It was only after moving east that it became almost impossible to find a real deep-dish pizza. Even in Connecticut, where we lived for years and had Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, a perennial “Best Pizza” (and not bad), my wife and I, there as here, have been looking for real, good deep dish without success.

I get that there are lots of New Yorkers around who like to fold their pizza slices in half. So be it. But if you are going to have a Best Pizza contest you have to take into account best “style” of pizza. A deep-dish slice is to a flatsie what a beef hamburger is to a plant burger. Both can be delicious, but they are not interchangeable. — Craig Donovan, Hollywood

A: Craig, I know what you mean, it’s all about the New Yorkers here! But as I began my search for Chicago-style pizza for you, I was surprised at the abundance of places that serve the doughy, cheesy pies you are craving. There are also several that dish up Detroit-style pizza, a deep-dish pie with an airy dough and perimeter of caramelized cheese, sauce on top.

These deep-dish pizzas are big, built to feed two to three people. The restaurants warn that they need at least a half-hour to prepare them. So call ahead or have a leisurely dinner, and bring along your New York friends; most of South Florida’s deep-dish joints also serve the “flatsies,” or thin slices, which as you say New Yorkers love to fold before they take a bite.

BROWARD COUNTY

Il Baretto Italian Cuisine, 220 S. University Drive, Plantation; 954-473-9400; ilbarettoristorante.com

A small stuffed deep-dish pie goes for $26; a large is $39. As a patron posted in “Let’s Eat, South Florida,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s foodie Facebook group: “People rave about Il Baretto and after just one pizza, I get it. It’s about as legit a deep dish as you can get … Our pizza was a Chicago Deep well done with sausage (hold the grated Parmigiana cheese). It weighed in at 8 lbs., 10 oz., just 5 ounces short of my son’s birth weight. This was a hefty delicious meal.”

Chicago Stuffed Pizza Co., 238 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the Sea; 954-533-1808; chicagostuffedpizzamenu.com

This joint serves a deep-dish pie with an extra layer of dough on top. You can get it plain with cheese inside ($28.99) or with a variety of toppings and stuffings (the Special is loaded with sausage, onions, mushrooms and green peppers; $40.95). If you’re with some New Yorkers, this joint will sell them the pizza they like; a basic NY Cheese Pizza is priced at $17.99.

Emmy Squared, 468 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 754-296-0076; emmysquaredpizza.com

Emmy’s offers create-your-own Detroit-style pizzas ($14 for a six-slice pie, $23 for 10 slices). There are also vegan and gluten-free pies, as well as signature pizzas such as the Birria ($19 or $26) and the Big Hawaiian, with pepperoni, bacon and pineapple ($19 or $25). The shop, part of a chain with stores around the country, also serves burgers, salads and sandwiches. South Florida also has a location in Coral Gables.

Sarpino’s Pizzeria, multiple locations; gosarpinos.com

Sarpino’s recommends its deep-dish varieties for those who are “looking for something thicker, without compromising on delicious crunchability.” Pies include the Sausage ($18.99) and the Vegan ($18.99). Warning: The Fort Lauderdale location is crazy-busy on weekend nights.

Capone’s Italian Pizzeria, 3775 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 954-986-9192; caponesitalianpizzeria.com

This place shows its love of Chicago not only through deep-dish pizza but with its “Chicago Hit List” of items such as Chicago roast beef ($16.68) and Chicago Dog (on a bun with peppers, onions, tomato slices, pickles and relish; $8.63). Capone’s is known among locals, though, for its deep-dish pies ($20.13). Here’s what one foodie said on “Let’s Eat, South Florida“: “Capone’s on Hollywood Blvd. has the best deep-dish pizza. It is worth the drive from Pompano every time. Helpful hint … we order ahead to eat here, it takes an hour to bake.”

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Danny’s Pizza Kitchen, 3501 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach; 561-200-0739; dannyspizzakitchen.com

The basic Cheese deep dish goes for $19.95; carnivores will enjoy the Meat Lovers, with pepperoni, ham, bacon, sausage and meatball ($27.50). There’s also a Buffalo Chicken for $26.95. New York traditionalists searching for a single triangular slice can get one here for $3.50.

Giovanni’s Pizza, 21401 Powerline Road, Boca Raton; 561-483-7900; giovannispizzaofboca.com

Giovanni’s has 10 deep-dish varieties, including the Supreme (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers and black olives; $36.08) and the Veggie (mushrooms, green peppers and onions; $31.81). There are also New York-style pizzas, salads, subs and pastas.

Death by Pizza, 528 NE Second St., Delray Beach; 561-666-9111; deathbypizzadelray.com

Here you will find Detroit-style pizzas that serve two to three people, with more than a dozen varieties. Try the Mr. White (ricotta, mozzarella and basil pesto; $26), Eggplant Parm ($30) or Gandolfini (sausage, roasted red peppers and garlic, caramelized onions, broccoli, mozzarella, sweet sauce and basil pesto; $30).

Motor City Pizza & Coney, 1538 SW Eighth St., Boynton Beach; 561-736-3000; motorcitypizzaconey.com

The dough blend of owner Bisar Gorani, imported from his native Kosovo, relays a deep crunch, and he uses whole-milk cheese instead of the usual Detroit-style brick cheese from Wisconsin. “It’s my recipe,” Gorani told Sun Sentinel back in 2021. “I wanted to use bread from Kosovo because it reminds me of home. Which is funny because Detroiters tell me this pizza reminds them of home, too.” A deep-dish pizza is $18.

Both counties

Jet’s Pizza, multiple locations; jetspizza.com

Jet’s is a chain that began in 1978 and is known for its Detroit-style pizza. According to Casey Kolp, owner of the Boca Raton and Royal Palm Beach shops: “We make our own dough fresh every morning and use only the finest Grande cheese without additives or fillers.” A large pizza with pepperoni goes for $18.48.

Reefs and trails await underwater explorers just beneath the surface of the ocean’s warm, blue waters off the shoreline in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Need an escape from the daily stresses of life? Grab a snorkel and mask, wade into the surf and submerge yourself in a world in which the only traffic you’ll encounter is a vibrant school of fish swimming by, or a graceful sea turtle crossing your path.

Of course, before you dive in, there are several things to figure out: the right location for your skill level, the necessary equipment, access points, cost, safety factors, and parking and other amenities.

We’ve taken all of this into account when compiling our list of must-snorkel spots that are easily accessible right from the beach — no boat required — and are either free or, in some cases, involve only parking or park fees.

SAFETY FIRST

Before anything else, let’s talk safety. Here are some important tips for snorkelers, courtesy of the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation department’s website:

• Know your personal swimming limitations and snorkeling abilities.
• Always snorkel with a buddy so you can share your experiences and have somebody to help if needed.
• Check the ocean conditions, including waves, currents, wind, water visibility and weather.
• Decide on entry and exit points.
• Keep in mind that the best time to snorkel is within two hours before or after high tide.

“If unsure of skills, stay within lifeguarded areas,” Fine said. “Look but don’t touch is the slogan to follow with snorkeling, and keep feet and hands off coral and marine life.”

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

Next, we asked marine biologist and Master Scuba Instructor John Christopher Fine — who calls Boynton Beach home when he’s not traveling around the world exploring shipwrecks and studying ocean pollution — about the equipment first-time snorkelers need before heading out into the water.

He said to start with the basics: a mask, snorkel and pair of fins (or swim shoes). Also, “wear a dive skin or nylon tights and top to protect from sun as well as stings,” he added. “Skins are inexpensive online, last a long time and are far less expensive than coral-killing sunscreens.”

A dive flag and float are required for safety and to comply with Florida law, he said.

“For beginners, I suggest a car inner tube on a yellow (polypropylene) line with a weight at the end, so the line can be dropped and the tube not float away,” he said, adding that a dive flag can be tied to it or secured with a special device.

“A tube is great to rest, holding on to it,” but it should be made of strong materials, not a typical pool float.

PLACES TO SNORKEL

Ready to jump in? We’ve gathered six snorkeling spots where you can meet marine life and experience the serenity of the sea.

And if you want a snorkeling sneak peek beforehand, just search YouTube.com for underwater videos by divers and snorkelers featuring the locations on our list below.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Phil Foster Memorial Park Snorkel Trail 
900 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Free

INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org/parks

An underwater paradise awaits snorkelers of all levels on the south side of the Blue Heron Bridge, just beyond a guarded swimming area. Venture out about 200 feet to explore submerged structures and shark sculptures while keeping an eye out for some of the trail’s residents, including squid, octopuses, spotted rays and starfish. Six hundred tons of rock were used to build the artificial reef, made of limestone boulders and prefabricated reef modules that span 2 acres in 6 to 10 feet of water, according to the county. Need to take a break? Cool off in the shade on the beach under the bridge. To the south, you’ll see Peanut Island, another popular snorkeling location accessible by boat or ferry.

