Happy holidays – and welcome to our December Holiday Issue. It seems crazy that 2018 is almost over! We round out the year with our most festive issue of the season, full of uplifting stories, fun local happenings and merry ideas to make the most of our unique winter wonderland here in South Florida. I think this issue is best enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa (or vodka!) and some twinkle lights in the background for ambience.
Linda L. Behmoiras
It’s been nearly a decade since we first featured award-winning musician – and total mensch – John Legend on our cover. He has had a banner year full of milestones and record-breaking achievements, so we were thrilled to catch up with him in “Holly Jolly John” (page 62) and find out what life is like for the A-lister these days.
Über-impressive Legend is a Penn grad as well as the youngest EGOT winner and the first African-American man to win that honor.
Next, if your holiday to-do list is as long as Santa’s, don’t miss “Hack Your Holiday” (page 68). We spoke to local experts to get their tips for shopping, gifting, hosting and dressing like a pro this season. You’ll thank us after putting this advice to good use.
Fans of “Big Bang Theory” should head directly to “Kicking It With Kaley” (page 72) for our one-on-one with Kaley Cuoco. As she readies to say goodbye to the smash-hit CBS sitcom that launched her to stardom, the actress takes us inside her world for a look at how she celebrates the holidays.
Then, we present our annual gift guide, “Everything From A To Z” (page 78), which is full of thoughtful ideas for everyone special in your life. From men and women to kids and pets, we have them covered.
Finally, this December marks a special milestone for The Boca Raton Observer: We are celebrating our 15th anniversary. It’s hard to believe that my personal project, which I founded in my home office, has turned into such a fixture in Boca Raton. We are thrilled to be a part of this dynamic community and look forward to another 15-plus years as the authority on Boca and beyond. To honor the occasion, our team shares some of their favorite behind-the-scenes magazine memories in “Magic Moments” (page 86).
As we celebrate what has been an amazing ride this past decade and a half of publishing, we have so many people to thank and recognize. To our amazing and dedicated Observer team who creates this incredible publication each month, we thank you for your creativity and dedication. To our wonderful marketing partners, thank you for supporting our publication and trusting us with your marketing. To our incredible nonprofits, thank you for everything you do. To our family, thank you for your love, support and understanding. Most of all, to our great readers and the entire Boca Raton community, we thank you for your loyalty and support through the past 165 issues. It’s wonderful to know that The Boca Raton Observer has made such an impact. We truly appreciate every time we meet people who tell us how much they enjoy our magazine every month. We look forward to bringing you many more fabulous issues in the years to come.
Making this month even more special is the fact that my husband, Ralph, and I are receiving the Corporate Leadership Award at the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services Annual Gala. It has been our absolute pleasure to work with JFS over the years, and we are beyond humbled by this incredible honor. It warms our hearts to have the magazine recognized for its philanthropic involvement. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I’d like to personally wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season full of friends and family, fabulous food and drink, love, laughter and memories to last a lifetime. Please choose kindness as much as you can – and we’ll see you in 2019! Cheers to a safe and healthy new year.
Best,
Linda L. Behmoiras
linda@bocaratonobserver.com