Page 3. Florida Issue - Home Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida A hidden hideaway for a romantic stay... SUNDY HOUSE You can't tell very much about the Sundy House from the street. Located on an unassuming block in a gentrifying section of Delray Beach, it's not far from the very trendy Atlantic Avenue. Sure, there's a small sign out front, but other than that, the street and entrance don't hint at what lies inside. In fact, as we first pulled into the parking lot, we were unsure how this overgrown, obscure place would turn out and were bracing for the worst. As it turned out,we were completely and absolutely... WRONG! The Sundy House is an elegant and ultra-romantic haven! After checking in, you stroll through a labyrinth of lush tropical gardens, crossing wooden bridges over small ponds, on the way to your room. The variety of foliage-each identified with little brass plaques-is staggering. Local wildlife populates the gardens, while marvelous, colorful Macaws perch along the paths. One will even talk to you, if he likes you! Stopping briefly by the swimming pool, the first thing to notice is the natural waterfall. And when you go into the water for a dip, you're actually sharing it with fish, making it feel like you're truly in a tropical wonderland. One warning though: no fishing allowed! At night, the gardens become the backdrop for the Sundy House Restaurant and the Roux Bamboux Lounge. There's a patio and terrace for dining, but even more romantic are the tables in private alcoves, scattered throughout the gardens, where couples sharing champagne and smiles appear dreamily serene in their own little world. Tables in the gazebos provide more ultra-romantic dining under a starlit night. The Sundy House has only 11 accommodations, and we were lucky to get the historic cottage which consisted of 6 rooms: a living room, dining room, kitchen with washer and dryer, 2 bathrooms, sitting room, and bedroom. The living room featured antique furniture, including an exotic chaise, fireplace, and an entertainment system with a huge plasma TV. The bedroom was our favorite place (of course!), with a sumptuous four-poster bed and amazing jungle mural, encompassing the entire room. Even the window shades were hand-painted. Our closet was covered with trees and a monkey, swinging from a branch. Even the master bathroom was unusual, with a separate corner shower and a large whirlpool tub in the middle of the room. There was a hand-painted mural border at the top with bluebirds. The furnishings were splendidly eclectic, including artistic wrought iron pieces and custom-made furniture. Of particular interest was the delicately hand-painted dining table. The top was a detailed 1930s map of the City of Delray Beach, in exquisite, colorful detail. We had arrived tired, so despite the wonderfully romantic and renowned restaurant, we opted for room service-it was simply too nice a cottage to leave! We ordered a crab cake appetizer and their mushroom ravioli entrée. This unique ravioli wasn't pasta at all, but ever so thin slices of mushroom, wrapped around a tomato and ratatouille filling. Both were perfectly delicious preparations that went really well with our chilled Venetian Prosecco. AWhy go out? For breakfast, Sundy House offers three possibilities, and we tried two. The first morning we had breakfast in bed. Why not? Room service had been so fantastic the night before, and was again excellent. Our second morning, the hotel gave us a prepaid chit to a local breakfast spot a few blocks away in Pineapple Grove. The best breakfast they offer is, unfortunately, the one we missed-because we weren't there on a Sunday. On Sundays, Sundy House offers its renowned brunch. Regularly $40, if you stay over on a Saturday night, the brunch is included in the room! Everything about Sundy House whispers, "We're here for you." So if you love luxury, if you love privacy, if you love "love," you'll love Sundy House! SUNDY HOUSE * * * Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach & Palm Beach Attractions: THE HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM Talk about a romantic gift! Oil and railroad magnate Henry Flagler gave his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, this classical mansion as a wedding gift. The year was 1902. The cost was $2.6 million.
