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Coco Market Finds New Home at Old School Square In Downtown Delray Beach

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 - 4:13pm

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) announced today that Delray Beach’s monthly wellness market, Coco Market, is moving to Old School Square (51 N. Swinton Ave) in Downtown Delray Beach. The first Coco Market at Old School Square will be held on Sunday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coco Markets are scheduled for November 12 and December 3 as well. (The market had been located at Veterans Park for the last two years but needed to find a new home while construction continues near the park.)



Coco Market is a monthly wellness market that builds community and fosters new connections. Its mission is to bring local businesses together to support one another and the larger wellness community. During the events, which are free and open to the public, kids and adults of all ages can enjoy a variety of fun and interactive activities including:



• Healing classes like yoga, meditation, and sound baths with musicians.

• Healing modalities, such as spinal adjustments, cupping therapy, massages, and energy work.

• Workshops, crafts, and local curated vendors offering a variety of unique products, from aromatherapy to reworked clothing and elderberry elixirs.

• Offerings from small local restaurants and pop-up food vendors featuring both vegan and non-vegan options.

• Access to triple-filtered 8.5pH water. (All are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles to fill.)



Coco Market is produced by The Coco Yogi, Corey Heyman, a Downtown Delray Beach based yoga teacher and community creator. “I’m really looking forward to Coco Market’s move to Old School Square,” said Heyman. “Old School Square is the city center in Delray Beach and the move is going to bring the community together in an even bigger way with more space, more parking, and more vendors!”



Laura Simon, Executive Director of the Delray Beach DDA, added: “Our thriving wellness community is an integral part of Downtown Delray Beach, so we are thrilled Coco Market is staying in Downtown Delray Beach. It’s yet another exciting event that the DDA is proud to bring to Old School Square this year.”



Coco Market is free and open to the public and will be held Sunday, October 1, November 12, and December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking is available at the Old School Square Parking Garage, 180 NE 1st St, Delray Beach, FL 33444.

 
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Concert Series Continues at Old School Square in Delray Beach

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - 4:15pm

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has announced its upcoming lineup of concerts and performances at Summer at the Square at Old School Square (51 N Swinton Ave) in Delray Beach. Residents and visitors alike can expect a full schedule of free and ticketed events through September.



“We are thrilled to offer Delray Beach lively, fun and exciting music to wrap up our Summer at the Square,” said Laura Simon, Executive Director of the Delray Beach DDA. “We are proud of the events, programs and concerts we have hosted already, and we are confident our Delray Beach residents and guests will enjoy what we have planned for the remaining months of summer!”



All summer long, on the First and Third Thursdays of the month, the Delray Beach DDA hosts live music at the Old School Square Amphitheatre at sunset as part of its Sunset Concert Series. On Thursday, September 21, there will also be a special nighttime market featuring local vendors. The DDA invites everyone – rain or shine – to bring lawn chairs and their dancing shoes (tents will be provided when needed). Guests are encouraged to bring takeout meals and snacks from a local restaurant or purchase food and drinks from the local restaurant vendors featured onsite.



Legends Radio is also hosting Free Friday Concerts once a month at the Old School Square Amphitheatre. The final concert of summer will take place September 22. Additionally, a ticketed concert event will take place at Old School Square on Friday, September 15 featuring Classic Albums Live: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.



Upcoming performances include:



Thursday, September 7 6:00-9:00PM: FREE Concert featuring The Derek Mack Band, considered South Florida’s PARTY band! The high-energy, versatile group of musicians performs music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today. Gates open at 6pm. Music from 6:30pm - 9pm.



Friday, September 15 6:00-10:00PM: Classic Albums Live: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Founded in 2003 by Craig Martin, Classic Albums Live takes the greatest albums and recreates them live on stage – note for note, cut for cut, featuring top musicians. Ticket prices: $25 for General Admission; $39.95 for VIP (includes reserved seat, air conditioned bathrooms and one drink ticket). Purchase tickets here.



