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SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR SKIN

BY BETSY MODEL

Although retired Nflstar Joe Namath spends a lot of time playing golf, he has plenty more to offer about his home of Palm Beach: what to eat, what to do and why the area is about more than celebrities and big money.

Mention Palm Beach to most people, and they’ll think of sun, sand, shopping and a zip code that’s at least a part-time home to some of the wealthiest people in the US. To sports legend Joe Namath, the city and its surrounding communities are, quite simply, home.

Best known as the self-assured quarterback of the New York Jets who, on national television, guaranteed a 1969 Super Bowl victory by his team—and pulled it off—“Broadway Joe” was born an athlete. The native Pennsylvanian played high school basketball and baseball (and was recruited by multiple Major League Baseball teams upon graduation) before settling on football as his career of choice. Between the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams, he played for 13 seasons in the Afland Nflbefore retiring in 1977.

For the last 18 years, Namath has lived in the West Palm Beach area, where he spends much of his time playing golf. He took some time away from the links, though, to reveal what makes Palm Beach so special for locals and visitors alike.

You were born in Pennsylvania, went to college in Alabama, lived in and played for teams in New York and LA. What made you want to settle in Palm Beach?

“Simple… look around you!Have you ever seen a more beautiful place? More beautiful beaches? Sky? It’s spectacular here, year round, and I haven’t found a place that feels more like paradise than this area does. The warmth and sunshine is great for my knees (laughs), and I can play golf nearly all year. This has to be one of the prettiest places to live and play in the entire country.”

Is there one thing that stands out as the key attraction in Palm Beach?
“No, because the one key thing is that there’s tons of things that make this area unique. It’s tropical and has a feeling to it that you can’t find anywhere else on the mainland. It’s really almost Caribbean, and that’s magical. The tropical plants are wonderful, the orchids are gorgeous, and there are tropical flowers growing all year here, even when the rest of the country is in snow. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Are there any must-try culinary dishes unique to Palm Beach?
“Well, fish is big here for obvious reasons… and it doesn’t get much fresher than right off our shores. Conch is a local dish that’s worth trying, as is anything with local crab. Plus, of course, we’ve got citrus and tropical fruits that are local—lots of dishes made with orange, lemon and lime, and fruits like mango, papaya, coconut and bananas. Most people wouldn’t think of Palm Beach as having a great farmer’s market, but we do [in downtown West Palm Beach, on Saturday mornings through mid-April].”

We know that you’re a big golf fan, but what are some other things to do around Palm Beach?
“You name it and we’ve got it: the Palm Beach Zoo (www.palmbeachzoo.org) and American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden (www.orchidweb.org) and Mounts Botanical Garden (www.mounts.org). There are tons of ways to explore the water around here, from just laying on a beach to taking tons of tours, either by sailing on the ocean with one of the chartered ships that offer dinner and casino cruises or going out with a sailboat company or even an Everglades tour on an airboat. There are also great opportunities to canoe or kayak around here, something that most people wouldn’t associate with Palm Beach.”

Palm Beach is traditionally associated with mega-mansions, five-star resorts and Worth Avenue’s designer and jewelry stores. But you make it sound as if there’s a more genuine and “Southern hospitality” side…
“Palm Beach offers both sides, including friendly people and the opportunity to be outdoors, surrounded by blue skies and tropical greens. What more could you ask for in one place?”