Page 6 - Boca Exposure - March '21

Page 6, Boca Exposure
Council Corner: What’s Next...

By Andrea Levine great use of our public, outdoor spaces. Even our libraries It offers great potential. The District has already put out a
O’Rourke, Boca Raton opened for safe curbside pickup. “Request for Ideas.” Pickleball, walking paths, an executive
City Council Member, To add to what we already offer, we continue to work on course are a few ideas I have heard bandied about. Over 200
Deputy Mayor, and CRA more. Boca’s Waterfront Comprehensive Plan will include acres offers amazing opportunity.
Chairperson our 48th park. We have embarked on construction for the Along with recreation and green space, several
During the past year, long-awaited Wildflower and Silver Palm Parks. These two initiatives dear to me are Placemaking, Art, Culture and
the City of Boca Raton parks, that will artfully connect under the bridge, sit on the Pedestrian Walkability. I believe these qualities add a
was tasked with the northwest and southwest corner of the Intracoastal Waterway layer of humanity to our community that speaks to all
unexpected … providing at Palmetto Park Road. Along with improving and adding walks of life. Take a trip to our Downtown area to see the
a safe environment during to the public boat launch at Silver Palm, Wildflower will colorful new mural on the stage doors at the Mizner Park
a global pandemic! We feature children’s interactive play areas, including a water Amphitheater. It’s a perfect photo-op moment! The work
have risen to the occasion feature. Built-in seating will be constructed so visitors may by artist Eduardo Mendieta is truly spectacular. While
and continue to work on safety and funding programs enjoy intracoastal views of passing boats. The park will there, take notice of the new wayfinding signs, banners
for those in need. Please take some time to watch the include a gracious walking promenade, benches, picnic and safer crosswalks throughout the area.
comprehensive “2021 State of the City Address” by tables and a passive kayak and paddleboard launch. Adding If you check out Downtown Boca on the Internet, you
Mayor Singer, which premiered on Feb. 17. It will be eye- to the ambiance will be handsome public art sculptures on will find many special entertainment opportunities, including
opening to see how we have fared through the pandemic. loan to us from the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Yes, we are restaurants for safe dining or pickup curbside. There are
It also highlights how the City functions and the amenities venturing to art beyond the walls, thanks to the museum. several fun self-guided walking tours.
that are offered. To view this important message, go to: These parks will offer the ability to access all of the The Historic Museum and Visitor Center is now under
myboca.us. other parks along the waterway by boat. I like to call it a major renovation and will be completed soon. The Boca
I am going to put COVID-19 and vaccines aside for our “blueway.” Other Intracoastal parks include Gumbo Raton Museum of Art is beautifying its entrance and adding
today and focus on some of the many positive things that Limbo, Spanish River, Red Reef, Lake Wyman/Rutherford a very special sculpture garden.
are happening in our City. (currently under renovation). Ocean Strand, now in the The Brightline will start construction in the near future.
Boca Raton is called the “City within a Park” planning stage in conjunction with the Greater Boca Raton This will enable locals to get to Miami, West Palm Beach or
for good reason. Along with five miles of beautiful Beach and Parks District, will be our 49th park when Orlando without having to deal with traffic or hours behind
oceanfront beaches, we have 47 parks. In our parks we complete. We are also working together on a new ADA the wheel. When the Brightline is complete, last mile services
offer recreation that includes a variety of golf, tennis, accessible viewing tower now under construction at Gumbo to downtown, major employers and other hubs will follow.
pickleball, swimming, playgrounds, ball fields, basketball Limbo Nature Center, a Boca Raton treasure. While the great outdoors adds to our enjoyment, we
courts, sand volleyball, boat launches, picnic areas, I am excited to share news of a major donation to the City have numerous other attractions, such as our outstanding
pavilions, nature trails, bicycle trails, dog park, and dog of Boca Raton. The Boca Raton Resort and Club gifted our educational institutions, the growing campus of Baptist
beach. We even have a butterfly garden and a carousel. City with the recreational facility at the Boca Raton Country Health, the Boca Raton Airport serving international
All of this within alluring open green space. Club. This gift includes an 18-hole championship golf course, travelers, and a developing business innovation center
During the pandemic, one of the great lessons we along with tennis, swimming and club/meeting rooms. The (BRIC) on the old IBM campus, where the PC was
learned was how important these amenities are to our City will assume operations October 2021. During the interim invented. We are poised and ready for the next great
residents. While we were limited in our ability to gather, we are assessing the potential of the property and how it invention to come out of Boca.
socialize or even work, we found our residents made aligns with the needs of the community. At the same time, While Florida is quickly becoming a haven for many
we are looking forward to working with the Beach and Parks northerners, we are working to assure a continued and
District on a recreational site at Ocean Breeze in Boca Teeca. outstanding quality of life in our hometown.
CCCC

Vine Trivia Uncorked

By Laura Berrio, 6. What has the highest alcohol content: wine, beer or
Freelance Writer/ whiskey?
Blogger Standard serving sizes of all alcohol beverages – beer,
1. What temperature wine, and liquor – are equal in alcohol strength and effect on
should red wine be stored the body.
at and served at? 7. What type of wine has the lowest calories?
Red wine should be Dry and low alcohol content wines are the lowest in
stored at 55 degrees in a calories … although I would rather drink what I like and cut
wine refrigerator or cellar. calories somewhere else!
Red wine should be served 8. What happens to red and white wine as they age?
at room temperature … Red wine gets lighter in color and white wine gets darker
to clarify … not room in color.
temperature here in Florida! Room temperature in a nice 9. How much pressure is there in a bottle of
cool wine cellar …70 degrees. Champagne?
2. What color grapes are used to make white wine? The pressure in a bottle of champagne is 90 pounds per
Red grapes! square inch, about three times that in your automobile tire.
3. How many grapes does it take to make a bottle of 10. Are you scared to open a bottle of Champagne?
wine? Now you have a reason to be! How fast does a cork travel
On average it takes 736 grapes to make one bottle. when you open it?
4. How many bubbles in a bottle of Champagne? A flying cork can travel up to 50 miles
Almost 58 million! per hour.
5. Is the practice of walking on grapes (think I Love ~Cheers
Lucy) still used in wine making? ~Keep the conversation going and
It is! Usually when producing small quantities of high the wine flowing!
end port wines. Follow the Vine on Instagram @
VineVibeUncorked.