Mission accomplished! I just returned from an incredible trip to South Beach Miami to join my dad to watch Louisville earn its first Orange Bowl victory. We met up on New Year’s Eve at The Palms Hotel and had no idea what the night had in store for us. After a great Italian dinner outside near Lincoln promenade in South Beach, we continued our people watching and drinking at a few adjacent bars. I called my friend Jean-Marc, who lives in Aliso Viejo near me but was also in town for the game, and he proceeded to invite us to one insane-off-the-charts New Years party at Nikki Beach. Jean-Marc ushered us in to the quintessential VIP table, on the VIP floor, to kick back an open table bar and great company. It had to be the best New Year’s parties I’ve attended – topping the black-tie bashes I used to throw in New York City for five years.

We spent the better part of the next day recovering, but rallied to attend the Orange Bowl Fan Fest and have dinner at The Clevelander bar, which happened to be the Louisville fan headquarters. Despite all the fun, the highlight was the Orange Bowl game, which saw Louisville prevail in a sloppy game against Wake Forest. (more…)