CLEMATIS BY NIGHT
Free Weekly Concert Series
Every Thursday; 6-9 p.m. FREE
West Palm Beach Waterfront
West Palm’s favorite Thursday night tradition proves why it has been the “hot spot to chill” for more than 20 years. During Clematis by Night, guests will enjoy live music, food and drink specials and the hottest local social scene, creating an unmatched seaside happy hour setting. For more information, please visit Wpb.org/events or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB, on Twitter @westpalmbch or on Instagram @westpalmbch.
• Thursday, April 5: Maggie Baugh (Country)| https://www.maggiebaugh.com/home
Calling all country music fans… come down to Clematis by Night to see a live performance featuring multi-instrumentalist and singer Maggie Baugh, a young, South Florida-based county music sensation. Just shy of 18-years-old, Baugh is already a Nashville Recording artist, singer/songwriter, guitar player and dynamic fiddle player. She has shared the stage with performers like Ashley Monroe, Taylor Hicks, Drew Baldridge, Josh Dorr, and Radio Romance, and even played the fiddle during live performances of “Devil Went Down to Georgia” alongside Charlie Daniels.
• Thursday, April 12: Chillakaya (Reggae) | www.Islandstylechilla1.com
With a combination of island-style music and upbeat dancehall, reggae band Chillakaya will be jammin’ at this Clematis by Night. From an early age, vocalist and founder Kemwa was influenced by the culture and reggae community in his hometown, the beautiful island of Antigua. Guests will feel the rich blend of music and creative vibes through Chillakaya’s powerful words and instruments. Spring has sprung, and the sun is shining, so come on down!
• Thursday, April 19: Riverdown (Rock) | http://www.riverdown.com/
Established in 2002 and hailing from South Florida, Riverdown is an explosive and versatile live cover rock band. Boasting a constantly expanding repertoire of more than 500 songs, spanning six decades, the band includes four skilled lead singers and the ability to perform unplugged or electric. Each Riverdown show is fresh and full of surprises. The band will take Waterfront guests on a rock and roll ride, starting with a peaceful journey down “Seven Bridges Road” and ending with an electrifying trip on the “Highway to Hell.”
• Thursday, April 26: Greye (Indie/Rock) | https://greyemusic.com/
The world isn’t black and white, but many shades of Greye! Guests with all interests are invited to hear this group’s ever-growing discography, which boasts something for everyone. Since its inception in 2012, the band Greye has rocked crowds both locally and nationwide. Now, they will captivate West Palm Beach visitors and locals with a fusion of many different genres that they call “Progressive Indie.” The band draws influence and inspiration from John Butler Trio, Yes, Kansas, Ambrosia, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and even video games.
Friday, April 13, 2018
“Spider-Man: Homecoming in 3D” (PG-13)
7 – 11 p.m. FREE
7:00 PM Kids Activities on the Great Lawn
While this month’s feature film might provide an optical illusion, for which 3D glasses will be provided, Spider-Man himself will really be at April’s Screen on the Green. Families are encouraged to head to the Waterfront early to enjoy a web of entertainment, including a chance to interact with a Spider-Man character and a make-and-take creative craft by sponsor Rhythm & Hues.
8:00 PM Spider-Man: Homecoming (PG-13) Movie (3D glasses provided)
A young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.
Outdoor movie watching has never been more inviting than on the West Palm Beach Waterfront. Monthly, on the second Friday of the month, the City of West Palm Beach turns the Great Lawn into an open-air theater – movie and included views of the stars and sea are both FREE. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and snuggle up for featured films – including newly released hits and throwback favorites. After hours, please call 561-822-2222 for information on event cancellations.
Sunday, April 15, 2017
4 – 7 p.m. FREE | Meyer Amphitheatre, 105 Evernia St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
U2 by UV (Tribute to U2) | http://u2byuv.com/
U2 by UV is one of the most exciting and authentic bands on the tribute scene. With a singer whose physical appearance and vocal resemblance to Bono astounds the crowd, this Palm Beach Post Sunday on the Waterfront will make guests feel like they are at a live U2 concert. The experience is unparalleled and authentic, as the band performs the Irish rock band’s hits and classics, including “With or Without you,” “One,” “Vertigo,” “Desire,” and more!
