Tallahassee Magazine March - April 2019

SEASON FOR SNEEZIN’

What makes Tallahassee such a challenging place for allergy sufferers

Northwest Florida Weddings 2019: Places, ideas, trends and more

Place toBee

Capital City swarms with beekeepers of all ages

HIGH ON THE HOGS

Former Jefferson County commissioner raises a rare breed of pig

STYLE WITH A SMILE

Realtor and former model Calynne Hill offers fashion tips from head to toe

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

3

Elegance is an attitude Simon Baker

850-893-4171 4

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

The Longines Master Collection TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

5

An Oppenheim Signature Smile...

Confident, healthy, attractive.

It's the way you want to look and feel.

Dr. Oppenheim’s smile designs and dental artistry have won ten Gold Medals in International Dentistry Competitions.

Of over 8000 AACD members worldwide, Dr. Oppenheim is one of only 69 dentists who has achieved the exclusive level of Accredited Fellow.

Before

Experience the transformation with a smile designed by Dr. Thomas Oppenheim.

His patients have appeared on the cover of the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry an unprecedented eight times.

WWW.SIGNATURESMILES.COM

Sarah, actual patient of Dr. Oppenheim .

CALL: (229) 226-1631

207 East Jackson Street, Thomasville, GA 31792

6

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Contents

MAR/APR 2019

FEATURES

70 BEEKEEPING

Tallahassee has become a honey of a place to keep bees, and here’s why so many Capital City residents have gotten the bug.

by PETE REINWALD

78



HOG HEAVEN

Former Jefferson County Commissioner Hines Boyd brings home the bacon.

by LAZARO ALEMAN

photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

7

Contents

MAR/APR 2019

58 104 INTERIORS Give your

home office a colorful recharge.

114 NEIGHBORHOODS

43

21 FROM TALLAHASSEE

24 CHAMPIONS

Katie Campbell is making a name for herself in Southern California.

Tallahassee’s DivvyUp makes giving to the homeless part of its mission.

30 EDUCATION

Tallahassee Magazine’s digital editor reflects on how the threat of gun violence affected her high school experience.

34 HEALTH & FITNESS

What makes the Capital City an allergy capital to many.

38 PETS The beauty of

foster parenting for the Leon County Humane Society.

8

March–April 2019

IN EVERY ISSUE

PANACHE

43 CITIZENS OF STYLE

Calynne Hill maintains a fun and fancy sense of fashion.

38

48 HIS & HERS

Try on these ideas in eco-friendly sustainable fashion.

60 DINING IN Ideas on

92 ART Kollet Nichole

64 DINING FARTHER OUT

96 FILM An electronic

how to shop and what to make on a glutenfree diet.

52 WHAT’S IN STORE

A place to get quirky, cool vintage and handcrafted goods.

GASTRO & GUSTO 55 LIBATIONS The

Fox & Stag might make you want to miss your plane.

85 MUSIC The Word

of South festival returns for another celebration of lyrics and prose.

58 DINING OUT The

owners of Cypress Restaurant have new things cooking.

110

88 BOOKS Tallahassee

GARDENING Use plants to give pests the boot.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Writers Association keeps those novels coming.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER EDITOR’S LETTER SOCIAL STUDIES DINING GUIDE POSTSCRIPT

Probst: “Murals are my passion.”

music wizard will headline the Tallahassee Film Festival.

A South African eatery that sounds like home.

EXPRESSION

14 16 153 253 258

ABODES

101 EXTERIORS Want to stay cool? How about a pool?

Season for Sneezin’

What makes Tallahassee such a terrible place for allergy sufferers

High on the Hogs

Former Jefferson County commissioner raises a rare breed of pig

Style with a Smile

Realtor and former model Calynne Hill offers fashion tips from head to toe

Northwest Florida Weddings 2019: Places, ideas, trends and more

Place toBee

Capital City swarms with beekeepers of all ages

ON THE COVER:

Via a photo illustration, beekeeper Rick Flagg, a longtime Tallahassee radio journalist, gets a close-up look at one of the little creatures that he has come to embrace — figuratively, of course. Photo by Saige Roberts

PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE (43), SAIGE ROBERTS (58), JOHN HARRINGTON (38) AND ZAKHAROVA_NATALIA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (110)

323

To residents, Betton Hills is “a walk down a quiet road.”

HONORING OUR DONORS

G R A C E

D A N S B Y

Grace H. Dansby Helipad When critically ill or injured patients arrive at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), seconds count. Grace’s generosity provided a new helipad that greatly reduces the time it takes to transport patients from a helicopter into the hospital for treatment. She served as Vice Chair of the TMH Board of Directors and later on the Foundation Board of Trustees for more than a decade. She is the co-founder of the Golden Gala.

What makes this gift meaningful to you?

Shortly after Hurricane Michael, I read in the newspaper that people from all over the region who were sick or had injuries related to the storm were brought to TMH. It was touching to know that the helipad was being used to help these people in a time of crisis.

Why do you support the TMH Foundation?

The hospital is something we all use and can be thankful for.

We don’t have to leave town; we’ve got excellent healthcare right here at home. I always support the (Tallahassee Memorial Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center). I was delighted because the helipad is related to that.

What motivates you to give?

I’m a child of the Depression. Sharing was part of survival.

We were taught to think about others and how we could help. I give and share because I love to do it. Maya Angelou said, “Make a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

At age 92, you’re still making an impact in your community. What keeps you going?

I feel good. God’s been good to me, and I am very fortunate that I’ve been able to give back. My Alpha Gamma Delta sorority’s motto is, “Live with purpose.”

How does it feel to know that the Golden Gala continues as the Foundation’s major fundraiser?

It’s special. It’s not just a fundraiser. The thing that I look back on over the years is the camaraderie that we have at the Gala, the fellowship we share, visiting with old friends. It’s a great feeling. Everybody wants to be there.

“ If giving comes from the heart, nothing is impossible.“ TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

TA L L A H A S S E E M E M O R I A L H E A LT H C A R E F O U N DAT I O N

March–April 2019

9

Contents

PROMOTION

MAR/APR 2019

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

94 OPENING NIGHTS

98

IDY CODINGTON, COUNCIL ON CULTURE & ARTS

↑ NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS Wedding bells are ringing and love birds are singing with the special

inclusion of the 2019 issue of Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine. Read up on tips and trends, browse beautiful images and inform yourself on the best wedding vendors of the region.

137

Ballerina and dance instructor Idy shares her favorite music, her creative process and more.

118

DEAL ESTATE View three distinctly beautiful justsold homes from prominent neighborhoods throughout Tallahassee. A pristine palace in Live Oak Plantation, a stately stunner in Golden Eagle Plantation and an immaculate estate in northeast Tallahassee.

→ SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE It’s the most wonderful time of the year — Springtime Tallahassee! View the schedule of events, meet the krewes and check out the thrilling lineup of performances and activities.

127

← FORGOTTEN COAST MAP

Our illustrated map orients you to a historic and picturesque region of the Gulf Coast that shies from the spotlight.

130 CALENDAR

With Springtime Tallahassee, TMH Golden Gala, Red Hills International Horse Trials, TMH Foundation Tennis Challenger, Leon Heart Ball, concerts and festivals galore, March and April present a jam-packed calendar of events.

NEXT ISSUE Spring Gift Guide ◆ ‘Best of’Ballot ◆ Professional Profiles 10

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY (161), DAVE BARFIELD (137), SHORE FIRE MEDIA (94) AND COURTESY OF ERICA THALER; COUNCIL ON CULTURE & ARTS (98)

161

Rosanne Cash will perform her sentimental and stunning latest album, “She Remembers Everything,” during her Opening Nights performance on April 27. Learn about this singer/ songwriter’s inspirations, introspections and what makes her smile.

You spent the time. Now take the time.

Synovus Private Wealth Management It’s time you enjoy the success you’ve earned.

Our experienced Private Wealth Management team stands ready to create a customized, comprehensive plan designed to make the most of your long-term financial future. Here, you are supported by a personal Private Wealth Advisor and dedicated specialists in investment management, banking solutions, financial planning, trust and estate services and risk management. Let’s get started today.

1-888-SYNOVUS | synovus.com

Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc., Synovus Trust Company, N.A., GLOBALT Investments, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Synovus Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp and an affiliate of Synovus Bank. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank.

NOT FDIC INSURED

NO BANK GUARANTEE

MAY LOSE VALUE

Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

11

TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE VOL. 42, NO. 2

MARCH-APRIL 2019

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL

B ridal R egistry S tationery & G ifts H ome A ccessories

Follow us @shopmft ShopMFT.com 8 5 0 - 6 8 1 - 2 8 24 · 8 0 0 - 9 8 3 - 2 26 6 1410 Market Street , C3 · Tallahassee, Florida

EDITOR Pete Reinwald MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Price STAFF WRITER Hannah Burke EDITORIAL INTERNS Jordan Anderson, Sarah Burgess CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lazaro Aleman, Janecia Britt, Marina Brown, Rosanne Dunkelberger, Pam Forrester, Elizabeth B. Goldsmith, Chay Hughes, Mackenzie Little, Natalie Kazmin, Rebecca Padgett, Kate Pierson, Audrey Post, Rob Rushin, Kati Schardl

CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut ART DIRECTOR Saige Roberts PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Burger, Lindsey Masterson, Shruti Shah GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Brummet CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Black and Hue Photography, Dave Barfield, Janecia Britt, Jeremy Cowart, Mary Curran, Lawrence Davidson, David Doll, John Harrington, Niki Hedrick, Scott Holstein, Bob O’Lary, Alicia Osborne, Bruce Palmer, Katie Reeves, Brian Rowland, Saige Roberts, Phil Sears, Justine Spells, Erica Thaler

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh Lohbeck SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATORS Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Sostre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES MaKenna Curtis, David Doll, Julie Dorr, Margaret Farris, Darla Harrison, Linda Powell MARKETING MANAGER Kate Pierson SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett SALES AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Mackenzie Little SALES AND EVENTS ASSISTANT Abby Crane INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR Charles Shelton MARKETING INTERN Deja Mattis

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Melissa Spear CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE/PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Amber Dennard RECEPTIONISTS Natalie Kazmin, Kirsten Terhofter

DIGITAL SERVICES DIGITAL EDITOR Janecia Britt DIGITAL INTERN Samantha De Oliveira TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE tallahasseemagazine.com facebook.com/tallahasseemag twitter.com/tallahasseemag instagram.com/tallahasseemag pinterest.com/tallahasseemag youtube.com/user/tallahasseemag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

EDITORIAL OFFICE 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. (850) 878-0554 SUBSCRIPTIONS One year (6 issues) is $30. Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to tallahasseemagazine.com.

Single copies are $3.95. Purchase at Barnes & Noble, Costco, Books-A-Million, Walgreens and at our Miccosukee Road office.

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

Copyright March 2019 Tallahassee Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Partners of Visit Tallahassee and Member, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

12

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

WE’RE SELLING TALLAHASSEE! SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

3891 WINDBROOK CT 9525 WOODLAND HILLS

260 ROSEHILL DR N

1497 CONSTITUTION PL

5 BR | 5/3 BA | 8,831 sf

4 BR | 4.5 BA | 6,679 sf

5 BR | 4.5 BA | 6,177 sf

4 BR | 4.5 BA | 3,984 sf

4946 GLENCASTLE DR 4 BR | 3/2 BA | 3,990 sf

$3,550,000

$1,550,000

$975,000

$756,000

$729,900

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

7339 OX BOW CIRCLE

548 HIGH OAKS CT

6618 HEARTLAND CIR 7559 PRESERVATION RD

4 BR | 3 BA | 3,627 sf

4 BR | 3 BA | 3,527 sf

4 BR | 3.5 BA | 3,239 sf

5 BR | 4.5 BA | 4,475 sf

4 BR | 4 BA | 3,023 sf

$670,000

$655,000

$645,000

$599,900

$525,000

SOLD

2110 E RANDOLPH

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

2610 MARSTON RD

2281 TRESCOTT RD

4 BR | 3.5 BA | 3,326 sf

4 BR | 3 BA | 2,540 sf

4 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,944 sf

4 BR | 3 BA | 2,858 sf

3 BR | 3 BA | 2,273 sf

$455,000

$450,000

$450,000

$439,900

$373,750

SOLD

2594 HALLECK LN

1228 CRESTVIEW AVE 321 SPRUCE CREEK DR

SOLD

735 BEARD STREET

SOLD

SOLD

Call us today for a free market evaluation of your home!

1618 HARBOR CLUB 3923 LONG & WINDING RD

3 BR | 2 BA | 1,782 sf

3 BR | 2 BA | 1,892 sf

3 BR | 2 BA | 2,068 sf

$310,000

$285,000

$245,000

Hettie Spooner (850)509-4337 Lindsay Elliott (850)545-2463 Calynne Hill (850)545-6140 2001 Thomasville Road Tallahassee, Florida 32308

HILLSPOONER.COM RANKED IN THE TOP 1% OF AGENTS FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW BY THE TALLAHASSEE BOARD OF REALTORS WITH MORE THAN $42+ MILLION IN SALES IN 2018

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

13

from the publisher

HEARTS SHINE BRIGHTLY IN AND AROUND CAPITAL CITY We’d like to pay tribute to your heart.

That all-giving organ continues to stand out as Panama City, Mexico Beach and other parts of Northwest Florida including Gadsden County try to recover — in some places all too slowly — from the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael. The storm also reached into southern Georgia and beyond.

You’ve read the stories of the human response to the hurricane, among the most intense ever to hit the United States. Neighbors, citizens, businesses and organizations near and far mobilized almost immediately in the wake of the October storm, illustrating that human tendency to act in the face of suffering.

Hurricane Michael spared Tallahassee the brunt of its wrath, yet the storm created its share of disruption and discomfort in the Capital City. It felled scores of our city’s hallmark and heartbeat — our beautiful trees. It damaged property. It left most residents without electricity for days.

Even as you waited for electricity to be restored, you responded, clearing each other’s debris, sharing food and supplies, and coming together for community dinners and cookouts.

Without hesitation, you opened your hearts.

For thousands southwest of here, life still hasn’t returned to normal. For many, it never will. Yet the outreach continues, and Tallahassee residents continue to pitch in.

Consider the accompanying photo, which made the cover of Emerald Coast Magazine, one of Tallahassee Magazine’s sister publications. It shows Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey and his wife, Carol, lying near hurricane rubble on an oversized heart.

That’s part of a photo project that aims to help in the recovery of Mexico Beach, through neverforgottencoast.com and stories of residents who found themselves in Michael’s destructive and lifechanging path. The photo project and website represent a creative collaboration of Tallahassee residents Alex and Chelsea Workman and nationally acclaimed photographer Jeremy Cowart.

The Workmans and their partners, including Tallahassee designer Jesse Taylor, emphasize on the website that they aim to “capture the stories of Mexico Beach and put faces to the city that has been a home and a destination for people all over the world.”

So many people and organizations have helped. Sonder Project co-founder Ashley Horsley and about two dozen other volunteers worked on roofs, cleared yards and did what they could to provide comfort to some other areas of Bay County.

Horsley told Emerald Coast Magazine: “I know we’re not going to be able to go in and fix everything, but I think if we take it one step at a time, we have the ability to effect change.”

Let’s follow these people and organizations and continue to show some heart. Let’s do one thing that will make a difference for our neighbors and for one of the most special places on the planet.

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

14

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO BY JEREMY COWART

Have a stellar spring,

CONFIDENCE DOESN’T TAKE DETOURS. THE ALL-NEW BMW X5.

You can turn left. You can turn right. Or if you’re behind the wheel of the all-new BMW X5, you can decide not to turn at all. With an available mighty 456-horsepower engine, enhanced suspension for absolute driving comfort or a sportier driving style, and a fully redesigned interior, the all-new BMW X5 is always ready, no matter the challenge ahead.

Learn more about the all-new BMW X5, and enjoy exceptional offers at Capital BMW.

Capital BMW 3701 W. Tennessee St Tallahassee, FL 32304 866-206-6927 Capital-BMW.com ©2019 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

15

editor’s letter

WHEN PANIC GIVES WAY TO MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS As the plane lifts off and climbs, I stare out the window.

I see mountains dominate civilization. I see whitecaps kiss the coastline. I see buildings become smaller, smaller, smaller.

Somewhere down there, a hand-held device with a cracked screen has become tethered to somebody else.

From seat 24F, I nod farewell to an addiction.

do but breathe and settle into my surroundings.

Look. Talk. Listen. Be. This is so weird.”

» ACCEPTANCE (Day 3): “This isn’t so weird, after all. This seems human or something.”

» CHANGE (Day 4). “What cell phone? Peace be with that On a January family trip to a land of beaches and fun, I got out of my cab, grabbed my bags, thanked the driver, took a step toward the hotel entrance and felt a tidal wave crash into my stomach.

I didn’t have my cell phone.

I felt my left-front pocket. It wasn’t there. I felt my rightfront pocket. It wasn’t there. I patted my back pockets, where I never put my cellphone. It wasn’t there. I looked on the ground. It wasn’t there. I repeated the process. It wasn’t there.

I looked for the cab. It was seeking another fare.

I’d put my cellphone on my lap and, fatigued from a long flight, forgotten about it. I suspect that as I got up from the back seat, my phone tumbled onto the floor. The hotel staff told me that it managed to contact the driver, who said he didn’t find a phone but that he’d look again.

By that time, I’d already transitioned out of “Panic,” the first of my brand-new PHADDAC™ stages of Losing a Cell Phone When You’re out of the Country and Can’t Readily Get a New One. The seven stages go like this:

» PANIC (First 15 minutes). “Oh my god! Oh my god!!

OMG!!! My phone is my life! That phone is me! My email and Twitter and apps, my music and Facebook and maps!

What will I do if I find five minutes free?! What will I do if somebody texts me?! OMG! I think I’m going to be sick.”

» HOPE (Next two hours). “The cab driver seemed like such a nice, honest man. Surely, he’ll look again, find my cell phone and return it to me. I soon could hear from the front desk.”

» ANGER (Next two hours). “Damn that cab driver. Damn

cab driver.”

After two days, I found myself not thinking about my cell phone unless somebody mentioned it. I felt more connected to my wife and to others who were with us. I felt more alive. I felt free again.

I’m hardly the first to acknowledge a cell-phone addiction and to write about it. For some of us, the appeals of our spouses weren’t enough. We had to lose our phones and go cold 4G. We finally understood the shallowness of the connections that our phones provided, especially through Facebook and similar obsessions.

Suddenly, we revived the depth of direct experience. We aimed for meaningful connections.

And when I think of a place to put down the phone and connect, I think of Tallahassee. I think of the conversational crossing guard at the corner of Miccosukee and Magnolia, the thoughtful Walgreens employee with a handy umbrella.

I think of an interview with a coffee-company founder who looks to change the world, with an allergist who wants readers to understand their afflictions and possible remedies, and with pastors who emphasize unity over division and compassion over judgment.

I think of sunny people and days. I think of hills and trees, flowers and bees. See page 70.

Of course, I bought another cell phone. But I obtained a tool, not another addiction.

Like you, I have much to truly connect with in our beautiful city. If you happen to see me obsessed with my new phone, I hope you call me on it.

» DEPRESSION/ANXIETY (The rest of Day 1): “I don’t want to talk to anybody. I don’t want to look at anybody.

How will I function? How will I survive?”

» DISCOMFORT (Day 2). “I have nothing in my left hand or on my lap, and I have nothing in my ears. I have nothing to

16

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PETE REINWALD preinwald@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY LAWRENCE DAVIDSON

the front desk, too.”

MOVE GROOVE &

your high-rate debt

with a lower, money-saving rate!

NAL RATE PROMOTIO

.

49

%

APRmonths

1

For 15

TRANSFER YOUR BALANCE WITH

NO balance transfer fee to your CAMPUS Visa Platinum Rewards variable rate credit card JANUARY 15 - APRIL 15.

Apply today at campuscu.com or call 894-9098 and press 5.

Membership is open to anyone in Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison and Wakulla counties!3

Plus!

EARN REWARDS

ON ALL FUTURE PURCHASES

Killearn 1511 Killearn Center Blvd.

|

{

Make $500 in purchases when you open a new CAMPUS Visa Platinum Rewards Card in the first 90 days and earn 10,000 points redeemable for merchandise, travel, gift cards - even cash!2

Governor’s Crossing 101 N. Blairstone Rd.

|

Mahan Village 3122 Mahan Dr.

Offer subject to change without notice. May not be combined with any other offer. 1. APR is Annual Percentage Rate. Offer of credit is subject to credit approval and initial $5 deposit required. There are costs associated with the use of this card. For specific information call 800-367-6440 or write us at P.O. Box 147029, Gainesville, FL 32614. The Annual Percentage Rate is a variable rate for Visa Rewards and is based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (index), plus a margin. The margin is based on certain credit worthiness criteria.

The APR is as low as 12.4% as of 1/1/2019 which is determined by adding together the index and the margin applicable to the card type and the consumer’s credit. The APR could change without notice. APR not to exceed 17.99%. Balance Transfer Promotional rate available 1/15/2019-4/15/2019 only. Promotional APR for Balance Transfer is 4.9% and will be effective for 15 billing cycles after the cycle in which the transfer takes place; then the rate on transferred balances will change to the then-current purchase APR consistent with the Cardholder Agreement. 2. Rewards are credited based on purchases. Cash advances and balance transfers do not qualify for rewards points. 3. Credit approval and initial deposit of $5 required. Federally insured by the NCUA. TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

17

PROMOTION

TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM Win a Getaway for two to the 33rd Sandestin Wine Festival One grand prize winner will receive the ultimate spring getaway at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The winner will enjoy a THREE-DAY, TWO-NIGHT STAY in luxurious accommodations, TWO TICKETS TO THE 33RD SANDESTIN WINE FESTIVAL and TWO TICKETS TO THE FRIDAY EVENING TASTING EVENT. Offer ends March 23 | Value: $950 Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/giveaways to enter.

The capital city’s first craft beer brewery is bigger and better than ever. Head to Tallahasseemagazine.com for an inside look at the opening of Proof Brewing Company’s new 34,000-square-foot location at the old Coca-Cola building on South Monroe Street. The new location features a brewpub, event space, a covered patio area, a laboratory and quality-control area and so much more.

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW Receive exclusive giveaways, announcements, news or other goodies from your favorite businesses with Top of the Town.

You’ll receive no more than three messages per month per business and be at the top of your town!

“LILLYTALLY”

“NARCISSUS”

“TMAG”

@TALLAHASSEEMAG

Tag us on Instagram stories with your favorite local eats for a chance to be featured. We can’t wait to see where all of you are wining, dining and brunching in the Capital City.

18

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

@tallahasseemag Tallahassee Magazine @TallahasseeMag

Find the Top of the Town businesses you wish to receive exclusive text announcements from (below) and text the keyword to 20673. Be sure to confirm with a “Y” reply.

Text STOP to 20673 to opt out.

Data rates apply.

PHOTOS BY JANECIA BRITT (ONLINE EXCLUSIVE) AND COURTESY OF SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (GIVEAWAY) AND TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE (INSTAGRAM PHOTOS)

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Inside the new Proof Brewing Company location on South Monroe

We helped Vincent get back to experimenting. — Vincent, age 7, Tallahassee

At age 5, Vincent was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. He dreams of being a scientist, but he needed a solution to eliminate his constant cough, which was limiting his experiments. He relied on the chemistry between his UF Health pediatric gastroenterologist and other expert caregivers. Together, they formulated a treatment plan that had a successful outcome. Now Vincent is full of energy and ready to get back to his science lab.

Our Tallahassee location now offers telehealth appointments to make it easier for our patients and their families.

Visit UFHealth.org/peds-tallahassee to learn more.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

19

20

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

323

MAR/APR 2019

PROFILING THE PURSUITS, PASSIONS AND PERSONALITIES AMONG US

THE

FROM TALLAHASSEE

ROCKING CALIFORNIA’S DESIGN SCENE

↖

Katie Campbell, a Maclay School graduate who now lives in southern California, took an art-directing role last year with Warner Bros.

Entertainment.

Rising star in graphic design remains Tally girl at heart

by CHAY HUGHES

CHAMPIONS photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Socially in Step

|| EDUCATION

Innocence Shot

|| HEALTH & FITNESS

Congestion Kingdom

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

21

THE

323

N

o one likes a name-dropper, including Tallahassee native Katie Campbell.

Which is why it’s unlikely that Campbell, 37, an insanely talented, infectiously bubbly graphic artist based in sunny southern California, would ever mention to her friends and family back home her impressive CV. Luckily, her Aunt Prissy has zero qualms about it.

“She is so humble she probably did not even tell you all of the stars she’s worked for,” said author Prissy Elrod, a Tallahassee resident. “From Madonna, to Alabama, to Florida-Georgia Line and Justin Timberlake — she creates products for all of these people and has won so many awards. But the only way to find out about it is by talking to her mom. Katie’s just not like that.”

Since graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2004, Campbell has expertly designed apparel, packaging and digital assets for stars ranging from the Wu-Tang Clan to David Bowie, and most recently Harry Potter.

Campbell, a Maclay School alumna, found her niche easily growing up near the creatives of Tallahassee, often taking classes at Brush & Palette on Timberlane Road. But after a few semesters at Florida State studying fine art, she transferred to SCAD, where her career flourished.

In September 2018 she signed on with Warner Bros. Entertainment as the art director for all things World of Wizardry.

“It’s really cool,” Campbell said. “I’m art directing, so not designing as much but I get to work with publishing houses from all over the world. It’s completely different, and I’m learning so much. … It’s my love and my passion. I just like creating. I can’t imagine having any other job.”

As an artist, she stands out in her work as being fresh, fun and just different enough to captivate without confusing. Her easygoing personality shines through, too, which means everyone from Lynyrd

‘FAR OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY’ 22

March–April 2019

Skynyrd to family members are always eager to collaborate.

“She’s so easy to work with,” Elrod said.

Campbell created the award-winning cover for her aunt’s book, Far Outside the Ordinary, in addition to several pieces of custom, original art sprinkled throughout her home.

“She’s got this personality where you can feel her smiling through the phone,” Elrod added. “And she has these sweet dimples, so you know she’s just always talking and smiling at the same time. I don’t know how she does it.”

Campbell’s creative path has been a winding one, taking her around the country and back again. After a stint in Savannah, she came home to Tallahassee for a while to work for The Mitchells Agency, before venturing west.

“I think Then back home. being from Then westward again.

“I think being from Tallahassee Tallahassee has grounded has grounded me more than a lot of people me more than working in this industry,” Campbell said. “I’m apprea lot of people ciative of every person, and working in this I think that coming from a industry. ” small town and boutique – Tallahassee native agency setting, community Katie Campbell is so important to me. That’s definitely helped me.”

While she loves her life in California, Campbell says there’s something unique about the town that cultivated her artistic side for years. And a very special reason why she keeps coming back home: the people.

“This has been the longest time I’ve ever been away from home,” said Campbell, who joked that the traffic on Tennessee Street has nothing on her two-hour commute. “I’ve hopped around. But I think this will be the place I settle. I hope. I’m really happy, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being away from my family.” TM

Amazon.com describes the book by Tallahassee resident Prissy Elrod, aunt of Katie Campbell, as a memoir that “shares a universal message: living through tragedy, resurrecting from despair, and rediscovering love, joy and happiness. Prissy opens her heart and reveals the unfolding of her once ordinary life with raw truth and brave honesty.”

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

↖ Tallahassee native

Katie Campbell created the awardwinning cover for aunt Prissy Elrod’s book, Far Outside the Ordinary. They’re seen together at Tallahassee’s Amtrak station during a holiday visit home for Campbell.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

23

THE

323

←

Spencer Bluni, Jason McIntosh and Mitch Nelson of DivvyUp socks enjoy some down time at business incubator Domi Station. DivvyUp contributes a pair of socks to homeless shelters for every pair purchased.

CHAMPIONS

SOCIALLY IN STEP

DivvyUp is rising to be more than a sock company

by PETE REINWALD

A

trip to a Tallahassee homeless shelter has spawned tens of thousands of socks and a business with sole.

DivvyUp, the product of an effort to do good, hardly takes the competition in stride. In about five years, it has gone national.

“Our vision is to be the No. 1 custom-sock company,” said Jason McIntosh, a company cofounder along with Mitch Nelson and Spencer Bluni.

DivvyUp calls itself an on-demand customsock company. You choose an online template, upload a photo of a loved one or a pet — and, boom, you have bounce in your step because you have caused a new, specialized pair to be sent to a local homeless shelter.

24

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

That’s the result of the company’s giving component.

Customers usually receive their orders within about 10 days, the company said. Early this year, prices started at $24 a pair.

McIntosh said the company focuses on custom pet socks.

“Put your dog on socks, put your cat on socks,” he said. “Our goal is to expand to anything you can imagine.”

Buyers can imagine.

“These socks with my toddler’s face were a huge hit for Father’s Day,” Julie Shackleton of San Francisco wrote on the company’s Facebook page. “They bring a laugh every time my husband wears them.”

DivvyUp got its start in early 2014 in

Florida State University’s entrepreneurship progam. The company recalled it this way: A class project required students to get into groups and start a small business. A group that included McIntosh and Nelson focused on starting a venture that would help the community.

The group struggled with its first idea and eventually found its way to a homeless shelter, since demolished, on West Tennessee Street.

“We simply asked the receptionist, ‘What can we do to help?’ ” McIntosh said.

The receptionist’s response: Homeless clients need clean socks, which people tend not to donate.

The students got a $400 loan from their professor and bought what they called “fun socks” to sell. For every pair they sold, a pair would go to the mission.

Within about six weeks, they gave 160 pairs of socks to the shelter.

“They’ve always been very kind and generous,” said Susan Fiorito, director of Florida State’s Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship. “I hope they have a world of success.”

To gain traction, DivvyUp took full advantage of educational resources, mentors and connections at Domi Station, said the incubator’s executive director, Antonio Montoya.

Montoya said DivvyUp hit an untapped market in 2017 and grew exponentially. DivvyUp through mid-January sold more than 350,000 pairs of socks worldwide and gifted an equal number, the company said.

“DivvyUp clearly demonstrates the success that is possible by playing the long game,” Montoya said. “Now, it hopes photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

25

THE

323

Business Insurance Specialists: Will Croley, Angie Hearl, Mary Katharine (Croley) Lawler, Doug Croley

We Focus on Your Insurance So You Can Focus on Your Business 2814 Remington Green Circle, Tallahassee, FL 850-386-1922 • www.dougcroleyins.com ↑ Socially conscious DivvyUp has contributed socks to

that its model will be replicated by others who will benefit from their entrepreneurial experience in creating more success stories.”

The company says it worked with leaders in the homeless community to create a sock that includes, among other features, dark materials to hide wear and antimicrobial treatment to prevent infection.

DivvyUp says it has donated socks to shelters or organizations in 45 states, including 11 in Florida.

Sara Jean Hargis of the Big Bend Homeless Coalition said most coalition partners suffer from severe funding shortages and that their clients appreciate the DivvyUp donations.

“We really enjoy objects like this that are super practical,” she said.

DivvyUp now has its own 17,000-square-foot production facility, which employed 95 people during the holiday season.

DivvyUp emphasized its commitment to giving away a pair of socks for every pair it sells but said it has shifted its marketing approach.

“We thought we should be offering customers true value,” McIntosh said. “We stopped leading with the giving and started leading with the value proposition.

It allows us to do good behind the scenes.” TM

26

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CUSTOM SOCK COMPANY

homeless shelters or organizations in 45 states. Customers dictate designs by choosing a template and uploading a photo of a pet or loved one.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

27

28

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

29

THE

323

EDUCATION

Innocence Shot Sadness over students who live in fear

by JANECIA BRITT

S

ometimes I get anxious. My pulse quickens when I hear the slam of lockers, the squeak of tennis shoes or the sound of a school bell. When I walked into Lincoln High School one recent afternoon, I immediately felt it.

I was there to photograph a teacher who had won a national award. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the exits.

When I stood on a chair to take a group photo, I didn’t feel unstable; I felt sad.

Looking through the lense of the camera, I thought how easily they could lose their innocence. They could lose it in a snap.

I remembered a similarly hot afternoon on the first day of my senior year at Freedom High School in Tampa. Just as they did at Lincoln, students roamed the halls and waved to friends and teachers, and they groaned about their teen woes.

30

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

But I remembered one significant difference: Our school was filled with police officers, who patrolled every entrance. My classmates seemed to go about their day as if the cops were invisible.

They weren’t invisible to me. Their black uniforms were as striking as ever.

They were there because just a few days prior, Jared Cano, a former student at our school, was found in his suburban home with explosives intended for my high school. His plan included bombing the cafeteria and then to “pick off bomb survivors” with a gun.

We showed up that day with the intent to learn, but Cano had another lesson in mind. According to a note he kept in his phone, he was “destined to teach a lesson with bloodshed.”

I can’t seem to unhear the words my

best friend spoke that day when we approached our cafeteria for lunch. “What if he had an accomplice?” I remember her whispering to me. “What if it isn’t safe?”

I don’t recall how I responded, but I do remember we sat outside.

I wasn’t just anxious. I was angry. I was angry that someone had ripped me from my bubble of innocence. I now had to think about pipe bombs instead of prom.

I was angry about a system that would let clear indicators of abuse, violence and anger from a teen go unremedied.

The system failed Jared Cano. The system failed Eric David Harris, Dylan Bennet Klebold and Adam Lanza.

Most sadly and significantly, the system failed its students. It failed to keep them innocent, and for too many students of Columbine and Sandy Hook, it failed to save their lives.

It failed me — and then it failed me again.

Two years later I found myself crouched with my roommates in my Florida State University dorm calling my mom to let her know that I wasn’t in the library where a shooting was currently taking place.

My anxiety had never been higher. illustration by JOHN RUSSO

CMS Foundation thanks those who helped make the 2018 Holiday Auction a success.

Proceeds enable our foundation to increase access to healthcare in our community through the We Care Network and provide scholarships to medical students.

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

FLORIDA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Supporting Sponsors American Health Imaging Carroll and Company, CPAs Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee Dr. and Mrs. H. Avon Doll First Commerce Credit Union/Six Pillars Financial Advisors

Grossman, Furlow & Bayó, LLC Henry Buchanan, P.A. Hopping Green & Sams, P.A. KWB Pathology Associates MagMutual OB GYN Gynecology & Obstetrics Associates, Inc.

Radiology Associates of Tallahassee Southern Medical Group SunTrust Private Wealth Management Synovus Tallahassee Neurology Specialists, P.L. Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic

Tallahassee Primary Care Associates TMH Federal Credit Union TMH Physician Partners-Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Specialists Vascular Surgery Associates Roy and RoseMarie Young

Event Sponsors Advanced Urology Institute, LLC Anesthesiology Associates of Tallahassee Baker Donelson Bean Team Big Bend Hospice CAMPUS USA Credit Union Capital City Bank Capital Medical Society Alliance Capital Periodontal Associates, P.A.

Capital Regional Medical Center Capital Regional Surgical Associates Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CPAs Brittney K. Craig, D.M.D. Danna-Gracey Desloge Home Oxygen/Hopewell In-Home Senior Care Digestive Disease Clinic Elder Care Services, Inc. Electronet

Elite Women’s Health Envision Credit Union Eye Associates of Tallahassee Hancock Whitney Rohan Joseph and Elizabeth Medley Barbara B. Leadbeater, D.M.D., PL Medical AR Revenue Solutions, LLC NAI TALCOR Neighborhood Medical Center, Inc.

North Florida Women’s Care Northwestern Mutual – The Gantt Financial Group Southern Vitreoretinal Associates Strategic Benefits Group Tallahassee Neurological Clinic Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic The First Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A., CPAs Westminster Oaks Active Living Community

In-Kind Sponsors Betsy Barfield Photography

Gandy Printers

Individual Sponsors Jonathan Appelbaum, M.D. and William Morowski

Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Ford

Dr. and Mrs. David Jones

Dr. and Mrs. David D. Miles

Dr. and Mrs. William Paul Sawyer

Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Wasson

Dr. and Mrs. Efren L. Baltazar

Joel H. Kramer, M.D.

Faisal Munasifi, M.D. and Nola Munasifi, M.D.

Dr. and Mrs. David W. Smith

Dr. and Mrs. Dean D. Watson

Joedrecka Brown-Speights, M.D.

Michael W. Forsthoefel, M.D. and Jana Bures-Forsthoefel, M.D.

Maribel U. Lockwood, M.D.

Dr. and Mrs. Mansukhlal Padalia

Dr. and Mrs. J. Orson Smith, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Webb

Rosalie Carlin

Timothy and Paula Fortunas

Charles G. Long, M.D.

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Pagano

Dr. and Mrs. David T. Stewart

Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Williams

Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Cottrell

Jerry L. Harris, M.D.

Dr. and Mrs. John P. Mahoney

Dr. and Mrs. Terence N. Reisman

Dr. and Mrs. D.J. Underwood

Dr. and Mrs. Donald A. Zorn

Marilyn M. Cox, M.D.

Tracey E. Hellgren, M.D.

Al C. McCully, M.D.

Dr. and Mrs. Raleigh W. Rollins

Dr. and Mrs. Frank C. Walker

Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Zorn

Item Donors A La Provence AAA Auto Club Group Advanced Urology Institute Alena Bakutis Photography Allergy & Asthma Diagnostic Treatment Center – Ron Saff, M.D. Alumni Hall AR Workshop Dr. and Mrs. Efren Baltazar Bedfellows Betsy Barfield Photography Dr. and Mrs. Charles Bianco Big Bend Hospice Foundation, Inc. Blue Water Car Wash Andrew Borom, M.D. Michael and Shannon Boyle A.J. Brickler, III, M.D. Debra Brienen, Original Artist Randy Brienen, Original Artist Brian Bryson Dawna Bunker

FSU Primary Care/FSU Dr. and Mrs. Joe Camps College of Medicine Capital City Country Club FSU Senior Health/FSU Capital Genealogy College of Medicine Capital Medical Society Fuzzy Goat, Thomasville Capital Regional Medical Center Garnet & Gold Rosalie Carlin Golden Eagle Country Club Caroline Hill, Thomasville Grasslands Brewing Company Carrabba’s Restaurant Gynecology & Obstetrics Associates Carrie Ann & Co. Hand-Did Birdhouses – Charles E. Bush Chicken Salad Chick Suzanne Harrison, M.D. Citrine Spa & Body Shop Tracey Hellgren, M.D. Coton Colors Anne Hempel Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee Honeybaked Ham Diana Kathleen Baking Dr. and Mrs. Alex Ho Diane’s 2202 a Salon Lucy Ho The Donnellans Hopkins’ Eatery Valerie Draper Dr. and Mrs. Marc Inglese Esposito Lawn & Garden Center Pam Irwin Eye Associates of Tallahassee, P.A. J. Alan Cox Law Office Firefly, Thomasville Jeanie Wood Designs Tami Frankland, Realtor Jonah’s fish & grits, Thomasville

David Jones, M.D. Rohan Joseph and Elizabeth Medley Dan and Rita Kaelin Dr. Bill and Mrs. Sharon Kepper Killearn Country Club Kool Beanz Café – Keith Baxter KWB Pathology Associates Little Italy Italian Restaurant Maribel U. Lockwood, M.D. Nancy Loeffler, M.D. Loli & the Bean Long’s Photography Charles F. Manning, Jr., M.D. Jane Marks Linda Miles, Ph.D. Millennium Nail & Day Spa Mimi’s Table Momentum Fitness Bert and Tracy Morales Narcissus Native Nurseries

North Florida Women’s Care Lynn and Julie Pararo Premier Health & Fitness Center PRP Wine International Pure Barre Tallahassee Radiology Associates of Tallahassee Relish, Thomasville Robert’s Jewelry & Design Dr. and Mrs. Raleigh Rollins Seymour Rosen, M.D. Rutabaga Café Seminole Sitters, LLC Signature Art Gallery Frank Skilling, M.D. Kathleen Smith SoDOUGH Baking Company Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Southern Seafood Tallahassee Fish Company Southwood Golf Club SteinMart

Dr. and Mrs. Brad Stephens James Stockwell, M.D. Super Suds-Goodwill Sweet Grass Dairy, Thomasville Table 23 Table Works Plus Tallahassee Ear, Nose & Throat-Head & Neck Surgery, P.A. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Tallahassee Museum Tallahassee Nurseries Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic Tallahassee Primary Care Associates Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Talon Range Texas Roadhouse The Bookshelf, Thomasville The Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Center The Gem Collection – Don and Dorothy Vodicka

The Gift Shop, Thomasville The Polka Dot Press The Tallahassee Ballet The Wine House on Market Street Theatre Tallahassee Tire Choice Très Chic Uptown Café Frank Walker, M.D. Tony Weaver, M.D. Missy Whiddon Wild Adventures Theme Park Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop Dr. Charles and Mrs. Pat Williams Dennis Williams, M.D. and Barbara Williams, M.D. Nancy Wright, M.D. Yellow Dog Jazz Band Richard and Kathy Zorn

1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 • (850) 877-9018 • capmed.org TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM March–April 2019 31

Creating Beautiful Smiles is What We Do Best Happy 2019!

