The Palm Beach Post

The call-a-cab concoction: Club New York’s Strong Island

By Staci Sturrock   |  Bars and Clubs, Cocktail Culture  |  April 19, 2012

The Strong Island is $10 at Club New York. (J. Gwendolynne Berry / Palm Beach Post)

This week’s bar: Club New York

The scene: Open since early March, Club New York is the latest nightlife business to occupy the 9,600-square-foot space once inhabited by Resort, on the second floor of CityPlace near Barnes & Noble. Graffiti artists created the club’s colorful New York-themed murals, and deejays play a mix of mashup, hip-hop and house.

The signature cocktail: The Strong Island ($10), the club’s interpretation of the empty-the-liquor-cabinet classic, the Long Island Iced Tea.

Other noteworthy drinks: Cosmopolitans and Manhattans, with plenty of New York attitude. “We want the drinks to be both strong and well-balanced,” says mixologist Ricardo Ruiz Esparza Plascencia, who previously poured drinks in London and Ibiza.

Bar bites: NYC-style street carts hawk hot dogs and pretzels.

Hours: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Info: 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; (561) 659-0100

T H E C O C K T A I L

Strong Island

1 1/4 ounces vodka

1 1/4 ounces rum

1 1/4 ounces gin

1 1/4 ounces tequila

1 1/4 ounces triple sec

1 1/4 ounces sour mix

1 1/4 ounces fresh lemon juice

Splash of Coca-Cola

Lemon wheel

Pour all ingredients — except Coca-Cola and lemon wheel — into a shaker with ice. Shake. Pour splash of Coca-Cola in bottom of glass, then pour shaker contents over Coke, creating a layered effect. Garnish with lemon.

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Scene maker Daphne Nikolopoulos: Author extraordinaire

By Staci Sturrock   |  Dining  |  April 16, 2012

Daphne Nikolopoulos is the publisher of 'Palm Beach Illustrated' and author of the new novel 'The Tenth Saint'. (J. Gwendolynne Berry / Palm Beach Post)

The Scene Maker: Daphne Nikolopoulos

Who she is: Born and raised in Athens, Greece, the wife and mother of two is the editor in chief of Palm Beach Illustrated and author of The Tenth Saint. Written under the pseudonym D.J. Niko, Nikolopoulos’ debut novel about a female archaeologist who makes a potentially deadly discovery in the Ethiopian mountains reflects the West Palm Beach resident’s lifelong love of travel — she’s set foot on six continents. Closer to home, Nikolopoulos enjoys cooking, collecting ethnographic textiles and volunteering. “That’s all there’s time for anymore!” she says.

A few of her favorite things:
Favorite cultural organization: “Hands down, the Society of the Four Arts. It offers amazing lectures, concerts and exhibits, all expertly curated and tastefully presented.”
Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, (561) 655-7227, FourArts.org

Favorite kid-friendly destination: “My kids love going to The Girls, a hydroponic strawberry farm in Delray. They get a kick out of the picking process. Not that we’ve ever come home with any strawberries, mind you. They eat their entire ‘harvest’ before we make it out of the place.”
The Girls Strawberry U-Pick, 14466 S. Military Trail , Delray Beach, (561) 496-0188, TheGirlsStrawberryUPick.com
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Dinner and a movie: Pair ‘Titanic’ (3-D re-release) with a real iceberg (salad)

By Staci Sturrock   |  Feast Palm Beach, Movies  |  April 05, 2012

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Titanic', being re-released in 3-D this week.

The film: Titanic in 3D, opening Friday, in which Jack and Rose set sail again, on the 100th anniversary of the real Titanic’s one-and-only voyage. Spoiler alert: The movie doesn’t end well.

The food: A wedge of iceberg lettuce — smothered with blue cheese dressing and sprinkled with apple wood-smoked bacon — is among several $5 appetizers on Palm Beach Steakhouse’s Happy Evening menu. Happy Evening takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly and includes a variety of drink specials, too.

The Palm Beach Steakhouse, 191 Bradley Place, Palm Beach, (561) 671-4333, ThePalmBeachSteakhouse.com | Directions, invite a friend

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Scene Maker: Sarah Mlostek of Cha Cha’s loves that Worth Ave. charm

By Staci Sturrock   |  Dining  |  April 02, 2012

Sarah Mlostek, the managing partner at Cha Cha's, loves her restaurant's paella. (Richard Graulich / Palm Beach Post)

The Scene Maker: Sarah Mlostek

Who she is: Managing partner at Cha Cha’s restaurant in Palm Beach, Mlostek is a Michigan transplant, a foodie, a world traveler and a shopper. She currently lives in downtown West Palm Beach. “I love it there,” she says. “Waking up to the view of Palm Beach is breathtaking, and there’s always so much to do. It never gets old!”

A few of her favorite things:
Favorite menu item at Cha Cha’s: “I love the paella. Saffron rice with mussels, calamari, fresh fish, clams, peas, chicken, chorizo, scallops, onions, etc. It is a treat to get a taste of that!”
Cha Cha’s, 150 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, (561) 833-8800 | Directions, invite a friend

Favorite local breakfast spot: E.R. Bradley’s. “They have the world’s greatest breakfast quesadilla, and you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the waterfront as well.”
E.R. Bradley’s, 104 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, (561) 833-3520 | Directions, invite a friend

Favorite vacation destination: “I loved Australia. If there was anywhere else in this world that I could live, I would choose Sydney. It truly is one of the most amazing cities in the world!”
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Olympic volleyball players have option of covering up

By Staci Sturrock   |  Style  |  April 02, 2012

Let’s be honest: Among the pleasures of watching the Summer Olympics is not only the display of world-class athleticism, but also the sight of all those tanned and toned bodies. Hey, we’re only human.

