* This story first ran- on September 28, 2015. I just wanted to mention to you guys, that last night Jeff Eats and Nrs. Jeff Eats saw comedian Eddie Brill at the Boca Black Box- Brill put on a terrific show and from what Jeff Eats saw/heard- the crowd in the intimate 250 seat venue had an absolute blast! Long story short, if you want to go to the shows’ listed down below, do what you gotta do…because I’m thinking SRO for all of them is in the cards! Before Jeff Eats runs, I also gotta tell you that William “Rock The House” Lewis who opened for Brill absolutely killed! The guy did something like 20 minutes and had the audience- cracking up! Keep an eye out for South Florida based Lewis-(facebook.com/William-Rock-The-House-Lewis) this guy alone was worth the price of admission!

Posted September 28, 2015
* Craig Shoemaker, Mike Vecchione, Chris Porter, Bobby Slayton.

Real long story short…

The Boca Black Box is a 2-month old “comedy/performing arts” theatre in Boca Raton! The joint seats something like 250-people and if/when you check bocablackbox.com you will find that it has “booked” some really terrific “acts.”…Like I just said, the joint is something like 2- months old and- word-is-just-starting-to-get-out…that the theatre exists! Now for the skinny… to spread the word, Boca Black Box recently- listed a load of tickets on goldstar.com at something like 50%-66% off face! Up above Jeff Eats has- highlighted 4-upcoming shows…all 4-of the listed comedians are what we call NATIONAL HEADLINERS…you know, the guys you see on Fallon, Kimmel, Comedy Central, HBO, SHO-etc. The bottomline, for real-cheap money ($5-$10) you can go see some real heavyweights!

That’s the whole story in a nutshell.

* Then Why Bother Eating Out In The First Place?

Jeff Eats just read “Best Ways To Save Money At A Restaurant” on thedailymeal.com.

Talk about dumb advice!

If I’m reading this thing right- I can’t eat when I want, I can’t drink what I want, I can’t eat where I want and I gotta be Monty Hall 24/7!

_________________________
Best ways to save money at a restaurant

The Daily Meal

By Dan Myers
·Published September 30, 2014

It’s always the worst part of a restaurant meal: the moment when the bill arrives. “I didn’t realize that drinks would be that expensive!” you might exclaim. Or, “Those appetizers really added up!” Wouldn’t it be nice to be pleasantly surprised by the bill the next time you dine out? Here’s how.

Restaurants are, obviously, a business, and they can’t be faulted for trying to turn as much of a profit as possible. But there are certainly ways in which you can easily be coaxed into paying more money at a restaurant than you intend to; it’s happened to all of us. It’s pretty easy to say “yes” when asked if we’d like another beer or soda, or to not ask what the price of that tasty-sounding special is before ordering it. And when the dessert menu is handed to us, there’s always something that sounds too good to pass up.

But with a little planning and a little bit of willpower, it’s possible to enjoy a meal out without breaking the bank, even at a fancy restaurant. There are plenty of things you can do that will help you save money when dining out, and several of them can happen even before you leave the house.

So read on for some handy tips and tricks to keep in mind when planning your next meal out. We all deserve an occasional blowout, but those should be worked into a budget and certainly shouldn’t take you by surprise. Follow these tips, and you’ll never have to dread getting the bill again.

1. Pay Attention to Special Deals

Most restaurants offer some sort of special deal; sometimes it’s two-for-one drinks before 7, other times it’s 25-cent wings on Mondays. Check the restaurant’s website in advance and plan to go when they’re offering a deal you can take advantage of, and whenever you sit down at a restaurant’s bar while waiting for your table, ask if there are any drink specials.

2. Buy Gift Cards Online

Visit Restaurant.com and type in your area code; you can purchase gift cards for more than 18,000 restaurants across the country there, sometimes for pennies on the dollar. For example, you’ll most likely be able to purchase a $25 gift certificate for as little as $10. Also, don’t forget about daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social; some of their deals sound almost too good to be true.

3. Look into Early Bird Specials

Seriously. If you don’t mind eating dinner early (or taking a few bites and saving the rest for later), you can take advantage of some surprisingly good early bird specials in your area.

4. Drink Water

The price of drinks adds up quickly, and before you know it you’ll be spending more on cocktails than on the food. Stick with water and you’ll save a lot more money than you realize.

5. Skip Appetizers and Dessert

If you go without appetizers and dessert, you’ll not only save money, you’ll leave a whole lot less stuffed. If you’re tempted to order more in order to prolong the meal, just take more time enjoying your main dish.

* Festival of Praise Featuring Fred Hammond & Donnie McClurkin.

To be perfectly honest with you guys, the Festival of Praise Featuring Fred Hammond & Connie McClurkin really isn’t my style…

Just in case it’s yours- gold star.com has got a bunch of tickets selling for something like 50 cents on the dollar!

_______
Thursday, October 15th
Concert: 7:30pm | Doors: 6:30pm
The Amp (Pompano Beach Amphitheater)
Tickets: ticketmaster.com
$38-$68

from pompanobeacharts.org

Fred Hammond’s brand of fresh, funky gospel features Brian Courtney Wilson, Dave Hollister, and Eric Robertson. His vocal theatrics and 2013 album, United Tenors, have put him on the map as a rising star in gospel music. Hammond has an opera singer’s poise, a funkmaster’s soul, a gospel singer’s faith, and a showman’s love for his audience. Not one wrong note comes out of Hammond’s mouth, not one missed beat or misstep. He is a singer’s singer, able to rouse a concert hall like a revival preacher with the power of his voice! The concert also features three-time Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin, and Grammy winner Fred Hammond, “a man with a kingdom mindset.” All performers retain the passion, power, energy and creativity that have historically marked gospel music. Visit Fred Hammond’s website.

Includes the following artists:
Fred Hammond
Donnie McClurkin
Hezekiah Walker
Kim Burrell
Isaac Carree
Jessica Reedy
Zacardi Cortez
Marcus Wiley

This story first ran on September 25, 2015. I just noticed that goldstar.com has $20 tickets for 5 bucks. Trust Jeff Eats on this, Brill is absolutely hilarious. Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats got plans to catch tomorrow night’s show.

* Eddie Brill.

Got something real good for you guys…that is, if you’re into laughing your ass off!

His name may not exactly be a household name, but in the “business” comedian Eddie Brill is known as one of the funniest clean-comedians currently working the comedy club/casino circuit.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, Eddie Brill will absolutely crack-you-up! Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have seen him a a couple of times-and the guy really gets the job done!

Brill is set to play the Boca Black Box (8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton, (561) 483.9036 on Friday Night 10/2/15, Saturday Night 10/3/15 and Sunday Night 10/4/15 at 8pm.

For you guys not familiar with the Boca Black Box, it’s a 2-month old “live theater” which seats something like 250…its got a wine/beer bar, great sound/light systems and having been there a couple of times I can tell you- every seat in the house is good! You buy a “seat”- there are no minimum drink/food purchase requirements.

You can catch tickets and more info at bocablackbox.com.

from bocablackbox.com

Eddie Brill, raised in Hollywood, Florida, is a well respected and very funny stand up here in the USA and abroad.
For seventeen years, he worked on The Late Show with David Letterman. He was the audience warm-up and for eleven of those years he was the Stand Up Comedy Talent Coordinator.
Eddie has taped more than 100 TV shows in six different countries…including ten appearances on The Late Show…and the FX hit series, “Louie.”
He has been seen in many films including, “30 Years To Life” with Tracy Morgan.
He also stars in the popular web series, “Famous Phrases,” on the HooplaHa network.
A 3-time MAC award winner for Outstanding Male Comic in NYC, Eddie is also the creative director of The Great American Comedy Festival which honors Johnny Carson in his hometown of Norfolk, NE

* Carly Jo Jackson.

Wanna be able to tell your friends that you saw Orlando based- Carly Jo Jackson- before she became a huge country music recording artist?