Thursday, September 21 5:30-9:00PM: FREE Concert featuring Vagabond Revue and Night Market. Vagabond Revue is a traveling collective of live music, poetry, visual arts and vendors. Created and hosted by Blake Ian and Bonnie Kate, they curate a showcase of artists ranging from nationally touring local talent to first time performers. Headliners for this show are Ron Eisner from The Resolvers, Chris Cope from Artikal Sound System, and Mike Garulli from The Heavy Pets and Tand. Doors open an hour before showtime at 5:30pm so visitors can shop the night market featuring more than a dozen curated vendors. Gates open at 5:30pm. Music from 6pm - 9pm.



Friday, September 22 7:30-9:30PM: FREE Concert featuring a Rolling Stones Tribute Band. Prepare to rock out to the timeless hits and electric energy of one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands in history with this unforgettable tribute experience. This phenomenal Rolling Stones tribute band captures the raw essence and swagger of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the rest of the legendary lineup.



For more information and to see a full list of events at Old School Square, please visit: https://delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events.

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Delray Walls Artist Showcase Throws Back to “Old School” Graffiti at Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square July 28

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 - 4:16pm

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has announced two new immersive showcases in collaboration with Galera Collective happening this summer at Old School Square – both of which highlight the street art of Delray Beach and the artists behind it. They are:



- Delray Walls Artist Showcase - The new artist showcase exhibition opens at the Cornell Art Museum on Friday, July 28 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will run through November 2023, features over 20 works of art created by 12 Delray Walls artists.



- Delray Walls Mural Fest - The first ever Delray Walls Mural Fest will take place on July 28 and 29 on the Old School Square grounds. The two-day street art and music festival is free to attend and will feature some of the best muralists from North Palm Beach County to Miami.



“Delray Walls Artist Showcase is a nod to the hip-hop roots of urban street art, and its freedom of expression,” said Laura Simon, Executive Director of the DDA. “Muralists presented in this exhibit are the 21st century evolution of the creative spirit behind graffiti street art that sprung up around cities fifty years ago. We are thrilled to have them and excited for our Delray Beach residents and visitors to enjoy the showcase.”



Early graffiti writers of the 1960s and 70s took to the streets in a form of protest against the status quo and tagged their names across the urban landscapes of New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. As graffiti bloomed outward across the U.S., Street Art evolved to encompass any visual art created in public locations, specifically unsanctioned artwork. Today, muralists have become the next generation of street artists.



Delray Walls Artist Showcase at the Cornell Art Museum

Schedule: July 28, 2023 through November, 2023



- The Delray Walls Artist Showcase brings to light the many regional muralists who began their careers painting canvas, wood or creating sculpture as well as murals.



- The Cornell Art Museum opening will take place Friday, July 28 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.



- The exhibition will showcase over 20 works of art in 2D and 3D format inside the museum (canvases and sculpture work) created by 12 Delray Walls artists.



- Includes Art Immersive Exhibition and Space of Mind student mural created in Street Art Mural Class.



Delray Walls Mural Fest on the Old School Square Park (on the main green area)

Schedule: Friday, July 28 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturday, July 29 from 10:00am to 6:00pm



- Friday will feature a free concert by The Resolvers at the Amphitheater, opportunities to meet the artists and watch them paint.



- Saturday will include a full day of artists painting, artist spotlight talks from stage, interactive mural, vendors, children’s activities, including sand art, bubbles, face paint, and more.



- The mural artists will be painting on large wooden panels in the park at Old School Square.



- Following the event, the art will be moved to various locations throughout Downtown Delray Beach.



Participating muralists include: Ripes (Michael Goodman); Grabster (Marcus Borges); Reds (Yenia Jaramillo); Chnk (Nicholas Mattioli); Arive – working with Space of Mind Students; Code (Cody Parker); Nico (Nicole Holderbaum); Buns (Zoe Genesis) ; PHD (Paul Hughes); Sarah Huang ; and Craig McGinnis & Renata Rodrigues – Interactive mural inviting visitors to walk up and paint a specific section to “Make their Mark.”



