70 minute read
FAVORITE FESTIVAL That
HOW TO BEST HARVEST FEST
A guide to Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s Harvest Wine & Food Festival
Prepare your palate for the delicious experience of the sixth annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 13-16, 2022. The weekend of epicurean excellence merges refined wines and culinary creations to taste the finer things in life.
The weekend encompasses intimate wine dinners hosted in restaurants and private homes throughout South Walton. The main event, The Grand Tasting, with world-class wineries and culinary stations, concludes with a cocktail brunch on Sunday. Throughout, attendees have access to a silent auction with chances to win premier wines, staycations and luxury travel accommodations.
Produced by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, each event ticket purchased and auction item bid on benefits 17 local children’s charities that aid with homelessness, medical care, food insecurity and more.
In the spirit of making the most out of your Harvest Fest experience, Kate MacMillan, director of marketing and communications for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, suggests selecting a wine dinner to attend on Thursday or Friday, treating yourself to the VIP tent during the Grand Tasting for access to headlining wineries, and attending the cocktail brunch to round out a complete weekend.
The year 2020 changed the way that the festival proceeded, and in one specific aspect, for the better. With the arrival of smaller, intimate events came an increase in winemaker dinners and the addition of the Sunday cocktail brunch. In two years, both events have been expanded and improved upon.
In 2022, there will be four wine dinners on Thursday and another three on Friday. Thursday’s selection includes Ovid Napa Valley and Chef Fleetwood Covington at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood; a sensory experience of vinyl records and pasta with Chef Craig Richards of Atlanta and Senses Wines; a multicourse wine dinner at Ovide in Hotel Effie; and a wine-paired dinner at Vin’tij Food + Wine.
On Friday, chef Kristen Hall of The Essential Birmingham will lead a lineup of female chefs in a multicourse dinner highlighting wines from Saint Helena Winery. Mimmo’s new 30A location will host the Reynolds Family Winery with perfectly paired dishes. A wine dinner featuring Tarpon Cellars completes the lineup.
Scenic Cerulean Park will be the site of the Grand Tasting boasting worldwide wines, seafood from our local shores and provision stations manned by the Southeast’s most prized chefs. The VIP tent, presented by Emerald Coast Magazine, will serve elevated eats, boutique wine samplings, live music, a lounge and cocktail bar.
Culminate with cocktails crafted by Better Together Beverage. This year’s brunch will feature the hosts of the podcast Agave Road Trip who will take attendees on a journey through tequila tasting. Brunch will be concocted by Chef Phil McDonald of Black Bear Bread Company.
MacMillan advises purchasing tickets and lodging swiftly, as it’s a highly popular event attracting hundreds to one of the year’s best beach weekends before fall and winter settle in.
“We work hard to create a beautiful weekend in every way — the unbeatable setting of WaterColor, the boutique wines you can’t find in stores, the celebrity chefs from throughout the Southeast and money raised for charity,” MacMillan said. “All of this combines to create an experience that guests want to keep coming back to, bringing their friends each year.”
More than $28 MILLION
has been raised by DCWAF
to benefit the following local children’s charities:
➤ AMIKids ➤ Ascension
Sacred Heart
Emerald Coast ➤ Boys & Girls
Clubs of the
Emerald Coast ➤ Children in
Crisis, Inc. ➤ Children’s Volunteer
Health Network ➤ Emerald Coast
Autism Center ➤ Emerald Coast
Children’s
Advocacy Center ➤ Ellison McCraney
Ingram Foundation ➤ Food For Thought ➤ Habitat for
Humanity of Walton County ➤ Mental Health
Association of
Okaloosa & Walton
Counties ➤ Opportunity Place ➤ Point Washington
Medical Clinic ➤ Shelter House of
Northwest Florida ➤ The Arc of the
Emerald Coast ➤ Westonwood Ranch ➤ Youth Village
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit HarvestWineandFood.com
DINING OUT
SHRIMP’S ON
And there’s no skimping on this Gulf Coast classic
by LIESEL SCHMIDT
As small as they may be, shrimp can be flavor bombs. Boiled, fried, sauteed, baked, barbecued … the possibilities are endless, and so are the resulting flavor profiles. Naturally, being on the Gulf Coast, area restaurants have a ready supply of shrimp at their fingertips — and oh, the things they do with those tiny little treasures.
The Boathouse’s star appetizer is the Crab and Shrimp Dip, an excellent starter for the table to share. Another front-runner and
The Boathouse’s Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos
↖ Shrimp & Crab Dip Appetizer
The Boathouse Landing
INGREDIENTS ➸ 2 tablespoons butter ➸ ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced ➸ ¼ cup green onion, finely chopped ➸ 2 tablespoons minced garlic ➸ 1 pound fresh domestic bay shrimp ➸ 1 pound baby spinach ➸ 2 tablespoons lemon juice ➸ 3 tablespoons mayonnaise ➸ 16 ounces softened cream cheese ➸ Salt and pepper (for seasoning) ➸ 8 ounces domestic blue crab claw meat
INSTRUCTIONS Melt butter in a pot with a thick bottom. Saute peppers, onion and garlic over medium-to-high heat until soft and translucent. Add shrimp and saute quickly until half cooked. Next, add spinach and lemon juice. Cook until spinach is mostly wilted.
Add mayonnaise and seasoning and stir to incorporate fully. Slowly add cream cheese a little at a time until soft and melted. Add cooked crab meat and heat thoroughly. Serve hot with tortilla chips.
crowd-pleaser is their Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos, a creamier version of the popular appetizer.
“Our shrimp are wild, domestic Bay shrimp that are hand-breaded, fried golden, and then tossed in a rich and spicy pepper sauce,” Lowery said. “The warm, savory shrimp are then tucked into soft flour tortillas with fresh lettuce, green onion and cheese. They’re crunchy yet tender, sweet yet spicy, and all-around delightful.”
Naturally, shrimp is the be-all, end-all at Floyd’s Shrimp House on Okaloosa Island, and their menu makes it obvious why it’s their claim to fame. “We do shrimp on everything at Floyd’s — after all, it’s in our name,” said kitchen manager Mike Rhodes, an 18-year veteran at Floyd’s Shrimp House and “chief of all things shrimp.”
With 28 menu items that all include shrimp in some way, Floyd’s Shrimp House serves nearly 100,000 pounds of shrimp each year. Of course, their all-you-can-eat baskets are easily a bestseller. Fried shrimp is a fan favorite at Floyd’s — it’s Southern comfort food at the beach. “We do it right — handbreaded and fried to order,” Rhodes said. “Our proprietary flour and cornmeal blend gives our fried shrimp the perfect satisfying crunch without sacrificing the flavor. I’ve been breading shrimp since I was 14, and it never gets old.”
While “crab” might be in the name at The Crab Trap Destin, they certainly know their way around some shrimp. “We offer a variety of shrimp entrees prepared in their own unique way,” said Clint Rogers, general manager and director of operations at The Crab Trap Destin and a 26-year member of the team at Saltwater Restaurants, Inc. “Our top three dishes include our Peel and Eat Shrimp appetizer, Fried Gulf Shrimp platter, and the Gulf Shrimp and Crab Pasta. Whether you’re looking for fried, blackened, broiled, sauteed or steamed shrimp, we’re serving it.”
With many ways to prepare shrimp, it all comes down to personal preference. For Crab Trap Destin, their Peel and Eat Shrimp places first — simply steamed, iced down and seasoned with classic Old Bay Seasoning. To top it off, their handcrafted cocktail sauce is made with just the right amount of horseradish to give it that extra kick.
Clearly, the local chefs have shrimp dishes down to a science — but where it all starts is the shrimp itself, right? “Personally, my favorite shrimp are brown Gulf shrimp,” Rogers said. “They have a robust and forward profile that makes them stand out in any dish. White Gulf shrimp is by far the most popular at The Crab Trap because of their mild flavor and firm texture. Our restaurants have a strong relationship with local fisheries to continue our commitment to serving only wild, domestic Gulf shrimp.”
Rhodes agrees, “The best place to get shrimp really is right in our backyard. Shrimp thrive in the warm emerald Gulf water that’s packed with nutrients to give Gulf shrimp their sweet taste and firm texture. There’s something to be said about using locally sourced products in our restaurant. When people come here, they want something authentic. If you want a deep-dish pizza, you go to Chicago. When you come to Florida, you want Gulf shrimp.”
If you notice a theme, it’s because the best dishes demand the best quality. “I believe the best quality and taste comes from wild, domestic shrimp,” Lowery said. “We source from the northern Gulf coast for our bay shrimp and the Gulf of Mexico for our large white shrimp. The more local, the better.”
