South Beach Getaway

My friend Larry and I had an absolutely marvelous time at the South Beach Getaway weekend that I won in the sweepstakes sponsored by Kraft South Beach Diet foods.

It was a little colder than expected, but that didn't cramp our style at all. After being met at the airport, Larry and I shared a van with two of the other winners and their companions. It turns out that two of them were, respectively, a recent graduate of and a current undergraduate at Northwestern University School of Music, where she was a voice major (as was I) and he was in the 5 Year B.A./B.Mus. program (as was I). We had a delightful conversation all the way into South Beach, when we pulled up to our very impressive hotel, the Loews Miami Beach. After checking in, we discovered that we had an ocean view room, great service, and a killer swimming pool.

A few quick walks up and down Lincoln Road and we were ready for dinner. We chose Balans, where I enjoyed a beautifully prepared pork chop with adobo sauce, sweet potato mash and asparagus. Spectacular. Larry and I then went off our South Beach plans (the diet, that is) for dulce de leche crepes (we shared). Delicious.

We proceeded back to our room to find a palmetto leaf and box of fish shaped sweet-tarts on my pillow, and we settled in to watch The Book of Daniel on NBC. All I will say about that is I suspect the American Family Association will not have this show to kick around very long...it wasn't all that good. Or outrageous.

Anyway, a very good night's sleep ensued, followed by a breakfast (provided by the contest). The breakfast was decidedly not South Beach Diet friendly....I was with them through the scrambled eggs, and even through the (non-Canadian) bacon, but when I saw the hash browns (Kryptonite to South Beachers), I knew that this wasn't something they'd thought through. I did, however, enjoy a bowl of the South Beach Diet Whole Grain Crunch, which was tasty if a little over sweetened (with both sugar and sucralose).

Then it was off for a walk down Ocean Drive. There is so much development at the far south end of South Beach it is rather astonishing. Hi-rises going up everywhere. Apparently the boom just keeps booming, and it's becoming such that soon only the very rich will be able to afford to live out there (so same as it ever was in that respect, I guess).

We returned to the hotel and hit the pool. Despite the temperatures in the high 60's, this was absolutely delightful. They have poolside service there, so I enjoyed a nice salad while lying out in the sun. The shelter of the pool enclosure meant that it was perfectly pleasant and not at all chilly. We later went in the pool (which is heated) and I must say it was the most relaxed I've been in quite some time.

The event organizers threw a dinner buffet for us that night, and it was very nice. There was an enormous buffet, this time South Beach Diet friendly, including wonderful salads, vegetables, and meat and fish dishes. There was also an entirely nonSBD friendly dessert bar. To entertain us, the organizers had hired a marvelous Latin band, consisting of keyboards, a harp, drummer and bassist. In addition, a flemenco dancer entertained us on many of the numbers. The event took place in the hotel ballroom (I believe it would have been on the lawn outside had it been warmer) which was appropriately elegant and well appointed.

After dinner, Larry and I wandered back to Lincoln Road, eventually parking ourselves at a patio table at one of the many bars and restaurants lining the streets, where we just watched the vibrant parade of Miamians and tourists pass by until it was time to go home.

Sunday morning it was a walk on the beach, followed by Brunch with Larry's old college roommate Doug at the Front Porch Cafe. A quick walk through the neighborhood to see Doug's new place (adorable and wonderfully finished) followed, and then it was back to the hotel just in time to cath the shuttle to the airport. The airport, while chaotic, was uneventful, and we made it back to NYC without incident.

All in all a simply delightful trip. I will have to win things more often!!