Tallahassee Magazine September - October 2020

A TRIP TO THE SHORE IS A NATURAL RESTORATIVE

Let’s Rally Around Art Opening Nights enriches life of the community

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RENOVATIONS ARE NEARING COMPLETION AT STORIED, VENERATED CITY CLUB

A Plethora of Species North Florida bays nurture myriad life forms

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Contents

SEPT/OCT 2020

FEATURES

82

GOVERNORS CLUB

Since its opening in 1982, the Governors Club in downtown Tallahassee has been a place where business is discussed, influence is peddled and status conferred. Today, a thorough remodeling of the club is broadening its appeal and brightening the facility.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

90

INSHORE LIFE

Wood serves as fuel not only when burned, but also when waterlogged. When not interfered with, rivers and creeks deliver wood and other vegetative detritus to estuarine bays, charging their ecosystems and seeing to a diversity of life.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

FEATURES 82 GOVERNOR’S CLUB

90 INSHORE LIFE

Minisl, adiam utpat sustionsenime sent la alis atem tie nullandrem, elit loremipsum nis dolorer wis dolortio, suscipi wisi ullam molore ud wiscin wissim, lutem conullam ip velis lorem il dip Mod Tie Lut.

Euip Quat em Esed augiametuer Dip Minit wissim veliquamcon conulputat ut amconul iusto Modip Lobor, ex ionsequat y wissis ed feugiam mincip facillametum facincipit vendreet Rit Dolorer, ullam elit an ncidui tie e eraessit.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

by STEVE BORNHOFT

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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September-October 2020

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Contents

SEPT/OCT 2020

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323

21 CHAMPIONS Three

Rickards High School students are producing films that shed light on stubborn problems.

26 EDUCATION

Marketer Daryl Green left neckwear and conventions behind in creating his fashion look.

46 WHAT’S IN STORE

Our community’s merchants fill needs and wishes.

GASTRO & GUSTO

58 DINING IN Pasta

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September-October 2020

EXPRESSION

69 ART Presented with a

74 PERFORMING ARTS

78 BOOKS For DeVoe

horizontal space to fill, muralist Toni Ardizzone went with what came naturally: a gator.

LIBATIONS: Cocktails in a bag have become a sign of the times.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Michael Blachly of FSU’s Opening Nights has missed the shared experiences that live performances provide.

Moore, A Land Remembered offers characters worth emulating.

ABODES

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14 16 140 142 146

117 INTERIORS Laminate flooring has grown in popularity and possibilities.

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

A TRIP TO THE SHORE IS A NATURAL RESTORATIVE

Let’s Rally Around Art Opening Nights enriches life of the community

TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM

combine elements of femininity and professionalism.

Tea Room in Atlanta maintains close ties with the past and with Tallahassee.

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RENOVATIONS ARE NEARING COMPLETION AT STORIED, VENERATED CITY CLUB

» EARLY EDUCATION » COCKTAILS TO GO

40 FOR HER Skirt suits

62 DINING OUT Mary Mac’s

master gardener offers advice for maximizing growing seasons.

IN EVERY ISSUE

PASTA MAKING

making yields homemade rewards that justify the work involved.

37 FOR HIM Regular

maintenance and the proper grooming tools can give beards a wellmanicured look.

126 GREEN SCENE A

Vegetative screens provide beautiful, green ways to mark boundaries.

SEPT–OCT 2020

PANACHE

44 CITIZEN OF STYLE

TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE

Proponents believe a Children’s Services Council would bring about improved academic performance in Leon County schools.

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124 EXTERIORS

A Plethora of Species North Florida bays nurture myriad life forms

ON THE COVER:

Lori Elliott and Michael Blachly of FSU’s Opening Nights, photographed at the Governors Club in downtown Tallahassee, are hopeful about the year ahead. Photo by Alex Workman

PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE (21, 40) AND SAIGE ROBERTS (53, 69)

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You’re helping him save lives.

Your gifts to the TMH COVID-19 Emergency Fund have provided: • Over 10,000 face masks to protect TMH staff.

• More than 50 telemedicine units to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure.

• Support for community testing sites.

• A state-of-the-art disinfecting system for the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center to protect our most vulnerable patients.

Javier I. Escobar, MD TA L L A H A S S E E M E M O R I A L EMERGENCY CENTER-NORTHEAST

• Meals and stress relief for staff working 12-hour shifts on the front line of COVID-19.

Your local, nonprofit, community hospital still needs your support.

Give today at TMHFoundation.org.

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May–June 2020

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Contents

SEPT/OCT 2019

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

99

Feedback TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE

Mr. Rowland:

JUL–AUG 2020

I’m stealing a Burnishing a Golfer’s few minutes of Legacy work time to offer praise for the July-August edition of Tallahassee Magazine. In particular, two articles caught my attention. Editor Bornhoft’s “Where the Crawdads March” story let me down — not because of the story, which I found hilarious, but because I was anticipating perhaps a piece on the biggest and best crawfish festival held every year in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. In any event, being a Louisiana born and bred yat, I never pass up a good crawfish story, regardless as to whether the writer “sucks the heads.”

Sid Matthew’s

fascination with life of Bobby Jones

Apalachicola Riverkeeper

GEORGIA ACKERMAN

cares deeply about restoring historic flows to a precious, live-giving waterway

is pure passion Black News Channel embarks on its mission to illuminate the truth for all

Where the Crawdads March: A true story about remarkable crustacean cooperation

TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM

Escape the city and head for nearby Panhandle beaches. This special section dives into emerald waters, sifts through white sands and lists many of the countless reasons that the Gulf shore is special.

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← INFINITI & BEYOND

Tallahassee’s newest auto dealership places an emphasis on class.

48 FRESHENING FACES

Facelifts, once thought of as painful, difficult procedures, are performed routinely and typically result in little pain, swelling or scarring, Tallahassee Plastic Surgery reports.

108 WINE TIME

Wine, dine and donate all in the name of charity at the fourth annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival presented by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

NEXT ISSUE 10

50 GOLD RUSH

Gold is both timeless and trendy. The Gem Collection glitters with gold options from fashion statements to forever keepsakes.

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122

GARDEN & GRILL

128

NIGHT LIGHT

130

DEAL ESTATE

Esposito Lawn & Garden Center encourages you to up your outdoor game with a Big Green Egg grill.

Tallahassee Nurseries shares ways to brighten your property with landscape lighting.

Three distinctly different homes are on the market, each boasting some of the best aspects of Tallahassee including lake views, prime locations and Southern charm.

UNDERWATER ART The

Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and the South Walton Artificial Reef Association reveal the newest addition to their subsurface museum.

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CALENDAR

Outdoor events and festivals are happening in and around Tallahassee.

“The Course of History” piece

by Mr. Bornhoft was one of the more interesting reads I’ve enjoyed in a while. I find it utterly fascinating that every moment of Mr. Bobby Jones’s life had not already been documented and cataloged.

As evidenced in the fine article, it seems there is much more to know about this legend of a man and human being. Thanks to Tallahassee Magazine and Mr. Bornhoft, you dang folks now have me scratching an itch. Being that you fine journalists are responsible for my piqued curiosity, I hope you have more follow-up research at Augusta National.

And when you do travel to the most beautiful golf course in the world, Augusta National, you will most certainly need a chauffeur, baggage handler, personal security and “gofer.”

This old Marine is available for duty and able to carry out said tasks with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

Thanks for a great magazine.

Thanks for a great read or three.

Thank God for our great country.

Philip Barbara

Best of Tallahassee Winners ◆ Holiday Gift Guide ◆ Medical Profiles

September-October 2020

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May–June 2020

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TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE VOL. 43, NO. 5

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL

The Huggins Winders Group Stephen C. Huggins

Senior Vice President/Investments Branch Manager

Linda S. Winders

First Vice President/Investments

C. Blair Huggins

Associate Vice President/Investments

JD Huggins

Financial Advisor

Erin McCarty

Registered Client Service Associate

(850) 815-3090 main | (800) 223-8133 toll-free www.thehugginswindersgroup.com 3500 Financial Plaza, Suite 202 | Tallahassee, Florida 32312

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Steve Bornhoft MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Price CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marina Brown, Hannah Burke, Les Harrison, Rochelle Koff, Thomas Monigan, Rebecca Padgett, Audrey Post, Matt Thompson, Zandra Wolfgram

CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut EDITORIAL DESIGNER Lindsey Masterson SENIOR PUBLICATION DESIGNER Shruti Shah PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Burger, Jordan Harrison GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Wardlow, Ashleigh Baird, Dave Barfield, Colin Hackley, Austin Holm, Scott Holstein, Trace Ingham, Jacqueline Ward Images, Kansas Pitts Photography, Bill Lax, Pat McDonnell, Alicia Osborne, Bruce W. Palmer, Saige Roberts, Joel Sartore, Shelly Swanger, Trickey Photography, Andrew Wardlow, Alex Workman

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh 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 COORDINATOR Tracy Mulligan ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Doll, Julie Dorr, Darla Harrison MARKETING MANAGER Kate Pierson SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett SENIOR INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden

OPERATIONS CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Amber Dennard

TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE tallahasseemagazine.com facebook.com/tallahasseemag twitter.com/tallahasseemag instagram.com/tallahasseemag pinterest.com/tallahasseemag youtube.com/user/tallahasseemag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

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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 Books-A-Million 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 September 2020 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.

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May–June 2020

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from the publisher

REMODELED GOVERNORS CLUB MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

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September-October 2020

increasingly significant part of the business and is now represented by a Rowland Publishing website.

My fondest club memory is my wedding reception, which the club hosted in 1990. Now, almost 30 years later, my dear wife Cherie remains my best friend and most trusted confidant.

The club’s staff made the reception a flawless and memorable event, and at its conclusion, friends and family showered an emotionally exhausted couple with rice as we departed for our honeymoon at St. Simons Island.

Over the decades, I have attended scores of events at the Governors Club and have always found its food, service and the environment there to be outstanding.

By now, the club easily could have become a struggling anachronism, a relic that failed to keep up with competing event venues and restaurants. Instead, the club has taken steps to remain relevant and appeal to an increasingly diverse membership while continuing to please its charter members.

For this edition of Tallahassee Magazine, editor Steve Bornhoft checked in with the club’s general manager Barry Shields regarding the comprehensive remodeling that the facility has undergone in the past two years. I know you’ll find the improvements impressive.

Permit me, too, to especially point out Alex Workman’s COVIDwear photos that appeared on pages 41-45 in our July/August issue. They are part of a large collection of businesson-top, casual-on-the-bottom photos that Alex has assembled in an effort to bring smiles to the faces of pandemic-weary people in Tallahassee and beyond.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

Indeed, the COVIDwear project, which Alex and his wife Chelsea have combined to create, has attracted national and international attention.

And, it represents just the latest among projects by the Workmans to lift communities up during difficult times. Many of you are familiar with their “Never Forgotten Coast” initiative that benefited businesses in Mexico Beach that were devastated

by Hurricane Michael.

At Rowland Publishing, we value Alex as one of our most talented freelance photographers and thank him for his generosity in giving us the chance to share COVIDwear photos with the readers of Tallahassee Magazine. Do yourself a favor and check out the full collection at covidwear.co.

Be well and take care,

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN

From its opening in November 1982 until the present, the Governors Club in Tallahassee has been as it was envisioned by its founders — a private, discreet gathering place for the well-heeled and the well-connected.

Some thought Bill Horne, then the manager of the Steak and Ale Restaurant, to be delusional when he began to talk up the idea of a members-only city club in Tallahassee.

In fact, an effort to coalesce support for such a club among business leaders failed in mid-1980. But the idea was resurrected before that year was out and, this time, it took hold.

Sites including the Lewis State Bank building and space at the top of Barnett Bank were considered before club founders moved to lease the Odd Fellows Hall, which had been constructed at the corner of Adams Street and College Avenue in 1926.

Many lodge members had grown old to the point of being unable to climb the building’s stairs.

Almost instantly, the Governors Club became a place to be seen. There, I was among countless people who many times enjoyed seeing B.C. Clinton, the club’s greeter. For a decade, beginning with the club’s inception, B.C. did much to establish the collegial but somewhat formal nature of the place.

When the club was about to turn 25, Peter Harris, a member of its Editorial Committee contacted me. The committee was working to assemble a limited-run, large-format book detailing the history of the club as a way to commemorate the anniversary, and Rowland Publishing was selected to shepherd the project through the pre-press process.

That book was one of Rowland Publishing’s first forays into custom publishing, which would become an

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May–June 2020

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from the editor

PLAY ARLO’S MOTORCYCLE PLAY DON’T THINK TWICE FOR MICHAEL

I remember, I remember when I lost my mind There was something so pleasant about that place Even your emotions have an echo in so much space And when you’re out there, without care, Yeah I was out of touch But it wasn’t because I didn’t know enough I just knew too much That is, I had been hearing my emotions echo, but I could not know enough about what might happen next.

Michael has been bringing performance to the people for about as long as Hinchliff has been plucking short

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September-October 2020

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

strings. His devotion to such pursuits has been steadfast and remarkable.

Florida State University and the region are fortunate that he departed Gainesville to come to Tallahassee.

The last time we spoke at length, we talked about how music and other performing arts bring people together and incubate culture. We talked about the capacity of lyrics that resonate to soothe the soul and the power of concerts as shared experiences.

We discovered that we share a fondness for and fascination with Bob Dylan. I was 15 when Dylan recorded Lay, Lady, Lay and have been tracking him for the succeeding 52 years.

“You can see him as dark,” Michael said about the Bard From the North Country, “or you can see him as having an enlightened view of the world.” True.

Dylan, who left the University of Minnesota and walked off to look for Woody Guthrie, was among those influences who convinced me that I did not have to trace the cow paths readily available to me in Minnesota. I found ways to make ends meet by putting words together and drifted south to Florida.

I sent to Michael the lyrics to Dylan’s Murder Most Foul, released this year on his birthday, about the killing in 1963 of President Kennedy. In the wake of the assassination comes a lengthy appeal to disc jockey Wolfman Jack.

Play “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” Play it for the First Lady, she ain’t feeling any good Play Don Henley Play Glenn Frey “Take It to the Limit” and “Let It Go By” Play it for Karl Wirsum, too, Looking far, far away at Down Gallow Avenue

Play tragedy, play “Twilight Time” Take me back to Tulsa to the scene of the crime Play another one and “Another One Bites the Dust” Play “The Old Rugged Cross” and “In God We Trust.”

The list, a riddle without answers, goes on. But Dylan’s lyrics, Michael wrote me, “are pictures unto themselves.”

Sometimes, it is enough to know what it is that we do not and cannot know.

And sometimes we must sing a song of unbridled faith and hope and liberty.

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out And if you want to be free, be free ’Cause there’s a million things to be You know that there are And if you want to live high, live high And if you want to live low, live low ’Cause there’s a million ways to go You know that there are Cat Stevens’ lyrics were gas in my little Datsun pickup as I left the tundra.

Rock on,

STEVE BORNHOFT sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY SAIGE ROBERTS

Michael Blachly recently sent me recordings of virtual performances of two songs by George Hinchliff’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: (Your Love Keeps Taking Me) Higher and Higher first recorded by Jackie Wilson — I prefer the 1977 Rita Coolidge version — and Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy.

Mr. Blachly, executive director of the Opening Nights at Florida State University, and its development director, Lori Elliott, made it possible for me to interview Hinchliff some months ago. He has been playing the ukulele for almost 60 years, ever since his father, a trucker, took one as partial payment for delivery services.

I mentioned to Michael that I found Hinchliff an enthusiastic delight, plein de vie, and had been looking forward to the orchestra’s planned appearance in Tallahassee before the pandemic forced its cancellation. So it was that Michael sent me the next best thing at a time when disappointment was our closest friend and all of us were looking to be taken a little Higher.

Equally timely and appropriate in its way was Crazy:

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May–June 2020

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PROMOTION

Six Book Recommendations from Midtown Reader

No matter what drives you indoors, there is never a bad time to curl up with a good book.

Check out these recommendations from Tallahassee bookseller, Midtown Reader.

Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/six-bookrecommendations-from-midtown-reader.

Guide to Fine Lines & Wrinkles The latest apps make it possible for people to edit images and perfect their appearance for social media posts, but what about your face in the flesh? Is it possible to achieve a radiant look minus nagging fine lines and wrinkles? Find out by visiting TallahasseeMagazine.com/beauty-links.

TALLY TOP PET

Attention all pet owners. Nominations for the 2021 Tally Top Pet contest are now being accepted from Sept. 1–20. Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/tally-toppet to give your pet a chance to qualify for a spot among the coveted Top 16.

Beyond the Garden Outdoor kitchens extend indoor living space and add a new dimension to backyards. Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/beyond-the-garden to learn more about what’s trending in home and garden.

TALLY TOP PET P H OTO CO N T E ST

SUMMER JEWELRY TRENDS @TALLAHASSEEMAG

What are your favorite summer activities? Backyard barbecues? Pool parties? Cornhole contests? Fun with family? Tag us on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our social media stories or a future edition of Tallahassee Magazine.

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@tallahasseemag Tallahassee Magazine @TallahasseeMag

Accessorize your look with the latest in summer jewelry, and add dazzling touches of femininity, no matter if you are taking business calls via Zoom, getting in a few office hours, venturing out or just hanging at the house.

Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/style-links to learn more.

PHOTOS BY SAIGE ROBERTS (HOME GARDEN LINKS), VAGENGEYM_ELENA (BEAUTY LINKS) AND SIRI_STAFFORD (STYLE LINK) / GETTY IMAGES AND COURTESY OF MIDTOWN READER (SIX BOOKS), INSTAGRAM: SERRNOVIK, FAMVELD AND ALINA ROSANOVA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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May–June 2020

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323

THE

SEPT/OCT 2020

PROFILING THE PURSUITS, PASSIONS AND PERSONALITIES AMONG US

→

Ishan Vepa, Ananda Chatterjee and Roshan Mettupalli (from left) are shining a light on stubborn problems.

CHAMPIONS

PURPOSEFUL DOCUMENTARIANS Three committed youths confront social inequities with action

by MARINA BROWN

↓

EDUCATION photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

A Proposal to Fill Gaps in Service

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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THE

323

←

Generation Z Media has united three Rickards High School students in a consciousness-raising project designed to focus attention on generational poverty.

T

allahasseeans have absorbed a lot awards in math, science, violin and chess, in the last year — a pandemic, are young men aware of their own good economic reverses, social unrest fortune and the opportunities they have and Mother Nature’s reactions to enjoyed. Their realization of what other climate change. members of their generation do not have Young people, whose aspirations, became the impetus for the creation of experiences and scholastic lives have Generation Z Media.

“If we, as young people, so privileged been dramatically affected by all of this, in life, with access to so many resources, are properly concerned about the world don’t do something, then we are part they will inherit. Among them are some of the problem,” said Chatterjee, who do not content themselves with whose awareness of opportunity electronic distractions and will not let disparities “keeps him awake at night.” only “grown-ups” handle what they see So much so that he almost forgets as communal problems. For example, a to mention his own small band of Rickards striking accomplishments, High School students is ↓ including his trip to Berlin working toward solutions last year as a participant in to daunting problems GENERATION Z the International History facing society today.

MEDIA Olympiad or his thirdGeneration Z Media A key part of place finish in a statewide comprises a trio of techthe advocacy Model U.N. competition. savvy 16-year-olds with group’s mission is to understand He has played violin a passion for all things challenges with the Tallahassee Youth digital — and a social conconfronting today’s science. Ananda Chatterjee, Orchestra for the last eight youth by consulting activists, directors Ishan Vepa and Roshan years and recently released of nonprofits, public Mettupalli, all Tallahassee a violin recording that has officials and others. youths whose personal rébeen played for residents at See thegenz.org. sumés are burgeoning with Allegro Senior Living.

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Beyond those achievements, Chatterjee is laser-focused on learning, organizing, and producing media and action that will help alter the lives of people whom he sees as just like him, minus the opportunities.

Mettupalli describes himself as a “techie.” His parents are software engineers, and he loves math and science.

He competes in the Science Olympiad, and can’t get enough chess. He sees the Generation Z project as a means to help others not as fortunate as he is.

“That is our only reward here,” he said.

Thinking about some of the initiatives the group has already begun, the Youth Poverty Documentary, the Immigrant Awareness Project, and recent fundraisers and food drives for those impacted by COVID-19, he said he keeps in mind the foundation for all they hope to do — “the Founding Fathers’ emphasis that we are all created equal.”

Vepa says that “all things STEM” are what excites him. His mother, a registered nurse, and his father, a computer programmer, are technically skilled. Yet, Vepa, with those same digital talents, said it is the social outreach that inspires him at Generation Z. photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

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↑ The Generation Z team works on storyboards as a documentary comes together.

The nearly professional production quality of the Youth Poverty documentary, which features interviews with youths, as well as community leaders like Talethia Edwards, director of the Greater Bond Community, and Freddy Branham, executive director of Echo Outreach Ministries, was the result of hours of interviewing, editing and technical production done by the three Rickards students.

The second documentary film completed by the trio is the first in its Immigration Series.

Generation Z’s website introduces it this way: “Many members of our team are proud to be the children of immigrants. Immigration and identity are some of the issues that our generation is most passionate about.

This short documentary focuses on the experiences of a South Asian community in Tallahassee.”

Chatterjee said both he and his father have been targeted with disparaging comments dating to when Ananda was in grade school.

“They asked if I lived in a teepee or a log house,” he said. Later, in a Publix, he saw his father, the director of financial aid at FSU, shoved by a customer and told to “go back to the country you came from.”

The trio believes that such behaviors are the result of a lack of accurate information, and the divisiveness in the nation today can be ameliorated when many can speak and all will listen.

Recently, following their Go Fund Me campaign, Generation Z Media presented checks to Echo Outreach Ministries, The Greater Bond Community and plans to gift software to a selected youth interested in editing and infographics. The group has already developed “branches” in Tampa and Miami with the same goals as Tallahassee.

The capital city has good reason to be proud of the champions of Generation Z Media. TM

PHOTO BY ALICIA OSBORNE

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↙

EDUCATION

GAPS IN SERVICE

Proponents say Children’s Services Council would extend the reach of programs for kids

by STEVE BORNHOFT

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or land-rich Tallahassee businessman DeVoe Moore, 81, a proposed Leon County Children’s Services Council smacks of socialism.

For Dr. Mimi Graham, director of the FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, such a council has the potential to help lift at-risk youths out of stubborn generational poverty by preparing them to benefit fully from what schools have to offer.

Leon County commissioners voted unanimously in June 2018 to place the creation of a Children’s Services Council (CSC) on this November’s general election ballot. If approved by voters, the council would have the authority to levy a property tax of up to 50 cents for every $1,000 of

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assessed value to fund services for children from birth to age 19. It would cost the average property taxpayer less than $50 per year and raise about $8 million per year in revenue.

Moore is far from the average taxpayer.

Government, he said, “has plenty of money and plenty of programs, even on the local level. I came to Tallahassee with $250 in my pocket. Now, I own quite a few properties, and I would take a large hit if this new tax were imposed.”

Moore, whose interests include the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, views traditional education as a key to improving lives but questions whether a Children’s Services Council would be effective. He laments what he sees as a diminished work ethic in America.

PHOTO BY MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Child development experts and educators the world over agree that investment in early childhood education pays incalculable dividends.

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“I work six days a week, and ‘retirement’ is not in my vocabulary,” Moore said. “I’ve been in business since 1965.

I feel sorry for the next generation of young people coming up. They have never learned how to work. Everything has been given to them. They don’t understand that it may be OK to ask for something, but don’t expect it. Be prepared to earn it.”

Moore often quotes his grandfather and father “who told me that nothing is free; somebody has got to pay.”

He sees Tallahassee as a city dominated by publicsector government and university employment and one that is doing too little to make itself attractive to prospective businesses.

(According to the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Development, the private sector accounted for 61 percent of GDP in the county 2001, a figure that grew to 69 percent in 2017.)

In an open letter written in early March, Moore cited Tallahassee’s low unemployment rate and noted lists in which the city figured as a top location for career opportunities, getting a fresh start and wage growth. He pointed to Tallahassee’s status as “One of the South’s Best Cities,” as selected by Southern Living magazine.

“If all of that is true,” Moore said, “why are we considering a new tax?”

Graham is prepared to answer that question. She is acutely aware of truths that Moore may find inconvenient, including the fact that 42 percent of Leon County children under age 5 live below the poverty line.

— DeVoe Moore Graham was a member of a Children’s Services Council Planning Committee that was empaneled to assess the needs of children in Leon County and to gauge the potential benefits of a CSC.

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↑ In her travels around the world, Dr. Mimi Graham,

director of the Center for Prevention and Early Intervention at FSU, has discovered a global consensus about the importance of investing in children in their first 1,000 days of life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES COUNCIL

occupational opportunities that can build job skills and support families facing poverty. educing the consequences of food insecurity ➸R by ensuring that children in Leon County have adequate year-round access to healthy food.

A CSC, Graham believes, can be an integral part of meeting those objectives.

“I have had the pleasure of working with CSCs around the state and have been jealous of them for my entire career,” she said.

With the exception of Orlando, big cities in Florida (accounting for more than half of the state’s population) have a CSC. Alachua County, in 2016, was the last county to create one.

Councils must periodically be reauthorized, and in 2014, five councils statewide were up for renewal.

“In each case, more than 75 percent of voters favored reauthorization,” Graham pointed out. “They have proven their accountability and their value.”

While there are a lot of services in Leon County, Graham said, they are not sufficiently reaching the children they were designed to serve. She is confident that a CSC would make it possible to close those gaps, enhance existing programs and add new ones as may be necessary.

She noted that only 40 percent of eligible children are enrolled in school-readiness programs. Pre-k programs that operate for three hours a day present what can be insurmountable logistical problems for well-intentioned parents. For those children who do succeed in attending a three-hour program, “It can be like giving kids one pill of penicillin instead of an adequate amount.”

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According to Graham, “Early Head Start and Head Start serve only 3 percent of the eligible poor kids in our community.”

For Graham, then, it is not surprising that more than half of Leon County’s children do not show up for school ready for kindergarten, and as third-graders, more than half of students are not reading at grade level.

“If we do a better job early, we can have better outcomes later,” Graham stressed. “Eighty percent of the brain is developed by age 3 and 90 percent by age 5.”

Graham believes that progress toward school readiness should begin at conception.

“At the FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, we focus on the first 1,000 days of life, beginning with conception,” Graham said. “I have spoken in Cape Town, South Africa, and other places in the world where they also focus on the first 1,000 days.

We have scientists globally and world economists who say, absolutely, that the prenatal to age 3 period is the best time to invest in children.”

As a guardian ad litem, Graham is helping to look after the needs of two small children.

She became involved with an infant who was dropped off at the home of a single mother. A short time later, she also began helping out with that woman’s eighth child, when it was born.

The newborn and her mother had cocaine in their systems.

The mother had no shoes, no car seat.

— Dr. Mimi Graham Graham said a CSC in Leon County might provide a program, like one that exists in Sarasota, which would enroll mothers in drug treatment programs and provide them with birth control before they leave the hospital.

“We see many innovative, wonderful programs around the state, and we really don’t have the funding for them in Tallahassee,” Graham said. “If you don’t make the necessary front-end investment, costs invariably are incurred down the line.”

So it is that Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna is a CSC proponent. So, too, is Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.

“School readiness is the superintendent’s top priority,” Graham said. “The sheriff knows that third-grade reading scores are used to project the number of prison beds that will be needed.”

There’s an argument to be made that front-end investment benefits the taxpayer in the long run. TM

“School readiness is the superintendent’s top priority. The Sheriff knows that thirdgrade reading scores are used to project the number of prison beds that will be needed.”

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PROMOTION

With clean design elements and high-end finishes Tallahassee’s new Kraft Infiniti Dealership embodies a “vision” translated into space.

Tallahassee’s Newest Auto Dealership Takes Amenities to Infiniti … and Beyond

O

ne of Tallahassee’s longest running car dealers, the Kraft Brothers Auto Dealerships (Kraft Nissan and Infiniti of Tallahassee) has raised the bar on local auto dealership design. Take one step into Chris and Peter Kraft’s new state-of-theart Infiniti dealership, and it is obvious that “pampered” was the goal. A virtual glass haven, the interior design elements awaken your senses to the blend of the famous “new car” smell, contemporary furnishings and high-minded accessories.

The Kraft Brothers corporation began over 30 years ago, with multiple franchises in Gainesville, Florida, including a Mercedes-Benz dealership.

Chris Kraft remarked: “I’ve been around cars my whole life. And with years of auto dealership management and ownership, the Infiniti of Tallahassee dealership is the first facility that we have designed and constructed ‘from the ground up.’ ” The new Infiniti dealership is adjacent to the long-standing Kraft Nissan facility on Mahan Drive in Tallahassee. Peter Kraft noted: “We

consider ourselves a valuable corporate citizen, adding an abundance of cache to the Mahan corridor’s vibrant business model.”

“We have tried to enhance the spirit of our community,” added Chris.

The new facility embraces that spirit in the same vein as Kraft’s long-running ad campaigns, long a staple on local TV. Chris touted that, “With roots in the MercedesBenz mold, we are a natural in delivering a high-line product and experience.”

From the moment they held the ribbon cutting ceremony to launch the new building, the old Infiniti store on Capital Circle seemed like a dinosaur – clinging to a bygone era when buildings were retrofitted to accommodate a dealership.

In the midst of the pandemic, the Krafts blended both dealerships in the Nissan location, affording customers advantages in selection and service. And as Kraft Nissan’s newest neighbor, Infiniti of Tallahassee will undoubtedly provide customers with the top-shelf service, friendly environment and welcoming culture that Tallahassee has come to expect from the Kraft Brothers Auto Dealerships.

Car buyers in search of a stress-free shopping experience and a chance to enjoy the five-star experiences, typically reserved for upscale resorts and restaurants, need look no further. The car-buying version of “are you kidding me” resides right here in Tallahassee.

Showroom seating, nestled amongst the vehicles, affords customers a unique car shopping experience.

The waiting area is everything you would expect … and so much more.

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panache SEPT/OCT 2020

REGARDING MATTERS OF ALL THINGS STYLISH

FOR HIM

SHARP GROOMED MAN

Put your best facial hair forward

by REBECCA PADGETT

FOR HER Skirt Suits || CITIZEN OF STYLE Daryl Green || WHAT’S IN STORE Retail Roundup photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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panache

Z

Z Top, with one of its most popular songs, observed …

They come runnin’ just as fast as they can ‘Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man

↑ Sherrie Clark, the owner of Fuel + Salon Store, dressed the beard of her husband Brian Clark, above, with pomade. Clark favors Redken Brews products, available for purchase at her store.

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Might the same go for an expertly coifed and groomed gentleman? In the fall and winter months, men tend toward scruffier looks, but even if you are participating in No Shave November, maintenance is important for hair and skin health.

In both professional and social settings, the state of your grooming can, much like your clothing, reveal a lot about you.

“You carefully choose the clothing you wear to work or out to dinner, and you should be just as thoughtful with your grooming,” said Sherrie Clark, owner of Fuel Salon + Store. “This is not only about the cut, it’s majorly about the products and tools you use.”

Barbers and hairstylists agree that a high-quality cordless trimmer with a set of guards should be in every man’s possession. Clark encourages clients to properly clean and oil their trimmers after every use to keep them running smoothly.

When trimming beards, the pros find that both a high-quality set of shears and clippers are essential.

“When I trim a beard, I always show

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my guests how to clean up the lines when they shave at home,” said Clark.

“Some areas need the clean even lines of the clippers; others need the handcrafted shape that shears give.”

With more and more men keeping their beards year-round, beard oil has gained in popularity and can be found anywhere from barbershops to lifestyle stores. Beard oils are more than just trendy self-care items. Oils are designed specifically for beard hair and the surrounding skin to promote healthier, fuller, more manageable and often delightfully scented facial hair.

Local salons such as Fuel Salon + Store sell Redken Brews beard and skin oil, which softens hair while hydrating the skin underneath that tends to get drier during cooler months. For a more natural solution, BumbleBee Waxing & More offers a blend of essential oils packed with vitamins that condition hair and nourish skin.

BumbleBee Waxing owner Amber Caplan said men receive good results from a deep pore-cleansing product that is massaged through the beard to the skin.

The apothecary section at Southern Pines is stocked with an abundance of grooming products made in America.

Owner David Lareau said many women buy Mint Beard Balm made by Ember and Valor for their significant others. It comes in scents including Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cone.

Freddie Pappaceno, master barber with Metro Barber, suggests using a blow dryer after showering because a dry beard is cleaner, softer and smells better.

“It’s easy to grow a beard, but maintaining it should also be an easy and enjoyable task,” Pappaceno said.

The best grooming advice? It may be to have a trusted barber or stylist on standby to remedy mistakes. TM photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

↙ HIRSUTE BUT HANDSOME Brian Clark sports a freshly trimmed, blow-dried and dressed beard.

↑ TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS Sherrie Clark completes a series of steps aimed at turning a haggard look into something intentional and sharp.

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↖ Ciao Milano wool blazer ($120) with Tory Burch ivory ribbed turtleneck ($103); Crosby corduroy skirt ($60); See by Chloe taupe suede booties ($180); See

by Chloe gray shoulder Bag ($460); Tory Burch rosary long necklace ($128); and Ever Alice Chloe earrings ($72). ↑ Identical blazer with Zero Degrees gold pleated skirt ($185); Naked Feet off-white platform sneakers ($125); See by Chloe shoulder bag in coconut brown ($465); Tory Burch rosary long necklace ($128); and Ever Alice Chloe earrings ($72).

Model Adrianna Rosario; Styling by Narcissus

I FOR HER

PRETTY POWER SUITS Women’s workwear reimagined

by REBECCA PADGETT

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n 1910, the American Ladies Tailors’ Association created the “suffrage suit,” which consisted of a blouse, jacket and a long, divided skirt that allowed women to take long strides. In 1914, Coco Chanel released the first of her iconic suits — jackets with anklelength skirts. In 1963, on the day her husband was assassinated, Jacqueline Kennedy wore such a suit in pink.

With the 1980s came the rise of the power suit donned by corporate women intent on climbing professional and economic ladders. In 2000, upon election to the U.S. Senate, Hillary Clinton delivered a victory speech in which she said that six black pantsuits figured in her success.

photography by ALICIA OSBORNE

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BOLD LOOKS

TOP: Double breasted blazer

by Bailey 44 ($155) with ivory ribbed Trina Turk tank ($60); Zero Degrees animal print ruffle skirt ($145); Tory Burch sort fleming backpack ($528); Tory Burch booties in black ($198); Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Swirl earring ($55).

BOTTOM: Identical blazer with black Amanda Maria silk tee ($160); charcoal sidezip knit skirt by Sundays ($108); Sanctuary snakeprint heels ($115); Tory Burch Fleming matte black small shoulder bag ($428); Love Poppy long triangle necklace ($55); Narcissus tortoise/ gold dangle earrings ($25).

Model Adrianna Rosario Styling by Narcissus

PHOTOS BY ALICIA OSBORNE

Women have long worn suits as symbols of power and equality. Dabbling in dressing like men is not a new notion but one that constantly evolves in response to social climate change.

The skirt suit is fierce and feminine, made up of a sleek and serious structured blazer and an elegant, chic skirt.

“When a woman shows up to a meeting in a blazer or a suit, you know she means business,” said Juli Downs, owner of the Narcissus boutique in Tallahassee. “How you style the blazer sets the mood.”

Downs suggests that a tailored jacket with a pencil skirt has a more serious tone than a jacket paired with ruffled skirt. Both are suitable and stylish; the right choice depends on the nature of the business.

A matching muted color skirt suit set or a black dress with a blazer and heels are standard for a nononsense work environment. Downs suggests that creatives operating in a relaxed workspace pair a blazer with a printed midi-skirt and sneakers for a modern vibe.

Always invest in quality fabrics and tailored fits. These two factors reflect a sense of care and consideration in dressing for excellence.

“A blazer can make or break your whole look, so it’s important to get the right fit,” said Janice Graves, owner of J. Lynn’s Boutique Consignment. “You want to be able to button it if you need to, but it shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. Some women could opt for a slim fit or one with a stiffer shoulder. It all depends on their style.”

When investing in a blazer, consider the shoulders, sleeves and bust when finding the best fit for you. The shoulders of the blazers should end where your shoulder does, the sleeves should not be too long or too short and the bust should not be too tight.

Every woman’s closet should include a wellfitted blazer that can be worn in many ways. The beauty of the blazer is its potential for styling.

Go classic with a tailored two-piece skirt suit in the same color paired with a button down, simple jewelry and a kitten heel or ballet flats. For a bolder look, try the same blazer over a brightly hued printed skirt with a statement necklace and patterned wedges.

The skirt suit may be more muted than masculine pantsuits, but they make a powerful statement. TM

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850.671.6600 www.targetprintmail.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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panache

CITIZEN OF STYLE

JEANS & CHUCKS

Daryl Green’s fashion compass points to comfort and high quality

by STEVE BORNHOFT

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H

e has a ruby ring of incalculable value, a mutt that wears a Louis Vuitton collar, and an expansive collection of Converse All-Star sneakers.

Daryl Green is a clothes horse — “Anyone who knows me could shame me into admitting that,” he said — and has been trend-conscious at least since he was an 8th grader in the ’80s, when he desperately petitioned his mom for a pair of Z Cavaricci pants.

Billowy up top and skinny through the legs, such trousers ran about 80 bucks a pair at the time ($268 in 2020 dollars), an amount Mom refused to pay “even though everyone was wearing them.”

Today, Green is grateful that Mom was judicious.

“She saved me,” he allowed. “There are no photos of me in parachute pants.”

Pants are a simple matter for Green these days and have been since 2010 when he took over Compass Marketing & Consulting in Tallahassee.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

For years, he had worn traditional business attire to work, but “as agency head, I drastically changed my style to be more about what I wanted to wear,” he said.

“I wear jeans every day. I do own dress pants, but it’s going to be a very, very special situation if I’m not going to be wearing jeans.”

Not just any funeral will do.

He most often pairs the jeans with a blazer and vintage band shirt — Led Zeppelin and the Ramones are favorites — and a pair of Cons, high tops or low cuts.

“I have a couple of custom pairs, one of them done in the colors of the agency: lime green, black and silver,” Green said. “I might be a little less formal, but I’m on brand.”

Green concedes that he drops more green on shoes than he should. Beyond Cons, his footwear collection includes assorted LV leather loafers.

One presumes that he doesn’t want to get

PHOTOS BY AUSTIN HOLM / COIMPASS MARKETING

↑A GIRL NAMED CHARLIE A jacketed Daryl Green flashes his Cons as he hits his stride with his favorite four-legged gal pal Charlie. ↓ Green’s passion for cooking translated into a Grand Marnier souffle with orange creme anglaise.

upstaged by his dog Charlie, whose makeup is unknown. Green could find it out, of course, but said, “I respect her privacy.”

Generally, Green is good with paying up for something if it is going to last. When he opts for a button-up shirt, he wears it with cufflinks. He likes watches. But you won’t find anything hanging around his neck. “I got over that phase in college,” he said.

As to clothing brands, Green likes Ted Baker London and Psycho Bunny, a polo he’s been wearing for a long time. He used to wear a lot of Burberry “until the price went up exponentially and the quality went down exponentially.”

(Can something go down exponentially? I guess maybe so.)

Green, in addition to quality duds, has a treasured collection of old books, and he likes expensive cars. He leased

a competition package BMW M3 not long ago, then dropped down to a Honda Accord. But he’s back looking for something with which to scratch the luxury car itch.

And, Green likes to entertain and to cook. He’s no stranger to Williams Sonoma, and he spent a month two years ago in Paris, where he took sauce-making and bread-baking classes at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.

That ruby ring? Green inherited it from his great-grandfather. The ruby, he said, is about half the diameter of a dime. He had it appraised once and was told, “You can’t be walking around with that thing.”

He flashed it a lot in college, but today it lives in a safe place away from his house.

You don’t want to pay too much to be cool. TM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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panache The Southern Pines ➸ The GAUCHO SNAPSHIRT ORANGE BLOSSOM by HOWLER BROTHERS is a statement piece that recalls vintage Western shirts. While highly wearable, it retains little quirks of nature and unique, embroidered artwork. It’s made with a lightweight, quick-drying cotton-poly blend and a mesh-lined vented back to keep you looking and feeling cool during a Florida fall.

What’s In Store?

A roundup of retail happenings throughout Tallahassee

by REBECCA PADGETT

Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair & Body from Hearth & Soul is a heavy-duty body wash infused with a blend of juniper berries, eucalyptus and rosemary. This formula is strong enough to remove sweat, dirt and oil while leaving your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. It is gentle enough to be used as a shampoo without stripping hair of its natural oils. And it smells divine.

Everyone deserves beauty rest, and the Branche Silk Eye Mask from Hearth & Soul guarantees it. This mask is hand sewn and made entirely of silk. It’s fitted to keep light out and encourages melatonin production, which helps restore natural antioxidant power and promotes the growth of collagen and your skin’s deepest recovery. Protect your eyes, sleep your deepest and wake up rejuvenated.

Quarter Moon Imports

➸ MOONSHINE RESERVE COLOGNE by EAST WEST BOTTLERS is gentleman’s cologne both in form and aroma. The long-lasting woodsy spice and notes of fresh-cracked pepper, linen, tobacco, aged leather and Appalachian gin create a lasting impression. ➸ BITTERMILK OLD FASHION NO. 1 MIX will impress at any cocktail hour. It combines classic gentian root and cinchona cork along with burnt sugar, spices and a bit of orange peel. Aged in Willet bourbon barrels to allow the flavors to come together and ramp up intensity, it is super concentrated, so a little goes a long way.

There’s no time like fall to cuddle up with a book, accompanied by a book’s best friends — tea and candles. Quarter Moon Imports carries a line of unique, handcrafted tea infusers made by a father-son team based in Pennsylvania. Select a flavored tea made with organic ingredients from the WINTERWOODS line based in Washington. Glow in the comfort of some literary favorites, such as Jane Austen or William Shakespeare, with the soy-based LIBRARY CANDLE LINE by PADDYWAX, hand poured in Nashville. // With Halloween around the corner, you might have the inclination to decorate or keep these sweet and slightly spooky painted skulls on display year-round. These HAND-CRAFTED TRADITIONAL FOLK-ART PIECES are made in Mexico and come in a variety of colors, prints and patterns.

