...and too the north, the grand pavillions of the Southern Wine and Food Festival have been taking shape for many days. Long-sold out, the festival is an orgy of food and spirits from the best dealers and restauranteurs in South Florida. From the Grand Tasting at $205 a ticket to the grand dinners similar to the one at Casa Tua at $2,500 a head, the event has been sold out for six months. In a town of conspicuous consumption, it is the road to heaven.

Soon these tents will be filled with the likes of Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart, and Emeril La Gasse.

Under the brilliant, winter sky of South Beach the rainbow flags of gay beach ferociously flew over a landscape given over to frivolity and pleasure. There are so many other, malicious things one can be given over to these days.