Emerald Coast Magazine - October/November 2018

THEY’RE SPOOKY SLEUTHS BY NIGHT

Investigators tap into unseen world

LIVING BY THE DOCK OF THE BAY

For some, there’s no place like boat

THE CENTER OF HIS UNIVERSE

Rambling man landed in Seagrove

a high note for

Songwriters New festival will celebrate gifts of unsung musicians 2018 BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST results are in

Enhancing Mother Nature's Perfect View

Photo by Jack Gardner

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October–November 2018

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COOL ARCHITECTURALS ~ COASTAL STYLE

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Contents 104 BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST

We salute businesses that rose to the top of our readers’ poll



FEATURES

OCT/NOV 2018

134 AL BRUNS: EASY RIDER

He coasted into Seagrove and stayed

by STEVE BORNHOFT

116 HOME FLEET HOME

Aboard boats, life is shipshape

by ERIN HOOVER

126 PURSUING PARANORMALCY

Investigators seek out the inexplicable

by STEVE BORNHOFT

photography by SEAN MURPHY

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Contents

OCT/NOV 2018

30 164 GARDENING

The prime blooming period for mums coincides with football season.

IN EVERY ISSUE

THE WAVE

92 48 FOR HER Denim long ago made its way from worksites to date nights.

25 ORCHESTRATION

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra conductor Peter Rubardt connects with audiences.

54 WHAT’S IN STORE

Sustainable fashions are planet-friendly.

30 CHAMPIONS

At the Emerald Coast Autism Center, staff members arrest behavioral problems systematically.

EXPRESSION

57 M USIC Will Thompson finds that it is time to give songwriters some love.

36 PERSONALITY David

Sandlin trades computer keyboards for a workbench.

PANACHE

41 CITIZEN OF STYLE

Breanna Bisch takes her conservative approach to fashion on the road.

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62 A RT Seaside’s artist-

in-residence program has yielded some notable projects.

66 BOOKS In John Waite’s thriller bottlenose dolphins figure in a terrorist plot.

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

70 F ILM Shorts subjects make it to a big screen for the first time at Kite Film Festival.

42 81

GASTRO & GUSTO D INING OUT The bar food is anything but ordinary at the Grayton Beer Brewpub.

92 D INING IN Soups

A BODES 151 INTERIORS The

kitchen island has become a focal point in contemporary homes.

THEY’RE SPOOKY SLEUTHS BY NIGHT

Investigators tap into unseen world

LIVING BY THE DOCK OF THE BAY

For some, there’s no place like boat

160 EXTERIORS Train

spotlights on your homescape’s most desirable features.

a high note for

Songwriters New festival will celebrate gifts of unsung musicians

warm the soul and clean out the refrigerator.

2018 BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST results are in

ON THE COVER:

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Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door whiskeys are as smooth as, well, Bob Dylan.

THE CENTER OF HIS UNIVERSE

Rambling man landed in Seagrove

As someone who comes from a long line of musicians, Will Thompson is committed to helping the next generation of singer/ songwriters take the stage.

In November, his Panama City Songwriters Festival will overtake downtown and showcase lots of emerging talent. PHOTO

BY MICHAEL BOOINI

PHOTOS BY DESIRÈE GARDNER (41), TODD DOUGLAS (30), JAMES STEFIUK (92) AND CHI HANG (86)

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16 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 18 EDITOR’S COLUMN 21 FEEBACK 97 DINING GUIDE 176 SOCIAL STUDIES 178 POST SCRIPT

The Gulf Coast just became the Luxury Coast.

Visit HendersonBeachResort.com or call 855.614.6590 to book your Destin, Florida escape.

SalamanderHotels.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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imagine

Contents

OCT/NOV 2018

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

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DESTIN PLASTIC SURGERY Young adults and teens who opt

50

BIJOUX DE MER FINE JEWELRY

for plastic surgery aren’t often interested in enhancements. Most instead want to eliminate asymmetry in breasts or other departures from normalcy.

Enjoy pieces from a collection that explores the ocean’s depths and emerges with shimmering gold.

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GRAND BOULEVARD

Purchases made at Altar’d State ensure that women stay on trend, and the sales benefit community charities.

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OPENING NIGHTS Songwriter Jimmy Webb enjoyed an enduring collaboration with the late singer Glen Campbell, one that united a hippie with an unabashed conservative. Webb is bringing his tribute to Campbell to Tallahassee.

W . ARCHITECT P.A.

154 NOT TOO SHABBY This 10,000-square-foot home design center offers the chic, the unique and custom, one-of-a-kind pieces handcrafted by the boutique’s owners, Marisol and Tony Gullo.

SACRED HEART FOUNDATION

“Stories from the Heart” describes people who have been helped by the Sacred Heart Foundation and the expertise and dedication of the caring men and women who make up the Sacred Heart Health System.

We build each home as if it were our own

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DEAL ESTATE

A plantation estate in Quincy seamlessly blends timeless and contemporary features in a quiet setting that is quintessentially pastoral.

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CALENDAR As fall festival season gives way to the holiday season along the Emerald Coast, trimmed trees, turkeys, jolly old elves and festive gatherings stuff the calendar like an extra piece of pumpkin pie fills the tummy.

C.M. Taylor Contracting, Inc. Custom Homes & Remodeling www.cmtaylorcontracting.com CMTAYLORCONTRACTING.COM | 850.830.3305 | CGC1526617

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NEXT ISSUE Holiday Gift Guide SPECIAL PROMOTION

PHOTO COURTESY NOT TOO SHABBY

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Offering a wide variety of photography and art. Visit our gallery in Grayton Beach to view the moments we have captured.

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October–November 2018

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

VOL. 19, NO. 5

OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2018

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL EDITOR Steve Bornhoft MANAGING EDITOR Pete Reinwald STAFF WRITERS Hannah Burke CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kari C. Barlow, CD Davidson-Hiers, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Erin Hoover, Thomas Monigan, Audrey Post, Leisel Schmidt, Rachel Smith

CREATIVE

rb ...on the ha

or

ing uneiqnuues Featurh ig n tly m

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Lawrence Davidson DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Notley, Shruti Shah GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Brummet CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Amanda Abernathy, Alissa Aryn Commercial, Dave Barfield, Wade Bishop, Gab Bonghi, Michael Booini, Matt Burke, Lawrence Davidson, Davis House Photography, Michael Cage, Desirée Gardner, Jack Gardner, Steve Gray, Chi Hang, Scott Holstein, Michael Khait, Kurt Lischka, Meg Burke Photography, Sean Murphy, Saige Roberts, John Shearerm, Rachel Smith, Joseph Victor Stefanchik, James Stefiuk, Mariah Tauger, Todd Douglas Photography, Corey Tucker, Jacqueline Ward, Dawn Whitty, Chase Yakaboski

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OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER Melissa Spear CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE/PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan CUSTOM PUBLISHING EDITOR Jeff Price STAFF ACCOUNTANT Jackie Burns ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Amber Dennard RECEPTIONISTS Natalie Kazmin, Kirsten Terhofter

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CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS Emerald Coast 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. Emerald Coast Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright October 2018 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

SATURDAY, NOV. 17 starts at 8:30 a.m.

get up and dress up for gameday at the annual

Sandestin Foundation for Kids

GAMEDAY 5K Enjoy a 5k or 1 mile fun run (free for all children 12 and under)

plus post-race tailgate fun at Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina!

register at Sandestin.com/SDFK5k 855.270.5105 • Sandestin.com/sdfk5k EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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from the publisher

It has often been said about Northwest Florida that we have can avoid mistakes made in South Florida by responsibly managing development and infrastructure improvements in ways that stay ahead of the growth curve.

Never has that challenge been more daunting than it is today, given the unprecedented pace of growth we are now seeing. Still, as someone who has studied the evolution of the region for four decades, I must applaud today’s leaders for the steps they have taken to ensure orderly growth while embracing the inevitable change our area must work to accommodate.

Looking back, we all can recall projects, especially transportation projects, that were controversial when first proposed, but now, years later, we cannot imagine being without.

Today, projects of massive consequence are underway including the construction of a 23rd Street flyover in Panama City’s Hathaway Bridge corridor; the widening of State Road 390 in Bay County; the widening of State Road 331 to Interstate 10 in Walton County; the widening of U.S. 98 between Sandestin and Destin; and the single largest transportation project in the history of Northwest Florida, the $398.5 million replacement bridge across Pensacola Bay. As Pensacola has so very well demonstrated, private investment tends to follow public investment. Private business initiatives in downtown Pensacola are transforming the city into an 18-hour hub of activity. Pensacola has seen a 100 percent lease-up of a downtown apartment complex and the arrival of new restaurants, retail establishments and entertainment venues.

The arrivals of new employers, such as GKN Aerospace in Bay County, have immediate and dramatic impacts on private and public sectors of the economy — housing construction on one hand, public education on another. What happened to Seattle on a grand scale will happen to Southeast Alabama and Northwest Florida on a lesser scale, now that Airbus has established an assembly plant in Mobile.

In all of this, it is essential that we recognize that not all growth is, on balance, good.

We have a responsibility, as stewards of the environment, to ensure that development is accomplished, to the extent possible, in concert with the natural world and not at the expense of its demise.

In Tallahassee, for example, longstanding plans to route traffic to and from the airport via Springhill Road likely will be changed. Amid some controversy, the plan now seems to be to route traffic by a residential neighborhood, Innovation Park and what will be the new Jack Nicklaus-design golf course to the area of Doak Campbell Stadium.

Why? Community leaders believe this route will make for an extraordinary gateway to Florida’s capital city — and may be the best way to take advantage of the one chance a community has to make a great first impression.

This is the kind of consideration, common throughout Northwest Florida, that should give communities pause.

Always, we should ask ourselves, “All things considered, what is the best course to take?”

New waves of growth are on their unstoppable way. The population of Atlanta 100 years ago was the population of Okaloosa County today.

The future is big, bold and bright; let’s be prepared to do it right.

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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editor’s letter

RESOLUTION OF BEACH-ACCESS ISSUE IS A MATTER OF RESPECT

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Matthews, whose firm has posted a blog entry on the beach access issue — see 850businessmagazine.com/Blog/News2018/A-Question-of-Property-Rights/ — added that in adopting the ordinance, “The county laid down the gauntlet for ensuing litigation involving private property rights.”

He cautioned that legal fights like the one surrounding beach access “often take years, and I would not be surprised to see the issue of customary use in Walton County ultimately before the United States Supreme Court.”

Restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb comes from a different place.

While Matthews is concerned that private property rights are being abrogated without the just compensation required by the Constitution, Rauschkolb is concerned about possible deleterious effects on individual businesses and Walton County’s tourism-based economy if the county gains a reputation for being unwelcoming.

“What about someone who owns cottages across the street from the Gulf?” he asked. “Is he going to be able to rent them if there is no beach for guests to go to? The value of his property is going to decline and, along with it, the county’s tax base.”

“Our beaches littered with no trespassing signs and threat of arrest is not an acceptable option,” Rauschkolb wrote as part of a letter to the editor that appears on page 21 of this magazine.

Rauschkolb is confident that the grievances of most beachfront owners can be addressed with stepped-up efforts to curb unruly behavior and the excesses of some water’s-edge vendors.

In all of this, we must hope that a return to the “mutual respect” that Mr. Matthews recalls is possible. That visitors and locals will be mindful that, while at the beach, they are likely quite literally in someone’s backyard. That all concerned, recognizing that no earthly presence can take credit for that skinny band of grains that makes Florida Florida, are motivated to find a way to keep the beaches and the inspirational vista that lies beyond them enjoyable by all.

That there may be peace in the sand.

SAIGE ROBERTS

Let’s say you are the executive director of an organization, the Gator State Conservancy, which is committed to acquiring and preserving environmentally sensitive lands. Your organization purchases an undeveloped tract from the state of Florida.

For many generations, that land has been used by hunters pursuing deer and wild hogs: still hunters, hunters with dogs, hunters in four-wheelers, gun hunters, bow hunters, hunters in camo, hunters in blaze orange. Most of the hunters are well-mannered and respect the land. Others, not so much. They tear up the terrain and leave lots of empties behind.

Your conservancy has decided not to allow hunting on its newly acquired property. But now you’ve got a fight on your hands: A sportsman’s organization, upset by your stance, is arguing that its members have a right to continue hunting on the property just as their ancestors did. They are arguing for the perpetuation of a customary use.

A turf war of sorts, in many ways similar to the scenario, above, is playing out in Walton County. It was set in motion by legislative passage of a bill last spring that voided the county’s “customary use” ordinance pertaining to its Gulf beaches, thereby shoring up the property rights of beachfront owners.

To say that the enactment and enforcement of House Bill 631 has stoked passions would be an understatement.

Consider that when the Walton County Commission convened a public hearing on Sept. 10 on its proposed fiscal year 2019 budget of $162.28 million, no one participated. Not a peep.

But when the commission set a public hearing for Sept. 8 on the beach access issue, 800 people fairly surrounded South Walton High School. (That hearing will resume on Nov. 3 after the county finishes the job of notifying all affected property owners.)

HB 631 “authorizes persons with a superior right to possession of real property to recover possession by ejectment and prohibits local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance or rule based on customary use.”

That is unless a judge holds that the property should be open to all. The law requires that a public hearing precede action by a judge and further requires that customary use proponents supply evidence that such use has been “ancient, reasonable, without interruption and free from dispute.”

Dana C. Matthews, a prominent Destin attorney and longtime Walton County resident, finds that prior to the county’s adoption of its customary use ordinance, “there was mutual respect between private property owners and the public’s use of the beaches.”

Respectfully,

STEVE BORNHOFT sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

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feedback

A Truly Pivotal Issue To the Editor: It is important to be good neighbors in Walton County and all of Florida.

Sharing the resources we all hold dear is critical to the well-being of our shared economic interests and our quality of life. A major factor in our decisions to live, raise our families and conduct business here is that gorgeous ribbon of white, powdery sand we call our beaches. The question of private or public beaches is now before us, and we should all take note.

The importance of sharing the beach as we have for centuries cannot be overstated. Whether people will continue to view Walton County as a welcoming place is now an open question. A future of declining rentals near minimized public beaches and lowered property values is likely.

Beaches littered with no trespassing signs and threat of arrest is not an acceptable option, but it is happening already. The only business people I can think of that won’t be affected adversely are attorneys.

This nightmare played itself out daily this past summer on our beaches after House Bill 631 went into effect on July 1. Many of us believe there is only one path for the nightmare to end and that is to restore customary use.

Beachfront owners are making claims they own sand they pay no taxes on; the land is unbuildable and has no taxable worth. Some acquired the sand through a little known legal maneuver called “quiet title.” Quiet indeed. This group and their lawyers are now unhappy because our community has awakened to what they have done.

This conflict is a relatively new one that has developed in the past five or six years. Previously, the notion of a private beach was foreign and public beaches were rarely, if ever, in question. But now beachfront owners are saying they have a deed to the waterline that entitles them to keep others from enjoying the beaches behind their homes.

The beachfront owners’ main complaints are related to bad behavior by beachgoers and to beach-chair vendors taking up too much beach real estate. Clearly, no matter whether a judge decides for or against customary use, the community must come together and find a fair and equitable solution to the chair vendor problem.

Two years ago, after meeting with beachfront owners, I recommended a Beach Ambassador program for our county. The Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sheriff’s Office liked the idea. The TDC added 11 paid staff, and now a large volunteer force led by Laurie Reichenbach patrols the sand, educating beachgoers on the do’s and dont’s on our beaches. I believe expanding this into a fully paid staff in three beach districts would help matters further. A phone number could be established for each district, and each district would have sufficient staff to respond to issues instead of involving the Sheriff’s Office. They could also accomplish code enforcement.

Clearly, our county is divided and tensions are high over this issue.

There is a lot at stake. The sooner the county can vote to proceed with the court case to restore customary use, the better. Many feel the beaches should have remained open to the public until a judge ruled on the matter, but instead the summer of 2018 will be remembered for a lot of negativity on our beaches. I sincerely hope this will not be a protracted process, because our economy hangs in the balance.

As things stand, Walton County commissioners, following a public hearing, are due to vote on Nov. 3 to either continue the process to affirm customary use or end the process. But it now appears that people who pressed for the state law don’t want the process outlined in HB 631 to go forward.

You can’t have it both ways.

If you supported the swift passage of HB 631, forcing Walton County to satisfy a judge that customary use should be upheld, then you must be in favor of the process playing out, right? You can’t both be against the county ordinance and also against the state law that the county is proceeding with.

And, really, if opponents of customary use are confident they are right, why wouldn’t they be prepared to let a judge decide the matter?

May the process go forward, unimpeded.

DAVE RAUSCHKOLB SEASIDE

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THE

OCT/NOV 2018

A CONSCIOUS, COOL COMPENDIUM OF COASTAL STUFF

ATTUNED TO AUDIENCES

PHOTO BY MEG BURKE PHOTOGRAPHY

A GENUINE TONE

Peter Rubardt has been conducting the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for 21 years. He knows when to let the music take control.

by CD DAVIDSON-HIERS

CHAMPIONS Emerald Coast Autism Center || PERSONALITY David Sandlin EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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wave

→

↑ Peter Rubardt, entering his 22nd season as conductor of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, works to build bridges between the world’s great music and audience members of all sophistication levels.

O

pening night for the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-2019 season on Oct. 13 will offer concertgoers Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture,” Barber’s “Concerto for Violin, Op. 14” and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

For some listeners, “Pictures at an Exhibition” sounds familiar. For others, the name Gershwin strikes a tone. For the rest, it’s the notion of “opening night” that invites their attention.

Peter Rubardt understands that there is nothing homogenous about his audiences.

About to begin his 22nd season with the PSO, the seasoned conductor has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to blending classical music and contemporary listeners.

Rubardt often resorts to words while on stage. Prior to each selection, Rubardt trades his baton for a microphone and describes for the audience the music they are about to hear.

Speaking metaphorically, he may talk about foxhounds baying in the distance or the snap of a guillotine and an unfortunate’s head rolling down the scaffold’s steps.

Or, speaking conversationally, he may begin, “I was driving home after rehearsal this week when I thought of …”

Rubardt’s “trick” is to lead an audience to love the music as much as he does if even they

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don’t have his appreciation for inverted chords and minor keys.

“I make sure I have the path in to the audience from the very beginning,” he said.

The maestro plans his programs about 14 months in advance, and it’s at that time he figures out how to command a listener’s attention.

“I will usually pick the anchors — those big pieces on the program — first. And then I will try to think about how they all relate,” he said. “The goal is to have all the pieces on the program add up to something bigger than the sum of its parts.”

Rubardt has musical capital to spend when flavoring a given season’s repertoire.

The closing piece of the season ahead, in April 2019, will be “one of the seminal masterpieces of the 20th century.” It’s a Bartok concerto, which the symphony has not played in almost two decades.

“For Bartok, it’s a very audience-friendly piece,” Rubardt said. “I’m not sure the audience was ready for it 15 years ago, but they totally can take this now. It’s really just such a central piece to the core literature that we haven’t played in a long time.”

Contemporary composer Gabriela Lena Frank will be a guest for that final performance, and the symphony will play her piece, “Apu: Tone Poem for Orchestra.” ››

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Noteworthy Tony Chiarito plays the French horn and is a 43-year veteran of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. He is also a fan of the Mahler symphony.

“The goal of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is to provide the highest quality musical experience for the audience,” Chiarito said.

“It’s astonishing how much high-quality music there is in a town this size.”

In his decades with the symphony, Chiarito has noticed audiences grow in size. Performances now sell out almost every concert.

“The quality of the orchestra has gotten better.

The reputation has certainly grown,” Chiarito said.

Chiarito is also a cofounder and conductor of local Pensacola Bay Concert Band, which began in 2014 and has grown from nine to 90 members. He said he benefits from watching Rubardt’s style of conducting and applying techniques to his own style.

“That’s the best benefit of doing both (the symphony and the band): I get to learn from a seasoned, professional, true conductor how to get music out of musicians.”

Meanwhile, Rubardt, who is well-versed in the technicalities of many of the instruments in the symphony, must be careful not to “overplay” his hand.

“It’s good to know as much as a conductor can about technique, and it’s also risky to get into that too much. The chances are, the player knows much more,” Rubardt said.

It is often best, he said, to “push it over the edge and just follow them. You learn to let the musicians lead.

There’s a lot of things they don’t teach you at Juilliard.”

— CD DAVIDSON-HIERS

PHOTO BY DAVIS HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE

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Time In The Sun. Time On The Field.

“Born in Hawaii, raised mostly in Florida and becoming a high school teacher and football coach in my 20s means that this fair skinned, redhead has gotten more than his share of sun.

Well, that caught up with me in my early 30s when I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my nose and had it removed by Dr. Stickler using Mohs surgery.

But, my skin cancer story wasn’t over. At 45 I was diagnosed with melanoma on my right wrist. And I’ll tell you, that’s one word I had hoped I’d never hear! Dr. Stickler sent me to a surgical oncologist and after that I followed up with him every 3 months. Then low and behold, less than 2 years later, a suspicious spot appeared within the scar on the same wrist. Dr. Stickler biopsied it, and again I was dealing with melanoma!

The good news – today I am cancer free, and as a teacher and coach, I take every opportunity I get to share my experience and encourage everyone to be sun smart and see a dermatologist regularly.”

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

THE

wave Contemporary composer Gabriela Lena Frank

EXPERIENCE THE NEW VUE

PHOTO BY MARIAH TAUGER



While Bartok was influenced by Hungarian folk music, Frank gains inspiration from Peruvian music, as Rubardt is sure to point out.

“She even holds Bartok up as a model. So I look forward to having her here, talking about Bartok and playing a piece of hers that is similarly drawn. Different cultures — Peru and Hungary — but similar concepts. It totally makes a lot of sense and works very well,” Rubardt said.

The core piece for the night will be Grieg’s “Concerto for Piano in A Minor, Op. 16,” which is an audience favorite.

“I did need something on that program that would be the draw PENSACOLA for people who just wanted the SYMPHONY core symphony experience,” Rubardt said.

UPCOMING In November, Rubardt will EVENTS pair composers Mozart and OPENING NIGHT! October 13, 2018 Brahms in an evening certain to 7:30 p.m. entertain the more traditional of Saenger Theatre symphony loyalists.

118 S. Palafox Place “Brahms’s younger pieces are MOZART & BRAHMS just folksier in character than his November 3, 2018 more austere, later pieces. And 7:30 p.m.

Saenger Theatre, the Mozart piano concerto has a 118 S. Palafox Place populist streak in it. So if you’re going to pick any two pieces SEE THE MUSIC,

by Mozart and Brahms, I think HEAR THE DANCE November 8, 2018 those two pieces go well together 7:30 PM because they both tilt toward the Pensacola Cultural Center 400 S. Jefferson St. composers’ more friendly, casual side,” Rubardt said.

CELEBRATE In March, concertgoers THE NEW YEAR! will be treated to the Mahler December 31, 2018 7:00 p.m.

“Symphony No. 6 in A Minor.”

Saenger Theatre The maestro is confident that 118 S. Palafox Place “Mahler Six stands by itself.” EC

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EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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CHAMPIONS

Enabling Clients to Exceed Limits Emerald Coast Autism Center raises expectations

by KARI C. BARLOW

T

he lobby of the Emerald Coast Autism Center — its light blue walls adorned with a giant mermaid surrounded by schools of silvery fish and pink coral — is a happy kind of loud.

Therapists in bright red polo shirts usher small groups of chattering children inside after an outdoor activity. With a squeal, a young boy flings himself onto a blue chair, clearly enjoying the cool vinyl on his hot face. All the while, telephones ring, parents duck in for drop-offs and quick hellos, and ECAC staff members keep everything on track with calm voices and big smiles.

“When we started, we wanted it to be a happy, positive place because our kids deserve a happy, positive place,” says CEO Heidi Blalock, who co-founded ECAC with Staci Berryman, the center’s executive director. “It is not easy work, but it is so incredibly rewarding.” ››

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

ON TRACK A child, photo at top, routes a toy car along a brightly colored pathway at the Emerald Coast Autism Center. By channeling clients’ energy and rewarding good behavior, center personnel decrease frustration levels associated with autism. In lower photo, staffers Kassie Caponi, left, and Erin Watts comfort children. photography by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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THE

wave for older students as well as onsite speech therapy and occupational therapy.

“Max is the reason I did this,” Blalock says. “You can’t get more homegrown than Staci and Heidi starting a school in a church. Literally, it’s like starting a band in your garage. … We just wanted a place where kids with autism could learn effectively.”

Their vision was simple but unique — a center where all activities PAGE TURNER and instruction are Amy Pierce enconducted in a mantertains children by reading them ner consistent with a picture book.

ABA, where all staff Education is an members are ABAemphasis at the center, but initrained therapists tial interactions and where parents with clients are encouraged to are aimed at promoting comlearn the same ABA munication and protocols to reinelevating levels force their children’s of functioning. treatment at home.

Blalock laughs when she thinks of those early days, before the nonprofit organization made a big move.

“The church was wonderful,” ‘Intensive, quality ABA’ she says. “They took us on as a After her son, Max, was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, mission, but we are not quiet. …

Blalock looked for a facility such as ECAC, which would We are noisy. We punch holes in establish an emphasis on Applied Behavioral Analysis, the the walls. We break dishes, and at leading treatment for autism. the end of the day, they were like, “I had a neurologist who was telling me Max would ‘Wow!’ … We are so grateful for never talk — and I knew he could do more,” say Blalock, them, but we kind of outgrew who has a background in finance and a master’s degree in each other.” business administration.

In 2016, after a successful capiShe said she believed Max and countless other children tal campaign, ECAC moved into would thrive in a center offering comprehensive ABA, a its current $2.5 million facility place where a dedicated team of clinicians would observe, on the Northwest Florida State assess and evaluate an autistic child’s behavior and then College campus in Niceville. apply specific interventions to alter and improve that beThe building features numerhavior over time. ous classrooms, a lunchroom, an “We wanted intensive, quality ABA, and we just indoor playground with a rock couldn’t find that,” Blalock says. wall and a fenced-in playground.

Unwilling to give up, Blalock teamed with Berryman, Artwork in an undersea theme a board-certified behavioral analyst who has a master’s in — donated by Angela Stevenson special education, to forge their own path. of Big Orange House Designs — In 2009, they opened ECAC with five students and five brightens walls throughout. staff members at St. Jude Episcopal Church in Niceville.

Today, almost a decade after it The center today offers one-on-one therapy, an academic formed, ECAC serves 90 children and employs 70 staff members. It track for pre-K to second grade and functional academics

32

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

maintains intensive ABA, with all of its staff members either ABA therapists, certified teachers or taking master’s level coursework toward certification.

“Our focus initially is often not on academics because there’s really no point in learning math if you can’t sit or focus or you’re going to punch yourself,” Blalock says.

“Our focus is on getting them able to function, behave, communicate, and a lot of times, their frustration levels come down.”

A life skills classroom is set up as a studio apartment where older kids learn how to make toast, hang up clothes, make beds, stock a pantry, wash dishes and generally take care of themselves.

“We need our kids to be less dependent on therapists and family if they are going to go out into the real world,” Blalock says.

Space at ECAC is in high demand, but that doesn’t surprise Blalock given the increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one in 59 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism, up from one in 68 two years before. ››

Staci Berryman, executive director, and Heidi Blalock, chief executive officer, founded the Emerald Coast Autism Center after Blalock, the mother of an autistic son, was frustrated in her attempt to find a center providing Applied Behavioral Analysis. photography by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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wave

“We have just grown very quickly,” says Blalock, who gives two to four tours of ECAC each week. “Right now, we have about a six- to eight-month waiting list … It’s just a sad commentary on the state of autism.”

‘Dignity and respect’ For many families, ECAC is far more than a learning center — it’s a haven.

In 2013, Arriell Anderson and her husband moved their family from New Orleans to Crestview for the purpose of enrolling their 9-year-old daughter, Madalyn, in ECAC. “They literally saved my child’s life,” Anderson says.

“I don’t say that lightly. We were in a place of crisis. …

Madalyn was miserable.”

Diagnosed with autism at 2, “They literally Madalyn had grown increasingly saved my aggressive and disruptive and spent most of her waking hours biting, child’s life. I hitting and generally melting down. don’t say that

By Anderson’s count, she and her lightly. We family were dealing with roughly 100 assaults a day. Public school was no were in a place longer a viable option, and they were of crisis.” desperate for help.

—Arriell Anderson At ECAC, they found ABA therapists who were able to take what Madalyn dished out — which, for one big-hearted therapist, included a bucket of sand over the head. The therapists followed her specific protocols and taught Anderson and her family how to do the same at home.

It took a while, eight months in all, but her ECAC team got Madalyn stabilized to a point of no aggression.

“They went the distance,” Anderson adds, her voice full of emotion. “They give our kids dignity and respect. It’s the first place I’ve been where they look at my child the same way I do.”

Madalyn is learning to make financial purchases and read street signs. Her goals include handling her own bank account and holding a job.

“She is straight-up happy,” Anderson says. “Madalyn now has choices in her life!”

For Blalock, it’s especially rewarding that Max — who’s now 6-foot-2 and starting to read and write at age 13 — has been among those helped by the center she helped found.

“I look at his progress and I couldn’t be happier,” Blalock says. “He can communicate with us, and that has changed our lives.” EC

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EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

35

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wave ← For David Sandlin, a former software developer, tinkering about a workshop and making tangible things is his second career. He works in close association with an adult daycare program that his daughter attends.

