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ETHAN BLOOM – SASIFF Opening Night Premiere, January 25 at Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse

The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival© (SASIFF), presented by MorseLife, will launch its fourth season with screenings of 28 memorable, world class movies, including an audience-wowing assortment family dramas, suspense thrillers, revealing documentaries and three “must-see” comedies.

“Whether your ideal comedy experience evokes belly laughs or smiles of delight, we have it all, from a look back at the still fresh and funny legacy of a daring American comic to an array of European box office hits,” promises Barbara Scharres, SASIFF Artistic Director.

Sunday, January 25th, 2026 – 7:30 p.m.

ETHAN BLOOM

(Coming-of-age Comedy, 2025, North Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Herschel Faber. USA, 90-minutes)

THE LITTLE SISTER – February 3,

The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival (SASIFF), presented by MorseLife, returns for its fourth season with screenings at three locations: the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from Sunday, January 25th, 2026 - Saturday, 31st, 2026, Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace Sunday, February 1st - Thursday, February 5th, 2026 and the new Glazer Hall in Palm Beach on Friday, February 6th, 2026. Among the exciting, curated selection of films from all over the world are 11 cinematic offerings directed by women: Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 –Frontier Thursday, January 29th, 2026 –Speak Friday, January 30th, 2026 – Sultana’s Dream Friday, January 30th, 2026 –Calle Malaga Comedies, Page 2A , Page 6A

February at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is packed with powerhouse performances, legendary tributes and moving live entertainment, offering audiences an exciting mix of music, dance and storytelling, including special Valentine’s Day weekend shows, as the venue welcomes a full month of unforgettable experiences for every generation.

Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion presents Classical Classics: The Monet of Music featuring Genova & Dimitrov, one of the world’s most sought-after piano duos, comes to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate Genova & Dimitrov’s 30th Anniversary with a program

IGNITE Broward Returns

Free, Family-Friendly Festival Will Light Up Broward County

IGNITE Broward, South Florida’s premier festival featuring an array of public interactive light- and sound-based art installations, returns for its fifth year from Friday February 13th, 2026 - Sunday, February 22nd, 2026. The 2026 edition is the festival’s most ambitious yet, running for 10 days with over 25 spectacular displays across four Broward County locations: MAD Arts in Dania Beach, Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, ArtsPark at Young Circle in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Inter-

national Airport. With over 80,000 visitors attending last year, the festival has become a major cultural draw. It includes immersive large-scale projection mapping, interactive light sculptures and installations, sound-based experiences, musical performances and family-friendly programming by local, national and international artists. In addition, this year will feature a showcase of young emerging local artists from MAD Art & Tech Studio Program, who will debut their work at

ticipating artists, visit: https:// docs.google.com/document/d/ 1lFkelmrWVltDO4p_QvSDZs50Y9hv-tiVYyLMK0lpR4/ edit?tab=t.0

Notable participants include the Italian new-media art collective Onda Studio, known for immersive, technology-driven experiences that blend art, light and interaction. Their practice explores connections between people, space and technology. Powered by leading no-contract wireless carrier Total Wireless,

honoring the legendary French composer Claude Debussy — a pioneer of musical modernism often likened to Monet and Renoir for his impressionistic style. The performance features the sensuous textures and evocative imagery of Debussy’s celebrated two-piano works, alongside captivating pieces by Ravel and Rachmaninoff. This special concert promises an evening of artistic brilliance and musical mastery. Put on some flip-flops and tank tops for the ultimate Jimmy Buffett tribute and sway to the tunes of Caribbean Chillers: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet presented by South Florida Legends on Saturday, February 7th, 2026

at

at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center.

Caribbean Chillers, the number one Jimmy Buffett tribute band in the country, will have audiences on their feet, singing along to

N.E.188

classic hits from across the decades including “Come Monday,” “Volcano,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and

more. Parrot Heads travel from near and far to experience this award-winning tribute that recreates the feel of an authentic

Cultural Center, Page 8A

AEONIUM by Daniel Popper The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located
3385
Street in Aventura.

Comedies

From Page 1A

Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival MorseLife.

portrait of adolescence, humorously exploring the struggles of an awkward teenager navigating the loss of his mother, his search for faith, and the pressures of his father’s expectations. Starring Hank Greenspan from the CBS hit comedy The Neighborhood and movie/TV actress Rachelle Lefevre (White House Down, Proven Innocent, Boston Legal, Big Wolf on Campus), ETHAN BLOOM captures the perils of first love, religion, and specu lation about the afterlife as the 13-year-old title character attempts to evade his Bar Mitzvah by converting to Catholicism. Meanwhile, his widowed dad (played by Joshua Malina from The West Wing) has engaged curvaceous redheaded Rabbi Dani to administer private instruction in the Torah. Talk about complications. Torn in multiple directions, Ethan communes nightly with his mom and dead dog in the heaven he imagines for them, while strug gling by day with his enthusiastic discov ery of solo pleasures of the flesh. It all comes together in a spectacularly moving finale when faith, sex, love, and family all coalesce in well-deserved harmony.

screenwriter Maylen Dominguez will be present for audience discussion. At the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse in West Palm Beach

Wednesday, January 28th – 7:00 p.m.

THE MARCHING BAND

(En Fanfare)

(Culture-clash Comedy with Music, 2024, Florida Premiere. Directed by Emmanuel Courcol. France, 103minutes—In French with English subtitles)

A music-filled and oh-so-French com edy/drama reunites two brothers sepa rated in childhood by adoption. The strains of Ravel’s “Bolero” run through this tale of family lost and found when Thibault (Benjamin Lavernhe), an orches tra conductor, is compelled by a medical emergency to seek a DNA match and dis covers the brother he never knew. Just when it appears that refined Thibault and wrong-side-of-the-track Jimmy (Pierre Lottin), a smalltown factory worker, will never reach a meeting of the minds, a musical crisis that threatens Jimmy’s beloved hobby, the factory employee’s band, becomes the catalyst for a finale that spectacularly merges community, family, and rousingly tuneful innovation in a way sure to bring audiences to their feet.

At the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse in West Palm Beach

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 – 4:00 p.m.

A WORLD APART

(Un Monde a Parte)

(Comedy/Drama, 2024, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Riccardo Milani. Italy, 113-minutes—In Italian with English subtitles)

Disillusioned primary school teacher Michele (Antonio Albanese) requests reassignment from Rome to a remote snowbound village in the Italian Alps where the air is pure, the students less jaded, and where he will teach in the equivalent of a one-room schoolhouse. The idyllic life he envisions comes with its own unique obstacles in this Italian hit comedy-drama that radiates warmth and humanity even as the teacher faces community rancor, a romantic temptation, and the challenge of an administrative plan from above to close the area’s only school for good. The solution to the problem is pure genius, opening this isolated little town to a new vision of their place in the world.

At Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace in Delray Beach

For more information about SASIFF or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.sasiff.org.

About The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival: The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife, aims to bring highly anticipated, critically acclaimed, and thoughtprovoking films to Palm Beach County. As a world-class film festival, it represents a major contribution to the cultural life of Palm Beach County and returns next month for its fourth season with screenings at the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse from Sunday, January 25th, 2026 - Saturday, January 31st, 2026, Hooky Entertainment Delray from Sunday,

February 1st, 2026 - Thursday, February 5th, 2026 with the closing night screening at glamorous new Glazer Hall in Palm Beach on Friday, Feb. 6th, 2026. SASIFF was co-founded by film buffs and cultural philanthropists Donald M. Ephraim and Terri Sriberg. For more information about purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, please visit: www.sasiff.org. Or: www.facebook.com/DME.SASIFF. And: www.twitter.com/dmesasiff. Or: www.instagram.com/dme_sasiff. Email: info@sasiff.org. Or call: (561) 220-6735.