Ocean Inlet Park/Lofthus shipwreck
6990 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Free

INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org

Whether you park and walk across Ocean Boulevard or under the road by the jetty, when you see the shoreline rocks along the guarded beach on the south side of the inlet, you’ve found the entry point to another popular snorkeling spot. Suit up with your equipment and wade into the ocean. Sea turtles, nurse sharks, reef fish and corals have all been spotted in the waters. For intermediate to advanced snorkelers who swim beyond the guarded area, be aware of boat traffic.

For those looking for a challenge, the Lofthus shipwreck is 1.1 miles north of the inlet, about 150 yards offshore in about 10 to 18 feet of water, Fine said. Park at Ocean Inlet Park and make the trek along the beach before the high-tide mark. He has seen guitar fish, a nurse shark and spiny lobsters hanging around the wreckage.

“Watch the weather. When the ocean is rough, waves break in shore and the shipwreck remains are not safe to dive,” he said. “Calm ocean and little wind make it a fun place to explore.”

Red Reef Park Snorkel Trail 
1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

PARKING: $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends/holidays (day pass); $3 per hour at metered lot across State Road A1A

INFORMATION: myboca.us

Twenty artificial reefs just offshore and a jetty that extends from the beach into the water make up the snorkel trail. Walk directly into the ocean from the guarded beach and be on the lookout for sergeant major, parrotfish, bar jack and spottail pinfish. Snorkelers also have reported seeing a small reef shark, eels, lobsters, crabs, stingrays, barracuda and a sea turtle on their adventures.

Fourteen of the reefs were installed in late 2021, which extended the snorkeling trail. They are constructed from native limestone boulders sourced from a quarry near Fort Pierce, according to the city.

“Creating an artificial-reef snorkel trail offers residents and visitors another unparalleled outdoor experience in the city,” said recreation services director Greg Stevens. “This unique attraction not only provides a stunning adventure for snorkelers but also fosters a thriving and sustainable habitat for local marine life.”

It’s the ideal location for children to learn to snorkel and get up close with ocean life as well.

“I was able to view beautiful sea life such as turtles, colorful and bigger fish,” said 12-year-old Boca Raton resident Shea Ferris, who snorkels there. “It’s a safe and peaceful place for them, and I was able to enjoy everything around me.”

BROWARD COUNTY

Shipwreck Snorkel Trail
Datura Avenue and El Mar Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Metered parking on side streets or at South Ocean Lot, 4324 State Road A1A

INFORMATION: discoverlbts.com/diving-snorkeling

Just south of Anglin’s Fishing Pier, one of Broward County’s most popular dive and snorkeling areas provides a trail in 10 feet of water and three coral reefs just off the beach.

“Recognized as ‘Florida’s Beach Diving Capital,’ Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s quaint Florida town is teeming with beautiful marine life in the calm, clear waters less than 100 yards off the white sand beaches, making it one of the best beaches in Florida to go snorkeling or diving with the little ones,” said town spokeswoman Aimee Adler Cooke. “The whole family can enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking and paddleboarding right off the beach.”

She said the town is a designated Blue Wave beach, a distinction given by the Clean Beaches Coalition to clean and environmentally responsible beach communities.

The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, which includes an anchor, five concrete cannons and a ballast pile, was dedicated in 2002 by explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (Jacques Cousteau’s son), according to the town.

The waters also are home to the SS Copenhagen, a British shipwreck in a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, that is reachable by boat.

Vista Park Reef
2851 N. Atlantic Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

HOURS: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PARKING: Metered parking lot open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

INFORMATION: parks.fortlauderdale.gov

Just steps from the parking lot at Vista Park, a hidden gem among snorkeling enthusiasts is bustling beneath the blue ocean waters. The reef line starts about 300 feet out from shore and extends past the buoys. The area is the midway point of the reef that runs north and south. More advanced snorkelers can head out to the deeper depths of the reef. What will you see? Hard and soft corals, tropical fish and sea fans. Go early when water clarity is at its best.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park/Erojacks
6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach

HOURS: 8 a.m. to sunset

ADMISSION: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people); $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass

INFORMATION: floridastateparks.org/mizell

There are various places to snorkel along the 2.5 miles of beach in the park, but one of the unique areas is the Dania Beach Erojacks, an artificial reef that runs east to west made up of concrete jacks structures. To find it, park by the Whiskey Creek Hideout, walk across the bridge and to the right, follow the service trail signs in the sand heading south. You will enter the beach area at the spot where the reef is less than 600 feet offshore. The Dania Beach Pier is visible just to the south. Put your dive flag out and look for eels, fish, coral, slipper and spiny lobsters, stingrays, puffer fish and starfish. Keep in mind that the northern end of the state park, including the jetty parking lot, Jetty Pier and beach access, is closed to the public for construction.

On Friday, the nonprofit organization, launched by innovative schoolhouse and community fulcrum Space of Mind, will kick off a monthly series called Delray Nights Throwback to celebrate the old-school downtown vibe and the tribe that made it distinctive. 

The inaugural gathering will honor John Paul Kline, the revered chef who opened 3rd and 3rd, the music-friendly restaurant and bar in downtown Delray Beach, in 2013. Kline died three years later.   

Taking place at The Hub at Space of Mind (101 NW First Ave.) from 8 p.m. to midnight, the inaugural Delray Nights Throwback will include sets from local favorites Spred the Dub, along with light bites from chef Jessie Steele, a donation bar and an atmosphere that aims to recreate the spirit of Delray’s old-school music venues. Tickets cost $50. (Teacher tickets are 50% off to celebrate the back-to-school season.) Visit FindSpaceOfMind.com.

Ali Kaufman, founding director of the Community Classroom Project and its culinary program, the Community Classroom Kitchen, had a relationship with Kline that predates 3rd and 3rd. Friday’s event will raise money in his honor. 

“I’m looking forward to celebrating with JP’s longtime friends and all the lovers of the OG Delray local scene this Friday. We’ll be raising the vibe, raising some picklebacks and raising some funds to launch the John Paul Kline Culinary Arts Scholarship,” Kaufman says. “We will continue to carry on his dream of celebrating food, art and people, always all at once.”

THURSDAY

Weekend movies: Three Cinemark theaters in South Florida are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the chain’s debut with the Big in ’84 film series, offering $5 screenings of popular films from 1984, including “Purple Rain,” “Footloose,” “Ghostbusters,” “The Karate Kid,” “Gremlins,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and more. The films will be shown at the Cinemark Boynton Beach 14, Cinemark Bistro Boca Raton and Cinemark Paradise 24 in Davie through Sunday. Visit Cinemark.com.

The DJ is you: Best known for its burlesque brunch, hip vibe and elevated lounge-food menu, Pompano Beach restaurant-bar Revelry will host another bring-your-own-vinyl night, Wax On Wax Off, where experts help you learn to create a vibe while spinning your favorite records in 15- to 30-minute sets. Sign-up begins at 7 p.m. All genres welcome. Visit Instagram.com/revelryfla.

Bump & Shot: Bice Ristorante in Palm Beach will launch its inaugural Caviar Bump & Shot Happy Hour on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., when a special station will feature three types of caviar from Palm Beach-based Altima Caviar. The “bumps” of caviar will be served on a mother-of-pearl spoon and paired with a chilled shot of Truman Vodka (Austria). The price ranges from $25 to $50 depending on the grade of caviar selected (you can keep the spoon and shot glass). Attendees also may order caviar at a 30% discount and the vodka for 20% off during the event. Visit Facebook.com/bicepalmbeach.

Ticket window: Billy Joel is coming back to South Florida for a performance at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on Saturday, Nov. 23. Ticket presales will take place on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., via the Hard Rock Facebook, X and Instagram accounts, as well as at Ticketmaster.com (password: MOVIN). The general on-sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday at MyHRL.com. 

Good life decision: Clematis by Night brings free music back to the Great Lawn in downtown West Palm Beach on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. with Poor Life Decisions, Justin Enco’s Delray Beach-based rock quartet that has always deserved a wider audience. Seek them out — satisfaction guaranteed. Visit WPB.org/events.

FRIDAY

Weekend laughs: Actor, comedian, author, Peabody Award winner and radio host D.L. Hughley returns to the stand-up stage at the Miami Improv for performances at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $40+ at MiamiImprov.com. … Comedian and impressionist Aries Spears (he did nearly 200 episodes as a regular on Fox’s sketch comedy series MADtv) is at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $30+. Visit DaniaImprov.com. 

