http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Updates on Clematis Street, including new businesses opening, businesses closing, and prospects for the future en-us Clematis Street Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:08:31 GMT Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:08:31 GMT walkingclematis.com http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html I haven't posted anything for three weeks as I've been out of town. Upon my return, have I noticed any changes? Well, just a few things. First, the mural has been completed on the 500 block of Clematis. It looks good, and the coolest thing is the guy drawn on the left side with a paintbrush. It's just a general shadow-type depiction but it is really life-like, so several times I had the impression (and others did as well) that there was really a person still there painting away. This mural has turned out great (at first I thought it might be unauthorized graffiti but now it's clearly a high quality piece that adds to the Clematis Street aura). In other Clematis developments, the Fun House nightclub has painted on a large new name "Club 313" so it looks like the Fun House name (which only lasted a few months) is gone. Off The Hookah starts offering lunch for the first time tomorrow, adding yet more variety (and competition) to the Clematis lunch scene. Judging from a trip last night down to the waterfront and piers, this area is slowly building even more momentum (the walking pier was packed, despite the fact that no major events were going on) and the fountain was packed with kids splashing around (more and more families are coming downtown because of the waterfront). There was a major event today Sunday (the Sunday at the Meyer was held at the waterfront rather than the Meyer this week) and it was a huge success, with a large crowd (despite sweltering weather) to watch the Journey imitation band "Don't Stop Believing." Also, across the way in City Place, Rita's Italian Ice has finally opened. On the only down note, I noticed that two stores in City Place (both just north of the stairway going up to the movie theater) seem to have gone out of business, i.e. disappeared without a trace. The wheels of change continue to turn here in downtown West Palm Beach, but it's nice to be back in our unique home here on the intracoastal in Palm Beach County. Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:45:53 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Well Fourth on Flagler was kind of a wash-out (bad rainy weather) but the fireworks did proceed as planned, albeit to lesser crowds than hoped-for. The big local news this weekend was about the petition drive to allow for the City's mayor to serve three terms rather than two, which if successful, would allow Mayor Frankel to run for a third term. Without taking any political positions here, it certainly seems that, if Clematis Street (and the surrounding downtown including City Place) is your main concern, it's worth considering supporting Mayor Frankel, since she has pushed and implemented a lot of great things for the downtown area, and continues to pursue more productive projects here. There's no guarantee or even likelihood that some other mayor would do the same. On a separate note, Yankee Dogs has opened up their (not quite finished) lounge area, which gives more space for eating and is already starting to attract more customers in the door. They tell me that breakfast and lunch have been somewhat slow so far, but the hours in the middle of the night are working out great Thursday through Saturday. I'm thinking that this place needs to be patient but will ultimately succeed, since they are willing to adjust their hours to meet the demand in this location. Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:04:00 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Right now your only way to get from West Palm Beach to Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Cape Canaveral, and beyond up the east cost of Florida is by car. However, serious progress has been made to bring Amtrak train service to this route (the track is already there and only the stations are needed). Three years from today, there should be two passenger trains running this route daily in both directions. It's really impossible to predict whether this will definitely become a reality and exactly when, but at this point, it really looks like this will indeed happen. This week the last of various meetings from Jacksonville to West Palm Beach and points in-between to discuss station locations and other matters with the public, was held in West Palm and the project is just-about shovel ready. The main West Palm Beach train station will be the same as it is now, i.e. at the western end of Clematis Street, but there will also be a "connector" added about 25 blocks to the north, which is needed for the trains to switch over from one track to the other. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:16:08 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Yankee Dogs opened yesterday (Friday)! I saw quite a few people in there eating around lunch time. I believe this is a soft opening and they'll be trying out some things, like breakfast, for example. I'm thinking that this place has some potential to fit into a new niche, a place that people stop by for a quick bite without the formal atmosphere of a sit-down restaurant. This street corner has had its challenges over the years (gets crowded only at certain strange hours) so I think they'll have to experiment a bit with their hours. But everyone in this neighborhood is very glad to see them open for business -- stop by and try them out! FYI, they serve a lot more than just hot dogs. On another Clematis Street note, The Fun House nightclub next to Roxy's on the 300 block was repainted white (with blue stripes), much more pleasing to the eye that the previous pinkish/orange colors, yet another improvement to Clematis Street. Lastly, a reader commented on the reason for the new signs prohibiting people from entering the water features in the waterfront park area. I don't know the reason, but my guess was not that there was any public disturbance or trouble related to kids and/or adults doing this, but instead that perhaps the features were not designed for bathing and that there may be safety and/or regulatory issues involved. But I'm really not sure; if anyone knows, please let us know. Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:52:05 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/redheadedchef1.html i noticed the no bathing signs too. except i noticed that they appeared after i saw adults (more than a few) sitting in them and reading for hoirs on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:38:59 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Just when we thought there would be five swinging benches in the waterfront area, there are now ten (10) swinging benches. Every day it seems that one or two more appear. Most of the swinging space is now taken up, so I don't expect too many more. Now you can always find a swinging bench to relax on (I've never seen all ten taken at one time.) There are three on the less-travelled north side and seven on the south side. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:59:32 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html There are now more street musicians on Clematis Street on weekend evenings. Last Saturday night there was a guy with a guitar near the hot dog stand on the corner of Clematis and Dixie and another with an electronic sound system in the City Center area across the street. Signs have been put up around the waterfront that say do not swim or step into the water features (I had seen a lot of little kids doing that before and wondered if it was intended or allowed.) Apparently the kids are only supposed to play in the main fountain. Work is being done to smooth the wall next to Respectable Street on the 500 block, which was left very ragged-looking after the old adjacent buildings were demolished. Luna Lounge was closed last Saturday night, looks like (perhaps) a venture that didn't work (or else another idea is in the works). Kavasutru Tu has a new sign on the 500 block and some more activity (a musician singing there last weekend). City Center Cafe is requesting lesser hours as part of the lease agreement with the city (not enough business in the afternoon). Yankee Dogs is finally on the verge of opening! Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:59:32 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html About one month ago I noticed that one swing had been installed, hanging from the trellises on the south side of the waterfront project (S. Clematis St., just across from Pizza Girls). It's a really neat swing, which can easily fit one, two, or three adults, and if kids are involved, even a family of five or six. This one swing was very popular; even at times when very few people are around, there is usually someone sitting in the swing. Well, the City obviously noticed this, and yesterday, what a surprise, now there are five major swings in that area! When I walked by there after work (around 6 PM), all five were taken. Whoever came up with this idea really deserves a lot of credit, because this is really a relatively inexpensive way to improve the waterfront and make it more fun for people to hang out there. And the swings are perfect for both individual people on their own and large families with kids. It looks like there is room on the trellises for even a few more! Since the swings weren't put in immediately when the waterfront project opens, it appears that they may be an idea that came up afterwards - certainly an excellent addition to the waterfront area. Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:16:22 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Summertime generally means that things have slown down a bit on Clematis Street. The winter tourists are all gone, it can get uncomfortably hot during the day, and the afternoon rainstorms have returned. The restaurants are not as crowded and some are scaling back their hours (for instance, Forte has posted new summer hours which involve being open for lunch only four days a week and dinner only three nights). The waterfront has become a little quieter, but one thing getting a lot of activity is the fountains. These have always been popular in the summer, but I think more so this summer than in the past, because the area has really been cleaned up so families feel more comfortable bringing their kids there. At most times, those fountains are brimming with activity. Things have slowed down a bit on the 200 and 300 blocks but Off The Hookah's increased hours have drawn a bit more activity to the center of the 300 block, which now has its own separate valet stand. The 500 block has received several mentions in the Palm Beach Post and other media as the "Bohemian" less-travelled but interesting block of Clematis, and the new kava place there (Kavasutru Tu) certainly adds to that image. Some of the openings that have been long-awaited, are still not open, i.e. Yankee Dogs on the Clematis 500 block and Rita's Ice Cream in City Place. The puppy shop in City Place (which does steady business but has also attracted some regular animal-rights protesters) appears to be re-branding from Palm Beach Puppies to City Place Puppies. The nice summer afternoon/evening concert series Sunday at the Meyer has returned to the Meyer Ampitheater (last Sunday of each month) -- this year, instead of having actual famous bands from the 60s and 70s, there are a lot of "imitation" bands, so we won't get to see the real bands but most of the music should be very familiar to anyone over 30 (i.e. Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel, etc.) Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:13:12 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html I've noticed a distinct new trend on Clematis Street. Up until recently, I could walk down Clematis Street at lunch time or dinner time without talking to anyone. Recently, numerous establishments have employees who stand out front greeting passers-by, giving them menus, asking them if they would like to eat lunch there, etc. I'm not complaining about this trend. This is nothing like getting accosted by homeless people. All the greeters are very pleasant and professional, and it's a nice addition to the street. But, sometimes, if you're in a solitary or shy mood, it could be a bit troubling. If you really don't want to be greeted, you have to (1) stay on the Starbucks side as you're heading west to the corner of Olive because otherwise the person from Phat Sandwiches on the corner by Forte will get you; (2) cross over to the north side at Don Ramon's, to avoid the greeter handing out meatball samples at the Italian place; (3) quickly cross back over to the south side to avoid the inevitable menu/pleasant greeting at Roxy's; (4) then back over to the north side (if passing around dinner time) to avoid the staff of Off The Hookah asking if you would like a drink. Fri, 28 May 2010 00:49:33 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Since this project is driven by Palm Beach County rather than the