About Jim Barnes
JIM BARNES: ONE OF GOLF’S GREAT ANGLO-AMERICAN CHAMPIONS
The Winner of the First Two PGAs: 1916 & 1919
By Mike May
As the world of men’s professional golf looks forward to this year’s first two majors, it gives us a chance to reflect on the man who won the first two PGAs (in 1916 and 1919), yet never won or even played in the Masters – England’s Jim Barnes. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the second PGA victory by Barnes, who also won a U.S. Open (1921) and an Open Championship (1925) during his long and distinguished career that generated 28 tournament wins, 21 of which are categorized as official PGA Tour victories. Those four major championship titles put Barnes on the list of 17 golfers who have won at least three of golf’s four professional majors in their careers. In addition to Barnes, that list includes Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy. It’s fair to say that Barnes, who was an inaugural inductee into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 1940 and then the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989, is probably the least well known player on that list of great golfers, but is very worthy of being a member of that special club. Author Elliot Kalb’s 2006 book Jim Barnes: The Forgotten Champion confirms that observation, as does a 2016 story by writer Peter Gompertz who wrote about “the neglected career of a golf champion.” That, of course, being Jim Barnes.
Barnes — who stood 6-foot-4 and was known as both “Long” and “Gentleman” Jim Barnes — could certainly play golf very well and did so for a number of years.
It can also be argued that Barnes deserves to be a member of the career Grand Slam circle of major championship winners – which includes Sarazen, Hogan, Nicklaus, Player, and Woods — because he won three Western Opens (1914, 1917, and 19191) and three North and South Opens (1916 and 1919), both of which were considered a ‘major’ before the creation of the Masters. It’s worth noting that while Barnes never played in the Masters, it wasn’t because he was excluded. He actually was invited to play in the first Masters tournament, but declined to accept the invitation. There’s no official reason why he chose not to travel to Augusta for that inaugural event which was officially known as the Augusta National Invitational Tournament — held in March 1934. Barnes may not have accepted the invitation because of his age – 47 at the time of the event, just a few weeks shy of his 48th birthday. Official records indicate that the last professional major that Barnes played was the 1932 U.S. Open where he finished 55th. Barnes did play in the 1930 (British) Open Championship, at age 44, where he recorded a sixth-place finish. And, he won the New Jersey State Open in 1939, when he was 53.
Had Barnes played in the Masters and won, he would have been the world’s first professional golfer to win the career Grand Slam. Instead, by not playing and not winning the Masters, Barnes finds himself on the aforementioned list of the 17 golfers who have won at least three of the four majors in their competitive careers.
It’s worth noting that when Barnes won his only U.S. Open in 1921, his winning margin was a record nine shots, which was unsurpassed until Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 shots. In his career, Barnes also had eight consecutive top-ten performances in majors from the 1919 PGA at Engineers Country Club (Roslyn Harbor, New York) to the 1922 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club (England); he made the cut in 27 consecutive majors from the 1912 U.S. Open at the Country Club of Buffalo (Amherst, New York) to the 1926 (British) Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club (England). And, from 1920-1930, Barnes played in 10 (British) Open Championships, winning once and finishing no lower than a tie for 18th every year that he played.
One of Barnes’ more comical moments took place at the 1924 PGA at the French Lick Springs Resort (on the former Hill Course, now the Donald Ross Course) in French Lick, Indiana. When the official photo was taken of that year’s field of contestants, both Barnes and Hagen appeared in the group photo twice – on both the left and right side of the picture. And, this was not accomplished with Photo Shop! Truth be told, Barnes and Hagen were able to run from one side of the group photo to the other as they were able to outrace the slow, stationary camera used to capture the image of the 1924 field.
At that particular PGA, Hagen defeated Barnes in the final, 2 up. By the way, the restaurant at the Donald Ross Course is now called Hagen’s. Would that restaurant, which serves delicious breaded tenderloin sandwiches, now be called Barnes’ if the tall Englishman had prevailed? FYI: Barnes also lost in the final of the 1921 PGA to Hagen by the score of 3 and 2.