PERSONALITY

STRIKING WHILE IT’S HOT

Master and apprentice forge tradition in Fort Walton Beach

by HANNAH BURKE

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

D

avid Sandlin is 62, but he’s never stopped going to school.

For him, a master craftsman isn’t one who achieves adroitness in a singular trade and throws in the towel, but one who hammers out an ever-growing set of skills.

Some of these, such as blacksmithing and antique restoration, are considered lost arts, but both can always be found in Sandlin’s Traditions Workshop in Fort Walton Beach.

Like his craft, Sandlin is old-fashioned, replying to my email request for an interview with a prompt

A prop constructed for “Quest of the Dragon,” a play performed by the students of Pyramid Fort Walton Beach.

phone call. (This is unbelievably refreshing in our digital world, where appointments are almost always confirmed through cyberspace.)

He humbly invites me to see him in action later that week.

“Just don’t be afraid of the big red dragon once you walk in,” he warned.

I see it immediately, a looming, formidable wooden beast suspended from the ceiling. A prop, Sandlin informed me, constructed for “Quest of the Dragon,” a play performed by the students of Pyramid Fort Walton Beach. It boasts a lot of mobility and even breathes confetti fire.

Pyramid, which functions as an art-based daycare center for adults with special needs, is adjacent to Sandlin’s workshop, allowing him to be close to his daughter, who has Down syndrome.

“She walks over here at about 4 every afternoon and picks up her broom,” Sandlin said. “She’s very serious about helping out and cleaning anything that needs tidying.”

There’s no shortage of sawdust and paint flakes in the workshop, as countless projects consume every workbench. It’s a personal Louvre, from stained glass to carved wood, with no space wasted.

I feel like an intruder as I get the grand tour, running my fingertips across the raw surfaces of works in progress. I think about how I would feel if someone hacked into my laptop and read my unfinished writings, but Sandlin is an open book.

There’s a candidness that translates to his dexterity, which is why the community trusts him to restore precious heirlooms and create new ones. ›› photography by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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wave

“Which ones of these do you think were broken?” he asked, pointing to several ornate drawer pulls.

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you,” I said, after several beats of scrutiny. They’re all flawless to me, but he points to two.

“These were completely sheared off from an 1872 chestnut chest that’s been in someone’s family for five generations.

We already refinished the top of the chest, so it’s almost good to go.”

There’s a wooden footstool in the making, requested by an elderly woman seeking something sturdy upon which to prop up her feet. A midcentury-modern case rests on the floor, and, though it just arrived yesterday, there are plans in the works to completely strip the bottom and forge a new set of legs to raise it 8 inches.

Sandlin makes it clear that you commission Traditions if you want something custom-made. If you bring in a beat-up rocking chair that you picked up yesterday off the side of the road, he’ll tell you to go buy a new rocking chair.

With orders that involve decorative scripts and signage, Sandlin utilizes a CNC router, a device that digitally transfers phrases from his tablet to a needle, much like a printer. All that’s left is some whittling and waxing on his part.

He points to a mirror on the wall with “Good morning, beautiful” etched in the frame, another use of the CNC router.

“Someone needs to tell your daughter, every morning, that she’s beautiful.

It’s important,” Sandlin said. “When my youngest daughter went off to college and I wasn’t there every morning to tell her, I made her one of these so she would know.”

For Sandlin, life is about family. It’s what sculpted him into the man he is today.

He says his father was his first teacher.

38

↗ Sandlin, seen woodworking, is quick to acknowledge the contributions of his apprentice and former student, Billy Hays, seen hammering a heated metal rod into a hook.

Sandlin finds making things to be personally transformational.

Sandlin was 12 when he helped his dad build a house and a barn from the ground up.

“Dad’s a big volunteer,” Sandlin said.

“He lives up in Tryon, North Carolina, and he built the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, an educational nonprofit up there. I’m trying to do the same thing with the Heritage Museum in Niceville by putting together a folk school.”

At the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, Sandlin’s son leads a woodturning course, while he teaches blacksmithing, timber-framing and musical-instrument construction.

Before he was a grounded artisan, he was a pilot who flew for the U.S. Air Force and Canadian forces. He even flew helicopters over Norway.

When he wasn’t in the air, the United Kingdom was his whetstone, sharpening skills in both carpentry and stainedglass design.

While he was visiting Stockholm to perform in an airshow, a Swedish gal by the name of Anna caught his eye. The two wed a year later and settled down in Fort Walton Beach after Sandlin’s successful military career. He worked as a software

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

development contractor for 14 more years before kindling Traditions Workshop.

“So, this is my encore career,” he said with a laugh. “If I was going to start at the bottom, I knew it should be doing something I loved. But one of the biggest things I had to learn in building my own business is that I can’t do it all myself. I can’t do the scope of what we’re doing now without Billy.”

He’s referring to his apprentice, Billy Hays, whom he met in one of his photography by TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

blacksmithing courses. The striker to Sandlin’s smithy (and vice versa), Hays works as an independent contractor and crafts for his own business, Sandy Panhandle Forge.

Sandlin gave me a pair of safety goggles before we joined Hays in the forge room, where he’d been wrestling with a new, hand-cranked coal forge for the better part of my visit. He cracked a smile and announced it was finally hot enough for “forge welding,” joining two strips of metal by heating them to a high temperature and then hammering them together.

“I’ve always been fascinated with this craft but started seriously study“You’re not ing it about two years ago,” Hays just making said. “Mostly online, since I didn’t something, it’s have the resources until now. Mentally, I know the terminology and making you.” procedure, but now it’s about getting —David Sandlin, owner it into the muscle memory.”

Traditions Workshop in I understood what he meant as Fort Walton Beach I watched Sandlin command control of the gas forge, producing a spade-ended hook and nail in a matter of minutes. He’s a masterful creative force, bending the will of near-molten metal into perfect form with a flick of his wrist.

It came as no surprise when he divulged that even his hammer is handmade, because it is nothing if not an extension of his arm.

While the mention of blacksmithing formerly conjured images of Valyrian swords and ornate armor from “Game of Thrones,” my introductory lesson was quick to thrust me into the hearth and reshape my perception. I had pitched this story as a glimpse of a dying art, when it’s anything but.

“I’d call it a resurrected art,” Hays said. “You’d be surprised at the amount of young people who take our classes and are eager to just make something with their hands.”

“You’re not just making something, it’s making you,” Sandlin added.

I asked him to clarify.

“The process of transforming materials into product teaches you that you are capable of affecting your environment. You can see change and make that change happen,” he said. “Learning to make one thing teaches you that you can make other things.”

I left with a souvenir: That nail and hook now support the bamboo chimes on my front porch.

With each breeze, Sandlin’s words resonate more than their song. EC

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panache OCT/NOV 2018

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

↗ As a mobile fashion peddler, Breanna Bisch favors conservative styles.

CITIZEN OF STYLE

WARDROBE WANDERLUST

Free spirit puts truck in gear, bypasses fears

by HANNAH BURKE

FOR HER photography by DESIRÉE GARDNER

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EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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panache

W

hen Breanna Bisch moved to Panama City Beach two years ago, she didn’t know she would redefine street style.

Owner of BB Lane, a traveling boutique, Bisch loads her smocks, frocks and heels into a florally decaled box truck.

Its destination? The Grand Lagoon Farmer’s Market, local festivals and your driveway, to name a few.

“I’ve always been a free spirit,” Bisch admits. “I loved the idea of being able to travel more and have freedom in my career. I was just sitting around one day thinking I wanted to be able to do something for both myself and my customers — if they needed something, I wanted to be there.”

The idea stemmed from a traveling boutique that was just revving up in Bisch’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois. It was there she obtained a cosmetology license at the University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts, because she had long aspired to be a professional hair stylist.

While she flourished as a shift leader at a Springfield salon for a while, the Prairie State’s

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

monotonous winters began to dull her shine.

She and husband D.J. Bisch, flew south to Panama City Beach less than two days after they tied the knot in 2016. The couple had vacationed there for years and knew the Florida sun would ensure they thrived.

As neither Breanna nor D.J. had yet secured a job, diving into entrepreneurship was, well, scary.

“Once we had the truck, I didn’t know where to go from there,” she recalled. “Yet, we opened not a month later. It was a whirlwind, renovating the truck and getting the proper licensing for mobile vending … then going to market to buy for the store. My mom moved here, too, and I can’t thank her enough for guiding me through the business side of things.”

Mom also gets credit for Bisch’s own fashion sense, as well as the styles you’ll find on the racks of BB Lane.

“There are a lot of women in my life whom I look up to. The relationship that you build with someone influences your fashion, too,” she said. “I grew up in a small farming community, so my great-grandmas, grandmas and mom have impacted the way I dress more than anything else.”

All of them led with beauty and grace, so you won’t necessarily find the most avant-garde, edgy pieces within the truck. Conservative, classic polish reigns here, providing something for the whole family.

“When moms and daughters can shop together, it’s a great experience,” Bisch said. “If they’re able to go to the same place and find something they both love? That’s something that’s really important to me.”

It means offering plenty of variety. While other boutiques may limit their selections to coastal-casual wear or dressy apparel, Bisch is always on the lookout for versatility.

“When you’re on vacation, you want to dress for the beach, but when you go back home, I want you to still be able to wear what you bought, no matter where you’re from,” she said. “When people ask you where you got your top, you can say you got it from a truck on the beach!”

That’s not to say seaside living hasn’t influenced Bisch and BB Lane’s style. In Illinois, summers were static as far as temperature and humidity went. So long as you layered — and had a tank top to which to ››

Breanna Bisch’s closet ‘must-haves’ ➺F all Florals Who says florals are exclusive to spring? Stunning prints in autumnal shades blossom when paired with denim and a subdued boot. ➺ Oversized Sweaters Chunky, thick-knits are as versatile as they are comforting. Throw over a maxi dress or your favorite pair of leggings for an on-the-go look. ➺O ver-the-Knee Boots Contemporary, classy thigh-highs in leather in suede are ’70s chic. Pair with a sweater dress to accentuate the leg (and show a little!) ➺P lum In the season of cranberries and cabernet, incorporate this decadent hue into your shoes and threads for a pleasing pop of color. ➺ Bubble Sleeves These playful puffs combat button-down boredom by adding a splash of character to your everyday blouse.

A solid color, such as burgundy, black or gold, is the ideal backdrop for a statement earring. ➺ Jumpsuits The transition from summer romper to autumn jumpsuit is effortless: Simply dress it up with a suede heel, or down with sneakers and ankle booties. You know the drill.

photography by DESIRÉE GARDNER

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Live well.

Shop often.

City Market Bayside 4495 Furling Lane, Destin 850.460.2700

FRILLSEEKERSGIFTS.COM

GIFT SHOP

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

↑ When Breanna Bisch first acquired her truck, she didn’t know where to turn, but her mother helped her get rolling.

strip down — you could successfully combat the heat. Dog days here, she said, are a different story.

“I’ve completely shifted to lightweight, airy fashion that you don’t have to layer,” Bisch said. “It’s changed my life … you really have to think about what you wear every day when you live on the beach. It’s fun to stay casual but also have plenty of opportunities to get dressed up.”

Those opportunities are found in the numerous festivals and private events that dot the coast, and BB Lane is always eager to make the trip. Some of the most memorable expeditions have traversed the grounds of the Junior League of Panama City’s Holly Fair, the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival and North Florida Wildflower Festival in Blountstown.

“I love the fact that I never have to stay in one place. I’m always booking different events and can set up my own hours,” she said. “If someone calls me and says they feel like shopping tonight, I can go and meet them.”

Bisch doesn’t ever think she’ll go the route of a traditional, brick and mortar store. Her passion lies in the unique experience.

“The truck is only 100 square feet, Panama City Beach so when a family comes in, it’s almost Open Saturday– private,” she said. “I get to meet so Sunday 10 am–5 pm Monday–Friday 10 am–6 pm. many people from all over the place, For more information, and it’s rewarding to see them love call (217) 971-5147 or visit squareup.com/store/ and appreciate what I’m doing as bblaneboutique.

EC much as I do.”

BB LANE

PHOTO BY DESIRÈE GARDNER

Market Shops of Sandestin // 850-837-5466 Destin Commons // 850-837-9124 HarborWalk at Emerald Grande // 850-424-5786

30Avenue

. Pier Park

Fall into Fashion Located in the Village of Baytowne Wharf • Call 850.351.1800 • #SANDESTINSTYLE EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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SPONSORED REPORT

IN SEARCH OF NORMALITY W

hen people think of plastic surgery, they tend to think of some form of enhancement of a physical trait. This is quite often the case in older adults. Older adults want to look better than how they would normally appear. For example, they want to look better than their actual age, improve upon the body’s changes after having children, or correct a deformity from a surgical procedure.

Younger adults and teenagers are usually not seeking enhancement procedures. They are seeking normality.

Two issues that quite commonly come up in my practice are asymmetry and breast hypertrophy (extremely large breasts.) Younger women are generally not looking to have their breasts enhanced, but to be normal in appearance.

Asymmetry of the breasts due to one breast not developing properly is not normal. Excessively large breasts are not “normal.”

As far as asymmetry is concerned, most people realize that the right side of their body is not a mirror image of the left side. However, asymmetries between the breasts of one to two cup sizes are very noticeable and can cause problems with activities and the fit of clothing. If a young woman is a B- or C-cup on one side and less than an A-cup on the opposite side, she will have a difficult time finding clothes that fit properly. She will sometimes have difficulties with physical activities. Most commonly, she will be very selfconscious about her appearance because her breasts are not normal like those of other young women.

Surgical correction can be life-changing for young women affected by a significant asymmetry. Several different types of procedures are utilized. Sometimes a breast lift, a breast reduction or breast augmentation can improve the asymmetry. Regardless of the surgical procedure, the result is an improvement in confidence, a more secure feeling, and a feeling of normality.

Breast hypertrophy (extremely large breasts) can be quite troublesome to a young woman or an older teenager.

When a 16-year-old girl wears a DD, DDD, or even larger cup size bra, she feels abnormal. She is not like the other young women. She can’t wear the cute little tops that her friends wear. Often, she becomes an object of sexuality, and she mentally is not prepared for this. Physically, she has limitations and quite often she is seen as odd in gym class or at other social functions.

A breast reduction is often a life-changing procedure.

Young women will report to me that they have an improved posture, that their physical activities are much improved, and that they feel normal. One such patient was a college athlete.

She stated that breast reduction surgery not only improved her overall well-being, but also improved her performance in her sport.

Although we usually think of plastic surgery for enhancement and super-normal features, often for young women, normality is all they want.

(850) 654-1194 | 4485 FURLING LANE, DESTIN | THEPLASTICDOC.COM

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

SPONSORED REPORT

MEET THE EXPERTS

BILL EDELMAN, PA-C

BILL EDELMAN, PA-C WILLIAM R. BURDEN, MD, FACS

WILLIAM R. BURDEN, MD, FACS Dr. William R. Burden, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is the founder and CEO of Destin Plastic Surgery and is also the founder of the Destin Surgery Center, housed in the same building.

Dr. Burden has developed highly specialized techniques for breast, face, and body contouring procedures. He has published two books that have been on the Amazon bestsellers list; the books discuss the “No Scar on the Breast” enhancement technique and the Brazilian Butt Lift performed with advanced fat grafting techniques.

Dr. Burden is the only plastic surgeon in the area who is a member of the speaker’s bureau for the Allergan Corporation. He routinely teaches cosmetic facial procedures to other physicians, and he has presented studies nationally and internationally on breast surgery.

To learn more about Dr. Burden, visit ThePlasticDoc.com.

BOTOX Cosmetic injections is a way to combat unwanted facial lines. BOTOX Cosmetic is FDA-approved and is the only product that temporarily improves both moderate to severe crow’s feet and also frown lines between the brows in adults. It is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles.

At Destin Plastic Surgery, men and women taking advantage of BOTOX Cosmetic are in extraordinarily good hands. The practice’s injector, Bill Edelman, is a certified physician’s assistant who works under the supervision of Dr. William Burden. He is among the most experienced providers of BOTOX Cosmetic in the United States.

Indeed, patients travel from around the country to have “BOTOX Bill” administer their treatments.

Men, like women, want to look as young as they feel. Treatments including BOTOX Cosmetic help minimize forehead wrinkles, vertical “worry lines” between the eyes and crow’s feet around the outer edge of the eyes. BOTOX can also be used to treat men who suffer with hyperhidrosis, a condition that results in heavy sweating. It is addressed by injecting BOTOX in the area of the sweat glands.

For more information about BOTOX Cosmetic, call Destin Plastic Surgery at (850) 654-1194 or contact the practice online to request a free skincare consultation.

(850) 654-1194 | 4485 FURLING LANE, DESTIN | THEPLASTICDOC.COM

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FOR HER

It’s in Your

Jeans The new wave of denim

by HANNAH BURKE

E

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Denim, the indefatigable fabric that long ago migrated from work sites to date nights, shows no signs of wearing out. Indeed, it seems that you can’t have too much of a good thing. Even denim on denim is cool.

Current denim trends include tuxedo stripes and footwear.

With the bold, floral embroidery, eccentric prints and dramatic distressing that comprise Novelty Denim, I have to wonder if Levi Strauss is rolling in his grave over the debasement of his traditional work garment.

I like to think he would appreciate the incorporation of denim into shoes this fall.

Durable, opaque denim adds subtle texture to flats, booties and fashion sneakers. It’s a fun way to break up the monotony of leather and suede.

But, at what point does it become too much of a good thing? Denim on denim: trendy or fashion faux paus?

“Denim on denim is trendy,” Walega insisted. “Personally, I love it. I think you either need a good contrast of dark and light, or you

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

need to have a perfect matching set. It’s edgy and a perfect day-to-night look.”

She suggested pairing denim with a crisp, white shirt for a timeless look, and a pop of red lipstick to seal the deal. The congruity of denim allows you to go bolder with your makeup, and it supplies the perfect backdrop for statement jewelry.

“I think we love denim so much for its versatility,” Walega mused. “And the more denim is worn, the softer it gets. We all have those favorite pieces in our wardrobes that have been with us for years … the go-to item we grab when we want to evoke a certain mood. It’s a fabric that, with a good cut and proper fit, can even hide some of our sins.

“And who doesn’t like that?” EC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF INDIGO WATERCOLOR

ternal, practical and downright comfortable, denim entered the closets of America in 1873 and never quite left.

For Catherine Walega, owner of Indigo Watercolor, denim and its brilliant, blue hues represent the interaction between fashion and the natural world.

“The indigo plant has long been used for its rich blue dye qualities,” Walega explained.

“The leaves from the plant are soaked in a large vessel — typically a vat placed in the ground. When they’re fermented and exposed to oxygen, it produces beautiful shades of blue. It’s really a metaphor for us humans … we all come alive with breath.”

This fall, denim is revitalizing our wardrobe by tossing convention to the wind.

We’re going bolder than your beloved jean jacket and “big kid” overalls and into some uncharted territory.

Don’t freak out. I’m not talking the Britney Spears/Justin Timberlake denim abomination that terrorized the American Music Awards in 2001.

But, that’s not to say we aren’t borrowing a little inspiration from the past. A little ’70s flair — that is, flare or wide-leg jeans — slim and flatter your figure while accentuating the leg.

“Denim keeps coming back because of its functionality and versatility,” Walega said.

“Even acid-wash is back. But, you can also look for denim in mustard, burgundy and olive green. Stark, dark colors and details, like a contrasting top stitch, a bold tuxedo stripe up the side or buttons and fringe embellishments are also making an appearance. We call it ‘Novelty Denim’ for fall 2018.”

“My favorite part of being in business in Seaside for the last 20 years has been the chance to meet some of the most friendly and interesting people.”

Austin Magee Austin’s Surf School Seaside, Florida

FULL SERVICE SALON AND SPA colors • cuts • nails • skin care special occasion makeup • wedding specialists

12115 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32407 | (850) 588-7771 | projectstylesalon.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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SPECIAL PROMOTION PROMOTION

INTO THE DEEP BLUE SEA Dive deep into the hues, jewels, tones and stones of fall with the luxury, handcrafted designs of Bijoux De Mer Fine Jewelry by Renee Launiere. This signature collection explores the ocean’s depths in brilliant blues of azure, blue topaz and labradorite with the golden touch of an autumn sunset. Bold and innovative yet elegant and cherished, Bijoux De Mer specializes in alluring, dazzling gemstones, precious metals and lustrous pearls merging into beautiful pieces that sing the song of the sea.

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LABRADORITE CHAIN AND PENDANT 36-inch,

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18-karat gold chain with bezel-set labradorite and moonstones featuring a labradorite and faceted London blue topaz pendant that can be clipped on or off (Chain $2,350, enhancer $1,570).

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LABRADORITE EARRINGS Glimmering labradorite with faceted London blue topaz, set in 18-karat gold ($1710).

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GOLDEN DROP EARRINGS Handmade

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drops dazzle and delight in 18-karat gold ($3720).

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NUGGETS AND DIAMONDS BRACELET

Stack on these bracelets boasting labradorite nuggets, 18-karat gold, oxidized silver and diamond bead and clasp ($1770).

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RUFFLE CUFF Stunning

labradorite with faceted London blue topaz, bezel-set in 18-karat gold atop a cuff made of 18-karat gold bi-metal ($3230).

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BLUE HEAVEN RING

18-karat gold ring with 12 ctw Ceylon sapphire surrounded by white and blue diamonds, blue zircon and blue sapphires (Price upon request).

GO 50

➺ Bijoux De Mer Fine Jewelry 4495 FURLING LANE, SUITE 170, DESTIN | (850) 830-5465 | BIJOUXDEMER.COM

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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SHOP A l tar ’d S ta te A nt h ro po l o g i e B i l l abo n g B l ue m e rc u r y ( Now O p e n) He m l i n e J . Ji l l J . Mc Lau g h l i n The Je we l K i n nuc an’s Spe c i a l t y O u t f i t te r L i l l y P u l i t ze r O phe l i a Sw i mwe a r Th e O r v i s C o m p a ny Pete r Mi l l ar ( Now O p e n) Pot te r y B a r n To m my B a h a m a V i n eyard V i n e s Photo courtesy of J. McLaughlin

D INE A not h e r B ro ke n Eg g C a fé C ant i na Lare do Mo d e r n Mexi c a n Th e C raf t B a r Em e r i l ’s C o as ta l Ita l i a n eve r k r i sp Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gr i m al di ’s C o al B r i c k- O ve n P i z ze r i a Kilwins Me n c hi e ’s Froze n Yo g u r t P F C han g’s C h i n a B i st ro To m my B aham a Re sta u ra nt & B a r V i n’t i j Fo o d + W i n e (Now O p e n) Th e W i ne B a r

Photo courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

grandboulevard.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION PROMOTION

ALTAR’D STATE Altar’d State differentiates itself through giving back and offers a distinctive shopping experience for women interested in the latest fashion finds, the most anticipated accessories and that next great gift. Whether she is 16 or 60, the common thread is her desire to share her personality through stylish, comfortable, on-trend clothes, shoes and accessories. However they shop, customers can feel good about shopping with Altar’d State as most purchases “give back” in some way. Through what is known as Mission Mondays, the company donates 10% of net proceeds to various local charities every Monday. Altar’d State also gives back through an in-house clothing line in which a portion of every purchase goes to feed, clothe, educate and shelter children in need.

1.

ALTAR’D STATE TRAVELLING CANTEEN PURSE Although it’s small,

2 1

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ALTAR’D STATE FAIRDALE FEDORA HAT This fedora-style hat

with its leather belt is the perfect finishing touch to your fall looks. From maxi dresses to sweaters to jumpsuits — this hat will complete your look! ($39.95)

3.

ALTAR’D STATE PLAID SHERPA LINED JACKET Flannel, plaid, sherpa

and suede — what more could you ask for in a jacket?! Throw this piece over your favorite sweater or long sleeve tee for a cool and casual look. ($99.95)

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ALTAR’D STATE MARCUM PANTS

These pinstripe-cuffed pants are a great way to mix style, comfort and versatility!

They are great for work or play and can be paired with your favorite cami, fashion top or sweater! ($59.95)

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ALTAR’D STATE YOLANDA BOOTIES These woven front, heel

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booties are one of our fall favorites! Pair them with anything from skinny jeans to floral maxis! Whether you dress them up or down, you can take on the world like the trendsetting fashionista that you are! ($79.95)

6.

ALTAR’D STATE LAVESTA DRESS This show stopping lace number is a long sleeve spin on our bestselling Sefton Dress that we all know and love!

From holiday parties to bridesmaid’s dresses, this piece is our go-to for the most special occasions! It’s feminine, sophisticated and absolutely beautiful! ($99.95)

GO 52

➺ ALTAR’D STATE 560 GRAND BOULEVARD, SUITE 105 (850) 424-6526 | ALTARDSTATE.COM

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30A GEAR

➺ Made from recycled, plastic bottles and blended with soft cotton, 30A GEAR Dumpster Diver long-sleeve T-shirts and hoodies are saving the sea and refreshing your wardrobe this season. Find these sustainable styles at 30agear.com/collections/ dumpster-diver or scope out a local retailer.

 WHAT’S IN STORE? A roundup of retail happenings throughout the Emerald Coast

by HANNAH BURKE

Jackie and Hollis Hart of Rosemary Beach have launched Private Holdings, a line of loungewear designed with comfort in mind. Boxers with built-in briefs and shelf-bra sewn nightgowns offer both style and support during downtime.

Order online, or find a local carrier at privateholdings.com.

ONLINE TO REALTIME

Fans of DUKE AND STELLA online boutique … rejoice! Duke and Stella’s first brick-and-mortar store is now open in Pensacola, letting you skip the shipping and take home your favorite fashion and furnishings today.

FIVE AND DIME

TASTE OF FALL

← Here in the South, no one can resist a golden, flaky, buttery biscuit … and the

MAPLE STREET BISCUIT COMPANY

elevates your appetite to the next level.

The Jacksonville-based company has opened a new location in The Market Shops of Sandestin, where hungry customers may bedeck their bread with house-made pepper jellies, gravy, fried chicken and sweet, smoky bacon.

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➺ Your favorite Fort Walton Beach music store, JAZZ, has moved to 742A Government St. in Niceville. Peruse owner Ed Smith’s expertly curated collection of classic jazz, rock and pop records, as well as T-shirts, recorded concerts and other vintage memorabilia. ➺ Buying your Halloween costume from Target isn’t exactly original and certainly won’t win you the contest at Susan’s party.

MARSHA’S MENAGERIE COSTUME SUPERSTORE of Pensacola will help you stick it to Susan, be you Wonder Woman or

Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Buy or rent options are available at your convenience.

Bar Hopping ➺ It’s lacquer, not liquor that rules POLISH WAX & NAIL BAR in Fort Walton Beach. Owners Tiffani and Nathan Nguyen aim to redefine the salon experience as soon as you take a seat in the pedi-pod, an opulent, egg-shaped lounge chair that serves as your vessel to serenity. This is the modern mani-pedi that leaves both your nails and mood glowing. ➺ THE BLOWOUT BAR OF DESTIN may

serve complimentary champagne, but it’s not the house specialty. Treat your locks to a luxurious wash, scalp massage and specialty blowout for voluminous curls or a silky, straightened style.

Elegant up-dos and fullface makeovers ensure you’re fall-festival ready.

→ From All Hallows Eve to Thanksgiving feasts, fall is the sweet season.

GOOD EATS BAKERY COMPANY in Panama City Beach supplies the pies, cakes, cookies and plates of sweet somethings, no matter what the occasion. Tooth more savory than sweet? Good Eats’ sandwiches and sides have got you covered. → With a nip in the air, our craving for hearty, warm comfort food intensifies. HEBERT’S SPECIALTY MEATS and its Cajun eats fit the bill, offering Destin a heaping helping of gumbo, etouffee, meat pies and more.

If you’re looking to spice up Thanksgiving, Hebert’s market of stuffed meats, steaks, sausage and boudin are sure to impress.

PHOTOS BY DAWN WHITTY (30A GEAR) AND COURTESY OF PRIVATE HOLDINGS AND MAPLE STREET BISCUIT COMPANY

Reuse & Recycle

FALL

in love

with the newest autumn shades captured in luxurious pearls, gemstones and 18k gold.

Couture jewelry by Renee Launiere, Owner and Designer.

by Renee Launiere • Designer & Owner

Located at City Market Bayside on Highway 98 • 4495 Furling Lane, Suite 170 • Destin, FL 32541 850.830.5465 • BijouxDeMer.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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HOLIDAY CLASSIC

CONTEMPORARY COMEDY

CLASSIC LITERATURE Tickets or info, call 850-684-0323 or visit 56

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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expression OCT/NOV 2018

CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES

<-

Will Thompson quit a desire to emulate Boys II Men and found his own authentic niche.

MUSIC

BORN OF WILL AND MUSIC

A new songwriter’s festival is taking shape

by HANNAH BURKE

ART photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

Transformative Visitors

|| BOOKS

A Journalist Turned Novelist in Pensacola

|| FILM

Kite Film Fest

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F

or 40 years, Will Thompson’s life has been a non-stop musical.

Born to two Panama City school music teachers, Thompson found a house full of brass and woodwinds to be nothing out of the ordinary. He wouldn’t blink twice at either the choir practicing harmonies in the living room, or the cacophony of strings tuning in the kitchen.

As a fifth-generation musician, Thompson can trace his lineage back through a series of band directors to a relative who played in a Civil War-era ensemble.

Piano lessons started at age 5. The trumpet, which Thompson began playing in middle school, would earn him a scholarship to Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, but not before he picked up his first guitar in high school.

