• Join us on

In The Press

VISIT FLORIDA brings journalist from the UK & Ireland to experience some of Florida's finest foods.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 10:49am

Downtown Delray Beach boasts a growing culinary scene with more than 111 restaurants dotting 4 city blocks.

Overlooking the sandy shores of the Atlantic, 50 Ocean Chef Blake Malatesta finishes any meal with a selection of decadent desserts. The peanut butter banana tart is crafted with a house made peanut butter ganache, banana ice cream, praline and bacon, crispy sweet “caviar.” The “Truffle Garden” features a tasting of truffles and chocolate covered strawberries resting in a chocolate crumb base with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Read more

Shop Local in Downtown Delray Beach

Friday, October 25, 2013 - 11:46am

MEDIA RELEASE: (Oct. 24, 2013) SHOP SMALL IN DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH

This November, the Downtown Development Authority of Delray Beach encourages the public to shop local and support the community.

Downtown Delray Beach is filled with over 400 small businesses including fashion boutiques, fine art galleries with local artists, salons, and one of a kind specialty shops, making Delray Beach the best place to shop local. This historic downtown has been the canvas for the small business owner since the early 1900’s, drawing independent retailers and restaurateurs to downtown to start their business and to create their legacy. Delray Beach is a community that is filled with pride and rich with a strong sense of community which makes celebrating shopping local a natural fit.

During the month of November, in conjunction with the American Express Small Business Saturday Shop Small movement, the DDA is promoting the many wonderful and unique small businesses that truly are the “heart of our community”. Many of the businesses along Atlantic Avenue and throughout Pineapple Grove are signing up with American Express Shop Small to provide an American Express shopping credit to customers, as well as creating other special offers and events to reward their customers for shopping local.

“This month is not just about Small Business Saturday, but about supporting the local businesses,” expresses Marjorie Ferrer, Exec. Director of the DDA. “We have mom and pop shops that have been a part of the fabric of our downtown for almost 80 years, such as Hand’s Stationers, Delray Camera Shop and Avalon Gallery and some that have recently invested into the neighborhood like Sequin, Ginjer, IT’SUGAR and The Juicebuzz, so November is the perfect time for us to celebrate them all.”

Some of the special highlights for the month are:
- The Olive Taste of Delray Beach offering gift with purchase
- MintFit 111 will be offering a discount to those who shop local and show their receipts at the gym
- Shea’s Bakery is offering discounts for the entire month to small business owners on their baked goods orders
- Wine Tasting events at The Wine Wave
- Special Book Signing events at the local bookstore, Murder on the Beach Bookstore
- Open Studio Events and Hair Salon Special Events happening throughout the month

We encourage the public to take this opportunity to visit these cornerstones of the community, meet the merchants that have made this neighborhood your neighborhood. For more information about Shop Local Month in Downtown Delray Beach visit www.downtowndelraybeach.com and join the conversation on facebook at www.fb.com/DelrayDDA or use the hashtag #ishopdelray.

********************************
About the Downtown Development Authority:
For the past 41 years, the Downtown Development Authority has assisted in successfully branding Delray Beach as the Village by the Sea. The Delray Beach DDA was created by Resolution 9-71, which became law on March 22, 1971, as a dependent district of the City of Delray Beach.

“The DDA Mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown businesses, residents and visitors while creating a clean, safe, physical and experiential place to live, work and invest.”

The main areas of involvement in downtown development include: Marketing and Promotions; Economic development programs; Security and crime prevention; Traffic and parking; Clean and safe. In addition to the main areas mentioned above, the DDA also works closely with merchants to develop seasonal retail awareness campaigns to generate traffic and sales.

Contact:
Laura Simon, Downtown Development Authority
85 SE 4th Ave, # 108
Delray Beach, Fl 33483
(561) 243-1077
Lsimon@downtowndelraybeach.com & www.downtowndelraybeach.com/dda

Read more

Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority is "Giving Away Downtown Delray" to one Lucky Facebook Fan!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 - 11:44am

Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority celebrates reaching 10,000 Facebook Fans
with sweepstakes contest giving fans a little piece this "Village by the Sea" worth $10,000 in
value.

