Emerald Coast Magazine- August/September 2015

BARE IT ALL WE COME CLEAN ABOUT THE LATEST TUB AND SHOWER TRENDS GOING TO POT LOCAL CHEFS TELL US WHAT THEY USE TO GET COOKING

THE EMER ALD COAST MAGA ZINE ART STOP TAKE A TOUR OF AWESOME ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

Life Coaches These six mentors matter to local student-athletes on and off the field

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The Emerald Coast Magazine August + September 2015

contents

F E AT U RE S

56

Life Coaches

Six sensational coaches making a difference on and off the field.

BY THOMAS J. MONIGAN

66 Art in Unexpected Places Come with us on a tour of some amazing art in offbeat places.

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

RACHEL PONGETTI

A big, red kiss is smack on the pillar of the tresstle of the 17th Street bridge in Pensacola.

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contents in the e.c.

17 Snapshot Alicia Booker lives a purposedriven life.

18 Chat We give Mario Werth’s new venture a whirl.

21 Historicity Okaloosa County celebrates its centennial.

24 Personality Our “race-y” interview with Andrew “Tripper” Crisp.

28 Editor’s Choice How is it possible that cupboards are bare for hundreds of Emerald Coast families?

35 Scene Kudos and congrats, faces in new places, interesting news nuggets and more.

happenings 18

37 Spotlight Get ready, start … paddle up for the Destin SUP cup.

38 Calendar Say so long to summer and hello to fun fall festivals and fetes.

47 Social Studies Been there, scene it, done it. Have you?

the good life 86 Going Places That’s right, we’re taking you to Texas Hill Country.

93 In Motion Becoming a hiker is a step in the right direction.

96 Habitat We come clean about the latest tub and shower trends.

96 A WORD WITH YOU 10 From the Publisher 12 Editor’s Note 130 The Last Word

SPECIAL SECTIONS 73 Professional Profiles 103 Deal Estate

108 Gardening Learn more about lovely lilies.

111 F.Y.I. Your “dirty mouth” can get you in health trouble.

116 Flavor What is the best cookware? Local chefs weigh in.

121 Dining Just a taste of what’s on menus along the Emerald Coast.

122 A Taste For … Healthy grab-and-go meals.

126 On the Menu Falling in love with European-inspired pancakes, eating with sporks and bric-a-brac!

116 6 August–September 2015

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PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE (18) AND COURTESY OF AMERICAN STANDARD (96) AND LE CREUSET (116)

85 Eudaimonia How you can help this Alliance with the Bay-sics.

Three great restaurants on the beach in Seaside, Florida budandalleys.com

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VOL. 16, NO. 4 AUGUST–SEPTMEBER 2015 THE EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

BRIAN E. ROWLAND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES Steve Bornhoft EDITOR Zandra Wolfgram SENIOR STAFF WRITER Jason Dehart STAFF WRITER Chay D. Baxley

2014 Model Winner Maleena Pruitt wears a look by 2014 Emerging Designer Romey Roe

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shelby Bouck, Tony Bridges, Rosanne Dunkelberger, Carla Hogue, Jennifer Ireland, Lis King, Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite, Tracy Louthain, Thomas J. Monigan, Rebecca Padgett, Audrey Post, Rebekah Sanderlin EDITORIAL INTERNS Casey Feindt, Kiyo Kawaguchi, Paige Sneed, Arianna Theofan PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan COPY EDITOR Barry Ray

CREATIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lawrence Davidson PRODUCTION MANAGER/ NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR Daniel Vitter SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Saige Roberts ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Shruti Shah, Rebecca Sumerall ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Jillian Fry, Amanda Hartsfield CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Craig Baranowski, Marc Bennet, Tommy Crow, Rosanne Dunkelberger, Jennifer G. Photography, Katrice Howell, Scott Holstein, MC Photo, Mary Ann McClain, Jake Meyer, Rhonda Murray, Kay Phelan, Kansas Pitts Photography, Rachel Pongetti, Pure 7 Studios, Steve Rawls, Al Rendon, Lori Saczynski, Jason Sgobba, Shelly Swanger, Carlin Trammel, Jaqueline Ward Images, Dawn Whitty, Zandra Wolfgram, Chase Yakaboski, Allison Yii

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING McKenzie Burleigh DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS Daniel Parisi AD SERVICES COORDINATOR Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Sostre SALES EXECUTIVES Bess Grasswick, Darla Harrison, Lori Magee, Rhonda Lynn Murray, Linda Powell, Paula Sconiers, Alice Watts SALES AND MARKETING ASSISTANT Christie Green EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR Leigha Inman

OPERATIONS CORPORATE CLIENT LIASON Sara Goldfarb STAFF ACCOUNTANT Josh Faulds ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Tabby Hamilton ADMINISTRATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCE LIAISON Caryn Nelson RECEPTIONIST Lisa Snell

DIGITAL SERVICES DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Carlin Trammel DIGITAL SERVICES COORDINATORS Jennifer Ireland, Rebecca Padgett DIGITAL SERVICES PRODUCER Chelsea Moore EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE emeraldcoastmagazine.com facebook.com/emeraldcoast twitter.com/emeraldcoastmag instagram.com/emeraldcoastmag pinterest.com/emeraldcoastmag youtube.com/user/ emeraldcoastmag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS ONE YEAR (6 ISSUES) IS $30 Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

SINGLE COPIES ARE $3.95 Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Books-A-Million in Destin, at Sun Plaza in Mary Esther and on E. 23rd St. in Panama City.

EDITORIAL OFFICE 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32308 CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS EC Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. EC Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright August 2015 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

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from the publisher

One of the absolutely great parts of doing our jobs is the opportunity to collaborate as a team to come up with new ideas and bring them to fruition.

Ideas may come in the form of an innovative story concept; the development and execution of one of the many images we present in each issue of a magazine; creative page design whereby we meld images and words together; a captivating brand ad for one of our advertisers; or a promotional project that engages the advertising community and leads it to make an investment. The opportunity to create is an inspirational force that leads the 40-member RPI team and me to greet each new day enthusiastically. It is energizing and fun. It’s what we do and do quite well.

Events as a component of our business all started 15 years ago with our signature classic — “Best of” — which has developed into a brand of its own and has been emulated by many. We then created Top Singles in Tallahassee and Top Salons in Tallahassee and on the Emerald Coast. All have a charitable aspect to them and serve to bring people together in one place on one day to celebrate and interact with old and new friends.

Soon, RPI had reached the point where we had to create a new Events Department and hire a full-time professional dedicated to handling the many moving parts of planning and execution. We found the perfect fit in Leigha Inman whose focus on excellence and advancing the RPI brand is laser sharp. In 2014, we added 850 Magazine’s Northwest Florida Pinnacle Awards to our events lineup as a vehicle for recognizing outstanding women in leadership positions in our region.

Currently, we are birthing a new concept here on the Emerald Coast: EC Magazine’s Citizens of Style. Event particulars are in the works, but here’s the concept, one that will have community leaders stepping out onto the runway …

We are looking for 10 male residents and a like number of female residents for whom “style” is an important consideration in their life and who are willing to commit to a three-month fundraising effort benefitting a charity of their choosing. They will host dinners and approach friends and other associates seeking donations.

All of this activity will culminate in an evening event at which the Citizens of Style, outfitted by sponsors with lots of sartorial expertise, will be showcased. The date and venue for the event will be determined soon. For sure, we will secure a location that will accommodate hundreds of folks who will reward the 20 Citizens of Style with their applause as fundraising totals and benefiting charities are announced.

Our top photographers will be there, and the top male and female fundraisers will be presented on a cover of EC Magazine. All of the Citizens of Style will be featured in a showcase of 10-12 photos from the runway that will appear inside that issue.

As always, we’re striving to create an event that will be gratifying for the participants, fun for the audience and sponsors and of real benefit to deserving organizations.

Have a Citizen of Style to suggest? Email me at browland@rowlandpublishing.com with a brief description of your nominee. And be watching for more information about the Citizens of Style event night. It’s an occasion you are sure to want to support.

SCOTT HOLSTEIN

We’ve Come Up with Another One

on the cover

Choctawhatchee High School weightlifting champ Kiera Alexander (class of 2015) credits coach Sherman Johnson with giving her the mental support she needs to stay focused on her goals both inside and outside of the gym. “He’s the first one I’d come to if I was having a problem,” she says.

Photography by Kansas Pitts Photography BARE IT ALL WE COME CLEAN ABOUT THE LATEST TUB AND SHOWER TRENDS GOING TO POT LOCAL CHEFS TELL US WHAT THEY USE TO GET COOKING

THE EMER ALD COAST MAGA ZINE ART STOP TAKE A TOUR OF AWESOME ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

— BRIAN ROWLAND BROWLAND@ROWLANDPUBLISHING.COM

Life Coaches These six mentors matter to local student-athletes on and off the field

10 August–September 2015

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editor’s note Making a Difference

— ZANDRA WOLFGRAM EC-EDITOR@ROWLANDPUBLISHING.COM

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WINE-Y BULLIES I would like to toast a heroic organization that made a big impact on my family — American Bulldog Rescue (ABR). ABR operates solely on the generous donations of dog lovers, so every dollar donated goes directly to helping a homeless dog.

Since its inception in 1999, ABR has helped to find 1,000 dogs the home they deserve. A sample pack of wines presented by American Bulldog Rescue includes one bottle each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc (see benefitwines.com/ bulldog). It’s a great gift for family, friends and animal lovers, but more importantly, $23 of the purchase price is donated to American Bulldog Rescue.

ALLISON YII

It’s time to head back to school. But this issue of EC Magazine makes it abundantly clear that we don’t need the formality of a classroom or textbooks to learn the life lesson of giving to others. Throughout the region, there are stellar examples all around us.

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance featured in our Eudaimonia column is a volunteer-based organization that relies on help from locals like us to keep their mission going. Its website lists all kinds of projects in need of helpful hands. This is outdoor fun disguised as work — it’s a day on the bay, for goodness sake!

The Emerald Coast art scene is flourishing.

Our Culture story is brimming with a long list of offbeat places where you can enjoy the creative talents of our many local artists.

Through their compelling works on newsstands, bridges, buses and more, they give our community an indelible sense of place.

Rebekah Sanderlin’s feature story, “Hunger in Paradise,” is a poignant reminder that although most of us are fortunate to “live the dream,” as they say here on Northwest Florida’s gracious Gulf coast, some of our friends and neighbors are struggling to put food on the table for their families. If you live an abundant life, perhaps you can consider lending a hand at one of the area food pantries listed. Helping to fill a backpack full of healthy snack foods just may mean a deserving local child does not go without.

Adventurous locals such as Freeport globetrotter Tracy Louthain — who penned The Last Word — and Navarre helicopter pilot Mario Werth — whose story is featured in Chat — both help lift us up, which is sometimes necessary in order to gain an “elevated” perspective on things.

Speaking of inspiring people, Thomas J. Monigan’s feature story, “Life Coaches,” gives us a chance to meet six mentors who definitely matter to the young people they lead. When I think of coaches, I immediately hear in my mind quotable one-liners being dished out to young hopefuls huddled in high school locker rooms. One that especially rings true for me is: “Excuses only satisfy those who make them.” One I need to apply more is: “Get out of your comfort zone.”

But the one I am feeling most as we put this August/September 2015 issue to bed is, “Make a difference.” Three simple but powerful words that could possibly change a life — including and especially yours.

editor’s picks

WATERMELON DAY To cool off during these lazy dog days of late summer, treat yourself to America’s favorite dessert — watermelon! Monday, Aug. 3, is National Watermelon Day, so you have my permission — on this one sacred day — to spit those seeds as far as you can.

GALLOP TO SCALLOP As fall approaches, head to St. Joe Bay, where clear water and lots of eelgrass provide an ideal habitat for scallops. All you need is a saltwater license to pluck these tasty mollusks from the bay (up to 2 gallons of whole bay scallops is allowed). The season closes Sept. 24, so giddyap and gallop on over if you want to scallop. For more details, visit myfwc.com.

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Digital Graffiti Recap

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SIGN UP FOR MORE INFO For an email you’ll be happy to see in your inbox, sign up for the EC Magazine e-newsletter. Each month we will update you with the latest stories, events and deals happening on the EC. emeraldcoastmagazine.com/ Newsletter-Mailing-List/

UP-TO-THE-MINUTE CALENDAR OF EVENTS See what’s going on around the coast — or submit your own event. It’s free!

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EC Magazine was proud to once again sponsor Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach and host the EC Lounge welcome tent on Saturday night. Watch our video showcasing the evening and peruse a gallery of photos we couldn’t fit in the print edition of the magazine. http://ow.ly/OcjtY

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in the e.c.

PEOPL E + ST Y LE + H Y P E

Snapshot

Balance and Purpose Are Key for this Driven Community Leader

Alicia Booker, a Statesboro, Georgia, native and 10-year resident of Crestview, is the product of her parents’ values: “My father has always been business-savvy,” she notes. “After he retired, he started his own business.

My mother was all about heart — compassion, volunteering, caring.”

While that combination certainly assists her at work — she is both chairwoman of the board of directors at North Florida Medical Center and president of the Crestview Chamber of Commerce — it also extends into personal time with her three children and their Bichon Frisé, Lina. When she isn’t leading the dance ministry at her church, Booker relishes quiet time meditating at the beach.

Her career, family and community leadership keep her busy, but she stays grounded.

“The thing that keeps me going is understanding that I do have a purpose and knowing what that purpose is,” Booker says.

The secret to this leader’s success is maintaining a healthy outlook on life.

“You have to love what it is that you do, so that it doesn’t feel like a job,” she says. “When you give yourself up in a leadership or service role, it’s important to take time for yourself and replenish so that you don’t burn out, and to always have balance.”

— Shelby Bouck

Photo by Jennifer G. Photography

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chat

A New Reality

For What’s Up, Just Look Down

BY MARTHA J. LAGUARDIA-KOTITE

T

he single-engine Bell-47 helicopter rests on a concrete pad at a private airfield in Baker, Florida, about 10 miles northwest of Crestview. The mid-1940s model features the green paint scheme and white Army lettering used in the “M*A*S*H” television show.

Stepping onto the skid, I climb up and sit down on the red leather bench next to the pilot, Mario Werth. He points to the seat belt. I buckle and tighten it around my waist. I’m inside a bubble. The insect-like appearance of the craft, nicknamed the “bug-eyed helicopter,” fits. A cool January breeze enters from the sides where the doors were removed. I adjust my sunglasses and put on the noise-reduction headsets as the two blades begin to rotate. Sensing I’m getting nervous, Werth, 26, says into the microphone, “This helo is meticulously maintained. If you baby it, it will last.”

My plan had been to get the interview on the ground. However, Werth’s calm demeanor, passion for flying and years of experience left me without concern. He explained that the ship is reliable, built like a tank — built to last.

Werth scrupulously follows a checklist, gently waking up the engines. After five minutes, with a broad smile, he asks, “Ready to go?”

Unlike a commercial airplane takeoff, we rise like a floating balloon. I forget to pray. Climbing at a rate of 900 feet per minute, we’re at 500 feet within 30 seconds, immersed in another reality.

“It’s like sitting on your couch and watching the world go by,” Werth says.

Dirt and asphalt roads outline patchworks of brown and green fields. Metal warehouses look smaller than my thumbnail. In the distance, a faint line touches the deep blue horizon of the Gulf.

I am offered the stick, or cyclic, that controls our over-the-ground movement. Holding it firmly with my right hand, I move it tenderly.

The helo jolts. Werth explains that a quartersized circular movement is enough. Nervous that I would make a silver-dollar shape, I relinquish my grip. He turns back to the airport where his wife, Rebecca, 26, and his co-pilot,

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Michael Brown, 25, await. The trio met in Hillsboro, Oregon, in 2009, the year Werth moved to the United States to go to flight school.

Originally from Baden Baden, Germany, Werth studied in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. A summer job with a European helicopter company ended with its bankruptcy.

“They paid me off in flight time. After that, I was hooked,” he says. “It only takes one time.

It’s like an addiction.”

After flight school, the Werths worked in South Dakota during the 2012 and 2013 summers and were snowbirds in Crestview. Rebecca Werth helped as ground crew and in administration with Mario Werth, and, later in 2013, Brown joined him flying tourists over sharp buttes and natural grasslands in the Badlands and sites such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The Werths moved to Crestview in 2014 and Mario worked for Timberview Helicopters taking sightseers, skydivers and wing-suited jumpers into the sky.

This year, the Werths acquired the Bell helicopter and launched their tour business with partner Navarre Family Water Sports. The only helicopter of its kind on the Emerald Coast, they offer a variety of packages starting at $49.99 per person. The pilot-for-a-day option includes ground instruction and a certificate of flight.

“I love to see the dolphins feeding,” Rebecca Werth says of the unique aerial view offered by the helicopter’s bubble. “It’s fascinating.” She adds that the helicopter does not distract the wildlife.

“You never know what you’re going to see,” Mario Werth says. “Sometimes, if you get lucky, you see a nice shark going by somebody’s leg.” ec

Mario Werth (right) and copilot Michael Brown lift off in their vintage helicopter, which provides various scenic tours of the Emerald Coast for ages three and up.

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Photos by Matt Burke

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historicity Aerial view of the East Pass Bridge over the channel in Destin as photographed in 1959.

Okaloosa County at 100

This Popular and Historic Part of the Emerald Coast is Celebrating its Centennial

PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORY

BY JASON DEHART

O

kaloosa County, created by the Florida Legislature on Sept. 7, 1915, became the state’s 52nd county and was formed from portions of Santa Rosa and Walton counties. Officials, businesses and various organizations are making plans to celebrate the historic milestone this fall.

County Commissioner Nathan Boyles said Okaloosa is steeped in a rich and diverse history worthy of celebration. He has a personal connection to this history: His Crestview law practice is set up inside a historic Standard Oil gas station built by state Sen. W.H. Mapoles in the 1930s. Mapoles was an important and influential figure in the birth of the county.

“I think it’s an exciting time. We came from humble beginnings,” Boyles said. “We have the fishing culture in Destin and that still exists, and in the north you have communities that grew up out of the lumber and turpentine industry.”

Taking its name from the Choctaw word for “black water,” Okaloosa has since become a shining star in the touristy

Emerald Coast and is home to one of the largest military installations in the world. County officials are marking the centennial with a new logo that pays homage to this military connection. It features twin fighter jets over a beach.

“Okaloosa was revolutionized once we had the military take up roots here, and that’s when Okaloosa began to grow,” Broyles said. “That overlay makes our history complex — those various industries and activities that have propelled the county in different diverse directions the last 100 years.”

Stories of hardy settlers, Indian wars, fishermen, starry-eyed entrepreneurs and a host of rough-andtumble characters fill the rich fabric of Okaloosa history. Several different Native American cultures have called the area home since around 500 B.C., and their temple mounds and prehistoric middens (garbage dumps) are found on Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. The lives of these early coastal dwellers are profiled at the City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center.

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historicity

Local historian Brian R. Rucker wrote in “Treasures of the Panhandle: A Journey Through West Florida” that, later, American pioneers made their living fishing, farming, lumbering and harvesting turpentine.

Day-to-day living was rough by itself, but other troubles faced early white settlers in the 19th century. At first, Indian wars kept the region in turmoil. In particular, the Second Creek War in southern Alabama created aftershocks in the region following its bloody conclusion at Hobdy’s Bridge in 1837. Bands of Creek warriors — defeated but undaunted — roamed parts of Northwest Florida, including what was then Walton County (founded in 1824). Raids and counter-raids made prospects for peace difficult, but by the end of May 1837, some 70 Creeks had surrendered and were taken west. However, the Second Seminole War still raged within the peninsula until hostilities ended in 1842.

The end of these wars opened the territory up to new settlement, and around 1845 the man whose name would later become synonymous with the Emerald Coast arrived here from New London, Connecticut. Leonard Destin and his descendants would become local legends as they fished and boated the coastal waterways around the town that bears his name.

But peace is fleeting, and in the early days of the Civil War, Union troops from Fort Pickens trudged through Leonard and Martha Destin the Santa Rosa sand 22 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORY

Reinforcement of Fort Pickens by the 1st Artillery Regiment

and set up a cannon opposite Camp Walton (located adjacent to a prehistoric temple mound) and shelled the Walton Guards camped nearby. Following that attack, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg — in overall command of defenses around Pensacola — sent an 18-pounder cannon to Camp Walton for protection. But the camp was later evacuated and its men sent to fight in Tennessee with the 1st Florida Infantry. The Camp Walton cannon is now on display at the Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park in the downtown historic district.

Change started to arrive in the Okaloosa County area early in the 20th century. One of the first hotels to pop up was the Gulfview Hotel, which opened in 1906. The Choctawhatchee National Forest was established in 1908, and much of it would be transformed into what we know now as Eglin Air Force Base.

Meanwhile, Destin’s successful fishing ventures attracted many other fishermen to this remote settlement. The first to arrive postCivil War were the Marler family, then the Melvins. Captains John Melvin Sr. and Odom Thomas Melvin Sr. came to work for Leonard Destin Jr. in 1910 and settled in a tiny fishing village with the Destins and Marlers. Others would follow, such as the Jones, Woodward, Shirah, Maltezos and Brunson families.

Over time, charter fishing would take hold, new roads would be built and the “center of gravity” in Okaloosa would shift south to the coast. But that will change in the future as south-end enclaves are built out and developers look north once again, Boyles said.

“I think the focus will shift back to north Okaloosa County, and that has land to grow, which is necessary to drive economic development,” he said. “I think the future is very bright. We’re really just beginning to see the potential we have here for a community where people want to live, where there are jobs and economic opportunity, and we will continue seeing gains being made.” ec

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personality Andrew “Tripper” Crisp has been a man of the sea for nearly 50 years. This Aussie sailor is known for his “legendary” personality and has plenty of salty tales to back it up. He is pictured here atop a yacht moored at his “second home,” Legendary Marine in Destin, where he oversees the service operations.

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Photo by Pure 7 Studios

Legendary’s Crisp: ‘Hero of His Own Novel’

BY THOMAS J. MONIGAN

COURTESY OF ANDREW CRISP

A

sk someone who knows him, and they will surely to tell you that Andrew “Tripper” Crisp is one of a kind.

Need proof?

Crisp’s workdays usually start at 5:30 a.m., when he shows up in the pre-dawn dark at Legendary Marine’s Destin location. There his title is director of marine operations, which means he is in charge of parts and service.

For the past 11 years, those days have averaged 12 hours before Crisp drives home along Scenic U.S. Highway 98 to South Walton County.

So it figures that what comes next would be dinner and then some serious stretching out on the sofa to mellow out in front of the TV. But not for this man. His daughter, Shelby, says her father watches TV standing up.

“Drives me nuts,” he admitted. “But I’m tapering off on that.” And on all those hours too, he added.

Crisp turned 62 in March, and most his life has involved navigating from one point to another, much of it on water.

“He is a character,” Legendary CEO Peter Bos said without hesitation. “I feel it’s a one-in-a-million opportunity to get him on our team.

“He has a demeanor and his background is such that people in boating really seem to like him,” Bos added. “He can be as technical as you can understand, but he also has the ability to communicate with people who are not technical in a way that doesn’t make them feel stupid or naive.”

Born in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, Crisp grew up in Australia’s commonwealth playing field hockey and sailing the saltwater Derwent River, which could be as much as 3 miles wide.

“My very first boat was Narranda; my mother named it, and I think it had an aboriginal meaning,” he recalled. “That boat was the love of my life. It was a 12-foot cadet dinghy, very quick, very wet and really fast. Organized chaos, we used to call it. It was like a surfboard with a mast and four guys hanging on.”

As a teenager, Crisp one day discovered a two-page centerpiece ad in The Australian newspaper that read: “America’s Cup Challenge team members required.”

It drew more than 3,000 candidates for what would be the 1974 races between Courageous from the United States and Southern Cross from Australia.

After two years of working through required programs, Crisp wound up being the very last of the 35 team members chosen.