Words to cook — and eat — by, to be sure. EC
The Crab Trap Destin’s Peel and Eat Shrimp
Floyd’s Fried Shrimp
Restaurant Spotlight
Fish Out of Water has long been synonymous with locally inspired, Southern cuisine that celebrates the Gulf Coast’s very best — all served up in an approachable setting that’s as ideal for a postbeach family lunch, a girls’ happy hour or a romantic date night. Housed within the acclaimed WaterColor Inn, Fish Out of Water is a go-to spot for anyone in a vacation state of mind. As one of 30A’s only large family-style restaurants and bars overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Fish Out of Water embodies the spirit of the WaterColor community: coastal, laidback, elevated and fun.
Fish Out of Water’s culinary offerings are guided by the world-class expertise of its culinary team and their commitment to authentic cuisine and impeccable flavors. The restaurant’s impressively varied Brunch Menu (available 8 a.m–2 p.m.) features guest favorites like Avocado Toast on the restaurant’s housemade sourdough, finger-licking handhelds that are the perfect beach lunch accompaniment (Gulf Fish Sandwich, anyone?) and Dinner Menu (available 4-10 p.m.) items include a signature pasta dinner dish, complete with Chardonnay lemon-butter sauce, mussels, shrimp and Gulf-sourced fish (drooling yet?).
In addition to Southern favorites like Smoked Gulf Coast Fish Dip and Carolina Pimento Cheese, Fish Out of Water’s daily Midday Happy Hour Menu (2–4 p.m.) provides the opportunity to catch the sunset while sipping on one of the restaurant’s inventive cocktails; choosing from an eclectic selection of craft beers; or choosing a wine from the restaurant’s extensive on-site cellar — all while enjoying live music (available seasonally).
At Fish Out of Water, the best seat in the house is always guaranteed, thanks to glass walls that showcase breathtaking views from every seat and locally made wall art that elevates the restaurant’s community-centric vibe. Long after lunch, dinner or vacation has ended, guests can replicate the Fish Out of Water experience with an impressive, well-curated selection of rare spirits, specialty barware, WaterColor-branded merchandise and more from the Package Store, located at the restaurant’s main entrance.
Fish Out of Water is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (seasonal hours apply). In an effort to seat guests more efficiently, the restaurant does not accept reservations. To-go dining orders may be placed online at foow30a.com.
FISH OUT OF WATER | WATERCOLOR INN 34 GOLDENROD CIRCLE, SANTA ROSA BEACH | (850) 534-5050 | FOOW30A.COM
BEST PLACE TO WATCH A SUNSET Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill
Best of the EMERAL D COAST
Talk to executives and owners of the biggest, most influential companies in Northwest Florida or to a person, and they will agree that the presence of small businesses in the region adds to the quality of life here. They have abundant respect for people who invest savings in pursuit of dreams. Indeed, big businesses are forever trying to emulate the service cultures that characterize small shops. We all can attest to the fact that interacting with someone who is personally invested in an enterprise is an experience often superior to that of dealing with a corporate or franchise business. The winners in our 2022 Best of the Emerald Coast readers’ poll work hard to build and maintain good outstanding reputations. They cultivate the respect and admiration of their customers by reliably and professionally providing products and services that exceed expectations. They groom their employees to be outstanding representatives of their brands and, by extension, the region as a whole. Together, they account for a special brand of Emerald Coast hospitality. We encourage you, our readers, to patronize and congratulate them.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!
BENEFITTING: Junior League of the Emerald Coast SPONSORED BY: 99Rock - Culumus Media, Capital City Bank, Copy Systems Business Center Inc., Grand Boulevard Sandestin, GSOCPS, LLC, Idyll Hounds Brewing Company, Land•Air•Sea Productions, Proffitt PR, North Beach Social, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Sunbelt Rentals, Timber Creek Distillery, Vacasa, and Vero Building Systems
Rowland Publishing’s Best of the Emerald Coast event has long been a sustaining contributor to the Child Clothing Project of the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. While “Emerald Coast” conjures up images of frolicking vacationers and magnificent Gulf-front homes and towers, our area is home to thousands of people who struggle to afford essentials. Many are folks who work to enhance the quality of the Emerald Coast experience for others. For them, rising food and housing costs have intensified their struggles. As we gather for our Best of the Emerald Coast event this year, we encourage everyone to give generously to the Child Clothing Project. Your contribution will help provide clothing and meet other basic needs for hundreds of local children. For details on how you can help, please visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/best-of-the-emerald-coast.
EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE’ S2022 BEST
BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS Emerald Coast Science Center
PHOTO BY MARI DARR~WELCH / RPI FILE PHOTO
ENTERTAINMENT
ARTIST/ART GALLERY Estelle Studio and Gallery
In 2018, Estelle Grengs splashed onto the Emerald Coast arts scene when her painting, Lobstah, was the winning poster for the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Festival. At Estelle Studio and Gallery in Freeport, she exhibits her art for sale and teaches a variety of art media and techniques.
Freeport (850) 974-0112 estellestudioandgallery.com
DJ DJ 30A
DJ 30A understands that every event is unique. Through communication and close attention to detail, they create a vibe and atmosphere that is perfectly in tune with client needs and desires.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 225-1149 dj30a.com
EVENT Freeport Farmers Market
Rain or shine, the Freeport Farmers Market runs the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month hosting space for 50+ venders with music, food and giveaways.
Freeport (585) 203-2029 freeportfarmersmarket.com
GOLF COURSE Raven Golf Club
Golfers can elevate their game with this award-winning 6,900yard course, presenting drama and strategy on every tee.
Miramar Beach (850) 267-8155 sandestin.com/golf/raven-golf-club
MUSICIAN/VOCALIST/BAND Eric Chance Stone
This Texas-born, islandbeat performer has toured throughout the U.S. and internationally, singing about marine life, including the Humuhumu triggerfish.
Destin (850) 543-4602 ericchancestone.com
NIGHTLIFE/LIVE MUSIC VENUE Red Fish Taco
Chef-driven fish, shrimp and street tacos served with a casual and fun atmosphere makes Red Fish Taco the ideal celebration of “beach vibes.”
Blue Mountain Beach (850) 994-7443 redfishtaco.com
PLACE FOR A DATE Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar
Punchy cocktails and eclectic cuisine with a rooftop view in Rosemary Beach make Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar an unbeatable spot for intimate gatherings.
Rosemary Beach (850) 213-4600 rooftop30a.com
PLACE FOR KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY Urban Air
Where fun takes flight for kids of all ages (including kids at heart).
Destin (850) 687-4178 urbanairdestin.com
Science and movement mesh at the Emerald Coast Science Center with interactive exhibits that teach kids about cutting-edge technology while entertaining with irresistibly adorable animals.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 664-1261 ecscience.org
Barefoot's Beachside Bar & Grill boasts the best place to watch the Florida magenta-melting sun set into the coastline with your choice of refreshments.
Miramar Beach (850) 267-9500 hiltonsandestinbeach.com
RADIO PERSONALITY Kevin McKay, 99ROCK - Cumulus Media
Weekday afternoons with Kevin McKay on 99ROCK promise to keep listeners entertained and in question of his interest in incarcerated individuals who smile in their mug shots. (Promises a free T-shirt with proof of photo)
Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-2323 wksm.com
RESORT Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
It’s all sunshine and good vibes at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, especially for families with their available package discounts.
Miramar Beach (850) 267-8000 sandestin.com
A professional staff and 27 acres of masterfully designed courts make Hidden Dunes Tennis and Pickleball Center the premier place in Destin for the avid tennis player.
Miramar Beach (850) 269-2590 hiddendunestennis.com
STAYCATION PROPERTY/RESORT Henderson Beach Resort
Sea-to-table cuisine, premium amenities and timeless luxury make the Henderson Beach Resort an unforgettable experience.
Destin (855) 741-2777 hendersonbeachresort.com
FOOD & BEVERAGE
APPETIZER Bijoux
One of Destin’s top awardwinning restaurants since 2002, Bijoux embodies “coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair.”
Miramar Beach (850) 622-0760 bijouxdestin.com
ASIAN FUSION Domo Café
Domo Café is Fort Walton Beach’s place for family Asian fusion, with bubble teas and creative sushi rolls offered in a bustling, modern space.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 374-8799 facebook.com/domocafe850
ATMOSPHERE The Red Bar
The Red Bar made its grand comeback in 2020 after a devastating fire in 2019. Take in live music, great food and cocktails at this eclectic indoor destination.
Grayton Beach (850) 231-1008 theredbar.com
BAKERY Navarre Bakery & Creamery
Family-owned and operated, Navarre Bakery & Creamery offers everything delectable, from pastries to sandwiches to ice cream.
Navarre (850) 844-9705 facebook.com/ Navarrebakeryandcreamery BAR/TAVERN RadBar
From Pac-Man to Pinball, the Rad Bar is the spot for gamers of all generations to enjoy a full bar and classic games.
Fort Walton Beach theradbar.com
BARBECUE 98 Bar-B-Que
Anyone craving a savory evening is sure to be satiated at 98 Bar-B-Que with the “best fries on earth” combined with delectable barbecue and scrumptious gumbo.
Santa Rosa Beach*, Seacrest Beach (850) 622-0679* 98bbq.com
BEER SELECTION/ CRAFT BEER The Craft Bar
This Florida gastropub is as “craft” as it can get, with 30 beers on tap, artful artisans and handcrafted cocktails.
Destin*, Fort Walton Beach, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach (850) 460-7907* thecraftbarfl.com
BLOODY MARY The Red Bar
The Red Bar serves a range of delicious beverages, but there’s one item on the menu you won’t want to miss: Red Bar’s Bloody Mary is hearty, spice and full-figured — an experience visitors shouldn’t miss.
Grayton Beach (850) 231-1008 theredbar.com
BEST BREWERY 3rd Planet Brewing
BREAKFAST Donut Hole Bakery Cafe
Hearty comfort food entices all walks of life at the Donut Hole Bakery Cafe, serving the dishes that bring you home.
Destin*, Inlet Beach, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 837-8824*
BREWERY 3rd Planet Brewing
The first craft brewery to sprout in Niceville, 3rd Planet Brewing focuses on high-quality, in-house taproom craft beers in a comfortable environment with exceptional customer service.
Niceville (850) 424-4257 3rdplanetbrewing.com
BRUNCH Mama Clemenza’s European Breakfast
Mama Clemenza’s brings traditional Europeaninspired breakfast dishes to the Emerald Coast all morning.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-3157 facebook.com/ mamaclemenzas
CAJUN/CREOLE Dixieland Chicken Co.
Dixieland Chicken Co. is where it’s happening for all things Creole and fried, from chicken liver to chicken pot pie — this spot offers all things “lagniappe.”
Destin (850) 672-2847 dixielandchicken.com
CHEF Farrington Foods
Farrington Foods is your chefdriven commercial kitchen, offering at-home and virtual cooking classes to home kitchens.
All Along 30A & Santa Rosa Beach (239) 572-1518 farringtonfoods.com
CHINESE Lin’s Asian Cuisine
Dine-in, take-out and delivery options make Lin’s Asian Cuisine a delicious Chinese and Asian option in Miramar Beach for locals and visitors alike.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-5888 linsasianfl.com
CRAB CAKES Reel ‘Em In Fresh Seafood and Gourmet
Drop a line to Reel ‘Em In Fresh Seafood, and you’ll be hooked on their fresh shrimp, stuffed flounder, crab cakes, royal reds, scallops, corn and crab bisque, crawfish pies, ahi tuna and much more.
Panama City (850) 420-2240 reeleminfreshseafood.com
CRAWFISH NOLA Boiling Co.
Born and raised in Louisiana, the owners of NOLA Boiling Co. bring the best in authentic seafood boils to the Emerald Coast with cooking styles passed down from generation to generation.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 672-2847 nolaboil.com
DESSERT Navarre Bakery & Creamery
Navarre is the spot for anyone with a sweet tooth. Their apple fritters and selection of ice creams are a major hit; come for the sweets, and stay for the experience.
Navarre (850) 844-9705 facebook.com/ navarrebakeryandcreamery
DISTILLERY Distillery 98
Historic Highway 98 brings passersby right to Distillery 98, a place for people to connect and enjoy small batches from locally sourced family-farmed crops.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 919-2400 distillery98.com
FINE DINING Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
Seagar’s Four-Diamond status brings together the secret to great ambiance, high-quality wines and private dining experiences under one roof.
Miramar Beach (850) 622-1500 seagars.com
FRENCH Bay Cafe French Restaurant
BEST HAMBURGER The Craft Bar
spacious waterfront deck with French cooking and fine wines.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-3550
FROZEN TREAT (ICE CREAM, YOGURT, GELATO, SNOW CONES) Tom’s Main Street Ice Cream
Sweet service and ice creams are always available at Tom’s Main Street Ice Cream shop in Crestview, located right on Main Street.
GOURMET/FOOD SHOP/ SPECIALTY FOOD STORE Reel ‘Em In Fresh Seafood and Gourmet
Interested in ordering fresh seafood? Reel ‘Em In Fresh Seafood and Gourmet is the ultimate spot for an exceptional seafood experience.
Panama City (850) 420-2240 reeleminfreshseafood.com
GROUPER SANDWICH Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar
In the heart of coveted 30A is Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar, offering casual fare and a panoramic view of the area with live music and views of the sugar-white sand beach.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-2733 shunkgulley.com
GUMBO Dixieland Chicken Co.
about simplicity: If you enjoy Creole dishes, Dixieland is a place you won’t want to miss out on along the Emerald Coast.
Destin (850) 672-2847 dixielandchicken.com
HAMBURGER The Craft Bar
This Florida gastropub is as “craft” as it can get, with 30 beers on tap, artful artisans and handcrafted cocktails.
Destin*, Fort Walton Beach, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach (850) 460-7907* thecraftbarfl.com
TIE HAPPY HOUR amici 30A Italian Kitchen
The word “amici” is Italian for “friends,” and that’s how the owners of amici 30A Italian Kitchen welcome their guests — come in, eat and leave as friends.
Inlet Beach (850) 909-0555 amici30a.com
TIE HAPPY HOUR Marina Cafe
Cafe is Destin’s most awarded restaurant with sensational food, attentive service, fine wines and breathtaking harbor views from the candlelit dining room.
Destin (850) 837-7960 marinacafe.com
Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar rolls with the freshest food, offering entertaining hibachi dinners and hand-rolled sushi to accommodate parties of all sizes.
Destin*, Panama City Beach (850) 650-4688* osakahibachiandsushi.com
ITALIAN Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
Bursting with flavor and color, Mimmo’s is Destin’s most authentic Italian restaurant offering the ideal atmosphere and menu to enjoy a small slice of Italy along the Emerald Coast.
Destin*, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 460-7353* eatmimmos.com
MARGARITA Cantina Laredo
At Cantina Laredo, it’s all about authenticity with a full Mexican menu and classic margaritas.
Miramar Beach (850) 654-5649 cantinalaredo.com
MARTINI Café Thirty-A
Café Thirty-A is known for its eclectic menu, fine wines and exciting martinis. It’s a favorite on the Emerald Coast, offering a special ’Tini Night on Tuesdays and Thursdays where martinis are just $6 all night long.
Seagrove Beach (850) 231-2166 cafethirtya.com
MEDITERRANEAN Aegean Restaurant
Live longer, eat like the Greeks! A Greek meal is best enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Enjoy authentic Greek cuisine, beer and wine at their multiple locations.
Miramar Beach*, Mary Esther, Shalimar (850) 460-2728* aegeanfl.com
Pepper’s first location opened in Port St. Joe and has expanded to seven locations since 2005. Even with the expansion, Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina operates as one family, one restaurant.
Niceville*, Crestview, Panama City, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach (850) 353-2625* peppersmexicancantina.com
MOJITO Great Southern Cafe
The Great Southern Cafe mixes international cuisine inspiration with Southern homestyle cooking offering fresh produce from nearby farms and seafood from the Gulf of Mexico — an authentic experience in Seaside.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 231-7327 thegreatsoutherncafe.com
NACHOS Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina
From ground beef to juicy shrimp and all the classic styles in-between, Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina is the spot to gather ’round the table for delicious food and memorable conversations.
Niceville*, Crestview, Panama City, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach (850) 353-2625* peppersmexicancantina.com
NEW RESTAURANT (6-12 MONTHS) Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant
Gulf favorites are available for tasting at Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant with wood-fired seafood and a raw bar — a seafood restaurant with an outstanding creative spin on a classic attraction.
TIE BEST RESTAURANT IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY George Bistro + Bar
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 777-3385 downislandsrb.com
ON-SITE CATERING NOLA Boiling Co.
Born and raised in Louisiana, the owners of NOLA Boiling Co. bring the best in authentic seafood boils to the Emerald Coast with cooking styles passed down from generation to generation.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 672-2847 nolaboil.com
OUTDOOR BAR North Beach Social
North Beach Social is the perfect place to reflect natural beauty and enjoy the sunset overlooking the bay in South Walton while sipping deliciously handcrafted drinks.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-8110 northbeach.social
OUTDOOR DINING Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House
Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House is the dressed-down development following 40 years of white linen and bowtie elegance at the owner’s prior restaurant, The Flamingo Cafe.
Destin (850) 424-7406 boshamps.com
OYSTERS Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar
Lemon, butter and garlic parmesan with fresh herbs are just the first descriptions on Shunk Gulley’s well-known oyster menu. It’s a big deal to be the “oyster spot,” and from naked to grilled, they’ve got what it takes.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-2733 shunkgulley.com
PIZZA Helen Back Pizza
award-winning pizza restaurant in Fort Walton using the freshest ingredients and boasting an enticing atmosphere.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 374-8603 helenbackpizza.com
RESTAURANT IN BAY COUNTY Firefly
Be sure to make a reservation at Firefly in Panama City Beach. This place fills up quickly and is known as the area’s premier casual fine dining experience.
Panama City Beach (850) 249-3359 fireflypcb.com
TIE RESTAURANT IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY Restaurant IRON
Restaurant IRON serves contemporary Southern cuisine fueled by local vegetables and herbs from the creative minds of true Southerners.
Pensacola (850) 476-7776 restaurantiron.com
TIE RESTAURANT IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY George Bistro + Bar
At George Bistro + Bar, food is the language of the soul and the heart of all they create. Once you visit George, you’re family.
Pensacola (850) 912-4655 georgebistroandbar.com
RESTAURANT IN OKALOOSA COUNTY Clemenza’s at Uptown
Clemenza’s at Uptown is a convivial eatery known for its choice of Italian fare, including wood-fired pizzas and brunch specials on the weekends.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-0707
RESTAURANT IN WALTON COUNTY Ovide
Fine dining, led by acclaimed Georgia chef Hugh Acheson, is the center of Ovide’s impeccable classic technique fueled by a passion for sustainability and seasonality.
Miramar Beach (850) 351-3030 hoteleffie.com/dining/ovide
ROMANTIC/SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT Ovide
Ovide’s dimly lit ambiance is a space marked with celebration for special events, including birthdays and rehearsal dinners, available to be booked privately or reserved at Hotel Effie in Miramar Beach.
Miramar Beach (850) 351-3030 hoteleffie.com/dining/ovide
SEAFOOD MARKET Destin Ice Seafood Market
Destin Ice Seafood Market is the area’s premier market for ready-to-cook meals, wines, cheeses, dips, sauces, seasonings and expert advice on cooking your seafood to perfection.
Destin (850) 837-8333 destinice.com
right-off-the-docks catches served fried, grilled or blackened in a casual setting with two full bars and views of the Destin Harbor.
Destin (850) 424-7406 boshamps.com
SEAFOOD STEAMER Old Bay Steamer
Locally famous ribs, juicy steaks and quality seafood are the standout stars of Old Bay Steamer in Fort Walton Beach, a classic place for an exceptional evening.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 664-2795 oldbaysteamerfwb.com
SHRIMP DISH Stinky’s Fish Camp
“With a name like Stinky’s, it better be good!” Visit Stinky’s Fish Camp located in Santa Rosa Beach and find out for yourself; their shrimp has been named the best on Emerald Coast.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-3053 stinkysfishcamp.com
SPORTS BAR Shades Bar & Grill
A family favorite since 1994, Shades Bar & Grill is the spot to turn friends into family with classic spirits, famous wings and daily chef features on 30A.
Inlet Beach (850) 231-9410 shades30a.com
STEAKHOUSE Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
Mouth-watering prime steaks from New York strip to filet mignon will leave you satisfied and craving more at Seagar’s BEST SPORTS BAR Shades Bar & Grill
Restaurant located at Hilton Sandestin.
Miramar Beach (850) 622-1500 seagars.com
SUSHI Sushimoto
First come, first serve — Sushimoto of South Walton is the place for sushi lovers to join this small, familyowned business and enjoy the delicious taste of fresh hand-rolled sushi.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-5977 destinsushi.com
TACOS Burrito del Sol
Burrito del Sol specializes in four signature styles, including Baja, chipotle, barbecue and Southwest. Take it from the locals: Their blackened shrimp tacos “Baja style” are the best around.
Fort Walton Beach*, Destin (850) 226-8016* burritodelsol.com
TIE BEST WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Vue on 30a
THAI Thai Chiang Rai
It’s “Thai” time you come and try Thai Chiang Rai’s most popular menu items, starting with Lobster Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 213-3972 facebook.com/thai-chiangrai-restaurant
TUNA DIP The Crab Trap Seafood and Oyster Bar
Sun, sand and seafood — need we say more? The Crab Trap is the spot for locals and visitors to relish in the ultimate beach dinner experience.
Destin*, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola (850) 654-2722* crabtrapflorida.com
VEGAN The Oasis
With 100% vegan cuisine off busy Highway 98, The Oasis welcomes guests to enjoy a private dining experience.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 401-9149 theoasissrb.com
TIE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Bud & Alley’s
Bud & Alley’s is South Walton’s oldest restaurant and favorite gathering spot for 25 years and counting. Come, rest, rejuvenate and enjoy the tastes of the seaside.
Seaside (850) 231-5900 budandalleys.com TIE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Vue on 30a
Vue on 30a’s experience is world-class, with Jamaican executive chef Isley Whyte sharing spices and flavor combos developed in the U.S. mixed with ones passed down from generations in his family.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-2305 vueon30a.net
WEDDING CATERER SunQuest Beach Weddings
Book your stress-free fairytale wedding on the beach with award-winning SunQuest Beach Weddings.
Miramar Beach (850) 830-9359 sunquestbeachweddings.com
WINE LIST/WINE BAR The Wine Bar
Casual fine dining in four convenient locations, The Wine Bar is the spot for ladies night out or a romantic evening with a partner.
Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Watercolor* (850) 231-1323* thewinebarfl.com
WINGS Buffalo’s Reef
Classic bar food with some soul, Buffalo’s Reef boasts of “world famous buffalo wings” and aims to please all visitors’ palates.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-9464 buffalosreef.com
SPORTING GEAR/ PADDLEBOARD RETAILER YOLO Board and Bike
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOLO BOARD AND BIKE
SHOPPING
ANTIQUES SHOP De’France Antiques
De’France is Fort Walton Beach’s spot for finding the perfect antiques with vintage, shabby chic and repurposed collectibles and furniture for every spot in the antique lover’s home.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 314-7500 defranceantiques.com
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING RETAILER Pink N Blue Avenue
From crib to classroom, Pink N Blue Avenue offers affordabilty, community and customer service to help nurture your child in every stage of development.
Destin (850) 424-5707 pinknblueavenue.net
TIE CONSIGNMENT/ RESALE SHOP Ava’s Attic
Consign and design with Ava’s Furniture, offering a broad selection of designer clothing, repurposed furniture and custom-painted furniture.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-6767 avasatticIndestin.com
TIE CONSIGNMENT/ RESALE SHOP Second Breath Styles
Some treasures are better when discovered twice. Second Breath Styles is the area’s best consignment shop, for parents by parents, offering infant, teen and maternity styles.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 374-3252 secondbreathstyles.com
COSMETIC PROVIDER/VENDOR Honeycomb Hair & Co.
All-natural products made by hand, that’s the Honeycomb Hair Co. commitment, using the finest ingredients and eliminating environmental toxins and harmful chemicals.
Crestview linktr.ee/HoneycombHairandCo facebook.com/honeycombhaircofl
FURNITURE RETAILER Stock & Trade Design Co.
the mind, body and soul with Stock & Trade Design Co., bringing serenity into every home.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 460-8990 stockandtrade.com
JEWELRY STORE McCaskill & Company
Explore the finest collection of jewelry and watches at McCaskill & Company, offering the most exclusive gems and diamonds for those most special to you.
Destin (850) 650-2262 mccaskillandcompany.com
LOCALLY OWNED RETAILER Bay Breeze Patio
Visit the showroom, and furnish your outdoor dream patio — perfect for grilling, chilling and enjoying great company.
Miramar Beach (850) 269-4666 baybreezepatio.com
MEN’S APPAREL/SHOES/ ACCESSORIES Island Clothiers
Spend the afternoon seaside shopping designer brands and beachwear for the entire family at more than a dozen specialty stores for a little retail therapy in The Village of Baytown Wharf at Sandestin.
Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806 sandestin.com/shopping
OUTDOOR FURNITURE RETAILER Bay Breeze Patio
Create your ideal backyard entertainment with an assist from the pros at Bay Breeze Patio.
Miramar Beach (850) 269-4666 baybreezepatio.com
SPECIALTY RETAILER Sunglass World - Destin Commons
Sunglass World is a small, familyoriented company with a long history of cutting-edge sunglass styles. Starting in 1984, their long line of commitment brings customers back year after year to find the perfect shades in the hottest region.
Destin (850) 460-7889 sunglassworld.net
SPORTING GEAR/ PADDLEBOARD RETAILER YOLO Board and Bike
YOLO Board and Bike is a growing lifestyle brand aiming to deliver fun, fulfilling the truth that “you only live once,” so it might as well be a good time.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-6852 yoloboard.com
WEDDING SHOP Margaret Ellen Bridal
Margaret Ellen Bridal believes that every girl deserves a relaxed and intimate wedding experience while finding “the dress” that she will never forget because, after all, it is the most important dress she will ever wear.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 641-0266 margaretellenbridal.com
WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES McCaskill & Company
Discover the finest jewelry at McCaskill & Company — dazzling men and women from Rolex watches to David Yurman select pieces.
Destin (850) 650-2262 mccaskillandcompany.com
WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE Barefoot Princess
Shop all things fun, colorful and chic with Barefoot Princess. They’re sure to have the perfect outfit for any occasion.
Miramar Beach (850) 351-1806 sandestin.com/shopping
WOMEN’S SHOES Sunset Shoes & Lifestyles
Sunset Shoes & Lifestyles has become the footwear headquarters of the Emerald Coast — inspired by Destin’s beautiful beaches and relaxed environment. Walk right into comfort.
Miramar Beach (850) 837-5466 sunsetshoesonline.com
SERVICE PROVIDERS
ACCOUNTING FIRM Coastal Accounting of NW FL PA
Combining expertise and experience, Coastal Accounting aims to be one of the leading firms in the area with their full-service firm licensed in the state of Florida.
Destin, Niceville (850) 654-9235 coastalaccounting.net
ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC Tortoise Clinic of Chinese Medicine
The Tortoise Clinic in Santa Rosa Beach is the area’s oldest and most decorated holistic health clinic, offering acupuncture, herbal medicine, therapeutic massage and more healing modalities.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-5611 thetortoiseclinic.com
AESTHETICIAN Melissa St. John – Destin Plastic Surgery
Melissa St. John began her career working for one of the top-rated resort spas in Florida before transitioning to the clinical side of skin care. Since 2011, Melissa has partnered with Destin Plastic Surgery’s Anti-Aging Clinic, and her passion for her work shines through in her patients’ glowing skin.
Destin (850) 654-1194 theplasticdoc.com
ARCHITECTURE FIRM DAG Architects Inc.
Guided by devotion to great design for nearly four decades, DAG Architects is the largest architectural firm in the Florida Panhandle with an over-arching belief that the buildings they create will have a lasting impact on the communities in which they’re built.
Destin (850) 837-8152 dagarchitects.com
AUDIO/VISUAL PROVIDER Five-Star Audio Visual, Inc.
Five-Star is the home of evolution for meetings and events through their “Experiential Method,” where the primary goal is to help clients discover their desired message most effectively.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 275-4242 five-starav.com
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP David Scott Lee Buick GMC
David Scott Lee Buick GMC has one goal: to help customers find their best vehicle in a stress-free process that saves time, energy and money.
Crestview (850) 682-2708 leebuickgmc.com
BANK Capital City Bank
Capital City Bank isn’t just a place to bank. It’s a place with friendly and fast service taking care of all your banking needs.
Multiple locations (850) 553-0488 ccbg.com
BUILDER/CONTRACTOR Bear General Contractors
At Bear General Contractors, the road to success is always under construction — specializing in commercial buildings for decades.
Pensacola (850) 435-4411 beargc.com
CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Tune-Up
Make your dream kitchen a reality with Kitchen Tune-Up in as little as one to five days.
Niceville (850) 678-9977 kitchentuneup.com
BEST AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP David Scott Lee Buick GMC
Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation has been in the business of treating customers as VIPs for the past 30 years, bringing locals and travelers wherever they’d like to go in top style.
Serving the North Florida Panhandle (850) 774-8345 emeraldcoastluxurytransportation.com
CARDIOLOGY PRACTICE Ascension Sacred Heart
Ascension Sacred Heart provides personalized care when and where you need it most across 20 states, offering a wide range of doctors and specialists.
Pensacola (850) 416-7000 healthcare.ascension.org
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) is the area’s most recognized nonprofit working to end child abuse and provide safety for neglected and assaulted children.
Niceville (850) 833-9237 eccac.org
CHARTER BOAT SERVICE (FISHING, DIVING, ETC.) SunVenture Cruises
Let SunVenture Cruises treat you to an eco-tour of the Destin area before venturing to Crab Island for the day for an unforgettable underwater playground experience.
Destin (850) 424-6465 sunventurecruises.com
CHEERLEADING/ GYMNASTICS FACILITY Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity is a competitive cheerleading and tumbling gym in the Florida Panhandle, offering specific technique training and mastery of this growing sport.
Valparaiso (850) 307-0779 gozerogravity.com
BEST CHEERLEADING/ GYMNASTICS FACILITY Zero Gravity
Growing Green Families is a wellness community focused on physical care from chiropractic to physical and massage therapy, led by Dr. Larissa Tenzycki, who has devoted her career to working with pregnant women and taking care of their families.
Valparaiso (850) 696-0363 gg-families.com COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE GROUP Somers & Company
Clients benefit from the firm’s focus on all types of property located from Scenic 30A to Destin and its fundamental understanding of market trends.
Destin (850) 654-7777 somerscompany.com
COMPUTER SERVICES/ TECH SUPPORT CRC Data Technologies
in Northwest Florida for IT support, leading with confidence in developing new technologies and services.
Destin (850) 654-7262 crcdatatech.com
COSMETIC/PLASTIC SURGERY PRACTICE Destin Plastic Surgery, William R. Burden, MD
Since 1995, Dr. William R. Burden has brought new technology and procedures to North Florida, creating a world-class plastic surgery facility that attracts people on a global scale.
Destin (850) 654-1194 theplasticdoc.com
COSMETIC SERVICES (EYELASH EXTENSIONS, NAILS, PERMANENT MAKEUP) Southern Roots Salon & Spa
Managed in innovative fashion to generate high levels of customer satisfaction with services including facials, micro-needling and permanent makeup.
Niceville (850) 897-8900 southernrootssalonspa.com
CREDIT UNION Eglin Federal Credit Union
Eglin Federal Credit Union makes banking a breeze, from tax scam information to user-friendly online banking and tips to preserve your spending power.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 862-0111 eglinfcu.org
CUSTOMER SERVICE Harris Insurance Services, Inc.
Change how you feel about your insurance agency with Harris Insurance, offering
the largest selection of A-rated national companies guiding clients to their best possible quote.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-2111 harrisInsurance.com
DENTAL PRACTICE Jeffrey Dental Clinic
Jeffrey Dental is a husband and wife dental team serving the Valparaiso area with advanced training in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.
Valparaiso (850) 678-4151 jeffreydentalclinic.com
DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE Coastal Skin Surgery & Dermatology
No need to cover up. Coastal Skin Surgery offers all the necessary treatments, from BOTOX to removing varicose and spider veins. They’ll have you feeling confident and happy in your skin again.
Miramar Beach (850) 654-3376 coastalskinsurgery.com
ELECTRIC CART/GOLF CART DEALERSHIP Dixielectricar
Anyone who travels to the Emerald Coast quickly notices the proliferation of golf carts. Dixielectricar has been a street legal golf cart retailer since 1972, supplying residents and visitors with the highest premium product — their E-Z-GO golf cart.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 269-0011 dixielectricar.com
EVENT PLANNING FIRM Proffitt PR
Recognized as one of the best public relations and digital marketing companies along the Emerald Coast, Proffitt PR is a savvy boutique consulting firm specializing in making you and your brand stand out.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 460-7777 proffittpr.com
EVENT VENUE SunQuest Cruises/SOLARIS
Dine, dance and cruise with SunQuest Cruises. Operating year-round from the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, they bring guests a majestic fusion of ambiance, food and live music aboard the SOLARIS yacht.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (850) 650-2519 sunquestcruises.com
EYE DOCTOR PRACTICE Wells Vision and Laser Eye Center
Wells Vision Center, Destin’s premier eye exam and LASIK provider, has been taking care of families in and around the area with family-centered service and attention to the highest quality of optometry.
Destin*, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 424-6677* wellsvisioncenter.com
EYE SURGEON PRACTICE Eye Center South
Eye Center South offers worldclass eye care close to home with an expert team of eye surgeons offering the latest technology to provide advanced treatment for common and complex eye diagnoses.
Destin (800) NEW-EYES eyecentersouth.net
As a patient-centered medical home, WhiteWilson Medical Center offers specialty care that you don’t have to wait for — with walkin and immediate care. These professionals are ready to meet your medical needs.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 863-8100 white-wilson.com
FINANCIAL PLANNING/ INVESTMENT FIRM Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates
Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates’ mission is to understand you and what matters most. By leveraging the strength of one of the world’s leading wealth management firms, they can deliver results with the agility and intimacy of a family-owned business.
Destin (850) 269-7003 fa.ml.com/florida/destin/kfa
FLOORING Tile & Stone Concepts
Coast for over 20 years, offering quality flooring for residential and commercial projects with a large showroom selection.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-3085 tilestoneconcepts.com
FLORIST rose & co.
Gorgeous vases from standard to large-sized arrangements of flowers from rose & co. will make anyone feel special and seen when delivered from this fine gift and flower shop.
Miramar Beach (850) 496-0417 roseandcoflowers.com
FULL SERVICE SPA Serenity by the sea Spa
Their name truly sums up the experience at Serenity by the sea Spa — with over 10 years offering guests a peaceful retreat from everyday life.
Miramar Beach (850) 622-9595 serenitybytheseaspa.com
GYM/HEALTH CLUB/ FITNESS CENTER/STUDIO Grand Fitness
Grand Fitness is the Emerald Coast’s best-known fitness facility for high-end equipment on an expansive 20,000-square-foot location with experienced trainers and world-class nutrition sure to make your experience GRAND.
Miramar Beach (850) 424-4301 grandfitnessfl.com
HAIR SALON Pure & Couture Salon
At Pure & Couture Salon, hair is their passion, and it shows when each client leaves looking fresh and up to date with the latest styles and trends.
Destin (850) 424-3935 pureandcouture.com
HEATING AND AIR SERVICE Gulfshore Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc.
Gulfshore Air is Niceville’s No. 1 trusted AC service company, handling all your air conditioning, heating, air purification and humidity needs.
Niceville (850) 897-6540 gulfshoreair.com
HOTEL Hotel Effie
Hotel Effie is a luxury hotel unlike any other in Miramar Beach, with white sand beaches and the famous emerald waters of the Gulf Coast. Vibrant and elegant, these luxurious rooms are not to be missed.
Miramar Beach (833) 873-3343 hoteleffie.com
INSURANCE AGENCY Harris Insurance Services, Inc.
Protecting Florida residents since 1965, their experience in working with auto, home, business, life, watercraft and more insurance types is extensive — making their past work for your future.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 244-2111 harrisInsurance.com
TIE INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM Baker Design Co.
For Libby Baker Speight, interior design is a very personal thing. Founder of Baker Design Co., she looks at her clients as creative collaborators and believes each design project should reflect the unique personality of the space’s owner.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 972-9193 bakerdesignco.com
TIE INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM Lovelace Interiors
Expect the unexpected with Lovelace Interiors. Their established design process has been tested and proven over 25 years, making sure clients are 100% satisfied.
Miramar Beach (850) 837-5563 lovelaceinteriors.com
With exceptional customer service, Danna Outdoor Services is one of the area’s top landscaping businesses bringing quality care to yards across the Emerald Coast.
Gulf Breeze (850) 905-8344
LAW FIRM Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC
For more than 75 years, they’ve based their firm leadership on a fundamental commitment to creating long-lasting relationships and helping their clients negotiate and solve their most important legal matters.
Destin (850) 650-0010 handfirm.com
LIGHTING STORE Beautiful Lights
Based in Destin, Beautiful Lights provides locals with the finest décor from furniture and rugs to lighting, ceiling fans and outdoor arrangements.
Destin (850) 650-9417 beautifullights.com
TIE MARINE SALES AND SERVICE The Ships Chandler
The Emerald Coast’s leader in high-performance sport fishing boats is The Ships Chandler — offering full services to support fishing across the coast.
Destin*, Freeport (850) 837-9306* theshipschandler.com
TIE MARINE SALES AND SERVICE Legendary Marine
Legendary Marine is the area’s full-service provider for all things boating. Whether you’re in the market to purchase or sell, their veteran sales team is ready and fully prepared to assist you.
Destin (850) 337-8300 legendarymarine.com
MARTIAL ARTS/KARATE Resolute Martial Arts
Resolute Marital Arts has a simple philosophy: Use karate as a guide to build character. Their exceptional instructors ensure that each student is given the tools to succeed in all areas of life.
Destin (850) 797-4434 resolutemartialarts.com
MEDICAL CENTER/HOSPITAL Ascension Sacred Heart
From the moment you walk through the doors, Ascension health care professionals are ready to serve you with hope and strength. They start by understanding your needs and delivering a personalized care program that fits you as an individual.
Miramar Beach (850) 278-3000 ascension.org
White-Wilson Medical Center provides awardwinning medical care in convenient locations across the Emerald Coast, taking care of you so you can worry less about wellness.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 863-8100 white-wilson.com
MEDICAL SPA Renew Aesthetics
Renew Aesthetics combines the top medical grade treatments in an upscale atmosphere. This full-service medical spa offers the latest non-surgical cosmetic enhancements making you feel and look your best.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 503-1060 renew-aestheticsclinic.com
TIE BEST MARINE SALES AND SERVICE Legendary Marine
MORTGAGE LENDER Capital City Bank
Capital City Bank helps customers master their banking to-do list with fast and convenient services for personal, business and wealth management.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 553-0488 ccbg.com
ORTHODONTIST PRACTICE Stubbs Orthodontics
From braces for children to Invisalign for adults, Stubbs Orthodontics is committed to giving each patient the smile the deserve.
Miramar Beach, Niceville (850) 678-8338 stubbsortho.com
ORTHOPEDIC SURGICAL PRACTICE Orthopaedic Associates
Orthopaedic Associates is the region’s most preferred practitioner offering expert care for every bone, muscle and joint.
Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville (850) 863-2153 orthoassociates.net
Treat your landscaping needs with respect and next-level management with Danna Outdoor Services LLC, bringing the highest quality of services.
Gulf Breeze (850) 905-8344
PEDIATRIC PRACTICE Coastal Pediatric Group
Coastal Pediatric Group is comprised of dedicated individuals who strive to make you and your child feel at home the moment you walk through the door.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 659-6556 coastalpediatricgroup.com
PHARMACY Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy
Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy is independently owned and operated, providing excellent service and specializing in compounding prescription medications to customize each patient’s unique needs.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 622-5800 eccpharmacy.com
PHOTO BOOTH COMPANY Epic Photo Co.
Epic Photo Co. provides photo booths and portraits to capture your favorite snapshot moments at any event or special meeting.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 213-4434 epicphoto.co
PHOTOGRAPHY Rachael Hill Photography
Embrace your current season of life with Rachael Hill Photography, excelling in creating memorable magic with her elevated photographing process.
All along the Emerald Coast (316) 519-7801 rachaelhillphotography. mypixieset.com
PLUMBING FIXTURES/ SERVICE Emerald Bay Plumbing
Call someone you can rely on — Emerald Bay Plumbing of Destin. Providing top-quality plumbing and gas services that surpass customer expectations year after year.
Destin (850) 837-1979 emeraldbayplumbing.com
PR/ADVERTISING AGENCY Proffitt PR
All-female with a lot of hustle, Proffitt PR helps clients reach their target market — in heels.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 460-7777 proffittpr.com
Make your next project a stressless success with Copy Systems Business Center, offering a full-service business center with document printing, copying and graphic advertising.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 267-4552 copysystemsonline.com
For more than 35 years, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc. has extended warm welcomes to guests and provided an outstanding experience for property owners, real estate clients and homeowners associations.
Miramar Beach (850) 837-1071 newmandailey.com
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE GROUP Breana Uptigrove
If you’re looking to sell your home, look no further than Breana, a 30-year local with a deep passion for connecting each customer with the perfect home at the perfect time.
Destin (850) 699-3974 listwithbre.phonesites.com
ROOFING Specialty Roofers, Inc.
Specialty Roofers is one of the fastest-growing roofing companies in Northwest Florida, offering exceptional service to residential and commercial structures.
Northwest Florida (850) 974-ROOF specialtyroofers.com
SOLAR COMPANY Meraki Solutions
Solar energy is made simple with Meraki Solutions, handling everything necessary from start to finish making their company exactly what you need to convert to solar power.
Destin (850) 739-2519 merakisolutions.com
SPECIALTY FITNESS (PILATES, YOGA, ETC.) Sculpt Studio
Inhale the beat and exhale by the beach with mindful movement workouts at Sculpt Studio on 30A.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 231-0010 sculptstudio30a.com
SPECIALTY PET SERVICES/ PRODUCTS Paws N’ Claws Pet Services
too. At Paws N’ Claws, they treat your pet as their own with exceptional care and service as local pet sitters and dog walkers.
Pace (850) 619-5913 pawsnclaw.org
STORAGE FACILITY Extra Space Storage
Need to store some stuff? Look no further than Extra Space Storage, creating space for everything you love.
Multiple locations (855) 773-7172 extraspace.com
TITLE COMPANY LegacyHouse Title
Your legacy begins with LegacyHouse Title, available for buyers and sellers as well as agents and lenders alike.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 803-1150 legacyhousetitle.com
With an intimate knowledge of the Emerald Coast, Newman-Dailey’s
BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Winkler Photography
commitment to customers is personal — whether you’re looking to rent, sell, own, buy or manage.
Miramar Beach (850) 837-1071 newmandailey.com
VETERINARY PRACTICE Barry Veterinary Hospital
At Barry Veterinary Hospital, Inc., they treat your pet as if he or she were their own, providing comprehensive veterinary care and pet boarding facilities in Miramar Beach.
Miramar Beach (850) 837-7072 barryvethospital.com
VIDEOGRAPHY Land Air Sea Productions
With a military background, Land Air Sea Productions produces commercial and documentary films focusing on travel, fashion and lifestyle subjects delivering projects in a timely manner with ontarget precision.
Emerald Coast landairseaproductions.com
WEDDING HAIR SALON Destin Mobile Makeup Box
Brittany Sigler, the owner of Destin Mobile Makeup Box, provides a full-service on-site hair and makeup artistry team with over 14 years of preparing for the perfect wedding day.
Miramar Beach (850) 865-9698 destinmobilemakeupbox.com
WEDDING MAKEUP ARTIST Pure & Couture Salon
Pure & Couture Salon takes care of women searching to look their best, from a date night out to an entire wedding party, their services are sure to wow individuals and guests alike.
Destin (850) 424-3935 pureandcouture.com
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Winkler Photography
Whether you’re looking for a wedding, engagement or maternity photographer, Jessica Winkler is the wellknown artist behind years of perfect shots capturing special moments.
Santa Rosa Beach (360) 224-5586 facebook.com/ jessicawinklerphotography
WEDDING PLANNER COMPANY Kiss the Bride Weddings
Enjoy your special day more with Kiss the Bride Weddings, offering a fullservice wedding planning experience along scenic highway 30A.
30A, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach (850) 376-8272 kissthebrideweddings.com
WEDDING/ RECEPTION VENUE WaterColor LakeHouse
The sky’s the limit with WaterColor’s breathtaking 3,700-square-foot lakeside venue with cedar-lined walls and large windows featuring views of Western Lake.
Santa Rosa Beach (850) 231-7773 watercolorresort.com/groups/ weddings
WEIGHT LOSS FACILITY Renew Aesthetics Clinic
Offering QWO, the latest advancement in cellulite treatments, and Emsculpt Neo, which enables people to get slimmer and fitter with no surgery or downtime.
Fort Walton Beach (850) 503-1060 renew-aestheticsclinic.com
Aboard the MISS BENNIE
For shrimper
FRED HUNTER,
life has never been a drag
↘ For the uninitiated, the rigging aboard a shrimp boat may appear random, tangled, even chaotic. But for shrimpers like Fred Hunter, the gear is as orderly and regular as the letters on a writer’s keyboard or the pigments on a painter’s palette. There is an art to what he does.
“You can’t just look at one marker; you gotta look behind ya,” Hunter advised, smartly but not angrily. In such a way, he reminded Adkison that a marker and the bow of a boat in a strongly running current do not a straight line define. While the bow remains pointed at the marker, the current may slide the boat right out of the channel.
Adkison could be forgiven. While he toiled aboard shrimp boats as a young man, he has worked for most of his adult life running framing crews for concerns including Taunton Truss, Inc., in Wewahitchka and now as a subcontractor for his homebuilder wife, Pam Palmer, a former educator who owns Hive & Home Residential Construction.
But for Hunter, who resides in Overstreet, shrimping has been a living and a way of life. His father, George Hunter Jr., introduced him to the work.
A Massachusetts Yankee, George Hunter Jr. was in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Antietam out of Pensacola, when he met Fred’s mother, Bennie.
His military service complete, he remained in Northwest Florida, landing a job at the St. Joe paper mill in Panama City, where he worked for 13 years. As a sideline, he ran a bait and tackle shop in Highland View in Gulf County and had a small boat used to catch shrimp for use by anglers. It was on that little boat that Fred, then a boy, had his first net-fishing experience.
In 1966, Fred recalls, his father moved his shop to Mexico Beach at the site today of the Shell Shack, which deals in souvenirs, sundries and seafood. In the early ’70s, George built Bennie’s Tackle Box and Boat Marina, which offered wet and dry boat storage.
Hunter said about his father that he was a great fisherman from whom he learned a lot. Then, Hunter went to what amounted to graduate school. He ran away from home, all the way to Land’s End, and got jobs on big Gulf boats.
“I was blessed to get hooked up with the people I met when I went down there because it was a fine
↑ IN THE WHEELHOUSE Imprinted in Fred Hunter’s mind is a map of the seasonal movements of shrimp, the product of 43 years spent on the water and cataloging successes and empty nets.
bunch of fishermen,” Hunter said. “They traveled from Key West to Texas every year. I learned how to sew nets and splice ropes. You had to work hard, though. You had to do the job.”
George Hunter commissioned the building of the Miss Bennie, named for his wife, in 1979. The boat, with its fiberglass Linsey hull, was finished late in 1980. The old man turned its operation over to his son when Fred was 17. A few years later, Adkison joined him on board as a greenhorn mate.
For years, the Miss Bennie was deployed not just in pursuit of shrimp.
In the winter, Yankee George might strip the vessel of its rigging — no small job — converting it to use as a snapper boat.
“It was a lot easier to take it off than it was to put it back on,” Adkison recalled. Indeed, with its system of outriggers, stabilizers, winches, ropes and pulleys, a shrimp boat is an elaborate affair, bewildering to the uninitiated. About it, Rube Goldberg might have said, “You’re off to a pretty good start.”
There was a time when it was lawful to drag for scallops. Family members would gather round No. 3 washtubs to clean the catch, discarding the guts, saving the meat and turning the shells over to Bennie, who would fashion dolls, chickens and frogs and such from them for sale in the store. She was kitschy before kitschy was uncool.
On this warm July night with nearcalm seas and patchy rain about, the Miss Bennie dragged a channel in East Bay. It was less a serious working trip than it was an excursion, carried out for the benefit of two guests — a writer and the photographer. Hunter dressed up for the occasion in a new Shell Shack T-shirt and a spotless pair of dungarees.
As a product of experience, Hunter learned long ago that it is effective to first work the bottom of a channel and then double back and run along its lips. Shrimp disturbed but not caught on the first pass tend to resettle on channel edges, he said. Here, then, is knowledge of a sort that cannot be pulled up with a Google search. And there is no Shrimping for Dummies book.
Hunter recalled his early days as a shrimper spent before he would learn unanticipated lessons the hard way.
“It was exciting; it was a way of being independent,” Hunter said, jettisoning chew into the drink. “A lot of people were doing it even though they didn’t make much money. To me, it was about the hunt and catching them — and having my freedom, that was probably the primary thing.
Shrimpers never much calculate the risks they run.
Still, Hunter has had his close calls. One occurred when the Miss Bennie, which Hunter described as “the first brand new thing my family ever bought,” was just two years old.
“My old man turned me loose with her, and I went to Tampa Bay, and that’s a long, long reach,” Hunter said.
“I was trying to get back to St. Petersburg to my berth where I tied up,” Hunter began to recount a story. “Down under this ice hold, I have a mid-shaft bearing because the shaft is like 14 feet long. The bolts vibrated out of it, and when the bearing slid down
← “Shrimping is a dangerous profession, going out in rough seas with heavy gear and winches,” writes Jack Rudloe in Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold. “Deckhands have fallen overboard, drowned, been eaten by sharks, or had their brains knocked out by blocks falling on their heads. Cables and winches can cut off a sleepy man’s arm, or worse.” Fred Hunter is ever aware of the risks of his profession, but a life of freedom, he says, makes taking them worthwhile.
↑ The Miss Bennie was an early fiberglass-hull boat when it was built in 1979. Such boats were not immediately popular. “Fishermen wanted either wood or steel,” writes Robert P. Jones in A Culture Worth Saving. “A bumper sticker popular at the time read, ‘If God wanted fiberglass boats, He would have made trees out of fiberglass.’” the shaft, it knocked a hole in the hull. I was by myself, and I’m bucking those seas to get back to St. Pete and the engine starts surging. I said, ‘Damn, I must have run out of fuel or something.’ Then I lifted the hatch and all I could see was water.”
The Miss Bennie was sinking.
“Me knowing the boat was financed, I knew that if I lose this boat, everything is gone,” Hunter said. “The boat was about $75,000 — in 1980. It was expensive. My thought was I could never go home without it because the old man would have killed me. He was a mean bastard, pure Yankee. That’s just the way it was.”
Displaying grace under pressure that Hemingway would have admired, Hunter succeeded in converting a 12-volt wash-down pump to use as a bilge pump. He managed to get two more bilge pumps working.
“The water level was starting to go down. I was overcoming it, and I sped up and got on into the dock,” Hunter said.
With the boat tied up, Hunter could hear the water running into the hull and could pinpoint where it was entering the boat. Fortunately, he had dive gear on board.
“… The bolts vibrated out of it, and when the bearing slid down the shaft, it knocked a hole in the hull. I was by myself, and I’m bucking those seas to get back to St. Pete and the engine starts surging. I said, ‘Damn, I must have run out of fuel or something.’ Then I lifted the hatch and all I could see was water.”
FEWER SHRIMP, FEWER SHRIMPERS
In November 1994, 70% of participating Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that outlawed the use of commercial entanglement fishing nets of more than 500 square feet in state waters. The law became effective in July 1995 and precipitated an exodus of many captains from a shrimping fleet that had numbered hundreds of boats in Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties, alone, according to veteran shrimper Fred Hunter of Overstreet. Other shrimpers including Hunter, whose boat, the Miss Bennie, will turn 43 in December, made adjustments and carried on. “You put a shrimper’s back to the wall, he’s gonna find a way to survive; that’s what we do as commercial fishermen.” Hunter has found that even as shrimpers have become less numerous, so have shrimp, and that, too, has made his livelihood less attractive. He discounts the belief, held by some, that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is somehow to blame. The biggest factor, he said, is the deterioration of estuarine environments due to development, the hardening of waterfronts and the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
The patch worked.
