July 2018

The Thursday night tradition in downtown West Palm Beach is the reoccurring, Clematis By Night. Clematis By Night has been a free weekly outdoor concert series that has been running for the last 22 years.

Clematis By Night has been known as the “Hot Spot to Chill” and is where you’ll find some of the area’s greatest local bands, food and drink specials, and entertainment to enjoy throughout the night. The local favorite event provides a few hours of fun and music. The event takes place on the waterfront in West Palm Beach and at some of the area’s local restaurants and bars.

The next Clematis By Night is this upcoming Thursday, July 26th and the live music will be provided by the local band, L-Tribe. In addition to the fun and entertainment, visitors can

“Mini Season”, also known as the 2018 Florida Spiny Lobster Sport Season, will take place on Wednesday, July 25 and Thursday, July 26, 2018. The mini-season gives sports fisherman first dibs at the spiny lobsters before commercial fisherman season which begins the first week of August and continues into March. Florida’s annual spiny lobster mini-season is always on the last Wednesday and Thursday in July.

Although the 2-day mini season is small, the spiny lobsters cannot be small/undersized. The size limit is strictly enforced to protect the ocean bugs. The possession and use of a measuring device is required at all times while harvesting spiny lobsters during the mini-season. Divers must abide by the following restrictions:

• Minimum carapace

The 4th Annual Summer GreenMarket in Delray is every Saturday, and there is only 2 more Delray GreenMarket for the summer.

The Summer Market is a smaller version of Delray’s Winter Market that hosts approximately 30 vendors every week in the winter.

The market takes place in the newly branded neighborhood in Delray called The Set. The Set was originally one of the earliest settlements in South Florida. The friendly neighborhood is a mix of friends, visionaries, neighbors, entrepreneurs and innovators dedicated to the area that lives up to its motto for “Live, Play, Grow, Groove…The Set is the place Where You Can”.

There are only two remaining dates left and one of them is this Saturday, July 21st, and then the last one is next Saturday, July 28th for the

Join the Jonathan Dickinson State Park next Saturday night, July 28th for the Full Moon Night Trail Run. The trail run is a challenging 10 mile run through the wildlife in 13 natural communities, including pine flat woods, mangroves, rover swamps, and sand pine scrub. Runners should expect to get wet and dirty throughout the trails.

Throughout the run, there will be four aid stations located throughout the trail with guides to help you endure the epic night fun run, as well as volunteers and a full medical and emergency staff. At the finish line at the end of the run, there will be free cold beer and burritos to enjoy the night.

The race sold out the last couple of years, so don’t miss out. Click here to register.

The race starts at 8pm and the run will be

The Royal Poinciana Plaza on the lavish island of Palm Beach is the perfect place for community gatherings. Every week there are free things to do like play board games and drink bubbly or bring a mat and do guided yoga. Either way, you'll meet new people and have a great time out. Here's what's going on at the Royal Plaza:

Thursdays: Music in the Courtyard

Every Thursday evening, local musicians partner with the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach Symphony to perform a free live concert in the center of the plaza. Local restaurants and vendors sell small bites and special drinks to enjoy during the show. It's always a nice time on Thursdays at the courtyard. See who's playing and what restaurants are setting up here. 

Last week, Florida's gross domestic product hit $1 trillion, meaning it would have the world's 17th largest economy if it were an independent country. The state GDP has grown at the rate of $2.7 billion per day according to the Florida Chamber, surpassing the economies of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Argentina.

Florida's low unemployment rate, steady population growth and tourism are key to the state's success. Florida also has a job growth rate that is faster than the U.S. average and its goods and services are other contributing economic factors.

Florida continues to break growth records welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors and new residents every year. The economy continues to improve, become more diversified and surpass top markets

Within the city limits of northern Palm Beach County is a treasure known as Frenchman’s Forest Natural Area.  The natural area protects “slash pine flatwoods, live oak hammock, cypress swamp, hydric hammock and tidal swamp and mangrove habitat”. The natural preserve is located at 12201 Prosperity Farms Road, right off Prosperity Farms Road, not to far from the Garden’s Mall in Palm Beach Gardens.  Follow the winding drive to a small parking area and prepare to step backward in time to the old Florida of the first settlers in South Florida.

Frenchman’s Forest Natural Area consists of 4 trails. Each of the different trails are described on the information board and it describes which type of wildlife you may expect to see on your hike. If you prefer

 I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Have you ever wondered when did ice cream become bad, fattening and taboo?  It is usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavors. Doesn’t sound sinister.  It’s time to revisit summer days of our youth and dive into a guiltfree, delicious ice cream cone.  

Before the development of modern refrigeration,I ice cream was a luxury reserved for special occasions.  With South Florida’s sunny days and tropical climate, it is typical to spend a day out on the salty beaches. Everyday is the Palm Beaches is a special occasion.  There is nothing more enjoyable than to cool down with an ice-cold confection occasionally. An ice-cream cone

South Florida is known for its lush tropical environment. Take your garden design to the opposite side of maintenance.  Reduce watering, fertilizing and consider installing a dry garden? How about a distinctive theme that looks great during all seasons? The climate in Palm Beach County can be thought-provoking when trying to garden.  Maybe you are a “green thumb” gardener or a weekend garden warrior fitting it in when you can, succulents are an easy fit.  

Succulents can survive strong winds, occasionally cold weather, drought, heat and poor soil. Besides having the ability to grow under almost any condition, agaves, yuccas and succulents all give your gardens such a variety of contemporary, architectural shapes. Think of raised gardens that use

En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air”, and it refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein air artists capture the spirit and heart of a landscape or subject by integrating natural light, color and movement into their works. French impressionist artists, Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne, as well as other artists of that period who painted outdoor landscapes, were best known as the greatest plein air artists.

The largest en plein air gathering of its kind in South Florida is hosted by the Lighthouse ArtCenter. The Festival awards over $15,000 in prizes and 35 of the top plein air painters in the country participate. The public can observe artists painting at locations in Palm