During the ’70s young Captain Crisp (left) and his crew lured in plenty of big gamefish like this prize-winning 130-pound marlin at tournaments along the west coast while commanding Mass Confusion.

“It was not done alphabetically or numerically, it was just done randomly,” he recalled. “Somebody had to be last, and it may as well be me. Looking back now, I would probably have a different reaction, but it was OK.” Even though Courageous defeated Southern Cross 4-0 and “gave us a thrashing in what not to do,” Crisp’s life would never be the same.

Soon afterward, he became part of the crew on Kialoa III, an 80-foot Maxi-Ocean racer that dominated its sport. It broke the Sydney to Hobart Race record in 1975 and held the mark for 21 years.

Victories included winning the Transatlantic, Transpac, China Sea and World Ocean Racing Conference championships. It also became the first such boat to travel through the newly reopened Suez Canal in 1975. Along the way, Crisp logged more than 150,000 nautical miles.

As documented on Legendary’s website, his résumé includes stints as: ■ Director of service for Bertram Yachts with responsibility for the Western United States; ■ Director of operations for the Newport Harbor Shipyard and Development in California; ■ Manager and developer of Clearwater Bay Marine and Country Club in Hong Kong;

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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All of which adds up to Bos referring to Crisp as “the hero of his own novel.”

In California, he met Fred Pace, who was a founding partner of Legendary LLC. In March 2004, Crisp made his first visit to what would become known as the Emerald Coast.

“I immediately fell in love with Destin,” he said. “It was one of those picture-perfect days, and I went over the East Pass bridge and went, ‘Wow.’ The water was crystal clear, and I went swimming in the Gulf. I thought it was pretty balmy at 72 degrees, but everybody thought I was nuts.”

Once committed to joining Legendary, Crisp brought his wife, Casey, and daughter, Shelby, with him. Shelby Crisp, 29 years old, works in the accounting department at Emerald Grande. And her father’s maximum commitment to his job has not infringed on their family ties.

“He’s very supportive,” Shelby Crisp said. “He’s one in a million to me, because he’s helped me through some bad times in recent years. He’s constantly been by my side.”

Legendary Marine’s Destin location has grown to include a storage facility with 750 berths, and those are 97 percent full, according to chief operating officer Pete Knowles. Crisp also stated that his parts and service staff of 32 people generated about $7.5 million last year.

And in 2012 and 2013, Legendary was voted Dealer of the Year by the North American Marine Association, and thereby entered its Hall of Fame along with Galati and Marine Max. “Customers have gotten to know him and trust him with their boats,” Knowles said. “Whenever he says, ‘You need to do this or that,’ they do it. They know he’s honest, he’s right and he’s not just trying to sell them something.”

Crisp does not make any attempt to take personal credit for success.

“It’s been a very unique experience,” he summarized. “Our location in Destin and this particular facility have allowed the growth of the parts and service department.

“You’d never be able to repeat this anywhere else in the United States,” he said.

“Eighty percent of our clients don’t live in the state of Florida. They live anywhere from Texas to Tennessee. We also have a great relationship with a lot of people who don’t keep their boats in the barn, but who bring their boats back to us for service. We all have clients that won’t deal with another person in the company. They deal with that person they’ve had an alliance with over the course of time.”

True to form, Crisp cites “the human aspect” as the key element. The average Legendary company experience with his employees is seven to 10 years.

“First of all, we look after our people,” he said. “Our people come first and our clients come second. We believe that if our people are looked after and handled as family, then the family will take care of our clients, and that’s come from a lot of perseverance and a lot of training.

“We operate on the basis of the client is always right regardless of demeanor, and we have nurtured our people to respect those people who come down to use their boat an average of 7.2 times a year,” Crisp added. “They might need a boat like a hole in the head, but if we can give them something to play with and have a great time, they’re going to come back, keep their boat here and service their boat here.” ec

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editor’s choice

Hungry in Paradise Needy Families Find Food and Help from Organizations Around the Region

BY REBEKAH SANDERLIN

28 August–September 2015

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L

ife is what happens when we’re busy making other plans. A woman we will call JoAnna for the purposes this story didn’t foresee getting a divorce and becoming a single mother of five kids ranging in age from 2 to 20. Nor did she anticipate getting laid off from her job.

A college-educated 43-year-old, JoAnna grew up in a two-parent household where she routinely enjoyed a hot breakfast. She packed a lunch before heading off to school and gathered around the dinner table with her family in the evening to talk about the day’s events. She didn’t think three square meals a day was a luxury. She didn’t think much about food and where it came from at all — until her own kitchen cupboards were nearly bare.

Photos by Jacqueline Ward Images

COURTESY OF TIFFANIE SHELTON

When Tiffanie Shelton realized children in her own community were going hungry, she founded Food For Thought. Now in its fifth year, the Santa Rosa Beach-based non-profit service organization packs food in backpacks weekly for more than 800 children in 15 schools within Okaloosa and Walton counties; Food For Thought accepts donations at its Santa Rosa Beach pantry at 132 Market St. on Tuesdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

According to Feeding America’s “Hunger in America” report for 2012, 138,040 people in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties are “food insecure,” which means that they may not know where their next meal is coming from. To put it into perspective, that’s the equivalent of roughly half the people in Escambia County.

Destin bills itself as the world’s luckiest fishing village, and the Emerald Coast is home to scores of restaurants, many staffed with top-notch chefs, ready to satisfy nearly any craving from Cajun to Cantonese. It seems as though food is everywhere we look and a part of nearly everything we do.

But throughout the Florida Panhandle, thousands of people like JoAnn aren’t sure where they’ll get their next meal.

“There are many things that make this an attractive place to live and go on vacation, but that doesn’t mean we are excluded from the realities of life,” said Tiffanie Shelton, the founder and executive director of Food For Thought, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Rosa Beach that provides food to children in Okaloosa and Walton counties. “People imagine hunger and they think of the Third World, they think of children with distended bellies and flies on

their faces. But when you’re living paycheck to paycheck and something happens, the first thing that goes is the money for food.”

According to Feeding America’s “Hunger in America” report for 2012, 138,040 people in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties are “food insecure,” which means that they may not know where their next meal is coming from. To put it into perspective, that’s the equivalent of roughly half the people in Escambia County.

Shelton’s cheerful expression quickly turns serious when she talks about the importance of the work she and her volunteers, as well as other organizations around the region, are doing. She stumbled into this work five years ago. Then a single mom, Shelton first heard the phrase “food insecure” when she went to register her son for kindergarten at Butler Elementary School on 30A. One of the forms asked about her family’s access to food.

“My eyes were completely opened to what was going on in our community,” Shelton said. She asked the principal if there was something she could do to help.

“I just went to the store and bought food for six kids. Word got out quickly. Six turned to 16 and then to 36. Kids began asking for help.”

Shelton told a few friends what she was doing and they, too, were eager to help. They began meeting at her home on Thursday nights to assemble bags of food for the kids to take on Fridays so they would have something to eat over the weekend. The children all received free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school but often had little to eat on Saturdays and Sundays and during holiday breaks.

After two years, Shelton and her friends were helping 125 kids every week. They had branched out to other elementary schools, and people in the community had begun to donate money and food items to their efforts. They registered as a nonprofit and, with financial support from the community, Shelton left her job and began working full time for Food For Thought.

Now in its fifth year, Food For Thought provides food for more than 800 children in 15 schools and two counties every week, including holidays and summer vacation, distributing more than 50,000 food items every month.

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

29

editor’s choice “I’d love nothing more than to be out of a job next year because no one needed our help anymore,” Shelton said. “But every year, more and more kids need our help.”

That’s a reality Jerry Ogle knows well. He has been putting food on strangers’ tables for 30 years.

“It’s not a question of ‘Is there hunger in this area?’ Yes, of course there is. There are hungry, needy people everywhere,” Ogle said. “The question is, ‘What are we being called to do about it?’”

In the summer of 1985, Ogle heard his pastor preach a sermon about how people needed to help the needy all year round, not just at the holidays. The message stuck with him, and afterward, Ogle told his pastor that he wanted to start a food outreach program.

With his pastor’s encouragement, Ogle raised about $5,000 and delivered meals to 30 families that year. Seeing that the need was larger than he realized, he was determined to keep up the effort — and Harvest House was born. Ogle soon realized that he needed a way to continually fund the food pantry, so he opened a thrift store, too. Now, 30 years later, Harvest House operates a food pantry and thrift store in Destin and

helped start a residential facility, Hosanna House, where otherwise-homeless women develop knowledge and skills leading to a fresh start in life.

“You never know what’s going to happen here,” said Lori Joyner, executive director of Harvest House. “People just show up here, Monday to Friday, 10 to 12. Some days, more than 20 people will come through; some days, we’ll see only five. In an average month, Harvest House supplies food to 300 to 400 people. We see different people every month.

Some get back on their feet and they don’t need our help anymore. Some show up here in Destin hoping for a better life, and sometimes they get here and can’t find work.”

Joyner said that the thrift store also functions as a place where people in need can get information on services in the area, and maybe just rest and relax for a few minutes.

Like other food pantries in the region, Harvest House accepts donations of both money and food. It distributes food items that are donated and uses the money it receives to purchase food to give away.

“It’s in my heart to fight for families,” Joyner said. “People can’t make ends meet.

Feeding the community keeps families to-

gether and keeps children more focused at school. It changes a community for the better when the community comes together to give food.”

She said that some families who come to the Emerald Coast on vacation spend the first day of their trip volunteering their time at Harvest House. And donations are collected at conventions held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Snowbirds who are familiar with Harvest House’s mission often bring their unopened, non-perishable food to donate to the pantry before they return home.

“We try not to throw anything away,” Joyner said. “Clothes that can’t be sold here are donated to a mission in Appalachia, West Virginia, and Mission Love Seeds accepts the Happy Meal toys that get donated and sends them to children in the Philippines.”

Through food pantries in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville, Sharing and Caring also has been feeding hungry people in the region since 1985. The organization was founded by local churches and the Kiwanis Club.

“Sometimes it’s generational — people have grown up in this situation,” said Aleta Milton, volunteer president of the

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Anyone at or below 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines qualifies for assistance. The annual earnings amount varies depending on the number of people in the family. For an individual, that means that he or she earns less than $17,505 a year. For a family of four, that means earning less than $35,775 annually.

Sharing and Caring pantry in Niceville.

“They’ve seen it with their parents and grandparents, and it’s a cycle that they’re in. A lot of times, we’ll have people who have had some kind of illness or injury that has kept them from working, and it’s just wiped them out. People get laid off from their jobs, go through their savings and they’re hungry. Women come out of an abusive relationship and they have kids they have to feed.”

Each Sharing and Caring pantry serves people who live in that specific area. People are asked to show some form of proof of residency when they apply for help, and they must meet an income-based needs test, Milton said. Anyone at or below 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines qualifies for assistance. The annual earnings amount

varies depending on the number of people in the family. For an individual, that means that he or she earns less than $17,505 a year.

For a family of four, that means earning less than $35,775 annually.

Sometimes individuals are in need of other forms of assistance, too — such as help paying a utility bill or rent — and Sharing or Caring helps them find that assistance.

Manna Food Bank has operated four food pantries in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties for 32 years.

“If you come to see us, you’re usually at the bottom of the ladder,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “You might not be able to pay your utility bill, or rent or mortgage, or you’ve got dental problems, or need to see a doctor or something.”

Flounlacker said that people seeking help

are interviewed by volunteers to make sure they qualify for help. After the interview, the client walks over to the warehouse and picks up enough food for five days. Volunteers are trained to listen carefully to the clients during the interview to refer them to resources in the community that can help with medical and other needs.

“Before I came to Manna, I thought that the people who needed food were like the homeless guy under the bridge,” Flounlacker said.

“In reality, only about 7 percent of the people we’ve helped have been homeless. Most of the people we see are families who have children. Many of them have been employed, and may still be employed, but their hours were cut, or they had to take a lesser-paying position. We see a lot of people who have had an unexpected expense. People live paycheck to paycheck, and one thing can throw everything out of whack and create chaos.”

Last year, Manna provided food to 32,868 people, Flounlacker said. In addition to the food pantry program, Manna also operates a backpack program for teenagers, similar to the program Food For Thought operates in Okaloosa and Walton counties, but for older children.

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editor’s choice FEEDING AMERICA MAP THE MEAL GAP: THE COUNTIES OF THE EMERALD COAST

Feeding America first published the Map the Meal Gap project in early 2011 to learn more about the face of hunger at the local level. In August, 2011, child food insecurity data was added to the project. The chart below reflects 2013 data for the Emerald Coast area. To learn more about the residents struggling with hunger in other communities and the food banks that serve them, visit feedingamerica.org.

ESCAMBIA, SANTA ROSA, OKALOOSA, WALTON AND BAY COUNTIES FOOD INSECURITY RATE

17.1%

FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE: 148,370

ESTIMATED PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AMONG FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE

35.4%

Above SNAP, Other Nutrition Programs threshold of 200% poverty

64.9%

Below SNAP, Other Nutrition Programs threshold of 200% poverty

2013 data

Average Cost of a Meal

$3.11

Additional Money Required to Meet Food Needs

$79,413,000 Source: feedingamerica.org

She said school administrators identify teens who are living on their own, perhaps sleeping in their cars, couch hopping or living in parks, and Manna provides backpacks with food for those students.

“The school district can actually tell us how the students are doing and the impact the food is having,” Flounlacker said. “We’ve learned that the students are able to use the food in the backpacks as bartering chips. They can offer to share food with someone in exchange

32 August–September 2015

for having a place to stay. The people they’re staying with may need the food, too. That’s not something we set out to do, but it works.”

Since last year, Manna also has operated a food program for senior citizens living at Westminster Village, a low-cost retirement home in Pensacola.

“Senior hunger is a huge program in our country and in our community,” Flounlacker said. “There aren’t a lot of resources available for senior citizens.”

Once a month, Manna delivers about one

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

week’s worth of food to 160 seniors who meet the income qualifications at Westminster Village. Flounacker said that the average resident they help at Westminster is 71.5 years old, female, a widow and has an income of $800 each month.

“On average, those clients only spend $107 a month on food,” Flounlacker said. “They were getting poundcake from Walmart or wherever and then slicing it into 20 different pieces, and that was all they would eat for days.” She said that Manna pays particular attention to nutrition, especially with the food they provide to seniors, because some of their senior clients were suffering from malnutrition.

JoAnna, the divorced mother of five, maintains a positive outlook and stays strong for her kids, who are now on their school’s free lunch program. But she no longer tries to make too many plans, focusing instead on meeting her family’s basic needs in the moment.

“I had to pull my youngest out of day care, and it’s very hard to find a job while taking care of her,” she says.

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a good day.

JoAnna’s sister has agreed to take her to the commissary to buy food — that’s the plan, anyway. ec

WANT TO HELP? Find out more about the hunger problem locally and nationwide by searching the “Map the Food Gap” function at FeedingAmerica.org.

(See example on page 32.)

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Volunteers and donations are always welcomed at our local pantries. » Food For Thought 132 Market St., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 fftfl.org, (850) 290-4056 Monetary and food donations are welcomed. Visit the website for guidelines. Volunteers are needed to sort food and to assemble and deliver backpacks.

» Harvest House 300 Mountain Drive, Destin, FL 32540 harvesthousedestin.com, (850) 837-2277 Monetary and food donations are welcomed. Nearly all types of clothing and household goods are accepted to be sold in the thrift store. Visit the website for guidelines. Through Food Pantry Partners, donors can sign up to give monthly donations, drafted automatically from a bank account. Volunteers are needed to work in the food pantry and thrift store and to sort and test items that are donated.

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» Manna Food Pantries Main Pantry PENSACOLA 116 E. Gonzalez St., Pensacola, FL 32501 mannafoodpantries.org, (850) 432-2053 Accepts food and monetary donations; visit the website for information. Volunteers are needed to schedule, register and interview clients, sort and deliver food, work in the garden and assist in event planning.

Additional Manna pantries are located in: CANTONMENT Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, 206 Pace Parkway MILTON Community of Christ Church, 110 Raymond Hobbs Road JAY First Baptist Church, 214 S. Alabama St.

» Sharing and Caring sharing-n-caring.org Accepts food and monetary donations; visit the website for information. Volunteers are needed to schedule, register and interview clients, sort and deliver food and assist with other functions.

Pantries are located in: FORT WALTON BEACH 126 Beal Parkway SW, (850) 244-0778 NICEVILLE 104 Bullock Blvd., (850) 678-8459 CRESTVIEW 298 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., (850) 682-1907

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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30A Store • 30A Vet 30A Learning Academy Artists at Gulf Place Coastal Paradise • Dipity Do Dah Kids Furry Fanatics • Islanders Coastal Outfitter Jade Nails • Jewel Toffier • Kindal’s Hair Studio La Playa • Level 2 Design • Ocean Elements Day Spa The Perfect Pig • Pilates by the Sea Pizza by the Sea • Preacher's Kitchen ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Santa Rosa Pharmacy • Soho Boutiques Sunrise Coffee Co. • Trustmark Bank YOLO Board + Bike

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34 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

scene What’s happening on the Emerald Coast? Here are just a few things we’ve heard about around the area.

PHOTOS BY RYAN MANTHEY OF PURE 7 STUDIOS (ABC/FISHER HOUSE), JASON SGOBBA/PHOTOGRAPHER850.COM COURTESY KW LUXURY HOMES INTERNATIONAL (COLE) AND JAKE MEYER COURTESY YOLO BOARD (MARSHALL)

NEW NEWS ▪ At press time, The Hub was slated to open on Scenic Highway 30A near WaterSound and Prominence. The mixeduse center will include Mile Marker Fifteen, Crave Roadside Burgers, Red’s Chicken Shack and Mr. Freeze, all overseen by executive chef Nickolaus Walton; Hughey’s General Store; and a 2,000-square-foot stage with a 25-foot Jumbotron screen, events lawn and covered pavilion.

▪ Keller Williams Realty recently announced that Cindy Cole, the No. 1 producing agent in the Destin-area luxury homes market, will Cole join the elite ranks of KW Luxury Homes International as it acquires the Cindy Cole Fine Homes brand.

▪ Community transportation in South Walton has taken another leap forward with the addition of a Grand Boulevard stop to the existing Sandestin Sandtram program. The route, which covers the entire 2,200-acre resort, including the Hilton Sandestin, now extends east to Grand Boulevard in both north and south directions. Pickup and drop-off will be at the Grand Park, located between Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Cantina Laredo.

Since May 2013, the Sandtram program has transported more than 410,000 guests.

▪ Grand Boulevard at Sandestin has opened Jimmy John’s sandwich shop and Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria.

▪ 30A Learning Academy, Islanders Coastal Outfitters, Preacher’s Kitchen and The Perfect Pig held a joint grand opening celebration at Gulf Place on 30A. ▪ Ron Green, founder of the Another Broken Egg concept, and Gene Speni, franchisee of 12 Bonefish Grill restaurants throughout the region, have partnered to open The Beach House in the beachfront location formerly known as Elephant Walk.

The casual eatery will feature coastal cuisine, sandwiches, salads and a rotating tapas menu. The bar area has been redesigned for optimal beachfront views.

Kim Henderson, Shirley Pigott, Teresa Halverson, Greg Postuika and Charles Bailes III

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION Representatives of Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, a non-profit helping military families in need, received $5,000 donated by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at ABC’s new store in Destin.

▪ White-Wilson Medical Center has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in echocardiography in the areas of adult transthoracic and adult stress. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission grants accreditation only to those facilities that provide quality patient care in compliance with national standards. White-Wilson is the only health care provider in the Fort Walton Beach community to receive this recognition.

▪ The University of West Florida has increased graduation (9 percent), retention (4 percent) and the percentage of students graduating in high-wage, highdemand areas (4 percent). The number of students who continue their education or are employed full time one year after graduation is up 2 percent, and average wages of recent graduates increased 6 percent from $31,000 to $32,900.

KUDOS & CONGRATULATIONS ▪ The Panama City Beach Chicken Salad Chick was awarded the People’s Choice Award at the restaurant chain’s annual franchise owner conference held in Auburn, Alabama. The award was given to the restaurant that received the highest percentage of positive reviews from guests.

▪ Okaloosa County Beach Safety was presented the 2014 Beach Patrol of the Year award by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association and the United States Lifesaving Association–Southeast Region. The award was presented at the 21st Annual Florida State Surf Lifesaving

Awards Banquet held on Okaloosa Island. Florida Beach Patrol looks at all programs across the state and chooses the team that sets itself apart based on its programs and statistics.

▪ Della Scott-Ireton, associate director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, received the 2015 Senator Bob Williams Award at the annual Florida Heritage Awards ceremony in Tallahassee for her contribution to exceptional historic preservation in Florida. Scott-Ireton has worked in Florida for 20 years, developing educational programs for divers and encouraging communities to value and preserve archaeological sites on land and underwater and developing educational programs for divers.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES ▪ Texas-based standup paddler Tyler Marshall has joined the YOLO Board Elite Race Team. The founder and owner of DFW Surf, a surf shop and paddle school Marshall in North Texas, Marshall finished 2014 as the WPA Region 12 champion in the 12’6” division. Marshall’s most recent paddling accomplishment was taking second place in the 12’6” division of the Hanohano Huki Ocean Challenge in San Diego in February. ec If you have news to share, email us at EC-editor@rowlandpublishing.com.

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

happenings EVENTS + CULTURE + CAUSES

spotlight

Paddle at the Porch

PHOTO COURTESY OF MC PHOTO/MCPHOTOS.COM

Ready, set, paddle! On Saturday, Aug. 15, “stand-up” water sport lovers can venture to the beach behind the Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House in Destin to vie for cash prizes, their name etched on a gleaming trophy and, of course, plenty of fun in the sun at the fourth annual Paddle at the Porch SUP Cup, open to all ages and skill levels. Early registration is $43 (1 mile) and $55 (3 and 6 miles); it’s $48 and $60 after June 30 and $55 and $75 the day of the race. There is a must-attend meeting at 9:40 a.m. for entrants, with the race to follow at 10 a.m. Racers can enjoy lunch at the Back Porch, and the first 200 will snag a free event T-shirt. The race is presented by the Destin Chamber of Commerce in partnership with BOTE and the Back Porch. Register by Aug. 13 at active.com or in person at the Destin Chamber. Racers and fans can follow the latest details of Paddle at the Porch on Facebook or at destinchamber.com. — Zandra Wolfgram

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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thecalendar august + september

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Introductory Classes in ShardART Mondays & Thursdays Create a masterpiece

using a mosaic-like technique of applying glass to canvas. Learn how to cut and shape glass using special tools. Design a painting with glass and objects. Once you are happy with your art piece, the ShardArt team will seal it by covering it with resin. It will be available for pickup the day after class.

All tools and materials are provided. This two-hour art workshop is open to all skill levels. Class registration begins at $85 (depending on size of art you make). The Shard Shop is located in The Shops of Grayton, 26 Logan Lane in Grayton Beach. The class is offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.to noon. To reserve your spot, call (850) 231-0544. For more information, visit the ShardShop.com.

38 August–September 2015

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Wednesday Night Concert Series The Village will stimulate your musical taste buds at its Wednesday Night Concert Series with musicians appealing to all tastes. The concerts are FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 7–9 p.m.

(866) 912-3224, baytownewharf.com

Thursdays

Red, White and Blue Celebration Come join us for a weekly honoring of a local hero. The celebrations highlight the efforts of people who go above and beyond to better their community. Enjoy live entertainment, kid’s crafts, face painting, the Village Belles,

+party

Sandestin Luau

Compiled by Zandra Wolfgram For more events in the EC, visit emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Tuesdays through Sept. 1 Head to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Tuesday evenings at the Baytowne Marina and get your hula happening at the weekly Sandestin Hawaiian Luau Feasts. Enjoy authentic Hawaiian Luau cuisine, island inspired cocktails and more. This feast also features family-friendly fun including live music, limbo contests, bonfires and capped off with amazing fireworks display over Choctawhatchee Bay.

+music

Bluegrass at the Beach

Tickets are $44 for adults and $20 for children.

