Valentine’s Day is February 14 each year and observed in honor of the Feast of Saint Valentine. Who is this Saint Valentine and where did the customs come from?

The roots of Valentine’s Day stem from an ancient Roman fertility festival celebrated during February 13 - 15.  The present day Valentine’s holiday is a blending of ancient Roman and Christian traditions.  Shakespeare and Chaucer romanticized love in their writings.  Handmade paper cards with proclamations of love became “tokens du jour in the Middle Ages”.

February is considered the most romantic month of the year.  According to the Greeting Card Association 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards will exchanged.  Valentine’s Day falls second only to Christmas for highest number of cards…

5185 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Enjoy this perfect, Florida “winter” with a leisurely Saturday at the Boca Raton Green Market. The Boca Raton Green Market has been a staple, weekend event in southern Palm Beach County for 19 years now.

The market takes place at the southern “Monument Piazza” which is found at the Intersection of South Federal Highway and South East Mizner Boulevard in Boca Raton. The market opens bright and early at 8am and bustles on until 1pm every Saturday from November until May. With an abundance of locally sourced foods, goods, plants and products, the Boca Raton Market is the premier shopping destination for the best in south Florida harvests.

As the sounds of live music fill the air, guests of the market will find an incredible assortment of fresh cut and live…

3805 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Little known interesting facts about Florida are immense.  Of course, there are the well-known tidbits, such as Florida is known as the Sunshine State. It is the flattest state in the United States and has the longest coastline that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.  Orlando attracts more visitors because of their amusement parks than any other city with amusement park attractions, as well as other facts.

Many people think Florida is the furthest south state in the United States, but it is not, Hawaii is further south.

A team of researchers at the University of Florida, Gainesville, first developed Gatorade sports drink.   The unique combination of water, electrolytes and carbohydrates were developed to replenish student…

5960 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A rare North Atlantic right mother whale and calf appeared this week in the Sebastian Inlet and meandered into the mouth of the Indian River Lagoon.

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered species of large whales.  According to the World Wildlife Federation, there are approximately 500 whales and very little population growth even though seven decades of protection have been in place.  The whale is usually found along the Atlantic Coastline, primarily the United States and Canada.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been following the particular North Atlantic right whale for four years now.  They have named her “Clipper” for she has a missing section of her fluke. These whales migrate every year in…

5541 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

  

The hamburger has been around since the 19th century.  The mouthwatering creation has evolved since its creation and has become known as an iconic American food.   It originated as a hamburger sandwich consisting of ground steak placed between two slices of bread.  It was a brave step in the culinary world since the two ingredients, steak and bread, had been served alongside one another for hundreds of years.

Historians have varied opinions on who is credited with beef and bread roll sandwich. One version of the hamburger sandwich, and how it changed to the burger we all know and love, is in late 1800’s when a Texas café owner, Fletcher Davis, brought his perfected version of the hamburger to the 1904 St. Louis World Fair.

Around the same time…

8930 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Did you realize that Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest food consumption day for Americans?  The biggest day for Americans to overindulge is Thanksgiving!  Chicken wings and pizza are favorites, closely followed by potato chips/pretzels. That is enough chips to fill up 39 Boeing 747 airplanes!

More than 1.3 billion wings are expected to be consumed Super Bowl 50, according to the National Chicken Council.  Ranch dressing places blue cheese on the bench according to almost 60% of Americans to dip their wings.  Spectators, either at home, stadium or out and about will spend about $82.00 on food and team décor.

Super Bowl Sunday is also the second biggest day for barbequing/grilling falling second only to Fourth of July. Party hosts will serve…

3773 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Manatees, often called "sea cows," have captured the hearts of Floridians and visitors alike. These peaceful creatures are frequently spotted in Florida's warm waters during the winter months when they seek refuge in natural springs and power plant outflows. While it may be tempting to swim near, touch, or pet a manatee during an encounter, doing so raises critical legal and ethical questions. In this blog post, we’ll explore whether it is legal to touch a manatee in Florida, why these regulations exist, and how you can responsibly enjoy manatee encounters without harming them.

a manatee swimming near someone

A couple of years ago a Florida man posted pictures on Facebook of himself and his daughters playing with a baby manatee.  Sounds innocent enough, but according to the…

7022 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

Image courtesy of Palm Beach Magazine.

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority explained that the public installation of “The Swings: An Exercise in Musical Cooperation” will be the first stop on the East Coast installations tour of the United States.  The public swing installation is located on the 500 block of Clematis Street (between Quadrille Boulevard and Rosemary Avenue), West Palm Beach.   It is “an interactive display, which essentially acts as a giant musical instrument.”

The concept was created by the French Canadian design group Daily tous les jours. Originally referred to as “21 Swings” in Montreal, Canada.  The public installation in Montreal averaged 8,500 times per day in four years.

Each swing has a prerecorded…

5695 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


The Red Reef Park offers 67 acres of pristine, oceanfront preserve right in the heart of Boca Raton, Florida. The park offers residents and guests a breath of fresh air! There are no high-rises along the Red Reef beaches, so you really feel like you’re back to basics.

Things To Do In Red Reef Park

• Snorkeling: You won’t need a boat to get out to the reefs! Beautiful, tropical reefs are abundant here in Red Reef Park and you can swim to them from the beach! These rock and reef outcroppings are teaming with vibrant reef fish, sea fans, corals, turtles, eels and even dolphins.
• Swimming: Lifeguards are on duty year round at Red Reef from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm so you know you swim safely.
• Fishing: One of the most popular pastimes at the park is surf fishing.…

7010 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


A gleeful carousel, elaborate playground, beautiful park grounds and fun activities ignite the senses of locals at the Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton. If you haven’t taken your kids here yet, put it on your list!

This 132-acre, beautiful community center is the perfect place for the children of Boca Raton to have fun and learn all at the same time. Sugar Sand Park features a children’s Science Exploratorium, Willow Theater and the Field House, which has an indoor gymnasium. Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District were responsible for developing Sugar Sand Park and it has been operated by the city of Boca.  This place has been beloved by the children and families of Boca Raton for years and it will surely be a hit for years to come.

Athletic Facilities

The…

4248 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post