City of West Palm Beach, I haven't heard that much about it, but it appears that a major project which will transform the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach may already be starting. First, a large hole under the water created when Flagler Drive was built (which apparently contributes to the dirty water in the intracoastal there) will be filled. Then three mangrove and seagrass islands will be created, along with oyster beds and other natural additions, followed by a boardwalk connecting one of the islands to land so that people can see these additions up close. Apparently, these additions will ultimately lead to the return of more birds and other animals to the area, and a cleaning of the water. All this will happen in the area from Fern Street to Okeechobee Blvd right in front of Flagler Drive and will be clearly visible from the Clematis Street waterfront piers. Similar projects have succeeded in other areas of the intracoastal waterway, including one that you can see by playing golf at the Lake Worth Municipal Golf Course about 10 miles to the south of downtown West Palm. It does look pretty good down there, so I'm optimistic. However no project like this has been done right in the middle of a large urban area, so this is still somewhat experimental. I'm not sure at this point how long it will take for all this to be completed, but it looks like we have yet another interesting project to watch here in downtown West Palm Beach. Sun, 23 May 2010 00:19:33 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Yankee Dogs almost ready to open! Off The Hookah almost ready to serve meals? (a lot of employee training still going on). Roxy's and Mambo's competing to draw lunch-time customers from Don Ramon's next door. Aphrodite clothing store in North end of City Place gone! Grass making progress on the empty lot on the 500 block. Mon, 17 May 2010 23:50:28 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html For those who have been waiting for the branding for the new place attached to the Pizza Luna pizza place on the 200 block, it has finally arrived. A new large sign at the top of the entrance says "Luna Lounge Bistro & Bar". So there you have it, the latest new place on Clematis Street, the Luna Lounge. Haven't seen large crowds there yet, but give it some time. I'll bet that, given the location and the fact that they are already popular for late-night pizzas, the new bistro/bar will do well late nights/weekends. The Palm Beach Post had an article last week explaining the new Kavasutru Tu Kava Bar on the 500 block -- Kava is a new non-alcoholic relaxation beverage of some kind that is catching on in certain locations but is not yet widely known. Apparently there is already a small "kava" place on Olive or Dixie so we'll have to wait and see what happens with this new concept. The historic Comeau building on the 300 block enters foreclosure this month, with an auction on May 27th. Although that site seems to have been ruled out as a potential site for the much-needed hotel near Clematis Street, at least four more property owners around Clematis Street want to discuss their sites as potentially good locations for a hotel (E.R. Bradley's site off Clematis and Flagler Drive, the parking lot on the northeast corner of Clematis and Dixie, the Sewell Hardware site on the northeast corner of Datura and Rosemary, and most seriously, the city-owned old City Hall property north of Banyan including the vacant lot between it and the intracoastal waterway). This last site is scheduled for discussion at the City Commission meeting this Monday. Sat, 15 May 2010 20:40:04 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Clematis Street is doing well right now, as new waterfront activity has caused business to pick up at various places. There are certain businesses which have always done a booming business (like Rocco's Tacos and E.R. Bradley's) but what is really good to see is that business has clearly picked up at some of the other places that didn't seem to have that much business before. I've noticed distinct improvements in business at Reef Road & Rum Bar (which struggled for quite a while after opening) and at Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice. One big missing link still is the former site of Fire Rock Pizza right at the waterfront on the north side of Clematis -- there are some picturesque water features on that side of the waterfront but that side doesn't have nearly as much traffic as the other side, which is nearer to more businesses and the main pier. A dynamic business in the old Firerock site would really help to complete the full picture. The owner of the vacant lot on the 500 block appears to be trying hard to get grass to grow by sprinkling something there but the urban pigeons seem to be eating it up before it has its desired impact (though there are some patches of green appearing). There has been a lot of progress at Yankee Dogs, which now has their oven installed and appears to be almost ready to do business. The cellphone store next door has closed down and all their stuff has been removed, with a for-rent sign on the window. Just more of the continuing trend of success for new restaurants and the failure of newer retail stores on Clematis Street. It's worthwhile noting though that the old mainstays of retail (like Pioneer Linens) that have been around for decades continue to do well. More progress is visible at the upcoming Bahama Mama's food place, and Off The Hookah continues to open for evening nightclub activities (but perhaps is not quite ready for the lunch crowd). Sun, 09 May 2010 15:02:58 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The long-awaited new vegan food place (with yoga, etc.) opened this week. It's hidden away but right around the corner from Don Ramon's on Olive Ave. just off the eastern end of the 300 block. Looks like they are doing a "soft" opening for the next few weeks, serving a limited menu for that time and then expanding to the full menu. Haven't tried it yet, but it's great to see another opening. Along the lines of health/raw foods, the planned Raw Kitchen on the 500 block is also finally making some progress -- there had been no activity at the vacant site for some time, but this week the windows were papered over so something is finally going on there. Since the owners participate in the Green Market, they're probably finally focusing on setting up shop, now that the Green Market is done for the season. We have our waterfront back, after the long Sunfest week. Still a lot of activity at Off The Hookah, but more of the training/getting ready variety (I saw