Friday tributes: Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale will host 1980s rock cover band Hairdaze and Guns N’ Roses tribute Appetite for Destruction on Friday, with tickets for the all-ages show starting at $9.25+ as part of a four-pack. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit JoinTheRevolution.net. … Rush tribute band Afterimage will perform from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday at Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach. Admission is free, with table seating for two starting at $30. Visit Galuppis.com. … Magic 13 Brewing Co., a sweet spot in Miami’s Little Haiti, will have nationally touring Queen tribute band Almighty Queen at 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $20+. Visit Magic13Brewing.com.

Let’s talk about sax: Smooth jazz saxman Jeff Kashiwa (The Rippingtons, The Sax Pack) has shows at 6 and 9 p.m. Friday at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton. Tickets start at $30+ at FunkyBiscuit.com.

Free music: The free Summer Jamz concert puts an exclamation point on the season at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale on Friday with a performance by popular R&B group Jagged Edge (hit “Let’s Get Married,” “Where the Party At”). Summer Jamz takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. and includes food and drink, vendors and a kids’ zone with bounce houses, yard games and more. Admission is free. Visit Parks.FortLauderdale.gov.

SATURDAY

Rompers room: Members of the South Florida Chapter of the Mrs. Roper Romp will bring their roving band of bewigged and muumuu-ed Helens to The American German Club of the Palm Beaches in Lake Worth Beach on Saturday. The night will include music from the band Private Stock, which covers classic hits from the heyday of “Three’s Company,” and German Fest activities from 5 to 10 p.m. Admission is $30 and includes German and American food and all-you-can-drink beer, wine and soft drinks. For information, search for “South Florida Chapter of Mrs. Roper Romp” on Facebook.com.

Do you remember? The indelible hits of Earth, Wind & Fire (“Boogie Wonderland,” “Shining Star,” “September”) and Chicago (“25 or 6 to 4,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”) come to iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available, starting at $49.15+, at LiveNation.com.

Makers market: Beloved Fort Lauderdale staple The Flamingo Flea flees north to its traditional Palm Beach County digs at Crazy Uncle Mike’s in Boca Raton on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The indoor-outdoor scene will include more than 30 vendors (including my new favorite, the make-your-own Hawley Trucker Hat Bar) and Crazy Uncle Mike’s beer, full bar and acclaimed food. Yet another reason to be there — live music from Joshua Diaz (remember Kids?), beginning at noon. Visit FlamingoFlea.com.

Let’s get luau-ed: Temple Street Eatery will celebrate 10 years in downtown Fort Lauderdale, on the Federal Highway seam between Flagler Village and Victoria Park, with a luau-themed block party on Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. The event will be a showcase for the acclaimed Asian street-food inspired cuisine of chef/partners Alex Kuk and Diego Ng, surrounded by live music, Chinese lion dancers, special cocktails, games and giveaways. Visit TempleStreetEatery.com.

Drinking Italy: The buzzy Small Wine Shop in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village will throw a party for the traditional Italian summer celebration Ferragosto on Saturday at 8 p.m., with Italian bites and free-flowing Italian wines. Tickets: $50 (15% off for Wine Club members). Visit SmallWineShop.com.

Plight of the honey bee: Copperpoint Brewing Co. in Boynton Beach will celebrate one of our ecosystem’s most critical workers with a gathering called Flight of the Honey Bee on Saturday, which is National Honey Bee Day. From 2 to 6 p.m. you’ll find special flights of four beers made with honey, including their popular Bee’s Squeeze. Joey McCoy of McCoy’s Florida Honey in Loxahatchee Groves will speak about the importance of bees, accompanied by a live hive, and will have samples of a variety of their honey. There also will be bottles of honey for sale. Visit Facebook.com/CopperpointBrewingCo.

Sushi Jo SoSo: Sushi Jo will celebrate the opening of its new location in the SoSo area of West Palm Beach (6200 S. Dixie Highway) on Saturday at 9 p.m. with complimentary sushi tastings, drink specials and music from Spred the Dub and DJ H-Bomb. Visit Facebook.com/SushiJoWPB.

They will rock you: If you are curious about Unravel — winners in the under-20 category at the Battle of the Bands competition at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton last Friday —  you can catch them at MarToni Pizza Lounge in Pompano Beach (555 S. Federal Highway) on Saturday at 8 p.m. Visit Instagram.com/unravel.band. (By the way, the other winners were the Miami-based Ryan Cooper Band in the over-20 category and, for the second consecutive year, Parkland’s Midnight3 took the People’s Choice award.)

Oakland Park cool: The free Oakland Park Art Walk on Saturday will showcase the funky diversity to be found along Northeast 12th Avenue. The three-hour open house (6 to 9 p.m.) will showcase creative and culinary talent in the area between Northeast 36th Street to 34th Court (east of the Brightline tracks, south of Funky Buddha Brewery). Participants include The Butcher’s Barrel,  Nour Thai Kitchen,  Rebel Wine Bar, Black Flamingo Brewery, D’Gusta Distributions and Beans-n-Dough Cookie Co. Visit OaklandParkFL.gov.

Cold as ice: The Wharf Fort Lauderdale will be the place to chill on Saturday during SlushyFest, with more than 75 unique frozen cocktails served at six bars at the waterside outdoor venue in the heart of downtown from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, and drink prices vary. Just a reminder that The Wharf will be closing for renovations after send-off parties on Aug. 30-31. Visit WharfFTL.com.

Swift action: The dance-party sorority known as Le Petite Fete will host The Eras Party, a Taylor Swift dance night, at the legendary Gramps in Wynwood on Saturday. The 21-and-older evening will include a DJ playing her hits, a costume contest, lip sync battle, bracelet trading and more. Tickets: $15. Visit LePetiteFete.com.

SUNDAY

New Maren, old Maren: Maren Morris told social media followers that her new EP, “Intermission,” represents a “new chapter of my life” after the Grammy winner came out as bisexual in June. On her way to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Sunday, Morris has been sprinkling new songs into recent tour sets, but for the most part her concerts lean into the music that has made her such a popular country performer, including “My Church,” “80s Mercedes,” “I Could Use a Love Song,” “The Bones” and her Zedd collaboration “The Middle.” Tickets for the 7 p.m. concert are available, starting at $29.99, at MyHRL.com.

Horn of plenty: Former Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble trumpeter Summer Camargo, now a member of the house band on “Saturday Night Live,” will share music from her new debut album, “To Whom I Love,” over two nights on Sunday and Monday at All That Jazz Café in Sunrise. At 7 p.m. each night, Camargo, who turns 23 this weekend, will lead a band that includes Austin Ford (trumpet), Jim Gasior (piano), Michael Ramos (bass), Max Marsillo (drums on Sunday) and Tyler Pons (drums on Monday). The Monday show was added after Sunday’s concert was sold out. For reservations, call 954-572-0821, text 954-260-5076 or email allthatjazz@bellsouth.net. Visit Facebook.com/Summer.Camargo.

Celebrating India: India’s Independence Day celebrations will unfurl on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Hosted by the South Florida chapter of the Association of Indians in America, the event will include a free cultural program highlighting dance and music from across India, food, a vendor market, an art exhibit, henna artists, kids’ activities and more. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/AIASFL.

The King of tributes: Longtime local favorite Chris MacDonald will bring his popular “Memories of Elvis in Concert” show to the Miniaci Performing Arts Center at Nova Southeastern University in Davie on Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $29.44+ at Ticketmaster.com.

LOOKING AHEAD

Keep on rollin’: Perhaps the ultimate outdoor, sing-along concert of the season in South Florida, Train and REO Speedwagon will perform at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Get there for the opening act, the hilariously awesome Yacht Rock Revue. Tickets start at $48.65+ at LiveNation.com.

Country dance party: A dance party dedicated to the music, fashion and fandom of a platinum-selling star is now a familiar template but the themed night called Down South is different. Taking place on Friday, Aug. 23, at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, this gathering will take place to the hits of country stars Luke Combs, Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen. Kind of a brilliant idea. Tickets for the all-ages show start at $13+ at JoinTheRevolution.net. Doors open at 8 p.m. Bracelets optional.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.

This means that regardless of political party affiliation, if a registered voter lives in either District 1 or District 5, they may vote for one of the candidates.

If a candidate in either race receives more than 50% of the votes, they automatically secure a win. If no one gets more than 50%, then the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November election.

Once elected, the two new board members will serve four-year terms and receive a salary of $53,407. Issues that bubbled to the surface during campaigning include school safety measures, such metal detectors, teacher pay, the state’s new law mandating later start times and how to maintain an A-rating.

