I LOVE THE 100 YEARS OF ART DECO IN MIAMI BEACH EXHIBIT

I’D LOVE IT MORE IF A REDESIGN PROVIDED WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE OUTDOOR GALLERY

100 Years of Art Deco in Miami Beach features 100+ images from around the world create a visual journey through the evolution of Art Deco.

In the spirit of inclusion, I wish the journey through Lummus Park was more wheelchair accessible.

I adore the Miami Design Preservation League & will forever be grateful for its exhibit of my photography.

But I do challenge it to use temporary interlocking plastic pavers to make the entire Art Deco 100 exhibit accessible to people with disabilities.

The exhibit runs through January, so there is plenty of time to fine tune its accessibility and Universal Design.

The Miami Beach Pride Festival and Parade uses heavy plastic interlocking mat material to provide wheelchair access and inclusion on the beach sand.

That same product could enhance access along the mushy grass and varying topography of Lummus Park.

INCLUSION ALWAYS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

WHEN DESIGNERS STOP BEING ABLEIST,

IT CAN BE AESTHETICALLY BREATHTAKING

“Wheelchair ramps are ugly and institutional,” said the ableist architect too lazy to design an elegant access ramp.

“Wheelchair ramps are inelegant and hurt business,” said the foolish business owner shunning 25% of the population that has a disability.

This wheelchair ramp is chic, stylish, landscaped, lit & practical for accessing multiple levels of the 1930s Park Central Hotel in the heart of Ocean Drive on Miami Beach.

Ramps are beautiful & welcoming.

HAPPY 32ND ANNIVERSARY

TO MY SOULMATE HEIDI

Our 32^nd wedding anniversary is this Thursday.

We have been a couple for more than a third of a century.

Last year, we celebrated our belated 30^th with two amazing weeks in Paris.

This year, certainly no travel – beyond maybe a weekend walk along Ocean Drive, safely with masks on and distancing practiced.

I could write a book, not this simple blog post, on all the great things I’ve discovered over the years with Heidi.

Travel has been a huge one.

She encouraged me to travel to Egypt this year.

I got home just before the virtually total shutdown due to the pandemic.

We also have discovered the joy of being cat parents in the past decade.

HoneyBear, our rescue Siamese, has been a huge part of our lives for years.

To combine our loves, I have posted pictures of cats – taken this March in Cairo – as a tribute to my beloved wife, Heidi Johnson-Wright.

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 24

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts a panoramic view capturing all that is historic, beautiful and alluring in Miami Beach. This neon-lit night shot covers the 700 block of Ocean Drive -- beloved by photographers the world over.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

This concludes our month of Miami Beach Art Deco photos and words by Steve Wright, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and gallery-exhibited artist. Contact him at stevewright64@yahoo.com

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 23

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts the world renown neon blue sign makes the Colony Hotel, in the 700 block of Ocean Drive, one of the most photographed sites on all of South Beach.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 22

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Starlite Hotel in the 700 block of Ocean Drive, which has a beautiful pylon-style neon sign.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 21

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Hotel Victor in the 1600 block of Ocean Drive, is a best of both worlds merger of preserved 1937 art deco with modern 2003 addition that provides outstanding wheelchair access to its many levels of restaurant, spa and shopping uses.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 20

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts the Miami Beach time/temp/date monument in Lummus Park right next door the magnificently-restored Ocean Auditorium at 10th Street & Ocean Drive. Tourists love to get their picture taken at this landmark.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 19

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts the fabled Moon over Miami (Beach) looming over the Ritz Plaza at Collins & 17th. Hopefully, the Moon will work its magic for the 12-story gem once known as the Grossinger Beach Hotel, for the 1939 classic is not so ritzy these days.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 18

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts For those overwhelmed by neon-bright elevators and Alice in Wonderland decor at the Delano, a respite of classic art deco exists next door at the National, where everything from the bar to decorative barber chairs capture the early 1940s, when the National was built.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 17

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Marseilles, in the 1700 block of Collins Avenue near Lincoln Road, is one of many Miami Beach hotels named for another magical destination on the globe.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 16

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The interior of the Delano is pure Phillipe Starck -- white curtains, oversized furniture and fantasy -- and the beginning of the boutique hotel revival of the mid-1990s.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 15

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts the Delano and National Hotels create iconic images in the 1600 block of Collins Avenue.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 14

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The U.S. Post Office on Washington Avenue at 13th Street is an excellent example of streamline moderne deco.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 13

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Sherbrooke Hotel, Collins Avenue at 9th Street, won the 2004 Barbara Baer Capitman Award For Excellence In Historic Preservation.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 12

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Whitelaw Hotel at Collins Avenue and 8th Street is departure from the pastel colors of South Beach, with its clean and elegant deco details highlighted by simple bands of gray against white.

