FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 47
Victoria’s
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Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
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What fun it is being in
Florida and exploring
the towns north,
south and west of Palm Beach,
where I’ve made my home at Th e
Colony Hotel.
Friends had told me about the
town of Wellington, due west
of Palm Beach, being similar to
Bridgehampton. Wellington is
home to many horse farms and
polo fi elds, but I didn’t know
about the unique Aero Club
community!
To my amazement, it’s an aeronautical
community of about
240 homes — including many
with hangars for their private
planes and even a lighted 4,000-
foot runway. Eight runways
fi ll the community and when
you land you can “taxi” to your
home. Only in America!
As I drove through the neighborhood,
I noticed streets with
names like Take Off Place and
Runway Road. Behind blocks
of homes, there are long, grassy
runways. Th ere are even “for
sale” signs that alert you that a
house has a hanger and a pool.
While the Aero Club is
impressive, arguably the most
well-known part of Wellington
are the horse farms. I was happy
to tour the horse farm owned by
Dr. Michael and Catrine Golia,
children of dear friends
Joe and Rosalie Golia, of
Douglaston, Queens.
Also in Wellington is the
newly opened Maxwell’s
Plum. I dined there with
friends Todd and Liz
Shapiro, my extraordinary
events team leader Demetra
The unique Wellington
Most Aero Club homeowners have their own
hangar for their private planes.
Mattone and new friend Jim
Leach.
Jenny Oz LeRoy, a longtime
Wellington resident, has
recently opened the legendary
Manhattan restaurant, once
owned by her father.
Maxwell’s Plum had been
described in a 1988 New York
Times article as a, “fl amboyant
restaurant” owned by Warner
LeRoy featuring over the top Art
Nouveau decor, as well as kaleidoscope
stained glass ceilings
and walls.
Jenny, also an award winning
horsewomen, opened the
Maxwell’s Plum on South Shore
Boulevard.
Only a month aft er its opening,
it’s already established
as a go-to destination with an
excellent American cuisine menu!
While dining, I met Th e
Colony Hotel’s “master of the
house,” General Manager Bruce
Siegel, and his wife Lisl, who
runs the hotel’s HR department.
Also there was star
photographer from the
Hamptons, Rob Rich.
I also met Jenny’s powerful
equestrian friends who invited
me to the International Polo
Club’s weekly Sunday match in
Wellington!
Never a dull moment in
beautiful Florida!
Catrine Golia and her daughter Bella with their
friend Brooke Chasin, the head coach of LIU’s
equestrian team.
I toured the Aero Club community.
Celebrating Todd and Liz Shapiro’s anniversary with Jim Leach, Rob
Rich and Demetra Mattone.
Jenny Oz LeRoy (third from l.) surrounded by her friends Mayli and Calixto
Garcia Velez, Louise and Red Armour and manager Ash Charles.
Bruce Siegel and
his wife Lisl, seen at
Maxwell’s Plum.
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