Here’s what to know about each race and candidate.

District 1

District 1, which represents the northern part of the county with cities including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Tequesta, is currently represented by Barbara McQuinn.

McQuinn will be replaced by either Matthew Jay Lane, Page Lewis or Francesca Wernisch.

Lane, 69, is a former Palm Beach Gardens city councilmember with a family and divorce law firm. According to his Sun Sentinel questionnaire, his priorities are ensuring teachers get paid enough and that students learn “the fundamentals.”

Lewis, 57, currently helps children learn how to read and believes the district’s success relies on students having a firm grasp on the essentials of reading, writing and arithmetic, according to her questionnaire.

Wernisch, 39, has young children currently in the school district and similarly advocates for “early learning” and improving teacher recruitment and professional development.

District 5

The District 5 race, which includes all the schools in Boca Raton and West Boca, is one of the county’s most crowded races with five candidates vying for the spot.

The winner will replace Frank Barbieri Jr., who has served in Seat 5 since 2008.

Gloria Branch, 56, is a more than 40-year Boca Raton resident and current substitute teacher with a desire to “shed the remnants of equity and woke ideology,” according to her questionnaire, and invest resources in teacher pay and the classroom.

Mindy Koch, 71, has spent more than 40 years either in teaching, administration or as a special education coordinator. According to her questionnaire, she wants the district to home in on reading and math for pre-K through third-grade students.

Mike Letsky, 47, is the founder of FutureGen Robotics. He said he wants students to have more in-person instruction and believes there are better ways to make schools safer, such as installing cameras with artificial intelligence.

Suzanne Page, 73, crafted a five-step educational reform plan outlined on her website that includes detailed steps for elementary, middle, high school students and teachers.

Charman Postel, 37, is a consultant and substitute teacher with four children currently attending school in the district. To keep the district’s A rating, Postel said in her questionnaire she would advocate for “curriculum enhancements, professional development for teachers and increased support.”

Voting

Early voting will be available until 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, then Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 20. The general election will take place on Nov. 5.

A Wellington resident named John Saroka filed the complaint on Aug. 9, asking that the commission investigate Diaz less than two weeks away from the primary, according to a copy of the complaint reviewed by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Saroka did not return a voicemail Wednesday morning.

Diaz listed his net worth as $1,348,000 on his qualifying Form 6, the complaint points out. But the form lists his assets as totaling only $338,000: $138,000 in household goods and effects, $50,000 in cash, and a $150,000 pension. All sheriff candidates are required to file the Form 6 with the Florida Commission on Ethics by July 1 in order to qualify for office.

“I do not believe Candidate Diaz was being fully candid with the citizens of Palm Beach County when he filed his Form 6,” Saroka wrote. “Therefore, I humbly request that the Commission on Ethics investigate this matter.”

Lynn Blais, a spokesperson for the commission, said she could not confirm or deny the existence of the complaint because complaints do not become public record until a certain stage in the investigation.

Diaz also reported $375,000 in liabilities on the form, which was filed June 11. Candidates are supposed to calculate their net worth by subtracting their total liabilities from their total assets, according to detailed instructions posted on the commission’s website.

Diaz told the South Florida Sun Sentinel Wednesday that he did not overestimate his net worth, but rather it is likely much higher than what he reported on the form. He said that he had not realized he needed to list assets such as over a million dollars in property, a $300,000 boat, a truck, a car, a horse trailer, and a couple hundred thousand in stocks.

“I filled it out to the best of my ability,” Diaz said of the form. “I did not overestimate my net worth in any shape or form. If anything, I was extremely conservative about it … the only findings they’re gonna find is my net worth is actually higher.”

In an email to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Diaz’s wife compiled assets not mentioned in the filing, including a tractor, a side-by-side, jewelry, designer handbags, $7,000 worth of firearms, and two homes, one he owns with his wife in Highlands County, which he listed as worth $950,000, though property appraiser records say its market value is close to $700,000, and another he owns with his son in Loxahatchee that he listed as worth $550,000 though property appraiser records say its market value is about $400,000.

The email also lists liens on both homes worth $530,000 as well as $20,000 on a Ford F250 truck, more than the $375,000 reported in the filing. Ultimately, the total assets in the email come out to just under $2.5 million, and about $1.9 million when subtracting liabilities.

Diaz said that no one from the state contacted him about his form, so he thought it was correct; he found out about the complaint only because the Palm Beach Post asked him about it.

He never heard from anyone because the Commission on Ethics does not review candidates’ financial disclosure forms to verify their accuracy, according to Blais. The commission investigates disclosures only when a complaint is filed.

“When disclosure forms are filed, we do not audit them in any way,” Blais said. “Someone has to file a complaint alleging someone failed to report something or misreported something. Only upon receipt of a complaint do we look into it.”

If the commission is reviewing the complaint, it will not be able to reach any conclusion before the primary on Aug. 20, because the next meeting is set for Sept. 13.

“That would be next opportunity for anything to be heard,” Blais said.

Diaz is facing Michael Gauger, former chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Office, in the Republican primary on Tuesday. The winner of the primary will face off against the Democrat candidate, either incumbent Sheriff Ric Bradshaw or his challenger, Alex Freeman, in November.

Diaz worked in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years before leaving, achieving the rank of captain. He later served as deputy chief of the Bartow Police Department.

The Florida Atlantic University poll shows Trump leading Harris 50% to 47% among likely voters in the state. Just 2% said they were undecided and 1% said they’d vote for another candidate.

The 3-point Trump advantage is half the lead he had in June, the last time FAU polled in the state. Trump had a 6-point advantage among likely voters, 49% to 43%, when President Joe Biden was the Democratic candidate two months ago.

The results of the Florida survey released Wednesday, which are similar to what’s been showing up in other national and state specific polls, demonstrate how much the trajectory of the presidential race has been upended since July 21, when Biden ended his campaign for reelection.

“This is consistent with the pattern that we’ve been seeing since Vice President Harris came into the race, that she’s consolidated a lot of the traditional Democratic groups and they’ve turned this into a very competitive race,” Kevin Wagner, a Florida Atlantic University political scientist, said in a phone interview.

Wagner is also co-director of FAU’s PolCom Lab, a collaboration of the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and Department of Political Science, which conducted the poll.

Another FAU political scientist, Dukhong Kim said in a statement that the results show that “Harris restores the traditional base of the Democratic Party, which includes women, minorities, younger voters, and Democratic Party identifiers.”  Trump, he said, maintains his own established base.”

The return of the Democratic base makes the contest  more competitive, Wagner said, even though the state has been trending more Republican.

When a larger sample of “all voters” as opposed to “likely voters” is considered, there’s also a 3-point difference. Among all Florida voters, the poll found Trump 49% and Harris 46%, with 2% preferring another candidate and 3% undecided.

Kennedy

The overall parameters of the Florida contest change slightly when factoring in the third-party candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,  the anti-vaccine activist and son of the assassinated U.S. senator.

When he’s in the mix, Trump has 47% of likely voters, Harris has 45% and Kennedy has 5%.

“It’s a tighter race with RFK Jr.,” Wagner said. “RFK Jr. at least for now seems to be hurting former President Trump.”

The FAU results are in line with a Suffolk University/USA TODAY/WSVN-Ch. 7 poll of likely Florida voters released Tuesday. Trump had 47%, Harris had 42% and Kennedy had 5%. The Suffolk survey was conducted via phone from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11.

In FAU’s previous Florida poll in June, a three-way race found Trump had 45% of likely voters to 40% for Biden and 8% for Kennedy.

Gender, age

There’s a sizable gender gap among likely voters, with women much more likely to prefer Harris and men much more likely to prefer Trump.

Women: Harris had support of 53% of women, 10 percentage points higher than Trump’s support among women.

Men: Trump had the support of 56% of men, 16 percentage points higher than Harris’ support among men.

Younger: Among voters under age 50, Harris led Trump 50% to 44%.

Older: Among voters 50 and older, Trump led Harris 53% to 44%.

Partisan divide

More than nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans supported their party’s nominee, with 94% of Democrats for Harris and 93% of Republicans for Trump.

Independents were closely divided, but slightly favored Harris, 48% to 43%.

Another illustration of the depth of the partisan divide was shown in voters’ responses to the selection of Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as the Democratic nominee for vice president.

Among all voters, the choice had approval of 44% and disapproval of 33%, with the rest neither approving nor disapproving.

But the breakdowns by party showed deep division. Among Democrats, 70% strongly approved of the choice and 1% strongly disapproved. Among Republicans 43% strongly disapproved and 8% strongly approved.

