A Tour of The Vinoy

My BFFs Pete and Joe gave me a gift certificate from The Vinoy for my birthday last July.  And recently, the three of us cashed in the certificates for a tour and dinner.  The Vinoy has an amazing history.  [Note the new rugs.  See my remarks below.]

The Chihuly chandelier in the main ballroom.  Not a favorite of mine.  *GASP*

There have been some very recent renovations and "redecorating".

Included in the tour was our lunch.  Thanks to Joe for the lovely pictures!

My veal and pasta

Joe's chicken.

Pete's salmon.

These next few pictures are little seating areas along the main hallway.  They are very nice, look like they are from an early 1960s movie.  But, in my opinion, do not belong in the Vinoy.

Thanks to Shirley, our tour guide! What fun!

December Meeting O & A Book Club

I joined the monthly Outings & Adventures book club a few months back.  The men and women each have their own selections and meetings.  This month, because of the holiday, the selection and the meetings were combined.  The meetings are a combination dinner and discussion held at various places.  Each month alternates between a Tampa location and a Saint Petersburg location.  This month's was at the Vinoy at Marchand's.  We had a three course dinner and it was YUMMY!!!
Robert heads the men's book club. He was the director of The Colonie Town Library for almost 30 years.  Colonie is the town where I grew up!  Small world!

"Christmas Day" with Mia and Gina

Ah, pretend Christmas morning...still all the fun! We got up around 7:30 am and opened our gifts. Gina got a Christmas Westie! At 7:32 am we were all done opening gifts. No, we stretched it out till almost 7:50 am!

I got this Florida Santa from Ray and Iz. It matches the Island Santa I got for myself last year! I love it!!!

We went to church at 10:00 am. Then around noon we headed down to the Vinoy for our Christmas Feast!

This is the salad station.

Gina with her "breakfast" station plate. Mia with hers.

My plate from the meat station.

My plate from the fruit and cheese station.

Our three dessert plates. By this time we were absolutely stuffed.

As we were leaving the dining room, the manager asked us where my other daughter was. I told him that she was spending the Christmas season out west. He breathed a sigh of relief and said that when they saw us come in, they thought that they would run out of crab legs like they did last year when we ate there.

Early afternoon sky, downtown Saint Petersburg, from the Vinoy Resort deck.

The pool area on the deck.

Back at the apartment for a short nap. We opened the windows and turned on the ceiling fans.