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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Scots grandfather completes incredible 200-mile cycling fundraiser
Robert 'Uncle Bob' Taylor has taken on the task of raising cash for The Benevolent Society of Scotland every year since 1985. A SUPER-FIT Scots grandfather has has just clocked up another 200-miles on his bike for charity. Robert 'Uncle Bob' Taylor recently completed his 40th annual challenge around the Italian hills of Tuscany at the age of 80. Glasgow man Bob has taken on the task of raising cash for The Benevolent Society of Scotland every year since 1985. With a long career in the hospitality trade behind him, Bob toasted his success after crossing the finishing line in the small town of Barga on Thursday night. Cycling since the age of 15, Bob has twice been named Scottish junior champion, and set the over-60 ten-mile Scottish cycle record in 2005. He began fundraising for The Ben in 1985 with a ride from Pitlochry to Brighton. The charity supports individuals in the drinks industry with practical, financial, and emotional assistance. Bob said: 'It then became a tradition and I love it – and now I am still keeping fit for and with our Tour of Tuscany. 'It's exciting to see cultures connecting in this way and long may it continue. There are 10 of us, eight Scottish cyclists and two Italian cyclists who live in Tuscany. 'Italy is a cycling country and the drivers give great respect. 'The roads are perfect for the cycling. This special event is close to my heart as I've built up a brilliant relationship with the Italians in the hospitality trade. To visit their homeland is a special moment for me personally.' Bob's arrival in Barga comes after the local mayor signed a friendship agreement with Glasgow last year. Bob says he has no plans to slow down, and is now working towards beating the over-80s ten-mile Scottish cycle record, after his over 60s record was recently beaten. The record stands at 25 minutes and 30 seconds. He told Glasgow Live: 'I keep fit, I have always been conscious to look after myself, everything in moderation; food and drink etc. 'I've trained five days a week for many years. Twenty years ago I broke the 10-mile Scottish cycle record while cycling with the Glasgow Wheelies, it was great fun to put myself under pressure. 'Am I proud? I'm grateful – I've only been able to do this due to the help and support I've received over the years. Cycling is a unique sport so I've been blessed.' Former president of The Ben charity Warren Paul helped organise the challenge. Warren, who organises the Italian Awards, is closely involved in many major links between the countries and is passionate about introducing Scots to the joys of Italy. He said: 'The Italian Awards were created to recognise excellence in the Scottish Italian community. We are delighted to be able to support this event, taking place in many of the Italian Scots' homeland. 'I am passionate about bringing Scotland and Italy even closer together – the links between the two are incredible and very natural, so it feels right to help the connections grow and deepen. The mayor of Barga signed a friendship agreement with Glasgow last year and this reinforces the special links Scotland has with Italy. 'Uncle Bob is a legend in Scottish hospitality and The Ben are a charity very close to my heart – I am proud to be their former president – so this felt like an opportunity to bring charities in each country together too for a great cause.' The cycling challenge was supported by the charity Italian Scotland. Ronnie Convery, President of Italian Scotland, said: 'As the official charity of the Italian community in Scotland, we are delighted to support the charity cycling event taking place in our beloved land this month through the hills of Tuscany for The Ben. 'The Italian community has a deeply-felt link to the hospitality industry in Scotland. So many of our families migrated from the little hill towns near Florence, Lucca, Rome and Naples to this land of opportunity over a century ago in search of a better life and set about bringing their cuisine, their welcoming spirit and their ethos of hard work to Scottish consumers. 'As the generations pass, the support given to current and former employees of the hospitality industry in Scotland is ever more appreciated by the members and friends of the Italian community. 'For that reason, we are proud to make our own donation to the Benevolent Society of Scotland - a sincere 'grazie' to the charity for all it has done, and continues to do to support those in need.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Outdoor dining at its best! Best rooftop restaurants, bars in Palm Beach County
There is magic in the view from a rooftop. The waterfront sparkles. The city looks lovelier. The drinks seem dreamier. And it doesn't have to be a skyscraper rooftop — even a second-floor rooftop view can offer the elevation needed for a little magic. In Palm Beach County, the views from rooftop bars range from sweeping cityscapes in West Palm Beach to a historic lighthouse and marina vistas in Jupiter to looks that are a little bit city, a little bit water. We've compiled a cheat-sheet of local rooftop bars and restaurants. Consider this your handy guide next time you'd like to lift up your drinks-and-bites experience. The rooftop Bar Capri, which is located atop Elisabetta's in downtown West Palm Beach, offers sparkling water views, so there's no doubt about where you are: above the Flagler Drive waterfront, Palm Beach etched in the distance. The relaxing bar and lounge, which has