Barnes’ journey in the world of golf began in one of the most western outposts (Lelant) in England’s most southwesterly county (Cornwall). He was born on April 8, 1886, and was introduced to golf at a nearby golf course – originally the Lelant Golf Links and now the West Cornwall Golf Club, which opened in 1889 and is the oldest 18-hole golf course in Cornwall. As a youngster, he learned how to play the game by working as a caddie at West Cornwall and was later hired as a club maker’s apprentice and assistant professional. He worked at the West Cornwall GC from 1902-1906.
Years later, well-known golf writer Herbert Warren Wind once referred to Barnes, whose putting stance was said to resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as being a member of the “American” Triumvirate which also included Sarazen and Hagen, who were the leading figures in U.S. golf after World War I. It’s interesting to see that Bobby Jones was not listed by Wind in that famous threesome. It may have been because of Jones’ lifelong amateur status.
Barnes’ journey in professional golf was truly launched when he moved to the U.S. in December 1906. He departed on the SS Carmania, which started in Liverpool and headed for New York City. From there, he bought a train ticket to San Francisco, where he had accepted a job as a professional at the Claremont Country Club in nearby Oakland. After a few years in Claremont, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, for a position at the Jericho Golf and Country Club. After a short stay in Canada, he then accepted similar posts in the state of Washington – first at the Spokane Golf Club in Spokane and then at the Tacoma Golf Club. His next pit stop was the Broadmoor Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, followed by an opportunity back east at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Philadelphia. As the years passed by, Barnes was also employed at a number of golf clubs in New York, Missouri, and Florida. Back then, professional golfers were always on the move, looking for better paying jobs, so their allegiances with clubs were often rather short-term.
From 1907-1914, Barnes was as busy playing golf as he was looking for the next best-paying club professional position. Fortunately, he was excelling as a competitive golfer. From 1909-1913, he won three Northwest Opens, was second in the 1912 Canadian Open, and had a top-20 finish (18th) in his first U.S. Open in 1912. At the historic 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, which American amateur Francis Ouimet won in an eventual 18-hole playoff duel with England’s Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, Barnes was actually tied for the lead in the fourth round with Ouimet, Vardon, and Ray. Barnes eventually finished fourth, a story later glamourized through the motion picture, The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Barnes’ breakout year was 1916. That year, the U.S. Professional Golfers Association (now, PGA of America) was founded and the group decided to conduct its inaugural all-professional national championship tournament which was held at the Siwanoy County Club in Bronxville, New York. Barnes won that tournament where he defeated Jock Hutchison by one hole in the 36-hole match play finale. The total prize money for that event was $2,500. For comparison purposes, when Brooks Koepka – who was born and raised in Wellington — won the 2018 PGA, the total prize money was $11,000,000.
Because of the American involvement in World War I, Barnes was one of many golfers who dedicated time and effort to support the wartime efforts of the U.S., England, and France. Barnes and other prominent golfers at the time such as Chick Evans, Hagen, Sarazen, Jones, Hutchison, and Ouimet played in exhibition matches which served as fundraisers for the Red Cross War Effort. The funds raised were used to buy ambulances to be used in France.
When World War I came to an end on November 11, 1918, Barnes was living and working at the Sunset Hills Golf Club in St. Louis, Missouri.
Barnes’ most prolific year as a playing professional was 1919. That year, he won the North and South Open, the Shawnee Open, the Western Open, and he successfully defended his PGA, last played in 1916.
Barnes would never win another PGA, but he was close on two occasions – in 1921 and 1924 when he finished as the runner-up, losing each final to Hagen.
Going into 1921 U.S. Open, Barnes had just recovered from a recent illness, but he felt fine by the time the golfers met at the Columbia (Maryland) CC for that year’s edition of the U.S. Open. Barnes had a four-shot lead after 36 holes and a seven-shot lead after 54 holes. He shot 72 in the final round to win by nine shots. President Warren G. Harding, an avid golfer, presented Barnes with his winning trophy. To date, Harding is the only sitting U.S. President to present the winning trophy to any major golf champion. Barnes’ wire-to-wire win was historic. To this day, only a handful of golfers have won the U.S. Open from start to finish. The list includes Hagen, Hogan, Tony Jacklin, Woods, McIlroy, and Martin Kaymer. Barnes first-place prize money for that U.S. Open win was $500. Koepka’s first-place prize in 2018 at the U.S. Open was $2,160,000.
