South Florida
May 8th, 2001, 03:37 AM
#23
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Why does everything have to be on the web? I generally call ahead using an old-fashioned telephone.
Anyway, the Plumeria was built circa 1895 as a beach home for one of Henry Flagler's sons. It is done in the Queen Anne style with a wonderful wrap-around porch. It has nine rooms, six of them suites, all decorated in a Laura Ashley kind of way and several of them "themed" to things such as music, art, and books. (The "art" room has a pair of small watercolors which I think are Winslow Homers). All have private baths. The Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is on the east side of A1A in among the dunes, one of a handful of properties allowed there.
Rachael Myers-LaPorte runs the Inn (I think she inherited it, but in seven or eight trips I have still never drawn her out on the subject). As Ellen notes above, Rachael offers discounts: note just for registered Democrats but for anyone who can produce proof of affiliation with any cause she respects. At last count this included NOW, PETA, G-LA, and those who can demonstrate Native American ancestry.
The Plumeria's rates in high seasons are astronomical -- like $200 a night (although breakfast is served ensuite). After May 1 and through hurricane season, she drops her prices to $75, $65 with discounts.
If you are thinking of coming next weekend (May 19-20) you will be in time for the Turtle Beach Festival which is held coincident with the annual egg-laying of the giant sea turtles.
Anyway, the Plumeria was built circa 1895 as a beach home for one of Henry Flagler's sons. It is done in the Queen Anne style with a wonderful wrap-around porch. It has nine rooms, six of them suites, all decorated in a Laura Ashley kind of way and several of them "themed" to things such as music, art, and books. (The "art" room has a pair of small watercolors which I think are Winslow Homers). All have private baths. The Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is on the east side of A1A in among the dunes, one of a handful of properties allowed there.
Rachael Myers-LaPorte runs the Inn (I think she inherited it, but in seven or eight trips I have still never drawn her out on the subject). As Ellen notes above, Rachael offers discounts: note just for registered Democrats but for anyone who can produce proof of affiliation with any cause she respects. At last count this included NOW, PETA, G-LA, and those who can demonstrate Native American ancestry.
The Plumeria's rates in high seasons are astronomical -- like $200 a night (although breakfast is served ensuite). After May 1 and through hurricane season, she drops her prices to $75, $65 with discounts.
If you are thinking of coming next weekend (May 19-20) you will be in time for the Turtle Beach Festival which is held coincident with the annual egg-laying of the giant sea turtles.
May 8th, 2001, 04:53 AM
#25
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Hello Foloridanative,
is the little Lighthouse Cafe still there(in Valencia)? It was many years ago when I`ve visited Aunt Brunhilde in Miami when I drove by. They offered Scones and Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte to die for. The owners Bruno and Tilda
were both born in Chile, as far as I remember. Just the pastries would be a good reason to come over from Germany...
Greetings
Hans
is the little Lighthouse Cafe still there(in Valencia)? It was many years ago when I`ve visited Aunt Brunhilde in Miami when I drove by. They offered Scones and Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte to die for. The owners Bruno and Tilda
were both born in Chile, as far as I remember. Just the pastries would be a good reason to come over from Germany...
Greetings
Hans
May 8th, 2001, 05:57 AM
#27
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Hans, I know you directed your question at Florida Native, but I live in Valencia Beach and know the Lighthouse Cafe very well. If the Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte is the cherry-filled, very rich cake with about a pound of whipped cream on top, yes it is still served and it draws patrons from as far away as Orlando.
Bruno passed away some years ago, Tilda still bakes goodies and sits with the customers. Their daughter Eva and her husband run the place, which is still doing business in the old lighthouse keeper's cottage.
NeedaBreak, you may also want to know that there are some fantastic finds at the Sunday flea market. If you watch "Antiques Roadshow," one of last year's shows from Tampa featured a Turtle Beach woman who picked up what turned out to be a Rookwood Pottery vase for $16 from some person who was from West Palm. It was appraised on the show for $6-$7,500, and sold in January at auction for $14,000.