For more Art Deco details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 11

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Clevelander -- the party hotel in a sea of party spots along Ocean Drive. The entire pool area is a bar and the property at 10th and Ocean has more bars than one can count.

Art Deco Weekend will take place January 14-16 2011 in Miami Beach.
For details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 10

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts a textbook example of an art deco hotel sign comes with a story that doesn't make much sense. For ages, the hotel was known as the Tiffany -- thus the sign. But when a certain upscale jeweler got the lawyers involved, the sign remained but the name changed to simply "The Hotel." Try to feed that into a search engine and see how long it takes to find this property at 801 Collins Avenue.

Art Deco Weekend will take place January 14-16 2011 in Miami Beach.
For details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS 9

MIAMI BEACH LONGEST
DAY OF THE YEAR PHOTOS

Through real estate boom and bust, through incarnations as both God's waiting room and glitzy supermodel playground, Miami Beach endures.

The intrinsic value of art deco architecture, walkable sidewalks and human-scaled buildings serves South Beach inhabitants well whether they be World War II GIs, late 20th century Cuban exiles or 21st century European vacationers in search of sun, sand and sexiness amidst the neon confections of Ocean Drive and beyond.

To celebrate our love for Miami Beach, we roamed the historic Art Deco District from sunup to sundown on June 21, 2010.

This entire month, we will share the fine art images of Miami Beach taken by prize-winning writer-photographer Steve Wright.

Today's photo depicts The Shore Club's large pool and gardens can be glimpsed at from the beach walk that runs along the dunes between the Collins Avenue mid-rise hotels and the surf & sand of Miami Beach.

Art Deco Weekend will take place January 14-16 2011 in Miami Beach.
For details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org

ART DECO WEEKEND MIAMI BEACH: Prepare to be Seduced -- PART 5

ART DECO WEEKEND MIAMI BEACH
Prepare to be Seduced

Gorgeous art deco hotels include:

Indian Creek (a bit north of the fray on the Intracoastal Waterway at 2727 Indian Creek Drive, phone 305-531-2727, web: www.indiancreekhotel.com

Hotel Ocean (right on Ocean Drive) at 1230 Ocean Drive, phone 305 672-2579, www.hotelocean.com

The National (a splurge-worthy oceanfront property very close to the famed Lincoln Road pedestrian mall) at 1677 Collins Avenue, phone 305 532-2311. http://www.nationalhotel.com

Restaurants to check out on Miami Beach include:

The cafe at the Pelican Hotel (breakfast on the perfectly-located Ocean Drive terrace is skillfully prepared and amazingly generous and affordable) at 826 Ocean Drive, phone 305 673-3373.

Jerry’s Famous Deli (sadly, the delicatessen on every corner days of Old Miami Beach have gone the way of the $125-a-month efficiency apartment, but this well-located palace of pastrami still serves a mean --albeit pricey – corned beef alongside hundreds of other traditional and not so traditional menu items) at 1450 Collins Avenue, phone 305-532-8030.

Osteria del Teatro (the teatro part coming from the fact that this restaurant is located in the retail corner of the landmark art deco Cameo Theatre, this dinner only operation boasts a menu full of classic Italian dishes – but the locals know to keep the menu shut and choose from the long list of fresh creations listed on the blackboard) at 1443 Washington Avenue, phone 305 538-7850.


Wright first visited Art Deco Weekend as an Ohioan in the late 1990s and vowed to stay. Within three years, he was living in an historic Spanish Mission style home in Little Havana and making weekly sojourns across Biscayne Bay to photograph Miami Beach’s art deco.

TOMORROW: WE RETURN TO PICTURE 9 OF OUR PHOTO ESSAY CAPTURING 24 HOURS OF THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR ON MIAMI BEACH

Art Deco Weekend will take place January 14-16 2011 in Miami Beach.
For details, visit the Miami Design Preservation League website at http://www.mdpl.org