I'm going to Mar A Lago: can't wait!!

Dear friends,

I’m writing you this BLOG while getting ready to go for a Concert to a very special place, Mar A Lago, in Palm Beach Florida.

I can’t wait to go there and see it with my own eyes. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about this place, and I know that artists like Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli has performed there for the members of the Club, just like I will be doing tomorrow night. So it’s nerve racking to follow those Stars, but also so very flattering and exciting to have been chosen to perform in such a great location!!

Next week I will write the BLOG with all the details of my staying there but today I want to share what I found about this place with all of you!!

Mar-A-Lago ("mahr-ah-lahgo"), built 1924-1927, is the name of the Majorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm beach Florida. Post built the house with her (then) husband, Edward F. Hutton . The beautiful house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the 17-acre (69,000 m²) estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat for Presidents and visiting foreign dignatories. The mansion was not however used for this purpose, prior to being declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980.

Mar-A-Lago has frequently hosted the International Red Cross Ball, an annual white tie, tails, and tiara ball. Founded by Mrs. Post, it has a history of attracting wealthy socialites and ambassadors from across the world in support of the mission of the American Red Cross. 

Now home to the Mar-A-Lago Club, the 126-room, 110,000-square-foot (10,219 m²) estate is owned by Donald Trump. Trump paid $ 10 million for the estate in 1985. After acquiring the property in 1985, Trump had the property renovated, with 58 bedrooms, 33  bathroom, a 29-foot (8.8 m)-long pietra dura marble top dining table, 12 fireplaces, and three bomb shelters. Also, the home has five clay and one grass tennis court with a waterfront pool. Further additions have been made since then, including the recent construction of a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) ballroom. The name Mar-A-Lago is Spanish for "Sea to Lake".

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley spent their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago.

On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a 15' × 25' flag on an 80' flagpole at Mar-a-Lago. Town zoning officials asked Trump to adhere to town zoning codes that limit flagpoles to a height of 42'. This dispute led the town council of Palm Beach to charge Trump $1,250 for every day the flag at Mar-A-Lago remained. Trump filed a lawsuit against the town.

The flag pole incident was quietly resolved. The six-month stand-off ended as town officials agreed to a settlement that will lower the banner 10 feet (3.0 m) and move it away from the ocean. All fines were dropped and Trump contributed $100,000 to various charities for Iraq War veterans, the American flag or veterans' hospitals. Trump dropped his $25 million lawsuit against the town.

So this is the story of Mar A Lago.

I’m so looking forward to go there today. I will be flying there in a few hours with my musicians and I will get to stay at the Club!! It’s going to be so much fun!! Stay tune for my next BLOG to hear all about it!!

And I can’t believe that while here in NYC it has snowed last night in a few hours I will be in the sun and hot weather of Florida!!

Love always,

Giada

www.giadavalenti.com

www.facebook.com/giada.valenti

www.myspace.com/giadavalenti

www.youtube.com/giadavalenti

www.youtube.com/anitalianintheusa