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to this outdoor event. For more information, please visit Wpb.org/events or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB, on Twitter @westpalmbch or on Instagram @westpalmbch.
WHAT: The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) continues the successful 2018 “Science Meets Music” series by featuring world-renowned scientists and musicians. “Science Meets Music” aims to bring the community together for a night of virtuosic music and scientific discovery, offering guests an innovative and creative program featuring a scientific lecture accompanied by a classical music performance.
WHO: Dr. Jason Christie, Research Group Leader for Cerebellar Circuit Function at MPFI, will discuss how motor errors produce signals in the brain that affect movement, with his presentation entitled “Muscle Memory: Improving Motor Performance by Training the Brain.” This insight into the basic understanding of brain function bodes well for human health and may one day allow for new therapies that can help overcome the debilitating effects of motor impairment.
Following Dr. Christie’s presentation, enjoy a musical performance by the phenomenal pianist Dr. Sofiya Uryvayeva Martin. Dr. Martin has performed with great success around the world and earned both master’s and doctorate degrees in piano performance. In 2017, she became an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. By popular demand, Dr. Martin is returning to the ‘Science Meets Music’ Series. Last season, she captivated guests with her beauty, talent, and artistry — a performance like no other.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Doors open at 6 PM, science and music presentation will begin at 6:15 PM
Additional presentations will be held on:
• April 18, 2018 – Dr. Manfred Gahr, Director, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
WHERE: The Benjamin Upper School; 4875 Grandiflora Road; Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
HOW MUCH: Free admission; seating is limited, so RSVP is required
MORE INFO: RSVP at http://mpfi.org/rsvpsmm or call 561-972-9027 for more information
WHY:
“To my knowledge, there is nothing else like our Science Meets Music program – not in La Jolla, not in Silicon Valley and not in the northeast. This program offers a unique opportunity to explore similarities between the awe-inspiring attributes of both science and music while learning more about how scientists and musicians alike are breaking toward new frontiers.”
– said Dr. David Fitzpatrick, MPFI CEO and Scientific Director, when welcoming the crowd at the first SMM in the 2016 – 2017 season
About the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), a not-for-profit research organization, is part of the world-renowned Max Planck Society, Germany’s most successful research organization with over 80 institutes worldwide. Since its establishment in 1948, 18 Nobel laureates have emerged from the ranks of its scientists. It has produced over 15,000 publications, more than 3,000 inventions and over 90 spin-off companies, putting it on par with the best and most prestigious research institutions in the world. As its first U.S. institution, MPFI brings together exceptional neuroscientists from around the world to answer fundamental questions about brain development and function and to develop new technologies that make groundbreaking scientific discoveries possible. Their research is shared publicly with scholars, universities and other organizations around the globe, providing the necessary foundation of knowledge to develop treatments and cures for brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, visit www.maxplanckflorida.org.
That’s Dancing Celebrates 20 Years and Continues to Grow
By Krista Martinelli
Sisters Andrea LaMaina and Michele Walsh started off with a small 1200-square-foot studio twenty years ago. Today they run a booming business of dance classes with over 800 students in a 10,000-square-foot dance studio at the corner of Jog and Lantana Road in Lake Worth. Their dream, That’s Dancing, has flourished, incorporating some of the most accomplished dance instructors around, winning many accolades and teaching all levels of students from 3 years old to adults.
That’s Dancing in Lake Worth, FL celebrates 20 years.
This year’s gala will be their 20th dance gala, complete with five shows spanning over a weekend in June. They will be handing out awards for those who have danced with That’s Dancing for 5, 10, and 15 years. They will be awarding one special honor to an adult who has danced with That’s Dancing for 20 years.
While managing this many schedules and choreographing so many dances can be exhausting, the sisters look back and love seeing the progress that individual dancers have made. “It’s amazing to see the accolades from the alumni that come back to us,” says Walsh. “It’s heartening to read the Facebook comments like ‘you affected my life in a positive way,’” says LaMaina. “We’ve dedicated our lives to this community and put in a lot of hours here.”