In 1925, Barnes was the host professional for the Florida Open which was held at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, located just east of Tampa. The event was labeled the “Greatest Field of Golfers Ever to Play in Florida.” More than 100 golfers competed that year and the only well-known golfer at the time who did not play in the tournament was Bobby Jones. Leo Diegel won the tournament, which had total prize money of $5,000.
Barnes’ final major win was in 1925 at the (British) Open Championship at Prestwick in Scotland, when he was 39 years old. Barnes opened play that year with a course-record round of 70. Thanks to a fourth-round collapse by third-round leader Macdonald Smith, Barnes emerged with the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year. Barnes’ final round of 72 helped him overcome the five-shot deficit during the last round.
The only missing part of Barnes’ golf resume is an appearance in the Ryder Cup. The rules at the time prohibited him from playing, even though he was born in England and had become a U.S. citizen. The U.S. PGA required its players to be born in the U.S. and the British PGA mandated that its players be affiliated with clubs in Great Britain. Sadly, Barnes didn’t meet those criteria.
On June 16,1964, a number of American touring professionals presented Barnes with an illuminated address which honors him ‘for elevating the standards of golf as Open Champion of the United States and Great Britain and as the First American Professional Champion.’ It was signed by then USGA President Clarence W. Benedict and by 31 touring professionals such as Nelson, Palmer, Billy Casper, and Julius Boros. This address is now on display in England at the West Cornwall Golf Club.
The legacy and memory of Barnes at the West Cornwall Golf Club is alive and well, as one of the club’s most coveted annual competitions is named after the four-time major champion – The Jim Barnes Cup. The Jim Barnes Cup is a one-day, 36-hole, two-person, better-ball Stableford competition held in late May. It has been contested on an annual basis since 1958.
Right now, hanging on the wall inside the clubhouse at the West Cornwall Golf Club are a number of plaques and pictures dedicated to the memory and legacy of Barnes. It’s a fitting memorial to this club’s home-grown international golfing legend, who died of a heart attack at age 80 on May 24, 1966 in East Orange, New Jersey, where he is buried.
“It is great for us to be able to boast a major championship winner, as learning his golf here,” said West Cornwall’s Evans. “Unfortunately, I’m not sure he is widely known on this side of the Atlantic and I believe many think he is an American.”
While Barnes did become a U.S. citizen and will be forever remembered as one of golf’s great international champions, the roots of this Cornishman remain firmly planted in the turf of England’s West Cornwall Golf Club, one of golf’s most western outposts in England’s most southwesterly county.
LaLa ArtFest
The Lady Artisans of Loxahatchee and The Acreage is a group of women artists from Loxahatchee and the Acreage who have come together to sell their art and showcase their unique talents.
LALA is holding its second ARTFEST on March 30, 2019 from 9AM to 3PM at 12106 Orange Blvd.
The talented women artisans will be selling their artistic creations which include pottery, wood art, jewelry, painting, glass, handmade cards, ornaments, angels, candles, handmade soap, acrylic window art, embroidered linens and quilts and much more. This is the perfect place to get your Easter and Mother’s Day shopping done and support local women artists in our community.
Each LALA artist has donated a piece of their art to Shoppe 561 in support of The Place of Hope.
Along with handmade creations, LALA is proud to host the Venturing Scouts who will be selling homemade baked goods and drinks. The Scouts are fundraising to support their scouting adventures. Come out and show the Scouts that you support their troop.
For more information please see the LALA Facebook page.
