Save "Old Florida"

[ByeByeLW]

Hey k- I got one dm from you and then sent one back (about my friend's house)

[8635angelvalley]

Originally Posted by ByeByeLW

I miss so many Old Florida things that would probably be considered dumpy or tacky today.

Thanks for the heads up. Time to go get some photos.

Don't forget Seashell City.
Stop in and check it out too.

[ladyalicemore]

My mom took me and several of the siblings to Miami Beach in 1959. None of it is still there, though the diving board of the hotel she liked, The Blue Waters, is still there within the parking lot (near the bus station) where the hotel used to be. Apparently, one of the Blue Waters's last appearances was as a dope-den on Miami Vice in the 1990s.

The weird thing to me, since I grew up in New England and travel a lot to Europe and Kyoto, Japan, is that "old Florida" really means anything before 1980. The housing here is younger than many of the inhabitants.

It's a harsh climate and does take its toll on inexpensive single family houses, but I do wish more was preserved of the past. S Florida used to have a kind of rinky-tink splendor, the roadside motels and tiki restaurants.

Now it is kind of "builder basic" or generic. Where Africa USA bloomed in Boca during the 1960s, there is now a 1970s subdivision.

Of course the new housing has gates to keep the wild people out. (Whomever they might be.)

Back when I rented, all the wild folks were inside the rental gates, wreaking havoc on their neighbors' peace and work-schedules.

[FiveDime]

Is Sea Shell City still there? I hope so. I was crushed when I heard Algozzini in Hobe Sound closed.

There is (or was when i last traveled that area 7 or 8 years ago) still plenty of old Miami Beach around...Fountainbleu, Eden Roc...much of Ocean Drive south of 15th or so. But again I was devastated when they tore down the 5th St Boxing Gym to make a freaking parking lot back in, what, the 90's?

[8635angelvalley]

Testa's in Palm Beach is very Old Florida IMO and is going to be torn down. Go and enjoy while you can-such a wonderful place to eat on the patio and people watch.
Down the street from Testa's is The Tropical Fruit Shop-OF with fab juice.
The Crab Pot-sob sob