seating for 75 on an open-sided, covered area, offers simple bites: snacks, pizzas, cookies, tiramisu, drinks. Bar Capri: 1185 Banyan Blvd Rooftop, West Palm Beach, 561-342-6699, This rooftop bar gives you that postcard-from-paradise view from above. And that view is punctuated by the iconic Jupiter Lighthouse and its surrounding Inlet waters. Topside at the Beacon is part of the Joe Namath-backed restaurant complex known as Charlie and Joe's at Love Street. Loungey and dotted with fun hanging-basket chairs, Topside is appointed with lush greenery that allows for cozy, open-air conversation nooks. Best outdoor dining near Jupiter Inlet: Restaurants with sparkling waterway views The bites are festive and tapas-size. (Think chickpea fries with Sriracha aioli, roasted oysters, blackened mahi mahi sandwiches with lime-cilantro crema and deconstructed Meyer lemon tarts with Italian meringue.) The drinks are glammed-up tiki. Topside at the Beacon: 1116 Love St., Jupiter, 561-532-3270, Take in the most sweeping, sparkling view of the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront from this rooftop bar. Peer out from Spruzzo, the bar located atop the boutique hotel The Ben, and you'll see the ever-expanding metropolis as well as glimmers of stately Palm Beach island. Spruzzo is the place for enjoying tweaked-classic cocktails like The Ben Old Fashion (WhistlePig Piggyback rye, demerara sugar and bitters). The al fresco bar also offers a full, all-day menu of Mediterranean plates such as crispy calamari with spicy vine-tomato sauce, lollipop-style lamb chops with chimichurri, vegetarian falafel burgers, Positano-inspired fish sandwich with tapenade and fresh, local catch served Livornese-style with tomatoes, olives and capers over soft polenta. Atop The Ben hotel, 251 N. Narcissus Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-655-4001, Walk-ins are welcome. Take in panoramic views of downtown West Palm Beach at this bar, which sits atop the Canopy by Hilton boutique hotel. But there are more than views to be had here. The focused, but well-varied menu is no afterthought. Appetizer offerings range from tostones al pastor to tuna poké tacos to roasted mushroom flatbreads. Main plates include burgers and lobster rolls. And for dessert: fried churros and skillet s'mores chocolate cake. As for drinks, expect a decent range of specialty and classic cocktails, wines and bottle service. At the Canopy hotel, 380 Trinity Pl., West Palm Beach, 561-693-1556, Take the elevator to the top of the mansion-like Restoration Hardware showroom on Okeechobee Boulevard and, if you've never been, prepare to be transported to a dreamscape of sorts. At the upscale RH Rooftop bistro and bar, al fresco tables set amid foliage around a shimmering fountain, beneath chandeliers that reflect the natural light. There's a rooftop courtyard, side seating areas and a loungey terrace that surrounds it all. Grab a drink from the central café counter and find a spot along the terrace for splendid city views. Or settle into a table for full-dining service. The menu is up-market American grill fare, well prepared and stylishly served: a prosciutto and Délice de Bourgogne board with warm baguette and strawberry preserves, crispy artichokes with rosemary aioli, shaved rib-eye on charred garlic bread served au jus, lobster roll, roasted half chicken. A relatively extensive wine list that includes pricey wines by the glass is offered as well as specialty coffees and brunch cocktails. Reservations are accepted via Atop the Restoration Hardware building, 560 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561-804-6826, This party-hearty rooftop bar is a Clematis Street mainstay. With three full bars, deejay-spun music, and copious amounts of youthful energy, Roxy's is open into the wee hours. The newly renovated rooftop now features a pool, adding an extra level of fun to your night out. There's also a full menu of pub fare, which includes pizzas, wings, burgers, and other hefty sandwiches, tuna poke bowls, and plenty of shareable appetizers. 309 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561-296-7699, A young, party crowd fills the various floors of this Tex-Mex cantina, where the casual rooftop bar offers city views, nighttime dance music and boozy Sunday brunch. Banko Cantina made its 2016 debut in the revamped site of the historic building once occupied by the old American National Bank on Olive Avenue. The place quickly found a niche in the Clematis Street-area nightlife scene. 114 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-355-1399, Located atop The Ray boutique hotel, which opened in September 2021, this bar and lounge shares the rooftop deck with the hotel's pool and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Expect a casual vibe, a limited and straightforward menu (salads, sandwiches, shareable raw bar items and small plates) and a batch of creative cocktails (like the Watermelon Sugar, which combines tequila, watermelon, sunflower syrup, lime juice and cucumber slices). At The Ray hotel, 233 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach, 561-739-1706, This rooftop bar, which crowns the Courtyard by Marriott Delray Beach hotel, offers panoramic views of the city's eastern edges and plenty of ocean breezes. That's the main attraction. Expect simple bar bites (wings, tenders, pretzels), fairly straightforward cocktails and a daily happy hour. 135 SE 6th Ave., Delray Beach, 561-926-5833 This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rooftop bars near me: Best spots in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Delray