Bruno passed away some years ago, Tilda still bakes goodies and sits with the customers. Their daughter Eva and her husband run the place, which is still doing business in the old lighthouse keeper's cottage.
NeedaBreak, you may also want to know that there are some fantastic finds at the Sunday flea market. If you watch "Antiques Roadshow," one of last year's shows from Tampa featured a Turtle Beach woman who picked up what turned out to be a Rookwood Pottery vase for $16 from some person who was from West Palm. It was appraised on the show for $6-$7,500, and sold in January at auction for $14,000.
May 8th, 2001, 06:11 AM
#28
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Hello Hotdogger(is that your real name?),
thanks for the information. I was so sorry to hear about Bruno and my wife, too. He was a great guy. Maybe he drank a bit too much and I shouldn`t have brought him the big Stein`s on my second visit...Oh well, who knows.
But I`m glad that Eva finally got married, it was about time.
Another question: There was a great restaurant a couple of miles east, they had steaks bigger than two Schnitzel. The name was sth. like "Billy Boy"??
I really want to return to all those wonderful places...
Hans
thanks for the information. I was so sorry to hear about Bruno and my wife, too. He was a great guy. Maybe he drank a bit too much and I shouldn`t have brought him the big Stein`s on my second visit...Oh well, who knows.
But I`m glad that Eva finally got married, it was about time.
Another question: There was a great restaurant a couple of miles east, they had steaks bigger than two Schnitzel. The name was sth. like "Billy Boy"??
I really want to return to all those wonderful places...
Hans
May 8th, 2001, 07:50 AM
#29
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I am truly disgusted that anyone with an ounce of integrity would go NEAR Valencia Beach. I do not buy Hotdogger's claim that there is only a 3 man police force. There is constant reinforcement by county and state police. Valencia Beach doesn't want "undesirables" which means not just panhandlers, but anyone who doesn't fit their stereotypical view of the money-laden tourist.
I have friends who have been repeatedly stopped for bogus "infractions" by the VP gestapo. Why? Because they're not driving BMWs or Mercedes. Because their hair is long and they're not wearing designer clothes.
Valencia Beach represents everything that is wrong in Jeb Bush's Florida. NeedaBreak, do yourself a favor and go elsewhere!
I have friends who have been repeatedly stopped for bogus "infractions" by the VP gestapo. Why? Because they're not driving BMWs or Mercedes. Because their hair is long and they're not wearing designer clothes.
Valencia Beach represents everything that is wrong in Jeb Bush's Florida. NeedaBreak, do yourself a favor and go elsewhere!
May 8th, 2001, 08:28 AM
#31
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Youdeserve, I don't know what community you have in mind, but there isn't an outlet mall within fifteen miles of VB. That sort of garbage is over on US 1 and I-95. We don't have highrises, condos, or theme parks either. We do have the second-best surfing in the state, great diving, and the Driftwood. The rest of it we can do without.
Seth, my friend, I do not know how to respond to you. Yes, we have an anti-vagrancy law and yes, it is enforced. But people do not "disappear" and we do not discriminate on the basis of model car. If you knew anything about Florida state law you would know that the FHP are not authorized to issue citations in incorporated communities and they cannot write up tickets for local laws in any event.
I do not have the magic solution to homelessness. I'm sorry, but that's the case (and neither do you). Please take your anti-Bush diatribe to some other forum.
Seth, my friend, I do not know how to respond to you. Yes, we have an anti-vagrancy law and yes, it is enforced. But people do not "disappear" and we do not discriminate on the basis of model car. If you knew anything about Florida state law you would know that the FHP are not authorized to issue citations in incorporated communities and they cannot write up tickets for local laws in any event.
I do not have the magic solution to homelessness. I'm sorry, but that's the case (and neither do you). Please take your anti-Bush diatribe to some other forum.
