By: Marcia Abramson
Coconut Grove was first settled in 1873 by Northerners from the mid-west with help from Bahamian (West Indian) craftsmen. The area is studded with many Caribbean-style houses, tropical landscaping and Bahamian street names. Each June, it is the locale for the Miami-Bahamas-Goombay Festival, a huge carnival-like block party that honors the heritage.
The Grove has always attracted artists, writers and non-conformists. It is one of the oldest and most diverse neighborhoods very much like South Beach and reminiscent of Greenwich Village in New York City. In fact I was reminded of the Village at the Bistro. Le Bouchon where I had a delicious dinner of La Gratinee Lyonnaise (onion soup topped
with Swiss Cheese) and Le Carre'd Agneau Roti aux Herbes de Provence (roasted rack of lamb with Provence herbs).
Not to be missed when visiting Coconut Grove is Vizcaya, the winter home of International Harvester vice president James Deering. It was built between 1914 and 1916 in the style of the Italian Renaissance villas, originally built on 180 acres with central heating, an automatic electric telephone switchboard, two elevators, a central vacuuming system and a fire control system. The house took two years to build and the formal gardens were not completed until 1921 because of the outbreak of World War I. It seems to be that William Randolph Hearst followed in Deering's footsteps when he built San Simeon in California many years later dedicated to the opulent lifestyle of royalty.
During this visit to Miami I also got to stay at the Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne, one of the 25 Sonnenbend family operated hotels, resorts and Nile cruises. They have owned, managed, designed, built and marketed hotels for more than 50 years. The founder was A.M. (Sonny) Sonnenbend who merged the Childs Restaurant chain with his hotel properties into the Hotel Corporation of America (HCA). His three sons, Roger, Stephen and Paul, entered the business upon graduation from such prestigious universities as MIT, Harvard and Cornell. Roger, the eldest, a graduate of MIT, at age 21 took over the management of Atlantic Beach's Nautilus Hotel and Beach Club. Today he is chairman of the board and CEO of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation and his brothers are all actively involved in the operation of the company. The third generation of Sonnenbends have joined the executive ranks and work with many non-family members including Matthias Kammerer, general manager of Key Biscayne and David Fine, the regional director of marketing.
I was impressed by the quality of the service extended to me and the guests at Sonesta's Key Biscayne. The marble bathrooms are exquisite. They have two sinks, a separate vanity area with bench, make-up mirror, hair dryer, sufficient electrical outlets, the usual amenities, and a very thoughtful card which read, We've remembered what you've forgotten. It listed electrical adapters, bed boards, non-allergic pillows, scales, woolite (fabric wash), emergency travel kit, baby cribs, baby monitors, strollers, children's car seat, high chairs, baby shampoo as being available by contacting the personal service manager. The four restaurants offer extensive menus and wonderful food. For special occasions, a dinner can be catered at the beach with the most fantastic ambience of a starlit sky, the sound of the ocean, magnificent floral centerpieces and specialties of the house like stone crabs, foie Gras, black truffles, and Brazilian sea bass. The Sonesta also has an outdoor heated Olympic-style pool overlooking the beach and ocean with two whirlpool spas and seven laykold tennis courts. The resort offers transfers to and from the Crandon Park Golf Course (home of the par 72 Senior PGA Tour Royal Caribbean Classic) which is located just two miles away from the hotel. Another marvelous feature of the $16 million renovation program at the Sonesta Beach Resort is the 10,000-square foot European style spa. Sonesta's delightful Deborah Roker would not let me leave Key Biscayne without experiencing the Everglades Safari Air Boat ride to see huge alligators among the Lily Ponds, a Seaquariam to meet Flipper, the dolphin's relatives.
