Margate Sounds at Sundown Well Attended Despite Cooler Temps
Hot Rock & Roll from Viva warmed up residents during last week’s Sound’s at Sundown concert at the corner of 441 and Margate Boulevard. Temperatures were in the 60s, but music lovers donned leather, suede, wool and other clothes and blankets South Floridians pull out of the closet once or twice a year.
The next Sounds at Sundown FREE concert on March 10th features Oldies Rock band, Orange Sunshine. Five guys - Stephen B., Tony Viscardi, Rob Alter, Ron burruano and Daryl Leoce - play tributes, not to individual artists, but to musical eras and years that will forever live in the memories of music and pop culture fans. Mark your calendar.
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Sale of Broward Stage Door in Margate Falls Through
The proposed sale of the Broward Stage Door Theatre (BSD) to Costume World CEO, Marilynn Wick has fallen through. Negotiations for the sale of the 17-year old not-for-profit venue in Margate stalled after two offers were rejected by BSD management.
[Read Renowned Margate Theater to Get Makeover for background.]
“The results of the due diligence investigation compelled me to make a critical business decision based on long-term projections. Despite a long negotiation process and demonstrating our abilities by assisting their recent production of I Love a Piano, management has declined to accept our offer and is going forward with another production season.” Wick said.
Read more...
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Café Vincenzo in Margate off to a Tasty Start
Though not in the habit of eating at restaurants on opening night, our taste buds were pleasantly surprised Sunday to find the fare at Café Vincenzo on Margate Boulevard mouthwatering and delicious.
Formerly Trattoria Bella Cibo, the landmark restaurant has new owners, a new face and an exciting new menu featuring homemade pastas and ravioli, fresh salads, seafood and a lobster tank swarming with two-pounders.
Read about opening night…
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Renowned Margate Theater to Get Makeover
Wardrobe extraordinaire, Marilyn Wick, owner of world-famous Costume World, has purchased the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Margate for an undisclosed amount.
The CEO and founder of the nation’s largest costume distributor told MargateNews.net that she’ll be remodeling the theatre inside and out, and is excited about breathing new life into the playhouse.
“Can you imagine what it would look like with a café and canopy out front,” she said.
Read more…
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Margate Landmark Restaurant Gets New Owners
After being approached by “no less than five different parties,” said property manager, Jim Nardi, for landlords the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA), the Agency agreed to lease former Trattoria Bella Cibo restaurant at 5801 Margate Boulevard to Scott Terrell and Vincent Chase of Parkland.
Resulting from years of not paying employees, vendors, taxes or rent on a timely basis, Trattoria Bella Cibo succumbed to financial difficulties and closed its doors in October.
Read more…
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Bye Bye Bella Cibo. Too Bad You Couldn’t Pay Your Help
A last minute auction at the closed Trattoria Bella Cibo restaurant on Margate Boulevard Friday attracted restaurateurs from all over the city looking for deals on kitchen equipment, restaurant supplies and fixtures. Bella Cibo owners Tommy Valdes and Gary Sessa were recently evicted for not paying rent and had the auction to drum up some quick cash.
Unfortunately, say former Bella Cibo employees, none of that cash will go to them. More than ten employees hadn’t been paid for weeks before the restaurant closed and have no faith whatsoever that owner Valdes is going to do the right thing and pay them, said former server Gina Ferrante.
“He has no intention of paying us. He’s going to go open somewhere else and do the same thing to his employees there,” Ferrante told MargateNews.net.
Read more…
For background info read:
Landmark Downtown Restaurant Closed
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Landmark Downtown Restaurant Closed
For the past few days, customers of the former Trattoria Bella Cibo restaurant on Margate Boulevard have been pulling on the doors only to find them locked. It’s closed for business. The leased restaurant property was in default on rent to landlords the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) resulting in eviction.
Owners Tommy Valdes and Gary Sessa have legally until October 28th to remove owned assets from the property at which point they will no longer have access to the premises, said Margate City Attorney Eugene Steinfeld. MCRA officials say they are keeping a close eye on the $72,000 in leasehold improvements granted the restaurant upon opening in 2009 so they are not removed.
Read more…
Former employee emails
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Food Truck Frenzy Finds Margate
Piggy-backing on one of the hottest new trends in food service, Margate’s Food Truck extravaganza Friday night was a hit among local food lovers and passing motorists stopping for a bite to eat.
On the eve of closing the Margate Field of Honor, the city rallied about 20 food trucks from the Gourmet Truck Expo to serve everything from tacos and coconut shrimp to Peruvian ceviche, latin burgers, sushi, pizza, ice cream and gourmet desserts at the corner of Margate Boulevard and State Road 7.
Read more…
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"Mack & Mabel" at the Broward Stage Door
Bernadette Peters and Robert Preston starred in the 1974 Tony nominated “Mack & Mabel" at the Majestic Theater in New York. Mack & Mabel is a story about legendary silent film director, Mack Sennet, and his tumultuous love affair with silent film actress Mabel Normand.
