Happy Tuesday, My Friend!
‘Tis the season of friends flying south from the northern extremities of the country, and with that comes some activities I can enjoy with my frozen friends, like a trip to the beach. I’m not particularly beachy, as a rule, but when friends come to Florida, I will take them there. And then there’s shopping. So much more fun with a friend. And we’ve got some great places to do so here. There’s always one specific place I like to take my friends or family when they come to visit—a place where we can act super fancy, like maybe we just stopped by from our yacht that’s parked out there in . . um . . . that place where people park their yachts. That fancy place is . . .
This hotel is gorgeous! We usually stop here after a stroll down Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. Not that we could buy anything there besides maybe a gelato or a cup of coffee, but we always have to stroll there and window shop as though we’re going to come back later and pick up half a dozen things.
Oh, but The Breakers. The crème de la crème of fanciness. Let me walk you through faking fancy there: First, you get stopped at the gate, and a guard will say, “Checking in?” HA! As if! But I don’t act surprised. Instead, I say, “Oh, no, just stopping by for a drink,” and they wave me in like I’m Nancy Sinatra. (I don’t know why I said Nancy Sinatra, but maybe because it rhymes with “Fancy Sinatra.”)
Then, you drive up to the front doors, along with all the wealthy people, and hand your vehicle to one of the numerous valets. I have driven a mom minivan and a VW Bug to those doors over the years. They still let me in.
Next, you walk in with your friend and try hard not to marvel too overtly at the grandeur. And it is grand! Upon entering, a magnificent fresh flower arrangement always begs to be photographed. I suggest you speak French or make up your own language while snapping these photos to avoid appearing too “ordinary.” I always insist that my friend and I walk the stunning hallways before we secure our glass of wine. If you go to the right, you’ll find a small shopping area and a lovely green lawn where you might sit and stare at people for a while. You might choose to walk over to the pool area but avoid trying to actually enter the pool gates, or you’ll be stopped by nicely dressed pool people.
Continuing your walk, head to the back of the hotel and look out over the sea. It’s a good place for more photo ops, but know that your hair will get blown around. Enter the back doors, walk over to the “other side” of the hotel, and see the beautiful Tapestry Room. Très magnifique!
And now, for that glass of wine, head to the Seafood Bar and pray you’ll find two seats at the bar, which actually is a fish tank. Then, watch the fish and eels swim under your hands!
I must tell you about one of my visits to this place with my dear friend, Pam. Pam lives in Minnesota, and she and her husband visited us in the winter months a few years ago. The day before our Palm Beach adventure, we had shopped our heads off at a Steinmart near me. Now, Steinmart had lots of pretty things that were not terribly expensive. These are two of my favorite things. I had secured myself a dandy outfit of very colorful stretchy pants, a coordinating shirt, and then the cherry on top—earrings to match. Not diamond studs, these. These were dangly orange plastic beauties. Yes, that’s right. Orange. Plastic. But somehow, they just “went” with the outfit, and I thought I looked like a million bucks.
Pam and I did not secure seats at the fish tank bar, but there was room at the “other” bar, around the back and off to the side. There was a little cocktail menu that we perused. If memory serves, Pam chose a Lemon Drop. The handsome bartender then looked at me for my order. I picked out a special glass of wine that was featured that day. It was so special that I don’t believe the price was listed. I smiled and returned the menu to the bartender, whose face suddenly became serious. He leaned a bit closer to me and said in a hushed tone, “That glass of wine is rather expensive, just so you’re aware.” I was slightly taken aback, not ever having been warned before in such a manner. “OK, I’ll just have a glass of water, thanks.” Actually, I probably ordered a “house” something as I wouldn’t know what else to say. But the thought occurred to me . . .
What about me made him think he’d better warn me about the price? And then I knew!
Those darn orange plastic earrings!! Drat!!
All that trouncing around the corridors, acting like I did it daily, couldn’t fool this bartender. He read me like a book. Those were probably the only orange plastic earrings The Breakers had ever seen. What was I thinking? Who did I think I was??
I guess no matter how much I can try to put on airs, I’m always going to be a country bumpkin at my core. Truth be told, if someone gave me the choice of living out my days at The Breakers or a cabin in the woods, the cabin would win, hands down. But it’s also fun to pretend we’re something we’re not occasionally, isn’t it?
I love this quote from Oscar Wilde and need to heed its advice: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”
Whether you’re a fashion plate that couldn’t look bad if you tried, a bit of a mess, or somewhere in between, may you have a week where you feel free to be your authentic self! You be you!
Written with love – – – Patti XOXO
My college roomies being fancy on another visit to The Breakers.