It was then that Thompson began to write songs for his band.

“My friends and I wanted to be the next Boyz II Men,” laughed Thompson. “Of course, we were just a bunch of nerdy white guys in high school. → Thompson is But, we started getting serious to the point compassionate where we met a producer who was working about songwriters with Brian McKnight, one of our favorite whose creative efforts yield minimal artists at the time.” financial returns in A couple of recording contracts were an era of streaming signed and Thompson even had the platforms. It’s time, he says, to give them opportunity to work solo with McKnight. some love.

But what appeared to be a dream come true on paper didn’t quite sit right.

“It was the wrong environment,” Thompson said. “You know, there’s this big record company telling you what do to, how to dress and what to say. For me, there wasn’t any freedom with that.”

Thompson’s musical journey was put on pause as he moved from Los Angeles to Alabama, where time spent working on a chicken farm afforded him the opportunity to reflect.

Moving back to Panama City, a place that had always encouraged Thompson to follow his own path, seemed natural.

It didn’t take long for Will Thompson to become a household name in the local music scene. When he wasn’t recording his own records, Thompson was producing those of others, performing concerts and, of course, writing more music.

As a songwriter, Thompson has always valued authentic platforms that showcase the talent behind a hit single. Most of the time, it’s just the performer who enjoys the spotlight. “There’s a lot of people who can sing well, but there’s not a lot of people who can write a wonderful song,” he said.

He’s also quick to point out the disservice done to songwriters because the public feels entitled to free music. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, according to Thompson, have been a debilitating blow to songwriters. “If your song gets

streamed 75 million times, maybe you’ll get a paycheck for $2,000.

If you co-write a song, you’re getting less than that. It’s like, if you were an artist and I came to your gallery, took a painting from your wall and said, ‘Thank you! I deserve that.’ It’s robbery.”

He figures it’s time to show songwriters some love.

Thompson, along with his wife, Lindsey, will host Panama City’s inaugural Songwriters Festival on Nov. 17 and 18 when more than 70 songwriter/performers will converge on downtown Panama City. Included will be songsmiths known nationally, but Panama City’s Songwriters Festival is especially attuned to promoting local and regional talent. ››

PANAMA CITY’S INAUGURAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

Downtown Panama City will become alive with the sounds of music when the first ever Panama City Songwriters Festival is celebrated in November. Art galleries and other performance spaces will host singer/songwriters representing genres including pop, Americana, country and rock ’n’ roll. Scheduled to appear are familiar names such as Nashville’s Gabe Dixon and Will Kimbrough, but the festival aims primarily to shine a spotlight on up-and-comers. Proceeds benefit the Bay Youth Music Association.

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

WHERE Downtown Panama City WHEN VIP Party, Friday Nov. 16; General Admission, Saturday– Sunday, Nov. 17–18 COST General Admission $50; VIP Party $85; VIP Sunset Cruise $125 photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

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In support of WSRE and in celebration of the highly anticipated third season of VICTORIA, please join us!

Sunday, December 2 | 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio Reservations: $50 at wsre.org/holiday tea KEEP CALM. DRINK TEA. SUPPORT WSRE.

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expression “With most songwriter festivals that happen in Nashville or New York, people don’t want to know how good your song is, they want to know how popular you are and how many hits you’ve had so they can sell tickets,” Thompson said. “That’s not what this festival is about; it’s about discovering talented people who have something to say and giving them a place to say it.”

Songwriters apply to play by submitting recordings of a live performance and at least two original songs to Thompson and his festival board. Thompson has received submissions from performers in Tallahassee and South Florida and a bunch from Mobile, Alabama.

Other songwriters need not travel far. Charlie and Dana Black, residents of Port St. Joe, have written 20 top country music hits. Another Port St. Joe resident, Monty Powell, has written multiple hits for Keith Urban, Billy Ray Cyrus and Chris Cagle.

But, Thompson stressed, his event is not just another country music festival. Concerts will feature everything from Americana and rock to pop and blues, and you don’t have to stress about missing any performances. The concentration of Downtown Panama City venues ensures that all shows are within comfortable walking distance of each other.

Festival-goers are encouraged to make a weekend of it. On Friday night, VIP ticketholders will be treated to a sunset cruise featuring live music, food from Panama City Beach’s Firefly restaurant and beverages from Grayton Beer Co. All proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Thompson’s nonprofit, the Bay Youth Music Association (BYMA), which is dedicated to extending opportunities to experience music to children from modest-income households.

“The long-term goal is to build a YMCA for musicians, a place you can go after school and practice an instrument you couldn’t afford otherwise,” Thompson said. “Florida is 48th among the 50 states in funding for music programs.”

Half a lifetime ago, Thompson walked away from stardom.

Today, he knows his dream lies in helping others realize their own.

Even for you, the face in the crowd.

“Maybe you’ll show up to this festival and a song — or the story behind it — will change you,” Thompson said. “When you hear, intimately, what’s inside of somebody, you can laugh one moment and cry the next. My wish for everybody is that they take something home with them that alters their life in a positive way.” EC

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ART

TRANSFORMATIVE VISITORS Artists inspire and enliven Seaside

by HANNAH BURKE

S

easide, Florida, was founded in 1981 as a manifestation of New Urbanism — a city planning movement emphasizing accessibility, practical architecture and a distinct community center.

You’ll find the latter at Central Square, whose lush, green lawn is always ripe for village concerts and seasonal festivities. Across the street, a shopping district brims with owner-occupied stores that serve residents and visitors from within walking distance.

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(January and February) and, while participants draw inspiration from Seaside’s serenity, the town also benefits.

“My philosophy has always been: Bring these artists in. They are seeking not just sanctuary, but a place in which they receive affirmation as artistic citizens,” Dowler said. “They are hungry to contribute where there is need.”

↑ As an Escape to Create artist in residence, Elam Stoltzfus produced an award-winning documentary film, “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Gulf Coast.”

For Dowler, those contributions are the hidden gems of E2C. To complete the residency, artists must satisfy an educational outreach prerequisite by performing for a school program or providing individual classroom presentations.

“Our goal there is to show that where there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Dowler. “Through these artists, children see it’s possible to have the will, just recognize that there’s that gift inside you, and give it a voice.

You will find your way.”

Dowler rejects the notion that the world seeks to smother the creative personality. E2C seeks instead to help artists flourish.

“I think of the composers who showed up as college-age kids and are now the leading American composers of their generation,” Dowler said. “The contributions that E2C made at a critical point in that career, in that body of work — when we see what has spun off of that time here, and into the world, we’re reminded of why we do this.” ››

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARSHA DOWLER / BY AMANDA ABERNATHY (ANDREWS) AND COURTESY ELAM STOLTZFUS

↖

Jeanette Andrews developed her “Sensory Illusions” program during her 2014 Escape to Create residency in Seaside and performed at The REP Theatre there for two seasons.

For many, the New Urbanism of Seaside is a window on bygone times when condominiums didn’t dwarf the shore and waves roared louder than the traffic on Highway 30A. It is a community whose culture, not its commercialism, is its defining characteristic.

The most visible product of that culture, quite simply, is art.

Now in its 27th season, Escape to Create (E2C) is Seaside’s month-long, multi-disciplinary artist residency program that has afforded over 150 creators an avenue to success.

According to Marsha Dowler, president of the executive board of Escape to Create, E2C began as one of the many startup programs operating under the umbrella of the Seaside Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the sustainability of New Urbanism and art awareness.

“In the settlement era of 30A, homeowners were from New York, California and other farflung areas,” said Dowler, she among them. “So, they were bringing in arts-based education programs using school models from their hometowns. As early investors in Seaside, we were heavily devoted to the vision and recognized the unique opportunity to contribute culture as a fabric of community building.”

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, E2C could not exist without community support. While homeowners give artists placing to stay, cash donors allow the guests weekly stipends of $150. Local businesses pitch in, offering venue space and good things to eat.

“It’s intimate,” Dowler said of E2C. “You’re here in the off-season of Seaside, where a stranger has opened their home to you for a month because they and the whole community embrace your creative vision.”

Ten artists are evenly split between two residency sessions

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This year, E2C alum Jack E. Davis was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in history for his book, The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea. Davis was in Seaside for the book’s launch in 2017 and engaged in a live reading and signing at Sundog Books in Central Square.

Dowler recalls that, as an E2C artist in residence, Davis read from a biography he authored on Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Alternatively, a painter may present an art exhibition, while a musician hosts community concerts.

Last year, E2C’s very first musician fellowship debuted with a focus on performance of classical music by the next generation of classical stars. Child prodigies Sebastian Ortega, Andrew Samarasekara and Jacob Mason teamed up to form the Escape Trio, and presented live concertos at the Seaside Repertory Theatre (REP) and Seaside Chapel.

“Last year, they played every Sunday in January,” Dowler recalled. “We had three young, international performers bringing rarely performed, renaissance music to the chapel, real baroque pieces that they researched and learned to play just for us.”

This isn’t the only fellowship E2C is known for. The Goody Fellowship collaborates with the REP to provide playwrights field experience through comprehensive workshops. At its conclusion, actors performs live enactments from resident scripts.

The fellowship will have an even bigger impact in 2020, when E2C and the REP will dedicate the Goody Fellowship to commission a script for children’s theatre. The completed script will go on to be produced into a genuine play for the thousands of families who will visit Seaside later that year.

It’s just another way E2C continues to give.

“In our introductory dinner, we always look these artists in the eye and tell them they’re here because of their work, but even more importantly, because our community believes in you,” Dowler said. “We want you to get what you came here for, embrace the unknown world and know that it’s possible.

Your being here is transformative for everyone involved.” EC

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHA DOWLER

↑ Members of The Escape Trio will escape to Seaside again in 2019 and share their knowledge of classical music and their passion for it at venues throughout Walton and Okaloosa counties. Cellist Sebastian Ortega, violinist Andrew Samarasekara and pianist Jacob Mason are students at the New England Conservatory of Music.

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expression

BOOKS

A JOURNALIST TURNED NOVELIST IN PENSACOLA John C. Waite tells how experience shapes stories

by HANNAH BURKE

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ABOUT JOHN C. WAITE: Waite is the author of three other books: The Grand Turk File, Beauty and the Singularities and Splinter Island. He recalls a zesty childhood, wandering the Creole-spiced streets and swamps of New Orleans.

In the mid-’60s, a young Waite pressed east, graduating from the University of Georgia’s Henry W. Grady School of Journalism in Athens. After a successful, award-winning career in both broadcast and print journalism, Waite moored his ship in Pensacola by way of the U.S. Merchant Marine. After 20 years at sea, he dropped anchor and took to authorship.

Waite publishes poetry regularly on pagespineficshowcase.com/john-waite. html and encourages you to keep up with him at johncwaite.com.

Q&A WITH JOHN C. WAITE Emerald Coast Magazine (ECM): Your works (The Grand Turk File, Splinter Island) often take place in exotic locations. In Tursiops, your framework is the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Pickens and local dives. What was it like writing about home?

JCW: No different than writing about anywhere else. A large part of writing is being

able to describe, say, the nature of downtown New Orleans, and what it feels like.

The only way you can do that is by experiencing it. If you haven’t been there or done some of the things you describe, you’re going to miss the boat a lot. With most of the surroundings I describe in my books, I’ve been there. Sometimes it amazes me when I get to thinking of all the places I’ve been.

ECM: Do you have a favorite destination?

JCW: Pensacola is just about as good as any of them for me. It all depends on the

flavor you want. Pensacola doesn’t taste at all like Paris or Ireland.

I have pages of notes from 30 years ago from when I went to Grand Turk in the Caribbean. Always wanted to see it, so I did quite a bit of research before I went down there. I have a pilot’s license, so my second wife and I flew over the islands down there, and I can’t quite describe how beautiful it was to see from the air. ››

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by STEVE GRAY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

The Tursiops Syndrome tests the breadth of cetacean intelligence, as Florida’s famous bottlenose dolphins are key players in an international terrorist plot. Lt. Hickory Logan discovers an ailing dolphin in the Pensacola Beach surf and enlists Park Ranger Kevin Whitehead to uncover its malady. When it turns out to be poisoning from the infamous “China White” narcotic that’s been plaguing the streets, Logan knows she’s found the mule, but has yet to see what else these porpoises are smuggling beneath their fins. Mad marine scientist Dr. Jim Crabtree might have the answer. The trio is thrust into a race against the clock not only to restore peace to the port of Pensacola, but also to save America from nuclear devastation.

Authored by Pensacola local John C. Waite, Tursiops is both a pageturning thriller and love letter to the place he calls home.

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expression ECM: Do you often make notes on each new place you visit?

JCW: Always. I take notes

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ECM: What’s the most challenging part of your artistic process?

JCW: Making myself do it.

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What people don’t understand is that writing is a job: You need to set a schedule, sit down and establish what you want to construct. You have to plan. You have to flesh it out. Little things pop up, like my kid calling me and asking me to go do something, but I try to set aside time. If I don’t, then it won’t get done.

ECM: Even though you pursued a degree in journalism, did you always hope to write fiction one day?

JCW: I actually got started

writing fiction quite early on … for other people. I think I was about 16 or 17 when I went to a church camp.

There were some guys telling me how they wanted to write home to their girls, but they couldn’t do it. So, I was the one writing their love letters.

ECM: You were a ghostwriter!

JCW: (Chuckles) Well,

I don’t know if any were effective, but the guys appreciated the fact that I would do that for them.

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ECM: Hopefully you saved some relationships.

JCW: I could never keep my own together! But maybe.

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ECM: Do you ever look back on all the characters

you’ve encountered throughout your life and incorporate them into your stories?

JCW: Oh, a lot of my

characters are people I’ve known. I’ve bent them a little bit so they’re not too recognizable.

There’s a story I’m working on now based on my best friend and me from the time we met in first grade, to the times our paths diverged in college. He decided he was going to be a Marine — went to ’Nam and got himself killed. Working on that, but I don’t think I’ll ever finish it. But, I have two others I’m working on.

When I get tired of a book, I’ll put it down and work on another. I’ve got the sequel to a young adult book (Splinter Island) and another that’s completely fantasy. Will o’ the Wisps and kids stumbling through the swamps.

ECM: The swamps of Louisiana?

JCW: That’s my setting. I

can still see those swamps … used to wander around in them for hours. You could catch snakes and sell them to these little snake farmers for about 25 cents. I had to have been around 12.

ECM: If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

JCW: “Just work on it.”

I went 20 years without writing as much as I could, thinking that one day it would eventually happen.

Well, it only happened when I started putting in the work!

I wish I had started 30 years ago, but I didn’t. It’s a lot of fun being able to make things. I don’t know if my work will ever mean anything to anybody, but I can at least make that effort. EC

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Nicki Hedrick addresses the audience at the 2017 Kite Film Festival, an event that surfaces producers, directors and actors from throughout the region and beyond.

D Kite FILM

Film Fest Event brings local productions to a big screen

by HANNAH BURKE

Kite Film Fest

Saturday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m., Club LA, Destin; free and open to the public.

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espite calling Seagrove Beach home her entire life, Nikki Hedrick didn’t really get to know the area until eight years ago, when, ironically, she found herself without a car.

Hedrick, co-founder of a blog, 850 Music & Entertainment (or 850 ME), contracted high-grade cabin fever. Thankfully, it broke before she, ala Jack Torrance from Stephen King’s The Shining, went all “redrum.”

“Rather than resuming my usual routine once I had a car again, I started to explore like crazy,” Hedrick recalled. “There were so many different venues and local bands; it was a whole new world.”

Eight years ago, that world was one that Facebook had not conquered. Nikki and mom Heather Hedrick decided it would be beneficial to start their own blog, 850 Music, to review shows, promote their musician friends and local dives. Little did they know, it would amass a formidable following and unearth additional avenues to the art community.

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Nikki Hedrick took up photography and, finding herself increasingly behind the lens, rebranded 850 Music as the more inclusive 850 ME. In addition to shooting concerts, the Hedricks began featuring local photography, reviewing movies and networking with Emerald Coast film commissions.

850 ME’s Kite Film Fest, Nikki Hedrick said, provided an avenue for supporting local filmmakers and showcasing their works — specifically, their many short films and passion projects.

Her boyfriend, Edward McGrath, suggested they call the festival “Kite” after her grandparents, Gilbert and Ellon Kite. The Kites immediately granted the Hedricks permission, ecstatic to be the namesake of their family’s debut event.

Tragedy befell the family not one week later.

Gilbert, perfectly healthy and ever-vivacious, suffered an accident and died.

“He was very much the patriarch of our family,” Hedrick

said. “We were shell-shocked. It was an emotional whirlwind, but we knew we wanted the show to go on. We got it going by the skin of our teeth, and, when it ended, it was pure relief and bittersweet.”

Now in its third year, the Kite Film Fest has solidified as Gilbert’s legacy. True to both his and Ellon’s benevolent spirit, the Kite Film Fest is free to the public and charges no submission fees.

“A lot of film festivals seem to be structured around certain ideas or genres, whereas we’re a bit of a free-for-all,” Hedrick said. “We want it as accessible as possible, so it’s kind of like a big party. Last year grew so much from the first year, so we’re making sure we have plentiful seating for everybody. It’s a good problem to have.”

The celebration will be held Nov. 10 at Club LA of Destin, where Hedrick happens to serve as house photographer. Boasting a full-tilt movie screen and concert sound system, the venue allows for an authentic cinematic experience.

For many participants, the festival is the first time they see their work on a silver screen.

Submission criteria are simple: If your film isn’t in English, provide subtitles or a dub.

And, according to the film community, the rule of thumb is that your short film becomes a feature film once you pass the 45-minute mark.

“Last year, we got amazing submissions from film students at Florida State University,” Hedrick said. “We promote heavily throughout the region, but we’ve featured international films from England and China.

We’re all about diversity and so excited for whatever finds its way to us.” ››

PHOTO COURTESY OF 850 MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

expression

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expression

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But, it’s not just a day at the movies. Audience members and film crews get the red-carpet treatment, as McGrath, Hedrick’s beloved and a professional photographer, plays paparazzo to commemorate the evening. Additionally, participants vie for esteemed awards in production and acting.

In honor of Gilbert Kite, the Kite Spirit Award recognizes supportive members of the area’s film community. Last year’s winner was Fort Walton Beach’s Kevin Almodovar, described by Hedrick as a “wonderful, positive force in the local film scene. He’s been involved behind the scenes with shorts each year at the event. Last year, the short he directed won Best Actress and he took home Best Editor for it.”

Spotting familiar faces among the new is heartwarming for Hedrick. While enriching the Emerald Coast with culture and creativity, the festival affords creative types an invaluable networking opportunity.

“If you’ve written something you want produced, you want to learn how to act or have any interest in getting involved, come out and watch other people’s work,” Hedrick said. “Find something that resonates with you and make that connection. For me, it’s an honor to play some sort of role in this big block party that happens once a year.”

While you won’t find anything X-rated at the festival, select shorts may venture into R territory. Parents are advised to exercise discretion in deciding whether to bring children. From the candid and avant-garde, to horror and hilarity, variety shines at Kite Film Fest.

“There’s something about the beach that attracts creatives and, though we can be hard to find, we are here,” Hedrick said. “I’m always blown away by the films we get. Seeing the outpouring of community support and all those smiling, familiar faces, watching the reunions of crews that haven’t seen each other since they worked on a project six months ago — it’s so cool to be a part of that.” EC

PHOTO COURTESY OF 850 MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

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PROMOTION

Jimmy Webb In tribute show, he celebrates Glen Campbell

Presented by Opening Nights at Florida State University

W

hen Jimmy Webb arrived at Johnny Rivers Music in the mid-1960s, he had unrecorded songs in his pocket, including a ballad that Frank Sinatra would call the “best torch song ever written.”

Rivers immediately recognized “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” as a stone cold hit. But with a song of his own, “Poor Side of Town,” topping the charts, Rivers made “Phoenix” available to rising star Glen Campbell and his producer, Al De Lory, at Capitol Records.

De Lory was incredulous. “Why,” he asked of Rivers, “are you giving this away?” Replied Rivers, “You can only have one No. 1 song at a time.”

At age 14, Webb had been intrigued by Campbell’s recording of “Turn Around, Look at Me.” After a day spent plowing an Oklahoma wheat field, Webb prayed that he might meet Mr. Campbell and, “Lord, if it’s not too much to ask, maybe he could record one of my songs.”

When Campbell released “Phoenix” in 1967, Webb, a JIMMY WEBB

preacher’s kid, found himself thinking “prayer really works.”

A close but improbable relationship between Webb and Campbell would survive 50 years until Campbell’s death from Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.

“I was a left-wing hippie kid and he was an Orange County Republican,” Webb said.

“Never would the twain have met, except, in the music room. It’s a level playing field and, in some crazy way, his voice and my songs were made for each other.”

Those collaborations would come to include “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston.”

“Glen was a freakishly talented singer with an instrument that was good from bottom to top,” Webb said. “But his last two years may have been his best because of the bravery he displayed.”

In March, Webb will bring his tribute performance, “The Glen Campbell Years,” to Tallahassee as part of FSU’s Opening Nights series. The show, produced by Webb’s wife, Laura Savini, combines storytelling, comedy, still photography, videos and music in what Webb said is the product of “meticulous research into Glen Campbell’s off-camera life.”

About his own vastly prolific creative

process, Webb said, “It’s like the prostitute said. I’ve done it every way there is.” He wrote “Up, Up and Away”’ in 30 minutes.

At other times, he has started with a title and worked on a song for a year. But in every case, he said, “you get to that point where you are locked in spiritually and it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Webb once famously commissioned stainedglass windows featuring some of his chief inspirations — Joni Mitchell, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, John Lennon and Elvis Presley.

If he could sit down to dinner with one of them tonight, who would it be?

“Elvis, just me and him,” Webb said. “No Tom Parker, no hangers-on, no girls. I met him a few times. He was an intelligent guy with a deep interest in music.

“Plus, he was a big Glen Campbell fan.”

Want to catch Jimmy Webb live?

Jimmy Webb brings his tribute show, “The Glen Campbell Years,” to the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on Tuesday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m.

To get yours, go to openingnights.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-6500.

For more information on all of the events in the Opening Nights performance series, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/events.

Tickets to Jimmy Webb’s performance are priced from $12-$50. To get yours, visit openingnights.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-6500.

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long Scenic Highway 30A and adjoining Point Washington State Forest, is a slice of serenity offering a plethora of activities and services, all resulting in experiences unique to this region. Owners Karen and Tom Arnett envisioned a destination where families could engage in new experiences together and create lasting memories.

Arnett’s is most known for offering over 30 welltrained horses and providing trail rides, lessons, carriage rides and horse education. The guided trail rides occur three times per day, Tuesday through Saturday, and take riders along picturesque forested pathways.

Amongst the horses, you will likely spot the farm’s mascot — Frank the Donkey.

On Friday nights, the Tack Room event center comes alive with music during the Friday Farmhouse Concert series, which welcomes families to enjoy local, regional and national music acts

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

from a variety of genres. The Tack Room is rentable for any event and has become increasingly popular for weddings. With space for over 200 people, a wine and beer bar, food curated on-site at 30A Smokehouse by Chef 30A Christopher Holbrook and a top-notch event planning team, Arnett’s offers an all-encompassing event experience.

Fall also ushers in one of the farms’ top events — the eighth annual Pumpkin and Music Festival, set for Oct. 20–21 and 27–28. Bright orange pumpkins lead the way to pony rides, hayrides, bounce houses, live music and food. The ticketed event is an ideal farm day for the family.

It is no surprise that Arnetts was recently voted 2018 Best of the Emerald Coast for Place for Kids Birthday Party. “We want people to visit Arnett’s and experience something new and different,” said Jennifer Sundal, Event Director and Social Media Coordinator for Arnett’s. “It’s serene and secluded here, which allows undivided family attention. The best part is when families were able to have a brand new experience together. Many people love it so much they want to make a tradition out of their visits. That’s the feeling the Arnett’s always wants people to have.”

SPONSORED REPORT

JP KOLLAR AND SHELLY SWANGER PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP)

LEFT: Saddle up for a one-hour trail ride through the scenic Point Washington Preserve. Visit Arnett’s website to schedule your trail ride, hand-led ride or private lesson.

TOP: An Arnett’s wedding is a magical experience including horse drawn carriages, a sunset lakeside ceremony and a whimsical reception in the spacious Tack Room.

BOTTOM LEFT: Frank the Donkey is the farm mascot. Bring carrots and apple slices to share with him.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The Tack Room is the gathering spot for the Friday Farmhouse Concert Series.

613 S. CO. HWY. 393, SANTA ROSA BEACH // (850) 208-3114 // ARNETTFARM30A.COM EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER Happy Hour 3–7 PM Daily

FOOW30A.COM

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gastro&gusto OCT/NOV 2018

DINING, IMBIBING AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

↖ No ordinary bar food: A mere sesame-seed bun can’t stop this pulled-pork sandwich; it can’t even hope to contain it.

DINING OUT

Grayton Beer Brewpub

Jamey and Candace Price Blend Taps and Tables

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

DINE IN photography by JOSEPH VICTOR STEFANCHIK

Hearty Soups

|| LIBATIONS

Bob Dylan’s Whiskey

|| DINING GUIDE

Find Your Next Meal

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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gastro & gusto

I

n close-knit families — and even so much more so here in the South — Sunday means big family suppers, meals of home-cooked food served on massive tables where dishes are overflowing with flavor and tradition and hearts are overflowing with love. For Jamey and Candace Price, Sundays have long meant just that. It was that very concept of Sunday mealtimes spent at the table with family and friends, sharing food and creating memories, that served as the inspiration for their newly launched restaurant in Grayton Beach.

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Owners Jamey and Candace Price

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH VICTOR STEFANCHIK (FOOD) AND JACQUELINE WARD (OWNERS AND CHEF)

↗ Beer Cheese Nachos, above, explode with color and flavor.

Grouper sandwich, at right, sports a generous pile of garnishes.

The Smoked Wings, served with a creamy Having already made a name for themAlabama white sauce originally created at selves as the founders and owners of Back Beach Barbecue using Grayton Beer Grayton Beer Company, the Prices naturally Company’s own Beach Blonde Ale as well had a captive audience for anything to which as a spicy, scratch-made barbecue sauce, are they turned their focus. And one might say a popular way to kick off a meal. They’re a that using the craft brewery — whose fun, perfect complement to the award-winning beach-inspired names belie the seriousness brews flowing through the taps of the fourwith which they approach their mission of handle beer engine that pumps beer from creating the perfect beer — as a jumping off casks within the pub’s cellar. point for their new venture was nothing if not “One of the great things about the a no-brainer, an ideal gateway into the gastroBrewpub is that it’s uniquely positioned to pub game. But more than just a restaurant, introduce the millions of tourists who visit from first sharable plate to the last morsel of the Gulf Coast annually to our craft at the dessert, everything on the menu at Grayton brewery,” Jamey said.

Beer Brewpub is a reflection of their love of Each of the items created in its kitchen family, friends and food, a way to open their stands in happy partnership with a menu of table to all who wish to come and spend time 15 beers, which are served from taps, bottles with them. These are dishes that that have and cans … and even in sauces. “We have a been passed down through generations, flavors number of sauces and dressings that are made borne of the recipes that have long graced the with Grayton Beer Company brews, like the tables of the Price family — and in offering Fish Whistle IPA mustard that accompanies them to their guests at the Brewpub, they are our Artisan Bavarian Pretzels and the smalloffering a welcome into their family, as well. batch stout beer cheese we use in our nachos,” Brought to life by the practiced hand of Jamey noted. chef Scott Plumley, the menu is a fusion of Which would certainly explain the soulful Southern cuisine mixed with classic popularity of the Beer Cheese Nachos, a pub fare and fresh Gulf seafood. And while mountainous appetizer that there are certainly nods to the layers on the flavor with tender down-home roots of these dishes, pulled pork, shredded lettuce, each is executed with a level of diced tomatoes and jalapenos detail and refinement that makes piled high on tortilla chips and them seem more elevated — smothered in beer cheese, spicy exceptional rather than ordinary.

170 East County Highway barbecue sauce and barbecue And the locals are certainly 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. ranch sauce. For double-fisted taking notice, turning those graytonbeer.com (850) 213-4000; appetites, burger lovers can pair beloved Price family favorites Open daily, 11 a.m. their favorite pilsner with the into favorites of their own.

↑ Grayton Beer Brewpub chef Scott Plumley has created a menu that unites Southern cuisine with classic pub fare and, of course, fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood.

Beach Burger, a freshly ground, grass-fed beef patty topped with melted white American cheese, crisp lettuce and tomato, then nestled into a classic sesame bun slathered with a proprietary “secret sauce” served with fresh-to-order, hand-cut fries. And paying homage to the abundance of fresh fish caught daily on the docks, the Grouper Sandwich features a fresh fillet prepared grilled, fried, or blackened and given a Creole spin with a zesty remoulade sauce.

But regardless of whether you’re in the mood for decadence, comfort or even something on the lighter side, there’s something for everyone, a dish to satisfy every craving and every size hunger. The Prices wish only that you come to the table ready to eat, to laugh, to share a memory and perhaps to raise a glass to family, friends and to life. That’s the real recipe here — served up on every single plate and flowing from every single tap. EC

GRAYTON BEER BREWPUB

Smoked Chicken Wings

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ADVERTORIAL ADVERTISEMENT

Restaurant Spotlight

RESTAURANT PARADIS Throughout the year, Paradis also offers select wine dinners and tastings from some of the world’s most exclusive vintners.

