Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a fantastic and safe New Year’s celebration.

As is my tradition in the beginning of the new year, I like to go through some of my pictures and summarize what has happened in the last year. Boy, in 2013 we did a LOT.

Enjoy my summary of the highlights of the year of 2013 below! Send it to your family and friends to let them know what a great city West Palm Beach is!

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2014!

January

Clematis Street was in the middle of the StreetScape project. Which involved re-paving the streets, changing the streetlights to LED lights and adding new landscaping.

We also had some fantastic openings – Field of Greens, Hamburger Heaven and Hullabaloo opened.

February

Starbucks does a lightning fast renovation – during which time they moved the bar up front. Dunkin’ Donuts opens on the 400 Block.

After Five Guys closes abruptly, work starts on Taco Vida and Clematis Street celebrates Florida’s 500 anniversary with a visit from Juan Ponce de Leon.

As Leaping Lizards closed in December 2012, we see a Popup Jewelry store open up in the space on the 400 block.

March

The StreetScape project is complete and we have new bike racks up and down Clematis Street.

The Palm Beach Photographic center opens up their Florida Wildlife Corridor Exhibition. Further north we see the first Annual Heart and Soul Fest. On the 100 Block we see Barrel and Grain, a new Gastropub open.

St. Patricks Day celebration paints Clematis Street Green.

And the Palm Beach Boat Show takes over the Waterfront for two weeks of nautical fun.

April

The Corvette show brings hundreds of classic and new Corvettes to Clematis Street.

Pizza Luna changes it’s address to one door down on the 200 Block of Clematis Street.

The horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon draws support from local residents and businesses.

Downtown Neighborhood Association hosts their Neighborhood Block Party alongside the Clematis Street Bus Loop.

Work begins wrapping the utility boxes, adding historic art to Clematis Street.

And the Smithereens rock West Palm Beach at Sunday at the Meyer.

May – Sunfest!

Sunfest comes to the waterfront bringing a extravaganza of music, art and fun!

Clematis Street hosts a “Ride-Your-Bike-to-Work” day.

Taco Vida opens, Bobbi Sue closes, and we get the first teaser for the new Italian restaurant Santucci on the 600 block,  and a Moe’s Cantina on Olive right off Clematis Street.

And the Downtown Development Authority hosts their very successful Pairings event which highlights all the fine food and dining experiences on Clematis Street.

June

Le Rendevouz opens up on Datura and the locals love it.

After several months of being closed, the Monarchy nightclub reopens under new management. Fuku closes and is quickly replaced with Oli’s Fashion Cuisine.

In preparation for the Fourth on Flagler – Post-it Art starts popping up around Clematis Street.

July

Fourth on Flagler takes over the waterfront featuring patriotic activities, fireworks and music from Riverdown.

Uptown Art opens and signs go up for Chickpea, a Mediterranean grill to  open on the 400 block, and Rocco takes his cute daughter for her first walk down Clematis Street. Renovations begin on the Banyan Parking Garage.

The DDA hosts four art exhibitions at the space at 312 Clematis Street.

August

Summer is officially here and to celebrate all the summer activities available the Visitors Center opens on the Waterfront.

Ultima Gym quickly completes a renovation where they change all their equipment and open up Camp Ultima. Da Jerk Spot opens up on Banyan.

We get a new mural on Clematis Street.

And Respectable Street Cafe celebrates their 27th birthday with an epic 500 Block Party.

September

Roxy’s Pub suffers the loss of Dan the Man, and his friends come out to show their last respects. RIP.

Flavor Palm Beach kicks off with a fantastic menu featuring eateries throughout Palm Beach County.

Second Bus Loop this year takes downtown residents to all the local hot spots including the new Tequilla Cowboy in Cityplace. Keese’s opens up bringing Mediterranean food to the 500 Block of Clematis Street.

The Soul Food Celebration brings a island party to Clematis Street, we have Park(ing) day, and the Hakuna Matata (operated by VisitWPB) starts offering rides down the intracostal.

October

The Green Market returns to West Palm Beach, and gets record crowds.

West Palm Beach hosts a “Walking Town Hall” meeting with Mayor Jeri Muoio, and Dunkin’ Donuts has their Grand Opening.

The MoonFest Zombie Crawl hits Clematis Street!

Moonfest ROCKED with Reverend Horton Heat headlining. and we have a proposal at Ginger’s Dance Party.

November

For the month of November I challenged myself to write a blog entry each day. I completed it and you can see a list of all the blog entries that I wrote here.

J. Flynn’s opens up on Clematis Street and Bee Organics opens their doors at 123 Datura Street. Cycleparty comes to Clematis and Roxy’s hosts it’s 5th Annual Beerfest on Clematis.

The Memorial Day Parade hits Clematis Street.

West Palm Beach hosts their very first Startup Weekend bringing over 100 entrepreneurs downtown for a weekend of code, networking and building business.

December

The holidays are here and West Palm Beach knows how to celebrate in style. Sandi, our 600 ton sand holiday tree is built on the waterfront and is lit up in a lighting ceremony with the Mayor and Country Music Star Randi Houser

Palm Beach Marathon runs through the WPB waterfront and into the South End. Polar Express gives kids and families an opportunity to travel to the north pole and meet Santa!

The long-standing Dr. Feelgoods club closes and work starts on the new “PawnShop” themed club.

Christmas spirit is spread on Clematis Street with carolers from St. Ann’s School, and the Palm Beach Opera holds a very successful Free Opera on the Waterfront.

The popular Habitat Coffee closes, to open in January as SubCulture Coffee on the 500 block.

And finally Clematis Street celebrates New Year’s with the Clematis Countdown, fireworks and parties throughout Clematis Street.