South Beach North

But some of the painting in particular is quite accomplished, and I was attracted to a series of vibrant canvases, oils of tropical fruits set against tapestry backgrounds done by a woman named Martha Worthy, who had a background in textiles. Would she possibly have mangos in her collection? I asked a woman, another Bluffton artist, at the cooperative gallery where all the town creators show their work (and take turns at tending). She didn't know, but she did give me the number to Worthy's studio.

A quick phone call informed us that Worthy had lent most of her work to Coastal Livingmagazine for a photo shoot that will appear in the September issue, but she did have a few pieces we were welcome to come view. However, she wasn't quite sure if a painting she had in her studio was of a mango or not. She had just begun incorporating tropical fruits, about which she freely admits "not know[ing] much." She was getting her ideas from a book that she keeps open on her drawing table: Norman Van Aken's The Great Exotic Fruit Book.

Jeremy Eaton

Location Info

Map

Pearl Restaurant & Lounge

1 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Out of Town

Photos

0 user reviews	Write A Review
Save to foursquare

Red Fish Grill

9610 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, FL 33156

Category: Restaurant > Seafood

Region: Coral Gables/South Miami

Photos

Christy's Executive Offices

3101 Ponce De Leon Blvd.
Miami, FL 33134

Category: Restaurant >

Region: Coral Gables/South Miami

Related Content

• Reader Mail: South Beach Tow Companies Are the Biggest Scam on Earth
  April 18, 2013
• Barezzito South Beach: We Get a First Bite
  May 13, 2013
• PB Steak in SoBe: The Pubbelly Trio Strikes Again
  April 23, 2013
• Emack & Bolio's on 4/20: Real Ice Cream, Stoner Chocolates, Specials
  April 19, 2013
• Española Way Art Center Closing After 25 Years
  April 18, 2013

More About

• South Beach (Miami Beach)
• Livingston (New Jersey)
• Hilton Head Island
• Eating Out
• Food and Cooking

The painting wasn't a mango, as it turns out, but a cherimoya. And I bought it, along with two studies of a papaya. Worthy and I also made a deal of sorts: In exchange for shipping and handling costs, I'd provide her with a future commission for a mango painting -- my holiday gift to myself -- along with another tome for both clinical inspection and inspiration: Allen Susser's The Great Mango Book, naturally.

As far as Hilton Head goes, the parallelisms and the intersections of their island and ours are enough to keep me visiting, despite the fact that the pool at our particular venue lacked the all-important beverage center. I like the odd comfort of being away but in familiar surroundings -- sun, sand, ocean, humidity -- at the same time, like the way you might feel spending a weekend at the Loews on South Beach or at the Biltmore in Coral Gables. Both of which, incidentally, have poolside service and pretty good piña coladas.

Another plus is that the Low Country is one day's drive, about eight hours to Savannah and another 60 minutes to Hilton Head (two hours to Charleston), making it a reasonable road trip as long as you pack a cooler.

But just as there are plenty of Livingstons on the map, so are there South Beaches -- on the Cranberry Coast of Washington; in Newport, Oregon; in Troon, Scotland. And I'm thinking it might be my mission to check them out. All of them. Even, if I have to, the South Beach on Staten Island.