hookahs being smoked in the alcove this evening). The Pizza Luna restaurant has put out tables and menus, so they seem to be in full swing now. Finally, the Palm Beach Post has an article about City Place being in default on their loan, not sure what to make of that (it's not clear how serious the situation is). Wed, 05 May 2010 23:45:52 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/700block-Amtrak.html Today an Amtrak passenger train rolled right down the tracks along Quadrille between the 400/500 blocks of Clematis Street, on its way from Miami to Jacksonville along the FEC tracks (which run close to I-95 following the east coast of Florida). This was a huge event, as there has been no passenger service on that track since 1968. The fact that Amtrak conducted this test run (with various officials aboard including the President of Amtrak's Board of Directors Tom Carper and Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons) shows that they are certainly serious about this initiative. A lot of other things must fall into place before it actually happens (chiefly acceptance of an application for federal stimulus funds this summer) but there seems to be some pretty good momentum building for this. Unfortunately, the train was greeted only by a few reporters and a small group of local residents (no local officials). I suspect that the minor incident involving Mayor Frankel's son and the police protestors at Sun Fest last night had something to do with her absence (we'll let the Palm Beach Post and blog cover that story). Click below for further information about this exciting development toward making West Palm a major hub of train service up and down Florida. Sat, 01 May 2010 23:35:55 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/700block-Amtrak.html Amtrak Train Updates Sat, 01 May 2010 23:20:54 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/othersites.html Other Clematis Street Sites Sat, 01 May 2010 22:10:14 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html It is obvious that there have been numerous businesses rushing to try to open in time for SunFest, not only because of the increased business they'll get from the SunFest crowds, but the exposure and name recognition from having all those out-of-towners try out their establishment. The crown jewel of these new establishments is Off The Hookah. In recent days they were working feverishly to train staff, etc. in order to be open during SunFest and sure enough, they were open Thursday night accepting the large crowds in. The signs blocking the view inside have been removed and it looks spectacular in there. I'm not sure if they are "fully open" yet (meaning serving lunch and dinner), but they certainly got the infrastructure in place in time to at least invite people in for drinks (and perhaps some hookah smoking?) This place clearly elevates the game on Clematis Street in terms of nightclubs as it is much more elaborate and visible than the other clubs, perhaps with the exception of Dr. Feelgoods. The additions and openings are coming fast and furious, spurred on by the promise of SunFest. SunFest will be done and gone by the end of this weekend, but we'll be left with a number of new quality establishments on Clematis Street. Sat, 01 May 2010 14:14:03 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Kavasutru Tu Kava bar opened just in time for SunFest on the 500 block (next to Clematis Pizza and Velocity Cycling Studio). It's a small quaint little place. I had heard this was going to be opening, and that it was a tea place. From the name and sign, you really can't tell what it is, and I haven't yet gone in to check it out. Is this a bar that serves tea? Alcohol? Alcoholic tea? The sign next to the name says "Relax". Might be worth checking out to see what this eclectic little place is all about. Sat, 01 May 2010 14:05:40 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Sugar Chef Cupcakes opened in City Place last Monday! I have tried the cupcakes and they are delicious (my wife, who is very picky, likes them as well and keeps requesting more, which is very unusual for her as she normally doesn't even like sweet things). I haven't seen huge crowds there yet, so this is a diamond-in-the-rough yet to be discovered. It's right next to the yogurt shop on the main drag (Rosemary Avenue) across the street from the Cheesecake Factory. I think that, since most cupcakes are purchased in stores/supermarkets after sitting for weeks, people don't have a strong positive feeling about cupcakes, since they are often somewhat hard and stale. Sugar Chef Cupcakes are not like that at all, as they are made in their Delray Beach location every day, so they are always fresh, and you can definitely tell that when eating them. Plus they add a large number of different interesting sweet surprises within these massive cupcakes, making them a truly unique treat. There are a large number of choices with different delectable combinations of sweets inside. A great addition to City Place! Sat, 01 May 2010 14:01:09 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html After a brief break from openings, Clematis Street saw another one today -- i.e. the bar next to the small Pizza Luna pizza place, also part of the Pizza Luna family (and former site of the Maisson Carlos restaurant). When I walked by around 6 PM, there were two dressed-up waiters stationed outside telling passerby about a 2 for 1 drink and eat special. Further down Clematis Street, I noticed a group of at least 50 people in the alcove outside Off The Hookah -- it was clearly some kind of employee training for all of the future workers, which means opening can't be too far away! Further down on the 500 block, there is finally some actual grass growing in the vacant lot across from Velocity Cycling Studio (still sparse but a subtle hue of green). All positive developments on Clematis Street, plus the rain has left us, and we're all set for a beautiful week for Sunfest on the waterfront. Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:11:41 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html We surveyed the open businesses in City Place this Sunday and updated the City Place Businesses page on this website, in order to see what's changed in the four months since the last update (i.e. from December 2009 to April 2010). Most notably, three major restaurants which were "opening soon" four months ago, are now open, and all of them appear to be big hits (Taco Vida, Wild Olives, and McCormick & Schmicks). Now the sweet side of City Place is also expanding with the addition of Sugar Chef Cupcakes (opening tomorrow, next to the Ice Berry yogurt shop) and Rita's Italian ice/custard shop has banners announcing it will be opening soon in the previous site of the Public Safety Office, next to Lost City Cigars. The only restaurant departure was a big one (French Carousel Can Can Cafe) leaving a large empty space on the second floor (though this space has been problematic and was empty for several years before the French Carousel Can Can cafe's brief stay in the spot). In summary, the food business is thriving and expanding in City Place, just like on Clematis Street. However, unlike Clematis Street, the other stores (e.g. clothes, furnishings, etc.) continue to do well in City Place, with the overall occupancy rate still well over 90. There have, however, been a few quiet closings over the past few months, places that were there before and now are nowhere to be seen. These include two jewelry stores (Mayors and Fun to Fine Jewelry), Oilily (a clothing store), and Roche Bobois (a furnishing store). Three of these four departures have left newly empty spaces in City Place (Oilily's space was taken by Primo footwear, which moved across the street, making room for Sugar Chef Cupcakes). Anyway, there has been some attrition in the smaller specialty stores, but overall, the situation in City Place continues to look really good. A few smaller places have closed, but a number of larger food establishments have opened. Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:06:19 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/CityPlaceBusinesses.html City Place Businesses West Palm Beach Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:46:27 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Not many actual openings or closings on Clematis in recent weeks -- but there is a lot of activity in the places that are looking to open in the future. The alcove outside Off The Hookah is looking a lot nicer with ornaments and furnishings, which are frequently used by people who appear to be applying for various positions there. The inside is still not done but progress is certainly evident toward an opening at least within months rather than years. There has also been a lot of recent activity at Yankee Dogs on the 500 block. I'm not sure if the cellphone store or the psychic readings store on the corner of Clematis and Rosemary will continue in business at their current location for very long, but the new shoe store is doing a steady business along with the dog sitting shop and Yankee Dogs should add a lot to the mix. The vacant lot at the other end of the 500 block which is supposed to become green with grass hasn't done so yet; it still looks completely barren, with just a few minor weeds sprouting up. Things at the waterfront on the other end of Clematis are really going great. These weeks between the Boat Show and Sunfest have seen a return to normalcy and have really underlined the fact that people indeed are coming out to use the new waterfront area for picnics, strolling, gathering, running, etc. When I think back to what that area was like before the new waterfront, the difference is night and day. On any given moment, instead of seeing one or two homeless people there, you'll normally see various families and individuals of widely varying ages enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:56:30 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html In two weeks a new place called Sugar Chef is scheduled to open in City Place. This will be a cupcake shop, baking freshly made cupcakes of many different flavors every day. I'm not sure exactly which location within City Place this shop will be taking; perhaps one of the few vacant spots on the north end of City Place near Taco Vida? Anyway, it's great to see a new concept coming in. Combined with the other existing businesses, there is certainly no scarcity of places serving sweet treats in City Place, either for the kids or the adults with a sweet tooth (we already have an Italian gelato place and Sloan's Ice Cream, plus another Italian ice place called Rita's coming in in a few months). Couple those with the Sloan's on Clematis and Uncle Louie G's Italian ice on Clematis Street (as well as that scrumptuous chocolate shop on Olive), there are plenty of places to get sweets on either the City Place or the Clematis ends of downtown. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:37:12 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/vacant-lot-on-clematis-st.html A couple of weeks ago, that vacant lot had some violation notices put on stakes in the ground, basically saying that they were required to plant grass Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:03:46 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html I noticed while walking on the 500 block that there had been a change to the vacant land on the southeastern corner of the block where the two old buildings were torn down last year. They had put some green fertilizer-type material, suggesting the possibility that the City might be planning to plant grass there (perhaps wishful thinking). Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:42:51 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html This week the Palm Beach Post covered a discussion at the City Commission workshop regarding the potential for a new bar called World of Beer to open up at 101 N. Clematis (near the Pistache French restaurant). Apparently, World of Beer is a pure bar (not a restaurant) but a very classy establishment that serves various exotic and interesting beers that are more likely to be of interest to "sophisticated" drinkers as opposed to "undesirables" whatever that means. The Commission debated about whether it was appropriate to have a bar right next to the fountain where kids play, and right next to the new family-friendly waterfront. In the end, it appears that the World of Beer will get their way, resulting in some long-vacant space in 101 N. Clematis being filled. However, since it's just being discussed right now, it will probably be a while before it actually opens. On a side note, I'm not sure which exact location that World of Beer would be taking, but it sounds like it could be the space on the southwest corner of the 101 N. Clematis building (since there was a lot of discussion of the place being close to the fountain). If that is indeed the space, it may mean that the plans for a sporting goods/gun store in that spot (discussed last year) are no longer in play. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:25:19 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The spot of the former De Napoli's restaurant on the 500 block of Clematis Street has been split into two different spaces now -- one of them is now the home of Clematis Pizza, and the other has the windows papered over, suggesting something may be going on in there. I heard the other day that this space is going to be a tea store (perhaps both selling and serving various kinds of teas) and that it may be opening up relatively soon. This would fit in well with the emerging fitness/health theme on the 400/500 blocks discussed in our fitness tab on the left side of this site. In other news, of course the massive boat show is going on this weekend with the streets crossing Clematis (Olive and Dixie) becoming a madhouse with the closure of Flagler Drive, and a large number of new visitors to the downtown area each day. Looks like perfect weather for the weekend for a super successful event. There has also been a lot of progress on the outside work on the massive Off The Hookah club/restaurant, with a new sign added and a lot of neat stuff going into the alcove that is right on the street outside the main entrance. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:22:17 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html It looks like a new little space has opened up in the building on the corner of Clematis and Rosemary, joining the super-great dog sitting and walking, cellphone, and shoe repair stores -- in the only remaining tiny space at the southern end of the building, the papers were removed, a sign for Psychic Readings appeared, and behind the sign you can see a large psychic-looking head, and behind that, a calming flowing stream of water. Looks like an interesting eclectic addition to the Clematis Street scene. On another side note, I noticed that, this Monday, Reef Road & Rum Bar was again open for lunch, after a month or more hiatus from serving lunch. Ownership has changed, so people may want to try out this place again. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:28:37 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html This weekend the papers were removed from the windows and nice new signs appeared for the new Yankee Dogs eating establishment to be opening up on the corner of Clematis St. (500 block) and Rosemary Avenue, across from the 610 Clematis condominium. An American flag has been painted on the ceiling and the inside looks pretty good though not quite completely finished. The sign says "Buns, Links, and Drinks" suggesting, well, hot dogs. The sign also says 24/7 breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since I can't imagine having a hot dog for breakfast, presumably this place will offer other foods as well. I heard that the owner is committed to trying out being open 24 hours, similar to the Don Ramon's walk-up window. Sounds like a great thing for the block. There has always been a lot of late-night activity around the bars like O'Sheas and this will provide one more reason to make a stop inbetween City Place and the more active 200/300 blocks of Clematis Street. Not sure yet exactly when the grand opening will occur, but this should be a great addition to the rapidly changing 500 block of Clematis. On a side note, the Irish Fest was a huge success this weekend, with perfect weather drawing large crowds to the Meyer Amphitheater and the surrounding Clematis waterfront. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:01:56 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The place under construction on the corner of Clematis and Dixie (formerly a City Events office) just put up a sign revealing what's coming in there: Bahama Mama's Island Bar and Grille. Looks like a good idea, given that the blocks around it have Italian, Irish, Cuban, Mexican, French, and American restaurants but nothing yet with a Caribbean theme. On another unrelated note, someone has started a website called www.aguyonclematis.com. It doesn't contain written descriptions like this site, but it has extensive and regularly updated large-size photos of happenings on and around Clematis Street. It's great to see another up-to-date site devoted to Clematis Street. Not much else going on, other than the waterfront being slowly overtaken by the preparations for the huge Boat Show taking place a few weeks from now. One of the stores in the new city parage garage on the 500 block is now papered over, indicating some work going on there at the home of (I believe) a future shoe store. Some of the smaller new businesses on the 500 block, somewhat surprisingly, seem to be doing quite well, with customers seen on a regular basis (i.e. such as the new cellphone store, the new shoe repair store, and Clematis Pizza). Reef Road & Rum Bar, which has been struggling a bit, is making some changes, adding more live music and events in an effort to improve business. Finally, another little business center seems to be forming on the 100 block of Datura just west of E.R. Bradley's, with the new Gratify restaurant, a new style store just opened, and what appears to be a fishing/sports store of some kind coming in soon. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:41:19 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/waterfrontfinal.html Today (Sunday February 28th) was a sunny but cool day, and I walked out to the new Clematis Street waterfront in the middle of the afternoon to see how many people were there. The opening celebration is long gone; would people still be coming out to enjoy the new waterfront? The answer, a definitive YES. This (a normal day) seems to be the real mark of success for the new waterfront. The last seven pictures in the attached link were taken on this normal day, and you can see a nice mix of families, kids, retirees, dogs, and just people in general, enjoying the new facilities on a beautiful day in South Florida. I overheard a woman speaking on her cellphone in Spanish telling someone else how it was "tan preciosa." Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:27:36 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html No I don't have any news on the future Coral Reefer Raw Bar on Olive near Clematis. The only thing I know is that I've seen it listed on those DDA newsletter updates for (it seems) at least a year now, so it seems like one that has been on the pending list for quite some time, and I haven't seen any activity to indicate that there is anything close to opening there. I'm not familiar with any Jimmy Buffett connection, but I thought that the name was also quite similar to the Reef Road & Rum Bar around the corner on Clematis. In other restaurant news, Off The Hookah seems to be taking quite a while to construct, with work still going on, but the inside still looking not even close to ready. The stated opening of spring 2010 in that DDA newsletter doesn't seem likely at this point, though still possible. There was an agenda item for this week's WPB City Commission meeting concerning an issue which hopefully was resolved, and this could have been part of the reason for the hold-up. There is apparently some city rule limiting drinking establishments on this block where there are already two just across the street, and the city needed some assurances that Off The Hookah would be open and serving food for both lunch and dinner, rather than operating exclusively as a nightclub. On other (slow) restaurant development news, there has also been no visible progress on the Soma vegan place slated to open just around the corner from Don Ramon's. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:58:15 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/coral-reefer-raw-bar.html I just read in the DDA newsletter that The Coral Reefer Raw Bar and Grill is opening on Olive (so close to Clematis, that it qualifies for your blog). Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:32:53 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/waterfrontfinal.html Clematis Street waterfront Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:28:49 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The sign on the Cuillo Theatre on the eastern side of the 200 block (which for a long time now has had an advertisement for Forte restaurant) was changed to read "For sale". And, the windows are now all covered with paper. What first was simply a closing for the summer (last summer) appears to have turned into a permanent closing. If this is really for sale, what a great opportunity it is for someone, right in front of the new waterfront. It would seem, however, that it would be difficult to use that building for anything other than a theater, without a major renovation. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:53:51 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/waterfront.html Clematis Street waterfront Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:21:54 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/waterfront.html The new Clematis Street waterfront officially opened on Saturday night with a huge waterfront party. City officials had estimated 20,000 people would attend, but that estimate was far surpassed, with more than 100,000 people attending. No one could have imagined how many people would turn out for this thing, and it was well worth it. The general consensus seems to be that the new waterfront is awesome. Of course, one grand opening party cannot portend what will happen going forward on a day-to-day basis when things settle down. However, if Sunday (the next day) was any indication, this waterfront is going to cause Clematis Street to quadruple in popularity. Sunday is normally a very quiet day on Clematis, but instead this Sunday there were large numbers of people strolling throughout the waterfront area throughout the afternoon, and the businesses on the 100, 200, and 300 blocks were jam-packed. A number of the restaurants have scaled back their hours on Sunday due to limited business, but they are going to have to re-evaluate their schedules if this Sunday was any indication. What an incredible weekend it was in downtown West Palm Beach! We will be closely monitoring this situation over the coming weeks to report back on whether this incredible influx has more lasting impact on the street -- only time will tell, but what a beginning! Walkingclematis took a bunch of pictures and we'll be putting them up on our waterfront page (click below) so those who haven't had a chance to see this yet can get a feeling for what's going on there. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:25:40 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Today the construction fence that has surrounded the waterfront project for almost one year came down (at least three quarters of it came down). The western portion of the fence (the part facing the rest of Clematis Street) is still there, but the eastern, southern, and northern sections are all gone. This apparently means that it's no longer a construction zone, and people can walk in there for the first time. Of course, the big grand opening celebration is scheduled for this Saturday afternoon and evening. But as of today, it's already possible to walk in there and see what it looks like. Things are looking good, though I'm still waiting for that last part of the fence to come down in order to get the whole impact of the new look from Clematis Street. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:59:10 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html It was a relatively quiet day on Clematis Street with the President's Day holiday, but two restaurants chose the day for their increasingly popular "soft openings". Gratify, the much-anticipated gastro-pub just off the 100 block of Clematis (on Datura) was open when I walked by at lunch time, with doors open and a nice small menu posted out front (seemed like primarily appetizers with a very informal atmosphere). Then, at dinner time, Clematis Pizza was open, also with doors open, on the 500 block of Clematis (this space was previously occupied by De Napoli's). Both restaurants open up just in time for the grand opening of the Clematis Street waterfront this weekend. Another interesting note -- awnings have been popping up all over the place in front of Clematis Street businesses, in too many new places to even mention. The look of the street is really getting better and better on a daily basis. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:19:31 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/downtown.html This morning the 30-story 1515 S. Flagler Drive condo building, after years of preparation and discussion, was imploded in a matter of seconds. This may have been the tallest thinnest building ever imploded in this manner, so it was truly uncharted territory. Unbelievably, the demolition went down without a hitch; it was picture perfect. It's too early to tell if there was any damage to surrounding buildings but it certainly appears that any damage will be extremely minimal. The building fell straight down. Not only that, since the wind was blowing toward the southeast, the huge plume of dust created by the demolition, blew straight out over the intracoastal instead of over any buildings. It went to the south and then crossed over the thin island of Palm Beach toward the ocean (but by that time was largely dissipated). So for anyone living in the immediate downtown West Palm Beach area, there is not even the slighest concern that that possibly-asbestos-prone dust could be floating around our neighborhood. Large crowds turned out to watch the demolition from the bridge between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach (and along the Palm Beach side adjacent to the intracoastal) (click below for a picture of downtown West Palm Beach and the crowds on the bridge, taken from the Palm Beach side of the intracoastal). Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:20:00 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/downtown.html Downtown West Palm Beach Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:09:40 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html Yet another new business has opened on Clematis Street; well, actually it's a returning business that used to be here three years ago and has now been resurrected. It's Willie Butler's Shoe Shine in the middle of the 300 block (south side). Willie took a hiatus for a "New York adventure" for three years, but now he is back, and sounding very optimistic about the prospects for business going forward at his little perch on Clematis Street. No, it's not a big business (just a portable shoe-shine booth on the sidewalk), but it's so close to the happenings on the street that its return could be a real harbinger of good things on that block. It is clear that foot traffic is increasing around there (primarily due to Don Ramon's and a bunch of other new places) and the good old days are returning along with Willie Butler's Shoe Shine - welcome back Willie! Along with the new shoe repair place a few blocks to the west at the corner of Clematis and Rosemary, Clematis is certainly becoming a good place to come for shoe service. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:21:19 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html There are always more events around Clematis Street in the popular winter months, but this month is filled with the regulars plus a number of new interesting special events. Last weekend, the Susan Komen Race for the Cure drew 20,000 people to Clematis and Flagler Drive, as usual. The Super Clematis By Night for the Super Bowl last Thursday was a huge success, with kids jumping down a long trampoline set up in front of Rocco's Tacos/Starbucks, plus a great performance from the classic 70s band Jefferson Starship at Meyer Amphitheater, and large crowds as well. Next weekend (unless it has been delayed again), the 1515 Tower just south of downtown may be coming down in a spectacular demolition (very rare for such a tall building). The weekend after that, of course, the City of West Palm Beach's huge celebration and grand opening for the new waterfront, which is looking almost complete now (all the grass and landscaping seems to be in place, but still blocked from view by the construction fences). The weekend after that, two regular annual events, India Fest and Super Car Weekend, will be taking place on the same day. Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:58:56 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html McCormick and Schmick's (City Place) was already open for a charity event on Friday night, and may have a grand opening of sorts tonight (Saturday), although official opening to the general public is Monday. Skytop 365 (Roxy's roof) is now open for dining as well. Looks like good progress is being made at the future site of new restaurant Gratify (100 block Datura). I also just heard that the construction at the old Ray's Downtown Blues on the 500 block of Clematis Street is for a new seafood restaurant, Longhorn (?) Seafood. Also around the corner from the 500 block on Rosemary Avenue, it looks like a shoe repair shop is on the verge of opening. On the flip side, Carousel Can Can Cafe is gone from City Place. Last but not least, in a bit of novelty news, the building with ugly pink color on Rosemary Avenue adjacent to the 610 Clematis condominium is being repainted in much more pleasant beige-yellow tones which almost mesh with the 610 building, so it might even look a bit more like a modern condominium (although the reality for the neighborhood is that it's a rehab center). Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:58:56 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The French Carousel Can Can Cafe in City Place, which just opened in August 2009, shut down yesterday. Now the windows are pasted over and the signs are being taken down. City Place said they are working on an exciting new concept for the huge space left vacant by this restaurant/entertainment venue. Although it's surprising to see such a sudden demise, I'm sure it was in the works for awhile. Some places just don't catch on. They did have some customers, but not nearly enough to pay for that huge space that they occupy. The difference in crowds between that place, and the surrounding restaurants like City Cellar and Taverna Opa, was painfully obvious. It's too bad the area has to have a vacant spot of such large size for a few months, but given City Place's track record, I'm sure they'll find something better in very little time. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:20:50 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/mccormick-schmicks.html Don't know if it's advertised yet (I'm sure there will be a sign soon), but a little insider information has revealed that McCormick & Schmicks should Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:40:07 GMT http://www.walkingclematis.com/Clematis-Street-blog.html The new sign for Pizza Luna Bistro Bar was taken down, but it looks like the only problem was the sign, because work continues in that spot next to the thriving Pizza Luna pizza joint. Reef Road Rum & Bar stopped opening for lunch this week. It was still open for dinner, but seems to be attracting less customers than the restaurants around it. Based on the signs around, Roxy's rooftop restaurant, Skytop 365, may be serving food now (a large new sign advertises brunch there this Sunday). Don Ramon's continues to draw massive crowds. The construction area outside the future Off The Hookah club just opened up to reveal a large cavernous alcove (entrance doors have been set back about 15 feet creating a huge outside area in front, a very new look for Clematis Street). Finally, a notice on 340 Clematis Street (corner of Dixie) (formerly a City events office), along with construction going on, indicates it may soon become home to yet another new restaurant. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:27:54 GMT