The first anniversary of The Palace Coral Gables was celebrated with true Palace fashion for over 300 residents, families and guests marking the occasion.
The event began in the elegant grand foyer of the building’s second floor with a cocktail reception and then moved into the elegant restaurant where Master Chef Rolf Nettesheim and Chef Christoph created a sumptuous buffet with many of their signature dishes.
Special for the celebration was a decadent layered mouse dessert known as “Phantom of the Palace.”
The Palace Group’s founders, Helen and Jacob Shaham, toasted the event with residents.
“Looking back on this year is especially meaningful to us,” Jacob Shaham said. “This is our family’s business and everyone here knows our passion for our communities. We were very confident The Palace Coral Gables would be everything we promised. It’s extremely gratifying knowing we are impacting families and helping by creating a place where they are proud to have their mothers and fathers live.”
Arecollection of the year was provided in a montage of photographs compiled from a year’s worth of activities and events enjoyed by Palace residents since they moved to the community.
“The building comes alive with our residents and the wonderful team of employees we have working at The Palace,” Shaham added.
A special video celebrating many of the first community’s residents was created as a tribute and shown during the entertainment — themed around the recent Miami Heat playoffs. A surprise guest, Mike Baiamonte, the voice of the Miami Heat, narrated.
Two of the Palace’s first residents, Victor Esterlitz and Harriett Dembrow, were joy- ously remembering their first dinner at the community last year when they dined with their families and Palace staff members. No one else had moved in and they were the very first to occupy the building.
Victor reflected on his first year. He’s settled and enjoying everything at the community.
His family, Emery and Jill Sherer, is minutes away and Jill is able to visit frequently. Quite to his surprise, he has discovered his artistic talents in a painting class and completed several paintings worthy of framing.
“The Palace simply the right place for me to be,” Dembrow said. She enjoys the camaraderie of the many residents she has met as well as the multigenerational interaction with the staff members.
She also has discovered new interests since moving to The Palace including canasta and duplicate bridge.
Early residents Bicky and Lou Goldszer moved to The Palace from Pittsburgh.
“We were dying in Pittsburgh and our son wanted us to move to The Palace,” Mrs. Goldszer said. “Now we’re alive. We are so busy and up at dawn. Every morning it’s either tai-chi, yoga or bar ballet. Our afternoons are Spanish and Yiddish lessons and, of course, bingo.”
The luxury, award-winning senior living rental community in the heart of Coral Gables is now home to over 160 residents and is over 60 percent leased. Most recently, The Palace Coral Gables was named “Best Community of the Year” by the Florida Atlantic Builders Association and “Best Independent living Community” in the country by the National Association of Home Builders.
The Palace at Coral Gables is inspired by the world-renowned Four Seasons George V Hotel in Paris. The community offers residents extensive services and amenities geared to a luxurious senior lifestyle. For more information and to arrange a tour, call 305-445-7444 or visit www.PalaceCoralGables.com.
