January workshops, classes, and demonstrations: Wednesdays, Jan 4, 11, 18, 25 Ikebana Flower Arrangement: Sogetsu School (Class) Time: Beginners – 10:00am –12:00pm Intermediate – 1:30pm – 3:30pm* Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70) Advance Registration Required Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. The Sogetsu School is a contemporary school which focuses on the creativity and individuality of ikebana. The idea is that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. Students will learn the basics of Sogetsu and create pieces each week to take home and enjoy. *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience.
Thursdays, Jan 5, 12, 19, 26 Sumi-e Ink Painting (Floral Beginner) (Class) Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65) Advance Registration Required Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brushstrokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.
Sundays, Jan 15, 29 or Thursdays, Jan 5, 19 Sado: Tea Ceremony (Beginners) (Class) Time: 10:15am -12:15am Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55) Advance Registration Required Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season.
Thursday, Jan 5 Mori Stories: The Rabbit on the Moon Time: 1pm Cost: FREE (with paid museum admission) Hear the tale that explains why we see the shape of a rabbit on the moon’s surface in this cute kamishibai. Fridays, Jan 6, 13, 20, 27 Sumi-e Ink Painting (Class) Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm Landscape – 1:30pm – 3:30pm Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65) Advance Registration Required Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brushstrokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.
Saturday, Jan 7 Tea Ceremony (Workshop) Time: 1pm – 3pm Cost: $50 Advance Registration Required The workshop teaches the basics of sadō – The Way of Tea – necessary to understand the aesthetics of sadō and to fully enjoy the tea ceremony itself. Participants become familiar with how to be a guest, how to make a bowl of tea, and serve it.
Saturday, Jan 7 & 8 Orchid Weekend Time: 10am -5pm Cost: FREE with paid museum admission Programming includes:
Saturday, Jan 7 Family Fun: Orchid Galore Time: 11:00am- 3:00pm Cost: FREE for members or with paid museum admission. No Reservation Required Celebrate orchids at the Morikami by making an orchid chigiri-e (Japanese paper collage) style (in- person) or join us at home to make your own 3D orchid made from paper (virtual).
Saturday, Jan 7 Ikebana: Flower Arranging (Demonstration) Time: 12:00pm (Ikenobo School) and 2:30pm (Sogetsu School) Cost: $5 with paid museum admission Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. Dating back to the 15th century, the Ikenobo School is the oldest and most traditional. The Sogetsu School focuses on contemporary three- dimensional flower sculptures that show one’s creativity and individuality. Observe the beauty and art of Japanese flower arranging by Ikenobo instructor, Kaoru Vrana, and Sogetsu instructor, Chieko Mihori. View the Ikebana Student Exhibition at the Yamato-kan showcasing orchid arrangements by Morikami’s students.
Saturday, January 7 The Art of Kokedama + Botanical Jewelry (Workshop) Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm or 1:30pm – 4:30pm Cost: $60 Advance Registration Required Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants in a moss-covered ball of soil. It is wrapped with string and contains an ornamental plant growing inside. These beautiful and decorative plants, brings an organic and natural touch to planting orchids, succulents, and other ornamental plants. Learn the mechanics of how to make kokedama, create one to decorate your home or to give away to a special person. In the second half of the workshop, learn how to create special botanical jewelry with wearable flowers and plants to decorate our bodies or homes.
Saturdays, Jan 7, Jan 28, Feb 11 Nihongo Intensive I – B (Virtual Workshop) Time: 1pm – 4pm Cost: $100 (3-day Workshop); Advance Registration Required This workshop is an introduction to the Japanese language. It covers the basics, an introduction to hiragana, and Unit 1 of the required text. There are no prerequisites for this workshop. Students who take workshop 1-B must continue to Nihongo Intensive Workshop II, as it overlaps with the Nihongo Level I Session 2 class.
Sunday, Jan 8 Koto New Year Recital Time: 12:00pm and 2:30pm Cost: $5 with paid museum admission Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument first introduced to Japan from China in the 7th-8th centuries. Start the New Year with a delightful concert with this exquisite instrument performed by koto teacher Mrs. Yoshiko Carlton and Morikami students.
Sundays, Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese -Part 2 (in-person class) Time: Level I – 10:15am-11:15am Cost: $110 (Morikami Members $100) Advance Registration Required Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.
Sundays, Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese – Part 2 (Class) Time: Level I – 6:10pm-7:10pm Level II – 11:30am-12:30pm Level III – 7:20pm-8:20pm Level IV – 5:00pm – 6:00pm Cost: $110 (Morikami Members $100) Advance Registration Required Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series. Tuesdays, Jan 10, 17, 24, 31 Ikebana Flower Arrangement- Ikenobo School (Class) Time: Beginners – 11am – 1pm Intermediate – 1pm – 3pm* Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70) Advance Registration Required *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience or have taken at least three sessions of Ikebana classes. Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various different schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. Dating back to the 15th century, the Ikenobo School is the oldest and most traditional. Students in this course learn the basic principles and style of Ikenobo, creating fresh flower arrangements each week to take home and enjoy.
Wednesday, Jan 11 The Japanese Inspiration for Madama Butterfly – Talk with Palm Beach Opera’s Catherine Hughes Co-sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera and Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Time: 1pm Cost: FREE (with paid museum admission) (Tickets available the day of the event at a first come, first served basis. Limited seating available.) In order to create the opera Madama Butterfly, composer Giacomo Puccini and his librettists, Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, studied Japanese culture through travelogues, printed music, sound recordings, and private study of the koto. Catherine Hughes, Director of Education & Community Engagement at Palm Beach Opera, explores these source materials and the ways the opera’s creators incorporated their cultural explorations into their work. The event includes a demonstration of koto technique by Yoshiko Carlton and a performance of excerpts from Madama Butterfly by Palm Beach Opera’s resident artist.
Saturdays, Jan 14, 21, 28, Feb 4, 11 Japanese Traditional Music: Koto (Class) Time: Beginners – 10:30am – 12:30pm Intermediate – 1pm-3pm Cost: $155 (Morikami Members $150) Advance Registration Required The Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument first introduced to Japan from China in the 7th-8th centuries. Learn about the history, culture, and techniques in how to play this exquisite instrument in this 5-week course. Instruments will be provided for participants to use in the class.
Saturday, Jan 14 Calligraphy: Adults (Workshop) Time: 11:30am – 1pm or 2pm – 3:30pm Cost: $35 (Cost does not include museum admission) Advance Registration Required Learn brush strokes using sumi ink and a brush to write Japanese characters. After practicing on paper, students will create a final calligraphy on shikishi board to take home.