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PHOTOS BY PAT MCDONNELL / THE SOUTHERN PINES AND COURTESY OF HEARTH & SOUL

↓

➸ A sturdy yet stylish pair of boots is essential to any man’s closet. THE IRON RANGER BOOT by RED WINGS HERITAGE is an American icon that is beloved for standout style and long-lasting construction. With its toe cap, speed hooks and Vibram outsole, there’s no mistaking this leather legend.

CONVENIENCE AND CONTROL

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(850) 251-4931 | MarkIce.net | Mark@MarkIce.net

LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER? Come see our NEW expanded shop!

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2887 KERRY FOREST PARKWAY, SUITE 4 | NEXT TO STARBUCKS (850) 765-0342 | JLYNNSBOUTIQUECONSIGN.COM

2424 ALLEN ROAD | (850) 878-5269 | COSMETOLOGYINST.COM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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PROMOTION

Tallahassee P LY/ Na

The Truth About

Facelifts COMMONLY PERFORMED PROCEDURE RESULTS IN LITTLE DISCOMFORT OR SCARRING

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PROMOTION

M

any people, perhaps influenced by dramatic representations of the procedure on television, perceive that facelifts are difficult and painful and result in obvious distortion.

For prospective patients, Dr. Alfredo Paredes of the Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic separates truth from misconceptions.

Facelifts involve tightening and removing excess facial skin, thus reversing some of the effects of time whose passage causes skin to drape and create folds and wrinkles.

The surgeon may also tighten muscles in the neck and cheeks to deal with jowls, address platysmal bands in the neck and cheeks that may be especially evident when people grimace or clench their teeth, and eliminate wattles — skin that dangles from the middle of the chin.

“We tighten skin from the cheekbone down to the midneck,” Paredes said. “The jawline and the jowls wind up being the center point.” A facelift does not include eyelids, brows or the forehead; they can be addressed with separate procedures.

Plastic Surgery /KP ative

“A common misconception is that your skin has to be pulled so tight that you look artificial or that your mouth is pulled halfway across your cheeks,” Paredes said.

“Oftentimes family members of the patient will comment how natural the results look. They may think that the patient got her hair done or changed her makeup.”

Facelifts are performed using anesthesia, which can vary from light sedation to a deeper anesthetic, based on surgeon preference.

“Typically, patients experience less swelling than they expected and little pain,” Paredes has found. “Most do not take any pain medicines following the procedure. A modest amount of bruising may occur, but steps are taken before and after to minimize it.”

Social recovery occurs quickly. Paredes advises patients that it may be a week or two before they get back into society, but he has had patients who kept hair appointments just five days after a facelift.

The incision line runs through natural grooves in front of and behind the ear. Some surgeons extend the scar into the hairline, while others will go along the hairline to minimize hair removal.

“Six to 12 months later, scars are hardly visible,” Paredes pointed out. “The face has a robust blood supply that makes it heal remarkably well. Faces are very forgiving places to make an incision.”

The stigma associated with facelifts has vanished like a facial scar. Paredes is seeing facelift patients who are much younger than used to be customary, and he finds that people talk freely about their procedure.

Recovery is uncomplicated. Patients are asked to refrain from exercise for four to six weeks, sleep with their head propped up for a few days after the procedure and avoid the temptation to use heat or ice packs.

The procedure may be repeated, if desired.

“You start to age the day after surgery,” Paredes said. “If 10 years go by, you are going to see some recollecting of loose skin and wrinkles. But, we can reopen the original incision, redo the procedure and pull out a little more loose skin.”

Paredes prefers that people refrain from nicotine use for three months prior to surgery. Smokers, he said, are at a much higher risk for complications, including skin necrosis or infection.

Treatments such as peels, microneedling and laser therapies may be scheduled before or after a facelift to make the skin itself look better.

“Facelifts are performed every day all over the country,” Paredes said. “Countless people have been pleased with their results.”

TALLAHASSEE PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC 2452 MAHAN DRIVE, SUITE 101 | (850) 877-2126

Larry L. Harper, M.D. • Alfredo A. Paredes, Jr., M.D. • Jeffery M. Rawlings, M.D. TLHPLASTICSURGERY.COM Sue Anne Pearce, Licensed Esthetician • Kansas Gowan, Licensed Esthetician Larry L. Harper, M.D. • Alfredo A. Paredes, Jr., M.D. • Jeffrey M. Rawlings, M.D.

Sue Anne Pearce, Licensed Esthetician

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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PROMOTION

All That Glitters

T

IS GOLD

imeless and trendy, the glint and gleam of gold continues to catch the eye and hold attention. Gold has long held the gaze of admirers for its beauty alongside its versatility and durability, making it one of the most sought-after precious metals.

Gold jewelry is adaptable in its wearability, from your grandmother’s gold wedding ring passed down for generations to trending pieces, such as layered necklaces.

There is the high-end luxury of an ornate gold statement piece or the everyday staple of a gold bangle.

Gold glimmers against any skin tone or complexion.

With white, yellow and rose gold as options, you can style it to suit your skin and hair color. Gold looks good no matter what you wear, from gold hoops with a tank top and jeans to a golden pendant paired with a ball gown.

The glimmer of gold is a sight to behold as it can be polished to an eye-catching shine or aged to give it a textured and antique look. Any stone shines when paired with gold. Generally, a cooler-colored stone looked best with white gold, and warmer-toned stones are set in yellow gold. Hence why a garnet stone and gold look so good together, as any FSU fan would know.

Where gold jewelry comes mainly in three shades, it varies in carat options. Gold on its own can be soft,

therefore it is given strength when alloyed with other metals — mainly copper and silver in yellow gold, nickel and silver in white gold and copper in rose gold.

Typically, 14 karat gold and 18 karat gold are most often used because of the strength and balance they possess; 14 karat contains a bit less than half alloy and 18 karat contains a quarter alloy. These tend to last longer, making them wearable for generations to come.

“When you invest in gold, you are investing in not only quality everyday wear but also pieces of jewelry that your children and grandchildren can one day wear,” said Dorothy Vodicka, co-owner of The Gem Collection.

Vodicka states that gold is always popular for earrings, necklaces and engagement/wedding rings.

Gold has long been recognized for its classic elegance, but Vodicka notices that gold leads the trends as well.

Gold paperclip necklaces are seen all over fashion magazines with the elongated rectangles making their way around a chain for a delicate and feminine look.

Vodicka also notes the latest look is lots of layers.

Begin with a 14-inch choker, then add on an 18-inch pendant and complete the look with a longer chain or two.

From stacks of rings to layered necklaces, The Gem Collection specializes in giving you that golden glow.

Items pictured are available at The Gem Collection or GemCollection.com.

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PROMOTION

GO

➺ The Gem Collection 3501 Thomasville Road | (850) 893-4171 | GemCollection.com

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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FO R THE FIR ST TIME E VE R

BEST OF TALLAHASSEE GOES VIRTUAL TA L

Best of Tallahassee will be broadcast on

LIVE! IN TALLAHASSEE FOX49 We want to thank every community member who cast their votes for the 2020 Best of Tallahassee awards.

Your votes cultivate community even as we experience distance. We value the health and safety of our Tallahassee community above all. As a result, we have made the decision to unveil this year’s results in the comfort of your home on LIVE! In Tallahassee, Fox49. Get your watch party together, grab your popcorn and get excited for this special edition episode! More details to come.

Results will also be published in the November/ December issue of Tallahassee Magazine and on TallahasseeMagazine.com.

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SPONSORS September-October 2020

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

2020

S E’

EE MAGA ASS ZI H N LA

BEST TA L

of

L A H A SSE

E

OCT. 29, 2020 PRESENTED BY

PRESENTING SPONSOR

BENEFITTING This campaign will benefit the United Way of the Big Bend’s COVID-19 Relief Fund.

To donate visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/bestof-tallahassee or text UWBBGIVE to 44321.

DINING IN You Get What You Knead || DINING OUT Mary Mac’s Tea Room

gastro&gusto SEPT/OCT 2020

FROM THE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE TO THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE

LIBATIONS

↗

ELIZABETH’S SOUTHERN 75

COCKTAILS TO GO They’re in the bag and here to stay

by ROCHELLE KOFF

from Cypress Restaurant

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

↓

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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gastro & gusto

T

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↗

Cypress Restaurant’s to-go cocktails include Elizabeth’s Southern 75, which combines gin, a grapefruit liqueur and rosemary syrup and is accompanied by a miniature bottle of sparkling wine.

Cypress Restaurant has been offering about a half-dozen vacuum-sealed cocktails in a bag for two. My husband and I found this size just right when we wanted to try a takeout cocktail with our sandwiches, which are part of a new Southern-style tapas menu at the 20-year-old restaurant.

We decided on Elizabeth’s Southern cocktail, which has become the most popular choice on the takeout list, said Bonita Violette, the wine and spirits manager at Cypress. The drink features Ransom Dry Gin, St. Elder Pink Grapefruit Liqueur, rosemary syrup and two dehydrated grapefruit slices in a separate, attached pouch for a garnish. There’s also a small bottle of Francois Montand Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.

My husband can make a mean dirty martini and a killer Sazarac, but we don’t have choices like grapefruit liqueur or rosemary syrup in our liquor cabinet.

←

he pandemic has required a lot of unexpected adjustments to activities, including dining out.

For months, we focused primarily on ordering takeout, even eating steaks and seafood packaged in to-go boxes. As for drinks, instead of sipping sophisticated cocktails in elegant glassware, we’ve taken home our spirits in a vacuum-sealed pouch.

When Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in mid-March that restaurants could offer only takeout because of COVID-19, he allowed a loophole that helped many restaurants stay in business. The governor’s executive order lifted the restrictions that prohibited specially licensed restaurants from selling packaged alcohol for take-out or consumption off-premises.

Some venues began liquidating their wine cellars while restaurants that serve craft cocktails began finding creative combinations to make them desirable.

Cocktails were a survival strategy that may become a permanent menu offering.

“Initially, it was a game changer,” said Danny Renninger, director of operations for Sage and Il Lusso. “We reacted quickly, continuously evolved and innovated, and held a good chunk of the market.”

Renninger said Sage and Il Lusso “are continuing to offer cocktails in the 750 ml batched cocktail format, both online for curbside pickup and at the end of a dine-in meal, as long as the government will allow.”

Cody McCloud, press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, said that “establishments that have been selling cocktails to go will be allowed to continue to do so.”

Along with restaurants, bars were given the go-ahead to offer drinks to-go in late June. It was an attempt to offer the brewery and bar industry a lifeline after the state issued an emergency order stating that bars could no longer serve alcohol on premises.

It appears that most restaurants are indeed continuing takeout drinks even as dining rooms have reopened.

“It’s been a way to keep our name out there and a way for people to enjoy the restaurant,” said David Gwynn, co-owner of Cypress Restaurant, Grove Market Cafe and Vertigo with wife Elizabeth.

GOOD TO-GO

Tallahassee restaurants offering sealed carryout cocktails include: ➺ Blu Halo ➺ Cypress Restaurant ➺ Georgio’s ➺ Gordos ➺ Grove Market Cafe ➺ Il Lusso ➺ Jeri’s Midtown Cafe ➺ Liberty Bar & Restaurant ➺ Madison Social ➺ Railroad Square Craft House ➺ Sage ➺ Table 23 ➺ Vertigo ➺ Waterworks photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE

gastro & gusto

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

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I’ll admit it was a bit strange to bring home a drink in a plastic pouch. I was afraid I’d cut it open and the whole thing would spill out. But it turned out the concoction was easy to assemble. I shook up the pouch a bit, then poured the cocktail into two pretty glasses. I then added the champagne to each glass.

My husband described Elizabeth’s Southern this way: “It comes across as a light, summer drink but watch out for the punch.”

I did learn there’s more to making an attractive cocktail than just assembling a few ingredients. A mixologist master I am not.

Still, when drinks-to-go became a thing, most local restaurants joined in the craze, which has swept the country.

Railroad Square Craft House and Jeri’s Midtown Cafe started selling gallon jugs of sangria. Gordos began offering its trademark rum punch, Smash, by the gallon along with margaritas.

At Waterworks, the Midtown bar/restaurant began featuring batches of its tiki drinks. Blu Halo is continuing its batch cocktails. And you can find other takeout choices at places like Table 23, Liberty Bar & Restaurant and Georgio’s.

Whatever the format, the idea is that drinks are tamper-proof and enjoyed at home and not before.

The restaurant scene is still pretty fluid, so remember to check with your destination to ensure they’re still offering takeout cocktails.

If you’d like a restaurant cocktail at home, these to-go drinks are worth a shot. TM

PHOTO BY SAIGE ROBERTS

2018

Special Days Fabulous foodery for your

... and everydays.

From weddings to at-home gatherings to office lunches and events, experience makes the difference.

Catering@AndrewsDowntown.com | (850) 644-2767 | AndrewsDowntown.com

TALLAHASSEE’S LARGEST SELECTION OF

CBD & HEMP FLOWER 2 for 1 Beer and Wine every day, all day long Lunch specials available

(850) 320-6465

TALLAHASSEECBD 1410 MARKET STREET, C-4

Nagoya is known for serving all your Japanese dishes, including hibachi, tempura, teriyaki, katsu, noodle dishes, sushi and sashimi. Party room is available.

1925 N Monroe St #101 | (850) 999-2179 | NagoyaFL.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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gastro & gusto

← Chef Jessica Bright McClellan, owner of KitchenAble Cooking School and Catering, and her daughter, Madeline, dig into bowls of freshly made pasta.

DINING IN

YOU GET WHAT YOU KNEAD Reward of making pasta at home justifies the effort

by ROCHELLE KOFF

W

hy would you spend the time and effort making homemade pasta when you can simply tear open a box of noodles and throw them in a pot? But anyone who has to ask that question has never experienced the joy of tasting silky and soul-satisfying fresh-made pasta. It’s like eating a luscious, sun-ripened farm tomato versus one that’s mass-produced to blah.

Yet, I had always been too intimidated to make my own pasta. Until now. After hearing about so many people baking bread or making whipped dalgona coffee this summer, I decided

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to take the plunge — with the guidance of a friend, Chef Jessica Bright McMullen, owner of KitchenAble Cooking School and Catering, and a little muscle from my husband — you can make pasta yourself, but it sure helps to have another set of hands.

Connected via FaceTime, Jessica and daughter Madeline made pasta at their Lake Ella cooking school while we tried to keep pace at home, kneading, rolling and stretching these humble ingredients, trying not to cover my dogs, us and the entire kitchen with puffs of bread flour. photography by DAVE BARFIELD

Chef Jessica Bright McMullen, owner of KitchenAble Cooking School and Catering

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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gastro & gusto

↑ A well of flour is shaped to receive eggs mixed with olive oil; kneading the dough brings about a smooth ball.

Before you begin the pasta process, clean a space on your kitchen counter. A big space. Get all your ingredients measured and ready to go.

For equipment, you’ll need a liquid measuring cup, plastic wrap, rolling pin, bench or pastry scraper and a hand-cranked roller, which seems like a good compromise between an electric pasta maker and doing it yourself with a knife — not impossible but a longer, harder process for a newbie like me.

You start by placing your pound of bread or semolina flour on the counter and shaping it into a mound. Mix it with a half-teaspoon of salt.

Make a well in the flour. Then crack five eggs into a measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mix it all up with a fork.

“Having the oil makes the pasta taste better,” Jessica said.

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photography by DAVE BARFIELD

Next came the tough part for me. You have to slowly pour the eggs into the center well, and you need to keep the eggs from running outside the flour berm. Jessica’s eggs behaved nicely while mine could have won the Indy 500. Eventually, I started kneading.

After you coax the dough into a smooth ball, wrap it in plastic for 15 minutes. During that time, the gluten will start to relax and make it easier to roll the dough out, Jessica said. After 15 minutes, unwrap the dough, cut it in half and put the other part aside, again wrapped in plastic.

You then begin the rolling process, steering the dough through the machine until it gets longer and thinner. This is when my husband got into the picture. It helps to have one person cranking the dough through the roller while the other person gently pulls it, stretching it gently. Fold the stretched-out dough accordion style as it gets longer, then feed it again, and again, to get to the

thinness you want. Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.

This is a good time to start boiling a pot of water with more than a dash of salt.

The pasta roller turns out a variety of noodle shapes, and we chose fettuccine. When these babies started coming out of the roller, it was like Harry Potter had cast a spell in my kitchen. They were real noodles!

You can freeze some of the raw pasta, but we cooked it all. Boiling is a quick process. When the noodles start to float, take them out with a spider strainer if you have one. It’s not easy to reheat leftovers, but you can get close to that first ecstasy by popping them into boiling water for a few seconds.

These noodles are so good and glorious that you can eat them simply with a swish of butter, garlic and Parmesan. And with a bit of practice? There’s a world of pastabilities. TM

← Jessica and Madeline, at left, combine to thread pasta through a hand-cranked machine. ↑ Above, uncooked pasta and the finished product; Madeline stretches and folds the pasta accordian-style as it exits the machine.

TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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gastro & gusto

DINING OUT

A PLACE LIKE HOME

Tallahassee connections abound at Mary Mac’s Tea Room

by AUDREY POST

C

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September-October 2020

↑ Matt and Elizabeth Thompson, couple at left, manage the day-to-day operations of Mary Mac’s Tea Room. The restaurant’s owner, John Ferrell (center, back row) and his partner, Hank Thompson, are the adoptive parents of Jaxson, 6.

Mary Mac’s that was forged while he was majoring in hotel and restaurant management at Florida State University.

Marie Lupo was a classmate, and her mother had bought the place from Mary McKinsey, the original “Mary Mac.” Ferrell had eaten there while in college and toured the kitchen.

Was this destiny? He telephoned his old friend.

Salvaging a Legacy Margaret Lupo bought the restaurant in 1962, but by 1991, she was widowed and tiring and put Mary Mac’s up for sale.

Because she owned both the cobbled collection of storefronts that make up the restaurant and the land beneath them, she

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

became the new owner’s landlord. Her first buyer kept it only a month before selling it, and the next purchaser ended up trashing the place, financially and physically.

Ferrell’s call to Marie Lupo Nygren was the first step in restoring Mary Mac’s legacy. It took a lot of hard work and help from family and friends to clean up the mess, but Mary Mac’s reopened in 1994.

Lupo served as a consultant, and several former employees returned. Over the years, the mission has remained the same: Treat customers to homemade Southern dishes prepared using fresh ingredients and presented in a friendly, attentive manner that makes you feel as though you have come home.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY MAC’S TEA ROOM

hances are, if you’ve spent time in Atlanta, you’ve heard of Mary Mac’s Tea Room. It’s the sole survivor among more than a dozen that opened after World War II in booming midtown, all operated by women who needed income but wanted a name with more style than “restaurant.”

Many classic Southern dishes have been on the menu for decades, including fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, pork chops, collard greens and cornbread. Others have been added to reflect changing tastes and health goals, including vegan and vegetarian options.

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people dine there every day.

“I used to always say Mary Mac’s is like a big, fast merry-go-round,” said John Ferrell, who has owned it since 1994. “At first, I didn’t have any idea how big a restaurant I had. It’s a hard business but it’s worth it, and it has worked out very well for me.

“This place came with a legacy,” he continued. “People would tell me ‘my grandparents ate here’ and ‘my parents and I have been coming here since I was a kid.’ Everyone wanted it to succeed.”

Mary Mac’s had been through three turbulent years when Ferrell saw the “for sale” sign on the padlocked doors. He had long dreamed of owning a restaurant serving the food he grew up eating at the family farm next to Wakulla Springs State Park. He also had a connection to

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gastro & gusto

← Chicken Fried Chicken Pepper Gravy Recipes from Mary Mac’s INGREDIENTS

↑ Chicken

Fried Chicken 64

September-October 2020

INGREDIENTS

perusing those walls, you probably didn’t notice the picture of Leonard Hamilton, coach of FSU’s men’s basketball team, seated in one of the dining rooms. Or the article from the Tallahassee Democrat about the publication of the restaurant’s cookbook. It’s likely this article will land there, too.

How did Mary Mac’s become an Atlanta hub for the Seminole Nation? Good food and family connections.

A Loyal Following FSU men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton grew up eating the same kind of food Ferrell did, and he and Ferrell have become fast friends. He reserves space for his teams when the schedule includes Atlanta.

Hamilton’s love is forever enshrined in the cookbook: “I never go to Atlanta without

➸ 4 chicken breasts, pounded to an even half-inch thickness ➸ 2 cups all-purpose flour ➸ 1 cup buttermilk ➸ 1 tsp salt ➸ 1 tsp white pepper ➸ Canola oil, for frying

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DIRECTIONS In a large dish, stir together the flour, salt and pepper. Place your pounded chicken in a separate large dish and pour the buttermilk over the chicken. Set aside. In a large cast iron skillet, heat 2 cups canola oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (oil should be hot, but not smoking). Once the oil is ready, take each piece of chicken from the buttermilk and dredge in the flour mixture before carefully placing in the hot frying pan. Cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165°F. Serve chicken topped with a generous pour of warm pepper gravy.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY MAC’S TEA ROOM

The Georgia Legislature has proclaimed Mary Mac’s “Atlanta’s Dining Room.” Former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland gave his 1996 election night victory speech at Mary Mac’s. Almost 15 years later, when Mary Mac’s published a cookbook, Cleland lent this endorsement: “It’s my home. Period.”