Marci Marano Beck, DMD, MS

Glenn Beck, Jr., DMD

Cosmetic, General & Implant Dentistry

Brian R. Beck, DMD, MS

Smiles by Beck & Bailey

Julie Bailey, DMD

Now Accepting New Patients

2929-B Capital Medical Blvd. • Tallahassee, FL 32308 • 850.656.2636 • smilesbybeck.com • facebook.com/smilesbybeck

Hampton Inn & Suites Tallahassee Capitol - University

Great Location | Steps from Capitol Hill | Surrounded by Hip Restaurants, Shopping, Entertainment and Sports Venues

824 Railroad Avenue | (850) 692-7150 | Hampton.com | 32

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

THE

323

I read the tweets of a friend trapped in the library writing goodbye notes. I called my roommate and got no answer.

She spent every night in the library. I heard sirens and then gunshots. My other roomates and I huddled closer and cried.

Four years later, I sat at my work desk, and my pulse quickened as texts one after another appeared on my phone. “Did you hear about MSD?” they all read, referring to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

I hadn’t. I googled MSD, only to see “17 killed in Florida high school shooting, one of the deadliest in history” appear on my screen.

But as I settled into my work chair to read the articles flooding my timelines, my pulse settled. I wasn’t nervous nor was I looking for an exit.

I didn’t worry if I would be safe going to work the next day. I wasn’t worried, because I was no longer in school.

Instead I felt profound sadness, the same sadness I felt at Lincoln High School on that recent day. Teens just want be teens. They shouldn’t worry where the nearest exit is.

But too many do. As a society, we allow these children to go to school knowing there’s a chance they won’t come home — or will come home forever changed.

Nearly 40 percent of children exposed to a shooting will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the California-based Giffords Law Center.

We can’t go on this way, and maybe — just maybe — we won’t.

Despite opposition, young people are actively paving a way for an open conversation about our rights and our lives. In the two-and-a-half months after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, young voters made up 34.22 percent of all new voter registrations in Florida, according to a report in the Miami Herald.

They’re speaking out about common sense. Few people want to take away anybody’s guns. But many of us wonder about the types of guns used in many of these mass shootings. We wonder about their easy availability and about the troubled people who get access to them.

This isn’t just chatter. The numbers show we can make a difference. We have the power to save the next generation of children.

I believe you have a right to bear arms, but I also believe teenagers have a right to live freely without fear.

Take it from me: You’re never the same after someone threatens your life. You can’t regain innocence after it has been stolen.

I hoped that those teens at Lincoln didn’t see the world as grimly as I did. I wanted to talk to them about it.

Instead I just took their picture and smiled. Let them be innocent a day longer. TM Janecia Britt is digital editor at Rowland Publishing, owner of Tallahassee Magazine.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

33

323

→

HEALTH & FITNESS

CONGESTION KINGDOM

Abundance of trees makes Tallahassee an allergy capital to many

by PETE REINWALD

I

t wasn’t always this way, Jocelyn Calderon-Quinteros said.

“It all started when we moved to Florida.”

When she moved to the Tallahassee area from California as a young teenager, she said, the watery eyes started. So did the breathing problems and the congestion.

Chances are, you or somebody you know feels her pain.

Most of us praise our city as beautiful.

Many scorn it with a capital Sneeze.

“Tallahassee is kind of a horrible place to live if you’re an allergy sufferer,” said Dr. Ronald Saff, an allergist/immunologist in Tallahassee.

To allergy sufferers, Tallahassee’s hallmark serves as a curse, particularly in the spring. During this time of year, Saff says, Tallahassee’s trees, including its oaks and hickories, release potent pollens that blow into our eyes, nose and sinuses and, for those allergic to tree pollen, create the kind of misery that Calderon-Quinteros described.

Trees make up a mere branch of the allergy problem. Allergens that also cause allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, include pet hair, dander, cockroaches, airborne mold spores and pollens from grass and weeds, plus dust mites — a major cause of allergies in warm, humid places such as Tallahassee. And allergies to certain foods can cause nasal congestion, wheezing or trouble breathing, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Irritants such as cigarette smoke, perfume, laundry detergent or exhaust fumes can trick you into thinking you have an allergy because you suffer similar symptoms,

34

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

doctors say. You might have what doctors call non-allergic rhinitis. They sometimes call it vasomotor rhinitis or even a “sensitive nose.”

But back to Tallahassee and trees.

Some experts and doctors, including Saff, contend that climate change is worsening the problem of allergies. For one thing, warmer temperatures could help oaks and hickories flourish at the expense of less-allergenic trees such as pine and spruce, the National Wildlife Federation said in a 2010 report.

Saff says he thinks warmer temperatures are causing trees to pollinate earlier, exacerbating the problem.

“The trees during the winter time are fooled into thinking it’s spring because the weather is warming up,” he said. “So we’re seeing earlier pollination times and, unfortunately, greater suffering.”

As Calderon-Quinteros knows, weather plays a particularly crucial role in the lives of allergy sufferers.

“It’s good right now,” Calderon-Quinteros, a teacher at Fairview Middle School, said in November of her allergy problem. “But I already know that as soon as the weather changes, it’s going to go into effect.”

Some weather changes are worse than others. Consider a wet late or early spring that gives an early boost to weeds, flowers and trees. Then consider a several-days stretch in the spring of warm temperatures, clear skies and a good breeze.

You bask in it — unless you’re allergic to the pollens.

The Problem of Histamine Pollen, dust mites, pet dander and other allergens can cause allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, which doesn’t require exposure to hay.

In some people, the body’s immune system identifies a harmless substance such as tree pollen as a threat and produces antibodies to combat the allergen.

The body also releases histamine into the bloodstream, causing swelling of the sinuses and eyelids as the body works to block additional allergens, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Part of the body’s defense system, histamine also can trigger sneezing and cause itching, stuffiness and a runny nose, and it can produce symptoms of asthma, experts say.

That’s why doctors recommend second-generation antihistamines such as Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec for such symptoms. They’re also available in less-expensive generic forms: fexofenadine, loratadine and cetirizine. Some Tallahassee residents say they take one of those daily year-round in an effort to hold off allergies.

Other popular treatments include nasal steroid sprays such as Flonase (fluticasone) and Nasacort (triamcinolone) — which some tout as the most effective treatments of all — and an easy do-it-yourself procedure called nasal saline rinse, which involves flushing the nasal passages with warm water and a salt-based mixture.

You can get saline-rinse kits at drug stores such as Walgreens or CVS. “That has been more like a home remedy that has truly helped,” said Dr. Joseph Soto, an ear, nose and throat physician in Tallahassee.

Some people, often via YouTube videos, claim relief and results from natural remedies such as humidifiers, essential oil diffusers, apple cider vinegar, quercetin, magnesium, probiotics, acupuncture, flaxseed oil, certain herbal teas, Vitamin C in high

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGKRITTH / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

THE

EDDIE HATCH - CFP®, AIF

STAN BARNES - CFP®, CLU, AIF

TOM DEISON - AIF

Your Future Is Our Business 318 N Calhoun St, Tallahassee, FL 32301 | 850.894.2930 | barnescapgroup.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Barnes Capital Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Barnes Capital Group is a separate entity from LPL Financial.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

35

323 If you’re allergic, “you really like rainy springs,” said Jon Erdman, senior meteorologist for weather.com, part of IBM. Several days of warmth and breezy dryness allows pollen counts to spread and “to grow and grow without getting rained out.”

“Seemingly beautiful weather can turn out to be miserable for allergy sufferers,” Erdman said.

Then again, warm, damp and humid conditions breed another allergen — mold spores.

Many suffer under the assumption that they have a certain allergy but find no relief from over-the-counter medications.

Springtime sufferers likely are allergic to tree pollens and summertime sufferers to grass pollens, Saff said.

But the doctor said perhaps most of his patients complain of year-round symptoms because of allergies to dust mites. The Mayo Clinic describes dust mites as microscopic relatives to ticks and spiders that make homes out of bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting.

The presence of dust mites “has nothing to do with cleanliness,” Saff said, but they present “the major cause of allergies in Tallahassee and across the Southeast.”

Doctors say they can pinpoint an allergy through a skin test that often involves dozens of tiny punctures on the forearm, each delivering an allergen. The doctor waits about 15 minutes to see whether allergic reactions develop.

If the doctor can pinpoint an allergy, he or she might offer immunotherapy treatment to help your body boost tolerance to the allergen over time. Patients can get the treatment through regular injections from their doctor.

But U.S. regulators in recent years approved what Staff calls breakthrough treatment — immunotherapy through a tablet that patients put under the tongue.

“My patients are quite pleased with it,” Saff said, “because it offers an alternative to coming to an allergist’s office for timeconsuming allergy shots.”

He also hails as good news a growing number of medications available over the counter. He pointed to nasal antihistamines such as Patanase and azelastine, nasal steroids such as Flonase and non-sedating antihistamines such as Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra.

36

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

“The medications work for pretty much whatever is triggering the symptoms, whether it is tree pollen or a dog or a cat,” Saff said.

As for a so-called sensitive nose, he said, many patients respond to over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines and nasal steroids. “But aside from staying away from the irritant and taking the medications,” he said, “there’s not a whole lot that can be done.”

Dr. Joseph Soto, a Tallahassee physician who specializes in disorders and diseases of the ear, nose and throat, says some patients develop nasal polyps, noncancerous growths from chronic inflammation that can make breathing difficult.

Sometimes, he said, such swelling in the lining of the nose can lead to a condition called allergic fungal sinusitis, in which fungal debris and mucus block a sinus.

“I see it pretty commonly in Tallahassee,” Soto said.

He said surgery can remove the fungal debris and mucus and greatly relieve the patient’s symptoms. Likewise, he said, specialists might offer surgery if structures inside the nose called turbinates cause breathing problems as a result of swelling from allergies.

As with Dr. Saff, conditions in Tallahassee keep him busy, he said.

“We joke that it’s the allergy capital of the world, but there are plenty of allergy capitals depending on where you are,” Soto said.

McAllen, Texas, is the No. 1 place in the U.S. and Miami the No. 1 place in Florida to avoid if you have allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Fall 2018 Allergy Capitals report.

The organization ranked the 100 most populated metropolitan statistical areas in the contiguous 48 states according to pollen and mold counts, allergy medication usage and availability of board-certified allergists.

Tallahassee didn’t qualify for the rankings because its metropolitan statistical area’s population doesn’t rank in the top 100. Florida urban areas that joined Miami (ranked 39th) on the list were Cape Coral (50th), Jacksonville (52nd), Orlando (63rd), Lakeland (67th), Tampa (72nd), Palm Bay (82nd), Daytona Beach (87th) and Sarasota (88th).

Some Tallahassee residents would put Tallahassee at the top of any allergies list.

“My allergies get so bad that I can’t breathe sometimes,” Calderon-Quinteros said. TM

amounts, and lots of water. Many also point to the importance of a healthy diet that emphasizes certain foods while avoiding others.

Your doctor probably will be unlikely to recommend some of those ideas.

“As a physician, I’m always looking for studies that control for different factors so that you’re not going by just anecdotes,” Soto said.

Honey of a Question Can local honey really help fight allergies?

We figured you’d ask.

Beekeepers, including some in the Big Bend area, not surprisingly seem to keep an open mind about honey as a remedy for pollen allergies. But citing a lack of scientific evidence, even they tend to stop short of declaring it a miracle cure.

“I’m a data scientist. Without the data, I can’t go there,” said Kimberly Jackson, a Tallahassee beekeeper and a Geographic Information Systems manager at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “But everybody has a story. I certainly subscribe to putting it into tea when you have a sore throat.”

Said Tony Hogg, owner of Full Moon Honey in Monticello: “I will say that my wife has allergies, and she strongly believes that local honey helps with allergies.”

On its website, the Mayo Clinic answers “probably not” to the question of whether local honey can lessen seasonal allergy symptoms.

It adds that “the idea isn’t so far-fetched, though,” pointing out that “one treatment for allergies is repeated exposure to small amounts of allergens” such as pollen that can be found in honey.

READ MORE ABOUT BEES AND THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR IN OUR BEEKEEPING FEATURE ON PAGE 70.

ILLUSTRATION BY NATASHA_55 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

THE

MULTI-FUNCTION PRINTERS (SALES & SERVICE) | 3D PRINTING | BUSINESS PRINTING | CUSTOMER SERVICE

“CopyFax helps the No. 1 girl-led organization, The Girl Scouts, build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place, one copy at a time!”

– Erma Kyser, Vice President of Membership and Program 3135 ELIZA ROAD, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308

850-671-6663

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

37

THE

323

↗ Mackenzie Little

and husband Tim experienced “foster fail” with Kona (right), a previously homeless husky who now shares a permanent home with their schnauzer, Teddy.

38

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PETS

A PET PURPOSE

Foster parenting offers an opportunity to help dogs and cats, give to community

by MACKENZIE LITTLE

H

er name is Kona.

Kona had been in many homes, spent time in shelters and traveled across state lines before she came into our lives.

My husband, Tim, and I adopted Kona when she was 2 and became our first “foster fail.”

That’s a good thing. Let me explain: Tim and I are foster parents with the Leon County Humane Society. As foster parents, we keep dogs in our home until we can find permanent homes for them.

This is what we set out to do with Kona, a young and broken husky who’d had a rough start to her life as a temporary resident of many homes. She ended up in a Tallahassee animal shelter, and the Humane Society asked us foster her and find her a new home.

We couldn’t. We fell in love and decided that we had to keep her. That’s what made us a “foster fail,” which merely means that we couldn’t bear to let her go.

Ours is her “furever” home.

Tim and I got involved in this program in September 2017. As Hurricane Irma approached the Florida peninsula, the Leon County Humane Society put out a plea out for foster homes for largebreed dogs. Tim and I had just purchased our first home, and our hearts had been yearning to open our doors to animals in need.

We contacted Amy Raddar, the society’s dog foster program coordinator, to check on an application.

We got approved, and we welcomed Lilly, our first foster, into our home the next day.

Lilly was a short, stubby and muscular pit mix.

She just wanted to cuddle and make her family happy. We fostered Lilly for roughly two months before she would become a surprise Christmas present to an elderly man in southern Georgia.

We’d brought Lilly to a Home Fur the Holidays event that year. The man’s wife and her daughter had come looking for the perfect dog, and with

photography by JOHN HARRINGTON

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

39

THE

323

← Mackenzie Little says Kona’s still learning to trust houseguests but that she loves playing with Teddy.

her big eyes and calm demeanor, Lilly stole their hearts.

Tim and I were grateful, even ecstatic.

This new family could provide Lilly with the attention and love she deserved. I kept in contact with the daughter throughout the holidays to see how the surprise went. She said her father was elated and introduced her as “my dog, Lilly.”

With Lilly, Tim and I realized we had made the best decision in becoming animal foster parents. We’ve found our hearts changed with every dog that comes through our door.

Here’s how Leon County Humane Society program works: As a foster parent, you commit to finding the animals their best forever home. You want to make sure that you can make time for the dog and the adoption process.

You can find the application on the Leon County Humane Society website.

Once approved, the organization matches you with a dog whose lifestyle

FOSTERING 40

March–April 2019

fits you and your family, including all furry members.

Upon taking your foster dog, you want to establish an adjustment period to allow him or her to get to know the rules and hierarchy of your home.

When somebody wants to adopt one of our dogs, they send us an emailed application. Then we check the pet policy at apartment complexes, and we look over their animal-owning history, among other things.

We also conduct phone and in-person interviews with prospective new owners, and we have the ability to say yes or no. I once said no because I didn’t feel comfortable with the dog living in the applicant’s home.

I must emphasize: That’s the exception.

I love making the follow-up phone call to let applicants know that they have been approved and to schedule the adoption paperwork. The happiness that this brings to a person brings such joy to us.

Now we are on foster No. 5, and we love bringing awareness to the plight of homeless pets in our community. I feature our foster dogs on my social media pages, and every time we get ready for an adoption event, I invite our friends to come enjoy a delicious food truck and to love on some pups.

When I see the happiness beaming from a dog’s new family, I know we are where we are supposed to be — bringing homeless pups home forever.

Now, more about Kona. We’ve had her 14 months now.

She loves playing tug-o-war with Teddy, our little schnauzer who has become her pup brother. Although they have a size difference, they’ve bonded and love each other’s company.

Kona was not always affectionate or willing to receive love or treats. She is still learning to trust our extended family and houseguests, but she trusts us and finds confidence in our approval.

As soon as I’m out of bed, she yawns, gives me a little “good morning” howl and gets in my spot. Occasionally, I’ll even get a lick goodbye. TM Mackenzie Little is sales and events coordinator at Rowland Publishing, owner of Tallahassee Magazine.

The Leon County Humane Society says: “Although we place hundreds of animals every year, we turn down many more because of lack of space. The more foster homes we have, the more animals we are able to save.” Visit leoncountyhumane.org.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by JOHN HARRINGTON

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

41

DISCOVER TALLAHASSEE’S BEST CHOICE IN SENIOR LIVING

Enjoy a variety of residential and supportive options at Westminster Oaks to meet your changing needs.

Choose from a wide variety of spacious choices in villa homes and garden apartments, all maintenancefree and enriched by access to beautiful campus amenities with services like dining and housekeeping. For those who need a little extra help we offer assisted living, with services including medication management and support with daily living activities. We can also get you back on your feet and doing the things you love with short-term nursing care and rehabilitation.

Learn all there is to smile about at Westminster Oaks

— Call us today at (850) 878-1136 or visit our new website at WestminsterOaksFL.org Westminster Oaks

4449 Meandering Way, Tallahassee

Ac t ive Liv i ng | Assisted Liv i ng | Sk i l led Nu rsi ng | Rehabi l itat ion 42

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

panache MAR/APR 2019

REGARDING MATTERS OF ALL THINGS STYLISH

→

Calynne Hill, a Tallahassee realtor and former model, throws “trendy” to the wind as she shares her eclectic take on fashion.

CITIZEN OF STYLE

PASSION FOR FASHION

Realtor and former model shares how she wears ‘boho chic’

by MARINA BROWN

HIS & HERS Sustainable Styles || WHAT’S IN STORE For the Curious About CURIO photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

43

panache

I

t is hard to miss Tallahassee native Calynne Hill.

Whether in cowboy boots and slim jeans or in a fitted black sheath, the former model, crowned with cascades of thick blonde hair, seems to step to the front of any crowd.

A founder of the realty company Hill Spooner & Elliott and a former fashion and style editor at Tallahassee Magazine, Hill, it seems, was born with a sense of style — one that manages to be both fun and fancy.

“When I was still a teenager, I became interested in fashion — pouring through magazines, learning about color and what paired with what,” she said. She served on teen fashion boards and observed trends in style and design.

Perhaps inevitably, with her photogenic looks, Hill decided to act on her fascination with fashion and became a professional model.

She modeled in Miami and New York in the early 1980s, she said, and after she moved back to Tallahassee a few years later, Hill often appeared in hometown publications, including Tallahassee Magazine.

Hill’s eclectic take on fashion and savvy business persona give confidence to her personal style. A kind of “boho chic,” it extends from hair and makeup to the tips of her designer boots.

↑ Wearing Quincie Hamby jewelry, Calynne Hill carries an innate sense of style that manages to be fun, fancy and pet-friendly.

44

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

← Care for hair is a central part of Calynne Hill’s approach to style.

“I get a blowout every week.

Sometimes, twice,” she says.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

45

↙ Calynne Hill, wearing a necklace made by Lisa Phipps of Chic Verte, lets her personal style flow from hair and makeup to the tips of her designer boots.

Hill would like to offer a few thoughts for others — some that may go against timeworn beauty advice: “Show off your best features,” she says.

That means, she says: ➺ If you have good legs, don’t be afraid to wear your skirt above your knee. ➺ If you have nice hair and you’re over 30, wear it as long as you want. But be good to it.

A bit of eyeliner and blush and a brush of that gleaming hair, and she is ready to go. “I never leave the house without my lip gloss,” she says.

Daytime cosmetics may be light, but her tresses are treated right. “I get a blow-out every week,” she says. “Sometimes, twice.”

Hill thinks back to her mother and aunts who religiously went to the beauty parlor, and she doesn’t see her own visits as an extravagance. “But, occasionally, I still like just pulling my hair up into a messy bun,” she says.

That may be how she sometimes wears her hair when she and husband, retired plastic surgeon Lou Hill, go hiking or skiing.

Though comfortable in athletic-wear during vacation activities, the couple’s inclusion of “binge museum hopping” as part of their getaways brings out Hill’s taste for “a lit bit of fitted and a little bit of flowy.”

“All things in balance,” she likes to say.

46

March–April 2019

Coupled with the blacks, whites and camel colors she prefers, Hill likes to add the occasional block of color.

“Corals and turquoises are great, with a bit of hot pink, gold or even purple.” With her taste for upscale “boho,” one might expect to find florals or big prints in Hill’s closet.

But there’s not a one.

“Instead of small patterns, I would rather use big jewelry pieces for an eye-catching element,” she says. For nighttime and gala events, it’s always back to sophisticated black.

But there’ll be no “taffeta Southern girl big bows” for her, she says. “There’s a black Halston jumpsuit I love. Flowing legs and bat-wing top … with some chunky costume jewelry and strappy sandals; it’s perfect.”

Over time, the busy realtor who is involved with her husband in art collecting, in her own thriving business and in a myriad of other community endeavors has come to rely locally on Narcissus.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

“The buyer there knows just what I like,” she says. “I’ll tell her where I’m going, and they’ll have two or three pieces out. They’re pretty much always right.”

When in doubt, classic and sophisticated with a bit of whimsy is Hill’s comfort spot. Of course, in any circumstances, a pair of gorgeous cowgirl boots will go with anything. TM

➺ Don’t wear baggy clothes.

You don’t want to be trapped in a sack. ➺ And don’t feel you must follow the trends. “I think it was Coco Chanel who said, ‘Trendy is one step from tacky,’ ” Hill says.

↑ Max, left, and Liza fashion a warm and happy moment with Calynne Hill, a former fashion and style editor at Tallahassee Magazine. photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

“IT’S A NICE CHANGE FROM THE LARGE DEPARTMENTAL STORES.

Nic’s Toggery offers a considerable selection of quality menswear supplemented with proper product knowledge and a masterly eye for the gentleman look (think James Bond). But, most importantly, Nic’s provides and cultivates an intimate relationship with their customers, that remembers family names, sizes and preferences, making the shopping experience pleasurable and quick.

And, let’s face it, that’s what guys like when it comes to personal care...being able to have ‘the look’ with little effort.”

JONATHAN YEATON Certified Project Manager & ITIL Expert

OLEIL 1080 - TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE AD MAR-APR 2019 DOWNTOWN | (850) 222-0687

THE GALLERY | (850) 893-9599

NIC’S BIG & TALL | (850) 385-6866

B

HAIR

SALON

FLAGSHIP (Salon): 1435 E. Lafayette St. (Next to Pier1) Tallahassee, FL 32301 • 850-681-6681 MARKET DISTRICT (Salon+Spa): 1410 - C6 Market St. • Tallahassee, FL 32312 • 850-727-0482

www.Soleil7.com

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PURE FLOWER AND PLANT ESSENCES

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

47

panache

↖

Men’s All Mountain Pant Available at Southern Compass Outfitters or mountainkhakis.com

Styles

Eco and environmentally friendly fashions

by REBECCA PADGETT

48

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

rends come and go. Hot for one moment, gone the next.

Style, though, has a staying power. Style is sustainable.

All the better sustainable, eco-friendly styles are here to stay.

Earth Day falls on April 22, yet Tallahassee retailers are stocking their shelves with Earth-friendly products intended to last long past the season’s breeze of trends.

With eco-friendly fashions becoming all the more relevant, it helps to know what attributes make a product sustainable.

Jim Davis, executive director of Sustainable Tallahassee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and educating on environmental, economic and social sustainability, provides some insight.

“It may look pretty, but you have to question what it is doing to your environment,” Davis said. “Can it be recycled?

Is it from a recycled product? Could this be harmful to my environment?”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN KHAKIS

T Sustainable HIS & HERS

D O N ’ T W O R R Y. B E A C H H A P P Y.

(850) 553 3327 / 1350 MARKET STREET

before & AFTER everett thompson design

appointments

(850) 509-3067 optionsbyet . com

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

49

panache

50

March–April 2019

↙ Zestt’s

Jane Organic Cotton Travel Wrap

Available at Hearth & Soul or zesttorganics.com

↘ Healthy Recycled silk is also Human water trending at Rebels’ bottles and Midtown Boutique, carrier tumblers of handmade silk beanies Rebels’ Midtown Boutique that warm in the cool months and cool in the warm months. The boutique extends its ecofunctional fare to include lifestyle products.

The store carries upcycled wine-bottle soy candles from Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards in Pelham, Georgia.

Recently, many have transitioned from plastic straws to reusable options. Rebels’ Midtown offers metal straws that pair perfectly with Healthy Human water bottles and tumblers made from stainless steel.

Eco-friendly isn’t a phase; it’s a tangible way to make an impact, to do your part in protecting this beautiful world of ours. The eco-conscious clothing and lifestyle brands you select are ways to look good and feel good about how your style choices support sustainable living. TM

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZESTT ORGANICS AND REBELS’ MIDTOWN BOUTIQUE

Essentially, eco-friendly and sustainable products are non-toxic, environmentally beneficial, sustainably sourced or grown and often composed from recycled or organic materials.

When shopping clothing or lifestyle brands, some key words to search for on tags include organic fibers, recycled materials, reconditioned, non-toxic, upcycled, environmentally conscious and natural.

While bigger retail stores might be slower to jump on the eco train, local boutiques are all aboard. From stunning, sustainable style pieces to cozy cotton blankets to healthy hemp beauty products, many locally owned companies are going green.

Organic cotton is fairly easy to find and oh so soft. Southern Compass Outfitters carries Mountain Khakis, a clothing brand for outdoor enthusiasts that uses organic, Fair Trade-certified cotton. The men’s All Mountain Pants are especially popular because they are light-weight and comfortable and completely composed of organic, biodegradable cotton. All of Mountain Khaki’s products use the Higg Index, a tool that measures sustainability considering environmental, social and labor processes.

Hearth & Soul recently introduced Zestt, a company created by two moms on the lookout for organic and environmentally conscious products.

They developed their own organic cotton blankets, throws and ponchos perfect for Northwest Florida weather.

Each product is crafted with non-GMO cotton, processed without toxic dyes and chemicals, and crafted at socially responsible facilities with fair pay and safe conditions.

Hemp is another eco-friendly fabric that’s becoming increasingly prevalent.

Quarter Moon Imports carries a variety of beautifully and intricately stitched hemp purses and backpacks. Not only is hemp in textiles but also widely used in the beauty products that Quarter Moon sells because it is natural, plant-derived and nutrient-rich.

Recycled silk sari skirts and scarves are bestsellers at this shop. Quarter Moon Imports’ Lake Ella store offers an array of fair trade, eco-friendly and U.S.-made products.

LIC. #CCC049353

Residential • Commercial • All Types • Roof Repair • Fully Insured • FREE ESTIMATES • Financing Available We have been serving Tallahassee for over 60 years! We take pride in our customers.

RAIN, SUN OR SALT, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

CALL US AT 850-562-8366 • TALLAHASSEEROOFINGINC.COM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

51

panache FOR THE CURIOUS

ABOUT CURIO

Tallahassee’s CURIO is a quirky, cool vintage and handcrafted goods store specializing in products crafted by designers, artists and independent brands from throughout the United States. If you’re looking for pieces that are eye-catching, conversational and lovingly made, check out some of Curio’s most popular products:

EARWACK offers wacky and whimsical earrings that are hand-sculpted from polymer clay by artist Hannah Carr. These fun and funky statement earrings pack the drama while being lightweight.

One of CURIO’s bestselling products is the

GIRLS SUPPORT GIRLS

A roundup of retail happenings throughout Tallahassee

by REBECCA PADGETT

Stepping into Wonsaponatime Vintage is taking a step back in time to the most stylishly savvy of closets. Each piece is carefully hand selected and curated to create a collection of stunning, beautifully made vintage clothing, handmade accessories and lifestyle goods that are locally sourced from throughout the country.

Wonsaponatime has an impressive and coveted vintage denim selection. Vintage Levi jeans are a specialty, ranging from classic 501s to ’70s bellbottoms. They also offer a plethora of the increasingly popular “mom jeans.”

No matter the time of year, denim cutoffs, denim skirts and dresses are always in stock.

Pair any of these with a vintage denim jacket, because who doesn’t love a Canadian tuxedo?

The boutique will soon be launching its own line of home goods composed entirely of discarded denim.

From dainty and delightful layering necklaces to bold, beaded bracelets and

52

March–April 2019

stylish, stackable rings, Wonsaponatime carries a selection of affordable, everyday pieces. Most of the jewelry is semi-fine and made with semi-precious and precious stones.

The apothecary goods enliven your senses and revive hair and skin. Moon Rivers Naturals Good Vibes oil is infused with herbs and crystals, good for the body and soul. Everyday Oil with a super blend of essential oils is for use on skin and hair, creating the most beautiful scents. P.F. Candle Co. products come in a variety of uniquely delicious smells and create a welcoming glow whenever and wherever they are lit.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Wool berets by DARLING DISTRACTION of Portland, Oregon, feature embroidered daisies, adding a cute flower-power touch to this classic staple.

Available in a variety of scents, DRIFTER ORGANICS body butters use the best of nature’s essential oils to bring you smooth, super hydrated skin that is never greasy. Drifter Organics uses 100 percent organic and vegan ingredients that are cruelty-free.

The TALLAHASSEE LASSIE is a CURIO

original design by Jackie Skelding, CURIO’s owner, and it’s made in the USA. Show your love for Tally with a fridge magnet or sticker.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WONSAPONATIME VINTAGE AND CURIO GOODS

 What’s In Store?

tee by DAISY NATIVES, an Austin, Texas, brand.

This empowering motto for women of all ages is printed on ultra-soft cotton blend tees. This is the ultimate statement tee.

WHERE FUN, FASHION AND LIBATIONS COLLIDE R E B E L S A B O U T I Q U E . C O M | 1 9 5 0 T H O M A S V I L L E R OA D, S U I T E 1 | 8 5 0 . 5 9 7 . 7 4 5 6

Quality dry cleaning in Tallahassee for 15 years Veteran-owned

Why Pay More for Dry Cleaning?

BETTON PLACE

Located in Midtown 1215 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-5002 SAME-DAY SERVICE

www.robertsjewelry.net

Quality classic unique jewelry Since 1995

Betton Place • 1950-M Thomasville Road • 422-1373 Above Food Glorious Food Tuesday–Friday 10–6 • Saturday 10–4

located in the SouthWood Village next to Publix 3551 Blair Stone Road (850) 354-8183 SAME-DAY SERVICE

carverdiscountcleaners.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

53

CELEBRATE and support our arts community at Tallahassee Community College

To learn more, contact Heather Mitchell at mitchelh@tcc.fl.edu or (850) 201-6067 54

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

gastro&gusto MAR/APR 2019

FROM THE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE TO THE PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE

←

BUFFALO VIEUX DRINK see recipe on page 56

LIBATIONS

AN ENGINE-STOPPER WITH A TWIST The Fox & Stag features drinks and an ambiance that make you want to stay

by ROB RUSHIN

DINING OUT

Branching Out

photography by MARY CURRAN

|| DINING IN

A Healthy Adjustment

|| DINING FARTHER OUT

Far Away Yet Close to Home

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

55

gastro & gusto

A tale about a man, his beloved and a new local bar experience:

S

tanwyck’s charter to St. Moritz was waiting at the airport. Nothing I could say, do or beg was changing her mind.

I was desperate. I played my last chip.

The Fox & Stag.

Perched on the southern edge of the Manor at Midtown on Thomasville Road, Fox & Stag is a warm and sedate tavern with a couple of mixmasters who know how to sling a signature cocktail. It was my only hope to keep Stanwyck from going back to that bounder Clooney.

My humble scribbler’s wage packet cannot compete with the allure of that dastard’s vast fortune, curse him thrice.

How can I lure Stanwyck to abide in Tallahassee when she has tasted of Paris and Monaco?

“One last drink before you go?” I suggested innocently. “For old time’s sake.”

She took the bait, commenting as we walked in the door, “Did you feel that? As if we crossed a threshold?”

My bold plan at work: Challenge her passion for glitz and glamour with her abiding love for home.

I held her chair with a flourish.

Perched at the well-polished bar — illumined by a series of green-shaded banker’s lamps marking F&S as a fine prospect for settling with a cocktail and a good book — my dearest sighed.

“This place feels so … so … homey.”

“You ain’t catching that vibe at no baccarat table,” I said stupidly.

She glowered. I shut up.

A groaning charcuterie board appeared as if from heaven itself, an abundant array of dairy and pork treats garnished

Charcuterie board

56

March–April 2019

↑ Bartender Danny Anderson works his magic at The Fox & Stag, a tavern in Midtown that offers drinks at a reasonable price and unpretentious sophistication.

with jam, olives and crackers.

At $14, this is a full meal for a glutton and more than ample for a couple grazing with drinks.

The F&S small-plate menu covers the range from snacks to a chicken-and-waffle chow-down.

“Why have we never come here?”

I explained that the three-year old Fox & Stag had only recently risen to standard under new ownership. Tyler Woolson, Matt Larmoyeux and Alex Beltrami — Tallahassee bar veterans who also run the Strip on Tennessee and Fire Betty’s adjacent to F&S — spent the past 18 months creating a welcoming and reasonably priced haven for adultish locals craving unpretentious sophistication.

I handed my dreams over to bar wizards James Hall and Danny Anderson. They were my last hope at averting lonely desolation.

Our first mixological emprise was the Buffalo Vieux, an F&S original that captured first place in the 2017 Buffalo Trace Competition. Imagine an Old Fashioned with liqueur booster.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Accented nicely by Hall’s homemade cinnamon-walnut bitters, it rolls softly across the tongue, a waft of walnut lingering after the swallow.

Stanwyck’s gentle “ahhhhhh” gave clue: Keep quiet and let the drinks do the talking.

Next: An unnamed variation on a Sidecar in a sugarrimmed coupe glass rinsed with Laphroaig, just enough peaty richness to satisfy even the grumpiest scotch dogmatist.

This delicately balanced blend of Dewars, Cognac, Chartreuse and a dollop of house-made rosemary syrup moved our International Woman of Mystery to survey her surroundings and reckon all was right with the world.

Stanwyck glanced at her bejeweled Bulgari.

“Moritz can wait. This place is all right.”

She texted the pilot her regrets.

Pressed to conjure a name, Danny and James christened the Hail Mary, a perfect designation for the concoction that raised my last ditch plan to victory. Excelsior!

Take that, Clooney. TM

↑ Hail Mary ➸ 1 oz Dewar’s Scotch ➸ .75 oz Cognac ➸ .5 oz lemon juice ➸ .5 oz house-made rosemary syrup ➸ .25 oz yellow Chartreuse ➸ Laphroaig scotch rinse

Buffalo Vieux ➸ 1 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon ➸ .75 oz Hennessy cognac ➸ .5 oz Benedictine ➸ .25 oz Drambuie ➸ 2 dashes housemade walnut bitters ➸ Absente rinse

photography by MARY CURRAN

#DineDowntown

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

57

gastro & gusto

←

Cypress Restaurant chef David Gwynn strikes a pose in the restaurant’s more quick-and-casual bar area.

DINING OUT

BRANCHING OUT As husband and wife start new ventures, their Cypress Restaurant remains a Tallahassee staple

by ROSANNE DUNKELBERGER

58

March–April 2019

T

he story of Cypress Restaurant, celebrating its 19th anniversary in business this year, is about as Tallahassee as it gets.

Proprieter/chef/spouses David and Elizabeth Gwynn are fifth-generation Leon Countians. Old-timers remember Cypress’ location on the corner of Tennessee Street and Gadsden Street as home to the landmark Garcia’s Restaurant for 37 years. Not-soold-timers may recall its short history as Buffalo’s Wings and Rings.

David Gwynn’s mother, Noanne Gwynn, was a partner in the Upper Crust in the ’70s, the first restaurant in the newly built Carriage Gate center. Over the years, the location that now houses Grub Burger Bar would be occupied by other restaurants including chef Jack Shoop’s Jacques’ Upper Crust and the ever-popular Georgio’s.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

David Gwynn would be introduced to the food business when the self-styled “good son” would help his mom cater local soirees for years afterward (Noanne Gwynn’s longtime friend and sorority sister was another local catering/restauranteur legend, Nella Schomburger).

But he says the Tallahassee tale of Cypress was literally an inch away from never happening.

After marriage, graduating college and working in the beer and wine business for a few years (in that order), Gwynn decided to attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York for formal training. After graduating there, the couple made their way to Dallas, and David worked in the kitchen at the Mansion on Turtle Creek. After nearly three years in that job, David and Elizabeth photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

wanted to strike out on their own with a build-your-own pasta restaurant concept.

“I’m about an inch away from the paper to sign a lease,” he recalled, “and I was like, ‘Do I really want to live in Dallas for the rest of my life?’” With two young boys, then 6 and almost 3, the pair shifted gears and moved back to their hometown, hoping to introduce Tallahassee to a true Southern-style fine dining experience.

The novice restauranteurs had just enough time after Cypress’ opening in April 2000 to “get our feet under us” when the presidential recount started that November. With a guestbook filled with political heavy hitters — Karl Rove, Warren Christopher and James Baker, to name a few — and reporters from a pantheon of news outlets, the little 84-seat restaurant’s word-ofmouth reputation went around the world.

But an ever-changing menu of creative twists on traditional foods have kept Cypress as a perennial Best of Tallahassee honoree as a fine-dining special-occasion restaurant, as well as landing it a spot in Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Hall of Fame.

While grateful for the honors, Gwynn sometimes feels Cypress is a victim of its own reputation. Too many local people consider it a place to celebrate only the grand occasions — birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and such — but don’t necessarily think to visit more than once or twice a year. While there is the option to dress up and enjoy a multi-course, leisurely meal with entrees ranging from $24 to $38, the restaurant’s bar area is more quick-and-casual with its own menu of reasonably priced tapas, a $12 Cypress Burger and grilled fish tacos.

“Sometimes we’ll get parents whose kids may have a nighttime practice at Leon High, so they’ll come up here and grab a drink while they’re waiting on the kids, or some people may stop before they go to an FSU basketball game,” Gywnn said.

That high-priced entrée is Sugar Cane Mopped Rib Eye, which has been a staple on the Cypress menu, along with the starters Cypress Oysters & Biscuits and Fried Grouper Cheeks. Online reviewers have also raved about the Grilled Hangar Steak, Grilled Lamb Rack and Shrimp & Grits. Not a selfish chef, Gwynn has recipes posted on the restaurant website (cypressrestaurant.com/recipes) for those who might want to recreate a few favorites at home.

That bar burger was the impetus for another of the Gwynns’ ventures, Vertigo Burgers and Fries, which opened in the old Looper’s location off Apalachee Parkway in 2012. For those Dinner Monday–Saturday who would like a little Opens at 5 p.m.

Cypress comfort food for 320 E. Tennessee St. breakfast and lunch, they (850) 513-1100 opened Grove Market Café cypressrestaurant.com on Market Street. TM

GOVERNORS CLUB TALLAHASSEE’S PREMIER PRIVATE CLUB

Fresh Ingredients Paired with Impeccable Wine & Personalized Service Creates the Perfect Recipe for Your Exclusive Dining Experience.

Memberships Available

Fine Dining � Private Parties Cocktail Lounge � Outdoor Seating

CYPRESS RESTAURANT

202 S. Adams Street � Tallahassee, Florida

850-224-0650 � www.GovClub.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

1/2 V - 3.8125'' x 10''

March–April 2019

59

gastro & gusto

DINING IN

A HEALTHY ADJUSTMENT

Shopping, cooking and surviving on a gluten-free diet

by KATE PIERSON

60

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY ZELENO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS AND COURTESY OF INSTANTPOT.COM

A

s I turn into the parking lot of Publix on Blair Stone Road and Park Avenue, I begin my “pep talk.”

This internal monologue encourages me to stay focused, to not get discouraged and to not cave for the cookies. Cooking and baking has never been my forte, but I never thought the challenge of grocery shopping for a broke 22-year-old could get any more difficult until I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, a thyroid disorder, and polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Both conditions attack my endocrine system, and therefore my body has a difficult time with insulin. My endocrinologist and gynecologist said medication wouldn’t be enough and that I’d have to change my diet.

They recommended cutting all processed foods. And because gluten worsens the body’s resistance to insulin, they recommended that I eliminate gluten from my diet.

This doesn’t mean that I am allergic to gluten. I could have stayed in my gluten-filled ways but at a price: severe bloating, fatigue, weight gain and other unattractive symptoms.

