Fine Dining In an Elegant Setting

A few years ago when my husband and I celebrated our 25th Anniversary, being the romantic that I am, I wanted to have a “Special“ event dining experience. This was to be in addition to our typical family style celebration of the event. Our children provided a ‘mock remarriage’ with each of them being in charge of certain parts of the ceremony.
It was very meaningful......and hilarious as well as I now reflect.

But for the special ‘dinner out’ we chose to dine at The Don CeSar Hotels King Charles Dining and Ballroom located on St. Petersburg Beach.
You have to understand the history of the Don CeSar in order to appreciate the setting.

The “Don” is referred to as ‘The Pink Castle on Florida’s Gulf Coast”
It opened in 1928 during the Great Gatsby era and was built to resemble the Royal Hawaiian in Waikki Beach for $1.2 million....it was 300 percent over budget.
The resort reigned as ‘the’ hot spot for high society from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Clarence Darrow, Lou Gehring and Al Capone until the Depression, World War II and the founder, Thomas Rowe’s death.
When Thomas Row died without signing the will, which left his ‘pink lady’ to its loyal family of employees, his estranged wife of 30 years became the heir. In less than three years, “The Don” lost its glowing personality and charm, which gave it standing among prominent resorts.
In 1942, the U.S. Army bought the property for an “assessed value” of $450,000. and turned it into a convalescent center for battle-fatigued World War II airmen. After the war, the VA stripped it for use as a regional office and later moved out in 1967, unable to afford necessary repairs.
The abandoned “lady” soon became a graffiti canvas and doomed for the wrecking ball.

But lo and behold, a diligent preservation group rescued “The Don” and located a buyer who shared the original vision of grandeur of Thomas Rowe, the founder.
In 1973, “The Pink Lady” re-opened as a luxury resort with extensive renovations which transformed the ornate Spanish interiors with light woods etc. and created a pastel Continental look.
In 1994 an additional 4,000-sq.-ft. full-service Beach Club and Spa changed the lady to ...The Don CeSar Beach Club Resort and Spa.
It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has had a Four Diamond rating for 22 years while serving delectable “Floribbean cuisine”.

In this elegant setting we had a wonderful, superb......dinner.
Our meal was accompanied by music from a huge floor standing harp played by a young lady with long blonde hair in a flowing white dress.
She sure looked like a Florida angel to me.
We, also, had a million-dollar view of the aquamarine Gulf seas from our table as well.
How romantic could you get?
I’m sure Thomas Rowe would have been well pleased that others were able to enjoy the elegance of the Love of His Life......his “Pink Lady”.
Dreams Realized.....
What a Blessing!

***Enjoy the little things for one day you will look back and realize they were....the big things:)