The Betsy, the grande dame boutique hotel at 1440 Ocean Drive, is a standout among her Art Deco neighbors. Designed by L Murray Dixon, whose other works includes The Tides and The Raleigh, its architectural style is elegant Florida Regency, a bit like the historic Greenbrier resort. Opened in 1941, a re-done Betsy was launched in 2009. Rooms feature plantation shutters, dark mahogany floors, white lacquered cabinetry and fresh orchids. Instead chocolates on the pillow, guests find bookmarks embossed with poetry. Strongly committed to philanthropy and arts and culture, the hotel hosts a Writer's Room program, which is often teamed with public events at the hotel. Alex Myers, the transgender novelist who wrote "Revolutionary" about an American woman who fought as a man, was a recent writer in residence. During his stay, The Betsy sponsored a transgender art festival.