Baytowne Marina at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W., Miramar Beach. 6:30-9 p.m. (850) 267-7778, sandestin.com/aloha.

Sept. 12 Celebrate the

20th anniversary of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation with their new cultural event presented in partnership with ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacations. Enjoy a day-long concert lineup on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Featuring headliner Blue Highway, The Hillbenders, Run Boy Run, Willie Sugarcapps, Moore Brothers Band, Dread Clampitt and Dismal Creek and a special appearance by rising star Danielle Yother performing at the Dugas Pavilion and the Village Green at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Center in Destin.

Tickets are $45 for MKAF members and $55 for adults.

VIP tables are $750. Children under 12 are free. Purchase your tickets online at mattiekellyartsfoundation.org.

For more information, call (850) 650-2226.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUN BOY RUN, SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (LUAU) AND ZANDRA WOLFGRAM (SHARDART)

Tucson-based five piece band, Run Boy Run, will bring a blend of bluegrass, folk and their old timey American sound to the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin during the inaugural Bluegrass at the Beach festival on Sept. 12.

a fire spinner and a vintage WWII aircraft flyover. The evening is topped off by a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor. FREE. HarborWalk Village, Destin.

7 p.m., emeraldgrande.com

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Harbor Docks ‘Big Deck’ Concerts Live music concerts. FREE. Harbor Docks, 538 Harbor Blvd., Destin. Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.

Harbordocks.com

Thursdays and Sundays

30A Farmer’s Market Every Sunday and on Thursdays (through Labor Day), you can venture to Rosemary Beach and

be transported to the West Indies. Shop for everything from farm-fresh eggs and sausages to fresh aquaponic veggies. Nibble fresh breads, pastries, desserts, fudge and candy.

FREE. Rosemary Beach Town Center on 30A. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 30afarmersmarket.com

Sundays

WaterColor Coastal Farmer’s Market Every Sunday and on Thursdays (through Labor Day), shop in an open-air market featuring a variety of local vendors with baked goods, produce, prepared foods and crafts.

FREE. Cerulean Park in WaterColor on 30A. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., 30Afarmersmarket.com

Arts and Design Society’s 16th Photography and Digital Arts Show Show of outstanding photography and digital arts by ADSO members and other photographers in the area. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. SE Fort Walton Beach. Opening reception Fri, Aug. 7, 6–8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tues–Fri, noon–4 p.m.; Sat, 1–4 p.m.

(850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Fridays

Downtown Art Walk Stroll Fort Walton Beach’s historic district every third Friday of the month and visit merchants from participating shops and restaurants while enjoying art demonstrations, live music, complimentary refreshments and special discounts. FREE. Downtown Fort Walton Beach. 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, email Jennifer Bundrick at downtownfwbartwalk@gmail.com.

Saturdays

Seaside Farmer’s Market Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and other unique offerings at the Seaside Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Held behind Raw & Juicy.

(850) 231-6107, seasidefl.com Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market This outdoor market features dozens of unique vendors offering locally sourced produce, eggs, milk, cream, butter, grassfed beef, chicken, lamb, pork, local honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams, as well as flowers, herbs, soaps and lotions. FREE. Grand Park in Grand Boulevard, 600 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

(850) 837-3099, grandboulevard.com Rock the Docks Live Bring your famly out for free concerts on the HarborWalk Village stage. Sept. 1, Modern Eldorados; Sept. 8, Continuum; Sept. 15, The Déjà vu Band; Sept. 22, Flash Food; Sept. 29, Hotel Oscar. FREE. HarborWalk Village, Destin.

7–9 p.m. Emeraldgrande.com

Gulf Place Summer Concert Series Head outdoors for a family-friendly concert.

FREE. Gulf Place Lawn, Town Center Loop, Santa Rosa Beach. 6–9 p.m. Gulfplacefl.com

Aug. 4–28

Aug. 18

Pinnacle Awards Luncheon Ten outstanding women who have made an impact will be honored by 850 — The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida at the second annual Pinnacle Award luncheon.

The Pinnacle Award designed to shine the spotlight on female business leaders who hold themselves to high standards and contribute to the better good of the community. The event is presented with support of Gulf Power A Southern Company. Watercolor Inn & Resort, 34 Goldenrod Cir, Santa Rosa Beach. 11:30 a.m. $75. 850businessmagazine.com/Pinnacle-Awards

Aug. 22

29th Annual Sandestin Triathlon More than 700 participants will endure a halfmile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike ride along the coast and a 4-mile run through Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s beach and bayside community. $110 for individuals; $200 for a three-person relay team. Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 6:30 a.m. (877) 276-8860, SandestinTriathlon.com

Aug. 28–30

‘Seaplane: An All American Musical’ Set in 1919, this adventure tells of the first successful flight over the Atlantic by pioneer Naval aviator Jack Towers in the NC-4 seaplane. Pensacola itself is wound into the

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thecalendar very fabric of this story as Towers attends the first Naval flight school aboard NAS Pensacola. The historic legacy lives on today, as the NC-4 built by Glenn Curtiss rests in our own National Naval Aviation Museum. $20. Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 22 E Intendencia St., Pensacola.Fri & Sat, 8 p.m., Sun 2:30 p.m. (850) 434-7760, seaplanethemusical.com

Sept. 1

Alys Beach 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Race to Alys Beach, located along Scenic Highway 30A, for a 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run that will wind through the beautiful town. The event also features an oversized obstacle course for kids of all ages and will end with music, food and beverages available in the amphitheater. Registration is $35 for the 5K and $10 for the 1-Mile Fun Run (kids 12 and younger only, please). Alys Beach. Noon–3 p.m. Alysbeach.com

Sept. 1–25

‘Black & White’ Show This art show will feature works, in any medium, in only black and white.

FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. Opening reception Fri, Sept. 11, 6–8 p.m. Gallery hours: Tues–Fri noon–4 p.m.; Sat, 1–4 p.m.

(850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Sept. 5–6

Labor Day Weekend Celebration Summer 2015 ends with a weekend of family activities, free concerts and fireworks. Rock the docks Saturday and Sunday one last time with a live concert in the Village. Sunday will be topped off by a vibrant fireworks display over the Harbor at 9 p.m.. FREE., HarborWalk Village, Destin.

Entertainment begins at 5 p.m. Visit emeraldgrande.com for a schedule.

Sept. 5–7

Baytowne Wharf Art Walk Welcome in the fall season under the moonlight with a three-day weekend good for the heart and soul. FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 5–10 p.m.

(850) 267-8117, baytownewharf.com

Sept. 6

Heather Hayes Experience The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation presents its seventh annual Labor Day Weekend Concert featuring the Heather Hayes Experience from Atlanta. The lively benefit concert is a tribute to Hayes’ late father, Isaac Hayes. Price TBD. Dugas Pavilion and Village Green, Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive West, Destin. 7 p.m.

(850) 650-2226, mattiekellyartsfoundation.org

Sept. 18–19

Fort Walton Beach BBQ Festival A two-day, family-friendly festival featuring great barbecue, great music and great beer sponsored by Okaloosa Gas. FREE. Fort Walton Beach Landing, 139 Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach. Fri, 4–10 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. (850) 244-8191, fwbchamber.com

Sept. 19

Sinfonia Bravo Beat 5K Run/Walk Race your heart out to race funds for the fifth annual Sinfonia Gulf Coast. $30 in advance, $35 day of. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. 7:30 a.m.

(850) 269-7229, sinfoniagulfcoast.org

Aug. 16 and Sept. 20

ArtWalk on the Harbor Every third Sunday dozens of artists come out to showcase their vibrant, engaging and creative artwork ranging from traditional to contemporary art, jewelry, paintings and more. You’ll find a mix of unique, handcrafted items from both emerging and established artists. FREE. HarborWalk Village, Destin. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., emeraldgrande.com 40 August–September 2015

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Sept. 23 & Oct. 26

A Day of Dialogue Series The fall Day of Dialogue series features influential speakers U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham (Sept. 23) and Florida A&M University president Elmira Mangum (Oct. 26). On Sept. 23rd Graham will host a question-andanswer session concerning issues in Congressional District 2. This event will be held at Florida State University Panama City Campus. 11:30 a.m.

Mangum will share the story about her path to success on Oct. 26 (time and location in Okaloosa County TBD. Tickets to each event are $45, tables are $150-$275. These sessions are presented with support from Gulf Power A Southern Company. For more information, visit 850businessmagazine.com/Pinnacle-Awards.

Sept. 24

Sinfonia Gulf Coast Presents Nikki Yanofsky An intimate cabaret-style performance by Canadian-born jazz and pop singing sensation Nikki Yanofsky followed by a gourmet wine dinner prepared by Chef Dan Vargo. $225. Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach. 5:30 p.m.

(850) 269-7229, sinfoniagulfcoast.org

Sept. 24

Arts and Design Society Luncheon Dulcie Scalf, an artist and teacher working in stained glass, will speak on her art. $12; $15 for reservations made after Monday, Sept. 22.

Art Center, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. 11:30 a.m. Send reservations requests to adsoluncheon@yahoo.com or call Stephanie at (850) 682-8827.

Sept. 26

Okaloosa/Walton Heart Walk Join the American Heart Association in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and stroke at the annual Heart Walk. The Heart Walk is a fun, family event featuring a noncompetitive 5K walk. Rain or shine! FREE with a suggested donation of $25. Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. 8 a.m. (800) 257-6941, Ext. 6082; oheartwalk.org

Sept. 26

Largest In-Store Inventory on the Gulf Coast!

Over 100,000 Square Feet of Showrooms New Selections Arriving Daily

Vettes at The Village Area Corvette clubs bring “America’s sports car” to the Village Events Plaza, shined to the max as they zoom onto the Village streets. Be a part of the show by voting on your favorite style and model. FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach.

Noon–5 p.m. (850) 267-8117, baytowneswharf.com

Sept. 27

Passport to Fashion: Brunch and Bubbly Enjoy an afternoon of sipping, socializing and shopping at the Sandestin Family Retail Shops. Collect a stamp on your passport and enjoy exciting culinary brunch treats paired with specialty cocktails along the way. Once your passport is full, enter your name and email address and return to Barefoot Princess, where you’ll turn it in and enter to win the grand prize.

Proceeds from the day’s purchases will be donated to the Sandestin Foundation for Kids. FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Miramar Beach. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (850) 351-1806 Save the Date!

October 5–11

South Walton Fashion Week Celebrate high fashion as local boutiques and designers showcase their style at the South Walton Fashion Week. Along with seeing the latest fashions, attendees can be a part of the fashion design competition, selecting emerging designers in an exclusive runway show featuring their original works. Tickets are $55–$75; VIP passes are $150. Proceeds benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance. Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach.

(850) 622-5970, swfw.org/tickets. ec

JMillersFurniture.com FREE In-Home Design Services GULF BREEZE 1149 Gulf Breeze Pkwy 850.934.6200

DESTIN 9705 Highway 98 850.654.8009

PENSACOLA 319 E Nine Mile Road 850.473.8002

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Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach

Vibrant beams of light danced and dashed across the white walls of Alys Beach, whose buildings provided a canvas for illuminated illustrations by seasoned and up-and-coming digital artists from around the world at the eighth annual Digital Graffiti festival held June 4–6. EC Magazine hosted the welcome party at the Fonville Press Courtyard. Festival attendees mixed and mingled while enjoying services and products provided by local vendors and were treated to a high fashion photo shoot by EC’s special guest photographer, Chase Yakaboski. Photographer Ryan Manthey of Pure 7 Studios — which specializes in lifestyle, beach, wedding and heirloom photography — captured the essence of the eventful evening from start to finish by seamlessly engaging with event attendees.

PHOTOS BY PURE 7 STUDIOS

Eye-catching BOTE paddle boards prominently displayed in a range of vibrant, hand-painted designs provided a perfect coastal-inspired backdrop for the evening’s photo shoots that proved as innovative, creative and dynamic as the stand up paddle board company itself.

Guests lined up for flirtatious, bohemian body art hand-painted by a cadre of creative artists from EC Magazine. EC Lounge guests became a part of the Digital Graffiti experience as their playful “tattoo” designs came to life with the illumination of black lights throughout the festival.

Fishers Flowers and Events, which has been tailoring memorable events for clients along the EC since 2007, gave the EC Magazine Lounge a sexy, sultry South Beach vibe with chic summer white furniture, elegant florals and decadent décor design touches that created a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere that encouraged attendees to linger in the lounge.

Upon signing up for EC Magazine’s text messaging perk program, Top of the EC, attendees received complimentary signature cocktails created by Cathead Vodka, composed of Honeysuckle Vodka, lemonade and a hint of lavender.

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Art, fashion and culture blend in the EC Magazine Lounge at Digital Graffiti.

The hard-working team of people who made the EC Lounge possible came together for a group photo to show off the flawless fashions of Alys Shoppe, while celebrating the success of the night. Pictured from left to right are: Back row - Sarah Ashley Yasi, Rhonda Murray, Daniel Vitter, McKenzie Burleigh, Isabella Chance, Carlin Trammel, Dawn Christy Hamil, Rachel Klaeger, Christie Green and Zandra Wolfgram; Front row - Darla Harrison, Alyssa Gross Walker, Tracy Mulligan, Latrice Freeman, Marta Rata, Piper Arielle Williams and Leigha Inman.

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DJ Lady Muse kept everyone moving with her upbeat and high energy beats, contrasted with minimalist warm melodies. DJ Lady Muse has been introducing her 30A audience to her deep house, progressive and trance sounds since 2008.

PHOTOS BY PURE 7 STUDIOS (DJ LADY MUSE, MODELS, WINNING ARTIST PRESENTATION AND U.S. GOLD GYMNASTICS AND CHEERLEADING), CHASE YAKABOSKI (GROUP SHOT)

Models and event attendees circulated the area in high fashions from the Alys Shoppe, turning heads and raising eyebrows. The community’s first retail shop is a resortlifestyle boutique featuring a carefully curated collection of unique apparel and accessories. The trend of the night was the fine line between swimwear and everyday wear.

At the conclusion of the night, the highly anticipated announcement of the winning artist of Digital Graffiti 2015 was made from the EC Magazine Lounge stage.

Yandell Walton received the prestigious honor of Best in Show for her “Human Effect,” which depicted the destructive result of human touch to Mother Nature.

Four ever so talented and flexible gymnasts from U.S. Gold Gymnastics and Cheerleading provided live entertainment to guests as they waited their turn to participate in the photo shoot. Their grace, balance, strength and coordination awed the crowd throughout the evening.

See video highlights at emeraldcoastmagazine.com EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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BEST OF THE 2015

CELEBRATION

October 24 |

6:00 pm

to

9:00 pm

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® The 2015 winners will be on display at Grand Boulevard for an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment. Join us at our 16th annual event as we sample from the best restaurants, shopping and businesses on the Emerald Coast.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AUGUST 1 $30 IN ADVANCE | $40 DAY OF EVENT | $75 VIP

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM Sponsored by

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Presented by

Benefiting

socialstudies EC Top Salon

Greg McKenzie, Michael Ruberti and Michelle McKenzie

Danielle and Matt Staver

Katy Grammer and Crystal Trinidad

Steve Barber, The Tooth Fairy and Dr. Dennis Lichorwic

Robin Cannon with Ora and Olin Wolfgram

April 10, 2015 The fiercest competition on the Emerald Coast, presented in part by The Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, took place at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach and was full of excitement. Eleven deserving local “models” were transformed from head to toe by talented local salon team finalists during EC Magazine’s fourth annual signature style event. The newly made over models strutted their stuff down the runway as their salon team, family and friends cheered them on. The night’s winning salon was Avantgarde Salon and Spa. Their model was Dayna Iscano and their charity of choice was Gulf Restoration Network. Guests were also treated to a live performance by Elvis impersonator extraordinaire Ron Adams, silent and live auctions, food, drinks and plenty of fun.

Photos by Chase Yakaboski

Don and Sandy Evers with Kathleen Wynn

The Shard Shop Opening April 12, 2015 Award-winning mixed media artist Mary Hong opened her second gallery, The Shard Shop, within the Shops of Grayton off Country Road 283 in Grayton Beach. Guests nibbled on sea-glass colored rock candy, sipped Emerald-colored lemonade, listened to acoustic guitar instrumentals by Karl Shaw, shopped the retail space full of coastal-inspired glass-themed art and merchandise, and tested out the a mini version of the glass art workshop taught regularly at the sunny yellow boutique cottage.

Rain, Mary and Kai Hong

Photos by Zandra Wolfgram EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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CCI150124_CHL T2_Coast Mag_Rest_7.25x10 1

4/21/15 6:46 PM

socialstudies The Beach House Grand Opening April 13, 2015 The Beach House (formerly Elephant Walk) reopened its newly renovated two-story beachfront eatery within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort to local guests and visitors who were invited to sample the menu and listen to live music from Chris Alvarado. Proceeds from the opening benefitted Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.

Photos by Kay Phalen Barbara and Gene Speni

Nick Binning, David Valentine and Amanda Harless

Lisa Morris and Ron Green

Jennifer Clark, Julie Hurst and Debbie Hollis

Robert Suastegui and Michelle Guilbeau Angela Clark-Smith, Gillian Osssmann (standing), Amanda Huber, Linda Riggs, Stephanie Dennis, Chastity Hueser, Ginger Carlson, A.J. Cooper, JoAnna Huber, Lisa Deshazer and Marchell Bedford

SunQuest/Solaris Champagne & Seafood Lunch Cruise April 17, 2015 Sparkling waves and wine set the mood for the second annual gourmet SunQuest Champagne & Seafood Lunch Cruise presented in partnership with Coastal Wine & Spirits aboard the Solaris. The festive event was a sell-out and kicked off the 29th annual Sandestin Wine Festival weekend.

Mara and Pete Viksnins

Photos by Zandra Wolfgram EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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EC MAGAZINE’S CITIZENS OF STYLE

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Know a fashion-forward individual with a passion for community?

EC MAGAZINE’S OF STYLE Nominate themCITIZENS today: EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/Citizens-of-Style 50 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

socialstudies

Mary Killoran, Kathye Verde, Lori Pocock, Lydia Kinkead, Carol Van Leer and Rob Van Leer

Ashley Copeland and Jerrod Lambert

29th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival April 18, 2015 Wine lovers ventured to The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin to mix and mingle while sipping and swirling hundreds of domestic and imported wines all while listening to live music.

Photos by Zandra Wolfgram Sheila Tourelle and Bev Dudley

Hillary Fosdyck and Briane O’Dell

Meredith and Bernard Veillon

Jeanne Dailey and Pat Blackshear

Newman-Dailey 30th Anniversary Party May 16 To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties invited guests to a poolside soirée at Sanctuary at Redfish in Blue Mountain Beach for tasty fare, live music, a silent auction and a meet and greet with New York Times best selling author Mary Kay Andrews.

Photos by Rhonda Murray

Allie, Johnna and Jeanne Strange EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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Destin

Fort Walton Beach

(850) 269-6400 Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

(850) 863-8203 Monday - Friday, 8 am - 7 pm Saturday, 8 am - 12 pm

(850) 396-0108 Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

(850) 729-4641 Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm Saturday, 8 am - 12 pm

52 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Niceville

socialstudies

Erin Ingram and Megan Harrison

Farrar Barker, Jennifer Moffatt, Cindy Garrard and Sarah Brazwell

Little Black Dress Party May 16, 2015 The Little Black Dress Party celebrated life and good health at the Sandestin Linkside Conference Center. Partygoers enjoyed a vintage circus theme along with delicious food, drinks, dancing and entertainment, and a silent auction. Proceeds from the night benefitted the White-Wilson Community Foundation to help provide mammograms to underserved women in the community.

Mike Freeman and Alan Geisman

Photos by Rhonda Murray

Joe and Donna Meeks and Chase and Laura Munro with the Digital Graffiti models

Sarah Ashley Yasi and Nick Empson with the Digital Graffiti models

Digital Graffiti

Michaela Smith and Amy Chen with the Digital Graffiti models

Courtney and Brett Ewing with the Digital Graffiti models

June 4–6, 2015 The eighth annual digital art show, Digital Graffiti took place at Alys Beach. The world’s first projection art festival displayed amazing and awe-inspiring artwork upon the iconic white walls of the small beach town. The EC Lounge, sponsored

by EC Magazine, offered guests a place to relax and listen to DJ Lady Muse spin sweet beats while sipping on signature cocktails. Artists from around the globe converged in Alys Beach to display their innovative artwork and compete for $10,000 in cash prizes.

Photos by Chase Yakoboski EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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life coaches SIX EDUCATORS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD WITH ANOTHER NEW GENERATION STORY BY THOMAS J. MONIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KANSAS PITTS

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Through sports I’ve learned that life is going to deal you some tough times, some adversity. And you just have to find a way to deal with them. You can’t avoid them — they’re bound to happen. Just take it head on. You can’t curl up in a ball and cry — they’re not going to go away.” — COACH SHERMAN JOHNSON, CHOCTAWHATCHEE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ WEIGHTLIFTING

Choctaw High School state champ Kiera Alexander with her hero, coach Sherman Johnson.

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t 6 feet, 4 inches and 260 pounds, Sherman Johnson looked the part when he came to Choctawhatchee High School as a football coach 15 years ago.

But in 2007, Johnson, who teaches social studies in the classroom, made an unusual “athletic move.” He dropped football and became coach of the girls’ weightlifting team.

“He will step out of his comfort zone and take on groups of kids that need a coach, even if they are involved in an activity that he’s never coached before,” Choctaw Principal Cindy Gates said.

With Johnson in charge, Choctaw has produced three state champions: Nicole Corey (2010), Jamesha King (2011) and Kiera Alexander (2015).

“Weightlifting for years was a male-dominated sport, and at one time the girls didn’t even think it could be cool,” Gates said. “The real success is that Coach Johnson gets a large number of girls who aren’t involved in any other sport to come out and be proud of their physique.”

Part of Johnson’s appeal to youngsters comes from his realistic approach.

“Through sports I’ve learned that life is going to deal you some tough times, some adversity,” Johnson said.

“And you just have to find a way to deal with them. You can’t avoid them — they’re bound to happen.

Just take it head on. You can’t curl up in a ball and cry — they’re not going to go away.”

Johnson credits his late mother, Ellen Johnson, and Don Sharpe, his football coach at Woodham High School in Pensacola, as his role models.

“Both of them were great examples of hardworking people who worked tirelessly at making everyone around them better people,” he said.

Alexander didn’t hesitate when asked what makes Johnson special in her eyes.

“He’s the one coach who actually cares about all of his athletes,” she said. “He doesn’t favor a certain athlete — he treats us all the same.”

Johnson’s impact on young lives goes far beyond the weight room.

“If you ever need anything, you can come to him and he’ll do his best to help you as much as possible,” Alexander said. “He will go out of

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his way, even if he’s having issues in his life, to get you through what you need to get through. If somebody needs food, and they haven’t eaten all day, he’ll buy you something if you need it.”

That generous approach impresses newcomers to the weightlifting program.

“When the freshmen came in, they told me, ‘I’ve never had a coach like him, who cares so much about his athletes.’ They’ve never told him that, but they’ve told me that personally,” Alexander said.

“He’s a father figure, and that means a lot,” she said. “If I come to school and I have something going on at home, he’ll tell me what I should do. He’s the first one I’d come to if I was having a problem.”

LISETTE AND JEFF FIELDS BRING TEAM DIMENSION TO FORT WALTON BEACH Despite what some people might think, cross-country and outdoor track truly involve a team concept.

And at Fort Walton Beach High School, there’s a team involved in coaching both sports.

That would be Lisette Fields and her husband, Jeff.

“They’re really caring and supportive of everyone on the team, not

just individuals,” said Brooke Crane, who transferred in from California and became a star of the outdoor track team as a junior. “They’re not afraid to tell us if we do a bad job, and they’re definitely able to tell us when we do a good job and help us get better.”

Crane’s success is remarkable because she never competed in middle school. She leads off one relay, anchors another and runs individually in the 800 meters.

“Where I am right now, I wouldn’t be without them,” Crane said. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run my freshman year, because I hadn’t run before we moved here. After my mom got me to meet the coaches when I first got here, Coach (Jeff) Fields actually pulled me aside and told me a lot of people on the team go through the same thing I was going through. He helped me feel more at home with everyone and helped me feel more part of the team.”

Lisette Fields teaches sign language and English, and much of her time is spent with development and training in both sports. Jeff Fields is a retired Air Force major and Department of Defense contractor whose focus is on what happens at the meets.

“They identify so well with students,” Principal John Spolski said, “and once they’re out there working with kids, they do a great job of placing them, pushing them or steering them toward events they would be successful in.”

Spolski is fairly new to his role as principal, but he recognizes success when he sees it.

“I think they work real well together,” he said. “There are times when one is the hammer and the other is the compassionate one. They have a complementary relationship

Success is achieving something that you never thought you could. Not all of our athletes are college recruits. We have athletes who may not have made another sport, varsity or even JV, but we do not cut any athletes.” — COACH LISETTE FIELD, FORT WALTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY AND OUTDOOR TRACK

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Coaches Lisette and Jeff Fields keep Viking Brooke Crane on the run.

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between the two of them, and anytime you have a team jelling and working well together, the kids are excited, everyone at school and the community is excited. Competing at a high level and having victories at those levels is pretty exciting stuff.”

But achievement in these sports does not always involve taking home a gold medal.

“Success is achieving something that you never thought you could,” Lisette Fields said. “Not all of our athletes are college recruits. We have athletes who may not have made another sport, varsity or even JV, but we do not cut any athletes.

“We believe all high school students deserve the experience because of the life lessons that come with being part of a team,” she said. “These kids of all ability levels can achieve success that is measured for each in different ways: winning a race, setting a personal record, moving from junior varsity to varsity, using the discipline you learn in our sport in the classroom or being a good team leader.”

NICK BORTHWICK, A MAN OF MANY DIMENSIONS AT SOUTH WALTON Nick Borthwick sees a direct relationship between his duties in the classroom and on the field at South Walton High School.

On the athletic side, Borthwick is the head baseball coach and an assistant with the football staff.

“We encourage our athletes to be students first and to take care of their schoolwork,” he said, “because no matter what their talent, if they don’t have the grades, they’re going to be limited in their opportunities in life.”

Borthwick lists his core values as teamwork, discipline and character.

“We really preach that the team comes first,” he said, “and to be coachable is an important life skill.”

Borthwick also teaches intensive reading in grades 9-12 and an elective known as AVID — which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.

“The most motivating factor for me is when a student who can’t read when he starts out comes up and gives me a high five with tears in his eyes. That’s a rewarding moment,” he said. “My overall approach is —

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Coach Nick Borthwick plays hard ball with versatile new graduate Zach Lance.

The most motivating factor for me is when a student who can’t read when he starts out comes up and gives me a high five with tears in his eyes. That’s a rewarding moment. My overall approach is — you will think, read, write and speak better when you leave here.” — HEAD BASEBALL COACH NICK BORTHWICK, SOUTH WALTON HIGH SCHOOL

you will think, read, write and speak better when you leave here.”

But that’s not all.

Borthwick also serves as one of the moderators of the newly formed Outdoor Club along with Bruce Bates; the activity has attracted more than 80 students.

“We participate in outdoor community-service projects,” he said, “and 20 kids have gotten a hunter safety card through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission office in DeFuniak Springs.”

South Walton Principal Alexis Tibbetts has been impressed with Borthwick since her recent arrival at the school.

“Our students love and respect him because he is smart, fun, down to earth, caring and has a fabulous sense of humor,” Tibbetts said. “He instills a ‘can do’ attitude in students, and his players, both on and off the field, attain more than they even believe they can.”

Zach Lance, a pitcher and catcher on the baseball team who graduated spring 2015, also cited Borthwick’s total commitment.

“He’s always going the extra mile for us to become better students and athletes,” Lance said. “I can contact him 24/7 and he’ll always be there for me.”

Education is a family affair in the Borthwick household, with Nick’s wife, Nina, teaching seventh-grade math at Emerald Coast Middle School. They have three children: son Coleman, 6, daughter Kendall, 4, and son Clayton, 2.

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I most certainly use ‘tough love.’

They will all tell you, ‘When she quits hollering at you, that’s when you worry.’ I learned that from my high school coach, Tim Alford. Hard work is essential and attitude is everything — we all must give if we want to get.” — COACH HILLARY WILLIAMS, FREEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Coach Hillary Williams shoots and scores big with tenacious Bulldog Molly Head.

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Coleman “is our self-proclaimed kicking coach” for the football team, according to Nick, and Clayton threw out the first pitch on his second birthday, after which South Walton defeated Port St. Joe, 10-3.

How to juggle family life with a job that can consume 70 hours a week?

“It’s a balancing act, and my wife is the backbone of the family,” Nick Borthwick said.

“Let’s just say that we’re very organized,” Nina Borthwick added.

“First and foremost, we communicate with each other, and our home functions on a schedule and a routine. We put family first, and everything falls into place.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIVIDUAL

FREEPORT’S HILLARY WILLIAMS A CHAMPION AS PLAYER AND COACH Hillary Williams has the distinction of having played on one state championship basketball team and coached another.

Williams was a sophomore on Ponce de Leon’s 2000 Class 1A title team, and she served as an assistant to Mike Myrick when Freeport High School’s girls took home the Class 1A trophy in February of this year.

“I was aggressive,” Williams said of her playing days. “Fouling out was not foreign to me.”

Myrick, who has spent 18 of his 26 years coaching at Freeport, summarized his assistant this way: “She does all the little things over and over until she gets it right, and she just brings that intensity to practice. Her knowledge of the game is outstanding, too.”

In addition to being the head coach of girls’ basketball at Freeport Middle School, Williams teaches English IV, English IV Honors and AP Literature and Composition, as well as intensive reading for juniors and seniors. She is also a senior class sponsor.

“She’s great for the school,” Myrick said. “She was the Anchor Club sponsor and she coached cheerleading. Anything she could help with, she’s always been involved.”

There was no hesitation when Williams was asked about her basic approach.

“I most certainly use ‘tough love,’” she responded. “They will all tell you, ‘When she quits hollering at you, that’s when you worry.’ I learned that from my high school coach, Tim Alford. Hard work is essential and attitude is everything — we all must give if we want to get.”

Freshman Molly Head did not play middle-school ball, but Williams had known her for several years and talked her into trying out for the varsity. Not only did she make the squad, but Head ended up starting after Mary Kate Myrick was injured and missed much of the season.

“There was a lot of pressure, but she got me through it by talking to me a lot,” Head said. “If I had a bad day at practice, she was always there to talk me through it. She’s like another mom to me. She’s a great coach and a great person.”

Husband Shane Williams coaches baseball and football at Freeport, and he teaches exceptional-student education, so there is no “off-season” in the Williams household.

“We basically live at Freeport High School,” Hillary Williams said. “Some days we’re there for 16 hours, but we do our best to stay at home at least one day a week. I am very blessed to have someone who is understanding and shares my love of sports.”

Shane Williams chimed in: “The biggest part of being married to a coach when you are a coach is to be supportive, compromising and organized.”

GREG WATSON MAKES IMPACT QUICKLY AT CRESTVIEW When Greg Watson arrived from Alabama two years ago to coach at Crestview High School, he knew he’d be facing multiple challenges. Beyond winning boys’ basketball games, he would have to win over new people in a closely knit community.

“Once you get to know him, he can be fun,” said Dakota Childre, a senior shooting guard on a team that won 11 of its last 13 games and made the regional final to finish with a record of 20-10.

“He’s not always stressed out,” Childre added. “He can joke around with you. We trust him and he trusts us — with him it happened quicker than you’d expect. He takes things slow. He’s always preaching to us during a game to just go possession by possession and don’t try to do it all at once. I look up to him.

Yes sir, I do.”

Watson teaches U.S. history as well as leadership. He also “runs the iPad” on the sideline at football games. His wife, Caroline, teaches fifth grade at Riverside Elementary School.

“The biggest thing for me was getting the players to buy in and become a close team,” Watson said.

“As the (first) year went on, our team chemistry became a lot better and as a result, we became a lot better team. As far as the community is concerned, everyone I’ve met in Crestview has been extremely supportive. This is a great community, and the people here are down to earth and fun to be around.”

Principal Dexter Day has been more than impressed so far.

“What makes him special is his passion for what he does, whether it’s in the classroom or on the court,” Day said. “That and his passion for learning and his passion for kids to get better and to help them in all capacities of life.”

I think coaches are measured by wins by the outside world. But most coaches measure themselves by the relationships that they have built and teaching young men to compete, have integrity and learn life lessons.” — COACH GREG WATSON, CRESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL

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I demand excellence, I don’t ask for it. I do always try to let the players know I care about them as individuals first. Most players appreciate it by their senior year, and certainly after they leave.” — FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOHN HICKS, NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Crestview High’s Leadership Program is a big part of this. Students get involved with multiple activities, such as school campus registration, mentoring and assisting teachers in the classroom on Fridays.

“I think coaches are measured by wins by the outside world,” Watson said. “But most coaches measure themselves by the relationships that they have built and teaching young men to compete, have integrity and learn life lessons.”

“He’s genuine,” Day said. “He carries a lot principles of life and commitment, and the kids see that and they believe in him. He talks the talk and walks the walk. It’s a great feeling for me as principal knowing I’m coming to school knowing he’s on my staff. I go to bed and rest assured that Greg will do a great job whether I’m there or I’m not.”

Caroline Watson met her future husband at a high-school basketball tournament in 2010. Her father, Vic Herren, was coaching there.

“I enjoy watching Greg get very passionate about what he does,” she said. “The late nights, not so much, but I enjoy watching him succeed doing what he loves.”

NICEVILLE’S JOHN HICKS A CLASSIC AS FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR When you shake hands with John Hicks, you realize right away you’re dealing with a classic football coach.

Big man with big hands. Speaks sparingly with a few carefully chosen words and a big voice.

Hicks has been at Niceville High School since 1985, and he’s been the head football coach for the past 15 years, compiling a record of 123-43.

The Eagles have played in state championship games in 2009 and 2013.

“The mission is to maximize the potential of every athlete and have them be a better person for being in

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our program,” Hicks said. “For the most part, every kid who has come through has learned a lot of lessons — hard work, discipline, overcoming adversity and seeking excellence.”

Which is the central theme for this career educator.

“I demand excellence, I don’t ask for it,” he said. “I do always try to let the players know I care about them as individuals first. Most players appreciate it by their senior year, and certainly after they leave.”

Joseph Blythe, who played fullback and offensive tackle on the 2014 team, is part of the first recruiting class at the University of West Florida’s fledgling football program.

“It’s the little things that makes Coach Hicks who he is,” Blythe said.

“He doesn’t let you get away with little things. I’ve never seen him operate at less than 100 percent.”

Daughter Karly Hicks knows quite a bit about this, since she was a manager for the football Eagles from 2004 through 2009.

“It was the first time I actually saw my dad as a coach,” she recalled.

“It was very different seeing him at practice than it was from the stands at a game. He was much more intense than I had seen him at home.

I’d never seen him yell.”

Karly Hicks already has a degree in microbiology from Auburn University, and she’s studying there now to be a veterinarian.

“My father really cares a lot about the kids and the type of job he does every day,” she said. “He’s always pushed the value of hard work, and that’s gotten me through so many things in college. He’s a good dad and a good coach, and he cares a lot about what he does.”

John Hicks is also the athletic director at Niceville High School, which means he’s responsible for 54 coaches and 23 teams at the school.

That can mean 70-hour work weeks during football season.

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“A lot of people don’t know what he does behind the scenes,” said Rodney Nobles, whose 30-year career with Okaloosa County Schools started when he and Hicks came to Niceville as football assistants in 1985.

“John has worked with all those programs over the years to get them up to state championship levels,” Nobles said. “Not all coaches are teachers, and he’s the one who makes sure they have the things they need to be successful in dealing with kids, parents and the community. He has a love for all the athletes at the school and wants to see them all do well.” ec

Athletic director and coach John Hicks never gives less than 100 percent.

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feature

Vibrant colors are painted overtop a vine on the 17th Street bridge train trestle, which has become a popular canvas for numerous Pensacola graffiti and street artists.

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PHOTOS BY RACHEL PONGETTI (17TH STREET BRIDGE) AND TOMMY CROW (HAVANA BEACH BAR & GRILL AND THE PEARL) AND COURTESY OF DONNA BURGESS (SANDESTIN WELCOME CENTER)

art in Unexpected Places TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF THE ARTY EMERALD COAST

l

ike everyone else, creative types are lured to the Emerald Coast by its delightful distractions — sugar-sand beaches, emerald-colored waters and the easy-breezy coastal lifestyle — which when combined are quite a creative muse. Now more than ever, the scene is teeming with talented artists, up-and-coming art galleries and working studios.

Fortunately for art-loving locals and visitors, you don’t have to head to a traditional gallery to find great art — though we certainly hope you do! In this edition of Culture, EC Magazine has compiled for you a self-guided tour of sorts filled with amazing art that we found in some unexpected and offbeat places.

So grab a friend and get out there on the arty Emerald Coast scene and paint the town … any color you choose.

South Walton is awash with colorful artwork. Take visiting guests and relatives to the Visitor Center (County Road 331 and U.S. Highway 98) to see works by nearly all 13 of the South Walton Artists of the Year, including 2015 Artist of the Year Juan Francisco Adaro. (For a full list, go to visitsouthwal-

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

ton.com and click on “What to Do.”) Then go north on County Road 331 to the South Walton Coastal Branch Library and check out the art on exhibit, which changes monthly. And if you are getting a driver’s or marriage license at the South Walton Courthouse Annex (off County Road 83), linger in the lobby to browse the photographs by Michael Granberry, glass art by Phil Kiser and abstract pieces by Michael McCarty.

With a name like WaterColor Resort Inn, you would expect watercolor paintings — and you would find them, along with 40 pieces of various types of art, throughout the resort’s spa, lobby and its restaurant, Fish Out of Water. Featured artists include Deann Hebert, Martin Figlinski, Mary Hong, Shelley Minchew, The Moore Family Folk Art, Aaron Sutton, Chandler Williams and David Williams. All of this amazing art is available for purchase, along with still more at the Blue Giraffe boutique, located across the street on Scenic Highway 30A. Step inside The Pearl hotel in Rosemary Beach and check out the colorful, cascading contemporary glass chandelier from Russ

Striking photographs and video footage captured in Cuba by photographer Tommy Crow add artful ambiance and a sense of place to the Havana Beach Bar & Grill; A luscious floor-to-ceiling landscape mural by Allison Wickey brings the outdoors in to a stately meeting room inside The Pearl hotel in Rosemary Beach; Watercolor artist Donna Burgess with her multi-panel coastal-inspired mural in the Sandestin Welcome Center.

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feature

Art teacher Tamala Cusomano used the Brooks Bridge as a canvas for a visual lesson on local history.

Gilbert’s Fusion Glass Art studio. Vintage-style photographs by Tommy Crow are on display throughout the hotel and video shot in Cuba plays on a loop on a large screen in the bar area of Havana Beach Bar & Grill. Using a 13-step, four-day process that employs Venetian plaster, acrylic paints and glazes, Allison Wickey created a luscious coastal landscape mural that graces the expanse of a wall in a pre-function space facing Rosemary Beach’s town center, allowing passersby to enjoy the beach anytime they like.

Aaron Sutton, Andy Saczynski and Allison Wickey are “making the local papers,” almost literally. They have transformed Walton Sun newspaper racks with their signature artistic style.

Find them near The Red Bar in Grayton Beach, near the Hidden

Newspaper stands painted by Aaron Sutton, Allison Wickey and Andy Saczynski perk up street corners throughout Walton county; Artist Andrea “Andi” Scurto (right) with her concept sketch for a “thought-provoking” mural she volunteered to paint on Destin Elementary School; The nearly final piece of art (right top) was a creative collaboration open to community volunteers.

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Finding Creative Inspiration Thanks to these artists and many, many more, the EC is filled with amazing art around every corner. Look for these Emerald Coast artists when you are next out and about and be ready to be inspired.

Donna Burgess Being greeted by gorgeous larger than life sea creatures is picture perfect for the Sandestin Welcome Center and the Emerald Coast Conference Center, but even better is meeting the artist herself at the Donna Burgess Gallery located in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.

PHOTOS BY CHASE YAKABOSKI (BROOKS BRIDGE & ALLISON WICKEY’S NEWSSTAND), LORI SACZYNSKI (ANDY SACZYNSKI’S NEWSSTAND), ZANDRA WOLFGRAM (ANDREA SCURTO) AND ALL OTHERS PROVIDED BY INDIVIDUALS

Carol Ann Cain You can bank on Carol Ann Cain’s boggy-inspired abstract paintings showcased in Community Bank in Miramar Beach and Niceville and head to CarolAnnCain.com to see more of her work and get in touch.

Lantern in Rosemary Beach and in high-traffic areas throughout South Walton County.

Part of the warm welcome at the newly renovated Sandestin Welcome Center is surely due to Donna Burgess’ large-scale watercolor paintings commissioned for the space. Find more of her coastal-inspired art at Hartel’s burger joint in The Village of Baytowne Wharf, which features a mural along one entire wall.

Burgess’ sea turtles, fish and other sea life seem to swim up and greet you as you enter the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Guests of the Bayside Inn are welcomed by a stunning, white, sea-inspired sculpture called “Children of the Sea” by Pete Peters, which is mounted above the reception desk.

The Grand Sandestin Conference Center is grand in part because of an impressive collection of art that includes largescale pieces by regional and local artists including Sally Boswell, Robert Constand, Maria Hoch, Howell Lotspeich, Susan Lucas, John Stanford and Eileen West.

Wayne Anderson’s Cabana Café might be famous for its chicken cordon blue pizza, but it’s the extensive collection of vivid engraved wood paintings by Tony Krysinsky that gives the Miramar Beach restaurant a cool, tropical vibe.

Coming and going to and from Niceville over the Mid-Bay Bridge, you can’t miss the larger-than-life mural by worldfamous coastal artist Wyland (who recently opened a gallery in the Market Shops in Miramar Beach). The 1,480-foot mural of magnificent whales and blue sky painted on the Legendary Marine dry storage facility in Destin is called “Marine Life of the Gulf” and is Wyland’s 88th “whaling wall” in a series of 100 murals painted on buildings around the world.

Brace yourself for a visit to M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics’ office in Destin. Given the collection there of surfing photography, folk art and mixed media pieces by Debbie Want-Lane, Kirk

Michael McCarty If you like what you see when venture to the South Walton Courthouse Annex, you can see more in the conference room of Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty or you can commission an original piece of art by this Dothan, Alabama born artist.

Mary Hong This art gracing walls of restaurants, businesses and interior design firms all along the EC is sharp no question about it.

Learn to make your very own glass art masterpiece during a workshop at the artist’s newest Grayton Beach gallery, The Shard Shop.

Tony Krysinsky When this surfer-turned-artist isn’t making art or music at his home in Perdido Key, he can be found at local art shows . Visit TonyKrysisnski.net to view a gallery of his work and a list of his upcoming art show dates.

Justin Gaffrey Enjoy Justin Gaffrey’s lusciously laden flowerscapes while you can at local airports, because as artists do, he is wiping the slate and trying his hand at a completely different style using metal, paint and string. Experience his latest work on exhibit at Justin Gaffrey Gallery in Santa Rosa Beach.

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feature Cauriezell, Bob Flack, sister artists A.K. Cole and Kim Schneider and others, going to the dentist is not at all like pulling teeth.

Community Bank in Miramar Beach and Niceville and One Water Place condominium located inside Kelly Plantation in Destin are home to dreamy landscape paintings by Carol Ann Cain, who says her bold, boggy pieces are inspired by the writer T.S. Eliot.

You can also find Cain’s work and those of many other artists in rotating art exhibits at the Destin-Fort Walton Airport.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport also proudly showcases eye-catching art by Justin Gaffrey.

If you are an Andy Saczynski fan, you can savor his artwork featured on packaging for Immaculate Baking Company’s Double Chocolate Cookie Mix, Organic All-Purpose Flour and most recently Oats & Honey Bars, products found at Costco, Target and local grocery stores. And thanks to art lover Chester Kroeger, Fudpucker’s restaurant on Okaloosa Island is nearly exploding with the artist’s unmistakable style painted on doors, walls, tables, even vintage radios!

Head farther west over the Brooks Bridge and stop off to see what’s under it. There you will find an evolving mural that showcases the talents of local art teacher Tamala Cusomano and others. Cusomano used the bridge as a canvas for images adding up to a lesson on local history.

What to make of the rotating art gallery at the Okaloosa County Courthouse? You be the judge. The Okaloosa Public Arts program recently partnered with the city to exhibit 92 works by 39 artists, including three pieces by Ed Chandler. You’ll just have to have your day in court to see what is displayed on the walls next.

A visit to Pensacola is made even more exciting with a drive by the 17th Street bridge train trestle, whose dynamic graffiti art was documented with stunning photographs taken by Rachel Pongetti over the course of 365 consecutive days. Her collection of photos was recently on display at the Pensacola Museum of Art. Art is on the move thanks to Okaloosa County’s Transit system. Passengers looking to pass the time on Bus No. 10 can enjoy a delicious piece of local children’s art that showcases the Krispy Kreme Donut shop in Destin.

With these creative stops on your self-guided tour, your next outing on the Emerald Coast will surely be picture-perfect. ec (clockwise) M. Scott Runnels, DMD seated in his practice brimming with artwork that reflects two of his personal passions: surfing and fishing; Locals use the 17th Street train trestle in Pensacola to say their goodbyes to departed loved ones; The Down Under bar on the lower level of Fort Walton Beach’s Fudpucker’s is awash in high contrast color and design thanks to Andy Saczynski’s vibrant folk art; Known simply as “the whaling wall” by locals, Wyland’s massive sea life mural has become a well known landmark for Destin; Saczynski’s “Queen of the Jungle” mixed media artwork can be found on Immaculate Baking Company cookie and baked goods packages on store shelves nationwide.

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This list is by no means exhaustive.

When you discover art in an unexpected place, we’d love to hear about it.

Join in our creative conversation by posting your arty hot spot to our Emerald Coast Magazine Facebook page, facebook.com/ emeraldcoast.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL PONGETTI (17TH STREET BRIDGE TRAIN TRESTLE), CHASE YAKABOSKI (FUDPUCKERS), SCOTT HOLSTEIN (LEGENDARY MARINE AND RUNNELS) AND COURTESY OF IMMACULATE BAKING COMPANY

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850 BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S 2015

PINNACLE AWARDS HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

AUGUST 18, 2015 WAT E R C O L O R I N N & R E S O R T 11:30 AM–1 PM

PINNACLE AWARD

PRESENTING SPONSOR HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORI

PINNACLE AWARDS

Ten women have been selected to receive the 2015 Pinnacle Award — women of character and integrity,

HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

our leaders, mentors and community servants. These honorees will be profiled in the 2015 October/November issue of 850 Magazine. We will host an intimate luncheon on August 18 at WaterColor Inn and Resort with an award ceremony recognizing the women and hear key subjects and insights from their success and experiences.

AND COMING THIS FALL

2015: Women of Interest

PINNACLE AWARD

Panama City September 23, 2015 Representative Gwen Graham 2nd District of Florida, U.S. House of Representatives

Okaloosa County October 26, 2015 Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. President, Florida A&M University

HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN 850BUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM/PINNACLE-AWARDS BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORI

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S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES It’s all about trust. Choices are made every day to consult professionals on matters as varied as event catering to legal representation. In this special advertising section of EC Magazine, you’ll meet some of the area’s top professionals in their fields who are dedicated to earning your business by providing solutions and services you can trust.

