Learning about Art Deco- in South Beach, naturally

Miami Beach, FL

Today, my destination was the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach, to check out the Art Deco buildings there. I wanted to learn more about Art Deco, and I found the perfect activity to help with that without taking too much time and while enjoying being in and around the South Beach activity.

I drove directly east from my location in Davie, and came out at the Atlantic at Hollywood Beach. I crossed the bridge over the intercostal waterway to A1A, the closest road to the beach and headed south. Oh my goodness, it is built up so much all the way along the coast, with either hotels, condos, or private homes. And on the intercostal waterway side are hundreds and hundreds of homes worth millions with their private yachts tied up out front. I couldn’t get any pictures because there wasn’t really anywhere to stop easily. I almost got whiplash trying to drive and look at everything. As Nanci will attest, I might be guilty of lacking concentration on my driving at times like that.

As I got further south the traffic got heavier and heavier but I eventually got to the general area of South Beach, and actually found a parking spot. It cost me the arm and leg the alligator didn’t get yesterday, but it was handy and in the shade. Bonus. I headed for the Art Deco Welcome Centre and a very helpful woman set me up with an audio walking tour of some of the South Beach buildings that demonstrate the classic Art Deco features (and some that don’t for comparison). The tour was awesome. It was really easy to use, the instructions clear, provided just the right amount of information, (neither too sketchy or too much) and required just the right amount of time to do the tour (just over an hour). I always feel a little geeky doing an audio tour and taking pictures, and today I even took notes so I’d remember some of what I was hearing. But their system consisted of a really small USB drive device that clipped to my strap and small ear buds so it wasn’t so obvious.

Thankfully, there were some forward thinking leaders in the Miami community that managed to save many of the Art Deco buildings as well as some from the other dominant architectural style, Mediterranean Revival. The buildings in South Beach have their own twist to the classic Art Deco buildings that have been called “Tropical Deco”. Not surprising that the Miami South Beach area, has the United States largest collection of Art Deco architecture and it has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Miami Beach City Commission has taken many steps to preserve the district and it’s unique ambiance for future generations.

I won’t bore you with all the information I gleaned today, but some of the elements that were pointed out in various buildings included: etched glass, eyebrows (cantilevered window shades), finial spires, glass blocks, coral rock, and porthole windows. I’ve identified some of the elements in the comments of the pics.

After my walking tour I grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants on Ocean Boulevard in the heart of the action. The restaurant had several different areas of seating, on the streetscape (where I ate), an inner but outdoor courtyard, and an inside area which included women in scant but tasteful clothing dancing on pedestals. It was the most expensive Chicken Caesar Salad I think I’ve even eaten, but was worth it for the people watching! I even treated myself to an ice cream, something I rarely do. I walked the beach for a while, taking in “the sights”, and then headed home to get packed up for moving day tomorrow.

On my way home, I took the freeways (including a toll one where they are apparently going to bill me 59 cents referencing my license plate number) as I wasn’t up to fighting the traffic on the way home along the A1A. Going over the causeway over the intercostal waterway, I got a great view of the cruise ships all lined up. Since it’s one of the big turnaround days, there were 6 or 7 of them loading up with spring break vacationers.