The Ritzy Life

When isn’t there a party at the hotels on South Beach? It seems every weekend crowds of beautiful people spill out of chic lounges and into the busy streets. This weekend the party atmosphere will take over Ocean Drive completely. Ladies and gents, welcome to the 29th annual Art Deco Weekend, a celebration of the cool, colorful architectural style that makes SoBe so enviably fabulous. This year’s theme is “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and Gail Fix, director of the weekend-long celebration, couldn’t be more excited. “It’s a great theme. Art Deco combines serious lecture and scholarly approaches with fun events, and this is going to be a lot of fun, music, and color,” gushes Fix.

The revelry will kick off in fine style tonight with Light Up the Drive, the first evening parade in the festival’s history. “We’re very excited about it. We have bagpipers, an antique car parade, stilt walkers dressed in period costume, and at least one marching band,” she adds. Parade watchers are encouraged to gather at the corner of Tenth Street and Ocean Drive for the best viewing.

On Saturday morning, pet lovers are encouraged to let the costumed dogs out for the “Arf” Deco Weekend Dog Promenade. For the record, Fix doesn’t consider some dogs more Deco-ideal than others. “They can all be very chic,” she laughs. “In the movie Grand Hotel, a dachshund is very prominently featured. But any dog that can put on the ritz will be welcome in our parade,” she adds.

Art Deco Weekend also offers more than 85 events, including film screenings, guided tours, lectures, musical performances, and children’s theater. Admission to many of the events is free.
Fri., Jan. 13, 7 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 14, 11 a.m.; Sun., Jan. 15, 11 a.m.