In changing to a gluten-free diet, I faced difficulty from the start, including: Eating got more expensive. It’s true: It’s expensive to eat healthily. Instead of settling for sandwich fixings or frozen pizza, I had to buy far pricier food, and I had to cook.

No more cereal, no more bagels with cream cheese, no more pizza rolls. Instead, I started spending way more time in the grocery store buying salmon, lean ground turkey and tons of produce. When I do go for trail mix or snack-like products, the GreenWise brand has become my new costly best friend.

← Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa Found on Pinterest via Well Plated by Erin INGREDIENTS

➸ 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil — divided ➸ 1 pound raw tail-on shrimp — 26–30 count, peeled and deveined ➸ 1 teaspoon kosher salt — divided ➸½ teaspoon chili powder — divided ➸ ⅓ cup finely chopped yellow onion — about half of 1 small onion ➸ 3 cloves garlic — minced (about 1 tablespoon) ➸ 1 cup uncooked Bob’s Red Mill Quinoa ➸ ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ➸ 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth ➸ 1 large lemon ➸ 3 tablespoons fresh parsley — plus additional for serving

↑ Honey Sesame Seared Salmon Found on Pinterest via Delicious Obsessions by Jessica Espinoza INGREDIENTS

➸ 2 –3 pounds salmon fillets ➸ ¼ cup coconut aminos ➸ ¼ cup sesame oil ➸ 1 lemon, juiced ➸ 2 tbsp. honey

INSTRUCTIONS

➸ Toasted sesame oil for drizzling before serving ➸ Diced green onions of chives for serving ➸ Toasted sesame seeds for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all of the marinade ingredients together until smooth. Place the salmon fillets in a Ziploc bag or a large glass dish (I use my large Pyrex casserole dish, which has a lid). Pour the marinade over the salmon and let sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready to cook the salmon, heat a skillet, frying pan or cast iron pan (I use cast iron) over medium heat. Add a tablespoon or two of coconut oil. Place the salmon in the pan, skin side down. The salmon should sizzle when it hits the pan and this will sear the skin. Cook skin side down for 2–3 minutes and then flip the salmon. Pour the remaining marinade in the pan, lower the heat to medium-low, and cook the salmon for 3–5 minutes or until done. Salmon will be done when it flakes with a fork. Serve with fresh chopped chives or green onions, toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

NOTE: Cooking time will vary, depending on the thickness of your salmon fillet.

PHOTOS BY MARIANVEJCIK / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS AND COURTESY OF WELL PLATED BY ERIN

In a large nonstick skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil over mediumhigh heat. Add the shrimp, then sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon chili powder.

Sauté just until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Immediately remove the shrimp to a plate so they do not overcook.

Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in the same skillet, then add the onion. Let cook until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the quinoa, cayenne, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon chili powder. Stir to coat the quinoa with the oil and let brown for 2 minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock, then increase the heat to high and bring the broth to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let simmer until the quinoa is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork.

Zest the lemon directly into the pan, then juice the lemon and add the lemon juice and parsley to the skillet as well.

Toss to combine, then top with the reserved shrimp. Sprinkle with additional fresh parsley.

Serve warm.

➸ 1” knob of ginger, finely minced, OR 1 tsp. dried ginger powder ➸ 2 cloves of garlic, minced, OR ¼ tsp. garlic powder ➸C oconut oil for searing

Getting creative with meals. When I started my new diet, I found myself rotating among the same three or four meals every night. That was a result of my pickiness as an eater and my lack of familiarity with where gluten was hiding. For example, some don’t know that soy sauce contains gluten. Now that I’m more experienced on the topic, I feel more freedom to make new recipies.

Increased appetite. Because I am not eating as many starches and carbs, I sometimes found myself hungrier than ever. This has caused me to find other sources of protein and increase my protein intake so that I feel more satisfied.

Change of lifestyle. I used to love

going out to eat, but it immediately became more of a hassle. A lot of restaurants are coming out with glutenfree substitutions or menu options, but for the places that don’t, I sometimes find myself in a situation where an entree might be gluten-free, but it depends on how it’s prepared and whether it contains soy. When confronted with this ambiguity, I go for a salad.

It has been three years since I went “gluten free.” Now 25, I am happy to report that I have since mastered this new lifestyle.

Enjoy these two recipes of my favorite gluten-free meals to cook at home on a Sunday night or a Friday date night. TM

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

61

ADVERTISEMENT

Restaurant Spotlight

Beloved Breakfast Spot Serves up Same Great Food at a New Location If you’ve lived in Tallahassee for any amount of time, you’ve heard of The Egg Cafe and Eatery, and hopefully you’ve dined there.

This Tallahassee staple has a vast and delectable menu, an inviting atmosphere and the hot local coffee is served in their iconic, handcrafted mugs.

As a result of longstanding success, owner Michael Schmidt decided to open a downtown location in 2018.

“Opening a downtown location has been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Schmidt. “We believe the Plaza Tower is the best fit for us. We are centrally located to the Capitol, City Hall, universities and the hustle and bustle of downtown offices. Our intention is to fill a void in the full-

service breakfast market and be a part of the 18-hour vision.”

Where the original location warms with a French Country flair, the downtown location exudes an upscale ambience with crystal chandeliers, Chicago bricks, reclaimed wood accents and a soothing color scheme.

Both locations merge with the intent of providing family-friendly and inviting atmospheres. They are dining establishments that range from Saturday morning mimosas and Benedicts with friends, to pancakes and coffee with the kids to business lunches hosted in their private meeting spaces.

With over 100 menu items, it would be impossible to find something you don’t like, let alone love. All food is made to order

with only the freshest ingredients, something the staff takes great pride in.

Breakfast is The Egg’s specialty, serving up popular items such as The Big Ed omelet made with homemade corned beef hash, a variety of unique Benedicts and scrumptiously topped pancakes.

Any breakfast or brunch can be paired with mimosas, bloody marys or a selection of craft beers.

For lunch, try the Panhandle Club topped with fried green tomatoes or the apple, chicken and walnut salad.

“Our goal is for every customer to experience the best service and excellent quality food in a familyfriendly setting,” said Schmidt.

“Because first and foremost, we are a family-owned business, we want

THE EGG CAFE & EATERY 300 S. Duval St. | (850) 907-3447

62

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

our guests to feel at home and hopefully make some friends along the way. We love our community and giving back to it is important to us. We hope our guest feel this sense of community when dining with us.”

Owners Mike and Flo Schmidt

tallahasseedowntown.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

63

DINING FARTHER OUT

FAR AWAY YET CLOSE TO HOME

‘Tallahassee’ restaurant features other-side-ofthis-world encounter

by PETE REINWALD

SOUTH AFRICA Tallahassee Spur Somerset West

64

March–April 2019

D

iners seem impressed with a Tallahassee restaurant known for its steaks, shakes and service.

Says one online reviewer: “Great!

Friendly staff, comfortable place to be with friends and family.”

And two Capital City natives rave about an uncanny encounter there.

How to get to the restaurant: Head southeast and go 8,000 miles.

By plane and then car, you’ll arrive at the Tallahassee Spur Steak Ranch in fewer than 30 hours. Never mind the budget-buster travel and layover. You’re going for the “Hunga Busta” double burger.

The Tallahassee Spur Steak Ranch calls home the southern tip of Africa. Its address: Shop 312, Somerset Mall, Cnr Broadway Blvd. & Centernary Dr., Firgrove Rural, Somerset West, South Africa.

For those of us who prefer to get around on a bicycle, Google Maps falls annoyingly short with, “Can’t find a way there.”

The Tallahassee Spur is one of about 300 uniquely named Spur steak houses, most of them in South Africa. They’re products of

the Spur Corporation, based in Cape Town, and their logo features a U.S. Plains Indian in impressive headdress.

They’re quick-service, sit-down establishments that promote a “relaxed, family-friendly environment” and trumpet the American West. The restaurants take on random names of U.S. places, states and cities, including Tallahassee, and of places, people or things ← Philip related to American Kiracofe, a Indians.

Godby High Not far from the graduate who now lives in Tallahassee Spur, you South Africa, can find a Texas Spur, provided this an Arizona Spur, a photo of him and his wife, Adri, San Francisco Spur, a in front of the Coyote Canyon Spur, Tallahassee Spur a Navaho Spur, a Steak Ranch.

Sioux Spur — you get the picspur.

Christina Stanton, a Leon High graduate who lives in Manhattan, says she’s a regular South Africa visitor who knew the Spur restaurant chain well in July when she visited the Tallahassee Spur for the first time. She walked in and talked with a person in charge.

“I said, ‘Hey, I’m from Tallahassee, and this makes me laugh,’ ” she said, referring to a “Tallahassee” restaurant in South Africa.

“He said, ‘Funny you should say that. There’s somebody else here from Tallahassee.’ ” Philip Kiracofe, a Godby High graduate who had moved to South Africa in 2013, had already sat down with his wife, Adri.

“The manager comes over and says, ‘You won’t believe this: There’s somebody at the counter, and she’s also from Tallahassee,’ ” Kiracofe said. “I was like, ‘That’s insane.’ ” Stanton and Kiracofe got introduced.

They laughed and discussed each other’s backgrounds and connections. “It’s such a small world,” Stanton said.

Stanton said she moved to Manhattan about 25 years ago as an aspiring actress. She said she spends about two months a year in South Africa as part of a missionary program for Redeemer Presbyterian Church, for which she and her husband work.

She said her church has established a

Take a Trip We haven’t found anybody who suggests taking a trip to South Africa just to dine at the Tallahassee Spur Steak Ranch. But we’ve heard folks rave about nearby Cape Town, which many consider among the world’s most beautiful cities. “A comingtogether of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, there's nowhere quite like Cape Town, a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park,” Lonely Planet says. And if you’re ever in Cape Town, you’ll know where to find a place to eat that sounds like home.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHIL KIRACOFE

gastro & gusto

Big loans for big dreams.

When you have big dreams for a home that reflects who you are and the life you’ve built, choose a mortgage banker who thinks as big as you do. At Capital City Bank, our jumbo loan programs are especially suited for financing higher-value homes, and our expert guidance and concierge style of service make the process easy.

THE BENEFITS OF JUMBO X Higher purchase limits X One loan for the entire loan amount X Available for primary residences, second or vacation homes and investment properties Apply online at www.ccbg.com/mortgage.

Lisa Canup

Mortgage Account Executive Call/Text 509.3810 canup.lisa@ccbg.com NMLS # 451774

Subject to credit and property approval.

Program terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Other restrictions and limitations may apply.

SERVING FOR OVER 20 YEARS!

Serving our Clients... Serving our Community Divorce | Personal Injury | Bankruptcy | Probate/Estate | Family Law Foreclosure | Wrongful Death | Construction Law | Contracts | Insurance Claims

2014, 2016 and 2017 Best of Tallahassee winner

Offices in Tallahassee and Tampa | 1330 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee | TallahasseeTrialLawyer.com | P: 850-386-5777 | F: 850-386-8507 TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

65

gastro & gusto

tradition of taking staff members of South African churches to Spur restaurants. About 25 years after apartheid, poverty and inequality continue to disproportionally afflict the majority black population.

Reports say millions live in extreme poverty.

A burger and Coke at Tallahassee Spur costs about $6.50, yet many South Africans can’t afford to eat there and consider it a status symbol, Stanton said.

“I still enjoy going over there and feeling like I make a difference,” she said recently from New York.

Kiracofe, son of former Tallahassee Police spokesman Phil Kiracofe, lives in the Sea Point community of Cape Town and runs a business-accelerator program that he cofounded.

Of South Africa, Kiracofe said, “It’s kind of a crossroads where you have a confluence of a Western influence and the African ethos, and it’s amazing. It’s quite a privilege to be living here.”

He said he thought his family would get a kick out of photos of him and his wife in front of the Tallahassee Spur, about 45 minutes from Cape Town.

“We’re very, very far from home,” Kiracofe said. “It’s one of those little nostalgic things to just see the name ‘Tallahassee’ on the side of a restaurant.”

The Tallahassee Spur posted Kiracofe’s encounter with Stanton on its Facebook page, as did Stanton, who wrote: “Life is so fun, random and funny sometimes!”

Kiracofe said restaurant employees told him they’d never served somebody from Tallahassee. And suddenly they had served two from his hometown.

I couldn’t resist. I called the restaurant and got manager Leon Liebenberg on the phone. Kiracofe said Liebenberg had greeted him on his visit.

We had a terrible connection, and I couldn’t hear or understand as Liebenberg patiently and politely tried to answer my questions about the restaurant and the encounter.

Then he said he was sorry, he was busy and couldn’t talk anymore.

The Tallahassee Spurn. TM

66

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHIL KIRACOFE

↑ Tallahassee natives Philip Kiracofe, left, and Christina Stanton, right, with Kiracofe’s wife, Adri, get acquainted on a coincidental July encounter at the Tallahassee Spur Steak Ranch in South Africa. “It’s such a small world,” Stanton said.

Thank You Tallahassee For voting us Best Dermatology Practice

Dermatology Associates is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care and patient education while utilizing the most recent medical and surgical advances in a caring and compassionate environment.

datfl.com | 850.877.4134

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

67

ADVERTISEMENT

RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Producing Our Future Physicians If you’ve ever experienced the difficulty of finding a primary-care physician who welcomes new patients, you understand why the FSU College of Medicine was created.

Few people are aware that the medical students most likely to choose primary-care careers often lack the family financial resources needed to get through medical school with reasonable levels of educational debt. The average debt for graduating FSU students is $150,000 – and high debt levels can steer students toward higher-paying specialties and away from primary care.

“We produce graduates who choose many specialties, everything from family medicine to neurosurgery,” said Dr. Sandeep Rahangdale, dean of the College of Medicine’s Tallahassee

68

March–April 2019

Regional Campus, located on Capital Oaks Drive on the northeast side of town. “However, it’s not as easy to produce the primary-care doctors as you would expect. Many factors steer students toward other specialties.

“The mission of this medical school is to do everything we can to be responsive to community needs. That includes producing more doctors in primary care: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetricsgynecology. To do that, we strive to provide scholarship support for those who need it most and who are most likely to choose those specialties.”

The results, so far, are encouraging.

More than 100 FSU College of Medicine alumni are now practicing in the Florida

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Panhandle, and just over half are in primarycare specialties – significantly above the national average. More than 40 of those alumni are now practicing in Tallahassee.

“A great deal of credit goes to the Tallahassee physicians who teach our students,” Rahangdale said. “But before that, we’re very focused on admitting students who believe in our mission and are drawn to the service calling of medicine. We bring in large numbers of students from the Panhandle, and about a third of our students come from backgrounds considered by the Association of American Medical Colleges to be underrepresented in medicine.

“These students often have a personal understanding of what it means to lack access to health care, and they are just as often called to work in areas with the greatest needs.”

Renew.

Refresh.

REVEAL. T a l l a h a s s e e

Plastic Surgery Clinic & Physicians’ Skin Care Clinic *model

T a l l a h a s s e e

Larry L. Harper M.D., F.A.C.S.

Alfredo A. Jeffrey M. Rawlings, Paredes, Jr., M.D. M.D., F.A.C.S.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. We accept most insurance plans. Financing Plans available.

Plastic Surgery Clinic & Physicians’ Skin Care Clinic (850) 877-2126 • TLHPlasticSurgery.com

March–April 2019 69 C O SM E T I C A N D REC ONSTRU CTIVE BRE AST SURGERY | BODY CON TOU RING | CO SME TIC FAC IAL SU TALL RGE RYAHASSEEMAGA | FAC IAL REZINE.COM JUVEN AT ION | SKIN CARE | L ASER

Environmentally conscious Capital City residents board the beekeeping bandwagon story by PETE REINWALD // photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

70

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO BY JULICHKA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (HONEY)

How Sweet it is

“They’re just fascinating … so industrious,” Tallahassee beekeeper Michael Callan says of honeybees. “They have a compulsion to just work, work, work. They’re just so intent on what they’re doing — that’s all they care about.”

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

71

THERE’S A BUZZ ABOUT TOWN, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HAIRCUTS.

It has everything to do with honeybees, and there’s almost certainly a hive cropping up near you.“It’s huge here,” said Tallahassee beekeeper Lisa Lazarus.

Teenagers are doing it.

Retirees are doing it. Radio personalities are doing it.

Your neighbors are doing it. They’re beekeeping. Ask them about having gotten the bug, and they’ll tell you they’ve been stung.

Experienced beekeepers hardly question why. Through its myriad blooming plants, the Capital City maintains a nearly yearround source of nectar for bees to carry to their hives and make honey.

The city also boasts a good share of welleducated people who are environmentally conscious and just plain curious, they say.

They visit a hive and suddenly get caught up in the miracle and the mystery of these little creatures that spend their lives devoted to their hive and queen.

“They’re just fascinating … so industrious,” said Michael Callan, who keeps bees and sells honey in Indianhead Acres. “They have a compulsion to just work, work, work. They’re just so intent on what they’re doing — that’s all they care about. You Rian Jackson definitely develop an affection for says he got interested in them.” beekeeping at Leon County is home to more age 11. He’d gone than 125 registered beekeepers, with his mother and brother to see Queen according to the Florida Departof the Sun: What ment of Agriculture and Consumer are the bees Services. And the Tallahassee-based telling us?

Apalachee Beekeepers Association, which serves Northern Florida and Southern Georgia, boasts about 175 members.

Statewide, the number of registered

72

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

beekeepers increased 800 percent in 12 years to around 4,900, the agency said late last year. Citing a need for research, many threw their support and lobbying efforts behind creation of the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, which opened last year at the University of Florida.

Some suggest the growth in beekeeping has helped the state recover from so-called colony collapse disorder, a mysterious phenomenon that appeared more than a decade ago. Beekeepers reported that adult worker bees would abandon their hives, leading to the hives’ deaths. That sparked widespread alarm, given honeybees’ role in pollinating food-producing plants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says such reports have “declined substantially” in recent years, yet beekeepers nationwide have continued to report significant losses.

Some attribute the most recent losses to diseases and parasites such as the Varroa mite. That helps keep beekeepers vigilant and at work on their hives.

How to Get Started

↑ Rian Jackson, who started Buzz Box Apiary with his brother Owen, lights pine needles inside his smoker, which beekeepers use to calm their bees.

↑ Kim Jackson says she hesitated when son Rian told her as a pre-teen that he wanted to start a beehive. “Now the whole family is knee-deep in bees,” she says.

Beekeepers cite a cost range of about $300 to $600 to get started in beekeeping. That includes wooden boxes with a frame, the foundation and a stand; protective clothing that includes a suit, a veil and gloves; and various tools and gadgets including a smoker, which beekeepers use to calm their bees.

Some beekeepers recommend starting with a “baby bee hive,” in which you purchase a three-pound package that holds thousands of bees, including a queen, and dump it into the home that you’ve bought or built for them. If all goes as it should, you’ll soon have a functional and productive hive that numbers in the tens of thousands.

Yes, you must buy the bees.

“You’d be surprised at how many people think you just put a box out there, and the bees are going to come,” said Tony Hogg, owner of Full Moon Honey in Monticello and former president of the Florida State Beekeepers Association.

North Florida beekeepers know Hogg as a leading advocate of bees and a protector of them, including for his efforts to help beekeepers southwest of Tallahassee keep their hives fed and intact after Hurricane Michael.

You can find bees and bee equipment for sale online or in the Tallahassee area. You can start with the Apalachee Beekeepers Association (ABA@beekeepers.org) or with the Tallahassee Beekeeping Meetup Group (meetup.com), which in late December boasted more than 400 members. It meets monthly.

Beekeepers urge newcomers to attend a daylong introductory course that the Apalachee Beekeepers Association conducts around each spring. Otherwise, they say, join the association or the meetup group.

At the very least, ask around.

Beekeepers love to help beginners.

Beekeepers also recommend starting with at least two hives.

Once you start observing and learning, they say, a second hive will help you spot differences in the hives that might signal a problem in one of them.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

73

State Registration

Whether you’re keeping one hive or hundreds of them, you must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The law also requires that you keep European honeybees, which state and industry officials consider less defensive than their African cousins.

You can apply online with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer services. The fee is $10 for up to five colonies. A colony refers to the group of bees that occupies one hive.

Shortly after registration, a state apiary inspector will visit and inspect the colonies for bee diseases such as American foulbrood and pests such as the Varroa mite and the small hive beetle, all of which can result in a hive’s destruction.

The inspector also will require a water source for the bees. In addition to pollen and nectar, the later of which they store in their stomachs and eventually help turn into honey, bees forage on water, said Brandi Simmons, a specialist in the apiary inspection section of the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Bees will visit the closest water source, so you want to keep them away from your neighbor’s bird bath or pool, she said.

These considerations underscore the time you’ll have to spend with your bees to keep the hives healthy and to prevent the bees from leaving, beekeepers say.

“There’s a lot of land mines out there … pests, beetles, mites — a lot going on,” said James Rish, owner of Rish Tupelo Honey in Wewahitchka. “It’s like being a plumber; it’s a four-year apprenticeship.”

That includes recognizing signs of an imminent swarm — that is, when the queen leaves the hive with a large group of worker bees and forms a new colony — and knowing how to prevent it, Tallahassee beekeeper Michael Callan said.

Callan said he found it difficult to say precisely how much time he spends with his bees but emphasized that they require constant monitoring and, when necessary, adjustments.

“You have to be around a lot of the time,” he said. “You can’t just go off for two months or ignore them for two months, because they won’t survive or they’ll just leave.”

“You have to be committed,” he added.

“And you have to care about it.”

74

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

The plight of bees got Rian Jackson interested in beekeeping at age 11. He’d gone with his mother and brother to see “Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?” at the Tallahassee Film Festival.

The documentary explored colony collapse disorder and the “mysterious world of the beehive,” according to the film’s synopsis, and it featured beekeepers and scientists who offered solutions.

“I saw that movie, and I was like, ‘This is it,’ ” Jackson said.

“I said, ‘No way in hell,’ ” recalled his mother, Kimberly.

She said she later brought Rian and his brother Owen to an “Introduction to Beekeeping” short course that the Apalachee Beekeepers Association gives every spring.

Rian started a beehive, and his brother and mother eventually would do the same. In 2012, the brothers started Buzz Box Apiary, whose website promotes the brothers’ honey sales and beekeeping services, plus educational outreach.

Kim Jackson pulls a honeycovered frame from a hive, with assistance from son Rian, who calls beekeeping an adventure.

↑ To stay healthy and to keep producing, bees require much time and attention. “It’s the idea that there’s always something changing and a challenge to overcome,” Rian Jackson says. “It’s never the same thing twice. I think that’s what draws me in.”

“When you see your kids’ passion and interest and curiosity, you can’t say no to that,” said Kimberly Jackson, a geographic information systems manager at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “Now the whole family is kneedeep in bees.”

The brothers keep multiple hives on property of friends outside of their neighborhood.

Rian, now 17 and a senior at Leon High School, calls it an adventure.

“It’s the idea that there’s always something changing and always a challenge to overcome,” he said. “It’s never the same thing twice. I think that’s what draws me in.”

As they make some money selling honey, the brothers do presentations and demonstrations at high schools in Leon County and the surrounding area but don’t plan to expand their enterprise, Owen said.

“We’re just trying to keep the bees alive,” said Owen, 15, a sophomore at Leon High.

“That’s pretty much it.”

To some, bees are big business. That’s certainly the case southwest of Tallahassee along the Apalachicola River, where big producers trumpet Tupelo honey for its distinctive flavor and appearance. James Rish, owner of Rish Tupelo Honey in Wewahitchka, said the river features a concentration of Tupelo honey producers “like nowhere else in the country.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services touts the state’s honey industry as a top-five U.S. producer.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

75

But to many backyard beekeepers, it’s more about the bees than the bucks.

“I never started it thinking I could make money,” said Frenchtown beekeeper Rick Flagg, a longtime Tallahassee-based radio journalist. “I just wanted the bees.”

Flagg, owner of Frenchtown Beez, sells his honey on Saturdays at the Frenchtown Heritage Market. He said he gives away lots of it and figures that he breaks even financially.

↑ Beekeeper Rick Flagg, a longtime Tallahasseebased radio journalist, sells his honey on Saturdays at the Frenchtown Heritage Market. He says he probably breaks even financially.

“People just love getting honey,” he said. “It’s such a cheap way to make people happy.”

Flagg said he got started several years ago after he observed a friend’s hives and got addicted. He has 10 hives on his property on Old Bainbridge Road, where passers-by see him in his beekeeping suit and wave.

“They just call me Bee Man,” he said.

In Indianhead Acres, several residents keep bees, and neighbors embrace them for the fruit of their labor, says Grant Gelhardt, president of the Indianhead-Lehigh Neighborhood Association.

Beekeeper Michael Callan and his wife, Shelly Hatton, sell their honey on the neighborhood’s Facebook page and often receive sweet reports from neighbors.

“They’ll say, ‘Your bees were on my bottlebrush this morning,’ ” Callan said. “They’re so proud to report it.”

Likewise, beekeepers fly their pollination flag proudly. Ask them about bees and beekeeping, and they’ll talk until you beg them to stop.

But you won’t do that. You might take them up on their offer to come and meet their bees.

You then might catch the fever, maybe even soon break out the hives.

“We’re always trying to bring new people into the field,” said Flagg, of Frenchtown Beez.

“We’re the best ambassadors for the bees, and we all take that very seriously.”

“For a community that’s environmentally conscious, socially aware, well-educated, we want to be stewards of the earth,” beekeeper Lisa Lazarus said. “The very structure of bees is so fascinating, how they’re structured, how they behave, how smart they have to be, the way they take care of their social stratification. It’s just amazing.” TM

Local Laws

The Taste Depends on the Place

So whose honey is the best?

“I don’t mean to brag,” said Shelly Hatton of Indianhead Acres, referring to husband Michael Callan’s honey, “but everyone says it’s the best honey they’ve ever tasted.”

And here we thought Tupelo honey was supposed to be the best.

Then again, we’re talking about beekeepers, who love their bees and defend their honey-making honor.

The flavor and color of honey vary depending on the plants, blossoms and nectar in a hive’s neck of the woods or neighborhood.

Tupelo honey, for example, is the product of the blossoms of the tupelo gum tree, and it’s known for its greenish cast, slower crystallization and distinctive taste.

Tupelo schmupelo, some might say.

“I would put my bees up against Tupelo any day of the week,” said Rick Flagg, of Frenchtown Beez.

A spokesman for the city of Tallahassee said he could find no ordinances or restrictions regarding beekeeping in the Capital City. Check with your neighborhood or homeowners association on rules. Just as importantly, check with your neighbors on how they feel about it and whether relations could become sticky. Some beekeepers keep their hives outside of town, on property of family or friends and away from their neighbors. Yet beekeepers emphasize a lack of risk to everybody. Many say they’ve rarely if ever been stung. “The last thing a bee wants to do is sting you,” beekeeper Lisa Lazarus said. Because of its barbed stinger, a honeybee loses a chunk its body — and its life — upon pulling it out of a human. That’s not to suggest that honeybees know that their sting will kill them. Regardless, Lazarus said, “I have found them to be very reasonable.” “Bees aren’t going to sting because they see a human,” said Brandi Simmons, a specialist in the apiary inspection section of the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “They are only going to sting when they’re defending their home or resources.”

76

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Rick Flagg expresses his sentiment about beekeeping as he checks his hives for mites. Of beekeepers, he says, “We’re the best ambassadors for the bees, and we take that very seriously.”

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

77

HOG H EAV E N

As a farmer, former Jefferson County commissioner puts rare pigs on a pedestal STORY BY LAZARO ALEMAN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALICIA OSBORNE

G

arbed in overalls and a light jacket to protect against a chilly fall morning, the fit, youngish-looking and white-haired 75-year-old Hines Boyd wades knee-deep into hogs.

“You want them gaining a pound or pound-and-a-half a day and to be stress-free,” Boyd says as he pets his sociable animals.

Stress, he explains, not only reduces the pigs’ desired daily weight gain, it can affect weaning times, litter sizes and meat quality.

“You want happy pigs,” Boyd says.

The ones he raises appear more than pleased. Some 800 roam 100 acres of his ancestral farm in Monticello — rooting, grazing and lazing in pastures or foraging in woodlands.

78

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

These aren’t ordinary pigs, and Boyd is no ordinary pig farmer.

A Ph.D. and former Jefferson County commissioner, Boyd hails from one of Florida’s founding families and is deeply rooted in the land that his family has owned and farmed going on eight generations. He feels a duty to the land and an obligation to his ancestors to hand it down — chances are, full of rather rare livestock.

The porkers that he raises at his family’s historic Glendower Farms are purebred, black-hoofed Ibericos, a select breed native to the Iberian Peninsula and one of a handful of herds in the U.S. Spaniards call Ibericos “olive trees on legs,” because of their garnet-red, marbleized meat, buttery, nutty-sweet taste and high oleic-acid content.

Former Jefferson County commissioner Hines Boyd raises purebred, blackhoofed Iberico pigs, which yield a highly expensive ham, at his family’s historic Glendower Farms.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

79

“You want happy pigs,” Hines Boyd says. About 800 roam 100 acres of his ancestral farm in Monticello.

80

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Coveted by the cognoscenti as a delicacy, Iberico his counterbalance on the board. “He certainly made ham rates as the world’s finest, a luxury akin to caviar, me think. Commissioner meetings have become Hines Boyd poses with his wife, truffles and Kobe beef. A naturally cured Iberico ham tamer. But when Commissioner Boyd came up with Janegale, as leg can sell for upwards of $1,000. So exquisite tasting, an idea, no one could dissuade him.” daughter-in-law it’s served in paper-thin slices.

That strong will and tenaciousness helps explain Heather takes a seat in the To the farmers, achieving such premium quality how a Ph.D.-holding politician could end up raising tractor with her comes at a price. swine in his 70s. daughter Finley “This isn’t an easy pig to raise compared to confined It started in 2013, when Boyd, also a realtor, helped and dog Tigger. factory-raised pigs,” Boyd said. “They’re less prolific, two Spanish entrepreneurs find oak-forested land in slower growing, and don’t convert feed as efficiently.

Texas to raise Ibericos, whose distinctive flavor comes That’s the tradeoff for good taste. It’s literally a slow food — in large part from their acorn-rich diet. slow and expensive.”

Manuel Murga and Sergio Marsal cofounded Acornseekers, Boyd traces his Jefferson County roots to the 1820s and a pioneering outfit that a year later introduced Ibericos into the counts among his relatives several state legislators and former U.S., with acknowledged assistance from Boyd. Soon afterward, congressman Allen Boyd, principal owner of Boyd Family Farms, White Oak Pastures in Georgia imported its own purebred of which Glendower is part. Allen is the younger brother of Hines.

Ibericos. And in 2015, Glendower Farms, the Boyd family’s Hines Boyd holds a doctorate in animal science from ancestral home, became an Acornseekers’ affiliate. the University of Florida and served two terms as a county The idea, Boyd says, was that affiliate farms such as Glendower commissioner. He announced in August 2016 that he would not would raise Iberico pigs, and Acornseekers would market the seek a third term, saying that he wanted to spend more time products. In 2018, however, Boyd decided to go independent. with his family and his new venture.

“I don’t mind telling you it hasn’t been easy or without stress,” “I miss the debating,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Boyd says of his transition into marketing and selling.

Betsy Barfield, who served six years alongside Boyd, largely as So why persist at his age?

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

81

“I’m too heavily invested,” Boyd said.

Heritage also weighs on him.

A short walk from the fenced pastures where the pigs roam stands the house where Boyd and his siblings were raised and where his son Whit and family live. The house dates from 1920, built after a fire destroyed the original pre-Civil War structure.

Nearby, a brick-walled cemetery holds multiple gravestones memorializing Boyd’s ancestors and other departed family members. Parts of the surrounding nearly 2,000 acres have been family-owned since 1839.

“Our family is incredibly blessed with rootedness in a single piece of land,” Boyd said. “It’s rare for family enterprises to survive into the third generation. We’re into our eighth. I feel a strong duty not to let that end in my time.”

That explains the multi-generational aspect of the pig operation, which entails growing the pigs and shipping them to a facility in nearby Madison County for slaughtering. While Boyd manages the breeding, marketing and selling, daughterin-law Heather and her four home-schooled children — Finley, Maggie, Grayson and Abigail, ages 11–16, respectively — largely handle the day-to-day care of the pigs, along with the business’ social media promotions.

“Mondays we dine together and hold family business meetings,” Boyd said. “The kids get to chime in. There are no

82

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Hines Boyd emphasizes a multi-generational aspect to his pig operation, which he aims to pass to his grandchildren. With Boyd in the top photo are, from left, son Whit, granddaughter Finley, daughter-in-law Heather, granddaughter Maggie, grandson Grayson and granddaughter Abigail.

Above, Whit handles a task in the storage freezer.

holds barred. We talk about the good, bad and ugly.

It’s a workshop on running a small business.”

Boyd said Whit concluded as a teenager that he wouldn’t be able to make a living as farmer. He’s a physician assistant at Tallahassee Memorial Family Medicine Monticello and helps on the farm as he can.

Boyd aims to pass the pig operation to his grandkids, provided the venture succeeds and one or more of them want to pursue agriculture.

“Some will say I’m crazy,” Boyd said. “But that’s my motivation.”

In the meantime, he thinks his grandchildren are benefiting from the experience, a view that his daughter-in-law shares.

Heather Boyd says her children are contributing to a worthwhile family enterprise. They’re learning about teamwork and about setting goals, overcoming obstacles and more.

“I’m proud of the determination, worth ethic and consistency that they’re learning from working on the farm,” she said.

All involved are learning about a niche market.

They’re in the business of raising and selling pig products, not of curing hams — a lucrative but timeconsuming process.

“We can’t afford at this point to go two to three years for a ham to cure to get revenue,” Boyd said. “It’s bad enough waiting 15 to 24 months to grow the pigs.”

Glendower focuses on the fresh meat market and direct sales to online customers and farm-toHines Boyd’s table and high-end restaurants, grandson, such as the Governors Club in Grayson, attracts a crowd with a Tallahassee and Café Boulud in daily feed ration, Palm Beach, where Rick Mace as Heather Boyd is executive chef. and her daughters Finley and Abigail Mace says his restaurant show that farm aims to showcase Boyd’s “highlife can be fun. quality product and tell the story behind it.”

“We’ve dealt with a lot of heritage pork and farmers from around the country, and Hines carries some of the best,” Mace said. “He’s not trying to manipulate the product other than to be specific with the breed and finish the hogs on a ration that encourages the marbling, which translates into more flavor.”

Such feedback gives Boyd hope about his business, which he considers time well spent, regardless of how it turns out.

“It’s been a challenge and lots of fun, frustrating and stressful as it is at times,” he said. “It beats staying home and watching television. Part of staying energetic is being active in mind and body as one ages.” TM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

83

THE NUMBER ONE EVENT ON THE EMERALD COAST

STAY & PLAY AT SANDESTIN!

Wine,

APRIL 11 - 14, 2019

Food & Fun in the Sun!

ENJOY DISCOUNTED RATES & DELUXE ACCOMMODATIONS AT SANDESTIN VISIT SANDESTINWINEFESTIVAL.COM OR CALL 877.463.7314. CODE: WINE19

84

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

expression

MAR/APR 2019

KEEPING TABS ON ALL THAT MUSES INSPIRE

MUSIC

WHAT’S THE WORD? One-of-a-kind annual Word of South festival is putting Tallahassee on the cultural map

↖

The Tedeschi Trucks Band rocks last year’s Word of South festival at Cascades Park.

by ROB RUSHIN

BOOKS Helping Writers Stay with It || ART photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Kollet Probst’s Murals Mission

|| FILM

Another Key Capital City Festival

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

85

expression

S

pringtime here offers a handful of safe bets. The azaleas will explode, the pollen will waft and the weekend festivals will delight. From the Tallahassee Film Festival to PrideFest to the Southern Shakespeare rumpus — to name just a few — Tallahassee in bloom time offers a feast of outdoor parties.

The Word of South festival in Cascades Park has become one of the highlights in our jam-packed calendar. By its own telling, this three-day hullabaloo “features authors who write about music, musicians who also are authors, authors and musicians appearing together and everything in between.” Its unique character draws the kind of attention that could help make Tallahassee a mustvisit cultural destination. Visit Tallahassee

↑ RAM, a Haitian band, performs during last

year’s Word of South festival. This year’s event takes place April 12–14 at Cascades Park.

86

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PRO TIP

estimated local economic impact of $1.1 million in 2018 from an event that cost Word of South, a nonprofit organization, around $300,000 to produce. That’s solid ROI. Even better: Everything is free. That is, except for a ticketed concert by a headliner act, which Americana singer-songwriter Shakey Graves will provide for this year’s festival, April 12–14.

A popular family destination — this year the kids’ program is highlighted by “Pete the Cat” author Eric Litwin — WoS literally offers something for everyone who cares about music, books or both.

Cascades Park’s Bitter Southerner stage, whose 2018 overflow crowds have nudged this program to the big tent adjacent to The Edison, is curated by the popular

To stay on top of festival schedules and surprise events, download the official WoS smartphone app. Search for “Word of South festival.” photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

← Audience members watch as the Tedeschi Trucks Band performs at the 2018 Word of South festival. → Last year’s event generated a local economic impact of $1.1 million, according to an estimate from Visit Tallahassee.

online magazine’s editorial team. Expect the occasional yarn from founding editor Chuck Reece, back for his third festival appearance. Musical highlights this year include Allison Moorer, Tift Merritt and The Secret Sisters. Author David Joy (The Line That Held Us) sits down with Alabama musician/artist Abe Partridge, and distinguished historian of Southern folklore Bill Ferriss shares a stage with Delta bluesman Cedric Burnside for a couple of musician/author pairings.

Mu-aushups, the WoS term for these mingles, are signature festival events.

Sometimes a conversation or a ping-pong tradeoff of songs and readings — maybe both at the same time — mu-au-shups create room for the unexpected. Catch writer/ rapper Nate Marshall and novelist Ravi Howard for a deep dive into the intersection of hip-hop and contemporary literature or a conversation between alt-country cult fixture Matt Ryan and fantasy/sci-fi author Joe Hill (whose dad just happens to be Stephen King). Hint: The Nigerian storytelling adventure with Tallahassee-based author Iheoma Nwachukwu and Atlanta-based singer/actress/storyteller Tosinger might be this year’s hidden gem.

Local indie bookstore Midtown Reader hosts a stage featuring Pulitzer-winning historian Jack Davis (The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea), crime author Dan Ames and Tallahassee author and journalist Diane Roberts mixing it up with another Pulitzer winner, Gilbert King (Beneath a Ruthless Sun). Yet another Pulitzer winner, Robert Olen Butler, will host Spencer Wise to hear about his debut novel, The Emperor of Shoes.

Top of my list is frequently awarded writer Maria Dahvana Headley; her latest, The Mere Wife, is a sharp feminist resetting of Beowulf in modern suburbia. I’ll be first in line to get my copy signed.

Music? Glad you asked. John Sebastian and Steve Forbert deliver the classics; festival favorites The Currys offer rich and tight Americana harmonies. Alt-scene comers The Deer, Maybe April, and The Sea The Sea bring melodious folk-pop, while New Orleans legends The Iguanas —

↑ Pickle Pie author Seth Warden (right) attends

a book signing at the 2018 Word of South festival.

← Rodger “SafariMan” Tripp entertains a group

of kids with his music. He also markets himself as a professional Santa.

the world’s finest bayou/Conjunto fusion band — will fill Cascades Park with some swamp funk. Anybody with a pulse will get up and dance.

Want blues? You already know local hero Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton will serve up the spicy gumbo. Less familiar is Jontavious Willis of Greenville, Georgia, dubbed by the legendary Taj Mahal as “the great new

voice of the 21st century in acoustic blues.”

Do. Not. Miss.

Capping it all off on Sunday is John Paul White and Friends. With the crowd of pickers and singers on hand for the weekend, we might see some surprise guests join the ex-Civil Wars song man to bring the weekend to a close. It would be fitting. Surprises are the best part of Word of South, whether you are discovering a new favorite artist or finding yourself chatting with one of your musical or literary icons.

Seriously. Something for everyone. Save the date. TM

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

87

expression

BOOKS

GOT A BOOK IN YOU?

Tallahassee Writers Association keeps authors and aspiring authors on target

by MARINA BROWN

O

↑ Nonfiction Writers Association, K, some of us don’t go the The Tallahassee child-route for reasons that the organization was conceived Writers Association are entirely personal. And

by Matt Mathosian and Howard serves more than 200 writers, poets, some of us only kill green Libin when Libin, the publisher novelists, journalists things and don’t like getting our of a magazine called Business to and others. The fingernails smudged anyway. But Business, wanted a pool of articulate organization maintains a visible everybody, yes, everybody who is freelance writers. presence, as it did honest, wants to write a book.

Growing from its original 20 at last year’s Word But getting on the New York of South festival members, the group quickly doubled (above).

