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People with Presence continued

the past 20 years. The Pillars, tucked away on Birch Road, Associate Provost for FAU’s Broward Campuses and the
along the Intracoastal Waterway, has gradually morphed into Director of the School or Architecture, grew up in Fort
one of Florida’s most coveted spots. The hotel is a member of Lauderdale, attending St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) group and home to Jaye, originally from Chicago, has called South Florida
The Secret Garden restaurant, which has earned a reputation home for 30 years and is the Executive Director of ArtServe,
for exceptional service and outstanding dining. an award-winning non-profit arts incubator, based in
Victoria Park. Residents of Colee Hammock, Tony & Jaye
Condé Nast Traveler readers voted The Pillars among the best
hotels in Florida in their Annual “Reader’s Choice” Awards. share their favorites on Las Olas.
What is your ideal day spent on Las Olas? “Walking on a
The Secret Garden restaurant, open to guests and club
breezy sunny day to grab an Italian coffee at Gran Forno,
members, serves top notch American cuisine with Moroccan
checking my mail at the Colee Hammock Post Office,
influences overseen by Chef Youssef Hammi. Guests and
picking up my dry cleaning and meeting up with friends and
members enjoy a variety of prominent live performances,
wine pairing dinners and the most incredible sunset views. neighbors along the way.” Tony
What is your favorite memory on Las Olas? “Sitting on the
What led you to acquire this property? I was in the investment
dock behind my first office on the Himmarshee Canal with
business in the 1990’s and was looking to diversify assets when
renowned author and architect Christopher Alexander. Our
I decided to buy this property. We completely renovated it with
legs were dangling off the dock and we were talking about
the help of interior designer Zeke Fernandez and architect Ron
architecture and life, how we arrived here and who our big
Trebbi. The hotel is a mix of British Colonial and art deco
influences were. I told him about my father - who died at 48
design; I love how it came out.
in a car accident. He turned to me and said: "Always
You host some incredible events and performances for remember your dad.” Tony
your guests and members. What do you have planned for
“O’Hara’s Pub, which was like a ‘Cheers’ with a jazz vibe. It
next year? We plan to have over 40 international dinners,
was the first establishment to have on-street seating and you
including featured wine pairings from different countries and
would walk back from dinner, stopping in to see friends or
regions around the globe. We will include more movie
have a drink and if you were lucky - some of the biggest
nights and feature some amazing live entertainment, like the
names in jazz would come to jam with the house band. It was
Opera singer we had last year. We also have a book club
an amazing start of the renaissance of the Boulevard. It’s sad
which our members really enjoy.
to see that element missing today.” Jaye
Here are a few of Michael’s Las Olas favorites:
EAT: Italian is always consistent on the Blvd Noodles Panini
EAT: Outside of The Secret Garden, Luigi’s is one of my or Gelato at Pan’e Dolci Italian Bakery. Radiatore a la
favorites. It is a true local corner restaurant with very Norma at Louis Bossi’s is a new favorite.
comfortable good food. You feel like you’re in NYC or in an
ENJOY: “It's a combination of the natural environment and
episode of Cheers. It’s very different from the other the informal character of the place.” Tony
restaurants along Las Olas.
“It feels like a green oasis in the heart of the city. The tree
ENJOY: I really enjoy the Broward Center for the Performing
canopy is special and when we walk it’s like our own
Arts. I serve on the Board of the Foundation and it is one of
personal nature preserve. You’re near the river and canals,
best entertainment venues in the world. I love taking my boat yet in the center of the tourist strip. It’s ideal.” Jaye
to the Center, docking there and then seeing a performance.
Jaye & Anthony

Abbate

By Jennifer Nayak
There’s No Place Like Home
Meet Jaye and Tony Abbate, downtown professionals and
world-travelers who call historic Las Olas home. Tony, an

32 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES