It’s not unusual to meet a millionaire in Palm Beach—the place is crawling with them, even in these troubled times. Ferret clothing and accessories millionaires? Not so much.
But I found one, semi-retired at 38, at Taboo restaurant last night. And I learned that the ferret is the third most popular companion animal in the United States. Cats, dogs, ferrets. What does this say about the American people? You tell me.
I credit this encounter, and the others I’ve had here, with coming off-season. In winter, Palm Beachers are too busy messing about in boats and going to galas to talk to strangers, and I wouldn’t have got a seat at Taboo’s bar at 9PM, let alone a chat.
In summer, they have all the time in the world to hiss about Madoff (you can’t have a conversation without local boy Bernie’s name cropping up, and everyone has a story) and slag off socialism.
And if you come off-season you’ll find bargains aplenty. At the brand new beachfront Omphoy hotel down south, $199 gets you a room and dinner at the Michelle Bernstein restaurant—three hefty, truffle and foie gras-laden courses (ask for the key lime pie from the lunch menu for dessert).
The lovely Brazilian Court Hotel has rooms for $180. Its excellent Daniel Boulud restaurant does a three-course brunch for $35 and a $20.09 dinner.
Some of the ritzy Worth Avenue stores still have summer sales—there are reductions of up to 75 percent on Lanvin and other labels at Gypsy, and Ralph Lauren has 25 percent off everything in the store all this month, including sale items.
Of course, for the Ponzi victims, these deals couldn't have come at a better time. As for mere mortals who never had the billions to lose, they make this fabled isle just about affordable.
For more Palm Beach tips, look out for our Florida booklet with the February issue.
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