Hilton Suites Boca Raton

You too can retire here!

by TRimer

Boca Raton is the product of a rich and fascinating history, a study in utter defeat and extraordinary success; of Japanese farmers, captains of industry, Hollywood stars - remarkable individuals with courage and vision.

The Boca story begins with its first residents, the Calusa Indians, for whom the Everglades and Boca Raton represented a bounty of natural resources. The name Boca Raton, although first associated with a Biscayne Bay inlet, was attached to the present site by 1838. In 1895, in stark contrast to the prized real estate that was to come later, the first house was built by civil engineer Thomas Moore Rickards. With the completion of Henry Morrison Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway in 1896, families arrived from Georgia and South Carolina, and the fledgling settlement was born.

It was in the 1920s that the sleepy town of Boca Raton began to change, marked by three important developments: the incorporation of the town; the purchase of oceanfront property by a group of Palm Beach and Northern investors headed by society architect Addison Mizner; and the announcement of plans to build a giant, beachfront hotel complex, Mizner-style. (These plans were soon scrapped in favor of the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn.)

Then came World War II. Boca Raton set aside 5,000 acres of facilities for 20,000 army personnel at what is now Florida Atlantic University. Because of the German submarine threat and fear of invasion, residents volunteered for four-hour shifts of spotter duty in a 30-foot-high wooden observation tower on the beach.

After the war years, Boca Raton's subtropical locale and beckoning business climate attracted the prestigious International Business Machines (IBM) and Florida Atlantic University; both set-up shop here in the mid-'60s. Other businesses with an eye to the future soon followed suit. Between 1965 and 1980, newcomers in pursuit of the good life tripled Boca Raton's population. Today, Greater Boca Raton's population is more than 180,000.

Bad Times for an Old Favorite- FINALLY CLOSED.

by nicolaitan about Bistro Zenith

This upscale American grill opened 5-7 years ago to rave reviews with a modern neon-based decor, well-prepared eclectic American menu, and a crowded bar featuring the young and trendy, similar to Ke'e Grill above. Over the last 2 years, there has been a steady disintegration of all the characteristics which made it so popular. Service is laughably inept except when just plain rude. Portion sizes are smaller, food quality has become sub-mediocre. Previous sophisticated seasoning has turned into bland underseasoning. A new (several weeks old) menu with the same items at higher cost only adds insult to injury. The only good thing about Bistro Zenith is that you can usually get in without a reservation now, unlike even 2 or 3 years ago (even when the place is half-empty you may well be banished to the bar for 10 minutes anyway). Even the martinis have become mediocre. The most irritating thing about Bistro Zenith is the new martini glasses. They have a peculiar bent stem. The result is an optical illusion enabling one to spill the drink when trying to set it on the table and usually on your hand. Perhaps they hope to get double orders. There are no special recommendations for eating here. I guess it is easier than cooking.

I work in this city

by sunlovey

"But I don't really like it"

There are a few good things about Boca though, i.e. Gumbo Limbo as listed on my West Palm Beach Page with a tip and travelogues, as well as beautiful happy hours at Pranzo in Mizner Park, and nice beaches.

The mall here has every store you'd ever want to shop at, but the clientele leaves MUCH to be desired.

So, I've opted to put stain glass images of Florida wildlife here on my Boca page since they were photographed here in Boca. :-)