Times Best Seller list isn’t as easy as it and tripled as other writers joined. should be. And between the labyrinth Newcomers included those with an that includes agents, publishers, marketing, and, interest in other varieties of the printed word. oh yes, writing a tome in a cogent, properly Soon the group moved its monthly meetings punctuated and structurally literate way, means to the Senior Center, later the American Legion that a guy or girl might need some help.

Hall, and currently the Marzuq Shrine Temple And such a place has existed since the at Tharpe and Monroe. middle 1980s right here in the Capital But why, given the solitary nature of sitting down to write words that one pulls from the air, City, in the form of the Tallahassee Writers is being part of a “writers group” important?

Association. Originally called the Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE WRITERS ASSOCIATION

To join the TWA, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, visit its website: twaonline.org; DUES: Students: $25; Individuals: $35; Family up to three: $50; Supporters: $60

88

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Don’t settle.

Make it memorable.

You deserve a getaway that’s better than OK.

Iconic attractions, outdoor adventures, award-winning restaurants, modern and sleek hotels and convenient access, all just 10 miles from Atlanta.

Start planning at discoverdunwoody.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

89

DARE. DISCOVER. FLY.

Explore Tallahassee Museum’s 52 acres of living history, wildlife exhibits, soaring zip lines and obstacle courses, Jim Gary’s Twentieth Century Dinosaurs, natural trails, historic buildings, animal encounters and more.

3945 Museum Drive | (850) 575-8684 treetotreeadventures.com | tallahasseemuseum.org

Buying or Selling?

Why not let one of the Top Realtors in Tallahassee assist you?

AGGRESSIVE strategies for an AGGRESSIVE real estate market!

Make the RIGHT call today.

The 24th Annual

Children’s Week March 24-29, 2019

Breakfast! Books! Lunch!

Join us at the Capitol - Register for free at childrensweek.org

Mike Ferrie,

REALTOR®, SFR

850-566-8373 mIKEFERRIE.COM

90

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM CW Ad Quarter Page Ad 3.8125x4.875.indd 1

1/22/19 6:31 PM

CPERIO 1063 - TALLY MAG AD JAN-FEB 2019

expression Donna Meredith, a former English teacher, and now an award-winning author, past president of the TWA and organizer of some of the large conferences that the group conducts, says she started trying to write a book in the early 2000s but knew that she needed input.

“Writing alone, you don’t have enough feedback,” she said. “You need readers, and you need critics.”

The TWA puts together small groups of four or five who read each other’s work and help to polish it or even change its direction when a piece has gotten off track.

Meredith says she thinks it’s one of the most important functions of the TWA. The TWA’s Mission Statement “Writing alone, trumpets “Education, Promotion and Outreach.” you don’t Expert speakers explore topics have enough that include journalistic writing, feedback.” poetry and fiction of all genres. They — TWA past share ideas on how to find a good president Donna editor and an agent, and they explain Meredith the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Speakers have included authors Leonard Pitts and Cassandra King and literary agent Donald Maass.

The Seven Hills Literary Review publishes members’ essays and stories, while booths at the Downtown Marketplace and at the annual Word of the South literature and music festival promote and sell members’ books.

The association offers competitions — the Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest — that give members and others a shot at important recognition. And recently, the Blue Tavern, a bar and coffeehouse in Midtown, has provided a venue for members to read their works of poetry, essay or fiction.

The organization today serves more than 200 writers, poets, novelists, journalists, children’s book authors, students and others. Members include authors such as Sam Staley, Pat Stanford, William Mark and Rhett DeVane.

They’re a business expert who writes about pirates, an Air Force veteran, a policeman and a dental hygienist.

Each began with a thought, some words and a lot of fears as they faced their computers. What they also had was the willingness to plow through draft after draft in the company of writing friends who know how it feels.

That means they’re just like you. TM

Marina Brown is a Tallahassee-based author, journalist and artist. She’s a member of the Tallahassee Writers Association and a regular contributor to Tallahassee Magazine.

CAPITAL PERIODONTAL

Protecting a Lifetime of

Healthy Smiles with a Team You Can Trust

(850) 942-8111 www.CapitalPerio.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

91

expression ↘

A playful Kollet Probst finishes work on a spirited mural at the corner of Eppes Drive and Airport Drive.

ART

‘SO, WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER?’ Kollet Probst’s passion speeds her to artistic success

by ROSANNE DUNKELBERGER

A

rtist Kollet Probst is flying high these days.

Thousands follow her Facebook and Instagram accounts, mesmerized as a pencil drawing of Clint Eastwood or a brightly colored pop art painting of Cher emerges in time-lapse videos of the native Tallahasseean at work.

Right now, “Murals are my passion,” she said, and she currently has more than 25 in public places and businesses around Tallahassee.

“I’m doing something I love, which has created this perfect storm of, I guess, success,” Probst reflected. “I can’t look back and give you years of history. It’s very surreal because it’s happening right now.”

But that success evolved from a very dark chapter in the 37-year-old mother of two’s life. Four years ago, she was just out of a six-month stint in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. To help steady her shaking hands and focus her mind, Probst returned to art — an interest from her younger years — by making photo-realistic pencil portraits of movie stars, musicians and comic book superheroes. She started making phone videos of her hands as they drew — speeding them up so an hour’s worth of work was compressed into 45 seconds — and uploading them to her new Facebook page.

Along the way, “People started giving me feedback” and buying her drawings.

“It didn’t start as a business model,” she recalled. “It was just therapy — and then I got the bug. I think I still have the addictive brain. I know I do.”

92

March–April 2019

She was working in the business office of a department store at the time, but her mind was often on the painting on her easel back home or her next portrait.

Contemplating making her therapeutic hobby her job, Probst “started hoarding money and really focusing on Facebook.”

After four months of replacing her store

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

salary with art sales, in August 2017 she quit her job to become a full-time artist.

But that background in business and a successful stint in sales has given Probst a practical attitude that she tries to share with other up-and-coming artists.

Her business is named Kollet Originals (kolletoriginals.com) because she doesn’t do photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

FRIDAYS 7:00 A.M. FREEDOM

93.3

1379 timberlane rd brushandpalettestudio.com info@brushandpalettestudio.com

893-1960

children‘s

reproductions of her work. “They’re all original. I really, really enjoy creating. And I don’t believe in prints because it cuts down inevitably on the amount that you’re creating because somebody will buy a print instead of an original.”

Her unique way of pricing her art is to set how much she wants to make per hour, then charge for a piece of art based on the amount of time it takes her to complete it, no matter the size or the medium. She works through her website and a few shows rather than galleries, and she’s not particularly interested in becoming popular enough to raise her prices.

“What I’m catering to is people in their 30s and 40s who haven’t been to a gallery … they’re middle America,” she explained. “When they see $450 for a painting, that is a lot to them because they’re new to it. To have a $2,000 piece … I’ll sell 10 pieces a year instead of 100, and that doesn’t make sense to me. I’m going to paint regardless.”

Her favorite subject matter — music and comic book characters — seems to resonate with her target audience.

Music was a great influence in her life, and she listens “100 percent of the time” when she’s drawing or painting. “I grew up in a violent alcoholic family, and music was always present, to help me cope with feelings, with tragedies, but mainly to block out sound,” she said.

The explanation for Probst’s affinity for the latter is simpler: “I like comic books and superheroes,” she said.

“They have a power and they’re immortal. How much better does it get? There’s that juvenile happy phase where you grew up. There is something very cathartic, but I think they’re cool — it’s just that simple.”

One of her favorite icebreakers when meeting someone new is to ask them: “So, what’s your superpower?”

“It will break down whatever wall or defense they have and they’ll tell me their deepest, darkest thing. Like, you’ll have a grown, 400-pound burly country guy tell me he crochets, I’ll tell him, ‘I’m a painter’ and we just talk,” Probst said. “It’s kind of fun … but it’s a serious question because we all have one. It’s whether or not we tap into it.” TM

Summer Art Camp painting drawing collage mixed media sculpture Tie Dye

Accepting children who have completed Kindergarten-age 15.

Offering full and half-day camps.

See website for full camp listings.

SPRING CLEANING

Now thru March 31! Get your Macintosh cleaned up for 50% off! Only $66 CALL FOR DETAILS! 2743 Capital Circle NE #108 | 850-894-3622 | MacandMoreSystems.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

93

PROMOTION

ROSANNE CASH WILL BRING HER SONGS AND SENSIBILITIES TO ‘OPENING NIGHTS’ STAGE Her latest work is the product of experience and deep introspection

Presented by Opening Nights at Florida State University

released last November, does not adhere to a theme. It is instead a soul-baring collection of songs that Cash felt compelled to write “even if nobody ever listened to them.”

“I’m 40 years in and I have more experience to draw upon and more understanding,” Cash said. “There is an urgency to write the songs I am writing today — the longing, loss, rage, madness, all of it. I am staring mortality right in the face.”

Like all great poets, like Cohen and Dylan, Cash rattles listeners with jarring contrasts. “We owe everything to this rainbow of suffering,” she sings in “Particle and Wave.” The new album’s title track unites “larceny and tenderness.”

“The world isn’t black and white and, if you mix it all up, somewhere in the middle is where it all happens,” Cash said. “I don’t know that people experience absolutely pure emotions. There isn’t joy without an undercurrent of sadness. There isn’t grief without an undercurrent of liberation.

That’s how we experience things.”

In “The Only Thing Worth Fighting For,” a song about a troubled relationship, Cash is left with “your love and my due diligence.”

“When you hit a patch in a long relationship,” Cash said, “and you think you are not going to make it, you have to stop blaming each other and pull back and see what’s real and see what

your responsibility is and you have to carefully measure your words and let the hurt or the disappointment transform you, rather than put it on the other person to deal with.

“It requires diligence to be a person of integrity,” Cash said, her comment fairly dripping with poignancy.

Cash said she will soon curtail her touring and focus on projects including producing a musical, but not before making an “Opening Nights” stop at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on April 27.

It will be her second trip to Tallahassee, where she once performed with Kris Kristofferson “many years ago,” she said.

Cash said she always loves to come to Florida and frequently vacations near Seaside with her children. When she stops by the capital city, smile.

She is sure to smile back.

Want to catch Rosanne Cash in concert?

Her performace, which is sponsored by Jim B. Taylor, will be at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.

For more performances visit openingnights.fsu.edu/events

Tickets to Rosanne Cash are priced at $25-$65; $12-$32 for students. To get yours, visit openingnights.fsu.edu or call (850) 645-6500.

94

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OPENING NIGHTS

W

henever Rosanne Cash meets a smiling face on the street, is greeted by a warm hello or yields to a kind man’s insistence that she go next in line, she is given slight pause.

“I remind myself that everybody has some loss or suffering at the center of his or her life and that deserves compassion,” Cash said.

She is a woman who smiles back.

Cash’s music is informed by her sensibilities — especially her empathy — and by her passion for the role the arts play in the lives of people.

Music, she said, “can’t live next to hatred.

Once you turn the temperature down on what divides us and are inspired to look inside yourself and reach out to your fellow man and woman, it will change the conversation.”

Cash’s conversation with herself has changed since she recorded the 2014 album, “The River & the Thread,” which explored her relationship as a longtime New Yorker with the South, which gave rise to her iconic father.

Her latest album, “She Remembers Everything,” ROSANNE CASH

By Anne Washburn Score by Michael Friedman Lyrics by Anne Washburn

CHASE McNEILL, GREEN CERTIFIED PLUMBER, Lic. # CFC1427457

“Mr. Burns, a post-electric play” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

April 5 14 Lab Theatre

tickets.fsu.edu • 850.644.6500

KEITH

McNEILL

PLUMBING

With over 35 years of experience, we’re your go-to Professional Plumbers.

State Certified Plumbing Contractor Residential & Commercial Construction Factory Trained Water Heater Technicians Green Certified Plumbers Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling High Pressure Sewer Line Cleaning Storm Drain Cleaning Tankless Water Heater Experts Slab Leak Location Experts Over 50 Employees

Lic. # CFC043067

24/7 Service Department

(850) 562-5504 mcneillplumbing.com

Caregiving can be stressful and overwhelming...

Let our Aging Life Care Specialist handle the details so you can focus on what’s most important – creating valuable memories!

1669 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee (850) 878-0034 | info@goldenageathome.com www.goldenageathome.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

95

↘ Previous Tallahassee Film

expression

Festival events have included guests such as the FSU film school’s Paul Cohen, seen speaking to a festival audience at the Challenger Learning Center IMAX.

FILM

Tallahassee Film Festival inspires ‘lasting relationships’

by KATI SCHARDL

O

rganizers of the Tallahassee Film Festival trumpet the event as a boon for filmmakers and filmgoers alike.

Filmmakers who’ve screened their works at TFF have fallen in love with the city’s soft spring weather and Southern hospitality and with the laid-back vibe of the festival’s epicenter in the All Saints/ Railroad Square area, organizers say.

What makes it exciting for festivalgoers, besides getting to see a dizzying array of films, is that the filmmaker they sit next to at a screening could be tomorrow’s big deal in the movie industry.

The Capital City’s annual celebration of cinematic arts returns April 5–7. Baltimore electronic music wizard Dan Deacon will headline the event, with an April 6 DJ set at The Wilbury and a conversation about composing for film.

The festival opens April 5 at CMX Cinemas Fallschase, then moves to multiple venues around Railroad Square and CollegeTown. “Our festival is personal, and guests and audiences don’t just network, they create lasting relationships

96

March–April 2019

that remain involved even after the lights go up and the festival ends,” TFF Director Chris Faupel said.

More than 60 filmmakers or “talent” attended the 2018 festival, which screened 90 films, he said.

The event started in 2008 as a Knight Creative Communities Institute initiative, said Faupel, who has been involved with the festival from its beginning. After a pause to reconfigure, the festival — a nonprofit endeavor staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by sponsors and donors — has become an essential addition to Tallahassee’s cultural calendar.

Given the Sunshine State’s role in film history since the silent movie era, and given Tallahassee’s contributions to that history, it makes sense the Capital City should host a film festival, said TFF artistic director and local cineaste Steve Dollar.

“The Big Bend’s biggest claim to fame remains ‘The Creature From the Black Lagoon,’ shot at Wakulla Springs and starring Leon High graduate Ricou Browning as the lovestruck gill man,” Dollar

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

↖ The Tallahassee Film Festival provides a festive setting, with multiple venues around Railroad Square and CollegeTown. This year’s festival opens April 5 at CMX Cinemas Fallschase.

said in an email. “Tallahassee can also claim Faye Dunaway and Burt Reynolds, of course, and the city has nourished and inspired great American indie artists such as Jonathan Demme and Victor Nunez.

“More recently, FSU’s film school has made an impact with the Oscar-winning team behind ‘Moonlight,’ and a slew of other directors, producers and below-theliners making a name for themselves. So, really, it would be crazy for this city not to have a film festival.”

Notables who’ve been featured at TFF and gone on to great acclaim include FSU film school alum Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”) and Zoe Lister-Jones (the CBS series “Life in Pieces” and Fox’s “New Girl”).

As for 2019’s offerings, Dollar confirmed a return visit from New Orleans filmmaker Lily Keber, who packed the house at All Saints Cinema a few years ago with a screening of her documentary “Bayou Maharajah.” She’ll bring her latest doc, “Buckjumping,” about New Orleans’ dance traditions.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TALLAHASSEE FILM FESTIVAL

A Weekend with the Big Screen

photo by Scott Holstein

School of Dance

NOW ENROLLING SUMMER CAMPS AND CLASSES 2019 AGES 3-ADULT

1232 Timberlane Road · (850) 893-5900 · SharonDavisDance.com

New for 2019 is a partnership with Command Media, an organization that administers accredited online filmmaking courses for high school-age students. Sixty participating students from area schools will get to walk the red carpet on the festival’s opening night.

“Leon County high school students can take the course and then write, produce and direct their own short films, which our festival panel of programmers and other industry personnel will critique,” Faupel said. “We’ll premiere their final cuts at the opening night of the 2019 festival.”

The 2019 festival will also continue to pair screenings with other art forms.

“I’m working on getting a few special events in place, which would bring a performance element into play,” Dollar said. “Spooky singer-songwriter Peg Simone is coming back to town from New York City to do a Southern Gothic ‘pocket opera’ based on ‘Night of the Hunter,’ with art direction by Linda Hall and a showing of the Charles Laughton classic.

“The idea is to create some singular happenings so that audiences can enjoy the festival as a unique and colorful social space beyond the 75 minutes they spend looking at a screen.” TM

Want to keep tabs on who’s coming and what’s screening at the 2019 Tallahassee Film Festival?

The lineup also includes “The Commons,” an immersive look at the debate over Confederate statuary in a Southern college town, and Penny Lane’s documentary and Sundance entry, “Hail Satan?”

Visit tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

97

PROMOTION

IDY CODINGTON The Arts Live Here

By Erica Thaler, Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) After retiring from the Ohio Ballet, Idy Codington ran her own studio in Brookline Massachusetts, danced — nationally and internationally — with the Kamikaze Jitterbugs and performed 19th century dance with the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers. Idy graduated Smith College in 2011 and received her MA in American Dance Studies from FSU in 2012. Idy still takes ballet at FSU, helps run the trilingual historic theater group, Theater with a Mission, and teaches dance at Tallahassee Community College and Monticello Acting & Dance Co.

What fictional character would you like to meet and bring to life? Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice.” She knows what she wants and gets it.

What music is playing in your car?

WFSQ classical and old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. I’m listening to Led Zeppelin and Haydn quartets.

What is the last book you read that had an impact on you? I read a lot of literary candy, approximately a book every two or three days. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series

by Stieg Larsson is one of my favorites because I admire the main character, Lizbeth Salander, for her bravery and indomitable will to survive.

It’s time for dinner; what are we going to eat? Z Bahardi’s, the best Italian food in this town.

If you were trapped in a TV show or movie for a month, which would it be?

The movie “Enchanted April.” Four women who barely know each other and don’t have much in common live together in a crumbling, but beautiful, Italian villa for the month of April. They drink wine, eat great food and build support for even the most self-centered

and prickly women to become a team. At the end of the month, all see life and love in a renewed way.

What superpower would you like to have? The ability to fly. This is what I like best about ballet and the aerials in Lindy hop. (Note: Lindy Hop, also known as Jitterbug, is an American dance which was born in Harlem, New York City in 1928.)

What have you learned from failure?

After recovering and trying the same thing again, take your life in a different direction. It is possible to find other aspects of yourself that might be equally fabulous.

What do you hope you will be remembered for? I want to be remembered for being someone who brought the fun of dance to audiences, students and coworkers — someone who enriched and cheered the lives of the people I met.

Want to learn more about Idy?

Visit tallahasseearts.org/artist/Idy-Codington to learn more about Idy and over 950 artists of all creative disciplines in our Artist Directory.

Visit TallahasseeArts.org for a complete list of arts and cultural events, public art, arts education and more on the Tallahassee Arts Guide.

98

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERICA THALER; COUNCIL ON CULTURE & ARTS (COCA)

What is necessary for your creative process? I am the most creative with people around me who are listening to the same music — people who are able to help me reimagine the material I give them. If I am creating a historically based dance, I create off the posture, timing and material I find from the past and use music and friends to make the dances.

ALL YOU NEED TO SEE Ophthalmic Services • Cataract–Offering the latest Premium ORA Technology • Routine Eye Care • Diabetic Retinopathy

• Pediatric • iLASIK • Cosmetic Procedures • Eyelids, Tear Duct and Orbit

• Glaucoma

• Dry Eyes

• Cornea

• LipiFlow

2020 Fleischmann Road, Tallahassee · 333 N. Byron Butler Pkwy., Perry

2018

(850) 878-6161 · EyeAssociatesOfTallahassee.com

Your Patient-Centered Medical Home

Welcome Dr. Alvarez!

CARPET | TILE & GROUT | HARDWOOD FURNITURE | AIR DUCTS

Dr. Koeppel, Dr. Kickish and Dr. McDermott would like to welcome Dr. Alvarez to North Florida Pediatrics. We are accepting new patients and are offering extended hours.

Thank you to the many families who allow us to participate in the lives of their precious children. The honor you have bestowed upon us is overwhelming.

NorthFloridaPeds.com

(850) 877-1162

FOR A CLEANER & HEALTHIER HOME™ . . .

CALL STANLEY STEEMER® 850.656.1777

3606 Maclay Boulevard, Ste. 102 TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

99

100

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Abodes

MAR/APR 2019

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

EXTERIORS

PHOTO BY MSIMPSON01 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Pool Rules

Spring means that it’s time to jump into maintenance or construction

by ELIZABETH GOLDSMITH

INTERIORS

Style for Your Home Office

|| GARDENING

Plant One on Those Pests

|| NEIGHBORHOODS

A Walk Down Canopy Lane

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

101

abodes

Consider the difference between an ordinary pool and an extraordinary one. That’s worth contemplating when refurbishing an existing pool or building a new one. Spring marks the kickoff season for either of those possibilities.

Getting an Existing Pool Ready If you’re worn out from doing the work yourself, Tallahassee features several pool-service companies that offer weekly maintenance services.

Sprucing-up ideas include replacing tile, replastering, changing the pool furniture and adding new decking.

Dusty Spencer, owner of Mystic Pools, says most people renovate their pool 15 to 20 years after installation.

Plan, Design and Build Your Dream Pool Freshwater or saltwater? Spencer says nine out of 10 customers go with saltwater for new pools.

Most customers who remodel their pools also opt for saltwater, he says, adding that most people consider saltwater easier on the hair and eyes and more comfortable for swimming.

Research the pros and cons of either option.

Where should you put the pool? Walk around your yard to get a feel for the space and the view.

How will it look from inside the house? Will you need an outside shower or easy access to a

102

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

bathroom? In other words, a pool is not just a pool; it is an extension of the house and yard.

Call a pool company for a free walk-around, design and estimate. The company will examine the space and slope of your yard and should be able to advise on whether a retaining wall will be necessary and whether trees must be removed.

Licensed engineers will suggest designs that complement the house and existing landscaping and include the pool shape, the patio and the surroundings. A white colonial house looks nice with a grey flagstone patio wrapped around it. A more contemporary house lends itself to pavers, stamped concrete or cobblestone.

After you settle on a design, you’ll need to start the permit process with the city or county depending where you live.

Also, be sure that you understand laws on safety features, including screens, fences and alarms.

For an in-ground gunite pool, the steps involve doing the excavation, putting in a steel-bar cage, spraying in the concrete, installing the tile, putting in the filter and hydraulics and installing

Costs and Affordability In-ground pools in Tallahassee can cost $40,000 for a basic pool to over $100,000 for a sky-is-the-limit one. Most Tallahassee homeowners do not heat their pools and thus save on energy bills.

Accessories Remember those diving boards and fiberglass slides? After diving and falling accidents, they’ve gone out of style for safety and insurance reasons. With that said, let your insurance agent know if you install a pool.

Homeowners now are adding fun features such as underwater LED lights, sprays, waterfalls and infinity edges where the water appears to be going over the side.

Whatever you do, harness the power and beauty of water and nature. Take the plunge. TM

PHOTO BY QUACKERSNAPS / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

←

In Tallahassee, in-ground pools can cost $40,000 for a basic one to over $100,000 for one that’s fully decked out.

the deck and fence. Plus, there’s landscaping and other finishing touches — adding the water, for example.

A simple pool may take a few weeks and a complex pool several months, Spencer says.

Some homeowners want a tanning ledge in the pool with bubblers. Of course, dermatologists recommend a shady corner or screening.

The pool interior may have a wide range of colors from traditional white to a Caribbean blue and sport a black bottom. Custom features include fountains and a hot tub on the side.

Be sure to have steps and a railing leading into the pool for ease of entry and exit.

Those metal vertical ladders are difficult for small children and older adults to use.

850.562.1234

AIR CONTROL HEATING AND COOLING

aircontrolheatingandcooling.com LIC. #CAC1817885

ryBak realty, llC, realtorS reSidential and CommerCial SaleS

®

| long and Short-term rentalS

the real estate market is hot!

how much is your home worth? call today to find out.

Broker/owner

Gary Bartlett Broker/Owner Bartlett Real Estate Group 2940 East Park Avenue (850) 443-5887

BartlettREG.com

HEATHER RYBAK “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” - John Howard Payne 850-692-3872

HRybak@RybakRealty.US TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

RybakRealty.US March–April 2019

103

abodes ↘ An attractive and organized

U MAKING INTERIORS

IT WORK Add some spice to your home office

by ELIZABETH B. GOLDSMITH

104

March–April 2019

sually home offices are the most neglected space in the home, often shoved into a living room or bedroom corner. Even some who have an elegant home office say they use the kitchen table instead.

But more and more of us are working from home, where an attractive and organized office should lead to enhanced creativity and productivity.

Design, Function and Costs Give your office personality, says Kim Williams, owner of The Polka Dot Press, which specializes in specialized stationery and gifts. You can do this through personalized notecards and monogrammed pencil cups, for example.

When placing a desk, take advantage of natural light and a nice view.

No view? Create a picture wall behind the desk. Leather swivel chairs with casters run from $350 to thousands of dollars depending on type, size and brand. Fabric chairs can be less expensive to over $1,000 for a Hooker chair.

Top-of-the-line black mesh Herman Miller

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Aeron chairs start around $500 and go well over $1,000. Desk prices run from garage-sale finds to tens of thousands of dollars.

Carpet can be wall-to-wall or a colorful patterned rug available from local stores. Drapes can coordinate with the carpet and chairs.

Most home offices lack a theme or design, so here is where you can make a difference. Go for Scandinavian (white with blue accents).

Modernist or industrial features glass, metal, white lacquer or stark black and white décor with charcoal or white walls. Rustic could have chicken wire in glass front bookcases, while traditional uses warm woods, brass nail heads and green plants.

Paige Brand, assistant manager and licensed interior designer with Turner’s Fine Furniture in Thomasville, Georgia, says the newest desks include built-in power strips and USB ports, plus lights in the cabinets. To save space, she says, Aspen Home has a pullout desk with storage on either side.

Put up slim shelves (most books fit in shelves eight inches deep) on the walls near the desk.

Dress them with art, treasures and photos.

PHOTO BY KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

home office should lead to better creativity and productivity.

Celebrating 2018 successes! Let us serve you in 2019!

SOLD HOMES

Tallahassee Market

Eight Percent

increase in number of homes sold since 2017.

Total Production

ELIZABETH EKK BROKER | OWNER

850 567 3455

Elizabeth@EkkRealty.com

Ekk Realty

Tallahassee

Avg. Days on Market

Avg. Days on Market

48

102

more homes for sale than in 2017.

2017 Avg 2018 Avg Home Price Home Price

112

62 families and sold 95 units

$208K $225K Statistics are provided by the Tallahassee Board of Realtors MLS.

Premier’s NEWEST Community, conveniently located between MOORE Pond & Ox Bottom Manor.

Prices Start at $359,000

Zoned for very desirable School Zones- Hawks Rise, Deerlake & Chiles!

Capital Property Consultants, Inc. — Real Estate Broker

PRELIMINARY PLAT, subject to change without notice, contingent on final plat approval.

Call Jeff today to get information & schedule a time to own a home here before they are gone!

850-545-4747

“You say where, I’ll be there!”

JeffDoxsee1@gmail.com 2016, 2017 & 2018 Top 1% Tallahassee Realtors

• Screen & Window Repair & Replacement • Mirrors & Furniture Tops • Fogged Windows millerglassco.com

| 1961

• Custom Shower Enclosures • Quick Turnaround on Residential Insulated Glass Replacement

raymond diehl road

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

| 850.224.6030

March–April 2019

105

abodes

↑ Home offices can become a place for crafting, which requires baskets, drawers or shelves for sorting and stashing.

(850) 656-2856 | NORTHFLORIDA.INVISIBLEFENCE.COM

Thinking of Selling?

Free Home Valuation Tool at

Residential | Commercial | Investment Properties

Tiffany Hamilton, Owner/Broker PHONE 850.727.4743

106

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Stylish Mini-Offices A desk facing out into the center of the home office takes up space. As an alternative, run a desk under a window or across the width of a space. The desk can be built in and shaped to fit the space. It doesn’t have to be a rectangle; it can curve where the chair slides in. You can’t go wrong with taupe walls and a desk with a white quartz top. For a feminine touch, Brand says, try a white painted finish on the desk and credenza.

Small-Scale Library Books, periodicals and a comfortable reading chair are musts. Add a reading light and side table next to the chair. Another option is a repurposed formal dining room wherein the dining table becomes a library table in the center of the room — sheer heaven for projects.

Creativity Zone Home offices aren’t limited to writing or reading; crafting is an option. This expands placement to the mudroom or the kitchen. Lighting is important. The main problem is maintaining calm, and to do this you need places to sort and stash. A file drawer or large baskets will master the mess.

Tax Considerations According to Stephanie Zottoli, CPA/Partner of Carroll and Company CPAs, taxpayers who qualify for a home office can choose a simplified tax-filing method for a home office that she says eliminates the need for calculation and record-keeping requirements.

Taxpayers can deduct $5 a square foot for the portion of their home that qualifies as their home office space (capped at 300 square feet), she says.

Under the simplified method, Zottoli says, you still can take their home-related itemized deductions in full on Schedule A of your return, with no proration required.

Also, upon the sale of your home, you have no depreciation to track and no so-called depreciation recapture. TM

PHOTO BY KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

PROTECTING PETS FOR 315 DOG YEARS.

MAYS-MUNROE & the sleep center THE ONLY NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW!

850.385.9495 2791 CAPITAL CIRCLE NE SHOWROOM HOURS MONDAY – FRIDAY 9–6 SATURDAY 9–5 SUNDAY CLOSED

SERVICE SELECTION SATISFACTION SINCE 1936 WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF APPLIANCE BRANDS, AND WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL. TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

107

Natural Gas For Life!

108

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Tankless Water Heaters Satisfy your hot water needs using as little energy as possible with tankless water heaters.

Heating water is one of the largest expenses in your home and can account for up to 30% of your utility bill. This makes choosing the right water heater an important decision for energy costs and comfort.

Natural Gas Water Heating is the most efficient way to heat water. It also gives long term savings on utility bills and provides endless hot water with a tankless model.

Generous rebates are available from the City of Tallahassee for the installation of a natural gas water heater, and there are many models and prices to satisfy your hot water needs.

Discover the affordable luxury of natural gas. Call us today for more information on gas rebates, appliances and our lowinterest loan program.

850-891-5112 or Talgov.com On Facebook at GetGasTally TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

109

abodes

INSECTS BUGGING YOU? CONSIDER THESE PLANTS

BY AUDREY POST, MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

THE CITRONELLA PLANT CONTAINS OIL THAT REALLY DOES REPEL MOSQUITOES, as evidenced

by its use in citronella candles. But you have to rub the leaves on your skin repeatedly for it to be most effective. It’s still worth it to add a few plants, in the ground or in pots on your patio. Just don’t expect them to create an impenetrable firewall of protection. Here are a few other plants that can help in the battle against bad bugs:

1

2

4 3

PESKY PESTS

1 Herbs: Rosemary repels mosquitoes but requires really good drainage.

Lavender repels mosquitoes, flies and moths. Lavandula stoechas, aka Spanish lavender and French lavender, is best suited to our humid climate. Basil, mint and lemon balm repel mosquitoes and flies, but keep the mint and balm in pots. Catnip, a member of the mint family, repels mosquitoes and is a key ingredient in many natural-based insect repellents. Iowa State University researchers found nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip, to be 10 times more effective than DEET. 2 Alliums: Chives, leeks, onions, scallions and shallots repel slugs, flies and worms. They can attract moths, though, and are highly toxic to cats and dogs. Plant them near your cabbages, cucumbers, beans, squash, pepper plants and among your delphiniums, zinnias, sunflowers and hostas.

3 Nasturtiums and petunias:

Both repel lots of garden pests: aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, beetles, hornworms and cabbage loopers. Both are cool-season flowers, but interplanting them with vegetable transplants in the spring garden can extend their season with a bit of shade.

4 Chrysanthemums and French marigolds: Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins, a compound used in commercial insecticides that repels mosquitoes, roaches, beetles, ticks and silverfish. French marigolds can be an effective control of nematodes, worm-like microscopic organisms that destroy plant roots.

While many of us consider mums a fall plant, they grow throughout the frost-free months. Just cut them back in mid-summer for that fall blush of blooms.

Yard and Garden Critter: Fleas



Fleas belong to the genus Ctenocephalides and — I was surprised to learn — C. felis has been identified as the “cat flea” and C. canis as the “dog flea.” I was not surprised to learn both feed on dogs and cats, as well as squirrels, chickens, rabbits, rodents and people. In the yard, fleas like FLEAS to hide among plant debris, weeds and lawn thatch. Mow your grass to the appropriate height and de-thatch it. Pull weeds. Remove old pine straw and pine bark mulches and compost them. Apply fresh cedar mulch. It’s a little more expensive but it looks great, and fleas hate the smell. Flea larvae is usually found in dry, shaded areas that pets frequent, so treat these areas first. Water it heavily; this might be enough. Neither larvae nor eggs can survive in water. Sprays containing beneficial nematodes have also been effective in shady areas. If you believe you must use an insecticide, follow the label instructions, particularly safety precautions regarding people and pets.

110

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Your Monthly Garden Chores MARCH

➸ Get your soil tested.

Kits are available at your county UF/IFAS Extension Office, with complete instructions.

Don’t waste money or time on fertilizers and soil amendments that you might not need.

Test both your garden soil and your lawn soil separately. Amend your garden soil as the test indicates but wait on the lawn until April. ➸ Plant bulbs, tubers and corms such as irises, lilies, gladiolas, agapanthus and ornamental gingers. ➸ Check for insect pests on tender new growth on shrubs and perennials. Be sure to check the underside of the leaf. Use insecticidal soap as needed.

APRIL

➸ Once you know your garden soil is good to go, sow seeds for corn, green beans, peppers and cucumbers. ➸ If your lawn needs it, fertilize it using a 15-0-15 formula that includes 7.5 percent slow-release nitrogen. ➸ Prune and fertilize springblooming shrubs such as azaleas and forsythia once the blossoms fall.

©2015-2019 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-It-All® is a registered trademark of PostScript Publishing.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY 3DRENDERINGS (FLEA), AQUA_MARINKA (1), SHANSERIKA (2), OLENA AGAPOVA (3), ARXICHTU4KI (4) AND PHOTOS BY SCISETTIALFIO (AZALEA) AND NASTCO (SOIL) / ISTOCK / GETTYIMAGES PLUS

GARDENING

Rooted in Tallahassee for

Spring Color

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

111

K | W Stephanie Eldridge 850 251 3567

@uetlh @gbghconstruction 112 March–April 2019 TALLAHASSEEMAGA @architects_lw ZINE.COM

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

113

abodes

NEIGHBORHOODS

BETTON HILLS Residents see this neighborhood as a walk down canopy and family lane

by PAM FORRESTER

R

esidents describe it as a place that connects — as a place that attracts families and keeps them there forever.

They describe it, sometimes poetically, as a neighborhood that celebrates its trees, champions its children and cherishes its charm.

“Betton Hills is a walk down a quiet road,” says neighborhood association president Mike Brezin, “enjoying the light and shade through the tree canopy, waving hello to neighbors who have become friends through the years, and appreciating the eclectic mix of homes, while on the way to one of the parks for a neighborhood event or to a nearby store to pick-up some things.”

Betton Hills is the latest in Tallahassee Magazine’s series on Capital City neighborhoods.

Its roots date to the 1840s, and it continues to have family written all over it.

114

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Take it from Mary Linville Atkins, a longtime resident who lives on Lee Avenue in the historic house once owned by Dr. Merritt Ryals Clements, whose family was one of the first to move into the neighborhood in the late 1940s. Her sister Page Atkins Hagan lives to the north and sister Courtney Atkins to the south on Lee Avenue. They jokingly call themselves the Ladies of Lee Avenue.

“This neighborhood is charming and unique; these are not cookie-cutter homes,” Linville Atkins said. “It is quiet but not too quiet with options for dining and recreation close at hand.”

This is a return to the neighborhood. As children they lived on Argonne Road. Linville Atkins admits that with her own children growing up, at some point she may downsize — but she has no intention of ever leaving this neighborhood.

↗ Sisters (from left to right) Courtney Atkins, Mary Linville Atkins and Page Atkins Hagan jokingly call themselves the Ladies of Lee Avenue. ↖ At left, a statue illustrates the spirit of McCord Park, a dominant fixture of the tree-lined and picturesque Betton Hills neighborhood.

Betton Hills PARKS AND GREENSPACES Winthrop Park, Harriman Circle Park, Chittenden Park, McCord Park, Betton Hills Nature Center ➸ ANNUAL ACTIVITIES Fall Family Festival, holiday caroling, Arbor Day, Easter egg hunt, neighborhood garage sale, spring block parties ➸ SCHOOLS Kate Sullivan Elementary School, Cobb Middle School, Leon High School ➸ ATTRACTIONS AND SHOPPING Goodwood Museum and Gardens: an old estate setting where organizers “preserve and share our history, enjoy the arts and celebrate significant events in our lives.” goodwoodmuseum.org

Old Willis Dairy: a selfdescribed “walk back in time to a bygone era of quaint, simple living.” oldwillisdairy.com Theatre Tallahassee: a nonprofit organization that aims, in its words, “to educate and entertain the community, providing a place for everyone to perform and participate in live theatre.”

Betton Place and Miracle Plaza: retail areas featuring food, shopping and more. ➸ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Betton Hills Neighborhood Association Website: bettonhills.us photography by BRUCE PALMER

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

115

abodes

Joan H. Raley, REALTOR® CRS, CDPE, SFR, e-PRO GRI, ABR,

Home Economist, Broker/Owner

BUYING? SELLING? RELOCATING?

CALL ME TODAY FOR YOUR TOMORROW! Office: 850.599.1950 Mobile: 850.545.9390 Email: JOAN@JOANRALEY.COM Your Year Round Resource Site: JoanRaley.com | 2425 Bass Bay Drive, Tallahassee

If Eloise Harbeson is an example, you don’t ever have to leave. Now age 94, she has lived in the same house for most of her life. “I love living side by side with longtime residents and newly married couples with young families,” she said.

“It’s wonderful hearing the neighborhood children playing and squealing with laughter all around me.”

The Betton Hills neighborhood was founded on family.

Like much of Leon County and Tallahassee, Betton Hills started as part of large tracts of plantation land.

In the 1840s Turbett Betton, a Tallahassee merchant, purchased 1,200 acres between Thomasville Road and Centerville Road, according to accounts. Some 940 of those acres make up today’s Betton Hills neighborhood.

It took off as a neighborhood almost 100 years later when Dr. Pat Winthrop and her husband, Guy Winthrop, walked the area mapping, sketching and dividing up parcels of the land. According to a Florida State University research report, those first lots sold for $300 with $30 down and a monthly payment of $10.

Streets including Marston Road, Armistead Road and Winthrop Road took their names from family members.

Spence Avenue, Dillard Street and Cline Street were named after fellow Army officers of Guy Winthrop in World War I, while Trescott Drive was named in honor of his best friend.

Oakdale Street preserved the name of one of the original plantations. Through the years, the number of houses has grown to almost 800 homes, yet the neighborhood has maintained its familial tone.

Sidewalks connect many of the streets, which bring out exercise enthusiasts and dog walkers.

It seems as though everyone knows a neighbor’s dog.

The Atkins sisters immediately will point out pooches

116

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO BY BRUCE PALMER

↑ McCord Park is among various spots where Betton Hills residents can unwind and enjoy a glimpse of nature. “This neighborhood is unique because of all the greenery,” Jay LaVia says. “The trees are everywhere, but you are still so close to everything.”

FIND THE PERFECT “Jewels George” and “Rascal,” just as birder and outdoor enthusiasts Jay and Jennifer LaVia will recognize “Sheba.”

The LaVias bought their home in 1998. Though Jennifer grew up in Tallahassee, she looked long and hard before finding what she wanted.

“I wanted a neighborhood with established trees and a mature landscape,” she said. “I found it here with camellias, oak trees and azaleas, which are just so beautiful in bloom.”

For Jay, the location close to his law practice was ideal. Just as important was the ability to walk to Winthrop Park with his son, J.T., when he played baseball What do you in the neighborhood league like about or enjoyed the “big swing” in Chittenden Park.

Betton Hills?

“This neighborhood is “Every morning my unique because of all the wife and I walk up to greenery,” he said. “The trees 5 miles, always staying within the Betton Hills are everywhere, but you are neighborhood enjoying still so close to everything.” the tree-lined roads and Homeowners here embrace appreciating the sounds their canopy roads and mature of the morning. In the trees, as the neighborhood aswinter, we hear yellowbellied sapsuckers and sociation suggests on its webthe resident pileated and site. Homeowners are encourdowny woodpeckers. aged to plant native species.

One morning we heard Ten years ago, the neighor saw up to 18 species borhood established a comon our walk.”

— Resident Jay LaVia munity garden, and residents immediately took up spots to plant everything from toma“This is an urbantoes to winter kale. One of suburban feeling neighborhood with parks the early organizers, Regine and trees but just a Maligne, a native of a small moment away from coffee town in southwest France near or a drink in the evening.

Lourdes who moved to TalAnd my son Atticus can lahassee more than 14 years walk to school at Cobb Middle School, ago, found a climate that alwhich he loves.” lows year-round gardens and — Resident Courtney Atkins a neighborhood accepting of her love of planting vegetables rather than traditional flowers and bushes in her front yard.

Betton Hills breaks with another American tradition: the mailbox. Many homes feature front-door mail slots rather than street-side boxes.

And everybody knew Tim Kelly, the neighborhood mailman for more than three decades until he retired a few years ago.

“When we first moved here, that first day Tim came up to the door and introduced himself and told us about the neighborhood.” Jennifer LaVia said. “He knew everyone and generations of their families. What a wonderful welcome to the neighborhood.” TM

style & color

FOR YOUR PROJECT

Luxury Vinyl

Hardwood

Carpet

Tile

Brian Barnard’s

Chris, Brian and JR Barnard

barnardsflooring-america.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

117

PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST SOLD

The Perfect Home, Nestled Away in Live Oak Plantation This pristine home is a palace plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. Within the walls of this beautiful property lies every fulfilled need of a homeowner, from ample space and opportunity both indoors and out, to elegant and luxurious design and attention to detail.

SOLD PRICE: $865,000 ADDRESS: 1100 Live Oak Plantation SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,280 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 5 YEAR BUILT: 2012

APPEAL: Like new; move-in ready; in-town; excellent layout; split floor plan; quality high-end finishes throughout CONTACT: Jim Brockett (850) 459-4585 jimbrockett@gmail.com

118

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF 323 MEDIA

FEATURES: 2-acre private green-space lot; large bonus room with a full bath; oversized three-car garage

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

119

PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE JUST SOLD

Immaculate Estate in Beautiful Northeast Tallahassee This unparalleled property is more than a dream home; it is an enchanting lifestyle with 42 manicured acres including an elegant estate, two barns with four stalls, two tack rooms and a hay loft, two sheds, three pasture hay shelters and a full guest house.

SOLD PRICE: $1,550,000 ADDRESS: 9525 Woodland Hills Way SQUARE FOOTAGE: Main house 6,679; guest house 1,500 BEDROOMS: Main house 4; guest house 3 BATHROOMS: Main house 4.5; guest house 2 YEAR BUILT: 2002

APPEAL: Unparalleled decorative finishes throughout. The 42 manicured acres are perfect for horse lovers. Beautiful guest house.

CONTACT: Lindsay Elliott Lindsay@HillSpooner.com (850) 545-2463

120

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF 323 MEDIA

FEATURES: Just 1 mile past the historic Bradley’s Country Store, this equestrian-style estate is conveniently located close to town and minutes from Thomasville.

From the antique solid wood doors, custom stained-glass detailing, architectural shingled roof, coffered ceilings, marble fireplaces and rare Australian Cypress hardwood flooring, every detail of this home was meticulously thought out and designed. The main living space includes floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for tons of natural light and unobstructed views of the pool, acres of private green space, horses, pastures and blue skies.

Each oversized guest bedroom has a large private bathroom and walk-in closet. Laundry rooms on both floors of main house, hidden storage throughout kitchen and finished spacious attic. A separate 1,500-square-foot guest wheelchairaccessible house offers a full kitchen, open living space, private deck, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

REAL ESTATE REDEFINED

REAL ESTATE REDEFINED EDENANDCOMPANY.COM

3520 Thomasville Road — Fifth floor | Tallahassee, FL 32309 | (850) 222-3075 | TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

121

PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST SOLD

Beautiful Property in Golden Eagle Plantation

by JAVIS OGDEN

This luxurious home is absolutely stunning, and no expense has been spared. It’s arguably the finest property in all of Golden Eagle. As one of the premier and exclusive residential areas in Tallahassee, Golden Eagle Plantation represents a benchmark for aspiring homeowners looking to establish their nest in a prestigious community that packs its fair share of hospitality, security and social prestige.

SOLD PRICE: $1,325,000 ADDRESS: 2147 Golden Eagle Drive W. SQUARE FOOTAGE: 7048 BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 4.5 YEAR BUILT: 2002

APPEAL: Impeccably built custom home situated on the 18th fairway and Lake Dianne in the beautiful gated community of Golden Eagle Plantation CONTACT: Elizabeth Ekk, Owner/Broker, Ekk Realty Group, (850) 567-3455 Elizabeth@EkkRealty.com

122

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATIE REEVES, KT CREATIVE

FEATURES: Resort-style pool, home theatre, home gym, wine cellar, library, extensive millwork, volume ceilings. Chef’s dream kitchen includes Viking professional series appliances and huge bar with granite countertops.

Breathtaking views of the golf course and Lake Dianne from almost every room

Major Investors

ADVOCATES FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS & THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

CRYSTAL “R”

Mariela Bartens Santurri

Will

Steven J

Shepherd

Louchheim

Lucretia S

Leah L

Thomas

Chapin

STERLING “R”

Joy G Blomeley

Jeff D

Mike

Robby

Carla

Doxsee

Ferrie

Hartsfield

Stephens

Nicholas T

Miriam

Trina R

Mihalich

Nicklaus

Searcy

Debbie L Kirkland

The Tallahassee Board Of REALTORS® would like to thank the dedicated professionals who work hard to promote and protect the American Dream of homeownership.

WWW.TBRNET.ORG • (850) 224-7713 TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

123

meet our team Specializing in Homes, Land, New Construction and Development PrimeSouthRealty.com

AD

Abbie Sirmans REALTOR® 445-4868

Ada Feliciano REALTOR® 545-3870

Bob Fish REALTOR® 800-7449

David MacLeod REALTOR® 284-6760

Debbie Gerber REALTOR® 545-8164

abbiesirmanss@netzero.net

adarealtor@aol.com

realestatetally1@gmail.com

dmacleod@nettally.com

deb@debgerber.com

Fran Ferenchick REALTOR® 545-6767

Bettie Bedell Broker Assoc.

570-0181

Dixie Russell REALTOR® 566-9285

Kenny Ayers REALTOR® 508-5500

Margaret Steele REALTOR® 556-3774

dixielrussell@gmail.com

shrkbait@infionline.net

msteele050@gmail.com

franferenchick@gmail.com bcmbedell@embarqmail.com

AD

AD

Marvin Goldstein Broker Assoc.

294-0029

Mike Ferrie REALTOR® 566-8373

Stacy Harnett Broker Assoc.

510-6017

Sedita Cayson REALTOR® 933-6973

marvinagoldstein@gmail.com

mike@mikeferrie.com

stacyharnett10@gmail.com

thelandman2@gmail.com

124

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

TO FIND THE RIGHT REALTOR, JUST LOOK FOR A SIGN

WE’LL GO OUT ON A LIMB FOR YOU!

2018

5 CERTIFIED ARBORISTS ON STAFF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TREE SERVICE

(8733)

850-894-TREE 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE | MillerTreeSrv.com | admin@millertreesrv.com | 4951 Woodlane Circle TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

125

QUALITY

EXPERIENCE

PEACE OF MIND

Better Business Bureau A+ Rating Storm Damage Experts Metal Roofing Options

KNOWLEDGE

Owens Corning Platinum Contractor Licensed & Insured Residential & Commercial

4740 MAHAN DRIVE | TALLAHASSEE | 850.728.8101 | TALLAHASSEEROOFINGCOMPANY.NET

126

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PLAY • SHOP • DINE • STAY

at the Forgotten

Coast Events Calendar St. George Island Chili Charity Cook–off March 2, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Downtown St. George Island Charlie Sawyer — Forgotten Coast Original March 3, 3–5 p.m.

Cat Pointe Music, 29 Island Drive, Suite 6, Eastpoint The Curry’s Album Release March 7, 7 p.m.

Dixie Theatre, 21 Avenue E, Apalachicola Junior Service League Annual Gala March 9, 6–10 p.m.

100 Good Morning St., Port St. Joe

MATT BURKE

Farmers Market Apalachicola March 9, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Mill Pond Pavilion at the Scipio Creek Marina

GULF SPECIMEN AQUARIUM What’s under the sea comes to light at the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Panacea. Observe the bizarre and beautiful creatures of the coast up close through tanks that also allow you to touch and interact. The collection of creatures includes seahorses, hermit crabs, emerald-eyed spiny boxfish, electric rays, a variety of crabs and more — all of which are living treasures unique to Florida’s north coast. The marine lab and aquarium has enjoyed 45 years as a nonprofit biological supply, marine life education center and sea turtle rehabilitation facility. In order to best promote the protection of marine life and environment, guests are encouraged to explore the 8,500 square feet of exhibition and program space, which houses 30,000 gallons of aquariums, touch tanks and educational displays.

Celtic on the Half–Shell March 10, 3–5 p.m.

Cat Pointe Music, 29 Island Drive, Suite 6, Eastpoint Singer–songwriter Willy Porter March 15, 7:30 p.m.

The Gallery at High Cotton, 230 Water St. Apalachicola David Lloyd & Clayton Mathis — Songwriters at the Pointe March 17, 3–5 p.m.

Cat Pointe Music, 29 Island Drive, Suite 6, Eastpoint Ken Sizemore — The Old Folkie March 24, 3–5 p.m.

Cat Pointe Music, 29 Island Drive, Suite 6, Eastpoint

COURTESY OF ST. GEORGE ISLAND BREWFEST

Apalachicola Art & Wine Walk April 6, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Throughout downtown Apalachicola

ST. GEORGE ISLAND BREWFEST APRIL 27 ST. GEORGE ISLAND WILL BE POURING UP PINTS from over 35 breweries at the fourth annual SGI Brewfest hosted by Paddy’s Raw Bar and Journeys of St. George Island. From 1–4 p.m., ticket holders can sip unlimited tastings from a variety of craft beers.

All proceeds of the event benefit the Franklin County Humane Society. Those over 21 — and furry friends — are welcome. Beers on the beach while bettering the lives of four-legged friends makes for a Saturday well spent.

St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve Tram Tour April 12, 9–11 a.m.

3915 State Road 30–A, Port St. Joe Farmers Market Apalachicola April 13, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Mill Pond Pavilion at the Scipio Creek Marina Worm Gruntin’ Festival April 14, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Throughout downtown Sopchoppy Apalachicola Classic Boat & Car Show April 20, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Riverfront Park Apalachicola 29th Annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival April 26, 4–8 p.m. April 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Marine Street, Carrabelle TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

127

TALLAHASSEE’S COASTAL REAL ESTATE CONNECTION

VISIT THE

Forgotten Coast 1

The kitchen store and more since 1994! Gifts and necessities for the kitchen, garden, home and gourmet.

We offer free gift wrap.

Melissa Spear REALTOR® (850) 879-0687 Weichert Realtors, The H2 Group

L

ives and businesses are being rebuilt along the Forgotten Coast after the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael in early October of 2018. As the healing process continues, please lend your support to this region and remind them that they are never forgotten by their friends and neighbors.

(850) 653-1023 268 Water St., Apalachicola

8

DOC MYERS’ PUB & SPORTS BAR

Come out to Doc Myers’ tiki bar in paradise! Hang out with people of all ages to watch your favorite sports team, play trivia or try your hand at cornhole in the yard. Nightly music, happy hours and a wide range of food and beverages in beautiful beach surroundings. Open seven days a week. Oyster happy hour Mon.–Fri. from 3–4 p.m.

(850) 799-1930, docmyersislandpub.com 36 W. Pine Ave., St. George Island 3

A distinctive upscale atmosphere for the 21+ crowd with quiet dining. Offering extensive martini and wine lists, signature cocktails and an expanded menu of lunch and dinner plates. Come in to experience Chef Richard’s creative combinations of ingredients and excellent tableside service.

Open Tuesday–Saturday.

(850) 653-4888, upthestairs.me 76 Market St., Ste. F, Apalachicola

Serving Tallahassee residents who are buying or selling a second home or investment property on the Forgotten Coast.

BETSY’S SUNFLOWER

Betsy Doherty

2

UP THE STAIRS

15

9

MEXICO BEACH

4 15

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

1

PORT ST. JOE

St. Joseph Bay

11 APALACHICOLA

GULF SPECIMEN AQUARIUM

A unique experience to get up close with sharks, sea turtles, starfish, octopus and other sea life from the Gulf of Mexico. One of the largest touch tanks exhibits in the U.S. Open Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Cape San Blas

5 St. Vincent Island

Apalachicola Bay

(850) 984-5297, gulfspecimen.org 222 Clark Drive, Panacea 4

HOLE IN THE WALL

Family-owned and operated raw bar serving the world’s best oysters with a full menu of Gulf of Mexico seafood, including fried shrimp, grouper and crab. Also serving kids items and daily specials. Open Tuesday through Saturday in downtown Apalachicola.

(850) 653-3222 23 Ave. D, Apalachicola

128

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

5

INDIAN PASS GENERAL STORE

There’s a pristine spot reserved for your next RV adventure at the edges of Indian Lagoon! An old-timey general store on-site sells local merchandise and stocks a supply of grocery items and spirits. Visit us online to reserve. Located across from worldfamous Indian Pass Raw Bar! (850) 229-8600, watersedgervpark.net 8300 County Road 30A, Port St. Joe

6

LYNN’S QUALITY OYSTERS

Enter as strangers, leave as friends at this familyowned and operated raw bar and local seafood market. Dine in or on the back deck. Open seven days. Bar is closed Sunday, but you can still buy fresh catch!

(850) 670-8796, lynnsqualityoysters.com 402 Highway 98, Eastpoint

14 ST. GEORGE ISLAND TRADING COMPANY

13

SGI Trading Company has everything you need to go to the beach. Buy a new bathing suit, T-shlrts

by Simply Southern and Salt Life and beach toys for the kids at this one-stop shop.

(850) 927-2252 101 Franklin Blvd., St. George Island

ST. GEORGE ISLAND REALTY

St. George Island Realty was established in 2002 and is locally owned. Contact our educated and seasoned professionals to help you find your next investment property, building site or beautiful island home.

(800) 344-7570, sgirealty.com 139 E. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island

CRAWFORDVILLE

LIVE OAK POINT PANACEA

Apalachee Bay

3 Ochlockonee Bay

LANARK VILLAGE

6

ALLIGATOR POINT

CARRABELLE

10

Dog Island

EASTPOINT

12

13

St. George Island

7

7

14 TALLAHASSEE

2

THE NAUMANN GROUP

Your local real estate experts with decades of experience — ready to help you find your perfect beach getaway. Look for the company Tallahassee knows and trusts!

(850) 799-1230, 139 W. Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island

12

This new, lively beach lounge features a menu inspired by the flavors of Mexico and Latin America.

Its house-made infusions using fruit are showcased in its signature cocktails and seasonal sauces. Every day is Taco Tuesday, and desserts change daily!

Open Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 12–8 p.m.

(850) 927-2222, stgeorgecantina.com 37 E. Pine Ave., St. George Island 11 ROBINSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

The company that introduced you to the thrill of Florida fishing can help make Florida’s Forgotten Coast your next vacation spot or permanent home. Offering fully furnished vacation rentals and residential or commercial properties. Let us show you why it’s a great place to visit, and an even better place to live!

(850) 653-1653 44 Ave. E, Apalachicola 10

THE NAUMANN GROUP

Your local real estate experts from Tallahassee thru to the Emerald Coast.

Located next to Shades Restaurant at 30A. (850) 933-0328 10952 E. County Hwy 30A, Inlet Beach

RED PIRATE GRILL

Make this family-owned sports bar featuring mini golf your first stop for fun!

With good food, grog, plus a game room, there’s something for everyone! Crab legs and oysters on the half shell served nightly and live entertainment by its house band on Fridays. Open seven days. Mini golf discount with any meal.

(850) 670-1090, redpirategrill.com 236 Highway 98, Eastpoint 9

8

ST. GEORGE CANTINA

OYSTER CITY BREWING CO.

Sample award-winning local beers on the most social street corner in town! Enjoy handcrafted beers from 12 taps of brewery staples and rotating seasonals. Sit in the open air and enjoy the sights and sounds of lovely Apalachicola, or sip your beers on the brewery floor and watch our fine folks create the only local beer on the Forgotten Coast.

Growlers and crowlers available to go.

Open seven days, starting at noon.

(850) 653-2739, oystercitybrewingco.com 17 Ave. D, Apalachicola TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

129

PROMOTION

APRIL 27

Opening Nights presents Rosanne Cash Join Opening Nights for the grand finale of its 2018–19 season featuring Grammy awardwinner Rosanne Cash. On tour with “She Remembers Everything,” Rosanne’s latest album is a poetic, lush and soulful collection of songs that marks a return to more personal songwriting. Tickets for this show, sponsored by Jim B. Taylor, range from $25 to $65, and student tickets are half price.



Purchase tickets at OpeningNights.FSU.edu or call (850) 644-6500.

130

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

calendar PROMOTION

MAR/APR 2019 For more events in Tallahassee, visit TallahasseeMagazine.com. compiled by REBECCA PADGETT

APRIL 27–28

LEMOYNE ART CHAIN OF PARKS ART FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY SEZER66 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS AND COURTESY OF CHAIN OF PARKS ART FESTIVAL, SHORE FIRE MEDIA (ROSANNE CASH), JACOB STUCKEY OF TALLAHASSEE TENNIS CHALLENGER AND TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE AND THE TMH FOUNDATION (PENTATONIX)

→ Get ready for a first-class, fun-

filled outdoor cultural experience at the Chain of Parks Art Festival. View amazing, original and one-of-a-kind works of art in a delightful Southern outdoor setting. Enjoy a wide variety of live entertainment, a host of local food trucks and vendors plus libations served enthusiastically at the W XYZ Bar by Aloft. Ranked among the top five Fine Art Festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, this annual two-day festival draws tens of thousands of people from the Big Bend region to see 170-plus artists who have traveled from all over the country to display their original fine art works.

Free and open to the public. Visit chainofparks.com for more information.

APRIL 18

TMH Golden Gala → Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the TMH Foundation proudly announce Golden Gala XXXVI —

starring the three-time Grammy award-winning group, Pentatonix. Held at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and entering its 36th year, Golden Gala continues to hold its place as the region’s premier charitable and social event. Golden Gala XXXVI will benefit the Tallahassee Memorial Music Therapy Program.

For more information, visit tmh.org/giving/golden-gala/about-golden-gala.

APRIL 22-28

TMH Foundation Tennis Challenger → The 20th annual Tallahassee Tennis Challenger is set for the City of Tallahassee’s Forestmeadows Tennis Complex, site of the past 14 Challenger events.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the tournament or volunteering before, during or immediately following the tournament, please contact tournament director Karen Vogter at KVogter@tallahasseechallenger.com.

APRIL 5

BOYS TOWN NORTH FLORIDA | SPIRIT OF YOUTH GALA

→ Boys Town North Florida and gala chairs Paul and Cindy Sullivan, Ken Cashin and Lisa Chase invite you to the 16th annual Spirit of Youth Gala at the University Center Club. The theme for this year’s event is “Cheers to the Champions” — celebrating the champions who make a difference in the lives of our children.

For sponsorship information, contact Boys Town at (850) 575-6422 or visit boystown.org/north-florida.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

131

PROMOTION

calendar

MAR/APR 2019

APRIL 11-13

Florida Disabled Outdoor Association presents Sunshine State SportsAbility → SportsAbility enables people of all ages and all ability

For more information, visit fdoa.org/sportsability-tallahassee.

SAVE THE DATE

MAY 31

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | THE BIG BASH ‘HAVANA NIGHTS’ → Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend for our

premiere fundraising event of the year, The Big Bash “Havana Nights.” Guests will enjoy an exciting evening featuring Cuban cuisine, live performers, a raffle and auction, bourbon flights, a cigar bar, hosted beer, wine and champagne and — of course — music and dancing. Sponsors and individual donors are critical for the continued success of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission of matching at-risk youth in our community with strong, enduring and caring adult mentors. Our agency expects to serve over 600 children again this year, and we want to celebrate our passion and success for defending children’s potential with you.

APRIL 13

Tallahassee Community Chorus → World-renowned conductor

Dr. André Thomas completes his 31st and final season conducting the internationally acclaimed Tallahassee Community Chorus in a special Tribute! concert at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

Tickets are available at TCChorus.org.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

APRIL 4

FSU College of Medicine

→ Join us for a fun evening at the Grove Market Café to

support medical student scholarships for the Tallahassee Regional Campus. Few people are aware that the medical students most likely to choose primary-care careers often lack the family financial resources needed to get through medical school. The average debt for a graduating FSU medical student is $150,000 — and high debt levels can steer students toward higher-paying specialties and away from primary care. As a young medical school, our fundraising activities are focused on providing our medical students scholarship support.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

MARCH 30

LEON HEART BALL → The 2019 Leon County Heart

Ball is a black-tie gala fundraiser benefiting the American Heart Association and hosted by Event Chairs Dr. and Mrs. Greg Hartlage and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Corum.

For sponsorship information, please email melanie.johnson@heart.org.

APRIL 9-14

LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL THEATER | JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH → “James and the Giant Peach” is a children’s musical guaranteed to bring laughter and a great time to all who

attend. The show includes animated backdrops and audience participation that will captivate not only the children but also the adults. The school matinees include a McDonald’s Happy Meal with every ticket.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

132

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTO BY BOB O’LARY (TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY CHORUS), BRUCE W. PALMER (FSU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE) AND COURTESY OF AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (LEON HEART BALL) AND FLORIDA DISABLED OUTDOOR ASSOCIATION

levels to try everything from seated waterskiing to rock-wall climbing, martial arts and much more at no cost. Participants of all abilities will discover the latest in equipment, trends and resources while learning about the value of recreation and active leisure, especially for those with disabilities.

YOUR LOCAL Your Local Low VisionSTORE Store LOW VISION •

Home Products

•

Kitchen Aids

•

SolarShield Glasses

•

Personal Care

•

Magnifiers

•

Talking Watches

•

• Home Products

• SolarShield Glasses

• Magnifiers Electronics

• Electronics

•

• Kitchen Aids • Personal Care

• Talking Watches Talking Clocks • Talking Clocks

Low vision aids at discounted prices!

Twenty20 Vision Aids is supported by Lighthouse of the Big Bend.

LOW VISION AIDS AT DISCOUNTED PRICES! Twenty20 Vision Aids is supported by VISIT US TODAY at 3071 Highland OaksBig Terrace | Tallahassee, FL 32301 | Open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Lighthouse of the Bend.

VISIT US TODAY at 3071 Highland Oaks Terrace • Tallahassee, FL 32301 • Open Monday–Friday 9 am–5 pm

Like and follow us on Facebook for behind the scenes content.

Subscribe to us on YouTube for full episodes.

LIVE! In Tallahassee is the weekly entertainment show that keeps you updated on what’s happening in our region.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

133

PROMOTION

calendar REGIONAL

MAR/APR 2019

MARCH 28–APRIL 7

Emerald Coast Theatre Company: Around the World in 80 Days → It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Jules Verne’s classic

tale springs to life in this clever, fast-paced comedy for the whole family. Proper gentleman Phileas Fogg strikes a wager and sets off on a race that puts his fortune and life at risk. With his faithful servant at his side, he has just 80 days to circle the globe — an inconceivable feat in the year 1872. Fierce natives, furious typhoons, runaway trains, a damsel in distress and a dogged detective threaten to delay him at every step in this delightful, whirlwind odyssey that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to unexpected end.

Running Time: 120 mins. For all ages. Visit EmeraldCoastTheatre.org for tickets and showtimes.

MARCH 8–10

Red Hills International Horse Trials → Competitors from around the world

descend on Tallahassee for the annual equestrian competition at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park.

Visit 850tix.com for more info.

APRIL 25–28

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival → A dazzling roster of dozens of celebrity winemakers, distillers,

chefs, brew masters and entertainers converge on South Walton to wine, dine, educate and entertain guests as part of a four-day celebration of wine. With 800-plus wines and winemakers from around the world, go and celebrate the best in wine and food.

Visit SoWalWine.com for ticket information and more.

REGIONAL

MARCH 24–29

CAPITAL EVENTS: CHILDREN’S WEEK

APRIL 13

WAKULLA COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL | SOPCHOPPY WORM GRUNTIN’ FESTIVAL → The Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival has easily become

one of Wakulla County’s most popular and largest events each year. The celebration draws thousands from Wakulla County and the surrounding areas who come to see the famed Sopchoppy worms rise from the ground and crown a new Worm Gruntin’ King. This all-day celebration begins with a morning 5K race, an afternoon worm gruntin’ demonstration and competition then an evening of live music late into the night. The event attracts nearly 100 food and arts-and-crafts vendors every year, and the evening culminates with the Annual Worm Grunters’ Ball, featuring a slew of live performances from local artists.

→ The 24th annual Children’s Week will take place at the State Capitol. Join us for our free community event, Children’s Capitol for the Day, which includes free breakfast, free lunch, free books and activities in the Capitol Courtyard on March 26.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

Visit wormgruntinfestival.com for more information.

MARCH 27

CAPITAL EVENTS:

APRIL 27

Alzheimer’s Project Inc. Presents Purple Craze

→ Come and join the Alzheimer’s Project’s seventh annual Purple Craze.

The fabulous Southern Satisfaction band will be performing throughout the night, and there will also be a battle of the chefs, silent auction, wine toss and much more.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.Tickets: $30.

134

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

→ Join us at the State Capitol to celebrate and advocate for Florida’s seniors. More than 100 statewide partners invite you to join us for free breakfast, free lunch, entertainment, exhibitors and free health screenings in the Capitol Courtyard.

Visit 850tix.com for more information.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN (RED HILLS), ISMODE / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (PURPLE HAT), AND NIKI HEDRICK COURTESY OF EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY, SOUTH WALTON BEACHES WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL, WAKULLA COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND STEVEN SACCIO PHOTOGRAPHY (CHILDREN’S WEEK AND FLORIDA SENIOR DAY)

REGIONAL

LO C A L T I C K E T S .

O N E P L AC E .

850Tix is your source for local events across Northwest Florida. From the same trusted award-winning team that has published Tallahassee Magazine for more than 37 years, our goal is to promote the community our readers know and love.

From festivals to tours and sports to the arts, the event choices in Northwest Florida are endless and all on 850Tix.com.

TALLAHASSEE

Giving Tallahassee a Reason to Smile

When you retire, youryou money should When retire, Whenyou retire, your money should keep working. your money should When you retire,

keep working. keep working.

Someday you’ll stop working, and at that your money should point, you’ll have to depend on your retiremen keep working.

Someday you’ll stop working, and at that

Someday you’ll stop working, and at that

point, you’ll have to depend on your retirement

point, you’ll have to depend on your retirement

income. To work toward building that income,

Stephen Huggins Senior Vice President Stephen Huggins Financial Senior Vice Advisor President

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry · Same Day Crowns Latest Technology · Professional & Caring Team 2621 Mitcham Drive, Tallahassee · 850.425.1300 BastienDentalCare.com Monday–Thursday 8am–noon and 12:30pm–4:30pm · Closed Friday New Location Coming Spring 2019

income.

Totoward workbuilding toward income.

To work thatbuilding income, you’ll need a strategy.

Someday you’ll stop working, and at that you’ll need a strategy. need a strategy. point,you’ll you’ll have to depend on your retirement

that income,

With more than 26 years of experience, I

income.

To work toward building that income, With than 26 years offorexperience, can helpmore you create a strategy goals like I Stephen Huggins you’ll need strategy.

With more than 26 years oflikeexperience, I can help aestate you create a strategy for goals Financial Advisor retirement, planning and leaving a legacy.

Senior Vice President 3520 Thomasville Rd, Ste 100 retirement, estate planning and leaving atolegacy.

Let’s put your money to work.

Call me today Tallahassee, FL 32309 Stephen Huggins 3520 Thomasville Rd, Ste 100 Withcan you a strategy for goals like Financial Advisor morehelp than 26 yearscreate of experience, I +1 850 422-8707 Senior Vice President put your money to work. Call me today to Tallahassee, FL 32309 setLet’s up an appointment. stephen.huggins@morganstanley. can help you create a strategy for goals like Financial Advisor +1 850 422-8707 retirement, estate planning and leaving a legac com set up an appointment.

3520 Thomasville Rd, Ste 100 retirement, stephen.huggins@morganstanley. estate planning and leaving a legacy. www.morganstanley.com/fa/ 3520 Thomasville Rd, Ste 100com

stephen.huggins put your money to today work.

Tallahassee, 32309 Let’sLet’s put your money to work.

Call me to Call Tallahassee, FL FL 32309 www.morganstanley.com/fa/ 850 422-8707 +1 +1 850 422-8707 stephen.huggins set up an appointment. set up an appointment. stephen.huggins@morganstanley. stephen.huggins@morganstanley. com Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide www.morganstanley.com/fa/ com tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. stephen.huggins Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide www.morganstanley.com/fa/ tax2013 or legal advice.

Clients should their tax advisor for matters involving and tax © Morgan Stanley Smith Barneyconsult LLC. Member SIPC. CRC588469 (12/12) CStaxation 7338805 MAR013A 03/13 planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. stephen.huggins

me today t

135

© 2013 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC588469 (12/12) CS 7338805 MAR013A 03/13 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM March–April 2019 tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

MAR/APR 2019

to taste what’s new from this award-winning vintner in Thomasville, Georgia.

REENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF NATURAL BRIDGE

Learn more at facebook.com/ events/511616112680961

MARCH 2-3

NORTH FLORIDA VEGFEST

Approximately 154 years later, the 42nd reenactment of the second largest Civil War battle in Florida is recreated, lasting two days and taking place at Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park. Visitors experience medical, military and living history demonstrations as well as educational presentations.

Period merchants are also on-site.

MARCH 9 Carrots, potatoes and beets, oh my! The 5th annual North Florida VegFest, presented by the Tallahassee Vegetarian Community, will take place at scenic Tom Brown Park featuring nationally recognized speakers, vegan cooking demonstrations, eco- and animal-friendly vendors, kids activities, live performances and, of course, plenty of veggie samples.

JEWISH FOOD & CULTURAL FESTIVAL MARCH 3 From matzo ball soup to pastrami sandwiches, nosh your way through a lineup of traditional Jewish foods.

Temple Israel Tallahassee’s Jewish Community Center invites the whole family to dine, dance to traditional Jewish music and experience cultural activities. templeisraeltlh.org

MAKANA – OPENING NIGHTS MARCH 4-5 Makana is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, singer, composer and activist widely known for lending his musical talent for social change. His performance will take place at the beautiful Goodwood Museum & Gardens. openingnights.fsu.edu

FARMER’S DAUGHTER | NEW RELEASE CELEBRATION Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards + Tasting Room is celebrating the release of its latest wine — a mystery for now, but it’s said to be bright, off-dry and fruitforward. Be among the first

136

THE MICHAEL FEINSTEIN TRIO – OPENING NIGHTS MARCH 12 Five-time Grammy Award nominated Michael Feinstein, one of the most celebrated classical musicians of our time, mixes classic and modern pieces for an unforgettable evening of music. openingnights.fsu.edu

OTHER DESERT CITIES MARCH 21-APRIL 7 In this family-centric drama, main character Brooke Wyeth returns home after six years away and reveals she is publishing a memoir dredging up tragic family events they thought would never come to light. theatretallahassee.org

MARCH 8

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

northfloridavegfest.com

FRENCH COUNTRY FLEA MARKET MARCH 22-23 Sweet South Cottage French Country Flea Market presents its Spring Show.

Shop the many vendors and appreciate the one-of-a-

kind treasures that range from antique furniture and handmade jewelry to architectural salvaged accessories for home and garden.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

tallahasseefilmfestival.com

WORD OF SOUTH FESTIVAL

frenchcountryfleamarket.com

HAVE A HEART FOR HORSES

APRIL 12-14

↑ SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE FESTIVAL & GRAND PARADE

Writers, musicians and artists merge to explore and celebrate the relationships between these disciplines by combining spoken word and live music performances. This year’s lineup won’t disappoint as many big names are on tap.

MARCH 30

wordofsouthfestival.com

Celebrate spring with over 100 floats, marching bands, dance groups and the lively Springtime Krewes.

The event kicks off Friday night with main stage entertainment in Kleman Plaza. Saturday’s festivities include the Grand Parade, the Kids’ Park and Jubilee in the Park — under the oak trees in the gorgeous Downtown Chain of Parks.

GADSDEN REGGAE & BLUES FEST

MARCH 23 Saddle up as The Triple R Horse Rescue will host its eighth annual Have a Heart for Horses fundraiser at WC Dover Farm. With dinner, dancing, horse demonstrations, a silent auction and The Allie Cats band, this fun event serves a worthy purpose. All proceeds will go directly to the Triple R Horse Rescue to help horses in need. triplerhorserescue.org

GOODWOOD GARDEN SYMPOSIUM MARCH 27 The 17th annual Goodwood Garden Symposium is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carriage House Conference Center at Goodwood Museum & Gardens. Guest speaker will be Jenks Farmer, a garden designer, horticulturist and “renaissance plantsman” who converted his family’s South Carolina hay farm into a thriving crinum lily farm.

Tickets are $35 and include lunch.

Books and crinum bulbs will be available for purchase.

NATE BARGATZE – OPENING NIGHTS MARCH 29 Nate’s comedy is clean and relatable, evident in his appearances on The Tonight Show and on Late Night, both with Jimmy Fallon, and on Conan and @midnight. Nate will bring that very same laughter to Tallahassee. openingnights.fsu.edu

Details of listings can change at the last minute. Please call ahead of time to confirm.

March–April 2019

for emerging filmmakers and screenings of acclaimed films from around the world.

springtimetallahassee.com

MOLLY TUTTLE – OPENING NIGHTS APRIL 4 A virtuoso multiinstrumentalist and awardwinning songwriter with a distinctive voice, Molly Tuttle has turned the heads of even the most seasoned industry professionals. You don’t want to miss this star on the rise. openingnights.fsu.edu

TALLAHASSEE FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 5-7 Film buffs and movie lovers unite as The Tallahassee Film Fest is back with film screenings, panels and parties at multiple locations throughout Tallahassee.

This weekend-long film festival features films and filmmakers, seminars, networking, competitions

APRIL 19-20 Two days, two stages and over 20 acts — the 5F Farm Event Center hosts two full days of reggae and blues acts for a weekend of music, food and fun. Kid and dog friendly.

5ffarm.com

SISTER ACT APRIL 25-MAY 12 Theatre Tallahassee presents “Sister Act,” a feelgood comedy based on the hit film. The story follows a woman hiding in a covenant who helps her fellow sisters discover themselves while finding out who she is. theatretallahassee.org

DAVID SEDARIS – OPENING NIGHTS APRIL 26 With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, best-selling author David Sedaris has become one of America’s most popular humor writers. He is the master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition. openingnights.fsu.edu

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER? Send an email to preinwald@rowlandpublishing.com.

PHOTO BY BRIAN ROWLAND

calendar

YOUR GUIDE TO THE 51ST ANNUAL

Springtime

2019

TALLAHASSEE

FESTIVAL AND PARADE

WELCOME

INSIDE YOUR GUIDE Springtime Tallahassee Sponsors... �����������������4 Schedule of Events... ��������������������������������������������� 6 Music Festival... ������������������������������������������������������� 7 Grand Marshals... ���������������������������������������������������� 9 Board of Directors ����������������������������������������������� 10 Andrew Jackson... �������������������������������������������������12 SAMANTHA FULTON, GENERAL CHAIRMAN, AND MIKE MELDER, PRESIDENT

Krewes... ��������������������������������������������������������������������12 Belles and Gents... ������������������������������������������������ 14

PUBLISHED BY:

Rowland Publishing, Inc. PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY:

Ivory Fine Art Portraits

“WE ARE FAMILY” LOGO DESIGN:

Tricia Wilham, Springtime Tallahassee Member Springtime Tallahassee would like to thank Tallahassee Magazine for their time and effort while putting together this year’s Festival Guide. Thank you for your hard work!

2 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

PRESIDENT AND GENERAL CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

W

elcome to the 51st annual Springtime Tallahassee Festival! Our Springtime Tallahassee family is excited to present the festival weekend starting March 29 with the Music Fest on Kleman Plaza. Bring your friends and family for a free music concert showcasing a nationally acclaimed entertainer, food vendors and a beer garden. On Saturday, March 30, join us for the Grande Parade and Jubilee in the Park. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m., but the Jubilee goes on throughout the day. Visit our many craft vendors, community stages, food court and Children’s Park, and enjoy a day with your family and friends. We are planning the 2019 Jubilee in the Park to be “Rain or Shine,” so if the weather prevents us from having the Jubilee outside, we have made provisions to move the Jubilee to the North Florida Fairgrounds.

The Springtime Tallahassee Festival events would not be possible without the support and assistance of many people in our community. Thank you to our many sponsors in the business community, organizations and the media. Please support the businesses featured in this publication. And, thank you to the members of Springtime Tallahassee. Your tireless efforts bring this event to life and make Springtime Tallahassee the great organization that it is.

If you would like to learn more about Springtime Tallahassee and how to become a member of this great organization, please visit our website at Springtimetallahassee.com.

We look forward to seeing you on March 29 and 30 as our families come together to celebrate. Springtime Tallahassee – We Are Family!

LOCAL

MEETS

GLOBAL

The team, values, and service you know.

Now with expanded offerings, trusted worldwide.

Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance, a HUB International company 1117 Thomasville Road | Tallahassee,FL 32303 | 850-386-1111 Springtime Tallahassee 2019 3

2019 SPONSORS FESTIVAL PARTNERS

PREMIER MUSICFEST SPONSORS

PREMIER JUBILEE SPONSORS

CHAMPION SPONSORS

COMMUNITY STAGE SPONSOR

4 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

SIGNATURE SPONSORS

CHILDREN’S PARK SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS TOWER HILL INSURANCE ST. LEO UNIVERSITY WELLS FARGO GUMBY’S BANK OF AMERICA

HAMPTON INN & SUITES CAPITOL INTERIM HOSPITALITY CONSULTANTS HOME INSTEAD MILLION AIR KRIZNER GROUP

BENSON’S HEATING & AIR INTENTS EVENTS INFINITY SOFTWARE HOPPING GREEN & SAMS 3H AC OF TALLAHASSEE

Springtime Tallahassee 2019 5

2019 SCHEDULE OF SPRINGTIME FESTIVAL EVENTS

MARCH 13 BREAKFAST IN THE PARK

6:30–10 a.m.

Downtown Tallahassee, Lewis Park Join us for a delicious old-fashioned breakfast downtown while mingling with old friends. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance or at the event.

MARCH 29 MUSIC FESTIVAL ON KLEMAN PLAZA

6–10:30 p.m.

Kleman Plaza Featuring Chris Janson! Unwind at the Beer Garden as we ROCK the plaza for this free festival event! Beer, wine, Pepsi products and food will be available for purchase.

Make sure to arrive early to enjoy the opening acts as this event will get packed quickly.

MARCH 30 THE 44TH ANNUAL SPRINGTIME 10K

The 10K/5K races will be held on USATF certified courses, beginning on Monroe Street in downtown Tallahassee in front of the Leon County Courthouse and covering rolling hills through the beautiful Myers Park neighborhood. The 1 mile race will begin at 7:45 a.m., followed by the 10K and 5K races starting at 8:10 a.m. For more information please visit springtime10k.com.

MARCH 30 GRAND PARADE

10:30 a.m.–Noon Monroe Street Being one of the largest parades in the Southeast the Springtime Tallahassee Grand Parade needs no introduction. Come see over 100 colorful units and floats, marching bands, dance groups, Springtime Krewe floats and much more!

MARCH 30 JUBILEE IN THE PARK

9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Downtown Tallahassee With more than 200 arts, craft, boutique and food vendors from around the country this event is represented by some of the best. You can expect artists displaying original, handmade masterpieces, and find cuisine with international flavors to ignite anyone’s taste buds!

MARCH 30 CHILDREN’S PARK

9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Downtown Tallahassee This fantastic day of fun-filled activities, includes face painting, clowns, sirens and a host of other magical experiences that provide culture, education and recreation for the whole family! This magical area will be sure to unleash the imagination of all ages. Springtime Tallahassee and Tobacco Free Florida are working together to reduce your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke. The Children’s Park is designated a TOBACCO-FREE ZONE. 6 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

Keith Taylor Band

South of Echo

MUSICAL GUESTS MARCH 30

COMMUNITY STAGE (MCCARTY PARK) Noon–5 p.m.

• Noon–12:20 p.m.

• 12:30–12:50 p.m.

• 1–1:10 p.m.

• 1:20–1:40 p.m.

• 1:50–2:10 p.m.

• 2:20–2:35 p.m.

• 2:45–3 p.m.

• 3:10–3:30 p.m.

• 3:40–3:50 p.m.

• 4–4:20 p.m.

• 4:30–5 p.m.