Given Mary Mac’s proximity to the Capitol, it has always been a popular stop for prominent state and national politicians. The walls along the hallways that connect the seven dining rooms are lined with framed photos, letters, and newspaper and magazine articles. There’s a photo of actor Richard Gere with the Dalai Lama. Another of Vice President Joe Biden.

Several of Cleland. You’ll also see former President (and Georgia governor) Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

But unless you’ve spent a lot of time

➸ ¼ cup all-purpose flour ➸ ¼ cup butter (or margarine) ➸ 1½ cups whole milk ➸ 1½ cups heavy cream ➸ 1 tsp black pepper, or to taste ➸ ½ tsp salt, or to taste

DIRECTIONS In a large saucepan, melt butter or margarine on mediumlow heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour. Stir continuously and turn the heat to low and cook the mixture for about a minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cream, being careful not to scorch the milk. If the gravy becomes too thick, add additional milk and cream, in equal proportions. Season with salt and pepper and allow the gravy to cook for about 10 minutes on low while you stir frequently.

DESIRÉE GARDNER PHOTOGRAPHY, DESIREEGARDNER.COM

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gastro & gusto

↑ FSU head men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton grew up on the kind of traditional Southern fare served at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, which he considers to be a home away from home. Hamilton is pictured with restaurateur, John Ferrell, who received a lifetime achievement award from the Georgia Restaurant Association in 2017.

stopping by Mary Mac’s. All my friends know if we go out to eat, there’s no question of where we’ll go.

Mary Mac’s is my home away from home.”

Sue Semrau’s women’s basketball team has eaten there. Mary Mac’s fed the FSU football team while on its way to an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl versus Houston in 2015. The most loyal following, though, might be a group of FSU fans who travel together to away football games on one or two chartered buses.

For years, the group included Tallahasseean Bridget Chandler, whom Ferrell describes as his aunt and second mother. Chandler’s late husband and John’s late mother were first cousins, and the two have been close Ferrell’s entire life.

“I asked Penny and Jerry (Scruggs), who organize the trips why they didn’t schedule a meal at Mary Mac’s when we went to Atlanta,” Chandler recalled, “and they said, ‘We’ve been trying to work it out but haven’t been able to.’ I said, ‘Well honey, I can work it out.’ And I picked up the phone. That was probably 12 or 15 years ago.”

Chandler, now 93, doesn’t make the

trips anymore, but her friend Billie Reardon, a longtime Seminole Booster and Extra Point Club member, was on that 2017 football trip.

“A lot of people on the bus had been there on family vacations, and everyone was delighted to know that’s where we were going,” she said. “It was great fun, and the food was fantastic!”

About 13 years ago, Ferrell met and fell in love with Hank Thompson, a divorced father of two. Son Matt Thompson and his wife, Elizabeth, have since taken over most of the day-to-day operations, although Hank and John are still involved in various aspects. Hank Thompson describes himself as a “Surrogate Seminole.” Almost two years ago, he and Ferrell adopted a little boy from the Tallahassee area, Jaxson, now 6, and they spend most of their time raising him.

The family chose in March to close the restaurant until the coronavirus pandemic subsides, because it didn’t make sense to try to adapt a 75-yearold winning formula to the necessary restrictions.

“But we have our fingers crossed that this will be over soon,” Ferrell said. “Mary Mac’s will reopen as soon as it’s safe.” TM

John Ferrell’s Cornbread INGREDIENTS

➸ ¼ cup corn oil or bacon drippings, plus 2 tablespoons for the skillet ➸ 1 ½ cups white cornmeal plus 1 tablespoon for the skillet ➸ ¼ cup flour ➸ 1 tablespoon sugar ➸ 1 teaspoon salt ➸ 1½ teaspoons baking powder ➸ ½ teaspoon baking soda ➸ 1 cup buttermilk ➸ 1 large egg

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DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with 2 tablespoons corn oil or bacon drippings and place it in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until very hot. Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Mix together the buttermilk, the remaining ¼ cup oil or drippings and egg in a small bowl. While the skillet is in the oven, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until combined. Do not overstir. Remove the hot skillet from the oven and sprinkle the 1 tablespoon of cornmeal evenly over the bottom. This prevents the cornbread from sticking. Immediately pour the batter into the skillet and return to the oven. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until browning on the edges. Serve hot.

Variation: Alternatively, the batter can be poured into wellgreased muffin tins to make about a dozen cornbread muffins.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY MAC’S TEA ROOM

Recipe works for both corn muffins, which are served at the restaurant, and skillet cornbread, which John likes to make at home.

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BENEFITTING

expression

SEPT/OCT 2020

KEEPING TABS ON ALL THAT MUSES INSPIRE

ART

WALLY, AN ALLIGATOR Muralist adds colorful critter to collection in Thomasville

by STEVE BORNHOFT

PERFORMANCES Michael’s Soundtrack || BOOKS photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

A Land Remembered

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expression

T

he gator appears happy, and why wouldn’t it be?

At 32 feet, it surely has nothing to fear or worry about. Its eye suggests mischievousness and its hide, all but devoid of green, is given instead to mostly blues and reds.

Created at the rate of a little less than two feet per hour, this gator lives in Thomasville at the UnVacant Lot, a space once weedy and ignored, but today chockablock with public art. We will call it Wally Gator, and it is the mural of this story.

Darlene Crosby Taylor, the public art director for the Thomasville Center for the Arts, got to know the artist Toni Ardizzone last December when the center hosted an exhibition of her work.

“I really hit it off with them,” Ardizzone said. “It’s a really cool place, and they’re doing cool stuff.”

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Things went so swimmingly that Ardizzone received an outsized commission. That is, the center enlisted her to fill boards affixed to an exterior wall at the UnVacant Lot with art.

Taylor and Ardizzone brainstormed a few ideas. The boards had been arranged to create a strongly horizontal space.

Probably a landscape, the women thought, until the notion of a gator — Aha! — occurred to them.

Wally’s gestation period had begun.

“Maybe because I am not from the South, alligators are still so intriguing to me,” Ardizzone said. “Sometimes, I go down to St. Marks and see one, and that is so cool. They are fun with all their different textures and their form.”

Ardizzone is never heard in speech to shorten “alligator” to “gator.” Like she said, she’s not from around here.

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

↑ Only upon enrolling in a graduate art program at FSU did Toni Ardizzone learn what a “Nole” is. She may be forgiven, then, for choosing a gator as a mural subject. Besides, the space was strongly horizontal.

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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“None of us knows about tomorrow but all of us know that the bright tomorrow will come and Opening Nights will need to be a part of that.”

– Dr. Larry C. Deeb, MD

We look forward to continuing to inspire and connect our community.

Thank you to our sponsors who are keeping the arts alive.

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JOIN THEM IN KEEPING THE FUTURE BRIGHT. GIVE.FSU.EDU/OPENINGNIGHTS

Clockwise: Canadian Brass, Hiplet, Dala, Julie Fowlis 2019–20; Patti LaBelle 2015–16; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo 2019–20; 2CELLOS 2015–16; Lily Tomlin, J.J. Grey 2017–18

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expression She grew up in Indianapolis, earned her bachelor of fine arts degree there and moved to Austin, Texas, 10 years ago.

It’s more artsy than Indy. Three years ago, she moved to Tallahassee to begin work on her MFA at FSU. When she told her father — a college sports fan whose team is Notre Dame — that she was enrolling at Florida State, he commented, “I never would have seen you as a ’Nole.” “’Nole?” she replied. “What’s a ’Nole?”

Ardizzone confesses that she “has no idea what’s happening in any sports world.” She easily could have painted a gator mural in CollegeTown. “Someone would have had to tell me that it was maybe a bad idea,” she said.

At FSU, Ardizzone stayed in the art zone, spending 60 hours a week or more in a studio on campus. She is grateful that she had such unlimited access to a studio, an advantage she said she would not have enjoyed at bigger art schools. She graduated in May. While she views Tallahassee as a small town, Ardizzone’s FSU experience was large. As a ’Nole, she studied in Canada and Argentina, attended art fairs in New Orleans and Miami and conducted research in New York City. She gave shoutouts to the members of her thesis committee: Mark Messersmith, Lilian Garcia-Roig and Carrie Ann Beade, who introduced her work to folks in Thomasville.

And, she is thankful for her mentor and friend Cynthia Hollis, “who has never missed an exhibition of mine and whose feedback I always trust.”

Ardizzone likes to infuse dark subjects with bright colors from the vibrant palette she favors. Wally was no exception. She has a thing for skulls and buzzards. Her first mural, in Austin, was a blue-haired Frankenstein.

Ardizzone, who once painted houses, spurns spray paint in creating her murals, preferring brushes and rollers. That preference makes painting on textured surfaces like brick a chore, but she persists.

“Painting on a large scale is really a whole different thing,” Ardizzone said. “I tend to work in what most people would describe as freehand. I don’t usually use a projector. I’ll just have a couple of images printed out on regular 8½ by 11 paper or I may have them on my phone, and I just go for it. So the way I work takes a lot of backing up and inspecting my progress and making sure that the scale is in proportion.”

Otherwise, you might wind up with a reptile with too much head and too little tail.

“I’m very happy with it,” Ardizzone said of her alligator.

“It turned out. The weather was perfect, and it happened smoothly.”

Going forward, Ardizzone hopes to exhibit in New York or Los Angeles, to continue to widen her audience and to paint murals internationally.

But one suspects that she will retain a fondness for the South.

And for Wally. TM TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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expression PERFORMING ARTS

MICHAEL’S SOUNDTRACK For the director of Opening Nights, music supplies wisdom and comfort

by STEVE BORNHOFT

W

hen feeling somber or when confronted by events that may be hard to process or interpret, Michael Blachly reverts to what he calls his comfort music: songs that were meaningful to him when he was evolving into the person he would become.

On Memorial Day, Blachly was grilling and exchanged messages with a best ↗ To stay in touch friend from high school. The friend with Tallahassee’s was grilling, too, and listening to arts community and contemporary R&B. But Blachly was supporters of the Opening Nights performing arts playing songs that were important to series, director Michael him when he was a young man trying Blachly records and to understand the war in Vietnam, emails video Monday Messages. racial bigotry and assassinations; they are singles in the soundtrack of his life.

“Music is a gateway to sometimes political, sometimes apolitical ways of looking at the world,” said Blachly, the executive director of the Opening Nights performance series at Florida It’s Worth. “That phrase could pretty well State University. “Whether it is Stevie sum up what is happening today.”

Wonder or The Beatles or Bob Dylan, Blachly likes clarity, perhaps in the their perspective and their take on things extreme. He adores redundancy and and their lyrics have value.” contingency plans. He deals with what On the last Monday in May, Blachly could go wrong before it can happen. found to be soothing songs including Because microphones fail, he has backSunday Will Never Be the Same by ups in place. But there was no getting Spanky and Our Gang; You Were On My ahead of the pandemic.

Mind by We Five; Turn! Turn! Turn! by When, on March 11, FSU announced The Byrds and For What It’s Worth by policies precluding gatherings, Opening Buffalo Springfield.

Nights had four performances remaining “There’s something happening here. on its 2019-20 calendar: trumpeter Chris But what it is ain’t exactly clear,” Blachly Botti, The Second City improvisational recited the opening lyrics from For What troupe, the musical group Dala, and

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TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. In addition, planned activities featuring the Chain of Parks Art Festival’s presenting artist, Michael Rosato, were canceled.

More than performances and gate receipts were lost. The group of five was scheduled to participate in more than a dozen community-based activities.

“We use the artist’s Opening Nights performance as a sort of maypole and wrap around it different colored strands that we can take to a senior center or a facility for people with autism or a middle school classroom,” Blachly photography by ALEX WORKMAN

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↑ BEFORE THE PANDEMIC In January, Kristin Chenoweth electrified the audience at

the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of the 2019-20 Opening Nights lineup. A couple of weeks later, the Beach Boys took the stage.

said. “We maximize the artist’s time with us, putting a root system into the community.”

For Blachly, who has been curating and managing performances for more than 50 years, the pandemic has served as a reminder of the essential nature of art.

“Performing arts, the arts in general, are not something that we can take lightly,” he said.

“They are the mortar that holds together the bricks that form our global community.

They are not about politics or wealth. They are really about understanding one another.”

And, they are capable of linking generations.

“I have three sons, and at dinner one night, — Michael Blachly one of them (then in middle school) asked, ‘Dad, why is it that you work so many hours, but don’t make much money?’”

Blachly recalled.

“We teach each other through our music, our dance, our culture.”

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He paused before answering and seeking to impress upon him the noneconomic value of the arts.

“I told him there are three ways that I could pass his great-grandparents’ and grandparents’ heritage along to him,” Blachly remembers. “I could do it through religion, which is very ordinated and is based on strong traditions and history, but I am not a terribly religious person. I could do it through the military, which is a regimen of history, and of how countries have developed and evolved. It’s how political infrastructures are supported. But while I believe strongly in our freedom, I am not militaristic. The other way is through the arts.

“We teach each other through our music, our dance, our culture.”

Blachly told his son that he would lend him the perspective of history by sharing with him arts and performance, dating to the boy’s ancestors in Scotland and Wales.

“My son said, ‘Dad, good answer.’”

When the music stopped in March, at least in terms of live gigs and concerts, Blachly began delivering “Michael’s Monday Messages” via email to members of the Opening Nights community.

Dispatched from his patio, they featured

TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

music by the Soweto Gospel Choir, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Mike Love of the Beach Boys and others who have figured in Opening Nights lineups.

They are moments for reflection, Blachly said, that provide a window on what artists are doing to be helpful to their publics.

“I have been getting very diverse and good feedback from a number of different sources about the Monday Messages,” he said in late May. “The comments have let me know that it’s not just my belief that the performing arts are critical.”

Blachly anticipated announcing the Opening Nights 2020-21 calendar of performances on Aug. 4.

As of this writing, two performances that had tentatively been planned for the season ahead had been lost due to logistical problems and concerns, and Blachly feared there might be more.

The Dance Theater of Harlem, a major ballet company, bowed out.

“There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of moving parts,” Blachly said. “There is no way that ballet can exist with social distancing parameters. We don’t have the dressing room capacity. How were we going to get them from the airport to a bus

↓ PHOTOS BY ALEX WORKMAN (BLACHLY AND ELLIOT) AND COURTESY OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES / BRUCE W. PALMER (CHENOWETH) AND BILL LAX (BEACH BOYS)

to a hotel? We are talking about a significant number of people, and it just wasn’t feasible.”

The Ukulele Orchestra could not find a way to make it into the United States for the 202021 season, so their appearance has been moved to 2021-22.

Agents with whom Blachly has worked for years were hit hard by the pandemic.

“One told me how frustrating it was sitting and watching money just fly out the door,” he said. “Agents get paid on commission after engagements take place. Stop the engagements and that stops the flow of money to them. I have a colleague who deals primarily in high-end international artists and one very significant American dance company. He said that for all intents and purposes, he has no work. Edinburgh, Spoleto, Ann Arbor were all canceled. The Hollywood Bowl canceled its season for the first time in 98 years.”

Blachly feels fortunate.

“For Opening Nights, it was

serendipitous,” he said. “We were down in March to our last five performers. Had this happened in January, it would have been much more impactful both in terms of our audience relationship and our financial picture.”

In May, as soon as he became aware of it, Blachly began turning others on to a pandemicinspired song — 2020 Vision by Danny Schmidt — that he found especially poignant. Sharing music is the kind of thing that Blachly does.

The song’s lyrics in part: Oh, 2020, you’re fading away, your weeks into months and your months into days.

As they all blur together like tears on a page. As if angels were writing it down.

And, if that doesn’t move you, cue the Dylan music or something by Joni Mitchell.

Maybe Leon Russell’s Tight Rope: one side’s hate and one is hope.

Michael Blachly will be right there with you. TM

For Lori Elliott, Opening Nights Excites and Unites AS A CULTURAL EXCHANGE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A WEE LOPSIDED.

The Chinese-born classical button accordionist Hanzhi Wang, a graduate of the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, visited Tallahassee as an Opening Nights performer and demonstrated to an audience that included Lori Elliott that the squeeze-box can produce oh so much more than polka music.

From Elliott, who wondered what new experience she might provide the performer, Wang received her first-ever boiled peanuts. A photo of Wang consuming slimy legumes almost immediately made her Instagram account.

Elliott is development director, that is, chief fundraiser, for the Opening Nights performance series at Florida State University. It is a role that Elliott was well prepared for, having worked for 10 years in a marketing/public relations role for the St. Joe Company and as a lobbyist for the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Retail Federation.

The common denominator among those jobs: building relationships and communicating messages.

Elliott views Opening Nights performances, she said, as a “wonderful way to bring the community together. It is a joy to see a mix of people united under one roof in a shared experience. When people arrive, they have a smile on their face and they are excited about what they are about to see and hear.”

She advises people to “take a chance” on Opening Nights performers with whom they are unfamiliar “because the quality and the caliber is going to be there.”

Recalling Wang’s visit, she said, “I had no idea what the classical accordion can sound like. It was so beautiful. It was like a full organ up there when she was playing.”

The lesson learned …

“Don’t be judgmental just because someone is playing the accordion.” — Steve Bornhoft TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

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↑ Moore received his copy of A Land Remembered from the late Pat Thomas, a Quincy native who went on to become president of the Florida Senate and chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. The conservative Moore views Thomas’s inscription as evidence of bygone bipartisanship.

BOOKS

A LAND REMEMBERED For DeVoe Moore, an epic story of Florida’s development inspired admiration of pioneers

by STEVE BORNHOFT

I

have known DeVoe Moore a little bit for years.

I know that he has a thing for Case knives and Steinway pianos in addition to classic rides, and I have witnessed his uncanny ability to find instantly a particular document among the countless papers that populate his office at the Tallahassee Automobile and Collectibles Museum.

I once interviewed Mr. Moore and his assistant of 50-plus years, Amos Dickey, about their extraordinary relationship.

Meanwhile, I have divulged little about myself to DeVoe, who is given to directing remarks at me such as “I don’t know if you’re a socialist or not.” I would just as soon keep things that way.

When last we spoke, DeVoe impressed upon me his desire to have

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me read his favorite book, A Land Remembered, an epic novel of Florida history written by Patrick D. Smith and first published in 1984.

“You start it, you won’t be able to put it down,” DeVoe assured me.

Thus encouraged, I reported to the nearest taxpayer-supported public library and checked out the book, about whose protagonist, Tobias MacIvey, DeVoe had said, “I wish I had been a man like him.” The novel, spanning 105 years that begin with the Civil War era, follows the lives of three generations in the MacIvey family. Tobias, his son Zech and his grandson Solomon are all indefatigable men whose enterprising efforts repeatedly triumph over setbacks.

As the novel begins, Tobias has been in Florida for five years. He departed

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Georgia and a failing red-clay farm in a horsedrawn wagon with his wife and infant son, intent upon separating himself from the coming war. His possessions are few: a sack of corn and one of sweet potatoes, a few packets of seeds, a shotgun and a few shells, a frying pan, pewter dishes and forks, a cast-iron pot and sufficient hand tools to build a shelter.

Upon his arrival in Florida, Tobias trades his two horses for two oxen and a dairy cow.

The cow survives but briefly at the MacIvey homestead before panthers get it. Meagerly outfitted, the family subsists largely on raccoon meat and swamp cabbage. Tobias wants badly for a horse and dog with which to round up wild cattle and start a herd.

He catches a big break when kindnesses he extends to three Seminole Indians, who had returned to Florida after being banished to Oklahoma at the conclusion of the Second Seminole War, are generously returned. When Tobias encounters them, they are being pursued by three white men who are hell-bent on exacting revenge because the Indians have killed a calf.

Tobias intervenes when the white men begin siccing dogs on the Indians and lashing them with whips. He dispatches one of the dogs with his musket, and the white men retreat but promise to return.

While he has little to eat, Tobias welcomes the Indians into his home, feeds them wild hog and greens and invites them to spend the night. One, named Keith Tiger, praises Tobias — “I know of no other white man who would have risked what you did for an Indian” — and assures him that he will not forget him.

He does not. photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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expression Some time later, Tobias and Zech discover a horse in their pen and two wolf-like dogs tied to a fence. The horse is a marshtackie, a type left behind the Spanish — small, quick and valued for its ability to herd cattle. Courtesy of the Seminoles, Tobias has effectively been presented with the means of production. The horse and dogs will enable him to assemble a herd and lead it through pasturelands, fattening the animals on their way to market.

Critics of the novel find the interaction between Tobias and the Seminoles to be implausible and likewise his friendship with a black man named Skillit who had buried himself in a nest of palmettos where he was sniffed out by the dogs. But those relationships are central to the books and serve as clues to Tobias’s character.

Skillit becomes the first employee of the MacIvey Cattle Company and is later joined by two wiry ne’er-do-wells who prove capable of sobering up long enough to help drive cattle from the Kissimmee River to Punta Rassa.