Between you guys and Jeff Eats, Carly Jo is a perfect example of the old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”…that said, I’m thinking you might like to follow the construction project…

Upcoming Shows:

October 2, 2015
8:00 pm – The Annex – Opening Brendan O’Hara Album Release, Miami, FL

October 4, 2015
1:00 pm – JBs on the Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL

October 9, 2015
5:30 pm – Monty’s Sunset, Miami Beach, FL

October 10, 2015
8:00 pm – 18th “Original” Beerfest, Esplanade Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL

October 24, 2015
9:00 pm – World of Beer, Wellington, FL

November 14, 2015
3:00 pm – Maitland Art Festival with Beemo, Maitland, FL

from carlyjojackson.com

About Carly Jo

In the summer of 2014, America’s Got Talent viewers experienced what fans have known for years – Carly Jo Jackson has the voice and look of a star with a charismatic stage presence that will take her far.

Carly Jo is a 22-year-old indie/acoustic-pop artist with a vocal tone that is as infectious as her stage presence. She is a talented musician and songwriter, playing guitar and ukulele. Her single Wildflower and accompanying music video with over 200,000 YouTube views have received praises and opened many doors for her including an invitation in 2014 to perform at the prestigious 30A Songwriters Festival along with renown songwriters such as Ani DiFranco, Kristian Bush, and Bob Schneider. In the summer of 2014, she was featured on two televised episodes of Season 9 of America’s Got Talent, advancing to Judgement Week,winning the praises of host Nick Cannon, Howard Stern and the other celebrity judges. In 2015 she was chosen as a Belk Southern Musician Showcase winner out of over 4,000 contestants. Carly won a cash prize and opportunities to perform at Belk sponsored events and national festivals throughout 2015, a performance wardrobe for each event, stylist provided by Belk and had her music featured in a nationally televised Belk commercial released in July 2015. Follow her journey with Belk with #RoadSouth on social media!

Carly Jo is also spending time in the studio in 2015 working on her 2nd CD to release late in the year. She released a catchy new single featuring her Luna ukulele, Red Wine & White Shoes, and a duet with country/rock artist Billy Lord, Steal the Evening Sky that is climbing new country artist charts. She has collaborated as a songwriter with Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) and has provided background vocals and been featured on songs by several artists and varying genres from country to rap to dance music.

“Florida is home to many superstars, but one that shines the brightest is Orlando native… Carly Jo Jackson. Jackson’s passion for music and enthusiasm for life really shows through as she creates musical brilliancy with her acoustic guitar — which will win your heart in a second.” Scott Bryant, WordPress in “8 Women Musicians You’ve Never Heard Of…But Should!”

* Halloween Costume Contest.

This is a good one!

You won’t believe some of the get-ups!

By the way, I’ve seen Kiss Alive The Tribute and they kill (pun intended)!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are thinking of going-as…a happyily married couple!

from mardigrascasinofl.com

Don’t miss the best Halloween Party in town! On Friday, October 30th at 7:00pm, dress in your scariest or most creative costume and get to the veranda at Mardi Gras Casino to join the fun in the Halloween Costume Contest, with $4,500 in cash and bonus play awarded for the winning costumes. Prior to the contest, enjoy a special performance by the headless dancers of New Century Dance Company and KISS Alive, the Tribute at 8:00pm

Categories and Prizes:
Scariest / Funniest / Most Original / Best Casino Theme
1st Place – $500 Cash / 2nd Place – $500 Bonus Play

Best Couple
1st Place – $1,000 Cash ($500 per person)
2nd Place – $500 Bonus Play ($250 per person)
*Must be a Players’ Club member to participate

Register now at Players’ Club.

ABOUT MARDI GRAS CASINO
Mardi Gras Casino is located at 831 North Federal Highway on the corner of US-1 and Pembroke Road. The casino offers over 70,000 square feet of casino excitement featuring over 1,000 of the hottest slot machines, including Progressive slots, virtual roulette and blackjack, as well as The Dog Pound, Mardi Gras’ smoker-friendly slot area; 30 action-packed poker tables; simulcast and greyhound racing; entertainment; and various dining options. For more information, call 954-924-3200 or visit www.mgfla.com. Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mardigrascasino or follow us on twitter at http://www/twitter.com/MardiGrasFl.

* Boca Black Box.

In past columns, Jeff Eats told you guys about this 250 seat comedy/music theater which opened something like 3-months ago in Boca Raton.

Literally, just this minute I received the below e-mail from Boca Black Box.

Long story short,

Boca Black Box appears to be off to a very fast-start. No bs-ing here, this past week alone, at least 20 people in my “Boca Raton neighborhood” mentioned the joint to me!