S P E C I A L A DV E RT ISING SECTION

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

FORT WALTON BEACH MEDICAL CENTER

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (FWBMC) is a 257-bed hospital with over 200 of the most highly respected and qualified physicians in the area. It is the only acute care hospital in the Tri-County area that offers open heart surgery, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center accredited by the Joint Commission, an Accredited Chest Pain Center and a Cancer Care Center that is an Associate of the University of Alabama (UAB) at Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network.

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center also provides advanced care for critically ill patients, including cardiovascular and trauma injury care units, and emergency services, including a main ER, Pediatric ER and Express ER. Fort Walton has been named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures™ by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America for the fourth year in a row. They are also one of only two hospitals in the area who scored the highest in Patient Safety from a national, nonprofit hospital safety watchdog agency.

10 0 0 M A R - W A LT D R I V E , F O R T W A LT O N B E A C H 8 5 0 . 8 6 2 . 1111 I F W B M C . C O M

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For expecting mothers, Fort Walton Medical Center’s highly skilled team of OB/GYNs and nurses provide compassionate care, while private labor, delivery and recovery suites offer a safe, supportive and homelike environment. Our unique Couplet Care system provides one nurse to help mother and baby off to a happy, healthy start. And should a delivery become high risk, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has the only Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with neonatologists available 24/7.

For a free physician referral or to speak with a registered nurse about your health questions, 24/7, please call Consult-A-Nurse at (850) 864-0213.

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TONY BROTHERS, MD NORTHWEST FLORIDA ORTHOPEDICS

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? I grew up always wanting to be a physician. My interest in sports led me to orthopedics. The ability to help patients get back to playing sports and performing activities of everyday life resonated strongly with me.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. Like many in our local area, I was raised in a military family. I spent my formative years living in Taiwan, Japan and Okinawa.

After my father retired in California, I chose the University of California San Diego for college because of its excellent pre-med program. Next I attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, which allowed me to combine medicine with serving my country. I served three years as a flight surgeon before being awarded a military scholarship to attend UCSD for my orthopedic residency. I was very fortunate to be assigned to Eglin AFB in 2003. I served as the Orthopedic chairman, Chief of Surgery and had two tours to Afghanistan prior to retiring last year and starting my next chapter at FWBMC.

“ I worked at Eglin Air Force Base for 11 years all the while living in Niceville. I am a part of this community.

I coach my kids’ teams, they grew up here and I don’t think there is a better place to live. Through Eglin I made connections that led me to my position now. I was able to build a practice and set up a trauma program for my community.”

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? I take care of patients in the same manner that I would want my family treated. I take time to explain treatment options and answer all questions. My goal is to minimize any anxiety that the patient or their family may have in the treatment process, especially if surgery is required. I have a wonderful staff that strongly believes in patient centered care. In addition, I employ all the most up-to-date treatment options to get patients back on their feet.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? I truly enjoy seeing patients return to activities they love. It is a great feeling to get a hug from a patient who tells me that I have given them their life back. That is why I became a physician.

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ERIC L. SANDWITH, MD NORTHWEST FLORIDA HEART INSTITUTE

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? I am a cardiothoracic surgeon. I mostly perform surgery in the chest: coronary artery bypass, aortic valve replacement, atrial fibrillation surgery, pacemakers, defibrillators, minimally invasive lung resection, biopsies and much more.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? I started practice in 2004 in South Florida, but I have been with the Northwest Florida Heart Institute and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center since 2007 working to develop state-of-the-art cardiovascular services.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION? I had a wonderful opportunity to move to this beautiful location from South Florida. After I arrived, I soon realized there was a definite need in this area for a local cardiac surgeon who could provide excellent cardiovascular surgical care. I knew that I would be able to provide this, which would allow the local population to stay and obtain their medical care here, close to home.

I have strong, healthy relationships with local cardiologists and hospitals.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE WITH YOUR PRACTICE? I have been able to provide local, state-of-the-art care for heart disease and heart valve pathology. I have a great team of physician’s assistants and nursing staff that are specialized in the care of heart patients. I have performed over 1,000 open-heart surgeries since I have been here. I am also the only surgeon in the area qualified to perform open-heart surgery. I was the first in the area to utilize robotic surgery for lung cancer. Most importantly, my complication rates for heart surgery are below the average rate according to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

“I really enjoy getting to know my patients and their families and learning what makes them tick. I enjoy the process of watching them improve over time. I treat my patients like family. Of course, the technical part of my job is fascinating, challenging and demanding all at the same time.”

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR PRACTICE? Locally, I plan to continue what I am doing to make the community aware of the remarkable level of success we have been able to achieve. We actually have better results than the surrounding centers. Globally, as cardiac surgery rapidly evolves over the next few years, I hope to adapt our techniques accordingly to meet the expectations of our patients.

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ROBERT FELDMAN, MD FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Treatment of brain, spine and peripheral nerve disorders, particularly those that cause back, neck, arm and leg pain, numbness, tingling and weakness.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE WITH YOUR BUSINESS? I believe that keeping up with the newest advances in my specialty is important. Another important accomplishment is maintaining a personal and individualized approach to my patients.

Patients are not rushed, we do not overbook and we spend a lot of time with our patients. Discussions are in layman’s terms, every question is answered, responses from the office are prompt and most importantly, we will not offer surgery if the patient does not need it or we do not think it will help.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? Seeing a patient that came into my office crying in pain, unable to work or play with their children, then come in to my office after surgery smiling.

“Operating on the brain and spine is a privilege. It requires demanding attention to detail and requires constant performance at 100%. This mentality permeates my practice, and our patients can tell that they are getting the care and results that would be hard to find elsewhere.

The F.I.N.E. Institute team is looking forward to making a difference in the lives of people in this community for

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Because of our results and how we take care of patients, our volume is significantly expanding. We have already added a very capable and experienced Physician Assistant, Ken Ellison, to ensure that patients do not have to wait too long to be seen. We are also expanding the practice with neurologists and pain management physicians to accommodate the increase in patient volume as well as expanding the scope of our practice to include patients with non-surgical neurological and pain disorders. The future is very bright for our patients and us.

another 15 years.”

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NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Principal Jeff Palmer and the entire leadership team at Niceville High School are ready to assist you with planning your ultimate high school experience.

NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL is a public high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,970 students. Established in 1961, NHS enjoys a reputation for aggressively pursuing academic excellence and is recognized as a formidable competitor in the areas of academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, NHS has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a New American High School, acclaimed nationally as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and given an A+ rating by Florida’s Commissioner of Education. Additionally, NHS enjoys national rankings by Newsweek and the Washington Post.

WHAT ARE OUR RESULTS? The Class of 2015 earned over $12,000,000 in scholarships; nine National Merit Finalists and Semi-finalists in 2015; two National Merit Hispanic Scholars in 2015; 209 Advanced Placement Scholars in 2014; 70 All-State and All-County band members; choirs earned straight superiors.

WHAT DO WE OFFER? Niceville High School’s mission is to educate all students. Our broad curriculum also includes foreign languages, honors and gifted programs, ESE services, art and music programs, credit recovery programs, athletics and extracurricular programs.

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Designed to address the needs of all our students, Niceville High School’s diversified curriculum includes the University of Cambridge International Examinations, the College Board Advanced Placement Program, Information Technology, ROTC and Intensive Studies programs. Our staff will be happy to assist you with information and registration to help you plan for your student’s ultimate high school experience. For complete information, make sure to visit our website at www.nicevillehighschool.org.

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NICHOLAS AIR

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? At NICHOLAS AIR, we distinguish ourselves by providing the most innovative, efficient, and customizable options for private air travel. We are the private aviation experts. As a premier private air travel company, we offer exceptional service at the most cost-effective rates. NICHOLAS AIR offers three easily customizable programs including jet card, jet lease, jet share in addition to jet management services. These programs can be fully customized to meet the client’s unique travel needs.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? NICHOLAS AIR has been serving the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean since 1997. As a privately owned company, we have thrived and quickly grown into one of the most prestigious private air travel companies in the country.

WHAT TYPES OF CLIENTS UTILIZE YOUR SERVICES? NICHOLAS AIR provides exclusive programs and a means of travel for a wide range of clients. From families and business executives to professional athletes and celebrities, NICHOLAS AIR is the choice for passengers who need extra security and privacy.

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DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY: When you fly with NICHOLAS AIR, you work directly with us, the operator. As the owner and maintainer of all aircraft in the fleet, we pay meticulous attention to the details of safety, service, and quality.

Operating accident-free, the company was founded on the principles of expertise, safety, precision, and superior service. NICHOLAS AIR maintains a five-year or newer fleet of aircraft and goes above and beyond to ensure the client’s experience is the best private air travel has to offer.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? It’s all about building relationships. People like to do business with real people who genuinely care about their clients. Every flight is on a NICHOLAS AIR aircraft as our fleet is privately owned and operated.

Our members enjoy access to our exclusive fleet and a direct working relationship with our schedulers and flight crews. The passion and experience of our employees is why we have been able to exceed our clients’ expectations for nearly 20 years.

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Michael Jones and Dana Matthews

Dana Matthews started the Destin firm in 1983. Michael Jones had his own firm and since 1984 served our region with diligence, compassion and integrity in the areas of personal injury, probate and estate planning. “Mike and I have been best friends since age 12 and decided to spend the rest of our careers working side by side,” says Dana Matthews.

WHAT KIND OF LAW DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN? Matthews & Jones, one of the larger firms in Northwest Florida, has transaction and litigation teams that encompass a full spectrum of real estate representation, estate planning, corporate reorganization and complex work-out transactions, bankruptcy, civil, criminal, family law, personal injury, bankruptcy, immigration and adoption. The firm has attorneys licensed in federal and state courts in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, District of Columbia, Alaska, Alabama and Georgia and has offices in Destin, Niceville and Crestview.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We truly believe hard work and our free enterprise system in a democratic society make it possible to turn dreams into reality. When

you incorporate that concept into the desire to provide unparalleled service to clients in need, success and client satisfaction will result.

WHAT IS THE “SECRET” TO YOUR SUCCESS? Client service is key to our law practice. Our clients can expect an honest assessment of their legal situation without empty promises.

We strive to develop relationships with each and every client so that our attorneys and staff have a clear understanding of each individual client’s personal and business needs.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RECENT EXPANSION OF STAFF AND SERVICES. Over the past year we hired three new attorneys to handle the firm’s growing litigation practice and expanded our market by opening our third office in Crestview.

YOU MADE A BOLD CHOICE TO USE A PANTHER TO SYMBOLIZE YOUR FIRM IN YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN. WHY? The Florida panther’s strength, agility and tenacity are the qualities our clients expect and deserve.

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INFINITY FLOORING LEISA JOHNSON, PRESIDENT/RETAIL SALES

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? We offer highly-skilled, full-service installation of carpet, tile, wood, area rugs and custom designs. Our showroom displays the extensive array of top-quality products we carry. Our customer service is second to none.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? My father opened his first stores in Colorado 31 years ago. When he retired to Destin in 1990 he saw the need for a full service flooring company. We have been serving the Emerald Coast for 25 years.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART? Our integrity. We keep our promises to our customers in all aspects of their purchase, from initial product design and selection through final installation. We don’t rest until our customers are happy. Our commitment to satisfaction is why most of our business comes from the recommendations of satisfied customers — and is also why we have been voted Best Flooring along the Emerald Coast five years running.

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WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? I love using my nearly two decades of experience to help customers select products that enhance the style and quality of their home or business. Knowing I helped someone make a design decision they'll enjoy and appreciate every day brings me great personal satisfaction.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOUR BUSINESS? We will continue serving the EC with the highquality service and products for which we are known and respected. My father taught me well, and I am teaching my son so he can carry on our family tradition of top-notch customer service and personal integrity.

“Our commitment to satisfaction is why most of our business comes from the recommendations of satisfied customers — and is also why we have been voted Best Flooring along the Emerald Coast five years running.”

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SANTA ROSA GOLF & BEACH CLUB AND VUE ON 30A

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS IN YOUR BUSINESS? “Business levels, consumer feedback and community support have painted an exciting picture for the club in 2015. The club continues to increase membership levels and guest play in addition to attracting quality professionals who are passionate about what they do.”

— Carter Murchison, Director of Golf, PGA Professional

WHAT MAKES YOUR CLUB SPECIAL? “Santa Rosa offers one of the most inspiring membership experiences in South Walton — including a semi-private golf course, golf teaching facility, private beach club, special events and an award-winning Gulf front restaurant also open to the public.” — Sarah Brazwell, Membership Director WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR BUSINESS? “The members. The club has a tremendous amount of support from its board of directors who help support and direct the operations through feedback from the membership. The club saw a positive turn in 2012 when the board contracted Matthew Lindley and the PGM Team who have made significant changes and improvements.”

— Sarah Brazwell, Membership Director

WHAT MAKES GOLF AT SANTA ROSA BEACH DIFFERENT? “The ambiance.

The golf course is located on 30A with vistas of the Gulf of Mexico.”

— Carter Murchison, Director of Golf, PGA Professional WHAT AWARDS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? “Named ‘Best Chef America’ in 2013 and being selected for Season 5 of ‘Hell's Kitchen’ are at the top my list. However, Vue on 30a continues to garner attention with its amazing view and winning ‘Best Place to Watch a Sunset View’ by Visit South Walton and Destin Magazine in addition to ‘Restaurant of the Year’

by Beachcomber Magazine.” — Chef Giovanni Filippone, Executive Chef

HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED RECENTLY? “While each area of the club has experienced positive growth within the last couple of years, Vue on 30a has become one of the most popular Gulf front venues for weddings and special events. Our guests know they can rest easy knowing they have a team of professionals helping them each step of the way.” -— Cherryl Marcey, Wedding & Special Event Manager

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PROFFITT PR

Seated left to right: Chelsea Blaich, Digital Media & PR Coordinator; Jessica Proffitt Bracken, President and Whitney Ladwig, Vice President

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Proffitt PR is a full-service boutique consulting firm specializing in public relations, social media strategy, branding, event planning, community relations, advertising, reputation management and more! Anything that falls under the marketing umbrella, we can make happen. Our services vary for each client and are customized depending on the needs and goals of their business.

ABOUT THE TEAM: Jessica Proffitt Bracken is the Founder and President of Proffitt PR. Jessica married husband and client, Levin Bracken of Bracken Law in Telluride, Colorado, in June of 2014. They have a goldendoodle named Champ and enjoy traveling, boating, concerts, sporting events, cooking, fine wine and entertaining!

DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN MARKETING A SPECIFIC INDUSTRY? We have represented over 75 different clients, ranging in industries from food and beverage, resorts, shopping centers, retail, healthcare, real estate, government agencies and more. We work with a range of clientele, from small local businesses to major internationally known brands.

Whitney Ladwig joined Proffitt PR as Vice President in March 2013.

Whitney is an avid sushi lover and also enjoys traveling abroad, fitness, sporting events, cooking, family and wine. Married to her husband Curtis since April 2012, they have a golden retriever, Ivy and beagle, Josie.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? The thrill of seeing a satisfied client. It may be that their sales are up, their store is seeing an increase in business, one of our events brought in several leads, or that they received major editorial coverage in a media outlet. Each and every victory makes it all worth while.

Chelsea Blaich joined Proffitt PR in May of 2014 as Digital Media & PR Coordinator. Chelsea married her college sweetheart, Chase Blaich, in September of 2014 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Chase and Chelsea enjoy all that comes with life at the beach — from shopping and dining to taking their dog Bo swimming in the Choctawhatchee Bay or on walks through Point Washington State Forest.

AWARDS/ACCOLADES: Proffitt PR has been awarded the Best Public Relations Firm in 2012–2015 and Best New Business in 2011 by the readers of Destin Magazine.

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EMERALD COAST FUNERAL HOME James Bass, a licensed funeral director for 40 years and the managing partner of Emerald Coast Funeral Home, always knew he wanted to be involved in the funeral service industry. He has dedicated his entire professional career to providing families with meaningful celebrations of life and offering them an environment for peaceful reflection.

The members of James’ team of licensed funeral directors also are proud of their long-time careers. In total, they have more than 75 years of experience in comforting families during times of grief. When the time comes, many families will have had little experience in making arrangements following a loved one’s departure. However, whether your choice is a burial or cremation ceremony, James and his staff of highly dedicated professionals will be with you each step of the way.

“We are currently preparing to open our new state-of-the-art, 15,000-squarefoot facility in Fort Walton Beach, across the street from the Choctawhatchee High School stadium. We also continue to own the only crematory in South Okaloosa County, so your loved one never leaves our care,” said James.

Emerald Coast Funeral Home has been voted Finest Funeral Home and Crematory 2015, its fifth year in a row. Find it on Facebook.

Upper: Emerald Coast Funeral Home's Licensed Funeral Directors. Left to right, back row: James Bass, Dwight Johnson, Kevin Farris and Tim Burke. Seated: Hailey Bryan and Yami Reina. Lower: Architect's rendering of new facility in Fort Walton Beach

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the good life FOOD + TRAVEL + HEA LTH + HOME

eudaimonia*

A Watershed Cause

Everyone can agree that the health of a community’s water resources is important. For a tourist destination like the Emerald Coast, you could say that water is essential to the area’s identity and economic security. Without water, the quality of life here on the coast would be unimaginable.

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College, formed in 1996, is a cooperative environmental group whose mission is to keep the region’s watershed healthy.

The effort requires hands-on help. Local residents are welcome to volunteer their time helping with projects including monitoring water chemistry, building oyster reefs to restore critical habitats in the bay, or simply by attending special events that support the cause. For a roster of upcoming volunteer opportunities and events, visit basinalliance.org.

— Zandra Wolfgram

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*happiness is ...

Thanks to the hardworking volunteers of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, local oyster beds are being carefully fortified to ensure future generations may also enjoy the legacy of the Emerald Coast’s most precious natural resource — a healthy watershed.

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Texas Hill Country PIONEER HISTORY MEETS MODERN-DAY COMFORTS IN FREDERICKSBURG

n the early 1840s, a small group of German aristocrats created a society dedicated to encouraging emigration to the newly created Republic of Texas, selling “packages” that offered would-be settlers passage to the U.S. and a plot of land when they arrived.

Unfortunately, it was ill conceived, underfunded and the land was in the middle of hostile Comanche territory. Crossing the Atlantic took two months and, after landing at Galveston, the immigrants faced a dangerous and deadly overland journey to get to the homesteads they had been promised. But 120 souls who overcame hardship and disease were able to create a new city in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

Today, Fredericksburg (named for Prince Frederick of Prussia) is a charming town with a penchant for its pioneer history that has become a weekend getaway for Texans, as well as an enjoyable attraction to tourists from other states and countries. Located about an hour to the west of both San Antonio and Austin, the county’s population is just 10,000, but it attracts well over a million visitors every year.

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They are drawn to its historic Main Street, home to more than 150 unique shops, restaurants and galleries as well as the town’s nearly 400 bed and breakfasts and guesthouses and a fast-developing art, food and wine culture.

The Main Street Historic District is a great jumping-off point and very walkable.

The Visitor Information Center is located here and screens a short movie featuring history and points of interest. Smack in the center of town is the Marketplatz (the German heritage still runs strong here), where you’ll see the Vereins Kirche and Maibaum.

The first is a replica of the settlement’s first community building, a hexagonal shaped landmark that now houses a museum. The “Maypole” traces the city’s history with folk art symbols.

For a very hands-on history lesson, consider a visit to the Pioneer Museum, a collection of buildings from Fredericksburg’s past. One of them is a structure ubiquitous to the area called a “Sunday House.” When the town was created, settlers were granted acreage as well as a small lot in the town center where they would build tiny, usually single-room

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Many legends are connected with the pink granite dome at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, including one that says you’ll become invisible after spending the night there. But it is true that the view of Texas Hill Country from the top is magical.

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Two more recent favorite sons of the area are immortalized with attractions that shouldn’t be missed.

Located in the middle of downtown Fredericksburg is the National Museum of the Pacific War — ­ actually several buildings and areas dedicated to telling the story of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign of World War II. The centerpiece is the George H.W. Bush gallery, which takes you through time from the seeds of the conflict to the Japanese surrender in a 33,000-square-foot gallery. Nearby is the Admiral Nimitz Museum, named for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, born here and a member of one of Fredericksburg’s prominent families. The complex also includes a memorial courtyard, Japanese Garden of Peace, an outdoor “combat zone” which hosts re-enactments and a Plaza of the Presidents. In all, 10 Wildflowers are American presidents, from FDR to Jimabundant in the my Carter, played a role in the war. spring (top), most notably the state While it’s not exactly in Fredericksflower, the Texas burg, just a short drive away in the Hill Bluebonnet. A Country is Lyndon B. Johnson’s homerestored “Sunday House” (above) town and Texas White House. There are where families would not one, but two, parks dedicated to our spend the weekend 36th president. The Lyndon B. Johnson in town after a week spent on the farm, State Park and Historic Site needs to be can be toured at the your first stop, because it serves as the Pioneer Museum. reception point for the driving tour of the nearby LBJ National Historic Park.

The State park includes the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm, representing a typical Hill Country farm at around 1915, when Johnson would have been 7 years old. The living was primitive — no electricity or running water. While his upbringing was relatively privileged, the difficult life he witnessed as a child and young man would serve as the impetus for his championing of such things as rural electrification, education and national parks during his political career.

The National Park includes his ranch and home, an important part of presidential history. LBJ served five years as president — one year of which was spent at his western White House. The ranch is bisected by a long runway, used to land the presidential jet, a Lockheed Jet Star he dubbed “Air Force 1/2,” which is on display at the museum.

The Johnsons had a sense of history, and their home is remarkably well preserved. Unlike other museums which offer “period” pieces on display, pretty much every chair, couch, toss pillow, knick knack, appliance — even the clothes in the closets — belonged to the family.

Look at a photo of a meeting taken in the ’60s, and the dishes in the picture are the same ones sitting on the dining room table.

Park Superintendent Russ Whitlock gave a very intimate tour of the home because much of the history he shared came from personal conversations with Johnson’s daughters. His anecdotes included tales of LBJ’s frugal nature — his Secret Service protection and communications crew were housed in military surplus trailers — and of his aspirations to be a gentleman farmer. His cows, said Whitlock,

houses. After spending the week working on the farm, they would travel to town on Saturdays to trade and socialize, spend the night and then go to church on Sunday.

Fredericksburg continues to attract weekend visitors. Most houses near downtown are used as guest accommodations — some modernized Sunday Houses and historic buildings, while others are of more recent construction. There is a wide variety of styles, from the gingerbread charm of the Victorian Mansion, to a more modern take on the Sunday House at Fredericksburg Herb Farm, which features 14 cottages, as well as a beautiful day spa, the Farm House Bistro (actually an elegant fine dining experience for lunch, dinner and brunch) and the eponymous herb farm.

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TOP PICKS visitfredericksburgtx.com ATTRACTIONS pacificwarmuseum.org pioneermuseum.com tpwd.state.tx.us/park/enchantd (Enchanted Rock State Natural Area) luckenbachtexas.com nps.gov (LBJ National Historical Park) tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/ parks/lyndon_b_johnson wildseedfarms.com

The famed honky-tonk weren’t Texas Longhorns, during visits to Europe, inat Luckenbach attracts but English Herefords, that cluding garden ironwork, large concerts on most got primped in the show linens and oddities including weekends, but there’s usually guitar picking in barn before visitors arrived some worse-for-the-wear the bar every night. (you’ll see several as you stuffed animals and glass drive around the ranch). bottles of chemicals that my Lady Bird Johnson’s conscientifically inclined brothtributions to Texas — and er warned me not to pick up. the nation — are also on display. While she’s Several art galleries are interspersed most often associated with beautification, with the shops on Main Street including Mrs. Johnson worked hard to assure that the aforementioned Whistle Pik, as well each state preserved the natural aspects that as InSight Gallery, with an impressive dismade them unique. Driving through the play of Western art and bronzes; Good Art Hill Country in the spring, you’re sure to Company, where you’ll find fine examples be struck by the abundance of wildflowers, of up-and-coming artists working in many most notably the bright Texas Bluebonnets. different genres; and the Artisans at Rocky If you’d like to see wildflowers up close, Hill, featuring a diverse collection of local a colorful attraction just outside the town is art and craftsmanship at prices that let you Wildseed Farms, with 1,700 acres of flowers bring home original art as a souvenir of producing seeds that can be ordered from a your visit. catalog or online, in mixes created to thrive Foodies will delight in the abundance of in particular areas of the U.S. restaurants in and around Fredericksburg, Shopping is eclectic, running the gamut where they can enjoy the best pecan sticky from an old-school five-and-dime to Whisbuns ever at Mahaley’s Café or a kolache, a tle Pik Galleries, with original art that can local specialty that’s pretty much a sausagecost north of $50,000. Some of the shops in-a-blanket, at Java Ranch. The dining is that cannot be pigeonholed include Red casual at The Pink Pig, but owner Rebecca (modern/vintage/graphic products for the Rather (who has created a national followhome), Chocolat (self explanatory) and ing for her delicious desserts) is adamant Vaudeville on Main (an attractive mix of about locally sourcing her food. There’s high-end furniture and décor on the main plenty of fine dining too at the Cabernet level and a downstairs bistro that you can Grill, or August E’s, decorated in a neutral miss if you’re not looking — so be sure to palette of grey and white which serves as a look). One of the most intriguing shops is showcase for the work of local artists.