Restaurant Paradis is open for dinner beginning at 5 p.m. and is committed to serving local seasonal ingredients, fresh Gulf seafood and prime steaks, all served with the finest wines. Whether you’re looking for a classic dish or if your palate leans to the adventurous side, Paradis’ menu has something for everyone. The restaurant staff is always aware of the various dietary needs of guests and will work to accommodate any concerns they may have.

With a focus on coastal cuisine, Chef Mark Eichin and his team draw from the rich flavors of the coastal area and various other regions to create its innovative and mouthwatering dishes. Paradis’ chefs have a flair for using common ingredients — but with a unique twist. Dedicated to sourcing locally grown products, Chef Eichin prides himself on providing customers with new dishes to look forward to year-round. The talented culinary staff creates different features every night, along with homemade desserts and gelatos, that are sure to excite and awaken your taste buds with every bite.

RESTAURANT PARADIS 82 S. Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach | (850) 534-0400 | restaurantparadis.com

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ALISSA ARYN COMMERCIAL

is an intimate fine dining restaurant nestled in the beautiful coastal town of Rosemary Beach, Florida. Here you’ll find a hidden gem that loyal customers like to call home due to its warm neighborhood feel and understated wine-country elegance. Paradis is the perfect location to sit on the patio and enjoy the peaceful scenery along 30A, while later transforming into a cozy romantic dinner spot when the sun begins to set. Paradis welcomes wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners and all celebrations, both intimate and large.

Consistently Delicious since 1995! www.cafethirtya.com

3899 E. Co. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove · 850.231.2166 Open Daily At 5

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gastro & gusto

LIBATIONS

WRY DOES RYE Bob Dylan pours the world a drink

by STEVE BORNHOFT

↗ Dylan samples a batch. In “Moonshiner,” he sings, “I go to some hollow and sit at my still, and if whiskey don’t kill me, then I don’t know what will.” Best to use the stuff in moderation.

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PHOTOS BY JOHN SHEARERM (DYLAN) AND CHI HANG (BOTTLE)

B

ob Dylan, in a nod to his birthplace, Minnesota’s Iron Range, creates metal gates and sculptures of objects both created and found. In such a way, they resemble his songs in the way that Dylan favors Shakespeare as an appropriator of storylines.

Dylan is in the whiskey business these days: double barrel, straight rye and Tennessee bourbon contained in bottles — »

Good Food. Good People. Good Times.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

t! s e B e th s u g otin v r o f you k n a Th BudandAlleys.com 850.231.5900

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DESTIN | 34745 Emerald Coast Parkway | 850.650.4688 TALLAHASSEE | 1690 Raymond Diehl Road | 850.531.0222 PANAMA CITY BEACH | 15533 Panama City Beach Parkway | 850.588.8403 OSAKAHIBACHIANDSUSHI.COM EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;November 2018

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gastro & gusto WARM HOSPITALITY AND

SIZZLING STEAKS.

THANK YOU, DESTIN! We’re honored to be voted Best Steakhouse for the 6th consecutive year!

/ruthsdestin Destin • 850.837.RUTH (7884) • 15000 Emerald Coast Pkwy ruthschrisdestin.com

The Tradition Continues Best Italian 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 Best Restaurant Okaloosa County 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 Best Service, Food & Beverage 2015 Best Locally Owned Restaurant 2017

Best Brunch 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 Best Restaurant in Walton County 2017 Best Breakfast 2018

Mama Clemenza’s | 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Miramar Beach 850.424.3157 | mamaclemenzas.com Clemenza’s At Uptown Station | 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach 850.243.0707 | clemenzasatuptown.com

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I am looking at one now — that are decorated with samples of his welded art such as a montage made up of chains and rails and valves and bloodless tracks and a bird in silhouette that in aspect suggests a crow — Dylan owns 100 acres on the Crow River 40 miles from Minneapolis as the crow flies — and four wagon wheels, a complete set. Dylan, as it happens, contributed the melody and refrain to Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” a song that Darius Rucker won a Grammy with.

The art surfaces thoughts of Charlie Chaplin in the factory scene from “Modern Times” and Jules Verne and whoever it was that invented that time-honored children’s game, “Mousetrap.” And that is before you so much as uncork the bottle.

Dylan, on the advice of a consultant, abandoned plans to brand his blends, “Bootleg,” instead opting for “Heaven’s Door.” In that, I think he missed an opportunity; I would have advocated for “Blowin’ in the Wind.” In any event, the Bard of the North Country has turned his impulse to make a contribution to the world’s pool of fine whiskeys into a product that is smooth and very fine and, unlike Dylan, requires no work. My liking for the stuff was immediate. It is a nice change from my volume-production whiskey habit, a tendency that earns me jeers from booze aficionados, who are almost as bad as beer snobs.

(Mind you, there is a suggestion in Dylan’s stream of unconsciousness, Tarantula, that Jack Daniels, back in the day, could give you the confidence to meet James Cagney — with a “swinging armadillo for a friend, your faithful mob and Mona Lisa behind you.” Like that.)

The developers of Dylan’s whiskeys, reports The New York Times, received little direction from the boss who, upon sampling the double-barrel whiskey, for example, said something was missing and offered only, “It should feel like being in a wood structure.”

At least one reviewer of Bob’s bourbon found that it offers a chorus of oak-derived notes. I looked for the wood, but rather than oak seasoned and charred, I detected something more like green aspen. No matter. Everyone arrives at the same (slightly) bitter finish. EC

PHOTOS BY GAB BONGHI

N O W SER VING GEN ERO US P O RTIO N S OF EA CH .

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Restaurant Spotlight

No FOOWling

WaterColor’s fine-dining restaurant has embraced a new identity For 16 years, Fish Out of Water has become synonymous with locally sourced, locally inspired, award-winning cuisine. Now, following a six-month renovation period, the restaurant has been relaunched as FOOW, pronounced foo, an acronym that pays homage to the former brand while welcoming returning and new patrons. Though its new name, atmosphere and menu are more approachable and casual, FOOW’s commitment to superior ingredients and premier customer service remains a constant. occasions, the FOOWroom serves as a world-class wine cellar and private event space. Cooks won’t find privacy in the kitchen, however — its contemporary, open-air design provides a glimpse into the magic behind FOOW. “Local and traditional Southern ingredients create our coastal menu items through the expertise of Chef de Cuisine Christopher Mayhue, who channels the harmony and unique flavors of WaterColor,” says Executive Sous Chef Preetam Pardeshi. “Our Gulf Coast Cuisine also includes a touch of global flavors, which stem from my Indian heritage and the cultural flair of our diverse culinary team.”

For starters, try the Tandoorigrilled Gulf shrimp, enhanced by pickled red onions, cilantro-mint yogurt, lime and tangy, sumac spice, or duck fat fries dipped in harissainfused ketchup. Entrées boast a unique spin on daily, fresh catches, as well as heartier entrees, such as the Black Angus Chateau Filet. The Santa Rosa Sweet Tea Fried Chicken, drizzled with bourbon-cider glaze, is a local favorite.

The Nola Beignets, Sunset Cheesecake and Tropical Lagoon, a citrus pound cake elevated by pineapple-mango curd and a key lime pie pop, are sure to end your experience on a sweet note.

Finally, no visit is complete without

a trip to the FOOWshoppe on your way out. There, you can purchase your favorite FOOW sauces and spices, accessories and apparel as reminders of a fine meal and an exquisite good time.

As one of the souvenir shirts says, “May the FOOW be with you.”

FOOW – FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT | WATERCOLOR INN & RESORT 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach | (850) 534-5050 | FOOW30A.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF FISH OUT OF WATER

FOOW offers something for visitors and residents alike. Whether coming off the beach for a light lunch with family or trying something new for a romantic night out, the amicable ambiance lends itself to the coastal, casual, delicious simplicity for which WaterColor is famous.

Glass walls showcase Gulf-front vistas from every seat, where art by local artist Justin Gaffrey adorns the spacious, chic dining room. The custom-built FOOWbar redefines happy hour with signature cocktails, such as the FOOW Lemon Drop and Rio Bravo, concocted with Hornitos Reposado Tequila, lime, ruby red grapefruit and ginger ale.

For gatherings and special

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October–November 2018

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gastro & gusto

RUSTIC WHITE BEAN, KALE & ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

DINING IN

SOUP’S ON!

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

F

rom the humblest of stews to the most luxurious of bisques, soups have long enjoyed a highly regarded place in every culture of the world.

With every spoonful, we find comfort in their warmth and their flavors, savoring the seeming simplicity of the herbs and spices harmoniously at play with ingredients that otherwise might seem to have no true rhyme or reason. Soup is, in essence, the liquid equivalent of love. Heritage is passed down in their recipes, stories shared in their ingredients. And most especially in the months when the weather has turned cold, we find an undeniable sense of contentment as we lift spoon from bowl to mouth and inhale the aroma of the wonder that awaits.

So just what is it that makes certain soups more comforting on the coldest of days than others? “Seasonal vegetables add a certain earthiness that really defines harvest season soups, and the warm spices like cinnamon and sage really complement that rich, comforting depth that makes a soup seem heartier,” said Patrick Moore, owner of All American Heroes, Inc., in Navarre. A selftaught chef who follows the whims of his mood and the seasons to determine the daily rotation of soups at his wildly popular sub shop, Moore certainly appreciates the ways that the perfect bowl can comfort the soul.

All the much more so when those soups are made from scratch. But even if you’re not what one might call a practiced cook, scratch-made soups can really be quite simple — especially if you use an Instant Pot® or Crock-pot® to take the worry out of it, as many seasoned home chefs do.

“Even the most amateur cook can create fantastic soups, and that’s really one of the wonderful things about them,” said Ron Kilpatrick, who with wife Heather owns and operates Lucy’s in the Square, a

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dog-friendly eatery. “Anything goes, and the option to throw in ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ helps use up items that otherwise might go to waste. Partially used veggies and even veggies that seem on the verge of being past their use are perfect for soups — especially when you boil them down to create a vegetable broth. I also love using seasonal veggies like squashes or sweet potatoes to make my soup and chili more interesting.”

That’s certainly something useful to know, especially when trying to stretch a dollar or empty out the fridge. Soup knows no boundaries and follows no rules, demands no highly pedigreed ingredients to achieve flavors that soothe us and embrace us with their warmth.

“During the cold winter months, people naturally gravitate toward eating dishes that bring them an internal sense of warmth, and soups not only provide that, they also have a nostalgic quality to them that people find comfort in,” Chef James Neale, executive chef at Havana Beach Bar and Grill in Rosemary Beach, said. “Soups are amazingly complex in the flavors that they can achieve, but they’re also something that most people can easily create on their own,” he goes on. A chef with more than 15 years of professional experience, Chef Neale’s own appreciation for the beauty of a well-executed soup is heightened with the changing of the seasons, when he can explore a greater variety of ingredients that lend themselves to the heartiness of harvest soups.

From pot to bowl, soups are love ladled out, scented with heart and seasoned with tradition. And as the seasons change to welcome the rich shades of autumn and a chill creeps into the air, we gladly welcome the warmth that can only be found in each spoonful of soup, every taste bringing comfort as it flows into our souls. EC

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

➸➸ 2 tbsp. olive oil ➸➸1 lb. Italian sweet

sausage, casings removed ➸➸2 large carrots, finely diced ➸➸1 large potato, finely diced ➸➸2 cloves garlic, minced ➸➸2 bay leaves ➸➸2 15-ounce cans white cannellini beans, drained and rinsed ➸➸2 bunches kale, stems removed and roughly chopped ➸➸64 oz. low-sodium chicken stock ➸➸Kosher salt ➸➸Freshly ground black pepper In a large skillet over high heat, sauté the onion, carrots, garlic and olive oil, cooking until carrots have softened and onions are translucent. Add the sausage and cook until meat has browned.

In a large soup pot, combine beans, potato, kale, bay leaves and chicken stock.

Bring to a gentle boil and stir, then add meat and all sautéed ingredients, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to a simmer for approximately one hour.

Remove bay leaves. Ladle soup into bowls and serve topped with croutons and shaved Pecorino Romano cheese.

Recipe provided by All American Heroes, Inc. photography by JAMES STEFIUK

P R I M E

S T E A K S

&

S E A F O O D

SAVOR THE CLASSIC & SOPHISTICATED One of the finest dining destinations along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood features an award-winning 600-label wine list, hand selected prime steaks and Gulf-to-table seafood dishes. With fresh, seasonally inspired ingredients, Seagar’s prides itself on providing the most decadent and indulgent meals.

The Emerald Coast’s only AAA Four-Diamond Steakhouse SANDESTIN BEACH

Since 2000

GOLF2018 RESORT & SPA EMERALDCOASTMAGA October–November 93 RESERVATIONS 850-374-6113 | 4000 Sandestin Blvd. South, Miramar Beach, FL 32550ZINE.COM | SEAGARS.com

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chefyi

Orion Cordoves Corporate Chef Cuvée Kitchen + Wine Bar, Jackacudas Seafood + Sushi, Brotulas Seafood House + Steamer

How would you describe the cuisine of your restaurant? I would describe it as simple and honest.

I don’t try and overcomplicate things.

What is your favorite dish and why? I eat bread daily. There’s something very humble and sustainable about bread. It’s everything you need and nothing that you don’t.

How do you measure your success? It’s often linked to my stage of life and, therefore, is not static.

It must be continually re-evaluated.

What made you want to pursue this career?

Good food and the prestige of chefs who take their profession seriously; the symbolism of a chef ’s hat standing tall in the kitchen, directing his staff to make food that is delicious and honest.

What is your philosophy? Stay updated. Remain relevant and relatable.

What is the most important item in the kitchen?

Salt and pepper are the most important ingredients for any kitchen.

What inspires/influences your cuisine? Different flavors and cultures inspire each dish, along with travel and discovery.

Do you have a mentor that inspired you?

Yes, Chef Lucio.

CUVÉE KITCHEN + WINE BAR 36120 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin | (229) 460-2909 | cuveekitchen.com

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PROFFITT PR

What do you like to do when not cooking? When I’m not cooking, I really enjoy writing and developing menus.

One Restaurant. Three Experiences.

Enjoy Gulf Coast Americana cuisine locally-sourced with Caribbean influences, as well as a vast collection of wines and spirits. Choose to dine in our vibrant dining room, intimate outdoor Veranda or relax on our Rooftop Lounge with views overlooking the Gulf and Main Street.

850-588-2882 | thepearlRB.com Located at The Pearl Hotel | 63 Main Street | Rosemary Beach, FL 32461

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Restaurant Spotlight

Mama Clemenza's

Mama Clemenza’s may be in a beach town, but guests are treated to a full European breakfast experience with a warm Italian welcome, every time. Owner Tammy “Mama” Damiano opened her location in Holiday Plaza in 2012, and for a short time, her breakfast and brunch restaurant was just a little hidden gem frequented by locals. literally signs “Mama” on the top of each one herself!

“We love what we do,” said Damiano.

“Over the years, our loyal guests have become family to us.”

Mama’s famous European breakfast can also be found at Clemenza’s Uptown Station every Sunday. No matter what day of the week, this is an indulgent breakfast you won’t want to rush through. So sit back and relax.

Mama always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”

MATT BURKE

Guests began sharing hundreds of tantalizing food photos and glowing reviews on Yelp and Facebook, and sure enough, the secret got out.

The five-star reviews speak for themselves! Guests rave over dishes like Seafood Crepes, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, the Mediterranean Omelet and of course, the award-winning Eggs Benedict served with prosciutto over Yorkshire Pudding. And of course, you must sip on a fresh Bellini, Mimosa or Mama’s signature cappuccino. She

MAMA CLEMENZA’S 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach | (850) 424-3157 | mamaclemenzas.com

Magnolia Grill fort walton beach

tom & peggy rice, proprietors

157 Brooks Street SE (850) 302-0266

www.magnoliagrillfwb.com

steaks • seafood • italian bridal luncheons

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• wedding rehearsals • unique receptions

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

dining guide 775 Gulf Shore Dr., Destin. (850) 837-0881. $$ D

AMERICAN

LULU’S ★

Casual, beach-front dining. Open daily 11 am–10 pm. 4009 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-4800. $$ L D

Lucy Buffett’s funky hangout features cocktails, burgers & seafood, plus allergy-friendly menus.

Open Sun–Thur 11 am–9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am– 10 pm. 4607 Legendary Marina Drive, Destin.

(850) 710-5858. $$ L D

BUFFALO’S REEF ★

MAGNOLIA GRILL

THE BEACH HOUSE

Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts.

Lunch Mon-Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Mon–Sat from 5 pm. Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 302-0266. $$ L D

Hot wings and cold beer. Tues–Sat open at 10:30 am, Sun open at noon. 116 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 243-9463. $ L D

THE CRAFT BAR ★

Craft brews on tap along with artisan cocktails and elevated bar fare. Open daily 11 am–midnight. 4424 Commons Dr., Destin. Also in Grayton Beach and Pensacola.

(850) 460-7907. $$ L D

CUVÉE KITCHEN + WINE BAR★

MARINA BAR AND GRILL★

Seafood, po’ boys, burgers and salads.

Open daily 11 am–7 pm, breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 am, kitchen closed Mon–Tues. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-7778. $ B L D

Classic Italian, French and Asian-inspired dishes. Open daily 5:30–10 pm. 36120 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Destin. (850) 460-2909.

MARINA CAFÉ

DHARMA BLUE

NICK’S BOATHOUSE

$$$ D

Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine.

Open daily 5–10 pm. 404 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 837-7960. $$$ D

Atmosphere and service match expansive menu including everything from sushi to pork tenderloin. Lunch Sat–Sun 10 am–1 pm.

Dinner daily from 5. 300 S Alcaniz St., Pensacola, (850) 433-1275. $$ L D

EVERKRISP ★

Farm-to-table salads, rice bowls & other healthfocused American bites in modern, brick-lined digs. Open daily 10:30 am–9 pm. 4463 Commons Dr W #10a, Destin. (850) 460-8881. $$ L D

FIREFLY ★

Fresh Gulf seafood, steak, sushi and signature cocktails. Open daily at 5 p.m. 535 Richard Jackson Blvd., Panama City Beach. (850) 249-3359. $$$ D

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH

Seafood, burgers and sandwiches. Open daily 11 am–3 pm and 5–9 pm. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., Alys Beach. (850) 641-0017. $$ L D

JACO’S BAYFRONT BAR & GRILLE

Waterfront restaurant serving burgers, salads, seafood and brunch daily. Open Mon–Wed 11 am–9 pm, Thurs–Sat 11 am–10 pm and Sun 10 am–9 pm. 997 S. Palafox St., Pensacola.

(850) 432-5226. $$ L D

Serving a wide variety of seafood, steaks and flatbreads by the waterfront. Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 am–9 pm. 455 W. Main St., Pensacola. (850) 912-8775. $$ L D

THE RED BAR★

Live music and a menu of varied options including pastas, seafood, salads and cocktails. Lunch and dinner daily 11 am–10 pm.

70 Hotz Ave., Grayton Beach. (850) 231-1008.

$L D

RESTAURANT PARADIS ★

Restaurant and lounge offers rich coastal flavors in its innovative dishes. Open Sun–Thur 5–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 5-10 p.m. 82 S. Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach. (850) 534-0400. $$$ D

SUNSET BAY CAFÉ ★

COME SEE US IN DESTIN! On Highway 98, Half Mile West of 293

Award-winning Oysters and Seafood Specialties, Amazing Steaks, Pasta Dishes, Salads and So Much More!

Chef-inspired twists on classic dishes.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktail. Open daily 7 am–2 pm. Tiki Bar open noon to sunset. Linkside Conference Center, 158 Sandestin Blvd. N., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-7108. $ B L

VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO★ Seafood, salad, chef specials. Open daily 11 am–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., #103, Miramar Beach. (850) 650-9820.

TAILFINS SEAFOOD HOUSE & OYSTER BAR ★

$$ L D

Steak, seafood and barbecue. Wed–Fri 11 am– close, Sat–Sun 10 am–close. 172 Harbor Blvd, Destin. (850) 650-1200. $ L D

ASIAN

JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURAN & NIGHTCLUB★

JIN JIN 1 ★

LOUISIANA LAGNIAPPE ★

OSAKA ★

Dinner and dancing, serving barbeque and seafood. Open daily 5–9 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 136 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach. (850) 502-4590. $$ D

A taste of New Orleans hits the coast through Louisiana-style favorites like shrimp and grits and Cajun seafood gumbo. Open daily from 4 pm.

Fine Chinese cuisine available for dine in, takeout or delivery. Open Mon–Thur 11 a.m.10 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. 2078 U.S. Highway 98 W., NO. 104, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 622-5558. $ L D

Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood.

Lunch 11 am–2:30 pm, dinner 5–10:30 pm.

34761 Emerald Coast Pkwy (Hwy 98) Suite 104

850.842.4788

Visit our website for a full list of locations

THE KEY ★ Best of the

Emerald Coast 2018 Winner

The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the Emerald Coast Magazine editorial department, except where noted.

B L D

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ Inexpensive

www.HalfShellOysterHouse.com

$$ Moderately

Expensive

$$$ Expensive EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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ADVERTORIAL ADVERTISEMENT

Restaurant Spotlight

A Grand View of the Vue

Come for the views, stay for the food at Vue on 30a For a romantic date night, you might choose a table in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. If you’re looking to mingle and sip craft cocktails, the lounge is your style. If you’re coming straight from the sugar white sands, the outdoor terrace is ideal for continuing to soak up the sun. No matter where you select, there’s not a bad seat in the house as Vue on 30a earned its name by providing breathtaking views of South Walton’s emerald waves and sherbet-hued sunsets. replaced by smooth tabletops, sleek chairs and stone ground carpet. The modern light fixtures contribute to the overall ambience, gently cascading the sunlight through the windows. The allure of the outdoor terrace is enhanced by sleek furniture and conversational decor. The color palette consists of clean and serene whites, blues and greens.

You might experience a sensory overload as you witness beautiful beach views and then take your first bite of pistachio-crusted grouper, an award-winning dish featuring a sweet pistachio cream sauce atop grouper and saffron risotto. Executive Chef Giovanni Filippone merges

Southern Italy with American Northern cuisine, resulting in an array of delectable seafood, pasta and steak entrees. The menu changes to introduce flavors of each season, but staples such as the scallops or the filet mignon remain constant favorites.

Chef Giovanni has extensive restaurant experience and has made appearances on the popular television show “Hell’s Kitchen.” He’s well known in the community, and, when not in the kitchen, he enjoys conversing with restaurant guests.

The staff as a whole prides itself on being seasoned and aware of their guests, providing only the highest caliber of customer service.

“While Vue on 30a has been a staple in the area for almost five decades, we strive to always evolve and become even better each year,” said Sarah Brazwell, Membership and Marketing Director. “We want guests to have a memorable experience each time they visit. We want them to experience a beautiful sunset provided by our panoramic views, a sensational meal and top-notch service.”

VUE ON 30A 4801 County Highway 30A W., Santa Rosa Beach | (850) 267-2305 | vueon30a.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANTA ROSA GOLF AND BEACH CLUB

What is now Vue on 30a was once known as the The Beach Club when it opened in 1971. In nearing five decades of serving Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club members, tourists and locals, the restaurant has undergone changes to more than just the name.

Most recently, Vue on 30a underwent a renovation that included all but tearing down the walls, resulting in a contemporary cool and coastal cozy atmosphere, complementary to the resort casual motif seen throughout South Walton.

The entryway catches your eye with a beautiful watercolor mural spanning the space. In the main dining room, the linens have been

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

(850) 650-4688 or (850) 650-4689. $$ L D

Indulge in 24 ice cream flavors as well as hand crafted pastries and desserts. Open 3–9 p.m. 101 Cannery Lane, Miramar Beach. (850) 654-3333.

REAL THAI FUSION RESTAURANT★

Authentic family-owned restaurant featuring traditional Thai fare and curry. Open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Sat Noon–9 p.m. 12889 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 105-B, Miramar Beach. (850) 837-5344. $$ L D

SUSHIMOTO ★

Casual eatery with a sushi bar offering up creative rolls, plus other Japanese and Asian fusion fare.

Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Dinner Mon–Sat 5 p.m.–Close. 11394 U.S. Highway 98 W., Miramar Beach, (850) 424-5977. $$ L D

THAI DELIGHTS

Traditional dishes in a casual atmosphere.

Open daily 11 am–9 pm. 821 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 650-3945. $$ L D

BBQ

GREEK AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★

Authentic Greek restaurant. Breakfast 8–11 am, lunch 11 am–4 pm, dinner 4–9 pm.

11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach (and Shalimar). (850) 460-2728. $$ B L D

ALA BABA GRILL CAFÉ

Casual spot for familiar Turkish and Greek recipes offered à la carte and at a buffet, plus beer and wine. 10 am–9 pm. 550 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 986-5555. L D

YIOTA’S GREEK DELI

Traditional Greek food made from family recipes. Order at counter. 10 am–5 pm.

130 E. Miracle Strip Pkwy., Mary Esther.

(850) 302-0691. $ L

98 BAR-B-QUE

Award-winning barbecue, gumbo, sandwiches and salads in a casual atmosphere. Dine in, take out, catering. Mon–Sat 11 am–8 pm. 5008 Hwy. 98, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 622-0679. $ L D

JIM ’N NICK’S COMMUNITY BAR-B-Q★

Laid-back chain features slow-cooked bbq, burgers and classic sides. Open Sun–Thur 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 14073 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 424-5895. $$ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY ANDY’S FLOUR POWER CAFE & BAKERY Lively brunch/lunch destination known for its French toast, rolled omelets and cheery ambiance.

Open Tues–Sat 7 am–2 pm, Sun 8 am–2 pm.

2629 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, (850) 230-0014. $$ L D

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ

Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily 7 am–2 pm, closed Mondays. 979 E. Hwy. 98, #F, Destin (Also in Miramar Beach, Panama City, Pensacola, Sandestin and Grayton Beach).

(850) 650-0499. $ B

BLACK BEAR BREAD CO.★

Neighborhood bakery, coffee shop and café. Open Mon–Sat 7 a.m.–3 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–3 p.m. 26 Logan Lane, Unit G, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 213-4528. $ B L

BON APPETIT FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ★ French pastries, croissants, crusty breads, soup, salads and sandwiches. Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm, Sat 7:30 am–2 pm, Closed Sun. 420 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-2848. $ B L

CAFÉ SIENA ★

Coffee shop located at the entrance of The Village of Baytowne Wharf, serving fresh coffee, cappuccino, specialty drinks and breakfast. Open 6 a.m.–1 p.m. 9107 Baytowne Wharf Blvd., Suite B-4, Miramar Beach. (850) 267-4488. B

DONUT HOLE BAKERY CAFE

Eat breakfast all day with fresh-baked donuts and hearty comfort food. Open daily 6 am–10 pm.

635 Harbor Blvd., Destin (also in Inlet Beach and Santa Rosa Beach). (850) 837-8824. $ B

MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★

Old World family recipes. Multiple award winner.

Brunch Wed–Sun 8 am–1 pm. 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W, Miramar Beach. (850) 424-3157 and 8am-1pm on Sundays at 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-0707. $$ B

DESSERT MOO LA LA ICE CREAM & DESSERTS★

MIMMOS

IRISH JOHNNY MCTIGHE’S IRISH PUB

Easygoing pub providing Irish and American eats, a game room for kids and deck seating. 11 am–2 am. 2298 Scenic Hwy. 30A, Blue Mountain Beach. (850) 267-0101. $$ L D

MCGUIRE’S IRISH PUB ★

Burgers and pub grub and the famous 18-cent Senate Bean Soup. Open daily 11 am–2 am. 33 Hwy. 98, Destin (Also in Pensacola). (850) 650-0000. $$ L D

ITALIAN/PIZZA

979 US HWY 98 E

|

Destin

(in the 98 Pa lms Shopping Plaza)

850.460.7353 EatMimmos.com

AMICI 30A

Offering authentic Italian cuisine with a flair for celebration. Open daily 11 am–11 pm.

12805 US Highway 98 East, Suite R101, Inlet Beach. (850) 909-0555. $$$ L D

ANGELINA’S PIZZA & PASTA

Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily 11 am–9:30 pm. 4005 E. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach. (850) 231-2500. $B L D

CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN ★

Classic Italian. Wood-fired pizza, private dining, cooking school. Multiple award winner. Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat. 75 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach.

(850) 243-0707. $$ B L D

FAT CLEMENZA’S ★

Classic Italian. Wood-fired pizza, specialty desserts, fish Fridays. Multiple award winner.

Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat 5–9 pm.

Holiday Plaza, Hwy. 98, Miramar Beach.

(850) 650-5980. $$ L D

MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat–Sun 5–10 pm. 979 Hwy. 98, #5, Destin.

(850) 460-7353. $$ L D

PAZZO ITALIANO

Destin’s newest Italian restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine such as wood-fire pizzas, pasta, calzones, salads, chef specialties and nightly specials. Mon–Thur 11 am–9 pm, Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat 4 pm–10 pm, Sun 4 pm– 9 pm. 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 114, Destin. (850) 974-5484. $$ L D

THE PIZZA BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S Artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Open daily from 11 am.

2236 E. County Rd. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-3113. $$ L D

TRATTORIA BORAGO

Pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Celebrate in Grande Style Holiday Parties & Group Functions Catered by the BEST Crystal Yeabower, Sales & Catering | CYeabower@EmeraldGrande.com | 850.424.0622

Capt.on Dave’s the

EmeraldGrande.com

SERVING LOCAL FLORIDA SEAFOOD AND STEAKS Dinner 4pm UNTIL …

For more information visit captdavesonthegulf.com

Gulf

Casual Gulf Front Dining The locals’ favorite since 1968!