Sundays, Jan 15, 22, 29. Feb. 5, 12 The Art of Bonsai (Class) Time: Beginners – 12:30pm – 3:30pm Intermediate – 9am – 12pm Cost: $100 (Morikami Members $90) Advance Registration Required Bonsai means “a tree in a tray.” The art of bonsai creates the illusion of age and maturity of a tree which has developed and sustained the effects of nature for many years. Students of bonsai learn to artfully trim and train a tree in a container.
Wednesdays Jan 18 & 25, Feb 22, Mar 29 or Saturdays Jan 21 & 28, Feb 25, Apr 1 Stroll for Well-Being Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm or 1:30pm – 3:00pm Cost: Free to qualified applicants Immerse yourself in Morikami’s natural beauty, peace, and serenity through our therapeutic garden walking program. During three sessions, a qualified facilitator will lead participants through themed walks and journal writing to encourage reflection, and ultimately, personal well-being.
Sundays, Jan 15, 29 Sado: Tea Ceremony (Intermediate) (Class) Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55) Advance Registration Required Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. Intermediate course requires approval by the instructor before registering. Saturday, Jan 21 Sado: The Way of Tea (Demonstration) Time: 12pm, 1:30pm or 3pm Cost: $5 with paid museum admission. Observe Japanese sadō, an ever-changing demonstration rich in seasonal subtleties. Your involvement in the true spirit of sadō — harmony (wa), reverence (kei), purity (sei), tranquility (jaku) — along with a sip of matcha green tea and a sweet will help you bring a calm perspective into your busy life.
Saturday, Jan 28 Family Fun: Year of the Rabbit Time: Virtual Program Cost: FREE Join us to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by making an origami rabbit.
Sunday, Jan 29 The Way of Taiko – The Heartbeat of Japan (Workshop) Time: 11am – 1pm or 2pm – 4pm Cost: $60 Advance Registration Required This workshop introduces participants to the history and practice of taiko drumming. Participants are taught how to understand sounds and movements, i.e., how to connect nature and the meaning of body movement. They will become familiar with the way of taiko and its drumming techniques. Top performers from South Florida’s Fushu Daiko will conduct the workshop. The group is recognized by Seiichi Tanaka, the master of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, who brought taiko to the United States and who trained senior members of the Fushu Daiko group. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org. About Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens has been a center for Japanese art and culture in South Florida since opening in 1977. Morikami invites guests to discover its South Florida’s history, connection with Japan, and explore a series of six diverse gardens, each inspired by a different historical period and style of Japanese gardening. Visitors experience traditional and contemporary Japanese culture through engaging exhibits, varied educational programs and seasonal events, a world-class bonsai display, Pan- Asian cuisine, and a distinctive museum store. The Morikami Museum is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
In addition to American, British, French, Israeli, and Mexican movies, the new festival will showcase a global array of audience-wowing and mind-expanding films from Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kurdistan, Luxembourg, Morocco, New Zealand, Sweden, and Uruguay. These entertaining and thought-provoking films were specifically selected to foster dialogue and interaction among attendees and festival supporters.
From its January 26 Opening Night screening of the French comedy TWO TICKETS TO GREECE at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion straight through to the February 16 Closing Night film PEACE BY CHOCOLATE at the CMX Downtown in Palm Beach Gardens, The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Film Festival will entertain, enthrall, involve, and delight movie fans at multiple first-class cinemas, including CMX at the Gardens, CMX Wellington, Movies of Lake Worth, Paragon at Delray Marketplace and the Regal Royal Palm Beach.
Festival highlights will include delicious “Dinner & a Movie” experiences at IPIC in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park on January 29-31 and at IPIC in Delray Beach on January 30, February 6, and 13—all featuring a 3-course dinner and a specially curated film.
(Feature—UK—2021) A bundle of good humor and nervous energy in this woman-directed romance. Ali is a British Pakistani working-class landlord who forges close bonds with his tenants. One day, while picking up one of his tenants’ children from school, he offers a lift to Ava, an Irish-born teacher and single mother of five. They bond almost instantly through their love of music. Their story serves as a reminder that sometimes the least likely connections are the ones most worth pursuing. (Toronto International Film Festival, BAFTA Nominee Best British Film)
+ February 1, 3:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 14, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theatres of Delray Beach
+ February 14, 4:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach County Premiere
ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY
(Documentary—USA—2022)
Beyond outrageous fashions, this film is a journey across three decades of the International Male catalog’s lasting impact on fashion, masculinity, and gay rights. Written by Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jones and narrated by Matt Bomer, this is a character-driven portrait of a group of outsiders who changed how men and the world viewed them. (Tribeca 2022 World Premiere)
+ February 4, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 6, 4:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 11, 4:15 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
BALABAN
(Feature—Kazakhstan—2022)
On the verge of adulthood, Ardak, a reserved 16-year-old schoolgirl diagnosed with HIV as a child, lives a sheltered life with her mother in a plush house in a part of Kazakhstan known for its dramatic mountains and vast nomadic steppe. Ardak dreams of moving to Paris and becoming the next big thing in fashion. After a chance meeting with an adventurous teen, Zhanna, at a local charity for HIV adolescents, they forge a plan to steal a prized falcon from Zhanna’s cousin to finance their trip—which proves to be the ultimate test of their relationship. (International Peace Film Festival)
+ January 30, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 9, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
BREAKING THE ICE
(Feature—Austria—2022)
What happens when someone with a rigid approach to life meets their freewheeling opposite? Mira is the heir to an Austrian vineyard whose existence is defined by stress: the family business is barely staying afloat, her grandfather’s dementia is getting worse, and her brother Paul recently went missing. Mira’s sole outlet for all this anxiety is serving as the captain of a women’s ice hockey team. (Tribeca Film Festival)
+ January 27, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 11, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
+ February 14, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach County Premiere
CALENDAR GIRLS
(Documentary—Sweden—2022)
This “coming-of-golden-age” film follows senior volunteer dancers in Southwest Florida who are determined to prove that age is just a number. The dancers give everything they’ve got: impressive makeup, handmade costumes, elaborate dance routines, unparalleled enthusiasm, and sparkling personalities. (Sundance Film Festival, Hot Docs Film Festival, Bergamo Film Festival Audience Award Best Documentary)
Note:The Calendar Girls will be Special Guests at screenings on January 28 and February 7.
