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Welcome to Grandview Gardens Concierge, a Restaurant & Event Blog for the Palm Beaches! We welcome over 1000 guests annually to the Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast and Vacation Homes Resort. As is typical for a B & B, we only serve breakfast. For lunch and dinner, we send guests to all types of restaurants around the area for every imaginable occasion. When we're serving breakfast in the morning, we hear about the escapades and adventures from the night before... especially about the restaurants where everybody ate. As a result, our friends and neighbors regularly ask advice about the current "ins and outs" of the local restaurant and party scene. So Rick, Peter and Jan have put together a "short list" of our most often recommended restaurants, which you'll find in the side bar. You will notice that most of our recommendations are for West Palm Beach and Palm Beach, but we do have a few favorite restaurants included in neighboring cities and towns. In addition to the short list, we'll occasionally be posting blog articles about restaurants and local events which could be of interest to visitors and locals alike. If you become a "Fan" of the Grandview Gardens Facebook Page, you'll automatically get a notice when we post an article. Enjoy!
The 17th Annual FOTOfusion begins today and brings together 85 of the world’s top photography experts. The landmark international photography festival, which runs through Saturday, is not just for professionals. For example, professional photographer Ross Whitaker will help attendees avoid mistakes made by most amateurs when photographing families, including kids and grandkids. Whitaker is just one of the experts involved in some 130 classes, computer training sessions, lectures, panels and photo field trips throughout the event. Among other participants: James K. Colton, photography editor of Sports Illustrated; Dennis Dimick, executive editor for the environment at National Geographic magazine; and Arnold H. Drapkin, whose 10 year stint at Time magazine garnered more than 200 awards of excellence.
There will be gallery walks, book signings, portfolio reviews and history lessons. Julie Adair King, author of Digital Photography for Dummies, will conduct a community presentation on Friday focusing on how to get the best digital camera for your money.
Dan Burkholder, who developed a creative form of prints that involves platinum and palladium over gold leaf, will tell how the five year old iPhone already has evolved into a serious creative tool.
For a complete overview of the FOTOfusion program, including prices, click HERE.
This week marks the beginning of the Art & Antique Season in the Palm Beaches. In addition to fine art and antiques, there are shows, exhibitions and auctions for jewelry, luxury automobiles, fine crafts, exotic collectibles, boats, yachts and home improvement. The area’s top museums and cultural venues, such as The Norton Museum of Art and The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts also have major shows going on during this period, the so called “Season” in Palm Beach. The Palm Beach area offers one of the highest concentrations of luxury goods and cultural events in the country during “The Season” when hotels run at 90 – 100% occupancy. So if you want to visit during the most beautiful time of the year, make your reservations quickly! The pace of events, activities and shows during this time of the year is challenging even for the most experienced Palm Beach loyalist. Grandview Gardens Concierge will periodically highlight the most important events going on to help everybody stay informed.
This week from January 20 – 23, ArtPalmBeach celebrates its 15th Anniversary in West Palm Beach at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. In honor of the Anniversary celebration, the fair will debut the most extensive program in its history by encompassing premiere events, special exhibitions, topical lectures, special museum tours, site specific art installations, art performances and exclusive VIP programs. The fair is comprised of over seventy international galleries presenting works of all forms of contemporary art including painting, sculpture, photography, design, fine art glass, video and installations from modern art to new cutting-edge artists. For more information click here.
Also this week, the Norton Museum of Art premiered a major new installation by renowned contemporary artist Beth Lipman. The artist was inspired by the Museum’s collection of Old Master still life paintings, so the Norton-commissioned piece has been installed in the center of the Museum’s European galleries. In her extravagant, blown glass sculptures, Lipman re-interprets the historical preoccupations with death and decay, over-consumption, and the sumptuousness of life as represented in 17th and 18th century European still-life paintings. Ms. Lipman will be present at the museum tomorrow, Thursday, for the Norton’s weekly Art After Dark program which runs from 5 – 9 pm. Cafe 1451 will be offering food and a happy hour , which should make for a fun evening at The Norton!
Grandview Gardens is already full for these events, but we do have passes for ArtPalmBeach, so if you need one, please feel free to pick one up.
