Founded 34 years ago to create awareness of the wonders of Miami Beach's architecture and history, MDPL's Art Deco Weekend has become a staple in the city's life.

Looking at it from a numbers stand point, the 2011 Art Deco Weekend was a smashing success. According to Police Department estimates, over 300,000 people strolled along Ocean Drive in the shadow of our great Art Deco hotels and buildings. In addition, thousands more got the message through extensive media coverage all weekend long. Then there were the hundreds of people who took the various walking tours and attended the many lectures. There is just no telling how many people went home with a better understanding of where we came from and what we have.

Several new additions to the weekend's line up of activities made a big impact and will certainly be on next year's schedule.

MDPL Chair Charles Urstadt, Comm. Deede Weithorn, Comm. Michael Gongora, award recipient Judy Penny, Mayor Matti Bower, Comm. Jerry Libbin and MDPL Executive Director Amy Tancig.

Kicking off the weekend was a fun cocktail party at the Art Deco Welcome Center featuring an exhibit of art deco furniture. Over 200 people milled about before the Mayor and several city commissioners presented an award to the winner of this year's poster contest. The furniture exhibit proved to be a popular attraction all weekend long.

With its usual compliment of antique cars, the Art Deco Weekend Parade was even more lively thanks to the addition of the Arf Deco Dog Parade that brought out lots of happy furry friends (and their owners).

But what really caught everyone's attention was the super glam Art Deco Fashion Show with a red carpet that started at the Welcome Center and went right across Ocean Drive. Complete with a hot DJ and the incredible Elaine Lancaster as MC, the fashions were the creation of students from The Miami International University of Art & Design.

In its post-game analysis, the Art Deco Weekend Committee pin-pointed some areas for improvement next year. However, the overwhelming sentiment was that the staff, led by Amy Tancig and Marie Hernandez, pulled off one of the smoothest and most successful Art Deco Weekends on recent memory. Special thanks also goes to committee chair Steve Pynes and the many volunteers who helped make the weekend a success.

Art Deco Weekend� 2011 was made possible with the support of the Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami Dade Tourist Development Council, City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council, The Greater Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau,  and The Carlyle Cafe, The Place Cafe, The Victor Cafe by Bice, CBS 4 & My33, Miami Cultural Arts Foundation, The Wolfsonian-FIU, Retro Home Miami, Greenberg Traurig, Inmoven Realty, Visiona Gallery, Modernism Gallery, and all of MDPL's Hotel Partners.

Tony Goldman, forward thinking owner/developer, early participant in the South Beach's revival and long-time friend of MDPL, was given the highest accolade from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The citation for the 2010 Louise duPont Crowninshield Award reads in part:

"For 40 years, Tony Goldman has been recognizing the potential of depressed, undervalued urban areas and reconstructing and transforming declining historic districts into popular, thriving global destinations. A true visionary, Goldman has been acknowledged as one of the pioneers of New York's Upper West Side resurgence and the driving force behind the transformations of New York City's Wall Street Financial District and SoHo neighborhood; Center City in Philadelphia; South Beach in Miami Beach; and most recently, undertaking the transformation of the warehouse districts in Miami's Wynwood and Downtown Boston...

...In 1985, Goldman discovered the run down hotels and empty, decaying buildings in South Beach at the southern tip of Miami Beach. Recognizing the unusual, architecturally significant community of Art Deco buildings, he purchased and renovated 18 properties between 1985 and 1994, including his flagship hotel property, The Park Central, and its four star restaurant, "Lucky's."  He also reopened The Hotel, formerly known as the Tiffany Hotel, which is home to Wish, a highly acclaimed fine dining restaurant. Today, Goldman's South Beach developments serve as focal points in a thriving, pedestrian-friendly enclave that has become one of America's top destinations."

In presenting the award, Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust, said: "We are so proud to present the National Trust's highest honor to Tony Goldman. At its core, preservation is about recognizing the value of historic buildings and neighborhoods, and restoring life to places that define and enrich our communities. That is what Tony Goldman does, and nobody does it better."

Congratulations to Tony and best wishes for continued success in his many ventures.