Delray Beach, Florida (PRWEB) April 30, 2013 -- The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has reached 10,000 Facebook Fans in under 18 months of launching its page in 2011. In honor of this exciting accomplishment, the DDA and its constituents are giving away a little bit of Downtown Delray Beach to one lucky winner.

On Wednesday, May 1st the DDA will launch this fantastic sweepstakes contest through its Facebook page offering a grand prize totaling $10,000 in value. The prize will include gift certificates and merchandise from businesses throughout Downtown Delray Beach from the retail shops, restaurants, attractions, and much more.

“We are ecstatic about our social media program and the amount of engagement that we have achieved within the Facebook Community,” expresses Laura Simon, Associate Director of the DDA. “The DDA’s page was developed to socialize the Night & Day Downtown Delray Marketing program which showcases the downtown businesses and the many happenings that this Village by the Sea has to offer every day of the year to those who live nearby or visit Delray Beach.”

The DDA invites all Facebook Fans to enter this fabulous sweepstakes — you must be a Fan to be eligible to enter the contest. If a visitor is not a fan of the page, this would be a great time to “Like” and follow DDA at www.facebook.com/delraydda. The contest will run from May 1st through May 20th and the lucky winner will be announced May 26th.

For more information and details on the contest visit the DDA website www.downtowndelraybeach.com, the Facebook page or call 561-243-1077.
*******************************************
About the Downtown Development Authority: For the past 41 years, the Downtown Development Authority has assisted in successfully branding Delray Beach as the Village by the Sea. The Delray Beach DDA was created by Resolution 9-71, which became law on March 22, 1971, as a dependent district of the City of Delray Beach. The

DDA Mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown businesses, residents and visitors while creating a clean, safe, physical and experiential place to live, work and invest.

The main areas of involvement in downtown redevelopment include: Marketing and Promotions; Economic development programs; Place Making within the DDA boundaries. The DDA also works closely with merchants to develop seasonal retail awareness campaigns to generate traffic and sales and has created a powerful website http://www.downtowndelraybeach.com and facebook.com/delraydda site that attracts thousands of visits weekly.

Contact:
Laura Simon, Downtown Development Authority
85 SE 4th Ave, # 108
Delray Beach, Fl 33483
(561) 243-1077

Read more

Downtown Delray Explodes with Style & Fashion during their Fabulous Fashion Show

Friday, January 25, 2013 - 10:41am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Downtown Delray Beach explodes with Style & Fashion during their Fabulous Fashion Show!

Friday, January 18th. 2013, Jule Guaglardi, owner of Roxy Lulu Boutique (in the Pineapple Grove district of Delray Beach), partnered with the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) to organize "Delray's Fabulous Fashion Show".

Ms. Guaglardi was accompanied by Arlene Roberts, of Better Party Rentals, as they hosted the show, while musical performers, the No Pressure Band and Matthew Farmer kicked off the evening.

The fashion show was held on East Atlantic Avenue in front of the Colony Hotel showcasing some 40 merchants from the downtown area, and raising over $1200 towards a scholarship for the Lynn University Fashion Department. Fourteen fashion students and faculty volunteered to assist with the event - led by Dr. Dandeo.

Delray's Fabulous Fashion Show served as part of the DDA's Night & Day in Downtown Delray's Marketing Awareness campaign, highlighting Art & Fashion month. The goal of the program is to bring awareness to the uniqueness and one-of-a-kind appeal offered by the Downtown Delray Beach shops. With that said, over 40 boutiques and salons participated in the show, showcasing more than 100 different looks in each of the four categories: Casual, Beach, Resort and Evening.

The audience grew to over 2000 people, which overlooked an elevated 40-foot runway. Thanks to the hard work of Jule Guaglardi, Laura Simon, Marjorie Ferrer, and the many merchant, University and model volunteers, the show was a great success!

