Swarovski Marlin by Rene Gibson On Display in Tequesta

Beginning on June 16th, 2017, West Palm Beach artist Rene Gibson undertook a project the entire sportfishing and art community has been watching intensely since then. Starting with adorning a single Swarovski Crystal to the tip of the marlin bill, Gibson meticulously placed over 100,000 crystals to create the most brilliantly glistening full-sized taxidermy marlin you will ever see.

Throughout the two-year process, Gibson shared her progress on Instagram for enthusiastic fans, and on June 29th, 2019, Gibson let her daughter place the very last crystal to complete this beautiful piece of art.

“It takes a village to crystal a marlin.” Rene Gibson said, “It’s been a long journey and I want to thank those of you who have followed along. Special thanks to my family for tolerating a big mess for two years.”

Measuring 10 feet long, Gibson’s crystal marlin took over 535 hours total to create. She exclusively used Swarovski Crystals in 36 colors, some of which have special coatings. She originally had been doing crystal and bead work on cow skulls, but after being diagnosed with breast cancer she decided not to work on skulls.

“My motivation has always been to bring something back to life,” Gibson explained to Waterfront Properties, “So when I saw the fish mount, I knew I had to do it! It was a complete market turn around, but I’m very happy with the results.”

Rene Gibson’s work has been featured in multiple publications including Elle, Vogue, Western Art & Architecture, Palm Beach Magazine, and Cowgirl Magazine. Most of her sales are to private collectors and two of her skulls have been shown on the Food Network’s show, Restaurant Impossible. 

To our delight, the Swarovski Crystal “Marlin” by Rene Gibson is now on display in Tequesta, Florida! Lighthouse Art Center will be featuring “Marlin” in the exhibit “H2O Trickle Down” from now until February 12th, 2020. On January 16th, 2020 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Rene Gibson will even be in attendance if you would like to meet this incredible artist in person.

For more information about Rene Gibson, visit her website. >

Lighthouse Art Gallery is located at 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469, and is open Monday through Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, and Saturday, 10 am – 2 pm. The gallery is closed on Sundays.

Juno Beach Pier Near Jupiter Florida

Colorful Sunrise at Juno Beach Pier Over the Atlantic Ocean

If you’re looking for a marvelous example of a tangerine-colored Florida sunrise, Juno Beach Pier is one of the greats. However, you’ll be delighted to know that apart from a sight-seeing and fishing attraction, this particular pier has made positive strides in environmental conservation efforts. A long-standing icon of northern Palm Beach County, the Juno Beach Pier is an upstanding member of the Responsible Pier Initiative to make an impact on marine conservation. Since Loggerhead Marinelife Center attained management in 2014, efforts were amplified to not only protect local sea turtle populations and other marinelife, but to provide amenities such as morning beach yoga, an expanded concessions and angling retail shop, and a responsible atmosphere for anglers and pier-goers.

Among 36,433 anglers and 71,312 visitors in 2017, Juno Beach Pier’s efforts contributed to 112 miles of fishing line and 14,238 glass/tin items being recycled. Visitors and residents from around the globe can enjoy catching mangrove snapper on sardines early in the morning while feeling good that 49 sea turtles have been rescued due to their small $4 admission fee. If you’re bringing the kids fishing under 12-years-old, the fee is only $2, and if you’d just like to relax in the salt air or check out what the anglers are reeling in, the spectator fee drops to $1.

The Juno Beach Pier is located at 14775 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408.

Hours of operation:
March 1st – October 31st: Monday – Sunday 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
November 1st – February 28th: Sunday-Thursday 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday – Saturday 6 a.m. to midnight

Pier/fishing information: 561-855-6185
Daily beach conditions: 561-624-0065
Ocean Rescue Headquarters: 561-694-7480

Best Coffee in Jupiter Florida

There are few things in life more satisfying than a nice warm cup of coffee. But, as all true connoisseurs know, there’s a big difference between coffee that’s just okay and coffee that’s great. Here are a few places to get great coffee in Jupiter.

