Santa's Enchanted Forest

December 20, 2007





Santa’s Enchanted Forest



There is a roadside attraction along SR-874 at Bird Road in Miami that has been around each holiday season for twenty-five years. I can’t tell you how many times we have driven by the place without stopping but always full of curiosity about what might be found in Santa’s Enchanted Forest. Even from the road it’s is a fairly impressive sight with literally millions of holiday lights strung though the trees just along the roadside.







This year we finally got to stop and see the place thanks to the gift of a 2 night gift certificate for the Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay in Miami that was given to us by our friends Ali & Dennis, who were unable to use it. The certificate expired at the end of December so we had to get up to Miami before the year’s end and it worked out for us to go up and get some shopping done and to relax a little and to finally go to the Enchanted Forest.









I wasn’t sure what to expect but it certainly wasn’t what we found there. It’s a surreal experience that is like a large holiday themed state fair. There are the requisite holiday displays and really incredible lighting that covers every tree and bush in the place, but there is also all the rides, animal shows and even freak shows associated with a traditional fair. It’s a strange and bizarre mix. They had live animal shows featuring seals, elephants, ponies and even stingrays and a bizarre freak show that seemed more than a little out of place for the holiday season. The place certainly does draw a crowd, as throngs of Miami residents packed in to take in the sights.

Doubletree

Lincoln Road



Kathy at Chocolate

We spent Friday evening at the Forest before heading to the beautiful hotel and our room which overlooked Biscayne Bay. Located just north of the American Airlines Arena in the Wynwood Art District, the hotel is one of the anchors of the amazing redevelopment of the neighborhood. We spent much of the weekend in Miami shopping at the sort of large department type stores that are lacking in Key West. We also found time to hit both the Bayside Market Place where we watched a wonderful Cuban singer, Chiara Machado. We also headed over to South Beach where we visited our favorite bar, Chocolate and shopped along Lincoln Road. It was a great little getaway from the frantic holiday season in Key West.






Santa's Enchanted Forest

Doubletree Miami

Not So Silent Nights

Not So Silent Nights



India

Fiona, Jim, Sheila & Rhett

December 18, 2007

Kathy, Todd, Lisa & Michael

This year has been as crazy busy as any holiday season that I can recall. It seems that every evening, we have more than one event to attend, most dealing with some sort of holiday theme or a fundraising event that is tied in with the giving season.
Whether its open houses at art galleries or businesses like the Island Arts Co-op Holiday Party or a holiday gathering at Linda Patchett’s new location for Eye Eye Eye or the annual party for the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, held this year at the home of Joyce Stahl, we have been keeping a busy schedule the last couple of weeks. We even managed to head up the Keys to the Big Pine Winterfest.

Kathy, Carol & Sheila

All this in addition to an assortment of holiday parties hosted by friends which keep us hopping. One evening last week we literally had the good fortune to be invited to three separate parties. We are blessed to have so many wonderful friends and really enjoy getting to see them all at various functions.

Carol & Rob

Trevor & Nadene

One of the hi-lights of the season for us was the wonderful party at the home of our friends Fiona & Jim Smith. The party featured the rare occasion of our friends all dressed up in their holiday finest. In Key West, you just don’t see a lot of suits and party dresses and it was great to see how well our friends clean up. In addition to the regular holiday parties, a couple of friends celebrate birthdays this month (as does Kathy) so we went to a couple of birthday celebrations as well. Happy Birthday Erika & Rick!!

Fiona & Jim

Tonni, Howard, Lisa & Todd



Carrie


Even India was able to get in on the holiday act, as the Florida Keys SPCA hosted a holiday Pet Expo at the dog park at Higgs Beach. This year saw a marked increase in the number of dogs and their owners and India got to meet Santa Claus and sniff more than a few butts. We also joined the parents and children of the Key West Preschool this week on the annual Conch Train ride to view the massive displays of holiday lights that are so prevalent in Key West. Kathy was thrilled that our house was along the train route.

Conch Train



Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we attended a benefit dinner held at Camille’s restaurant to raise funds to assist our friends Eric & Betsy deal with medical bills associated with their young daughter Rosie’s recent diagnosis of Leukemia. Thankfully, the outlook is good for her recovery, but she is still undergoing treatments weekly and none of her experience is much fun for her or the family. The dinner was a big success as the place was packed full of people who like us, wish nothing but the best for Rosie in her recovery. Thanks to Miguel Gonzalez who organized the dinner and to Denise and everyone at Camille’s as well.

Joy & Miguel at Camille's