MIAMI BOAT, ART SHOWS DURING
PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND
POINT TO A BRIGHTER ECONOMY
AS THOUSANDS PACK THIS WEEKEND’S BOAT AND ART SHOWS, AND FILL HOTELS AND
RESTAURANTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, ALL SIGNS POINT TO AN ECONOMY ON THE UPSWING.
excerpt from article:
Take the W South Beach, which is full for the whole weekend. In
fact, the last of the rooms was booked two months ago, a strong
indicator of demand, said General Manager George Cozonis. The
average room rate is just under $700, up about 15 percent from
President’s Day weekend last year, he said on Sunday.
“Everything is very busy, our two restaurants, Mr. Chow and Solea
are very full, the pool area, the beach, are very, very busy, and we
expect that to continue throughout the week and next weekend,
for the South Beach Food & Wine Festival,’’ Cozonis said.
full article on reverse
Sunday February 20, 2011
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BY INA PAIVA CORDLE dent’s Day weekend, last year, Aedo said. expected to enjoy the art, entertainment, global
icordle@miamiherald.com food village and culinary pavilion.
Take the W South Beach, which is full for the
Carolyn and Keith Bounsell of Perth, Australia, whole weekend. In fact, the last of the rooms A total of 380 exhibitors were selected, out of
scouted out yachts on Collins Avenue in Miami was booked two months ago, a strong indicator 1,232 applicants, this year, within such categories
Beach this weekend, looking to trade up their 48- of demand, said General Manager George Cozo- as digital art, fiber, glass, jewelry and metalwork,
foot Sea Ray for a vessel 70 to 80 feet long. nis. The average room rate is just under $700, up painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture,
about 15 percent from President’s Day weekend watercolor and wood, said Coconut Grove Arts
“There’s so much to see and so little time,’’ said last year, he said on Sunday. Festival President Monty Trainer.
Carolyn Bounsell, scurrying in her sundress to the
next boat dealer. “Everything is very busy, our two restaurants, Mr. And in the Grove’s biggest weekend event of the
Chow and Solea are very full, the pool area, the year, hotels and restaurants share in the bounty,
Nearby, Birgit and Fred King, of Pawling, N.Y., beach, are very, very busy, and we expect that Trainer said.
toured a 65-foot, $3.2 million Maestro as they to continue throughout the week and next week-
consider ed selling their horse farm to live aboard end, for the South Beach Food & Wine Festival,’’ On Saturday and Sunday the sun was out and at-
a yacht and moving to South Florida. Cozonis said. tendees packed the aisles along the bayfront. An
array of art was on display, from lovely paintings
And across town, local buddies Stewart Gold and For the boating, yachting and sailing industry, the to dazzling jewelry, lively photographs and deli-
Ira Rothstein, accompanied by an entourage of four-day shows this weekend are among the most cate hand-painted silk clothing. Particularly popular
friends, had a blast at the Coconut Grove Arts important events in the United States, organizers were the art of sculptor Marc Sijan, artistic belt de-
Festival, shelling out $1,200 for two huge, framed say. And this year, with the economy no longer signer Stelios, humorous photographer Lorri Hon-
photographs to give as wedding gifts. listing, the mood is decidedly upbeat. eycutt of Big World Photo, fine jewelry designer
Trisko and contemporary glass jewelry designer
With sunny skies above, and temperatures hover- The boat show venues in Miami Beach are packed, Melissa Schmidt, all of which drew large crowds.
ing near 80 degrees, South Florida is the place to and despite the headache of traffic for locals, the
be this Presidents’ Day weekend, as world-class weather is warm, attendees are in high spirits, and “The best time to come is Monday,’’ Trainer said.
events fill the streets and waterways: the Miami vendors are optimistic of sales. “The crowds are a little bit thinner and the art-
International Boat Show & Strictly Sail, the Miami ists are willing to chat a little bit more. They have
Yacht and Brokerage Show and the Coconut Grove J Craft, a Swedish luxury power boat manufac- more time.’’
Arts Festival – all of which continue on Monday. turer, chose this year’s Miami Yacht and Brokerage
Show, to make its U.S. debut. Celebrating its 23rd As a positive sign , just halfway through the day
And with the economy cruising ahead, and con- year, the show features more than 500 new and on Saturday, Aaron Kramer, a Santa Monica,
sumer confidence rising, more tourists and locals pre-owned vessels, valued at more than $1 billion. Calif.-based artist, had already sold two large
are opening their eyes – and their wallets – this red spheres, made from recycled street sweeper
weekend, a bellweather sign that the recovery is “We’ve had very good interest from Americans bristles, woven over a steel frame, for $3,600. A
steaming ahead. in Europe so far, and we’re selling boats,’’ said J couple with a contemporary Miami Beach home
Craft’s Johan Attvik, as he stood on the dock on bought them to put outdoors, he said.
“The traffic on the docks is much better from Collins Avenue beside the jaw-droppingly stylish
the last few years, which is a pretty good indica- $895,000 42-foot La Decadence. “Our boat is “It’s my first year doing the show, but I had heard
tor’’ said Bob Saxon, president of Fort Lauder- very well-suited for the Caribbean market, and from my friends that it was the show to do,’’ said
dale-based International Yacht Collection, which for Miami in particular.’’ Kramer, whose $2,000 chair made of wine corks
brought nine yachts to Miami Beach, including a had arts patrons gawking.
$24.9 million, 161-foot Trinity. “The stock mar- Further south, at the Miami Beach Convention
ket is raging, and the word is that the economy Center, the hub of the 70th annual Miami Inter- Not far away, glass artist Douglas Sigwarth said
is coming back, and that is helping us. If we can national Boat Show, attendees were looking, if his handblown garden globes, which start at $90,
move two or three units at this boat show, it not always buying. were “selling like hotcakes.’’ One buyer, who al-
would mark a good show for us.’’ ready owned 10, bought another 16.
“We just want the experience of seeing a Miami
At the same time, for South Florida’s vital tour- boat show,’’ said Bill Scheivert, 71, of Hanover, Still, many attendees came just to gaze, admire
ism industry, room rates are higher and hotels are Penn., stepping onto a catamaran Friday with his the art, eat, drink and socialize.
close to full this weekend, offering additional evi- wife Nina and friends Sue and Ron Birgensmith of
dence that the economic tide is turning. Littleton, N.C. For Trainer, the festival is a critical part of his mis-
sion to revitalize the Grove.
“Any destination would die to have any one of Nearby, Adrian Cummings, of Miami Gardens,
these events at any time of the year,’’ said Rolan- was among a crowd eyeing a powerful Seven “When you think of Coconut Grove, you think of
do Aedo, senior vice president of marketing for Marine 557 outboard engine that had made its Bohemian, a waterfront community, laid back and
the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. worldwide debut the previous day. art oriented,’’ he said. “I want to bring it back.’’
“We are blessed to have both events, the best and
biggest of their categories in one weekend, in the “As a boat owner, I like to see the current tech- Unquestionably, Presidents’ Day weekend contin-
winter season, which is our moment to shine.’’ nology, upgrades, things I might want to add to ues to be a major economic generator for South
my own boat,’’ said Cummings, 43, who owns a Florida, Aedo said.
Overall, more than 100,000 attendees from 26-foot Edgewater Open Fisherman. “I just like to
South Florida and around the world are expect- see what’s new in the market.’’ “Two different events, two different sides of our
ed to tour the boat shows. Room rates for the community,’’ he said, “which is another sign that
long weekend are $260 on average, compared In Miami, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which Miami as a destination has a lot of range – not just
to $254 last year. And hotel occupancy is close kicked off its 48th year on Saturday, is having a the excitement of Miami Beach, but the laid-back
to 89 percent, compared to 77 percent for Presi- strong showing, with more than 100,000 attendees [vibe] of Coconut Grove.’’
Sunday February 20, 2011