Both showcases are part of “Summer at the Square,” a months-long series of exciting summer happenings at Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach. For a full list of events, visit www.DelrayOldSchoolSquare.com/events.

 
 
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Interactive Art Installation Featuring Giant Hourglasses Arrives at Old School Square in Delray Beach

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - 4:18pm

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) announced the upcoming arrival of “A Journey Through Time at Old School Square” with LAPS, a new temporary interactive art installation. The colorful, interactive, and playful installation, which features six giant hourglass modules that reach nearly eight feet in height, will debut in Florida with its arrival on Thursday, June 22, in Delray Beach. A kick-off celebration will take place on Friday, June 23 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm and include an overview presentation in addition to live music. The exhibit is part of “Summer at the Square,” a months-long series of exciting summer happenings at Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach.



The hourglass exhibit will be on display in Old School Square Park (on the main green area) in Downtown Delray Beach, and be on view day and night, through July 30, 2023. The art pieces will give guests a chance to turn time forward and backward as they maneuver a large wheel on each hourglass at their own pace. Vivid lights and sounds will radiate from the pieces as the sand glides back and forth in motion to mark time saved and spent at the location. The message of the installation is that because everyone gets to choose the time they want to spend at the exhibit, each is a keeper of their own passage of time.



“We are excited to be the first in the State of Florida to bring this outdoor art installation to our vibrant downtown, and we are eager to offer our entire community the opportunity to engage with public artwork in such a fun, interactive way,” said Laura Simon, Executive Director of the Delray Beach DDA. “The installation will give Delray Beach residents and visitors a chance to view time in a unique way while offering another way to experience Downtown Delray Beach while enjoying our restaurants, retail, amenities, and much more this summer.”



“A Journey Through Time at Old School Square” with LAPS installation is part of an ongoing series of activations designed to create moments of surprise and delight at Old School Square. The DDA officially took over operations, management, curating and permitting for all events, programs, exhibitions and activities on the Old School Square campus as of March 1, 2023.



The LAPS exhibit was designed and created in Montreal, Canada in 2022 by Olivier Landreville, with sound and light design by Serge Maheu. Structure and engineering were provided by Maintenance Industries Meca-Fab Inc. The interactive installation is produced by Init and Creos. Prior to its appearance in Delray Beach, Florida, LAPS was presented in Montreal, Canada; Des Moines, ID; Ottawa, Canada; and Denver, CO.



For more details and information on Summer at the Square, please visit www.DelrayOldSchoolSquare.com for a full calendar and details.

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This Underrated Florida City Has Beautiful Beaches, Trendy Hotels, and Vibrant Street Art

Friday, June 3, 2022 - 1:54pm

Article by Travel + Leisure 

Delray Beach, Florida, offers so much more than pretty beaches. 

Delray Beach, Florida, is a small oceanfront city nestled between Boca Raton and Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County. The beloved beachfront locale is a favorite among locals, but it's yet to be uncovered by the masses.

Here, you'll find everything from trendy hotels to beautiful beaches, to seemingly endless dining options — not to mention a vibrant arts and culture scene that truly sets it apart from your typical Florida beach town. Ahead, our complete guide to Delray Beach, including where to stay, what to see and do, and where to eat and drink.

Where to Stay in Delray Beach, Florida

Eye-catching artwork, mouthwatering food and drink offerings, and luxe accommodations — you'll find all this and more at The Ray. The 141-room property, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, is sure to delight any design enthusiast with its impressive art installations, large sculptures, living walls, bespoke furnishings, and a spacious, open-concept layout. While The Ray is not located on the beach, it does have a rooftop pool for lounging and sipping cocktails. (Or, you can take one of the complimentary cruisers and bike to the sand.) Adjacent to the pool is the sprawling, greenery-filled Rosewater Rooftop, an all-day, indoor/outdoor drinking and dining venue that serves up refreshing drinks and delectable bites, plus a side of panoramic views.