100

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3796 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin 850.837.2627 captdavesonthegulf.com

Enjoy cocktails on the deck for sunset Happy Hour: 4–6pm Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays) Live Music

the open kitchen. Open daily from 6 pm. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach. (850) 231-9167. $$ D

MEXICAN CANTINA LAREDO ★-

A gourmet twist on Mexican favorites.

Sun–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm.

585 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 654-5649. $$ B L D

CRAB ISLAND CANTINA-

Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine. Mon–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm. 2 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

(850) 424-7417. $$ L D

THE TACO BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S-

Baja fish tacos, homemade guacamole, burritos and top-shelf margaritas. Open daily from 11 am (in season). 2236 E. Country Rd. 30A, Seaside.

(850) 231-4781. $$ L D

SEAFOOD BONEFISH ★

Contemporary grill chain offering a seafoodcentric menu, plus steaks & cocktails. Open Mon– Thur 4–10 pm, Fri 4–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 10 am–9 pm. Destin, Panama City, Pensacola. $$ L D

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★-

Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine. Open daily from 11 am. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 424-7406. $$ L D

BROTULA’S SEAFOOD HOUSE & STEAMER ★-

Fresh steamed and boiled seafood dishes.

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Sunday brunch.

Destin Harbor, Destin. (850) 460-8900. $$$ B

BUD & ALLEY’S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT ★-

Sea-to-table dining, serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11:30 am.

Roof bar open in summer 11:30 pm–2 am. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-5900. $$$ L D

CAPT. ANDERSON’S RESTAURANT

Since 1967, offering traditional seafood items, flavorful salads and soups with a view of the marina. Open Mon–Fri at 4:30 pm, Sat–Sun at 4 pm. 5551 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach.

(850) 234-2225. $$$ D

DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE ★Award-winning seafood in a quaint house.

Open daily 11 am–8 pm. 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 837-7525. $$$ L D

DEWEY DESTIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★Outdoor setting, fresh seafood. Open 11 am–8 pm. 9 Calhoun Ave., Destin.

(850) 837-7575. $$ B L D

THE FISH HOUSE-

11 am–11 pm. 34761 Emerald Coast Pkwy #104, Destin. (850) 842-4788. $$ L D

HARBOR DOCKS -

A surf-and-turf restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the Emerald Coast.

Open daily 5 am–11 pm. 538 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 837-2506. $$ B L D

JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI-

Crab, oysters and grouper sandwiches in a casual beach bar & grill with steps onto the sand. Open daily at 11 am. 14521 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, (850) 634-4884. $$ L D

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE

Upscale-casual Southern seafood restaurant & bar serving oysters & po’ boys, plus steak & cocktails.

Open Sun–Thur 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat

AEGEANFL.COM

THE #1 FAMILY RESOURCE ON THE EMERALD COAST

STEAK & SEAFOOD BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS ★-

Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, Gulf seafood, prime steaks. Open daily 4–10 pm. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., #22, Miramar Beach. (850) 622-0760. $$$ D

CAFE THIRTY-A -

Offering the best in steaks and Gulf fare, Café Thirty-A is also available for weddings and special gatherings. Open daily 5-9:30 p.m.

3899 E. Scenic Highway 30A, Seagrove Beach.

(850) 231-2166. $$$ D

F U N 4 E M E R A L D C OA S T K I D S. C O M

CAPTAIN DAVE’S ON THE GULF-

Inspired by traditional waterfront dining, Captain Dave’s features American seafood cuisine infused with a contemporary Gulf Coast twist. Wed–Mon 4 pm-close. 3796 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin. (850) 837-2627. $$$ D

JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE -

High-end steakhouse cuisine with fine wines.

Local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 am–2 pm, bruch Sat–Sun 11 am–2 pm, dinner Mon–Sun 5:30 pm–10 pm. 400 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 469-9898. $$$ D

MARLIN GRILL ★-

Seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers. Open nightly from 5 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach. (850) 351-1990. $$$ D

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★-

Steak and seafood. New Orleans-inspired.

Mon–Sat 5:30–10 pm, Sun 5:30–9 pm. Silver Shells Resort, 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 337-5108. $$$ D

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ★-

SLICK LIPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★-

L D

2012–2018

MEDITERRANEAN

RUNAWAY ISLAND

FOOW RESTAURANT-

Featuring fresh Gulf seafood, an oyster bar, steak and signature cocktails, plus a view of Pensacola Bay. Open Mon–Thur 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.–10 p.m. 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. (850) 677-9153. $$$

MIRAMAR BEACH 11225 US HWY 98 (850) 460-2728

OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE ★

Airy eatery is a family-friendly destination for seafood, with a sushi bar & frequent live music.

Open Sun–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am– midnight. 5235 E County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 534-3045. $$ L D

Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar.

Open daily from 6 pm. Hilton Sandestin, 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach.

(850) 622-1500. $$$ D

THE GRAND MARLIN ★

SHALIMAR 1259 EGLIN PARKWAY (850) 613-6120

Seafood, sushi, salad and sandwiches.

Open daily from 11 am. Sunday brunch at 10 am. 56 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village, Destin. (850) 424-3507. $$ L D

Fresh seafood cuisine and Southern specialties in a setting overlooking Pensacola Bay and the Seville Harbor. Open daily from 11 am. 600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola. (850) 470-0003. $$ L D Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair.

Open daily 5:30–10 pm. Located in the WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 534-5050. $$$ D

“LIVE LONGER, EAT LIKE THE GREEKS”

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 2015 - Best Pizza 2016 - Best Pizza 2017 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2018 - Best Pizza

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

Family-friendly seafood spot located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf — with the freshest local Gulf-caught seafood and 1855 certified Angus steaks. Sun–Thur 11 am–9 pm; Fri–Sat 11 am–10 pm. 140 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach. (850) 347-5060. $$ L D

TAKE OUT DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★ -

Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 · 850.650.5980 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach · fatclemenzas.com

Fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Thank you for voting us

2018 BEST WEDDING PLANNER ON THE EMERALD COAST!

850.376.8272 | kristi@kissthebridedestin.com kissthebridedestin.com | kissthebride30a.com

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October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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BEST O F

T H E

EMERALD COAST The votes have been tallied and here are the winners Each year, the beloved readers of Emerald Coast Magazine cast their votes for over 200 regional businesses that they view are the best in their specialty. The 2018 winners reflect the establishments that serve our favorite meals, the health care professionals who keep us healthy, the boutiques that clothe us, the businesses that organize us and every service that makes life on the Emerald Coast the best. In the pages that follow, see which businesses were awarded “Best of the Emerald Coast.” Celebrate with us and meet the winners at the 19th annual Best of the Emerald Coast event on Oct. 20 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Winners will be present to share their products, educate attendees and make meaningful connections with patrons, both old and new. We thank you, readers, for participating in the “Best of the Emerald Coast” poll and giving top businesses the recognition they deserve.

PLACE TO WATCH A SUNSET

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant

ENTERTAINMENT BEST PLACE FOR KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY

LOCAL ARTIST/ ART GALLERY

arnettfarm30A.com

Justin Gaffrey Gallery

30A HorseFarm at Arnett’s Gulfside Santa Rosa Beach (850) 391-7111 GOLF COURSE

PHOTOS BY DAVE BARFIELD (TIMBER CREEK DISTILLERY) AND SCOTT HOLSTEIN (BUD & ALLEY’S)

Kelly Plantation Golf Club kellyplantationgolf.com

Destin (850) 650-7600 TIE

DJ

DJ30A dj30a.com

Santa Rosa Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach (850) 225-1149 DJ

DJ Wes Rolan djwesrolan.com

Panama City Beach (850) 250-7698

justingaffrey.com

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-2022 LOCAL ATTRACTION

Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park bigkahunas.com

Destin (850) 837-8319 LOCAL EVENT

Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

MUSICIAN/ VOCALIST/BAND

Boukou Groove

boukougroove.com

Destin, New Orleans (850) 225-2001 PLACE FOR A DATE

Marina Bar and Grill sandestin.com/dining

Miramar Beach (850) 267-7778

PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS

TIE

Baytowne Adventure Zone

RESORT

baytowneadventurezone.com

Miramar Beach (850) 428-2736 PLACE TO WATCH A SUNSET

Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant budandalleys.com

PLACE TO GO DANCING

John Wehner’s Village Door Dockside Restaurant & Nightclub

fishecbc.com

sandestin.thevillagedoor.com

Miramar Beach (850) 267-6360

Destin (850) 502-4590

The Henderson, A Salamander Beach & Spa Resort hendersonbeachresort.com

Destin (855) 741-2777 RESORT

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort sandestin.com

Miramar Beach (877) 783-3312

Seaside (850) 231-5900 TENNIS FACILITY

Woofy Ramone, 99Rock

TOPS’L Beach and Racquet Resort – Managed by ResortQuest

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-3699

Miramar Beach (850) 267-9222

RADIO PERSONALITY

WKSM.com

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

topsltennis.com

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BAKERY

FOOD & BEVERAGE APPETIZER

Bonefish Grill - Destin bonefishgrill.com

Destin (850) 650-3161

BAKERY

BBQ

BLOODY MARY

BRUNCH

Black Bear Bread Company

Jim ’N Nicks Community Bar-B-Q

Sunset Bay Cafe

Mama Clemenza’s

Grayton Beach (850) 213-4528

Destin (850) 424-5895

BREAKFAST

BAR/ TAVERN

BEER SELECTION/ CRAFT BEER

The Craft Bar

The Craft Bar

Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach, Pensacola (opening 2018) (850) 460-7907*

Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach, Pensacola (opening 2018) (850) 460-7907*

*Destin location

*Destin location

blackbearbreadco.com

destinsushi.com

Miramar Beach (850) 424-5977 ATMOSPHERE

Marina Bar and Grill sandestin.com/dining

Miramar Beach (850) 267-7778

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thecraftbarfl.com

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Sandestin (850) 267-7108

jimnnicks.com

ASIAN

Sushimoto

sunsetbaycafesandestin.com

Mama Clemenza’s

mamaclemenzaseuropeanbreakfast.com

Miramar Beach (850) 424-3157

thecraftbarfl.com

BREWERY

Grayton Beer Company graytonbeer.com

Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach (850) 650-3161

mamaclemenzaseuropeanbreakfast.com

Miramar Beach (850) 424-3157 CAJUN/CREOLE

The Louisiana Lagniappe theLouisianaLagniappe.com

Destin (850) 837-0881 CHEF

Chef Jim Shirley chefjimshirley.com

Santa Rosa Beach

PHOTOS BY KURT LISCHKA/MOON CREEK STUDIOS (BLACK BEAR BREAD COMPANY) AND ALISSA ARYN COMMERCIAL (SLICK LIPS SEAFOOD AND OYSTER HOUSE)

Black Bear Bread Company

CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

FRENCH

HIBACHI

sunsetbaycafesandestin.com

bijouxdestin.com

Bijoux

Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

Sunset Bay Cafe Sandestin (850) 267-7108

Miramar Beach (850) 622-0760

CHINESE

FROZEN TREAT (ICE CREAM, YOGURT, GELATO, SNOW CONES)

Jin Jin 1 jinjin1.com

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-5558 COFFEE

Café Siena

Moo La La Ice Cream & Desserts Miramar Beach

(850) 654-3333

sandestin.com/dining

Miramar Beach (850) 267-4488 CRAB CAKES

The Red Bar theredbar.com

Grayton Beach (850) 231-1008 CRAWFISH

Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer brotulas.com

Destin (850) 460-8900 DESSERT

Bon Appétit French Bakery & Cafe facebook.com/ bonappetitfrenchbakeryandcafe

Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-2848

GOURMET/FOOD SHOP/SPECIALTY FOOD STORE

Thirty A Filet & Vine thirtyafiletandvine.com

Timber Creek Distillery timbercreekdistillery.com

Crestview

Marlin Grill marlingrill.com

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1990 FOOD TRUCK/ AIRSTREAM

BIG Red Truck bigreddestin.com

Destin (850) 737-1185

ITALIAN

Clemenza’s at Uptown clemenzasatuptown.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-0707 LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANT

Vintij Food & Wine

GROUPER SANDWICH

Miramar Beach (850) 650-9820

Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant destinseafood.com

Destin (850) 837-7575 GUMBO

Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House slicklipsseafood.com

Sandestin (850) 347-5060

McGuire’s Irish Pub mcguiresirishpub.com

Destin, Pensacola (850) 650-0000* *Destin location

FINE DINING

*Destin location

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-0648

HAMBURGER DISTILLERY

osakahibachiandsushi.com

Destin, Panama City Beach, Tallahassee (850) 650-4688*

MOJITO

Cuvée Kitchen

Fat Clemenza’s

Destin (850) 460-2909

Miramar Beach (850) 650-5980

cuveekitchen.com

NACHOS

Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s Destin lulubuffett.com

Destin (850) 710-5858

ONSITE CATERING

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village emeraldgrande.com

Destin (850) 424-0622

vintij.com

*Miramar Beach location

The Grand Marlin Restaurant & Oyster Bar thegrandmarlin.com

Pensacola Beach, Panama City Beach (850) 677-9153* *Pensacola location

thehoneyhutch.com

MARGARITA

Cantina Laredo

OUTDOOR BAR

RESTAURANT IN OKALOOSA COUNTY

Marlin Grill

John Wehner’s Village Door Dockside Restaurant & Nightclub

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1990

Destin (850) 502-4590

MEDITERRANEAN

OUTDOOR DINING

Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood

boshamps.com

Miramar Beach (850) 622-1500

cantinalaredo.com

Miramar Beach (850) 654-5649 MARTINI marlingrill.com

sandestin.thevillagedoor.com

Destin (850) 424-7406

Destin, Miramar Beach (850) 842-4504*

RESTAURANT IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Santa Rosa Beach, Tampa (850) 499-6528

Shalimar, Miramar Beach (850) 460-2728*

everkrisp.com

fireflypcb.com

Panama City Beach (850) 249-3359

The Honey Hutch

Destin (850) 460-2909

Everkrisp

Firefly

LOCALLY MADE PRODUCT

Cuvée Kitchen

HEALTHY MENU OPTIONS

RESTAURANT IN BAY COUNTY

OYSTERS

Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House

cuveekitchen.com

fatclemenzas.com

Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House

Aegean Restaurant

HAPPY HOUR

PIZZA

aegeanfl.com

*Miramar Beach location

OYSTERS

MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN

Cantina Laredo cantinalaredo.com

Miramar Beach (850) 654-5649

Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House slicklipsseafood.com

Sandestin (850) 347-5060 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Clemenza’s at Uptown clemenzasatuptown.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-0707 RESTAURANT IN WALTON COUNTY

seagars.com

ROMANTIC/SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT

Restaurant Paradis restaurantparadis.com

Rosemary Beach (850) 534-0400 October–November 2018

107

Everkrisp everkrisp.com

Destin, Miramar Beach (850) 842-4504* *Miramar Beach location

SANDWICH SHOP

The Local Market

localmarketdestin.com

Destin (850) 460-8979 SEAFOOD MARKET

Destin Ice House destinice.com

Destin, Rosemary Beach (850) 837-8333* *Destin location

SEAFOOD STEAMER

Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer brotulas.com

Destin (850) 460-8900

SUSHI

Osaka Japanese Steakhouse Sushi & Hibachi Bar osakahibachiandsushi.com

Destin, Panama City Beach, Tallahassee (850) 650-4688*

SHRIMP SALAD

Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s Destin

*Destin location

Destin (850) 710-5858

Real Thai Fusion Restaurant Miramar Beach (850) 837-5344

SPORTS BAR

Tailfins Seafood House & Oyster Bar

TUNA DIP

Old Florida Fish House

tailfinsdestin.com

Destin (850) 650-1200

oldfloridafishhouse.com

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 534-3045

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Destin (850) 837-7575

Destin (850) 837-RUTH (7884)

destinseafood.com

STEAKHOUSE

ruthschrisdestin.com

Vintij Food & Wine

THAI

lulubuffett.com

Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant

WINE LIST/WINE BAR

WINE LIST/WINE BAR

WINGS

Townsend Catering

Vintij Food & Wine

Buffalo’s Reef

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-0663

Miramar Beach (850) 650-9820

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-9464

WEDDING CATERER townsendcatering.com

vintij.com

buffalosreef.com

ONLINE CATEGORIES BEST LOCAL BUSINESS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT MUST SEE ATTRACTION

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fun 4 Emerald Coast Kids Fun4EmeraldCoastKids.com

Okaloosa, Walton, Bay Counties (904) 200-1609 MUST-SEE ATTRACTION

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park gulfarium.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-9046

shardshop.com/destin

Grayton Beach, Destin, New Orleans (850) 842-4440* *Destin location

SCUBA DIVE SHOP

Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood Miramar Beach (850) 622-1500

Destin (850) 837-2822

seagars.com

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

The Shard Shop Destin

ScubaTech of NW Florida Inc.

MUST-TRY EATERY FOR VISITORS

108

PLACE TO DISCOVER A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

scubatechnwfl.com

PHOTOS BY CHASE YAKABOSKI (VINTIJ FOOD & WINE) AND JACK GARDNER (DESTIN-FORT WALTON BEACH AIRPORT) AND COURTESY OF GULFARIUM MARINE ADVENTURE PARK)

SALAD

AIRPORT

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

SERVICE PROVIDERS ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

AUDIO/VISUAL PROVIDER

Tortoise Clinic of Chinese Medicine

avxinc.com

thetortoiseclinic.com

AVX

Santa Rosa Beach, Birmingham, Ala. (850) 529-4743*

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-5611

*Santa Rosa Beach location

AESTHETICIAN

AUTO REPAIR/BODY SHOP

Gulf Coast Facial Plastics & ENT Center Donna Rizzuto gulfcoastfacialplastics.com

Panama City (850) 784-7722 ext. 117 AIRPORT

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

Emerald Coast Collision Repair Inc. emeraldcoastcollisionrepair.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 664-3762 AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP

Lee Nissan FWB leenissanfwb.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-3123 BANK

(850) 651-7160

First Florida Bank

ARCHITECT

Destin (Corporate Headquarters), Miramar Beach, Niceville, Mary Esther, Freeport, Panama City (850) 269-1201*

FirstFlorida.bank

W. ARCHITECT P.A. Destin (850) 865-0470

*Destin location

BOAT SALES AND SERVICE

Legendary Marine legendarymarine.com

Destin, Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola, Gulf Shores, Ala. (850) 337-8300* *Destin location

BUILDER/ CONTRACTOR

CARDIOLOGIST

White-Wilson Cardiology Clinic white-wilson.com

CHARITY/NONPROFIT

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE GROUP

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation dcwaf.org

Miramar Beach (850) 650-3732

30A, Destin, Navarre (850) 837-8016*

Destin (850) 837-9551

CHARTER BOAT backdown2.com

*Destin location

654Limo 654limo.com

Destin, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville (850) 654-LIMO (5466)

destinchiropractor.com

Destin, Sandestin (850) 654-1850

Backdown2

CAR/LIMO/ SHUTTLE SERVICE

Emerald Coast Chiropractic

Fort Walton Beach (850) 862-6934

Chi-Mar Construction chimarconstruction.com

CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE

CHEERLEADING/ GYMNASTICS FACILITY

U.S. Gold Gymnastics and Cheerleading Academy usgoldgymnastics.com

Destin, Crestview (850) 654-3124* *Destin location

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Century 21 Blue Marlin Fine Homes and Estates C21BlueMarlin.com

Destin (850) 837-7800 COMPUTER SERVICES/ TECH SUPPORT

CRC Data Technologies CRCDataTech.com

Destin (850) 654-7262 COSMETIC/PLASTIC SURGERY PRACTICE

Destin Plastic Surgery theplasticdoc.com

Destin (850) 654-1194 Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;November 2018

109

HOTEL

Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort & Spa

ELECTRIC CART/ GOLF CART DEALERSHIP

Dixielectricar

Eglin Federal Credit Union eglinfcu.org

Destin, Fort Walton, Mary Esther, Bluewater, North Crestview, South Crestview, Navarre, Hurlburt, Eglin AFB (850) 862-0111*

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

EYE DOCTOR PRACTICE

O’Donnell Eye Institute

Salamander Spa at The Henderson

coastalskinsurgery.com

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-4000

Destin (855) 741-2777

FAMILY PHYSICIAN/ PRACTICE

GYM/HEALTH CLUB/ FITNESS CENTER/STUDIO

Coastal Skin Surgery and Dermatology

Miramar Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville/Bluewater Bay, Panama City Beach (850) 654-3376* *Miramar Beach location

*main for all branches

CUSTOMER SERVICE

project:STYLE salon projectstylesalon.com

Panama City Beach (850) 588-7771 DANCE STUDIO/ BALLET COMPANY

Luna Ballroom lunaballroomdestin.com

Destin (850) 714-1669

DIVE CHARTER BOAT

ScubaTech of NW Florida Inc. scubatechnwfl.com

Destin (850) 837-2822 ELECTRIC CART/ GOLF CART DEALERSHIP

Dixielectricar dixielectricar.com

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 269-0011

greatfloridaeyes.com

Coastal Family Practice and Acute Care Center, LLC

The Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry DestinDentist.com

Destin, Panama City Beach (850) 654-8665* *Destin location

110

Proffitt PR proffittpr.com

Miramar Beach (850) 460-7777

hendersonbeachresort.com

Seacrest (850) 231-9286 FINANCIAL PLANNING/ INVESTMENT FIRM

Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates, Merrill Lynch fa.ml.com/kfa

Destin (850) 269-7003 FLOORING

Infinity Flooring infinityfloors.com

Miramar Beach (850) 650-1039

EVENT VENUE

Niceville (850) 279-6767

HOTEL

HAIR SALON

Avantgarde Salon Spa avantgardeaveda.com

Destin, Niceville, Shoppes of Destiny (850) 654-5057*

*Shoppes of Destiny location

HEATING AND AIR SERVICE

hiltonsandestinbeach.com

Miramar Beach (850) 267-9500 TIE

INSURANCE AGENCY

Insurance Zone ins-zone.com

Gulfshore Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. Niceville (850) 897-6540

INSURANCE AGENCY

gulfshoreair.com

HOLISTIC/ ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

Miramar Beach (850) 650-2519

Miramar Beach (850) 460-2078

Panama City (850) 784-9001

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Pensacola (850) 424-6979

Mount of Olives

ggbloom.com

kellyplantation.com

bluewaterfitness.net

GG Bloom

sunquestcruises.com

Kelly Plantation Owners Association/ Professionally Managed by FirstService Residential Destin (850) 654-9860

SunQuest Cruises, Solaris

FLORIST

HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION

Bluewater Fitness

coastalfamilypractice.net

EVENT PLANNING FIRM DENTAL PRACTICE

FULL SERVICE SPA

mountofolives.com

Waldorff Insurance & Bonding waldorffinsurance.com

Fort Walton Beach (850) 581-4925

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (DIXIEELECTRICAR), LAWRENCE DAVIDSON (HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA) AND COURTESY WHITE-WILSON MEDICAL CENTER, P.A. AND EPIC PHOTO CO.

CREDIT UNION

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM

Lovelace Interiors

lovelaceinteriors.com

Miramar Beach (850) 837-5563 LANDSCAPING/ LAWN SERVICE

Meadows Lawn Service

Bay County, Santa Rosa, Destin (850) 210-7363

MARTIAL ARTS/ KARATE

Centerline Martial Arts cmadestin.com

Miramar Beach (850) 585-6153 MASSAGE THERAPIST

brackenlawpa.com

Miramar Beach (850) 792-2677 LIGHTING STORE

Beautiful Lights

Miramar Beach (850) 622-9595

Miramar Beach (850) 837-6772

MEDIA PROVIDER (CABLE, INTERNET, PHONE)

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Cox Communications cox.com

Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Niceville, Miramar Beach (850) 226-6872* *Destin location

beautifullights.com

Destin (850) 650-9417

MEDICAL CENTER/ HOSPITAL

LOCKSMITH

Sacred Heart Health System

A to Z Lock & Safe atozlockandsafe.com

Destin, Eglin AFB, Niceville, Mary Esther (850) 837-0045

Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Niceville (850) 863-8100

sacredheartemerald.org

Miramar Beach, Pensacola (850) 278-3000* *Miramar Beach location

Coastal Pediatric Group

Grayton Beach (850) 213-4528

Panama City Beach (850) 659-6556

ON-SITE DRY CLEANER

PERSONAL TRAINER

Destin Cleaners Destin, Miramar Beach (850) 654-9450*

MEDICAL SPA

PEDIATRIC PRACTICE

Black Bear Bread Company blackbearbreadco.com

white-wilson.com

Meritage Spa

serenitybytheseaspa.com

NEW BUSINESS

White-Wilson Medical Center, P.A.

Linny Clark / Serenity by the sea Spa

LAW FIRM

Bracken Law, P.A.

MEDICAL PRACTICE

*Destin location

coastalpediatricgroup.com

The Travel Trainer on 30A Sean Miller thetraveltraineron30a.com

meritagespa.com

ORAL HEALTH CARE SPECIALTY PRACTICE

Gulf Dental Center

Mara Fiorentino, MD

Panama City

(850) 522-8822

(850) 764-8390 PHARMACY

Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy eccpharmacy.com

marafiorentinomd.com

ORTHODONTIST PRACTICE

Destin (850) 654-0054

Stubbs Orthodontics stubbsortho.com

MORTGAGE LENDER

Niceville, South Walton (850) 678-8338

Bank of England Mortgage boefwb.com

ORTHOPEDIC SURGICAL PRACTICE

Fort Walton Beach (850) 362-6488 NAIL SALON

serenitybytheseaspa.com

Miramar Beach (850) 622-9595

PHOTO BOOTH COMPANY

Epic Photo Co. epicphoto.co

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 213-4434

Orthopaedic Associates, P.A.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Fort Walton Beach (main office), Destin, Niceville (satellite clinics) (850) 863-2153*

sunsetimagesphotography.com

orthoassociates.net

Serenity by the sea Spa

Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-5800

*Fort Walton Beach location

Sunset Images

Destin, 30A, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola, Navarre, Perdido Key (850) 642-0605

PHOTO BOOTH COMPANY

Epic Photo Co.

MEDICAL PRACTICE

White-Wilson Medical Center, P.A.

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PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE

Tender Touch Health Care Services

tendertouchhomehealth.com/services/ physical-therapy

Panama City (850) 913-1500 PLUMBING FIXTURES/SERVICE

Emerald Bay Plumbing emeraldbayplumbing.com

Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 837-1979 POOL BUILDING/ SERVICE COMPANY

Cox Pools Coxpools.com

Destin, Panama City Beach (850) 650-9138* *Destin location

PR/ADVERTISING AGENCY

Proffitt PR proffittpr.com

Miramar Beach (850) 460-7777 PRINTING/ COPYING SERVICE

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE GROUP

SRE • Sandestin Real Estate Sales sandestinrealestate.com

Eloquent Signs

Destin, Sandestin, South Walton, 30A (850) 267-8100

Miramar Beach (850) 460-2425

ROOFING

eloquentsigns.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GROUP

NewmanDailey Resort Properties

Specialty Roofers Inc.

*Fort Walton Beach location

PROSTHODONTICS PRACTICE

SECURITY/ALARM SYSTEM

Westco Protection Mary Esther (850) 664-6464

Paul Kellum D.D.S.

Eloquent Signs

Destin (850) 837-6645

Miramar Beach (850) 460-2425

paulkellumdds.com

SIGN COMPANY eloquentsigns.com

The Tutoring Center

destinhotyoga.com

Miramar Beach (850) 424-7935

Destin Hot Yoga Miramar Beach (850) 547-6133 SPECIALTY FITNESS (PILATES, YOGA, ETC.)

Pure Barre purebarre.com/fl-destin

30A, Destin (850) 837-1090

SPECIALTY PET SERVICES/PRODUCTS

Goochie Poochie Spa Resort

goochiepoochiesparesort.com

Destin (850) 460-7460

SPECIALTY SURGICAL PRACTICE

Emerald Coast Surgery Center

emeraldcoastsurgerycenter.com

TIE SPECIALTY FITNESS (PILATES, YOGA, ETC.)