May 8th, 2001, 08:59 AM
#32
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Hi, my wife and I were so impressed by the description of the Plumeria that we called them to make a reservation for next weekend. To make a long story short we were quoted $109 for the "Rotunda Suite". We were told has a separate sitting room, a private balcony and full ocean views from all windows.
Questions: 1) Do we negotiate a discount when we get there or must that be done in advance? 2) Do we just tell her we're Democrats or must we produce a voter registration card? 3)Are we allowed on the beach during the sea turtle migration?
Valencia Beach sounds wonderful. This has been a very helpful forum! Thanks to all in advance.
Questions: 1) Do we negotiate a discount when we get there or must that be done in advance? 2) Do we just tell her we're Democrats or must we produce a voter registration card? 3)Are we allowed on the beach during the sea turtle migration?
Valencia Beach sounds wonderful. This has been a very helpful forum! Thanks to all in advance.
May 8th, 2001, 09:21 AM
#33
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Hello,
I consider the recommendations given here being suspicious. Hotdogger-are you a travel agent and NativeFlorida do you try to rent out your condo or own the Plumeria?
I`m sick of all that advertising on this board. NeedaBreak clearly stated that apart from relaxing she wants to have some fun. The place you are bluntly promoting sounds like sth. for seniors to go. And who cares about watercolour paintings...I don`t get it.
Betty
I consider the recommendations given here being suspicious. Hotdogger-are you a travel agent and NativeFlorida do you try to rent out your condo or own the Plumeria?
I`m sick of all that advertising on this board. NeedaBreak clearly stated that apart from relaxing she wants to have some fun. The place you are bluntly promoting sounds like sth. for seniors to go. And who cares about watercolour paintings...I don`t get it.
Betty
May 8th, 2001, 09:48 AM
#35
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Betty, I've also monitored this thread to see if MauiHeidi has moved to Florida. "Florida Native" seems to know an awful lot about the Plumeria Inn... right down to the owner's name. But he or she doesn't provide a telephone number or web address, and "Florida Native"'s own address is a "no spam" one so no one is getting a kick back that way. I'm very suspicious about the Winslow Homer watercolors, though. I find it very hard to believe that someone would put those in a guest room renting for under $100 a night. They're probably prints and "Florida Native" doesn't know the difference.
May 8th, 2001, 10:45 AM
#37
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Not to put too fine a point on things, but is it legal for any kind of a public establishment to offer a discount to someone based on ethnicity? Are you serious that the Plumeria gives discounts to "people who can prove Native American ancestry"? Can I get a discount for being Italo-American and can I sue if you refuse to give me the same discount you give a Chippewa? This sounds like political correctness run amok.
May 8th, 2001, 11:46 AM
#40
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Hello,
I´m a registered Democrat and they refused to give a discount last time I stayed at the Plumeria. Since I don`t depend on it I didn`t care. Maybe they`ve drifted more to the right wing?
What I like about the place is that it reminds me somehow of the past when service was an important point. All the waiters and even the room-service people still wear white gloves and if you ask for it you`ll get your high-tea delivered to your room. Since I`m a bit older I sometimes have my problems to scrub my back-just ask for it and there will be someone from the staff available to help you out. You should tip them accordingly, of course..
I like my eggs without salt and without the whites-voila-no problem.
If you like real service, it`s the place to go.
Sue from Chicago
I´m a registered Democrat and they refused to give a discount last time I stayed at the Plumeria. Since I don`t depend on it I didn`t care. Maybe they`ve drifted more to the right wing?
What I like about the place is that it reminds me somehow of the past when service was an important point. All the waiters and even the room-service people still wear white gloves and if you ask for it you`ll get your high-tea delivered to your room. Since I`m a bit older I sometimes have my problems to scrub my back-just ask for it and there will be someone from the staff available to help you out. You should tip them accordingly, of course..
I like my eggs without salt and without the whites-voila-no problem.
If you like real service, it`s the place to go.
Sue from Chicago