Carol Hicks Bolton Antiquities. It’s actually A relatively recent addition to Fredera warehouse that contains a multitude of cuicksburg’s attractions is the proliferation of riosities for sale that the owner has collected wineries that have popped up nearby — so

ACCOMMODATIONS absolutecharm.com fredericksburgherbfarm.com hangarhotel.com

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FOOD auguste-es.com pinkpigtexas.com tuscansunfredericksburg.com bejasgrill.com cabernetgrill.com yourbrewery.com mahaleyscafe.com SHOPPING redinfred.com vaudeville-living.com carolhicksbolton.com ART fbgartguide.com insightgallery.com thegoodartco.com whistlepik.com artisansatrockyhill.com

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Sip The fineST margariTa Experience the modern side of Mexican cuisine Savor fresh seafood, enchiladas and more with sauces made from scratch Join us for drinks, dinner, lunch or Sunday brunch

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much so that a group of 11 wineries has rechristened the local state highway as Wine Road 290.

Texas is the fifth largest wine producer in the U.S. and the No. 2 wine destination in America. Surprised? You’ve probably never sipped Grape Creek Vineyard’s Bellissimo Super Tuscan or The Texas Tempranillo from Perdnales Cellars, because the vast majority of the wine produced in the Lone Star State stays there. The reasons are twofold: There are only enough grapes harvested in the state (mostly from around Lubbock, about six hours from Fredericksburg) to produce small quantities in “boutique” wineries and because of the vagaries of interstate shipping. So a drive along 290, with stops for sampling and cellar tours, is a treat you won’t find anywhere else.

One of our traveling companions was The Wine Curmudgeon (aka blogger Jeff Siegel), (above) The rolling hills and distant vistas of the Texas and he offered this advice for Hill Country are reminiscent finding the best Texas wine: of the growing regions of Leave the chardonnays, Italy and the Rhone country in Southern France; Grape cabernets and merlots to the Creek Vineyards is a 100vineyards of California and acre estate that features a romantic tasting room the Northwest, he suggested. nestled among the oaks and Warm-weather friendly grapes vines affectionately known — reds such as tempranillo and as “Tuscany in Texas.” sangiovese or whites like viognier and roussanne — may not have as high a profile as the others, but grape varieties such as these, native to Southern Europe, are better suited to the Texas heat.

And as a not-so-grand finale to your visit, drive down the highway a few miles to check out Luckenbach, Texas, immortalized in song by Waylon Jennings in 1977. It has a “post office,” but no permanent residents, just the honky-tonkiest of beer bars with a guitar-picking circle every night of the week. There are concerts in the huge dance hall just about every weekend and a vibe that’s reminiscent of The Red Bar in Grayton Beach — if it were about 10 times bigger and made out of wood instead of concrete block. ec

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Taking the Next Step MOVING FROM WALKER TO HIKER IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT SOUTH WALTON/ DAWN WHITTY AND TOMMY CROW

t

BY CARLA HOGUE

he health benefits of walking are widely recognized, and lots of people are using this form of exercise as their vehicle to fitness. You can spot walkers at the gym, on high school tracks, in the malls and on neighborhood streets. You may even be one yourself.

Did you know that, as a walker, you’re halfway to being a hiker? Many walkers don’t see themselves as hikers, and it’s unclear why. Hiking isn’t camping. It isn’t rock climbing. It isn’t backpacking. Hiking is walking … on a trail.

Here are three easy steps to transform from walker to hiker.

Hiking boots are designed with different features in mind, and proper fit is essential.

Michael Markey of Intracoastal Outfitters in Pensacola believes the correct boot can be the difference between a great day of hiking and exiting the trail early. Sore feet, tired feet and the dreaded blister can all be addressed through the right boot.

After boots, there are a few other essentials that most people already own.

Many hikers prefer shorts, but loose-fitting pants will protect against scratches, some bugs and poisonous plants. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray and you are outfitted for a basic, short hike.

Step 1 — Outfit Yourself You will certainly see everything from flip-flops to running shoes on the trail, but hiking boots give the best protection against stubbing a toe or rolling an ankle.

Even along the Emerald Coast, with almost no elevation change, rocks and roots can still be factors. Boots lend stability when navigating obstacles.

Step 2 — Find a Hiking Partner Hiking, much like swimming, should never be done alone. Remember, you are in nature, and nature is unpredictable. The danger of injury is a reality no matter how careful you plan to be. A twisted ankle on a lightly traveled trail is more than uncomfortable; it can lead to serious trouble.

Solution? Recruit a hiking partner. Your hiking partner should not be an online

Nearly 40 percent of the land in South Walton (pictured here) is preserved wetlands and state parks, making it an ideal place for nature-loving walkers, like this couple strolling through a cypress stand in Grayton Beach State Park.

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in motion

REBECCA SUMERALL

nearly 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail, or Florida Trail, starts at Big Cypress National Preserve and ends at the Gulf Islands National Seashore at Fort Pickens in Pensacola. Proximity, however, is not the only consideration when selecting a trail, especially if you are a novice. The wind, sun and loose sand on this leg of the Florida Trail are not for everyone.

Other trails will take you through sawgrass or wooded areas where the sand is harder, making for a different, possibly more enjoyable, experience.

Try a variety of short hikes in various ecosystems to explore the options, and in no time you will identify your favorites.

Time to lace up your boots and get out there. Soon, signs that your inner hiker is taking over will be as clear as the marks on a well-blazed trail. You can look forward to amassing trail maps, creating a top 10 list of all-time favorite hikes and planning trips around trails you want to experience.

Happy hiking! ec

date you are meeting for the first time. It is not safe to be on a secluded trail with someone you hardly know. Protect yourself by bringing a friend, or connect with a legitimate hiking club.

Helen Wigersma, chair of the Western Gate chapter of the Florida Trail Association, encourages would-be hikers to contact their local chapter for weekly activities, including

guided hikes. She says all chapters offer opportunities for people to get acquainted with the trails in their area and emphasizes that folks should not be intimidated. All skill levels are welcome.

Step 3 — Pick a Hike Residents of the Emerald Coast are graced with easy access to spectacular trails. The

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COME CLEAN Shower or Tub? LOVE TO SOAK IN A TUB, OR IS A SHOWER MORE YOUR SPEED? EITHER WAY, DESIGN OPTIONS ABOUND

This stand-alone tub by American Standard (pictured) evolved from the claw-foot tub which reached the apex of its popularity in the late 19th century. Though converting bathtubs to showers is a current trend, many homeowners who have the space and budget, are opting for spa-like bathrooms that feature both.

COURTESY AMERICAN STANDARD

t

BY LIS KING

ubs, you might say, are taking a bath these days, while showers are getting ever more attention.

“It’s a bit of a tug of war,” says Kim Fouquet of Fouquet Architecture and Interior Design in Santa Rosa Beach. “When people look to buy or build a house, they absolutely want a tub but not necessarily in the master suite. There’s a distinct feeling that you need a tub in the house for resale value and, of course, it’s a must for families with small children. In the end, the tub often winds up in the guest bath.

“At the same time, people want large, luxurious showers in master baths.

They may include a tub there, too, but it’s rarely used. We’re an exception at our house. We have both a large shower and a freestanding tub. That’s because my husband prefers showers, while I love sinking into a tub at the end of a busy day.”

Steven Westerman, owner of Bathcrest of Northwest Florida in Fort Walton Beach, also sees a strong preference for showers.

“People don’t have time for baths,” he says, “so we’re converting a lot of tubs into showers. This is an especially great option for seniors. We cut an opening in the apron of the tub and install a low berm instead. It’s a sensible alternative to those walk-in tubs, which use a lot of water and also take a long time to drain,

so you sit there and chill before you can get out of there.”

Saving water is another reason for showers’ rising popularity. They use one-third less water than tubs, but the industry is trying hard to save even more. American Standard, for example, has developed water-conserving showerheads that use 40 percent less water. This is done with a turbine that pressurizes and spins the water into a vigorous spray.

Shower Strategies Bath remodeling, up 17 percent in the last two years, now surpasses kitchen makeovers, according to the National Association of Home Builders. But the projects are more centered on functionality than McMansion grandeur.

“People are more interested in intimate spaces,” says Jessica Faircloth of Lemongrass Interiors in Destin. “Rain heads and body massages, doorless showers and skylights mean more to them than a gigantic bathroom. Bigger tiles with textured looks are used even in small baths, but except for white, subway-like tile, glazed versions aren’t seen a lot anymore.”

For smaller bathrooms she recommends creating a larger, spa-like shower by getting rid of the shower/tub combo.

Pre-fab shower surrounds are available in many configurations, with

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The Beauty & Warmth of Wood, the Benefits of Tile Chic and very low-maintenance, tile is the go-anywhere floor for Florida lifestyles.

One of the most durable flooring materials available, tile is a great choice for areas that see a lot of wear or moisture, inside or out. It resists stains and scratches and is easy to maintain — a floor that’s not only

beautiful, but practical as well. Plus, tile in wood look designs makes it possible to add the charm of wood anywhere you like. Today’s tile is available in so many different looks and colors, it’s a natural choice for Emerald Coast homes. Learn more at infinityfloors.com.

habitat

Pre-fab shower surrounds can still be stylish like this Bellwether cast iron shower receptor from Kohler (top); Shower heads come in an array of styles with a range of functions like the 10-inch Comtemporary Round Rainhead (below) and the Moxie (bottom) featuring a navy blue wireless speaker, both by Kohler.

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extras such as seats and safety bars, but Kohler has upped the ante with the Bellwether, a one-piece, cast-iron shower base.

“It’s solid and clean-lined,” says Jennifer Rindt, Kohler’s showering product manager. “And since it’s one piece, it’s easier to maintain than a tiled base, and it won’t crack or leak.”

In luxury homes, shower surrounds tend to be open to the rest of the bath or feature half-walls. Glass enclosures are offered in straight or curved versions, frameless and with extra panels.

Spray Options Since showering is mainly about the water, it matters how it’s targeted.

“The options today are so varied that it pays to really explore the possibilities,” Rindt notes.

“Once you’ve done that, you can combine components in a number of ways to accommodate every family member.”

First off, there are multi-function showerheads that deliver a variety of spray options and a range of intensities, from pulsing blasts to gentle mists. Then there are body sprays offering a variety of experiences. Some types blend into the walls discreetly, while others are adjustable for a range of intensities. Many sprays are targeted to provide relief for sports injuries, arthritis or just everyday aches and pains.

Rainhead showers mimic the drenching of a summer rain and have become enormously popular. Hand showers that combine the functionality of a shower with the ability to direct the water right where you need it are also popular.

Steam showers are making inroads as well. Manufacturers such as Mr. Steam, Ariel Bath and Steam Mist say the steam isn’t just relaxing. It also removes toxins from the body and promotes respiratory health.

Finally, there are musical and chroma-therapeutic technologies to brighten the shower ritual. Kohler’s Moxie, for example, is a showerhead with a built-in wireless speaker system, and the company’s Water Tile Ambient Rain shower panel features integrated chromatherapy that bathes you in mood-enhancing colored light sequences.

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PRESENT THE INAUGURAL

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Blue Highway

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Moore Brothers Band Dread Clampitt Dismal Creek

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Tub Trends No matter what the experts say, there are still tub lovers galore and plenty to love. As Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, vice president of design for American Standard, says: “It is about that wonderful soaking experience, a place where you can escape within your home, to de-stress and relax after a long day.”

He calls freestanding designs the most important trend in tubs.

“They look wonderful and are available in all sorts of materials,” he says, “from acrylic to cast iron and all the way to exotic stone. Plus, they are sold at various price points, making them affordable for the average homeowner as well as the high-end luxury customer.”

Kim Fouquet agrees.

“The tub has come a long way,” she says.

“From being hidden behind a curtain, it has become a sculptural focal point, especially in the master suite.

Top-of-the-line luxury tubs can be found in many stunning materials, including copper, stainless steel, poured concrete, marble and travertine. They are exGo ahead, let the bath run over.

This modern tub by Kohler called pensive, but they sure Sok, is designed as an overflowing make a statement.” bath. It includes “effervescence” Tubs at all price or tub jets and “chromatherapy” or LED-lights to add ambiance and points are durable, relaxation to your bathing ritual. notes Jessica Faircloth of Lemongrass Interiors, but consider their weight. Putting an especially heavy castiron or stone tub into a second-story bath could be a problem.

“And watch the size and shape,” she says. “Lie down in it right there in the showroom and see if it feels comfortable.

Some tubs are shaped like recliners, some have lumbar rests.”

Most bath designers say that whirlpools are no longer popular, so manufacturers are going for gentle bubbles instead of powerful jets. Soaking tubs, including the 19th-century classic clawfoot, are also taking the place of whirlpools, and some manufacturers marry both trends. MT 1, for example, offers heated backrests and recirculating systems that maintain bath water at 102 degrees. Kohler’s “sok” tub is 66 inches by 34.5 inches to cover the bather from shoulders to toes and provides tiny, effervescent bubbles from 11 air jets. It further relaxes with the sound of cascading water dropping off the rim’s horizon into the tub’s recirculating channel.

And, like showers, tubs have gone high-tech. They can vibrate with music from invisible speakers, glow with color, emit glorious aromas and much more.

But Faircloth warns that practical considerations are in order, too, when you’re shopping for a tub. Is your water heater large enough to fill it? If you’re putting in a tub with jets, will you have to install new water lines? Will the tub fit through the door when it’s delivered? Will it need an electrical connection to run a pump, heater or lights?

“Choosing a tub should be fun,” she says. “And it can be if you know your options and the limitations of your house. Happy bathing.” ec

COURTESY KOHLER COMPANY

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W h at m a k e s u s S P E C I A L

are

the people we SURROUND ourselves with

Left to Right: Mike Carraway, Bob McLendon, Rick Long

SHOP . DINE . PLAY . STAY

WELCOME FISHER BROWN Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, Northwest Florida’s premier destination for working, dining, shopping and playing, is proud to announce Fisher Brown as our newest office tenant.

Fisher Brown provides comprehensive insurance solutions to a diverse business and personal clientele base throughout the Southeast. Today, Fisher Brown ranks as one of the largest bank owned insurance agencies in the United States, with over 180 associates and seven offices throughout Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“Fisher Brown and Howard Group have a long-standing relationship based on uncompromisingly high standards and quality of work. Our new space in Grand Boulevard provides us the visibility and opportunity to better interact with business and individual clients in this market.”

Bob McLendon, Executive Vice President, Fisher Brown

Contact Dana Hahn, Vice President of Real Estate, at dana@howardgrp.com or 850-837-1886 ext.205 and see for yourself how having your business in Grand Boulevard is a grand experience in every sense.

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GO TO EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM FOR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

The Town of Prominence This Tony New Town is Turning Buyers’ Heads

COURTESY KW LUXURY HOMES INTERNATIONAL/CRAIG BARANOWSKI

E

merald Homes, D.R. Horton’s luxury brand, is attracting the attention of real estate buyers with its latest development, aptly named The Town of Prominence.

Launched in March 2014, The Town of Prominence, purchased by D.R. Horton for $25 million, is expected to be an essential part of the 30A community — a desirable destination for coastal living and entertainment between Deer Lake State Park and Camp Creek, just east of Seagrove Beach in Walton County.

Prominence residents will enjoy easy access to a beautiful town center, a 5,000-square-foot, resort-style pool house and private shuttle service to the beaches of 30A. What’s more, the commercial side of the project promises a new entertainmentdestination option for locals and visitors to this section of 30A. Craig Baranowski, a team-leader Realtor with Keller Williams Luxury International, says the new development is a welcome addition.

“They are building a nice community of amenities which we desperately need to help alleviate the 30A tourism crowds that currently gravitate to Seaside and Rosemary Beach,” he said.

The development and construction of the planned residential project is under way and is expected to include 577 residences built in Open concept floor phases on both the plans, high coffered north and south ceilings and highend finishes are sides of 30A. The just a few of the first phase of Promselling features inence South indrawing buyers to the many options cludes 23 row-style within The Town of townhomes and 25 Prominence. single-family residences. Phase two includes 41 single-family residences and phase three includes 83 single-family residences, a luxurious pool and town center.

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

Prominence North will feature 135 triplex buildings totaling 405 townhomes and will be home to the main Prominence pool house. Each residence, including all townhomes, will have a one- or two-car garage.

With a variety of property types and price points that start from $300,000 triplex units on up to $1.2 million luxury townhomes, Baranowski says The Town of Prominence has a broad appeal to everyone from firsttime homebuyers to luxury second-home investors.

“It’s definitely getting a positive response,” he said. “Offering a $400,000 price point on 30A is hard to beat.”

Prominence is definitely turning heads.

Baranowski recently sold a $700,000 property to a young, professional couple who relocated from Connecticut to the Emerald Coast a year ago.

“When they saw it, they sold their home in Panama City Beach in order to get into a single-family home in Prominence,” he said.

“They wanted to be on 30A and decided a home on New Whales Street was the perfect place to raise their 2-year-old daughter.”

The Prominence Town Center will span about 3 acres with approximately 700 feet fronting 30A. Plans include a large, covered event pavilion — a central gathering place with a cinema screen as well as a stage for concerts and other events. There is also a fireplace nestled in the corner of the pavilion area and picnic tables that offer a place to eat and watch events. The pavilion and town lawn are surrounded by retail shops as well as restaurants, cafés and coffee shops.

There is also space for a 4,000-square-foot restaurant tucked on the eastern edge of the property.

The project is doing well. At press time, 85 percent of the luxury townhomes on the south side of 30A were sold, 60 percent of the triplex units were sold and 40 percent of single-family homes were either sold or under contract. There is still availability, but Baranowski, who specializes in real estate on 30A and in the Panama City Beach area, encourages interested buyers not to delay.

“They are selling fast, and price points on single-family homes are ticking up,” he said. ec

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3469 SCENIC HWY. 98

Resort Style Living with the Comforts of Home

A

BY REBECCA PADGETT

nyone embarking on a luxury vacation has expectations.

Amenities, appointments and atmosphere all must be impeccable. Those characteristics may be associated with grand hotels and resorts, but they also apply to the finest of homes. A palatial, four-story Destin beach house sold recently proves that point.

“This is a spectacular estate along Scenic Highway 98 that offers all the amenities and luxury comforts of a five-star resort,” said Beachy Beach 30A buyer’s agent Hillary Farnum.

The home indeed looks more like an exclusive inn than a family residence, with seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, an outdoor pool and multiple balconies. It features abundant entertaining and sleeping space; bedrooms, bunk areas and lounging rooms are located throughout the home.

The dining room accommodates up to 24 guests and there is more seating outdoors. Dinner might give way to a twilight swim in the resort-style pool, complete with lighted fountains and a swim-up bar. The pool overlooks Destiny Lake and is right across the street from the Gulf of Mexico.

The outdoor kitchen and barbeQUICK LOOK cue pit guarantee that guests need LIST PRICE: $3,200,000 SOLD PRICE: $3,100,000 not go hungry even if they choose SQUARE FEET: 6,489 to spend an entire day outside. The BEDROOMS: 7 house was built with summer in BATHROOMS: 9 mind, but when the weather turns CONTACT: Hilary Farnum, chilly, there is an outdoor fireplace Buyer’s Agent, Beachy and the pool is heated.

Beach 30A, (850) 685-0171.

Other perks include an elevator, Chelsea Taylor, Listing a pool table and a foosball table.

Agent, Beachy Beach 30A, This home is a vacationer’s delight (850) 865-2964 offering something for everyone.

It is close to restaurants, shops and the most popular sugar-sand beaches around, but on many days, people may feel no need to leave the property.

The estate was purchased as a second home by buyers who were looking for a good investment that they could share with family and friends. They surely found those qualifications in this seaside stunner. ec

COURTESY OF BUYER’S AGENT, BEACHY BEACH 30A

Specializing in: •Commercial Loans over $1 million •Construction Perm Mortgages •Reverse Mortgages •VA,FHA and Conventional Loans

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Berkshire Hathaway helps clients find their dream homes throughout Destin, 30A and Niceville. EC Magazine has helped attract those clients through advertisements. “EC Magazine is a perfect fit for our offices, agents and clients as it is one of the only publications with the full reach of our

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target real estate market,” said Realtor Royce Mitchell. For three years, Berkshire Hathaway has featured ads on the back cover resulting in many sales and better market recognition.

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DEAL ESTATE

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314 SE BROOKS STREET, FORT WALTON BEACH

A Charming Choctawhatchee Home Sit on Your Own Dock of the Bay

BY REBECCA PADGETT

COURTESY OF REMAX SOUTHERN REALTY

T

here are few luxuries finer than waking up and walking outside to your own private beach on a pristine body of water. The residence at 314 S.E. Brooks Street in Fort Walton Beach offers that experience and related amenities for those wishing to live such a charmed life.

Views from the historic Brooks Street encompass Santa Rosa Sound and Choctawhatchee Bay, making this home a water lover’s paradise. The backyard features a natural beach, a seawall, a private dock and a covered boat slip with a lift. Imagine taking your vessel for a spin to the East Pass or Crab Island in Destin, just a few minutes away as the dolphin swims.

After a day of sun and sea, you QUICK LOOK might find yourself relaxing on the LIST PRICE: $699,900 spacious outdoor patio while sipSQUARE FEET: 3,218 ping a cocktail at sunset. The yard is BEDROOMS: 3 wooded with lush shade trees makBATHROOMS: 2 ½ ing the patio a suitable place for a CONTACT: Matthew barbeque on a summer day. If you Williams, Remax Southern wish to stretch your sea legs, many Realty, (850)259-6288 fine restaurants and shops are just a stroll away in historic downtown.

Compared to other waterfront properties in the immediate area, this home is relatively new, having been built in 2002 with custom features including 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, high-grade millwork, spacious closets and private decks.

With three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a dining area and a hobby room, this home would suit a family nicely. The master suite features a wet bar, a spacious master bath and a private deck facing the Santa Rosa Sound.

“I think this home would be ideal for a family or anyone seeking waterfront living and the lifestyle that accompanies such an ideal location,” said RE/MAX Southern Realty Realtor Matthew Williams. ec EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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ms. grow-it-all

Lilies and Lookalikes

‘TRUE’ LILIES NEED TIME TO CHILL OUT, BUT THEIR CLOSE COUSINS CAN THRIVE IN WARMER CLIMES BY AUDREY POST Q: I like the look of lilies but I don’t know much about them. I know daylilies do well here, but are there other kinds that bloom at other times of the year?

A: The trumpet shape of lily blossoms lends a graceful elegance to a flowerbed or border, and it’s not surprising that many gardeners want them in their gardens. There are many species of the genus Lilium, and many more plants botanically unrelated that have “lily” in their common name. If you’re not too picky about the nomenclature, you can have lots of “lilies” in your yard, but most true lilies are more comfortable in cooler climates and rot in our hot, humid summers.