Trousdell Dance Team Making Light Productions Excellence Dance Studio, Inc. Dance Electric Dance Academy Killearn Kids Dance Troupe Seminole Tap Troupe Rock Star Ravens Community Cheer Squad Expressions Movement Studio The Tallahassee Ballet Capital Celtic Dancers Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy (TA-DA)

ROCK, JAZZ & BLUES STAGE JEFFERSON STREET & ADAMS STREET Noon–5 p.m.

• Noon–1 p.m.

• 1:15–1:45 p.m.

• 2–3 p.m.

• 3:15–3:55 p.m.

• 4:10–5 p.m.

Keith Taylor Band South of Echo Joe Noto Sway Jah Vu Once Great Estate

GRAND PARADE VIEWING STANDS

9:30 a.m.

Tallahassee Community College’s Capital City Band

::: PM OPENING ACTS ::: PM BEER GARDEN OPENS WINE AVAILABLEE

Janson is a platinum-selling high-octane entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, award-winning singer/songwriter, and the youngest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Springtime Tallahassee 2019 7

WE’RE

ALL TALLAHASSEE THAT & MORE

Beyond Tallahassee’s universities and politics, there’s a special place that brims with award-winning restaurants, local craft breweries, gorgeous trails and spring festivals like the Red Hills International Horse Trials, Springtime Tallahassee, Southern Shakespeare Festival, LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival, and Word of South Festival. Plan your trip now.

VisitTallahassee.com 8 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

2019 PARADE GRAND MARSHALS

CHARLIE WARD

C

harlie Ward, Jr., is a husband, father, mentor and coach who embodies the principles of integrity, hard work and faith in God. The subject of a page-turning biography, “The Athlete: Greatness, Grace and the Unprecedented Life of Charlie Ward” written by veteran journalist Jon Finkel, he inspires adults and youth alike in the way he carries himself and how he shows up in the world.

Described as a once-in-a-lifetime athlete and a once-in-a-lifetime human being, Ward’s character and his commitment to serve others are deeply respected in the sports community and far beyond. His calm demeanor and powerful leadership message of preparation, perseverance and patience set strong examples for business leaders, organizations, students and families.

Listed among the most outstanding college athletes in modern history, Ward, a two-sport athlete, was a stellar quarterback in football and an equally impressive point guard in basketball at Florida State University (FSU). During his senior year, he won over 30 awards, including the Heisman Trophy; set 19 school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference records; and subsequently led the FSU Seminoles to their first-ever National Championship under legendary Coach Bobby Bowden. After graduating from FSU with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Ward was drafted twice by Major League Baseball and was a firstround draft pick of the New York Knicks. He went on to play for the

Knicks, helping the team consistently reach the playoffs six consecutive years from 1996 to 2001.

Charlie Ward is a man whose greatness and grace know no bounds.

He and his wife Tonja have been married for 23 years, and they have three children, Caleb, Hope and Joshua. From 1996 to 2006, the family underwrote and produced youth development sports camps and events throughout the country. Over the past 25 years, they have quietly and consistently donated to youth development organizations, charities, churches and schools. In 2015, they officially founded the Charlie Ward Family Foundation to leave a legacy of giving back by supporting youth development programs and organizations, and sharing his inspirational message of embracing the process that leads to success.

KEZ MCCORVEY

C

oach Kez McCorvey began his football career, like many, as a player for his high school football team in Pascagoula, Mississippi. After redshirting in 1990 at FSU, he began an exciting period of his life as a four-year starter for a team that won five consecutive bowl games, had three undefeated ACC championships, and won the national title in 1993 with a combined record of 44-5-1.

Coach McCorvey personally received All-ACC honors in 1992 and 1993, as well as Script and Howard All-America honors in 1993. He is the second-leading receiver in FSU history for receiving yards and receptions and set the record for touchdowns in a single game.

Upon graduating in 1995 with his sociology degree, he was drafted in the fifth round to the Detroit Lions where he played for three seasons. In 1999 he was drafted to the Rhien Fire of NFL Europe, where he broke the record for the longest touchdown in NFL Europe history. Kez finished his playing career with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, where he became a league leader in touchdowns and was elected to the All-Star team.

His first coaching opportunity came in 1998 as the Wide Receiver Coach of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, whose team made it to the state championship game during his tenure. While there, he had

the opportunity to coach Craphanso Thorpe, who later played at FSU and professionally.

Finding a love for player development, Coach McCorvey and partners started Titus Sports Academy in 2002, a strength and speed development company for young athletes. During the span of seven years, he had a hand in developing many great athletes from the Panhandle area, including Antonio Cromartie and Ernie Sims. He also developed the principles of the receiver portion of Darrin Slack’s Academy. His work was honored by an appointment of service on the Governor’s board for physical fitness for the state of Florida.

Springtime Tallahassee 2019 9

2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS • President - Michael Melder • General Chairman - Samantha Fulton • President-Elect - Marcia Thornberry • Secretary - Becky Scaringe • Treasurer - Joel Jarrett • Andrew Jackson - Phillip Bacon • Immediate Past President - John Wampler • Immediate Past General Chair - Stephanie Jansen • Immediate Past Andrew Jackson - Rob Fisher • Spanish - David Cramer • American Territorial - Ken Ellis • Antebellum Statehood - Liz Brady • War & Reconstruction - Robert Thornberry • 20th Century - David Shafer

Board Representatives:

• Spanish - Whitney Marston • American Territorial - Sally Musgrove • Antebellum Statehood - Fred Varn • War & Reconstruction - Ken Martin • 20th Century - Nina Love • Parliamentarian - Elaine Yawn

10 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

PHOTO BY IVORY FINE ART PORTRAITS

Krewe Chiefs:

BERNSTEIN & GERSHWIN

With Orchestra May 11, 2019 – 7:30pm May 12, 2019 – 2:30pm Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

TICKETS

TallahasseeBallet.org 850.224.6917 – ext. 21

Springtime Tallahassee 2019 11

2019 ANDREW AND RACHEL JACKSON

ANDREW JACKSON HISTORY

ANDREW & RACHEL

JACKSON

PHIL BACON | ANDREW JACKSON XLVI I NIKKI BACON | RACHEL XLVI I PHOTOS BY IVORY FINE ART PORTRAITS

MEET THE

KREWE CHIEFS

To promote the rich history of our community, Springtime Tallahassee annually selects two members to portray Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel. They serve, together with the President and the General Chairman, as representatives of the organization. Andrew Jackson was chosen as a representative of Springtime Tallahassee because of his service to Florida as the first provisional governor in 1821. He later became the seventh president of the United States.

The Andrew Jackson Staff is composed of members of the five Krewes, having been selected by each Krewe for a five-year active term. The Staff is a marching unit and participates not only in the Springtime Parade, but also in a number of festivals throughout Florida and other states.

ANDREW JACKSON’S STAFF

RACHEL’S STAFF

AMERICAN TERRITORIAL KREWE

ANTEBELLUM STATEHOOD KREWE

KREWE CHIEF KEN ELLIS AND COLLEEN

DAVID AND KREWE CHIEF LIZ BRADY

SPANISH KREWE

WAR & RECONSTRUCTION KREWE

20TH CENTURY KREWE

KIM AND KREWE CHIEF DAVID CRAMER

MARCIA AND KREWE CHIEF ROBERT THORNBERRY

KARYN AND KREWE CHIEF DAVID SHAFER

12 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

Tobacco Free Florida: Creating a Healthier State In 2006, Floridians voted to fund a statewide tobacco education and use prevention program.

As a result, Tobacco Free Florida launched in 2007.

SINCE THEN...

SMOKING RATES

The reduction in adult smoking rates from 2007 to 2015 resulted in approximately

$17.7 billion

21.0% 2006

Proud to support

Springtime Tallahassee

16.1%

15.5% 3.6% 2018

in savings in cumulative smoking-related health care costs across the state

2017

ADULTS

anduniversities universities colleges and 62 colleges 84

2006

76.7% decrease

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

100 100%

have haveenacted enacted

smokefree campus smokefree campus policies Florida policiesin inFlorida

There’s still more work to do Join the fight at tobaccofreeflorida.com

www.ccbg.com

airport_spring19_printer.pdf 2 2/1/2019 4:40:51 PM

C

M

Y

CM

Spring is in The Air

MY

CY

CMY

K

FlyTallahassee.com Springtime Tallahassee 2019 13

BELLES AND GENTS OF SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE 2019

BELLES AND GENTS

MR. & MISS SPRINGTIME

TALLAHASSEE MR. SPRINGTIME, NICK BROWN MISS SPRINGTIME, AVA JACKSON

PHOTOS BY IVORY FINE ART PORTRAITS

Springtime Tallahassee’s Belles and Gents program is made up of young men and women from grade 9 through grade 12.

Throughout the year, the Belles and Gents along with the Jr. Belles and Gents, grades 5 through 8, develop poise, proper etiquette and self-confidence while studying the history and traditions of Florida, Springtime Tallahassee and the city of Tallahassee. Along with learning about our history, the Belles and Gents participate in several community projects that give back to our community.

Springtime Tallahassee is very proud of the Belles and Gents and the wonderful way they care about our community.

BELLES AND GENTS

JR. BELLES AND GENTS

QR Code Generation and Mobile Websites ∙ CD / DVD Duplication and Full Color Label Printing ∙ Flashdrives with Loaded Data ∙ Document Scanning ∙ Oversize Scanning ∙ Photo Scanning ∙ Holiday Cards ∙ Calendars ∙ Invitations ∙ Custom Notepads ∙ Custom Notecards ∙ Promo Products ∙ Personalized Letters ∙ Postcards ∙ Bulk Business Mail ∙ “Lumpy” Mail & Fulfillment ∙ Newsletters ∙ Training Binders and Books ∙ Binding Options (Comb, Coil, Wire, Perfect, Tape, Booklets) ∙ Programs ∙ Presentation Signage / Foam Board Signs ∙ Event Tickets ∙ CDs / DVDs with Printed Full Color Labels ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Mailing ∙ Step & Repeat Backdrops ∙ Custom Lanyards and Nametags ∙ Postcards (Including Political Mail) ∙ Newsletters ∙ Flyers ∙ Small Posters ∙ Business Cards ∙ Catalogs ∙ Rack Cards ∙ Table Tents ∙ Menus ∙ Presentation Folders ∙ Artwork on Canvas ∙ Backlit Film ∙ Indoor/Outdoor Banners ∙ Foam Board Mounted Signage ∙ Magnetic Vehicle Signs ∙ Architectural Plans ∙ Posters ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Static Cling ∙ Window and Door Lettering ∙ Wall Decals, Fatheads, or Wall Words ∙ Yard Signs ∙ QR Code Generation and Mobile Websites ∙ CD / DVD Duplication and Full Color Label Printing ∙ Flashdrives with Loaded Data ∙ Document Scanning ∙ Oversize Scanning ∙ Photo Scanning ∙ Holiday Cards ∙ Calendars ∙ Invitations ∙ Custom Notepads ∙ Custom Notecards ∙ Promo Products ∙ Personalized Letters ∙ Postcards ∙ Bulk Business Mail ∙ “Lumpy” Mail & Fulfillment ∙ Newsletters ∙ Training Binders and Books ∙ Binding Options The First is committed to building (Comb, Coil, Wire, Perfect, Tape, Booklets) ∙ Programs ∙ Presentation Signage ∙ Foam Board Signs ∙ Event Tickets ∙ CDs / DVDs Printed Full relationships one customer atwith a time.

Color Labels ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Step & Repeat Backdrops ∙ Custom Lanyards and Nametags ∙ Postcards (Including Political Mail) ∙ With locations in ∙Tallahassee, visit us Newsletters ∙ Flyers ∙ Small Posters (12 x 18 or Smaller) ∙ Business Cards ∙ Catalogs ∙ Racksix Cards ∙ Table Tents Menus ∙ Presentation Folders ∙ Artwork on Canvas ∙ Backlit Film ∙ Indoor/Outdoor Banners ∙ Foam Board Mounted Signage ∙ Magnetic Vehicle Signs today and you will see∙ Architectural why…. Plans ∙ Posters ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Static Cling ∙ Window and Door Lettering ∙ Wall Decals, Fatheads, or Wall Words ∙ Yard Signs ∙ QR Code Generation and Mobile Websites ∙ CD / DVD Duplication and Full Color Label Printing ∙ Flashdrives with Loaded Data ∙ Document Scanning ∙ Oversize Scanning ∙ Photo Scanning ∙ Holiday Cards ∙ Calendars ∙ Invitations ∙ Custom Notepads ∙ Custom Notecards ∙ Promo Products ∙ Personalized Letters ∙ Postcards ∙ Bulk Business Mail ∙ “Lumpy” Mail & Fulfillment ∙ Newsletters ∙ Training Binders and Books ∙ Binding Options (Comb, Coil, Wire, Perfect, Tape, Booklets) ∙ Programs ∙ Presentation Signage / Foam Board Signs ∙ Event Tickets ∙ CDs / DVDs with Printed Full Color Labels ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Step & Repeat Backdrops ∙ Custom Lanyards and Nametags ∙ Postcards (Including Political Mail) ∙ Newsletters ∙ Flyers ∙ Small Posters (12 x 18 or Smaller) ∙ Business Cards ∙ Catalogs ∙ Rack Cards ∙ Table Tents ∙ Menus ∙ Presentation Folders ∙ Artwork on Canvas ∙ Backlit Film ∙ Indoor/Outdoor Banners ∙ Foam Board Mounted |Signage ∙ Magnetic Vehicle Signs ∙ Architectural Southwood 3641 Coolidge Court Plans ∙ Posters ∙ Retractable Banner Stands ∙ Static Cling ∙ Window and Door Lettering ∙ Wall Decals, Fatheads, or Wall Words ∙ Yard Signs Mahan Drive | 2626 Mahan Drive

Yep!

We can do that.

The First is Just the Bank for You!

Park Avenue | 1400 East Park Avenue North Monroe | 3490 North Monroe Street Metropolitan Center | 3320 Thomasville Road Apalachee Parkway | 2000 Apalachee Parkway #100

850.671.6600 www.targetprintmail.com 14 Springtime Tallahassee 2019 2017

www.TheFirstBank.com

30 years in business

Blue Ribbon cleaners is committed to providing you the best dry cleaning experience, offering quality cleaning services at competitive prices.

Being locally owned and operated means Blue Ribbon provides that local connection Tallahassee has grown to trust and respect.

Come in and see us today!

5 WAYS AAA TRAVEL CAN TURN YOUR VACATION

FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY

Monday – Friday 7am–6pm Saturday 8am–2pm

1 2 3 4 5

Thank you, Tallahassee!

Best Dry Cleaner

Three Convenient Locations 1660 N. Monroe . 2107 Capital Circle NE . 1102 E. Lafayette

You’ll enjoy exclusive upgrades and perks on select vacations We’re experts at creating highly personalized vacations You’ll learn about experiences you’d never find on your own Our exclusive AAA Vacations® trips offer the ultimate in value We’re highly skilled at planning complicated itineraries See how our buying power can stretch your vacation dollar farther

AAA TRAVEL TALLAHASSEE | 3491 THOMASVILLE ROAD | 850-907-1000

Allen Thompson ResToRes & RepAiRs Fine FuRniTuRe Tallahassee, FL (850) 509-7512 allen_wzrd@yahoo.com

Amy Butcher

Amy Butcher

GayeJohnson Johnson Gaye

Rebecca Babcock Rebecca Babcock

AnAn independent insurance agency independent insurance agencywith withmultiple multipleresources, resources,we work hard to to find you thethe right coverage we work hard find you right coverageatatthe thebest bestprice. price.

Call Midtown Insurance for a review and second opinion.

Call Midtown Insurance for a review and second opinion.

8 850.385.8811 5 0.3 8 5.8 8 11 | |mimidtownins.com d t o w nin s.c o m || 410 . 6th 6 t h Ave. Av e.

410EE. Springtime Tallahassee 2019 15

P

PERSEVERANCE

Perseverance. A powerful element in fighting cancer.

Edith Picallo has persevered through tough challenges in her 70 years – immigrating from Cuba, losing her husband to cancer, raising three kids alone and beating cancer twice. A new stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis had her wondering if she had what it took to beat it again. Her initial prognosis was severe – less than a year to live.

But when she found Florida Cancer Specialists, her doctor conducted genomic testing to personalize her therapy.

The result – her tumor shrank 47 percent in just six months. Now, three years after her diagnosis, Edith’s story shows that when hope and science join forces, great outcomes can happen.

“Florida Cancer Specialists did a genetic test to determine the right medicine for me and my lung cancer, and it is working.”

-Edith Picallo, Cancer Fighter

Where Hope is Powered by ScienceTM FindHopeHere.com

World-Class Medicine. Hometown Care.

Proud to serve patients at our two Tallahassee locations.

Tallahassee East: 1600 Phillips Road, Suite 300, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 • Call: (850) 877.8166 Tallahassee North: 2626 Care Drive, Suite 200, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 • Call: (850) 219.5830 Viralkumar Bhanderi, MD 16 Springtime Tallahassee 2019

Paresh Patel, MD

Scott Tetreault, MD

PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES The Yard at Railroad Square

1

FEB. 1 The Yard at Railroad Square held its Pre-Construction Bash as it readies for its March 1 grand opening in the space formerly occupied by Proof Brewing at Railroad Square. An estimated 600 people gathered to mingle and sip Florida craft brews, wine and other libations. The Yard will be a performing arts venue serving craft beer, wine and welcoming a rotation of local food trucks. Being in the largest retail space in the privately owned art district, The Yard plans on continuing to cultivate the atmosphere of arts and local businesses.

PHOTOS BY DAVID DOLL AND JUSTINE SPELLS

1 Guest drawing on the art wall 2 Ryan Loving, Devin Bender and Ryan Bauer 3 Sammy, Denise and Danny Chichester

2

3

4 Mandy Moran, Andrew Stone and Justine Spells 5 Zac Kushner, Ben Fisch and Adam Kaye

4

5

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

153

PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Field Day Music Festival JAN. 26 Blankets and chairs were gathered to the perfect spot as Field Day Music Festival attendees listened to musical performances from The Vegabonds, Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys, plus local talent Slow Low Crow. The event raised money and awareness for the Judy Field Memorial Foundation, which fights pancreatic cancer in Tallahassee and beyond. Visitors dined in the VIP tent, which included a full dinner, bar and seating areas, or enjoyed local food trucks and local brews from the beer garden.

PHOTOS BY DAVID DOLL

1

2

3

desire

results you

Trusted and skilled board-certified physicians Ben J. Kirbo, M.D., Laurence Z. Rosenberg, M.D. and Chris DeRosier, M.D. are breast rejuvenation experts.

Compassionate and committed to providing outstanding patient care, they stay up-to-date with technological advancements that enhance your experience for exceptional results.

~ ~ ~ ~

Breast Asymmetry Breast Correction Breast Augmentation* Breast Lift

~ ~ ~ ~

Breast Reduction Breast Reconstruction Breast Revision Surgery Preventive Mastectomy

MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants made in the USA

*

VIEW OUR BREAST SPECIALS & BEFORE/AFTER GALLERIES ONLINE!

Ben J. Kirbo, M.D. ~ Laurence Z. Rosenberg, M.D. ~ Chris DeRosier, M.D. CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

not actual patient

850.219.2000

154

2030 Fleischmann Rd.

~ Tallahassee, FL

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

www.se-plasticsurgery.com

HONORING OUR DONORS

S H A W N

&

C O U R T N E Y

R O B E R T S

Michael’s Fund Shawn and Courtney’s generosity inspired the creation of a children’s activity center in the M.T. Mustian Center, now under construction at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), to comfort children who are awaiting surgery.

What makes this gift meaningful to you?

SHAWN: We want to provide emotional support to children and their families. To impact a child’s life, to distract them for a moment and ease their fears, is the perfect way for our family to give back.

What motivated your gift?

SHAWN: My brother, Michael, died before I was born.

He had an inoperable brain tumor. There was a lot of love in our house that revolved around his memory, but there was also pain.

COURTNEY: Michael died when he was 8 years old, and our son, Noah, who’s middle name is Michael, is now 8. It just makes you appreciative and want to help other families who have to go through something so heartbreaking.

How has TMH cared for your family?

SHAWN: Having children was a struggle for us. We lost our first child on Sept. 29, 2009. Dealing with a still birth was very difficult. The staff at the (Tallahassee Memorial Alexander D. Brickler, MD, Women’s Pavilion) were kind and gave us time to cherish that moment with our baby, as brief as it was. That was followed by two emergency C-sections with Noah and Nella Cate, 3. We are still grateful for how TMH cared for all of us.

What advice would you give to other people who want to make a difference?

SHAWN: If there’s something you feel like you need to do, don’t spend another year thinking about it. Get involved. You don’t have to create a $10 million endowment. You can make an impact in many different ways.

What do you want others to remember about your story?

SHAWN: This isn’t a sad story. Although we struggled, we now have two bright, wonderful children, and we’re incredibly blessed. They get to grow up in a community that has great healthcare, and I hope that they’ll figure out how to get involved one day, too.

“ We take what moves us, our experiences, our faith, what touches our hearts, and we do something about it. “

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

TA L L A H A S S E E M E M O R I A L H E A LT H C A R E F O U N DAT I O N

March–April 2019

155

PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Sunshine State Ball

2

1

JAN. 11 The Junior League of Tallahassee hosted its inaugural Sunshine State Ball to recognize the volunteer work that strengthens communities and celebrate everything that makes Florida the best place to live, work and raise a family. Hundreds attended, including Tallahassee mayor John Dailey, who welcomed guests. All proceeds went to support the Junior League’s mission of improving the lives of children and families.

3

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DON HAYES

4

1 Sylvia Smith and Mary Dekle of Junior League partner organizations HOPE Community/ Big Bend Homeless Coalition and Second Harvest of the Big Bend respectively 2 Sunshine State Ball Committee member Mackenzie Crane and Junior League of Tallahassee VP of Development Samantha Sexton 3 Country Music artist Rodney Atkins 4 Marsha Doll Faulkenberry and Jane Awkard Marks

aPRil 11-13

BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLORIDA DISABLED OUTDOORS ASSOCIATION, CITY OF TALLAHASSEE & THE KIWANIS OF THE BIG BEND

EVERYONE Deserves the Opportunity to COME Out & PLAY of Tallahassee

all ages

&

Through the Miracle Sports program, children and adults of all abilities are provided the opportunity to play sports where they feel accepted, included, and valued in a team sport inclusive environment. Sports are adapted to meet individual needs.

The Miracle Sports program enables people of all abilities to benefit from improved physical, mental, emotional, social and vocational well-being. Miracle Sports enhances self-esteem and individual competency and improves the quality of life of the athletes.

Kickball Thursdays Jan. 24 to Apr. 11

all abilities!

Tennis Thursdays Jul. 11 to Aug. 1

Baseball Thursdays Sep. 5 to Nov. 14

Resource Expo Basketball Tennis Martial Arts

Rock Climbing Golf Disc Golf Horseback Rides

Kayaking SCUBA Biking Sit Water-Skiing

EVERYONE Deserves the Opportunity to COME Out & PLAY VISIT FDOA.ORG FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS 156

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

|

(850) 201-2944

Swimming Sailing Boat Rides Waverunner Rides

Tallahassee’s preferred residential electrician for over 35 years ...

LAWSON & LAWSON Electrical Services, Inc. #1 in Tallahassee since 1979

Tree Trimming PALMS • OAKS • PINES Ben Vasilinda 850.228.7208

Landscaping & Lawncare, LLC.

Licensed & Insured - Commercial & Residential

Lawn Maintenance . Tree Trimming . Debris Removal Roof & Gutter Clean-outs . Pressure Washing Overgrown Lot Clean-ups . 44-foot Bucket Truck

Call “The Good Guys” Today!

850-562-4111 www.LLElectrical.com

2018

GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM Dr. Lynn Hagood, D.V.M. Veterinarian at NFAH

Strength in Numbers, Strength in Action!

Meet Dr. Lynn Hagood; a calm and humble soul. With a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn, he began practicing in Tuscumbia, Alabama in the late ‘80s. A desire for more knowledge led him to further his education in the areas of pathobiology and epidemiology to acquire a Master of Science that he put to work for the Alabama State Veterinary office of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Control. It didn’t take long for his former classmate, Dr. Simmons, to reach out to him to become a part of North Florida Animal Hospital. Our clients and staff love to see that gently wagging pointer finger and tilted head that means he is contemplating an answer or solution to any question, medical or personal.

We are fortunate to have him here in Florida though he shares his heart with northern Alabama where he and wife, Hallie, and their three children visit family often. Here and there, he enjoys all that country life provides like fishing, gardening, dogs, horses, donkeys, a chicken or two and, his latest endeavor, beekeeping. His church, friends and our staff hope to keep him in Florida for many years to come.

2701 N. MONROE ST. | (850) 385-5141 | NFLAH.COM

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Register for free at FloridaSeniorDay.org TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM FSD Ad Quarter Page Ad 3.8125x4.875.indd 1

March–April 2019

157

1/22/19 6:29 PM

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tallahassee Community College Foundation is deeply grateful for the support of our community.

The Foundation’s work focuses on three areas at the College: scholarships, program enhancements and facility upgrades. This past year, each of these individuals, local companies and nonprofit organizations have helped us achieve great success in each of these areas. On behalf of the entire TCC family, especially our students, thank you again for your support!

Jim Rodgers Thank you for your vision and investment in creating the Gadsden LEARN Scholarship. This scholarship will ensure that the first year of tuition at TCC is covered for any high school senior graduating from a public, private or home school institution in Gadsden County. What an amazing testament from the Gadsden County Community – thank you for providing access and opportunity!

Dr. Mary and Joe Pankowski Thank you for your investment in our First Class Campaign, a classroom renovation project. We know that students achieve greater success when they are in an environment that allows them to collaborate and problem solve within the classroom setting. The impact of this project will be experienced for years to come.

Jean English-Hurst Thank you for your gift of art, providing TCC the opportunity to have its own permanent collection.

Through your donation and creation of the Ralph Hurst Art Gallery, you have established a wonderful legacy that provides access to the arts for not only our students, but also our community.

158

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

ADVERTISEMENT

Panacea Waterfronts Partnership Thank you for your investment to create an endowed scholarship for students from your community. We are proud to support your belief that if we create strong futures of success for students in Panacea, and that this in turn would strengthen your little community by the sea. Thank you for your investment in student success!

Danny and Tracey Shrine, Full Press Apparel Thank you for your investment in our Digital Rail Project. This project was designed to attract students to careers in graphic arts, digital media and information technology through the use of a mobile lab that helps promote careers in web design and programming, app development, 3-D printing and rapid prototyping and cybersecurity.

Kay Floyd Thank you for remembering TCC in your planned giving. Kay lost her battle with cancer in Spring of 2018 but left a legacy of love and support of our students through a planned gift. This gift created an endowed scholarship that will provide for 4 full tuition scholarships for students seeking their AA or AS degrees at TCC every year in perpetuity.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

159

One of

THE SOUTH’S

STANDOUT food and beverage

FESTIVALS.

APRIL 25–28, 2019

Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® Miramar Beach, FL

Thursday • Winemakers & Shakers • 5pm–7pm Friday • VIP Wine Tasting Kick-Off • 4pm–6pm Friday • Craft Beer & Spirits Jam • 6pm–9pm Saturday & Sunday • Grand Tastings • 1pm–4pm

A dazzling roster of dozens of celebrity winemakers, distillers, chefs, brew masters and entertainers converge in South Walton, Florida to wine, dine, educate and entertain guests as part of the four-day celebration of wine during the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival held April 25-28, 2019 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard.

Attendees enjoy such attractions as Spirits Row, Rosé All Day Garden, Savor South Walton Culinary Village, Nosh Pavilions, Tasting Seminars, Craft Beer & Spirits Jam, live entertainment and more than 800 wines poured by knowledgeable wine industry insiders.

ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT

Benefiting Children in Need in Northwest Florida

PRESENTING SPONSORS

OFFICIAL LODGING PARTNER

OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

FOUNDING PARTNERS

04 25 - 28 19 160

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

V ISIT

sowalwine.com

FO R M O R E INFO R M AT I O N A N D TO PU RC HA S E T I C K E TS

301

GOING GREEN Eco-Friendly Weddings ROYALLY EVER AFTER Bring Your Fairytale to Life

Ways to Achieve Wedding Day Bliss

coastal

What Makes an Emerald Coast Wedding Unique

chic

+

The Best Vendors, Venues & Views of the Region

EXPERIENCE is the DIFFERENCE

Full Service Event Planning & Production Event Design • Furniture and Decor Rentals Be inspired at JohnGandyEvents.com 850.570.5999

THE VIE W FRO M TH E A LTA R WAS A S EN D LE SS A S OU R LOV E .

Michael Allen Photography

THERE IS 855-300 -9055

ONLY ONE

• HiltonSandestinBeach.com

•

#HiltonSandestin

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

MARI DARR~WELCH

contents

issue 6

19

coastal weddings

20 Coastal Chic 22 The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa 24 WaterColor Inn 26 The Pearl Hotel 28 Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa 30 Resort Collection 32 The Chapel at Seaside 34 ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals

39 40 42 44 46 50 52 54 56

city weddings FSU Alumni Center University Center Club Social Catering Royally Ever After Hotel Duval The Edison Staybridge Suites Four Points by Sheraton

weddings 59 country KRISTEN STONE PHOTOGRAPHY

60 Rustic Refined 64 Going Natural

it happen 67 making On the Cover

What’s more romantic than an Emerald Coast sunset? Our cover couple’s swoon-worthy first kiss as husband and wife in front of the iconic sherbet sunset hues. Our  cover exudes Charlie and Leah Escher’s love for one another. The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa’s gorgeous grounds and this couple’s affection lent to priceless moments captured by Michael K Photography. The Henderson was a go-to date spot for dinner and cocktails. The first time they went, Leah couldn’t help but think it would be a beautiful venue for a wedding. She couldn’t have been more right! The couple loved the beaches of their home in Destin but recently moved to Palmdale, California, where Charlie is stationed in the Navy. The Emerald Coast and The Henderson will always hold a special and sincere spot in their hearts.

68 70 72 74 76 79

87

Cultural Infusion Andrew’s Catering John Gandy Signature Catering Top Trends for 2019 Music Master

honeymoon destinations

88 ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

5

Visit us at www.hendersonbeachresort.com/celebrate or call 855.614.6590 to plan the Destin, Florida wedding of your dreams.

Image credit Michael K Photography

SalamanderHotels.com

Your Moment of a Lifetime.

Versatile Inspired Perfection Tallahassee’s premier full service caterer E! ENU V NEW

Downtown boutique event space to host gatherings of up to 120 people. Perfect for receptions, showers and rehearsal dinners.

CONTACT ASHLEY CHANEY ACHANEY@ANDREWSDOWNTOWN.COM 850.645.9255 | ANDREWSDOWNTOWN.COM/CATERING | 228 SOUTH ADAMS STREET

from the editor

It’s All in the Details

ZAN FRETT

I’m completing some mundane tasks when I realize I have a missed Facetime call from my best friend. I want to kick myself for missing the call by 26 minutes because I know exactly why she called. I call back, she tells me the story, we squeal like middle schoolers.

Months later, my boyfriend and I are entranced as our show of the moment reaches its apex of the season. My phone chimes and I almost ignore it, but I see it’s a family group message, so I open the text. I grab the remote and hit pause, tears already beginning to fog my eyes as I dial my sister’s number.

During the holidays, my other best friend is visiting her home country of South Africa. Because of the time difference and her lack of iMessage, I receive an Instagram message of her on a scenic cliff with the most gorgeous sparkler on her left hand. I cannot type back quickly enough, even the right words don’t seem right enough for the perfection of her moment.

The year 2018 gave me the gift of knowing that the three women I admire, adore and am most grateful for will spend the remainder of their lives with respectable men that will care for their hearts, cherish their minds and stay committed forever. Now, 2019 will further reward me with the privilege of witnessing their wedding journey begin, evolve and shape.

Each will maintain certain traditions, such as the ring as a representation of unity. Yet even more enjoyable — each wedding will be unique, a depiction of loves so specific, so cherished, so joyous that it couldn’t be repeated or replicated.

This is my third year as editor of this publication, and I still never fail to tear up or get goose bumps (or both) when I see photos of forehead kisses, videos of a teary eyed grooms or read love stories in your own words. Still, there are batches of trends that surprise and delight me — this industry is ever evolving. I am grateful for weddings because of the union, the commitment, the endurance and the unwavering love they are intended to symbolize.

If you’re reading this publication as someone who is planning a wedding, remember this day is dedicated to your love and it should reflect two people as one. The wedding professionals within these pages are committed to your vision, your happiness and your forever. From the smallest, prettiest flower and your favorite foods to a venue that makes your breath catch, they will make sure each detail reflects a bit of yourself.

As a writer, a reader and an observer, I’ve always been keen on details. Details are often slight, intricate and descriptive. They could be overlooked. These details though are what amount to the full story. The details are the shy smiles shared when you first met, the joke from your second date that you still tell today, the knee on the ground as the rest of the world fades around you — because all you can see is your future.

All my love,

Rebecca Padgett, Editor

10

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Providing creative catering, mobile craft cocktails, and exceptional service to make your wedding day as truly unique as you are.

SOCIALCATERINGANDEVENTS.COM

|

(8 50) 800 -7 267

|

TALLAHASSEE, FL

weddings

online access

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

issue 6

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Brian E. Rowland EDITORIAL EDITOR Rebecca Padgett

PROOFREADERS Melinda Lanigan, Jeff Price CREATIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter LEAD DESIGNER Sarah Burger ADVERTISING DESIGNER Amanda Brummet SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh Lohbeck

weddings.net

NORTHWESTFLORIDA

With your Pinterest board active and your phone full of apps, Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine’s website is a convenient, informative and on-trend resource you should add to your wedding planning toolbox. Scroll, click and search our site for insightful stories, talented photographers, stunning venues, mouthwatering caterers, planning guides and much more. Our click-thru showcase pages provide additional layers of information about each vendor featured within the magazine. From sandy shores to luxurious hotels to oak-shaded plantations, explore the vibrant and romantic wedding scene that Northwest Florida furnishes.

COME SEE US AT WEDDING SHOWS

We love to share the beauty of Northwest Florida. During 2019, we will be attending bridal shows in order to showcase why Northwest Florida could be your ideal wedding or honeymoon location. Check out our events calendar to see if we will be in a city near you.

» DIGITAL EDITIONS Need a copy of Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine everywhere you go? Our digital editions provide the exact same pages but clickable!

It’s the same magazine you know and love with easy, virtual access. » WEDDING BLOG We vow to keep you apprised with the latest in trends and tips through our blog section, which features topics ranging from floral décor to budgeting.

Be Featured!

Who doesn’t love a local romance? Submit your wedding through

our website for a chance to be featured in our real weddings blog.

Visit NorthwestFloridaWeddings.net/Submit-Your-Wedding to enter your love story.

#NWFLWeddings

»

@NorthwestFLWeddings @NWFLWeddings facebook.com/NorthwestFloridaWeddings pinterest.com/NWFLWeddings

12

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS, WESTERN DIVISION Daniel Parker ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATORS Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Sostre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Makenna Curtis, Julie Dorr, Margaret Farris, Darla Harrison MARKETING MANAGER Kate Pierson INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR Charles Shelton SALES AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Mackenzie Little SALES AND EVENTS ASSISTANT Abby Crane WEB/DIGITAL DIGITAL EDITOR Janecia Britt DIGITAL INTERN Samantha De Oliveira Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine is published annually by Rowland Publishing, Inc. 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. (850) 878-0554. Northwest Florida Weddings 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. Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Copyright March 2019 Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Partners of Visit Tallahassee and Member, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and Florida Magazine Association.

850.809.8668 • S ande s tin . c o m / w ed d i n g s Photography Credit: - Lily & Sparrow

14

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Beautiful Pearls for Beautiful Girls

3501 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32309 (850) 893-4171

GEMCOLLECTION.COM NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

15

contributing photographers

Alena Bakutis Photography

Alicia Osborne Photography

alenabakutis.com (850) 778-5370 featured on p. 47, 77, 79

aliciaosbornephoto.com (850) 510-2929 featured on p. 60, 61, 64, 65, 76, 77

Claire Casner Photography

Elizabeth Davis Photography

clairecasner.com (214) 794-3454 featured on p. 26-27

LV Photography

elizabethdavisphotoblog.com (850) 443-2956 featured on p. 44-45

Marcus Duval

lvphotography.me (561) 389-8444 featured on p. 68-69

mduvallymg.wordpress.com (850) 519-5604

Rae Leytham Photography

Sarah & Paul Photography

raeleytham.com (850) 554-2538 featured on p. 36

sarahlynandpaul.com (850) 888-0432 featured on p. 34

Amy Riley Photography

Black & Hue Photography

amyrileyphotography.com (850) 819-9037 featured on p. 21, 85

blackandhuephotography.com (850) 443-4796 featured on p. 67, 76, 77, 79

J&J Weddings

Mari Darr~Welch, Modern Photojournalist

jandjweddings.com (850) 445-4004 featured on p. 54-55

destinweddingphotographer.com (850) 699-3403 featured on p. 5

Shannon Griffin Photography

shannongriffin.com (904) 545-0432 featured on p. 76, 77

instagram.com/ caseygrennanphoto featured on p. 65

charlottefristoe.com (850) 694-8910 featured on p. 42-43, 59, 61, 76

JonMonFish Imagery

Kristen Stone Photography

Lily & Sparrow Photo Co.

Michael K Photography

Paul Johnson Photography

jonmonfishimagery.com (850) 240-4393 featured on p. 35

michaelkphotography.com (850) 218-3724 featured on the cover and p. 22-23

Sunset Images

sunsetimagesphotography.com (850) 642-0605 featured on p. 28-29, 84

Want More Information?

Woodland Fields Photography woodlandfieldsphotography.com (850) 559-1095 featured on p. 20, 39, 46, 70-73, 77

16

Visit us online and check out our exclusive Photographers Index. You’ll have access to photographer bios and their work in past issues. It will also send you directly to their blogs and portfolios. Want to get in touch with a photographer? Their contact information can also be found online.

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Casey Grennan Photography Charlotte Fristoe Photography

kristenstonephotography.com (850) 326-2298 featured on p. 61

lilyandsparrowphoto.com (850) 496-1081 featured on p. 19, 20, 60, 76, 77

Pure 7 Studios

pauljohnsonphoto.com (850) 832-4309 featured on p. 20, 24-25, 32-33 87

pure7studios.com (850) 654-6523 featured on p. 21, 47, 76

Trickey Photography

vizuliz Photography

trickeyphotos.com (850) 879-5367 featured on p. 56-57

vizuliz.com (850) 933-8154 featured on p. 50-51

Also Contributing: Chris Crouch, CMC Photography, Michael Hursey and Nabah Zabih

Weddings

BY RESORT COLLECTION ®

Wedding bells are ringing at the beach!

Resort Collection, located in beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida, has everything to turn your wedding dreams into reality! Say “I do” on the beach, by the pool, or in our newly renovated conference center. Our customizable packages and professional wedding planners help make your wedding as unique as you.

Reference this ad to receive a complimentary room for your wedding night when you book your wedding with Resort Collection.

(850) 233-4029 | weddings@resortcollection.com

W W W . R E S O R T C O L L EC T I O N . C O M

There is something special

at the chapel at Seaside

Guests may reserve the chapel by calling (855) 411-1557 Reservation based on availability

658 Forest St., Seaside, Florida 32459 thechapelatseaside.com

LILY & SPARROW PHOTO CO.

the coast

Coast (noun): 1. Sugar-white sands leading to emerald green waters. 2. Luxury resorts overlooking stunning watercolor sunsets. 3. Enchanting, goldenhour backdrops to vow to forever. 4. Footprints in the sand, hearts on permanent vacation.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

19

LILY & SPARROW PHOTO CO.

PAUL JOHNSON

the coast

Coastal Chic What makes an Emerald Coast wedding unique?

By Rebecca Padgett

From the rustic romance of historic Apalachicola to the » elegant sugar sands of Destin beaches to the pristine white walls of Alys Beach. your ideal venue awaits.

20

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

W

e can all agree that beaches are beautiful. The lull of waves, the soft sand, the picturesque sunsets like brushstrokes from the color palette of a talented artist. There are many beaches, in Florida and beyond, but there’s something so alluring, so enchanting, so truly special about Emerald Coast beaches.

The Emerald Coast’s claim to fame is in the name — emerald waters. This brilliant blue-green enlivens photos and is a sure signifier that your wedding was an Emerald Coast affair. The other contender is the sugar-white sand.

“The sugar white sand and emerald green waters are only located in certain parts of the world, and we are lucky enough to have it in our backyard,” said the staff of Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. “Our beachfront location gives you a stunning backdrop as you exchange your vows to a Gulf soundtrack.”

Not only is the sand soft as the finest cotton, it pairs perfectly with your white wedding dress. The sand’s iconic hue actually inspires many coastal brides to have all white weddings.

