October 24th, 2011

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

The beginning of November marks that time of the year when the “snowbirds” are either getting restless or too cold.  I know some of them that are already there and some that already have their date on their schedule.

Delray Beach, is that Village by the Sea that has had 2 designations as “All American City”.  It is the only city in Florida to have won it twice.  They have so many activities and events year-round.  But, they really step it up more than a few notches when the season kicks in. 

Already more events and activities are found.  Here a some, if you happen to be in Delray Beach or in Palm Beach County.

Delray opened this year their new bed and breakfast; the Historic Hartman House located at 302 NE 7th Ave.  If you are looking for a place to stay, check them out.  Website? www.delraybeachbedandbreakfast.com.  They are a great addition to the Delray community and are already immersed in this unique coastal town.

Delray has the beaches, the restaurants, the shops, and plenty of roadway for exercising.  At times, if you want to get away from it all, you can catch a cruise, right there on Atlantic Avenue and the Intracoastal.

Delray Yatch Cruises has a schedule, including menus that can be accessed by visiting www.delraybeachcruises.com.  You can also call them for reservations or questions at 561-243-0686.

There is a Sunday Brunch Cruise that leaves at 10:30 a.m. going northbound.  That part of the intracoastal is beautiful and quite wide at different spots.

If you are going to be in Delray during Thanksgiving, check their schedule since they will be having special Thanksgiving Day Cruises and Dinner Cruises.   Being that it is a holiday, you should make the reservations way ahead of time.

Cruising on the intracoastal from Delray Beach started in 2003.  One of their yatchs, the Lady Atlantic, was designed for South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterways. 

Friday, 10/28 – It is the 14th Annual Pineapple Grove Bed Race in the Art District of Delray; Pineapple Grove, at NE 2nd Ave. at Atlantic Ave.  The race will be f rom 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

A new addition this year will be the Beer Tent and the popular Food Trucks.

The Bed Race will be followed by a free concert from “Hard Liquor” on the Old School Square Pavilion.  “Hard Liquor” is a high energy South Florida band whose genre is Classic and Hard Rock.  They play popular rock songs from the 60s until today.

What can I say?  Some of the teams have been doing this race every year.  If you have a favorite, well, by all means go and be a cheerleader!!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10/28-10/30  –  Haunted Halls of Horror at the Delray Beach Community Center located at 50 NW 1st Avenue.  It is presented by Hugs Not Drugs in conjuction with Delray Beach Parks and Recreation.

Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. with last ticket to be purchased by 10:30 p.m.

Sunday from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. with last ticket to be purchased by 9:30 p.m.

$10 per person.  Family Fun from ages 8 to 80 years old.

This is a spine tingling charity event.  It is an interactive walk through a haunted house with thrills and chills around every single corner. 

More info?  Check out the website www.hauntedhallsofhorror.com.  Or, call 561-585-7771.

Saturday, 10/29 – Kidsfest of Delray & Halloween Festivities in Downtown Delray Beach at Atlantic Avenue, starting at 11:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. – Trick or Treat along the Avenue (between Swinton and the Intracoastal).

1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. – Halloween Parade – Line up at Old School Square at 1:00 p.m.  Parade starts at 1:30 p.m. and marches through Atlantic Ave. to Veterans Park (right by the Intracoastal).  More info? Call 561-279-1380 x17.

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Kidsfest of Delray at Veterans Park.  A free family event.  Live entertainment.  More info? Call 561-243-7277 or e-mail Beardsley@mydelraybeach.com.

Another place that I enjoy when I want to get from it all is the Morikami and Japanese Gardens.  Believe me they are so peaceful. 

The gardens are “an invitation to stop momentarily and ponder anew what we are, where we have been, and where we are heading”.

The address is 400 Morikami Park Rd., Delray Beach, Florida.  Website? www.morikami.org.  Tel. 561-495-0233. 

From Delray Beach you can go west on Atlantic Ave., turn left on Jog Road and head south for a bit and you will see the entrance on the right hand side.  It is also the entrance for the Orchid Society.

The Park honors the Yamato Colony, a farming settlement of the early 1900s.  It also celebrates the living Japanese culture. 

My favorite garden is the Karesansui Late Rock Garden.  Karesansui means “dry landscape”.  In this style of garden, the rocks were arranged in a bed of raked gravel, while plants took a secondary role.

As the weather gets more comfortable in South Florida, these gardens are a great place to relax.

I hope you take advantage of some of these activities and events.  Delray Beach, that little Village by the Sea, is also full of restaurants.  I like a lot of them and I do have my favorites.  I have written about them in the past, and just like I do at the Delaware Beaches, I will visit them again…you never know what unique dish will be on their menu….AboutMyBeaches…yes this is one of my favorite beaches, as well.

July 22nd, 2011

Historic Hartman House, Bed & Breakfast, Delray Beach, Florida, Palm Beach County, Secluded, Easy Access to Atlantic Ave., Shops, Restaurants, and the Beach

I have to laugh because last week when I went to Florida, one of my neighbors asked me, Not hot enough for you here?  Florida has been, actually, cooler than the Delaware Beaches these past few days and I believe this week-end, as well.

I was very interested in seeing this B & B.  There are so many people from our area that visit Florida.  B & Bs are so popular.  I want to pass this info. to my readers, just in case this might be something they might like to try.  Besides the fact that most B & Bs, like the Historic Hartman House, serve its guests a gourmet breakfast, they all offer a different atmosphere.  You also get to enjoy that personal touch of the owners, as well as their local knowledge.  Where to go, what to do?  Real tried and true information. 

I finally met Benita; I will make sure I meet Jordan next time.  She welcomed us (Rosalyn and I) with a smile on her face.  And, I knew she was busy, but she still took the time to show us around.

The Historic Hartman House was built in 1923.  It is located at 302 NE 7th Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483.  Tels. 866-787-2302, 561-278-2302.  E-mail address is historichartmanhouse@gmail.com.  Website? www.delraybeachbedandbreakfast.com.

Please visit the website because there are packages that are so attractively priced, as well as the history of the B & B, and so much more.

There are 4 rooms in the Historic Hartman House.  On the first floor the room called Pineapple Grove, just like the neighborhood in town, is wheelchair accessible.  It was occupied, so we did not see it.

The other 3 rooms were upstairs.

There is Las Palmas.

The Blue Seas.

And the Highland Park Suite with an adjacent room with a sofa bed.  This room has a mahogany dressing table, and a beautiful bathroom.

In the first floor, a fully equipped kitchen.  That day they were preparing stuffed baked apples.

A breakfast room, and sofas and chairs to lounge and relax.

There is a small sunroom as well, with someone watching the door.

When you are their guest, you will get soft spa robes, plush mattresses, wireless internet, flat screen tvs, gourmet breakfast, late afternoon treats, and a gorgeous yard.

The 75 foot lap pool is very impressive.  It takes center stage in that yard, surrounded by seagrapes, mango trees, key limes, avocado and orange trees.

I am not kidding, you really could sit out there all day.  It is beautiful.  Benita and Jordan have outdone themselves in preserving this historic house.  The pine floors were beautifully refinished.  It is a home.

The Historic Hartman House is secluded but with easy access to Atlantic Ave., shopping, restaurants and that gorgeous beach.

And, wait a minute, I am not finished yet.  I think Benita or Jordan might be able to take you to a nearby destination in their very comfortable and modern golf cart.

I think the Historic Hartman House is a welcomed addition to that Village by the Sea.

Have a good one!!  Talk to you later….