Locals and visitors alike have a wide variety of choices for New Years Eve in and around West Palm Beach to ring in 2012. Numerous restaurants, bars and hotels are offering special packages ranging from early evening dinners to late night bashes complete with champagne, live music and party favors. Party packages can be found for every budget. Here are a few highlights:
West Palm Beach - Hosting the biggest celebration for New Years in the area, there will be fireworks at midnight out over the water in front of the Waterfront Park at the East end of Clematis. Many restaurants and bars will be offering special New Years Eve packages on and around Clematis Street. Here is an overview:
Pistache: 101 N. Clematis St. – This is our top recommendation for New Years in West Palm Beach. $145/person.Special prix-fixe, five-course dinner for two paired with a bottle of Champagne Gosset. For more information, all (561) 833-5090 or click on the link to their website above.
Feelgood’s Rock Bar & Lost Weekend: 219 Clematis St. – $20 cover. Top 40 and Dance music downstairs, “90s Prom Party” Tribute Upstairs. Access to both venues, complimentary cocktails from 8-10pm, party favors and free champagne toast at midnight. For premium packages, VIP table reservations or more information, visit feelgoodswestpalm.com or call (561) 833-5987.
E.R. Bradley’s: 104 Clematis St. – Special dinner menu. For details and reservations, call (561) 833-3520.
Gratify American Gastro Pub: 125 Datura St. – New Year’s Eve party starting at 10 p.m. For $60, the evening includes an open bar, dessert bar, party favors and complimentary champagne. To reserve a spot, call (561) 833-5300.
O’Shea’s: 531 Clematis St. – live entertainment at a New Year’s Eve party inside and on the courtyard. For more information, call (561) 833-3865.
Reef Road Rum Bar and Restaurant: 223 Clematis St. – Live entertainment by Spred the Dub and drink specials on Imperial bottles and Pinnacle Vodka or Sailor Jerry’s cocktails. For reservations, call (561) 838-9099.
Roxy’s Pub: 309 Clematis St. – Specials on the rooftop in honor of New Year’s Eve, complete with party favors and a view of the fireworks show at midnight. Guests can book a private cabana for $600, which includes the cover charge for six people, one bottle of Three Olives Vodka, one bottle of champagne, booth reservations from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., and gratuity. For table reservations, call (561) 296-7699. Reservations are not needed to enjoy the rooftop, and there is no cover charge for downstairs entry.
Palm Beach - All of the hotels and top name restaurants are offering special New Years Eve packages fitting for America’s First (and most luxurious) Resort Destination. Here are a few highlights:
The Breakers Hotel is offering 3 different options at different price levels. The most upscale exclusive New Years Eve party in the area will be the Fantasy Ball at $ 350 per person ($ 375 for non hotel guests) starting at 7:30, staged by Design Studio with entertainment by the Zanadu performers and Powerhaus, with an open bar, raw bar and hors d’oeuvres stations, followed by a four course dinner. After a midnight champagne toast with party favors, a breakfast buffet will be served. Call 561-655-6611 for more information or click on the link to their website above.
The Colony Hotel - If you can still get a ticket, Mary Wilson will be performing at the Royal Room Cabaret for $ 200 per person, including an open bar, 4 course dinner, dancing, midnight champagne toast and a poolside breakfast buffet. There is also a $ 150 package at the Polo Steaks & Seasfood restaurant with a deejay. Call 561-655-5430 or click on the link above for more information.
Cucina dell’Arte- This will be one of the most popular places on the island. More casual than the other choices (but still casual chic), Cucina is offering a 5 course menu for $ 115. At around 11:00pm, the tables will be moved and then let the party begin (no cover)! 257 Royal Poinciana Way. Call 561-655-0770 or click on the link above fore more information.
At the time of posting this article, Grandview Gardens had 1 room available for New Years Eve weekend at $ 189 per room per night including breakfast, free bicycle use and complimentary wifi (2 night minimum stay).
In conjunction with Clematis by Night, the general public is invited to attend a FREE preview performance of Ringling Brother’s Barnum and Bailey Circus on the West Palm Beach Waterfront at 7PM on Thursday. RBBB is introducing a brand new nationwide show, the Barnum Bash, and premiering it in West Palm Beach. This ALL-NEW LIVE, FREE event features star performers and a host of amazing acts! See Dimitri the Strongman, the dynamic Duo Fusion hand balancers, a clever clique of canines who twist, flip and jam inside the circus ring, Anton an eccentric comedian along with party clown DJ Dean. The circus elephants will also be on the Great Lawn One night only, Thursday Dec.22 at 7PM. A live concert follows the show.
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