scape When, almost four decades ago, my mother decided New York winters were no longer for her, she moved to Florida. She chose an apartment in a once stylish hotel. It had a cavernous lobby filled with plastic palm trees and other people’s “maturing” parents. Besides playing canasta, knitting and bragging about her children, she complained there was nothing to do. And there wasn’t. How things have changed! We recently returned from a sun-filled, artistic whirlwind in Palm Beach County, which is and has been in the throes of a cultural evolution for the past 20 years. We created a schedule that allowed us to be out on the town six nights out of seven, and barely made a dent in all there is to do there. Our first stop was the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County in Lake Worth. There we met the cultural concierge, the charming, well informed Bama Deal who helped us organize our too-short stay. Laden with brochures and pamphlets of local offerings, we proceeded to make plans. Since theater has always been my passion, we stopped at the Lake Worth Playhouse, a few steps from the office of the Cultural Council, and picked up tickets to “Inherit the Wind,” and subsequently enjoyed a professional interpretation of one of the most outstanding dramas of modern times. We were fortunate to be in Boca during the l0th annual Festival of the Arts in Mizner Park. The roster of events encompassed everything from a performance of Mozart’s “Magic Flute” to the Joey Alexander Trio, which will kick off Jazz at Lincoln Center this summer. We were overwhelmed by the range and excellence of the performers and the venue itself. In addition, the sound of music could be heard throughout the area. The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach had a varied line-up from “Back to the Beatles” to young concert artist performances, of which we enjoyed hearing cellist Cicely Parnas. The world of dance is well represented as well. The Duncan Theater, which is the Palm Beach answer to New York’s Joyce Theater, had the Paul Taylor Company, The Limon Dance Company and the Pilobolus Dance Theater. However, it was the Ballet Palm Beach and their brilliant interpretation of Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby” that blew us away. I only hope it will be on the repertoire of other ballet companies in the future. There are also excellent art museums, botanical gardens, gorgeous beaches, a zoo, a science center, a nature center and a history museum. According to the Cultural Council, there are more than 4,200 cultural offerings in Palm Beach County each year. And while so many “snow birds” have condos, coops and visitation rights at the homes of friends and relatives, visitors who want a true vacation paradise should consider the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Located directly on the beach in Manalapan, this 309-room bit of paradise, with a world class spa, tennis, exquisite shops and delightful little gardens, is fit for royalty. There is a beautiful outdoor patio for delicious dining as well as a more formal dining room. The service and convenience is second to none. A stay at Eau Palm is a magical experience, located at 100 South Ocean Boulevard (561-540-4960). From Jupiter to Boca Raton, Palm Beach County is a cultural playground. What a glorious vacation destination! Travelscape by Roberta Graff North Shore Towers Courier n May 2016 37 Not Your Grandmas’ Eau Palm Beach Resort Mizner Park
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