I asked what things were like when they started off in the first year. At first it was just Andrea LaMaina with two part-time dance instructors. Enrollment was about 80 students. The sisters moved down from New Jersey to start this new venture. LaMaina wondered, “What the heck did we do?” sometimes second-guessing her judgment on starting up a dance studio. LaMaina, just 24 years old at the time, was in some ways ahead of the game. “We had a website when no other local dance studios did,” she recalls.
According to Walsh, their “word of mouth” advertising was good and has always been good. After five years, they expanded to a 3,000-square-foot space. They had maxed out their space with over 300 students. They got “super-organized” with their mother as the office manager. And That’s Dancing moved into their current large space as they entered their sixth year of business.
Even with rapid growth, one thing has remained the same. “We have a family atmosphere. And our faculty has very little turnover,” says LaMaina. “We’re so lucky because we have each other,” says LaMaina about her sister. “We’re good at different things, so it works well,” says Walsh in response.
Some of their dance teachers began as young dancers with That’s Dancing. For example, instructor Jessica Pearl was a dancer with That’s Dancing at age 12. Nicole Smith began with That’s Dancing when she was 10 years old. Both danced in the dance company Fusion Force (with That’s Dancing). Both attended college for dance education and returned to teach at That’s Dancing.
What is dance like for their youngest of students? Even a 3-year-old can participate in creative movement explain the two sisters. “We like to keep it fun yet structured,” says LaMaina. They take a combination ballet/tap/creative movement class. “We focus on their successes. All kids learn in different ways,” says Walsh.
Is it becoming cool for boys to go to dance classes? According to LaMaina, ten percent of their Fusion Force dance company is boys, which is very high compared with other dance studios. “We are seeing boys who are achieving a very high level of dance. And it’s considered cool,” she says. Instead of the feeling of Billy Elliot, when a boy dancer was considered an anomaly, the boy dancers are taking the stage proudly and excelling at That’s Dancing.
Another unique thing about That’s Dancing is that they host the So Fla Tap Fest each year, a festival created by Andrea LaMaina, who happens to love tap. “She felt a need for it in this area,” says Walsh. The tap festival has also helped to bring dancers together from different dance studios and break down the barriers among different studios. “At the end of the day, we’re all dancers – learning, sharing and growing,” says LaMaina. Now instead of not knowing each other at regional competitions, they are cheering for each other.
“Tap has always been my thing,” says LaMaina. “It’s really being a musician.”
LaMaina cautions people that dance is not as glamorous as it looks. “A lot of hard work, sweat and tears go into it. There are thousands of hours of training,” she says. I asked what the key is for success among their most accomplished dancers. “What they have in common is their own passion and self-motivation,” says Walsh. “All of our most successful dancers have that.” LaMaina adds that the most successful dancers have a love for dance. “It’s a need, not a want. They are true athletes.”
At That’s Dancing, they currently have students who hold the national titles for Junior Mister Dance Educator’s of America and Teen Mister Dance Educator’s of America. A lot of That’s Dancing students go on to dance on their college dance teams and major in dance at universities.
This year will mark their 20th dance gala, a major 3-day event with five shows, including over 800 students. “We’re constantly planning for it,” the sisters explain. The Monday after that weekend, we feel “used up, tired and proud,” laughs Walsh. All the preparation and the great team around us make it successful, they explain. It’s exciting for LaMaina and Walsh to hand out the 15-year awards because that means that the dancers started with them at age 3. The dance gala is ultimately very rewarding because it brings all the elements together, the choreography, the hard work and the persistence of some of their most dedicated dance students.
Because they are so busy with organizing, teaching and putting on the shows, the “twenty years has been like a blink,” says Walsh. Both sisters want to thank their mother for continuously helping them in running the business.
To sign up for dance classes, call (561) 642-9677 or visit their website at ThatsDancing.com. In addition to many different kinds of dance classes offered year round, they also offer dance camps and dance intensives in the summer. Sign up and find out why That’s Dancing continues to flourish in the competitive world of dance studios.