+ January 28, 1:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 4, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 7, 1:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
Palm Beach County Premiere
CINEMA SABAYA
(Feature – Israel—2022)
A group of Arab and Jewish women attends a workshop run by Rona, a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv, to learn to document their lives on video. As each woman shares her raw footage with the others, they are all forced to challenge their preconceived views and beliefs, coming together as mothers, wives, and women. Based on the real-life experiences of the film’s director, with a remarkable cast consisting of professional and non-professional actors alike, Cinema Sabaya is a testament to the power of film and its unique capacity to spark mutual recognition and connection across cultures. (Jerusalem Film Festival Winner Best Israeli Debut & Audience Award, AFI Fest, Warsaw International Film Festival, UK Jewish Film Festival, nominated for 8 Ophir awards (Israeli Academy) including Best Film(winner), Best Director (winner), Best), Best Supporting Actress(winner), Israel’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film)
+ February 7, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 13, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
+ February 13, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theatres in Delray Beach
DARRYL JONES: IN THE BLOOD
(Documentary—USA—2022)
Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones reflects on growing up on the South Side of Chicago, playing alongside Miles Davis, Madonna, and Sting, and replacing Bill Wyman in the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band. (Oxford International Film Festival, Best Documentary Feature; Rome Independent Film Festival)
Note: Darryl Jones has been invited to be the Festival’s Special Guest on February 3; Director Eric Hamburg has been invited to the February 13 screening, but guests still need to confirm their appearance.
+ February 3, 7:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 12, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
+ February 13, 4:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Florida Premiere
DOS ESTACIONES
(Feature—Mexico—2022)
The film tells a beautiful story about one woman’s journey of legacy and loss, the painstaking process of making an artisanal bottle of tequila, and all the challenges the tequila industry endures. The film evokes the indomitable strength of a woman who is single-handedly carrying her community’s economic future and cultural pride on her shoulders. (New Directors /New Films, San Sebastian Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Acting, True/False Film Festival True Vision Award Director Juan Pablo González, Outfest Grand Jury Prize for Screenwriting, International Film Festival Boston Grand Jury Award)
+ February 2, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 10, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
FAREWELL MR. HAFFMANN
(Feature—France, Belgium—2021)
In occupied Paris in 1941, all Jewish community members were instructed to identify themselves to authorities. Fearing the worst, jeweler Joseph Haffmann arranges for his family to flee and offers his employee François Mercier the chance to take over his store until the conflict subsides. But his attempts to escape are thwarted, and Haffmann is forced to seek his assistant’s protection. The agreement turns into a Faustian bargain that will forever change the fate of all. (Audience Award Aspen Film Festival, Best Narrative Audience Award San Francisco Jewish Film Festival)
+ February 5, 3:45 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 6, 7:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 15, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Southeastern USA Premiere
GOODNIGHT SOLDIER
(Feature—France, Kurdistan—2022)
Ziné and Avdal are madly in love despite their families’ ancestral feud. When both parties finally set aside their differences and agree to their children getting married, Avdal is injured at the front. His inability to perform sexually casts a shadow on the wedding night. As this revives the family tensions, the newlyweds start exploring new forms of pleasure. Will their love overcome decades of conflict and tradition? (Kurdisches Film Festival Berlin)
+ January 30, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 2, 1:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 14, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
HAUTE COUTURE
(Feature—France—2021)
Esther is at the end of her career as Head Seamstress at Dior in the famous Avenue Montaigne workshop. When 20-year-old Jade steals her handbag, Esther decides to help her rather than call the police. In the frenetic world of Haute Couture, Esther will give Jade a way to reach beyond herself and harness her creativity and talent. (Mill Valley Film Festival, Palm Spring International Film Festival)
+ February 2, 7:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 7, 7:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 14, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach County Premiere
iMORDECAI
(Feature—USA—2022)
Based on a true story, this heart-warming and uplifting comedy stars Oscar-nominated and two-time Emmy-winning actor Judd Hirsch, as Mordecai Samel. He and his wife, played by Academy Award-nominated actress Carol Kane, are both survivors from Poland, now living in Miami. When Mordecai’s ancient flip phone breaks, he takes iPhone lessons from a young employee of Ultratech, who opens him up to all kinds of novel experiences and adventures, making him feel like a kid again. The film co-stars Sean Astin, Azia Dibea Hale, and Stephanie J. Block. (Audience Award Miami Jewish Film Festival)
Note: Special Invited Festival Guests Marvin Samel, Judd Hirsch, and Azia Dinea Hale but guests have not yet confirmed their appearance.
+ February 9, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
+ February 13, 6:00 pm – IPIC Delray
Palm Beach County Premiere
JUNIPER
(Feature—New Zealand—2021)
Upon returning home from boarding school and still dealing with the untimely death of his mother, self-destructive teenager Sam discovers that his gin-soaked, wheelchair-bound, English grandmother, Ruth (Charlotte Rampling), has moved in. Their first meeting is awkward, yet the person he gets to know is far from what he expected. With both strong-willed characters, a battle of supremacy ensues, enabling Sam to embrace life again and for Ruth to face her mortality.
+ January 30, 6:00 pm – IPIC Boca Raton
+ February 5, 7:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 6, 6:00 pm – IPIC Delray
+ February 12, 4:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach County Premiere
KARAOKE
(Feature—Israel—2022)
An offbeat, comedic journey that follows Tova and Meir married 46 years, whose routine lives get a jolt of excitement from Itzik, their upstairs neighbor, who invites them to his penthouse for karaoke nights. The couple falls hard for Itzik’s energetic lifestyle. This unique comedy-drama stars Sasson Gabay (The Band’s Visit), Lior Ashkenazy(Footnote, Late Marriage), and Rita Shukrun. (Tribeca Film Festival, Winner of the Audience Award & Best First Film; Jerusalem International Film Festival, nominated for 14 Ophir awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and winning both Best Actor and Best Actress)
+ February 5, 4:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 6, 7:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm Beach
+ February 11, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
LITTLE TOWN
(Feature—USA—2022)
Jason, a failed stand-up comedian and rideshare driver takes his son on the road to Little Town, somewhere up in the mountains, to find his recently deceased mom. They drive with Lauren, a free-spirited soul trying to help them reach their destination and follow their dreams.
+ January 27, 3:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 12, 11:00 am – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
LOVE & MATHEMATICS
(Feature—Mexico—2022)
This is a tale of longing, reconnection, and disconnection. Billy, a former boy band quasi–pop star, is now a dutiful stay-at-home dad, frustrated by the lack of fulfillment in his comfortable life. He’s someone who’s out of touch, especially with himself. Mónica, a mild-mannered new neighbor, is a former devoted fan. Monica’s adoration reminds Billy of what his life used to be as a performer, with fans feeding his ego. It also reminds him of his passion for music, and he begins to play his guitar again.
