Not only does the Sunshine State top lists including “Best Beaches,” “Best Vacation Destination” and top charts for some of the finest real estate in the nation it is ranked as one of the “Best States to Retire In. 

Ranked among the “Top Ten Best States” to retire to by TopRetirements.com, and with several of its cities named as the “Best Cities to Retire To” by the famed Market Watch Report, Florida has a long list of qualities that verify why its topping charts across the board. 

A popular reason it places high on these lists is that Florida has no income tax and there is property tax protection for its full-time residents. Acclaimed by MarketWatch.com, “Florida has dozens and dozens of nice towns and cities.” In the United States, south…

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What South Florida iconic restaurant made the “essential” U.S. restaurant list of Eater.com?  Bern’s Steak House, the extravagant south Tampa palace of premium beef and fine wines that was established more than 50 years ago by restauranteur Bern Laxer, is legendary for an outstanding wine cellar, taste and presentation that it is one of the country’s top steakhouses.  

Bern's Steak House, which opened in 1956, quickly grew into a major Florida attraction. In season and on a busy night, it can draw 1,000 customers. The huge menu offers three pages of steak choices -- 16 cuts of steak and 50 ways to prepare them. Three 1,200-gallon tanks in the kitchen each hold 650 pounds of live local fish. At least 20 kinds of caviar are available. The 179-page wine…

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Who can say they are not aware of the American icon, Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel, and his well-known children books?  For over 60 years, familiar titles like “Cat in the Hat”, “Green Eggs, and Ham” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” have been American literary classics.  Past generations (and generations yet to come) have enjoyed the well-read books.

Valerie Jackson, owner of the Ann Jackson Gallery of Atlanta, GA, has collaborated with The Gardens Mall and is proud to announce the public art installation of “The Art of Dr. Seuss”.  The museum quality exhibit features selections of artwork and sculptures.  It will be on display at The Gardens Mall, January 17, 2016 through February 14, 2016 for your viewing pleasure. 

The “Art of Dr. Seuss” is an…

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South Florida is known for its abundances in real estate.  Gorgeous residences on the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal waterways and other waterfront properties, including elegant country club/golf course communities and stunning equine communities are plentiful. Many are exclusive private, members-only clubs and communities.  Rarely are the “gates” to these elaborate communities open to the public.

You do not have to be a royal or a handsome model to enjoy the sport of polo these days.  Head on out to Wellington and the polo grounds and enjoy a fanciful day of preeminent polo on the circuit!

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is a private club, with members-only privileges.  During Polo season (January – April) the matches are open to the…

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Best of Palm Beach County’s Green Markets 2016

If you love fresh flowers, produce, and artisan foods then you are thrilled with the peak of "green market" season!  Locals buy local organic fruits and vegetables from various farmers markets in the area. The fresh markets run weekly during the “green market” season and offer a host of family fun with some dynamic locales on the waterfront, featuring food trucks, baked goods and plenty of sampling.

The largest and oldest green market in the area is along the waterfront in West Palm Beach.  Saturday’s at the West Palm Beach Green Market are bustling mornings.  Between 9:00am – 1:00pm, Downtown West Palm Beach is pulsating with activity with over 70 vendors of locally owned crops, specialty products…

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Photo Credit David Abernathy.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park just north of Jupiter, in Hobe Sound, is a natural wildlife park worthy of exploring with the entire family.  The park offers two full facility campgrounds and a youth/group simple campground.  The park itself rests several miles off the coastal shores of South Florida.  Almost 11,500 acres of land and Loxahatchee River host thirteen ecological communities from swamps to pine flatwoods, a “biological community so rare it is designated “globally imperiled”.

The park offers incredible views from a 124-foot observation tower overlooking the forest, the Intracoastal Waterway and the sparkling blue Atlantic Ocean. 

Running through the park is the Loxahatchee River.  Loxahatchee means…

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The Palm Beach Opera season will begin mid-January and end in early April on Mainstage Opera at the Kravis Center, West Palm Beach.  Opening night, January 22, 2016, at the Opera: "Carmen!"

Opening night is promised to be a VIP experience for all in attendance.  Enjoy pre-performance cocktails and tapas.  Then enjoy the world class opening performance of Bizet's "Carmen!" Post performance wraps with a mix and mingle with ensemble while enjoying a decadent dessert buffet.

On the calendar for the 2016 season, is "Goyescas" by Enrique Granados.  This is part of the series, "One Opera in One Hour".  "Goyescas" tells the lively story of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya and a torrid romance and the dangers of Madrid in the 1800's. Other opera…

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NOAA Fisheries Announces New Regulations for Dolphin, Wahoo and Snapper Grouper. Bottom line, you need to leave skin on your fillets when bringing fish back to Florida from the Bahamas.  The final rule implementing Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic and Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Dolphin, Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper-Grouper Amendment 33) published on December 28, 2015 (80 FR 80686). Regulations will be effective on January 27, 2016.

The fishery management measures in Dolphin, Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper-Grouper Amendment 33 address dolphin, wahoo, and snapper-grouper species lawfully harvested by recreational…

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A new, healthy, fast, casual food chain called Freshii is coming to the Jupiter area.  A local chef and former "Food Network" contestant, Josh Lyons, will open the franchise. 

The ultra-healthy Toronto-based fast food chain has about 200 locations, but the only other store in South Florida is located in Miami. Today, there are Freshii locations in over 75+ cities and 15 countries worldwide.

Everything you take from the store biodegrades naturally to the earth or is easily recyclable. They will shake  your meal in a biodegradable bag and produce 5 to 7 times less of a carbon footprint than running even the most energy efficient dishwasher.  Most of Freshii packaging is made from eco-friendly vegetable starches. Amazingly, it biodegrades quickly,…

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Graphic image courtesy of HB Smart Home Technology.

With so much emphasis on an eco-friendly living environment, as well as leaving a smaller carbon footprint on our planet, many new homeowners are incorporating "smart home" technology into their new residences. A "smart home" is one that is equiped with special structured wiring which provides its homeowners with energy effciency, security, comfort and convenience knowing that all occupants may remotely access an automated home program whether you're near the home or not.

"Smart Home" is the term commonly used to define a residence that has appliances, lighting, heating, air conditioning, TVs, computers, entertainment, audio & video systems, security, and camera systems that are capable of…

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