Independents were more evenly split, with 21% strongly approving and 16% strongly disapproving.

Wagner said the Walz results “illustrate how much of what we see and perceive today is just through a partisan lens. So many people have formed an opinion on someone who was largely unknown about a week ago.”

Senate race

The poll found a close race between U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and his likely challenger, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

(Mucarsel-Powell, who has the support of virtually the entire Democratic Party establishment, is almost certain to emerge as the winner of the Aug. 20 party primary.)

In a matchup between the two, Scott has 47% of likely voters to 43% for Mucarsel-Powell. Another 6% said they were undecided and 3% said they supported another candidate.

The June FAU poll had Scott at 45% to Mucarsel-Powell’s 43%.

The latest Senate numbers showed predictable patterns: Mucarsel-Powell had more support among younger voters and Scott had more support among older voters. The Democrat had more support among women and Scott had more support among men.

Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly (88% for each party) supported their party’s candidate. Among independents there was a tie at 41%.

“Scott is winning, but it’s within range that a surge of Democratic voters could make that a nail biter,” Wagner said.

Ultimately, Wagner said, the results in the presidential and Senate races will depend on which side turns out its voters.

“Because of the way that the state has trended, if both bases come out, then Republicans are likely going to be good, and I think that’s what you see in our numbers. It’s tighter, but it is still a Republican-leaning state. That would be good for Senator Scott and former President Trump.”

Florida poll finds abortion, marijuana amendments falling short of passage

Florida in play?

Political analysts have seen Trump as the overwhelming favorite to win Florida’s 30 electoral votes, more than 10% of the 270 needed to win the presidency. In 2020, Trump won Florida by 3.3 percentage points.

The poll, which is a snapshot taken early in the Harris candidacy, doesn’t mean Florida is in play.

“It’s possible if the race continues the trajectory it’s on. However, it’s still a bit early to make the determination, and we’ll have to see how the race progresses. If in the next few weeks there are more surveys that show Florida is tight, then it’s possible,” Wagner said.

Still, he said, the poll results are “a warning sign for the Trump campaign.”

Harris, now the Democratic nominee, has enjoyed a bonanza of publicity, and drawn enormous crowds at rallies in critical battleground states. Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, hasn’t yet implemented a strategy to counter the changed political environment.

Trump has spent lots of time at his Mar-a-Lago club and home in Palm Beach and hasn’t been doing many big, in-person rallies recently in battleground states. He held a rally in overwhelmingly Republican Montana on Friday, and is scheduled to speak about the economy Wednesday in North Carolina and headline a rally in battleground Pennsylvania on Saturday.

“It’s been a positive couple of weeks for the Democratic ticket. That could be a high water mark or this could be a trend. It’s hard to know in the moment,” Wagner said. “What really happened here is Harris has consolidated and brought a wavering Democratic coalition back, which gets you to where we’ve been for a while, which is an evenly divided country.”

Democrats had 558,272 more registered voters than the Republicans immediately after the 2012 election, when then-President Barack Obama won the state on his way to winning a second term and then-U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, won reelection.

The official state tally of registered voters shows that as of July 22, there were 994,847 more registered Republicans than Democrats in Florida. (Examining totals from each of the state’s county supervisor of elections, the Fresh Take Florida news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications estimated that the Republican advantage hit 1 million on Sunday.)

Even if Harris doesn’t win the state, a better than expected performance, propelled by voter enthusiasm for the new Democratic ticket, could help her party by getting more voters to the polls who might then vote for more Democratic candidates for lower level offices.

Fine print

The poll of 1,055 Florida registered voters was conducted Aug. 10 and 11 by Mainstreet Research for Florida Atlantic University’s PolCom Lab.

The survey used an online panel and automated phone calls to reach other voters. It has a margin of error equivalent to plus or minus 3 percentage points.

However, the margin of error for smaller groups, such as Republicans or Democrats, or men and women, would be higher because the sample sizes are smaller.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.

A Florida Atlantic University poll released Wednesday found both falling short of the 60% required for passage. A Suffolk University poll also found the abortion amendment short of hitting the threshold, and the marijuana question with slightly more than it needs.

Abortion: FAU found 56% of voters surveyed support and 21% oppose Amendment 4, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. The Suffolk/USA TODAY/WSVN-Ch. 7 poll reported 58% support and 35% opposed.

Marijuana: FAU found 56% support and 29% oppose Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana for people age 21 and older. Suffolk reported 63% in favor and 33% opposed.

There are still more than enough voters who said they didn’t know — 23% on the abortion question and 15% on the marijuana question in the Florida Atlantic University poll — that passage is possible. Voters will be bombarded with extensive pro and con campaigns on both questions through the fall.

Conflicting polls

So how is it that two Florida polls released on the same day appear contradictory?

(A third Florida poll, released 16 days ago, had different results as well. A University of North Florida poll found greater support (69% to 23%) for the abortion rights amendment and for the marijuana referendum (64% to 31%).

It involves the nature of polling.

People who produce high-quality public opinion polls always point out that their surveys are snapshots of what people say at the time they’re asked. The timing of when polls are being taken — they describe it as being “in the field” — can make a difference.

Mainstreet Research for Florida Atlantic University’s PolCom Lab: 1,055 Florida registered voters, was conducted Aug. 10 and 11.

Suffolk University/USA TODAY/WSVN-Ch. 7: 500 likely Florida general election voters, was conducted between Aug. 7 and Aug. 11.

University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab: 774 registered voters, from July 24 to July 27.

In a statement about FAU’s results, political scientist Luzmarina Garcia noted the difference since its last poll on the amendments in the spring. “These results reflect a growing awareness of the constitutional amendments. In April, FAU polled on both initiatives and at that time these measures had 49% approval, which shows a gain of 7 (percentage points) over the last four months.”

The methods pollsters use can make a difference in the nature of the sample.

Pollsters use a range of techniques, some involving live callers to phone lines, others online surveys, others automated calls to phone lines and others use an online component. Sometimes they use a combination of methods to try to reach people, especially younger voters, who may be less inclined to answer their phones.

FAU’s survey used an online panel and automated phone calls to reach other voters.

Suffolk’s survey used live telephone interviews.

UNF’s survey used an online panel, in which voters were contacted by text message and asked to complete the survey, and from live callers.

Pollsters also make adjustments to weight the samples. If, for example, the survey doesn’t have enough people of a certain demographic group to reflect the total population, they’ll make a statistical adjustment so the total sample more accurately represents the entire population.

And polling isn’t precise. The margin of error indicates the range in which pollsters expect the results to be accurate most of the time.

Candidate A has 54% and Candidate B has 46% and the margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points, A and B could be tied at 50% each. Or, it could be 58-42.

The FAU poll has a margin of error equivalent to plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Suffolk said its margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

UNF reported a margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The margin of error refers to the full poll. However, the margin of error for smaller groups, such as Republicans or Democrats, or men and women, would be higher because the sample sizes are smaller.

Abortion

The Florida Atlantic University poll found the abortion rights amendment is supported by a majority of every group surveyed — except Republicans.

Republicans were evenly divided, with 35% supporting and 35% opposing the amendment.

Democrats, with 80% in support and 8% opposed, favor the amendment more than any other group.

Independents are in favor, 59% to 15%.

Democrats were far more likely to have made up their minds. Just 12% of Democrats said they didn’t know how they would vote, compared to 27% of independents and 30% of Republicans.

Women were more likely than men to support the abortion rights amendment.

Women support it 59% to 19%, a 40-percentage point advantage.

Men support it 54% to 24%, a 30-point advantage.

And voters under age 50 were more likely to support the proposed amendment (62%) than voters 50 and older (52%.)

With Harris in race, poll shows closer contest in Florida. Trump now leads by 3 points.

Marijuana

The FAU survey shows a big age divide on the referendum that would allow recreational use of marijuana under state law by adults.

Voters younger than age 50 favor it, 69% to 20% — a difference of 49 percentage points, FAU reported.

Voters 50 and older support it more narrowly, 47% to 36%, a difference of 11 points.

There’s no difference based on gender, with 56% of men and 56% of women supporting legalization.

There is, however, a significant partisan divide.

Democrats favor the marijuana amendment 74% to 15%.

Independents favor it 63% to 22%.

Republican support is much lower at 37%, with 46% opposed.

“If they’re going to hit that 60%, the supporters of the amendment are probably going to have to reach a few more Republicans or have a particularly Democratic-leaning electorate, which sees a challenge in a presidential election year,” said Kevin Wagner, a Florida Atlantic University political scientist.

Wagner is also co-director of FAU’s PolCom Lab, a collaboration of the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and Department of Political Science, which conducted the poll.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.