True lilies that can tolerate our weather include Easter lilies, Lilium longiflorum. The potted ones from the grocery store can be planted in full to part sun. Just make sure they get enough water and the soil drains well. The Formosa or Philippine lily, Lilium formosanum, is a cousin that looks similar to the Easter lily, but it’s larger. Most Oriental lilies, such as the popular Stargazer, can be planted as bulbs and will bloom beautifully at least the first year. Their ability to return and rebloom has a lot to do with whether they get the necessary “chill time” to rest.

If you find the right microclimate in your yard, your lilies might flourish. If not, you can treat them as annuals and replace them every year, or dig them and store them in the refrigerator.

Or you can plant “lilies” that thrive here.

While true lilies have six sepals, or petals, in their blossoms, these tough plants usually have five. The exception is the rain lily, which has six petals but is a member of the amaryllis family. Rain lilies come in white (Zephyranthes atamasca), yellow (Z. citrine) and pink (Z. grandiflora). As their name implies, they sprout

after a soaking rain, and are sometimes called zephyr lilies or fairy lilies.

Speaking of amaryllis, this beauty packs a visual punch in spring with shades of red and pink, particularly when planted en masse. Those boxed Christmas gifts so readily available in garden centers can be planted in the ground after forcing and will spread quite nicely. Another “lily” in this family that spreads easily is the swamp lily (Crinum), a pass-along plant often found around old homesteads. It likes partial shade, but as I’ve said before, most things grown in the Florida Panhandle and North Florida benefit from high shade or afternoon shade. Full sun here is not the same as full sun in states farther north.

Daylilies, Hemerocallis (pictured), get enough cold weather here to satisfy their

dormant stage, but they struggle farther down the Florida peninsula. They come in tall and dwarf varieties, with early to late-season blooming cycles, and in almost every color of the rainbow.

“Lilies” whose flowers don’t have the classic trumpet shape include hurricane lilies (Lycoris radiata), which spring up during fall. The open, airy shape of blossoms atop a 2-foot bare stem gives Lycoris one of its nicknames, Bare Naked Ladies. While scarlet red is the most common, golden-yellow Lycoris bulbs can sometimes be found in local nurseries.

Calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) and canna lilies (Canna x generalis), neither of them true lilies, add bold color and dramatic foliage to the landscape. Cannas, in particular, multiply well, which means free plants. ec

© 2015 Postscript Publishing, all rights reserved. Audrey Post is a certified Advanced Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County. Email her at Questions@MsGrowItAll.com or visit her website at msgrowitall.com. Ms. Grow-It-All® is a registered trademark of Postscript Publishing.

108 August–September 2015

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Dennis Lichorwic, DMD Past President Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Stephanie Baya, DMD

Julia Skinner, DMD

DestinDentist.com

110 August–September 2015

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f.y.i.

Your Dirty Mouth PERIODONTAL DISEASE CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS FAR BEYOND YOUR TEETH

BY TONY BRIDGES AND ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

h

ere’s something to chew on: Federal researchers report that nearly half of adults over the age of 30 suffer some form of periodontal disease, often without even realizing it.

That’s problematic because periodontal disease has been linked to serious chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Oral health problems also have contributed to a significant increase in costly emergency room visits in Florida and across the country. And, in the worst cases, oral infections have even proved to be lethal.

This at a time when fewer and fewer people are able to afford dental care, leading them to forgo regular checkups and necessary treatment for chronic infections.

“So many people have it and don’t know it,” said Dr. Walter Colon of Periodontal Associates of North Florida. “Periodontal disease is often a silent disease with no symptoms. By the time it starts hurting you, it’s too late, and you’re going to start losing teeth.”

So how does your oral health affect your entire body?

It begins with the gums. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum and bones around the teeth that occurs when bacteria build up on the teeth and migrate to the gum, settling into pockets between gum and tooth. The bacteria then begin to spread.

These low-grade oral infections are surprisingly common. According to a 2010 report from the Centers for Disease Control, 47.2 percent of adults ages 30 and over have some form of periodontal disease. That number jumps to 70 percent for those over 65.

It’s more common in men than women, in those living below the poverty line and in those who smoke.

Unfortunately, many people with oral infections simply overlook them. Colon says the signs are often subtle, the kind of thing only a dentist might pick up on during regular checkups. Sometimes it isn’t even noticeable until a periodontist takes measurements of the pockets around the base of the teeth.

Even when periodontal disease does begin to show, people don’t realize that red gums, swelling and tenderness are signs of a EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

111

f.y.i. problem. And bleeding? That’s infection, not just a warning that you might be brushing too hard, according to Colon.

That’s why it’s important to visit your dentist. If you have a healthy mouth, a minimum of twice a year is typical for cleanings and checkups — and as many as three to four times a year, if you’re prone to heavy tartar buildup, according to Dr. Dennis Lichorwic, DMD, with The Center for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry based in Destin.

Lichorwic, who began practicing dentistry in 1997, believes that our teeth are a window into our overall health. “Generally speaking if you are healthy, your teeth will appear healthy,” he said. But when you aren’t feeling your best, you might start at your head when checking head to toe. “The mouth is a house for bacteria with more surface area for it than anywhere else in your body,” he said.

He explained the body recognizes even the early stages of gum disease as infection and begins fighting. Catching periodontal infections before they become too serious helps relieve the strain on your body’s immune system.

“Tartar is like a barnacle. It’s highly toxic to your body. Our bodies are amazing; they want to be healthy, so it will always try to return to good health,” Lichorwic explained.

Unhealthy Mouth, Unhealthy Body Untreated infections lead to chronic inflammation.

When the body detects an infection, inflammation sets in to immediately begin protecting and repairing tissue. Blood flow increases to the affected area, where white blood cells attempt to isolate and remove foreign bodies.

The result is swelling, redness and pain.

That immune system response is healthy — at first. But chronic inflammation results when the infection is not properly treated, and, in effect, the body remains at constant war with itself as it tries to oust the infection.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to everything from cancer to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

While there’s no solid proof that periodontal diseases can cause chronic health problems such as heart disease or diabetes, study after study has shown there are significant connections between oral health and those more serious health problems.

For example, a study reported by the National Institutes of Health found that “the higher the levels of … periodontal diseasecausing bacteria, the more likely people were to have thicker carotid arteries.” Another report by the American Heart Association concluded that there is “a direct relationship between periodontal microbiology and subclinical atherosclerosis.”

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According to Colon, there has been other research that indicates diabetics who treated their gum disease showed improvements in A1C levels — a measure of blood sugar control — and vice versa, that improved blood sugar control has a positive effect on existing gum disease.

Gum Disease Costs One intriguing study published in a 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzed more than 330,000 medical insurance claims of people who had both periodontal disease and one of five other conditions: type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, cerebral vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis or pregnancy.

Researchers discovered that those who sought treatment for their periodontal conditions ended up spending significantly less on treatment of their other conditions compared to those who did not. For example, type 2 diabetics who treated their gum disease spent 40 percent less on treatment for diabetic complications than diabetics who left oral infections untreated.

Dr. Sam Ashoo is the medical director for emergency services at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. He notes that patients with serious oral infections often require much more aggressive treatment if they also have a chronic condition such as diabetes.

“Chances are much higher that you will require hospitalization,” he said.

Colon puts it like this: When you have periodontal disease and an uncontrolled chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes, they play off of each other to make the overall effect worse — a case where 2 plus 2 equals 6.

“They are communicating through a common topic, and that is inflammation,” he said.

“It’s fuel for a fire.”

And periodontal disease isn’t just linked to the biggies, either.

People who experience frequent sinusitis might not actually have sinus problems so much as they do oral problems. Up to 40 percent of chronic maxillary sinus infections are actually caused by dental infections, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

From Toothache to the ER Not only has periodontal disease been linked to other systemic health problems, but left untreated, it’s likely to lead straight to the emergency room. Especially for those who do not have insurance or a means to pay for dental care.

Ashoo said he has seen a rise in dental-related ER visits over the past 10 years. There is a direct correlation between the decrease in dental services available to people without a means to pay and the increase in ER visits, he said.

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

ORAL HEALTH TIPS

Periodontal disease can have a negative effect on your overall health, but there are ways prevent it. All it takes are a few basic steps.

» BRUSH YOUR TEETH at least

twice a day, or after each meal, using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Brush your tongue as well to remove bacteria.

Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

» FLOSS THE SPACES

BETWEEN YOUR TEETH at least once a day. When you do it isn’t as important as being sure you do it. If you aren’t comfortable using dental floss, try a floss pick or a dental pick. Some discomfort is normal for the first week or so.

» USE MOUTHWASH DAILY

to flush out bacteria. Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol unless they are ADA approved.

» STOP SMOKING. Smoking

significantly increases the risk of periodontal disease by interfering with the cells of gum tissue and bone, and by slowing the woundhealing process, creating opportunities for bacteria to flourish.

» PRACTICE GOOD NUTRITION by eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy and lean meats.

Avoid foods that contribute to dental problems such as crunchy, starchy items like potato chips, sticky candies and dried fruits, and too much citrus.

» SEE YOUR DENTIST for

twice-yearly checkups, and see the periodontist for a full exam once a year.

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f.y.i.

He said the most common complaint of those visiting the ER for a dental problem is pain from an abscess. Abscesses are caused by periodontal disease, or by chipped, broken or decayed teeth that have not been repaired, often because of an inability to pay.

“That results in pretty significant problems that are dealt with in the emergency department,” Ashoo said.

A CDC survey of hospital emergency rooms nationwide found that the number of dental-related ER visits nearly doubled between 2000 and 2010. That amounted to 2.1 million dental emergencies in 2010, costing the health care system more than $860 million.

In Florida, there were NEED HELP? about 115,000 dental-relatHealth insurance often ed ER cases in 2010 for a doesn’t cover the cost of cost of about $88 million. dental care, and even dental Taxpayers picked up the insurance usually means bill for about one-third of just a reduction in the cost. those visits, according to Fortunately, there are opthe report, “A Costly Dentions on the Emerald Coast tal Destination,” by the for those who cannot afford Pew Center for the States. dental work.

Baker Family A Rare But Real Risk Medical Center On rare occasions, even a 1321 Georgia Ave., Baker last-minute trip to the ER (850) 537-8289 can’t save someone with an untreated oral infection.

Children’s Volunteer At least 66 patients Health Network hospitalized because of 78 Lynn Lane, periapical abscesses died Santa Rosa Beach between 2000 and 2008, (850) 622-3200, ext 106 according to the Journal of dentalclinic@cvhnkids.org Endodontics.

Crestview There have been some Health Center high-profile examples.

4100 S. Ferdon Blvd., Last year, a 31-yearSuite C-5, Crestview old man from Cincinnati (850) 682-1164 ended up in the hospital when what he’d thought Crossroads was a simple case of sinusMedical Clinic itis turned out to be a den444 Valparaiso Pkwy., tal infection that seriously Valparaiso (850) 389-3015 damaged his heart. Doctors performed open-heart Hope Medical Clinic surgery but were unable to 150 Beach Dr., Destin save him.

(850) 837-8424 And, in 2007, a 12-yearold Maryland boy’s decayed tooth led to an infection that spread to his brain. He spent six weeks in the hospital and had two operations before he died from what had started as a toothache.

Severe infections like those that can occur with dental abscesses sometimes cause septicemia, in which bacteria enters the bloodstream and spreads to other parts of the body, including the heart and brain. This can result in endocarditis in the heart or an infection in the brain, both potentially fatal conditions.

Children and those with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible, Colon, the periodontist, said.

“Today, with antibiotics and regular care, nobody should go through that,” he said. ec

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flavor

Cookware Know-How

THE VARIETY OF POTS AND PANS ON STORE SHELVES IS DAZZLING — AND DIZZYING. HOW DOES ONE CHOOSE?

BY LIS KING

w

Ask the Chefs Who’d be able to advise you better than professional chefs, and we’ve found good input from some who run busy kitchens at popular Emerald Coast eateries.

Dominic Damiano, the award-winning chef and owner of Fat Clemenza’s, Uptown Clemenza’s and Mama Clemenza’s European Breakfast, says he’s a big fan of All-Clad pots and pans.

“The heat distribution is superb,” he says. “And isn’t it odd that so many home cooks don’t realize that cooking is all about the heat? You have to heat up a pot or pan before putting in the food. Otherwise, the food sticks. And if the heat distribution isn’t even, the food won’t cook evenly.”

Damiano explains that the quality of cookware depends on technology and metallurgy. Some metals 116 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

COURTESY OF LE CREUSET

e’re becoming pot heads. No, no, not that kind. We’re talking cookware here, an au courant topic now that we all want to cook healthier and more creatively. It seems as though every manufacturer offers a different metallic concept, with layer upon layer of heat-conducting alloys and easy-cook surface coatings.

The variety is truly startling, and nobody could blame you for wondering what pan might make a difference in the way your Saturday morning omelet turns out.

The questions keep coming. Stainless steel or aluminum? Thick bottoms? Steel handles? Lids?

Copper? Coated non-stick pans? Why not just buy a cast-iron pan like the one Grandma wielded for those amazing chocolate chip pancakes? How about those matched sets by celebrity chefs such as Rachael Ray, Paula Deen and Marcus Samuelson?

And then there’s the cost factor. Goodness, some sets can run into the thousands of dollars, but might an Escoffier set of copper cookware actually catapult you into a Food Network competition for home cooks?

Ask the Chefs

Here's what local chefs told us about the pots and pans they prefer.

Dominic Damiano, owner of Fat Clemenza’s, Uptown Clemenza’s and Mama Clemenza’s European Breakfast ALL-CLAD POTS AND PANS

“The heat distribution is superb,” he says. “And isn’t it odd that so many home cooks don’t realize that cooking is all about the heat? You have to heat up a pot or pan before putting in the food. Otherwise, the food sticks. And if the heat distribution isn’t even, the food won’t cook evenly.”

Crystal Castillo, executive chef at Tommy Bahama in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin ALL-CLAD POTS AND PANS

“I think the home cook should have some of this cookware. They are easier for the average person to maintain than the steel French pans that I also prize. I thought I was going to die when my mother-inlaw tried to wash my French pans with soap.”

Made in France since 1925, the Le Creuset Dutch oven (top) — also called a French oven — is one of the company's signature pieces made from enameled cast iron.

This 3-quart stainless steel saute pan is a convenient workhorse in any cook's kitchen.

Chef Dave Bishop of Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant in Seaside CAST-IRON FANS CATEGORY

“I love it. Just season it and put it in the oven, and it works great.”

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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flavor

Cookware by All-Clad

are better heat conductors than others.

For instance, copper is an especially good heat conductor. Stainless steel is not, but it’s durable and easy to care for. Aluminum heatsCOLORS quickly but is somewhat pliable. This is why manufacturers bond various metals

together, to take advantage of each metal’s special properties.

All-Clad, for example, is an American product handcrafted especially for elite home cooks. One of its Thischefs palette is aand calm andserious soothing pastel combination. The colors flow top products features five-ply construction, easily and do not compete with each other in terms of brightness.

These colors encourage a sense of both, happiness and peace. The pink and blue are referential to the name, while the other two colors are gender and age neutral. This palate works well with a lot of white and therefore, creates the allusion of more space which can be beneficial in design for print, web, and store/display design.

bonding an inner core of copper with aluminum and stainless steel interiors and exteriors. This combination of metals provides quick heat-up time, maximum temperature control, even heat distribution and easy care. The line includes anything for cooking, from Dutch ovens and stock pots to paella pans and woks. Williams-Sonoma lists a 30-piece set of All-Clad at $3,999.95.

Crystal Castillo, executive chef at Tommy Bahama in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, also favors All-Clad products.

“I think the home cook should have some of this cookware,” she says. “They are easier for the average person to maintain than the steel French pans that I also prize. I thought I was going to die when my mother-in-law tried to wash my French pans with soap.”

Damiano also likes Scanpan, Danish non-stick cookware praised for high quality, including a ceramic titanium coating that’s said to be eco-friendly. The price for a set consisting of three pots, three pans and four lids is $1,039.

The Cast-Iron Debate Now about that cast-iron pan we know from Grandma’s kitchen and cowboy movies … It

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118 August–September 2015

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COURTESY OF ALL-CLAD AND THE VOLLRATH COMPANY

has become quite trendy, with many home cooks applauding how well it holds heat, is naturally non-stick when properly seasoned, and lasts forever.

The other side of the debate holds that raw cast iron is porous, hard to clean, heavy and awkward. That cast-iron pan wasn’t the secret weapon Grandma made it out to be, say critics. Except perhaps for hitting a burglar over the head.

Chef Damiano, however, points to the famous Le Creuset line. It’s cast iron, but colorfully coated inside and out for good looks and easy care.

“I like to use a Le Creuset pan for braising,” he says. “Yes, it’s expensive. A pan can set you back $200, but it will last you a lifetime.”

Chef Dave Bishop of Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant in Seaside puts himself in the cast-iron fans category.

“I love it,” he says. “Just season it and put it in the oven, and it works great.” But his allover cookware favorite is Lincoln Centurion stainless steel cookware, which features a half-inch aluminum bottom for great and even heat distribution. The aluminum is protected by a thin layer of stainless steel to prevent denting and scratching.

Non-Stick Surfaces The types of non-stick surfaces are hotly debated by foodies. On one hand, they applaud how these surfaces allow for lighter, healthier cooking, but Teflon coatings, especially, have caused concerns.

Teflon contains PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), and some say it emits toxic fumes when heated. Damiano simply says that Teflon peels, so he doesn’t like it.

The new ceramic-coated pans get good marks from wellness experts. They say these surfaces are safer because they don’t contain PFOA, and the ceramic-based nanotechnology they’re based on is stable when exposed to heat and resistant to flaking.

Porcelain enamel surfaces are smooth and easy to clean and are the perfect choice for Dutch ovens, stock pots and roasters where slow, even cooking is important.

Big Lots years ago, and it’s my go-to pasta pot,” she remarks. “You need to know what your needs are and what you’re looking for.”

That sentiment is echoed by chefs Damiano and Bishop. Buy what you need, they say.

Unless you have one of those fancy kitchens where the cookware is on exhibit, you don’t need a matched set. If you’re just starting out, buy a couple of pans and a few pots of different sizes. In time, you can add specialized items, such as a wok, an omelet pan, an egg poacher, etc.

“Consider your budget and needs,” Castillo says. “I’ll say, though, that some expensive pieces are a good investment. If they’re taken care of, they’ll last you for a very long time.” ec Lincoln Centurion stainless steel cookware

Celeb Cookware Damiano laughs at the idea that cookware by famous chefs should be especially wonderful, and Castillo says that just because a fancy chef sponsored it doesn’t mean that it is always a great product.

“Shoot, I bought a copper-bottom pot at

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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FRESH SEAFOOD?

One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?”

That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries.

Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported.

Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.

Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish.

We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood. We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.

check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from harbor Docks Seafood market.

DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | h a r b o r D o c k S .co m S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S

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Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

dining Alys Beach

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH American. Seafood, burgers and sandwiches at the perfect beachy-casual spot. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., 850-641-0017. $$ L D

Blue Mountain Beach

GRECIAN GARDENS RESTAURANT Mediterranean. Traditional Greek cuisine served in an open-air atmosphere perfect for special occasions or parties. Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

3375 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3011. $$ L D

The Key The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the EC Magazine editorial department, except where noted. ★ B L D

Best of the Emerald Coast 2014 Winner Breakfast Lunch Dinner Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ $$

Inexpensive Moderately Expensive $$$ Expensive

P R I M E

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S E A F O O D

MARIE'S BISTRO & BAR Mediterranean. Enjoy made-to-order seafood, steak, pasta as well as sushi in a casual atmosphere. Dine in, carry out, drive through and catering. Full bar. Serving lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Tues–Fri and dinner at 5 p.m. Tues–Sun. 2260 W. County Highway 30A, 850-278-6856. $$ L D BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH CREAMERY Ice Cream. Homemade ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt treats. Open daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Cash only. 2129 S. County Highway 83, 850-278-6849. $$

Destin

AJ’S SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR ★ Seafood. Choose from fresh local seafood, sandwiches, pasta, chicken or specialty dishes like the oysters Eugene or Rockefeller. Open daily 11 a.m.

116 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-1913. $$ L D ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays.

(Open Memorial and Labor days.) 979 E. Hwy. 98, Suite F, 850-650-0499. $ B BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR Seafood. Discover Destin’s best-kept secret. Come here for ice cold beer, raw oysters, award-winning gumbo and a great view of the Destin Harbor, and leave with a signature T-shirt from the gift shop. Open daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 288 B Harbor Blvd., 850-837-3645. L D

SAVOR THE NIGHT Valet the car. Sip the wine. Seize the steak. At Seagar’s, our seasonal menu of Prime steak and fresh, local seafood,

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★ Seafood. Located on the beautiful Destin Harbor, this seafood spot will spoil you with spectacular sunsets, sensational Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine (including award-winning oysters!) and family-friendly service all in a fun, relaxed, casual atmosphere. Open daily at 11 a.m. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin, 850-424-7406. $$ L D

selection of craft cocktails and more

BROTULA’S SEAFOOD HOUSE & STEAMER Seafood/American. Fresh steamed and boiled seafood dishes featuring local gulf fish and farm fresh produce. Craft cocktails, 12 Beers on Tap, creative wine list. Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. Destin Harbor, 850-460-8900 $$$ B

experience. The time to enjoy is now.

CALLAHAN’S RESTAURANT & DELI ★ American. Voted Best Locally Owned Restaurant 2008–2014, Callahan’s serves up great sandwiches, seafood specials and prime rib. Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 791 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-6328. $ L D

8 5 0 - 6 2 2-1 5 0 0

CRAB ISLAND CANTINA Mexican. Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine in a casual waterfront dining atmosphere offering the best views of Destin Harbor. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.– 10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 2 Harbor Blvd., 850-424-7417. $$ L D

than 600 wines, provides all the elements for an indulgent, memorable

R E SE R VAT I ON S Located at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa 4000 Sandestin Blvd. South, Destin, FL 32550 www.Seagars.com | Contact@Seagars.com

DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★ Gourmet Takeout. Everything you need for a fresh and delicious meal. Choose from fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent deserts and an assortment of wines, cheeses, spices and more.

Open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m. 663 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-8333. $$ L D DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE ★ Seafood. One of Destin’s most popular restaurants serves up charm and award-winning seafood in a quaint house overlooking the scenic Destin Harbor. Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 202 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-7525. $$$ L D EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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a taste for ...

Good Grab-andGo Meals You don’t have to let a busy schedule derail your train ride to wellness town.

Jump on board the latest culinary trend hitting college towns everywhere and eat healthy, homemade food even when you are on the go. Oatmeal topped with flax and fruit and breakfast burritos packed with veggies will get your day started with whole-grain goodness and energizing protein. But what do you do when you don’t have time to cook? Here’s a “jarring” idea: Jam your breakfast, lunch or dinner into a glass Mason jar.

For breakfast, build your own gourmet “granola” layered with plain yogurt for a pretty parfait full of crunch and yummy goodness.

Who says PB&J for lunch isn’t good for you? Blend frozen berries, banana and unsalted, creamy peanut or almond butter with dates, chia seeds, spinach and almond milk and voilà — you have a healthy — and convenient — liquid lunch.

Let your imagination go and layer all your favorite healthy foods in colorful, tasty vertical salad creations. You can easily plan meals for the day or even the week. Avoiding plastic containers means you add no toxic extra toppings.

Experiment for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and surely you will see your diet through a glass that is more than half full.

— Zandra Wolfgram

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dining DEWEY DESTIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★ Seafood. True local charm in an outdoor setting and some of the freshest seafood around. Open 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. 9 Calhoun Ave., 850-837-7575. $$ B L D GRAFFITI Italian. Traditional Italian favorites and house specialties like seafood pizza.

Mon–Thu 5–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–10 p.m. 707 E. Hwy. 98, 850-654-2764. $$ D HARBOR DOCKS ★ American. A local’s favorite, this family-owned and operated surf-andturf restaurant overlooking the Destin Harbor offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the Emerald Coast. Open daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.