About MorseLife:

MorseLife serves more than 3,600 seniors every day on its campus in West Palm Beach and through its community outreach programs. Founded in 1983,

MorseLife is a provider of health care and residential services for seniors in Palm Beach County. A charitable, not-for-profit organization, its programs also include short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, independent and assisted living, memory care assisted living, hospice, home health care, care management, meals-onwheels, and PACE. Since its beginnings, MorseLife has built a reputation and tradition of caring for seniors with excellence, dignity, and compassion. For more information, visit: https://morselife.org. Or: www.facebook.com/MorseLife. Or: www.twitter.com/MorseLifeHealth. Or: www.instagram.com/morselifehealth. Or: www.linkedin.com/company/morselifeinc-/. Or contact: info@morselife.org.

(Photo Credit: Sun & Stars International Film Festival)
THE MARCHING BAND – January 28 at Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse
A WORLD APART – February 3 at Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace

Broward County’s Got Talent!

FREE Event Showcasing Talented Youth To Benefit Broward County Music Teachers Association And 4KIDS

Dozens of music students from over 10 local studios will perform recitals as part of a “Musicthon” at Galleria Fort Lauderdale from Friday, January 23rd, 2026 –Sunday, January 25th, 2026 to raise funds for the Broward County Music Teachers Association (BCMTA). The recitals are FREE and open to the public. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit 4KIDS of South Florida, a nonprofit organization propelled by the vision of a home for every child, with the mission of providing hope to kids in crisis. Students of all ages and levels will perform. Students collect donations from friends and family in support of their performance. By participating in this entertaining program, students not only enjoy performing for the public, but recognize that their fundraising efforts are helping two local non-profit organizations The ‘Musicthon’ is a great example of how the arts can inspire and connect our community,” said Melissa Milroy, marketing manager at Galleria Fort Lauderdale. “Galleria Fort Lauderdale is honored to host this event and support young musicians while helping raise funds for impactful local organizations.”

“Musicthon” Event Schedule:

Fri., January 23rd, 2026: 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sat., January 24th, 2026: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sun., January 25th, 2026: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For over two decades, the BCMTA has held its annual “Musicthon” to raise awareness and operating funds. BCMTA is dedicated to promoting the growth and professional development of its members by providing educational resources that encourage the highest level of teaching, performance, and study of the art of music. BCMTA also provides student scholarships and competitive activities.

For more information about Galleria Fort Lauderdale and upcoming events, visit: www.galleriamall-fl.com.

Or call: (954) 564-1015.

About the Broward County Music Teachers Association (BCMTA)

This year, BCMTA has chosen 4KIDS of South Florida, an organization committed to redefining foster care across the region one child at a time, with the support of the faith-based community. Whether a family is in crisis and at-risk of breaking down, siblings are coming into the foster care system, or a child requires traumainformed therapy – 4KIDS brings hope, homes, and healing.

Donations to the Broward County Music Teachers Association may be made via: musicthon88@gmail.com.

Established in 1965, the Broward County Music Teachers Association is one of the largest and most active music teachers associations in South Florida. BCMTA furthers the art of music and promotes the growth and professional development of its members by providing programs that encourage and support teaching, performance, composition, and research. It offers activities throughout the school year for teachers and students. Members are engaged at the local, state, divisional, and national levels, and the association hosts regular meetings

featuring member and guest presentations to support professional development.

BCMTA also administers a variety of student programs and competitions, with performance quality reflecting the high standards and excellence of its professional members. BCMTA is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Florida State Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association. For more information, visit: www.broward countymusicteachers.org.

About Galleria Fort Lauderdale Galleria Fort Lauderdale, recognized as one of South Florida’s premier shopping destinations, features a variety of popular dining and retail options. Macy’s, Dillard’s and H&M anchor the center which also is home to Altar’d State, Apple, Banana Republic, Free People and Pandora. The

center features a fine roster of dining establishments such as Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and P.F. Chang’s. Powerhouse Gym can also be found at the property. Just steps away from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach, it is minutes from the airport, port, downtown, hotels and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center with easy access from Sunrise Boulevard, U.S. Highway 1 (Federal Highway), Interstate 95, Interstate 595, and U.S. Highway A1A (Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). Located at 2414 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Restaurants and anchors enjoy varied hours. More information is available by calling: (954) 564-1015. Or by visiting: www.galleriamall-fl.com.

Music students will perform during the annual “Musicthon” at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, a free fundraising event Jan. 23 – 25. (Photo Credit: Florida State Music Teachers Association)

the installation, “Where are we Going?,” relies on 5G technology, enabling instant participation via a QR code.

Also participating is Ana Maria Caballero, a multi-award-winning transdis ciplinary artist whose work examines the tension between physicality and selfhood, as well as the relationship between bio logical processes and their cultural impli cations.

One of last year’s most celebrated art ists, Daniel Popper, is returning to IGNITE Broward to present his new work, “Mycelia.” This large-scale figure, crafted in wood and fiberglass, uses projection mapping to illuminate the intrinsic world of fungus and blend elements of nature and humanity.

This year’s program will also feature inflatable light sculptures—a new addition to IGNITE Broward—by the renowned national collective Pneuhaus, as well as experimental Super 8 video screenings by artist Phil Evans and the Barcelona-based film collective Dostoopos.

IGNITE Broward is presented by the Broward County Cultural Division and pro duced by MAD Arts, with additional support provided by Visit Lauderdale, City of Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Broward County Parks and Recreation and City of Dania Beach. The festival is free and open to the public, continuing its mission of making art accessible for all.

Participating locations include:

MAD Arts

Address: 481 South Federal Highway, Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Hours: Daily from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 10:00 p.m.

MAD Arts, an art and technology museum that immerses audiences in high- and low-tech experiences, will showcase more than 13 new pieces of art and host artist-led events and workshops. Key highlights include:

•“Oh Lord!” by Guillaume Marmin - A data-driven work using solar observation research to examine humanity’s evolving relationship with the sun as a cosmic guide, political symbol and source of fear and hope.

• “A Walled City” by Dr. Weidi Zhang and Dr. Jieliang (Rodger) Luo - An interactive installation transforming participant-submitted images into an evolving virtual city inspired by Hong Kong’s Kowloon Walled City.

• “Wayfarer 3.0” by Dr. Weidi Zhang - An AI-driven installation reimagining the mythical Tiangou through shifting celestial scenes, tracing its evolution from wandering star to moon-devouring force.

• “Face The Raster V2” by Homegrown Visuals and Akomi - An audiovisual installation where guest likenesses are captured and transformed in real time through oscilloscopes, soundscapes and analog-digital experimentation.

• “Sugar Coated” by Samantha Salzinger - A candy-colored, hand-built fantasy world that reveals fractures beneath its sweetness, examining excess, decay and the addictive nature of manufactured pleasure.

• “Body and Technology” by Performance in FluxA program of live performances and video works exploring how contemporary bodies interact with sound, light, machines and media.

• “In Search of Light 2” by Miguel Gonzalez - An immersive VR and laser-based installation tracing humanity’s evolving philosophical, spiritual and technological relationship with light.

• “Pace” by Ana Maria Caballero - An audiovisual work blending dance, AI-generated environments and performative poetry to propose that private joy and deeper self-connection can be catalysts for systemic transformation.

• “To Catch a Ghost” by Darius V. Daughtry - A poetic multimedia experience composed of three poem videos and a site-specific installation created in collaboration with MAD Arts.

• “Last Human” by The Last Human Collective - An immersive participatory experience exploring identity, authorship and deception within a decaying digital landscape shaped by bots, deepfakes and algorithmic identity.

• “VJYOURSELF!” by Playmodes - An interactive dance installation, a contemporary magic mirror where participants dance with repeated, timeshifted versions of themselves through real-time effects.

• Artist Studio Program Presentation in MAD YardThis presentation features works from local artists—Liv Cook, Mark Espinoza, Richard Vergez, Alejandra Abad, Corina Lipavsky, Astrid Maldonado and Claudine Julien—participating in MAD Art & Tech Studio Program, a mentorship program that connects aspiring creators with established global artists. The artists will showcase their projection-mapping works developed over a six-month curriculum with mentors Jaime Reyes, Peter Burr and Amir B. Jahanbinir.

• Series of Films by Dostoopos - A looping selection of experimental films, presented in the Cine Lounge at MAD Arts, that explores image plasticity, movement and sound through found footage, animated collage, negative manipulation and Super 8 film.

• “Super Zone” by Phil Evans - A 10-minute Super 8 cine video loop animation showcasing analog texture and handcrafted spontaneity, presented in the Cine Lounge at MAD Arts and accompanied by a Super 8 animation workshop.

Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park

Address: 2520 Northwest Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311

Hours: Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00

p.m.; Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m.10:00 p.m.

Experience six spectacular installations throughout Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, a 36-acre neighborhood space shared with Fort Lauderdale’s AfricanAmerican Research Library and Cultural Center. The park’s dramatic lake fountain, basketball court and surrounding grounds become the backdrop for new, engaging works, including:

• “Mycelia” by Daniel Popper - A sculpture inspired by fungal networks, symbolizing interconnection, shared consciousness and the cyclical relationship between humans and nature.

• “Grove” by Pneuhaus - An immersive sculptural environment of illuminated columns branching overhead, inspired by underground root systems and the exchange of energy between trees.

• “APOGEE” by Chalk River Labs - A projectionmapped, synthwave-infused installation transforming simple structures into a dreamy, interactive cosmic playground.

• “Echoes of sys|calls” by Jaime Reyes and Erik Natanael - A large-scale audiovisual installation translating computational rhythms into a sensory landscape shaped by visitor movement.

• “I Was Here Nationwide Broward County” by I Was Here - An outdoor installation combining archival imagery, audio and community storytelling to transform public spaces into sites of remembrance.

• “Up-Next” by Oliver Lewis - An interactive sculpture resembling a 1980s TV set. Twenty-eight kaleidoscopes comprise the television screen, producing unique geometric animations.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Address: 100 Terminal Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315

Hours: Open 24/7 (access varies per installation - see details below)

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), pre-security artworks are accessible 24/7, while post-security installations are available to ticketed passengers only and close when TSA checkpoints shut down. Featured installations include:

• Prototypes of “AEONIUM” and “Mycelia” by Daniel Popper - Located by Terminal 1, Arrivals Level (Baggage Claim Area), pre-security.

• Original prototypes developed by the artist as the foundational studies for his large-scale installations. “Mycelia” can be experienced at a monumental scale at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park as part of IGNITE.

• “Interactive ZipOdes Map” by O, Miami - Located by Terminal 2, Arrivals Level (Baggage Claim Area), pre-security.

• A public interface inviting audiences to explore South Florida through hyperlocal communitywritten poems generated from their own zip codes.

• “PCC-3333: Will robots dream of World Peace?” by Brian Fox / Media Pollution - Located by Terminal 3-4 Connector, Departures Level, postsecurity.

• A robotic work that explores the relationship between art, science and human connection constructed entirely from recycled and orphaned materials.

• “Quantum Jungle” by Robin BaumgartenLocated by Terminal 3, Departures Level, postsecurity.

• An interactive installation using touch-sensitive springs and LEDs to playfully visualize quantum physics concepts, sparking curiosity in children and adults alike.

ArtsPark at Young Circle in Hollywood Address: 1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, Florida 33022

Hours: Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m.11:00 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Through the City of Hollywood’s public art initiative, IGNITE Broward introduces an immersive art circuit to ArtsPark at Young Circle, showcasing the city’s vibrant cultural and community landscape. The city presents seven installations, including:

• “Geist” by Loop - An interactive installation using mirrors, LEDs and viewer movement to create a floating, shifting sphere of light activated through human presence.

• “Aqua Olimpia” by Artur Grycuk - An immersive installation that simulates an underwater world through light, sound and interactive elements that ripple with visitor movement.

• “Balloomi” by Artur Grycuk - A glowing pyramid of illuminated balloons forming a minimalist space for quiet gathering, reflection and shared wonder.

• “Where are we Going?” by Onda Studio - An interactive web-based audiovisual work prompting reflection on collective direction and the influence of technology on human behavior.

• “Helix Seats” by Pneuhaus - An interactive public seating installation featuring intertwined, pressure-responsive helices that illuminate with movement and invite communal engagement.

• “Ascendance” by Studio McGuire - A projectionbased journey following an astronaut adrift in a dreamlike cosmos, reflecting on fragility, isolation and impermanence.

• “Sea of Light” by ITHACA Studio - A responsive installation of thousands of animated lights that transform landscapes into immersive environments shaped by site and audience interaction.

List of Special Events

• Indoor Media Preview

• Date: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Location: MAD Arts, 481 South Federal Highway, Dania Beach, Florida 33004

• IGNITE Broward Kickoff Event

• Date: Friday, February 13th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

• Location: African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311

• As part of the evening’s festivities, a live performance by BREAKINMIA will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, located at 2520 Northwest Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311.

For a full list of events and festival information, visit: www.IGNITEbroward.com And follow: @browardarts.

About Broward Cultural Division

The Broward County Cultural Division invests in and advances the arts and cultural sector across Broward County. The Division provides grants to cultural organizations and artists, manages the County’s Public Art & Design Program and supports the growth of the creative economy through community engagement, capacity-building and special projects. By nurturing local talent and fueling Broward’s creative infrastructure, the Division enhances the County’s cultural environment and economic vitality. For more information, visit: @BrowardArts on Instagram or Facebook.

About MAD Arts

Located in Dania Beach, just north of Miami and south of Fort Lauderdale, MAD Arts is an art and technology museum that explores new models of culture and business, immersing audiences in high- and low-tech experiences by local, national and international artists. The 50,000square-foot museum was founded in 2020 by MAD, a full-service digital, marketing, advertising and technology hub with virtual reality and motion capture studios and manufacturing facilities, with the mission of helping artists, creatives and technologists launch their ideas and create experiences that may have otherwise been out of reach. For more information on exhibitions, programs and events, visit: https://www.yeswearemadarts.com/ - Or: @madarts_space on Instagram.

About Visit Lauderdale

Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. Find more information at visitlauderdale.com and follow: @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Grove by Pneuhaus Photo Credit Kip Reinsmith
Where Are We Going by Onda
Helix Seats by Pneuhaus Photo Credit Benny Villarreal and Kip Reinsmith

Nestled in the embrace of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sits Snaresbrook Manor - an impeccable luxury vacation home in the Governor’s Harbor of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Perfectly situated on a panoramic pink sand beach and with premium appointments from top to bottom, this pristine property stands as a testament to the serene luxury and natural beauty that this tropical island paradise has to offer. Tucked away from the other bustling Bahamian tourist spots, Snaresbrook Manor is a hidden gem on the outer Island of Eleuthera that provides an idyllic escape for those seeking tranquility, extravagance and the allure of a private oasis. This exceptional eight thousand square foot vacation home spans across a private 2.2 acres and sits directly on a mile-long private pink sand beach. Owned by fashion designer Patricia Nash, Snaresbrook Manor is a meticulously designed and carefully crafted private estate that encapsulates the essence of Bahamian charm. The property offers seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms in the main house plus a separate onproperty apartment with nearly all having an ocean view. Its sizable second story balcony provides a sweeping sea view in all directions as far as the eye can see. This sprawling estate also boasts a 40 by 25 foot heated beachfront pool surrounded by plush loungers, large indoor and outdoor dining and seating areas, commercial-grade kitchen with top-ofthe-line appliances for luxury vacations and retreats with lodging for up to eight-