We are pleased to have Real-Life married sweethearts Frannie and Dani, who are also Dessert Critics appropriately called ‘The Sweethearts’, add a little sweetness to Around Wellington with their playful, yummy weekly 3-5 minute dessert video reviews.
Their online dessert critiques have been transformed into a Reality Food Show/Sitcom called ‘SWEETHEARTS’, now in development with 2-A-Listers attached. More info viewable at https://www.franniesheridan.com/
Most of us would agree that snacking on various flavors of rugelach makes people happy, Jewish or not—even some animals are known to appreciate it. For example, apricot rugelach has a bizarre effect on my parrot, Poopsie; after being fed, Poopsie impersonates my Aunt Saydie so convincingly, not only does she perform a seamless rendition of Hava Nagila in my aunt’s exact voice but then Poopsie heads to a nearby restaurant and complains about the service.
A good chocolate rugelach holds little-known romantic properties. The highly touted dessert has even been known to keep marriages together. The Rumpleschmitts of Blupenville, Idaho included the following vow in their marriage nuptials: “I, Fred, take you, Bertrina, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to share every single dessert together with you and to hold you even when you are bloated, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” But in March 1911 when Bertrina secretly watched as her husband ordered a dozen chocolate rugelach’s at a deli and then ate them all, the betrayal was too painful to take. For months she pretended she hadn’t witnessed this act of extreme dessert treachery. But her resentment built.
One day she saw Fred devour a slice of chewy, warm pecan pie which she had just baked. She blurted, “How can you live with yourself, you pastry floozie?!”
Fred was rendered speechless, partly due to the fact that he had taken such a big bite of pie that a pecan was stuck smack dab in between his two front incisors. Bertrina continued to rail against him for being the loathsome dessert adulterer that he was. And, as an act of contrition, she demanded he provide her with a weekly staple of assorted rugelach.
She added, “And one more thing you rugelach rascal; you better bake them from scratch or you and your love handles can scratch this marriage bye-bye!”
Happily, the Rumpleschmitts marriage became evermore solid as did their bottoms. They also opened a hybrid ‘wedding chapel and bakery’ which promotes their baked goods vow.
Rugelach has a colorful history. And even a so-called “bad” rugelach has practical application. If enough lard is included in the ingredients, a stale one can be efficaciously implemented as a doorstopper, paper weight or even as a form of artillery–say if your neighbor’s dog repeatedly uses your lawn as a latrine. (*the author will not be held responsible for legal bills)
This versatile dessert has given us much to chew on, but shockingly rugelach has a bad name in certain parts of the world. Mrs. Pearl Buttonschnapps-stein grew up in a remote village in Alaska. The population relied on an aircraft to carry goods from the big city. For the first ten years of her life it was inoperable. Her family was forced to subsist on raisin rugelach which they had bought vats of before relocating from Florida, as it was on sale at Costo. Driven insane by raisins, her mother molded the rugelach into the shape of a chicken and occasionally if they put on a Frank Sinatra record, spaghetti and meatballs.
Today, the trauma of her childhood has not dissipated. If Mrs. Buttonschnapps gets a whiff of rugelach she has a flashback and hallucinates that the person nearest to her is a chicken and automatically pours bar-b-que sauce on them (she always carries a flask in her purse) then attempts to bite them.
Still, rugelach maintains a generally good name. We offer a variety of choices below:
Rugelach-Free Rugelach is available for those who prefer a highball, but that’s another story.
In the meantime, please watch this VERY short video clip (above) of my darling husband Dani and I who are dessert critics (we call ourselves SWEETHEARTS for obvious reasons) as we over-eat rugelach at fabulous Starz Bakery located at The Palm Beach Gardens Green Market. Please Comment. All comments are read and brought to our therapist. Thank you for helping with our “pastry healing.”
All during the school year most parents are running around with their kids and just trying to keep up with their schedule.
What would we do without our beloved coffee?
I am not going to say that I don’t drink it, but I am mindful of its effect. They say it makes you smarter, hmm, “what was I saying?”
Before we know it, another school year will have passed and then our lazy days of summer will be here. Is there such a thing anymore?
