Happy Friday, Boca Raton. In today’s edition: Larry Ellison buying Lion Country Safari, Handel’s Messiah, Holiday Fantasy of Lights drive thru, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Palm Beach billionaire buzz: Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison bought beloved Lion Country Safari for $30 million, and the decades-old wildlife park is expected to remain a sanctuary as he emphasizes conservation — read the full story.

Officials outline county vision: Palm Beach County touted record tourism, with 10.6 million visitors generating $11.3 billion. Airport Concourse B expansion and more than 200 active road projects target congestion as growth accelerates — get all the details.

City-county annexation tensions: Boca Raton is exploring annexation of St. Andrews Country Club, a gated community of 700-plus homes. It could shift $1.3 billion in taxable value and lower taxes, drawing county pushback — get answers to key questions.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Slam poetry takes over Exit 36
• Watch the coastal holiday boat parade
• Community baby shower providing essentials and hope
• Sip craft beer and shop handcrafted goods
• Make your own plush winter critter
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Investing in future leaders: Applications are open for Coral Springs’ 2026 MLK Scholarship, offering one-year college aid to local high school seniors who embody Dr. King’s values. Priority goes to students with meaningful community service. Eligible Coral Springs residents should apply by March 6, 2026. Last year, $40,000 was awarded to 24 seniors. See how and when to apply.

Heart, humor, and humanity: The Adolph & Rose Levis JCC has announced West Boca Theatre Company’s 2025–26 season, headlined by Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, a Hamlet-haunted comedy, a WWII love-letter romance by Ken Ludwig, and staged readings. Tickets are $40, or mix-and-match any six WBTC or Performing Arts shows for $200. Check out the full lineup.

Neighborhood pint upgrade: Crave a low-key, high-fun beer hang? Prosperity Brewers keeps taps fresh, vibes friendly, and calendars lively with Trivia Tuesday, rotating food trucks, and live music. Suggest it once… suddenly it’s the default spot for your crew.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

👼 George F. Handel’s “Messiah” FAU Choral Groups @ St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – FAU’s choral groups are bringing Handel’s Messiah to life, the holiday tradition that actually earns its goosebumps and your annual stand during the Hallelujah Chorus. Directed by Stacie Lee Rossow, DMA, it’s a quality listen, a sanity reset, and just $20 at stjoan.org/wp.

🏡 Jared Freiburg and the Vagabonds @ Cultural Arts Center at John Knox Village of Florida | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Time-travel to the jukebox years with piano hotshot Jared Freiburg and his Vagabonds ripping through Elvis, Sinatra, and a buffet of 50s rock, blues, country, and jazz, plus a taste of his 60s-inspired original, Vagabond. Dust off the dancing shoes, tell the knees to behave.

This weekend

🎅 Annual Swedish Christmas Fair @ First United Methodist Church | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Florida winter begging for some actual Christmas spirit? Hit the Swedish Christmas fair for Lucia songs, market stalls, Swedish candy, and a proper julbord smörgåsbord. It is cozy, quirky, and blissfully efficient, like IKEA without the assembly, with better meatballs, and way more charm.

🎐 Shibashi Qigong Flow & Sound Journey @ Yoga Journey | Saturday (12/6) at 2:00pm – Ready to relax like you mean it? Ease into Shibashi Qigong to classical music, 18 gentle movements for balance, breath, and better digestion, then sink into a sound journey with gong, Tibetan and crystal bowls, chimes, and the kind of calm that sticks.

🎷 A New Orleans Jazz Christmas Celebration @ St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church | Saturday (12/6) at 5:00pm – Whether you still call it St. Gregory’s or the Cultural Hub, this is the holiday party with actual chops. Wycliffe Gordon and La Lucha bring New Orleans sparkle, then champagne, a three-course dinner, dancing, auctions, and the kind of fellowship you actually like.

🛶 Intracoastal Adventures – Intro to Kayaking @ Gumbo Limbo Nature Center | Sunday (12/7) at 9:00am – Grab a paddle for a beginner-friendly spin that saves you from pinballing through mangroves. You’ll cruise the shallow edge of the Intracoastal with pointers, calm water, and a lesson on our mangrove and estuary neighbors, as long as you can hop in and out unassisted.

🎤 Nova Singers Golden Jubilee Holiday Concert @ St. Paul Lutheran Church | Sunday (12/7) at 4:00pm – Whether you know your Gloria from your gelt, Nova Singers celebrate 50 years with a holiday program that swings from Latin and Hebrew gems to carols you want to hear again. Multiple venues, same goosebumps. $20 advance, $25 door, and kids and students free.

🎺 Tuba Christmas @ Mizner Park Amphitheatre | Sunday (12/7) at 5:00pm – If your carols need more bass, Tuba Christmas at Mizner Park brings a free, outdoor sing-along where tubas and euphoniums do the heavy lifting. Community musicians, Maestro Marc Decker, big cozy sound. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your best low notes.

Next week

🚗 Holiday Fantasy of Lights Drive thru @ Tradewinds Park | Monday (12/8) at 6:00pm – Three miles of holiday lights you can enjoy from your car, zero frostbite required. Price is per carload, so pack in the kids, in-laws, and the dog, bring cocoa, and let the animated displays do the heavy lifting. Fewer U-turns, better bulbs, actual cheer.

🏝️ Island Treks @ Gumbo Limbo Nature Center | Tuesday (12/9) at 10:00am – Trade the treadmill for a short, shady guided boardwalk trek through the tropical hardwood hammock, with peeks at the Intracoastal through mangroves. It wraps at the observation tower for a panorama, with an ADA accessible ramp, so bring your curiosity, your camera, and bug spray.

🏺 Egyptian Pharaohs: From Cheops to Ramses II Immersive Experience @ South Florida PBS Studios | Tuesday (12/9) at 10:30am – Skip the beach crowds with an air-conditioned trip down the Nile in West Palm. This immersive journey, built with Egyptologists and Ubisoft visuals, moves from Cheops to Ramses II as gods awaken, pyramids rise, treasures shimmer, an easy win for date night and impressing grandkids.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Southern Blood @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – 8:30 pm
• 12/6 Merry Heart Comedy Show @ Siemens-Evert Auditorium – 5:30 pm
• 12/6 Sovereign Sons @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – 8:30 pm
• 12/7 Brown Eyed Women @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – 7 pm
• 12/7 3rd Annual Delray Stories: Fighting for Freedom, Honoring our Veteran Community @ Arts Garage – 7 pm
• 12/9 Pints & Pieces @ 26 Degree Brewing – 6 pm
• 12/10 Twas The Night Before Christmas @ St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church – 7 pm
• 12/11 Night Market @ Sanborn Square – 6 pm
• 12/12 Improv Therapy @ John Barclay Studio Theatre – 9 pm
• 12/13 Flamingo Flea – Merry Market @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – 12 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Boca Raton edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Delia Caridad Velez (Cardinal Group Enterprise INC)

This 5-bed, 4-bath on a rare oversized lot pairs a 2025 metal roof with all-new guts, from HVAC and ductwork to wiring, plumbing, impact glass, and gutters. An airy open plan shows off bamboo floors and a custom kitchen with fresh appliances. Three en-suite bedrooms add hotel vibes, and the two-car garage got a new door.

Outside feels like a private club, with a marble deck, new pool with sun shelf loungers, a 15×20 gazebo and grill, mini putting green, soccer zone, circular drive, and quick access to beaches, shopping, dining, and top-rated schools.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →