Emerald Coast Magazine June/July 2022

P E N S A C O L A M U S E U M H I G H L I G H T S M I L I TA R Y S E R V I C E B Y W O M E N

Captain’s Couture

Performance wear takes its place behind the wheel

His

Big Year In 365 days, bird expert Noah Strycker spied 6,042 feathered species. His advice to all: Keep looking up!

Outfitting your home with ‘man’s best friend’ in mind

Your DR E AM HOM E is OUR PA SSION

THE PRIDE OF A MASTER CR AFTSMAN When old-world craft meets new-world technology, an unprecedented level of quality is birthed. At E. F. San Juan, the quality and long-term function of our woodwork are the keys to creating elements that will transform a house into your dream home.

EFSANJUAN.COM

EMERALDCOASTMAGA EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM ZINE.COM June–July June-July 2022 2022 2020

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Paradise has arrived ON THE EMERALD COAST

LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE DREAMED AT LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE WATERSOUND! Sunshine and cool breezes. Palm trees and margaritas. Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville, a 55-and-better community inspired by the legendary music and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, built on food, fun, music and escapism.

Escape to the place where fun and relaxation meet. Escape to island-inspired living as you grow older, but not up.

Escape to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, located on Hwy 79, less than 8 miles from the beach.

New Homes from the high $200s

Sales center and 13 models open daily!

Latitude Margaritaville Watersound (866) 220-1954

9201 Highway 79, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 Mon. - Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm | Sun. 11:00am - 5:00pm

Visit online for more information LatitudeMargaritaville.com

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, LMWS, LLC. FILE NO. CP20-0062. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001182. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. The facilities and amenities described are proposed but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2022. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license.

Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. St. Joe and the St. Joe logo are trademarks of The St. Joe Company and are used under license. CGC 1519880/CGC 120919. 2022

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Contents

JUN/JUL 2022

FEATURES

↓

50

NOAH STRYCKER

Over the course of 2015, Noah Strycker spent $60,000, bought a series of one-way plane tickets and traveled more than 100,000 miles on a global birdwatching adventure. At year’s end, he had encountered 6,042 species, good enough for a short-lived world record.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

56 eBIRDING

The development and maintenance by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology of an online database, ebird.org, has revolutionized birding. There, anyone with an interest can explore the world of birds by region and by species and record the sightings that he makes.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

58

ADOPTING AN AVIAN POINT OF VIEW

When seeking to find and fool fish, it helps to think like a creature that swims. To attract birds, it helps to create a habitat that meets their needs for food, water and a place to rear their young. Plant a live oak; crevices in the tree’s bark host lots of critters that birds love to eat.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

photography by MIKE FENDER

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Contents

JUN/JUL 2022

29 37

19 CHAMPIONS Sweet

Pea, a marine sea turtle who lost a flipper to an entanglement with fishing line, serves as a greeter and ambassador at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, whose efforts are geared toward giving future Peas a chance.

century fashions are taking another turn in the What’s Hot column.

For anyone who might fear the return of skinny jeans, baggies are good for now.

34 W HAT’S IN STORE

PANACHE

29 CITIZENS OF STYLE

Among boat captains, stylish performance wear has replaced the tired old T-shirts and

GASTRO & GUSTO

37 D INING OUT Luba and

George Lazi, immigrants from former Soviet republics, departed the melting pot of New York City and are building eateries in Pensacola.

40 EATING HEALTHY Ideal for shedding pounds, bulking up or maintaining weight, make-ahead meal plans are catching on and can be tailored to any lifestyle.

EXPRESSION

June-July 2022

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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITOR’S LETTER SOCIAL STUDIES DINING GUIDE POSTSCRIPT

45 BOOKS In Eric Chance

Stone’s novel, Blue Waters, the protagonist is a private detective whose search for gold turns up a murder victim instead.

ABODES

P E N S A C O L A M U S E U M H I G H L I G H T S M I L I TA R Y S E R V I C E B Y W O M E N

Captain’s Couture

Performance wear takes its place behind the wheel

His

Big Year In 365 days, bird expert Noah Strycker spied 6,042 feathered species. His advice to all: Keep looking up!

61 F URNISHINGS

Pet-friendly home designs include built-in feeding and bathing stations, often located in mudrooms.

66

INTERIORS Long relegated to the attic, newly popular vintage and heirloom china is gracing tables in homes and restaurants.

6

14 84 86 90

» ASHTON HOWARD » A CROW SPEAKS OUT

Emerald Coast clothiers, a soap seller and a business that specializes in charcuterie boards tempt the most sophisticated tastes.

12 FROM THE

19

32 TRENDS Turn-of-the-

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION

Caldwell, the founder of the Monument to Women Veterans Museum in Pensacola, has plans to make the attraction a resource center for veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

IN EVERY ISSUE

EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

24 PERSONALITY Michelle

shorts that never could resist a stain. Indeed, it’s possible these days to go straight from the boat to the bar.

Rosemary married up well with Florida.

It’s heat tolerant and can be used for both culinary and decorative purposes.

Outfitting your home with ‘man’s best friend’ in mind

ON THE COVER:

A certain slant of morning light bronzes a showy snowy egret as it sails over Gator Lake at St. Andrews State Park. The egret was one of 38 species logged by renowned birder Noah Strycker during a visit to the park. Strycker spent several days in Bay County, stopping by several schools to talk about his favorite avian subject: penguins.

PHOTO BY MIKE FENDER

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN (48), EMILY VEAL (37), TODD DOUGLAS PHOTO (19) AND ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (66): KYLE1963 (BIRD PLATE) AND KINSEI-TGS (BLUE FLOWERS PLATE)

THE WAVE

68 G REEN SCENE

We’re thethe We’re

CENTER CENTER

of attention! of attention!

Bealls Outlet • Dick’s Sporting Goods Bealls Outlet • Dick’s Sporting Goods Ross • The Fresh Market

Ross • The Fresh Market

®

EATERIES

EATERIES Chili’s • Wayback Burgers • Craft Bar: a Florida Gastropub Chili’s •• Wayback Burgers • Craft a Florida Gastropub Texas Roadhouse IHOP • Jersey Mike’s SubsBar: • Zoë’s Kitchen Roadhouse • IHOP • Jersey Mike’s Subs • Zoë’s Kitchen Sweet FrogTexas Frozen Yogurt Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt

SPECIALTYSTORES STORES SPECIALTY PetSmart Kirkland’s ••Verizon Verizon• •Bed, Bed,Bath Bath and Beyond PetSmart • Kirkland’s and Beyond Michael’s Wine World World• •World World Market Michael’s •• Chan’s Chan’s Wine Market Shoe more! and more!

Shoe Carnival Carnival and • uBreakiFix 15750 Panama City Beach Pkwy PierParkNorth.com

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pierparknorth castoinfo.com CASTOinfo.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM ZINE.COM June–July June-July 2022 2022 2020

Contents

JUN/JUL 2022

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

26 FRESH SEAFOOD FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

BUSINESS BOULEVARD

Grand Boulevard is well known for its exquisite shopping experiences, but it is also home to 29 professional office tenants including banks and law firms.

71

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MEDICAL PROFILES What is important to you and your family? If you say good health, you’re not alone. In this special section, Emerald Coast Magazine fills you in on dedicated health professionals, their practices and their plans for keeping you healthy. Here they discuss their specialized skills, backgrounds and how they can help you with your important health care decisions.



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← MEDICAL PROFILES

Get to know compassionate and cutting-edge health care providers in our area including Dermatology Specialists of Florida.

The summer months bring fishing rodeos, outdoor concerts and performances, music festivals, the Blue Angels air show and more.

9 Calhoun Ave., Destin, FL • (850) 837-7575

DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE RESTAURANT 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin, FL • (850) 837-7525

DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

82 ↑ A GREATER GRAYTON South Walton High School students

have established a cleaning committee that will work to keep local beaches debris free.

2021 of

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8673 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, FL • (850)710-7070

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DESTINSEAFOOD.COM BEST E

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Our Professional Profiles special section NEXT ISSUE highlights outstanding service providers.

PROMOTION

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT SOUTH WALTON AND GRAND BOULEVARD

DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

CALENDAR

Schedule today at our new diagnostic and imaging center for women

You can schedule important health screenings now — including mammograms — where it’s even more convenient for you. Ascension Sacred Heart has opened Women’s Diagnostic Centers in Panama City, Destin, Pensacola and Navarre — close to home, with care teams that take the time to listen and understand you.

Choose imaging, testing and care that’s designed and

Appointments available now.

To schedule, visit ascension.org/SacredHeartMammogram or call 850-804-3900

personalized for women: • 3D mammograms and breast ultrasounds • Bone density testing • Pelvic floor rehabilitation • A nurse navigator who connects the dots for any additional care

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center 801 E. 6th St., Suite 404 Panama City, FL 32401

A 3D mammogram may require an additional fee if your insurance carrier does not cover the full cost. Please check with your carrier to determine if you will be responsible for any of the costs. © Ascension 2022. All rights reserved.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM ZINE.COM June–July June-July 2022 2022 2020

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EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

VOL. 23, NO. 3

JUNE-JULY 2022

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MCKENZIE BURLEIGH

EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Steve Bornhoft SENIOR STAFF WRITER Emma Witmer STAFF WRITER Hannah Burke CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Les Harrison, Lis King, Thomas J. Monigan, Wynn Parks, Liesel Schmidt

CREATIVE

Screen Printing Dye Sublimation Custom Apparel and more!

FreshPrintsofSouthWalton.com

VICE PRESIDENT/PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Lindsey Masterson SENIOR PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Burger, Saige Roberts, Shruti Shah GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Booini, Matt Burke, Cathy Catanese, Matthew Coughlin, Mike Fender, Jacqueline Ward Images, John Harrington, Jennifer G Photography, Lindsey Masterson, Sean Murphy, Kay Phelan, Todd Douglas Photography, Stephan Vance, Emily Veal, Bobby Wagner, Zandra Wolfgram

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi ADVERTISING SERVICES SPECIALIST Tracy Mulligan SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Julie Dorr ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Darla Harrison DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Zandra Wolfgram MARKETING MANAGER Javis Ogden SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett Frett ADMINISTRATIVE & CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST Renee Johnson

OPERATIONS CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE/AD SERVICE COORDINATOR Sarah Coven PRODUCTION EDITOR Paige Aigret PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan STAFF BOOKKEEPER Amber Dennard

YOUR BEST HEALTHCARE TODAY FOR YOUR BEST HEALTH TOMORROW

EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE emeraldcoastmagazine.com facebook.com/emeraldcoast twitter.com/emeraldcoastmag instagram.com/emeraldcoastmag pinterest.com/emeraldcoastmag youtube.com/user/emeraldcoastmag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

✓ Family and Internal Medicine ✓ Scheduled Primary Care Visits ✓ Acute Care Walk-ins Welcome

5551 Hwy. 98 • Santa Rosa Beach 850-420-5420 • primarycaresouth.com 10

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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 emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Single copies are $3.95. Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Pensacola and Books-A-Million in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Pensacola.

Availability may change subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS Emerald Coast Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. Emerald Coast Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright June 2022 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Expect More Information, Better Data & Creative Strategies Risk Management, Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits and Personal Insurance Ready to find your solutions? Let’s chat.

Brian Squire, EVP | brian.squire@bbrown.com 850-460-2502 | North Florida | BBrown.com Hays Companies is now Brown & Brown. New name. Same team.

Same unwavering commitment to client success.

Hays Companies, Inc.

Financial planning that fits you to a

Financial planning isn’t just about retirement. It’s about you and your family working toward financial security now and for future generations. Trustmark’s experienced Tailored Wealth advisors can provide guidance and a plan tailored to help you pursue your specific goals.

The perfect time to start planning is today. Learn more at trustmark.com.

Financial Planning services are offered through Trustmark Wealth Management, a division of Trustmark National Bank.

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from the

associate publisher

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED Mindful practices help people for a lifetime

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EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

When the door was opened, the boy was calm and proud of himself, rightfully so. And I was newly convinced of the value of my teachings.

We were only a couple of weeks into the class when the incident occurred. The boy would continue to grow mentally and physically in the remaining weeks. His confidence and ability to control his emotions will serve him and others for the rest of his life.

Breathe in, breathe out. So simple, so profound.

Namaste,

MCKENZIE BURLEIGH, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER mburleigh@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY SEAN MURPHY / RPI FILE PHOTO

From birth forward, we breathe involuntarily. Only later in life, if we are fortunate, do we discover the benefits of intentional breathing.

We may learn, for example, that by deepening the inhale and lengthening the exhale for as little as two minutes, we can reduce anxiety and stress levels. Such deliberate exercises can also help us sleep better and become more focused.

I have been a fitness instructor for about 15 years. A few months ago, I launched kid’s yoga classes in an effort to provide children with helpful techniques and tools that they can carry with them into adulthood. I firmly believe that these practices improve lives and that the sooner we expose young people to them, the better off the world will be.

Research shows children experience more stress and pressure today than ever before due to factors including social media, limited in-person interaction and the increasingly early onset of puberty. An estimated one in five young people will develop depression or other types of mental illness by the time they are 24.

My first three-month kid’s yoga class was made up, quite by chance, exclusively of 6-year-old boys. At the outset, I never could have imagined the impact these children would have on me. With them, I felt totally free to be myself. I was impressed by the speed at which their minds and bodies grew stronger and by the wisdom they inherently possess.

One afternoon during class, one of the boys had to go to the bathroom. When he didn’t return after a couple of minutes, I asked the other boys to join me and check on him. They reported that he had locked the door and couldn’t unlock it.

I told the boy through the door to “use your yoga breath just like we do in class and let the breath guide you to keep you calm.”

While waiting for the landlord to arrive with a master key, the other boys and I meditated and shared stories.

I prayed that this experience wouldn’t weaken a boy who I had hoped to make stronger.

From inside the restroom, he assured me that I had nothing really to worry about.

“I am breathing just like I am in class, and it is working,” he said.

New location!

36 years of Good Food. Good People. Good Times.

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Bud & Alley's restaurants are proudly following CDC protocols to ensure the health and safety of our employees and patrons.

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editor’s letter

DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT

At the base of a column in front of my neighborhood grocery store, I spotted it. Surely not by chance, the rock had been painted blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Attached to it was a note inviting the finder to keep the rock or pass it along.

Perhaps as intended, it had redirected my thoughts from my grocery list to a sovereign nation under siege.

A day earlier at nearly the same spot, a store manager bagged the possessions of a homeless man in plastic as I walked past in the early morning. Rain was in the forecast, and the store was soon to get busy. Then, too, I was led to reflect upon the circumstances of people far less fortunate than I. In February, I stumbled across Lars Eighner’s obituary in a Sunday edition of The New York Times. Eighner was a writer and a street philosopher whose celebrated memoir, Travels with Lizbeth, recounts three years that he spent homeless with his dog as his only reliable companion. To avoid firing, Eighner left his job at a state psych hospital in Texas after speaking to the way that conditions there should have been versus the way they were as a matter of policy and inertia.

While he succeeded in selling stories to magazines of a certain niche, he couldn’t pay the rent, could not find other work and was not of a profile that would have qualified him for assistance.

He had no children. He was not an addict. He was not a military veteran dealing with PTSD. He was SOL and soon on the streets, and then unable to qualify for food stamps because he was without a home with a kitchen.

Eighner, disturbingly, describes a social services system in his native Texas that did more to perpetuate social

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workers in employment than it did to help people in genuine need.

Life without a home was at once difficult and uncertain — and freeing.

His connection with world events and the deliberations of legislative bodies was severed. Over time, he wrote, his desire to reach for a found “gaudy bauble” was sated.

“I think this is an attitude I share with the very wealthy — we both know there is plenty more where what we have came from,” Eighner wrote. “Between us are the rat-race millions who nightly scavenge the cable channels looking for they know not what.”

We do better than that, of course, most of us in the middle, better than just habitually turning to one another to ask what’s new on Netflix. We are, after all, the folks whose labors and discards make the lifestyles of people at the extremes possible.

To stay mentally healthy, we must connect, yes, and also disconnect — not by turning on and dropping out — but via running, yoga, fishing, fandom, dancing, reading and other helpful activities. In such a way, we can escape expectations, overstimulation, boundaries, political come-ons, advertising messages and countless distractions.

Noah Strycker, one of the world’s top birders, knows what it is to disconnect and simultaneously reconnect. In his book, Birding Without Borders, he writes about visiting the world’s most remote locations.

“Before leaving home (in the U.S.), I’d paid close attention to the global news,” he writes, “but here in a tiny village in central Brazil, the news felt very far away indeed. Now that I was traveling the planet, each day deepening my connection with its great wealth of birds

and birders, media stories seemed to apply to some other universe in which I had no part.”

On the walls of lakeside lodges across the country hang lacquered cedar plaques upon which appears a quote from Herbert Hoover: “The Lord does not deduct from the hours of man time spent fishing.” Neither birding, perhaps.

“Birds stitch together even the farthest parts of our globe and teach us that borders are just lines drawn on a map — a lesson we can all take to heart,” Strycker writes.

We all might benefit by adopting a bird’s point of view.

Peace,

STEVE BORNHOFT EXECUTIVE EDITOR sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY MICHAEL BOOINI / RPI FILE PHOTO

Clear your mind, and you’ll see the world in a different way

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)

Arhaus Arula

Black Bear Bread Co.

Billabong

Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican

Bluemercury

The Craft Bar

J.Ji l l

Emeril’s Coastal

J.McLaughlin

everkrisp

The Jewel

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

La Luna

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

lululemon

Hemline

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

The Wine Bar

Sunset Shoes

Rose & Co

The Beaufort Bonnet Company (Now Open) 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

Grand Fitness

AMC CLASSIC Boulevard 10

grandboulevard.com #GrandBlvd

Emerald Coast Theatre Company

P U R E CO L L ECT I V E S A LO N & J O H N N I E- O ’ S NOW OPEN

EMERALDCOASTMAGA EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM ZINE.COM June–July June-July 2022 2022 2020

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PROMOTION

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM GIVEAWAYS

Ready, Set, Staycation!

We are giving away a fabulous stay at the beach. Whether you are looking to tie the knot, relax on a romantic honeymoon, celebrate your anniversary or just grab some beach time with your someone special, this amazing ultimate Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Getaway (valued at $2,500) is the escape you’ve been longing for.

Cheers! Congratulations to Lila Cornelio of Destin. She is the lucky winner of our South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival giveaway.

Enter exciting contests on our Giveaway page at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/giveaways and you just may win, too!

HELLO GOOD LOOKING The Emerald Coast is even more beautiful thanks to the expansion of Dermatology Specialists of Florida locations in Fort Walton Beach, and now, Watersound.

Learn more from our exclusive Beauty Links partner at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/ sponsored-content/beauty-links.

SWEET SUMMERTIME

The Emerald Coast is at its best in the summer.

Post a pic of your family enjoying your favorite pastime, tag us at EmeraldCoastmag, include #loveec and you may be included in an upcoming issue.

@emeraldcoastmag

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Emerald Coast Magazine

REWIND EXCLUSIVE

THE DANGERS OF ENERGY DRINKS As we head into the summer season, we encourage you to hydrate in a healthy way. But before you pick up any beverage, we “rewind” to this online exclusive that reveals just how “energy drinks” may have long-term effects on your health.

Learn more at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/thetop-3-dangers-of-energy-drinks.

PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE (ENERGY DRINKS) AND COURTESY OF THE HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA (GIVEAWAY) AND DERMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS OF FLORIDA

Enter to win at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/ giveaways.

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Facing a

job job change?

Facing a

change?

MakeMake smart money moves. smart money moves.

Now isNow the is time re-evaluate youryour financial plan the to time to re-evaluate financial planand andmake make important important decisions about the money you’ve invested in your future.

Experienced decisions about the money you’ve invested in your future. Experienced financial advisor HollyHolly Onda will will help youyou assess financial financial advisor Onda help assessyour yourcurrent current financial situation and determine move.

Calltoday todayto toschedule schedule your situation and determine youryour nextnext move.

Call your complimentary financial plan review. complimentary financial plan review.

Holly Onda

Holly Onda

Financial Advisor, LPL Financial

Financial Advisor, LPL Financial

holly.onda@lpl.com holly.onda@lpl.com 850.404.6059 850.404.6059

www.capitalcityinvestments.com

www.capitalcityinvestments.com Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member

FINRA/SIPC).

Insurance products offered through LPLLPL or itsFinancial licensed affiliates.

City Bankinvestment and Capital City Investments not registered(member as Securities and advisory services areare offered through (LPL), Capital a registered advisor and are broker-dealer a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Capital City Investments, and may also be FINRA/SIPC).

Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Capital City Bank and Capital City Investments are not registered as employees of Capital City Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not a broker-dealer orCapital investment advisor.

Registered representatives ofand LPLinsurance offer products and services Capital affiliates of, City Bank or Capital City Investments.

Securities offered through LPL or using its affiliates are: City Investments, and may also be employees of Capital City Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not Not Insured FDIC Any Federal GovernmentSecurities Agency · and Not Bank Guaranteed Not BankLPL Deposits or Obligations affiliates of, Capital City by Bank oror Capital City Investments. insurance offered·through or its affiliates are: · May Lose Value

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wave

THE

JUN/JUL 2022

A CONSCIOUS, COOL COMPENDIUM OF COASTAL STUFF

↗

Unable to survive in the wild due to a missing flipper, Sweet Pea, a green sea turtle, is the Navarre Sea Turtle Conservation Center’s ambassador in residence.

She was rehabilitated at the Gulfarium Sea Turtle CARE Program after she was found tangled in fishing line.

CHAMPIONS

PHOTO BY TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY / RPI FILE PHOTO

MORE TOMORROWS FOR TURTLES

Center rids environment of hazardous litter

by HANNAH BURKE

PERSONALITY

Monumental Progress

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angled up in a fishing line, a young green sea turtle lay prone in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Already suffering muscle and tissue damage and missing a chunk of her carapace, the turtle had been sliced to the bone in her left front flipper by the line, rendering her immobile.

Following an amputation and 1½ years of rehabilitation at the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island, the turtle, who came to be called Sweet Pea, began to show signs of recovery.

Despite never regaining use of her left rear flipper, she might rely on her right side to get by. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, knowing Sweet Pea’s disability would challenge her survival in the Gulf, deemed her non-releasable.

Now serving as the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center’s (NBSTCC)

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ambassador in residence, Sweet Pea is well cared for and doesn’t seem to mind life in her 15,000-gallon saltwater tank. She is the first creature that visitors encounter upon entering the Gulf-front facility, which is staffed primarily by volunteers and aims to prevent similar injuries to turtles through conservation education, grassroots initiatives and partnered research.

Even in February, the center was packed with volunteers, tourists and small children and their parents. We gathered around Sweet Pea’s tank to learn her life story from Alex Fox, a marine biologist and NBSTCC’s animal care team manager.

“We like to first tell people her story and let them ask questions to introduce them to sea turtles and the species we have here on the Gulf Coast,” said Fox, who has been with the center since 2016. “More importantly, people learn hers is a story not resulting from predation or natural

↑ Some of the litter removed from beaches during Trash-Bash cleanup activities has been collected in glass towers on display at the Navarre Sea Turtle Conservation Center.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAVARRE BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION CENTER

NICE DIGS Sweet Pea, a rescued green sea turtle, calls a 15,000-gallon saltwater tank at the Navarre Sea Turtle Conservation Center home.

She serves as a greeter at the center and provides dramatic evidence of the impacts that litter can have on marine wildlife.

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events, but from human activity. I think that really drives the point home of how much we impact the environment.”

Those impacts are dramatically displayed in the next room, where litter collected by Trash-Bash, a monthly beach clean-up activity and one of the center’s largest conservation efforts, fills tall glass towers.

Hundreds of discarded plastic straws, bottle caps, swimming goggles and cigarette butts nearly reach the ceiling.

“The last Saturday of each month, we invite the community to join us on the beach to collect litter,” Fox said. “Last year, we collected close to two tons of trash. Often, the sea turtles we rescue get X-rayed and are filled with these plastic bags and straws. You read about these statistics online, but it’s just like with Sweet Pea; seeing it in person is powerful. You’re seeing what it does to these animals, and it hits your heart in a different way.”

Fox said that last year about 50,000 visitors made their way through the conservation center, where you encounter everything from sea horses and lionfish to rehabilitated reptiles and terrestrial turtle species.

Among them, diamondback terrapins Handsome, Stubby and Pumpkin figure in NBSTCC’s partnered research with the University of Florida.

Data collected locally provides clues as to species distribution, nesting patterns and the utilization of salt marsh habitats.

The modest facility, full of exhibits and hands-on learning stations for children, makes the most of its space by covering its walls with informative infographics and interactive video displays. One

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such video shows NBSTCC volunteers in action, preserve nesting sites and embarking on live rescue missions as part of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Responsible Pier Initiative.

The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, the longest in Florida, joined forces with NBSTCC to save sea turtles like Sweet Pea who find themselves caught in fishing line. It is important anglers not cut these lines or attempt to reel in the turtle, said NBSTCC volunteer and Responsible Pier first responder Bob Blais, as this could exacerbate injuries.

“When we get the call, we head out on our UTV and, working with pier marshals, drop down a net to safely bring turtles up over the rail,” said Blais. “We typically bring them back here, do paperwork for Fish and Wildlife and transport them to the Gulfarium or Gulf World in Panama City. They can then safely remove the hook and provide veterinary care and rehabilitation before releasing them.”

Blais said NBSTCC participated in 55 turtle rescues last

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HOOKED TURTLES REQUIRE EXPERT HANDLING Some pier fishermen, upon accidentally hooking a sea turtle, may be inclined to cut the line. Angler Josh Burns instead did the right thing. He notified a marshall who called the Navarre Sea Turtle Conservation Center, which sent a team to the Navarre Beach Pier. Team members lowered a landing net to the water and then lifted the turtle onto the pier and removed Burns’ hook. The loggerhead turtle weighed in at 211 pounds before it was released.

year and only one, a 220-pound loggerhead, didn’t make it.

“Ours was the highest number of rescues last year out of all the pier initiatives in the state, and that’s because of the team we have here,” Blais said.

“They respond quickly and are good at what they do. We like to go out and talk to the fisherman, talk to the tourists and let them know about the number to call. It’s a good, coordinated effort.”

That kind of cooperation, said Fox, ultimately drives the organization’s mission of “giving sea turtles more tomorrows” and, ultimately, preserving our ecosystems.

“It’s funny because as the only animal on the planet who pollutes, humans affect the environment the most, but we are also the only ones who can save it,” Fox said. “Adults who come through here with their children, or pick up trash on the beach in front of their kids, are setting an example of how to care for the environment.

That’s why, for us, education and impressions are huge. It’s not just about saving sea turtles, it’s a planet mission.” EC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAVARRE BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION CENTER

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PERSONALITY

MONUMENTAL PROGRESS Michelle Caldwell bridges gaps in veteran services

by PAIGE AIGRET

M

ichelle Caldwell is a veteran, CEO and founder of several organizations, a youth advocate, a 16-time foster parent and an adoptive parent of two children. But Caldwell is tightly focused especially on military veterans.

Both her father and uncle served in the military. Seeing her uncle return from Vietnam truly struck her with the weight that soldiers carry home from war and the struggles they face in returning to their communities. As an adult, Caldwell was inspired to join the military after volunteering with a missionary group while in college.

She served in naval aviation from 1985 to 1989.

Now, Caldwell is working on a number of projects through the Monument to Women Veterans Museum, which opened in November 2021. The museum is located in Pensacola in what used to be the Amtrak Station. Pensacola lies within Congressional District 1, which ranks No. 1 in the country for the number of military personnel and veterans per capita.

In starting the nonprofit MWV 10 years ago, Caldwell assessed programs for veterans in her area and identified unmet needs. She found that the greatest void was in services for women.

The museum is just one piece in the greater machine that is the MWV. Caldwell has big plans for the old Amtrak

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→

Michelle Caldwell is nothing if not ambitious.

A military veteran, she is a mental health counselor, community servant, foster and adoptive parent and the founder of the Monument to Women Veterans Museum in Pensacola. She plans to make the museum a resource center for veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

photography by JENNIFER G PHOTOGRAPHY

Station. What she is creating there will serve as a campus for veterans, regardless of gender, who are returning to civilian life, and it will include a monument to honor female veterans. Already, Caldwell is using the facility to its full capacity.

The building is home to an exhibit area with ever-changing collections highlighting current and past female veterans. The museum serves as the face of the campus that Caldwell is creating. A National Visitor and Training Center and the Center for Strategic Military Excellence will operate beneath the MWV umbrella.

Programs will work together to help veterans gain access to benefits and resources and connect them with the tools they need to be successful in civilian life.

“We’re all about educating veterans on their benefits,” Caldwell said.

“It’s imperative for us to have a building because when we build the monument, they will come, and we want to be ready for that.”

Caldwell believes in reaching out through partnerships with existing organizations that share similar philanthropic goals. The MWV Museum hosts training and classes that support veterans in workforce education and personal health.

Subjects range from lead-based paint to yoga.

The organization started with the idea of erecting a monument for female veterans, and that plan is still in place.

Through a public-private partnership, the City of Pensacola is working with MWV and Elizabeth MacQueen, an internationally commissioned and award-winning artist and sculptor, to get the monument built.

The design for the monument incorporates a pond with LED-lighted

stainless steel flames reaching out and a green laser beaming from the top as a beacon. This laser beam will reach a height of 35 feet, which is as high as the Federal Aviation Administration will allow. For MacQueen, the beacon represents how “women are the light.”

A floating elliptical band inscribed with the names of female veterans will surround the flames.

Years in the making, both Caldwell and MacQueen are eager to break ground on the monument. They are currently raising funds for a model that will be housed in the museum ahead of the monument build.

Caldwell views the monument as a testament to the three R’s of MWV: recognize, respect and recruit.

“We need to recognize that women actually have been in combat since 1948, we need to respect the service that they have brought to this country and then we need to recruit for the next generation,” Caldwell said. This is where she finds significance in the

↑ Located in an old Amtrak station that closely adjoins railroad tracks, the Monument to Women Veterans Museum is home to ever-changing collections that highlight contributions made by women via their military service.

flames, seeing them as purifying and “a statement about the power that we bring to the table.” EC

LEADERSHIP

The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber Foundation named Michelle Caldwell its Community Leader of the Year for 2021.

Contributions to her Monument for Women Veterans Museum may be made by visiting sherowarrior.com and clicking on the red box at the upper left corner of the homepage.

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Business is Grand Grand Boulevard is a hub for professional offices and services

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W

e reside in a day and age where the work/life balance is becoming increasingly important. For 15 years, Grand Boulevard Town Center has been an advocate for merging work and play.

Grand Boulevard is often thought of as a center of retail businesses and restaurants, but professional offices continue to expand throughout the popular destination. Grand Boulevard currently has 29 professional office tenants ranging from real estate offices to legal services and banking and more.

“The professional offices located within Grand Boulevard bring huge

value to the center and from the very beginning have been important to our success,” said Stacey Brady, director of marketing and communications at Grand Boulevard.

The professional businesses attract clients who in turn shop, dine and attend community events hosted by Grand Boulevard. This model works well for the business as they can take a client to lunch or dinner, seal a deal with celebratory drinks, make plans over coffee, book client rooms at one of three hotels and strengthen relationships by attending a Grand Boulevard signature event together.

CUSTOM CONTENT

Offices tenants in Grand Boulevard enjoy numerous amenities including access to more than a dozen restaurants, a variety of retail stores, a fitness center, movie theater, live theatre, on-site lodging, salons and more.

I’m fortunate in the fact that the team at Grand Boulevard cares about both the patron and tenant experience by creating a clean, beautiful and safe space for all.”

— Dan Bruckner, owner of My Vacation Haven

Professional tenants’ employees conduct business and stay active during and after work hours, crossing off professional, personal and health-related tasks such as utilizing the fitness facilities, making purchases, dining and taking afternoon strolls around the scenic property.

“Grand Boulevard is very attractive to businesses that are looking for a professional office space that is state of the art and beautiful while being right in the center of action,” Brady said. “Being located here is a huge benefit to companies because both the employees and clients can enjoy every aspect and amenity of the town center.”

Dan Bruckner, the owner of My Vacation Haven, a vacation rental company, has been a tenant since 2007. Grand Boulevard was an obvious choice as it was central to where he

did business and offered everything he wanted to provide to clients.

Bruckner enjoys the ease with which he and his clients experience the location. They can have a meeting, go out for lunch, buy a birthday present, grocery shop and get in a workout all within walking distance. Bruckner uses restaurants for client meetings as well as staff luncheons. He may treat his staff to ice cream at Kilwin’s and shuts down the office early on Fridays to go to the movie theater.

“I’m fortunate in the fact that the team at Grand Boulevard cares about both the patron and tenant experience by creating a clean, beautiful and safe space for all,” Bruckner said. “Management has a good feel for what their audiences want and need by providing easy tenant experiences, hosting entertaining events and giving back to the community we live and work in.”

GRAND BOULEVARD 495 GRAND BOULEVARD, MIRAMAR BEACH | (850) 837-3099 | GRANDBOULEVARD.COM

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3899 E. County Highway 30A, Seagrove · 850.231.2166 · Open Daily at 4:30 · cafethirtya.com 28

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panache JUN/JUL 2022

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

CITIZENS OF STYLE

WHAT THE CAPTAIN IS WEARING

Modern marine wear performs well, looks good

by HANNAH BURKE

↗

Stereotype-busting Capt.

Lorraine Frasier of Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, Inc., located in Panama City Beach, chills on the bow of one of the operation’s vessels. The business offers experiences including Shell Island dolphin and snorkeling tours and Forgotten Coast wildlife adventures.

TRENDS photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

Y2K Fashions

|| WHAT'S IN STORE

Retail Round-up

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↑ Capt. Brayden Burns of Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, Inc., is ready for boating or brunching in an AFTCO Apex short-sleeved, button-down shirt and AFTCO stretch fishing shorts. Both the shirt and the shorts are made of four-way performance stretch material. Clothing provided

by Hy’s Toggery.

B

↑ Capt. Lorraine Frasier’s ensemble includes a Columbia PFG Bonehead straw hat; a sleeveless Tamiami button-down shirt; and a Flash Forward windbreaker, ideal for keeping off the sea spray kicked up by a running boat in a choppy sea.

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oat captains once conjured images of ratty T-shirts; sun-bleached, longbilled hats with leaping marlins or anchors on the crown; and shorts that appeared to be held together by stains, but today they’re sporting some serious seafaring styles.

“Marine wear isn’t just your grandfather’s cotton fishing shirt anymore,” said Josh Wakstein, owner of Hy’s Toggery in Panama City Beach.

Nautical threads now marry form with function in sleek, often understated pieces designed to keep you cool, dry and even aerodynamic.

“The expression we often hear is ‘from boat to bar,’” said Wakstein, whose store specializes in coastal outerwear and accessories. “You can be out on the boat all day, then dock and go to lunch somewhere looking as if you’ve just stepped out of your car.”

Columbia’s line of PFG (performance fishing gear) shirts, made with sweatwicking and quick-drying fabric, boast an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50.

These tops have acquired the Skin Cancer Foundation’s seal of recommendation,

which indicates their lightweight, polyester composition will block up to 98% of the sun’s rays.

Too, contemporary fishing pants and shorts are designed to repel water and maintain a solid stretch factor. Many opt for the convertible fishing pant, which zips around the thigh and transform into shorts or swim trunks.

For a more low-key day at sea, Wakstein suggests for both men and women a button-down performance shirt. “These are great for running across the bay to meet up with folks for lunch or just riding around and hanging out,” he said. “It’s a cleaner style that almost looks like a dress shirt.”

These shirts often feature mesh-lined back vents, perforated underarms and utility pockets for your sunglasses, phone and other essentials.

Just don’t forget a hat, Wakstein said.

“Every time I get on a boat, I’m reaching for my neck gaiter and hat,” he said, noting the popularity of sun-proof, mesh trucker caps among boaters. “As intense as our sun is here, it’s important you keep covered — unless you’re trying to see your dermatologist more.” EC

←↑ Capt. Keagan Montfort of Dolphin and Snorkel Tours, Inc., stretches out in a Huk long-sleeve Icon X performance fishing shirt that is moisturewicking and vented in the back. Her shorts are Huk’s Ashley style. ←↑ Montfort is joined

by Capt. Brayden Burns, who is wearing a Huk long-sleeve Pursuit performance fishing shirt, performance-lined swim trunks and a LoPro Angler trucker-style ball cap in refraction camo.

Clothing supplied by Hy’s Toggery of Panama City Beach.

photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

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← HEART-CENTERED FASHION

A flock of brightly colored butterfly clips accent Alaina Bludworth’s hair.

Are they as bright as Alaina’s smile? Not quite.

Her sweater has so much heart, it seems to pulsate.

TRENDS

THE AUGHTS ARE HOT, AGAIN Y2K fashions are back, within limits

by EMMA WITMER

A

h, the aughts. The 2000s were a time when lip-synching divas reigned supreme, everyone knew their Harry Potter house and MTV somehow convinced us that The Jersey Shore bore some relationship to reality.

While the world did not end at the change of millennia, fashion took a few years off. Red carpets were filthy with

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↑ High-waisted baggy jeans are accessorized with a butterfly chain. Retro heart-patterned knit top is from Etsy. Bracelet is handmade. Model: Alaina Bludworth

dresses over jeans, exposed thongs and layered tank tops. I was in middle school, and those trends did not translate well to everyday life.

But for the Gen Z crowd, who narrowly missed out on the trauma of sitting down in low-rise jeans, Y2K is the latest source of fashion inspiration.

Not convinced? Check your feed. Hashtags like “Y2Kfashion” or “Y2Kstyle” have accumulated well over a million posts. Popular fastfashion retailers like Shein have entire collections dedicated to the look.

Of course, not everything is coming back. Some of the more out-there styles remain safely in the fashion vault, but versatile pieces like plastic hair clips, baby T-shirts and mini-skirts have returned in a big way.

Laura Belsinger, owner of Pensacola’s Bluetique, is

reordering claw clips, which I affectionately call “mom clips,” every other day to keep up with demand. Alicia Taylor-Printz, owner of Pensacola’s SoBo Boutique, said satiny crop-tops and spaghetti-string dresses have become some of the shop’s most popular items.

As a baby millennial, or older member of Gen Z depending on where you draw the line, it seemed to me like we were not quite far enough removed from the Justin Timberlake/Britney Spears dynamic denim duo to call the comeback of 2000s fashion a “resurgence.”

Then, Taylor-Printz, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, reminded me that my early college ’90sinspired grunge phase followed the same pattern.

“Fashion really cycles about every 20 years,” Taylor-Printz said. “It’s strange because I remember wearing this stuff as a kid, you know? It’s funny now to see teenagers wearing it. Now, I understand women who come in, look at a more ’70s-inspired top and say, ‘Oh, I can’t do that again.’”

When it came to the fashionistas — the Beckhams, Aguileras, the Hiltons — aughts fashions could be a bit extreme. Most of us never hopped on the whaletail train.

My school had a dress code, after all, and gym class! The off-runway trends fell somewhere in the middle — inspired by the red carpet but approved by mom.

That’s how Belsinger rocked her Y2K trends back in high school. Halter tops were paired with mom jeans instead photography by JOHN HARRINGTON

←→

STUDY IN CONTRASTS

Nautica McEnteein tries on a Machine Gun Kelly band tee with her tortured jean vest and a necklace that suggests barbed wire.

Meanwhile, Alaina Bludworth sports a cropped angel tee from Brandy Melville and jeans from Target.

← Model Nautica McEnteein goes grunge in a de-sleeved denim vest, which she has paired with a black plaid skirt from Ross and accessories from Hot Topic. Underneath, she wears basic black.

of the typical low-rise. If a claw clip was on top, clogs were on the bottom.

Today’s social media trendsetters are following much the same pattern, taking the best of the aughts and combining it with modern silhouettes.

If you’re looking to get in on the trend without looking like you’re on your way to the premiere of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, try pairing one or two staple Y2K pieces with your favorite boyfriend jeans or a flowing peasant top. The

aughts were all about skin-tight tops and plastered-on jeans. It didn’t look great then, and it doesn’t look great now.

Instead, throw on that baby-doll tee with a pair of today’s high-rise, looser fitting jeans and some jelly sandals. If you find yourself reaching for that old tennis skirt at the back of the closet, try tucking in a blousy top and pulling your hair back in a clip.

“You don’t want to look fresh out of the 2000s,” Taylor-Printz laughed, “but sometimes when I catch high-schoolers in here looking at our floral, button-down babydoll dresses, I tell them they would look great with a pair of Doc Martens.

Yeah, we’ve done this before.” EC EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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A roundup of retail happenings throughout the Emerald Coast

by HANNAH BURKE

Love + Grow Clothing Co. has opened its first showroom and warehouse in Freeport. The company, started by Lindsey Smith, features mommy-and-me clothing for girls and boys from 6 months to 12 years.

It also offers footwear, accessories, blankets and more. In 2017, as a new mom, Smith took on a career that merged her passions for fashion design and motherhood. After enjoying success as an online merchant, she secured space at 457 Serenoa Road. Smith’s husband, Nick, grew up in the area, and the Smiths were happy to set up shop in Freeport.

SMELL GOODS

➸ ON BOARD CHARCUTERIE

creates customized charcuterie boxes, boards and trays for all of life’s events.

Give them as holiday, birthday or thank-you gifts, or call upon On Board Charcuterie to cater a corporate function or wedding. The business is located on Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola. ➸ Once you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped or at least worked up an appetite, head to Destin Commons’ newest concept, CITY FOOD HALL. The 14,000-square-foot space is home to 10 restaurants, a bar and two Top Golf suites. All are set to be open this summer.

MAGNOLIA SOAP & BATH CO. specializes in plant-based, natural soaps, bath bombs, body butters, shower oils, scrubs, shower steamers and more. The franchise store, located at Destin Commons, was founded by a mother who was concerned about her daughter’s sensitive skin. With over 40 scents, you’ll want to take your time sniffing and selecting.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOVE + GROW CLOTHING CO., TODAY’S BOUTIQUE AND MAGNOLIASOAPANDBATH.COM

↑ WHAT’S IN STORE?

➸ After 22 years in The Shoppes at Paradise Key in Destin, TODAY’S BOUTIQUE is relocating in 2022. The new location has not been unveiled yet, but owners Kim and Jim Dettle have said that it will better serve their loyal clientele. The new location will carry all the brands and styles they are known for as well as new additions. Today’s Boutique has been outfitting Emerald Coast women in high-end brands and on-trend styles for 40 years.

ShopSandestin has everything from beachwear and activewear (perfect for ECBC!) to styles for the little ones, and going out looks. Shop designers like Lilly Pulitzer, Show Me Your Mumu, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines and more.

Heat up your closet with a new summer wardrobe from our ShopSandestin family of stores!

850.351.1800 | @ShopSandestin

DON'T FORGET YOUR OFFICAL ECBC EVENT MERCH

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gastro&gusto JUN/JUL 2022

DINING, IMBIBING AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

DINING OUT

FUSION OF FLAVORS Pensacola eatery unites the Mediterranean and the South

PHOTO BY EMILY VEAL

by THOMAS J. MONIGAN

↗ SPLENDID SALAD Burrata, yellow and red heirloom tomatoes, 18-year aged balsamic, basil olive oil, artisan toast.

EATING HEALTHY Meal Prep: Be Prepared EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

June-July 2022

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gastro & gusto

C

hef George Lazi, his wife Luba and his team of cooks and servers have made their mark on Pensacola’s restaurant scene with a unique blend of two cultures.

They like to call their approach “South Meets South,” which combines recipes from the Mediterranean with some from Dixie.

“I think we are a favorite restaurant in this town,” Lazi said. “We have put ourselves on the map by working very hard to provide a very consistent experience, day after day, holiday after holiday.”

George was born in Soviet Georgia, and when he was 19 years old, he moved to New York City. His first job there was at a kosher deli in Queens.

His gradation from the culinary program at the Art Institute of New York enabled him to earn a position at Jean-Georges, a renowned French restaurant. Then came an opportunity at Fig & Olive, and six years later he was its corporate head chef.

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↑ Chef George Lazi and his wife Luba; a bartender twists a lemon peel in preparing a Sazerac with Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, Angostura bitters and absinthe rinse; exterior shot of George Bistro + Bar.

As a teen, Luba emigrated from Kazakhstan to New Orleans before relocating with her family to Pensacola in 2000. Upon earning a degree in fashion merchandising from Florida State University, Luba made her way to New York City for an internship with Bergdorf Goodman.

George and Luba met at a Christmas party, fell in love and eventually were married. When her mother became seriously ill in 2013, the couple moved to Pensacola to help out.

Luba’s mother recovered, and the couple decided to build on George’s credentials as a chef familiar with fine foods.

They founded George Bistro + Bar in 2015 on Garden Street. In 2018, they moved to a larger location on North Ninth Avenue, not far from Pensacola International Airport.

“Our decision-making process always involves how to give our guests more enjoyable and unforgettable experiences,” Lazi said. “We moved to our current location because it has a larger kitchen for providing a wider variety of cuisine, and it has a larger seating area for our guests.”

PHOTO BY EMILY VEAL AND STEPHAN VANCE (EXTERIOR SHOT)

← MISO-MARINATED HALIBUT Roasted fish served over layers of crispy Hasselback potatoes with soy butter, and a refreshing salad of cilantro, radish, green onion and lemon vinaigrette. ↑ CHEESE BOARD Three gourmet cheeses, toasted artisan bread, drunken mustard, pepper jelly, lavender honey, fresh berries, a selection of nuts and olives.

With the move, George Bistro + Bar expanded from 92 to 160 seats. Its staff doubled from 50 to 100. And it’s now open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week.

During the first wave of COVID-19, the doors were closed, but George kept its drive-thru window open.

“It gave people a boost of happiness when they had nowhere else to eat,” Lazi said. “I think the community is feeling the love and care that we have given to them the past seven years. When you serve customers, thousands and thousands every year, it builds up your reputation and you become one of the staples in the region. I think we serve the whole Gulf Coast now.”

Lazi’s favorite offerings: “Our George Fries are a signature appetizer and a must-have when visiting, especially with friends,” he said. “They’re made from hand-cut fries, andouille sausage, cremini mushrooms, Parmesan, feta, rosemary and sea salt. They’re served with curry ketchup, basil aioli and roasted red bell pepper aioli.”

Lazi added, “One of our best-loved dishes is our Alfredo Pappardelle. It features our house-made pappardelle pasta, creamy alfredo sauce, wild mushrooms, white truffle oil, parmesan and scallions.”

Pappardelle is a broad, flat pasta, similar to wide fettuccine, and originates in the region of Tuscany.

Lazi also mentioned Very Berry French Toast. This dish is made with artisan challah bread with vanilla bean and brown sugar mascarpone, topped with raspberry and blueberry sauce, house-made caramel and berries.

And of course, there’s a wine list. It offers 19 wines by the glass, plus 32 by the bottle.

“That includes a large selection of bubbly for celebrations,” Lazi said. “Our goal is to offer a little bit of everything, with our main focus centered on pairing wines with our menu.”

The restaurant offers outdoor seating on its porch and beneath a covered, heated pergola. It has a full-service craft cocktail bar. EC

SURF AND TURF In December 2021, Chef George and Luba opened Pearl & Horn. It is part of a collection of eateries known as The Garden and located at the intersection of Palafox and Main streets.

“We have always felt a connection with downtown,” Lazi said. “It’s a great location with great potential.”

Pearl & Horn offers menu items including shareables, soups, salads, burgers, and other sandwiches and desserts.

Most will find its broiled oysters, topped with Parmesan cheese and garlic butter and served with French bread, to be irresistible.

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gastro & gusto EATING HEALTHY

BE PREPARED

Save time, money and calories with make-ahead meals

by HANNAH BURKE

F

or college students, instant ramen, dollar menu items and vending machine snacks make for fast and frugal dinners, but David Solomon and Felipe Souza refused to fall victim to the “freshman 15.”

Between their classes and shifts at a Tallahassee dive, the childhood best friends, who grew up together playing sports and going to the gym, maintained an active, healthy lifestyle that included delving into the art of meal preparation.

More than just an internet “life hack,” meal prepping involves making and portioning dishes ahead of schedule to ensure a balanced diet.

You’ve likely seen videos online of influencers sharing their favorite big-batch recipes, but this fad is nothing new for gym rats, senior citizens and those with dietary restrictions.

Ideal for shedding pounds, bulking up or maintaining weight, make-ahead meal plans are catching on and can be tailored to any lifestyle.

“I was actually doing MMA training at the time, and meal prepping helped me lose the weight,” Souza said. “Sundays and Wednesdays, I would make these meals for David and me. Our co-workers grew curious and even offered to pay me to make some for them. I told David we should get licensed and insured and actually do this.”

Solomon and Souza now co-own a meal delivery service, Prep Pros, in Tallahassee. Subscribers receive one to four meals daily and, based on their fitness goals, can customize their dish’s protein, carb and caloric proportions.

“I’m our company’s No. 1 customer,” Solomon said. “I’ve been eating these meals for the past four years, and when I have to travel, I notice a difference in how I feel. I miss them.

Even visiting my family this year for Thanksgiving, I noticed how time-consuming it was thinking about what to make, actually cooking and doing the cleaning that followed.”

Ashley Cole and her husband and business partner Ross Cole provide a similar service along the Emerald Coast at Healthy Coast Meals.

Cole, a fitness nutrition coach and professional fitness competitor, began meal prepping to help her deal with Crohn’s Disease.

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← Storing food in glass containers, according to the eco-friendly products provider, MightyNest, ensures that no stains or chemicals are transmitted to your next meal. Plus, glass is highly transparent and heats up well.

“With that diagnosis, I had to learn to eat a certain way,” Cole said. “For me, that meant gluten-free everything and anti-inflammatory types of food — nothing processed, and whole, natural-type meals.”

Cole said she grew up in New Orleans, where she says that “food is life.” The prospect of eating bland, boring meals every day was a downer, but she quickly learned flavor needn’t be sacrificed for healthfulness.

“I taught myself how to make food that was good for me, and it turned into something I really liked to

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gastro & gusto

→ Mango Salsa Salmon (for four meals)

The Prep Pros’ entree is perfect with a side of jasmine white rice and garlic-roasted asparagus.

INGREDIENTS

do,” she said. “Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. A fried chicken parmesan can become a baked chicken parm with zucchini noodles. We like to add little twists, so you still feel like you’re eating something desirable without ruining your diet.”

For Solomon, switching up sauces and adding sprinkles of cheese are the best ways to spice things up. A batch of the same chicken, rice and greens can be dressed in tangy teriyaki one day and spiced up with salsa and queso the next.

“Simple, but effective,” Solomon explained, is a good rule of thumb for people prepping meals at home. Meat or protein alternatives, veggies and complex carbs are keys to clean eating, and you don’t need extravagant recipes to keep things interesting.

Professional meal prep services typically rely on registered dieticians to break down meals, but free smartphone apps, such as MyFitnessPal, can count calories and divide dishes by serving size.

Cole suggests that people without specific fitness goals and dietary restrictions adhere to a standard, three-component

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meal: 5 ounces of a lean protein, 4 ounces of a complex carb and 4 ounces of vegetables.

“It’s important to know your goal and understand the amount of food you should be eating,” Souza added. “You don’t want to waste food, and you don’t want to deprive yourself of the nutrients you should be getting. Portion control serving utensils measure your food by the ounce and are sold everywhere. They really work and help you understand the weight of your food.”

Some set aside Sundays for a week’s worth of prep, but many prefer to break it up for variety and freshness. Opt for two different proteins for the week, or save money on groceries by identifying recipes with overlapping ingredients.

Solomon also recommends investing in high-quality, microwave-safe containers. “Glass containers heat well, but if you’re on the go, make sure you have plastic that won’t melt with the food and ruin the flavor,” he said.

For Cole, meal prepping is a lifestyle. “You’re making a commitment to be healthy, and what you put in your body is largely going to dictate your well-being.” EC

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➸ (2) 1 pound whole skinless salmon fillets ➸ Olive oil ➸ 2 tablespoons smoked paprika ➸ 2 teaspoons Kosher salt ➸ ½ teaspoon black pepper ➸ ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ➸ ½ teaspoon garlic powder ➸ ½ cup honey ➸½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar FOR THE SALSA

➸ 2 large ripe mangoes, chopped (or substitute 2 ½ cups frozen mango) ➸ ½ red onion, diced ➸ ½ sweet bell pepper, chopped ➸ 1 small, seedless jalapeno ➸ Squeeze of lime ➸ Lots of fresh chopped cilantro ➸ S alt and pepper garnish Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, mix honey, apple cider vinegar and seasonings and brush onto the salmon fillets. Once the salmon is seasoned, double wrap in heavy foil, sealing it on top.

Bake for 12 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 2–4 minutes or until center is cooked to 145 degrees. Rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Mix ingredients of salsa and spoon over salmon. photography by LINDSEY MASTERSON

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CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES

BOOKS

A Treasure Hunter’s

Search for Truth

↓

Eric Chance Stone’s mystery novel explores dark arts and the sometimes deadly power of lies

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

ART photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

A Beachy Aesthetic

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expression

W

ith a central character whose desire to find treasure is balanced by a desire to find truth, Blue Waters is about more than just a drifter who has forsaken a conventional job and a permanent address. At its core, it’s about exploration of self, history and mystery.

Rick Waters is a former airline employee who’s bounced around some scenic destinations, living and working for a while in the Destin area before abandoning all to hit the road in his old Ford truck. He travels with a metal detector, a cockatiel named Chief and little else.

In Blue Waters, author Eric Chance Stone mirrors much of himself. Like Waters, he worked many years for American Airlines and found himself on the Emerald Coast.

Time and various life pursuits took him to exotic locations, including the Virgin Islands.

He eventually moved back to Florida — he currently lives in Destin where he shares a home with three exotic birds.

Stone writes what he knows.

Protagonist Waters has been in the private investigations game a few years and has been rooting around Texas trying to find treasure that has thus far eluded other pursuers. A promising lead takes him to a site where he finds a piece to the puzzle of missing gold.

The search is soon waylaid, however, when Waters stumbles upon a murder victim in the West Texas town where he is camped out.

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↘ When private investigator Rick Waters goes hunting for gold in West Texas, he discovers a murder victim instead whose father hires him to look into the death.

Waters is the protagonist in a novel by Eric Chance Stone, a man who prefers sea oats to cacti.

photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

Blue Waters, a 264-page mystery novel that is the first in author Eric Chance Stone’s “Caribbean Adventure Series,” is available at Amazon along with the other three books in the collection. All center around Rick Waters, a drifter capable of making a vagabond look like a homebody.

in Your Home.

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The manner of Cara Johnson’s death suggests ritualistic Voodoo practices and a possible connection to a movie about cults. Johnson’s father easily convinces Waters to investigate. Tuning in to his instincts as a PI, Waters is on the hunt for more than just the fortune that has brought him to town.

While juggling theories on what, exactly, could have brought about the murder and who might have done it, Waters focuses on the killing’s Voodoo signature. With Chief and a .38-caliber pistol, he travels around Texas pursuing leads.

Stone portrays Waters as a tough customer, a man who doesn’t let close calls or dangerous situations rattle him. His bravado serves him well — especially at the pool table where he wins more than he loses and enjoys the adrenaline rush that can come with putting money at risk.

Leads take Waters to the Virgin Islands and then to Haiti and point to a connection to Johnson’s own family. He becomes immersed deeper and deeper in the world of Voodoo in which things are not often as they appear.

Waters encounters in his travels a beautiful young woman but postpones a serious relationship. He has a murder to solve. What he finds, in the end, is a sad and sickening truth — secrets can destroy lives and even kill. He brings justice to bear and lies to light.

After hunting for treasure, searching for truth and finding unexpected love, Waters’ life is just beginning. EC

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The

POWER of the Bird

Inspired by the thing with feathers, Noah Strycker canvassed the avian world 50

June-July 2022

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T

HERE HE WAS, A male sandy-haired Oregonian, moving about lightly, as he characteristically does, on little catbird’s feet and emitting a high and slightly nasally voice that sounds as if it exits a duck’s bill.

Members of the Bay County Audubon Society had looked forward to Noah Strycker’s visit with a degree of anticipation they usually reserve for, say, the arrival of migrating buntings in the spring.

Strycker is a rare bird.

story by

STEVE BORNHOFT

photography by

MIKE FENDER

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BIRD BOOKS

Brian Dusseault, Bay County Audubon’s vice president, pursued Strycker, one of the world’s foremost birders and bird journalists, for years. Finally, monthly contacts with him became daily as Strycker’s arrival in Bay County neared. In April, Dusseault introduced Strycker at Florida State University Panama City as the featured speaker at an Audubon Society Nature Connection event.

School children, too, had looked forward to the coming of the Bird Man, who presented programs about penguins at seven schools while in town. (While he surely could have, at no point did Strycker tell the joke that goes: One penguin approaches another penguin and comments, “It looks like you are wearing a tuxedo,” whereupon the second penguin replies, “What makes you think I’m not?”) Twelve schools joined in a penguin art contest.

The flurry of animated activity invited comparisons between the Bird Man and the Music Man.

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Strycker was 10 and growing up in rural Oregon when his fifth-grade teacher affixed a suction-cup bird feeder to a classroom window. Students learned to identify the birds that it attracted. For young Noah, that experience would prove to be a formative one. Two years later, he was building bluebird houses with his father. He had become a Bird Boy. In 2008, Strycker graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in fisheries and wildlife science. Thirteen years later, he earned a master’s degree in marine science at Stony Brook University in New York.

His research and thesis work focused on the population dynamics of chinstrap penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula.

“You could say that I am a penguinologist,” Strycker told the gathering at FSU PC. Too, Strycker is the author of several birdcentered books, including The Thing With Feathers and Birding Without Borders. The latter is an account of his travels throughout

Noah Strycker’s The Thing With Feathers explores connections between birds and humans. Birding Without Borders is a bird-by-bird account of Strycker’s Big Year.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOAHSTRYCKER.COM (BOOK COVERS)

↑ A snowy egret glides over Gator Lake at St. Andrews State Park in Bay County; the lake and the nearby Buttonbush Marsh are hotspots for anyone looking to check off wading birds on their life lists. → Noah Strycker, in the baseball cap, joined by Bay County Audubon Society members Ron Houser, Arnold Huyghebaert and Brian Dusseault, observed a certain serpentine state reptile swim across Gator Lake.

2015, a year he dedicated to a singular goal: seeing at least half of the known species of birds on the planet, that is, about 5,000. He wound up eyeballing 6,042 while dealing with sleep deprivation, floods, war zones, mudslides, airlines, vehicular breakdowns and customs officials.

Strycker kicked off his world-encircling remarks by talking about Antarctica, where he began his “big year.” He answered a question unlikely to have occurred to members of his audience, despite their collective bird IQ: What do you do when a chinstrap penguin, pursued by an orca, rockets out of the water and lands in your inflatable Zodiac?

“You have a penguin in the bow of your boat in Antarctica and he is posing for you with all of his

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53

best angles and you’re taking lots of photos of it,” Strycker commented while playing a short video clip of the encounter. “Then you notice some other penguins on a nearby iceberg.”

Strycker thought to taxi the hitchhiker over to that occupied iceberg versus somehow returning the bird to water that was now being patrolled by a humongous and presumably hungry leopard seal.

The experiment worked. As the Zodiac neared the ice, the penguin shifted its attention away from humans and toward his nearby brethren before leaping onto frozen terra and joining them.

At FSU PC, the assembled birders reacted in unison with a big “Aw!” followed by thunderous applause.

Then, by way of drawing attention to the diverse ecosystems on the planet and the marvelously adapted birds that inhabit them, Strycker displayed a photo of a sword-billed hummingbird.

The species has the longest beak relative to body length in the bird world, and its feet are the color of bubblegum. It is native to the mountains of Columbia and Ecuador and is equipped to probe the outsized blooms that occur there.

In his Big Year, Strycker would sight birds ranging from chickadees to cassowaries, collect stories and make friends with birders all along his 100,000-plus-mile, 41-country route.

Birding has come to enjoy worldwide popularity over the past two decades

FREEZING NATURE IN PHOTOS Top shooters offer tips for capturing the great outdoors

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↑ A great blue heron, frequently seen patiently stalking its next meal, takes an aggressive

approach to a twig that it will add to its nest. The birds typically nest near the tops of trees in large colonies. They stand four feet tall and second in size among wading birds in the continental U.S. Only sandhill cranes are bigger.

or so, naturalist Kenn Kaufman writes in his foreword to Strycker’s Birding Without Borders, owing to two main factors — the information explosion and the advent of the internet. Guides to birds have proliferated. Strycker, in preparation for his travels, loaded his phone with photos of every birdidentifying plate in a stack of guides taller than he is. Data found at ebird.org helped shape his itinerary.

Strycker logged 466 birds in the United States and a whopping 784 during his treacherous travels in Peru.

Twice his progress there was slowed by washouts that made primitive mountain roads even more scary.

At times, Strycker’s efforts to log a fairly unspectacular bird were complicated by a fellow birder who did not stay on task.

Strycker was in upstate New York looking for an American black duck.

Three of the region’s leading photographers share advice with shutterbugging nature lovers.

THE RIGHT GEAR

“Equipment doesn’t make the photographer. The camera is just a tool.

Whatever camera you have, learn how to use it.”

— Jeff Waldorff “I always tell people that you don’t have to have a $10,000 camera, but if you’re serious about it, invest in a $1,000 lens. And, the only time I don’t have my camera on a tripod is if I’m swimming underwater

with it. We’re human beings.

We breathe, we get nervous and we shake.”

— Randy Traynor

THE RIGHT EXPOSURE “You can recover shadows, but you can never recover highlights. My typical rule on my camera is I actually underexpose everything by a third of a stop. I keep my camera set to that so I never blow out the highlights.”

— Dave Barfield

THE RIGHT LIGHT

“The best times for nature photography are just before and after sunrise and sunset.

Basically, you can’t shoot in Florida between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. unless you have lighting equipment.”

— Dave Barfield

↑ Clockwise from top: A snowy egret in

delicate breeding plumage; a red-winged blackbird, whose trilling konk-la-reee call is heard at wetlands across the country; and a blue-gray gnatcatcher, often seen perched on the ends of twigs when it is not pursuing insects.

Tim Lenz of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was supplying him with companionship, transportation and sightings verifications when Lenz received a message on his phone.

A brown pelican, thousands of which Strycker had seen days earlier on the Pacific Coast, had somehow strayed to Cayuga Lake near Ithaca. Lenz had to see it. It was the equivalent of a moose seen south of the Mason-Dixon line.

The black duck would have to wait a bit.

Months later, in Australia, a reporter for the Cairns Post asked Strycker what bird he most wanted to see on the island continent. “I’ve never seen a cassowary, and I’d really like to find one,” Strycker told the journalist.

A day later, Strycker said, a story appeared in The Post beneath a headline to the effect of “Birdwatcher Wants to Break World Record with a Cassowary in Cairns.” The article contained Strycker’s phone number.

So it was that Strycker received a call from a man who said a cassowary with two chicks had been hanging around his backyard. Without hesitation, Strycker was on his way, undeterred by the cassowary’s reputation as the world’s most dangerous bird. More than one man has met his maker after being eviscerated by one of the bird’s wicked middle toes.

The cassowary can reach a standing height of 6 feet, 6 inches and is marked by large pink wattles and a horny crown that looks like it might have been swiped from a stegosaurus.

“It was one of the greatest bird encounters I have ever experienced,” Strycker said, “thanks to this very nice man who just happened to read about me in the paper and called me up.”

Strycker and Kaufman are optimistic about the ability of birding to unite people and lower blood pressures.

“Everything in nature is connected, and as the birders of the world become more connected also, the reality of the future looks brighter already,” Kaufman wrote. We can hope that the world’s most evil despots take up the hobby.

On the morning following Strycker’s presentation at FSU PC, I spent the day fishing not far from Bay County’s airport. As I descended Crooked Creek on my way to West Bay, I spied two eagles aloft and wondered if they might be a mated pair.

I noticed that the occupants of a boat a few hundred yards from me were oblivious to the grandeur above.

They had failed to heed an admonition that Strycker wrote inside the cover of my copy of Birding Without Borders.

“Keep looking up.”

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eBIRDING story by

STEVE BORNHOFT

↓ The eBird.org website,

maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, provides maps, stats, photos and sounds for any bird in the world. It is constantly updated by birders who post lists of sightings to the site. Users of the site may also explore the world of birds by region — ebird.org compiles data and reports related to recent sightings, birding activity, best hotspots and top birders for a county, state, province, country, territory or dependency.

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D

ET EC T I N G MY AT L E AST unsophisticated interest in birds and birding, Norm Capra volunteered to do me a favor.

We made arrangements for me to visit him at his home in a heavily wooded area overlooking Lake Powell. En route, I would discover that his address on a short stretch of dirt road is enough to defy MapQuest.

Thankfully, when I called Capra to confess that I had become lost, I learned that I was within an eighth of mile of his dwelling, which he has named the Ritz Cracker House.

It features Cracker-style architecture with a big porch, but it is no mere cottage, hence the highfalutin name.

Capra is a retired biomedical scientist whose area of specialty was neuroscience. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Capra taught at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 14 years and for almost 32 years at the University of Maryland Baltimore, where he worked to establish a Ph.D. program for dentists. He holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in anatomy from the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Capra is a member of the Bay County Audubon Society and served as the chapter’s president for two years ending in May 2019. In retirement, he is still

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

teaching. He leads a course in “Birding for Beginners” as part of Gulf Coast State College’s “Education Encore” program for seniors.

And, for two hours, I was his student.

With a one-on-one tutorial, Capra would introduce me to ebird.org, a website maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York. Birders the world over use the site as an information resource and a tool for identifying birds and inputting sightings to the school’s vast database.

I informed Capra that I had taken the step of establishing an ebird account in anticipation of our session.

At that, he seemed pleased. When I told him I had chosen Full Loon as my ebird user name, I caused Capra to pause long enough to smile, a feat not easily achieved.

Steadily and with patience, Capra took me on an ebird tour and showed me how to submit a list and how to explore the site by region and by bird species. The Macauley Library at ebird is home to bird photos and recordings.

The site is like your smartphone.

It can do many more things than you are likely ever to use. And, ultimately, navigating the site is a skill best learned by doing.

Capra had succeeded in hooking me on ebirding. Earlier today, I drilled down to discover where sightings of black-bellied whistling ducks have been made in Bay County. The locations

PHOTOS BY LINDSEY MASTERSON (PHONE APP) AND ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: MANGPOR_2004 (COMPUTER), INNA SINANO (SWALLOW), SVETLANA KUZMINA (MALLARD), KASSIIA SERGACHEVA (PELICAN), HENNADII (OSPREY), ROSAPOMPELMO (BLUE JAY) AND SADDAKO (HERON)

A website has replaced traditional field guides

listed included my Bay County neighborhood, Breakfast Point, where I first spied such a duck on April 30, 2019. The ducks have turned up, too, at the Panama City Beach Conservation Park, Frank Brown Park and Camp Helen State Park.

I happened upon a list of 13 birds sighted at Crooked Creek where I spend some of my pleasurable hours aboard my boat, the Bullpen. The list included many of the birds I have seen there. Ah, but where was the black-crowned night heron, the greater yellowlegs? I am going to have to get involved.

As I write this, the noted birder, author and penguin expert Noah Strycker is in town. On March 29, he submitted to ebird a list of 38 birds he had seen that morning at Gator Lake at St. Andrews State Park. Ebird lists birding hotspots where many species may be seen. Along the Emerald Coast, that park is among the hottest of the hot along with Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill State Park in Walton County and Gulf Islands National Seashore in Escambia County.

Birders had seen a scissor-tailed flycatcher at the park visited by Strycker in days leading up to his arrival in Bay County. But the spectacularly longtailed species did not appear on the list of 38. No doubt, Strycker was disappointed.

Capra is a conservationist, as you would expect.

He winces as he notes the 2019 estimate published in the journal, Science, by researchers who concluded that in the past 50 years, North America has lost some 30% of its entire bird population, or around 3 billion birds.

“The biggest culprit is habitat segmentation,” Capra said. “The little conservation areas that developers set aside aren’t enough to sustain species.” He said about his own neighborhood that he never anticipated that he would see the amount of development occurring there now.

But Capra the birder perseveres, documenting what’s out there. He is a volunteer with the Floridawide EagleWatch program coordinated by the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. In that role, he closely observes activity at two bald eagle nests, one at Deer Lake State Park and the other at the eastern edge of Watersound.

I noticed that Capra’s computer had been placed on top of a copy of Baseball, a book by the documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

“Are you a fan of the game?” I asked.

“I follow the Orioles — all those years in Baltimore.”

I resisted the impulse to tell him that he would be better off following the Blue Jays or the Cardinals. No need. Capra knows his birds.

SEEN AT GATOR LAKE Birds observed by Noah Strycker at St. Andrews State Park, March 29 » Mallard » Pied-billed Grebe » Mourning Dove » Common Gallinule » American Coot » Laughing Gull » Royal Tern » Anhinga » Double-crested Cormorant

» Brown Pelican » Great Blue Heron » Great Egret » Snowy Egret » Little Blue Heron » Tricolored Heron » Black-crowned

Night Heron » Osprey » Belted Kingfisher » Red-bellied Woodpecker » Downy Woodpecker » Blue Jay » Fish Crow » Carolina Chickadee » Barn Swallow » Ruby-crowned Kinglet » Brown-headed Nuthatch » Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

» House Wren » Carolina Wren » Gray Catbird » Brown Thrasher » Swamp Sparrow » Red-winged Blackbird

» Common Grackle » Common Yellowthroat

» Northern Parula » Yellow-rumped Warbler

» Northern Cardinal

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AVIAN To attract birds, find ways to meet their essential needs story by

STEVE BORNHOFT

T

HE 2018 CATEGORY 5 EVENT referred to simply as “the storm” throughout much of Northwest Florida had impacts both dramatic and subtle.

People would learn well after the big blow passed that Hurricane Michael had acted as a giant seed-dispersal agent. As a result, plants started popping up in yards where they had never been present previously.

At Richard Duncan’s place, Virginia creeper, a vine that will crawl along the ground and scale fences, threatened to overtake his backyard. Duncan whacked at it and whacked at it some more before thinking to

→ Sparrows converge on a feeder offering a variety of foods.

Birds, says Richard Duncan of Wild Birds Unlimited, do not become dependent upon feeders but may be made healthier by them. Cages placed around feeders allow for feeding by smaller songbirds while excluding larger blackbirds and grackles.

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POINT OF VIEW

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research the plant. Turns out, Virginia creeper attracts a species of moth whose caterpillars are preferred baby food for cardinals.

The creeper wasn’t so grim after all.

“I repented and made peace with it and let it go wild,” said Duncan, who owns the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Panama City. The business sells wild bird foods, feeders, birdbaths and such, and its owner is an itinerant speaker whose favorite topic is “Backyard Birding.”

“I emphasize to people that if they want to see birds, they should envision their yard as a bird habitat,” Duncan said. “If more people repurpose their yards to make them attractive to birds, we can collectively make up for a lot of the wild habitat that has been lost.”

Duncan said birds require four elements in a place to hang out: food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young.

PHOTOS BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: NICKYP2 (SPARROWS) AND QUIETLIGHT57 (HUMMINGBIRD)

Adopting an

“Native trees and plants are critical to bird activity,” he said, “because they attract native bugs. Exotic plants may look pretty, but the bugs don’t use them in the same way.

If you use native plants, hopefully you can get away from using pesticides. When you kill the bugs, it affects the bird population.”

Duncan said that if you are to plant a tree with birds in mind, make it a live oak. The hiding places provided by its rough bark attracts some 142 insect species.

But the first step in attracting birds is through their gullets.

“Establish a foundational feeder,” Duncan said. “Supply it with food continuously and, over time, as the birds discover it, the feeder will become a reliable foraging source for them.”

A simple tray or platform feeder is a good one for starters because it is open to the sky and birds can readily detect the food it contains.

“Birds find food via discovery,” Duncan said. “They don’t follow scents. Birds love platform feeders, many different types of birds can feed from them, and they find them quickly.”

For a time, a backyard hobbyist may be content to attract birds of any feather, but that is likely to change. Blackbirds, grackles and doves are bullies who dominate feeders and don’t pleasingly affect humans like bluebirds and goldfinches do.

Fortunately, there are ways to discourage the tyrants.

Blackbirds, starlings and grackles don’t much like safflower seed, which some of Duncan’s customers choose to feed exclusively, he said. Guards may be placed on feeders to prevent doves from using them. And feeders may be surrounded with cages that admit bluebirds, finches, sparrows and small woodpeckers but prevent entry by birds in black.

Bluebirds, which prefer open environments, have thrived in Hurricane Michael’s big, bad footprint.

“That is one silver lining to the storm,” Duncan said. Before Michael, residents of Panama City’s once heavily wooded Cove neighborhood never saw bluebirds. Now, they are prevalent there.

“Bluebirds are not equipped to crack seeds,” Duncan pointed out. “They like

bugs and fruits. People feed them a lot of dried mealworms. We sell ‘no-mess’ seed that has already been shelled. Bluebirds will eat sunflower chips if they don’t have shells on them.

You can mix them with mealworms.”

There are suet feeders for woodpeckers and feeders built specially for bluebirds, and there are feeders designed to dispense nectar to some of the meanest and most adored birds that hover: hummingbirds.

Nearly 100% of the hummingbirds seen on the Emerald Coast are ruby-throats.

Many pass through the area between midMarch and early June en route to Northern summertime haunts. Others remain in Florida to breed but become less apparent.

“Customers will say to me, ‘I don’t see my hummingbirds anymore. I must have killed them with bad nectar,’” Duncan said. “In reality, they’re here, but they keep to a small perimeter when nesting. Then, in the first week of August or so, we see returning birds.”

Duncan dismissed as a myth the notion that feeders discourage hummingbirds from undertaking migrations triggered by seasonal conditions such as shortened days.

“Feeders may make for a more supportive environment for birds, but they never become dependent on them,” Duncan said. “By putting feeders or other sources of nutrition out there, you are increasing the opportunity for birds to thrive and breed successfully. It’s like we humans have Healthy Start. A higher percentage of the offspring make it.”

In recent years, Duncan said, customers have reported that a growing number of Western hummingbirds, including rufous and black-chinned varieties, have been spending winters on the Emerald Coast versus migrating all the way to Mexico, as they typically do.

Migrations and the shoulder seasons, Duncan said, are the best times of year to make unusual sightings.

“Our motto for the store is ‘Bringing People and Nature Together,’” he added.

“I hear it from people over and over again: There is peace that comes with watching the birds.” EC

BIRDING HOTSPOTS ON THE EC BAY » St. Andrews State Park » Tyndall Air Force Base » Camp Helen State Park » Shell Island » Conservation Park WALTON

» Grayton Beach State Park

» Topsail Hill

Preserve State Park » Eden Gardens State Park » Deer Lake State Park » Hogtown Bayou State Park OKALOOSA

» Okaloosa

Holding Ponds

» Ross Marler Park » Fort Walton Beach Spray Field

» Okaloosa Landfill » West Jetty, Destin SANTA ROSA

» Shoreline Park » Gulf Islands

National Seashore

» Navarre Beach Park » Soundside Foundation Preserve » Blackwater River State Park ESCAMBIA

» Fort Pickens » Big Lagoon State Park

» Johnson Beach » Pensacola Beach » Century Landing Source: ebird.org

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TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

FURNISHINGS

DIGS FOR DOGS

Redesign your home with Fido in mind

by LIS KING

↓

INTERIORS

Heirloom China

|| GREEN SCENE

Getting Rosemary Off to a Good Start

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← Mudrooms and laundry rooms are ideal locations for built-in feeding, sleeping and bathing stations for dogs. Spaniel, your bath is ready!

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PHOTOS BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: COINUP, PHOTOLOGY1971, MYKEYRUNA, LENTA, JFJACOBSZ (DOGSCAPING) AND COURTESY OF CHEWY AND WHITE GOOD_DOGGIE LAUNDRY ROOM FROM CLIVE CHRISTIAN FURNITURE

O

f course, you love your dog to distraction.

But, when guests are expected, you probably scurry to remove messy feeding bowls, pick up chew toys and Febreze the sofa.

You’ll be glad to learn that designers are hard at work coming up with concepts that pamper our pooch, as well as simplify the job of caring for them.

Kitchen and bath designers are often at the forefront of innovative pet designs, including feeding centers that can roll out of sight, cozy indoor snooze centers and doggy wash stations.

They claim that such design features can be beautiful, and of course, a happy and healthy pet also means a happy pet owner.

The National Association of Kitchens and Baths (NKBA) says that pet-friendly design is on the rise, and the American Institute of Architects reports a sharp spike in client interest in built-in pet rooms and kennels.

For dogs, mudrooms and laundry rooms are considered the best locations for built-in feeding, sleeping and bathing centers.

When designing these spaces, you should consider your pet’s size, age, health and temperament.

For example, while a pull-out, lower cabinet drawer outfitted with water and kibble bowls is fine for smaller dogs, a long-legged Great Dane needs a taller unit.

←→ Available at Chewy.com: Frisco Broadway dog crate credenza and mat kit, left, and Frisco loveseat pet bed with removable cover, right.

For most large dogs, dining seat height is about right.

Too, keep your dog’s size in mind for a sleep center. While decompressing, most dogs like to feel snug. The space can be minimal, just large enough for them to comfortably turn.

Sleeping quarters might be a cabinet with an opening, a rollaway bed or a bench with a cushy pad. The space beneath a staircase, often used as a closet, is many designers’ pick for a canine bedroom.

“If you’re outfitting a mudroom as a safe space for your dog to curl up or play in while you’re out, add a compartment for his toys,” said Sarah Barnard, one of NKBA’s pet-friendly designers.

“Outfit dog cushions with washable duvet covers, and avoid toxic materials.

Puppies, especially, are prone to tastetesting items within reach, including rugs and pillows.”

A dog tub/shower is an item at the top of many pet owners’ lists, and pet

pros approve. They say this feature saves owners time, money and stress, and most pets seem more comfortable at home than at the groomer.

Indoor kennels and crates have also gone luxe. These days, they’re often designed to do double duty as a coffee or end table and sometimes stand in for cabinets and sideboards.

Then, there are dog doors.

These take the form of doors with cutouts, through which the family dog

DOGSCAPING

As an animal lover, you may be inclined to plant milkweed, a plant relied upon by monarch butterflies in their life cycles. But be mindful that milkweed is among plants that are toxic to dogs. Others, in addition to those pictured here are: sago palms, tomato plants, aloe vera, amaryllis, gladiolas, daffodils, baby’s breath, chrysanthemums, begonias and oleanders.

GRASSY PALM

ALOE

ENGLISH IVY

AZALEA

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can go in and out at will, as well as for special in-house doors that, when necessary, may keep him at bay.

The latter are a far cry from typical, rickety baby gates.

Boasting fine wood, they may even be pocket doors.

Interest in outdoor pet living is also on the rise.

While no dog lover will ever advocate letting a dog live outside, a dog house can sometimes be a necessity. Kathy Mullen, a dog trainer and owner of Kalero Dog Obedience in Panama City Beach, recommends dog houses serve as an outdoor haven for Fido but not a home.

Dog house doors should always be open, said Mullen, so your pet may enter and exit as they please.

“Dog houses can provide shelter for a dog that is outside, but you don’t want to leave them out there 24/7,” Mullen said. “Dogs are pack animals and like to feel enclosed, and dog houses provide that for them outside. During extreme weather, though, they need to be inside the house with you.”

Popular styles range from tiny, Snoopy-esque homes to classic log cabins with roof decks, but you should prioritize its size and comfortability over aesthetics.

The house needs to be big enough for the dog to lie out flat with his legs and head fully extended. It should be well-insulated, and the floor ought to be slightly slanted toward the rear to drain rainwater.

Your dog will also need a place to go potty. It could be a patch of artificial grass capable of being hosed off or a mulched area.

When landscaping around your dog’s area, be careful with graveled paths, as small stones can get caught in tender paws. Most importantly, keep toxic plants out of his yard. Common plants such as azalea, grassy palm, aloe and English ivy are no-nos.

Checking out the ASPCA website’s list of toxic plants for pets is a must. EC

PHOTO BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: KICHIGIN

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INTERIORS

A RETURN TO REFINEMENT Heirloom china is a hot commodity

by LIS KING

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↑→ Styles tend to be cyclical, and vintage china’s time has come again. Restaurants and homeowners are setting tables with dishes that had been relegated to boxes and buried in storage closets.

Keith Winkler, the firm’s marketing specialist, said many restaurants now use vintage mixed tableware with spectacular results. Too, millennials are drawn to vintage tableware to create personal table settings.

“They mix patterns, color and styles,” said Winkler. “There is even a group called ‘Grand Millennials’ who create and share beautiful tablescapes on social media.”

Lisa Byrne, owner of Blue Moon Antique Mall in Pensacola, said that the trend is picking up traction in Northwest Florida.

“China, both antique and contemporary, is becoming more popular,” said Byrne.

“Especially that of the ’60s and ’70s, midcentury style. Those tend to be more atomic and abstract.”

PHOTOS BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: PAMELA_D_MCADAMS (TEACUPS), KYLE1963 (BIRD PLATE), KINSEI-TGS (BLUE FLOWERS PLATE), NATTSTUDIO (BLUE CASTLE PLATE), VIKIF (SAUCER), THOMAS NORTHCUT (PINK) AND COURTESY OF GERALD POMEROY INTERIORS

N

ot so long ago, most of us dreaded the moment when a downsizing granny would offer us her wedding china, so prized that she’d only bust it out for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Millennials, especially, didn’t want those floral, gold-rimmed plates, let alone archaic serving pieces such as soup tureens, gravy boats and lidded bowls.

Finding granny’s china too fussy and a bit comical, they swore by minimalistic plates that could clatter from table to sink to dishwasher without shattering.

But, things are changing.

Instagram, Etsy and Pinterest followers interested in food, restaurants and decorating are exposed to a steady diet of pretty, vintage plates.

Professional and home chefs compete to show off their culinary masterpieces, and that often involves something other than the practical-but-clunky white restaurant china.

Meanwhile, people are creating imaginative tablescapes by using vintage patterns in contemporary ways.

With more than 11 million pieces in their inventory, Replacements in North Carolina is the world’s largest retailer of vintage and modern tableware. They report brisk business at their online “vintage shop.”

Byrne said customers tend to purchase pieces from different sets that adhere to the same color family.

Turquoise or green, for example, can be recurring hues in various designs and make mismatched dishes more aesthetically cohesive.

“Classic blue-and-white patterns are the leaders in vintage china,” added Winkler. “But there is also an enormous interest in botanical patterns, and people continue to collect classic favorites from Spode, Wedgewood and Haviland.”

But complete sets of granny’s china are popular with wedding ceremonies, said Winkler. The reason is simple: Vintage china is sweet and romantic, just right for wedding receptions and dinners.

Tony eateries, too, are discovering old china. It’s amazing how delicious collard greens can look on a rosepatterned plate, and a cookie becomes all the sweeter when served on a goldrimmed grandma plate.

Of course, china can be purely decorative. They can accent fireplaces or serve as picture frames.

Crafters are snapping up old china, only to break them up for mosaics projects. Others recycle whole plates and cups for artsy lamp bases, bird feeders and wind chimes.

But, gallery walls of curated plates are the most popular way of decorating

with vintage china. You can make one out of patterned pieces in various sizes or uniform white plates that look stunning on a boldly colored wall. Plate hangers will make this an easier process.

With all this newfound interest in old china, Winkler said you shouldn’t be too hasty about dumping an heirloom set of china. He is glad that people are beginning to appreciate family heirlooms.

“The challenge is that most of us simply don’t have room for a whole set of china,” Winkler said. “So, we suggest that you just keep the pieces you know you will use, and donate or sell the rest of the set. That way, you can still enjoy the memories the china evokes.

“If you’re lucky enough to be in possession of granny’s china, please use it all the time, and don’t let it languish on a shelf.” EC

←→ Vintage china may be used for purely practical purposes or it can serve as art, taking places on fireplace mantels and in wall galleries.

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GREEN SCENE

GETTING ROSEMARY OFF TO A GOOD START Cuttings do well when properly nurtured by

LES HARRISON

H

eat tolerant herbs such as rosemary can be used for culinary and ornamental purposes.

Starter plants are available at nurseries and other retail businesses.

Select healthy, pest-free specimens.

New rosemary plants can also be started with cuttings. Those most likely to root are taken from new growth on the top of the plant or the outermost parts of older stems.

Each cutting should have several leaves or leaf buds on its upper end. Ideally, cuttings are about 4 inches in length. Place them in water immediately after removal from the parent plant to prevent wilting.

Plant the cuttings in a well-drained container filled with lightweight potting soil.

The stem should be inserted far enough so that the cutting securely stands erect.

Homemade blends of starter soils containing equal parts of clean sand, peat moss and perlite can be used. The application of a rooting hormone approved for use on edible crops will add to the likelihood of success.

Containers holding rosemary cuttings should be placed in a shady spot with no direct sun exposure. When new leaves and stems emerge, it is time to move them into the garden or landscape.

Be sure the new plant is watered regularly until established.

Rosemary does best in full sun exposure. It also is salt tolerant and does well in coastal areas.

Brown spots or dead patches in lawns may result from several causes. Insects, fungal disease and overwatering all can damage or kill turf grasses. Arrive at a solid diagnosis before beginning treatment to assure success.

It is time to prune azaleas and gardenias, so there will be no reduction of next year’s bloom. MidJuly is the cutoff point for pruning these spring bloomers.

Severe or radical pruning should be avoided, especially on hot days. Trimming and shaping will encourage the growth of new branches and leaves.

When the gap between rain events is too long during the warm summer days, supplemental watering of landscapes will be necessary. Be sure sprinklers cover the desired areas.

One watering of up to 1 inch is better than several light applications.

The heavier watering will encourage deeper root growth and better drought tolerance, especially in sandy soils.

Use randomly placed containers, such as disposable cups or tuna cans to measure the amount of water reaching an area. Adjust the sprinklers so that a uniform and ample amount of water reaches all of the lawn and landscape.

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

Caterpillars are usually noticed for the first time in home landscapes in early summer. When they are small and causing little damage, they are easily overlooked or dismissed, but this can be a serious mistake.

Most caterpillars feed on a specific plant or a narrow range of plants. With few exceptions, they are not capable of stripping entire landscapes bare. Southern armyworm caterpillars, however, can create horticultural havoc. These nascent moths are attracted to a vast variety of plants in home landscapes, and they reproduce quickly. Eggs are laid in bunches, and they all hatch at about the same time. Unleashed on a lush environment, they immediately begin eating. These pests can go through four reproductive cycles during the warm season, with a generation replacing itself with hundreds of offspring. If caught in time, armyworms can be controlled with over-the-counter insecticides or by diligently picking them off plants. Birds will eat these caterpillars, but the caterpillars reproduce faster than the birds can consume them. Fortunately, the other caterpillars on the Emerald Coast area are far less destructive.

ARMYWORM CATERPILLARS

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MEDICAL PROFILES What is important to you and your family? If you say good health, you’re not alone. In this special section, Emerald Coast Magazine fills you in on dedicated health professionals, their practices and their plans for keeping you healthy. Here they discuss their specialized skills, backgrounds and how they can help you with your important health care decisions.

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MEDICAL PROFILES

SMART SMILES ORTHODONTICS Dr. Edwin Witcher, DMD, MS, Board Certified Orthodontist WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR PRACTICE PROVIDE? Smart Smiles Orthodontics provides orthodontic treatment for children and adults. This includes everything to make your smile straight, white and protected under the care of a well-trained orthodontist. We offer traditional braces, clear braces, gold braces, Invisalign®, Invisalign® Teen, and Invisalign® First to get that perfect smile. In addition, we offer whitening, customized retainers, and specialized mouth guards for those with braces who play sports.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED? While we see both adults and children, our business has expanded tremendously by working alongside a pediatric dental office, Kids’ Dentist Stu Bonnin and Rachel Witcher DMD, which allows our patients with braces to have their wires out and a cleaning without having to schedule multiple dental appointments and rushing to multiple offices. Orthodontic adjustments and a dental cleaning can be scheduled in a single visit.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE? Simple. We use the mantra, “What would I do in this situation for my son or daughter?” The answer then becomes very clear and easy to make. We also use the highest quality materials in addition to our brand-new facility and technology to provide patient-centered care.

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? The favorite part of my job is having the opportunity to become a positive role model to my patients and having the ability to instill confidence in others. It is super rewarding to start with a young child or adult who isn’t comfortable showing their teeth for photos and ending with a confident patient who is eager to show off their beautiful, sparkling white smile. It’s a great feeling as a provider to see a patient’s smile light up the room during their smile reveal appointments! We like to celebrate at our office!

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER G PHOTOGRAPHY (DR. EDWIN WITCHER, DMD, MS AND DR. RACHEL WITCHER)

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO THIS CAREER? Initially, I became interested in helping others by shadowing my father who practices emergency room medicine and staying up until the wee hours of the night talking to the paramedics. I soon realized that a more sustainable career would be one that allowed time with my family. I was able to see this work/life balance through my mother’s two brothers who are dentists.

Becoming an orthodontist allowed me to place smiles on customers’ faces, work in a happy and positive environment, and provide a service that so many find as a confidence booster.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Kids’ Dentist team members

KIDS’ DENTIST Dr. Rachel Witcher WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR PRACTICE PROVIDE? Comprehensive dental treatment and oral care for babies, kids, teenagers and kids with special needs. Our emphasis is on prevention first. We offer white or silver crowns, fillings, space maintenance, extractions and more, providing care in a way your child/teenager will feel comfortable, including various pediatric sedation methods. In addition, we provide laser tongue and lip tie corrections (frenectomies) for infants and older children when indicated. My husband, Dr. Edwin Witcher, recently started Smart Smiles Orthodontics right next door, so now patients can receive braces and cleanings in the same location — less driving for busy parents is a win to me.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS? Reaching the fullest potential God has for my business and life. I want every child and family to feel like they were treated with kindness at every appointment. Success is storing up treasures in heaven and not on this earth because we sure can’t take them with us.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE? I treat every child like I would my own. As a mom, I realize how scary the unknown can be with treatment for your kids. I always assure them this is 100% the best treatment they can get and what I would do if it were my child.

Dr. Stu Bonnin WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? Our practice is focused on families and children. Helping children grow up to be responsible, respectful and resourceful teenagers and adults is one of our goals.

Partnering with parents to rear healthy children is our passion.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TRANSITION YOUR PENSACOLA PRACTICE TO DR. RACHEL? I’ve known Dr. Rachel for many years, from her time as an employee through her undergraduate education and then dental school, all the way to her residency and practice in Gainesville. We share the same conservative practice values/beliefs and I knew she would be the best fit; it was just a matter of time.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE FROM VISITING YOUR PRACTICE? I sincerely hope that after experiencing a visit with us, a parent says, “I am glad that I brought my child to Dr. Bonnin and Dr. Rachel. I feel that things were explained to me, and they listened to me. I know that I can call either of them anytime for an emergency or if I have a question.”

3201 E. OLIVE ROAD, PENSACOLA | (850) 477-1722 | STUBONNIN.COM

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MEDICAL PROFILES

Dermatology Specialists of Florida/Aqua Medical Spa’s new office will be located upstairs in this beautiful new building in Watersound Town Center, bordering the entrance to the Watersound Origins community along the U.S. Highway 98 corridor.

DERMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS Dermatology Specialists Opening In Watersound Origins

DERMATOLOGISTS SPECIALIZE IN CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT THE SKIN, hair and nails. The team of experts at Dermatology Specialists of Florida goes beyond the surface with its concern for total patient wellness and happiness. While diagnostic work begins with an examination of the skin, it can also include an assessment of other issues that might be weighing on you.

Dr. Jon Ward, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and founder of Dermatology Specialists, earned his medical degree at the University of Florida and completed his residency at the University of Massachusetts. Along the way, he learned that treating the skin can improve the confidence, happiness and overall well-being of patients.

“What led to my interest in dermatology was the ability to directly see what I’m treating because when you’re dealing with matters of the skin, it’s something in front of you that you can touch and feel,” Ward said.

In 2006, Ward founded Dermatology Specialists of Florida which has since expanded to Dermatology Specialists of Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

The business has 27 locations, 14 of them in Northwest Florida. The latest location, scheduled to open in August 2022, will be in the Watersound Origins town center.

Ward grew up in DeFuniak Springs and graduated from Walton High School. When he moved back to Walton County in 2020, he knew he wanted to open a dermatology clinic to serve eastern Walton County.

“Opening a location in Watersound was a natural fit because I am able to provide service to the county I grew up in and work where I live,” Ward said. “Providing exemplary care to my neighbors is something I take pride in.”

The new 5,000-square-foot office, located at 75 Origins Main St. (Suites 203 & 204) will include medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology as well as the physiciansupervised Aqua Medical Spa. Procedures and

treatments offered at the Watersound Origins office include full skin care exams, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, treatment of chronic skin conditions and anti-aging procedures such as facials, chemical peels, laser treatments and cosmetic injectables like Botox and filler.

Dr. Ward has performed over 20,000 Mohs micrographic surgeries to treat skin cancer.

In 2021 he passed the American Board of Dermatology’s Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery Subspeciality Certification Examination making him among the first in the nation to be double board-certified in dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery.

Dermatology Specialists of Florida/Aqua Medical Spa is now accepting new patients at its Watersound Origins office. Patients can see Dr. Jon Ward or board-certified family nurse practitioner Angela Pearson. Complimentary skin care consultations will be available with the licensed aesthetician. Call or visit their website to schedule an appointment.

MYDERMSPECIALISTS.COM | (850) 233-DERM (3376) | AQUAMEDICALSPA.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

STUBBS ORTHODONTICS Dr. Casi Stubbs

DR. CASI STUBBS is a hometown girl who always knew she wanted to open her own practice on the Emerald Coast. Her schooling took her throughout the state — beginning at Florida State University for a degree in chemistry, continuing at the University of Florida for dentistry before finishing her residency in orthodontics at Nova Southeastern University.

Her love for her hometown is apparent as she encourages her patients to give back through incentives and prizes. This includes offering raffle tickets to patients, and her practice then matches those donations. As she has expanded her practice and enjoyed a plethora of referrals, she strives for growth and treats her patients with the utmost care. “When I’m with a patient, they are the only thing on my mind,” said Stubbs. “I want them to know how special they are and that we are making true connections. I treat every patient like a family member, and that’s what drives my treatment plans.

I always go back to, ‘What would I do if this was my family?’”

4633 E. HIGHWAY 20, NICEVILLE | 11394 U.S. 98, MIRAMAR BEACH | (850) 678-8338 | STUBBSORTHO.COM

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COOK FAMILY DENTISTRY COOK FAMILY DENTISTRY IS A FAMILY PRACTICE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. Drs. Cassidy “Cass” and Stephanie Cook married in 2009, a year after graduating together from the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry.

Wanting to live and raise a family on the Emerald Coast, they moved to the area in 2009 after Dr. Cass finished his residency, and the duo started Cook Family Dentistry in December of 2011. Now with three kids of their own, the Cooks know the value of a great family dental practice, and providing their patients with an outstanding dental experience is their most important job. The team at Cook Family Dentistry has over 40 years of combined dental experience, and they take pleasure in making a difference in the smiles and oral health of their patients. The entire team sincerely wishes that when you visit Cook Family Dentistry, you feel right at home.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? At Cook Family Dentistry, we provide a wide range of dental services such as cleanings, cosmetic crowns and smile design, sleep medicine appliances and surgical implant placement and implant restorations. We also offer cosmetic services, like Six Month Smiles™ orthodontics, whitening, Botox and dermal fillers.

The practice provides the best care as our office uses state-of-the-art technologies in all of our procedures.

These new technologies allow us to detect dental concerns at early stages of all severities, treat all dental issues with precision and provide stunning and customized restorations.

When you visit our office, you can be confident that you are receiving the finest and most advanced dental care.

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY, AND WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS? My true passion and focus is in cosmetic, implant, sleep medicine and TMJ dentistry. This passion was sparked during my post-grad residency program in Seminole, Florida, with the University of Florida Advanced Education in General Dentistry. I completed a full year of the extensive Comprehensive Implant Residency Program with the esteemed Dr. Michael McCracken in Birmingham, Alabama. I am currently pursuing a multilevel continuum program at The Dawson Academy in St. Petersburg. The courses I study there focus on Occlusion, Occlusal Design, Sleep Medicine and TMJ dysfunction and stability.

Drs. Cassidy and Stephanie Cook and family

Our clients are all people looking for comprehensive treatment of dental and facial needs. We tailor our treatment to the client’s desires and wishes with a touch of Southern down-home hospitality. Through our Compassionate Financing™, no one is turned away.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION? I’ve been practicing dentistry for 14 years, 12 of which have been in South Walton. As a second-generation dentist, I have

gained knowledge not available to the average dentist due to being surrounded by ethical and skilled dentists, thanks to my father and friends.

HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE’S PHILOSOPHY? “Fidelitas, Ventas, Integritas” — which translates Fidelity, Truth, Integrity. As a health professional, I hold my faithfulness and oath to my patients to the utmost. Truth is always what I seek for the patient, and I hold myself to a higher standard.

2441 HWY 98 W., SUITE 107, SANTA ROSA BEACH | (850) 622-2226 | COOKFAMILYDENTISTRY.COM

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DR. MYRA REED HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE? My practice focuses on all aspects of health such as preventive care including detailed screenings, lifestyle management, weight loss management, hormone therapy, IV nutrient therapy and aesthetics. I have structured my practice to strengthen doctorpatient relationships, the way medicine used to be; we are true partners in wellness, longevity and health. By limiting my practice to a small number of patients, I’m now able to spend much more time with each member, to better understand their needs and to be available when they want a doctor they can trust — providing them peace of mind. Bottom line: Focus on the patient, not the system!

WHY DID YOU GET INTO THIS CAREER? My parents were both physicians in a small community, and I saw them providing personalized care to their patients, the way medicine used to be before insurance companies and large corporations began dictating patient care. After spending time in emergency and internal medicine, I saw how corporate medicine works and how it was rarely in favor of the patient’s overall health and well-being. I wanted to be able to provide patients with a personalized and customized experience. Where most doctors focus on a single health issue per visit, I’m able to invest the time to partner with my patients, understand their health goals and get to the root cause of their issues. This method also allows me to provide proactive and preventive care to get my patients healthy and keep them healthy.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? My practice is based on a concierge membership model with a focus on Functional Medicine. The concierge model allows me to have fewer patients so I can spend quality, unhurried time with each member. This model ensures you are seen quickly and have access to care outside of office hours via telemedicine, email, call or text. Ultimately, this results in more comprehensive care. Each of my patients gets the VIP treatment provided by a warm, friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Being certified in Functional Medicine has allowed me to specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions of the gut and autoimmune systems as well as fatigue that conventional medicine mostly overlooks. I have extensive training and experience in diagnosing and treating conditions related to mold exposure and Lyme disease, as well as natural methods of reversing dementia.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE PATIENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE? Functional Medicine is the future of medicine! It is a 21st-century, cuttingedge approach to health care where most physician groups are still stuck in 20th-century medical practice heavily persuaded by the pharmaceutical industry.

I have been certified in Functional Medicine since 2017, and I am constantly continuing my training and staying on the cutting edge of research to ensure optimal health and happiness practices for my patients.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? I love helping people who are frustrated with the health care system and finally giving them the care they deserve. I am most satisfied when I take a patient that has seen multiple doctors with no luck, diagnose the root cause of their issues, implement a holistic-based treatment plan, and see them getting better right before my eyes. These success stories are why I do this! You can have all the wealth in the world, but if you don’t have health, what good is it?

1814 THOMAS DRIVE, PANAMA CITY BEACH | (850) 249-5000 | DRMYRAREED.COM

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COASTAL SKIN SURGERY & DERMATOLOGY Zac Carter MD, FAAD WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR PRACTICE PROVIDE? General, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. My specific focus is on skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, given my training in both Mohs Micrographic Surgery and reconstructive surgery.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO THIS CAREER? I was drawn to dermatology because I saw how devastating skin conditions can be, and I wanted to be able to help people through that, whether that be with skin tumor removal, reconstructive practices or barely noticeable scars from surgery. I completed medical school at the University of Texas, interned at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Virginia, and completed my residency in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology at the University of Cincinnati.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE PATIENTS RECEIVE THE BEST CARE? In this industry, qualifications are very important. I am fellowship trained and board certified, and it’s not common to obtain both. I came to the Emerald Coast to contribute additional training and expertise to the already highly trained staff. We ensure that we are continually educated and stay on the cutting edge by incorporating new advancements.

We are always accepting new patients and offering the latest cosmetic procedures.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? By centering my focus on patients receiving an accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment and being satisfied with the outcome. The most rewarding part is having patients return for follow-ups expressing gratitude.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHEN VISITING YOUR PRACTICE? A pleasant interaction with every member of the staff and coming away satisfied that they were provided the ultimate level of medical care available in the region.

COASTALSKINSURGERY.COM Miramar Beach 12469 Emerald Coast Parkway (850) 654-3376

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Fort Walton Beach 912 Mar Walt Drive (850) 314-7546

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Niceville 4400 Hwy. 20 E, Suite 410 (850) 897-4900

Panama City Beach 12139 Panama City Beach Parkway (850) 500-3376

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EYE CENTER SOUTH

Dr. Bansagi

Dr. Leoncavallo

Dr. Fortin

Dr. Ludwig

Dr. Henkel

Dr. Bryant

THE DOCTORS AT EYE CENTER SOUTH, an ophthalmology practice specializing in surgical eye care, focus on the latest technologies and treatment options to keep patients’ eyes in optimal health.

The physician staff of Eye Center South is committed to ensuring that patients are listened to, provided ample feedback, given a diagnosis and a treatment plan and are made comfortable leading up to, during and after any procedure.

Our talented team of board-certified surgeons provide cataract surgery, Lasik surgery, glaucoma surgery, oculofacial plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, adult and pediatric Strabismus surgery as well as management of chronic eye conditions.

In Destin, Eye Center South’s medical practice is located conveniently across the street from the surgery center where all outpatient procedures are performed. Many patients are referred to them by optometrists in the region. Eye Center South values its relationships with its referring doctors and joins with them in encouraging everyone to have annual comprehensive eye exams.

Eye Center South is known for pursuing progressive treatments that incorporate the latest in technology, treatment and prescriptions, all while being safe and effective. Eye Center South has been voted the Best in Destin Vision Care Practice from VIP Destin Magazine the last four years in a row.

151 REGIONS WAY, BUILDING 1, DESTIN | (850) 650-6550 | EYECENTERSOUTH.NET

EMERALD COAST COMPOUNDING PHARMACY Regina K. Jaquess, Pharm. D.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. I received my doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2009. I have received post-graduate training in pharmaceutical compounding, which is my passion. I am a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and a member of Professional Compounding Center of America (PCCA).

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? When it comes to patient health care, I believe there should be a connection between patient, physician and pharmacist. At Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy (ECCP), we strive to develop a comprehensive plan to improve each patient’s overall health and quality of life.

Our connection with our clients has earned us for the past five years (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

and 2016) the “Best of the Emerald Coast” award for “Best Pharmacy.”

WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR COMPANY OFFER? At ECCP we formulate your prescriptions to meet your individual needs. Our facility addresses a range of medical concerns including: anti-aging, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, dental, dermatology, gastroenterology, infertility, pain management, pediatric, podiatry, sports medicine and veterinary.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK? I am currently a USA Water Ski team member, 10 time World Champion and 13 time World Record Holder in both Slalom and Overall. I am also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), West Florida Chapter.

1719 S. CO HWY 393, SANTA ROSA BEACH | (850) 622-5800 | ECCPHARMACY.COM

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calendar PROMOTION

JUN/JUL 2022 For more events in the EC, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com and 850tix.com. compiled by JAVIS OGDEN,

REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

and ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

JUNE 22–26

Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

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Located at the South’s No. 1-ranked resort destination, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin coincides with the peak of the Gulf Coast’s blue marlin season. Last year, team High Cotton boasted the winning marlin with a 681-pound marlin and over $394,000 in prize earnings.

Visit FishECBC.com for registration and tournament details.

JUNE 2, 9, 16, 23

MKAF Concerts in the Village

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→ Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) continues its summer Concerts in the Village series on Thursday evenings. Tickets are available for purchase at the gate, which opens at 6 p.m. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. for this come-as-you-are, family-friendly outdoor series. Attendees have the opportunity to purchase dinner and drinks on-site and enter a raffle to win prize packages during intermission.

Event proceeds help fund the foundation’s community outreach programs.

→ Since 1946, the Blue Angels have showcased the excitement, precision and power of naval aviation. This year, the Navy will celebrate the F/A-19 Super Hornet, the C-130J Super Hercules and the centennial of the U.S. naval aircraft carrier.

Those interested in becoming an MKAF member can learn more at MKAF.org.

For the details and full schedule of this Pensacola special showcase event, visit BlueAngels.navy.mil.

JULY 9

BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW

JUNE 2–5

JUNE 7–JULY 26

Get your jam on with the biggest names in country music including Florida Georgia Line, Brooks & Dunn, Old Dominion, Brett Young and many more. Celebrating 10 years, this figures to be biggest and best music festival Panama City Beach has seen.

Bring your beach chairs and beach blankets, and spend time under the stars listening to the tunes of local bands.

Gulfside Pavilion makes every summer Tuesday worth celebrating.

gulfcoastjam.com

JUNE 10–12

FIESTA OF FIVE FLAGS JUNE 3–4

BRIT FLOYD – WORLD TOUR JUNE 3 Brit Floyd, “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show,” returns to the stage in 2022 to perform its brand-new production, including highlights from The Wall, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Division Bell. pensacolasaenger.com/ events/brit-floyd-worldtour-2022

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The Flora-Bama fishing rodeo will feature categories that range from catfish to billfish with a weekend fishing tournament that encourages family fun.

The tournament will be accompanied by a three-day beach party with daily weigh-ins, live music, vendors and more. florabama.com/fishingrodeo

A CHORUS LINE JUNE 10–26 This stunning concept musical captures the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition. Exploring the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers, the show features one powerhouse number after another.

2022 BUD LIGHT FISHING RODEO JUNE 17–20 Cash prizes await the anglers who weigh in the top three fish in 21 different categories.

Prizes will also be awarded to the boat that brings in the biggest mackerel. The event features the Outcast Tackle and Marine Youth Rodeo and the Academy Sports and Outdoors Junior Rodeo. pensacolasports.org/ pensacolafishingrodeo

ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES JUNE 24 Anjelah Johnson-Reyes became an internet sensation with her viral video, “Nail Salon,” which led to many stand-up, television and film opportunities. Now she is coming to the Saenger Theater stage.

nfballet.org/20212022season

RED, WHITE & BAYTOWNE JULY 4

THROUGH JULY 28

Enjoy fun in the sun during the day, and light up your night with fireworks. The Village of Baytowne Wharf will host an Independence Day celebration featuring live music, crafts, face painting, family activities and of course, fireworks! baytownewharf.com

HARBORWALK 4TH OF JULY JULY 4

SAVE THE DATE

Celebrate Independence Day with the sparkle and sizzle of an impressive fireworks display at HarborWalk Village. Live music, entertainment and food will be available throughout the evening. emeraldgrande.com

REAL FUN FOURTH JULY 4

51ST ANNUAL BILL HARGREAVES FISHING RODEO

NORTHWEST FLORIDA BALLET’S BALLET UNDER THE STARS

JUNE 16–19

JUNE 25

This Pensacola fishing competition was started

This unique production features international

visitpanamacitybeach.com/ events/holiday-events/ realfunfourth

pensacolalittletheatre.com

Details of listings can change at the last minute. Check websites to see if the listed events will occur as scheduled.

→ Feel like laughing? Come out to Grand Park in Grand Boulevard, bring a beach chair or blanket enjoy Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s dramatic comedy, The Tempest.

Gather the family each Thursday at dusk in Grand Park. Come early for free kids crafts.

Get the details at GrandBoulevard.com/ category/events.

Panama City Beach celebrates Independence Day with the largest display of fireworks on the Gulf Coast. For two nights, visitors and locals alike can witness the wonderful display from various locations along the water.

pensacolasaenger.com/ events/anjelah-johnsonreyes

THEATRE THURSDAYS

OCT. 15

BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST → Celebrate the OAST MAG AZ DC I AL best the Emerald 2022 Coast has to offer at the 2022 Best of the Emerald Coast of E A EM showcase honoring ERALD C O local businesses earning the coveted “Best” awards in our 23rd annual readers’ poll.

Held throughout Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, this year’s event benefits the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. Come gather with us to support the best in food, fashion, entertainment and services that give the Emerald Coast its distinctive sense of place.

BEST TH

PHOTOS BY CATHY CATANESE / MKAF AND COURTESY EMERALD COAST BLUE MARLIN CLASSIC, BLUEANGELS.NAVY.MIL/MEDIA (BLUE ANGELS) AND EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY

fiestapensacola.org/events

FLORA-BAMA FISHING RODEO

billhargreavesfishingrodeo.com

guest artists performing a mix of contemporary, neoclassical and classical pieces from guest choreographers and the NFB repertoire in a casual outdoor atmosphere.

E’S N

Join in a celebration featuring beads, bands and floats at the annual Grand Fiesta Parade. High school marching bands and elaborately decorated floats will parade through the streets of downtown Pensacola, and beads will be everywhere.

The fiesta boat parade will take place on the morning of June 4 on Pensacola Bay.

visitpensacola.com

by its namesake, Bill Hargreaves. Fishing begins on Friday and continues until the final weigh-in on Saturday.

Prizes are distributed after a mouth-watering fish fry on Sunday. There will be door prizes, a silent auction and fun for anglers of all ages.

ST

BANDS ON THE BEACH

EM ER

PEPSI GULF COAST JAM

Visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/ Best-of-the-Emerald-Coast to purchase tickets online.

PROMOTION

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER?

Send an email to sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com.

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ith nearly 40% of its land preserved, South Walton has pristine landscapes that attract visitors from around the world. This natural beauty is also a huge source of pride for locals who spend their time relaxing on the sugarwhite sand here.

Keeping things tidy at the beach can sometimes be a labor of love.

And one local high school student has made it her personal mission to help cut down the clutter while creating a culture of cleanliness in one of her happy places. Hannah Smith of South Walton High recently launched a new pilot beach basket program in Grayton Beach, with the goal of improving overall tidiness by empowering fellow beachgoers to clean by committee.

“I want to reduce the amount of litter in our water and on our beaches,” said Smith. “Overall, the main purpose of the program is to make for a

CUSTOM CONTENT

Hannah Smith of South Walton High recently launched a new pilot beach basket program in Grayton Beach, with the goal of improving overall tidiness by empowering fellow beachgoers to clean by committee.

cleaner community. This program is intended to get the community involved in keeping our beaches and oceans free of pollution.”

In mid-September, she installed six baskets near the trash receptacles at the end of the Grayton Beach public beach access boardwalk.

Visitors are encouraged to grab one of these baskets and spend a little time using it to collect trash. When finished, they can dispose of any refuse in the nearby bins before returning the basket to the stand for someone else to use. Hopefully, seeing others making an effort will motivate people to contribute as well.

Smith has been monitoring the baskets to make sure they are all accounted for and in good shape. She also communicates regularly with lifeguards and beach vendors to get reports on how much the baskets are being used.

In addition to the general aesthetics of a cleaner beach, Smith noted that she was motivated to create a happier environment for some of the non-human visitors who frequent the beach.

“This project is important to our area because we are surrounded by beautiful beaches and have a responsibility to protect our wildlife by keeping their habitat free of litter,” she said.

Keeping the beaches clear of refuse is particularly important for sea turtles who come here to lay eggs and nest. Local initiatives aimed at protecting these turtles emphasize keeping the sand free of obstacles by flattening sandcastles and removing any nonnatural objects at the end of each day. This speaks to the overall mantra of “leave no trace.”

Smith was inspired to start her basket program after visiting Plastics Beach in Hawaii — rated as one of the dirtiest places in the world. The beach is known for being constantly awash in garbage from around the globe, more than 90% of which is plastic.

Smith took what she saw to heart and decided to take preventative action at home.

Walton County Tourism Department’s Director of Beach Operations Brian Kellenberger said that he was happy to see a community member not only present such a wonderful idea, but also have a clearcut plan and step up to make it happen.

“It’s great to have young people in the community get involved with a meaningful project like this,” he said, adding that a lot of great ideas are submitted to county leadership, but Smith was one of the few people to offer to put in the work to execute it.

The baskets at Grayton Beach will be available until at least May 2022. At that time, the success of the program will be evaluated. Kellenberger said he’s curious to see how well the baskets hold up from months of use. If the program is successful, it might have a future at other regional beach accesses throughout the county. Visitors and locals alike will get the opportunity to feel even more of a sense of ownership when it comes to the beaches that bring them such joy.

Keeping the beaches clear of refuse is particularly important for sea turtles who come here to lay eggs and nest.

VISIT SOUTH WALTON VisitSouthWalton.com

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K FEB. 20 The 20th annual Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K, hosted by the Seaside School Foundation, raised more than $700,000 to benefit the school, which is the oldest public charter school in operation in Florida. This year, some 3,200 runners participated in the race and related events, and 670 volunteers combined to bring about a successful race weekend.

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES AND BOBBY WAGNER

1 Luna Barbie, Miya Wu, Savannah Robertson, Stella Barbie, Meggie Mitchell, Zira Balfanz, Audrey Eddington and Ella Townley

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2 George Corchis, Miranda Corchis and Alyssa Barnett Corchis 3 Front Row: Lainey Williams, Thomas Trap, Evelyn O’Connell and Madison Montgomery Middle Row: Chef Lock Vong, Isabella Hogg, Lindsay McMahan, Zira Balfanz, Aryana Patel and Jordi Corchis Back Row: Tom Glavine, Gavin Chick and Jake Hefner

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Crescendo!

FEB. 27 Sinfonia Gulf Coast ushered in spring with a highly colorful and energetic event, Crescendo! The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa hosted the Carnivale-style celebration that included specialty cocktails, wine and a seated lunch.

Silent and live auctions featured items that ranged from art to food and wine to travel excursions. Nearly 500 guests enjoyed performances by internationally renowned violinist Ezinma, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra and professional Latin dancers.

Event proceeds benefitted Sinfonia and its music education outreach programs.

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PHOTOS BY KAY PHELAN AND ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

1 Ezinma and Aaron King Vaughn with Sinfonia Youth Orchestra 2 Special guest artist Ezinma 3 Marcia Hull and Michelle Terry

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Soirée on the Bay MAR. 18–19 The Children’s Volunteer Health Network held its first Soirée on the Bay event, sponsored by Cafe Thirty-A. Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to the free dental services provided by the network to children in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Thanks to the generous support of participants and sponsors, the event raised more than $300,000.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAFE THIRTY-A

1 Doug Herndon, Will Burns, Jane Bahr, Steve Dugas, Lynn Dugas, Katie Crews, Sarah Svoboda, Kelley Mossburg, Jim Rice, Megan Trent, Christina Peterson, Kelly Taylor, Syann Edenfield and Peter Wright

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2 George and Ann Hartley with Steve Dugas 3 Casey Dunn, Jane Bahr, Greg Bahr and Scarlett Dunn

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Sandestin Wine Festival APR. 7–10 The 35th annual Sandestin Wine Festival in The Village of Baytowne Wharf made for a memorable weekend of events that included a kickoff party, grand wine tastings, beach yoga and, for the first time, a hangover brunch fest sponsored by Ovide and Hotel Effie.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT

1 Jeanna Hine and Nogah Winfield 2 Liv Moore and Hope Needham 3 Chris and Natalie Pelly 4 Dr. William Burden, Reiss Baumann and Blake Svoboda

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dining guide

JACO’S BAYFRONT BAR & GRILLE

Waterfront restaurant serving burgers, salads, seafood and brunch daily. 997 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 432-5226. $$ L D

LOUISIANA LAGNIAPPE ★

A taste of New Orleans hits the coast through Louisiana-style favorites like shrimp and grits and Cajun seafood gumbo. 775 Gulf Shore Dr., Destin. (850) 837-0881. $$ D

LULU’S

AMERICAN ARA ROOFTOP POOL & LOUNGE ★

pork tenderloin. 300 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola.

(850) 433-1275. $$ L D

DIXIELAND CHICKEN CO. ★

Lucy Buffett’s funky hangout features cocktails, burgers and seafood, plus allergy-friendly menus. 4607 Legendary Marina Dr., Destin.

(850) 710-5858. $$ L D

Hotel Effie’s rooftop oasis offers panoramic Gulf views plus handcrafted cocktails and high-end wines. 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach.

(850) 351-3033. $$ L D

Authentic Creole-style fried chicken, walk-up and drive-thru only. 4629 Opa-Locka Lane, Destin.

(850) 353-2464. $ L

BUFFALO’S REEF ★

Hot wings and cold beer. 116 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 243-9463. $L D

Located at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, the famed chef’s first restaurant in Northwest Florida combines Italian cuisine with the variety of fresh Gulf seafood and local ingredients. 435 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 608-7040. $$$ L D

MARINA BAR AND GRILL

CLEAN EATZ ★

EMERIL’S COASTAL ITALIAN

MAGNOLIA GRILL

Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. 157 SE Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach.

(850) 302-0266. $$ L D Seafood, po’ boys, burgers and salads. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-7778. $ B L D

Serving up diet-friendly meals to promote a healthy lifestyle. 1191B N. Eglin Pkwy., Shalimar.

(850) 613-6880. $$ L D

FIREFLY ★

MARINA CAFÉ ★

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

Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine.

404 E. Hwy. 98, Destin. (850) 837-7960. $$$ D

THE CRAFT BAR ★

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH

NICK’S BOATHOUSE

Craft brews on tap along with artisan cocktails and elevated bar fare. 4424 Commons Dr., Destin. Also in Grayton Beach and Pensacola.

(850) 460-7907. $$ L D

DHARMA BLUE

Atmosphere and service match an expansive menu including everything from sushi to

Seafood, burgers and sandwiches. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., Alys Beach. (850) 641-0017. $$ L D

GREAT SOUTHERN CAFE ★

This all-day cafe puts a new spin on classic with a mix of international cuisines, Southern cooking and local food and produce. 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 231-7327. $$ B L D

technique. 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 351-3030. $$$ D

RESTAURANT PARADIS ★

Restaurant and lounge offers rich coastal flavors in its innovative dishes. 82 S. Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach. (850) 534-0400. $$$ D

SHADES BAR & GRILL ★

A 30A mainstay for over 20 years, Shades features 17 high-def TVs plus a menu of salsas, steaks, sandwiches and fish tacos. 10952 E. Hwy. 30A, (850) 231-9410. $$ L D

SPORTS TO GEAUX ★

Find great American food with a Cajun flare from this food truck. Freeport. (850) 520-0429. $

THE BODACIOUS CAFÉ

This coffee house and eatery specializes in handcrafted espresso, lattes and cappuccinos.

For breakfast, try their omelets and acai bowls; for lunch, salads, wraps and flatbread pizzas are on the menu. 407 S. Palafox St., Pensacola.

(850) 434-6300. $ B L

THE GROVE

Serving American cuisine for brunch and dinner. 3375 W. Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 660-1594. $$ L D

THE RED BAR ★

Serving a wide variety of seafood, steaks and flatbreads by the waterfront. 455 W. Main St., Pensacola. (850) 912-8775. $$ L D

New and improved and now reopened; get classic meals at one of the area’s most renowned locations. 70 Hotz Ave., Grayton Beach.

(850) 231-1008. $$ L D

OVIDE ★

THE WINE BAR ★

Located inside the new Hotel Effie, acclaimed chef Hugh Acheson brings together classic Gulf Coast flavors and impeccable classic French

Capt.on Dave’s the

A gathering spot for lunch or dinner, plus daily happy hour specials. Destin and Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 269-2902. L D

SERVING LOCAL FLORIDA SEAFOOD AND STEAKS Dinner 4pm UNTIL …

For more information visit captdavesonthegulf.com

Gulf

C ald er m Ser rS ving the e yea 0 5 for over

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

oaSt

Casual Gulf Front Dining. Gulf to plate since 1968!

3796 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin | 850.837.2627 | captdavesonthegulf.com

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GOT BAKED ★

BAMBOO SUSHI AND HIBACHI ★

Offering fresh Japanese cuisine like sushi, tempura and hibachi dishes, plus a sake bar. 117 W. John Sims Pkwy., Niceville. (850) 678-0771. $$ L D

DOMO CAFÉ ★

Whether gluten free, low carb, vegan, no sugar or dairy-free, this bakery has the right bite for any dietary restriction. 80 Mc Davis Loop #1110. Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 598-7438. $

MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST

Old World family recipes. Multiple award winner. 273 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. (850) 424-3157, 75 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 243-0707. $$ B

DYNASTY CHINESE CUISINE ★

SUNSET BAY CAFÉ

Casual and outdoor dining overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay, featuring locally sourced ingredients and sustainable seafood.

158 Sandestin Blvd. N. (850) 267-7108. $$ B L D

OSAKA ★

Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood. 34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

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

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BAY CAFE FRENCH RESTAURANT ★

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

Step out on the bay for authentic European cuisine, featuring fresh local seafood and decadent creme sauces. 233 Alconese Ave. SE, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-3550. $$ L D

GREEK

BLUE MABEL ★

This local smokehouse features made-fromscratch dishes and is stocked with everything from smoked meats to homemade sauces.

2260 W. Scenic Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 744-0040. $$ L D

Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli 663 Harbor Blvd • Destin, FL (850) 837-8333 • destinice.com

AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★

Authentic Greek restaurant. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach (and Shalimar).

(850) 460-2728. $$ B L D

CHIPPER’S BBQ

This family-run barbecue joint offers an array of smoked treats like ribs, brisket, pork and chicken, plus steak, burgers, salads and pulled pork nachos. 4419 Commons Dr., #101, Destin. (850) 353-2753. $$ L D

Mimmo invites you to enjoy and experience traditional authentic Italian cuisine from his hometown of Sicily.

ALI BABA GRILL CAFÉ

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

YIOTA’S GREEK DELI

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY

Traditional Greek food made from family recipes. Order at counter. 130 E. Miracle Strip Pkwy., Mary Esther. (850) 302-0691. $ L

ANDY’S FLOUR POWER CAFE & BAKERY

IRISH

Lively brunch/lunch destination known for its French toast, rolled omelets and cheery ambiance. 2629 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach. (850) 230-0014. $$ L D

JOHNNY MCTIGHE’S IRISH PUB

Contemporary cafe for craft coffee, housebaked breads, pastries and sandwiches and all-day breakfast. 26 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach.

(850) 213-4528. $ B L

Easygoing pub providing Irish and American eats, a game room for kids and deck seating.

2298 Scenic Hwy. 30A, Blue Mountain Beach.

(850) 267-0101. $$ L D

MCGUIRE’S IRISH PUB ★

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

ITALIAN/PIZZA EM ER

Offering authentic Italian cuisine with a flair

TH

★ Best of the

Emerald Coast 2021 Winner

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ Inexpensive

$$ Moderately

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

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ITALIAN

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

B L D

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BEST E

THE KEY

OAST MAG AZ DC I AL

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AMICI 30A

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Eat breakfast all day with fresh-baked donuts and hearty comfort food. 635 Harbor Blvd.,

of

BEST

FRENCH

98 BAR-B-QUE ★

DONUT HOLE BAKERY CAFE ★

2021

This shaved ice truck spreads smiles one frozen treat at a time. Main St., Freeport. (850) 567-5057. $

BARBECUE

Featuring catering, sweet treats as well as meals-to-go for breakfast and lunch.

2217 W. County Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 267-0400. $$

OAST MAG AZ DC I AL

KONA ICE OF SOUTH WALTON COUNTY ★

Serving traditional Thai favorites that were voted the area’s best. 3906 Hwy. 98, Ste. 5–6, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 660-6711. $ L D

BLUE MOUNTAIN BAKERY ★

Thank you for voting us Best Seafood Market!

DESSERT

THAI ELEPHANT AUTHENTIC THAI CUISINE ★

BLACK BEAR BREAD CO. ★

Buckhead Beef Fresh deli salads and entrees Mrs. Dean cakes Assortment of breads & wines

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This family-owned restaurant serves up fresh authentic Chinese street fare and classic entrees.

12889 U.S. 98, Miramar Beach. (850) 837-6675. $$ L D

WE STEAM, WE PACK TO TRAVEL

E’S N

This Asian kitchen offers dozens of sushi options, including vegetarian, signature, fried and baked rolls. 1823 Hurlburt Rd., #3, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 226-6412. $$ L D

Fresh, to go.

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

EM ER

ASIAN

979 US HWY 98 E | Destin

(in the 98 Palms Shopping Plaza)

850.460.7353

EatMimmos.com

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for celebration. 12805 U.S. Hwy. 98 E., Ste. R101, Inlet Beach. (850) 909-0555. $$$ L D

ANGELENA’S ITALIANO ★

In the heart of downtown, nationally renowned Chef James Briscione’s menu serves up rusticyet-elegant plates with an Italian coastal vibe.

101 E. Intendencia St., Pensacola. (850) 542-8398. $$ D

CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN

Classic Italian. Wood-fired pizza, private dining, cooking school. Multiple award winner. 75 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach.

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

FARM & FIRE SOUTHERN PIZZERIA

Featuring a clean-burning coal oven to impart a unique, full flavor to their pizzas, whole fish, steaks and roasted chicken. 24200 U.S. Hwy. 331 S., Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 622-3871. $$ D

FAT CLEMENZA’S

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

Holiday Plaza, Hwy. 98, Miramar Beach.

(850) 650-5980. $$ L D

GRIMALDI’S PIZZERIA ★

Pizzas and calzones baked to perfection in their signature coal-burning oven, delivering experience not possible from conventional ovens. 780 Grand Blvd., Ste. 100, Miramar Beach.

(850) 837-3095. $$ L D

MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO ★

Authentic Italian dishes bursting with flavor and color. 979 Hwy. 98, #5, Destin. (850) 460-7353. $$ L D

PAZZO ITALIANO

Destin’s newest Italian restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine such as wood-fired

pizzas, pasta, calzones, salads, chef specialties and nightly specials. 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Ste. 114, Destin. (850) 974-5484. $$ L D

THE PIZZA BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S

Artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-3113. $$ L D

TRATTORIA BORAGO

Pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from the open kitchen. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach.

(850) 231-9167. $$ D

MEXICAN

Baja fish tacos, homemade guacamole, burritos and top-shelf margaritas. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-4781. $$ L D

SEAFOOD THE BAY SOUTH WALTON ★

This family-friendly waterfront restaurant overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay features Gulf Coast cuisine, sushi, a 12-draft beer system, plus wine and crafted cocktails. 24215 Hwy. 331, Santa Rosa Beach, (850) 622-2291. $$ L D

This Mexican restaurant serves fresh Bajastyle Mexican food, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. 201-B Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 226-8016. $ L D

CANTINA LAREDO ★

A gourmet twist on Mexican favorites.

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

PEPITO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT ★

Serving award-winning authentic Mexican food with the finest ingredients available since 2000. Multiple locations: Destin, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. $$ L D Featuring fresh takes on classic fare, such as street tacos, burritos, taco salads and quesadillas.

2052 W. Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 994-7443. $$ L D

DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★

Outdoor setting, fresh seafood. 9 Calhoun Ave., Destin. (850) 837-7575. $$ B L D

THE FISH HOUSE ★

Fresh seafood cuisine and Southern specialties in a setting overlooking Pensacola Bay and the Seville Harbor. 600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola. (850) 470-0003. $$ L D

FOOW RESTAURANT

Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair.

Located in the WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 534-5050. $$$ D

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★

HARBOR DOCKS

BROTULA’S SEAFOOD HOUSE & STEAMER

JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI

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

BURRITO DEL SOL ★

RED FISH TACO ★

THE TACO BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S

Fresh steamed and boiled seafood dishes.

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

BUD & ALLEY’S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT ★

Sea-to-table dining, serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-5900. $$$ L D

CAPT. ANDERSON’S RESTAURANT

Since 1967, offering traditional seafood items, flavorful salads and soups with a view of the marina. 5551 N. Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach.

(850) 234-2225. $$$ D

DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE

Award-winning seafood in a quaint house.

202 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 837-7525. $$$ L D

A surf-and-turf restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and great sushi. 538 E. Hwy. 98, Destin. (850) 837-2506. $$ B L D Seafood, sushi, salad and sandwiches. 36120 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 460-2909. $$ L D

OLD BAY STEAMER ★

The perfect place for quality steamed seafood, outstanding steaks and incredible ribs.

102 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

(850) 664-2795. $$ D

RUNAWAY ISLAND

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

SHUNK GULLEY OYSTER BAR ★

This seafood and casual fare restaurant features classic coastal cuisine and genuine Southern hospitality plus live music daily inside the

ADVERTISEMENT

Restaurant Spotlight

Dewey Destin’s The origin story of Destin, Florida, is one of whalers, hurricanes, capsized ships and a man with great tenacity.

The Destin family has long been synonymous with the sea. After working as whalers, Leonard Destin, his father and brother set sail in 1835 from New London, Connecticut, to Florida. A hurricane capsized two of the three ships. Leonard made his way to a North Florida Gulffront town that he would establish as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.

For six generations, the Destin family fished the Gulf before entering the restaurant business and opening the first Dewey Destin’s in 2001. Two more locations would follow.

The original location is a converted fishing dock with a fast-casual atmosphere. The Harborside location is a full-service, sit-down restaurant, and the

Navarre restaurant is a hybrid of the two.

All three offer fresh, sustainable seafood.

“We don’t have extensive or complex recipes because we don’t need to,” said manager Parker Destin. “When you start with an exceptional seafood product, the reward is taste that speaks for itself.”

Five days a week, Dewey Destin, himself, is on the road throughout the Southeast, sourcing the best in seafood.

Menu favorites include fried and grilled shrimp, the combo platter featuring grilled mahi-mahi, shrimp and scallops and the smoked yellowfin tuna dip.

“My hope is to provide an authentic Florida experience, not a fabrication, but something created by a family who wants to preserve the essence of Florida that

keeps disappearing,” Destin said. “I want to connect people with the richness this region has to offer, and a significant part of that is seafood.”

DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (850) 837-7575 | DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE RESTAURANT (850) 837-7525 NAVARRE LOCATION: DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (850) 710-7070 | DESTINSEAFOOD.COM

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panoramic bar. 1875 S. Hwy. 393, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 622-2733. $$ L D

STINKY’S FISH CAMP ★

This seafood and wine mainstay promises Gulf-fresh fare. 5960 W. County Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 267-3053. $$ L D

STEAK & SEAFOOD AUSTONS ON 98 OYSTER BAR AND GRILL

Home of the 102-foot bar, specialties include littleneck clams, raw oysters, clam chowder and jumbo shrimp cocktail. 125 Poinciana Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 842-3200. $$ L D

BEACH WALK CAFE ★

Located at the Henderson Park Inn, this award-winning fine dining establishment features a range of favorites including grouper Vince, pepper-crusted yellowfin tuna and seafood pasta Rockefeller. 2700 Scenic Hwy. 98, Destin. (850) 650-7100. $$$ D

BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS ★

Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, Gulf seafood, prime steaks. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., #22, Miramar Beach.

(850) 622-0760. $$$ D

BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR ★

Your new favorite spot for fresh oysters, cold beer and live music, right on Destin Harbor.

288 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

(850) 837-3645. $$ L D

CAFE THIRTY-A ★

Offering the best in steaks and Gulf fare, Café Thirty-A is also available for weddings and special gatherings.

3899 E. Scenic Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach.

(850) 231-2166. $$$ D

CAPTAIN DAVE’S ON THE GULF

Inspired by traditional waterfront dining, Captain Dave’s features American seafood cuisine infused with a contemporary Gulf Coast twist.

3796 Scenic Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 837-2627. $$$ D

GRAYTON SEAFOOD ★

This fishing shack eatery serves up fresh Southern seafood favorites, including Sunday brunch. 50 Uptown Grayton Cir., Grayton Beach.

(850) 714-2155. $$ L D

THE GULF – FORT WALTON BEACH

Locally inspired food and beverages in a beautiful waterfront setting, alongside a curated vinyl record collection.

284 Marler Ave., Fort Walton Beach.

(850) 387-1300. $ L D

JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE ★

High-end steakhouse cuisine with fine wines.

Local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection. 400 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 469-9898. $$$ D

MARLIN GRILL

Seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers.

The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach.

(850) 351-1990. $$$ D

NOLA BOILING CO. ★

From crawfish and crab legs to chicken to sausage, these classic Creole and Cajun boils are perfect for groups and catering jobs. 47 Talon Court, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 672-2847. $$

OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE ★

Nestled beside Eastern Lake, find your retreat for oysters, fresh seafood fare, sushi and other classics. 33 Heron’s Watch Way, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 534-3045. $$$ L D

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★

Steak and seafood. New Orleans-inspired.

Silver Shells Resort, 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 337-5108. $$$ D

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS & SEAFOOD ★

Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar.

Hilton Sandestin, 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 622-1500. $$$ D

SLICK LIPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE

BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST multiple award winner

Family-friendly seafood and oyster bar featuring locally caught fare and nestled in picturesque Baytowne Wharf. 140 Fisherman’s Cove.

(850) 347-5060. $$ L D

TAKE OUT 30AGRUB2GO

Fast delivery of all the high-quality cuisine that 30A has to offer. Download their app on Google Play or the Apple Store, or visit 30agrub2go.com to get started. (850) 260-3139.

DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★

Fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent desserts, wines, cheeses, spices and more.

663 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 837-8333. $$ L D

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 · 850.650.5980 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach · fatclemenzas.com

JC’S GOURMET

A chilled mix of fresh shrimp, lime zest and vinegar-soaked cucumber, red onion and sweet pepper, this is shrimp ceviche-style. 4621 Hwy. 98 W., Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 687-2810.

MODICA MARKET ★

Find delicious lunch specials and brews at this gourmet specialty food store. 109 Seaside Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 231-1214. L

SARAH K'S GOURMET ★

Known for their jumbo-lump crab cakes, Sarah K specializes in gourmet, ready-to-heat, take-out cuisine. Everything is hand-packed in aluminum tins along with complete cooking instructions. 34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy. #183, Destin. (850) 269-0044. $$

STEWBY’S MARKET ★

The area’s freshest and best seafood, and the first seafood market around that offers steamed dinners for dining in. 231 Santa Rosa Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 226-8448. $$ L D

TOWNSEND CATERING COMPANY ★ Outstanding service and meticulous menu planning for your next event or family meal.

124 Mussett Bayou Rd., Santa Rosa Beach.

(850) 622-0663.

VEGAN THE OASIS SANTA ROSA BEACH

This 100% vegan restaurant offers a cozy, speak-easy dining room, outdoor bar, patio, pizza bar and pool lounge area. 306 Bald Eagle Dr., Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 660-2000. $$$ D

Visit our comprehensive, searchable dining guide online at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/Restaurants.

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postscript

CAWS AND EFFECT

M

y nest, following weeks of work, is ready to receive eggs. It is positioned among boughs near the top of a towering pine tree located in a swamp behind the home of the man who feeds me peanuts.

He is an older gentleman who always wears a cap. He amuses me by loading his palms with peanuts and then raising his hands above his head to make an obvious show of them before tossing the nuts onto the ground. There is no need for that. Humans adhere to predictable routines, and I see the goobers even before the man removes them from the bucket he always carries them in.

But I appreciate him, I should say, for placing a length of board in his backyard as a surface that I use for cracking shells. I have let other crows, including my own progeny, know that

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Man with Cap is a good guy. I should bring him a shiny object one day. For a lot of people, the crow is not their favorite bird.

From many, crows get a bum rap.

People do not consider that there are individual differences among us, so they generalize when they see a crow chase a mourning dove or disturb a bluebird nest and assume that all crows are equally disposed to such behavior.

Not true.

Let’s look, from a human point of view, at the upside presented by crows.

In the course of a nesting season, I will consume tens of thousands of grubs, caterpillars and insects that people would rather not have in their gardens.

When we ingest certain foods and later expel the seeds they contain, we cause plants to grow in new places. And, while you all carry on, crows eat lots of carrion.

Few people know that we maintain extended families. Chicks born last year will help raise this year’s young.

A word about scarecrows. They are cute many times, but they have no deterrent effect. Likewise, most of us can detect the difference between a great horned owl decoy made of foam plastic and an owl for real.

I have heard about experiments conducted by researchers, half of whom wore caveman masks while the other half wore Dick Cheney masks.

Differences between the two, while subtle, are detectable, even by crows.

The cavemen trapped crows and placed bands on their legs. The Dick Cheneys

left us alone. Researchers noted that crows began to avoid the trappers while extending the benefit of the doubt to the Cheneys. So, yes, as a group, we do have lessons left to learn.

Look, there is Man with Cap now.

He is training his binoculars on a birdhouse occupied by brown-headed nuthatches and, yup, now he is looking up here, trying to spot my nest. From the ground, he may come close, but he won’t be able to pick it out. In the natural world, obscurity can mean safety. But I love the man’s benign interest in me and my activities. Where did I put that dime I picked up?

People may assume that I would like to have a prehensile tail or an opposable thumb. But crows are like wolves, hummingbirds and ladybugs in that we all have roles to play, as the more enlightened of people recognize.

I am comfortable in my role and in my own feathers. Never would I trade the gift of flight for the gift of a better grasp on things.

My perspective, as I fly about, is different than that of you bi-pedals. I survey acreages, once home to diverse ecosystems, now cleared. I am grateful that the green space where I spend most of my time was spared. I am at your mercy when I ask that we find ways to share the earthly plane.

Wish me luck with this year’s brood.

Best regards, CROW Corvus brachyrhynchos

PHOTO BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / SRINIVASAN J (CROW)

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