Happy Tuesday, Delray Beach. In today’s edition: Boca Raton growth plans, a Charlie Brown Christmas tour, botanical bliss for 50+, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Boca Raton growth plans: University Village, a proposed walkable community between Spanish River Boulevard and Yamato Road, would add nearly 800 homes, a hotel, and retail, with construction pending approvals amid wider redevelopment debates — see what’s planned and debated.

Smarter downtown mobility pilot: Boca Raton has launched MiCa, a free autonomous shuttle looping through Mizner Park. It runs Thursday to Sunday from 5 to 8 PM, with longer hours planned in late January — get all the details.

County schools hit high notes: Palm Beach Lakes Community High School won the FMBC state Class AA title, its sixth straight, while bands medaled and John I. Leonard’s director was inducted into Hall of Fame — see who else medaled.

Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.

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.

Highlights this week

• Celebrate Rebirth with Néstor Torres
• Dance to 90s hip-hop and R&B
• Cheer for charity at Boca Raton Bowl
• Laugh through mind-blowing mentalism with Alan Chamo
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A home warranty that actually pays is 30% off

🫶 We got your back

A refreshed resort dining icon: Angle at Eau Palm Beach Resort has unveiled a lighter, coastal makeover and a broadened menu. The longtime steakhouse now pairs premium cuts from Snake River Farms and Creekstone Farms with house-made pastas, seafood, and vegetable-forward and vegan dishes, all in sand-and-cream digs with blond woods and greenery. Open nightly, with live music Tuesday through Sunday. See the redesign and menu.

Restaurants on the horizon: Five new spots are headed to West Palm, Delray, Boca, and Lake Worth Beach: a Mediterranean share-plates room, a Rome-inspired pasta bar, a Boca taco destination pouring its own spirits, a late-night neighborhood sports bar with food trucks, and a plant-based cafe with live music. Openings are coming soon. See opening timelines and menus.

Small theater, big vibes: Whether you’re after a low-key date or just fleeing the couch, Movies of Delray is a family-owned nook showing indie gems, documentaries, and occasional opera or stage-musical broadcasts, all with a friendly, no-fuss feel that reminds you why theaters still matter.

Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.

📆 Around town this week

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.

This week

🌱 Bonsai Workshop @ Saltwater Brewery | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:00pm – Trade yardwork for tiny trees at Saltwater Brewery’s bonsai night. Sip ocean-inspired brews while pros teach you to pot, prune, and design a pint-sized masterpiece, and if it dies, they replace it. Low stress, good beer, smug homeowner satisfaction.

🎄 A Charlie Brown Christmas Tour by Patrick Lamb @ Delray Beach Amphitheatre | Wednesday (12/17) at 5:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to stop untangling the lights and feel something festive, this is it. Patrick Lamb channels Vince Guaraldi, Charlie Brown magic, and kids’ choirs from our own schools, delivering heart to Delray’s tree-lit holiday glow.

🍪 Cocoa Cookies and Crafts @ Old School Square | Thursday (12/18) at 6:00pm – Old School Square is serving up free hot cocoa, cookies, and crafts under the 100-foot Christmas Tree, so consider dinner handled. Bring the kids, or bring friends with kids, then snag a photo with the Gingerbread Man, because when a giant cookie smiles, you smile back.

🌿 Botanical Bliss: Discovering the Secrets of Plants @ Green Cay Nature Center | Friday (12/19) at 1:00pm – Trade the beach for a talk and stroll through South Florida’s native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs, with Riverbend Park naturalist Jackie Arell at the helm. Get hands-on ID tips, impress your garden, and for $5, ages 50+, online reservations are a must, space is tight.

💃 The HARID Conservatory Winter Dance Performances @ Countess de Hoernle Theater | Friday (12/19) at 7:30pm – Whether you’re a Nutcracker loyalist or just fluent in ‘pas de something,’ HARID’s winter show blends Act II divertissements, Giselle’s peasant pas de deux, the Belarusian Yurochka, and a fresh modern premiere. Polished students, real talent, and a night that beats the couch.

This weekend

⚽ Soccer Shots @ Sugar Sand Park Community Center | Saturday (12/20) at 9:00am – Soccer Shots is getting little feet moving with imaginative games that teach dribbling, passing, and shooting, plus weekly lessons in respect, teamwork, and appreciation. It is basically cardio with values. Parents join in for the 2 to 3.5 crowd, so wear comfy shoes.

🐾 Animal Keeper for a Day @ Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands | Saturday (12/20) at 9:30am – If you have a budding zookeeper, or just need proof the kids can do chores, this behind-the-scenes day lets you pitch in with animal care staff. Messy, rewarding, and only 10 bucks. Ages 8+, tiny 8-person cap, so snag a spot.

🎻 Music in the Museum – Echoes of Elegance and Emotion: A Viola Recital @ Boca Raton Museum of Art | Saturday (12/20) at 3:00pm – Settle into the museum for a viola-forward recital that starts with Marin Marais elegance, detours through Vierne’s lush harmonies, and lands in Rebecca Clarke’s fire. Violinist David Pedraza and pianist Yuhsuan Feng keep it polished, intimate, and gripping. The viola, middle child, steals the show.

🤘 Classic Rock Therapy @ Biergarten Boca Raton | Saturday (12/20) at 8:00pm – Call it group therapy, Boca style. Classic Rock Therapy kicks off their Get Some Therapy tour at Biergarten, so come early for bratwurst, a cold one, and good company, then work off dinner to classic hits everyone knows, no cover, and tables go fast.

🎁 Holiday Toy Drive @ Diamonds by Raymond Lee | Sunday (12/21) at 10:00am – Do something wholesome the Sunday before Christmas, stay for food, drinks, and music. Bring a toy donation to support the drive—every contribution counts. RSVP because parking is tighter than Midtown in December, and it’s open to everyone. If you know, you know.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/16 Trew Music School Winter Recital @ The Funky Biscuit – 5:30 pm
• 12/17 Someday Radio @ Crazy Uncle Mike’s – 8 pm
• 12/18 Bingo Night @ Saltwater Brewery – 7 pm
• 12/18 Sistas of the 70’s @ Crazy Uncle Mike’s – 8 pm
• 12/21 21 Swag Band @ Arts Garage – 7 pm
• 12/23 Sacred Union’s Pre-Christmas Party @ Johnnie Browns – 8 pm
• 12/26 The Flyers @ THRōW Social – 7 pm
• 12/27 Otis Cadillac: The Final Performance @ Arts Garage – 8 pm
• 12/27 The Steely Dan Project @ Delray Beach Playhouse – 8 pm