Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Downtown Lake Worth Beach is spot for diverse entertainment
Those looking to escape the norm this summer can find a variety of entertainment alternatives in downtown Lake Worth Beach. From shows at the historic Lake Worth Playhouse to sketching drag queens at Art Studio Cafe, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes.
Lake and Lucerne avenues from Dixie Highway to the Intracoastal Waterway are dog- and familyfriendly (until late at night). At times, it feels like you’re stepping into a time machine because of downtown’s architecture and small-town atmosphere. There is a variety of food and drink options, live music nearly every night, museums and cultural centers, shopping and special events.
Sofra Mediterranean Cuisine greets street-goers as they turn onto Lake Avenue from Dixie Highway. Just a few doors down, Hachi By Nawa offers a variety of Asian dishes.
Across the street, Victoria’s Pisco Lounge recently opened its second location. The Peruvian restaurant offers a variety of drinks and food including sushi and ceviche, as well as live music.
At the northwest corner of J Street and Lake Avenue sits Rhum Shak, a bar and restaurant with food from land and the sea that often has live music and is open until 2 a.m. daily.
Rudy’s Pub, which used to sit on the north side of Lake Avenue on J Street, moved south of Lake Avenue about a year ago, to a location about three times the size. It serves beer and wine, has a stage for music and now serves food from bar bites to barbecue.
Across J Street are two venues for live music and other events: Propaganda, which usually has rock ‘n’ roll acts but also hosts DJs, hip hop and reggae artists and burlesque/adult shows, as well as fundraisers and other nonprofit events. Its events often go late into the night.
Common Grounds Brew and Roastery, a coffee shop, juice bar and eatery with vegan options hosts singers, songwriters, jazz and acoustic artists as well as open mic events.
For those itching for nostalgia, Top Five Records sits between the two venues, offering a sizable collection of new and vintage vinyl records and across the alley is a newlyopened vintage store, Stitches and Rust, which sells vintage clothes, accessories, cameras, record and tape players and toys, among other items.
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is headquartered at the southwest corner of Lake Avenue and L Street and is home to an art exhibition with multimedia art installations and a small gift shop, both of which have works made exclusively by Palm Beach County-based artists.