Venues, including the WaterColor Inn & Resort, have noted that many of their brides opt for white as the most prevalent wedding color with complementary shades of gold or blush.

Beyond the sand, white is an influential color on the Emerald Coast. Take, for example, the iconic stark-white walls of Alys Beach, the white picket fences of Seaside or the whitewashed facades of Rosemary Beach.

AMY RILEY

Rosemary Beach » blends classic and

contemporary, sleek and sophisticated for a style that is specifically Emerald Coast. Wed inside an architecturally distinguished venue or be silhouetted by the best sunsets in the world.

PURE 7 STUDIOS

White is clean and stylish, much like the architecture of the Emerald Coast. From quaint beach cottages with welcoming front porches to sweeping New Urbaninspired structures. Emerald Coast architecture is elegant, simplistic, eye-catching and distinct — unparalleled by other beachfront communities. Travel from the cute and clean-lined Seaside to the modernized and memorable streets of downtown Pensacola, and you will witness the many distinct styles that put this region in a class of its own.

What’s man-made is impressive, but the natural beauty already present truly steals the show. Northwest Florida is composed of miles of pristine coastline surrounded by forests of ancient oaks and nature-made lakes.

“WaterColor emphasizes the beauty of the Emerald Coast because we can offer a wide range of beachside to lakeside venues to our clients,” said Joseph A. Lanzy, wedding sales and services manager of WaterColor Inn & Resort. “Our sugar-white beaches offer the perfect spot for beach ceremonies, sunset photos and bonfires. Our lakeside venues can offer intimate ceremonies overlooking the rare coastal dune lakes.”

The many local waterways provide a bevy of the finest, freshest varieties of seafood. Destin itself is monikered, “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” From the Gulf, red snapper, grouper, blackfin tuna, Spanish mackerel, mahi-mahi, amberjack and more are plated daily for local diners. Plump Gulf shrimp and succulent crab are popular menu items, but the most prized possession of the Emerald Coast are the briny sweet oysters, especially of the Panacea and Apalachicola varieties.

“Couples love to take advantage of the gorgeous backdrop provided by the Gulf and the fresh seafood that comes from it,” said Melissa Matern, senior marketing manager of ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

With such stunning scenery and exquisite beauty arching through the Panhandle, many couples opt for sleek simplicity in style and decor. They simply let nature or their venue do the talking — speaking exceptional, unparalleled, romantic words. ▪

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

21

the coast

THE HENDERSON BEACH RESORT & SPA Destin

“The first time Charlie took me to The Henderson for dinner, I remember walking into the lobby and thinking, ‘What a great place for a wedding.’ After he proposed, I was researching venues, and I kept being drawn back to the idea of The Henderson. It’s so beautiful, and it held so many great memories for us.

“After meeting with the team, who were amazing from the first meeting, I told them I had always dreamed of walking down a staircase as the bride and they told me they hadn’t done that yet, but we could make it work. Anything I dreamed up, they wanted to make happen. I was so excited to walk down the aisle. My party came out the doors downstairs, so no one anticipated that I would be coming down the staircase. I felt like I was princess in a fairytale at that moment.” – Leah Escher, Palmdale, California PHOTOS BY MICHAEL K PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ CATERING/BARTENDING ▪▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ DINING ▪▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪▪ SPA SERVICES ▪▪ DÉCOR RENTALS ▪▪ PRODUCTION/EVENT DESIGN ▪▪ TRANSPORTATION (850) 424-4417 // HendersonBeachResort.com 200 Henderson Resort Way, Destin, FL 32541

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

23

the coast

24

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

WATERCOLOR INN & RESORT Santa Rosa Beach

“I have been going to Seaside/WaterColor every summer for the past 20 years and have always known I would want to get married there someday. My cousin got married at the same venue about five years ago, and ever since then, I knew I would want to have mine there as well.

“The WaterColor Inn worked so well with all of my vendors that it made the whole planning process a breeze. The day of my wedding, I didn't have to think about one thing regarding the logistics of the day.

WaterColor took care of everything! The guests at our wedding were raving most about just how beautiful the venue was, especially down by the water during sunset.” – Caroline Schuler, Houston, Texas

PHOTOS BY PAUL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ CATERING ▪▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪▪ DINING ▪▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪▪ PRODUCTION/EVENT DESIGN ▪▪ DJ SERVICES ▪▪ LINEN RENTALS ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ SPA SERVICES (850) 231-7773 // WatercolorResort.com 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

25

the coast

26

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

THE PEARL HOTEL Rosemary Beach

“When searching for our wedding venue, we were looking for a location that was easy for our friends and family to travel to, exuded a laid-back yet upscale style and would be a fun and relaxing place to revisit every year as a new family tradition. As soon as we stepped into The Pearl Hotel, we knew this is where we would start our next chapter.

“The Pearl Hotel was the perfect backdrop for our modern minimalist wedding. The rooftop was unlike any other venue and needed minimal décor. The warm and inviting atmosphere fit our personalities and the vision for our wedding perfectly. During the entire wedding process, we wanted to ensure every detail meant something to us, showcased our relationship and was personal. With this in mind, we decided to write our own vows. Listening and reciting our promises to each other is an experience we will never forget.”

– Nicole Levey, Dallas, Texas PHOTOS BY CLAIRE CASNER PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ CATERING ▪▪ PLANNING & COORDINATION ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ DINING ▪▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪▪ SPA SERVICES ▪▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS ▪▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪▪ DECORATING AND FLORAL SERVICES ▪▪ DJ SERVICES (850) 460-9040 // ThePearlRB.com 63 Main St., Rosemary Beach, FL 32461

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

27

the coast

28

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA Miramar Beach

“While we were dating, we discovered we both grew up going to Hilton Sandestin. We wanted to have our wedding somewhere that was special to us both. We decided we would create new and lasting memories together as one big family at the place where we had made so many fond memories with our individual families as kids. The staff provided nothing but the best hospitality and service during the ceremony and reception. They even went above and beyond to accommodate some of the older members of our family who weren’t able to walk down to the beach by providing a beach wheelchair. ”The most special moment was seeing Jennifer walk down the boardwalk steps and onto the sand. I have always found Jen to be gorgeous, but on that day, in that moment, she was absolutely stunning. It was a moment I’ll never forget, and it still makes me smile to think about.” – Tanner Casey, Pelham, Alabama PHOTOS BY ANGIE WAGNER WITH SUNSET IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ CATERING ▪▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ DINING ▪▪ SPA SERVICES

(850) 267-9500 // HiltonSandestinBeach.com 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S., Miramar Beach, FL 32550

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

29

COURTESY OF RESORT COLLECTION

the coast

30

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

NABAH ZABIH COURTESY OF RESORT COLLECTION

NABAH ZABIH COURTESY OF RESORT COLLECTION

WEDDINGS BY RESORT COLLECTION Panama City Beach

“I would recommend this beautiful venue and incredibly helpful staff to any bride. My day was absolutely perfect. I had so many resort guests and even complete strangers come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed watching our wedding from their balcony. We felt like celebrities.

The staff and team at Resort Collection made my dream wedding into a reality.” – Tamara Taylor, Montgomery, Alabama

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESORT COLLECTION AND BY NABAH ZABIH

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING ▪ BARTENDING ▪ PLANNING & COORDINATION ▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DESIGN & DECOR ▪ DINING ▪ SPA SERVICES ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ PRODUCTION & EVENT DESIGN (850) 233-4029 // ResortCollection.com 11212 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

31

the coast

32

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

THE CHAPEL AT SEASIDE Seaside

The Seaside Chapel is honored to have won Best in South Walton Wedding Venue, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“We absolutely love Seaside. For our wedding ceremony, there was no better place than The Chapel at Seaside. It’s timeless, it’s charming and it’s sacred to both Sam and I. This chapel holds such a special place in our hearts, our relationship and our faith. We’d get married here a million times over if we could.”

– Kylee Claire and Sam Rainbolt, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

PHOTOS BY PAUL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ CATERING ▪▪ PLANNING & COORDINATION ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE

(855) 411-1557 // homeownerscollection.com/ seaside-fl-chapel-weddings 658 Forest St., Seaside, FL 32459

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

33

the coast

THE POINTE | RESORTQUEST BY WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS Inlet Beach

With two picturesque wedding venues, on-site guest accommodations and the perfect blend of flexibility and luxury, The Pointe is a dream wedding location. The Rooftop Sanctuary venue space offers romantic views of 30A and the Gulf of Mexico. Celebrate amidst one of the most spectacular sunsets you have ever seen, and spend the evening dancing under the stars. The Green venue spaces offer a garden canvas with endless possibilities for setup. The Pointe’s unique and sophisticated style, paired with the expertise of the talented team, will make your wedding dreams come true.

“The Pointe is an architectural award-winning property with condominiums that are equipped with modern, chic décor. The unique offerings are sure to capture your dream wedding goals. Whether you say your I do’s on the Rooftop Sanctuary or on The Green venue space, The Pointe is sure to capture your vision for your perfect day.”

– Dana Birlingmair, Wedding Sales Manager PHOTOS BY SARAH & PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY

34

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

At a Glance ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪▪ DINING ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ CATERING

(888) 412-6408 // ThePointeWeddings.com 10711 E. County Hwy 30A, Inlet Beach, FL 32461

the coast

SUNDESTIN | RESORTQUEST BY WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS Destin

Offering indoor and outdoor space, this Gulf-front venue provides wedding packages, on-site guest accommodations, a wide variety of amenities and a great location in the heart of Destin. Exchange vows on the white sandy beaches and, for your dream reception, choose the newly renovated 2,000-square-foot ballroom accommodating up to 120 guests.

“The ceremony was at the perfect time on the beach. The sunset was behind us, and the temperature was perfect. It was very convenient having it right on the SunDestin Resort property since that is where everyone stayed. The price was affordable, and the location had spectacular views of the Gulf.”

– Kayla and Josh Thomas, Kansas City, Missouri PHOTOS BY JONMONFISH IMAGERY

At a Glance ▪▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪▪ OUTDOOR VENUES ▪▪ CATERING ▪▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪▪ DINING

(888) 412-6408 // SunDestinWeddings.com 1040 US 98, Destin, FL 32541

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

35

the coast

TOPS’L BEACH & RACQUET RESORT | RESORTQUEST BY WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS Destin

At a Glance ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

INDOOR VENUE OUTDOOR VENUE CATERING HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS DINING

Choose between overlooking our Gulf-front pool deck or walking barefoot in the sand to say your “I do’s” directly on the pristine beach. At TOPS’L Beach and Racquet Resort, we offer a complimentary back-up indoor space and allow you to use our wedding coordinator, as well as the officiant, music and décor of your choice. Accommodating up to 150 guests, TOPS’L hosts only one beachside wedding on the resort at a time to ensure yours is an exclusive affair.

TOPS’L is a gated beachfront resort, bordered by a nature preserve and the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The resort offers beachfront high-rise condominiums as well as private homes, multiple dining options and endless complimentary amenities, creating the ultimate destination wedding experience!

PHOTOS BY RAE LEYTHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

36

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

(888) 412-6408 // TopslWeddings.com 9011 US 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550

Bridal Design and Gallery

BEST of the BEST Kirk Kara Sylvie Kwiat Henri Daussi Simon G McCaskill Signature Bridal Michael Bondanza Steven Kretchmer JFA Designs Alex Sepkus Benchmark Oscar Heyman Forevermark HeartStar Diamonds

13390 Highway 98 West, Destin, FL (850) 650-2262 • McCaskillandCompany.com NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

37

Bricks &Brass Downtown Tallahassee’s Newest Event Space

850 422 4200

www.BricksandBrass850.com

320 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee FL 32301

the city

WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

City (noun): 1. Bright lights, glittering skylines, bustling streets, electric synergy. 2. Historic downtowns lined with hotels, dining and shopping.

3. Contemporary cool venues for the city-centric couple. 4. Modernity mingled with lasting love.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

39

the city

40

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

ANDREW’S CATERING AT FSU ALUMNI CENTER Tallahassee

“My husband and I both graduated from Florida State University, and it was important to us that our guests got a taste of our alma mater while showcasing Tallahassee’s beauty at the same time. The grounds themselves are beautiful and offered a variety of picturesque moments.

“The FSU Alumni Center exceeded our expectations. From the beginning, we were greeted with nothing but ‘can do’ attitudes. The food was exquisite, catered by Andrew’s Catering, yet another staple of Tallahassee we had the opportunity to showcase to our guests. I couldn't recommend this venue enough to any bride.” – Nicole Richards, Tallahassee, Florida PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HURSEY

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING SERVICES ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ DESIGN AND DÉCOR INSTALLATIONS ▪ PRODUCTION/EVENT DESIGN ▪ LINEN RENTALS ▪ DJ SERVICES (850) 645-9255 // AndrewsCatering.com 1030 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32304

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

41

the city

42

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

UNIVERSITY CENTER CLUB DUNLAP CHAMPIONS CLUB Tallahassee

“We met, fell in love and got engaged at Doak Campbell Stadium. For us it was a no-brainer to choose the University Center Club as our reception venue. The added benefit was the quality of service we knew came with the UCC name and the positive feedback we heard from other couples who chose the UCC as their venue. What sealed the deal was when we toured the facility and saw the view of both the football field and downtown Tallahassee from the Champions Club, which we ultimately used for our cocktail hour.

“The UCC gave us so many choices that we never felt like we were limited in terms of food, drinks, decor or other details. The sky was the limit, and we were able to bring our personal tastes to the venue. We were able to celebrate our marriage with our loved ones at the place where our relationship with one another began.” – Margaret Hart, Tallahassee, Florida PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE FRISTOE PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING ▪ PLANNING & COORDINATION ▪ DINING ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ PRODUCTION/EVENT DESIGN ▪ LINEN RENTALS (850) 644-9071 // UniversityCenterClub.com 288 Champions Way Building B, Tallahassee, FL, 32306

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

43

the city

THE GATHERING/SOCIAL CATERING

At a Glance

“The women working at The Gathering and Social Catering were incredibly flexible and accommodating.

They helped me feel comfortable with the decisions we were making and gave us so much confidence that the day would turn out spectacular. They helped us decorate and let us use vases and other decor that were available in-house. I felt good knowing that someone knew every detail of where things needed to be and when.

▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING SERVICES ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ DINING ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ LINEN RENTALS

Tallahassee

“My dad and I were dancing in front of these big glass walls in the Gathering, and I’ll never forget seeing my 5-year-old sister sneaking up behind us to get in on the dance. The sun was filtering in through the windows, and everything just felt so perfect.” – Taylor Neverman, Tallahassee, Florida

PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

(850) 800-7267 // GatheringTallahassee.com 705 S. Woodward Ave., Unit 201, Tallahassee, FL 32304

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

45

ALENA BAKUTIS PHOTOGRAPHY

the city

Royally

Ever After

By Janecia Britt

46

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

Every woman wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day. Why not act the part? Here’s how to get that royal look from across the pond.

PURE 7 STUDIOS PURE 7 STUDIOS

I

t’s no doubt that 2018 was a big year for the royal family. With the nuptials of American actress and humanitarian Meghan Markle to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank, it’s understandable to feel bitten by the royal bug.

It’s hard to think that any dress could top Kate Middleton’s Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown. The Duchess of Cambridge’s dress, which combined tradition and modern details, is still talked about today. The style, a hallmark of McQueen, was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry and the bodice, skirt and underskirt trim of the dress were created out of an English and French Chantilly lace.

All of these details are what made Middleton’s dress a showstopper. “Kate Middleton’s dress, in a way, epitomized the Southern look with all of the delicate details,” said Maggie Matthews, the owner of Margaret Ellen Bridal in Inlet Beach.

However, Meghan Markle’s Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy wedding dress has made an impact of its own. “I think Meghan Markle inspired more brides to go for that simple, clean and chic look. Meghan has allowed brides to embrace an understated beauty,” says Alex Barnes of Tallahassee’s White Wedding Bridal.

Eugenie, Princess of York, is a personal favorite as her wedding look was traditional yet effortless. The dress, designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos for Peter Pilotto, was white satin with floral appliqués, long sleeves, an open back, off-the-shoulder neckline and a statement train that seemed to go on for miles.

Her look was minimal yet breathtaking, showing off Eugenie’s beauty while also including subtle nods to her heritage, such as embroidered York roses and Irish shamrocks.

Minimalism has been a rising trend in bridal fashion for a few seasons, and I predict that the simple wedding gown silhouette will see a resurgence. I’ve already started seeing threequarter-length sleeves, clean lines, and bateau and off-the-shoulder necklines having a major moment in bridal fashion.

And the accessory that’s become a must-have since Markle’s nuptials? No, it’s not a tiara but the coveted cathedral veil. While some brides may go sans veil, like Eugenie, or a standard veil, like Kate, there are plenty of brides who want that Markle sparkle.

Markle’s 16.5-foot, cathedral-length veil was made from silk tulle and featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers from each of the 53 countries in the British Commonwealth. Markle also added a few personal touches such as an embroidered California Poppy, which is the state flower of her home state of California.

The show-stopping veil was truly the cherry on top of an immaculate look, and it’s a look you can have for yourself. “Girls really want that cathedral veil-look like Meghan Markle. Some brides even want to add length to the standard cathedral veil. We can accommodate that look as all our veils are handmade in the United States and can be totally customized to the bride’s wishes,” says Matthews.

While you probably won’t have a royal team to prep you for your own big day, remember that your wedding day is your own. “Look for inspiration in their weddings, but don’t be afraid to make it your own and your style.

Don’t be afraid to stray from that royal look if it doesn’t fit your style,” says Barnes.

There’s no doubt our local boutiques can help you add a unique royal touch in your own bridal aesthetic — whether you want your look to be Kate, Meghan or Eugenie. ▪ NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

47

Weddings Duval by

... exactly like nothing else

HOTELDUVAL.COM 415 N. Monroe St. · Tallahassee 850.224.6000

OFFERING STUNNING VENUE OPTIONS FOR EVENTS OF ALL SIZES Weekend Brunch • Lunch • Dinner • Full Bar • Beer Garden Events • Catering • Corporate Meetings Florida Inspired Cuisine @EDISONTALLY

/EDISONTALLAHASSEE

470 SUWANNEE ST. | CASCADES PARK | EDISTONTALLY.COM | 850-792-6319

the city

50

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

HOTEL DUVAL | AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

At a Glance

“The Catering and Sales team were amazing, we were blown away by how incredible everything and everyone was. The view is beautiful overlooking the city. The ballroom itself is spectacular and can be styled as a glamorous ballroom or as something a little cozier. If we listed out everything that we loved, this would quickly turn into a novel.” – Melissa Sheppard, Tallahassee, Florida

▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪ DINING ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ AUDIO/VISUAL ▪ LINEN RENTALS

PHOTOS BY VIZULIZ PHOTOGRAPHY

(850) 224-6000 // HotelDuval.com 415 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301

Tallahassee

“There are wedding reception venues, and then there is Hotel Duval. In 2009, when Hotel Duval opened, I remember thinking, ‘One day when I meet the right man to share my life with, I want our wedding reception to be in the Horizon Ballroom on the eighth floor of Hotel Duval.’ Well, my dreams came true, meeting the perfect man and having the perfect wedding.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

51

the city

52

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

THE EDISON RESTAURANT Tallahassee

“My husband and I actually had our entire wedding planned, but when Hurricane Irma hit, we had to rearrange all of our plans and our venue. I frantically began making phone calls, and, just 30 minutes later, I received a call back from The Edison, ensuring me that they would gladly host our wedding. They even allowed us to have our ceremony on their property. Right then, I knew that was what was meant to be for our special day. The day after the hurricane, I met with the staff and began (re)planning our wedding.

“Since our wedding was 99 percent planned when we booked with The Edison, they did a phenomenal job of mimicking our prior plans. Rather than making us create a new menu, they simply took our original and said they would make those options, despite them not being on their menu. My husband and I texted our planner almost daily with details about anything from napkins to floor plans, and she made sure every detail was written out. Our wedding ended up being everything we could have dreamed of."

– Vlada Reinhardt, Moscow, Russia PHOTOS BY CHRIS CROUCH

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ DINING ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ AUDIO/VISUAL ▪ FLORAL SERVICES ▪ DJ SERVICES ▪ LINEN RENTALS (850) 765-9771 // EdisonTally.com 470 Suwannee St., Tallahassee, FL 32301

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

53

the city

STAYBRIDGE SUITES Tallahassee

“Staybridge was convenient for us because they allowed us to use our own vendors and helped us set up everything we needed. The staff went above and beyond to make sure the outdoor space we used was perfect.

“Our guests enjoyed the atmosphere and feel of our wedding. The live music and fireworks set the perfect stage for the night. There was a distinct moment while everyone was dancing when I looked around and saw smiles on everyone’s faces. The music was perfect, the sun was setting over the lake and everything was gorgeous.” – Taylor Anne Short, Tallahassee, Florida

PHOTOS BY J&J WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ SPA SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ LIGHTING ▪ DJ SERVICES ▪ LINEN RENTALS (850) 219-7010 // Staybridge.com/Tallahassee 1600 Summit Lake Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32317

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

55

the city

56

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON TALLAHASSEE DOWNTOWN Tallahassee

At a Glance ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ CATERING SERVICES ▪ ACCOMMODATIONS

“I moved to Tallahassee in 2015 to attend graduate school, and Four Points stood out to me immediately.

I mean, how could it not? It's structurally unique and beautiful. Living in Florida, the opportunity to have an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter was very appealing to my husband and I. Four Points offered us the opportunity to host our guests in multiple areas, showcasing the beautiful pool and the gorgeous Ornate Chorus Ballroom with an adjacent and intimate outdoor patio.

“Four Points’ staff has a unique way of making you feel like family. They heard my hopes for the wedding and went out of their way to make it happen. From the hot chocolate bar to the table settings, creativity abounds at the Four Points.” – Amanda Wickham, Carriere, Mississippi PHOTOS BY TRICKEY PHOTOGRAPHY

(850) 422-0071 // FourPointsTallahasseeDowntown.com 316 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32301

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

57

YOUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

OUR PLEASURE

Start your ever after with the unique style and expertise this day truly deserves.

Full service on site catering

7000 sq ft of wedding & event space

Free event parking Free event Wi-Fi

316 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee Fl 32301 P 850 422 0071 | www.FourPointsTallahasseeDowntown.com

the

country

CHARLOTTE FRISTOE PHOTOGRAPHY

Country (noun): 1. Ancient oaks, rolling hills, sparkling stars, swaying wildflowers. 2. Rustic barns, stately plantations and gorgeous gardens made to be ideal venues. 3. Natural beauty and idyllic scenery. 4. Love that blooms, blossoms and grows.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

59

the country

Rustic Refined Envision a wine country wedding in Northwest Florida

By Rebecca Padgett

LILY & SPARROW PHOTO CO.

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

T

60

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

he golden hour gleams off glasses of sipped wines as guests mingle and dance the evening away, everyone flush with the happiness brought forth by good food, good times and exceptional wines. If this sounds like pure wedding day bliss, a wine country wedding may be just your cup of tea — or glass of wine in this case.

The vineyards of California, Italy and France are world-renowned for scenic vistas and the finest wines.

You can evoke the very same sensory experience in Northwest Florida through a curated menu, rustic decor and wine galore.

While outdoor ceremonies and receptions best fit this style, the same look and feel can be achieved indoors through decoration details. Wine barrels can be utilized as tables for food, gifts and dining, specifically if you don’t plan on having a seated meal. Set food, desserts and the cake on top of wine crates. Wine crates also can be filled with flowers or greenery.

Wine bottles can be utilized in a variety of ways — use them as vases for flowers, candelabras or table number holders. An interactive idea is to place a bottle of wine on each table, and once the guests have finished it, they sign it with a permanent marker leaving it for the couple.

Another guest book idea is to have each guest sign a cork.

The couple can then make a piece of art to decorate their home with as a special keepsake.

For outdoor weddings, create a rustic romantic ambience.

“An al fresco dining setting under bistro string lights creates a glowingly stunning aesthetic for an unforgettable experience,” said Katie Butler, sales manager of Social Catering & Events. “String quartet music flowing in the air sets the stage of the rolling hills of the countryside.”

Wood, greenery and naturally occurring florals work best to emphasize the provincial beauty of wine country.

Consider vines, olive branches, honeysuckle, garden roses

wines and review a placard with tasting notes and additional information.

You can select your favorite wines from foreign locales or opt for local flavors. Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards is a nationally recognized winery in nearby Pelham, Georgia.

“Our wines are a particularly great way to celebrate because they’re approachable, welcoming, easy to love and unpretentious,” said Renee Moss, coowner of Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards.

“They’re well made, highly awarded premium wines, but they’re also everyday wines, ABVs that meet table wine criteria.

They’re fruit-forward and fun.”

Moss suggested a white, red and rosé that would complement weddings well.

First, there’s the Bombshell, which is a dry, Chardonnay-style wine made from Blanc duBois. Then there’s the Heartbreaker, a bold, dry but extremely smooth, supple even silky, deep red wine with bright berry notes. It won Best of Class from Sonoma. Finally, there is also Sand Angel, which has a Best of Class from the Los Angeles International Wine Competition and is a dry rosé with juicy strawberry notes on the finish.

Wine is a symbol of celebration. Wine is blended to create something unique and distinct, bold and sweet, much like love itself. ▪

CHARLOTTE FRISTOE PHOTOGRAPHY

KRISTEN STONE PHOTOGRAPHY

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

and wildflowers. Bunches of grapes look beautiful on tablescapes.

Color palettes should be inspired by the wines. Crimson, burgundy and garnet. Warm and light gold. Blush and subtle pinks. Neutral tones and metallics such as copper, silver and gold pair well with these base colors.

Fill your reclaimed-wood farm tables with the freshest in farm-to-table fare.

Charcuterie boards piled high with a variety of cheeses, olives, meats, pickled vegetables and crackers are perfect for noshing and sampling with wines. The tables should always be stocked with warm bread and olive oils for dipping.

As for the main menu, red wines pair best with beef, lamb, roast chicken or Italian dishes, and white wines welcome seafood, chicken and turkey. A rich chocolate cake adorned with berries seems like the perfect finish.

With the tables set and the food decided, it’s on to the most important matter — the wines.

“Have your caterer help with pairing the right blends for your meal,” said Butler. “For a smaller wedding, a wine and appetizer pairing would be a fun way incorporate the atmosphere of a winery.”

Wine should flow freely throughout the wedding, but consider having a tasting station where guests can sample

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

61

Dream Weddings Right on the beach!

Weddings ・ Rehearsal Dinners ・ Receptions ・ Events

14521 FRONT BEACH RD. PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL 32407 ・ 850.634.4884 ・ RUNAWAYISLANDPCB.COM 62

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

850-656-1322 | PEARLINTHEWILD.COM 1848 JEFFERSON ROAD, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32317

PEARL IN THE WILD is a wedding and event venue for Tallahassee, Florida.

10,000-square-feet with a chapel situated on 200 lush acres with unlimited possibilites.

12805 US Highway 98 East, Suite 201 | Inlet Beach, FL 32461

850.641.0266

cheers@margaretellenbridal.com

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

63

the country

PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

» Going Natural something »oldMake into something

new by giving past items a new purpose.

Have fun with your fiancé by shopping garage sales and antique stores for glass bottles, vases, décor and more.

Select sprigs of wildflowers in glass bottles for sustainable table toppers.

64

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Eco-friendly and sustainable weddings

By Rebecca Padgett

W

edding trends come and go with the seasons, but one that has sustainable staying power is going green. No, we don’t mean the color. While the popularity of ecofriendly weddings on a large scale has increased only within the past few years, we can credit this to eco-conscious couples that have influenced even more eco-friendly companies to cater to weddings.

Society is becoming more sustainable than ever, making going natural evergreen.

With eco-friendly weddings becoming all the more relevant, and rightly so, it’s beneficial to know what attributes make a product or service sustainable. Jim Davis is the director of Sustainable

Tallahassee, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and educating on environmental, economic and social sustainability, and he provides some insight.

“It may look pretty, but you have to question what it is doing to your environment,” said Davis. “Can it be recycled? Is it from a recycled product? Could this be harmful to my environment?”

Davis pointed to products that are nontoxic, environmentally beneficial, sustainably sourced or grown and often composed from recycled or organic materials. That includes reusing products instead of continuously buying more.

When talking with vendors or shopping for products, remember these keywords: organic,

“I knew that I would not and could not be a part of having such a negative impact on the earth for such a joyous event.”

Britt is not alone. Many millennials are adopting this thinking in their everyday life, and their wedding is no exception.

“Young people are in tune with the sustainable movement because they’ve grown up with recycling and environmentally friendly lives that are carrying over into their weddings,” said Jodi Wilkof, a representative with the Recycled Weddings Market. “It has been the perception that going green is more expensive, but with such an increased interest, it has become cheaper to do.”

With increased awareness by couples and vendors, going green is accessible, approachable and achievable. Weddings are meant for creating not wasting.

Consider ways to make your wedding go green — as a promise of sustaining love for each other and this planet. ▪

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

CASEY GRENNAN

recycled, reconditioned, nontoxic, upcycled, environmentally conscious and natural.

Each year, Sustainable Tallahassee hosts the Recycled Wedding Market, in which previously used decor, linens, dishware, dresses and more are sold to engaged couples to be recycled and reused in a new wedding, in a new way. It is likely your community does something similar, and there are many online resources that sell used wedding items.

The goal is to not add to landfills. You can rent or borrow linens, glasses, plates and silverware. There are many brands that carry compostable serving ware options made of birch wood or bamboo, two fast-growing, adaptable trees.

The best way to determine if your vendor is eco-friendly is to ask questions.

For catering and bartending services, inquire if they will recycle any container, boxes or glass bottles that are used. Food is another resource that often goes to waste. The caterer might already have a location they donate leftover food to, but if not, you can research local charitable locations that will accept leftovers. Have a plan in place of a family member or friend that will take the food to the location after the wedding.

Putting compost and recycling baskets near food and drink stations is a great and easy way to ensure nothing goes to waste. Many counties loan recycling receptacles for free — all you have to do is pick them up.

You can also donate your remaining flowers to hospitals or hospice houses to ensure days are brightened twice. Ask your florist if locally sourced flowers are an option as nationally and internationally shipped flowers negatively impact the environment.

Tallahassee bride Katie Britt — soonto-be Britt-Williams — is using native North Florida wildflowers from Azalea Hill Farm. Britt holds a master’s degree in natural resources and will be expanding her love of this earth into her wedding by using all local and sustainable vendors.

“Big events just create so much waste, and I knew I wanted a big wedding with a lot of people, which tend to have an even worse carbon footprint,” said Britt.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

65

Contact us today for your big day!

850.428.2624 · s i g n a t u r e c a t e r i n g 30 a . c o m · @ s i g n a t u r e c a t e r i n g 30 a 494 W e s t P o i n t W a s h i n g t o n r o a d · s a n t a r o s a B e a c h , FL 32459

s i g n a t u r e c a t e r i n g 30 a @ y a h o o . c o m

66

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

making it

BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY

happen

Making It Happen (verb): 1. Qualified and caring vendors. 2. Years of experience making couple’s dreams come true. 3. Service providers that exceed your expectations. 4. Miracle workers that help shape the most memorable day of your life.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

67

making it happen

Cultural Infusion Seamlessly blend heritage and traditions on your special day

by Janecia Britt

C

ulture is the invisible bond that ties people together. It’s only natural that our nuptials reflect that. When wedding planning commences, couples are often faced with the task of blending different backgrounds and traditions into one gorgeous wedding day.

It often starts with this critical question: What is important to us, and how can we incorporate that in a meaningful way on our wedding day?

From traditional outfits to your choice of food, there are plenty of ways to include you or your partner’s culture into your ceremony and reception.

Lauren LaRocque o� LV Photography shared these sentiments: “I was invited to capture a small, traditional Ghanaian wedding about a year or so back, and it was far from your traditional white dress/black tux event.

Typically, there is a traditional wedding like the one I attended, and then a Westernized version a year or so later — also known as a ‘white wedding’ or a more traditional American

68

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

PHOTOS BY LV PHOTOGRAPHY

wedding. The first thing to note at the event was the style of clothing. The bride and groom both wore traditional cloth of Ghana, composed of a variety of colors and patterns, each with a different meaning.”

You and your groom don’t have to be the only ones who can celebrate your marriage and the blending of cultures.

“The families also wore traditional outfits to complement the bride and groom. Even the bridesmaids who were not Ghanaian wore traditional headpieces as they walked down the aisle,” says LaRocque. “My eyes were so pleased by all of the color my camera was capturing. The mother of the bride helped her daughter don a traditional Ghanaian headpiece before the ceremony began, and it was so incredibly precious. You could tell that they both were so in love with their heritage and excited to include it on that day.”

Food is arguably the most important choice when planning a wedding. Instead of chicken or steak, opt to bring in dishes that remind you and your spouse of your upbringing. Whether

that’s your abuela’s tamales or traditional dim sum, there are so many caterers that can help bring in the spirit of your families.

“This is the biggest meal of their lives. We always meet with the bride and groom first and love to hear more about their families, where they are from, how they met, favorite meals or traditions and really incorporate all that into the menu. We want the menu to tell a story. We’ve done some really cool weddings in the past — a Brazilian and Southern fusion, a Sri Lankan and Lebanese fusion menu and even a Boston meets Argentina menu,” says Briana Edmunds, event manager for Liberty Bar & Restaurant.

Thinking of that dish that only your grandmother or favorite uncle can make? Get them involved in the planning. Collect recipes and share them with your caterer or even use them as wedding favors for your guests.

“We’ve had family members share recipes with us, such as a bride’s grandmother’s caramelized pineapple curry or a family recipe for Pão de queijo, a Brazilian cheese bread.

When you have guests flying from all over the world, it’s like having a piece of their home here in Tallahassee,” says Edmunds.

And don’t forget the desert. “Uniqueness is what makes life so exciting. Your wedding day is about you and your boo, nothing else. I had an Italian bride and groom have a giant tower of cannoli instead of a cake — legendary,” says LaRocque.

Personalizing your wedding, celebrating your traditions and honoring your heritage are beautiful acts of love and respect, for both your spouse and your family. The jewel of information in regard to all this? Your parents.

Your grandparents. Talk to them. Ask them what they would like to see you highlight from their cultures and what memories of their wedding they would feel excited about including in yours.

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate your big day, remember that there are so many ways to say “I do.” Just like your union, your wedding should reflect the best parts of you and your partner. ▪ NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

69

making it happen

70

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

ANDREW’S CATERING Tallahassee

“We’ve been fans of Andrew’s for years, and we knew we wanted something local. You can’t beat their fantastic reputation, and they always deliver on excellent food and service. Andrew’s took all the stress out of our special day.

“We wanted the menu to reflect the South, and they made that idea come to life. Our friends and family are still raving about the raw bar, the shrimp and grits and all the other wonderful food. We’ll always be so very thankful for the edible memories that Andrew’s helped create!” – Alison Thiele, Tallahassee, Florida

PHOTOS BY WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

At a Glance ▪ CATERING SERVICES ▪ BARTENDING SERVICES ▪ INDOOR VENUE ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ PLANNING & COORDINATION ▪ RENTAL SERVICES ▪ THIRD PARTY VENDORS AVAILABLE ▪ DECORATING SERVICES ▪ DESIGN & DECOR ▪ LINEN RENTALS

(850) 645-9255 // AndrewsDowntown.com 228 S. Adams St., Tallahassee, FL 32301

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

71

making it happen

72

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

JOHN GANDY EVENTS Tallahassee

“John Gandy and his team gave us the most magical and absolutely perfect wedding we had always dreamed of. There are so many things that you don't even think about when planning a wedding that you truly need a professional like John to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. The level of customer service and professionalism from their team is unmatched.

At a Glance ▪ WEDDINGS AND CORPORATE EVENTS ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION ▪ EVENT DESIGN ▪ EVENT PRODUCTION ▪ FURNITURE AND DECOR RENTALS

“They created the most beautiful wedding for us, out of the vision we didn’t even know we had but we wanted. Our guests all commented on the beautiful vignettes and gorgeous ambience their team created. No matter what curveballs are thrown, nothing will come in the way of your perfect wedding with them. I am excited for their future brides.” – Katie Haijar, Tallahassee, Florida PHOTOS BY WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

(850) 570-5999 // JohnGandyEvents.com 3463 Garber Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

73

WIDEONET / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

making it happen

74

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

KONSTANTIN AKSENOV / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS FERLISTOCKPHOTO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

COURTESY OF SIGNATURE CATERING OF 30-A

SIGNATURE CATERING OF 30-A Santa Rosa Beach

At a Glance ▪ CATERING ▪ BARTENDING

“Signature Catering of 30-A’s specialty is weddings. I have been catering weddings since I was 19 years old, and because of that, my staff’s attention to detail is extremely important to me because we are contributing to the most special day of people’s lives. Every wedding is customized to include the couple’s favorite foods or to incorporate the unique flavors enjoyed by their families in order to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

“Ultimately, my clients should feel relaxed where they can experience their day and not worry about the logistics. They will have an incredible food, beverage and service experience. We create the whole picture so they can just enjoy the love.” – Chef Christopher Holbrook

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIGNATURE CATERING OF 30-A AND GETTY IMAGES

(850) 428-2624 // SignatureCatering30A.com 494 W. Point Washington Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

75

making it happen

CHARLOTTE FRISTOE PHOTOGRAPHY

2019

Top Trends

GOLD HAIR PIECES

Many brides want a bit of dazzle in their do — from ornate, gilded gold hair clips to intricately wound, delicate vines.

UNIQUE STONE RINGS

BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY

DAPPER DUDES

SHANNON GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

LILY & SPARROW PHOTO CO.

Diamonds aren’t always a girl’s best friend.

Sometimes, she prefers a unique yet equally stunning gemstone.

From conversational and quirky bow ties to suits that transcend past black and classic — the men might just be stealing the show.

76

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Your grandmother’s brooch on your bouquet, your grandfather’s watch, a piece of your mother’s wedding dress sewn into yours — beautiful sentiments included in your most memorable day make for everlasting memories.

PURE 7 STUDIOS

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY

HEARTFELT HEIRLOOMS

WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

WHITE BLOOMS

White flowers are having a major moment right now.

Simple, stylish and timelessly elegant.

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Invitations, table markers, backdrops and more — you name it and you can stylize it with curly cursive calligraphy.

ALICIA OSBORNE PHOTOGRAPHY

CALLIGRAPHY

WOODLAND FIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY

Couples are opting for optimal party time with passable food options. No need to sit when you can dance with grilled cheese in hand.

ALENA BAKUTIS PHOTOGRAPHY

PASSABLE FOODS

CREATIVE EXITS GREENERY

From accent sprigs to lush tablescapes, brides and grooms are going gaga for fresh greenery.

Make them remember you long after you’re gone with an exciting exit that’s unique to you.

PHOTO BOOTHS

LILY & SPARROW PHOTO CO.

BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY

SHANNON GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Capture the moment as it happens. Guests love hamming it up with keepsakes from an on-site photo booth.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

77

•

o utdoor C ErEmony a udio

•

r EhEarsal d innEr aV

•

r ECEption dJ s Etup

•

A DIVISION OF

W Edding C akE p roJECtion m apping

E m E r a l d C oast aV. Co m 78

LOCAL TICKETS. ONE PLACE.

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

850TIX.COM

850-630-3032

For all your bachelorette events/excursions, the event and entertainment choices are endless — and all on 850Tix.com.

making it happen

DJ, band or create your own playlists?

By Rebecca Padgett

T

here are few moments at a wedding more joyous than witnessing your family and friends smiling, laughing, singing and tearing up the dance floor. There are few moments more tear-jerking than the father of the bride and mother of the groom dance. There is no moment more defining than the walk down the aisle to the love of your life.

The vital factor that all of these moments have in common is music.

With music being such an influential aspect, it’s important to know what option is best for you — DJ, band or being your own music master.

Each has its positives and aspects you should be aware of before making a decision that could affect the overall tone of your wedding day.

DJs are a widely chosen option as they are allinclusive. Most offer a package deal including ceremony and reception music, emcee services and all technical equipment and lighting. In essence they are professional party starters that keep the mood and music pumping throughout the night. Some completely entrust their DJ with selecting the right tunes, but others opt to meet with their DJ beforehand to ensure their favorite songs are played and to see if they mesh well with the master of ceremonies.

To some, there is nothing like the sound and the feel of live music. A live band is entertaining and enjoyable, encouraging you to revel in the talent of the musicians while taking to the dance floor. Much like a DJ, a band can be emcees, provide all equipment, create a song list and create an interactive experience.

“A live band will present a more dramatic presentation that will leave a lasting impression on guests and make the bride and groom’s big day even more memorable,” said Jason Kellogg, vocalist of Top Shel� Band. “It can make the reception feel like an even larger event.”

Kellogg notes that it’s important to ensure the band meets your desired needs and atmosphere.

He suggests watching the band perform live, if possible. This will help you assess how they interact with an audience.

“Live music is more emotional and passionate, and that is what the day is all about,” said Kellogg.