Success does not come easily. Tobias loses cows that disappear in a sinkhole and that succumb to gators. Wolves threaten the herd. But the first successful drive leads to others, and as Tobias’s bond with Skillit strengthens and endures, I could not help but consider the parallels with Mr. Moore and Mr. Dickey.

Decades later, Tobias’s grandson, Solomon, establishes himself as ↑ DeVoe Moore, right, and his longtime a vegetable grower in assistant Amos Dickey. Moore loves Okeechobee on land stories of self-made men. that multiplies in value as the Flagler Railroad advances southward and dredges come to dot Biscayne Bay. The advent of the MacIvey Real Estate and Development Company is inevitable.

And the developer, as often happens, becomes a banker.

As his life nears its end, Solomon retreats to the cabin he had known as a boy, confronts regrets and anticipates a day of reckoning, given his role in all that “we’ve done to the Lord’s property.” Years earlier, he had assailed the members of an economic council at a dinner held in his honor: “With you, it’s greed. More is better, bigger is better. Well, you bastards are too stupid to know there soon won’t be no more.”

I am not sure what Mr. Moore the developer made of that speech. Next time I see him, I’ll ask him. But I have heard him say, “I am so grateful that I came through this world when I did. It won’t ever be the same.” TM This is the first in a series of articles on the favorite books of familiar Tallahassee residents.

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A

Brightened Future MAKEOVER BROADENS THE APPEAL OF THE LANDMARK GOVERNORS CLUB STORY BY STEVE BORNHOFT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX WORKMAN

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↙ Extensive renovations, conducted over two years at the Governors Club in downtown Tallahassee, were designed to give the facility a more modern look while respecting its history and Southern roots.

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arry Shields recalls leading a soon-to-be bride and her mother on a tour of downtown Tallahassee’s Governors Club and how they reacted to its look and feel. The women, who were checking out possible reception venues, found that the club, dark in cast, was not what they had in mind for a celebration.

Shields, the club’s general manager and chief operating officer, surely had that and similar experiences in mind when, several years ago, he and the club’s board members began discussing a thorough renovation of the formidable meeting place at the intersection of College Avenue and Adams Street.

“From its inception, the club has made modifications such as adding a balcony or a casual dining area, but it had never undergone a complete interior renovation,” Shields said. “The board and I recognized the need to keep up with the times and to give the club a fresh look. We have to be able to compete with other venues in the market to attract the kinds of events we would like to host.”

So it was that the club’s leadership committed to converting a club that historically had been a dark wood into something more like a meadow.

Work began last summer when meeting spaces on the club’s second and third floors were freshened.

This summer, the focus was on the Grill dining room and the foyer on the ground floor.

“Of course, you never really complete this sort of thing,” Shields remarked.

It’s like work on I-75. It never stops.

“We’ve already begun talking about doing something at the lounge next door,” Shields said.

Shields said the renovation work was gauged to respect the club’s Southern roots.

“At the same time, we provided new furnishings and worked with new color schemes to give the club more of a modern look,” he said. “Where floors were redone, we went with lighter stains.

We have worked to brighten the club and open it up, make it not so much of a men’s club.”

The makeover is consistent with the programmatic direction that the club has taken recently.

“Over the last several years, the activities that we offer the membership have changed a great deal,” Shields said. “For many years, the club was

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primarily a place to conduct business. Now, we are taking into account the entire family and the different interests among the membership.”

Club activities include cooking classes and pizza/movie nights for children.

“We are more family oriented and more social.

We want to be a place where friends and families will come in the evening and during the weekend.”

That emphasis, Shields said, has resulted in a more diverse and younger membership. He estimated that the average age of a member at 55.

“But plenty of charter members are still with us,” Shields said. “And, about a third of our members are from outside of Tallahassee. They are the folks who relate to activities of the Legislature.

Meetings conducted at the club during legislative sessions and periods of committee meetings make up the majority of our business.”

↑ General manager

Barry Shields discovered an appetite for the hospitality industry while working at the Governors Club as a busboy during his days as an FSU student. → The formal dining area always has been a focal point of the club.

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Senior members have a special fondness for the club’s “library” and its details, including handmade wooden panels on its walls. Accordingly, that room, except for carpeting and new furniture, was left untouched by renovation work.

It falls to Executive Chef Tim Drown to keep the club’s menus fresh, as to both ingredients and offerings.

“In hiring Tim, I hired one of the best chefs in the club’s history,” Shields said. “He has done an excellent job and has taken the quality of our cuisine up a notch.”

Generally, the menus resemble those of an upscale steak house with an emphasis on local sourcing of produce and seafood along with wild game from South Georgia and prime USDA cuts of beef.

Second stint In 1982, Shields was a student at FSU majoring in finance when he accepted a job as a busboy at the Governors Club not long after it opened.

“It didn’t take long before I fell in love with the club business, and I knew that it was what I really wanted to do,” Shields said.

He changed his major to hospitality and remained at the Governors Club until he departed for a job as food and beverage director at a city club in Savannah, Georgia, after rising in the ranks at Tallahassee to the job of maitre’d.

ClubCorp, founded by the late Robert H. Dedman Sr., for whom the hospitality school at

Executive Chef Tim Drown

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↑ A gallery of portraits of Florida public officials includes one of Bob Graham, who served the state as both governor and U.S. senator. Graham celebrated his 46th birthday in the first private function held at the club.

FSU is named, owned the Savannah club, and Shields remained with the organization through a series of stops: Orlando, Atlanta, Montgomery and finally Tampa. Shields managed the Tampa Club, located in the Bank of America building downtown, for 18 years before finally boomeranging to Tallahassee in 2014.

In the Capital City, Shields is cognizant of the many powerful pols who have visited the Governors Club.

“If the walls could talk, they would have plenty of stories about politicians from yesterday and how politics used to work,” Shields said. “The Sunshine Law (an open-government statute enacted in 1995) was a huge game changer on how things are done. Prior to that time, it was basically a competition to see who could outspend whom.”

Shields has a favorite quote from the club’s earliest days, one he attributes to founding board member Jon Shebel.

“He said the club was going to be for all kinds of people — even rednecks,” Shields said.

Well, not exactly.

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Steeped in Prestige From the start, the club offered fine food and welcomed members of distinction

Following are excerpts from a limited edition, large-format book, Governor’s Club: The First 25 Years, written by Heidi Tyline King, illustrated with photographs by Joseph Rupp and published in 2005 by Rowland Publishing.

Carrol Dadisman, a one-time president/publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat, chaired an editorial committee that pulled the book together. In September 1980, a planning committee began looking into the feasibility of organizing the Governors Club. A little over two years later, the club opened by welcoming members with an extravagant reception.

THE CLUB’S RAISON D’ETRE As stated in Article II, Section 2.1 of the club’s bylaws, the specific and primary purpose for which the organization was organized was as follows: to provide the City of Tallahassee and Leon County with a downtown club with dining and meeting facilities where business and professional people can meet in a congenial atmosphere to discuss business and professional matters. to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions through the recognition thereof by election to membership in the Governors Club of those who have maintained those standards. to develop and encourage friendship among leading business and professional people, and

← Main staircase at the Governors

Club leads to meeting rooms that were remodeled in 2019. ↙ The club’s location was formerly home to an Odd Fellows Lodge.

FINDING A HOME The Odd Fellows Lodge at the corner of Adams Street and College Avenue was an ideal site for the club. Constructed in 1926, the building was at first co-owned by the Andrew Jackson Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons No. 1 — Florida’s first Masonic Lodge — and the Leon Lodge No. 5, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the world. In 1956, the Masons sold their half to the Odd Fellows.

The site was within walking distance of the Capitol. It had cultural significance, not only to the community, but also as a meeting place for community leaders. It was a historic building, with the traditional look and feel of an established private club. And it was spacious, with definite possibilities for innovative renovation. The club’s organizing board of governors set to work tracking down leaders of the Odd Fellows to see if their idea was viable. “That was actually harder to do than it sounds,” said Bill Horne, who began promoting the idea of a downtown club in 1979.

“We’d set up a meeting and then it would be cancelled due to sickness or a death in the family. I don’t think there was a member who was younger than 76 at the time.”

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PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN: ROWLAND PUBLISHING / FILE PHOTO (GRAHAM) AND COURTESY GOVERNORS CLUB: THE FIRST 25 YEARS

to assist in the revitalization of the downtown Tallahassee area by providing a meeting place to attract business and professional people to the downtown area.

↑ Bob Graham, former U.S.

senator and Florida governor, with his wife Adele in 2004.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOVERNOR The first private function held at the Governors Club took place on Nov. 9, 1982, the night before the club opened for business.

According to a Nov. 14, 1982, article in the Tallahassee Democrat, club manager Bill Horne graciously consented when Florida First Lady Adele Graham called and asked if they would serve dinner to celebrate the governor’s 46th birthday. Because Chef Albert Ughetto and his staff had been testing out dishes on each other for weeks, the Grahams, along with daughters Gwen, Suzanne and Kendall, became the first non-staffers to sample the vichyssoise, French onion soup, medallions of veal, avocado salad and a dessert of crème caramel. They toasted the special occasion with champagne left over from the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles, flown in as a surprise by Mrs. Graham. “It was delicious and beautifully served,” she said. “The waiters were well trained and looked great in their white gloves and black tuxedos, and Bob loved it.”

A RELAXED ALTERNATIVE The addition of the Grill in 1992 was a move made to provide a less formal dining environment. For several years, “we had been an old-fashioned club serving French continental cuisine made from scratch, and we did that very well,” said Ken Johnson, the club’s general manager from 1984-2000. “When our membership and revenue numbers started to decline, we decided to build the Grill and make a change.” Talk of building a grill and a more casual dining area with an eclectic menu to complement the formal dining room began as early as 1986. “As wonderful as our French food was, we recognized that at some point we would have to expand because, in a private club, members are expected to dine quite often, and in order to encourage that, we needed to have more diverse menus,” Johnson said. The Grill was a much-needed space with less formality that the main dining room and food reflective of the trends in cosmopolitan cities. “The young professional crowd was coming in and wanting meals like they were getting in New York and California,” Johnson added. “The classic French food wasn’t diverse and appealing enough to the younger people to carry us.”

← Improvements made at the club through the years have included the addition of a casual dining area called the Grill, at left, and a balcony, upper right.

IMPORTANCE TO COMMUNITY Architecturally

speaking, the Governors Club building has little significance. Described as an oversized, two-story structure with a flat roof, the most notable feature is the 18-inch square inlaid marble relief carving of the Odd Fellows symbol and the Masonic square-and-compass emblem on the second floor, visible from the balcony. Yet according to Lee Yawn, at one time the acting executive director of the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, a building can be important to a community for a variety of reasons. “Originally, that part of town was dirt roads and dusty storefronts,” Yawn said, “but cleaned up, the entire Adams Street has a look and feel about it that is needed for downtown to survive and thrive. There are examples where we want to preserve authenticity like the Brokaw-McDougall House, but it is a museum and it preserves daily life. Adams Street today and indeed the Governors Club make use of past architecture, but in a modern sense.

It makes it livable. Preservation from that standpoint can be used as a draw both socially and economically.”

ANTICIPATING CHANGE As the next 25 years begin in the club’s history, change is anticipated and expected, but the founding ideas of being good stewards of the club’s amenities, facilities and funds remain constant. “A lot of the changes are not really changes, but a growing up and maturing — a process that was set in motion when the founders got together,” said Peter Harris, chairman of the club’s board of governors in 2004. “More than anything, that has guided us as a board. We look at what we have inherited, and we see so much promise.”

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Inshore life

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Organic fuel makes diversity possible

story by STEVE BORNHOFT photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

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↘ Historically, ample wood from upstream sources reached destinations, including Dickinson Bay where it served as substrate for clinging organisms and charged inshore ecosystems. Jack Rudloe regularly feeds wood to the water at his dock in Panacea.

Wood makes Jack Rudloe’s living dock livelier.

In what will amount to a demonstration project, if he can get people to pay attention, Rudloe and his sons, Sky and Cypress, are lashing bundles of sticks and brush to the modest structure that extends into the waters of Dickerson Bay at his Panacea property.

It about drives Rudloe crazy that so much wood is landfilled and burned when it could be used to feed water, that rivers are not permitted to wander and deliver detritus to bays as they once did.

On Aug. 24, 1851, the Great Middle Florida Hurricane, packing maximum winds of 115 miles per hour, made landfall at Panama City, Florida.

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Residents on the back side of the storm as far east as St. Marks were forced from their homes and clung to floating debris until winds subsided.

The storm surge measured 12 feet in Apalachee Bay. An account from the time holds that sustained, powerful winds blew for more than 20 hours in Apalachicola, “leveling houses of all sizes.” The Tallahassee Sentinel reported, “Tall forest oaks were uprooted or snapped asunder.” And, significantly for Rudloe, countless logs from timbering operations were swept into Apalachicola Bay. The bay was flooded with wood.

“I can’t be sure what role all that timber played in the creation of Apalachicola Bay’s oyster beds, but I am convinced it was considerable,” Rudloe said.

Wood, he wants you to know, is estuarine ecosystem fuel.

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Blind turtle, one-eyed gator Rudloe’s Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium are on COVID break when I stop by, making it possible for me to enjoy a private tour of exhibits.

I notice especially a large triggerfish in a tank and check in with Lil’ Herc, a loggerhead sea turtle that lost its sight when it was struck by a boat some 20 years ago.

Since then, it has lived in captivity — at Marineland in St. Augustine, at SeaWorld in Orlando and, since January 2017, at Jack’s place. Tap on a wall of its enclosure and Lil’ Herc knows it’s feeding time.

We proceed, Rudloe and I, to a courtyard. There, two giant fiberglass crocodilians, Jake the Crocodile and Blinky the Alligator, dominate.

Rudloe has plans to make the replicas central to a Disneyesque diorama that will tell the tale of the “Battle of the Titans.”

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For now, Rudloe relates that story on his website. Here’s a summary …

Jake was given to wanderlust. He strayed from the Keys 300 miles or so to Lake Tarpon in Central Florida, way beyond the established range of American saltwater crocs. There, two commercial fisherman caught Jake, then 8 feet in length, in a gillnet and notified wildlife officials who thought it best to bring about crocodile distancing. They toted him to the lagoon at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park and released him there.

Jake commenced beating up gators at the park, had his way with them.

Blinky, the 12-foot king of Lake Mirror in Lakeland, was a sometimes ferocious beast who had lost an eye and a front foot in battles with other gators. But Blinky was good with people and the marshmallows they often fed him.

Had Rudloe’s proposal succeeded, many more people would have learned about the importance of wood to inshore life — how it attracts an algal slime, fouling organisms, oysters and finfish, including species that anglers pursue. They would have learned how, with remarkable speed in the marine environment, shipworms that bore into wood and isopods that eat it, reduce limbs and logs and pilings and boards to nurturing material.

Blinky even made jaunts into town.

Writes Rudloe, “Cars would stop as the big gator lumbered across the highway and headed downtown to stroll along with shoppers. Residents recalled him sleeping beneath a park bench on which a drunkard was passed out. He was seen sleeping in front of the police station and occasionally hung out in front of Maas Brothers Department Store. Once he entered a church during a wedding, and was escorted back to the lake by motorcycle police officers coaxing him along … with marshmallows.”

In 1979, an 11-foot gator killed a teenager in a town not far from Lakeland, and folks started to look askance at Blinky. What might that old bull gator be capable of?

The Florida Wildlife Commission captured Blinky with ease. The agency knew about his weakness for a favorite snack. Presently, he was on his way to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park where Jake had grown to a massive 14 feet.

“The one-eyed bull alligator was used to having his own way and was more aggressive and agile than Jake,” Rudloe writes. “For a while, he prevailed and chased the bigger Jake around the lake. The crocodile avoided him, hiding in the marshes, but Blinky kept hunting him.”

Park personnel separated the two reptiles by placing them in separate enclosures, but after three nights, Blinky scaled a fence, picked a fight with Jake and lost badly. In sum, he got et, as they say. When the sun came up, but a few scraps of Blinky were found.

Hoped-for expansion Rudloe is a blend of Blinky and Jake. Like Blinky, he can be aggressive, some would say to his own detriment at times, and often, like Jake, he is underestimated.

He probably likes marshmallows all right, but people can be slow to feed him.

For some, he is too real, too cocksure and too often right. He has earned plaudits of note, to be sure. For example, he was included in the Hall of Heroes that was made part of Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. That distinction recognized his contributions to preserving biodiversity.

But Rudloe on the one hand and, on

the other, units of government, government agencies, extensions of government and government commissions tend to collide.

Of late, the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab (GSML) made an application to the board of the statutorily created Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., for $4.95 million to help fund a GSML Expansion, Ecotourism and Aquaculture Project.

With its application, GSML proposed to contribute $4.33 million in matching funds over three years — a goodly amount of skin in the game.

Triumph Gulf Coast is the entity that disseminates BP reparations arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

↖ Rudloe, facing page, has added replicas of reptilian titans to the exhibits at his marine lab and aquarium. ↑ Above, he displays chunks of wood encrusted with bivalves.

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Ctenophore

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Condylactus Anemone

PHOTOS BY JOEL SARTORE AS SEEN IN HIS PHOTO ARK EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

GSML’s application comprised three components: Training/Education, Biological Supply and Tourism.

As to Biological Supply, GSML proposed to use funds to expand its market for live marine specimens beyond the United States to Europe and Asia. While it has maintained such expansion as a goal, permitting requirements and associated costs have made it financially unfeasible absent assistance.

Regarding Tourism, GSML described plans for expanding its ecotourism program to include a wide range of outdoor recreational activities and provision for visiting scientists and artists.

Finally, as to Training/Education, GSML proposed formalizing its existing internship/practical work experience training program and making it a new aquaculture/aquarium technician/aquariologist certification program.

No such certification currently exists, the application points out while anticipating that the demand and importance of such formal training will increase as Florida’s aquaculture industry grows.

GSML’s application was denied on substantially technical grounds explained in a March 20 letter to Rudloe from Triumph Gulf Coast executive director Susan Skelton. Generally, Skelton wrote that the GSML proposal did not sufficiently meet “our purposes and requirements for substantially improving the economy of the eight counties disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”

More particularly, Skelton informed Rudloe that the three component parts of the proposal could not be considered together.

All of that is too bad. The community of Panacea could benefit greatly by Rudloe’s potential and that of his team as a resource, an educator and an employer.

Rudloe has been disappointed before. He has had no luck in trying to convince the state to let him seed water with wood.

Had Rudloe’s proposal succeeded, many more people would have learned about the importance of wood to inshore life — how it attracts an algal slime, fouling organisms, oysters and finfish, including species that anglers pursue. They would have learned how, with remarkable speed in the marine environment, shipworms that bore into wood and isopods that eat it, reduce limbs and logs and pilings and boards to nurturing material.

They would have been made to understand how important it is that rivers and creeks be permitted to meander and carry new rounds of organic material to the sea.

They may have been on their way to becoming biodiversity heroes. TM

Electric Ray

Sea Robin

Sea Spider

Red-tipped fire worm

Banded Moray Eel

Documenting Diversity Joel Sartore is a photographer, speaker, author, teacher, conservationist, National Geographic Fellow and a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine. He specializes in documenting endangered species and landscapes in order to show a world worth saving. He is the founder of The Photo Ark, a multi-year documentary project to save species and habitat. In his words, “It is folly to think that we can destroy one species and ecosystem after another and not affect humanity. When we save species, we’re actually saving ourselves.” He has written several books, including RARE: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species; Photographing Your Family; Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky; Let’s Be Reasonable; The Photo Ark; Birds of the Photo Ark and Vanishing. In addition to the work he has done for National Geographic, Joel has contributed to Audubon Magazine, Time, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and numerous book projects.

Sartore and his work are the subjects of several national broadcasts including National Geographic’s Explorer, the NBC Nightly News, NPR’s Weekend Edition, an hour-long PBS documentary, and At Close Range. He is a contributor on the CBS Sunday Morning Show. He was also featured in a three-part series on PBS titled: RARE: Creatures of the Photo Ark. As part of an effort to photograph 10,000 species worldwide, Sartore visited the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, Florida. There, lab president Jack Rudloe made it possible for him to capture Joel Sartore images of scores of invertebrates. Sartore lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife Kathy and their three children.

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EXPERIENCE DISCOVER. EXPLORE.

WHERE NORTH FLORIDA’S HISTORY, NATURE AND WILDLIFE INTERSECT

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BEACHES MAGAZINE

FALL 2020

SHORE UP YOUR SPIRITS

A trip to the beach is good for mind, body and soul and captivates all who visit with natural beauty.

PHOTO BY KANSAS PITTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Waves Worth Raves

Where water meets land, a sense of wonder thrives and memories are made TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

September-October 2020

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PROMOTION

Sandestin Golf And Beach Resort Presents

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT THE BAYTOWNE BEER FEST IN OCTOBER 2021!

The 2019 festival donated a total of $5,600 to three charities that supplied volunteers for the festival: $3,200 to the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, $1,100 to Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, and $1,250 to Sandestin Foundation of Kids. We are so thankful for wonderful community partners that help make this festival a huge success.

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDED: BEER FROM AROUND HERE - Local beer tastings and samplings of appetizers from our great restaurants here in The Village of Baytowne Wharf VIP EVENT - Our Saturday VIP event featured exclusive beer tastings and great food from Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House!