Special thanks to the sponsors of the show: The Colony Hotel and Cabana Club, Better Party Rentals, Roxy Lulu, All Florida Trees and Eassa Properties LLP. As well as the photos by Emiliano Brooks and the Video by B Squared Productions. (photos and video available on the DDA Facebook page, Youtube and website.

The DDA's Night & Day program continues each month, highlighting the downtown shops, restaurants, galleries, salons and spas -please visit www.downtowndelraybeach.com/promotions for continuous updates and the www.facebook.com/delraydda for great information and contests!
******************
About the Downtown Development Authority:
For the past 42 years, the Downtown Development Authority has assisted in successfully branding Delray Beach as the Village by the Sea. The Delray Beach DDA was created by Resolution 9-71, which became law on March 22, 1971, as a dependent district of the City of Delray Beach.

“The DDA Mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown businesses, residents and visitors while creating a clean, safe, physical and experiential place to live, work and invest.”

The main areas of involvement in downtown redevelopment include: Marketing and Promotions; Economic development programs; Place Making within the DDA boundaries. The DDA also works closely with merchants to develop seasonal retail awareness campaigns to generate traffic and sales and has created a powerful website www.downtowndelraybeach.com and facebook.com/delraydda site that attracts thousands of visits weekly.

Contact:
Laura Simon, Associate Director, Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority
Office: 561.243.1077, Cell: 561-573.3672 lsimon@downtowndelraybeach.com

Read more

Downtown Delray Beach Celebrates Beauty & Wellness Month

Monday, November 5, 2012 - 10:40am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Downtown Delray Beach Presents Beauty & Wellness Month throughout November 2012!

Delray Beach (October 26, 2012): Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority kicks off their third annual Night & Day Downtown Delray Beauty & Wellness Month! This month long promotional and awareness campaign is an engaging way to experience the beauty of Downtown Delray!

Downtown Delray Beach is home to some of the most unique salons, tranquil spas, yoga studios, gyms and wellness centers all within 12 blocks. “Night &Day Downtown Delray’s Beauty & Wellness Month is a fabulous way for us, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to showcase to the local community the businesses we have in our downtown that help us feel and look beautiful,” says Laura Simon, Associate Director of the DDA. The DDApromotes the offers and events on behalf of the business within the district online at http://www.downtowndelraybeach.com/promotions.

November 2012 Beauty and Wellness Month highlights businesses such as The Gym 111, Naked Hair Salon & More, Seagate Spa, Nutrition Cottage, Nspa, Nourishe, Juliet Salon, Vince Canning Shoe, Salon Elite, Kismet, and many more! November is also filled with many great events taking place downtown. Residents and visitors can find a flyer that highlights key happenings available at any of the businesses in Downtown Delray Beach.

November also kicks off the first Fabulous 3rd Friday featuring the 1st Annual Stiletto Race presented by Vince Canning Shoes. On November 16th from 5pm – 9pm the merchants of Downtown Delray Beach invite you to their Open House event! Stoll the brick paved sidewalks visiting the many galleries, boutiques and restaurants throughout downtown enjoying special showings, trunk shows, in store events and more! Visit the downtowndelraybeach.com and follow us on Facebook for details. Fabulous 3rd Friday will take place each month through May 2013.

“The strategy behind this award winning campaign is to generate awareness of the different categories of Delray Beach Businesses. We will be promoting a different theme every month,” says Marjorie Ferrer, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority. “We’re very excited about this campaign and supporting the Downtown businesses throughout the year. The Downtown Development Authority continues to promote the area as the place to be in South Florida both night and day.”

Beauty and Wellness month is sponsored by the Legacy Sponsors: Waste Management, The Office Depot Foundation, Howard Alan Events, WPTV, and the month’s sponsors, Vic & Angelo’s and The Office. We appreciate their continued support and contributions to Downtown Delray Beach.

******************
Contact:
Laura Simon
Associate Director, Delray Beach DDA

561-243-1077; 561-573-3672
Lsimon@downtowndelraybeach.com

Read more