Happy Friday, West Palm Beach. In today’s edition: Small business grants, brunch with Santa, David Foster & Katharine McPhee, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Fresh support for entrepreneurs: The Boynton Beach CRA said $450,000 remained available for small business grants. Recent awards aided a yoga studio, an urgent care, and a restaurant with rent, repairs, and upgrades — learn what’s being offered.

South Florida skies under scrutiny: Palm Beach County commissioners voted 4-3 to begin a legal challenge to FAA 24/7 flight restrictions rerouting planes near Mar-a-Lago after noise complaints. Talks with the FAA may continue — read the full story.

Utility accountability under scrutiny: After 11 months without a permanent leader, Riviera Beach’s Special Utility District has a new executive director, Joshua Niemann, amid water quality issues, investigations, and fines over failures and irregularities — read the full story.

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

• Experience Palm Beach Symphony with Misha Dichter
• Explore tropical lanterns and a 195-foot dragon
• Support families at dazzling drive-thru light show
• Enjoy Itzhak Perlman’s multimedia storytelling concert
• Experience Samoan fire and hula dancers
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

Beloved story sings anew: The Notebook is headed to the Kravis Center as part of the 2025-26 Kravis On Broadway season for a limited run. Single tickets are now on sale as of Dec. 12. Expect Ingrid Michaelson’s score and a Tony-nominated book retelling Allie and Noah’s enduring love story. Cue the tissues. Get dates and ticket info.

Festivities light up the nights: Hanukkah kicks off at sundown Dec. 14, and Palm Beach is going big with town-wide celebrations through Dec. 22. Expect menorah lightings, kid-friendly fun, concerts, and Shabbat dinners. Highlights include a menorah lighting with former hostage Eliya Cohen and a parachute chocolate gelt drop by Palm Beach Fire Rescue. Check out the full lineup.

Fresh hair energy: Highlights looking tired, or craving fuller hair without the ‘is it obvious?’ worry? At Luxe + Mane Salon, expect dimensional color and natural-looking extensions, a cozy boutique vibe, and stylists who truly listen, so future-you enjoys effortless good hair days.

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 for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are 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

🎬 Lake Theatre Revival Series @ Cultural Council for Palm Beach County | Friday (12/12) at 6:00pm – Head to the historic Lake Theatre for a showcase of award-winning shorts from the Subtropic Film Festival 2025. Expect bold storytelling, fresh perspectives, and films that end before your legs fall asleep. It is free, seats are limited, so grab tickets at https://bit.ly/4nSr8ik.

⚓ The Seafarer @ Palm Beach Dramaworks | Friday (12/12) at 7:30pm – Settle in for a darkly funny Dublin Christmas where two hard-luck brothers, old drinking buddies, and one very portentous Mr. Lockhart turn poker night into a reckoning. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and oddly hopeful, the kind of theater that earns the $75 to $115 ticket.

This weekend

🎅 Brunch with Santa @ City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill | Saturday (12/13) at 11:00am – Round up the family for Santa brunch at City Cellar, where kids pen letters and mug for photos while you conquer unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys, and rosé with an entrée. Candy Cane Pancakes, Nutella crepes, and a Fall Old Fashioned await. Reserve on OpenTable.

🎶 An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katharine McPhee @ Kravis Center | Saturday (12/13) at 7:30pm – Whether you’ve been humming Whitney since the cassette days, or you just want goosebumps without the wind chill, David Foster and Katharine McPhee are bringing an intimate, hit-stacked show. Think Chicago, Whitney, Celine, Groban, Bublé, Katharine’s Idol, Smash, and Waitress favorites, plus a holiday sprinkle.

🎤 Gilly and the Girl @ Club Baywinds | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00pm – Club season is back, and Baywinds is starting strong with Gilly & The Girl. Think James Taylor to Whitney, Beatles to Patsy, delivered warm, tight, and charming. It’s date-night easy, sing-along friendly, and if you’re committing to more, the package deal doesn’t hurt.

🎄 49th Annual JTAA Christmas Parade@ Downtown Abacoa | Sunday (12/14) at 1:00pm – Nothing beats a hometown Christmas parade, especially the 49th annual toasting 100 years of Jupiter cheer. Expect a time-travel lineup from flappers to flip-flops, kids buzzing on candy canes, and neighbors pretending they’re not tearing up at Santa. Bring a lawn chair, sunscreen, and patience.

🎶 Women of Note Chorus @ Lake Worth Playhouse | Sunday (12/14) at 2:00pm – Whether you know your baritone from your biscotti or just want holiday sparkle, the Women of Note Chorus is serving four-part a cappella on the Stephanie Smith Main Stage. It’s 18+, two festive hours with an intermission, and the cozy chaos break you need.

🕯️ Winter Tapestry Holiday Concert @ Kravis Center | Sunday (12/14) at 7:30pm – Holiday concert season here means Young Singers filling the hall with goosebumps. A warm tapestry of songs across faiths and traditions, old and new, joy, light, and hope, from a kids choir fresh off Carnegie Hall, and tickets start at $18, which beats mall parking.

Next week

🏓 Learn to Play Pickleball Clinics @ Greenbriar Park | Tuesday (12/16) at 9:00am – If you’ve been pretending your tennis racket is a pickleball paddle, these free beginner clinics at Greenbriar Park will set you straight. Learn rules, strategy, and serves, no gear or signup required, just curiosity, comfy shoes, and a willingness to laugh at your footwork.

🕎 Hanukkah Festival of Food Trucks @ Mandel JCC of Palm Beach Gardens | Tuesday (12/16) at 5:00pm – Roll into a night of festive bites and bright lights as the JCC hosts its beloved Hanukkah food truck bash. Little ones will stay busy with crafts, face paint, balloon magic, and a visit from a holiday mouse, while you sample all the goodies curbside-style. Free, fun, and full of flavor — what more could you ask for?

🎭 Meet Me in the Mezzanine @ Kravis Center | Tuesday (12/16) at 6:30pm – Think you can tell your Brahms from your bubbly? The Kravis hosts a Palm Beach Symphony Masterworks night with a complimentary champagne pour on the mezzanine, and an intermission meet and greet with the musicians. Skip Clematis, savor the acoustics, and toast accordingly.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis @ The Paddock – 6:30 pm
• 12/13 The Dinner Detective @ DoubleTree Palm Beach Gardens – 6 pm
• 12/17 The Just and the Blind @ Kravis Center – 7 pm
• 12/19 Tribute to Tina Turner @ The Paddock – 6:30 pm
• 12/19 JP Soars and the Red Hots @ Das Beer Garden – 7 pm
• 12/20 Lucianna Coelho @ Salute Market – 6:30 pm
• 12/21 Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular @ Clematis by Night – 4 pm

🏠️ Price is right – West Palm Beach 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: Megan Romine (Douglas Elliman)

This single-story SoSo classic blends coastal polish with everyday ease. A chef’s kitchen anchors elegant living and dining, the serene primary suite tucks away for quiet, and a sunroom pours in light. Impact windows and doors keep it calm and cool, while sightlines slide to palm framed views of the resort-style pool.

A fully equipped guest house goes from VIP crash pad to income play. Lush landscaping carves out lounge zones for cocktails or cannonballs, and the address lands minutes to Palm Beach Island and downtown.

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