Note: Special Invited Festival Guest Sandro Florin, CEO of FiGa Films, at the February 8 screening, but the guest has not confirmed his appearance.
+ January 31, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 8, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 8, 7:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
Florida Premiere
LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER
(Documentary—USA—2022)
In 1960, Lowndes County, AL, was a rural, impoverished town with a vicious history of racist terrorism. Eighty percent Black with no Black voters, the county served as a launching pad for a movement that brought together men and women, Black and White, the quiet warriors, and the crusaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), among others. (Tribeca Film Festival)
+ February 2, 3:45 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 7, 4:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 9, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
MISSION JOY: FINDING JOY IN TROUBLED TIMES
(Documentary—USA—2021)
Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share science-backed wisdom of living with joy in troubled times. With genuine affection, mutual respect, and a healthy dose of teasing, these unlikely friends impart lessons gleaned from lived experience, ancient traditions, and the latest cutting-edge science regarding how to live with joy in the face of life’s challenges, from the extraordinary to the mundane. (Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival Ad Hoc Docs Winner
)+ January 31, 3:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 13, 1:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
MUSIC PICTURES: NEW ORLEANS
(Documentary—USA—2022)
Considered the birthplace of jazz music, New Orleans still holds a strong association with the genre. This documentary gives us a personal view into the life and craft of four distinguished elders of the New Orleans music world: Irma Thomas, Benny Jones Sr., Little Freddie King, and Ellis Marsalis. Now in their eighties, these local masters continue their practice in the city that made them who they are. (Tribeca Film Festival) Note: Special Invited Festival Guests and performances with screenings, but guests have yet to confirm their appearance.
+ January 31, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 6, 4:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 15, 3:45 pm – CMX Wellington
MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I
(Feature—France—2020)
Schoolteacher Antoinette (Laure Calamy) is looking forward to her long-planned summer holidays with her secret lover Vladimir, the father of one of her pupils. When learning that Vladimir can’t make it because his wife organized a surprise trekking trip in the Cévennes National Park with their daughter and a donkey to carry their load, Antoinette impulsively decides to follow them with Patrick, a cantankerous, protective donkey. Completely inexperienced in outdoor life, Antoinette forges quick bonds with Patrick as she poignantly and uproariously stumbles toward self-revelation and independence. (Cannes Film Festival, Best Actress: Laure Calamy César Awards)
+ February 14, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS
(Documentary—USA—2021)
A lively look at five LGBTQ+ comic book artists whose careers go from the underground scene to the cover of Time Magazine and the international stage. This adaptation of Justin Hall’s anthology of the same name invites the artists to share their stories and observations on everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love. It’s a warm-hearted tribute to all the artists who paint the world so we can better understand it. (Tribeca Film Festival, AFI Docs Fest, Grand Jury Documentary Prize Outfest)
Note: Profanity, Sexual Content
+ January 28, 4:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 12, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Palm Beach County Premiere
NOWHERE SPECIAL
(Feature—UK—2020)
John, played by James Norton of Grantchester and Little Women, has dedicated his life to bringing up his 4-year-old son, Michael. When John is given only a few months left to live, he attempts to find a new, perfect family for Michael, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation. Although initially certain of what he is looking for in the ideal family, John gradually abandons his early convictions, overwhelmed by doubts. As John struggles to find the right answer, he opens up to solutions he would never have considered. A moving and deeply humanistic drama that will leave no feeling person untouched. (Warsaw Film Festival Audience Award winner, Venice International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival)
This a heartwarming tale about Syrian refugees in Canada. After the bombing of his family’s chocolate factory, Tareq Hadhad (played by Ayham Abou Ammar), a charming young Syrian refugee, struggles to settle into small-town life in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Despite moving to a new country, he’s intent on pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. But when his father, Issam (Hatem Ali), insists that he must focus on survival, Tareq and his family move towards a different but familiar path: rebuilding his father’s chocolate business. When what seemed like a nostalgic attempt to cling onto remnants of an old life past becomes an overnight sensation, Tareq is shocked. Put in the role of business manager, he must choose between the demands of an exponentially growing business and an offer to go back to medical school. As father and son struggle to find common ground and navigate the complexities of family duty, the heightened tension between them threatens to tear the family apart.
Note: Director Jonathan Keijser and Tareq Hadhad have been invited to attend the Closing Night screening, but guests have yet to confirm their appearance.
+ February 16, 7:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
Florida Premiere
RALLY CAPS
(Feature—USA—2021)
A heartfelt coming-of-age story for the entire family starring Judd Hirsch, Amy Smart, and former Major League Baseball player Curtis Pride. Based on true events, the film focuses on Jordy, who must overcome a serious injury he experiences during a Little League baseball tryout. After a long recovery, he goes off to summer camp, where he befriends a Deaf catcher, Lucas, and his sister. Based on the sibling’s experiences living with a disability helped him overcome his anxiety and fear of returning to the mound. Together the kids learn that anything is possible when you believe in yourself and cherish your friendships. (Heartland winner Film Festival Audience Choice Award)
Note: Special Invited Festival Guests include Director Lee Cipolla, Producer Katherine Borda, Actors Judd Hirsch, Curtis, Niki, and Colton Pride, and guests who have yet to confirm appearance.
+ January 29, 1:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 5, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
Florida Premiere
SCARLET
(Feature—France, Italy, Germany—2022)
An enchanting period fable based on a beloved 1923 novel, Scarlet Sails, by Russian writer Alexander Grin. Beginning as the tale of a sensitive brute who returns home from World War I to his rural French village to discover his wife has died and that he must take care of their baby daughter, Juliette. The film blossoms into a portrait of Juliette as a free-spirited young woman reckoning with a local witch’s prophecy for her future and falling for the modern man who drops from the sky. (Opening Film, Director’s Fortnight Cannes Film Festival, New York Film Festival)
Palm Beach County filmmaker Sasha Levinson aims the lens at her multigenerational family in an unconventional hybrid documentary offering an honest glimpse into modern motherhood that will make parents everywhere feel much less alone. When the world was turning to chaos in the early stages of COVID-19, Sasha decided to make a film with her daughter. It began as a filmmaker’s experiment, but what emerged is a therapeutic exploration of single motherhood, distance co-parenting, and multigenerational trauma, which ultimately gives way to healing. During our time’s greatest mental health crisis, this film provides an honest look at parenting and finding peace within the family. (Winner George Starks Spirit of Slamdance Award at Slamdance Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival) Note: Festival Special Guests:Sasha Levinson and Sylvie Bellanca and guests have yet to confirm their appearance.
