Event listing: Ticket info, directions more

Pablo Francisco will be the first to tell you that he’s not savvy with computers.

But he’s among a wave of comedians who can count themselves fortunate they live in the age of YouTube.

Francisco, whose celebrity impressions and sound effects will be on display at the Palm Beach Improv at CityPlace through Saturday, had counted himself a success already. He’d been a writer on MADtv, had development deals for television and toured the country.

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Just a few years ago, downtown West Palm Beach was on the verge of becoming a culinary wasteland.

Prominent eateries in the Clematis Street district and CityPlace were closing. And few restaurateurs appeared willing to fill the vacancies, perhaps discouraged by ongoing construction projects that turned city streets into traffic nightmares. The real action was to the north and south — in the suburban hotbed of Palm Beach Gardens and the vibrant cityscape of downtown Delray Beach.

But in the past 12 months, all that has changed.
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Scenes from around the world at screenings

This is it! Finally!

The world premiere of Michael Jackson’s eagerly awaited concert movie,This Is It, begins midnight screenings tonight.

Leslie Gray Streeter is going to be at Muvico Parisian at CityPlace, talking to the expected crowds, checking out the movie and reviewing it.

There are also midnight showings at the Regal theaters in Royal Palm Beach and the Shadowood, west of Boca Raton.

See photos, hear what Michael’s fans had to say, and read Leslie’s review of the movie: Wednesday morning at palmbeachpost.com and pbpulse.com

By DEBORAH S. HARTZ-SEELEY

Ron Del Signore got tired of going out to breakfast and having to wait in line for a table. So he decided to serve breakfast at the restaurant where he’s general manager, Il Bellagio in West Palm Beach’s CityPlace.

It’s a pretty spot with outdoor tables under green umbrellas overlooking the center’s dancing fountain and central piazza.

And here, he’s not offering just another bacon-and-eggs menu. To create the food, Del Signore sat down with his wife, Rosalie, and his chef, Pauli Johnston, and drew on a lot of family memories.

Del Signore thought about what he ate at his Italian grandmothers’ houses growing up in Pittsburgh.
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Event Details: Ticket info, restaurants, more

Comedic chameleon Mike Epps will appear at the Palm Beach Improv this weekend. His talent was first recognized by a national audience in 1995 when he appeared on the Def Comedy Jam tour and starred in two of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam broadcasts. Epps made his feature film debut in Next Friday, the second installment of Ice Cube’s Friday series.

Soon after, he landed several movie roles in various genres including a dramatic role in Talk To Me with Don Cheadle. He also appeared in Resident Evil: Apocalypse with Milla Jovovich and was most recently featured in the hit comedy The Hangover. Read the full story

Call it CityPlace à la Francaise.

The popular downtown West Palm Beach dining and shopping complex got a major new addition this past week when Carousel Can Can Café (700 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 228; 561-833-6001; carouselfl.com) opened its doors. The 8,000-square-foot eatery, which seats up to 300 indoors and outdoors, is the latest venture from restaurateur Karim El Sherif, who was behind the now-closed French bistro Metronome in Palm Beach Gardens.

With Carousel, Sherif is tapping some of the same casual French menu options he offered at Metronome, but he’s considerably upping the fun factor. As its name implies, the elaborately decorated restaurant, which has private dining areas and bars galore, is built around the themes of carousels and cancan entertainment. Dancers in traditional costume will be on a stage in front of the kitchen every night to show off their mastery of the high-kicking art form.

So, is Carousel the French equivalent of the Greek-themed Taverna Opa, the CityPlace restaurant where belly dancers are as much the stars as the grilled fish and lamb shanks?
“You could say that,” responds Sharif.

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We had such a great time pouring wines last night at CityPlace Uncorked. Thanks to everyone who helped make the experience memorable. A huge thanks to Republic National Fine Wine Manager, Craig Diamond, for filling our table with some truly excellent wines. It was an honor to pour them!

We loved our wines, and so did the crowd. The 2006 ZD Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa was an early favorite that kept many people coming back for more.
It was also rewarding to introduce some excellent lesser-known wines, like the 2006 Antu Ninquén Syrah/Cabernet (a powerhouse wine, but surprisingly smooth!) and the 2006 King Estate Vin Glacé Pinot Gris (Sweet’s personal favorite).

But the highlight was definitely the 2006 Masi Costasera Amarone Classico. What a smooth and elegant wine!

And to all the wonderful, amazing people who stopped by and talked wine with us, you made our night!

Please, don’t be a stranger! Follow, comment, and find us at future events! We love you all!

Were you at the event? See the photos here

~ Sweet, Dry, Bold & Earthy

Just a reminder to our faithful that the four of us will all be appearing (together for the first time!) at CityPlace’s Uncorked event Thursday evening.

We’ll be pouring eight really good wines that are all over the board, so whatever your palate, please stop by and try what we’ll be featuring.

There will also be a great raffle going at our table that includes a couple of bottles of our favorite wines (different from what we’re pouring), a fab cookbook, and two beautiful books on the Tuscany area and Paris restaurants. We’ll have the drawing at 9 p.m., so be sure to enter.

Swirl fans should have a great night with the wines and yummy food from CityPlace’s best restaurants. Click here to see what we’ll be pouring. And check out details of the event here.

We hope to see you there!

Calling all wine lovers! Dry (Gwen) will be at CityPlace at noon today, July 31, with two VIP tickets to next week’s CityPlace Uncorked. Be the first person to find her, say, “I LOVE UNCORKED!” and win!

The winner receives two VIP tickets (a $200 value) to CityPlace Uncorked on August 6. VIP tickets include early entry at 6 p.m. (general entry is at 7 p.m.), a gift bag, and second level entry to exclusive wines and food. Patrons also receive a complimentary glass of Piper Heidsieck champagne and a pizza at the City Cellar after-party.

Follow the clues to Dry’s whereabouts on Twitter @SwirlGirls or on Facebook starting at noon. Happy hunting!

We are so excited to be pouring wine at CityPlace Uncorked this year on August 6, at the Harriet Himmel Theater. The event, now in its ninth year, features wines and menu samplings from some of CityPlace’s best restaurants. You can bid on all kinds of prizes during a silent auction benefiting The West Palm 100, and listen to music from B.B. King Pure Blues Band.

There will also be a great after-party sponsored by City Cellar, a CityPlace must for any oenophile. “We’re very, very big fans of wine,” says Jeremiah Bennett, manager of City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill, which has a large and varied regular wine list. “We’ve been involved with Uncorked since the beginning.”

The wines for Uncorked will be supplied by Republic National Distributing Company, which is providing a good variety for all sorts of tastes. The Swirl Girls got together with South Florida wine manager, Craig Diamond, last week at City Cellar to taste the wines we’ll be pouring at our table. Boy, did Craig impress us with his selection!

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