Here’s what’s coming soon to a city near you. Please note: Opening dates are subject to change.

La Birra Bar

2031 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park; LaBirraBarUSA.com

Its Golden burger — with two 4-ounce patties, American cheese, red onion and “secret mayo” — gleamed at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Burger Bash in 2022. Now Daniel Cocchia’s burger franchise is heading to Broward County, with the first of two locations set to throw a grand opening on Aug. 21 inside a former Wendy’s on Oakland Park Boulevard. Cocchia, whose family opened 15 locations in Argentina before expanding to the United States (specifically, Miami’s Wynwood) in 2021, offers a menu of 26 burgers. For example, the Onlyfans burger comes with American cheese, bacon, thick-cut provolone, crispy onions and a so-called “stalker sauce.” There are also hot dogs and sides of french fries, onion rings and Spinach dip nachos, along with draft beer and Argentine red and white wines. A Weston outpost is expected to debut later this year.

Lola’s Tuscan Steak House by Todd English 

717 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; lolastuscansteakhouse.com

Celebrity chef Todd English’s love affair with Palm Beach County is unyielding, even if the county doesn’t always love him. His short-lived West Palm Beach restaurant Todd’s closed in 2020, following runs of his wood-fired oven pizzeria Figs inside The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens and Mediterranean sit-down Wild Olives in Boca Raton. Now the four-time James Beard Award winner and TV host (PBS’ “Food Trip with Todd English”) is making another go of it, with a new spot in downtown Lake Worth Beach set to replace the former Callaro’s Steak House. There’s no menu available yet, but the the plan is to open Lola’s before the end of 2024.

Johnny’s Hungry Hoagies

790 E. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; johnnyshungry.com 

Ever since signs went up at the soon-to-come space in the plaza of the Laureat apartment building, near the oh-so-busy intersection of Broward Boulevard and U.S. Highway 1, there’s been anticipation buzz about this fast-casual eatery. “We looked for a growth area with a large residential population and great visibility in a key section of downtown,” owner John “Johnny” Wiggins told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Wiggins would know. His career has been in commercial development and upscale home building. Why hoagies now? “There are a lot of generic hoagie sandwich shops,” the self-described foodie and lifelong Fort Lauderdale resident said. “We’ve created a very unique and craveable line of sandwiches based on the highest quality meats and cheeses, along with chef-inspired recipes that will differentiate us from other chains.” There will be indoor seating for 20 guests, and details are still being worked out on possible plaza seating. This first location is expected to debut in late October or early November, with plans for a second location to be announced soon.

BrickTop’s 

12 NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach; Bricktops.com

Touting jumbo lump crab cakes, prime sirloin meatloaf and ribeyes, this Nashville-born, steak-and-seafood chain is moving into the ground floor of a two-story retail building one block north of Atlantic Avenue. The 4,420-square-foot sit-down will debut in summer 2025, per its website, joining 10 U.S. locations including Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens (named The River House). The menu also features chicken Milanese, lobster bisque, steak frites, tavern burgers, grilled trout and cedarwood-planked salmon, along with N.Y. strips and filet mignon. And, of course, there will be cocktails, craft beers and wine by the glass and bottle.

Puya Urban Cantina

2750 Griffin Road, Dania Beach

Sometime this October, Dania Beach will gain its first kosher Mexican restaurant, in the ground floor of the just-opened Koosh Living at Griffin luxury apartments. Puya is registered to Guy Levintin, whose company BSD Capital developed the complex where the 120-seat restaurant will reside. The fast-casual eatery will feature an outdoor bar and a menu, still being finalized, that will include 20 types of margaritas.

Kapow Noodle Bar

32 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach; KapowNoodleBar.com

The clubby hot spot Salt 7 on buzzy restaurant row Atlantic Avenue closed on June 30, and this sumptuous noodle nook is taking its place. Kapow, from veteran restaurateurs Vaughan Dugan and Rodney Mayo, plans to open its third location sometime before the end of 2024, joining locations in West Palm Beach and its dramatically reinvented flagship in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park. The trendy Asian-themed restaurant will carry a vibe (mural-splashed walls, dark bamboo furniture) and menu similar to its sisters. Think short-rib gyoza tacos, Wagyu beef and shrimp shumai dumplings, KFC chicken bao buns, sweet potato poke bowls, salads and entrees such as Pekin duck and whole North Atlantic lobster lo mein with garlic butter, sweet soy, red pepper, carrots and scallions.

Parlor Doughnuts
444 NE Seventh St., Fort Lauderdale; parlordoughnuts.com/fort-lauderdale-fl 

Set to open in August, this sweet newcomer to Flagler Village will offer signature layered doughnuts as well as vegan, gluten-free and keto-friendly options that feature a cake-like texture. There will also be a full coffee bar, plus special Pawler Dog Doughnuts available for your furry friends. The decor will mix modern with vintage Americana, evoking “parlor” rooms of 1900s Victorian homes. This marks Parlor Doughnuts’ first foray into Broward County, with future plans to open three more locations in the region.

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar 

222 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; cremagourmet.com 

Just a few steps from the beach in L-B-T-S, Crema is opening a 2,000-square-foot space with what they describe as an “industrial cafe-bistro vibe” in the next two or three months. Boasting locations throughout South Florida, Crema serves housemade breakfast fare, pressed juices, pastas, handcrafted sandwiches, salads, wine and beer. Its most popular dishes include the Open Face Breakfast Sandwich, Chicken Club Sandwich and Salmon Bowl.

Gabriella’s Modern Italian

40 NE Seventh Ave., Suite 160, Delray Beach; gabriellasfl.com

This new eatery just off buzzy-busy East Atlantic Boulevard is an offshoot of Gabriella’s Italian Steakhouse in downtown Red Bank, New Jersey. The Delray Beach version is expected to open this fall, according to a news release. The dinner menu in The Garden State original includes raw and chilled seafood, starters such as Shrimp Arrabiata and Truffle Ricotta, pastas, steaks and desserts ranging from Affogato Granita to Bombalonis.

Through The Vine
444 NE Seventh St., Suite 1A, Fort Lauderdale; Instagram.com/throughthevineftl 

This wine bar plans to debut in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, nestled at EON Squared apartments, sometime this winter. In addition to the vino — curated by sommelier Jason Javens — oenophiles will be able to enjoy a menu of shareable plates and gourmet tapas with highlights such as charcuterie boards, Sweet Figs Truffle Honey Burrata Cheese Flatbread, Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters, and Watermelon and Cucumber Ceviche. The project is from a triumvirate of entrepreneurs and hospitality execs: Troy Cabrera, Isaac Benharoche and Eli Goldshtein.

Cannoli Kitchen Pizza

9180 Glades Road, Boca Raton; cannolikitchen.com

This pizzeria is expanding with locations coming to Boca Raton in October, then to Coral Springs and Coconut Creek in the second half of 2025. But that’s not all: The Boca Raton-based company that started in 1996 has its eyes on expansion to Orlando, as well as outside Florida to Alabama, Michigan and Georgia. “It’s rare to cultivate a restaurant brand with a mom-and-pop vibe that’s consistent across multiple locations, but that’s exactly what we are doing with this pizza franchise,” company president Austin Titus said. South Florida currently has four Cannoli Kitchen Pizza eateries: in Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach.

Man Ray
522 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach; Sub-Culture.org

Named after the iconic painter and photographer subversive who straddled two art movements — Dada and Surrealism — this restaurant is expected to open later this year on Lucerne Avenue in downtown Lake Worth Beach, replacing the former C.W.S. Bar + Kitchen. Billed as a spinoff of Dada in Delray Beach, the eclectic sit-down comes from Palm Beach restaurant impresario Rodney Mayo (Kapow!, Sassafras, Hullaballoo, the recently opened El Segundo) and features no menu yet.

Pura Vida
6 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach; puravidamiami.com

This Miami-based, health-conscious chain is quickly expanding throughout SoFlo with a particular focus on Palm Beach County. The new Pura Vida Delray Beach will overlook the ocean when the 4,000 square-foot space opens on Sept. 5. Founded by Omer and Jennifer Horev in 2012, the fast-casual keeps an eye on food allergies and dietary restrictions, offering dishes such as pasture-raised egg sandwiches, salads, raw acai bowls, wraps and gluten-free vegan sweets. “Our aim has always been to foster spaces where individuals can come together to enjoy not just great food, but a lifestyle centered around health and wellness,” Omer Horev says. There are already 26 eateries.