Pure Barre

Fort Walton Beach (850) 863-7887 STORAGE FACILITY

Niceville Mini Storage Inc. Niceville (850) 729-7366 TIE

TITLE COMPANY

SETCO Services, LLC setcoservices.com

Miramar Beach, 30A, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City Beach, Panama City, Crestview, Pace, Pensacola (850) 650-6161 TITLE COMPANY

McNeese Title, LLC

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

sandestin.tutoringcenter.com

VACATION RENTAL COMPANY/SERVICE

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties NewmanDailey.com

Destin, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 837-1071 VETERINARY PRACTICE

Airport Veterinary Clinic airportvetdestin.com

Destin (850) 837-3227 VIDEOGRAPHY

Land Air Sea Productions landairseaproductions.com

Destin (850) 499-4366 WATERSPORTS

La Dolce Vita ldvbeach.com

Crystal Beach, Destin, Miramar Beach, Navarre Beach, Okaloosa Island, 30A, South Walton (866) 651-1869* *Miramar Beach location

WEDDING PLANNER COMPANY

Kiss the Bride Weddings Destin/30A kissthebridedestin.com

Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A (850) 376-8272 WEDDING/RECEPTION VENUE

SunQuest Cruises, Solaris sunquestcruises.com

Miramar Beach (850) 650-2519 WEIGHT LOSS FACILITY

mcneesetitle.com

Dr. Bawa & Associates

*Destin location

Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A (850) 665-2059

Destin, Seagrove Beach (850) 337-4242*

112

TUTORING/ LEARNING CENTER

SPECIALTY FITNESS (PILATES, YOGA, ETC.)

specialtyroofers.com

Fort Walton Beach, Panama City Beach (850) 974-7663*

NewmanDailey.com

Destin, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 837-1071

TIE

drbawa.com

OUTDOOR FURNITURE RETAILER

Bay Breeze Patio

SPORTING GOODS RETAILER

BOTE

SHOPPING ANTIQUES SHOPS

Smith’s Antiques Mall & Interiors Market

Palm Eye Care

Miramar Beach (850) 654-1484

*Niceville location

smithsantiquesmall.com

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (PURE BARRE), CHASE YAKABOSKI (BAY BREEZE PATIO) AND SEAN MURPHY (BOTE)

EYEWEAR STORE

BEACHWEAR RETAILER

Barefoot Princess sandestin.com/barefoot-princess

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806 CHILDREN’S CLOTHING RETAILER

Coconut Kidz sandestin.com/coconut-kidz

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1800 CONSIGNMENT/ RESALE SHOP

palmeyecare.com

Fort Walton Beach, Niceville (850) 279-4361*

FURNITURE RETAILER

Tusker’s Home Store tuskershomestore.com

Miramar Beach (850) 424-3969 GIFT SHOP

Frill Seekers Gifts FrillSeekersGifts.com

Destin (850) 460-2700 JEWELRY STORE

ReRuns 4 Wee Ones

McCaskill & Company

Valparaiso (850) 389-2130

Destin (850) 650-2262

reruns4weeones.com

mccaskillandcompany.com

LOCALLY OWNED RETAILER

OUTDOOR FURNITURE RETAILER

WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES

baybreezepatio.com

Barefoot Princess

Bay Breeze Patio

Bay Breeze Patio

Miramar Beach (850) 269-4666

Miramar Beach (850) 269-4666

baybreezepatio.com

MEN’S ACCESSORIES

Island Clothiers sandestin.com/island-clothiers

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806

TIE

sandestin.com/island-clothiers

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806 MEN’S SHOES

Sunset Shoes and Lifestyles sunsetshoesonline.com

Miramar Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach (850) 837-5466* *Miramar Beach location

Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806

SPORTING GOODS RETAILER

Copeland’s Gun Shop

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE

Freeport (850) 835-4277

Today’s Boutique

waltonoutdoors.com/ welcome-to-copelands-gun-shop

todaysdestin.com

MEN’S APPAREL

Island Clothiers

sandestin.com/ barefoot-princess

SPORTING GOODS RETAILER

BOTE boteboard.com

Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Grayton Beach (850) 403-0433* *Grayton Beach location

WEDDING SHOP

Margaret Ellen Bridal margaretellenbridal.com

Inlet Beach (850) 641-0266

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Destin (850) 837-5565 WOMEN’S SHOES

Sunset Shoes and Lifestyles sunsetshoesonline.com

Miramar Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach (850) 837-5466*

*Miramar Beach location October–November 2018

113

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Finest Tennis Club

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115

When not tinkering in the engine room or otherwise keeping his 60foot motor yacht, the Miss Triss, shipshape, Burton Beitz, a retired commercial pilot, may be found on the bridge with his feet up and a cold drink in his hand.

116

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Quarter LIVING ABOARD IS VANISHING AS A WAY OF LIFE STORY BY ERIN HOOVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BOOINI

A RETIRED PILOT FOR

Southwest Airlines, Burton Beitz is one of a handful of live-aboard residents at St. Andrews Marina. His home is a roomy, 60-foot Hartmann Palmer motor yacht called Miss Triss. He bought his boat in 2000 and has lived aboard it for 15 of the last 18 years.

St. Andrews has a similar policy to the one at Panama City Marina, explained Sandy Wade, the marina manager: no new long-term leases, though those who had signed under an earlier rule may stay.

“I used to do a lot of scuba diving. Whenever we went on a trip, it seemed like I was interested in what the boat was doing as much as what the divers were doing,” Beitz said, sitting in a large armchair in the salon. A cable TV music station played in the background.

FLOATING CONDO

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Now he stays put. But for most of his first year in retirement, he cruised among islands in the Caribbean, using a concierge service to help him book transient spaces in marinas.

In 2012, Beitz was taking the boat from Houston, where he then was based, down to the Dominican Republic. He was halfway across the Gulf of Mexico when he learned his mother had suffered a stroke.

“I came back to the U.S. and I was looking for a place where I could park the boat to come check on her. Southwest had just started servicing Panama City. I came here with the idea that I would be here a week or two, then I would move on,” he said.

Instead, he became a resident at St. Andrews Marina. Each day, Beitz delivers fresh coffee to his mother, who lives in a nursing home in town.

He is sometimes hired locally for test flights and ferry flights.

His slip rental at St. Andrews includes water, cable television and Wi-Fi, with power metered on a monthly basis. He hires a pump-out boat to clean out Miss Triss on a weekly basis. The boat has a generator and a water-maker capable of producing up to 500 gallons of fresh water a day.

He said he takes the boat out into the bay once a month. “Most of your live-aboards are like me — the boat is a floating condo,” Beitz said. He likens the marina, with its hundred or so vessels, to a village. “Everybody here knows everybody else,” he said. “Being in a boat is different than being in a car. When you pass by someone, you wave.”

For the past four years, Beitz has run a business, Emerald Coast Yacht Charters, and he and Miss Triss have been hired for dinner cruises, anniversary celebrations and weddings. He’s seen wedding proposals aboard his boat. As a notary, he was able to perform the wedding ceremony for his own daughter aboard.

Miss Triss has four cabins, or bedrooms, and five heads — tiny, airplane-like bathrooms — as well as a spacious salon and galley where Beitz said he has served 20 people Christmas dinner.

Miss Triss is one of the bigger boats at St. Andrews. “I don’t need this big of a boat myself,” he said, noting that Miss Triss became his full-time residence following his divorce.

It offers plenty of room for his children and grandchildren to visit.

With ladders to climb and floors that sometimes lift with the chop on the water, Miss Triss plays a role in keeping its owner fit, Beitz admitted. He said he “hopes to get another five years out of it.”

“I think this is the dream of a lot of people,” Beitz said. “But there aren’t too many people who say, ‘I think I can do it.’ ”

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Featuring all of the comforts of homes on terra firma including state rooms much larger than those found on cruise vessels, the Miss Triss serves both as the captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence and as a vessel for hire. Weddings have been performed on board, proposals accepted and anniversaries celebrated.

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Mike Miller, a fan of the minimalist lifestyle, had harbored a thirst for nautical adventure since he was a boy.

He exercised that ambition upon moving to Panama City from Columbus, Georgia, and buying a 35-foot sailing vessel named Thyme.

It is home to Miller and his wife, Sheila.

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For most of Bryan Miller’s adult life, he built parts for jet engines, working for General Aircraft Electric Engines, then Heico Aerospace.

After a career in aerospace engineering, he started a web business that he described as “lucrative.” He sold it and opened another business, a woodworking shop.

Miller used to live in Columbus, Georgia, where he owned a home, paid in full. Although he was only in his late 40s, he figured as of 2015 that he had enough money to retire, if he sold his house and business, cashed in his 401(k) and stayed within a budget.

He began calling marinas in April of that year looking for a place to live. Miller was very clear when he made his calls: He wasn’t planning to buy a boat to keep at a marina. He wanted to live there.

Miller said that as a child, he read books about the ocean and sailing and dreamed of going on his own nautical adventure. He is also a self-proclaimed fan of the minimalist lifestyle exemplified by so-called “tiny houses” on TV shows like “Tiny House Nation” and “Tiny House Hunters.”

“I’d already gone through everything in my head. I’d been reading about people who live aboard,” he said. “I was so eager to get out of my house and get down (to Panama City) that I sold everything on Craigslist and slept on the floor as the paperwork was going through.”

The store manager at the Panama City Marina told him that very few marinas allowed people to live aboard their boats. Even fewer allow it today.

Panama City Marina allowed a limited number of long-term residents when Miller bought a 35-foot Columbia sailboat called Thyme and signed a lease. Now, it has a strict policy that does not permit long-term residence, according to Diana Pieper, who works in the marina store.

The marina allows transient dockage for a maximum of six months in a calendar year, she said. Today, Miller lives with his wife, Sheila, aboard Thyme. He is one of two residents who were “grandfathered in” under the old rules, which changed when the marina signed its most recent land lease with the state Department of Environmental Protection.

BIDING THEIR THYME

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A couple docks over at St. Andrews sits Dauntless, a 38-foot Trojan powerboat that serves as the home of Rick Brush.

Brush has lived on boats for seven years, first on a sailboat and now aboard Dauntless. He moved to Panama City from Kansas years ago to work as a pilot instructor, then worked for each of the city’s two marinas. Now, he has a Coast Guard license that allows him to run charters, and he calls himself “semi-retired.”

To Brush, a live-aboard boat is comparable to a mobile home. He sleeps in a forward V-berth, a triangular cabin at the bow. Dauntless has one head, a small galley and a salon area for dining, which he uses as office space as well as a second elevated seating area. He moves away from his computer and printer to sit in the dining area, which is cooler on hot summer days.

Many of Brush’s rhetorical examples of the homeowner who’d like to move aboard come from places like he did — Kansas, or in some examples, Arkansas.

“Someone who has been living on a farm in Kansas their whole life, say they come down here to Panama City and buy a condo. They’re looking out on the water, the way they would do on vacation. Say they don’t want to stay in Panama City, but they want to go to Pensacola or Mobile, to Apalachicola, or down to Tampa or the Keys,” he said, tracing how such decisions are made.

Brush’s hypothetical Kansan buys a boat first to travel. “Let’s say you stay for six months” — as a transient might — “then you move on. Or say you really like it (in Panama City), so you buy a bigger boat, and you stay on that boat.”

Like Beitz, Brush is able to live on his boat at St. Andrews Marina as a holdover from the older lease. But he said he is considering a move to South Florida, an area where living aboard is more common.

“If I move away, if I release my slip here, I can never come back and live aboard here,” he said.

Despite the rocking motion of waves, it can be easy to forget that the boat is indeed a mode of transportation.

Like a car owner might pop the hood, Brush opens the panel in the floor of the elevated seating area to reveal the boat’s 900-horsepower engine. He said that Dauntless burns one or two gallons per mile and has a 350-gallon tank, which gives it a range of about 200 miles. “This is a fast boat,” he said.

Brush provided another example of how the liveaboard straddles two modes of living: “If you buy an RV and you go to a motor home park and stay for a month or two, you don’t have to mow grass or pull weeds — that’s all provided at the mobile stop. At the marina, your boat grows barnacles, oysters and everything else. I put on a scuba tank and grab a scrub brush and a scraper and clean the bottom of my boat. Every now and then, I’ll laugh and say I’m cutting the grass.”

MOBILE HOME ON THE WATER

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Undaunted by a rising tide of North Florida marina regulations that do not favor live-aboards, Rick Brush is prepared always to sail away to more accommodating locales. Mobility, for him, is one of the chief advantages of a floating residence; he is pleased not to be in Kansas anymore.

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Sometimes, the person living aboard a boat is not the boat’s owner, but a tourist that has booked a night or two via the online marketplace Airbnb.

Unlike a charter, boats rented through Airbnb must be docked at a port and serve only as accommodation.

Seth Chandler keeps three boats at St. Andrews Marina: a Hatteras 56-foot, wide-body motor yacht called Pentam; Meander, a 32-foot Lazy Jack schooner; and Emmanuel, a 47-foot Olympic Adventure sailboat. All are available for rent on Airbnb.

Though he lives in Jackson, Tennessee, Chandler can frequently be found at the marina. A public relations executive by day, he owns about 30 rental and Airbnb properties across the country, including the three boats at St. Andrews.

“When I first thought about trying Airbnb, I had no idea whether it was legal or if anyone else was doing it. I set up an LLC, bought a sales tax license, all of that stuff. I tried to do it properly,” he said.

Chandler soon found that his Airbnb business took off. “Once in a while, someone will say, oh, ‘This is smaller than I thought,’ or ‘This smells like a boat.’ Well, yeah,” he said. “But if you’ve never been on the water when the sun comes up, it’s a completely unique experience.”

One of Chandler’s boats is preparing for voyage.

Before Chandler bought it, Emmanuel was a mission boat, traveling to foreign countries to distribute religious materials. He plans to donate three months’ time on the boat to ministers who need a break. This “minister at rest” program includes hiring captains paid with the boat’s Airbnb earnings.

Kathryn Miller and her husband, Chuck, rent out their 30-foot Hunter Cherubini sailboat called the Audacious on Airbnb. Docked next to Beitz’s Miss Triss, the Audacious sleeps three in comfortable if relatively tight quarters. Miller, who is a real estate agent, said that she began renting out the boat last May. Along with a place to sleep, booking the Audacious includes a free sail on the boat, accompanied by Chuck, a retired merchant marine sailor.

“You have to go on Airbnb and look at the reviews,” she said. “People say St. Andrews was so beautiful, that they met the live-aboards and they ate at Enzo’s or at Uncle Ernie’s. They talk about spending money.”

BOAT AS HOTEL ROOM

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PHOTO COURTESY AMAZON.COM

Maybe they should call it Waterbnb. Boat owners including Seth Chandler of Jackson, Tennessee, and Panama City residents Kathryn and Chuck Miller have found success selling stays aboard their vessels via Airbnb. Their watercraft range from a motor yacht of 56 feet to a cozy 30-foot sailboat.

Mike Miller, whose selfpublished book Living Aboard SEA a Boat is available from CHANGES Amazon, believes that many people hold misconceptions about living aboard. He said that he wrote his book and designed his website, Living-Aboard.com, for people who are considering the lifestyle.

For one, living aboard is not significantly cheaper than living ashore, Miller pointed out. “People think that you get the boat, and that’s it,” he said. “Boats are constantly needing work. It’s a constant maintenance battle. It all costs money unless you’re going to do it yourself,” he said.

Miller works as a writer in Mount Dora, Florida, and has lived aboard his boat on three occasions, most recently in 2004. “My goal is neither to discourage or encourage somebody to live aboard a boat. I enjoyed it very much, but not everyone will, I can tell you that,” he said.

Miller eschews the notion of the typical liveaboard. Most people he knows that live aboard are working rather than retired, he said. He has seen families with children living aboard, as well as single women.

A friend’s daughter was born aboard. “One thing all live-aboards have in common is that they like having the freedom to do what they want to do when they want to do it.”

Although living aboard is a beguiling option, that choice may soon be impossible to make legally.

“The little mom-and-pop marinas that have allowed live-aboards have been purchased by conglomerates that don’t want to be bothered with them. There is more money in renting to people who don’t show up,” Miller said.

“I think it’s going to be harder and harder.

Municipalities all over the country are trying to get rid of live-aboards,” he said. “It might be a vanishing way of life.” EC

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INVESTIGATORS SEEK CLUES TO THE PARANORMAL STORY BY STEVE BORNHOFT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BOOINI EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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W

hen things are going especially well for Nate Collins and Michael Lyles, they find themselves dealing with the inexplicable.

That’s their avocational mission: to find evidence of activity that they cannot puzzle out. To that end, they conduct paranormal investigations with tools including Electronic Voice Phenomena Recorders (EVPs) audio recorders, video cameras, K-2 electromagnetic field detectors and spirit boxes — they favor the SB11 model. Spirit boxes — let’s get this bit of explanation out of the way — simultaneously scan AM and FM radio stations, producing white noise from which spirit voices emerge. Or something like that.

KnightEyes Paranormal Investigations, located in Panama City, charges no fee for its work and has been known to pay its way onto properties of interest. It finds itself spirit hunting in a widening territory from Bay County, Apalachicola and Sumatra to Georgia and South Carolina.

Collins and Lyles like to say that they are “coming to a creepy place near you.”

The two men are correctional officers who sometimes find themselves working together on the same confinement units. That was the case in December 2016 when Collins, after dispensing with his paperwork on a midnight shift, unaccountably spied arms protruding from Shower Cell #17.

Collins looked away momentarily from the cell and, when he returned his gaze to it, the figure was gone and he attributed what he had seen to his imagination. That is, until another officer stationed at an observation post phoned Collins to ask, “What time did you gain the inmate in confinement?” Collins, joined by Lyles, informed the caller that no inmate had been admitted on their shift.

“But I saw him leaning on the bars in a shower cell,” the caller insisted.

Other mysterious incidents followed.

▪ Lyles and Collins saw a figure leave Cell #113, cross the hall and enter Cell #112. The doors to the cells, both three inches thick and made of solid steel, were locked at the time.

▪ The two men were conducting rounds with trainees when Lyles and three newbies saw a man on the upper bunk of a cell to which no one had been assigned. The “inmate” vanished and two of the trainees refused to spend any more time on that unit.

And, wait, there’s more.

Collins was working in food service, making preparations, when he looked up and saw an inmate in the baking area. He approached the inmate, hailing him with a raised voice. The inmate disappeared before Collins reached him, but not before the officer noted the Department of Corrections number on the back of his shirt. (Collins noted that unlike today’s solid-color prison wear, the inmate’s uniform was striped.)

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↗ Michael Lyles, at left, and Nate Collins committed to undertaking paranormal investigations after jointly observing activity they could not explain at a prison where both work. They have attracted followers by broadcasting their investigations on their Facebook page.

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We try not to bone up on stories and rumors too much before we go to a “site, because we want to be neutral.”— Nate Collins, KnightEyes Paranormal Investigations EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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He researched the number and found that it had once been assigned to an inmate who worked in food service, but who had died after suffering a heart attack years before Collins encountered him. The mugshot of the man on file matched the visage that Collins had seen.

In combination, the various incidents led Collins and Lyles to launch their investigations enterprise. In doing so, they agreed that it would not be their mission to make believers of anyone; they would simply surface the mysterious for the world to consider.

Collins explained the transparent nature of KnightEyes investigations. None is cloaked in secrecy.

“Our investigations are conducted via live broadcast on our Facebook page. My partner and I are at the forefront of every session, but our team is made up of more than a thousand followers who tune into these investigations periodically and join the team live.”

Indeed, Collins noted, viewers often comment during investigations and may direct investigators to “suspect areas” that were caught by cameras but overlooked by the principals.

“KnightEyes viewers essentially are investigators,” Collins stressed. “All broadcasts are completely free, and KnightEyes Paranormal invites anyone who’s interested to join us.”

THE GHOST OF A GIRL NAMED PEARL The Orman House was built in 1838 by a businessman credited with making Apalachicola one of the most important Gulf Coast ports for cotton shipping in the mid-19th century. Today, the house, with its wooden mantelpieces, molded plaster cornices and wide heart-pine flooring, is a state-managed historical site. It adjoins the Chapman Botanical Gardens and overlooks the Apalachicola River. Annually, it is included in the Apalachicola Historic Homes and Garden Tour in May and the Historic Christmas tour in November.

Some say the place is haunted by the ghost of a child who drowned in the well at the property. In March 2017, KnightEyes went to find out.

“We approached the well with a K-2 meter and began to ask questions,” Lyles recounted.

A K-2 meter detects and measures electromagnetic fields, including from appliances, cell phones, power lines and wiring, and they help users decide whether they want to limit exposure. Many ghost hunters believe that K-2 meters also help reveal paranormal activity.

“If the meter registers no response to a question,” Lyles said, “that’s an indication

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↗ KnightEyes Paranormal Investigations employs equipment that is modest in cost; much of it is familiar to householders. It is used to capture sound and video and to detect changes in electromagnetic fields.

Too, Lyles and Collins at times threaten spirits to obtain cooperation.

that the answer is ‘no.’ When lights come on, that indicates ‘yes.’

“We asked, ‘Did you fall in the well?’ Got no response. We asked, ‘Were you pushed into the well?’ Then, the meter lit up all the way to red, the strongest response there is.”

Lyles and Collins attempted to drill down a little further. They were curious to know who did the shoving and asked if a family member was responsible.

“When we mentioned family, things got real quiet inside and outside the Orman House,” Lyles said. “We had to coax the spirit back into communicating with us. Then, when we asked the spirit how old she was, we got a slight whisper: ‘Seven.’ ” Satisfied that they had experienced a “hit,” the partners headed back to Panama City on a Sunday night. Exhausted, Collins headed to bed as soon as Lyles dropped him off, but his wife stayed up for a while longer. When she walked into her kitchen, she saw a girl of about 6 or 7 in a white dress. She had long, dark, wet hair, was crying and saying that she

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wanted to go home. Collins was awakened and alerted to what his wife had witnessed.

“An hour and a half after I got home, Collins called me,” Lyles said. “He told me that we were going to have to return to Apalachicola, that we had brought something back with us.

“I was thinking that someone had stashed an antique from the Orman House in one of our gear bags, and then Collins told me what his wife had seen. We drove back to Apalach on Monday, and we haven’t seen the spirit since.”

In October, Lyles and Collins conducted small-group tours of the Orman House at the invitation of personnel there and allowed participants to use their K-2 meters and video recorders and such. The exercise was a little bit like attractions out West where tourists try their hand at panning for gold.

The tours were scheduled to coincide with Apalachicola’s Ghost Walk, but the walk was cancelled due to a forecast of heavy rain. Still, KnightEyes went ahead with its tours and,

before the night was out, had entertained 300 people. They plan to repeat the activity this year while ramping up the creepy factor by dimming the lights in the house and adding spider webs.

“A band called Skid Row was playing in Apalach on Ghost Walk night, and I was told that they drew only about a hundred people, so I felt like we really jammed it,” Lyles said.

In October, Lyles and Collins shared their experience from March with the Orman House staff. Their “hit” seemed to confirm a story long told.

“They assumed that we had read a book about the Orman House written by the ranger there,” Lyles said. “According to the book, the little girl was named Pearl and she was killed by her father, who was supposedly an alcoholic. The truth is, I had never heard any of those details. I had never seen the ranger’s book. We try not to bone up on stories and rumors too much before we go to a site, because we want to be neutral.”

↖ Collins and Lyles have attracted a coterie of volunteers who join in investigations. Operating as a group, the investigators may or may not reach consensus on something seen or unseen. Collins, a correctional officer, says he tries always to “avoid leading the witness.”

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activity while offering no clues as to what exactly they have detected.

“We post still shots and video clips (the video is slowed way down to reveal evidence not detectable at normal speed), and ask people whether they see anything,” Lyles said. “And many times, they will point out something that we viewed as significant.”

On one occasion, KnightEyes posted a photo from an investigation at a private residence. The homeowner, seeing the photo, contacted Lyles and pointed out what appeared to be a face around the investigator’s shoulders.

“I really appreciated the customer bringing that to my attention, so I bought him some sage with money from my own pocket and sent it to him so he could cleanse his house,” Lyles said. “I advised him to get into the corners real good and to go to Google and find a cleansing prayer that was significant to him.”

Cleanse this space, remove the past, I’ve found my happiness at last.

Fill this space with joy and love, Send your blessings from above.

A prayer, you know, like …

The interaction with the public goes both ways. People often send photos, video and even EVP recordings to Lyles and Collins seeking their opinion.

“We’re honest with people, and that means that we disappoint them sometimes,” Lyles said. “If what we see is light reflecting off metal, we will tell people that. A friend from Kissimmee sent me some evidence, but I concluded it was just sunlight streaming through a window.

“Once, during an investigation, the property owner was seated right next to me and he was convinced that he saw an orb move across the video screen we were monitoring,” Lyles said. “But it was just a bug.”

Lyles, generally, is dubious about “orbs.”

There are too many possible explanations for them, he says.

Still, he works to keep an open mind.

After all, Lyles’s experiences with spirits started when he was but a boy.

“I shared a bedroom with my brother, and one night something woke me up,” Lyles recalled. “I looked over at my brother, but he was asleep; I could hear him snoring. And then, I looked toward the foot of my bed and there was my grandfather with a big smile on his face. He had been dead for three months.”

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↗ Collins, above, trains sound-gathering gear on a room where activity has been detected; Lyles, opposite, lives in a home that hosts paranormal happenings and considers himself to be a magnet for such activity. As an investigative team, they operate with a simple motto: “Got Ghosts?”

Lyles finds that he is a ghost magnet — some people are like that, he said.

“There is a bunch of paranormal activity at my house,” he said. “There is a doppelganger of me that hangs around the place, but we’re not freaked out to the point of leaving.”

There are a lot of things, he said, “we cannot explain.”

UNUSUAL RESTAURANT FARE KnightEyes has made two investigative trips to the Family Coastal Restaurant in Sumatra. Both produced inexplicable phenomena.

“On the first trip, one of our cameras literally moved, and there was nobody near it,” Lyles said. “During the second trip, a camera became unplugged. I was in the command center, and I told our volunteers that they needed to check Camera 6 because I wasn’t receiving a feed from it. They radioed back and said it was unplugged. I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’”

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Engaging the spirit at the restaurant wasn’t easy, however, and Lyles said he had to become threatening.

“We started a countdown and I told the spirit that if it didn’t respond, I would have to deem it a harmful presence and take the steps necessary to have it removed from the premises,” Lyles explained. “At that point, we got a response on our meter and that was good. I mean, blenders were falling onto people’s feet at the restaurant. We don’t need that going on.”

What would Lyles have done had the spirit not responded?

“I guess we would start looking for a priest or someone with high standing in the religion area to cleanse the space,” he said. “Fortunately, we have never had to take that step.

“We try to stay away from demonology.

For me to learn all that would take up all of my time. Just can’t do it. Work and family, real life gets in the way.” EC

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You might expect Al Bruns, at age 75, to reflect more than envision, and he does, looking back from time to time. He has a lot to remember. But more reliably and regularly, he looks inward as someone who has practiced transcendental meditation for decades.

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b

Seagrove became the center of a wandererâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s universe

runs each story by

STEVE BORNHOFT photography by

SEAN MURPHY

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d Bruns takes in the view from a dune walkover at Deer Lake State Park. Revising slightly a quotation attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, he commented, “You never step in the same Gulf of Mexico twice.

There is always something going on; it’s always different.”

Decades removed from the New Orleans period of his youth, Albert Bruns remains fascinated by the place, its history and its mixture of Creole, Cajun and American influences. His parents were born there and met there. At this writing, he is reading a book that explores a time when high-minded reformers sought to confine brothels to a prescribed district within the city and to discourage jazz music. He recommends that people read The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life by George Washington Cable, a work first published in 1880.

That is, Bruns, who shuns the label “intellectual” because it connotes exclusivity, is a student of culture. And he is most comfortable with what he sees as the multilayered culture of a place he prefers above all others, a place that for him surpasses Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, New York, Canada, Colorado, California, India and other locales where once he paused.

“People ask me, given all of my travels, where I would choose to live if money were no object, and I tell them I’d live right here — I wouldn’t even leave this house,” Bruns said, while relaxing beneath an afternoon rain and the tin roof of his porch, located a block inland from the Gulf of Mexico in Seagrove Beach.

“Everyone who moves to New Orleans becomes New Orleans,” Bruns said, attesting to the transfixing, transformational power of the Big Easy.

Bruns became the beach.

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He was a tyke living in Virginia in a home that belonged to his paternal grandmother when his parents separated and mother Mary, along with Bruns and his siblings, retreated to Louisiana. The year was 1946.

Mom caught on as a writer-illustrator with the New Orleans Item, a liberal alternative to the Times-Picayune, where she had worked previously. She was an exception to the rule. Women didn’t hold jobs as reporters then.

“If you want to know what that newsroom was like, all you need to do is watch ‘His Girl Friday,’ ” Bruns said, referring to the 1940 film starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. “Men in hats with Graflex cameras and cigarettes hanging out of their mouths.”

Bruns, above, takes a break in Seagrove Beach next The Item maintained a to his electric bicycle and “crash helmet.” About stance on civil rights that the photobombing young bicyclist in the photo, he proved unpopular. Readercommented, “He provides a nice contrast between ship and advertiser support youth and advanced youth.” For the well-traveled Bruns, all roads eventually led to Seagrove. declined, and the paper

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ceased publication in 1958, leaving Mary Bruns to work a series of “little jobs” until she retired.

Meanwhile, Albert’s uncle, John White, who traveled throughout the Southeast in his work as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission, had discovered Seagrove Beach. He bought a lot there in 1949, “probably for less than a hundred bucks,” Bruns said, and built a house on it in 1955. (Bruns helped out by digging up palmetto bushes.)

It was Uncle John — he was married to Mary’s sister, Sue — who introduced Bruns to Northwest Florida. He had a daughter just 10 months older than Bruns and the two children became companions on trips to Florida, first in 1953, when White made arrangements to stay with a boat captain on St. Andrew Bay in Panama City. As a side trip, the travelers visited Uncle John’s lot in Seagrove and picnicked on sand dunes near Eastern Lake.

“It was beautiful,” Bruns said. “When those dunes were bulldozed for condos, that was traumatic for me.”

Bruns visited Seagrove often after his uncle got his place built.

“I have terrific memories from that time,” Bruns reflected.

“We had no TV, no air conditioning. We would get up in the morning and go swimming in the Gulf until lunchtime.

Then, we were forbidden to go back out until 3 because of the intensity of the sun. Sometimes, we would walk the beach two-and-a-half miles to Grayton Beach. It was the

nearest place where we could go to get a Coca-Cola. There was no Highway 30A at the time.”

When storms threatened and the surf roared, still Bruns would swim, trusting that his older cousins would save him if he got into trouble.

“Somehow, we all survived.”