CRAFT BEER TASTING - The main event featured more than 50 breweries, offering close to 200 domestic and international craft beers for sampling!

Stay tuned to BaytowneBeerFestival.com and the Baytowne Beer Fest Facebook page for event updates and info.

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EXPERIENCE Upscale shopping, sophisticated dining options and South Walton’s premier events and entertainment await you Along the Boulevard.

DINE

SHOP

Another Broken Egg Café

Altar’d State

The Bistro

Anthropologie

(Located in Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard)

Black Bear Bread Co. (Now Open)

Billabong Bluemercury Hemline

Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican

J. Ji l l

The Craft Bar

J.McLaughlin

Emeril’s Coastal

The Jewel

everkrisp

Kittenish by Jessie James Decker

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

KREWE Summer Pop-up

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

Lilly Pulitzer

Kilwins

Ophelia Swimwear

PF Chang’s China Bistro

Orvis

Starbucks

Peter Millar

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

Pottery Barn

Vin’tij Food & Wine

Southern Tide (Fall 2020)

The Wine Bar

Sunset Shoes (Fall 2020)

lululemon (Now Open)

Tommy Bahama Vineyard Vines Williams Sonoma

Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

and Fitness Grand Emerald Coast Theatre Company

grandboulevard.com #GrandBlvd

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September-October 2020

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Natural Wonders

Northwest Florida’s flora, fauna and seascape renew all who visit

BY STEVE BORNHOFT AND ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

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I

n years following the Great Depression, the tourist industry along Northwest Florida’s Gulf coast developed first on the strength of the fine fishing available. Decades before there were condos, fishing camps and lodges proliferated and were frequented by anglers who loaded up on mackerels and bottom fish. But the beach, itself, would not be overlooked for long, and destinations began to promote themselves as places to enjoy good fishing — and good bathing. Historian Harvey H. Jackson III has noted that “bathing” did not become “swimming” until the 1940s, when the former was linked to hygiene and the latter to exercise. Always, the Gulf and the ribbon of sand that separates it from the piney woods have been restoratives, embellished by the presence of magnificent coastal life.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN (GRAYTON DUNES), SHANEMYERSPHOTO (SEA TURTLE), B_SEAMANIS (OSPREY) / / ISTOCK/ GETTYIMAGES

BEACHES

THE BEACH Geologists believe the process that created our beaches began 2,000 years ago, when Appalachian Mountain rock, worn by wind and rain, was carried south by rivers. During its journey, that rock was tumbled and crumbled by the water until it was reduced to the smooth quartz crystals that make up our sugarwhite sand beaches.

SAND DOLLARS Indigenous to local waters, these fragile sea creatures propel themselves using an internal vascular system. Usually found buried under a layer of sand near the shoreline, sand dollars are often unearthed by people digging their toes into the sand as waves recede.

SEA TURTLES Sea turtles inhabit the northern Gulf from May through August. Of the eight species worldwide, five are found in Florida. During the late summer and early fall, turtle eggs hatch and spill hundreds of young sea turtles onto the beach. Guided by moonlight, the hatchlings enter the Gulf and begin their lives at sea.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN A symbol of good luck to sailors since ancient times, the bottlenose dolphin is not a fish, but rather a mammal. As often as they are seen off Gulf shores, they elicit cries of delighted onlookers.

“There’s a dolphin! Right there.

Another one!”

PITCHER PLANTS Once plentiful in the Southeast, these carnivorous plants are now endangered.

They survive by attracting insects that

tumble into their vase-shaped pitfall leaves. They are easily spotted in the spring, given their yellow flowers.

BUTTERFLIES Wildflowers bloom along the Northwest Florida coast every day of the year and attract migrating monarch butterflies in the fall and spring.

OAK FORESTS Live oak acorns are a food source for many animals, and the trees’ broad, Spanish moss-covered branches are home to many forest creatures. Unlike most oak trees, which lose their leaves in the fall, the live oak keeps its leaves year-round.

BALD EAGLES Among the 50 states, Florida has a bald eagle population that is second only to that of Alaska.

GHOST CRABS These nearly colorless crustaceans dart from their holes in the sand near the water’s edge and feed on bits of seaweed and other detritus.

OSPREYS This coastal raptor has yellow eyes, a white head with a distinctive black eye stripe, and a wingspan of five feet.

Also known as fish hawks, ospreys have long legs and large feet with specialized barbs on the pads, hooked talons and a reversible outer toe, allowing them to easily grasp fish.

BROWN PELICANS A great fisherman, this bird glides over shallow waters looking for food, then dives into the water, filling its pouched beak with saltwater and, when things go right, fish.

Grayton Dunes

SAND DUNES Dune systems provide a first line of defense against storm surge. Sea oats, with their deep roots, help stabilize and build them.

GULF COAST LUPINE An endangered plant that grows on the sand dunes, it has striking blooms of brilliant blue in the spring. In the fall, golden aster, as it’s commonly called, signals the approach of winter.

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PROMOTION

Discover Luxury Away From it All

A

hidden gem nestled along the shores of Destin, Henderson Park Inn provides the ultimate sanctuary for rest and relaxation. Comprised of 37 rooms, this inclusive, adults-only boutique hotel remains a favorite destination for anyone looking for a secluded escape.

“Henderson Park Inn is like no other hotel on the Emerald Coast,” said Shannon Howell, Henderson Park Inn’s owner representative. “It has all the charm of a secluded New England-style inn with the modern luxury and excitement of Destin.”

Guests arrive to the sound of waves lapping on the shore and friendly faces eagerly waiting to help them start a vacation like no other. Upon entering their suite, they’re greeted with a vase of roses, a bottle of wine, two glasses and a specially prepared treat from Beach Walk Café, the inn’s in-house restaurant.

“Our attentive staff caters to each guest’s every need from the moment they enter,” said Howell.

As an inclusive hotel, guests dine on a made-to-order breakfast, relax on complimentary beach chairs on the sugar-white beach, enjoy picnic-style lunches, explore the area on bicycles provided by the Inn, sip cocktails while watching the sunset on the back patio and more.

For the full Henderson Park Inn experience, guests are encouraged to dine at Henderson Park Inn’s in-house award-winning restaurant, Beach Walk Café. Led by Executive Chef Daniel Peters, Beach Walk Café’s exquisite fare remains as much of an attraction as its exceptional outdoor dining experience.

“We’re blessed to have a restaurant of Beach Walk’s caliber on our property,” said Howell. “It’s definitely a must-try when staying in Destin.”

If guests are looking for additional activities outside of Henderson Park Inn’s mile of undisturbed beach, they have access to all the amenities — including a resort-style pool and spa — at the Inn’s sister property, The Henderson, a Salamander Beach & Spa Resort. With some of Destin’s largest attractions just moments away, guests are never far from the best the Emerald Coast has to offer.

For more information about Henderson Park Inn or to book your stay, visit HendersonParkInn.com or call (866) 398-4432.

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EL EVAT E

YOU R

B E AC H VAC AT I O N

Just a short drive from Tallahassee, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort invites you to experience the most acclaimed resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Elevate your next beach vacation with championship golf, world-class dining, retail therapy and, of course, the white sand beaches and emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Plan your Sandestin getaway today.

866.628.0371 • SANDESTIN.COM BEACH TO BAY RENTALS | 4 GOLF COURSES | BIKING | TENNIS | WATER SPORTS | STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM

May–June 2020

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BEACHES

Castles in the Sand Successful sculptors start by building a solid foundation

BY THOMAS MONIGAN

R

ick Mungeam of Beach Sand Sculptures provides sandsculpting lessons and castlebuilding experiences to families along the Gulf shore at Santa Rosa Beach. Here, he offers tips and tricks you can use in creating your own sandy work of art.

CHOOSE THE BEST BUILDING MATERIAL

BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION As with any sculpture, you work from the ground up.

“We go through what we call Pound Up,” Mungeam said. “It’s a four-step process for filling the forms: sand, water, stir and tap.”

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And how does that work?

“We put six inches of sand in the bucket with two gallons of water, we stir to make sure it’s completely wet, then we tap on the outside of the form so it gets really, really firm and dense,” Mungeam explained.

Mungeam’s classes include demonstrations on how to use sand-carving tools, and his students eventually produce a sandcastle that’s over 3 feet tall.

He also offers instruction on how to do stairways, arches and bridges.

The time required “depends on how big you’re building and what kind of detail you’re putting in,” Mungeam said.

“I’ve literally spent 12 hours on the beach here creating sculptures just for fun.”

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HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS Mungeam suggests assembling the right equipment before you start to build your sand sculpture.

That includes: » A 5-gallon water bucket. » Sandcastle forms or molds. » A small rake and a small shovel. » Sculpting tools such as a spatula and a paintbrush. » A melon baller, perhaps, and a spray bottle of fresh water.

PHOTO BY TRACE INGHAM

Where does the best sand come from?

“It’s better up by the dunes,” Mungeam said, “but most people work down by the water. The wind dries the sand out, and all the small pieces move up by the dunes,” he said. “The small pieces are better to build with because that sand holds more water. The sand down by the water is like a handful of marbles, and when you put water on that, it just runs right through it.”

Castle by Dan the Sandman

ME O C

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September-October 2020

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PROMOTION

CulturalArts Alliance of Walton County and South Walton Artificial Reef Association SEVEN DESIGNS SELECTED FOR THIRD UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART INSTALLATION

T

he Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) recently revealed the seven sculpture designs selected by jury for permanent exhibition in the third installation of the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA).

The 2020 installation will include the following sculptures: Bee Grayt by Katie Witherspoon (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida), Building Blocks by Zachary Long (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Dawn Dancers by Shohini Ghosh (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), Eco Bug by Priscila D’Brito (Boca Raton, Florida), From The Depths by Kirk Seese (Lutherville, Maryland), Hope by Jonathan Burger (New Bern, North Carolina) and Three Wishes by Marisol Rendón and Ingram Ober (San Diego, California).

Named in 2018 by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 “World’s Greatest Places,” the UMA is presented as part of CAA’s Art In Public Spaces Program and augments SWARA’s mission of creating marine habitat and expanding fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in South Walton.

Currently, Gulf coastal waters off Walton County are 95% barren sand flats. Deployment of sculpture as artificial reefs will provide a source of biological replenishment and protective marine habitat where none exists. The UMA is deployed with SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef project that includes nine near-shore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in 58 feet of water. A one-acre permit patch of seabed off Grayton Beach State Park has been dedicated to the CAA for the purpose of the sculpture exhibit.

With support from the Alys Foundation, Visit South Walton, Visit Florida, Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, UMA sculptures are deployed with SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef

projects that include nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore. The 2020 installation will join the 17 sculptures previously deployed, further expanding the nation’s first permanent underwater museum.

Deployment of the 2020 UMA installation is slated for the fall. Visit UMAFL.org for more information on the timeline and events surrounding UMA’s launch.

Project and sculpture sponsorships are available.

CULTURAL ARTS ALLIANCE 105 HOGTOWN BAYOU LANE, SANTA ROSA BEACH | (850) 622-5970 | CULTURALARTSALLIANCE.COM

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BEACHES

50, for Starters We count a few reasons people fall for NW Florida beaches BY STEVE BORNHOFT

T

he best thing about the list that follows is that it is not definitive — far from it. It is merely a sampler of the many Northwest Florida experiences, fixtures and creatures great and small that keep people here and keep people coming here. Many of the items on the list are timeless. Others are relatively new developments but are in keeping certainly with the traditions and the character and the nature of our region. Every one of them could figure in a postcard, and most of them have.

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The surf in all of its moods

3

Flights of pelicans

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Redfish blowing up on blue crabs

7

The curious overlap of the Snowbird and Spring Break seasons

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The blennies at the jetties at St. Andrews State Recreation area

A bloody mary and a plate of tuna dip at Bud & Alley’s

5

9

Poring over scorecards at the “19th hole”

Hunt’s Oyster Bar in St. Andrews

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Majestic herons and egrets

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Sand dollars strewn on the Gulf’s whitesand floor

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Blue-eyed scallops in a seagrass bed

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Apalachicola’s Gibson Inn

14

Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos and Ice Pilots

15

Fresh shrimp

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People-watching on the sand

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1 17

Bottlenose dolphins

18

The Mattie Kelly Arts Center

19

Revived, reimagined downtown Pensacola

20

Craft breweries

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Seaside’s insistence on locally owned businesses

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Speckled sea trout

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The grouper sandwich at Dewey Destin’s

PHOTOS BY KANSAS PITTS PHOTOGRAPHY (BEACH), JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (GROUPER SANDWICH), ANDREW WARDLOW (SOAP) AND COLIN HACKLEY / VISIT FLORIDA (MUSEUM)

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The Gulf horizon

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The Pensacola Naval Air Museum

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Real tomatoes at farmers markets

35

Gulf Islands National Seashore

36

The 30A Songwriters Festival

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The grilled scamp at Capt. Anderson’s

25

Jack Rudloe’s aquarium

26

Wine festivals

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Joe Patti’s Seafood

Shovelnose lobster and drawn butter

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The Southern Craft Creamery

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The Digital Graffiti projection art festival

30

The Florida Chautauqua Assembly at DeFuniak Springs

A bar of Bay Rum soap from St. Joe Soaps & Essentials

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The reflecting pool at Eden State Garden

42

An osprey’s whistle

43

Marinas at night

44

Red snapper season

45

Sea oats

46

Northwest Florida hospitality

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Howell Tackle Supply

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Sea turtles

Cabbage palms

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A hand-rolled cigar at sunset

The irresistible homeliness of manatees

40

Florida whiskey from the Timber Creek Distillery

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Live bait

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Yesterday, today and tomorrow September-October 2020

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PROMOTION

HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

Purposeful, memorable and delectable 112

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T

he Harvest Wine & Food Festival, held annually to benefit the work of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, is a sensory delight.

Its tastes and sights and sounds combine to make for an event — held at a delightfully comfortable time of year — that is unfailingly as memorable and elegant as it is purposeful.

This year’s edition will be a bit different in the era of social distancing. To keep exposure to a minimum, the 2020 festival will be made up of a series of microevents throughout South Walton. They will be comprised of wine dinners, spirits dinners, wine and culinary seminars and even a bubbly brunch.

To maximize safety for attendees, these events will be limited to approximately 40 guests. Like past festivals, the events will be presented by celebrity chefs and key members of the wine, beer and spirits teams.

Despite the coming changes, last year’s festivities are worth reliving …

At the 2019 edition of the festival, hundreds of people cued up at a starting line waiting on a signal from event volunteers. There were women in hats that Indiana Jones might have worn and men with small dogs in the crooks of their arms and women in rubber boots and men with Opus X cigars in the pockets of their Vineyard Vines shirts.

All were united by their fondness for wine — or craft beer — and their desire to support the work of the foundation, which conducts events

PROMOTION

4th Annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival NOVEMBER 5–7, 2020 Consisting of wine dinners, lunches, seminars and signature events, the 2020 festival will boast a series of epicurean events throughout South Walton that offer something for every wine, spirit and food lover to enjoy.

Visit HarvestWineandFood.com for the most up to date schedule of events. Tickets on sale September 1.

that raise funds for children in need and has succeeded spectacularly, earning accolades from Wine Spectator magazine and donating more than $20 million to 16 Northwest Florida charities.

Touring the festival grounds at the St. Joe development Watercolor, I enjoyed Freeport guitarist and singer Mari Gleason’s dreamy rendition of Budapest, a song popularized by George Ezra.

Aquaculturist Cainnon Gregg’s oysters, shucked and on ice and each about the diameter of a 50-cent piece, were delectable.

At the V.I.P. tent, personnel from The Henderson offered festivalgoers flutes of lavender champagne, compliments of the resort.

Inside the tent, amidst wine connoisseurs, I scored a New England-style pale ale from Idyll Hounds Brewery.

With it, I washed down a cauliflower fritter, courtesy of Coastal Kitchen Catering & Events.

Meanwhile, Chef Mark Eichin of Restaurant Paradis in Rosemary Beach, dished up braised pork ragú.

And, all about, there was wine.

The Gamble Family Vineyards of California’s Napa Valley offered tastes of a cabernet, a blend and a Sauvignon Blanc.

With Florida’s Emerald Coast among its key markets, Gamble Family Vineyards has been a long-standing supporter of DCWAF throughout the foundation’s 15-year history.

Sellers of merchandise and experiences — as singular as flights aboard private jets — manned their booths.

Renee Launiere of Bijoux de Mer Fine Jewelry attracted lots of women who could not resist trying on her nautically themed pieces.

To say that Launiere’s orange opalicious

necklace was a statement piece would be an understatement. I can picture it still.

Elsewhere on the festival grounds, Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House offered braised rabbit tacos, or Easter tacos, as the servers called them.

Atlanta-based celebrity chef Hugh Acheson, Birmingham baker and restauranteur Kristen Hall, and Auburn’s favorite son David Bancroft, along with a variety of chefs from across the Southeast spread across Cerulean Park, offering their signature dishes to festivalgoers.

As the afternoon continued, the breeze freshened and dark clouds neared. Maybe, it seemed, the ladies in rubber boots had been on to something.

But the threatening rain thought better of dousing the festival. Year three, building on previous years, had been an unqualified success.

Year four will be even better.

— Steve Bornhoft

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BEACHES

Freediver Ashleigh Baird has pursued her sport in more than 20 countries. Her favorite places? The springs of Northwest Florida.

Adventures Below

Shops, trainers make breathtaking underwater experiences fathomable

D

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

ive sites in less than 100 feet of water tend to be heavy-traffic areas. Fish, after repeated exposures to bubble-blowing humans, learn to associate scuba divers with danger. So it is that the tank-toting spearfisherman might have to visit depths of 140 feet in order to find an unwary big snapper or grouper.

But because they are quieter, stealthier and less familiar, freedivers operating on a breath of air don’t scatter fish the way the scuba crowd does. They routinely bag bragging-size fish in 60 feet of water, said Mike Pooler, the owner of Benthic Ocean Sports in Destin.

Pooler grew up breath-hold diving and

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spearfishing in the Keys, spent time in the military and then moved to Northwest Florida after securing employment with a military contractor. He opened his business seven years ago.

“A lot of people are picking up freediving, some who are new to diving altogether and many who are crossing over from scuba spearfishing,” Pooler said.

Anyone who is comfortable in the water and does not have any disqualifying physical conditions is a candidate to become a freediver.

“One of my best, closest dive buddies is in his 70s, and he can outdive us many times,” Pooler said, adding that freediving can be helpful to all persons

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with an interest in becoming a better waterman or waterwoman.

The basic freediving setup includes a soft, silicon J-snorkel; a low internal air volume freediving mask; a two-piece, open-cell wetsuit; a rubber weight belt; and long-blade freediving fins.

That basic kit runs $600 and up, Pooler said.

“Freediving is a human performance activity where technique, training and practice really matter,” Pooler stressed.

“It is important to dial your gear in specifically to you and your body.

Scuba has more to do with technical proficiency. You are more worried about regulators and valves and computers.”

For all who are ready to dive in, Benthic Outdoor Sports offers instruction as a Freediving Instructors International (FII) facility.

Scuba diving for military vets

For 3 ½ years, Anna Schmitz checked boxes.

First, she took the steps necessary to get her business’s scuba instructor training program licensed by the state Department of Education. She then pursued additional certifications from a second state agency and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Finally, in February, she reached her goal. Military veterans with an interest in new careers as dive instructors can now use Post 911/GI Bill benefits to pay for training supplied by Emerald Coast Scuba.

As of April, Schmitz said, 14 activeduty service members and military retirees were completing their book learning via an eLearning platform and

looking forward to the relaxation of pandemic-related safeguards so that they could get in the water.

“At least our instructor students can have scuba in their thoughts and in their dreams right now,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz and her brother, Tom, own Emerald Coasts Scuba and have been in business in Destin since 1992.

They cater to a broad spectrum of customers, offering instruction ranging from swim lessons to lifeguard training and scuba instruction. Divemasters conduct trips, including shallow-water snorkeling adventures, a jetties dive appropriate to beginning divers and spearfishing trips recommended for experienced folks with 100 or more dives under their weighted belts.

The Emerald Coasts dive shop is stocked with the latest in scuba and snorkeling gear.

Spearfishers may load a pole with lionfish or opt for bigger game, including grouper and amberjack — a fish that has earned its nickname, reef donkey.

PHOTOS BY TRACE INGHAM (BAIRD) AND ASHLEIGH BAIRD (INGHAM)

Area Dive Shops Panama City Beach Panama City Diving

106 Thomas Drive (850) 588-8077 panamacitydiving.com

Anna and Tom have long led military veterans, including wounded veterans, on scuba adventures. They placed a Memorial Rock in 90 feet of water 4½ miles offshore honoring all branches of the U.S. military and every year escort veterans to the site on Memorial Day. Some of the students training to become instructors have an interest in working with wounded veterans in particular. Schmitz said that experience is liberating for the veterans and inspirational for the divemasters and instructors who work with them. She described working with a veteran who lost both of his legs and an arm in combat.

“We specialize in teaching adaptive techniques to our wounded veterans,” Schmitz said.

She said the VA authorization regarding use of GI benefits “is literally a game changer for us.”

And, for the students involved.