Journey of a Blue Collar Collector – Part One
Journey of a Blue Collar Collector – Part One
Motel Art to Masterpiece
By Angela Shaw
It all started over breakfast one morning when Phil Materio and his daughter were reading the Sunday paper. The 1996 article was about a group of mid-century African American painters who made a side living by peddling their landscape oils. Jim Crow laws still reigned in South Florida and forced people of color to take low paying jobs. The enterprising men—later dubbed “The Highwaymen”— would pitch their paintings to tourists, residents and shop owners. Originally selling from 17 to 75 dollars each, the painters knew they weren’t creating great art; they were just trying to make ends meet. Soon the artwork decorated the walls of banks, motels, attorney and dental offices. The news column went on to say that although the value of these landscapes was on the rise, they could still be found for a steal at garage sales, thrift shops and flea markets.
As a stained glass artist and craftsman, Mr. Materio’s interest was immediately piqued and he and his daughter went right out to Lake Worth’s antique row to see what they could find. The first store they walked into surprisingly revealed three Highwaymen paintings. Phil scooped them up for $17 to $26 a piece. His interest quickly turned into a veritable obsession and propelled him into a statewide search for Highwaymen art. With a self-imposed limit of $100 per painting, he scoured the state for these new found treasures.
Who’d have thought a mere news article could launch a lifelong quest?
Materio didn’t always have to travel far in order to build his collection. One of his neighbors was a doctor. When Phil asked him if he happened to have any of these paintings in his office, surprisingly, he said that he owned three. Phil was happy his neighbor agreed to sell two for $100.
Through his search, Materio acquired a deep knowledge of Florida’s social, political and cultural history. The Highwaymen community was centered in the Fort Pierce area, spearheaded by American Impressionist Albert Backus. Considered the “Dean of Florida Landscape painting,” Backus’ bohemian air fostered inclusion of all races and classes. He would invite people of every stratum to his house for art-centered gatherings.
One such guest was Alfred Hair who became one of Backus’ most enthusiastic students and a Highwaymen leader. Like other African Americans who worked in packing houses, factories and farms, he was a laborer. Ambitious and hard-working, Alfred set his sights on two things: (1) a Cadillac and, (2) a house in Miami. Under the tutelage of Albert Backus, Hair began painting scenes of Florida’s terrain and skies in exaggerated colors; palms, Poinciana, grasses, rivers and lakes, mountainous clouds and flaming sunsets. Costs were minimized by using crown molding for frames and painting on Upson board (compressed fibers) instead of canvas. After Alfred sold enough artwork he bought his prized Cadillac. When envious friends asked where he got the money, they joined him in his painting venture. Alfred trained them in the Backus style, but no one could paint as fast as Hair. It was said he could finish one painting in an hour. Unfazed by potential competition, Backus had told his art students, “I don’t care if you paint like me as long as you sell them for cheap.”
The artists sold their works door-to-door, along roadsides and out of their trunks, sometimes with the paint still wet. The 26 “official” Highwaymen included Alfred Hair, Harold Newton, Roy McClendon, Livingston Roberts, Al Black, Hezekiah Baker, James Gibson and Maryann Carroll—the sole female—to name a few.
Alfred Hair never got his home in Miami, as his life was cut short in 1970, but he endowed Floridians with a unique genre of far more worth than a house. It took a while, however, for the art form to rise from mediocrity to fine art. Well into the 80’s the Florida landscape paintings were still relegated to motel walls and dentists offices.
It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the works started to appreciate. A few books and movies documented the Highwaymen’s story of struggle and success and generated a new public interest. The popularity prompted dealers to raise prices. Materio says it’s remarkable that in two decades, while many collectibles have dropped in price, these paintings have suffered no decline.
While Phil had amassed hundreds of Highwaymen pieces, he wondered if this was the only art of note in the Sunshine State. Were there other Florida-based painters to be discovered? After reading Mabel Mann’s Art in Florida, he learned that there were three main creative hubs: Saint Augustine, Sarasota and Palm Beach. Materio threw himself into gathering the artwork of these communities. His blue-collar philosophy (much like a good stock investor’s) was to buy undervalued pieces and watch them appreciate. After twenty years of collecting, 500 paintings and two storage units, his McMow Art Glass studio walls are a testament to his passion.