With the availability of apps that let you create and download your own playlist, many couples are opting to be their own DJs. This option is ideal for the creative couple, the couple that has a unique taste in music or simply wants to listen to what they want, when they want it. The DIY DJ is also the most costeffective option.

The beauty is the freedom and flexibility, but there are some key things to consider. For any announcements or anecdotes, find a lively family member or friend who would do the honors. You will also need to check if your venue has a PA system available; if not, there are companies you can rent them from.

“An AV company that can provide a DIY DJ package would provide the specific BLACK AND HUE PHOTOGRAPHY

ALENA BAKUTIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Music Master

Groove and move to beats by a live band, » top tunes by a DJ or a specially selected

playlist curated by you. Each option presents unique ways to get the party started.

speakers, stands, microphones, wiring and more,” said Jesse Deese, audio visual consultant with Emerald Coast Audio Visual Solutions.

“Critical in this service is the setup and strike of the gear. Make sure these services are included in any DIY DJ package. I cannot recommend that a couple settle for anything less than hiring a professional Audio Visual company to be responsible for these critical responsibilities.”

Music is important, no matter who plays it and how it is played. It aids in creating moments and memories. It evokes feelings. It invites you to dance. Music is essential for not only creating wonderful wedding but also preserving one as well. Your first dance song will forever cause you to share a smile or shed a tear. ▪ NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

79

Tallahassee’s best kept secret...

Staybridge Suites

1600 Summit Lake Drive Tallahassee, FL Staybridge.com/Tallahassee (850) 219-7010 80

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

RUSSELL RAINEY, DMD Say “I Do” with a perfect smile. Dr. Russell B. Rainey and his caring team provide Tallahassee’s most exceptional dental experience. Dr. Rainey’s practice offers a wide range of services, including teeth whitening, Invisalign treatment, and anxiety-free cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Whether it is your big day or the big day of a loved one, let Dr. Rainey’s team give you a smile to be proud of.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

(850) 385-3700 DrRainey.com 221 E. 7th Ave. Tallahassee, FL 32303

TOP SHELF BAND Looking for a live band that will make your Big Day even more memorable and keep your guests entertained? Top Shelf Band is a 6-piece versatile high energy wedding band that will bring the party! Top Shelf Band covers a wide range of genres and decades of music to keep everyone captivated. The band is flexible and adaptable to meet your needs — providing full sound and stage lighting systems and MC services to tailoring songs lists to achieve your desired reception atmosphere. Book now to reserve this highly entertaining band that will wow you and your guests!

WEDDING BAND

(816) 885-3252 or (850) 326-2139 topshelftallahassee@gmail.com facebook.com/topshelftallahassee

LEAVE YOUR SPECIAL EVENT TO US! PERFECT FOR ANY UPSCALE OCCASION

Weddings Outdoor events

Corporate parties Pleasant experience!

(850) 574-2786 | TALQUINPORTABLERESTROOMS.COM NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

81

making it happen VOCELLES | THE BRIDAL SHOPPE Since opening their doors in 2010, Vocelles Bridal has been the premier shopping destination for brides in North Florida and South Georgia. The team at Vocelles Bridal is passionate about creating a true experience for their brides, while offering an extensive collection of designer wedding gowns from the most trusted names in the industry.

DESIGNER WEDDING GOWNS

(850) 841-7663 1301 N. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32303 info@vocellesbridal.com

THE WEDDING SUITE The Wedding Suite is home to Tallahassee’s most experienced wedding professionals. Our members offer luxury products, exceptional service and a commitment to provide the best wedding experience available. Between our talented wedding professionals and all of our amazing associate members, we have every detail of your special day covered.

WEDDING PLANNER

(850) 877-9312 250 E. 6th Ave. Tallahassee, Florida 32303 theweddingsuite.net

TALQUIN PORTABLE RESTROOMS Tallahassee

Talquin Portable Restrooms is Tallahassee and North Florida’s only provider of luxury, mobile restroom trailers. We provide event planners, organizations, wedding parties, corporate parties and individuals with classy, one-of-a-kind mobile restroom trailers at prices that are more than affordable. Forget what you think you know about portable restrooms. Our mobile facilities are state-of-the-art and unique. The Elite series is unlike any mobile restroom you’ve likely seen with simulated marble countertops, brass faucets and fine oak base cabinetry.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TALQUIN PORTABLE RESTROOMS

82

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

At a Glance ▪ PORTABLE RESTROOMS ▪ CONVENIENT ▪ LUXURY MOBILE RESTROOM TRAILERS

(850) 574-2786 // TalquinPortableRestrooms.com P.O. Box 559/20 Taylor Court, Midway, FL 32343

HAMPTON INN AND SUITES TALLAHASSEE I-10 Convenience and comfort is key when planning a wedding stay, whether it is for the happy couple or the guests. Hampton Inn and Suites is centrally located just off I-10 in Tallahassee making it an easy drive to nearby wedding venues and downtown. The recently renovated hotel features cozy beds, an outdoor pool, fitness room, a welcoming staff and ultimate comfort for a wedding weekend.

H O T E L A C C O M M O D AT I O N S

(850) 574-4900 Tallahassee.HamptonInn.com 3388 Lonnbladh Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308

HILTON GARDEN INN TALLAHASSEE Tallahassee’s best location for comfort, service and convenience to accommodate you and your loved ones as you celebrate your wedding.

Our light-filled lobby, on-site restaurant and clean, fresh rooms create the perfect “home away from home” experience. We are centrally located near several of Tallahassee’s wedding venues, just off I-10 at exit 203. In addition to reserving your sleeping-room block, let us take care of your rehearsal dinner as well. With full-service catering available, our banquet room offers an ideal setting for an intimate rehearsal dinner of up to 48 guests.

H O T E L A C C O M M O D AT I O N S

(850) 385-3553 Tallahassee.StayHGI.com 3333 Thomasville Road Tallahassee, FL 32308

MY FAVORITE THINGS From your invitation to your registry, everything you choose is a reflection of your personal style. The consultants at My Favorite Things can guide you with their expert knowledge in everything from etiquette to entertaining.

With our extensive online registry service, you and your guests can access an array of beautiful and unique gifts that will complement the exciting new life ahead of you.

S TAT I O N E R Y & R E G I S T R Y

(850) 681-2824 ShopMFT.com 1410 Market St., C3 Tallahassee, FL 32312

TALLAHASSEE AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM – BANQUET ROOMS The Tallahassee Automobile Museum is a community treasure that offers up history and engaging experiences. For a reception or ceremony that’s outside of the box, the museum is equipped with a variety of banquet rooms ranging in size and style to seat from 50–1,500 to fulfill the needs of your wedding.

Your own caterer and decorations are welcome, while facilities, tables and chairs are on-site to drive your wedding day to blissfulness.

VENUE

(850) 942-0137 TACM.com 6800 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, FL 32308

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

83

making it happen HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA Kissed by the warm, salty breezes of the Gulf, Hilton Sandestin Beach is the perfect choice for the couple in search of a timeless beach ceremony and an overall experience highlighted by unprecedented customer service on the beautiful Emerald Coast. Wedding guests will adore this spot for its understated glamour and gorgeous amenities. This resort can deliver it all, from pre-wedding rituals to post-nuptial relaxation. For the one moment when you say,“I do” there is only one Hilton Sandestin Beach.

RESORT & VENUE

(850) 267-9500 HiltonSandestinBeach.com 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S. Miramar Beach, FL 32550

SERENITY BY THE SEA SPA Be sure to include a visit to Serenity by the sea Spa when planning your wedding weekend activities. The full-service spa at Hilton Sandestin Beach is the perfect place to relax away those pre-wedding jitters with a menu of massage, facial and body treatments. The entire wedding party may enjoy a spa-style bridesmaid’s luncheon in the lounge while beautifying together with hair services, manicures and pedicures in the spa’s adjoining salons.

B E A U T Y & S PA

(850) 622-9595 SerenitybytheseaSpa.com 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S. Miramar Beach, FL 32550

SUNSET IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

BALLROOMS AND THE BEACH With 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor venues, Hilton Sandestin Beach presents a plethora of spots for your ceremony, reception and various wedding gatherings. All of the ballrooms feature an open-ceiling concept that can be transformed into a splendid backdrop for nuptials. If the beach is your ideal venue, three boardwalks lead down to sugar white sands, and three decks overlook the emerald green waters lending to picturesque scenery.

RESORT & VENUE

(877) 705-6641 HiltonSandestinBeach.com 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S. Miramar Beach, FL 32550

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS & SEAFOOD When only the best will do, treat your guests to an event at Seagar’s, the only AAA-Four Diamond-rated steakhouse on the Emerald Coast. Private rooms are available for groups of all sizes, making the New York-style steakhouse perfect for everything from small family gatherings to elegant rehearsal dinners. Our Executive Chef will create a menu to suit your style, featuring Prime beef and fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood. Seagar’s also features the largest wine list on the coast, with more than 600 labels to choose from.

R E S TA U R A N T & C AT E R I N G

84

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

(850) 622-1500 Seagars.com 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S. Miramar Beach, FL 32550

AMY RILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT Create memories that you will cherish for a lifetime at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Offering the largest selection of luxurious venues on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, Sandestin is the perfect backdrop for your special day. With 15 venues, from sugary white sand beaches and lush green lawns to elegant stately ballrooms and serene bay front terraces, Sandestin is the ideal place to unveil your dream wedding.

VENUE

(866) 748-7863 sandestin.com/flwed 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W. Miramar Beach, FL 32550

EMERALD COAST AUDIO VISUAL SOLUTIONS Flawless audio and eye-catching visual services ensure that your guests fully experience the magic of your wedding day. Emerald Coast Audio Visual Solutions equips you with expert technicians and consultants to advise you on the most effective and cost-efficient options for your wedding, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Every word of your vows will be heard, and the spotlight will be on you.

For your rehearsal dinner, outdoor ceremony or reception, the team at Emerald Coast Audio Visual Solutions has the right equipment and expertise for your once-in-a-lifetime event.

AUDIO & VISUAL

(850) 630-3032 EmeraldCoastAV.com 105 Estes Place, Suite A100, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

CMC PHOTOGRAPHY

PROJECT:STYLE SALON Weddings are our specialty. We have formed a creative team unlike any other in the Panhandle, making us one of the most sought-after salons around.

Brides and their bridesmaids love our attention to detail. project:STYLE will take great care of your bridal party and create a look every bride dreams about. We offer in-salon and on-site styling for bridal parties.

S T Y L I N G F O R B R I D A L PA R T I E S

(850) 588-7771 ProjectStyleSalon.com 12115 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407

PEBBLE HILL PLANTATION Amid the allure of magnolias and lovely longleaf pines, blooms the stately architectural beauty of Pebble Hill Plantation, providing a grand and breathtaking backdrop for your wedding. Pebble Hill Plantation offers five unique venue options, ranging from elegant to rustic. Incorporate the timeless romance of a bygone era into a wedding that is uniquely yours.

VENUE

(229) 227-5387 PebbleHill.com 1251 U.S. Highway 319 S. Thomasville, GA 31792

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

85

3501 Thomasville Rd | Tallahassee, FL 877 727-3595 | gemcollection.com

H E A R T S O N F I R E S T O R E S , A U T H O R I Z E D R E TA I L E R S , H E A R T S O N F I R E . C O M

PAUL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

honeymoon destinations

Honeymoon (noun): 1. Event after the wedding intended for relaxation and enjoyment. 2. A time to connect and disconnect. 3. Scenic locales, dreamy destinations and beautiful beaches. 4. An adventure of a lifetime with the love of your life.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

87

honeymoon destinations

88

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

WATERSCAPE | RESORTQUEST BY WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS Okaloosa Island

At a Glance ▪ HONEYMOON ACCOMMODATIONS ▪ OUTDOOR VENUE ▪ PLANNING AND COORDINATION

Relaxation awaits at Waterscape on Okaloosa Island. Wake up each morning to the sound of the surf and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico to start your happily ever after. Choose from three pools, two hot tubs and floating through the lazy river or stroll along the sugar white sands just steps from your door. Enjoy the peaceful beauty of Okaloosa Island, but don’t miss out on any of the action of fresh seafood at the Boardwalk or fun at any number of adventure parks nearby.

Looking for a smaller, more intimate venue for your big day? Consider Islander Beach Resort and Island Echos, both in Fort Walton Beach and both situated directly on the Gulf of Mexico. With on-site accommodations, talented and accommodating staff, convenience and affordability, these properties are sure to please.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESORTQUEST

(855) 672-3005 // WaterscapeHoneymoon.com 1110 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS 2019

89

FOR TEETH WHITENING AND OTHER DENTAL SERVICES CALL TODAY. ASK FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION. 850.385.3700 | 221 E. 7TH AVE | DRRAINEY.COM

GFWC Woman’s Club of Tallahassee Nestled among the oak trees at the entrance to Los Robles is a top venue for parties and events. Plan ahead and save on your next celebration!

For more information call

(850) 224-0825 or visit our website

gfwcwomanscluboftallahassee.org 90

NORTHWESTFLORIDAWEDDINGS.NET

Photo Credit: Kylene and Ryan Studios

Weddings OUR TEAM YOUR DREAM

to cheer about

Traditional or Modern; Classic or Trendy; Intimate or Extravagant… with over 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space, the University Center Club has something to offer every couple. We believe that planning your wedding should be almost as fun as the big day.

No matter what your vision may be, our expert wedding professionals and culinary artists are dedicated to helping you make it all happen.

Call us today for a “pre-game huddle” and to tour our amazing venue!

University Center Club | Doak Campbell Stadium | Florida State University | 850.644.9071

UCC

Your Your perfect perfect day, day,

your yourway... way...

From private Frombeach private homes beach tohomes luxurious to luxurious Gulf frontGulf condos, front ResortQuest condos, ResortQuest

by Wyndham

by Wyndham Vacation Vacation Rentals provides Rentals provides a variety aofvariety of event space event and space accommodation and accommodation options along options thealong Northwest the Northwest Florida beaches.

Florida beaches.

Whether Whether you’re looking you’refor looking an emerald for an green emerald green backdropbackdrop for your dream for your wedding, dream wedding, an extended an extended stay for your stay romantic for your romantic honeymoon honeymoon or a vacation or a vacation for the entire for the wedding entire wedding party, party, ResortQuest ResortQuest has something has something to fit yourtoneeds. fit your needs.

888-974-6909 888-974-6909 | NWFLWeddings.com | NWFLWeddings.com | FloridaWeddings@ResortQuest.com | FloridaWeddings@ResortQuest.com

The Pointe The onPointe 30A on 30A

TOPS’L Beach TOPS’L & Racquet Beach &Resort, Racquet Miramar Resort,Beach Miramar Beach SunDestin SunDestin Beach Resort, BeachDestin Resort, Destin

Fla. Seller of TravelFla. Reg.Seller No. ST-38182. of Travel Reg. Washington No. ST-38182.

Seller of Washington Travel Reg.Seller No. 603118961. of Travel Reg. Wyndham No. 603118961.

VacationWyndham Rentals and Vacation relatedRentals marks are andregistered related marks trademarks are registered and/or trademarks service marks and/or in theservice Unitedmarks Statesinand the United States and internationally. All rights internationally. reserved. All Printed rightsinreserved. the U.S.A.Printed 14 Sylvan in the Way, U.S.A. Parsippany, 14 SylvanNJWay, 07054 Parsippany, | ©2018 Wyndham NJ 07054 Vacation | ©2018 Wyndham Rentals North Vacation America, Rentals LLC. North America, LLC.

dining guide AMERICAN ANDREW’S CAPITAL GRILL AND BAR

After 40 years, Andrew’s is still an energetic, casual, see-and-be-seen spot. House favorites include a popular lunch buffet, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. Downtown delivery. Mon-Thurs 11:30 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 11:30 am-11 pm, Sun 10:30 am-9 pm. 228 S. Adams St. (850) 222-3444/Fax, (850) 222-2433. $$ B L D

BUMPA’S LOCAL #349

Featuring burgers, sandwiches, pastas, fried ribs, tacos and wings, this new neighborhood bar and grill has something for everyone.

Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.– Midnight, Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 2738 Capital Circle N.E. $ L D

CAFE TAVERNA

Our cafe offering Southern cooking with a Latin twist is now open in Midtown. We serve brunch and dinner while offering a full bar and Lucky Goat coffee and espresso. Tue.Thur. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-9 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.2:30 p.m., 5-10:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5-10:30 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9 p.m.

1019 N. Monroe St. (850) 999-8203. $$ B D

CYPRESS RESTAURANT ★

To make a special evening a cut above the rest, bring the celebration to Cypress. Known for its sophisticated take on Southern cuisine, this restaurant won readers’ votes in 2014–2018 as Best Celebration/Special Occasion and Best Fine Dining restaurant. Mon-Thurs 5-9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 5-10 pm, Sun Closed. 320 E. Tennessee St. (850) 513-1100. $$$ D

DOG ET AL ★

For the ultimate in comfort food, Dog Et Al offers hand-held deliciousness for the “down to earth” and “uppity” dogs in us all. Footlong and veggie entrees alike grace this awardwinning menu. If the entire family is down for the dog, be sure to ask about their incredibly valued family packs. Mon-Fri 10 am-7 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun Closed. 1456 S. Monroe St. (850) 222-4099. $ L D

THE EDISON

A Tallahassee relaxed fine dining establishment, The Edison is so much more than just a pretty face. Equipped with a beer garden, wine cellar, casual café, open-air alternatives and a gorgeous view, this historic building and restaurant has quickly become a Tallahassee favorite. Mon-Thurs 11 am-11 pm, Fri 11 ammidnight, Sat 10 am-midnight, Sun 10 am-11 pm.

470 Suwannee St. (850) 684-2117. $$/$$$

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ★

The name says it all! This restaurant boasts a palate-pleasing combination of personalized

THE KEY

★2018 Best

of Tallahassee Winner

service, eclectic ambiance and award-winning cuisine and is the Best Desserts winner for 2017 and 2018. Tues-Thurs 11 am-2:30 pm, 5:309 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm; Sun 10 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9 pm. 1950 Thomasville Rd. (850) 224-9974. $$ L D

HOPKINS’ EATERY ★

Hopkins’, a Best of 2018 winner, provides more than just your average sandwich. Favorites such as the Ultimate Turkey and the Linda Special, and a variety of salad meals keep customers coming back for more. And the food is healthy, too! Multiple locations. Hours vary. hopkinseatery.com. $ L

ISLAND WING COMPANY ★

Get baked! Tally’s Best Wings 2018 won’t serve you up greasy, fried wings; instead, they bake them and prepare them fresh. They don’t stop at wings, either: Try the mac ‘n cheese, burgers and tacos paired with a cold beer. MonThurs 11 am-12 am, Fri-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11 am-12 am. 1370 Market St. (850) 692-3116. $/$$ L D

JUICY BLUE

Located in the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown, this cool lobby restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unique dishes include tapas with a twist, such as the Georgia peaches with caramel. Sandwiches, salads and a nice variety of seafood, pasta and chicken dishes round out the menu. Mon-Fri 7 am11 pm, Sat-Sun 7 am-midnight. 316 W. Tennessee St. (850) 422-0071. $ B L D

KOOL BEANZ ★

Eclectic and edgy, both in menu and atmosphere, Kool Beanz delights in art present both on the walls and your plates. This offbeat alternative won Best Casual Dining in Tallahassee.

Dinner Mon-Sat 5:30-10 pm, lunch Mon-Fri 11 am-2:30 pm, brunch Sun 10:30 am-2 pm.

921 Thomasville Rd. (850) 224-2466. $$ L D

LIAM’S RESTAURANT

Part restaurant, part cheese shoppe, part lounge — Liam’s features locally grown and harvested foods, expertly made cocktails, craft beer, artisan wines & cheeses and friendly service. Lunch: Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.2 p.m.; Dinner: Tues.-Sat., 5 p.m.-close; Lounge: Tues.-Fri. 5 p.m.-late., Sat.: noon-midnight.

113 E. Jackson St., Thomasville, Georgia.

(229) 226-9944. $$/$$$ L D

MADISON SOCIAL ★

Whether it’s for a social cocktail, a quick lunch or a place for alumni to gather before home football games, Madison Social offers something for everyone. Madison Social earned Best Happy Hour honors in 2018. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am, Sat-Sun 10 am-2 am. College Town, 705 S. Woodward Ave. (850) 894‑6276. $$ B L D

Buy Fresh · Buy Wild

BUY SOUTHERN

The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the Tallahassee Magazine editorial department, except where noted. $$ Moderately B Breakfast/ Outdoor Dining L D

Brunch Lunch Dinner

Live Music Bar/Lounge $ Inexpensive

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

BEST SEAFOOD MARKET

1415 Timberlane Road in Market Square 850.893.7301 southernseafoodmarket.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

253

ADVERTISEMENT

PURSUING PERFECTION FARMER’S DAUGHTER VINEYARDS’ REACH EXCEEDS ITS GRASP

R

eneé Moss and her team at Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards + Tasting Room regard themselves as perfectionists, never completely satisfied with their efforts and continuously focused on improvement, growth and customer satisfaction. To wit, 2019.

Already this year, the vineyard, located in Thomasville, Georgia, and co-owned by Moss and her husband Clayton, has reintroduced Knockout, a highly popular sweet red that had sold out for the second time; resupplied the market and their store with a third vintage of Hellraiser, a light and fruity white, following a brief “drought”; and introduced Saltwater Gypsy, a sweet, off-dry blush whose name reflects their 6-year-old daughter’s gregarious nature and passion for the beach.

“Rosés are very hot right now,” Moss said. “We released a dry rosé last year, and it performed well.”

The vineyard has refreshed its logo and approach to packaging and worked to set an example for other businesses by minimizing its impact on the environment.

“We have been using eco-friendly glass since inception, but now we have revamped our bottle and packaging design for the 2019 bottling run,” Moss explained.

The bottles and ink are eco-friendly and the decorating process, which enables printing around the entire bottle, eliminates the need

for paper labels and toxic adhesives.

By way of further reducing environmental impacts, the Mosses’ operation reuses bottles by using them in making candles, and it recycles cork. It has eliminated plastic cups from its tasting room, offers water from a self-serve station and refrains from using plastic stir straws in its wine-based craft cocktails.

“We’re always working to stay fresh,” Moss said. “It’s like anything else; if you don’t stay fresh, people may lose interest. We’ve got to keep staying new.”

And maintaining the pursuit of perfection.

“Many wineries make a lot of wines, and we don’t,” Moss said. “We prefer a fleet of six to eight really good small batch wines. All of our wines are made with FrenchAmerican hybrid grapes, whereas many of our competitors blend with muscadines.

“We are working diligently to change perceptions of Georgia wine and to open consumers’ eyes to what we really can do with our hybrids like Blanc du Bois.”

FARMER’S DAUGHTER VINEYARDS + TASTING ROOM (229) 233-8314 | STOMPEDINGEORGIA.COM

CHECK OUT

MASA’S

2018

Specials

NEW DAILY

SUNDAY FUNDAY

ALL DAY KIDS EAT FREE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A REGULAR ENTREE

MONDAY APP NIGHT

HALF OFF SELECT APPETIZERS FROM 4:30–CLOSE

TUESDAY

TUNA TUESDAY FROM 4:30–CLOSE

WEDNESDAY DATE NIGHT

CHOICE OF KITCHEN APPETIZER, TWO REGULAR ENTREES AND A DESSERT FOR $35

Everyday happy hour 4:30–7 SPECIALS ARE DINE IN ONLY 1650 N. Monroe St. | (850) 727-4183 | masatallahasee.com

254

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH–DINNER MON–FRI

WEEKEND BRUNCH SUN–SAT

SPECIALS TAVERNA TUESDAY 20% OFF SMALL PLATES WINE & WHISKEY WEDNESDAY HALF OFF SELECT WINES AND WHISKEYS THIRSTY THURSDAY HALF OFF DRAFT BEER

WEEKEND EARLY BIRD SPECIAL BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF BRUNCH ITEMS 9–11 AM SUNDAY APPETIZER SPECIAL HALF OFF SELECT APPS HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 4–7 PM

SAGE RESTAURANT ★

Sage’s menu masterfully melds regional influences, including Southern and French.

The setting is gorgeous but cozy, and the outdoor patio sets a charming, romantic tone for a relaxed evening. Mon Closed; Tues-Sat 11 am-3 pm, 6-10 pm; Sun 11 am-2:30 pm. 3534 Maclay Blvd. (850) 270-9396. $$$ B L D

SALTY DAWG PUB AND DELI ★

Low-key hangout with a family atmosphere, serving burgers, wings, cheesesteaks and reubens. Mon.–Thur. 11 a.m.–Mid., Fri. 11 a.m.– 2 a.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–1 a.m., Sun. Noon–11 p.m.

3813 N. Monroe St. (850) 562-6500. $ L D

TABLE 23 ★

This “Southern porch, table and bar” is cozied up among oak trees on one of Tallahassee’s favorite street corners. Serving lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, fabulous cocktails and craft beers. Lucky Goat coffee-rubbed ribeye and Schermer pecan-crusted chicken are among the regional-produce offerings. Mon-Tues 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-9 pm, Wed-Fri 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm, Sat 5 pm-10 pm, Sun 10 am-3 pm.

1215 Thomasville Rd., (850) 329-2261. $$$ L D

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE ★

Serving a variety of smoothies and a selection of healthy alternatives, such as wraps, bowls, flatbreads and sandwiches. Multiple Locations.

Hours vary. $ L D

UPTOWN CAFÉ

Uptown Cafe and Catering, locally owned and operated for more than 30 years, is famous for its all-day brunch menu and lunch fare. Specialties at the bustling, family-run café include apricot-glazed smoked salmon, one-of-a-kind omelets, banana bread French toast and flavorful sandwiches. Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.2 p.m. 1325 Miccosukee Road (850) 219-9800. $B L

THE WINE LOFT WINE BAR ★

Chosen as a Best of winner in 2017 and 2018, Midtown’s Wine Loft offers a superb wine list, creative cocktails, quality beer and tasty tapas.

Mon-Thurs 5 pm-2 am, Fri-Sat 4 pm-2 am, Sun Closed. 1240 Thomasville Rd., #100.

(850) 222-9914. $$ D

VERTIGO BURGERS AND FRIES ★

Vertigo is home to some of the juiciest, funkiest burgers in town. The modern building provides a no-frills setting to enjoy such favorites as the Vertigo Burger — a beef patty served with a fried egg, applewood bacon, grilled jalapeños, sharp cheddar and Vertigo sauce. Mon-Sat 11 am-9 pm, Sun 11 am-6 pm.

1395 E. Lafayette St. (850) 878‑2020. $$ L D

ASIAN KIKU JAPANESE FUSION ★

From tempura to teriyaki and from sushi to sashimi, Kiku Japanese Fusion fuses vibrant flavors with fresh ingredients. There’s a reason Kiku was voted Best Sushi in 2018.

Mon-Sat 11 am-1 pm, Sun 12-11 pm. 800 Ocala Rd. (850) 575-5458, 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-5458. $$ L D

MASA ★

In 2018, Masa earned the title of Best Asian in town — and with good reason. Their menu offers a creative blend of Eastern and Western cuisines. Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm, 4:30-9:30 pm; Sat-Sun 12-3 pm, 4:30-9:30 pm. 1650 N. Monroe St. (850) 727-4183. $/$$ L D

OSAKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI BAR ★

Rated Best Hibachi for 2018, Osaka provides

dinner and a show, with the chefs seasoning and preparing your meal right in front of you.

It’s a meal that’s sure to leave you satisfied as well as entertained. Sun-Thurs 11 am-10:15 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-10:45 pm. 1690 Raymond Diehl Rd. (850) 531-0222. $$$ D

BBQ MISSION BBQ ★

The Coast is Here!

Rated Best BBQ in 2018, Mission features features memorabilia honoring soldiers and first responders while offering smoked brisket, pork, turkey and more. Mon.–Thur.

11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. 216 S. Magnolia Drive.

(850) 702-3513. L D

WILLIE JEWELL’S OLD SCHOOL BBQ

Smoked for hours and served in minutes, Willie Jewell’s promises the best BBQ experience you have ever had. Platters, sandwiches or by the pound, Willie Jewell’s offers smoked brisket, pork, turkey, sausage, chicken and ribs with a bevy of Southern sides. Daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 5442 Thomasville Rd. (850) 629-4299. $ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY CANOPY ROAD CAFÉ ★

Traditional breakfasts, fluffy omelets, skillets, French toast and sweet potato pancakes keep customers coming back. Breakfast is the main event but Canopy goes all out on lunch favorites, too, including salads and steakburgers. Mon-Sun 6:30 am-2:15 pm.

Multiple locations. (850) 668-6600. $ B L

THE EGG CAFÉ AND EATERY ★

When you’re looking for breakfast favorites, even if it’s lunchtime, The Egg is the place to be. Their made-to-order items use the finest ingredients, and they were voted Tallahassee’s best 16 times, including the 2018 award for Best Brunch. Second location now open in Kleman Plaza. Multiple Locations. (850) 907-3447. $$ B L

TASTY PASTRY BAKERY ★

Tallahassee’s original cakery features fresh breads, bagels, pies, cakes and more.

Catering available. Mon.–Sat. 6:45 a.m.– 6 p.m. 1355 Market St., No. A-5. (850) 893-3752. $ B L D

THE BADA BEAN

Greeting sunrise with Tallahassee residents for over 10 years, find your favorite breakfast, brunch and lunch specials any time of day.

For your daily pour, Bada Bean features lattes, cold brew, cappuccinos, espresso and Mighty Leaf teas. Mon. 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Tue.–Fri. 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

2500-B Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 562-2326. $B L

served blackened, broiled, or crispy Want to grab lunch or dinner to go? Skip the line and order online today! Find our full menu online. And if you’re looking for a taste of the coast for your next event, give us a call!

CAJUN COOSH’S BAYOU ROUGE ★

This Best Cajun Restaurant winner for 2017 brings the best of the Bayou State right to your table. The menu is jam-packed with Louisiana-style dishes, including favorites like jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, po’boys and seafood gumbo. Not in a Cajun mood? Coosh’s also offers classic hamburgers, salads and chicken wings. Mon-Tues 11 am-10 pm, Wed-Fri 7 am-10 pm, Sat 8 am-10 pm, Sun 8 am-9 pm.

Multiple Locations. (850) 894‑4110. $$ B L D

From big events to groups ordering lunch in, it would be our pleasure to serve you.

Order online! WharfCasualSeafood.com Bannerman Crossing 850-765-1077 Costco Shopping Center 850-668-1966

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

255

our mission is the same as our passion: to serve the most delicious mexican cuisine at four great locations. we invite you to stop by for our world-famous fajitas.

southwood

727-0094 |

capital circle ne

385-9992 |

north monroe

878-0800 |

kerry forest

3740 Austin Davis Ave. Tues–Sun 7 am –2 pm (850) 765-0703

668-1002 |

crawfordville

Great Food Great Friends Warm & Inviting Atmosphere Upscale Tastes at Affordable Prices

HOME OF THE

Every Night Happy Hour 4–9 p.m.

Thursday Night all wines 2 for 1 4–9 p.m.

Killearn Shopping Center • Ocala Corners WWW.KIKUFUSION.COM

256

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

2018

New Location!

926-4329

Visit our new location 300 South Duval St. Tues-Sun 7 am-2 pm (850) 907-EGGS (3447)

CATERING TASTEBUDZ CATERING ★

Their slogan is, “Holler if you need your taste buds tantalized.” Cases in point: Moroccan chicken with lemon spinach, beef tips with burgundy mushroom sauce, and Caribbean sweet potato and black bean salad. Serving lunch and dinner. Open daily. 2655-12 Capital Circle NE. (850) 309‑7348. $$ L D

CUBAN GORDO’S

Tallahassee’s top Cuban spot for over 30 years, Gordo’s features favorites such as croquetas, papas rellenas, empanadas and pressed sandwiches like their classic Cubano. Mon.– Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 1907 W. Pensacola St.; Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

1460 Market St. Suite #3-4. $ L D

GREEK SAHARA GREEK & LEBANESE CAFÉ ★ Sahara’s fusion of Greek and Lebanese cuisines is unmatched in the area. A large menu and friendly staff cater to all tastes.

And don’t forget to order the falafel! MonWed 11 am-9 pm, Thurs-Fri 11 am-10 pm, Sat 12-10 pm, Sun Closed. 1135 Apalachee Pkwy (850) 656‑1800. $$

ITALIAN/PIZZA BELLA BELLA ★

Take your taste buds to Italy with a trip to Bella Bella, voted Best Italian in 2015, 2017 and 2018. This locally owned and operated restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and serves all the classics to satisfy your pasta cravings.

Mon-Fri 11 am-10 pm, Sat 4-10 pm, Sun Closed.

123 E. 5th Ave. (850) 412-1114. $$ L D

MOMO’S ★

After devouring a slice “as big as your head” at this 2018 Best Pizza winner, chain pizza simply is not gonna cut it. From the blackand-white photos to the bathrooms decorated in album covers, the restaurant has an unmistakable and enjoyable “hole in the wall” vibe.

Multiple locations. Hours vary. (850) 224‑9808. $ L D

MEXICAN EL JALISCO ★

In the mood for sizzling enchiladas and frozen margaritas? Make your way to the 2018 Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant, El Jalisco, where they do Mexican cuisine to perfection.

Multiple locations. Hours vary. $ L D

SEAFOOD/STEAK THE BLU HALO ★

Blue Halo is a high-end culinary experience featuring dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood

along with fine wines and a martini bar. The gourmet farm-to-table menu selections include a wide variety of small-plate appetizers and high-end chops. A private dining room for up to 20 guests is available. Mon-Thurs 4-10 pm; Fri 4 pm-close; Sat 8 am-2 pm, 4 pmclose; Sun 8 am-2 pm, 4-10 pm. 3431 Bannerman Rd., #2 (850) 999-1696. $$$ L D

THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE 2018

BONEFISH GRILL ★

Bonefish is devoted to serving great seafood including shrimp, oysters, snapper and swordfish in a vibrant setting, along with top-shelf cocktails and housemade infusions crafted by expert mixologists. Mon-Thurs 4 pm-10:30 pm, Fri 4 pm-11:30 pm, Sat 11 am11:30 pm, Sun 10 am-9 pm. 3491 Thomasville Road Ste. 7, (850) 297-0460. $$ L D

CHOP HOUSE ON THE BRICKS

This family-owned, upscale restaurant serves local organic and sustainable meats, seafood, poultry and produce. Craft beers, fine wines and specialty drinks complement dishes such as the Bone-In Ribeye, Plantation Quail and Chop House Burger. Their Knob Creek Bourbon Bread Pudding is a dessert favorite. TuesSat 5-9:30 pm, Sun-Mon Closed. 123 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Ga. (229) 236-2467. $$ D

HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, established in 1987, serves Southern, cajun and creole flavors in classic and modern dishes. Full bar is available at each location and offers beer, wine, liquor and unique cocktails. Sun-Thurs 11 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-11 pm, and holiday hours. 301 S. Bronough St., in Kleman Plaza.

(850) 222-3976. $$ L D

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAKHOUSE ★

Dining at Marie Livingston’s is upscale yet comfortable and always a special treat. Not just a restaurant that serves up savory cuts of prime rib or marbled steaks, this 2018 Best Steakhouse winner is a Tallahassee tradition, and newcomers owe it to themselves to make it a priority to visit. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 pm, 5-9 pm; Sat 5-9 pm; Sun Closed.

2705 Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 562-2525. $$ L D

SHULA’S 347

The legendary Miami Dolphins’ head coach brings the quest for perfection to the dining table at his namesake restaurant, located in Hotel Duval. Keep it light and casual with a premium Black Angus beef burger or a gourmet salad, or opt for one of their signature entrées — a “Shula Cut” steak. Reservations are suggested. Sun-Thurs 5-10 pm, Fri-Sat 5-11 pm. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005. $$$ L D

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD ★

Whether you’re looking for fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, crab or lobster, these guys have you covered. The 2018 Best Seafood Market winner brings the ocean’s freshest choices to Tallahassee’s front door. Mon-Fri 10 am-7 pm, Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 12-6 pm. 1415 Timberlane Rd. (850) 668‑2203.

WAHOO SEAFOOD GRILL ★

Bringing the coast to Tallahassee, fresh seafood options mix with steak and classic Cajun dishes. Mon.–Thur. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 2714 Graves Road. (850) 629-4059. $$ L D

Visit our comprehensive, searchable dining guide online at tallahasseemagazine.com/Restaurants.

Join us for lunch and dinner at our beautiful location on Apalachee Parkway.

Our steaks are not only the best in Tallahassee, but USDA choice Midwestern corn-fed beef, specially selected, aged to our specifications and cut daily. We also serve fresh jumbo shrimp and fish — grilled, blackened or fried.

So please join us for lunch and dinner or just meet up for drinks at our fully stocked bar.

F

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAK HOUSE

2705 Apalachee Parkway | Tallahassee, FL (850) 270-9506

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

March–April 2019

257

FREEZE FRIED

A

The college kid connoisseur goes in search of the best milkshake and fry pairings

by NATALIE KAZMIN

s a child, I traveled a lot. We spent nearly every weekend traveling for some family event or another, and with four kids, there were always a few stops along the way.

We took our lunches on the highway, but there was one big problem for 7-year-old me: I did not like fast food. The smell of it made me sick.

The solution? French fries and ice cream.

No matter where we went, the only way to get me to eat was to stick a milkshake in one hand and a large fry in the other. I would munch happily for hours and slurp up the remainder.

It’s true. Some french fries are better than others. But for each, no matter their variety — seasoned, shoe laced, curled — you know you can get a milkshake to go with it.

I prefer to stick to the simple shakes. The smorgasbord of exquisite concoctions offered

by The Shake Shop or Sugar Rush Bar are, of course, outstanding … but the flavors are far too complex to try and capture them all on a single fry.

Strawberry, chocolate, vanilla — they’re classic for a reason. But you can’t stick any fry in any flavor.

For example: McDonald’s has light, bright fries. Crunchy and crispy on the delicately salted outside, fluffy and warm on the inside. The vanilla milkshake, while simply delicious on its own just like the fry, has a flavor too simple to pair properly with it. They blend together rather than accentuate each other.

The chocolate milkshake, on the other hand, is too rich, too heavy; it only weighs the fry down.

Strawberry is your winner.

Like sunlight sprinkling over strawberry fields, the light, airy and delicate flavor of the golden french fry highlights the bright tang of the shake, and the soft

sweetness that follows makes the salted spoon that much more vibrant.

The Five Guys fry is a classic: Thick-cut french fries fried in peanut oil with flaky salt brings out an earthy, savory note that seems almost too sophisticated for a burgerjoint fry. This quality makes it an excellent candidate for their vanilla milkshake, if you’re lucky enough to have access to a location that offers this holy grail of dairybased beverages.

While these earthy tones do complement a chocolate mix as well, the flavors of the fry are too subtle — the mix will likely swallow them. The fry will taste great going down, but it will leave the milkshake unchanged.

A symbiotic relationship is required for the perfect fry/shake combo.

This fragrance of the Five Guys fry, however, brings out those natural dark vanilla flavors of the shake, taking you on a frolic through the perfumed orchid fields of Madagascar. Soft herbs like thyme, rosemary or even oregano have the potential to bring out the more intricate flavors of a vanilla shake, so test your favorite herbed fries or make some at home to take your palette on an adventure to Africa.

To properly complement a good chocolate shake, you need spice. Fries seasoned with chili, cumin, or even drizzled with some jalapeno honey, will bring some brightness out of a normally dark and heavy flavor.

The kick of the spices will make the smooth chocolate sing.

Some would scoff at my idea of fine cuisine, but even on the sticky linoleum tabletops of fast-food joints, dining is an affair.

As our most ancient luxury, it remains a staple indulgence: Whether you are savoring petit hors d’oeuvres under a reservation made three months in advance, devouring a homemade pizza thrown together by your best friends or shoveling ice cream straight out of the tub in front of your latest Netflix binge, you are dining quite finely, indeed.

There are nuances in all things, and food is no exception: You just have to find decadence in the simple things, and savor it. TM

Natalie Kazmin is a receptionist at Rowland Publishing, owner of Tallahassee Magazine.

She graduates in December from Florida State University with a degree in creative writing.

258

March–April 2019

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

ILLUSTRATION BY PIMONOVA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

postscript

Introducing the Coastal Living Collection

At Turner’s, we love unveiling a new furniture collection - especially when it’s one this beautiful!

Visit our showroom and get inspired by Coastal Living’s bright, breezy design.

(850) 210-0446 | TurnerFurniture.com Mon–Fri 10am–8pm | Sat 10am–6pm | Sun 1pm–6pm 2151 US Hwy 319 (10 Minutes North of Chiles High School on Thomasville Hwy)

Tallahassee’s #1 Urgent Care Open 7 Days a week

8 Convenient Locations . . . all with Flu Tests!

Walk-in • Check-in Online • PatientsFirst.com