In 1961, Mary Bruns moved from New Orleans to Florida. She had been encouraged to do so by the son of the founder of Seagrove Beach, who was about to move out of his house. Bruns was away at boarding school in North Carolina when his mother moved, but his relationship with Seagrove had been solidified. It had become home, the place where his wanderlust would end.

At breaks and during a semester off, Bruns, who would earn a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in New York City, recharged on the sand.

“It was like Robinson Crusoe,” Bruns said. “If you saw some footprints, you wondered who — Al Bruns made them. (Even on the Fourth of July.) Once, I saw a boat near shore. There was a dog on the beach that growled at me. I noticed there were rifles in the boat. A man came out of the water and it turned out he was a treasure hunter. My mother became friends with him.”

Not far from the house, there were quail about. Bruns would wander into the woods and encounter wild pigs. On the beach, it was not unusual to see white skunks. Bruns presumed that they had evolved so as to blend into their surroundings.

“We called them blonde,” Bruns said. “They were streaked with yellow almost like they were stained with urine.”

Bruns, however, is not committed to living out his days at Seagrove because of what used to be. He enjoys what is.

“I am familiar to a lot of people around here,” Bruns began to dissect the layers of the culture that surrounds him. “I worked at Sundog Books in Seaside and at the bookstore in Rosemary Beach. I worked at an art-andtoy store and a coffee shop and at Frank’s Cash & Carry hardware store in Seagrove.”

Seven years ago, Bruns, then 68, wiped out on his motor scooter on his way to work. No one witnessed the accident, but by the time he got to his feet and dusted off, “people arrived to look after me and notify my wife and take care of my scooter. There is a village aspect to this place.”

Too, of course, there are tourists, people who “visit to drink and have a good time. But businesses depend on them and I have no problem with them — unless they are noisy after 11 o’clock.”

And, for Bruns, especially, there is an irreplaceable layer made up of family members and friends of family, a tribe of perhaps 200 people.

“So many descendants of my mother’s father have houses down here,” Bruns said.

Indeed, so numerous and deep are his ties to Seagrove that he misses the place soon after he takes off on vacation.

“My father just loved Virginia.

For me, Seagrove became my Virginia.”

Bruns, top photo, takes to a trail lined with palmetto bushes at Cassine Gardens. Lower photo is from Grayton Beach State Park, very near a spot where his mother painted oak trees twisted by the vagaries of wind and weather.

He shares his home with his wife, Prudence, with whom he shares interests in reading, history, India, electric bicycles and transcendental meditation. She overcame Hollywood and New York City and life as a party girl to, like Albert, become the beach.

“My father didn’t relate to New Orleans,” Bruns said.

“He had older brothers who were born in Virginia, and he felt like that should have been his birthplace. He loved the place, just loved it.

“As for me, Seagrove became my Virginia.” EC EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

October–November 2018

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Stories from the

Heart I NSPI R ING STOR IES OF PEOPL E H EL PING PEOPL E The life-changing care Sacred Heart Health System provides has touched the hearts of many who strive to ensure that this incredible mission of care continues for future generations. Sacred Heart Foundation is proud to be a partner in this endeavor. Please enjoy these “Stories from the Heart.”

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OCTOBER 2018

October–November 2018 141 GIVESACREDHEART.ORG | SAC RE D H E ART FO U N DAT IO N 1

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Stories

Heart from the

Wave Photo by Aislinn Kate

SPONSORED REPORT

LiAna Patterson

S

You Never Think It Will Be Your Kid

itting with LiAna Patterson and her parents, Debbie and Rob — the latter of whom is Medical Director of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart — you would never know LiAna suffered a traumatic automobile accident less than a year ago.

LiAna is bright and confident with a cool maturity beyond her years. A graduate of Pensacola High School’s International Baccalaureate program, she is set to attend the University of Florida’s Honors Program in the fall on a full National Merit Scholarship.

After the accident, her parents weren’t sure they would ever see her walk across that stage — let alone open her eyes, talk or laugh again.

(She’s got a great laugh.)

LiAna was unconscious upon impact. In the ambulance, she could not speak or respond to any stimulation. She was in the deepest recorded level of coma, with pupils fixed and dilated.

The EMS provider phoned Dr. Patterson and said the words he never thought he would hear: “I think I’m with your daughter.”

As Medical Director, Dr. Patterson always tells his staff, “We care for every child as if they are our own.” The PICU and Pediatric ER personally train everyone, even the EMS teams, for this reason.

“We’re training the community to care for our children,” Dr. Patterson said. “You don’t get that if you don’t have a Children’s Hospital.”

This time, it was his own child.

LiAna couldn’t remember her name or birthday. She called her parents by their names, Robert Patterson and Debbie Cook.

She came in on anti-seizure medication, with a fractured clavicle and wrist, lacerated spleen and broken pelvis.

She was a Level One Trauma Alert — and Sacred Heart is the only pediatric trauma center in the region.

Once in the ER, LiAna had the full benefit of the hospital, with a trauma-trained ER doctor, trauma surgeon, neurosurgeon and Dr. Jason Foland, the Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

“You learn how hard it is to comprehend everything all at once while your heart is breaking. It’s like entering a whole new world, with an entirely different language,” Debbie said. “But she had everything she needed right here.”

The team knew to stabilize her physical injuries while addressing the brain trauma, because of the risk of internal bleeding. They also knew she would recover faster if she could

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move — so she underwent surgery to repair the fractured bone the very next day.

LiAna’s most critical brain injury was a left temporal contusion with intracranial hemorrhage and areas of ischemia throughout — but, amazingly, no skull fractures.

“She’s hard-headed,” Debbie joked. “Takes after her father.”

The family relied on humor to get through the experience.

They also relied on the extremely specialized team at Sacred Heart. LiAna had access to numerous pediatric specialists: pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapists from the start, as well as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, pediatric neurologist, pediatric intensivists, pediatric anesthesiologists and a child life specialist.

She spent two weeks at Sacred Heart before she was transported by ambulance from Pensacola to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite — to their inpatient rehabilitation program.

“I have a greater appreciation for life now,” LiAna said. “Hearing my dad talk about it, so many things could have gone wrong in the process. I’m really grateful they didn’t.”

Since the accident, LiAna has undergone months of therapy. She’s had to learn everything

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again — from walking and eating to calling her parents mom and dad.

“It was so good to hear her call me Mom,” Debbie said. “It was like she had to grow up all over again. She was dependent on us for everything. She had no memory, and she couldn’t move on her own. As she became more aware, I would ask her, ‘How old are you today? Are you 10 yet?’ ” Still, their trademark humor keeps them going.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare. It’s scary to let your kids go and to let them drive solo in a car,” Debbie said. “You have to have faith that it will be OK. Accidents happen. Your whole life takes a little detour.”

Today, LiAna is physically fine, but her memory will take longer to regain. The former captain of the volleyball team, she was always very active. The accident took its toll, especially when it came time to prepare for graduation.

LiAna persevered, returning to the rigorous IB program and earning all As and her IB diploma.

She even joined her older brother, Logan, at the University of Florida in the fall of 2018.

“My advice to other kids who go through something like this is to do what they tell you, because they’re trying to help you,” LiAna said. “My mentality was, ‘It is what it is.’ ” Her parents attribute their daughter’s success to her indomitable will, extreme athleticism, high intellect — and the good fortune of access to the “best of the best” care.

“LiAna has very little memory of her experience, but Rob and I will never forget the heartfelt care and compassion from everyone we encountered during LiAna’s recovery. We couldn’t have made it through this experience without the love and support of the entire Children’s Hospital team and our community of friends and family,” said Debbie.

“It’s medically unexplainable — a miracle even,” Dr. Patterson said. “God has plans for her.

I can’t explain why she has done as well as she has when so many kids have not.”

“This is why we put in the long hours and hard work, meeting after meeting after meeting. Why do we do this? Because someday, this could be our kid. We want this for our kid. I always meant it … but I didn’t know how much.” — DR. ROB PATTERSON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SACRED HEART AND LIANA’S FATHER

A message from Carol Carlan This month’s Stories from the Heart is about how life can take its own unwanted path of surprise and challenge, only to arrive at an outcome that is no less than miraculous.

As Medical Director of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital, Dr. Rob Patterson always told staff, “We care for every child as if they were our own.”

He learned just how much he meant those words when he received the call every parent fears: His daughter LiAna was being transported to our ER, postaccident, in the deepest level of coma with grievous internal injuries.

In another story, we read how Holly Harris planned to have a natural childbirth at Sacred Heart, only to go into labor complicated by an extremely rare and dangerous medical condition.

Husband Jake later wrote, “I truly thank the staff at this hospital. It was just the ‘everyday’ for them, but they had my everything.”

Reflections on the I-10 Bus Crash is an account of how the entire medical community at The Children’s Hospital rallied around the 19 injured high school students transported here after an accident.

Three heartfelt stories … all about travel down a path destined to end in a place where the “best of the best” medical care and love interact to create miracles and healing. I am grateful for those whose support helps us ensure these miracles continue.

Sincerely,

Carol Carlan President, Sacred Heart Foundation

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Katie wirh Julia Humphries, Facility Dog Handler and Sprout

Katie & Sprout Have an MRI 144 October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM 4 SApril–May ACRED HEART DATIO N | GIVESACREDHEART.ORG 2016 FOUN EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

W

hat do you do when your child is so terrified by the thought of the hospital that she won’t get out of the car?

You enlist the help of Sprout the Service Dog at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

Katie’s parents didn’t know what to do. The first time they tried to bring their daughter in for her MRI, they barely made it past the parking lot. Because of her

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autism, 19-year-old Katie has sensory and communication issues that make doctor visits and medical procedures a challenge.

“The facility dog team had a full schedule during Katie’s first visit to the hospital, so sadly this resulted in a traumatic experience for the family that could have been prevented had there been more facility dogs available for service,” said Julia Humphries, a child life specialist and Sprout’s primary handler.

When the family met Julia, they hoped things would be different. They couldn’t have expected just how different their experience would be.

“The reason we thought about this service is she’s had a lot of trouble with anxiety,” said Katie’s father, Bruce. “It’s an hour ride from Crestview to get to Sacred Heart, and during that hour, it just builds. That’s what prompted the thought — if there was something there when we pulled up that would make all that anxiety disappear, that would help a lot.”

– Julia was ready, meeting the family at the car to ask Katie if she could help bring Sprout inside. To her parents’ surprise, Katie got out of the car without any assistance or resistance to lead the dog back into the hospital.

“Katie doesn’t express things verbally, but her memory and understanding of what’s going on is very clear. She will tell us she doesn’t want to go to the doctor. She recognizes where she is,” explained her mother, Jeannine. “It was a huge change in the day for us. It made it all much more bearable and for her, even fun.”

Inside the hospital, Julia shared videos of Sprout playing at the beach and running in the park. Katie’s body language began to change as she relaxed while petting the dog.

Julia could. Even the anesthesiologist played along, skipping into the hallway to deliver a mask that looked just like Katie’s. Julia held the mask over Sprout’s face to show there was nothing to be afraid of.

“Sprout says to tell you you’re doing an amazing job,” Julia said to Katie, who went to sleep with a smile on her face.

Sprout returned to the waiting room to be with Katie’s parents, who were visibly concerned because of their previous experiences. Bruce said once Katie went back, Sprout knew they needed her, too. Without thinking, he found himself petting the dog.

When Katie woke up, she wasn’t anxious or worried about where she was. All she wanted was Sprout.

Katie’s parents say they’ve learned not to be afraid to ask for special services like the ones Sacred Heart provides.

“We didn’t want to cause a fuss,” Jeannine said. “But we’ve learned it’s not at all the case.

That’s what they’re there for. Wherever we BRUCE, KATIE’S FATHER end up in the future, that’s something we’ll remember.” temperature before taking Katie’s. Next Since her visit, Katie has asked about came blood pressure. Katie’s parents Sprout. She loves animals, often listing said there was no way she would allow the names of her favorites while riding it, because the tightening cuff would in the car. She remembers animal names stimulate negative sensory reactions. from the zoo and SeaWorld. Now, her When the nurse placed the cuff on parents tell us, Sprout has made the list.

Sprout instead, Katie gave a full belly “It was an awesome service the laugh. Smiling, she allowed the nurse to hospital provided,” Bruce said. “We take her blood pressure. don’t consider it luck that Julia’s Everyone joined in — transfixed by schedule was a little bit different that Sprout’s impact. One staff member morning … we believe it happened for brought a gown for the dog, and Katie a reason. Sacred Heart needs a lot more changed into hers without hesitation. therapy dogs.”

Seeing Sprout in the gown, she could Jeannine begins to cry. This time, not contain her laughter. they’re happy tears.

Now it was time to go in for the MRI. “Not only would we love to see more Katie’s parents could not accompany Sprouts roaming around,” she said. her all the way back, but Sprout and “But … we also need more Julias.”

Then came time to check in for her procedure. Her parents apologized, knowing their daughter would become agitated and put up a fight.

Jeannine was so worried, she began to cry silent tears.

Julia continued to smile and joke with Katie.

Still, when the nurse reached over to take her temperature, Katie turned her head in fear.

“How silly are we?” Julia said. “We forgot to take Sprout’s temperature!”

So the nurse took Sprout’s

“It was an awesome service the hospital provided. We don’t consider it luck that Julia’s schedule was a little bit different that morning … we believe it happened for a reason. Sacred Heart needs a lot more therapy dogs.”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FUND MORE THERAPY DOGS, LIKE SPROUT, PLEASE VISIT GIVESACREDHEART.ORG.

October–November 2018 145 GIVESACREDHEART.ORG | SAC R ED H E ART FO U N DAT IO N 5

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Reflections on I-10 Bus Crash A Community of Helpers

M

any can remember the bus crash that happened on March 13, when a bus of Houston, Texas, high school band students ran off the road, fell 60 feet and plunged into a steep ravine off Interstate 10.

The high school students were on their way home from a band competition at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

A few minutes after 6 a.m., a call came in to Sacred Heart Hospital’s Emergency Department. Helicopters and EMS were on the scene, and 19 high school students and one adult chaperone would ultimately be transferred to Sacred Heart.

Our hospital prepares for this type of disaster.

Adrenalin starts pumping, training takes over and our team springs into action. However, no amount of training could prepare us for the heartwarming response of our community.

Television’s children host Mr. Rogers said his mother responded to scary news by telling him, “Look for the helpers.” We were touched by the outpouring of support from so many of our community partners looking to help these Houston students however they could.

Our Studer Family Children’s Hospital staff — from the Pediatric Emergency Room, transport crew, child life, nursing, radiology and laboratory to pharmacy, respiratory, anesthesia, operating room — are all specially trained in meeting the medical needs of children, and they immediately went into a quick and comprehensive response. Many night-shift staff stayed late, and 20 off-duty physicians came in to help as needed.

The medical care is only part of the equation.

One of our Sacred Heart nurse managers drove to South Baldwin Medical Center in

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Foley to pick up two family members, who were themselves injured in the crash, so they could reunite with their daughter hospitalized at Sacred Heart. The Sacred Heart Information Service’s team hurriedly set up a room of laptops so that students could communicate with their loved ones. Our dietary and housekeeping teams kept the students as comfortable as possible while they waited to reunite with their parents. Our chaplains, child life specialist and our in-house facility dog, Sprout, gave emotional support to the injured teenagers, and The Studer Family Children’s Hospital team even came together to celebrate Jose Valadez’s 17th birthday during his stay.

These Houston children were in shock and nine hours away from home. But the home they found, thanks to our community’s loving embrace, is one we should be intensely proud of.

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Jake Harris

Father recounts day Sacred Heart Hospital doctor saved his newborn’s life Dr. Medlock spoke to me, I felt a sense of peace come over me. I knew God had his hands on them.”

Jake said from the time Holly went into labor to the time their daughter, Haven Lynne, was born via emergency cesarean section was a span of just six minutes.

Holly said most of the day was still a blur.

“I remember feeling very scared before I was put under anesthesia,” said Holly, who now shares her birthday with her new daughter. “When I woke up, I saw Jake holding Haven. I felt a sense of relief when I held Haven skin to skin.”

In his Facebook post, Jake wrote:

A

soon-to-be, fourth-time mom, Holly Harris planned to have natural childbirth like her previous deliveries. But when she went into labor April 19 at The Studer Family Hospital Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, a rare medical condition that only happens in 1 percent of all births took her birth plan off course.

Sacred Heart Hospital OB-GYN Dr. Shane Medlock quickly realized that the umbilical cord had slipped out of the birthing canal before the baby. This rare condition, called umbilical cord prolapse, can cut off oxygen supply to the fetus and cause significant danger unless immediate interventions take place. Further complicating the delivery, the baby had changed position overnight and was now coming feet first.

Fortunately for Holly, Sacred Heart is prepared for emergencies like these. It has the area’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the most critically ill and premature newborns, and the area’s only OB Emergency Department.

In a Facebook post that praised the outstanding medical care his wife received, Holly’s husband, Jake, recounted the chain of events that took place during the delivery: “The amazing staff at the OB Labor & Delivery were just going through the normal ‘everyday’ when something went very wrong with our delivery,” he wrote. “Dr. Medlock recognized the issue and gave the order, and just like that the nurses came out of everywhere and it was like they were a SWAT team that was coming in to rescue hostages! They all knew their part and did it with lightning speed!”

While a nurse used her hands to keep pressure off the umbilical cord, another set of nurses rushed Holly into the operating room on a gurney. Amidst the flurry of activity, Dr. Medlock stopped to briefly explain to Jake what was happening.

“I’m a 10-year combat veteran, and I have never felt more vulnerable in my life,” he said the day after his wife’s delivery. “When

“Sometimes, in the fog of what is going on in our own life, we overlook the ones that have made our life possible, and I just wanted to take a few minutes and truly thank the staff at this hospital for making the life of my beautiful baby, Haven Lynne Harris, possible. This is just the ‘everyday’ for them, but they had my everything!”

Although Holly’s birth plan didn’t go as expected, she’s grateful she has a healthy baby girl. Holly and Haven were discharged from the hospital four days later and returned home to Pace, where the rest of the family is getting to know their new baby sister.

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Michael Johnson, Chair Owner, State Farm Insurance

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Board of Directors Justin A. Beck, Vice-Chair CEO, Beck Partners

Autumn Blackledge Autumn Beck Blackledge PLLC

Aaron Ball President Ballpoint Communications Group

Nina Hess Campbell Design Associate Aqua Decor & Design

Michael Baggett, Secretary Senior Financial Advisor Senior V. P. Wealth Management Mazenko/Baggett Group

Wes Payne Mall Manager Cordova Mall

Steve Clark, Treasurer CEO, New School Selling

Jane Lauter Vice President & Secretary The Kugelman Foundation

Tamara Fountain Chief Executive Officer Navarre Beach Area Chamber

H. Wesley Reeder, Past-Chair Managing Partner Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon

Pamela S. Heinold Broker Associate Better Homes & Garden Real Estate

James Hosman Market President Centennial Bank

Sister Ellen Kron, DC Daughters of Charity

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Mallory Studer Marketing & Branding Manager Bodacious Shops

A BOU T TH E SACR ED H E A RT FOU NDATION Since 1915, Sacred Heart Health System has been at the heart of healing for Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Like our founders, the Daughters of Charity, Sacred Heart is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate healthcare to the citizens of our regions, regardless of their ability to pay. This steadfast commitment to our community could not have been achieved without the support and generosity of the thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations that have donated to Sacred Heart Foundation.

Through this charitable giving, Sacred Heart Foundation has been able to provide millions of dollars of free and low-cost healthcare to the poor, uninsured, under-insured and low-income families. With the help of generous donors, we are proud to partner in Sacred Heart’s mission of care along the Gulf Coast.

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INTERIORS

OCT/NOV 2018

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

↖ Attractive and practical, islands make for versatile surfaces, natural gathering spots, a home to appliances and extra storage and the perfect place to stage a buffet, all while serving as a kitchen’s focal point.

Centers of Attention Action revolves around islands

by ELIZABETH B. GOLDSMITH

GARDENING

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A

t a recent party, the center of action was the kitchen island. An assortment of cheeses, prosciutto rolls, salami, spreads, red grapes, coconut shrimp with mustard dip, giant green olives stuffed with blue cheese, and crackers displayed on platters and an aluminum ice tub filled with bottled and canned drinks lent a lively atmosphere for conversation and a surface for tiny plates, forks, napkins and glasses.

Because the island is usually at the center of kitchens, it serves as a focal point not only for entertaining but for homework, bill paying, food preparation, storage and eating. It may serve as the drop zone for backpacks, handbags and briefcases. Islands provide versatile counter space and maybe a small sink for drinks and clean-up separate from the main kitchen sink. There may be shelves for easy access to cookbooks and dishes.

If there are bar stools or raised chairs, it can serve as a coffee bar for light breakfasts and lunches. Picture kids doing homework or coloring, parents sorting mail or wrapping gifts or other activities. At my house, I have a friend who perches on a black bar stool every holiday and declares it her chair — from there, she watches all the action. She says if I ever get rid of that chair I’ll be in trouble.

People think of their islands as friendly, dependable, functional places.

Type and sizes range from carts and utility tables on wheels to custom permanent instal-

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lations up to 10 feet long with granite, marble or quartz tops. Granite installers and builders call them something unprintable but let’s say big-as-can-be islands. Too big can be a problem if it overwhelms the space and makes getting around the kitchen to the refrigerator and sink difficult. In remodeling, some homeowners have cut down the size and rearranged the space to better suit their needs.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends at least 36 inches on each side of the island for comfortable movement Ultra-modern homes are likely to feature commercial-grade stoves and, along with them, waterfall style kitchen islands, that is, islands with countertop material running down the sides. When large islands open directly onto living or dining rooms, a complementary finish is important.

Height options are table, bar or counter height. Regarding seating, think about adjacent spaces. If you have a dining room right there or a sit-down kitchen table, chairs at the island aren’t so necessary. Think about how your family likes to eat and move around the kitchen. Stools can be placed underneath to conserve walking space.

About storage and design, islands can have a microwave oven at one end and spaces all around for drawers and small appliances like KitchenAid mixers. They can be subdued and blend in with the rest of the kitchen or make a bold statement with a different color such

October–November 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Islands feature a variety of surfaces including woods, granite and ceramics and can be stationary or movable. Larger islands incorporate sinks, storage and appliances.

as red, dark blue, gray or made of dark wood as a contrast in an all-white kitchen. The islands can be considered furniture with exquisite cabinetry. Countertops can be the same or markedly different from the rest.

So, to add style, efficiency and storage to your kitchen, consider an updated island.

Maximize your storage by carving out more cabinets and display space. Invite folks to grab a plate or pull up a chair and enjoy. EC

PHOTOS COURTESY MHIKESTERSON (TOP LEFT), KOURAFAS5 (TOP RIGHT), SLIGAR (BOTTOM) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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NOT TOO SHABBY Not Too Shabby Boutique Crafts Coastal Chic and Completely Unique Furnishings

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visit to Not Too Shabby is best described as a feast for your eyes, serving up 10,000 square feet of eye candy. The home design center offers all varieties of home furnishings and furniture but is most widely known for the custom-made, Not Too Shabby brand products, which are handmade by the owners, Marisol and Tony Gullo.

The couple moved to South Walton in 2001 and fell in love with the serenity of the coast. With backgrounds in construction and art, and a newfound inspiration sparked by South Walton living, the couple began making furniture as a hobby that turned into a booming business. Each of their pieces is one-of-a-kind and crafted from reclaimed wood and architecture, such as a dining room table built from a 250-year-old door from Istanbul. Some of their signature pieces include headboards, coffee tables, dining room tables, end tables, mirrors, dressers and more.

Their finishes are distinct as Not Too Shabby has truly defined and encompassed the coastal chic style. Whether it’s an in-store piece, custom build or refinishing the furniture you already own, Not Too Shabby’s work is easily recognized and applauded for its trendsetting style of being effortlessly beautiful and creatively curated.

The same can be said of Marisol’s artwork, which receives praise both in the store gallery and throughout the South Walton community. She received the prestigious honor of South Walton 2017 Artist of the Year.

Coastal influences — such as beach scenes, marine life, birds and florals — are present alongside energetic hues and a variety of texture techniques.

Whether you are searching for specific pieces or are in need of style inspiration, their design experts can help you achieve your ideal look through their complimentary design services.

“Customers like doing business with us because they get to see and talk with us,” said Tony Gullo. “We provide a personalized level of customer service, which people want when they entrust us with their heirlooms or custom pieces. It’s a great feeling to watch people’s faces light up when they see their transformed pieces. Their furniture is a canvas and we get to put our art on it.”

PHOTOS BY NOT TOO SHABBY // STORY BY REBECCA PADGETT 9755 HIGHWAY 98 W., MIRAMAR BEACH // (850) 419-3976

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LEFT: A bed fit for a queen. This beautiful bedroom showcases the two defining styles of Not Too Shabby — French provincial and coastal luxury. The cool blue hues complement the statement-making, tufted headboard made from reclaimed wood.

TOP: A brilliant blue sofa is everything you didn’t know you needed! The showroom is a treasure trove of striking pieces, including Marisol’s award-winning artwork adorning the walls. BOTTOM LEFT: Not Too Shabby is known for their signature finishes, which are always coastal chic and customizable to your color preferences. BOTTOM RIGHT: The keen and creative eyes of Not Too Shabby’s professional design staff can help you achieve your dream look through their free design program.

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TOP LEFT: The intricate and ornate carvings present on each piece guarantee that your furniture will be a timeless and discussion-worthy addition to your home. Shades of white and cream accent any color palette nicely.

BOTTOM LEFT: Coastal chic meets gothic architecture in this one-of-a-kind console. The baroque look fuses with beachside vibes in an unexpectedly delightful way. RIGHT: Cabinets, tables, dressers, consoles and more in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials — Not Too Shabby will customize and specialize.

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LEFT: A bed fit for a queen. This beautiful bedroom showcases the two defining styles of Not Too Shabby — French provincial and coastal luxury. The cool blue hues complement the statement-making, tufted headboard made from reclaimed wood.

TOP: A brilliant blue sofa is everything you didn’t know you needed! The showroom is a treasure trove of striking pieces, including Marisol’s award-winning artwork adorning the walls. BOTTOM LEFT: Not Too Shabby is known for their signature finishes, which are always coastal chic and customizable to your color preferences. BOTTOM RIGHT: The keen and creative eyes of Not Too Shabby’s professional design staff can help you achieve your dream look through their free design program.

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EXTERIORS

Spotlighting Landscapes Cast Your Home in a New Light

by ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH

A

n element of imagination, of whimsy, of love of nature can inspire homeowners to add spotlights to their residential landscapes.

“The whole idea of lighting is to bounce off something, find the focus,” said Rene Weston, owner of Executive Landscaping Inc. in Pensacola.

“Technology has changed everything. Controllers that operate on cell phones have made all the difference.”

What is the best outside feature of your home’s outdoor spaces? Is it the trio of palms near the front door or the canal out back? What features would you most like to showcase? Outdoor lighting can:

The house color, setting and type of landscaping all play a part in the best design. Spotlighting your landscape can be year-round, weekly or seasonal.

“Evergreens are striking with blue lights that embolden the green,” said Jeff Dross, corporate director of education and industry trends at Kichler, a Cleveland, Ohio-based leader in indoor and outdoor lighting.

If a house is brick or stucco, he said, warm lights look best because too white tends to look “clinical.”

Different sizes of beams and types of lighting can be used to great effect. Weston prefers a narrow beam to highlight crepe myrtles and a broader beam for oaks.

Cross-lighting from the right and left provides dimensionality and depth. One fixture can illuminate several focal points in multiple directions.

Safety, too, is a consideration. Make sure paths and deck stairs are well-lighted. Most path or spread lights are 18 or 24 inches tall and best ››

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISTA PRO

▪ Be directed from the bases of trees into their crowns; ▪ Add glow to pools and fire pits; ▪ Illuminate paths or stairs; and ▪ Provide a moonlight effect when lights are mounted high in trees and shine down.

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Top, palm trees lend themselves to dramatic lighting treatments. Right, the use of color can be an important consideration.

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▪ A designer who does lighting installation exclusively, ▪ A landscape company that installs lights, or ▪ An irrigation expert who also does light installation.

Whomever you hire should have a plan or design and should look at your property at night, as well as get the view from inside the house and from the street or sidewalk.

“We take a variety of lights to houses at night so homeowners can see what they like,” Weston said. “Generally, I like the cool colors, but it is up to the homeowner.”

Spotlighting not only lets you highlight desirable features but it also helps you downplay less desirable features, drawing your eye away from the neighbor’s garage, for example. If your living room window overlooks three acres of woods, spotlights can enhance the scenery, Dross said.

Home supply stores have low-voltage LED lights of varying sizes to illuminate small narrow trees. For larger jobs, Dross and Weston both recommend hiring professionals, given the components, ladders, wires, cables, controllers and installation know-how that would be involved.

Weston said, “It is really cool what we are able to do with outdoor lighting.” EC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISTA PRO

Meadows Lawn Service

placed at intersections of pathways and at the top and base of stairs.

You don’t want to trip over the light fixtures or have the lawn mower run over them.

Dross suggests you hire a professional landscape lighting designer who falls into one of these categories:

THANK YOU FOR VOTING

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LOOKING FOR SOME COLOR? SCORE WITH MUMS.

By AUDREY POST, MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

C

hrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) make it easy to punch up the color in your fall landscape.

Generally known as mums, these easy perennials are available in garden centers this time of year in an array of colors and varying sizes.

