"Well you went uptown riding in your limousine
With your fine Park Avenue clothes
You had the Dom Perignon in your hand
And the spoon up your nose" - Billy Joel
I wonder if Billy Joel ever got the chance to visit Worth Avenue, or perhaps he did, and that is what inspired him to write that song about rich, spoiled people who must naturally command attention, no matter the circumstance. You don't have to stroll down Worth Avenue to find such luxury cars as the limousines Billy sang about, the impeccable, waxed Bentleys, Ferraris, Maseratis, and of course, Rolls Royces, fully equipped with a private chauffeur and all. You will see these the second you step out of your car, as there is such an abundance of them. Don't even think of bringing your beat rice burner, unless you really want people to look down upon you. It should also be a given, then, that nearby stores and restaurants will give you a hard time about parking in front of their establishments, claiming it is valet.
As Worth Avenue is in the 33480 zip code, which is the wealthiest in America, you can expect people to be dressed to the nines, and happy to flaunt it. Worth Avenue was founded by Addison Mizner, and if you are familiar with Palm Beach County, you probably have heard his name more than once (Mizner Park Amphitheater, Mizner Park...). Mr. Mizner was a high-living architect, who at one time had a pet spider monkey on his shoulder, sort of like Michael Jackson and Bubbles, the chimp. They were constant companions and he would never leave home without him. Mr. Mizner was very fond of the classic Mediterranean architecture, and so he built this Mediterranean Revival-style shopping center, to accommodate the wealthy international visitors to the area. He named it after Lake Worth, and meant to piggyback on Henry Flagler's wealthy hotel, by luring Flagler's hotel guests to this posh private entertainment hub. The arrangement worked out very well.
As you roam the whitewashed Mediterranean alleys and courtyards and the elegant shops with colorful awnings and wrought iron balconies, you may feel you're in Venice. Seeing Italian luxury stores like Gucci, may actually reinforce that ideal. Worth Avenue has seen the Kennedys, Trumps, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Singers, and other dynasty names, including Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Surprise, surprise, this is probably as close as you'll ever get to royalty -- having the privilege of being able to retrace their steps on Worth Avenue and knowing their feet once touched the exact spot you're standing in. Here, you will also encounter Villa Mizner, which is the only home ever constructed on Worth Avenue. It features Arabic and Mediterranean architecture -- as eccentric as its owner. If you're into the supernatural, it is said that the home is haunted, as there are two graves on the property -- that of the spider monkey Johnnie Brown (who once won votes when he ran for Palm Beach mayor), and also a former owner's Scottish Terrier.
While you would think that someone who built such a stunning, wealthy shopping strip must have been wealthy and lived a life of prosperity, sadly, Mizner died broke. Land deals went awry, and to top things off, the Great Depression plunged through whatever savings he may have had. Sadly, the lifestyle he was used to was no longer his, and he was shunned by the very people that frequented Worth Avenue, the wealthy society he helped create. No one knows what tomorrow will bring, I suppose, including those lucky enough to own one of the charming, Old World residences in the many hidden courtyards and gardens on Worth Avenue.
While the gardens are accessible to all, private residences are chained off. Still, it feels as if you have traveled to a small village in Venice, with cozy courtyards. It is definitely worth a visit, if not for the people watching, then to take in the romantic courtyards and the beautiful architecture. An evening stroll through the quiet, dimly lit streets, would make a great ending to a romantic date night. I have yet to come during daytime, but at night, the streets are mostly deserted, save for outdoor restaurants. Historical walking tours are offered in the fall/winter time, if you're interested: http://worth-avenue.com/specialevents/
Sure, you may not be able to afford most of the art or clothing in the shops (one painting was $25,000, to give you an idea), but you can still admire the sights. While I was at first intimidated by the restaurants based on the diamonds and evening gowns that some of the ladies wore, I checked the outdoor menus on the billboard for at least 2 of them, and the prices were not outrageous, as I expected. Plates started in the mid-20s range, and could go up to about $50 per person. Just make sure you dress up. You may still not fit in, unless you have thousands of dollars' worth of plastic surgery, but at least you will probably treated with respect! read more