+ January 28, 11:00 am – Movies of Lake Worth
Palm Beach County Premiere
THE BLUE CAFTAN
(Feature—Belgium, Denmark, France, Morocco—2022) Middle-aged married couple Mina and Halim operate a small garment shop, from which master tailor Halim painstakingly embroiders magnificent caftans for a choosy clientele. Mina and Halim have an unconventional marriage, informed by affection and mutual respect but burdened by a secret Halim can’t name. The film is an understated, yet immensely powerful exploration of the various forms love can take. (FIPRESCI prize-winning premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, Toronto International Film Festival, Morocco’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature)
+ February 2, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 7, 7:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 15, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
THE FENCE
(Feature—UK—2022)
Steve is a working-class boy from Bristol, England. On the day he purchases his coveted motorbike, it is stolen in front of his house. He needs to find it quickly, so he seeks help from local “fences,” scoundrel friends, and his tough-nut brother to track down the bike. There is a strong moral theme examining the culture of the period, peer pressures, and difficult individual choices. Ultimately, it’s a fun film with heart. (Tallin Black Nights Film Festival)
+ January 30, 3:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 5, 1:00 pm – Regal Royal Palm
Palm Beach County Premiere
THE FORGER
(Feature—Germany, Luxembourg—2022)
Berlin,1942. 21-year-old Cioma Schönhaus, a Jewish man, won’t let anyone take away his zest for life, especially not the Nazis. Since the best hiding spots are in plain sight, Cioma decides to go out into the light to escape deportation. Throughout the day, he forges IDs with just a brush, some ink, and a steady hand – and saves the lives of many. Based on the true story of Cioma Schönhaus. (Berlin International Film Festival, Haifa Film Festival, Vancouver Film Festival)
+ February 8, 1:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 8, 3:30 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 13, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Palm Beach County Premiere
THE GRUMP: IN SEARCH OF AN ESCORT
(Feature—Finland, Germany—2022)
The Grump’s everyday life in the deepest of Finland’s countryside rolls forward according to old routines. He’s busy working on his farm, but memories of his big brother Tarmo bother him. Tarmo moved to Germany decades ago, and the brothers haven’t been in touch, even though they were best friends when they were children. So, when the Grump crashes his beloved Escort, he knows he only wants to find another Escort. Unfortunately, the nearest 1972 Escort is in Germany. The Grump withdraws a suitcase full of money at the local bank and heads to Germany. After a series of incidents, the previously estranged brothers go looking for an Escort together and end up getting to know each other again in the process. This is a tale about healing decades-old wounds. It’s a story about reconciliation and forgiveness and Ford Escorts.
+ February 12, 7:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
+ February 12, 7:00 pm – CMX Wellington
Southeastern USA Premiere
THE TAKEOVER
(Feature—France—2022)
Cédric is a worker in a precision mechanics factory in the French Alps. When he finds out that the factory is about to be sold to an investment fund, he joins forces with two childhood friends to pull off an employee takeover. With the help of occasional allies from the corporate world, this incredible team of amateurs will learn the ropes of the business and try to beat the financial system at its own game to put the company back into its employees’ hands.
+ January 27, 7:15 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 5, 7:30 pm – Regal Royal Palm
+ February 10, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
THE VISITOR
(Feature—Bolivia, Uruguay—2022)
Humberto is an ex-convict with a tormented past. Humberto’s greatest desire is to rebuild his relationship with his estranged daughter and provide her with a decent life. Still, the grandparents of the child, who are wealthy Evangelical pastors, are unwilling to give up custody of their only granddaughter. Carlos, the head pastor, and his former father-in-law decide to take a chance on Humberto and bring him back into the church fold. Humberto begins to attend church to ingratiate himself into Carlos’ network and bond with his daughter. What quickly transpires is an emotionally fraught ‘tug-of-war’ between Humberto and Carlos in their pursuit of ‘saving’ and commandeering the girl’s future. Financially and ideologically bullied into a corner, Humberto is forced to face his demons while simultaneously fighting a powerful ecclesiastical institution to which he once belonged. (Tribeca Film Festival Best International Narrative Screenplay, AFI Latin American Film Festival)
+ January 29, 4:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 15, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters of Delray Beach
THE WAIT
(Feature—Finland—2022)
Elli and her husband lead a peaceful life on a remote island in Finland, isolated from the world. She is caught between her pastor husband and a former lover, who suddenly comes back into her life. Based on a 19th Century romance novel, The Vicar’s Wife. (Haifa Film Festival, Tallin Back Nights Film Festival)
Note: Sexual content
+ February 1, 1:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 7, 1:00 pm – CMX at the Gardens
Florida Premiere
THE WILD ONE
(Documentary—France—2022)
The documentary traces the life journey of an enigmatic artist, Jack Garfein, his family’s fleeing the Nazis, surviving in Auschwitz, his 1946 arrival at 16 in New York and coming under the wing of Lee Strasberg, Hollywood, and his marriage to actress Carroll Baker. It examines how his experience in the concentration camps shaped his vision of acting as a survival mechanism. Narrated by Willem Defoe, the film explores the importance of his legacy as an artist who confronted censorship and reveals how art can draw on personal memory to enlighten our present better. (Winner Best Cinematography in a Documentary Film Tribeca Film Festival Winner Jury Prize Best Documentary Festival 2 Vincennes)
+ February 6, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 6, 1:30 pm – Regal Royal Palm Beach
+ February 15, 1:30 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Florida Premiere
THE WORST ONES
(Feature—France—2022)
Set in the suburbs of Boulogne-Sur-Mer in northern France, the story captures a film within a film as it follows the production of a movie whose director turns to the local housing project for casting. Eager to capture performances of gritty authenticity, the director selects four working-class teenagers to act in the film, to the surprise of the local community, who question the director’s choice of “the worst ones.” (Un Certain Regard Grand Prize winner at Cannes, Toronto International Film Festival)
+ January 29, 7:30 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 12, 1:00 pm – CMX Wellington
USA Premiere
TWO TICKETS TO GREECE / Opening Night Film
(Feature—France—2022)
This is a happy relationship comedy from France directed by Marc Fitoussi and co-starring Laure Calamy (Netflix’ Call My Agent, and My Donkey, My Lover & I), Olivia Côte (My Donkey, My Lover & I), and Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient, Mission: Impossible, The Horse Whisperer, Gosford Park). The fun feature film, also known as Les Cyclades, follows the recently divorced Blandine, struggling to get back to her life, who reconnects with her former best friend, the loud and fearless Magalie, who imposes herself on a trip they dreamed of as teenagers: Amorgos. In this beautiful location, The Big Blue was shot. However, when they reach their destination, they realize the dreamy vacation doesn’t go as planned since they both now have a very different approach to vacation… and life!
Note: Director Marc Fitoussi will attend the Festival’s Opening Night screening.
+ January 26, 7:00 pm – Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion
Palm Beach County Premiere
YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER
(Feature—Canada—2022)
In the early ’90s, gay teen Jaime is sent to live with her devout Jehovah’s Witness relatives after her father’s death. Jaime makes an unexpected connection with Marike, the daughter of a prominent Witness Elder. The two are instantly drawn to each other and begin a secret, unspoken romance. But when their attraction becomes too obvious to hide, the community moves to separate the two, forcing them each to make a terrible choice between faith and love. (Tribeca Film Festival, Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Directorial Achievement nomination)
+ February 1, 7:00 pm – Movies of Lake Worth
+ February 3, 1:30 pm – CMX at the Gardens
+ February 10, 4:00 pm – Paragon Theaters in Delray Beach
Starting in January, Wellington’s popular Thursday night Food Truck & Music Series returns to Wellington’s Town Center. The events will be hosted on the Town Center Promenade (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard) while the Wellington Amphitheater remains closed due to ongoing construction for the Town Center Phase 2 project.
The Thursday night series will feature approximately 10-12 food trucks each week, accompanied by live music tributes and performances by local bands. Saturday and Sunday concerts will remain at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) and are scheduled on select dates each month.
For additional information on the Town Center Phase 2 construction, visit the “Capital Improvement Projects” page at www.wellingtonfl.gov.
Stay up to date on events and activities coming up in Wellington by signing up for the monthly Play Wellington Newsletter at www.wellingtonfl.gov/PlayWellington.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/Newsletter.
January is the time of year that we reset ourselves with thoughts of doing or being better. I am no different than anyone else. I’m setting goals and reflecting on my health and fitness. Caring for an aging mom who obviously deposited her genetic code on me is making me more reflective. “Move it or lose it” is my statement for 2023! Join me if you will, by making lifestyle changes that make us stronger as a community.
Fireworks at Village Park in Wellington. Photo by Elien Boes.
Events coming up in the Village are exciting too. Casino Night on the Promenade is happening on Saturday January 14th. Tickets are available on the website and it’s a new use of the Promenade (casting it as a boardwalk as in Atlantic City). You may have noticed that more 21 and up events are being planned. This is by request and response to the residents. Our popular Amphitheater events have been moved while we continue to expand that venue, and the Promenade is a great way for us to continue to Gather at the Town Center Complex.
Also the Father/Daughter dance returns at Village Park (instead of the community center) on January 28th. Tickets sold out in record time this year, but because its at Village Park gym we may be able to accommodate more. The Theme this year is Boogie at the Bayou. Check back with the website in case there are additional tickets available. This has become a very popular way to celebrate the Father Daughter relationship in a time where that has never been more important.
Lakeside Market continues on Friday evenings on the Promenade too with local vendors that offer unique items. Food and beverages are available too so come out and make an evening of it.
The Equestrian Events are really the star of the January Show in Wellington! Polo at the Nation Polo Center (formerly International Polo Club) Show Jumping at the Wellington Equestrian Center and Dressage at Global Dressage are what makes us the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World. (krista: can you add the links to these venues??) There is no place like our Great Home Town to enjoy the best of these international events. If you haven’t been to all of these, make it a New Year’s Resolution! There are affordable ways to attend all of them and it is exciting to watch each one.
Just In Time for the Holidays, U.S. Army Veteran Honored With a Brand New, Mortgage-Free Home in South Florida Agrihood
South Palm Beach County, Fla. (December 16, 2022) – On December 16th, former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jose Jimenez and his family received the holiday gift of a lifetime: a brand-new, mortgage-free home at Arden, South Florida’s first agrihood community. In a dedication ceremony on their front lawn, representatives from Lennar and nonprofit Operation Finally Home presented the Jimenez family with the keys to their new house.
“This is surreal,” said Jimenez. “I still can’t find the words to express how grateful and appreciative we are to Lennar and Operation Finally Home for giving us a place to plant our roots and raise our son. This is life-changing for our family, and I cannot thank them enough.”
Sergeant Jimenez enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2005. While serving in Afghanistan in 2010, Jimenez suffered a traumatic brain injury, temporarily losing his sight and the use of his legs. Nonetheless, he remained dedicated to his platoon and returned to duty one month after the incident.
Jose met his wife, Alex, also a veteran, while they were both serving in Afghanistan. They married in 2012 and have a young son.
Jose was honorably discharged in 2013 after having served for almost eight years, including two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. For his service, he received countless military awards including a Purple Heart, two Army Good Conduct Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, and a Combat Action Medal.
In July 2022, Jose and his family were surprised by Lennar Palm Atlantic Division and Operation Finally Home with the news that they would be receiving a new home. Five months later, escorted by a motorcade of the local patriotic motorcycle group Freedom Riders, they were welcomed into their newly furnished house that will provide a stable future for their family.
“The homebuilding industry gives back in a meaningful way and provides homes to people every day across the country,” said Operation Finally Home President Rusty Carroll. “But today, they provided hope and a stable future to this incredible family. Beyond their military service, they have done everything they can to provide a sense of home to their son. Home is where the heart is, and now that heart has an address.”
Lennar Palm Atlantic Division President Michael Meyers added: “I have had the privilege of getting to know the Jimenez family over the past few months. This dedication is a genuine thank you for what they have done for our country; to protect us and our freedoms and to allow us to live the lives that we live.”
ABOUT LENNAR Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up, and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title, and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar’s homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar’s technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit http://www.lennar.com.
ABOUT OPERATION FINALLY HOME Based in New Braunfels, Texas, Operation Finally Home is a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide custom-built, mortgage-free homes, transitional housing and home modifications to veterans, first responders and their families. Established in 2005, the organization has completed or is in planning on more than 430 home projects in over 30 states since 2005. OperationFinally Home partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors and volunteers to help these heroes and their families by addressing one of their most pressing needs–a place to call home. For more information about Operation Finally Home, visit OperationFinallyHome.org, follow @OpFinallyHome on Twitter, and find us on Facebook.
