperor. Each one is made with ultrarich, perfectly salty American Wagyu, heaped with aged Gruyère, arugula and truffle aioli on brioche toast. And each burger is sourced from Sunshine Provisions, the high-end meat wholesaler that David and Saperstein run in Hallandale Beach. So it came as little surprise that, when the duo said they’d send their Deerfield Beach flagship north to Boca Raton back in August 2023, it stirred a carnivorous frenzy online. An opening date is finally imminent for its larger shop (2,200 square feet), for which they signed a five-year lease. It will carry a similar menu of deep-fried Oreos, sinful milkshakes and less-fancy-still-delicious burgers like the Good Ole (a juicy chuck-brisket-short rib-blend on a sesame bun). Their Deerfield Beach original, meanwhile, will be rebranded Charm City Sandwich Co. and specialize in smash burgers and hot and cold-cut subs.
Chris Casella for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants / Courtesy
An open-fire roasted shellfish platter from Del Mar, which is expected to debut in West Palm Beach’s NORA District this summer. (Chris Casella for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants/Courtesy)
Ohio restaurateur Cameron Mitchell and his massive eponymous hospitality outfit are fairly untested in South Florida’s market. It has two Fort Lauderdale restaurants — surf-and-turf sit-down Ocean Prime debuted in April and Del Mar, inside the luxe Auberge Beach Residences, opened a month ago. But already we’re intrigued by its clout (Tampa oyster room The Pearl is Michelin-recommended) and by its sprawling menu of Mediterranean coastal delights, spanning lobster spaghetti with Calabrian chili, veal chops, lamb sausage Turkish flatbreads, swordfish and sea bass with tomato broth and fennel confit. Del Mar, when it opens this summer, should become an attention-grabbing draw in West Palm Beach’s rising NORA District.
Drinking Pig BBQ / Courtesy
A platter of various meats and sides including brisket, ribs, coleslaw and beans at Drinking Pig BBQ, coming to Delray Beach’s Sundy Village in fall 2026. (Drinking Pig BBQ/Courtesy)
Drinking Pig BBQ
22 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; DrinkingPigBBQ.com OPENING: Fall
South Florida isn’t a barbecue town — yet — but the truest expression of ‘cue in our region may just be Raheem Sealey and Mark Wint’s marriage of oak-smoked meats, Caribbean jerk and Asian spices. Born a pandemic pop-up, Drinking Pig BBQ brought Caribbean-kissed Texas brisket, mac-and-cheese casserole and spare ribs to the locked-down masses with his Instagram-famous stand at the end of a North Miami cul-de-sac. Now, after the November debut of their first permanent location in Coconut Grove, the chefs are Delray-bound, shuffling into the 7-acre Sundy Village project. Though its new neighbors include Philly coffeehouse-sushi izakaya Double Knot and New York-based French hotspot Maman, Drinking Pig — judging from its Grove successes so far — is poised to be Sundy’s hottest new property.
NEW YORK (AP) — Perry Archangelo Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for the influential goth band The Cure, has died. He was 65.
The band made the announcement on their official website on Friday.
“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte, who passed away after a short illness at home over Christmas,” the band wrote.
“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”
Bamonte worked with the band in various roles from 1984 to 1989, including as roadie and guitar tech. He officially joined the band in 1990, when keyboardist Roger O’Donnell quit. It was then that he became a full-time member of the group, playing guitar, six-string bass and keyboard.
Having joined just after the band’s mainstream breakthrough, 1989’s “Disintegration,” Bamonte is featured on a number of The Cure’s albums, including 1992’s “Wish” — which features the career-defining hits ″Friday I’m in Love″ and “High” — as well as the 1996’s “Wild Mood Swings,” 2000’s “Bloodflowers” and 2004’s self-titled release.
Bamonte was fired from The Cure by its singer and leader Robert Smith in 2005. At that point in time, he had performed at over 400 shows across 14 years. Bamonte rejoined the group in recent years, touring with the band in 2022 for another 90 gigs.
His last performance with the band was on Nov. 1, 2024 in London for a special one-off event to launch their latest album and first in 16 years, “Songs of a Lost World.” The concert was filmed for “The Cure: The Show of a Lost World,” a film released in cinemas globally this month. It is also available to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD.
The Associated Press described “Songs of a Lost World” as “lush and deeply orchestral, swelling and powerful” — one of the best of the band’s career.