In Part Two of Journey of a Blue-Collar Collector, share in Phil Materio’s discoveries of images of Sarasota’s circus oddities, Palm Beach’s mansions that no longer exist and St. Augustine’s charming street scenes that have survived the centuries.
Celebrate “Marchtoberfest”
“Marchtoberfest” Traditional German Biergarten Pops-Up
THIS WEEKEND in Wellington, March 7–9
Come celebrate “Marchtoberfest” in Wellington with a traditional pop-up German Biergarten featuring Hofbräu Bier. Marchtoberfest is set to occur over three days, Thursday through Saturday, March 7-9, in Wellington’s Town Center (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard). Admission is FREE.
The event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Thursday through Friday; and 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. On Thursday, March 7, join the Village of Wellington for a Ceremonial Keg Tapping at 7:00 p.m.
Each day will feature a lounge area of authentic Biergarten tables and benches, along with German food, music, and special entertainment on select days (schedule below). Kids will enjoy their very own activity zone sponsored by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center, featuring an inflatable bounce house, obstacle course, sports challenge, slides, and lawn games. Guests 21 and over can choose from a selection of beers by Hofbräu München, available for purchase, along with keepsake boots or steins with discounted prices for refills.
Schedule of special
entertainment:
Thursday, March 7th
6:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Enjoy performances by German dance group Volkstanzgruppe, of the American German Club of the Palm Beaches.
Friday, March 8th
5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
The “Henry and Bob Duo” will be playing accordion renditions of popular German
and pop songs.
Saturday, March 9th
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
German band, Melody Lane “Florida Edition,” will be playing live on stage.
1:00 pm to 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
See “Black Horse Stables” jousting exhibitions presented by All Kids
Entertainment.
For full event details visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/Marchtoberfest
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the
Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and
updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.
CEO of Israel Tennis Centers Ari Strasberg
On Saturday, March 2nd, 2019, over 400 supporters gathered together to watch a special tennis exhibition presented by the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation at Wycliffe Golf and Country Club. CEO of Israel Tennis Centers Ari Strasberg traveled from Israel to speak on this special occasion. Here’s a brief interview with him.
And here’s a brief interview with a couple of the young tennis players who have benefited from being a part of Israel Tennis Centers, Koral and Tuval.
Interview with Georgina Bloomberg, Equestrian, Philanthropist and Pet Rescuer
Interview by Krista Martinelli, Photos by Geoff Tischman
Photo by Geoff Tischman.
AW: How and when did you decide that finding homes for pets was one of your passions?
GB: I’ve always been an animal lover. I decided in 2008 to adopt a dog. I looked online and looked around. I went to a rescue organization in Jupiter. Not finding a dog there, I took a wrong turn on the way back and went to Belvedere Road accidentally. I drove right by Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. It was meant to be. Seeing all these dogs in a high-kill shelter was an eye-opening experience for me. There are so many different breeds and different ages of dogs. I ran into a fellow rider. He was adopting a dog, and I looked at the dog’s brother. That’s when I found Hugo, a hound mix, and adopted him.
For every dog that’s lucky to get out of the pound, there’s thousands more that won’t. There and then I decided to devote my life to it. Coincidentally I just adopted a chihuahua two days ago. Now I have six dogs total.
AW: Which agencies do you work with? How do you promote them at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington?
GB: I actually work with a few different rescues down here. It started with Adoption Day at the Hampton Horse Show in New York. This would be a horse rescue day, including usually a couple of dogs. They allowed us to walk dogs in front of the audience at the Grand Prix. That planted the seed for me. I recently became a partner in the horse show. I wanted to get dogs in front of the crowd every Saturday night. They said yes, just to bring a tent and bring one dog for every volunteer that we bring. All of the dogs get walked in front of the crowd. It’s wonderful exposure. It’s all about the dogs – I let the rescue organization and the dogs themselves take center stage. We’ve worked with A Second Chance, All For One, Danny and Ron’s Rescue, Barky Pines, Miami Dade Animal Services and Palm Beach Animal Care and Control.
AW: Tell about your Humane Society award.