3Natives
Multiple locations; 3Natives.com

This South Florida-blended franchise is on a tear, with plans to debut multiple outposts later this summer in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The fast-casual smoothie and acai-bowl bar, started by Tequesta’s Anthony Bambino in 2013, has already opened 10 locations, most recently on Fort Lauderdale’s 17th Street Causeway (April 24) and Boynton Beach’s Jog Road (March 27). Locations on the way, per the 3Natives website, include: Coral Springs (1211 N. University Drive), Weston (292 Indian Trace, Suite 2), Lake Worth Beach (8764 Lantana Road, Suite B-114) and Loxahatchee (5070 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road). The juicery has eight signature acai bowls, from the Estes Bowl (granola, peanut butter, strawberry, green apple) to the Tequesta Dragon (dragonfruit, blueberry, raspberry), along with salads, wraps, bagels and avocado toast.

Bondi Sushi
3333 N. Federal Highway, Oakland Park; BondiSushi.com

This beachy, Big Apple-born, sushi-bar chain is expanding with its first Broward outpost, which expects to debut this summer at Oaklyn, a new sky-high tower giving Oakland Park a jolt of big-city appeal. The 2,100-square-foot kitchen comes from founder-partners David Hess, Aiden Carty and Justin Hauser. The dining room will be distinguished by a Japanese-style cocktail bar and a sweets shop called Icebergs, which will serve Japanese ice cream, rice-cake desserts, sodas and candy. Bondi, which also operates a Miami Beach outpost, will serve king salmon and yellowtail jalapeno sashimi, 12 kinds of handrolls (from lobster and toro to A5 Wagyu and truffle avocado), 14 types of nigiri (sea scallop, seared albacore), crispy rice and shishito pepper appetizers.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

1840 Sawgrass Mills Circle, No. 4100, Sunrise; TommyBahama.com

This tropical-chic restaurant-retail mashup known for serving ahi poke bowls next to Polo shirts will debut at Sawgrass Mills mall in 2025, a Marlin Bar spokesperson told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. In South Florida, it will join Tommy Bahama restaurant/Marlin Bar outposts in Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter. At 8,500 square feet, the new Marlin Bar will be accented with tropical-print wallpaper, display men’s and women’s swimwear, sportswear and home decor, and include an outdoor patio. The shareable menu has a similar dash of island flavor, with entrees of coconut shrimp, blackened Mahi-mahi tacos, Kona coffee-crusted ribeye, grilled chicken and mango salad and, for dessert, piña colada cake.

Embarcadero 41
350 SE Second St., Suite 2, Fort Lauderdale; embarcadero41.us 

Expected to open in December, Embarcadero 41 — also called E41 — is the creation of the Vidal family, who came here from Peru in 2018 and created the boutique eatery brand that serves a menu mix of Peruvian fusion and Nikkei cuisine. Husband-and-wife dynamic duo Jorge (who worked with brewer SABMiller for 24 years) and Patricia, along with daughter Rafaella and son Rodrigo, opened their first restaurant in Sunrise in 2020 and now have three other locations: in Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs and Boca Raton. The menu includes ceviche and tiraditos; hot and cold appetizers such as pulpo anticuchero (octopus), conchitas a la Parmesana; rice and risottos, pastas, makis (sushi) and chef’s specials. This new location will have a full indoor-outdoor bar with a menu of signature cocktails, some made with pisco and Peruvian ingredients, and a wide and exclusive wine list. The new E41 will have three distinct areas — dining room, lounge bar and terrace — encompassing 3,600 square feet to accommodate 150 patrons.

Tropical Smokehouse

524 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; EatTropical.com

“Florida-style barbecue,” what 2023 James Beard semifinalist chef Rick Mace dubs his marriage of smoked meats and SoFlo soul, is expanding south to Delray Beach. Sometime later this year, Tropical will open on West Atlantic Avenue inside a mural-splashed building recently occupied by cocktail hub Pour & Famous. It’ll technically be the third smokehouse from Mace and business partner Jason Lakow, who opened their flagship West Palm Beach pit-stop in 2021 and a smaller fast-casual spinoff, Tropical BBQ Market, two years later. By all accounts, the menu will mirror the original, which serves low-and-slow, mojo-spiced pork shoulder and jerk turkey breast, medianoche hot dogs, DemKota prime brisket, barbecued jackfruit, and black bean and plantain rice bowls. The 800-square-foot building includes an expansive wraparound patio.

Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza
Multiple locations; Ah-Beetz.com

Ah-beetz, for the uninformed, is the only proper way to pronounce “apizza” in New Haven, Connecticut — locals say it loudly and emphatically, like “achoo!” — which should tell you something about the authenticity of the pies served there. After debuting in Delray Beach in 2022 and in West Palm Beach in June, the pizzeria is adding two more franchises, which will bow in Royal Palm Beach (11051 Southern Blvd.) and in Lake Park (9475 A1A Alternate). Founded by Kassondra Frantz and Nick Laudano Jr., the restaurant touts Connecticut favorites such as white clam ah-beetz, “mootz” (or mozzarella) pies with toppings, plus calzones, wings, salads and grinders.

Ocean Prime
171 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale; Ocean-Prime.com

This upscale surf-and-turf chain already has a mighty presence across 17 major cities, and now the steakhouse plans to open its latest sit-down on Las Olas Marina in spring 2025. At 15,000 square feet, the eatery from Ohio hospitality outfit Cameron Mitchell Restaurants will devote half its 400 seats for patio dining. It will be perched beside the Las Olas Bridge, and diners may use the marina’s 68 public boat slips for access, chief operating officer David Miller says in a statement. “Our fifth Ocean Prime location in Florida marks another significant milestone in our expansion in the state,” Miller says. Ocean Prime — which also has outposts in Tampa, Orlando, Naples and Sarasota — will offer oysters on the half-shell, Dutch Harbor King Crab legs and chilled whole Maine lobster on ice, sushi rolls, lobster bisque soup and, for entrees, sea scallops and blackened snapper with corn spoon bread and Swiss chard in a corn emulsion. Carnivores, meanwhile, can carve into filets, New York strips and ribeyes with optional Bearnaise sauce, black truffle butter and bleu cheese crust, along with Berkshire pork in a sherry reduction and double-bone lamb chops in roasted garlic-thyme jus. The menu also includes cocktails and brunch.

Howl at the Moon
600 SE Second Court, Fort Lauderdale; 754-356-4695; HowlattheMoon.com

In a bygone Fort Lauderdale party era, dueling-piano bars tickled the ivories into the wee hours of the morning at Beach Place. Now one of those singalong nightspots, Howl at the Moon, is staging a comeback with a 5,000-square-foot venue off Las Olas Boulevard, behind Big City Tavern. It is slated to open in October. As with the other 12 national locations, this new piano-bar will sling cocktails, shots and beers, no doubt to loosen your tongue for belting out “Don’t Stop Believin’” for the 50th time. Meanwhile, performers will face each other across black baby-grand pianos, taking song requests for tips while inviting customers onstage.

Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza

1 Main St., Miramar; mistero1.com

Renato Viola’s pizzeria is expected to open this fall at the new Manor at Miramar, an eight-story, mixed-use development right in the heart of the southern Broward County city. Known for star-shaped, Neapolitan-style pizzas, Mister O1 has multiple South Florida locations, including in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Aventura and South Beach.

Then the Fellmans watched a court in Miami side with condo owners there who waged a similar fight. Yet the couple say they can’t use the ruling to compel their district court to reconsider its decision.

And now the investor who terminated the condominium has sent a letter to the Fellmans’ longtime tenant telling her to stop paying rent to the couple. “We, as the new owner, would like to offer you a NEW LEASE so you may continue to occupy the Leased Premises without any interruption,” the letter says.

Court records and correspondence provided by the Fellmans present a story of a long legal battle to prevent The Scully Company, a Pennsylvania-based operator of rental communities, from taking over a condo unit the couple purchased for $65,000 in 1992 — back when the condominium’s declaration stated it would take 100% of unit owners to approve any termination.

But after buying 175 of the Mission Viejo Condominium units — all of them except the Fellmans’ — the investor took over the governing association and voted to reduce to 80% the threshold of unit owners required to approve the termination, court records show.

“I am still not sure what I did wrong and/or what Melissa and I could have done differently to have kept the free-and-clear condo in our possession,” Howard Fellman wrote Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 16 in an email begging him to intervene.

“Simply put, we bought a beautiful condo 32 years ago that was supposed to be our forever home. We have never been late on a mortgage, a monthly condo fee, a special assessment, an insurance premium or a tax. My wife and I worked very hard for the right to make that claim. This is so unjust.”