The Flaglers rarely spent more than 6 weeks a year there. Henry Flagler died shortly after falling down the stairs of his stately home in 1913, at 84 years old. Heirs sold it to a hotel group in the 1920s. Much later, when it was going to be demolished because of fire and neglect, other heirs stepped in to save it. In 1960, the foundation formed to save the home completed a major restoration, and the public was introduced to the grand "manse." The public is now invited to view the property all year, and special events such as the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Tree Lighting, and Lunch Gilded Age Style continue to attract thousands of visitors a year. Imbued with a notion of civic responsibility, Henry Flagler somehow knew White Hall would eventually become a museum, and its grandeur reflects his vision. It's a breathtaking monument to beauty and a must-see if visiting the Palm Beach area. THE HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM * * * THE RAYMOND F. KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS This $50 million architectural landmark, located freeway close in West Palm Beach was named for Raymond F. Kravis, a geologist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who wintered in Palm Beach. His friends donated more than $7 million to name the facility for Mr. Kravis.
Over the years its calendar has expanded to include local theatre, acting classes, children's theatre and a full season of successful events that keep the theatre well lit throughout the year. The coming season is typical of the diversity and depth of the Center's programming choices, which include the following limited sample (visit their website for the full program): Comedy - EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND Ethnic dance - BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO Opera - TURANDOT Big Band - GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Jazz - MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR And much, much more... THE RAYMOND F. KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS * * * CUILLO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS This season includes shows: Viagra Falls A JEW Grows in Brooklyn Mod 27 Jazz'd up Cuillo Uncorked CUILLO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS * * * Boca Raton, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach Restaurants: NICK'S FISHMARKET OF HAWAII http://agendamag.com/Winter2007/PickNicks.html While the name Nick's Fishmarket doesn't necessarily evoke an image of romance, I love to be surprised. And Nick's Fishmarket of Hawaii is chock full of surprises. We parked the car on Palmetto Park Road in downtown Boca Raton and entered a nondescript office building. Hmmmm...we were still skeptical about its being "romantic." It felt like we were going to the bank. But as soon as we walked through the front door, my skepticism vanished, and I surrendered to the magical atmosphere and divine ambiance that is Nick's Fishmarket! The décor has a modern Hawaiian flavor. A long bar accentuated by a lighted pineapple fills the center of the room, with grass-covered "huts" for dining around the sides. We were immediately greeted by a host who walked us over to our own special thatched hut- in a dimly lit corner. I loved it! The owner, Nick Nickolas came by to say hello. What a lovely and charming man he is! We also had a terrific waiter who was helpful and gracious, but the service and attention didn't stop there. One of the special features of Nick's is the congenial and individual service. You are served by a four-man "team" for each table. They are all extremely attentive with an air of I'm-happy-to-be-here-for-you. At Nick's, all of the wait staff seem to take great enjoyment and pride in what they do. Interestingly, our waiter replaced our white linen napkins with black ones when we sat down. Why? I wondered. Since we were wearing black, they didn't want us to get lint from the white napkins on our clothes! After ordering the wine, we looked at the menu. And wow, what a unique selection-from Italian and French dishes, to Asian delicacies and Greek specialties, with a huge assortment of fresh seafood as well. We sipped our wine and enjoyed the complimentary appetizer of smoked marlin with sesame crackers, while perusing our dinner choices. The menu has a tempting array of appetizers that includes escargots, spring rolls, and sautéed calamari, but a simple name doesn't convey the complexity of each of these tantalizing dishes. For example, Dennis would never ordinarily order spring rolls (thinking Chinese take-out), but after the waiter described it, he couldn't resist. And he wasn't disappointed. I ordered Calamari Sorrento with diced tomato, parmesan cheese and a demi-glaze. For entrees, we decided on the Chilean Sea Bass Mirin, and the special lobster dish of the night. We had no idea how fantastic-and fantastically large-it would be! When they brought out the plate, we swooned! The lobster was a four-pounder, baked to moist and succulent perfection with a thick crab cake covering. The sea bass was equally