“We’re hearing from veterans who are so happy to be learning about something fun right now while sitting at home,” Schmitz said.

Diver’s Den

ScubaTech of Northwest Florida

Bay Breeze Dive Center

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Santa Rosa Beach

Valparaiso

3120 Thomas Drive (850) 234-8717 diversdenpcb.com 557 Richard Jackson Blvd.

(850) 238-2375 tryscubadiving.com/ panama-city-beach

Destin

Red Alert Diving

Benthic Ocean Sports (freediving)

Dive Locker

Emerald Coasts Scuba

1619 Moylan Road (850) 238-8760 redalertdiving.com 1010 Thomas Drive (850) 230-8006 divelocker.net

Freediver and photographer Trace Ingham visits limestone formations at the bottom of a spring.

501 Harbor Blvd.

(850) 837-3315 benthicoceansports.com 503B Harbor Drive (850) 837-0955 divedestin.net

301 Harbor Blvd.

(850) 837-2822 scubatechnwfl.com

30A Dive

49 Gulf Breeze Parkway (850) 934-8363 baybreezescuba.com

Discovery Dive World

38 Clayton Lane (850) 420-7118 30adivers.com

92 S. John Sims Parkway (850) 678-5001 discoverydiveworld.com

Fort Walton Beach Scuba

Dive Pros

Mary Esther

425 Page Bacon Road (850) 716-0867 fortwaltonbeachscuba.com

Gulf Breeze

Shark Quest Dive Shop

5614 Gulf Breeze Parkway (850) 516-6800 scuba-dive-pensacola.com

Pensacola

7203 U.S. 98 (850) 456-8845 florida-divepros.com

Port St. Joe

Daly’s Watersports 317 Monument Ave. (850) 229-6330 dalysdock.com

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Abodes

SEPT/OCT 2020

TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

INTERIORS

Durable flooring has surged in popularity

↓

HIKESTERSON / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

THE LOW-DOWN ON LAMINATE

by REBECCA PADGETT

EXTERIORS

Green Screens

|| GREEN SCENE

Plant Veggies Now, Enjoy Second Harvest

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PHOTO BY IRINA88W AND MAKSIME (BLEOW) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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rt attracts attention, we may fixate on new fixtures and furniture fascinates, but flooring is foundational.

From carpet to hardwood to tile and more, flooring options abound. Among them, laminate, in particular, is generating a lot of new interest.

Laminate can be traced to Sweden in the 1920s but was not widely used in the United States until the 1980s. The early versions of laminate, while affordable, were limited as to styles, and quality was often less than desirable. All that has changed in the 2000s.

“Over the years, technological advances have given laminate a new life, so to speak,” said Shawn Yoakam, president and owner of Southern Flooring and Design Inc. in Tallahassee and Crawfordville.

“High definition photograph imprinting and embossing make a laminate look amazingly realistic,” he added. “From a more practical point of view, price point and durability top the list of reasons for choosing laminate.”

Brian Barnard Jr. at Flooring America in Tallahassee said laminate quality suffered after the product was first marketed as manufacturers worked

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to keep up with the demand for flooring that was very suddenly popular.

In recent years, he said, the product has been made more water resistant through the addition of new materials to the core of the planking.

“It may even come with submersion warranties,” Barnard added.

Today’s embossed finishes add wood-like texture to the product and make it less reflective, he said.

The most notable advance in laminate technology is the introduction of Hydroseal, a hydrophobic coating that repels water and prevents swelling of planks.

In shopping for laminate, look for products with a strong moisture seal. The laminate should also be at least 8 millimeters thick. Most laminates at 7 millimeters or less are less likely to maintain their structural integrity. Especially in Florida, it is essential to maintain climate control. Failures to keep a home’s air properly conditioned may leave the door open to swelling problems.

For people set on a wood look in all rooms, Michelle Roberts, owner of ABC Flooring, suggests waterproof luxury vinyl plank floors because they

Gone are the days of limited laminate flooring options.

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and scratches like those that canine toenails might leave.

can be installed throughout the house without fear of water damage. Laminate is not recommended for bathrooms or laundry rooms, but for all other active rooms, laminate is a reliable option.

Active families and heavy-traffic rooms are ideal candidates for laminate because the flooring is coated with an aluminum-oxide finish that resists scratches and dents.

Yoakam advises people looking for a high-quality laminate to pay attention to the Abrasion Criteria Rating. The AC Rating is a way of determining the durability and recommended usage level. Ratings of AC3 and AC4 are the best options for heavy foot traffic and long-term use.

“Laminate is best suited for an active household,” Yoakam said. “It’s a flooring made to withstand a growing family, pets, sleepovers and get-togethers without worrying over drops, spills or scratches.”

In recent years, laminate has upped its aesthetic appeal and comes in a variety of styles and finishes from weathered heart pine to wire-brushed European oak and exotic South American woods.

“Laminate styles with embossed and registered textures and beveled edges look more realistic than the older smooth laminates that were available 20 years ago,” Roberts said. “These days, most guests wouldn’t be able to tell whether you have wood or laminate flooring in your home.”

Laminate gives homes an affordable look of luxury. The prices of laminate can range from 99 cents a square foot up to five bucks and change. Options of the recommended 8-millimeter (or more) thickness start at $3.

A certified flooring specialist can help homeowners find laminate flooring that is stylish, practical and practically priced. TM

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EXTERIORS

GREEN SCREENS

Hedges, climbing plants make for attractive, verdant borders

by HANNAH BURKE

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DID YOU KNOW?

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For many homeowners, vegetation of various types has supplanted sterile planks at boundary markers.

and are evergreen. In recent years, landscaping design has shifted from a natural, forested look to one of intention. Modern, streamlined shrub placement that is properly maintained contributes to a clean-cut and crisp looking yardscape.

“The current trends are all about providing color and interest,” said

Ashley McLeod, landscape designer at Fielder & Associates in Tallahassee.

“They can be used as a stand-alone plant or massed together for impact.

We talk with our clients to see if there are specifics that they would like to see added to their landscapes and help guide what will really look great with all elements considered.”

Viburnum shrubs may be deciduous or evergreen and are native to Asia and North America, according to the informational gardening site Gardenia.net. They produce sweetly fragrant flowers and colorful berries. Their stunning fall colors range from glossy red to scarlet purple. The shrubs are easy to grow and prefer moist, rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil.

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PHOTO BY SVPRODUCTION / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

ood fences may make good neighbors, but variety is the spice of life.

Many homeowners are bidding adieu to bland paneled fencing and opting for diverse, vibrant and ecofriendly flourishes of shrubs, hedges and tall, grassy textures in marking their territories.

“With quarantine going on, people have been spending more time than ever at home, and yards are becoming a necessary extension of their indoor living spaces,” said Jonathan Burns, tree and shrub manager at Tallahassee Nurseries. “As people start to use their back porches more, many of them realize they don’t have as much privacy as they thought. Privacy hedges are a great solution, and many homeowners are rushing to get them planted.”

The biggest request, said Burns, is for “fast-growing plants that stay nice and full.”

Popular among clients are plants that bloom, offer splashes of color

A few of McLeod’s current favorites include the “heart throb” hydrangea, a shrub with striking, deep red blooms, and the Florida sunshine anise, an upright, golden, chartreuse-hued plant.

“The architectural features of a house will also dictate the landscape design,” said McLeod. “My goal is to guide and create enjoyable outdoor spaces that reflect the beauty of my client’s home. Many people would like to screen between theirs and their neighbor’s home for privacy, and hedge plants provide nice curb appeal for the front of homes.”

The most sustainable hedges, said Burns, are ones that thrive without a lot of help.

“Plants that are drought-tolerant, pest and diseaseresistant, and strong growers allow gardeners to avoid the application of toxic pesticides and excess fertilizer,” Burns said. “Sweet viburnum, recurve ligustrum, pineapple guava, Ocala anise, loropetalum and wax myrtle are some of our most popular hedge plants.”

Podocarpus, or the plum plant, is an evergreen, needle-texture shrub with a moderate growth rate while viburnum, McLeod added, is a hardy, fast-growing evergreen shrub suitable for natural screening.

“Hedges will make the biggest impact where they block open lines of sight from neighbors or the street,” said Burns. “Many choose to line their whole property with hedges, but you can use fewer plants by strategically placing large shrubs near the seating areas or porches that get the most use. Make sure to place hedge plants where they have enough room to grow, and that there’s enough room for you to trim and manage the plants over time. If you plant too close to a wall or fence, you won’t be able to get in there for proper pruning.”

Too, green screening can encompass a combination of vegetation and wood.

Vine-wrapped trellises, while requiring more maintenance, add elegance and an element of fragrance to outdoor partitions.

“One of my favorite climbing vines to plant on a fence or trellis is Carolina jasmine,” said McLeod.

“Its evergreen, fragrant yellow flowers bloom in the spring and are very hardy in Tallahassee. The Lady Banks rose, a thornless, semi-evergreen vine with miniature yellow flowers, blooms in early summer and creates a romantic look for any garden.”

But Burns says to be prepared to prune as often as monthly to maintain a formal look.

“Plants labeled ‘low-maintenance’ doesn’t mean they are maintenance free,” said McLeod. “All growing things require maintenance, and even the best design will decline if not properly cared for.” TM

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PROMOTION

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PROMOTION

What Do the Space Shuttle, a Bourbon Brined Turkey and a Big Green Egg Have in Common?

D

uring reentry, space shuttles are protected from searing 3,000-degree heat with a variety of ingenious materials, including a silicate ceramic known as Cordierite. This material was selected by NASA due to its ability to handle thermal shock and perform at high temperatures. Without cordierite, the space program wouldn’t be where it is today, nor would the Big Green Egg. In 1974, Ed Fisher of Atlanta, Georgia, had the brilliant idea to combine NASA’s ceramic technology with the traditional kamado-style grill that has been used in Eastern Asia for over 3,000 years. His product was stronger, more durable, and provided better heat insulation than any other grill on the market, all thanks to Cordierite ceramic. To this day, the Big Green Egg maintains the No. 1 spot as the most high-tech and versatile grill in production.

Why purchase your Egg from Esposito? We are the only store that makes a point to cook on our display grills several times per week, so we can show you by example how to achieve great results when you fire up your new Egg. Our team knows all of the ins and outs of use and maintenance, can recommend accessories for specific tasks, and — as the only platinum dealer within 100 miles — we carry all of the Big Green Egg grills, accessories, islands, and seasonings. To sweeten the deal and make your life a little easier, Esposito includes free assembly and local delivery with every grill purchase. Our unparalleled selection and top-notch customer service make Esposito the No. 1 place to purchase a grill in Tallahassee.

Now more about the Egg itself: To protect the out-of-this-world ceramic, each Big Green Egg is coated with fade-resistant glaze that resists cracking or weather-damage and easily wipes clean without the need for chemical sprays. The lid seals tightly, resulting in an exceptionally slow burn that wastes less charcoal and produces less ash than a standard grill. The patented ventilation system allows the Egg to reach any desired temperature in mere minutes and maintain it for hours. The convection-oven-like airflow from the vents is great for not only grilling but also smoking and baking as well. This powerhouse is just as capable of cooking pies, cinnamon buns or a full English breakfast as it is a juicy roast turkey. When finished cooking, cleanup couldn’t be easier; residual heat burns away any build-up — just like a self-cleaning oven. Consistent results, incredible flavor and ease of use are just a few of the reasons chefs and homeowners alike consider the Big Green Egg best in class.

Esposito Lawn & Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee (850) 386-2114 | EspositoGardenCenter.com

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abodes ➸ Autumn Sun Exposure

One key to growing success is establishing plants where their sunlight needs are met.

Commonly only the east to west movement of the sun is considered, but there is another factor to remember.

This time of year, the sun is progressively moving a bit further south in the sky each day. Depending on the surrounding structures, the light availability can change drastically over the next few months.

GREEN SCENE

PLANT VEGGIES NOW, ENJOY SECOND HARVEST

Summer commonly delivers a bounty of rain in spurts and fits.

Historically, however, autumn has been relatively dry, and surplus water may literally dry up. The lack of water can be overcome with irrigation, the use of mulches and the addition of organic matter to growing beds. Sandy soils or near soilless sand make these critical success components.

LES HARRISON

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ow is the time to add annuals and bedding plants to the home landscape to complement the autumn season’s color. These may be started with seeds in some cases, and there are many species and cultivars readily available in retail establishments and nurseries.

Confirm that seeds have been germination tested within the year. The sell-by date is on the package and is required by state law.

Ageratum, celosia, zinnia and wax begonia are all good candidates, along with numerous others available at garden centers. Be sure to choose fresh, healthy plants free of disease and insect damage.

It is a great time to get the fall and winter vegetable garden off to a good start. Strawberry plants, collard seeds and others will need full exposure to the sun. If obstructions to the light are a potential problem, deal with them now to avoid mediocre performance.

Much like bedding plants and annuals, vegetables will yield better with a soil amended with organic material.

Broccoli, radishes, cabbage, kale and many others can be planted now for harvest in the mild days of autumn. Some, like radishes, can deliver multiple crops over the course of the cool seasons.

➸ Insect Problems

Aggressive and prolific plant pests that consider tender young plants their meal of choice are a particular problem in the fall. These problem species reach their peak numbers as the warm growing season comes to an end. Chewing and piercing/ sucking insects are the two basic types of bugs at play.

These gluttons eat like there is no tomorrow. The cooler weather eliminates many, but unfortunately some will survive until next spring to begin the cycle again.

➸ Soil Amendments

A BENEFICIAL INSECT

Milkweed Assassin Bug

Luckily, there are insects that stand guard to prevent the total pillaging of our cherished green resources.

Among the many native hunter insects is the milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes. Sometimes known as the long-legged assassin bug, it displays the bright coloration of deer hunters, especially when in juvenile stages. This winged bug is slightly less than an inch long and has a slender, straight beak with pierce-sucking mouthparts. When not in use, the beak is bent back and held under the thorax in a groove, carried much like a folding knife. Adults and nymphs have a pear-shaped head, constricted neck and long hairy legs, giving this insect an awkward, lanky appearance. The shape and appearance are generally the same throughout its life. The method used to catch its prey is known as the “sticky trap strategy.” The exposed forelegs are covered with a viscous material that acts as a glue resulting in the prey’s entanglement. The target insect is rapidly paralyzed when the milkweed assassin bug inserts its beak into the host body. This tiny ambush predator can feed on prey that may be up to six times its own size.

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Mushroom compost, homemade composts, peat moss and many other growing media help with fall gardening in two ways. These organic compounds add soil nutrients needed by the plants. Additionally, high levels of organic matter in growing zones promote the retention of critical moisture, especially during drier times.

Les Harrison is a retired University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Wakulla County Extension Director.

PHOTOS BY AMENIC181 (STRAWBERRY PLANT) AND HOLLY GUERRIO (MILKWEED ASSASSIN BUG) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (COLEUS)

by

➸ Rain and Weather

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PROMOTION

SHINE A LIGHT ON YOUR YARD Our beloved Sunshine State is known for its long summer days.

A favorite way to extend those days into the fall season is by lighting up outdoor living spaces. Landscape lighting keeps the garden alive by highlighting special features and adding visual depth to your yard, but those aren’t the only perks. We asked Tallahassee Nurseries to share the feedback they’ve received from their customers about the most notable benefits of landscaping lighting.

Four Main Benefits of Landscape Lighting SAFETY AND SECURITY By illuminating sidewalks, steps and other areas, low-voltage landscape lighting provides additional visibility for potential hazards and missteps.

Additionally, studies have shown that a well-lit home is less likely to be targeted for burglaries. By installing landscape lighting throughout your yard, not only are you enhancing your space, but you’re increasing the overall visibility surrounding your home.

HOME EQUITY An oft-forgotten part of curb appeal is curb appeal in the night and evenings.

A well-designed LED landscape

lighting system has a 50% ROI according to the National Association of Realtors and has a very low cost in terms of monthly energy impact.

BEAUTY Adding lighting to your landscape enhances plants, fountains and architectural features to create nighttime works of art and enhancing the beauty of the home and garden after sundown — an envious ambiance without a doubt.

EXTEND YOUR DAY Enjoyment of your garden and outdoor spaces doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. By illuminating your landscape, you’ll enjoy your outdoor spaces into the

evening and night, especially during the fall and winter seasons.

A linchpin of enjoying these benefits is the design. Design is what brings these benefits to life with the proper selection of light size, shape, style, strength and placement among other things. A great way to choose the right contractor is to ask around and do some research. Do you have a neighbor who has landscape lighting you love?

Ask them who did the job! Be sure to check references and find out how much experience the contractor has, specifically in landscape lighting, design and installation.

Also keep in mind, there is no substitute for quality. The difference is night and day.

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DAY & NIGHT

Landscape Design & Install • Lighting Services • Drainage Solutions

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PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

Southern Flair in a Premier Location This private and peaceful home sits on 1.75 acres in the highly sought-after Bobbin Mill area. Features include custom millwork, two spacious living areas and a kitchen designed for gatherings. Seller has updated windows, stucco, wiring for generator, kitchen and master bath.

LISTED PRICE: $899,000 ADDRESS: 3745 Bobbin Mill Road SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,729 BEDROOMS: 4.5 YEAR BUILT: 1988 FEATURES: Two parking spaces with a three-plus car garage. Kitchen features stainless steel and granite, an island, a bar, dining space and two pantries. Family room has a fireplace, wet bar and leads to the outside patio. Home office/library with fireplace boasts a built-in desk and cabinetry, great for working at home and large enough for a “man cave.” Fireplace open to dining room. Master upstairs has a 7-by-19 sitting area that overlooks the backyard.

PHOTOS BY 323 MEDIA GROUP

APPEAL: This very private home sits in the luxurious Bobbin Mill area of Tallahassee.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Yvonne Howell yvonnejhowell@gmail.com (850) 933-2219 Coldwell Banker Hartung & Noblin, Inc. *some images have been virtually staged and/or modified

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Your Realtor For Life

3303 Thomasville Rd Tallahassee, Fl 32308 | 850.386.6160 | Cbhartung.com TALL AHASSEEMAGA TALL AHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM ZINE.COM September-October May–June

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PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

Rustic LodgeStyle Home Nestled Along Lake Talquin This custom-built home on threeplus acres at Lake Talquin has been meticulously maintained. The open floor plan offers a living room with soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling Tennessee stone fireplace, hardwood flooring throughout and windows framing the backyard. This is the ultimate in relaxed luxury lake living.

LISTED PRICE: $635,000 ADDRESS: 1289 Williams Landing Road SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,400 BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 3.5 YEAR BUILT: 2008 FEATURES: Cozy, welcoming foyer with log staircase. Chef’s kitchen features professional appliances, large island, plenty of cabinets and a dining area with fireplace. Spacious family room is perfect for entertaining and offers fireplace and wet bar. Master suite on main level features soaking tub, separate shower and walk-in closet with washer and dryer. Additional bedrooms upstairs are designed to give guests comfort and privacy. Enjoy the beautiful scenic surroundings, fruit trees, wildlife and birds from the huge back deck or front porch.

PHOTOS BY 323 MEDIA

APPEAL: Located on a conservation easement, and a dock can easily be constructed for beautiful sunsets.

Amenities also include mud room/utility room with separate entrances, whole yard irrigation and long circular driveway that leads to oversized two-car garage with extra storage.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Hettie Spooner hettie@hillspooner.com (850) 509-4337 *some images have been virtually staged and/or modified

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PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

Charming Estate on Lake Bradford Hits Market Overlooking Lake Bradford, this estate-style home is perfect for anyone looking for lots of room in a quiet waterfront retreat.

Located just five minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the capitol, this home features three master suites among its five bedrooms, two of which include private outdoor access. View the lake from a 30-foot, floor-to-ceiling window or take to the water from your dock equipped with an electric boat lift.

LISTED PRICE: $630,000 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,298 BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 5 FEATURES: Lake-accessible dock features an electric boat lift. Home features a pair of two-car garages and two fireplaces, plus numerous Red Baron built-in antiques and stained glass. Kitchen and two bathrooms have recently been remodeled.

APPEAL: Relax in front of your 30-foot, floor-to-ceiling glass window that overlooks Lake Bradford. Located just five minutes from Tallahassee International Airport and 10 minutes from downtown Tallahassee.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For sale by owner: (850) 766-2201.

No brokers please.

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May–June 2020

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PROMOTION

OCTOBER 29

BEST OF TALLAHASSEE

The 22nd annual Best of Tallahassee will celebrate the community’s best of the best as voted by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine. Join us as we broadcast the results for the first time on October 29, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. by tuning into LIVE! in Tallahassee on FOX 49.

Visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/best-of-tallahassee for more information.

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calendar PROMOTION

PHOTOS BY TRICKEY PHOTOGRAPHY (BEST OF) AND COURTESY OF SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT (BEERFEST), DCWA (HARVEST FEST) AND CULTURAL ARTS ALLIANCE (ARTSQUEST)

DEC. 3

WOMEN UNITED WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST → Each year, Women United hosts its Annual

Leadership Breakfast in celebration of women leading in business and philanthropy. The Fourth Annual Women’s Leadership Breakfast serves as a call to action for women and all members of our community to create positive change through sharing their time, talent and treasure.

Due to current restrictions on public gatherings, this year's breakfast will be a virtual event.