GB: That was a great honor two years ago. The Humane Society of the United States recognized me with the Compassion in Action Award. I got started working on a smaller committee, focusing on puppy mills. You have to tackle all the links of the chain to make a difference at the top. Puppy mills is one of them. I went on some puppy mill raids. It’s like a criminal investigation, involves getting a warrant, and tends to be in rural areas where no one else is around. In brief, don’t buy a dog from a pet store. People tend to do what’s convenient and what’s in front of them. My first dog, a bull terrier, I bought at a pet store, purely because I didn’t know better. So a big part of what I do is educating people about why they should adopt and to spay and neuter their pets.
AW: How old were you when you started doing the jumping?
GB: I started riding when I was 4 and competing when I was 6. I turned professional at 21.
AW: What’s the greatest honor you’ve received as an equestrian?
GB: As an equestrian, there’s the Maxine Beard award for an up and coming rider who shows potential to represent the US team internationally and I was lucky enough to win it in 2004, the same year I went professional and made my first developing riders team.
AW: You are known as a philanthropist. Are there other charities you are fond of? Which ones?
GB: I’ve started the Rider’s Closet – providing riding clothes, boots and tack for anyone in need. This helps a lot with college riding teams and therapeutic riding centers.
I’m also involved in Animal Aid, which provides funding for dogs in the South to get transportation up North for rescue. People can’t afford spay/neuter services in the poorer areas . Puppy mills tend to exist more in poorer areas too. We do some cat transport, but it’s mainly dogs.
AW: Tell us about the young adult novels you’ve authored.
GB: Those are fun! I was approached to work on them a couple years ago. Personally, I never enjoyed writing, previous to this. I found it to be a lot of fun to write about something I knew so well and was passionate about, growing up in the horse show world. These novels are fiction, but loosely based on real life experiences.
AW: What do you love about Wellington?
GB: I love a lot of things. It’s nice to be in one place for a few weeks at a time, since we travel so much on the equestrian circuit. We all compete against each other but we’re all friends too. Wellington has become our community. I can go anywhere in britches, and people don’t look at me funny. It’s a true hometown. If you walk into a bar or restaurant, you’ll always know someone there.
AW: What’s a typical day for you during the WEF season?
Mondays are spent in Palm Beach, going to the beach or going out to lunch. Tuesdays are my “get things done day” with training here with the horses. And then Wednesday through Sunday I’m competing. I also coach my son’s soccer team on Saturdays during the day. I work out a lot, doing Pilates at Pilates Rocks, boxing at Fightfit Wellington and training at Athletes Advantage.
AW: Tell us about your family.
GB: My family right now is my son and all my animals. My mother renting a house down here in Wellington for the season. My father comes down to play golf. There are the people who work for me at the barn – they support me and support my dreams. They are considered family too. I have 12 horses here and a few more rescued and retired horses in New York.
AW: Tell us about your pets.
GB: I have six dogs at home. We have one foster dog at the barn, a rescued pig, a rescued goat and a rooster who just showed up and moved in one day. He’s best friends with our goat.
AW: What’s something people don’t know about adopting a pet that wished everyone knew?
GB: You hear people say, “Oh, but I want this particular breed. Or I want a puppy.” For every breed and for every age, there’s a dog looking for a home. There’s never a reason to buy from a breeder or a pet store.
Happy March & Happy International Women’s Day
Happy March
And Happy International Women’s Day
Hope you are all having a very happy month of March! Of course, I wish you a joyful St. Patty’s Day with plenty of green beer if you so desire. However, I’d like to focus on International Women’s Day and a couple of young women in particular.
Check out my interview with Georgina Bloomberg, Equestrian, Philanthropist and Pet Rescuer. She is making a difference for dogs by finding homes for them at the Winter Equestrian Festival and beyond that. While she happens to be the daughter of Michael Bloomberg, she’s carving out a new path for herself as an accomplished equestrian with a big heart for all animals.
Also, I interviewed 14-year-old rising country star Alyssa Marie Coon. Read her story in our “AW Stories of the Month.” Remember her name because she is going to go far!
International Women’s Day is May 8th, and it’s a great day to celebrate the accomplishments of talented women. Or just send a note of thanks to a woman who has inspired you!