But a spokeswoman for The Scully Company, which operates the complex under the name Complex Palms Apartments, contended in a statement to The South Florida Sun Sentinel that the company made the decision to terminate the condominium “after years of enduring Mr. Fellman’s dissonance as it related to him sharing financial responsibilities associated with his rental unit.”

Howard Fellman cites a list of issues with how money at the condominium has been spent and reported, including its use of association property for what he says is the operation of the apartment complex.

When The Scully Company filed notice of its intention to seek termination in 2021, it offered the Fellmans $210,000 for their unit, saying the price was determined by an appraiser it had hired, Howard Fellman said.

While the Scully spokeswoman said the price offered was “above market value plus closing costs,” Howard Fellman contends that a Zillow search shows his property is worth more than $300,000.

On Monday, Howard Fellman’s attorney sent a letter to Scully objecting to its acquisition price and other terms of its proposed settlement, including the fact that the appraisal was conducted more than three years ago and the offer fails to credit him with 2.5% of the association property that includes Fellman’s building and all of the recreation areas and offices.

The Fellmans sued in 2021 to prevent the termination. But two courts have since upheld the investor’s right to terminate with 80% approval.

A Palm Beach County circuit judge agreed in 2022 that the bylaws did not prohibit the association from enacting future amendments to reduce the voter threshold. In April 2023, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach affirmed the earlier order with no comment.

Fortunately for the couple, they won’t be homeless regardless of how their fight concludes. They bought a house in Boca Raton in 2005 to accommodate their growing family and have since been renting the condo unit to tenants. But they said they always planned to retire to the condo unit and spend the rest of their lives there.

Miami court rules for holdout unit owners

Last March, the Third District Court of Appeal in Miami sided with a group of condo owners who sued to prevent termination of Biscayne 21 Condominium, a waterfront community about a mile and a half north of the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami.

That court found that language in the condo declaration incorporating all future amendments to the state’s Condominium Act, “as amended,” did not override a specific provision that was intended to give every unit owner veto power over any termination plan.

The appellate ruling found that the unit owners “have shown a substantial likelihood of success” to prevail in their lawsuit to stop the termination. It reversed a lower court order that denied the owners a temporary injunction but did not settle the case, which is ongoing.

According to a recent story by the Wall Street Journal, the case is being watched closely by developers who are planning to use termination to take over numerous high-rise condo buildings in South Florida and build even larger projects on their sites.

The Fellmans cited the Miami ruling in a motion filed in March asking a Palm Beach County circuit judge to vacate the 2022 order. The judge denied the motion, saying the plaintiffs failed to cite a case in which a ruling by a trial court was affirmed by an appellate court, then vacated by the trial court based upon a contrary decision from another district.

Regarding a possible appeal of the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling, Fellman said he was told by the supervising partner of the law firm that argued his case, Kaye Bender Rembaum, that the couple has no grounds to seek a reversal by the state Supreme Court.

The reason is the appellate court provided no written statement explaining its affirmation of the lower court ruling, the partner said.

In a letter provided by the Fellmans, the partner cited a decision in an earlier case that noted such rulings occur “when the points of law raised are so well settled that a further writing would serve no useful purpose.”

A possible way forward

Andrew Schwartz, a Palm Beach County based attorney who specializes in condominium issues, said while he is not familiar enough with the details of the case to offer an opinion, the Fellmans could file a separate motion seeking a written opinion from the Fourth District.

“The rule requires (the couple) to make certain allegations regarding the necessity of the written opinion, etc.,” Schwartz said.

Then the couple could “potentially seek review from the state Supreme Court based upon purported conflict resolution between the two district courts of appeal,” Schwartz said.

The couple’s current attorney, Mike Simon, declined to predict whether the Fellmans would try to reverse the appellate court ruling. Howard Fellman declined to reveal the couple’s next move, saying that the parties are still hashing out other issues, such as whether the investor is willing to reimburse them for recent improvements to the unit.

As of Monday, the Palm Beach Property Appraiser’s website still shows the Fellmans as owners of the unit, but the county’s Official Records shows a deed transfer filed on July 26 by the association to a group controlled by The Scully Company, asserting ownership through the “plan of termination.”

So far, the cost of the legal fight has exceeded the $210,000 that The Scully Company is willing to pay for the unit, Howard Fellman said. In addition to their own lawyers’ bills, the couple have been ordered to pay $82,624 for the investor’s legal fees, and they want another $60,816 for additional legal fees tied to the appeal.

According to a letter sent to the Fellmans, the investor is proposing to deduct $72,894 for legal fees and other expenses from the price of the unit, leaving the Fellmans with $137,124.

DeSantis’ office has responded to multiple letters from the Fellmans by referring them to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares & Mobile Homes. But a DBPR representative told them that the department lacks jurisdiction over termination issues, Howard Fellman wrote to a DeSantis spokesman.

“He said only your office has the power to intervene at this point,” he told the spokesman. “My wife and I kindly ask you to please do so.”

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday filed a complaint accusing Cynthia Petion and her husband Eddy Petion of operating a fraudulent investment program through their company, NovaTech Ltd., from 2019 to 2023.

According to an SEC news release, the Petions lived in Wellington, in Palm Beach County, during the majority of the time they operated the scheme. They have since moved to Panama, the SEC said.

The SEC accuses the couple of attracting victims by claiming NovaTech would invest their funds in crypto asset and foreign exchange markets. Cynthia Petion promised investors their money would be safe, the SEC said. “(I)n this program, you are in profit from day one, because again you have access to that capital,” she was quoted as saying.

Actually, only a fraction of investor funds were used for trading, the agency said. A majority was used to make payments to existing investors and to pay commissions to promoters, the complaint says.

Six of those promoters also are accused in the complaint. They are Martin Zizi of Kennesaw, Georgia; Dapilinu Dunbar of Miami; James Corbett of Mastic Beach, New York; Corrie Sampson of Fairburn, Georgia; John Garofano of Brooksville, Florida, and Marsha Hadley of Murrietta, California.

Because the complaint was filed so recently, no defense attorneys are yet listed in the case.

The release quotes Eric Werner, director of the SEC’s Fort Worth (Texas) Regional office, as saying: “NovaTech and the Petions caused untold losses to tens of thousands of victims around the world. As we allege, multilevel marketing schemes of this size require promoters to fuel them, and today’s action demonstrates that we will hold accountable not just the principal architects of these massive schemes, but also promoters who spread their fraud by unlawfully soliciting victims.”

The complaint states that the Petions, before forming NovaTech, became the top promoters for another multilevel marketing “scheme” called AWS Mining PTY Ltd. But that operation collapsed, the SEC said, after the Texas State Securities Board accused the company of violating Texas securities laws in a number of ways, including making false and misleading statements to investors and recruiting unregistered agents to sell them.

The Petions pivoted to creating and running their own crypto scheme called NovaTech, the SEC said, “which Cynthia Petion told prospective investors was created as a way for former AWS investors to recoup losses suffered when AWS collapsed.”

Cynthia Petion served as CEO and Eddy Petion serves as chief operating officer of the operation, which marketed itself to investors online and through social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp, the complaint states. Investors, it adds, were invited to fund their accounts with crypto assets worth a minimum of $99.

Solicitations employed religious overtones, including Cynthia Petion branding herself as “The Reverend CEO” and describing her founding of NovaTech as “God’s vision,” the complaint states.

The SEC reported that investors began experiencing delays in accessing their crypto assets from NovaTech by October 2022, which the company blamed on technical delays. Around the same time, the company came under scrutiny from regulators in the United States and Canada.

By February 2023, the company announced a 60-day “temporary freeze” on investor withdrawals, and by May it halted all U.S. operations and disabled its website, preventing investors from making further withdrawals, the complaint says.

According to the complaint, the small amount of investor proceeds that actually were traded in the crypto market lost $18 million, and the software that reportedly showed investors the results of their trading activity was operated manually by Cynthia Petion and was not connected to any actual trading system.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Petion transferred at least $5.8 million in crypto assets from NovaTech into accounts or wallets owned by her and Eddy Petion, and transferred another $35.2 million from crypto account wallets into accounts or wallets owned and/or controlled by Eddy Petion, the SEC claimed.

The complaint accuses the Petions and NovaTech of numerous offenses, including violations of federal securities and exchange acts for marketing unregistered investments.

The SEC seeks final judgments permanently barring the defendants from further violations. It also seeks a court ruling ordering NovaTech, the Petions and the promoter defendants to disgorge “ill-gotten gains” from the enterprise, and to pay interest and penalties.

Zizi has agreed to partially settle the complaint by consenting to a $100,000 civil penalty and agreeing not to further violate securities and exchange laws. Further penalties will be determined later, the SEC said.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.