This page: A Palm Beacher since childhood, Virginia Burke sits with her daughters Cynthia Mack, Consuelo Hutton, Mimi de Chabert (above); celebrated island botanist Kit Pannill at the Darcy and George Gould Dinner for the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough (below). Opposite page: Percy Steinhart, renowned creator of beloved Stubbs & Wooten shoes (above); longtime Palm Beachers Allie and Lee Hannley, with their daughters Merrill and Nicole (with respective husbands Ashton Curtis and Matthew Mellon bookending the couch in the picture) and grandchildren Callie Curtis and Force Mellon (below).
the wide range of people, the vitality, and the beauty of the area.” She equates the warmth of the community with the inviting climate. “That’s what drew people here: the beautiful beach and the beautiful weather.” And while the social circles may seem exclusive, Hilary explains that you may think you know everyone, “then you can walk into a room with 300 people and not know anybody!” Harry, meanwhile, believes that James Patterson said it best in the book: “I am not aware of another city, or even a small district in a city, that so beautifully and economically compresses so much timeless architecture, landscape artistry and ocean view, culinary delights, history, art, interesting and mostly wonderful people into such an unforgettable creation, painstakingly preserved. This is our Palm Beach, our shining gem by the sea.” Harry adds only, “Palm Beach is unique among the unique.” u