ABOUT ARDEN Arden’s scenic landscape includes 175 acres of magnificent lakes, including a mile-long central lake, 20 miles of trails, and 500 acres of parks, playgrounds, and green space. Arden is also home to one of the first agrihoods in Florida. Arden’s 5-acre farm and event barn are central components of community life here, offering fruits, vegetables, and herbs shared among the residents. Wellington’s world-famous equestrian centers are just 12 minutes from Arden. Arden is also close to major employment centers. A-rated Wellington schools, top-rated medical centers, white sand beaches, shopping, dining destinations, and world-class golf, and direct access to sophisticated Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Airport, and South Florida’s major cities makes Arden’s location second to none.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (December 2, 2022) – The West Palm Beach Library Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for Mandel Public Library’s programs, has added four new board members to continue building the organization and fulfil its mission. The newest members include Assistant Provost of Florida Atlantic University Dr. James Capp, philanthropist Nancy Marshall, Editor-in-Chief of Palm Beach Illustrated Daphne Nikolopoulos, and Senior Vice President with Related Companies Jordan Rathlev. The new board members are committed to ensuring the Library Foundation can continue to support the downtown city library as it adapts and expands services to fulfill community needs.
“We have a remarkable group of individuals who care deeply about our community and are just as passionate as I am about the role of public libraries in providing access, removing barriers, and providing opportunities for all,” shared Dianne Bernstein, Chair of the West Palm Beach Library Foundation Board of Directors.
West Palm Beach Library Foundation Executive Director Dean Dimke remarked, “The Mandel Public Library is a vital resource fulfilling the needs of thousands of children, teens, and adults every day with programs like our literacy programs, Homework Centers, Get That Job, Art and Culture, and the new Technology and Innovation Center. Our new Board members will draw upon their collective skills and leadership to ensure the Foundation can continue to support these critical programs, services, and resources.”
Dr. James Capp is the Assistant Provost for Academic Operations and Planning at Florida Atlantic University. He leads the student success analytics team that has helped to more than double the university’s graduation rates, resulting in Florida Atlantic becoming a nationally ranked institution according to U.S. News & World Report and Washington Monthly. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities recently honored his team with the prestigious Degree Completion Award. In addition to his work in the Provost’s Office, he also teaches policy, budgeting, and strategic planning. Dr. Capp earned his bachelor’s degree from FAU’s Wilkes Honors College, and his graduate degrees are from FAU’s School of Public Administration.
Nancy Marshall serves on the board of directors of Florida’s Everglades Foundation, as well as the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) based in Washington DC. The retired Marriott marketing executive, and marketing consultant to the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center/ Florida Atlantic University, is a past president of the Fine Arts Association, Belfair Artists Association, and honorary member Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority. She is a co-recipient of the 2001 “Conservationist of the Year” award from Audubon Society of the Everglades; and co-author of Everglades Restoration, Cypress Tree Planting, McGraw Hill.
Daphne Nikolopoulos is the editor in chief of Palm Beach Illustrated, the most respected monthly magazine in Palm Beach, and editorial director of Palm Beach Media Group. A native of Athens, Greece, Daphne has traveled widely on both a professional and personal level, and her journeys have inspired her writing. Under the pseudonym D.J. Niko, she has penned award-winning, internationally published historical novels and thrillers. She teaches writing, literature, and cultural studies courses at Florida Atlantic University’s Lifelong Learning Society and has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside.
Jordan Rathlev is a Senior Vice President with the Related Companies. In addition to leading the financing efforts in West Palm Beach, he manages all aspects of Related’s West Palm Beach office initiatives, overseeing the property development, operations, leasing, and management teams. Jordan holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Corporate Finance from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Flagler School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University.
Dianne Bernstein, Board Chair
About the West Palm Beach Library Foundation
The West Palm Beach Library Foundation raises funds for the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach to provide free quality programs, services, and resources that enrich and strengthen its diverse community. The Foundation hopes to create an inspired community where children excel, and adults thrive. Gifts to the Foundation support popular library programs including afterschool homework centers, summer learning programs, reading programs, teen college prep, job readiness, and adult programs in art, technology, education, culture, and entertainment.
WELLINGTON, FL – Three new retail and culinary destinations are joining the more than 160 stores at The Mall at Wellington Green. BoxLunch, Wonder Sweets Bakery, and Trendzadd to the robust offerings in apparel, health and beauty, and more, at this lifestyle destination in Wellington.
BoxLunch
Altruistic gift and novelty retailer, BoxLunch, opened on October 22. Known for providing complimentary meals to people in need for every $10 customers spend, the expansive, 2,373-square-foot store showcases curated collections of pop culture-themed merchandise, ranging from t-shirts and accessories to collectibles and home goods. For more information, call (561) 437-6106 or visit boxlunch.com.
Wonder Sweets Bakery
Wonder Sweets Bakery’s owner Careli Bello has a knack for creating works of edible art that look almost too lovely to swallow. Launched on November 5, Bello swathed the 688-square-foot shop in bright hues of white and pink and keeps it stocked with sweet offerings like cupcakes, cookies, and celebration cakes. For more information, call (941) 421-2958 or visit wondersweetbakery.com.
Trendz
As its name implies, Trendz is a small business operation specializing in trendy, de rigueur accouterments for kids and teens. The 1,148-square-foot store, which features clothing, carryalls, jewelry, headwear, and footwear, unlocked its doors on November 3. Merchandise is updated weekly, so guests are encouraged to visit often. For more information, call (561) 333-8000.
Mall hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
About The Mall at Wellington Green
The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington, FL is a 1.2 million square foot, two-level regional shopping destination, and it features over 160 stores. Retail and restaurant favorites include Macy’s, Dillard’s, Apple, Brighton, Chico’s, Forever 21, H&M, Helzberg Diamonds, Zales, Tommy Bahama, City Furniture, Lemongrass, The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, CMX Cinemas Wellington and more. For more information, visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
About Spinoso Real Estate Group
The Mall at Wellington Green is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group. Since 2009, Spinoso has taken a creative, entrepreneurial approach to real estate development and management, delivering and sustaining successful projects across a wide range of property types and across the country. Spinoso’s robust portfolio includes work on hundreds of enclosed shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and large-scale retail projects from coast to coast. For more information, visit spinosoreg.com.
Riviera Beach, Fla. (December 15, 2022) – The Honda Classic returns in February, attracting the world’s best PGA TOUR players to Palm Beach County. Golf fans can enjoy premium accommodations and exclusive access to The Honda Classic with the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa’s “A Day at the Honda Classic with Skysuite Access” package.
The package includes:
Two, one-day passes to The Honda Classic
Access to the Nicklaus Village Skysuite at the 18th hole, with unlimited food and beverage service
One preferred daily parking pass
Two welcome to The Honda Classic signature cocktails at the resort
To receive this offer, guests must book by February 9, 2023, for a minimum of two nights during February 21, 2023, to February 26, 2023.
