New Restaurant Concept Opens in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON – ZED451, a new restaurant concept of original cuisine and delivery opened last fall in Mizner Park mall.

Boca Raton is the first location for ZED451 outside of Chicago, where the critically acclaimed flagship restaurant is located downtown. “Boca Raton is home to some of the nation’s most sophisticated diners, which is why we selected this market as our first foray outside of the Chicago area,” said chief operating fficer Bill Bartlett, in a press release.

The concept behind ZED451 lets customers be made to feel more like attending a party in someone’s house than being in a restaurant.

The cuisine at ZED451 – modern upscale grilling – includes fire grilled steaks, ribs, fish, poultry and game served tableside by the chefs who created them. At any time, guests are invited to help themselves to several Harvest Tables, featuring seasonal soups, composed salads, artisan cheese and charcuterie. The fixed price is intended to inspire experimentation and discovery. “The beauty of our menu is that there is no risk,” says Steve Byrne, director of culinary operations. “You can try something new like antelope or wild boar sausage and if you like it, have more.”

Chefs as Waiters?

ZED451 breaks down the barriers between the front-of-house and the back. Instead of servers and runners, dishes are delivered tableside by the chefs who created them.

In addition, the staff at ZED451 is trained to serve as a concierge by helping customers make reservations at other restaurants, lounges and bars following their meal.

General Manager of ZED451 in Boca Raton is Tim Fannin, and the 20-member team of chefs is led by Executive Chef Armando Galeas.

ZED451 in Boca Raton is a 14,000 square foot space designed by architect Chris Smith (ZED451, Chicago; Buddakan, Philadelphia and New York; Grayz, Restaurant 81 and Haru, New York; OLA and Strike, Miami; and Charlie Palmer Steak, Las Vegas.) ZED451 is Smith’s first Boca Raton project. RCC Associates built the 338-seat restaurant.

A rich landscape of natural elements with a highly stylized, contemporary edge makes up the look of ZED451 in Boca Raton. A focal point is the large communal table in the center of the restaurant, which is surrounded by the completely open kitchen and lavish Harvest Tables. “Guests have described the space as ‘rustic and sexy,’” says Chief Brand Officer Daniel Harf.

ZED451 in Boca Raton offers dinner seven days a week beginning at 4 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 561-393-3451 or www.zed451.com, 201 Plaza Real, Mizner Park

Cummer in Jacksonville Features Quilts

JACKSONVILLE – The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents “A Survey of Gee’s Bend Quilts”, May 12 – August 2. The quilts of the women of the tiny rural town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, are praised by the New York Times as, “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced.”

The quilts have been shown at major art museums across the United States. Call (904) 356-6857 or see www.thecummer.org.

Westin Element Opens in Orlando

ORLANDO – Slated to open in August 2009, Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open ELEMENT Orlando Convention Center/International Drive. This ELEMENT hotel, inspired by Westin Hotels, will offer an extended stay experience that weaves together intuitive design, unique social venues and eco-friendly touches.

The hotel’s 137 rooms can be customized by guests and will feature a Westin Heavenly Bed, complete kitchen and an oversized, spa-inspired shower. Hotel amenities will include an integrated technology center and library. Visit starwoodhotels.com.

Way Cool Airport Hotel Opens Near JAX

JACKSONVILLE – aLoft Jacksonville Airport is opening July 2009. Rooms feature ultra-comfortable beds, spa showers and other luxuries. The new chain by Starwood features jet setting style at a steal.

The hotel features property-wide wireless Internet access, w xyz bar and a 24-hour pantry. aLoft offers convenient access to Jacksonville International Airport and local attractions. Call (904) 714-3800 or see www.starwoodhotels.com.

Two New Jacksonville Hotels Open in June

JACKSONVILLE – A brand new property, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Suites, is opening in Downtown Jacksonville in June 2009; these properties will adjoin at Kings Avenue Station.

The location is convenient to the waterfront and offers easy transportation throughout Downtown aboard Jacksonville Transit Authority’s Skyway. See www.visitjacksonville.com.

Naples Zoo Welcomes White Tigers

NAPLES – This summer, Naples Zoo welcomes one of the rarest creatures of the natural world, white tigers. For a limited time, Memorial Day through Labor Day, these four-year-old white tigers will be in the lush Tiger Forest exhibit near the new Black Bear Hammock exhibit.

These striking cats will be seen stalking past giant bamboo or splashing in the naturalistic rockwork pool. In concert with the new bear exhibit and just arrived young purebred South African lions, white tigers will be a wild part of the summer fun in Southwest Florida. Visit www.napleszoo.org.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Weekend July 2

DAYTONA BEACH – NASCAR returns to Daytona International Speedway in July for the mid-summer spectacular under the lights with the July Sprint Cup Weekend from July 2 – 4.

Visitors to the Daytona Beach area can enjoy Grand-Am’s Brumos Porsche 250 Rolex Sports Car Race on July 2, the July Nationwide Series Race on July 3, and the 51st running of the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on July 4. See www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call (800) PIT-SHOP.

Clifford In Miami at Miami Children’s Museum

MIAMI – As visitors to the Miami Children’s Museum pass by the Lighthouse and arrive on Birdwell Island, they will discover the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and their friends at the “Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog” Traveling Exhibit.

Developed by the Minnesota Children’s Museum, this exhibit invites kids to explore art through textures and multi-media materials in this engaging blockbuster exhibit. There is even a nine foot Clifford! The exhibit is included with paid admission to MCM, and will be available from June 27 – October 11. See www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

Picturing Eden at Ringling Museum

SARASOTA – Eden and paradise are themes that resonate across time and cultures, and are places that are still sought after today. “Picturing Eden,” an exhibit at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, features the concept of the garden as a symbol for both good and evil.

The exhibition, which runs May 9 – August 2, highlights the work of 37 photographic artists from six countries as they examine the ideas of paradise as a quiet, thoughtful place, as well as a place of despair. Organized into four sections; Paradise Lost, Paradise Reconstructed, Despairing of Paradise and Paradise Anew, the images explore the development and changing styles of the garden and the belief in paradise. Picturing Eden looks at original lost innocence, the significance of the humanistic environment and its place in the history of art.

See www.ringling.org

Animation Show Featers Cartoon Network Stars

TAMPA – Capturing the phenomenon of motion drawing can be traced all the way back to Paleolithic cave paintings—and is still popular in some of your kid’s favorite Cartoon Network shows. ANIMATION, an all-new summer exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry, goes on a quest to understand how animation really works. This traveling exhibition brings together art, math, science, and technology. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore the process of animation, surrounded by colorful larger-than-life graphics of popular cartoon and animation characters from Cartoon Network. See www.mosi.org.

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