een guests. Other deluxe features include a plush media room with oversized HD flat screen TV, fitness room with gym-quality equipment, covered pergola and cabana with a bathing area and outdoor bathroom, a water filtration system and an onsite orchard. Daily housekeeping and concierge services are also included with each stay. Here you can revel in exclusivity, sumptuous surroundings and natural beauty and gracious island hospitality. From its pristine beaches to lush landscapes and affable staff available to accommodate nearly all guest needs, Snaresbrook Manor captures the heart and soul of the Caribbean and sets a decidedly high standard for area vacation rentals. The veritably flawless property boasts a range of luxurious amenities and facilities that cater to the needs of even the most discerning travelers. From a stunning global travel-inspired interior decor, breathtaking views of—and direct access to—the ocean, a sparkling pool that seems to merge seamlessly with the sea and sprawling tropical gardens that invite moments of quiet contemplation, each element of Snaresbrook Manor evokes a sense of awe and relaxation. Having myself experienced a Snaresbrook Manor vacation experience, I can attest that the allure of Snaresbrook Manor lies not just in its luxurious offerings, but also in the tranquility the entirety of the grounds provide. Unlike the more bustling Caribbean island tourist hubs, this hidden haven allows visitors to escape the crowds and immerse themselves in an oasis of peace. Whether it’s a leisurely

stroll along the private beach, an intimate dinner under the starlit sky, or a rejuvenating on-property spa session, Snaresbrook Manor caters to those seeking an intimate and personalized experience. Beyond its captivating natural beauty and lavish offerings, Snaresbrook Manor also provides an opportunity to engage with the rich Bahamian culture. From sampling local delicacies via Island Hospitality Group or other private chef services, venturing out into the community to experience local restaurants and the must-do weekly Friday night community fish fry, to experiencing traditional music and arts, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the vibrant heritage that enriches this Bahamian outer island. In all, Snaresbrook Manor stands as a testament to the allure of Eleuthera, offering a glimpse into a world where extravagance and nature coexist in perfect harmony. Whether you seek a romantic getaway, a serene family vacation, a girls or guys trip, wedding or corporate event, or an escape from the ordinary for any other reason, this meticulous private estate promises an experience that is nothing short of extraordinary. In the embrace of Snaresbrook Manor, guests can discover the true essence of paradise—a place where time slows down, worries fade and the magic of the Caribbean becomes a cherished memory.

Merilee Kern, MBA

Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts

and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as Host of the “Savvy Living” lifestyle TV show that airs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and other major markets on CBS, FOX and other top networks; as well as the “Savvy Ventures” business TV show that airs nationally on FOX Business TV and Bloomberg TV. Merilee also hosts the Savvy Ventures Podcast & Radio show available globally on W4CY Radio—the #1 ranked live streaming radio station— among others as well as all major podcast platforms, including Pandora, Audible, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Streamyard, iHeart Radio and dozens more. As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at: www.The LuxeList.com And: www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Merilee Kern / Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Merilee Kern / Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ MerileeKernOfficial.

By Merilee Kern, MBA
This exceptional eight thousand square foot vacation home spans across a private 2.2 acres and sits directly on a mile-long private pink sand beach.

plan that incidentally brings her a new love and, quite unexpectedly, hot sex.

Saturday, January 31st, 2026 –

Steve Schapiro: Being There

Sunday, February 1st, 2026 –Jimpa

Sunday, February 1st, 2026 –Natchez

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 –

The Little Sister

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 –

The Ties That Bind Us

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 –

Late Shift

Friday, February 6th, 2026 –

A Man With Sole:

The Impact Of Kenneth Cole

“We’re proud that more than one-third of our festival films are directed or codirected by women, reflecting the increasing power of women in the production sphere and the film marketplace,” promises Barbara Scharres, SASIFF Artistic Director.

The 11 films with women directors slated for the upcoming Sun & Stars International Film Festival Include:

A Man With Sole: The Impact Of Kenneth Cole (Documentary / 2024, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Dori Berinstein. USA, 104-minutes)

The Closing Night Screening of The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife.

Fashion Designer, Philanthropist and Footwear Purveyor Kenneth Cole knows his shoes. He also appears to know the Native American directive to walk a mile in the moccasins of others, as proven through his 40 years of attentiongrabbing strategies for merging commerce and compassion to raise awareness for causes including AIDS, homelessness and LGBTQIA+ rights. From the glitter of the star-studded AIDS benefits he has mounted at the Cannes Film Festival to the humorous billboards in Times Square, Cole’s unique entrepreneurship sells a humanitar ian message. Emmy-winning direc tor Berinstein delves into Cole’s history, his passion for social jus tice, and the brilliantly engaging promo that makes caring as cool as buying hot designer shoes.

Note: Kenneth Cole and Director Dori Berinstein will be present for audience discussion

Glazer Hall in Palm Beach

Friday, February 6th, 2026Cocktail Reception 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; premiere screening at 7:30 p.m.

Calle Malaga (Romance, 2025, Florida Premiere. Directed by Maryam Touzani. France/ Spain/Morocco, 116-minutes—In Spanish and Arabic with English sub titles)

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, this colorful romantic crowd pleaser is a triumph for luminous 80-year-old Spanish star Carmen Maura, who is playing Maria, a widow enjoying life to the fullest in her home in Tangier, the vibrant city of her birth. When her unhappy divorced daughter arrives from Madrid with a plan to sell the cherished apartment and consign her mother to a nursing home, Maria’s rebellion launches on day one when the adventure of reinventing her independence begins with a speedy exit from the institution. Friendship, ingenuity and creative cookery are at the heart of a delightful

The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Frontier (Frontera) (WWII Thriller, 2025, North Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Judith Colell. Spain/Belgium, 100-minutes—In Catalan, Spanish, French and German with English subtitles)

A small community’s psychic wounds from the Spanish Civil War are opened anew when a Pyrenees mountain village is challenged and divided over their proximity to Nazi-occupied France. Based on true events and starring Miki Esparbe and Bruna Cosi, this film is set in Spain in 1943, in a remote border hamlet where in direct defiance of Franco’s official rejection of Jewish refugees, customs agent Manuel Grau, has surreptitiously teamed up with a smuggler to aid and hide Jews crossing over the mountain trails. Effectively evoking the period and the peril with escalating tension between neighbor and neighbor and husband and wife, director Colell creates a shadowy rural milieu dangerously ruffled by the unfamiliar need to make life-or-death moral choices.

The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Jimpa

(Family Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Sophie Hyde. Australia/ Netherlands/Finland, 123-minutes)

Two-time Oscar-winner Olivia Colman and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow bring tender joy and heart-rending pathos to this remarkable drama of intergenerational adjustment when trans nonbinary teen Frances decides to move to

Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Late Shift

(Heldin)

(Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere.

Directed by Petra Volpe. Switzerland, 92minutes - In German, Turkish and French with English subtitles)

Switzerland’s Oscar contender for Best Foreign Film follows a powerful emotional trajectory over the course of one harried nurse’s night on the understaffed surgical floor of a high-tech Swiss hospital. Nurse Flora (Leonie Benesch) maintains her mental equilibrium by leaning into routine through a demanding all-night shift that brings her briefly into the lives of unsettled patients for unexpected moments of beauty and profound human connection. Benesch, award-winning star of the 2024 Oscar-nominated The Teacher’s Lounge, conveys an intuitive understanding of the loneliness and life-and-death fears of her charges as the story evolves with wonderful grace against a backdrop of large and small crises.

Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

The Little Sister (La Petite Derniere)

(Drama, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere.

Directed by Hafsia Herzi. France/Germany, 106-minutes—In French and Arabic with English subtitles)

Winner of the Queer Palme at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where actress Nadia Melliti was awarded Best Actress, this drama centers on emerging self-

own doubts and fears. The Hollywood Reporter hails the film as “vibrantly felt yet impressively controlled—and blessed with a stone-cold stunner of a central performance.”

Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Natchez

(Documentary, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Suzannah Herbert. USA, 86-minutes)

Billowing hoop-skirts sway, Southern drawls charm, and opulent antebellum decor draws wows—all trademarks of plantation tourism through which the canny owners of once-crumbling historic properties have revived the economy of Natchez, Mississippi. Under the folksy facade of perfect racial harmony and entrepreneurial community spirit there lurks the remnants of an unsettled history. Director Herbert conducts one of the most fascinating and revealing documentary explorations of the year, venturing into the restored mansions where portraits of Confederate ancestors hang in honor and heirloom silver graces the table, observing way behind the scenes where the thoughts often left unsaid are inadvertently revealed. Hailed by Stephen Saito in The Moveable Fest as “one of the great documentaries of the 21st century,” Natchez has won seven festival awards, including Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Speak (Documentary, 2025, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman. USA, 104-minutes)

Amsterdam to live for a year with her flamboyant gay grandfather Jimpa (Lithgow) to explore her still-crystallizing sexual identity. Her indulgent mother Hannah (Colman) struggles with misgivings based on her own unresolved history with Jimpa, the dad who long ago abandoned his family when he came out as gay. Amsterdam’s liberated and very vibrant pan-sexual Queer culture is a fitting background to a story that centers on the power and imperfection of love and the need for forgiveness. According to

acceptance for a daughter who realizes that neither her family nor her faith will recognize her for who she is. The adored youngest of a large and lively Algerian family, Fatima hides a guilty secret—she is unable to deny or quell her growing sexual attraction to women. With one foot in a world ruled by patriarchal tradition and the other in the challenging multicultural milieu of a Parisian college student, she hooks up with a woman on a lesbian dating site and discovers that the way to love and acceptance is blocked by her

Acclaimed as the opening night film of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Speak is a dynamic high-stakes journey through the lives, challenges and ambitions of five precocious high school students as they prepare for the world’s largest oratory competition. Florida’s own Esther Oyetunji vies for a rare third national win in this veritable Olympics of the spoken word in which past winners have included Oprah, Brad Pitt, Josh Gad, and Justice Kentanji

Wowing Films, Page 7A

Deadline, “Colman simply excels [and] Lithgow gets one of his best outings in recent years.”
SULTANA’S DREAM – January 30, The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center
CÀLLE MALAGA – January 30, The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center

Spanish filmmaker Herguera utilizing media and techniques including paper cutouts, puppet animation, sumptuous layered watercolor painting, and drawn geometric patterns reminiscent of mehndi henna tattoos. Adventurous heroine Ines travels to India in search of her roots, where she flees an overbearing suitor and sees the world with new eyes through her encounters with other women. Filmuforia hailed the “ravishing animation that packs a potent punch… (a) visually captivating gem.”

The Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center on Friday, January 30th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

The Ties That Bind Us (L’Attachement)

(Romance, 2024, Palm Beach County Premiere. Directed by Carine Tardieu. France/Belgium, 106-minutes—In French with English subtitles)

A revealing comment on the complexities of the modern family, this aptly titled film ricochets between drama and comedy when Sandra (a marvelous turn by

Italian star Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), the determinedly single proprietor of a Parisian feminist bookstore, is unexpectedly plunged into family matters through the death of a neighbor. Elliot, a rascally but irresistible child is the catalyst in a melee that has Sandra the bewildered key player in a web of adult relationships that includes the kid’s dad and his new girlfriend, an ex, a sister-in-law, and the kid’s birth father, all seemingly on the make in varying combinations.

Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

For more information about SASIFF including a complete list of scheduled screenings or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.sasiff.org.

About The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival: The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival©, presented by MorseLife, aims to bring highly antici-

pated, critically acclaimed, and thoughtprovoking films to Palm Beach County. As a world-class film festival, it represents a major contribution to the cultural life of Palm Beach County and returns next month for its fourth season with screenings at the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse from Sunday, January 25th, 2026 - Saturday, January 31st, 2026 at Hooky Entertainment Delray from Sunday, February 1st, 2026 - Thursday, February 5th, 2026 with the closing night screening at glamorous new Glazer Hall in Palm Beach on Friday, February 6th, 2026. SASIFF was co-founded by film buffs and cultural philanthropists Donald M. Ephraim and Terri Sriberg.

For more information about purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, please visit: www.sasiff.org - On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DME.SASIFF On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/dmesasiff On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/ dme_sasiff. Email: info@sasiff.org. Or call: (561) 220-6735.

About MorseLife: MorseLife serves more than 3,600 seniors every day on its campus in West Palm Beach and through its community outreach programs. Founded in 1983, MorseLife is a provider of health care and residential services for seniors in Palm Beach County. A charitable, not-for-profit organization, its programs also include short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, independent and assisted living, memory care assisted living, hospice, home health care, care management, meals-onwheels, and PACE. Since its beginnings, MorseLife has built a reputation and tradition of caring for seniors with excellence, dignity, and compassion. For more information, visit: https://morselife.orgOn Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ MorseLife - On Twitter at: www.twitter. com/MorseLifeHealth - On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/morselifehealth - On LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ morselife-inc-/ - Or contact: info@morse life.org.

(Photo Credit: Sun & Stars International Film Festival)

JIMPA – February 28, Hooky Entertainment Delray Marketplace

Jimmy Buffett concert. The City of Aventura presents an explosive, high energy, rock and roll music experience that celebrates the inspiring life and legacy of music icon, Tina Turner, when Dear Tina: My Love Letter to the Queen of Rock and Roll kicks off Valentine’s Day weekend at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, February 13th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. World-renowned actor, singer and storyteller Avionce Hoyles, who has starred in the Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning, “A Strange Loop,” Off-Broadway’s “Titanique,” the TonyAward winning “Memphis,” “Bat Out of Hell” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” honors his childhood inspiration in an electrifying rock experience featuring stories and songs made famous by the legendary “Queen of Rock and Roll.” Featuring a high energy band and dazzling backup singers and dancers, audiences will witness songs such as “Private Dancer,” “Addicted to Love,” “River DeepMountain High,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “Simply the Best,” “Nutbush City Limits” and “Proud Mary.” VIP add-ons are available which include a “Dear Tina” T-shirt and hat and a postshow meet & greet/photo opportunity with Hoyles.

Celebrate the day of love with the magic of shadow dance with The Silhouettes: LOVE Happens at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. presented by the City of Aventura. Created and directed by Lynne WaggonerPatton, The Silhouettes, America’s premier shadow-dance company and finalists on “America’s Got Talent,” take audiences on an emotional journey exploring the many forms of love, including friendship, family, romance, music, pets and even chocolate. With powerful storytelling, graceful movement and stunning visuals, this family-friendly production will leave audiences laughing, tearing up and feeling the love. The Silhouettes: LOVE Happens is also presented in a special sensoryinclusive setting by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the City of Aventura on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. This sensory-inclusive performance is intended to create a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other Sensitivity Issues or Developmental Disabilities. To create a sensory-inclusive setting, slight adjustments have been made to the production including reduced sound levels, no flashing or strobe lights and minimal special effects. An area adjacent to the theater has been designated as the ABA Centers of Florida Sensory Quiet Room with specially trained therapists to provide audience support. The Broward Center’s sensory-inclusive programming is made possible through the generous support of ABA Centers of Florida, The Batchelor Foundation, The Gore Family Memorial Foundation, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and The Taft Foundation with special thanks to UMNSU CARD for their in-kind support. Audiences can come early and stay after the performance to enjoy complimentary pre-show arts and crafts activities provided by Young at Art Museum as well as a post-show character meet & greet.

South Florida Legends presents Bee Gees NOW! The Tribute on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. A masterful musical journey delivering the Bee Gees songbook of beautiful love ballads and dance fever hits that made them a musical sensation. Considered to have the most dynamic, interactive and thoroughly entertaining tribute to the multi-platinum kings of disco, Bee Gee NOW! has toured around the globe to standing ovations.

Miami International Piano Festival presents pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk’s “Fasten Your Seat Belts” on Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. A Gramophone critic, who reviewed Gavrylyuk, said “What a formidable talent he is: from the sheer firmness and weight of his tone to the cleanness of his articulation, to his range of pianistic color, to his poetic sensibility and intelligence. One might also go on for a long time talking about his prodigious virtuoso skill, but it was more the natural passion of his playing and his complete concentration and involvement in the music that struck me most forcibly when I saw his Wigmore Hall debut just under a year ago. While some pianists seem separate from their instrument, Gavrylyuk seems literally fused to the piano - a truly intense love relationship.”