Ever notice how the more technology we have the more exhausted we become. What was supposed to make life easier is only making us feel more frazzled.
How do we stay rooted in all this madness?
For one thing we don’t need more coffee or stimulants, what we need is the opposite. We need to practice mindfulness. Teaching yourself to tune into what you are doing, thinking, feeling and all that surrounds you. Then you may actually be able to remember what you did at the end of the day.
Take quiet time in the mornings to think about your day. If you don’t want to commit to traditional meditation try just taking a few minutes to let your body settle and your mind to quite.
Just as a lake is clear when the water is still, you can see the bottom, but once stirred you can no longer see anything, this is how your mind works.
Try to still the water by taking a few deep breaths and allow yourself to settle in silence. You will be able to see things clearer with your heart and mind stilled, your intuitive sense heightens and you will feel clear and confident.
Practice mindfulness in what you eat and how you eat. Try being grateful for your food, chewing slowly and thoroughly, sitting in a calm atmosphere and allowing yourself the pleasure of enjoying what you eat.
Concentrate on eating whole foods, stay away from processed foods, artificial sweeteners, caffeine (there’s that coffee again), sugar, and of coarse alcohol and tobacco. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and drink plenty of water.
Cooking for yourself you have control over the ingredients as opposed to eating out, stay mindful of freshness while keeping ingredients organic to eliminate adding toxins to your body.
Developing a good exercise routine is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to yourself. If you haven’t already tried yoga do so. It is the only form of exercise that massages your internal organs, works your body and helps to calm your mind all at the same time. How’s that for a time saver?
Whatever you do as we approach the summer season make it feel good, keeping most meals clean and healthy but always allow for the occasional splurge. Life is best when lived fully.
Wellington Debate Senior Recognized for Volunteerism
Wellington, FL
March 8, 2018
Wellington Speech and Debate’s Brandon Schloss was recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association as the recipient of its 2018 Exemplary Student Service Award.
Schloss was a unanimous choice by a committee of past NSDA “Student of the Year” honorees, who took into account his hundreds of hours as a regional, state, and national anti-bullying spokesman. He was selected by Stomp Out Bullying (the leading national bullying and cyberbullying prevention organization) to speak at schools, at events, in the community, to the media, and raise awareness through social media about bullying and cyberbullying prevention. Mr. Schloss has accumulated in excess of 400 community service hours speaking to students at schools, after-care programs, camps and mall events the past 3 years. He has also been active with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Gang Prevention Unit since 2014, where he coordinates and speaks to elementary school and after care programs about youth violence and bullying. As part of this venture, Brandon has worked with the Palm Beach County School District, Children Services Council, and the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County in organizing and speaking at schools and camps.
All of this began after Schloss wrote an essay for the National Campaign to Stop Violence which included his reflections after reading a news story about an area 15-year-old charged with first-degree murder over a bicycle. He was honored to be selected as an ambassador for Palm Beach County and meet with other youth ambassadors from around the country in Washington D.C., where he met teens from across the nation who had been directly impacted by gang violence, ranging from friends’ suicide due to bullying, to living in foster homes due to gang-related drug trafficking, to family deaths via stray bullets.
Through the Do The Write Thing competition, Schloss was challenged to express himself in words. After leaving Washington, D.C., he challenged himself to go beyond the words. He realized he had a responsibility to serve the community by working for positive change and improving the lives of others. This epiphany was not a calling to seek a specific career path, but rather an understanding that being a true leader is not a role, but a responsibility. Leadership, he told me, is practiced not so much in words as in one’s character and actions. With that in mind, he contacted schools and volunteered to speak with students about the impact of violence and bullying.
The past four years, Brandon has spoken to hundreds of children at schools, after-care programs, summer camps, and in mall events. Whether speaking on behalf of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Gang Prevention Unit or the Stomp Out Bullying organization, as one of their national teen ambassadors, his message is simple and clear: “Imagine standing in someone else’s shoes; how would that make you feel?” This simple but profound message of empathy now guides his relationship with others and is a foundation of his character.
Health and Fitness