Visit UWBB.org/event/4th-annual-womens-leadershipbreakfast for more information as it is made available.

SEPT/OCT 2020 For more events in Tallahassee, visit TallahasseeMagazine.com. compiled by JAVIS OGDEN and REBECCA PADGETT

REGIONAL NOV. 5–7

Harvest Wine & Food Festival → Produced by the Destin Charity

Wine Auction Foundation, the festival provides attendees the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections. This year’s festival is adapting to the ever-changing environment we find ourselves in. The 2020 schedule will be an epicurean celebration filled with an exciting lineup of events with smaller capacities than our traditional Grand Tasting.

Learn more at DCWAF.org.

REGIONAL OCT. 10–11

REGIONAL OCT. 9–10

BAYTOWNE WHARF BEER FESTIVAL

→ Roll out the barrels! The Village

of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents the 12th annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest featuring specialty beers from around the nation. The main event on Saturday will feature more than 200 domestic and international fermented creations, all available for sampling.

ArtsQuest

Visit BaytowneBeerFestival.com for more event and ticket information.

County and presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, ArtsQuest is one of the premier programs during Art Month South Walton. View and purchase original art from more than 150 artists from around the country. In light of restrictions on public gatherings that will be extended into the fall season, this year’s edition will be a virtual event with details that are still pending.

UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART INSTALLATION

→ Produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton

For updates as they are made available, please visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com/artsquest-fine-arts-festival.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The COVID-19 pandemic may affect the events listed here.

Consult websites to obtain the latest information on their status.

SEPT. – DEC. 2020

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) recently revealed the seven sculpture designs

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER? Send an email to sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com.

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SEPT/OCT 2020

selected by jury for permanent exhibition in the third installation of the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). Deployment of the 2020 UMA installation is slated for the fall.

music, dance, martial arts demonstrations, national dress, cultural discovery zones, art exhibits, historical exhibitions, cuisine and more. visittallahassee.com/events/experienceasia-2020

Visit UMAFL.org for more information on the timeline and events surrounding UMA’s launch.

ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL SEPT. 11–13

drb4braces.com | (850) 656-3917 3051 Highland Oaks Trail, Suite 4, Tallahassee

↑ SUWANNEE ROOTS REVIVAL

tccarnival.com

OCT. 15–18

DR. GLENN BASS GOLF TOURNAMENT

Enjoy four days in a camper or RV with family or friends and revel in the spirit of Suwannee.

This festival features live bluegrass and folk music and hosts music workshops, dancing, crafting and food.

SEPT. 14 This event, hosted by Big Bend Hospice at Golden Eagle Golf & Country Club, is the perfect excuse to golf all day for a great cause. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit Big Bend Hospice’s unfunded programs. bigbendhospice.org/donate/bass-golftournament

FLORIDA GUITAR FESTIVAL OCT. 2–4 The Florida Guitar Festival builds community within the classical guitar world by bringing a yearly competition experience to the Tallahassee area that includes highquality master classes, multidivision competitions and concerts by highly revered classical guitarists.

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&

TALLAHASSEE WALK ALS OCT. 17 Come together with family and friends to walk for ALS. The Walk to Defeat ALS is the ALS Association’s largest annual event, and the funds that are raised go to ALS research, care service programs and nationwide advocacy campaigns. alsa.org

FRENCH COUNTRY FLEA MARKET OCT. 23–24

EXPERIENCE ASIA 2020

Sweet South Cottage hosts this flea market offering a variety of one-of-a-kind finds from purveyors of antiques, vintage home décor, heirloom goods, shabby chic furniture, handmade art, jewelry and more.

OCT. 3

frenchcountryfleamarket.com

The Asian Coalition of Tallahassee, Inc. (ACT) hosts Experience Asia 2020 located in the heart of Tallahassee. Experience Asia is a family event and is the only festival in North Florida that promotes Asian culture and understanding through

NORTH FLORIDA FAIR

visittallahassee.com/events/2020florida-guitar-festival

find us on

suwanneerootsrevival.com

NOV. 5–15 Enjoy funnel cakes, rides and entertainment galore at the area’s largest and best agricultural fair. northfloridafair.com

PHOTO BY SHELLY SWANGER

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A three-day celebration brings the islands and their culture to you through food, vendors, parades, pageants, live performances and more.

The 2020 SUBARU Always Up For Adventure...

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Chain of Parks Art Fest Thanks Its Supporters JAN. 16 LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival hosted a Donor Appreciation and 2020 Reveal Soiree to thank its loyal festival supporters and highlight this year’s cover art and artist. The reveal is one of the most anticipated aspects of the festival, held annually in Tallahassee, and featured an evening of art and music. Festival organizers introduced inspiring cover art by Kelly Rysavy, titled Under the Oaks.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF KIM ARMSTRONG

1 Tony Archer, Sheri Sanderson, Trimmel Gomes, Jay Newman and Dan Parisi 2 Lisa Mergel and Susan Fiorito 3 Jay and Sue Newman 4 Katie Kole, Nan and Mark Hillis with Kelly Dozier

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During these challenging times, we remain open and dedicated to safely serving our cancer patients.

Your treatment.

Our Journey.

You don’t plan for a cancer diagnosis. You begin to worry about your family, friends, work and health. Florida Cancer Specialists will be by your side — throughout the journey. Our doctors and nurses provide personalized, targeted treatment and clinical expertise so you can have peace of mind. And with world-class care that’s close to home, we’re always here to help.

We’ll give you the strength to move forward — every step of the way.

Proud to serve patients at our three 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

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Gynecologic Oncology of Tallahassee, A Division of Florida Cancer Specialists: 2626 Care Drive, Suite 101, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Call: 1-888-GYNONC1 FLCancer.com

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Fast casual eatery serving Sushi Burritos, Ramen, and various Bowls.

dining guide AMERICAN ANDREW’S DOWNTOWN

After 40 years, Andrew’s is still an energetic, casual, see-and-be-seen spot.

House favorites include a popular lunch buffet, hamburgers, salads and pasta dishes. Downtown delivery.

(850) 222-3444/Fax, (850) 222-2433. $$ B L D

BACKWOODS CROSSING ★

Sit down for fresh gourmet food at Tallahassee’s farm-to-table, destination concept restaurant featuring locally caught and produced soft-shell crabs, sausage, duck and blueberries. 6725 Mahan Dr. (850) 765-3753. $$ L D

"The Caveman" Rice Bowl

BUMPA’S LOCAL #349

(850) 270-9253 | 1861 W. Tennessee St. Unit 290 Follow us @BoruBoruTally for Daily Deals Scan the QR code with your phone's camera to view our menu, order ahead and make contactless payments.

Featuring burgers, sandwiches, pastas, fried ribs, tacos and wings, this new neighborhood bar and grill has something for everyone. 2738 Capital Circle NE. (850) 599-8652. $L D

DOG ET AL ★

Foot-long and veggie entrees alike grace this award-winning menu.

Also ask about their incredibly valued family packs. 1456 S. Monroe St.

(850) 222-4099. $ L D

THE EDISON

This relaxed fine dining establishment is equipped with a beer garden, wine cellar, casual café, openair alternatives and a gorgeous view that has become a Tallahassee favorite.

470 Suwannee St. (850) 684-2117. $$/$$$

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ★

The name says it all! This restaurant boasts a palate-pleasing combination of personalized service, eclectic ambiance and award-winning cuisine and is the Best Desserts winner for 2017–19. 1950 Thomasville Road.

(850) 224-9974. $$ L D

HOPKINS’ EATERY ★

A Best of 2019 winner, Hopkins’ provides favorites such as the Ultimate Turkey, the Linda Special and a variety of salads to keep customers coming back. Multiple

Great Food Great Friends

3740 Austin Davis Ave. Tues-Sun 7am-2pm (850) 765-0703

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Visit Our New Location Kleman Plaza Tues-Sun | 7am-2pm (850) 907-EGGS (3447)

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locations. Hours vary. $

ISLAND WING COMPANY ★

Get baked! Tally’s Best Wings for 2019 won’t serve you up greasy, fried wings; instead Island Wing bakes them fresh.

1370 Market St. (850) 692-3116. $ L

THE KEY ★ 2019 Best

of Tallahassee Winner

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. 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. 921 Thomasville Rd.

(850) 224-2466. $$ L D

LOFTY PURSUITS ★

This old-fashioned soda fountain serves ice cream, milkshakes and candy — plus brunch dishes and a selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. 1355 Market St.,

A11. (850) 521-0091. $ B

MADISON SOCIAL ★

Whether it’s for a social cocktail, a quick lunch or a place to gather before home football games, Madison Social offers something for everyone.

705 S. Woodward Ave. (850) 894‑6276. $$ B L D

OVERUNDER BAR

Two experiences under one roof, OverUnder features specialty cocktails plus curated food and drink pairings.

1240 Thomasville Rd. (850) 597-7552. $$

ROOTSTOCK

With an ever-changing menu of unique flavors, Rootstock offers shareable plates, artisan cocktails and a selection of 25 wines by the glass. 228 South Adams. (850) 518-0201. $$$ D

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 relaxing evening. 3534 Maclay Blvd. (850) 270-9396.

$$$ B L D

SAVOUR

Downtown fine dining with a vision for seasonally inspired, regionally sourced and creatively prepared cuisine, such as bourbon-brined pork chops, Gulf Coast bouillabaisse or miso marinated grouper. 115 E. Park Ave. (850) 765-6966. $$$ D

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

2018

our mission is the same as our passion: to serve the most delicious mexican cuisine at five 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

668-1002 |

crawfordville

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TABLE 23 ★

This “Southern porch, table and bar” is cozied up among oak trees on one of Tallahassee’s favorite street corners.

Lucky Goat coffee-rubbed ribeye and Schermer pecan-crusted chicken are among the regional offerings.

Continuing to safely spread love through food for 37 years

1215 Thomasville Rd., (850) 329-2261. $$$ L D

UPTOWN CAFÉ

1325 Miccosukee Road (across from TMH) (850) 219-9800 www.Uptown.Cafe Mon.-Sat. 7 AM to 3 PM Sun. 8 AM to 2 PM

Specialties at the bustling, family-run café include apricot-glazed smoked salmon, one-of-a-kind omelets, banana bread French toast and flavorful sandwiches. 1325 Miccosukee

Rd., (850) 219-9800. $ B L

VERTIGO BURGERS AND FRIES ★

REAL MORNINGS with GREG TISH and BOBBY MAC

Home to some of the funkiest burgers in town. Favorites include the Vertigo Burger — a beef patty served with a fried egg, applewood bacon, grilled jalapeños, sharp cheddar and Vertigo sauce. 1395 E. Lafayette St. (850) 878‑2020. $$ L D

ASIAN AZU LUCY HO’S ★

WEEKDAYS 6AM–9AM LIVE and LOCAL

Enjoy an extensive array of classic dishes with a modern flare, including gyoza dumplings, crab rangoon, General Tso’s chicken and szechuan beef, all in a relaxed setting. 3220 Apalachee Parkway,

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY CANOPY ROAD CAFÉ ★

Traditional breakfasts, fluffy omelets, skillets, French toast and sweet potato pancakes keep customers coming back.

Canopy also goes all out on lunch favorites.

Multiple locations. (850) 668-6600. $ B L

THE EGG CAFÉ & EATERY

When you’re looking for breakfast favorites, even if it’s lunchtime, The Egg is the place to be. 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 catering.

Mon–Sat 6:45 am–6 pm. 1355 Market St., No. A-5. (850) 893-3752. $ B L D

TREVA’S PASTRIES AND FINE FOODS

Specializing in sweet treats, cakes, pastries and croissants, this bistro-style pastry shop and fine foods store also uses 100% natural ingredients to make savory sandwiches, salads and soups. 2766 Capital Circle NE. (850) 765-0811. $$ L

CAJUN

Suite 13. (850) 893-4112. L D

BORU BORU

A fast casual eatery inspired by Japanese cuisine, featuring sushi bowls, poke bowls and sushi burritos. 1861 W. Tennessee St., #290. (850) 270-9253. $$ L D

COOSH’S BAYOU ROUGE ★

This Best Cajun Restaurant winner for 2019 brings a menu jam-packed with Louisiana-style dishes, including favorites like jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, po’boys and seafood gumbo. Multiple locations.

(850) 894‑4110. $$ B L D

KIKU JAPANESE FUSION ★

From tempura to teriyaki and sushi to sashimi, Kiku Japanese Fusion, voted Best Sushi in 2019, fuses vibrant flavors with fresh ingredients.

800 Ocala Rd. (850) 575-5458, 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-5458. $$ L D

MASA

A previous Best of Tallahassee winner, Masa’s menu offers a creative blend of Eastern and Western cuisines. 1650 N.

CATERING BLACK FIG ★

Whether you’re planning an event for five or 500, Black Fig offers a bevy of dining options, including catering-to-go.

1400 Village Square Blvd., #7. (850) 727-0016.

CUBAN

Monroe St. (850) 727-4183. $/$$

NAGOYA STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI Dine in or takeout, Nagoya offers a wide variety of authentic Japanese cuisine, including hibachi, salads, sushi and sashimi. 1925 N. Monroe St. $/$$ L D

GORDOS

OSAKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI BAR ★

1460 Market St. Suite #3-4. $ L D

Rated Best Hibachi for 2019, Osaka provides dinner and a show, with the chefs seasoning and preparing your meal right in front of you. 1489

McClay Commerce Dr. (850) 900-5149. $$$ D

CARRY OUT AVAILABLE Killearn Shopping Center (850) 222-5458

Ocala Corners (850) 575-5458

KIKUBOGO.COM

KIKUTOGO.COM

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BBQ WILLIE JEWELL’S OLD SCHOOL BBQ ★

Platters, sandwiches or by the pound, Willie Jewell’s offers smoked brisket, pork, turkey, sausage, chicken and ribs with a bevy of Southern sides.

5442 Thomasville Rd. (850) 629-4299. $ L D

Tallahassee’s top Cuban spot for over 30 years, Gordos features favorites such as croquetas, papas rellenas, empanadas and pressed sandwiches like their classic Cubano.

FRENCH LITTLE PARIS RESTAURANT

Authentic French cuisine in a relaxing casual atmosphere; try classics such as escargot, foie gras, duck leg confit, beef burgundy, wild sea bass and so much more. Curbside available. 1355 Market St. (850) 765-7457. $$$ L D

GREEK LITTLE ATHENS GYRO ★

Across from FSU’s campus, find

your fix for Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. 666 W.

Tennessee St., #5. (850) 222-2231. $ L D

INDIAN MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE

Featuring Indian classics such as tikka masala, naan and curry, Mayuri also offers an assortment of vegetarian and vegan options. 1324 Simpson Ave.

(850) 402-9993. $ L D

ITALIAN/PIZZA 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. 123 E. 5th Ave. ( 850) 412-1114. $$ L D

MOMO’S ★

After devouring a slice “as big as your head” at this 2019 Best Pizza winner, chain pizza simply is not gonna cut it. Multiple locations. (850) 224‑9808.

$L D

RICCARDO’S RESTAURANT

A Tallahassee tradition since 1999, Riccardo’s features savory Italian classics, from pasta and pizza to homemade subs and calzones — plus a wide-ranging selection of wines and craft brews. 1950 Thomasville Rd. (850) 386-3988. $$ L D

Z. BARDHI’S ITALIAN CUISINE ★

With delicious Italian cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere, Z. Bardhi’s has been family-owned and operated for over 20 years. 3596 Kinhega Dr.

(850) 894-9919. $$ L D

MEXICAN EL JALISCO ★

In the mood for sizzling enchiladas and frozen margaritas? Make your way to the 2019 Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant, El Jalisco, where they do Mexican cuisine to perfection.

Multiple locations. $ L D

EL PATRON MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA

Find all your authentic Mexican classics such as tacos, quesadillas, fajitas and burritos, or take a sip of a yardstick margarita. 1170 Apalachee

Pkwy. (850) 656-7264. $$ L D

SEAFOOD/STEAK THE BLU HALO ★

Blu Halo is a high-end culinary experience featuring dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood along with fine

wines and a martini bar. A private dining room for up to 20 guests is available. 3431 Bannerman Rd., #2 (850) 999-1696. $$$ L D

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. 3491 Thomasville Rd., Ste. 7. (850) 297-0460. $$ L D

GEORGIO’S FINE FOOD & SPIRITS George Koikos has over 50 years of experience in Tallahassee restaurants, and his hands-on commitment has made this upscale restaurant a local favorite featuring local seafood, prime steaks and banquet rooms for private parties. 2971 Apalachee Pkwy.

(850) 877-3211. $$$ D

HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL Serving Southern, Cajun and Creole flavors in classic and modern dishes since 1987. Full bar is available at each location. 301 S. Bronough St., in Kleman Plaza. (850) 222-3976. $$ L D

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAKHOUSE ★

Not just a restaurant that serves up savory cuts of prime rib or marbled steaks, this 2019 Best Steakhouse winner is a Tallahassee tradition. 2705 Apalachee

Pkwy. (850) 562-2525. $$ L D

SHULA’S 347

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 suggested. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005. $$$ L D

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD ★

Whether you’re looking for fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, crab or lobster, the 2019 Best Seafood Market winner brings the ocean’s freshest choices to Tallahassee. 1415 Timberlane Road. (850) 668‑2203.

TALLY FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR

Locally owned seafood restaurant boasts a raw bar and a bevy of fresh seafood such as catfish, stuffed Gulf grouper, shrimp, red snapper and more. Takeout available. 6802 Thomasville Rd. (850) 900-5075. $$ L D

WHARF CASUAL SEAFOOD

A Tallahassee institution, the Wharf will fill your need for the coast with fresh seafood, salads, seafood tacos and po’boys. Also available for catering.

3439 Bannerman Rd. and 4036 Lagniappe Way. (850) 765-1077 and (850) 668-1966. $$ L D

WAHOO SEAFOOD GRILL ★

Bringing the coast to Tallahassee, fresh seafood options mix with steak and classic Cajun dishes. 2714 Graves Rd.

Buy Fresh · Buy Wild

BUY SOUTHERN

(850) 629-4059. $$ L D

Visit our comprehensive, searchable dining guide online at TallahasseeMagazine.com/restaurants.

BEST SEAFOOD MARKET

1415 Timberlane Road in Market Square 850.893.7301 southernseafoodmarket.com

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postscript

A MATTER OF SURVIVAL

Battered by the pandemic, hospitality industry struggled to stay on its feet

I

n all of our years of operation, I never experienced a business problem like COVID-19. Operations, marketing, human resources, legal and accounting were all affected at the same time. Sure, we stress these business pillars from time to time throughout any year, but never had everything been disrupted so greatly at once.

Never as a business owner had I experienced such a wide range of emotions in such a short amount of time.

In one week (which seemed like a year), I felt anger, rage, helplessness, elation and contentment from day to day and sometimes hour to hour. It was a journey that often resulted in either exhaustion or a “fight-or-flight” response from adrenaline.

Never had I experienced a problem that was so polarizing and that produced so many experts. Masks? No masks? The government is right? The government is wrong? All of this debate surrounded the hospitality industry as we adhered to high standards while limited to to-go and takeout operations. (Prior to the arrival of the pandemic, those operations comprised less than 1 percent of our business model, and within 12 hours

beginning on March 20, that figure moved to 100 percent.) At grocery stores, unlike our restaurants, I have yet to see one credit card machine wiped down after each transaction. The effect of all of this trickled down into the hospitality community as some businesses were figuring things out, some chose to close, some chose to judge and some chose to grandstand. And, as I write this on June 18, we are still facing backlash as an industry.

Never had I heard “they choose profit over people” so many times that I question whether people know the difference between revenue and profit.

There was no profit to be had — there was only survival. Of the entities we had open, many were operating at less than 15 percent versus what they did last year, and only one was operating at 50 percent. Bills were still due, people still needed to be paid, and the worst part is we had — and continue to have — no idea how long this will last.

Through all the “nevers,” though, I was reminded about what is “always.”

There are always going to be issues you have to confront as a business owner.

These issues make you think harder, lean

in more, make hard decisions and pivot.

There will always be people judging and thinking they have the answers (Yelp haters, you know who you are), but the reality is you make choices that are best for your business and, more importantly, your employees and customers.

I had the privilege of speaking with many business owners over this time, and the overarching sentiment was “I care about my employees.”

This is the biggest “always” you will hear — as it should be. Within 48 hours of everything happening, I was on a Facebook message thread with Gordos, Canopy Road Cafe, Jeri’s Midtown Cafe, Riccardo’s and Habana’s Boardwalk discussing the pain felt for staff. This group also reminded me of the last “always” — the Tallahassee hospitality community is a close bunch, and all we ever want to do is extend that hospitality to the community.

The hospitality industry is a tough business, and this pandemic has increased that difficulty exponentially.

But like any industry, you adapt to survive, and I appreciate Tallahassee being patient as we all work toward a “new normal.” TM

Matt Thompson is a father, husband, teacher and business owner. Since 2013, For The Table Hospitality has created Madison Social, Social Catering & Events, Township, Centrale, SoDOUGH, Happy Motoring and Social Kitchen.

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PHOTOS BY GETTYSIMAGE / ISTOCK / DISOBEYART

by MATT THOMPSON

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