This month we welcome our new monthly columnist Mike May to our AroundWellington team! Read “On the Move with Mike” and see why Anna Maria Island is “Paradise Without an Attitude.”
I’m excited to welcome several new advertisers to our site: Barbuto & Johansson, Injury Lawyers; Total Shredding, LLC; Bruce Elkind, Dentist and Larry’s Limo. All will be featured in upcoming months in our “AW Spotlight” story, so you can get to know them better.
Wishing you a wonderful month! If you’re lucky enough to travel for spring break, enjoy!
Cheers,
Krista Martinelli
Checking Out Stockholm
Sweden’s capital city encompasses 14 islands and more than 50 bridges on an extensive Baltic Sea archipelago. It’s a vibrant modern city tempered by the historic ochre-colored buildings of the Old Town dating back to the 13th-century. It’s full of surprises too—like the elaborate art under its streets a rocking museum and a boat resurrected from a watery grave after 333 years. There’s so much to see and experience in Stockholm, let’s explore some of the highlights.
The World’s Longest Art Gallery
Stockholm‘s subway system is home to the world’s longest art gallery. Sculptures, mosaics
Rocking with ABBA
In Stockholm you can sing, dance and sleep with ABBA—well sort of. Interactive exhibits at ABBA The Museum let you join the act of the iconic Swedish foursome. Get on stage with holographic images of the band members to sing and dance your way to stardom. Try out virtual stage costumes, mix music and sing “Dancing Queen” to your heart’s content. There’s plenty of ABBA memorabilia on display including gold records, instruments and performance costumes.
As for sleeping with the group, book a room at the ABBA-themed Pop House. Connected to the museum, this hotel has ABBA-inspired rooms, a restaurant, bar, and live music on the patio playing…you guessed it, ABBA hits.
The Ill-Fated Vasa
Setting off on its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, the massive warship, Vasa, was the pride of the Swedish crown…for a brief moment. Within minutes, the top-heavy vessel fraught with miscalculations sank to the bottom of Saltsjön where it remained for 333 years. Talk about a bad day at work!
But, l
Pomp and Circumstance
Get a dose of royalty at the impressive 40-minute Royal Guards ceremony at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Donned in blue and white uniforms the impeccable guards, accompanied by a military band, parade towards the palace from the nearby Cavalry Barracks. The ceremonious changing of the guard is completed in the palace courtyard.
The palace interior yields more royal treasures including opulent chandeliers, period furnishings, golden coronation carriages and jewel-encrusted swords. As the official residence of the Swedish royal family since the 1700s, the palace has more than 600 rooms. Guided tours are available to delve deeper into the historic splendor of the palace.
Allotments of Cuteness
With its abundance of islands, waterways, gardens, wooded trails and parks, Stockholm is a nature-lovers paradise. It’s not surprising to see perfectly manicured gardens at every turn. What is unexpected and unique are the allotments. In the middle of the city, residents are granted allotments for small parcels of land for gardening. Along with the color-infused gardens, the allotments have tiny brightly painted wooden garden cottages equipped with kitchens and a small room for napping or just hanging out. There are more than 100 allotments scattered about on Tantolunden’s hillside make this one of the city’s most picturesque parks.
Even if you’re not fortunate enough to have an allotment (or know someone who does!) you can still enjoy the park. Stroll along the well-worn paths or garner a front row seat to watch the passing boats on one of the park’s many benches. Visiting in winter? Check out the toboggan ride for a good time in the snow.
Isn’t it time you checked out Stockholm?
Seduced at Sant Ambroeus
SEDUCED and TRAPPED by an innocent-looking cake!
The Sweethearts (our married Dessert Reviewers Frannie and Dani) happened to be walking by the she-she Italian restaurant Sant Ambroeus, Palm Beach when they felt an unavoidable calling – a religious experience of sorts. Suddenly, they were rendered helpless into full cake domination. Watch and learn from their experience (CLICK LINK) – hopefully it will happen to you many times over!
SANT AMBROEUS
340 Royal Poinciana Way