Some mums have a single flower form that resembles a daisy. Others have a more “pompon” or rounded look. Make sure you select “garden mums,” which tolerate cold better than “florist mums.” Choose a healthy plant that’s full of buds.

Although they prefer full sun, mums will perform quite nicely with partial-day sun. Plant in a well-drained site, apply slow-release fertilizer and water well. Mums are especially striking if planted en masse. Or, plant mums in attractive containers to brighten a shady spot. If you have two pots, you can rotate them between shady and sunny sites for optimum health and appearance.

In early- to mid-summer, pinch back the growing tips regularly to promote full, rounded growth. If the wet summer we’ve had produced a growth spurt for your mums that left you with leggy plants, don’t despair. Shear your mums into the rounded shape you want; these are tough plants, and they’ll rebound.

Removing spent blooms, also known as “dead-heading,” will encourage reblooming.

Since prime mum blooming season coincides with college football season, gardeners’ team loyalties are often evident in their choices of mum colors. (True confession: Ms. Grow-ItAll has a fondness for gold and deep burgundy mums — close enough to garnet to work.)

Once a frost or freeze has knocked your mums back, don’t prune them, which sends a signal to start growing again. Instead, pick off the dead stems and flowers and mulch the crown of the plant well.

Dragonflies Science Nation calls dragonflies “the flying aces of the insect world.” Maybe it’s their huge, multifaceted eyes that give them almost 360-degree vision. Or maybe it’s the two pairs of transparent wings that evoke memories of old bi-planes. Whatever the reason, these strong and agile fliers date to prehistoric times. Adonata Anisoptera often have patches of color and are sometimes mistaken for their cousin damselflies (Zygoptera), which look similar but are smaller. Dragonflies move in a swift, agile manner; Dragonfly damselflies have a weaker, more fluttery style.

Dragonflies live most of their lives under water. Nymphs or “naiads” may remain in this larval state for several years. Their time as adult fliers can be as short as a few weeks or as long as a year, but they make the most it, catching mosquitoes in flight and devouring them. A single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes per day.

They return to the water to lay their eggs, but shrinking habitats have cut their numbers. To attract dragonflies to your garden, add a small pond or water feature with a section of smooth water, vertical plant stems and sunlight at least part of the day.

Critters

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Your Monthly Garden Chores OCTOBER

➸ Buy spring-flowering bulbs that

require chill time and get them into a refrigerator. Tulips and hyacinths are treated like annuals in our area because they won’t come back, but they still need to chill for six to eight weeks before planting.

➸ Continue planting

seeds for fall vegetables weekly, to ensure a long crop season.

➸ Root-prune any small trees or

shrubs you plan to move in spring.

Using a spade, cut down about a foot all the way around the tree or shrub, forming a circle 2 or 3 feet out from the plant. This will encourage new root growth over the winter, which will help it settle in faster when moved.

NOVEMBER

➸ Plant cool-

season annuals for fall and winter color in the flower bed. Petunias, pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, violas and ornamental kales and cabbages are all good choices.

➸ Plant trees. Make sure you take the mature size the tree will reach as well as its drainage needs into account as you select a location.

Keep it well watered through the dry season. ➸ Sow seeds of spring-flowering annuals, such as poppies, larkspur and bachelor’s buttons. Sow them across the soil, rake them in. Keep moist until the seeds sprout and the plants are established. They’ll continue to grow slowly until late winter/early spring, when they’ll take off on a growth spurt.

© 2018 Postscript Publishing, LLC, 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-ItAll® is a registered trademark of Postscript Publishing.

PHOTOS BY DZURAG (MUMS), VNLIT (DRAGONFLY), KSENA32 (SNAPDRAGONS), CHENGYUZHENG (OKRA) / GETTYIMAGES PLUS

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DEAL ESTATE

SECOND HOME

Historic, Private Colonial Belle on 70 Acres This recently renovated and distinctive 1863 plantation home is ideal for a buyer who loves the country.

by RACHEL SMITH

High atop the hills and sitting on 70 acres, Tallaway’s beauty can be seen from the moment you enter its private gates and travel down its canopy oak drive. This historic 1863 plantation-style home, built by one of the first members of the Florida Legislature, was carefully restored in 2017. It boasts many historic and modern features, including handmilled wood floors, custom woodwork, 12-foot ceilings, a spacious floor plan, a covered porch designed for easy entertaining and a sunroom privately situated to take in the view along with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. A new fourcar covered garage with workshop is near established blueberry bushes, pear trees, fig trees, heirloom grapevines and camellia gardens. The property is fenced and includes a three-stall horse barn, a separate hay barn and a camp house conveniently situated amid 20 acres of planted pines, a pasture, a dove field, deer plots, a duck pond and trails.

LIST PRICE: $699,900 ADDRESS: 3496 High Bridge Road, Quincy SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,648 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 3.5 YEAR BUILT: 1863

APPEAL: “The finishes that were chosen during this historic home’s renovation are absolutely stunning. As soon as you turn into the property and go through the wrought iron gates and down the canopy drive, you know you’re in for a treat. As much as I’m excited about the exterior curb appeal and the fact that the house looks like it was taken out of a scene from ‘Gone with the Wind,’ I love the awesome surprise of finding a top-of-theline commercial-grade kitchen and à la mode, spa-like bathrooms in this plantation home built during the Civil War. It’s truly Old World and New World combined. That’s what makes this property unique, and I cannot wait for the new owner to thoroughly enjoy it.”

CONTACT INFORMATION: Bruce Foster, Your Realtor® for Life…, (850) 386-6160 Jason Boone, Realtor, (850) 545-0186 ColdwellBankerTallahassee.com.

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PHOTOS BY WADE BISHOP WITH 323 MEDIA GROUP

FEATURES: Gourmet kitchen with a butler’s pantry and side porch; downstairs master suite with dressing room, custom-built shower and claw foot tub; hunting room with side entrance; four wood burning fireplaces; separate dining and living rooms; plantation shutters throughout; an upstairs sunroom; hand-milled wood floors; custom woodwork; 12-foot ceilings; a spacious floor plan; covered porch; four-car covered garage; workshop; fenced; three-stall horse barn; camp house and 70 acres.

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BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST →

PHOTOS BY RACHEL SMITH (BEST OF EC) AND COURTESY OF LAND · AIR · SEA PRODUCTIONS (BLOODY MARY FESTIVAL), WAKULLA COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (MONARCH BUTTERFLIES) AND SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (BEER FESTIVAL) AND DCWAF (HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL)

2018 Harvest Wine & Food Festival

Labeled as one of the premier fall wine events in the Southeast, the Harvest Wine & Food Festival showcases over 400 wines paired with food stations designed to highlight the best in Gulf Coast fare. Each event during the three-day festival is tailored to fit the different tastes and preferences of wine and food aficionados. Enjoy a special event each day, including Celebrity Winemaker Dinners on the 25th, Al Fresco Reserve Tasting on the 26th, Grand Tasting on the 27th and a silent auction spanning all three days. Visit dcwaf.org/events for more information.

For more events in the EC, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com and 850tix.com

OCTOBER 20

OCTOBER 25-27

Harvest Wine & Food Festival, produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), will be October 25–27. This lavish event provides attendees the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections while enjoying the iconic beach town of WaterColor.

OCT/NOV 2018

Taste, sip and experience the Best of the Emerald Coast at our 19th annual event, which showcases the businesses that our community awarded with “Best of” honors. The public is invited to an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment, all to benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. The fun starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 the week of the event.

VIP passes are $100 in advance, $115 the week of the event.

To purchase tickets or for more information visit, emeraldcoastmagazine.com/bestofec

OCTOBER 12-13

Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival

→ Known as the “Best Beer Fest on the Coast,” this popular event features more than 200 craft beers, on-site craft brewers, samplings, live music and more at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.

Beer aficionados will be able to sample domestic and international options, including specialty, seasonal and not-yet-released beers.

Visit baytownebeerfestival.com for more information.

OCTOBER 27

MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL → Established by the Wakulla County Tourism Development Council, this festival allows wildlife seekers to watch the migrating monarch butterfly as it passes through Wakulla County and the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The festival includes numerous wildlife exhibits and nature-based educational demonstrations.

OCTOBER 6

THE MARKET SHOPS BLOODY MARY FESTIVAL →

The Market Shops, located at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, hosts its fourth annual Bloody Mary Festival, which benefits Habitat for Humanity of Walton County. The event runs from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and will feature unlimited tastes of the Emerald Coast’s most creative bloody marys made with Cathead Vodka. A panel of food critics and local celebrities will judge each bloody mary and select the winners, and event-goers will have their say with the People’s Choice Award. There will also be food from local restaurants, craft local brews from Grayton Beer Company, champagne provided at the Bubbly Bar, live music by the Luke Langford Band, a commemorative photo booth, cigar bar and exclusive shopping options from the merchants of The Market Shops.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

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OCTOBER 25

Savor the Season

FALL

OLD SCHOOL FSU TAILGATES

For more information, visit thfsavortheseason.org.

→ Going to Tallahassee for FSU

football games this fall? Old School Society is a semi-private club comprised of Florida State alumni and fans that come together each home football game to commemorate the heritage and tradition of their beloved Seminoles. Old School provides a first-class, resort-style atmosphere less than a mile from Doak Campbell Stadium.

Their private pre- and postgame tailgates last 7–9 hours and include live entertainment, catering from the area’s finest restaurants, open bar, shuttle service to and from the stadium, private cabanas with bottle service, appearances from former players — and much more.

OCTOBER 27-28

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS → Foo Foo Fest is a 12-day celebration of culturally creative happenings, events and moments under one banner, attracting visitors to beautiful Pensacola. Foo Foo Fest is big fun, with events of high artistic and cultural caliber, delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication.

→ One of the Southeast’s premier art festivals, this two-day signature event features art exhibits of nearly 200 artists (including the juried and collaborative exhibit) from 13 states, each showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 22 art mediums.

For more information on specific festival events, times and locations, visit foofoofest.com.

For more information, visit mattiekellyartsfoundation.org.

NOVEMBER 1-12

Foo Foo Festival

Go to 850tix.com and secure your tailgate tickets for the season ahead.

NOVEMBER 8

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE EMERALD COAST’S FIFTH ANNUAL STAKE AND BURGER DINNER → Join the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast for their 2018 Stake and Burger

Dinner, featuring club alumnus Hulk Hogan as keynote speaker. Formerly known as the “Stake and Steak Dinner,” the BGEC is throwing it back this year to the event’s original name in honor of their 50th anniversary on the Emerald Coast.

Tickets are available at 850tix.com/events/2018-stake-and-burger-dinner. The event is taking place at the Hilton Sandestin from 6-9 p.m. with a VIP reception from 5-6:30 p.m.

PROMOTION

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZANDRA WOLFGRAM (MKAF), BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA (HULK HOGAN), TAYLOR HAUGEN FOUNDATION (SAVOR THE SEASON), FOO FOO FESTIVAL AND OLD SCHOOL SOCIETY

REGIONAL

→ Don’t miss the ninth annual Savor the Season fundraising event, benefiting the Taylor Haugen Foundation, at the beautiful Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village. Enjoy decadent food tastings with savory wine pairings at our annual fundraiser, which honors the legacy of Taylor while building and recognizing youth leaders and promoting youth sports safety. Make plans to be at the Emerald Coast’s premier one-night fundraising event.

DECEMBER 1 & 2, 2018 | NORTH FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS A premier, juried arts and crafts show featuring everything from fine arts to charming stocking stuffers

Williams erne LaV

Morris Joh nso n

Samples of past Market Days

850.575.8684 | MARKETDAYS.ORG

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NOVEMBER 2-3

Hangout Oyster Cook-Off → Start planning your ultimate foodie vacation as dozens of the

Southeast’s hottest restaurants converge on the Hangout Oyster Cook-Off in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama. Get your taste buds tingling with a wide selection of unique oyster dishes, learn tricks of the trade from acclaimed chefs, sample dozens of craft beers, enjoy a musical performance by country star Michael Ray and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hangoutcookoff.com.

NOVEMBER 30

Cattle Barons’ Ball

CAFE THIRTY-A CHARITY CHRISTMAS BALL

March, is set for November at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. With the change in season, this year’s event will be themed “A Cowboy Christmas.” This high-energy event will feature live entertainment by The Modern Eldorados, live and silent auctions, complimentary drinks and fancy vittles from the area’s leading restaurants and caterers.

→ Café Thirty-A presents its annual Charity

Christmas Ball, with all proceeds benefiting Caring and Sharing of South Walton. From 7–11 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy a buffet, heavy hors d’oeuvres and music by Rock the House, and guests can commemorate the evening in the photo booth. Dress is black tie optional, and there will be a cash bar.

A limited number of Baron and Rancher table sponsorships are available at multiple levels, as well as individual tickets at $200. Additional sponsorships are still available for businesses and individuals interested in supporting the cause. All proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society.

For further information, please contact Laura Dennis by calling (850) 512-4440, or email inquiries to laura.dennis@cancer.org.

For more information, visit 850tix.com.

REGIONAL

DECEMBER 12

Opening Nights Join The Barefoot Movement → Sit back, relax, kick your shoes off and

stay a while as Nashville-based bluegrass band The Barefoot Movement performs classic holiday favorites. It’s the perfect way to begin the holiday season. Supported by the St. Joe Community Foundation, this holiday performance is free for the community. Join us at 7 p.m. at the Holley Academic Center at FSU’s Panama City campus.

For more info, contact: rkelly@pc.fsu.edu.

DECEMBER 6-23

Emerald Coast Theatre Company Presents

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY BY JOE LANDRY This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940’s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings dozens of characters to the stage — plus live, on-stage sound effects — the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds one fateful Christmas Eve as he considers a world in which he’d never been born.

DECEMBER 18

PANAMA CITY POPS ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY BY THE BAY → Treat the entire family to classic holiday favorites and

joyous Christmas carols — and maybe an early visitor from the North Pole. It’s The POPS’ first-ever Christmas concert on Panama City’s Marina Civic Center stage! Share the spirit of the season, and don’t miss the first ever POPS holiday concert on the Marina Civic Center stage. All tickets $10.

For more info,visit PanamaCityPOPS.org or call (850) 785-POPS (7677).

Visit EmeraldCoastTheatre.org or call (850) 684-0323 for more information.

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KHAIT/OPENING NIGHTS AND LENTA/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS AND COURTESY OF MICHAEL CAGE (CATTLE BARON’S BALL), COREY TUCKER (EC THEATRE COMPANY), HANGOUT OYSTER COOK-OFF AND CAFE THIRTY-A

DECEMBER 7

→ The Cattle Barons’ Ball, formerly held in

DESTIN FISHING RODEO

STRUMMIN’ MAN UKULELE FESTIVAL

include the Ukulele Orchestra of St. Andrews and Southern Sunday.

OCT. 1–31

OCT. 12-14

The Destin Fishing Rodeo, held each October, features nightly weigh-ins held at the docks behind A.J.’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. All manner of fish are brought to the scales where the inimitable weighmaster Bruce Cheves presides. All events are free, familyfriendly and open to the public.

Love the unique sounds of a ukulele? The second annual Strummin’ Man festival is the place for you. Held at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, this event celebrates the wonderful uniqueness of the ukulele through workshops, concerts and local ukulele groups.

grandlagoon.com/events/ bloody-mary-music-festival

PEAT AND PEARLS OCT. 4–7 Celebrate the history of Pensacola and top off your Foo Foo Festival experience with an iconic duo — oysters and scotch. Festival-goers will enjoy scotch tastings from William Grant & Sons, cocktails by the Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, live music, chef demos, a cigar garden and a variety of oysters prepared by some of the South’s best chefs. peatandpearls.com

PIRATES OF THE HIGH SEAS FEST OCT. 5-7 Argh! Throughout Columbus Day weekend, pirates will invade Panama City Beach for a weekend of activities including a main parade, a kids parade, scavenger hunts, a water battle, a pirate invasion, live music, food vendors, fireworks and more.

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com

FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK IN SEASIDE OCT. 5 & NOV. 2 Sip, stroll and enjoy the works of talented local artists as the galleries and shops at Ruskin Place and Central Square stay open late on the first Friday of every month. Listen to live music and drink and dine at nearby restaurants. sowal.com

FALL JUNK FEST 2018 OCT. 13 Shop ’til you drop for most everything under the sun at the annual Fall Junk Fest in Fort Walton Beach.

Items for sale include antiques, furniture, jewelry, vintage decor and handmade items. Buy from over 100 vendors, listen to live music and enjoy grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.

PANAMA CITY POPS ORCHESTRA OCT. 13 The POPS meets Southern Rock ’n’ Blues on stage for a rousing night in SweetBay’s beautiful Academy Square Park!

POPS bassist and former Allman Brothers Band member David Goldflies, and Gary Allman, a Southern man in his own right, and their band are set to play Southern rock and modern blues like you’ve never heard … all backed up by the POPS Orchestra! panamacitypops.org

BLOODY MARY & MUSIC FESTIVAL OCT. 20 In this third annual festival, 20 local businesses will compete at Schooners Last Local Beach Club to determine who makes the best bloody mary on the beach. The winner will be crowned the “Big Tomato” and will be awarded a 4-foot, tomato-topped trophy to keep until next year. Musical guests

OCT. 20-21, 26-27 Pick out the perfect pumpkin at the eighth annual Pumpkin and Music Festival hosted

by Arnett’s Gulfside Farm and Stables. This event offers festivities of fall including pumpkin patches, hayrides, pony rides, bounce houses, fall treats and live music throughout the day.

November 17th & 18th

Songs and Stories Over 70 Songwriters Downtown Panama City

arnettfarm30a.com

Multiple Venues - Multiple Artists

THUNDER BEACH MOTORCYCLE RALLY

Tickets Available At www.PCSONGWRITERS.com

OCT. 24-28 Rev your engines for what’s known as “The Most Biker Friendly Free Rally in the United States.” The rally is held twice a year in Panama City Beach in May and October and invites bikers from around the country to enjoy beautiful rides along the Emerald Coast.

Entertainment and local cuisine will be featured at a host of participating biker-friendly businesses.

10

TONY AWARD

®

NOMINATIONS INCLUDING

BEST MUSICAL

Thunderbeachproductions.com

BARKTOBERFEST OCT. 25 While the event is at Grand Boulevard and not Germany, it does celebrate all things dog!

This fall festival for pups is presented by DogHarmony and offers treats for those with two and four legs. sowal.com

AUTOS & OYSTERS AUTO SHOW OCT. 27 Apalachicola will host an impressive collection of classic cars. Enjoy the free car show, the car judging, entertainment and, of course, a selection of fresh oysters, all on historic Water Street.

Downtownapalachicola.com

PHOTO © JEREMY DANIEL

Destinfishingrodeo.org

standrewsukes.org

PUMPKIN AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Tickets : $47 Call or Click for Tickets: (850) 729-6000 or

November 20, 2018 7:30 p.m. | Mainstage Mattie Kelly Arts Center

www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org 1 0 0 C O L L E G E B O U L E VA R D E A S T | N I C E V I L L E , F L 3 2 5 7 8 Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit www.nwfsc.edu.

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F ing

OCT/NOV FEB/MAR2018 2018

HALLOWEEN ON THE BOOLEVARD

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OCT. 31

850-837-1979

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Bring your little ghouls, goblins, ghosts and princesses to trick or treat throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

Grandboulevard.com

TRICK OR TREAT STREET OCT. 31 Veterinary Practice

Caring Hearts & Caring Hands Dr. Kelly Haeusler | Dr. Misha Ratcliff Dr. Victoria Lyon | Dr. Kate Hardin and Staff

900 Airport Road | Destin, FL 32541 (850) 837-3227

THANK YOU for voting Donna Rizzuto, RN of Gulf Coast Facial Plastics BEST AESTHETICIAN

Calling all trick or treaters to The Village of Baytowne Wharf for a spooktacular extravaganza! This Halloween, trick or treat along Village streets and visit merchants for your favorite treat. A DJ will play frighteningly good tunes on the main stage. Face painting and balloon artists will be on hand. End the night with a spooky fireworks display. baytownewharf.com

BLUE ANGELS VETERANS DAY WEEKEND AIR SHOW NOV. 2-3

850-784-7722 (EXT. 117) • gulfcoastfacialplastics.com

The 2018 NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show will be held during Veterans Day weekend, when the Blue Angels close out the season after performing over 70 shows. For two days, experience the excitement of watching the precision maneuvers of the U.S. Navy’s elite flight-demonstration squadron. Head to the Gulfside Pavilion in Pensacola for a great view of the aerial action. naspensacolaairshow.com

THANK YOU for voting us Best Homeowner’s Association kellyplantation.com | (850) 654-9860

Professionally managed by

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EMERALD COAST CRUIZIN’

hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and classics.

The schedule of events includes cruise-ins, car vendors, concerts, parades and food.

Emeraldcoastcruizin.com

ENTRECON NOV. 14-15 The Studer Community Institute presents EntreCon 2018, a conference that welcomes hundreds of leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners and local professionals to two days of workshops, speakers and networking opportunities.

Entreconpensacola.com

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS TOUR NOV. 14 Get in the holiday spirit with one of America’s favorite, long-running holiday productions as the Saenger Theatre brings Mannheim Steamroller to its stage.

The spirit of the season will be brought to life through their signature sound. pensacolasaenger.com

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF PANAMA CITY BEACH HOLLY FAIR NOV. 15 -18 Deck your halls with boughs of holly and other home goods available at the Holly Fair presented by the Junior League of Panama City Beach.

This holiday tradition helps to fund the many community projects of the League. Over 90 vendors will be selling apparel, jewelry, crafts and more. jlpanamacity.org/holly_ fair?nd=holly_fair

FESTIVAL OF TREES

NOV. 7-10

NOV. 20

Car enthusiasts, cruise on over to an event that is all about classic, stylish cars. View thousands of

The Festival of Trees, held annually in Grand Park, showcases Christmas trees

decadently and creatively decorated by 12 local, nonprofits. The trees debut the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and remain in the park through Christmas for the public to enjoy.

Stop by and learn more about the missions of these organizations.

Grandboulevard.com

THANKSGIVING FEAST AT HARBOR DOCKS NOV. 22 Dine at Harbor Docks on this food filled holiday. Their 22 Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast is free and open to the public, featuring all the fixings. Donations will be accepted with proceeds benefiting Okaloosa Habitat and Destin Harvest projects.

Harbordocks.com

BEACH HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS NOV. 23-25 Begin the holiday season right on Thanksgiving weekend, as Panama City Beach’s Home for the Holidays celebration offers activities including carol-themed concerts, s'mores, a Christmas tree lighting, an appearance by Santa and activities for the kids. visitpanamacitybeach.com/ holidays

PANAMA CITY BEACH MARATHON DEC. 1 Run through paradise.

Regardless of whether you choose the marathon, halfmarathon, 5K or kids’ fun run, the scenic Gulf of Mexico will make your run memorable every step of the way. pcbmarathon.com

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

1

JUNE 19-24

The 16th annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, presented by Wind Creek Casino & Hotel–Atmore, featured multiple broken records and boasted 91 boats that arrived from across the Gulf Coast for a week’s worth of food, fun and entertainment at Baytowne Marina. This year’s event also featured the largest purse to date of over $2 million, making the ECBC “The Richest Offshore Fishing Tournament on the Gulf Coast.” Planning is underway for the 2019 ECBC, June 18–23, with plans being made for Wind Creek Casino & Hotel–Atmore to return as presenting sponsor.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JASON ELLIS/8 FIFTY PRODUCTIONS

1 Angler Brad Holmes and his crew 3 Marlin from You Never Know 4 Glassy Hooker 5 Galati Yacht Sales 92EB Show Boat

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Pensacola ’Bama Club 2018 Scholarship Kickoff AUG. 21 The Pensacola ’Bama Club hosted its 2018 Scholarship Kickoff with Eli Gold in the gymnasium of Pensacola State College. “The voice of the Crimson Tide,” Gold is best known as the radio play-by-play announcer of the University of Alabama football and basketball teams. His responsibilities with the Tide also included hosting “Hey Coach,” the weekly football and basketball coach’s radio call-in show. The event included a Q & A with Gold, dinner, non-alcoholic drinks and live and silent auctions. All monies raised during the event went to the chapter’s Endowment Scholarship Fund.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAKENNA CURTIS

1 Sabrina McLaughlin and Eli Gold 2 David Lenn, Ken Simpler and Dan Thomas 3 Susie Alegeris and Lucille Stamps 4 Goldring Gulf Distributing

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Rooted in tradition.

Crafted with pride.

Inspired to innovate.

HAVE AN EVENT THAT NEEDS TICKETING AND MARKETING? Call Brian Rowland at (850) 878-0554 or visit 850Tix.com to learn more.

LOCAL TICKETS. ONE PLACE. 850Tix is your source for local events across Northwest Florida.

From the same trusted award-winning team that has published Emerald Coast Magazine for more than 10 years, our goal is to promote the community our readers know and love. From festivals and tours to sports and the arts, the event choices in Northwest Florida are endless and all on 850Tix.com.

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postscript

IT’S NOT ROCKET SURGERY

ROAD TRIP

Traveling always has its own set of baggage

by GARY YORDON

Mountain Grove is a quaint little town of 4,623. It’s home to businesses including Dr. Todd’s Dental Office, Bushwackers Hair Salon, I Do Interior Painting and Soggy Bottom Plumbing. But after studying the local motel selection, I found myself Googling “Bates” to see if there were one nearby as an alternative.

We finally decided that the better bet was to see what was available in the thriving metropolis of Cabool, just nine miles up the road. After all, we reasoned, Cabool has a winery, so it must have a couple of interesting places to stay. (Nothing says flamboyant like a good Midwestern wine, that buttery smooth marriage of wild berries and oak with just a hint of badger.)

After reviewing the two lodging options in Cabool, we chose the America’s Best Motel.

They had two non-smoking rooms, one with a

king-size bed and the other with two doubles.

The king was taken. We compromised.

When your confirmation number is 68, it sets you to thinking. It can’t possibly be the total number of rooms they’ve rented, can it?

Did they reach 1,000 and decide to start over?

Are they just picking numbers like a bingo barker? Maybe everybody gets 68. I’ll let you know if we make it out of Cabool.

Will we find ourselves embracing our fourday adventure? Will we find that America’s roads are still home to eclectic markets selling Bowie knives and macramé plant holders? Or will this be a 70-mph trek into the flyover zone slowed only by road construction traffic jams?

Maybe we should just hop a plane instead and spend the time saved sipping fine wine at the Cabool Country Club and getting a bouffant at Bushwackers.

It’s a close call. EC

Gary Yordon is president of the Zachary Group in Tallahassee, hosts a political television show, “The Usual Suspects,” and contributes columns to the city’s daily newspaper, the Tallahassee Democrat. He may be reached at gary@zgroup.com.

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ILLUSTRATION BY PICKBIZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS AND PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY YORDON

I

’m considering all the cool stops we could make on a cross-country road trip: seeing the four-legged lady, the man with the lion’s face and the world’s biggest bag of hair. And that’s just our family — imagine what else is out there.

For me, a real road trip includes at least five states. We can’t remember the last time we took a real road trip — just the two of us in a car full of music, not knowing what’s around the bend, but excited to find out. The romance of a road trip is enough to cloud the reality.

It’s easy to forget the boys in the backseat drawing the imaginary lines marking their territories, and the inevitable battles that developed when one would cross into the demilitarized zone. The I-have-to-pee moments. The “Dad, I think the pecan log made me sick” stops. One trip got so bad that I stopped the car, got out and started walking back to Florida. We were in Tennessee.

We tend to remember the laughs, the bonding and all the vistas along the way. So now, 20 years later and with the kids gone, Berneice and I are considering packing up the car and driving one another crazy.

So, here’s the trip. Our friends John and Liz are gaining a son-in-law in their hometown of Mountain Grove, Missouri. We helped raise their daughter, Riley, and there is no way we’re going to miss this wedding.

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Grayton Beach Luxurious Coastal Living awaits in this 6-bedroom Grayton Beach Home just steps away from the sugar-white sands of the Emerald Coast.

This home was recently remodeled in May 2018, including re-plastering the pool and new pool deck, sanding and refinishing all floors, and completely rebuilding the kitchen with custom built cabinets, a custom built island, dual dishwashers, and many more exquisite features. The entryway is framed by a private courtyard featuring a heated pool and cabana, complete with its own wet bar. The central living space and the master bedroom boast sprawling views of the Gulf of Mexico. The home’s lower level features a bunk room and four additional bedrooms.

31 Lupine Road

2,339,000

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Eric Hanson

Realtor (850) 502-3742 erichanson.realtor@gmail.com eric.searchdestin30arealestate.com

Sides Moreno Point West Get sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico, East Pass, Choctawhatchee Bay, and Crab Island from the balcony of this freshly-updated penthouse unit. The spacious interior includes a wet bar, custom lighting, 10’ ceilings, granite countertops, top-quality real wood veneer flooring, and brand new bedroom carpets. Cook a gourmet meal in the chef’s kitchen equipped with a copper ‘’farmhouse’’ sink, large island with cooktop, and all stainless steel appliances. There are plenty of upgrade finishes throughout, including expansive walk-in closets off the bedrooms and luxurious master-bath features. In addition to the unit, there is a private marina on-site with 35’ slips available for sale to those interested.

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1,200,000

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www.BHHSPenFed.com | (850) 267-0013 7684 W County Highway 30A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL ©2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. Real Estate Brokerage Services are offered through the network member franchisees of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Most franchisees are independently owned and operated.

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