FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 2, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@schnepsmedia.com
Since many of my readers
at Dan’s Papers go south
to Florida for the winter, I
thought I should follow them
and open a Dan’s Papers Palm
Beach+, which would be distributed
in Palm Beach County.
So this past weekend, my
friend Stacey Baron and her
fi ancé Dr. Richard Obedian
invited me to his condo facing
the endless waves of the Atlantic
Ocean on Singer Island.
It’s a slim sliver of land with
one side facing the ocean, one
36+ story building next to another,
with only one tiny shopping
center as you go over the bridge
entering the island.
Palm Beach is a narrow island
connected by bridges to West
Palm Beach, which is connected
to Singer Island.
Palm Beach is home to
many famous high-end brand
stores on Worth Avenue
and in the Royal Poinciana
Plaza including Saks Fift h
Avenue and others
that you would
fi nd on Fift h and
Madison Avenues
in Manhattan!
Th e ocean lent a
sweet breeze as I
was given a guided
tour of my new
“neighborhoods”
in my friends’ convertible.
What I
love is how similar
Palm Beach is to
the Hamptons, here
dominated by beautiful
swaying palm
trees that line the
streets everywhere you
Palm Beach: The other Hamptons
go.
I found one of Southampton’s
most popular restaurants, Sant
Ambroeus, has a branch on
Palm Beach Island that I visited
on my four-day excursion. It’s
at the front corner of the Royal
Poinciana Plaza, a U-shaped
shopping center with luxury
national brands.
Th e restaurant is the anchor
of the street-level mall, with
charming red umbrellas off ering
outdoor dining, so I made it
a meeting place!
While there, I got to speak with
the manager, who shared with
me news that the family-owned
Sant Ambroeus will soon add
locations in Easthampton,
Aspen and Miami! Th ey obviously
have a winning formula,
with multiple locations in
Manhattan, too!
My fi rst meal on my quick
tour was Sunday brunch at the
historic luxury resort, Breakers
Palm Beach. Stacey had invited
four business friends to join
us and discuss the business climate
in the region. It was great
meeting new friends and
feasting on the fabulous
buff et.
Although it’s
pricey —
$150 prixfixe
per
person
— it
Stephen Sondheim
remembered
It’s ironic that only a few days ago, I saw the musical genius Stephen
Sondheim at the opening of “Company,” which made its return to
Broadway aft er originally opening in the 1970s. He received a wellearned,
multiple-minutes standing ovation — no one wanted to sit! A
well-earned tribute!
As I reported last week, the power of his words and music ring true to
this day. My friend said he is our musical Shakespeare, and that’s not an
understatement! He was a protégé of the great Oscar Hammerstein,
who mentored and guided him to become who he was.
Sondheim learned by working under this genius and took it to a
new level, not with rhymes as much as messages craft ed in a new
way that will live on forever. He has left his mark for eternity.
Rest in peace, Stephen.
Holiday celebrations
was worth every dollar and was
the best brunch I ever ate.
Our group gathered at a round
table looking out on the large,
glass-enclosed, sun-fi lled dining
room. It almost felt like an arboretum
with large plants in the
center of the room with well
spaced tables.
At 11:30, the sunny room
quickly fi lled up with many family
groups. Th e buzz of celebratory
diners was suddenly
silenced as a guest surprisingly
stood up and serenaded us with
his operatic voice. We all clapped
in appreciation!
In the adjacent room, the buff et
tables were fi lled with extraordinary
dishes. My favorite was the
caviar and pancakes with toppings
of sour cream, chopped
egg whites, chopped onions
and capers. Th en, on to the
oysters, lobster, crab legs and
shrimp! I had the waiter cut
away a bone from the juicy
standing rib roast. Every dish
was superbly prepared!
On the next table was a crêpe
and omelet maker, a sushi chef,
salads, breads and rolls.
To fi nish the meal were
two tables fi lled with
pies, cakes and small,
bite-size pastries.
Th e food was beautifully presented,
but the best part of
the brunch was spending time
with the wonderfully successful
women gathered around the
table!
As I get ready to launch my latest
venture, Dan’s Papers Palm
Beach+, they off ered guidance
and support.
Th e next day, I was off to meetings
to learn the “landscapes” of
the region. Th e highlight of my
time in the “South” was visiting
with Brooklyn friends Peter
Meyer and Denise Arbesu. I
miss my transplanted friends, so
spending time with them was a
bonus!
It was a fast but furiously fulfi
lling and successful beginning
to my new adventure.
To be continued!
Stacey Baron and fifi ancé
Dr. Richard Obedian
hosted me at their Singer
Island home.
Stacey and I with Camile D’Amico, Tawny Moore, Michelle Gonzalez and
Andrea Rosario after brunch in the “backyard” of Breakers Palm Beach resort.
Spending time with
my grandkids is
always the highlight
of my holiday
celebrations. Happy
Chanukah from my
family to yours!
The Levin family
lights their
menorahs on
the fi rst night
of Chanukah
and celebrates
Carol and Jerry’s
anniversary.
Charles Antanasio’s family welcomed me into
their Dune Road home for Thanksgiving in
Westhampton.
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