February 25th, 2012

What’s Going On? Delray Beach, Florida, Activities, Events, Village by the Sea, Palm Beach County

Good Morning Delray.  Cloudy or sunny in South Florida?  Does not matter because the following events and activities can be enjoyed in most any kind of weather.

If you are awake, grab your cup of coffee and head out to downtown Delray Beach.  On Atlantic Avenue you will find this morning from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Delray Beach GreenMarket.  This Market is part of the Community Redevelopment Agency.  The resurgence of farmers markets offering homegrown produce, baked goods, flowers, and even music is a great way to start the morning.   The GreenMarket is right on this Village by the Sea, south of Atlantic on SE 4th Ave.  Can’t miss it.  Easy parking at this time of the morning. 

After strolling the GreenMarket go east on Atlantic and stop just short of the Intracoastal Bridge, at Veterans Park.  There, you will find Artists in the Park, presented by the Delray Art League.  Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

Artists in the Park has been in the community for 47 years.  It is South Florida’s longest running outdoor fine art show and sale.  There is plenty of parking available. 

And, since you are there, already, and probably exhausted of walking, strolling and shopping, then you might as well take a couple of hours and cruise on Lady Atlantic and Lady Delray; Delray Yatch Cruises.  It is an intracoastal cruise, north or south of it.  For schedule, information, prices and specialty cruises, please visit www.delraybeachcruises.com.  Tel. 561-243-0686.  I have taken the cruise and it was a relaxing way to spend a few hours; beautiful scenery.

Now that you are relaxed after your cruise, get back in the car and go west on Atlantic Ave.  A visit to the Cornell Museum would be a nice thing to do while in Delray Beach.  The Museum is located at 51 N. Swinton Ave.  It is in the restored 1913 Delray Beach Elementary Building, and, connected to the Crest Theatre building. 

The Cornell Museum of Art and American Culture is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Sundays from 1 until 4:30 p.m.  Closed on Mondays.  Check out the website http://www.oldschoolsquare.org.

Granted, this week-end might be a little crowded near the Cornell Museum and that area of Atlantic Ave.  That’s because the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC) are being held at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 Atlantic Ave.  Tel. 561-243-7360.  Two websites to check if you are a tennis aficionado.  One for schedule is http://www.yellowtennisball.com/online2/schedule.html.  The other?  For special events and offers.   http://www.yellowtennisball.com/online2/special-events-a-offers.html.

And, if all that fails, well……lunch and mojitos from Cabana will keep you very relaxed….

Have a good one!!!

February 16th, 2011

Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, Florida, South Florida, Tennis on the Avenue, International Tennis Championships, ATP World Tour, ATP Champion Tour, Palm Beach County, 2/18/11 – 2/27/11

If you are a tennis aficionado then the place to be from 2/18/11 until 2/27/11 is, here; Delray Beach.  Right at the Tennis Center the International Tennis Championships will be taking place.  It combines 2 events; the ATP World Tour and the ATP Champion Tour.  Both at the same time.

The best source of information where you will find all special events, information on the players, schedule, tickets, entertainment, and the event’s guide is their website www.yellowtennisball.com.  There is also a telephone number 561-330-6000.  Please have in mind that this is a much awaited week in Delray Beach and everything will be crowded.  Get there early and expect to stay late.  Most of all, have patience.

On Friday at 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. there will be a Free Exhibition right on Atlantic Avenue.  It happened last year and it will happen again on Friday.  It was an impromptu tennis match on the Avenue and this year they are playing again.  Yes, the pros will be playing.  John McEnroe and Mats Wilander will be playing and if you want to catch this match then be there early.  I am not kidding, it gets packed.

I have had a place in Delray for several years, but to tell you the truth I had never been to the Tennis Center.  I used to play tennis a lot; then it seemed all I did was to go to tennis clinics.  Got bored and just let it go.  I went to the Tennis Center the other day to check it out and they do have amazing facilities.

The Delray Beach Tennis Center is located at 201 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444.  Tel. 561-243-7360.  Whether you are arriving or leaving Delray through Atlantic Avenue you will not miss the Tennis Center.  The website is www.delraytennis.com.  

The Tennis Center is the home of the ATP World Tour and Champions Tour, the Fed Cup, the Davis Cup, the Chris Evert Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic and the home of many National Junior Tournaments.

It is, definitely, a busy place and is open to the public.  Their certified tennis professional handle private lessons, adult programs, junior programs and ladies and men’s leagues.

I did not realize until I went in that it was so large.  The Tennis Center has 38 Clay Courts, 7 Hard Courts, 19 Lighted Courts, a pro shop, locker rooms with showers and stringing on site.

Onn this day there were group tennis lessons being taken; otherwise it was quiet.  The building is beautiful and the Center Court is impressive with stadium seating surrounding it.

So, get ready because the scene will be quite different from these pictures this coming week-end.  I have friends that will be parked on that stadium day and night and I hope they have a great time.

See you…back to Delaware…talk to you later….