The revitalization of Miami Beach in the early 1980s included major infrastructure projects that helped transform it back to its glory days.
A Miami Herald article by Dory Owens, dated Jan 2nd, 1983, highlights various initiatives underway: “Restored beach, cafes, nightlife putting new life in Miami Beach.”
Quotes from the article are highlighted below in blue.
Infrastructure Improvements
This included a $70 million beach renourishment project:
The beach renourishment project, used to compensate for erosion, created a new, broad strand nine miles long and 300 feet wide. Throw your towel anywhere. There’s plenty of room. Most popular areas for bathing are North Shore, from 79th Street to 87th Street, and Lummus Park from Fifth to 15th Street.
In addition, a boardwalk project was to be launched later in the year between 21st and 46th street, at a cost of $3 million.
Nightlife
Nightlife at the time focused on a variety of shows that took place at the resorts such as Eden Roc and Fontainebleau. Some of the offerings included:
Stompin’ at La Ronde, a four-hour musical at the Fontainebleau Hilton, is a elaborate recreation of a 1943 radio show. Swing music fom the ’40s, a jitterbug contest, dime-a-dance girls and conga lines make for a nostalgic night of entertainment.
The Empire Room at the Konover Hotel is capitalizing on a different brand of nostalgia. Newly redecorated and with a seating capacity of 300, the lounge provides and intimate setting for first-class musical entertainment, with ample doses of jazz.
and they had quite a lineup….
Between now and April the Empire Room features Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Dave Brubeck, Mel Tormé and Ramsey Lewis.
Unique Cafes
New eating spots, liuke Dominique’s Dominiques Famous French Restaurant, are also opening on the beach. Dominique’s expanded from its Pennsylvania Avenue address in Washington DC, to Miami Beach’s Alexander Hotel, 5225 Collins Avenue, in mid-December. Dominique D’Ermo, whose menu includes kangaroo soup, alligator cocktail and roasted hippopotamus, calls the move a “mission of mercy.” When his regular customers migrate south for the winter, he explained, he wanted them to dine in the style to which they are accustomed.
The beach also offers a variety of well-established restaurants. Oldest restaurant in Miami Beach is the world-famous Joe’s Stone Crab, 227 Biscayne St., whose specialties include fresh stone crabs (bib included), king-sized portions of hash browns and cole slaw, and key lime pie.
Puerto Sagua, 700 Collins, and La Rumba, 2008 Collins, are good choices for Cuban food.
Tours and Art Deco Weekend
A “must” tour on Miami Beach is the city’s Art Deco District, 800 buildings in a one square mile area. The architecture from the 1930s translates the themes of speed and transportation into streamlined buildings with rounded edges. The area is filled with etched glass, wrought iron, terrazzo work, neon lighting and ornate lighting fixtures.
The upcoming fifth annual Art Deco Weekend, Jan. 14-16, is probably the best opportunity to revisit the period. About 50,000 people are expected to visit the festival, which will center in historic Ocean Drive.
Recent Renovations
Stop at the Cardozo Hotel for a meal or a drink on the porch that wraps around the pink building and looks out over the Atlantic. The Cardozo and the Carlyle Hotel, across the street, were recently renovated, with authentic period furniture in some rooms.
Deco Stores on Washington Avenue
You can also visit the Deco-era stores on Washington Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Street that have been refurbished in what looks like pastel pink, blue and aqua gift wrap. The Kress Building, at Washington and 12th Street, has been refurbished at a cost of 1.5 million and will house 18 shops when it opens this month.