 

Alternatively, those looking to stay right on the beach can reserve a room at Delray Sands Resort. This upscale, family-friendly property boasts 115 bright and airy accommodations, as well as an oceanfront swimming pool, whirlpool, and separate children's pool. Head out onto the sand, where you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and private cabanas. Other amenities include live entertainment and three on-site drinking and dining options.

What to See and Do in Delray Beach, Florida

Wander through Pineapple Grove Arts District.

The arty Pineapple Grove Arts District is chock-full of murals and sculptures, as well as its fair share of eclectic galleries, whimsical shops, and one-of-a-kind eateries (more on that below). Don't miss the 15,000-square-foot Arts Warehouse, which is aptly located on Artist Alley. The warehouse houses a collection of galleries, exhibitions, and studios. Check the events calendar for a full lineup of workshops and programming.

 

Explore Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

Stroll through the magnificent Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, and you'll forget you're in Florida. The museum pays homage to Japanese culture and art with its fascinating exhibits. Then, take a scenic walk through the lush, landscaped gardens, which feature tranquil waterfalls, ponds, forests, and more (don't miss the impressive bonsai collection).

Embark on a self-guided walking tour of the city's street art.

For a closer look at the city's best works, put on your comfiest sneakers and embark on the Delray Beach Art Trail. Along the route, you'll pass over 40 pieces of art, including a slew of colorful murals. And if you need to beat the heat at any point, just pop inside one of the many galleries.

Hit the beach.

Delray Beach boasts two miles of soft, palm-tree-lined beaches, as well as tranquil blue waters. When you're not soaking up the sun from your beach lounger (which you can rent directly on the sand, along with umbrellas), dip your toes in the water or opt for a leisurely swim.

Where to Eat and Drink in Delray Beach, Florida

For Breakfast and Bites: Kick off your morning on a sweet note with a visit to The Modern Rose, which features a daily and seasonally rotating selection of freshly baked pastries, as well as savory sandwiches and breakfast classics like the PB&J served on brioche and toasted naan with whipped cream cheese, grilled caramelized peaches, honey, and cinnamon. The female-, Latinx-, and veteran-owned company also has more than 60 different boutique tea varietals, plus locally roasted coffee. The French Bakery is another excellent choice, with a wide selection of handcrafted, freshly baked breads, including the mini French baguettes, which are just as adorable as they are delicious. Alternatively, satisfy your sweet tooth with a hand-rolled chocolate almond croissant, vanilla or chocolate butter cookies, or a madeleine. Drooling yet?

For Brunch and Lunch: Snag a table at Lulu's Cafe & Cocktails, a trendy jaunt that looks as if it's been plucked right out of SoHo. Here, you'll find everything from breakfast burritos and croissant sandwiches, to salads and bowls, to charcuterie boards and chicken wings. Don't forget to stop by the jungle leaf-patterned bar for a handcrafted cocktail or two. If waterfront dining is what you're after, make your way to Deck 84, which overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. Arrive early to snag a seat outside as you feast on delicious seafood like blackened shrimp Caesar salad, seared swordfish, fish and chips, or miso-glazed salmon.

For Dinner: Rose's Daughter is a dinner-only Italian eatery owned by local chef Suzanne Perrotto. Options abound, from made-from-scratch pizzas to heaping portions of pasta. If you're craving seafood — specifically shellfish — look no further than Mussel Beach, where the mussels are imported daily from Prince Edward Island. Meanwhile, date night calls for a romantic dinner at the Mediterranean-inspired Joseph's Wine Bar and Cafe, where the owner, Joseph, is waiting to welcome you. Oenophiles will especially love it here, as the wine list spans more than 2,000 bottles.

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