The highly acclaimed “Mack & Mabel” is now running at the Broward Stage Door in Margate from August 20 to September 26.
Read more…
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Mouthwatering Hot Pastrami at Margate’s 'The Eatery'
Far more places in Margate serve Chimichurris, ox tail, palomilla steak and some version of a mango salad or guacomole burger than do pastrami, which makes The Eatery that much more special a place for deli fare and American home cooking in the city.
Warm and thinly-sliced. Tucked between two slices of fresh-baked rye bread ala spicy mustard.
It was the best pastrami sandwich I’ve had in years.
Read more…
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Lap Dances & Liquor in Margate
There's a new business doing well selling liquor and lap dances at the edge of Margate’s Community Redevelopment Area to the south.
The only problem is the Beer Garden at 238 N State Road 7 isn't licensed to sell either product or service. In fact, Margate law prohibits these activities under the same roof.
Click here to read more.
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Bravo Margate Italian
As a kid in the seventies I remember messages on Mr. G's billboard-sized-sign along State Rd. 7 that were both entertaining and informative of specials and events at the restaurant.
At the time, Mr. G’s was part of a typical night on the town, where couples came from miles around to enjoy fine Italian food, friends and dancing in Margate.
Click here to read more.
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Margate's "Next Food Network Star"
It’s sundown on Thursday and Trattoria Bella Cibo is packed. Happy hour is jamming and a short wait for the dining room has people mingling in the lounge. This busy downtown eatery in Margate is the ‘new kid on the block’ and its Chef, Tommy Valdes, is quickly making a name for himself.
Click here to read more.
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Party like a Patriot. Eat Pig at Mugshots!
Mugshots Bar, known for cold draught beer and bartenders with firm buttocks invites everyone to eat pig, chill-out and drink cheap on July 4th starting at 4 p.m.
Mugshots is located on the corner of State Road 7 and Margate Boulevard (1049 N State Road 7). The beer is cold, they’ve got munchies and the place is host to some extraordinary live music. Jams start at 7:30 on Mondays and karaoke at 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.
Click here to read more.
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Mannino's Restaurant: a taste of Margate history
Vinnie Mannino moved to Margate with his Dad Joe, Mom Annette, and his two sisters back in the early 1970s. They came from the south side of Brooklyn, Mill Basin to be exact. The family opened Mannino’s in Margate’s Bell Plaza in 1974. The restaurant was an instant success, and people came from miles around to enjoy tasty Italian delights.
Vinnie was 12 years old when he made his first pizza.
Click here to read more.
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Seminole Casino not just for gamblers
While the Seminole Casino is located in Coconut Creek, it’s close enough to Margate to call home. Free laser light shows and music in the parking lot, mini Cooper give-aways, a charity chocolate extravaganza during the holidays and nickel slots for gamblers on a budget.
Click here to read more.
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Good Jamaican Food in Margate
We’ve been looking for homemade Jamaican beef patties for some time…and we found ‘em! Alexsandras Caribbean Restaurant in the Dunkin Donuts plaza just west of Rock Island Road on Royal Palm Boulevard. They do dine-in, take-out and serve up the tenderist, tastiest slow-cooked jerk chicken, oxtail, brown chicken stew and curried goat this side of Montego Bay. You’ll leave full and it won’t cost you a bundle.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Soul Food
Even for those of us who didn't grow up in Puerto Rican neighborhoods in New York or on the Island, the Latin Café offers foods that are comforting and familiar, yet boasting special flavors that make them exciting and different.
Tucked in the mall behind CVS on the corner of State Road 7 and Coconut Creek Parkway, the restaurant is nothing special from the outside. In fact, you could easily pass it by.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Welcomes Taco Maker
There’s a new taco joint in town that serves up freshness and fun. The international chain, Taco Maker, boasts stores in India, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the Continental United States and is now open in Margate’s Palm Lakes Plaza (just behind Starbucks).
Click here to read more.
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Fish City Grill Just Okay
In today’s poor economy, good intentions in the restaurant business are good for one thing: one visit. Blow it the first time, and customers aren’t coming back. For us, the jury’s still out on Fish City Grill.
Click here to read more.
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Smoke in your customers face
During a recent MargateNews.Net on-the-town survey of area restaurants, we found a common thread. An unhealthy, unattractive habit that restaurateurs might do well to break: employee smoking.
Click here to read more.
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When is Bella Cibo gonna open?
Tommy Valdes of He Brew's Café fame in Margate and partner Gary Sessa have transformed a failed corner in Margate’s CRA district into Trattoria Bella Cibo, a full-liquor, full-service Italian tavern – ala al fresco dining – with live entertainment, fresh gelato, Sunday brunch and more.
Click here for more.
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Pasta and...
“Pasta and…” is a charming 30 seat Italian bistro in Margate specializing in homemade pasta and sauces. The restaurant’s bold, rustic colors are inviting and the walls chock full of photographs and posters depicting life on the Mediterranean.
Click here to read more.
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