Experience An Evening with Manilow & Streisand, A Tribute on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Join the incredible Terry Davies and Sharon Owens in a dazzling tribute to two musical icons, Barry Manilow and Barbra Streisand. Davies captures Manilow’s legendary charm and voice with hits including “Mandy” and “Copacabana,” while Owens delivers a stunning portrayal of Streisand,

performing classics like “The Way We Were” and “Evergreen.” With powerful vocals, heartfelt performances and timeless songs, this unforgettable show celebrates the music, magic and legacy of two of the greatest entertainers of all time.

Piano Men: Generations is a highenergy, emotionally charged concert experience led by father-son duo Terry and Nick Davies, backed by a powerhouse live band. Don’t miss their exciting performance on Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Celebrating the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, the show blends nostalgia with fresh energy. Terry brings decades of experience and heart, while Nick adds charisma and powerhouse vocals. With elite musicians and standout drummer Mike Richau, the performance is a rollercoaster of iconic hits, family connection and musical legacy. Whether a longtime fan or new to the music, Piano Men: Generations hits the soul.

In an exciting tribute to the one and only Divine Miss M, Bette Midler Tribute: Bathhouse to Broadway, presented by Shelley Keelor, comes to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. This sensational performance has sold out in three venues including its premiere in 2025. Showcasing some of Midler’s most iconic hits, including “The Rose,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” and “Otto Titsling,” the show takes the audience on a captivating journey through her illustrious career, from her vibrant beginnings at the Continental Baths to her Tony Awardwinning performances in Broadway’s “Hello Dolly!” and beyond. Featuring a dynamic blend of powerful songs and

engaging stories, the performance stars the talented Shelley Keelor alongside two other extraordinary actresses, accompanied by a lively trio of musicians. Don’t miss this heartfelt homage to Bette Midler and her remarkable legacy.

Tickets to all shows are on sale now.

Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion presents Classical Classics
Avionce Hoyles Stars in “Dear Tina”
Bee Gees Now! The Tribute
An Evening with Manilow & Streisand - A Tribute to Barry & Barbra

Time To Meet Your New Food & Drink Obsession

Officially Introducing Madame Olivia, North Miami’s Delicious And Chic French-Mediterranean Cafe Bistro Bakery

The saying goes that “good things come to those who wait.” When it comes to Madame Olivia in North Miami, which quietly opened its doors in Summer 2025, the wait to experience it in all its glory is finally over. Some background for context: from its first day and in a much simpler incarnation and through good, old fashioned word-of-mouth the comfortably chic cafe, bistro and market at 1821 Northeast 123rd Street, North Miami, Florida 33181 has captured hearts and tastebuds by virtue of its unique blend of classic French craftsmanship, fresh basked goodness, scratch-kitchen approach to Mediterranean cuisine, and consciously healthy philosophy. Now, with the arrival of 2026, Madame Olivia is in full bloom, offering deliciousness and gracious hospitality all day long and featuring a newly-installed, glassenclosed bakery station; the heart of the concept and from where all its baked goods rise to greatness.

Offering all-day breakfast, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, expertly crafted coffee drinks, fresh juices, and a wide selection of Mediterranean plates and pastas, Madame Olivia is anchored by its in-house bakery. Each day, Executive Chef and Co-Owner Stephen Laurent leads the production of freshly baked breads, pastries, and desserts made from scratch. Love, care, technique and a dedication to freshness and health is built into everything, including the coffee, which Madame Olivia imports from Costa Rica and Brazil and roasts in Miami every two weeks. Madame Olivia is also proudly seed oil-free and focuses on organic ingredients as much as the market allows, be it meat, vegetables, fruits and eggs. After a year of building a loyal local following, Madame Olivia is now formally introducing itself to the broader South Florida dining community, alongside the announcement of a second location slated to open in Midtown Miami in 2026.

“Our goal with Madame Olivia was always to create a place that feels like a home away from home. Where a morning coffee can turn into a long conversation, and a lunch can feel as nourishing as it is delicious,” said Co-Owner Oren Cohen. “After serving the North Miami community with passion and care, we’re thrilled to bring the same spirit to Midtown Miami in 2026.” The name, inspired by Co-Owner Oren Cohen’s daughter, Olivia, reflects the personal and welcoming spirit at the heart of Madame Olivia. From the open kitchen to the curated details throughout the cafebistro, every element reflects the brand’s focus on care, quality, and connection.

At the heart of Madame Olivia’s kitchen is Executive Chef Stephen Laurent, a French baker and restaurateur with more than three decades of global experience in the culinary world. Before coming to Miami, Chef Laurent led and founded acclaimed bakery-cafes abroad including the well-known Bread Etc. in Shanghai where his blend of Mediterranean simplicity and French precision earned local attention, including a feature on an Israeli version of Chef’s Table. His decades of hands-on baking and kitchen leadership shape every dish at Madame Olivia, from morning pastries to seasonal Mediterranean plates.

Guests can enjoy a thoughtfully curated menu that blends breakfast, lunch, and Mediterranean-inspired offerings. An array of signature pastries like flaky, Coffee Cream Croissant ($6.50) Halvah & Chocolate Danish ($8.50), Cinnamon Cruffin ($6), Shashuka Croissant ($9), and Strawberry Maritozzo ($9) are available as well as freshly baked loaves such as Challah Bread ($8.50), Walnut & Raisins Sourdough ($10.50), French Country Bread ($9.50) and more. For desserts, the cafe’s signature Basque cheesecake ($9.50 slice/$65 whole), is rich and caramelized to perfection. While dishes such as the Shakshuka ($19) — poached eggs in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce served with warm bread — the Tartines Avocado Toast ($14), topped with a poached egg, garden greens, radish, chili flakes and parmesan cheese; and Challah French Toast ($16) are perfect for breakfast. An array of sandwiches and salads are ideal for lunch and guests can indulge in anything from the Short Ribs Hallah Sandwich ($19.50) and Mediterranean Hamburger ($20.50) to the Brussels Sprouts & Artichoke Hearts Salad ($17.50)

and Quinoa & Feta Salad ($17.50). Hardier options include Labneh Chimichurri Roasted Salmon ($23.50), Mediterranean Meatballs & Israeli Couscous ($19), Wild Cod Filet in French Butter-Cilantro Sauce ($26), Pasta Arrabbiata ($16), Braised Boneless ShortRibs Pasta ($23) plus more!
hemp hearts garnish; The Green Smoothie ($12.50) with green apple, basil, mint, cucumber, and honey with bee pollen garnish; and The Madame Olivia Smoothie ($12) with green apple, banana, avocado, basil, dates, and honey.
Madame Olivia Mediterranean-inspired offerings
The Traditional Shakshuka
Mediterranean Meatballs & Israeli Couscous
Tasty Meatballs
Challah French Toast Roasted Chicken, Labneh & Sweet Potatoes

Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach Debuts Defined,

Residence-Style Retreat Steps From The Ocean

Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach proudly announces the completion of a full-property renovation, marking a new chapter for the 194-room hotel as a refined, residence-style retreat directly across from the stunning white sands of Sunny Isles Beach. The transformation reintroduces the property as a designforward destination that seamlessly blends elevated coastal style with the space, comfort, and functionality travelers expect from an extended-stay hotel.

Guided by a Botanical Luxe design concept and led by Jacki Arena Interiors, the renovation layers warm greens, natural textures, rich wood tones, and sculptural lighting throughout the property. Inspired by the lush coastal landscapes of South Florida, the refreshed interiors strike a balance between organic materials and sophisticated detailing, creating an environment that feels calming, modern, and distinctly Sunny Isles.

“This renovation represents a complete reintroduction of our hotel,” said Kevin Waldstein, General Manager of Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach. “Our goal is for guests to leave feeling confident they made the right choice. The

updated design allows us to deliver an elevated experience that encourages guests to return again and again, while still feeling truly at home during their stay.”

Completed in November 2025, the renovation encompassed all guest rooms, the lobby and public areas, meeting spaces, fitness center, dining venues, and the rooftop pool deck, the property’s first comprehensive refresh since opening in 2017. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a light-filled lobby layered with botanical textures, curated artwork, and inviting residential-style seating, framed by views of the Sunny Isles skyline and the ocean beyond.