Check- Boca Black Box out. I’m thinking that the joint is going to-develop into a very popular comedy and live music performance venue!

______________

Text us BOCABLACKBOX to 22828 to join our mailing list to find out about exciting upcoming shows as well as discount tickets and drink specials!!

* DUENDE AMPfest.

Seven hours of music & art…

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you- all of the competing bands kick ass! For sure- some kick-ass better than others…as for Sammy Figueroa, and Otis Cadillac- absolute dynamite!

See you guys out there!

Final List Just Announced! The Most AMPed Band Contest & Performance:

Performances by the following bands:

Blues Brothers Soul Band
Wilton Drive
A New Way to Live Forever
Blu.Line
Predator
Yardij
33 Years
d/b/a Band
Drawing Bored

The culmination of the event will be a final performance by the winning band, who will open for a stellar line up of performances by The Jason Taylor Foundation Bluapple Poetry Network, Body and Soul Dance Theatre, Sammy Figueroa, and Otis Cadillac!

Schedule:

3pm – 6:30pm: Preliminary rounds of “The Most AMPed Band” competition | ARTwar! starts

5:30pm-9:30pm: INSIDE OUT Project Photo Shoot

6:30pm – 10pm: Main Performances | Sammy Figueroa | Otis Cadillac
The Jason Taylor Foundation Bluapple Poetry Network and Body and Soul Dance Theatre

Sunday, October 4th
3pm | Doors: 2pm
The Grounds at The Amp (Pompano Beach Amphitheater)
FREE Event!

Pompano Beach Arts & The Amp will partner with Broward County’s Duende, enmeshing diverse talent into one grand finale.

Treat you ears to a tapestry of sounds while your eyes lap up an animated display of color and technique as local visual artists go to war, canvas against canvas, award-winning talent fires up the stage, and local bands duke it out for the titled of “Most Amped Band.

***** The Sticky Bun, 1619 Southeast 3rd Court, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441, (754) 212-5569.

Gotta little secret I gotta tell you guys…every so often I find a joint that is so-good, that while I’m eating there- I’m already “thinking” as to how- fast I can get to the old computer and tell you about it! Trust Jeff Eats, it doesn’t happen too often, but it does happen!

With the above secret in mind, straight up- Jeff Eats is telling you, that you absolutely-positively have to try The Sticky Bun a “mom & pop hole in the wall-order at the counter/pickup at the counter diner”- handful of counter seats/inside & outside tables in Deerfield Beach.

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you that this “diner” isn’t your ever-day run of the mill joint…When were you last in a joint that- cured its own bacon and baked fresh English muffins? Drop me a line when you remember where and when!

The Sticky Bun does breakfast and lunch. Its got all kinds of breakfast stuff, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, so on and so forth!

Rather than my knocking myself-out telling you- how delicious The Sticky Bun’s scrambled eggs with bacon/English muffin, pulled pork arepa and sticky buns were…take a chance that Jeff Eats just might be right-on this one and give it a shot!

Like I said at the start, this is a hole in the wall joint- seating is super-limited…so don’t be planning on holding a wedding reception or an engagement party there!

The Sticky Bun is open Tuesday-Saturday 7am-4pm, Sunday 8am-2pm, closed Monday. For more info- thestickybun.com.

***** Zinger’s Delicatessen, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 826-7323 & The Boys Farmers Market, 14378 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484, (561) 496-0188.

A recent email to Jeff Eats.

Jeff,
My husband and I just moved to Florida this past May from Oceanside, New York.
These were our first Jewish Holidays here in Delray Beach.
Found some pretty good old style Jewish food, but couldn’t come up with really delicious stuffed cabbage.
Got some good places for us?
Thank you,
Anita F

____________

Anita F:

First thing first, welcome to Florida!

Second things second, it-wouldn’t have hurt for you to have told me where you “found some pretty good old style Jewish food…”

Anyway,

Third things third, Zinger’s Delicatessen (zingersdelicom) in Boca Raton and The Boys Farmers Market (boysfarnersmarket.com) in Delray Beach both make delicious stuffed cabbage!

By the way, if you already “got” stuffed cabbage from either one of these joints- and didn’t like-it…our taste-buds are definitely on different pages!

Thanks for reading…