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Arthouse movies: ‘Windfall’, ‘Detachment’ kick off this weekend

By Staci Sturrock   |  Movies  |  March 30, 2012

Today through April 5

AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE STONZEK THEATRE

Windfall (unrated, 1 hour, 23 minutes): The people of rural Meredith, N.Y., were gung-ho about wind power until a group of townsfolk discovered how a 400-foot windmill would impact their community. Seattle Times: "The poignant, frightening and visually striking documentary Windfall places debate within a very human perspective."

AT MOS ART THEATRE, LAKE PARK

Detachment (unrated, 1 hour, 40 minutes): Adrien Brody stars as a gifted educator who avoids emotional attachments by working as a substitute teacher. A new assignment lands him at a school with particularly apathetic students, and he becomes a role model to the disaffected youth. Newark Star-Ledger: "It wants to be an exposé of the pervasive horrors of modern life. Instead, it just forces us to detach as well."

AT THE LIVING ROOM, BOCA RATON

The Forgiveness of Blood (unrated, Albanian with English subtitles, 1 hour, 52 minutes): From the director of Maria Full of Grace, this 2012 drama set in Albania concerns a family locked in a deadly blood feud. The Hollywood Reporter: "The Hatfields and the McCoys Albanian-style, taken seriously with a good deal of suspense." Washington Post: "It’s a thriller that feels like a documentary."

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Union: Stylish, yet comfortable

By Staci Sturrock   |  Bars and Clubs, Cocktail Culture  |  March 29, 2012

A crisp tartness helps makes this Kiwi drink a special treat at the Union Asian Gastrolounge. (J. Gwendolynne Berry / Palm Beach Post)

The bar: Union Asian Gastrolounge, Delray Beach

The vibe: "Lounge" means one thing in nightlife, where it means a sometimes snooty club with some uncomfortable couches, and everywhere else, where it means homey, comfortable and a Snuggie. Union, a creatively pretty club, is the best of both worlds – stylish but comfortable, chic but not snooty. There’s a DJ and deconstructed ramen, which is like your college ramen’s richer cousin.

The drink: The Kiwi ($12), one of the approximately eleventy-three (OK, 20) signature drinks at Union, is a delicious mixture of fresh kiwi, sake and vodka. The result is crisp, tart and unexpected. And it’s 208 calories, which is especially unexpected. In a good way.

Other noteworthy libations: Oh, where to start? How about the Cotton Candy Tini ($12), the Asian Pear ($12), and the Graham cracker-rimmed S’mores, featuring marshmallow-infused Absolut Vanilla ($13). Of course, there’s a full bar and mojitos and sake and lots of wine. And I haven’t even scratched the cocktail surface.

Bar bites: Try two kinds of edamame, both steamed and spicy Szechuan ($5), the Union "Fried" Rice, actually fresh basmati rice topped with edamame, egg, truffle butter and your choice of meat (or not), which runs $9 to $12, and the Gochujang Lollipop chicken wings ($11).

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Horrible situation spotlights humble hoodie

By Staci Sturrock   |  Style  |  March 29, 2012

It was raining that fateful Sunday night when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin walked to a Sanford convenience store for Skittles and iced tea, and never made it home.

Was the rain the reason Martin reached for a hoodie before he headed out? "It’s good protective gear against the elements," says Lori Durante, executive director of Delray Beach’s Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History.

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Dinner and a movie: Pair ‘Mirror Mirror’ with fairest happy hour of them all

By Staci Sturrock   |  Bars and Clubs, Movies  |  March 29, 2012

Snow White (Lily Collins) battles a dwarf in 'Mirror Mirror'.

The film: Mirror Mirror, opening Friday, in which Julia Roberts plays an evil queen to Lily Collins’ Snow White in Tarsem Singh’s fairy tale reboot, co-starring Nathan Lane, Armie Hammer and Mare Winningham.

The food: What’s the fairest happy hour menu of them all? Blue Martini’s isn’t half bad. Pick your poison — green apple martini or red (apple vodka, apple pucker liqueur and cranberry juice) — and don’t miss the Baked Brie en Croute, served with crackers and (non-poisonous) apples.

Blue Martini has locations in CityPlace and Town Center at Boca Raton.

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Home-grown happy hour: Four Seasons bar serves drink made from local ingredients

By Staci Sturrock   |  Bars and Clubs, Cocktail Culture  |  March 23, 2012

The Palm Beach Radius at The Atlantic Bar & Grill is $14, but $7 during happy hour. (Taylor Jones / Palm Beach Post)

This week’s bar: The Atlantic Bar & Grill, Four Seasons Palm Beach

The scene: When you’re looking for a high-class but affordable, outdoor happy hour, the oceanfront Atlantic Bar & Grill is top-shelf: Spot-on service, sea breezes and the sound of waves, and gourmet eats and drinks for cheap.

The signature cocktail: Four Seasons recently asked all its resorts to create cocktails using only ingredients from within 100 miles of each property. The Palm Beach location had it comparatively easy – picking South Florida mangoes, O.J., sugar and mint to mix with locally produced 4 Orange Vodka. The resulting Palm Beach Radius (regularly $14, but $7 during happy hour) is a sweet, smooth blend of mango-infused vodka and hibiscus iced tea.

Other drinks: Pitchers of sangria (choose from four different types – thumbs up on the blanco version, made with riesling, white cranberry juice and St. Germain) and carafes of caipirinhas (again, a choice of four, including pineapple tarragon).

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