Subculture Coffee

Subculture Coffee is a great café founded by a couple of South Florida natives. The place is very cool and comfortable but, trust us, it has a lot more going for it than its décor. Subculture has some of the best, modestly priced, coffee in the state. If you haven’t already, we suggest trying one of their cappuccinos.

Where: 107 Front St, Jupiter, FL 33477

Oceana Coffee Roasters

Established in 2009 by Amy and Scott Angelo, Oceana Coffee Roasters company is one of the original Florida coffee roasters, they roast many single origin coffees from around the world. All of our specialty, fair trade and organic coffees are roasted in small batches at the Oceana Coffee Roasting House and Café in Tequesta.

Where: 221, 1, 2722, Old Dixie Hwy, Tequesta, FL 33469

Crux Coffee Roasters

Crux Coffee Roasters is a locally owned and operated coffee roasting shop with full espresso and pour-over coffee bar.

Where: 1155 Main St Suite 118, Jupiter, FL 33458

Perk Coffee House

Perk Coffee House has great coffee, tea, sandwiches and snacks. It’s a local favorite when it comes to sitting back and enjoying a cup of joe with friends or family.

Where: 384 Tequesta Dr, Tequesta, FL 33469

Brooklyn Water Bagel

Brooklyn Water Bagel is a very good bagel shop with a large breakfast menu featuring such as pumpernickel & asiago, plus sandwiches, omelets & coffee drinks.

Where: 201 N, US-1 Ste C5, Jupiter, FL 33477

Boutique Gyms in Abacoa, Jupiter Florida

The welcoming Abacoa community, located in Jupiter, Florida, offers a variety specialty services, business and restaurants. Downtown Abacoa has a “main street” charm with a relaxed atmosphere giving the area a true community feel.  One of the prevalent industries nested within Abacoa is boutique, personal fitness studios.

Zeal Yoga

Zeal Yoga at 1209 Main Street, Suite 108, is a yoga studio offering Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, Kids Yoga and Meditation classes as well as private instruction.  The instructors at Zeal Yoga aspire to keep things simple and keep the complications of the world outside.  Distraction free, one can connect with the breath and the yoga practice. Zeal yoga is “so much more than just movement, it’s a practice that builds mind-body awareness and confidence and strengthens our relationships with ourselves and others.”

Tribe Studio

Tribe Studio, located at 1155 Main Street, Suite 101, is a beautiful, boutique studio offering a wide variety of cutting-edge group fitness classes by qualified professional instructors.  The instructors have their own creative approach and unique interpretation of each class format.  Each and every instructor is certified in their craft, all trained to understand music, tempo, safety, form, alignment and most of all – how to get results!

E3 Strength

E3 Strength Studio at 1155 Main Street, Suite 114, is a personal training fitness facility equipped with every tool needed to achieve the fitness goals of top athletes and weekend warriors alike.  This studio offers a range from one-on-one training to group fitness ranging from three to five individuals under the instruction of one strength coach. Each instructor is certified, well-versed in all aspects of fitness and coaching, and specialize in unique fields of study.

Everglades Day 2020

The Florida Everglades National Park is located within a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Palm Beach County. The National Park is considered to be one of Florida’s most cherished state parks. The 98-year-old park is the third largest park and the third largest tropical wilderness areas in the country.

The Florida Everglades is a massive 1.5 million acres of wetlands that houses more than 2,300 miles of natural habitat for alligators, birds, snakes, the Florida panther, and other wildlife. In addition to the numerous types of wildlife, the park offers biking trails, hiking trails, canoeing, kayaking, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps and much more.

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Everglades Day Festival this Saturday, February 8th. The Wildlife Refuge area has more than 145,000 acres of protected habitat with more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 40 species of butterflies and 20 types of mammals. Several alligators, bobcats, snail kites, wood storks, pileated woodpeckers and more have been spotted there.

The 2020 Everglades Day Festival will focus on “Habitats of the Everglades”. The fun filled day includes wildlife presentations, interactive games, guest speakers, conservation exhibits, demonstrations, live music, food trucks, canoeing, hiking and much more.

The 21st Annual Everglades Day Festival Details:
When: Saturday, February 8th
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Location: The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge located at 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach.

For more details, click here to visit their website.