Thursday, December 10, 2015

Throwback Thursday: Palm Beach in the 1970s


My paternal grandparents wintered in Palm Beach, Florida. They had an apartment at The Southlake, a 1960s serpentine apartment building with a kidney shaped swimming pool in front. There was a doorman, also a valet who would pull up in Grandpa's lemon chiffon Lincoln Continental. The white leather interior was always flawless.

Easter in Palm Beach in the 1970s
We would go to The Beach Club, among other places. Grandma and Grandpa had a cabana on the upper level in the center, overlooking the pool. When it was time for lunch, they made a phone call from the cabana. An impeccably groomed waiter in jacket and bow tie would appear moments later with trays full of club sandwiches and drinks.


Palm Beach in the 1970s was a strange, disconnected place for our family. Grandma and Grandpa lived in a fancy, tropical oasis. It was nothing like North Caldwell, New Jersey. All the buildings in Palm Beach were the color of butter mints, and I remember sitting on the curb watching salamanders and counting the Rolls Royces breezing by. 

3 comments:

  1. When I went to Palm Beach in the 90's, I thought the same thing about the buildings!! What an interesting experience to have had. Imagine food coming with just the effort of placing a call! When you see a club sandwich on a menu, does it take you back to Palm Beach??

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  2. I've never been to Florida but I really don't think I'm a Florida person... this is a great throwback, though! It sounds like it would be neat to be able to go from Jersey to Florida during the winter.

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  3. LOVE all the mid-century modern architecture of Florida! You look adorable as a pirate:)

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