mouth-watering in its soy, miso and sweet mirin (Japanese wine) glaze accompanied by sticky rice and vegetables. It was light, flaky, and delectable. We always share our dishes, so Dennis started with the sea bass, and I began with the lobster, but very soon we switched plates. I took my time with the sea bass, savoring every bite, while Dennis attacked the lobster. He is a true pro at cracking each claw, leg, and back, and sucking out every last morsel. We topped off our dinner with Nick's Bananas Foster, a sweet and special ending to a scrumptious meal. Unable to finish the dish, we sat back, happy and full. What's more romantic than that! When we learned that Nick's had only been open about two and a half months, we couldn't believe it. It was soooo good, and soooo delicious; and the staff were soooo incredible! How could it be soooo new? Aha. Then we found out how! The owner, Nick Nickolas, previously ran his restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort and Club for 18 years. So although this location is new, Nick has been a consummate restaurateur for decades. And it shows. Nick is a warm, cordial host with an eye to pleasing his guests. There are photos on the wall of the many celebrities that have dined at his restaurants over the years. He is used to having well-known diners. But then, he treats all his guests like they are celebrities. Nick's Fishmarket is a romantic spot, complemented by an excellent kitchen and responsive staff. And on Friday and Saturday nights, there's dancing, too. So next time you're near Boca Raton, Florida, take a break from your relatives, grab your honey, and go Hawaiian! NICK'S FISHMARKET OF HAWAII * * * BRAZILIAN TROPICANA http://agendamag.com/Spring2007/brazillian.html Some nights are for intimate romance, and some are for pure fun. On this night, we grabbed another couple, Harvey and Barbara, and headed for a lively evening with a traditional Brazilian meal and an energy-filled show. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we started off with a pitcher of Sangria, which was cold, sweet, and filled with fruit. Next, we headed up to the cold salad buffet, where we piled our plates with spinach salad, beets, hearts of palm, artichokes, and various other salad fixings. They also had salmon, which I literally "forgot" to taste. Me, forget food? Oh well...next time. After the salad course, the servers bring you fresh plates, and put hearty family-style helpings of rice, black beans and fried bananas on the tables. Then, the waiters come around...and around...and around...with long skewers of chicken, steak, and sausage. There was top sirloin, regular sirloin, garlic steak, spiced chicken, and bacon-wrapped chicken. As they cut slices for each person, you "catch" the slice with your individual set of small tongs. All you have to do after that is eat, eat, and eat some more. The servers keep coming back with skewers...until you tell them to stop! A tray of desserts included chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake and tiramisu, but we were encouraged to try the homemade Brazilian desserts: flan, passion fruit mousse, and coconut pudding. We're glad we did, especially when we learned that Rosa, our gracious manager, had personally made the flan and pudding, and the owner's wife and choreographer, Dalva had made the mousse. The entire staff for this Brazilian restaurant and show was almost like family. It has been in business for two decades. They were located in Pompano Beach for years until five months ago when they moved to Boca Raton. Mike and Dalva own the restaurant, but most of the wait staff and show people have been with them for years, as well. Rosa, our manager, told us she has been with them for 19 years. Rosa is a real sweetheart, so be sure to say hello to her from us when you go. After satiating ourselves with food and drink, we settled back to listen to the band for a while. There's a dance floor and I was ready to jump up and move to the beat of the drums, but alas - Dennis and my crew weren't budging. Next time, I'm bringing my boogey buddies! On Tuesday nights, guests get a special low-priced package for the meal, band and dancing, and I'm guessing the dance floor is hopping. Wednesdays through Sundays include all the above, the buffet, the Bossa Nova band and dancing, along with the Brazilian Tropicana Show. And what a show it is! I must admit, I wasn't expecting it to be that good, but what a terrific surprise! There's singing, dancing, and a martial arts specialty called Capoeira. I t's all energy-packed and loads of fun, sort of a mini-Las Vegas Revue. I absolutely loved the Capoeiristas. These were 5 amazingly built guys doing a combination of fighting, dancing, and gymnastics, and they were sensational. One of the C apoeiristas looked very young, and when I asked afterwards, it turns out that he was 13! I was told that sometimes one of the female dancer's daughters joins them as well. She is only 9! The other Capoeiristas were older-and wow, what pecs! Barbara and I loved watching these guys. Dennis and Harvey liked them too, but better still, they