This is how the we think the event will come together!! This Holiday Party will be a bit different from those in the past. It is really only a one-day event. Well, a single overnight. And, that one day (overnight) is a Wednesday, December 6th, 2023. FYI, a good number of folks indicated that a weekday was preferable to a weekend. They had other things to do on the weekend!! So, we are planning this one, in the middle of the week!!
We will all travel to Fort Lauderdale, FL anyway we want. Pick a good road, bring the Morgan or bring the tin top. Your call! We will check into the event hotel, the Marriott Maritime Hotel, Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port, 2161 Maritime Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, 33312. You will have to click the link: Book your group rate for Morgan MOGSouth GatorMOG or call (954) 533-7846, Ext. 1008 (Carina Tiepolt) and make your own reservation from our block booking!
The hotel is nestled in the 25-acre Marina Bay Resort and takes its lifestyle cues from South Florida’s culture of on-the-water recreation. Soaring eight stories at the water’s edge, the boutique hotel’s distinctive architectural sail and sleek, nautically inspired facade make it an unmistakable new landmark among Marina Mile hotels. It is conveniently located near the confluence of I-95, I-595, I-75, and Route 1, giving us great access from the North, South, and West!
We have a block of rooms reserved on a first come, first served basis. Our group name is Morgan / GatorMOG / MOGSouth (pick one!!). Our negotiated block booking rate is $145 per room (single or double) for the night, plus tax. This rate includes:
- An upgrade to a Deluxe Marina View Room with Balcony,
- A $10 Food and Beverage credit that can be used at the Hotel Bar and/or Restaurant,
- Complimentary Wi-Fi,
- Complementary parking (usually $15/day), and
- Complementary early check in on December 6th and late check out on December 7th.
The Maritime Hotel has an electric charging station and allows for overnight trailer parking for guests should anyone want to bring their vehicle by trailer.
That evening, Wednesday, we will convene at the entrance to the hotel and convoy over to the Holiday Party pub, leaving at 06:00PM. Yes, a pub! It’s a great location, just a couple of miles from the hotel, with the right sort of ambiance for us. No white table clothes or fancy wine glasses this time! We are going to the ‘Field’ Irish Pub and Eatery, 3281 Griffin Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312!! https://www.thefieldfl.com/ We have a private room (the Nautical Room, I believe) that will be set just for us – with room to expand if things get rowdy! Folks can order off the menu, eat and drink as they please. They have great food and beer – no rubber chicken or soupy green bean casserole this year!
After dinner, there will be a few words of MOGSouth business and then we’re done. You’ll be free to return to the hotel, party on to live music at The Field, cruise Las Olas in your Morgan, or take a drive along Fort Lauderdale Beach! Your call!
On Thursday morning, feel free to take advantage of the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast or visit the excellent Lester’s Diner, 250 W State Rd 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 just a mile east, down the same street. Departure home is on your own. However, for those who are interested, we will meet outside the hotel at 09:00am on Thursday morning for a real treat!
Special Event:
We have arranged an opportunity to tour a pretty amazing full-service classic and specialty vehicle restoration and coachbuilding business, The Creative Workshop, http://thecreativeworkshop.com/, which is only a couple of miles from the hotel, in Dania Beach. The Creative Workshop was the subject of the recent Apple TV series, Long Road to Monterey (well worth a watch). The seven episodes of this “behind the scenes” show highlight the ups and downs of what it takes to restore incredibly rare and sought after cars – specifically, a 1966 Coach built Ferrari 330GT Speciale and a 1921 Kissel 6-45 “Gold Bug” Speedster – for some of the most spectacular car events in the world.
At Creative on Thursday morning, we will be met by the Owner, Jason Wenig, who will provide a personal tour of their unique, 80+ year-old historic building that has been fully converted into a comprehensive restoration & coachbuilding facility. Cars restored and custom coach built by Creative have garnered numerous awards at international, national and local events – such as Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Villa d’Este, Cavallino, Mille Miglia and many, many more. Take a look at their website and videos – this is craftsmanship of the highest level.
Did I mention that Creative’s General Manager, Rodney Keyzer, is a former Morgan Motor Car Dealer from South Africa?!! This is a unique opportunity and is well worth the visit! Visiting this facility is optional but highly recommended. Do tell Mark or Jonathan if you plan to attend the visit so we can alert them to the number of folks to expect. The visit and tour will take an hour or two and will be over by lunchtime after which you are again on your own to travel home.