A standout feature of the reimagined property is its expanded rooftop pool deck, the only rooftop pool experience in Sunny Isles Beach. The enhanced space now features upgraded loungers, private cabanas, daybeds, lush landscaping, and thoughtfully designed gathering areas ideal for relaxation, socializing, and sunset views. The rooftop is complemented by Ocean View on Nine, the hotel’s fullservice restaurant and bar offering dine-in and to-go options, craft cocktails, and

poolside service.

All guest rooms feature condo-style layouts with fully equipped kitchenettes, including full-size refrigerators and freezers, cookware, dinnerware, glassware, and silverware, designed to support comfort and convenience for both short and extended stays. Refreshed furnishings, improved lighting, additional power outlets, and multifunctional tables allow rooms to transition effortlessly between work and relaxation.

Uniquely positioned as the only Marriott property in Sunny Isles Beach, Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach caters to a diverse mix of extended-stay travelers, families, business and relocation guests, pre- and post-cruise visitors, and leisure travelers seeking a residential feel with boutique-hotel aesthetics. Additional amenities include a fitness center, onsite meeting spaces, complimentary daily breakfast, beach club access with chairs and towels, and proximity to international

grocery stores, parks, and shopping.

“Sunny Isles Beach continues to grow as a year-round destination, and this renovation reflects our commitment to meeting that demand,” said Robert Finvarb, Owner of Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach. “We wanted to deliver a product that stands apart in the market; one that offers the space and functionality guests need, paired with a more elevated, lifestyle-driven experience.”

Located within walking distance to the beach and minutes from Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Oleta River State Park, Newport Fishing Pier, and major medical and business hubs, the hotel serves as both a seasonal escape and a year-round destination.

With this renovation, Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach redefines expectations of the extended-stay experience, offering the warmth of home paired with elevated design, full-service dining, and a lifestyledriven guest experience.

For more information or to book a stay, visit the hotel’s website at: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mianm-residence-inn-miami-sunny-isles-beach/ overview/ - And follow the property on Instagram for the latest updates, visit: https://www.instagram.com/residenceinnsunnyisles.

YMCA Of South Florida’s Teen Broadway Presents Original Stage Production Of “The

Streets We Shared”

The YMCA of South Florida’s 8th Annual “Teen Broadway” is proud to present its newest original production – The Streets We Shared, debuting on Saturday, February 21st, 2026. An additional showing is set for Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 with both performances running from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Victory Black Box Theatre, in the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 Northwest 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311.

The Streets We Shared offers audiences a powerful and authentic glimpse into how today’s youth – the future world leaders – experience and interpret a rapidly changing society. As technological advancements, such as the growing presence of artificial intelligence, continue to reshape daily life, young people often navigate uncertainty, shifting communities and complex social realities in ways that are rarely centered or heard.

This year’s production intentionally places youth voices at the forefront, exploring themes of change, identity, community and resilience through their lived experiences. Written, developed and performed by local students, the production reflects how they see the world today

and how they envision shaping its future.

The Y’s Teen Broadway is a dynamic, youth-centered literacy and arts program designed to strengthen reading, vocabulary, grammar, self-esteem, leadership, career development, mental wellness and essential life skills through creative expression. This year’s production marks the eighth consecutive year of Teen Broadway performances where students from ages five to 15 have the chance to experience what it takes to be part of a full-scale production.

“We are thrilled to keep the Teen Broadway program going for another year and give young aspiring performing artists the opportunity to express themselves while experiencing challenges that they might face in real life later on,” said Sharon Hughes, Family & Youth Resource Director for the YMCA of South Florida.

“We encourage the community to attend, support and celebrate the voices of our local youth as they share their stories through this impactful theatrical experience.”

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at: https://Tinyurl.com/TeenBroad way26. Day-of-performance tickets will

also be available for purchase on site at the Victory Black Box Theatre. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For additional info on sponsorships, please contact Sharon Hughes at: shughes@ym casouthflorida.org. Or: (561) 873-3774.

For more information about the Y, visit: www.ymcasouthflorida.org.

About the YMCA of South Florida

For more than a century, the YMCA has been woven into the fabric of the South Florida community. As an awardwinning nonprofit, the Y is committed to strengthening community through more than 200 programs serving everyone from six months old to 100 years young. Our Family Centers and programs are inclusive, vibrant hubs of community life, offering a diverse array of classes, cuttingedge fitness facilities, life-saving aquatics, exciting community events, unforgettable camps, supportive afterschool care, and holistic health and wellness programming. At the Y, there’s something for everyone. Join the movement by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or YMCASouthFlorida.org.

About the Victory Black Box Theatre

The Victory Black Box Theatre is a 2,000-Square Foot full-service event space located inside the L.A. Lee YMCA/ Mizell Community Center in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk neighborhood. This is where some of the greatest performers, including Cannon Ball Adderley, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Johnson, Cab Calloway, Count Basie and B.B. King, played to packed houses on barnstorming tours that ran along the East Coast.

With a seating capacity of 200, a professional grade audio system and theatrical lighting capabilities, the Theatre has the capability to host parties, performances, company gatherings, graduations and classes, and is available for rent. The name pays homage to the former Victory Theatre, which stood less than a mile from the Y, and operated as early as 1945 when it was the only theatre in Fort Lauderdale where Black patrons were allowed during segregation. For more information on the Victory Black Box Theatre, please visit: www.ymcasouthflorida.org/victorybbt/Or email: VictoryBBT@ymcasouthflorida .org.

The Streets We Shared offers audiences a powerful and authentic glimpse into how today’s youth – the future world leaders – experience and interpret a rapidly changing society.
(Photo credit: Residence Inn Sunny Isles Beach)

50th Anniversary Of Hallandale High School’s First Girls Basketball Team & The 1st Girls Florida State Championship Team Of Broward County

This week, we celebrate the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Hallandale Beach with the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration. This year’s theme was “Soaring to Greater Heights in Unity, focusing on our surrounding school’s participation in the Aviation Industry. The parade that has been dubbed the “family reunion” of Hallandale Beach has returned with the Hallandale Beach Community Civic and Cultural Association, Inc. lead by President Reginald Smith, Sr., partnered with The Legacy Collective of Hallandale Beach and the City of Hallandale Beach. I want to thank our Staff and First Responders, as well as the combined dedication and hard work of all residents including Parade Coordinator Qunea Gordon. The HBCCA’s Executive Board: Murvin Wright (Vice President), Schatzi Wright (Financial SecretaryVendor Coordinator), Sandra Oestricher (Treasurer-Vendor Coordinator), Natalie Wiggins (Member-Entertainment Coordinator), Dexter Lovett (MemberLogistics). The Legacy Collective: Reverend Dr. Anthony Sanders, Qunea Gordon, Katrice Johnson (Parade Assistant) & Robert Greene (Parade Assistant). Congratulations to the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian

Award Recipient Reverend Dr. Anthony A. Sanders and Grand Marshall Eric S. George of the Eric S. George Funeral Home and Eric S. George Event Center. As Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the beacon of unity in our nation. This collaborative effort, the first of its kind, would not have been possible without the diligence of all partners coming together. It was a reminder for our nation to unite as one and live in peace.

This past Wednesday, a dream and vision of mine came true, to right something that just did not sit right with me.

About a year ago, I found out that Hallandale High School Girls’ first Basketball Team won the state finals. Not only were they the first team at our school, but they were also part of the group of teams playing basketball as part of high school sports. Not only did they start training without a high school, but they were also training before the school opened at Lainer James. They also were all African American teams.

Historically, many people are unaware that in the 1970’s, South Florida schools were finally being desegregated. Yes, people like to think that that was simply a long time ago but actually as a reference of time that is within our lifetime. I have heard stories of individuals my age about the struggles and what they had to go

through being African Americans and even walking to school.

At that time Hallandale did not have a high school. There were two other high schools, MacArthur and South Broward High School. 50 years ago, Hallandale High School was built. Also, during that time, the school board decided to sanction girls’ basketball as a sport. Obviously, the authorities during that period were not fans of introducing women let alone girls to the sport of basketball. Who knew that they would make history. They were part of the original trailblazers. Who knew then that we would see in our lifetime the start of the WNBA?

When hearing this story, it was disheartening to think that nothing was done for these girls. So, I invited them to City Hall for a proclamation last February. While it made their day to finally be officially recognized by the City of Hallandale Beach, I felt more needed to be done. Their story needed to be shared and recognized for future generations.

Over the past year, I have put together an event in collaboration with Hallandale High School’s Principal Paula Peters, School Board Member Maura Bulman, and alumni of HHS, a special ring ceremony in their honor.

It was amazing to host every single team member. Congratulations to the

1976-1977 Hallandale High School’s Girl’s Basketball Champions for being the first Hallandale High School’s Girl’s Basketball Team & the first Girl’s Florida State Championship Team of Broward County; Coach Mary Ellen (Fiske) Reilly, #3 Captain Rosalyn “Ros” Stubbins, #14 Team Co- Captain Janis “JD” Drummonds, #10 Qunea Gordon, #15 Debra Shannon, #20 Darlene Brown who was unable attend and represented by Leslie Bell, #23 Mattie Crawford/Lenhardt, #5 Kay Wambley, #13 Patrice Thomas, #21 Dina Cooper, #24 Pat White, #4 Pat Rivers, sadly # 12 The Late Diane McKay and the team statistician Ida Mae Smith. Without the team’s statistician keeping the history alive through record keeping would not have had their scores. I want to personally thank friend and player Debra Shannon, Qunea Gordon, Pastor Dr. Anthony Sanders, Eve Paul and the coaches that work. never quitting to make sure that this happened!

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like, Follow! And share!

Flying Cheap: How To Take Advantage Of Error Fare Deals Safely

Because error fares are usually deeply discounted, the number of seats offered at the lower price is often very small, making it crucial to act quickly to secure a spot.

Traveling in 2026 doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, savvy travelers can save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on airfare by taking advantage of error fares. These are rare, often fleeting pricing mistakes made by airlines or booking platforms that, when booked wisely, can offer extraordinary deals on flights. But while the potential savings are enormous, navigating error fares safely requires awareness, preparation, and a careful approach to avoid pitfalls.

As the Chief Information Officer at SlickTrip (a leading flight price drop website), I’ve witnessed firsthand how savvy travelers can take advantage of error fares. Here is what to know about what error fares are, how to spot them, tips for booking safely, potential risks to be aware of, and strategies to maximize your savings. This guide will give you the tools to fly smarter and spend less, all without compromising your travel plans.

What Are Error Fares?

An error fare occurs when an airline or travel booking platform accidentally lists a flight at an incorrect price. These mistakes can result from human error, system glitches, or misapplied promotions. Unlike regular sales or discounted fares, error fares are often drastically lower than the market rate, making them highly sought after by deal-hungry travelers.

Common Types of Error Fares

Error fares can take several forms. Typo fares occur when a simple data-entry mistake, such as entering “$100” instead of “$1,000,” creates massive savings. Currency conversion errors also sometimes lead to international fares being miscalculated, resulting in unbelievably low prices. Mispriced promotions happen when deals intended for specific routes or dates are accidentally applied to unintended flights. Glitch fares on third-party booking sites can also occur when platforms miscommunicate with airlines, causing temporary pricing errors.

give

cost of an error fare. It is vital to ensure the booking aligns with your travel plans.

when airlines correct pricing errors and still take advantage of significant savings.

options handy. The first traveler to book an error fare often secures the deal.

Tips for Booking Error Fares Safely

These error fares are usually shortlived, as airlines often correct them within hours or days, making timing critical. While some travelers may receive confirmation from the airline, there’s no guarantee, which means it’s essential to act quickly while remaining cautious.

How to Find Error Fares

Finding error fares requires vigilance, speed, and the right tools. One of the most effective ways to track them is by leveraging dedicated resources and travel communities. Specialized websites and blogs, such as SecretFlying, TheFlightDeal, and Airfarewatchdog, monitor and post error fares from around the world. These sites often provide instructions for booking and tips on how to act quickly.

Flight tracking apps like SlickTrip are also useful, as they offer real-time monitoring of flight costs and price alerts for specific routes. These are key for error fare detection. Subscribing to newsletters from airfare blogs and deal sites can also

While the potential savings from error fares are enticing, they do come with risks. To minimize these risks, it’s important to act quickly but cautiously. Always double-check the itinerary, airport codes, and travel dates before booking, as a misread route or incorrect airport can turn what seems like a bargain into a costly mistake. Using flexible payment methods can also provide an extra layer of protection. For example, credit cards often offer better dispute options and fraud protection compared to debit cards. Nonrefundable or unusual payment methods can also leave you vulnerable if the airline cancels the flight. Additionally, it’s crucial to review airline policies, including cancellation, change, and refund rules. Some airlines may honor an error fare but impose restrictions that limit flexibility. Travelers should also be vigilant against scams. Booking only through reputable websites and avoiding unfamiliar third-party platforms reduces the risk of falling for deals that seem too good to be true. Finally, reading the fine print is essential, as taxes, fees, and seat availability can significantly affect the true

airline cancellations or fare reversals. Airlines are not obligated to honor error fares, so having a backup plan or travel insurance can help mitigate disappointment if a booking is canceled.

Another common issue is limited availability. Because error fares are usually deeply discounted, the number of seats offered at the lower price is often very small, making it crucial to act quickly to secure a spot. Travelers should also be aware that standard travel insurance may not cover trips booked through error fares, so it’s important to review policies carefully before purchasing coverage.

Financial protection is another consideration. Using a credit card for payment, keeping thorough documentation, and monitoring airline communications closely can provide recourse for refunds or chargebacks if a booking is canceled. By being aware of these risks and planning accordingly, travelers can act strategically

Maximizing Your Savings

Error fares offer more than just cheap flights, as they can be a powerful way to maximize the value of your travel. For example, if you have frequent flyer miles or hotel points, booking an error fare can multiply your savings. Some travelers even earn points on mispriced fares, boosting overall rewards and making the deal even sweeter. Another way to get more from an error fare is by planning multi-city trips or stopovers. By adding extra destinations or connecting flights, you can turn a single low-cost ticket into a chance to explore multiple cities without spending a fortune. It also pays to monitor follow-up deals. Airlines sometimes release promotions or offer upgrades after an error fare has been booked, so staying alert can help you enhance your travel experience even further. By strategically combining error fares with rewards programs and thoughtful planning, a single pricing mistake can become a luxurious, cost-effective adventure.

Case Studies / Real-Life Examples

Real-life success stories show that while error fares can be unpredictable, they are a legitimate way to travel cheaper when approached responsibly. The Transatlantic Bargain is a perfect example of the power of error fares. A traveler discovered a typo fare from New York to London listed at $120 instead of $1,200. By acting immediately and securing the booking with a credit card, they locked in round-trip airfare for a fraction of the usual cost. In another example, the AsiaPacific Glitch involved a mispriced flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo that allowed a family of four to travel for half the normal fare. They booked quickly, carefully checked airline confirmations, and used flexible accommodations to ensure their trip went smoothly and safely.

Real-life examples like these highlight the importance of preparation, diligence, and swift action. These stories also offer valuable lessons. Common mistakes include ignoring airline confirmation emails, booking through unreliable websites, or assuming the fare guarantees a seat without verification.

Unlock Incredible Savings with Error Fares! Error fares offer travelers a chance to fly affordably and explore the world without overspending. By acting quickly, verifying travel details, using trusted websites and secure payment methods, and understanding airline policies, you can avoid common pitfalls like cancellations or limited availability. Maximizing value with loyalty points, multi-city trips, and follow-up deals makes these fares even more rewarding. With preparation, vigilance, and flexibility, error fares can turn a simple pricing mistake into unforgettable, budget-friendly adventures.

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