liked the dancing feather-headdressed and sequined and beaded bikinied showgirls who moved their stomachs, torsos, and buns in twenty directions at a mile a minute! It was all a delight to watch. And even more so when the lead singer, in a Carmen Miranda tribute, danced through the audience and cuddled up to men at different tables. Then, she took one of the guys back to the stage to dance. Guess who the lucky guy was? Dennis! It was a hoot, especially when she asked him questions, and one of the Brazilian guys from the band put the answers in Dennis's mouth-literally! The audience roared, and Harvey, Barbara, and I got a great kick out of it. When Dennis got back to the table, he thought I had "set him up." But no, I didn't have anything to do with his being chosen. Actually, it's usually me who bounds up to the stage when they ask for a volunteer. Finally, this was HIS turn! With regard to atmosphere, the room itself isn't fancy or stylish, but once the food and fun begin, it doesn't matter. Everyone there was enjoying themselves. Before the show started, I got to chat with one of the dancers, Heather. She is the only one in the troupe that isn't Brazilian, and she's been dancing with them for three years I'm a sucker for a good romantic story, and I love how Heather met her hubby of two years. She started taking Capoeira lessons - and he was the teacher! He has also been a part of the show for 12 years. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the show the night we saw it; he had broken his leg. (I knew that looked dangerous!) Heather made sure to tell us he didn't injure it in the show, but at his Capoeira Academy, where he teaches. Another thing we learned about Capoeira was from our friend Harvey, who was with us. Harvey had taken six years of Martial Arts, so he knew the history of the Capoeiristas. It seems when they were slaves, their owners prohibited them from having weapons or practicing any kind of Martial Arts because they didn't want the slaves rebelling or having an uprising. So instead, the slaves started dancing and put their martial arts into dance so their masters didn't know what they were doing. Yes, there were some rebellions, but they were all to a dancing beat! Besides having a background in Martial Arts, Harvey told us that he has lots of Spanish-speaking relatives from Columbia, and he can't wait to bring them all for a night at Brazilian Tropicana! The supper club is great for couples, families, and groups. There are lots of tables for people celebrating birthdays and other occasions. Organizations can book the entire room for banquets and private parties on off nights. Meanwhile, now I'm deciding whether to practice my samba and gyrate my buns, or try Capoeira with all those marvelous spins and high kicks. Hmmm...you think if I practice them, I'll work off some of that food and end up in the great shape those gals and guys were in? Oh...if only! BRAZILIAN TROPICANA * * * And for casual eats... Doc's All American Doc's is a 1950s drive-in burger stand on a very busy corner in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. If you get the yearning for cheap eats in a down-and-dirty-dive with great-and-greasy charbroiled burgers, there's Doc's. There's always a line, and the burgers only come one way, well-done. It's also well known for its fries, onion rings, and soft-serve ice cream dipped in hot chocolate. Repeatedly voted "Best Family Dining" by the Palm Beach Post, Doc's secret of sticking to what it knows best formula is loved by kids and their parents for great fun and good value. Doc's All American * * * Our other restaurant faves: BOSTONS ON THE BEACH Happy crowds, fantastic location, and lotsa lobsters! Late night music and dancing, too! BOSTONS ON THE BEACH * * * SEASONS 52 A fabulous concept! Everything on the menu is 450 calories or less-and scrumptious! For dessert, you'll definitely want more than one of their elegant choices, from key lime pie, to strawberry shortcake, to chocolate mousse, and more, all served in shot glasses! SEASONS 52 * * * SPOTO'S OYSTER BAR An authentic, premier oyster bar, featuring fresh shucked oysters, signature oyster stew, littleneck clams, and other delicious seafood. SPOTO'S OYSTER BAR Or just stroll down the wonderful and trendy Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach to find many other great restaurants and shops. |
The 55-room, 60,000-square-foot building was designed by the architects famous for such landmarks as the New York Public Library and the Frick Mansion. White Hall is one of the most outstanding examples of such elegant form and detail ever built and helped establish Palm Beach as the Gilded Age getaway for the rich. 
The almost 40-year effort to have a major arts center in the Palm Beach area culminated in 1992 with the opening of the Kravis Center. Since then it has become " the" venue for high caliber entertainment in South Florida, including an eclectic mix of shows from Sesame Street to La Traviota. The main stage is blessed with excellent acoustics and comfortable seats. Smaller theatres accommodate many other performances.