In addition to The Honda Classic, enjoy a timeless escape at Marriott Singer Island’s private beach, resort pools, and intimate spa, and the award-winning 3800 Ocean Restaurant & Lounge.
Have a ball on the golf course and on the beach!
About Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Rising 21 stories above a beautiful stretch of palm-fringed sand, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa is the only all-suite beachfront property in Palm Beach County. Each of its 190 suites offers spacious and stylish condo-style living in surroundings that are equally ideal for family vacations, romantic getaways, and business travel. The décor is sleek and contemporary, with modern furnishings and a palette that evokes the sand, sea, and sky. Dining choices range from exceptional American regional cuisine to casual Caribbean fare. The resort’s award-winning SiSpa offers sea-inspired pampering and wellness therapies, while its boutique-style meeting space beautifully accommodates high-powered conferences, exquisite beach weddings, and sophisticated social events. Comfortably furnished outdoor spaces make the most of the Florida sun and sea breezes, inviting guests to relax poolside or gather for an evening of drinks and conversation by a fire pit. Operated by Urgo Hotels and Resorts under license from Marriott International, Inc. or one of its affiliates. For more information, visit palmbeachmarriottresort.com or connect online via Facebook and Instagram.
Tickets on sale now for Wellington Classic Brew Fest
Sample a wide variety of craft beers and hard ciders at the 4th Annual Wellington Classic Brew Fest, hosted by the Village of Wellington in conjunction with BrewFest Partners, on Saturday, February 11, 2023. The event is set to occur from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. along the Wellington Town Center Promenade (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard), with early access VIP ticket-holder entry at 2:00 p.m.
Guests, 21 and over only, will enjoy an impressive array of craft brews and hard ciders. Over 40 breweries from Florida and beyond are expected, accompanied by an assortment of food trucks, and craft beer-centric games.
Ticket Information Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance, or on the day of the event, through Eventbrite at bit.ly/WellingtonClassicBrewFest2023 (a service fee applies). Prices will go up on the day of event and ticket quantities are limited. All ticket purchases, including day of sales, are subject to availability.
VIP Pass Admission — $90 in advance, $95 day of event Advance purchase sales end February 10th, at midnight, or when sold out.
Early admission at 2:00 p.m.
Includes exclusive sampling of limited release VIP beers, exclusive access to the VIP room with direct access to the promenade, food (available during early entry while supplies last), snacks, give-a-ways, and a commemorative pint glass upon exit from the event
General Admission — $60 in advance, $65 day of event Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
Includes unlimited sampling, commemorative pint glass upon exit from the event
Non-Drinker Admission, $15
Unlimited soda and water, commemorative pint glass upon exit from the event
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/Newsletter.
EXECUTIVE WOMEN OF THE PALM BEACHES FOUNDATION HONORS PAST LEADERS, AWARDS ANNUAL 2022 KWASMAN GRANT TO HOLY GROUND
Jupiter, Fla. – (December 17, 2022) – Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, Inc. (EWPBF) rang in the holiday season with gifts of grants, recognition and scholarships at its 2022 Holiday Event.
Selected from among three finalists, Holy Ground (https://holygroundpbc.org/) was named the winner of the 2022 Lois Kwasman Program for Community Impact grant. Holy Ground President Jan Kranich accepted the $5,000 check on behalf of the nonprofit, which is dedicated to sheltering and mentoring homeless, pregnant or parenting young women, and their children, living in Palm Beach County.
Danielle Hanson, Jan Cairnes, Lindsey White. Tracey Benson Photography
Held Dec. 9 at The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, the Holiday Event also honored EWPBF’s past presidents and 2022 scholarship winners.
The Kwasman Program was established in 2004, in memory of EWPBF Board Member Lois Cohn Kwasman. The program enables EWPBF to make an impact in Palm Beach County through grants that support programs designed to assist under-served women and girls.
“We started our program helping one 17-year-old pregnant mother, who was sharing a room with her mother. When both became homeless, we stepped in to find them housing and resources for the baby,” said Kranich. “We’ve since grown to two campuses and have countless stories of young women who have graduated college, earned certificates and are able to live their lives with pride and dignity.”
The luncheon was a festive addition to a year in which EWPBF commemorates 40 years of changing the lives of women in Palm Beach County. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1982 to provide a place and voice to the professional women who make up the local business community. Leaders who shepherded EWPBF through its growth were given a rousing round of applause and orchids. Past presidents in attendance were Minx Boren, Amy Brand, Trudy Crowetz, Joyce Elden, Michele Gurto, Dorothy Jacks, Cynthia Jackson, Pamela Payne, Virginia Spencer, Denise Valz, and Trixy Walker, along with current President Katie Klause-Newitt.
The 2023 EWPBF scholarship recipients were presented with their academic awards. This year, scholarships, in the following amounts, were earned by:
– Emmonnie Lahai, $2,000, Florida Atlantic University
– Ashley Perry, $2,000, Florida Atlantic University
– Anjali Talwar, $2,000, Palm Beach Atlantic University
– Ruby Warner, $2,500, Palm Beach Atlantic University
– Ivelis Hernandez, $2,000, Keiser University
– Laurell Smith, $2,000, Keiser University
– Bycherlie Fieurand, $2,000, Palm Beach State College
– Dounia Cambas, $2,000, Palm Beach State College
– Trystin Schmick, $2,000, Keiser University
“A scholarship changed my life, so I know how important these programs are,” said Lindsey White, Chief Development Officer for luncheon sponsor Hanley Foundation. “I attended school out-of-state, and without the scholarship, my path would have been very different.”
Mark your calendar for these upcoming EWPBF events:
First week of January 2023 Nominations Open for 2023 Annual Women in Leadership Awards The highly distinguished Women in Leadership Awards are presented annually by Executive Women of the Palm Beaches in recognition of local women who have sustained outstanding accomplishments and displayed generosity of spirit, commitment to integrity and diversity, and genuine connectedness with others in the community. Women will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments within the realms of volunteer, private, non-profit and public sector service, and an Emerging Leader will also be recognized.
January 24, 2023 5:30 p.m. University of Florida Dean of Arts and Letters Onye P. Ozuzu Mounts Botanical Gardens
April 19, 2023 10:30 a.m. VIP reception; 12 p.m. Lunch Annual Women in Leadership Awards Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Empowering women to succeed and lead, the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit professional association that inspires integrity, equality and leadership in the workplace and community. To learn more, visit www.ewpb.org.