538 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-2506. $$ B L D HARRY T’S ★ Seafood. Lounge on the beautiful patio and watch the passing boats as you enjoy an endless variety of delicious dishes. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 46 Harbor Blvd., 850-654-4800. $$ B L D JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI Seafood. Fresh seafood, sushi, salad, sandwiches and more served in a casual atmosphere overlooking the Destin harbor. Enjoy live music and Sunday brunch. Open daily from 11 a.m. Sunday brunch at 10 a.m. 56 Harbor Blvd, HarborWalk Village. 850-424-3507. $$ L D JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q ★ Barbecue. Southern smokehouse barbecue. Beer and wine. Open daily 11 a.m. 14073 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-351-1991. $ L D

to freshly-made premium ice cream AND

JOHNNY O’QUIGLEY’S American. Award-winning steak, seafood and barbecue in one of Destin’s favorite sports bars. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–1 a.m, Double Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–close. 34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-1015. $ L D MARGARITAVILLE American. Escape to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for island-inspired food, fun and the “it’s five o’clock somewhere” mentality. Open daily from 11 a.m.

76 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village. 850-460-7700. $$ L D MARINA CAFÉ American. Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine. Open daily 5–10 p.m. 404 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-7960. $$ D MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian. Mimmo’s is the new hot spot in Destin for authentic Italian dishes bursting with flavor and color. Enjoy happy hour at the full bar serving authentic Italian cocktails. Catering available. Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m–10 p.m., Sat–Sun 5–10 p.m. 979 Highway 98, Suite 5, 850-460-7353. $$ L D OSAKA ★ Japanese. Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood. Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner 5–10:30 p.m.

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-4688 or 850-650-4689. $$ L D PEPITO’S ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast, locals love Pepito’s for its authentic Mexican cuisine and mouthwatering margaritas. Happy Hour specials all day Mondays, including small rocks margaritas and all beer and well drinks for $1.99. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 757 E. Hwy. 98, 850-650-7734. $$ L D RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★ Steak and Seafood. New Orleans-inspired appetizers, desserts and award-winning wines. Mon–Sat 5:30–10 p.m., Sun 5:30–9 p.m. Silver Shells Resort. 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-337-5108. $$$ D

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4655 Gulfstarr Drive, Destin | 850-269-2920 | brusters.com

The Tradition Continues

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EUROPEAN BREAKFAST

2012, 2013, 2014

SARAH K’S GOURMET Gourmet Takeout. Chef-crafted, ready-to-heat cuisine. Jumbo lump crab cakes and fresh chicken salad are the house specialties. Open at 11 a.m.

34940 Hwy. 98, 850-269-0044. $ L D TUSCANY ITALIAN BISTRO Italian. Northern Italian cuisine featuring choice meats, fresh seafood and garden vegetables. Tues–Sun 4 p.m.–close. 36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2451. $$ D

Fort Walton Beach

AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★ Greek. Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant. Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. 1259 Eglin Pkwy., Shalimar, 850-613-6120. $$ L D

12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Miramar Beach | 844.246.MAMA (toll free) Uptown Station, 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach 850.243.0707 | ClemenzasAtUptown.com EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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dining BENJARONG THAI CUISINE & BBQ Thai and Barbecue. Barbecue, chicken, ribs, steak and spicy Thai food. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 251 Mary Esther Blvd., 850-362-0290. $$ L D THE BLACK PEARL Steak and Seafood. Dig into some coconut shrimp and a juicy steak while enjoying a lovely view of the Gulf. Located in The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Open daily 4 p.m. 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-833-3016. $$ D BON APPETIT FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ ★ French. Delicious made from scratch French pastries, croissants and crusty breads. Soup, salads and sandwiches served 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Mon–Fri, Sat 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Sun. 420 Mary Esther Cutoff.

850-244-2848.

BUFFALO’S REEF FAMOUS WINGS ★ American. This restaurant is famous for hot wings and cold beer.

Ask about the daily specials. Tue–Sat open at 10:30 a.m., Sun open at noon. 116 Eglin Pkwy., 850-243-9463. $ L D CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN ★ Italian. Award-winning classic Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizza.

Parties, special events and private dining. Full-service bar and espresso bar. Open Mon-Fri for lunch, Mon-Sat for dinner. 75 Eglin Pkwy. 850-243-0707. $$ B L D

BEST WINGS 2010–2014

Ft. Walton Beach’s Favorite Wings Since 1990!

HELEN BACK Pizza. The world’s finest hand-tossed pizza and cold beer in a sports bar atmosphere. Locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview and Valparaiso. Open daily 11 a.m.–4 a.m. 114 Amberjack Dr., 850-796-1451. $LD MAGNOLIA GRILL Steak, Seafood and Italian. Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Sat, open at 5 p.m.

Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., 850-302-0266. $$ L D MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★ European. This award-winning breakfast is culinary perfection. Enjoy a diverse menu of authentic Old World family recipes. Sat 8 a.m.–noon, Sun 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Clemenza’s Uptown, 75 Eglin Pkwy. 850-243-0707. $$ B PANDORA’S Steak and Seafood. Early evening specials weekdays 5–6 p.m. Happy Hour weekdays 5–7 p.m. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m., 1226 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-8669. $$$ D PRANZO ITALIAN RISTORANTE Italian. The Montalto family has been serving classic and contemporary Italian cuisine in Fort Walton Beach for nearly 30 years.

Dinner Mon–Sat, 5 p.m. 1222 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-9955. $ D SEALAND Steak and Seafood. Serving American cuisine as well as Thai offerings in a homey atmosphere. Lunch Sun 11 a.m. until. Dinner Tues–Sat from 4:30 p.m. 47 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-244-0044. $$$ B D

Grayton Beach

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays. (Open Memorial and Labor days.) 51 Grayton Uptown Cir., 850-231-7835. $ B PANDORA’S Steak and Seafood. Warm, traditional steakhouse with early evening specials. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m. 63 DeFuniak St., 850-231-4102. $$ D PICOLO’S RESTAURANT Seafood. Dine on delicious fresh seafood while listening to live music. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ L D RED BAR ★ American. A favorite among locals, visitors and celebrities and a mustvisit when in Grayton Beach. Kick back on the funky furniture and listen to live music while enjoying great food and cocktails — especially the award-winning Bloody Mary. Breakfast 7–10:30 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 5–10 p.m. Bar open 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight. Cash or check only, no credit cards. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ B L D TRATTORIA BORAGO Italian. Enjoy a balsamic-laced pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper 124 August–September 2015

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from the open kitchen. Open 6 p.m. daily. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach, 850-231-9167. $$ D

Miramar Beach

AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★ Greek. Sip an ouzo at the beautiful stone bar before savoring the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant. Breakfast 8–11 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Dinner 4–9 p.m. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-460-2728. $$ B L D ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Award-winning breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily from 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Two Sandestin locations: On the Bay (next to the LeCiel at Sandestin) and in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 850-622-2050. $ B (in the Village) BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS ★ Steak and Seafood. Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, offering the freshest Gulf seafood, prime steaks and an extensive award-winning wine list. Indoor, outdoor and private dining available.

Open daily, 4–10 p.m. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy West, Suite 22, Miramar Beach. 850-622-0760. $$$ D CANTINA LAREDO ★ Mexican. Boasting a contemporary décor and fiery flavor, the new addition to Grand Boulevard offers gourmet twists on Mexican favorites.

Save room for dessert, and check out the Sunday brunch. Sun–Thu 11 a.m.– 10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 585 Grand Blvd., 850-654-5649. $$ B L D FAT CLEMENZA’S ★ Italian. Feel like part of the family as you enjoy homemade classical Italian cuisine. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Wed 5–9:30 p.m., Thu–Sat 5–10 p.m. Holiday Plaza/Hwy. 98, 850-650-5980. $$ L D FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR ★ Steak. This award-winning restaurant offers prime steaks, chops, chicken, seafood, fresh salads and a variety of unique sides and desserts served in a comfortable but elegant atmosphere. Featuring 100 wines by the glass. Open Mon–Thu 5–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–11 p.m., Sun 4–9 p.m.

600 Grand Blvd., 850-269-0830. $$ D JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT & NIGHTCLUB ★ American. Rock your evening with dinner and dancing on the best dance floor on the Emerald Coast. Village Door Smokehouse with seating on deck overlooking the bay serving barbecue and seafood daily 5–9 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 126 Fisherman’s Cove.

850-502-4590. $ D

rbor

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BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 2010-2014 BEST GUMBO 2014 BEST GROUPER SANDWICH 2013

Outdoor Seating Full Bar Lunch menu available 11AM-3PM Open at 11AM • Closing hours vary by season 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin • 837-7525

LOVE MEAT TENDER BBQ TO GO Barbecue. Low and slow Southern-style BBQ served to go. Open Mon– Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m. 12671 Highway 98, Unit 208 (in the Fountain Plaza across from McDonalds). 850-424-5355. $ L D MARINA BAR AND GRILL American. Seafood, po-boys, burgers, salads overlooking the Baytowne Marina and Choctawhatchee Bay. You catch ’em we cook ’em service. Open daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 a.m. Kitchen closed Mon–Tue. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., 850-267-7778. $ B L D MARLIN GRILL ★ Steak and Seafood. Fresh seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers served inside or outside. Open nightly at 5 p.m. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850351-1990. $$$ L D

Gum

ts bo • Sandwiches • Steamed Seafoo d • Fried Seafood Baske

...overlooking Crab Island

P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO ★ Asian. Sample crunchy lettuce wraps or Chinese favorites like Kung Pao Chicken in a chic atmosphere. Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 10640 Grand Blvd., 850-269-1806. $$ L D PEPITO’S ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast. Authentic Mexican cuisine, delicious margaritas and weekly specials. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 11225 Hwy 98, 850-269-7788. $$ L D POPPY’S SEAFOOD FACTORY Seafood. Enjoy fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes with a view of the bay. Open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-351-1996. $$$ L D ROYAL ORCHID ★ Thai. Escape to Thailand at this authentic Thai restaurant. Sink into a traditional sunken table surrounded by pillows or dine American style at a table or booth. Thu–Tue 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Closed Wed. 11275 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2555. $$ L D

Open 7 days a week • 11AM -‘Til 9 Calhoun Ave., Destin • 837-7575 BOATERS WELCOME! EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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LEMON CURD RISOTTO PANCAKES

From European-inspired pancakes to seafood worth singing about, with cooler temperatures, thinner crowds and even more great Gulf Coast eateries to choose from, fall is best of all on the Emerald Coast dining scene.

Breakfast MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST, MIRAMAR BEACH

Transport yourself to the old country and fill your belly with comfort food right here on the Emerald Coast. This gourmet brunch is a celebration of food that puts an Italian twist on breakfast favorites. We are still savoring the deliciously bright LEMON CURD RISOTTO PANCAKES drizzled with lemon curd cream.

(You can also opt for warm maple butter syrup.) In addition, you can add maple-glazed bananas for a little more (so of course we did). Mama mia, it’s all good! $9

Lunch SPORK, FORT WALTON BEACH

If you can’t decide between a spoon and fork, you don’t have to at this new eatery aptly named Spork. Small but tasty, this eclectic diner has spunk and great-tasting food. We tried one of the most popular menu sandwiches, THE WIZARD — named for the U.S. Air Force’s 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, a.k.a. the “Fighting Wizards.” It is served warm and heaping with ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, spinach and tomato on sourdough bread and comes with your choice of chips, orzo pasta salad, loaded potato salad, a small soup or a side salad. Though it comes with a spork, you’ll need to use both hands to brave this big boy. $8.25

Dinner BRIC À BRAC BAR & RESTAURANT, DESTIN

The Petit family has given the Emerald Coast The Red Bar, Louis Louis, the newly opened Destin Diner and Bric à Brac, the latter named for their grandfather Louie’s eclectic restaurant in Belgium.

Fun and funky, Bric à Brac is a place where you can come as you are and let your hair down. Before dinner, have a cocktail at the bar; after dinner, enjoy live music and hit the dance floor.

We ordered up the BLACKENED SNAPPER served over sautéed spinach that came with a potato croquette with a lemon demiglace and fresh garden salad. Let’s just say we were singing its praises. $24 126 August–September 2015

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MATT BURKE

on the menu

dining SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ★ Steak and Seafood. Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar. Open 6 p.m. daily. Hilton Sandestin. 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., 850-622-1500. $$$ D SUNSET BAY CAFÉ American. Enjoy chef-inspired twists on classic dishes in a casual atmosphere. When you combine fresh local ingredients with innovation, experience and location, you have a recipe for a perfect breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktail. Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Tiki Bar open noon to sunset. On the bay at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W. 850-267-7108. $ B L THE BEACH HOUSE American. Come here for casual beach front dining. Enjoy a cocktail at the pool bar and live music (in season). Private events available pool side and in our Sky Room. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 4009 S. Sandestin Blvd.

850-267-4800. $$ L D

2008 - Best Italian 2009 - Best Pizza 2010 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2011 - Best Pizza, Best Italian & Best Chef 2012 - Best Italian 2013 - Best Pizza & Best Walton Restaurant 2014 - Best Pizza, Best Walton Restaurant & Best Chef

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

TOMMY BAHAMA’S RESTAURANT & BAR Caribbean. Get a taste of the islands with jerk spices, fresh fish and the best desserts on the coast as voted by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight.

525 Grand Blvd., 850-654-1743. $$ L D VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO American. Traditional favorites and unique house dishes. Open daily 11 a.m.–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 103, 850-650-9820. $ L D

Niceville/Valparaiso

COMPASS ROSE RESTAURANT AND BAR Caribbean. Waterfront dining overlooking Tom’s Bayou. The cuisine is coastal with a Caribbean-West Indies flair. Enjoy Happy Hour, daily specials and Sunday brunch. Tue–Thur 11 a.m.–9 p.m.,Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 4–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 303 Glen Ave., 850-389-2125. $$ L D

Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 · 850.650.5980 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach · fatclemenzas.com

ONE 20 A MODERN BISTRO American. Modern American cuisine specializing in seafood, steaks and local fresh produce. Lunch Tue–Fri 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner Tue–Sat 5–9 p.m., Brunch Sun 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Closed Monday. 120 Partin Drive N., Niceville, 850-729-2120. $$ B L D PEPITO’S ★ Mexican. Locals love the authentic Mexican cuisine, margaritas and all-day Monday Happy Hour special. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

4585 E. Hwy 20, Suite 100, Niceville, 850-279-4949. $$ L D TRADEWINDS Italian. A cozy favorite among locals serving heaping portions from old family recipes. Enjoy a number of pasta variations as well as seafood, chicken, veal, steak and thin crust pizza. Expansive wine and beer list.

Reservations required. Open Tue–Sat 5 p.m. 205 Government St., 850-678-8299. $$ D

Santa Rosa Beach

BASMATI’S ASIAN CUISINE & SUSHI Asian. Asian dishes and full sushi bar. Open 4 p.m. daily. 3295 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3028. $$ D CAFÉ BOLO ★ American. Gourmet coffee, sandwiches, soups, pastries and cakes on beautiful Scenic 30A. Open daily from 7 a.m. 4368 County Road 30A, 850-267-2060. $ B L CAFÉ TANGO American. Seafood, poultry and pasta served with specialty sauces.Homemade desserts. Open Tue–Sun 5–10 p.m. 14 Vicki St., 850-267-0054. $$$ D FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT Continental. Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair: tuna, crab cakes, shrimp and scallops. 5:30–10 p.m. daily. Located in the WaterColor Inn, 850-534-5050. $$$ D LOUIS LOUIS American. The only thing that isn’t over the top at Louis Louis is the menu pricing. The Moulin Rouge-inspired interior décor is outrageously wonderful. Dine outside or in. The menu has six tasty items, including crab cakes, panned chicken, blackened fish and a few pastas. Mon– Sun 5–10 p.m. 35 Mussett Bayou Rd., 850-267-1500. $ D

Magnolia Grill Fort Walton Beach Tom & Peggy Rice, Proprietors 157 Brooks Street SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 850.302.0266 • www.magnoliagrillfwb.com Bridal Luncheons • Rehearsal Dinners • Unique Receptions

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dining THE MARIGNY ★ Creole. Enjoy authentic New Orleans-style cooking inside at linen covered tables or poolside on the covered patio lounge. Serving lunch and dinner daily 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. Enjoy the bar until midnight. 306 Bald Eagle Drive, 850-622-9101. $ L D VKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & SUSHI BAR Asian. Using the freshest ingredients this Japanese gem serves up tasty Hibachi-style stir-fry meals of steak, seafood and chicken prepared at your table as well as artfully prepared sashimi and sushi rolls. Open daily. Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 4:30–9:30 p.m.

4552 Highway 98, Santa Rosa Beach, 850-267-2555. $$ L D VUE ON 30A American. Seafood, beef, poultry, lamb, veal, pastas, soups and bisques. Open Tues–Fri 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Wed–Sat 5–9 p.m.

4801 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-2305. $$ L D

Seaside & Seagrove Beach

ANGELINA’S PIZZA & PASTA Italian. Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. 4005 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2500. $ L D BUD & ALLEY’S RESTAURANT Seafood. A pioneer of farm- and sea-to-table dining serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Famous bell ringing tradition with Happy Hour specials daily at sunset overlooking the Gulf. Open 11:30 a.m. Mon–Fri. Roof bar open 11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. in summer.

2236 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-5900. $$$ L D CAFÉ THIRTY-A Seafood. Seafood, lamb, duck, filet mignon and pizza. Open daily 5 p.m. 3899 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2166. $$ D CRUSH American. Crush features an extensive wine menu, sushi and small plates. Open daily for lunch and dinner, noon–10 p.m. 25 Central Sq., 850-468-0703. $$ L D GREAT SOUTHERN CAFÉ Southern. Jim Shirley serves up Southern comfort food with a twist.

Open daily for breakfast 8–11 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., dinner 4–11:30 p.m. 83 Central Sq., 850-231-7327. $$ B L D

Shrimp Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque

LA BOTANA Tapas. Small plates of Latin-inspired cuisine served in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Wine bar. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri 4–11 p.m., Sat–Sun 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 4281 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-0716. $$ L D LA COCINA MEXICAN GRILL & BAR Mexican. Traditional Tex-Mex with a coastal twist. Open daily 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Bar open until 10 p.m. 10343 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-4021. $$ L D OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE AND BAR Seafood. Rustic seafood restaurant featuring a new take on old seafood favorites. Full bar. Dinner daily 5 p.m. 5235 Hwy. 30A, 850-534-3045. $$ D V SEAGROVE RESTAURANT Seafood. Chef David Cunningham serves up fresh seafood and produce that is locally sourced in a resort casual atmosphere. Open Tue–Sat at 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. 2743 E. County Highway 30A, Seagrove, 850-468-0973. $$$ D SEAGROVE VILLAGE MARKET CAFÉ Steak and Seafood. Enjoy surf-and-turf and a glass of wine, then shop for gifts and souvenirs in the adjacent gift shop. Open 10:30 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. daily. 3004 S. County Rd. 395, 850-231-5736. $$ L D THE PIZZA BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S Italian. Savor artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Experience these authentic flavors family-style in the courtyard, fire-side at the bar, and on the veranda overlooking the Gulf. Open daily from 11 a.m. 2236 E. County Road 30A, Seaside. 850-231-3113. $$ L D

Fresh Gulf Seafood Housemade Jellies & Dressings Breakfast & Lunch served 7am–2pm Dinner served on Pool Deck 12–Sunset Private Events & Catering

THE TACO BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S Mexican. Shake the sand off your feet, choose a colorful table and get ready to experience South-of-the-Border favorites —Florida style. Baja fish tacos, home-made guacamole, burritos, top shelf margaritas, and ice-cold cerveza. Open daily from 11 a.m.(in season) 2236 E. Country Road 30A, ec Seaside. 850-231-4781. $$ L D

158 Sandestin Blvd. N. @ Linkside Conference Center

SunsetBayCafeSandestin.com | 850-267-7108 Open 7 days | Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2015

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the last word

Bucket-List Adventures Require Planning, Too

i

t is still dark when the driver turns into a deserted field, and we’re asked to sign a waiver releasing the company of any harm or damage (or death) that may occur during the flight. But I’m not intimidated; Hot Air Expeditions is one of the longest-running balloon companies in Phoenix, and this is a rare opportunity to check a box on my “bucket list.”

Like many, my bucket list previously lacked an action plan and timeline. And while I wouldn’t consider heading into a business meeting without a plan and timeline for accomplishing my goals, my personal goals often fall by the wayside with no plan for achievement. Fortunately, this day changed all that. This was a day that had been meticulously planned and anticipated for months.

As we exited the van, the pilot came over to greet us and immediately placed us at ease with his warm, friendly welcome.

The patch on his jacket from the 1995 Tempe Balloon Festival communicated his 20 years’ experience, and we came to learn that our pilot, Bill Heck, flew his first hot air balloon in 1979.

Flight preparation was fun to witness. The team jumped to action, unrolling and filling the massive, multi-colored balloon with giant fans. As the balloon filled, we were quickly dwarfed by its towering size. We climbed into the basket as Captain Bill fired the loud burners, and swaths of heat warmed our heads and shoulders. (Tip: The spot closest to the middle, by the captain, is the coolest.)

With the burners firing, the basket slowly left the ground and the crew gently released us into the air from below.

Leisurely ascending into the sky, we rose above the morning fog, which remained heavy on the surrounding mountains.

130 August–September 2015

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

The balloon began to soar, and we felt weightless. Floating toward the clouds, the balloon was at the mercy of the wind, rotating clockwise like a revolving restaurant. At our peak, we reached 3,000 feet above the ground. The greater Phoenix area enjoys ideal conditions for ballooning due to varying levels of wind currents and protection from surrounding mountain ranges, which also provide spectacular views. It was quiet and peaceful as we gracefully floated through the sky, taking in the sights below. While in the air, our captain shared facts and stories about the area while taking intermittent breaks to fire the tanks and pilot the balloon.

After an hour of soaring, Captain Bill identified a suitable landing spot and radioed the ground crew. We began our descent and could see the crew in white vans making their way carefully across the desert terrain. Captain Bill expertly and gently lowered us over the barren desert, and the calm morning allowed our basket to gently reach the ground safe and sound.

Once again, the crew jumped to action, helping passengers disembark and deflating the balloon while other team members prepared breakfast. In no time, the crew rang the breakfast bell and we gathered at the tables, which were beautifully set with a green tablecloth and hot air balloonthemed china.

After pouring champagne and orange juice, Captain Bill led us in the balloonman’s toast. As our glasses met, the memories of our incredible experience soaring over the Sonoran Desert were sealed forever. More importantly, the experience served as a wonderful reminder that bucket-list adventurers deserve priority status on the “to do” list of life. ec

COURTESY OF TRACY LOUTHAIN

BY TRACY LOUTHAIN

Royce W. Mitchell

Broker Royce.Mitchell@penfedrealty.com 850-267-0013 Office 850-737-0567 Cell www.roycemitchell.com

Sanctuary by the Sea - Scenic Hwy 30A Enjoy glorious sunsets from the western balcony of this luxury condominium residence. This 4003 square-foot home at Sanctuary by the Sea features five bedrooms, four and one half baths, and 460 square feet of gulf and lakefront balcony. This unique floor plan offers two gulf-front master bedrooms. The condominium is fully furnished and provides great access to Redfish Lake, and the newly constructed dune walkover.

1363 Highway 30A 1125

2,275,000

$

Brad Smith

Broker Associate BradinDestin@gmail.com (850) 267-0013 Office (850) 598-6771 Cell www.bradsmithdestin.com

Burnt Pine - Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Grand columns welcome you as you enter this exquisite bay-front home in the exclusive community of Burnt Pine at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. In addition to the three bedrooms and three and one half bathrooms, this home also features an office and an expansive open concept kitchen. Relax in your large screened-in Florida room and enjoy year-round sunsets thanks to the western exposure.

3218 Bay Estates Circle

1,750,000

$

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