The city of Palm Beach Gardens is suitably named, as it is comprised of 30 percent flourishing greenery. Located seven miles north of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens is known for its excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities at the Gardens Mall, Downtown at the Gardens, and Legacy Place. Boating and fishing are plentiful, as are beautiful luxurious waterfront homes, some even sitting directly on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, if not the Intracoastal Waterway.

 

Florida conjures up images of luxurious palatial homes, palm trees swaying in warm breezes, sparkling swimming pools, expansive stretches of sandy beaches, and seas of boats moored in harbors. It’s where luxury living has been elevated to its limits.  Thinking of moving to South Florida in 2017, consider the hot forecast for real estate in 2017.

Expect a hot year for home sales in 2017, per recent forecasts from the National Association of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers’ Association, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and more.

NAR is predicting “existing-home sales to reach 6 million in 2017, higher than its 5.8 million forecast for this year. But other entities are even more bullish. MBA is predicting home sales to eclipse 6.5 million next year,…

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The Town of Jupiter is home to one of the few remaining dog friendly beaches in the State of Florida.  Jupiter is located north of Palm Beach and just south of Stuart, Florida.  Having “man’s best friend” allowed on the 2 and ½ mile stretch of beach is a privilege.  Well behaved dogs and their conscientious owners are always welcome on the beach.

Certain rules apply when you bring Fido to the beach.

  • While off-leash, let dogs run in uncrowded areas, giving no one reason to complain.
  • Don’t let dogs invade the space of or bathroom near other people or dogs uninvited.
  • Clean up after dogs with FJB dog bags, provided at every beach crossover, or bring your own bags.
  • Don’t bury poop or throw it in the dunes or water.  ‘Go’ at home before…

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Valentine's Day is a time of velvet hearts, chocolate sweets, romantic dinners, and love. It's not clear who the original Valentine was — there were several — but a saint's day with that name was established on the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar as early 1,500 years ago. There are indications that Valentine's Day may have originally been adopted in part to replace of the ancient pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia, which fell on February 13 to 15. By the time of Chaucer in the Middle Ages, the Valentine's Day had become associated with romantic love.

Many couples dream to go to Paris on their honeymoon or on Valentine's Day because the city is so well-known for its romantic walks along the Seine River, sidewalk cafe dining and the sparkling…

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Harbourside Place is a “premier downtown destination for shopping, dining, luxury hotel accommodations, entertainment and boating.” Harbourside is located at 200 North U.S. Highway One, Jupiter, Florida. Nestled along Jupiter’s Intracoastal Waterway, Harbourside Place expresses an informal, laid back vibe.

Take a stroll along the Jupiter Riverwalk and have a rest at the Harbourside Place Amphitheater. See why it’s the favorite place of many who visit. Harbourside is complete with delectable restaurants, specialty stores and the Wyndham Grand Jupiter Hotel. A focal point is the center’s waterfront amphitheater. The Amphitheater is the centerpiece for entertainment at Harbourside Place, boasting a canopied stage, interactive fountains, lawn seating…

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Now that the housing market has steadied after more than a decade of difficulties, this could be the perfect opportunity to invest in a home. It is said that South Florida is an earmarked real estate market and it’s driving the prices of real estate up. 

The Case-Shiller 20 City Index noted that home values rose 5.7%.  Leading economists think prices will continue to rise, at least in the interim. Nationally, Miami is considered one of the top 20 metropolitan cities with highest growth forecast.  Topping the list is another South Florida city, Tampa. 

The National Association of Realtors is forecasting a 4.4% increase in existing home prices and in 2017 an increase of 3.4%.  According to Miami Board of Realtors, “South Florida housing…

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Image Courtesy of Turtle Beach Construction.

One of the first things many South Florida homebuyers look at when purchasing a new home is the kitchen. The kitchen can "make or break" a home.  In the Palm Beaches, indoor/outdoor living is paramount and the kitchen is the most trafficked room in the house. An upgraded kitchen can make your home stand above others and make it irresistible. 

If considering a kitchen renovation, building a new home, or just an update to your existing decor, take a look at the current design trends for 2016. Some of the hottest trends in kitchens these days, according to Forbes Magazine,  include hardwood floors, transitional styling and white in the kitchen. As a general rule of thumb, spend between 6-10% of the total…

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Come out to Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens for a taste of Latin culture and flare for the Sabor y Vino Latin Food Festival. Explore different tastes of Hispanic cuisine. There will be everything from Spanish, Colombian, Mexican, Argentinian and Cuban delicacies. 

Total Wines and Pernod Ricard sponsor the Sabor y Vino Latin Festival, so the best of wine and spirits will be available for sale to compliment the Spanish tastes. Sabor y Vino will also be featuring authentic Latin music from the groups Mundo Latino Trio and DJ Caliche while the iBallroom Dance Team will be performing and teaching guests dances like the salsa, bachatta and merengue. 

Tickets to Sabor y Latino are available for presale at $40 and will be available at the gate…

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Photo Courtesy of Riviera Beach Maritime Academy

Palm Beach County divers have a new underwater landmark to discover. The new reef will honor a local three-time breast cancer survivor, Andrea Torrente. “Andrea's Reef”, a 60,000-pound mermaid honoring the valiant woman, has established a home just 3/4 miles east off the Lake Worth Inlet, submerged under 75 feet of water. The sculptures for the reef were deployed off Ocean Reef Park on Singer Island, August 11, 2016.

Thomas McDonald, sculptor, found the inspiration to model his mermaid after the local woman who has survived breast cancer. McDonald started work on his commissioned sculpture during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October. He said in a release, "I work at a women's health…

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On August 20th at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens will be the 5th Annual Loggerhead Marine Life Day. Enjoy interactive exhibits and demonstrations about your favorite sea creatures on this fun and educational afternoon. 

Marine Life Day is an all day event full of learning exhibits, games and lectures open to all who love turtles and sea life. The scientists at Loggerhead Marine Life Center (LMC) will give the lectures and open conversations and there will even be a special appearance by LMC’s beloved mascot, Fletch the turtle. This event is open to the public, welcomes people of all ages and is free of charge. Also, the Gardens Mall will donate a percentage of the day's total, logged shopping receipts to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. For…

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Most people associate learning with formal education at school, college, university etc.  We are all told, from an early age, that we should ‘get a good education’.  However, ‘schooling’ is only one type of learning. There are many opportunities to further your knowledge you will need throughout life.  There is no age limit on learning.  Lifelong learning can enhance ones understanding of the world around us, provide additional and enhanced opportunities and improve our quality of life.

Florida Atlantic University  Lifelong Learning Society is “dedicated to enriching the intellectual and social lives of adult learners by offering stimulating educational opportunities, taught by outstanding university faculty and guest lecturers, designed to…

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