Hunter recalled, too, a time in Tampa Bay when his father insisted upon shrimping despite a bad weather forecast and his son’s pleadings.
“I told him all of those boats over there are tied up for a reason, and he told me he had a boat payment to make,” said Hunter, who believes the Miss Bennie survived seas that night that would have claimed lesser shrimp boats. “She’s got nuts,” he said.
From 1988–95, Hunter worked as a merchant mariner and spent time on a supply boat off Iraq during Operation Desert Shield. It was his only hiatus from shrimping.
“I was wanting to do the Merchant Marine as a career, but the kids at home were getting to be teenagers and hard to handle, so I had to quit my job and go back to shrimping,” Hunter said. “But that was probably for the best because I really blossomed as a shrimper in the past 25 years. I’ve done well for myself.”
Hunter has a son and a daughter, Matthew and Sky, and a granddaughter, Amelia. He does a lot of babysitting, confessing that he “can’t go long without having a look at Amelia.”
There are drags when the nets, raised from the water, contain almost exclusively shrimp. This night was not like that. The bycatch included hardhead and gafftopsail catfish, mantis and milk shrimp, gars, blue crabs, skates and more. The biomass was spread out on a sorting table, Hunter and Adkison picked 50 pounds of keeper shrimp from the pile and then scraped the unwanted life forms into the water off the stern where dolphins had gathered.
Thankfully, there were no sharks, but Hunter said that increasingly they are tailing shrimp boats and tearing into gear.
“They are worse than ever. They will eat the damn nets right off these doors,” Hunter said, referring to the large wooden trawl boards that keep the nets open during a drag.
The shrimper, Hunter concedes, is a dying breed.
“Boats are thinning out every year. There is only a handful of us left, and we’re getting older like myself,” said Hunter, who is 62. “I’m gonna be phasing out in the next couple of years, and there isn’t anyone coming up behind. Mine will be one more boat gone, and it’s going to get to be where the public won’t be able to get fresh shrimp caught in their backyard. It’s gonna come from Mexico or South America. It’s gonna go through a fish house, it’s gonna be washed and frozen three or four times and it’s gonna be treated with preservatives.”
Hunter carries his catches to the Shell Shack, which is operated by his brother, George Hunter III.
“We have the finest shrimp because of the way they are taken care of,” Hunter said.
Our exercise complete, the Miss Bennie heads in. The in-dash depth finder registers less than five feet of water, and while the boat’s draft is four feet, Hunter registers no concern.
“I know these waters like my front yard,” he said.
As we near the dock, the Miss Bennie’s lights cut out. Hunter figures that the fuel line to his generator may be kinked.
Maybe, it’s as simple as that.
One hopes it wasn’t a sign. EC
↑ Fred Hunter delivers most of the shrimp he catches to the Shell Shack, a business operated by his brother, George Hunter III.
expression OCT/NOV 2022
CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES
↘ The monarch butterflies that adorn the Panama City Center for the Arts celebrate nature’s fabulous beauty and remind us of its fragility. Monarchs capable of migrations covering thousands of miles are endangered due to climate change and the disappearance, substantially, of the milkweed plants that are an indispensable part of their life cycle.
ART
Paint the Town
The Bay Arts Alliance brightens a cityscape with eye-popping murals
by EMMA WITMER ↓
← Among the murals new to downtown Panama City is one created to mimic an old-timey postcard.
around.” — Jayson Kretzer
Morgan Summers, a lettering artist and muralist inspired by the sign painters of the ’60s, is leaving brush strokes all over Panama City Beach as part of the Bay Arts Alliance’s mural project, an ongoing push to expand the presence of public art in the city.
Perhaps the most notable of Summers’ contributions is a postcard-style mural commissioned by the alliance that lines the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. The mural, which features Summers’ characteristic limited color palette and mod lettering style, pays homage to the historic post office across the street as well as several notable landmarks throughout the city. Hidden among the letters in “Welcome to Panama City” are depictions of The Hathaway Bridge and the Martin Theater, sites that hold significance to both Panama City and Summers, herself.
“My favorite little detail is the facade of the Martin Theater,” Summers said. “It’s got a very distinctive logo in there as an Easter egg. I used to do talent shows and dance performances there, and they have been working on restoring it since the hurricane came through, but that has taken a lot of time. The view of the bridge is from a little park that I used to go to as a kid.”
Jayson Kretzer, the executive director of the Bay Arts Alliance, floated the idea to develop a mural walk in Panama City many times over the years, but there simply were no systems in place to get the idea off the ground until late 2018. The devastation of Hurricane Michael in October of that year instigated efforts from
← Jayson Kretzer, the executive director of the Bay Arts Alliance in Panama City, casts his own shadow onto a mural featuring a honey bee bent on pollination.
multiple Bay County organizations to not only repair the city’s damage, but to beautify the area’s urban spaces and invest in community-sourced talent.
“In a time like that, people wanted to see color,” Kretzer said.
It was no surprise then, that Kretzer found overwhelming support from organizations like Destination Panama City, the St. Joe Community Foundation and the Downtown Improvement Board. Grants help to cover the cost of materials and pay the artists for their work.
The murals are not, as Kretzer emphasized, advertisements. He and the board at the Bay
Morgan Summers
Arts Alliance carefully select each artist for their unique style and personal connection with the area. The vast majority of muralists to contribute to the project have called Bay County home for more than eight years, though it did not start out that way.
Summers grew up in Panama City but fled to design school in Orlando to pursue an artistic career. Once there, however, she found the city’s arts community to be uninspiring. When she heard about the mural project happening in her hometown, Summers packed her bags and moved back, starting her first mural project, Small Town Walls, a series of murals dedicated to her favorite small towns around the country. This project, which is on display in Summer’s home studio, Uh Beautiful Mes, helped to hone her skills and prepare her to work with the Bay Arts Alliance.
Today, dozens of murals decorate Panama City and Bay County at large. Many of the works, which depict natural scenes, animals, historical figures and a few recent abstract additions, are a product of the Bay Arts Alliance’s Mural Project, but not all. The efforts of Kretzer, his board and band of artists have inspired a wider movement among the community to invest in public art.
“Public art is important,” Kretzer said. “Our vision is to put art on every corner. We want to make art accessible to everybody regardless of their socioeconomic status. You may never notice that brick wall on your commute, but put art on that wall, and it can speak. I just think that those things are important to a community. It builds pride. It brings community itself.” EC
↑ Jayson Kretzer hopes to install art on every street corner in downtown Panama City. An especially imposing example is a larger-than-life hammerhead shark. Monarch butterflies dot the
Center for the Arts in downtown Panama City.
MOVIES
FRIGHT NIGHT FAVORITES
Five classic films fit for a Halloween marathon
by HANNAH BURKE
While speaking with a coworker who shares a love for the macabre, we both realized our obsession originates from the same place — our horrible fathers.
Her father showed her Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho when she was 6 years old, and when I was that age, my old man thought it would be funny to show me the ’90s horror mockumentary phenomenon, The Blair Witch Project. Even more twisted, he insisted that it was 100% genuine footage discovered by the authorities and later released to the public.
Much to my mother’s chagrin, I was raised on the genre and embarked on a 20-year-long love affair with masked maniacs, scream queens and all manner of things that go bump in the night.
If you lack inspiration for your Halloween horror movie marathon, you may find something in the five films I watch annually.
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982)
Mention the third entry in John Carpenter’s Halloween franchise, and some of the more uncultured members of the horror community will turn up their noses and scoff, “Ugh, isn’t that the one without Michael Meyers?” My favorite horror host and movie critic, Joe Bob Briggs, condemns it for this reason, but the standalone sequel explores something far more sinister than a dagger-toting monster in coveralls: consumerism!
When novelty manufacturing corporation Silver Shamrock debuts a catchy commercial for their new line of Halloween masks, kids can’t wait to get their hands on them. But when a crazed toy shop owner is admitted to Dr. Daniel Challis’ ward while clutching said mask and raving, “They’re going to kill us!” is murdered in his hospital room, the good doctor is thrust into an investigation of the wicked Irish company’s founder, Conal Cochran, who aims to eradicate the children of America by bewitching masks with ancient Celtic black magic.
Rife with plot holes, awful one-liners and grisly, ’80s-era special effects, this is, undoubtedly, my favorite horror movie of all time.
THE EXORCIST III (1990) I may have a thing for threequels. Part horror movie and part procedural crime drama, William Peter Blatty’s third Exorcist installment takes place 17 years after the events of the original possession story and catches up with police Lt. William Kinderman and Father Joseph Dyer, who, on the anniversary of Father Damien Karras’ death, meet up to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. Now, the movie is worth watching for their comedic, old-married-couple banter alone. “I can’t go home,” the deadpan Kinderman says to Dyer, proceeding to explain how his visiting mother-in-law has purchased it with the intention of cooking a live carp that’s been swimming in his bathtub for the past three days. “Now, you’re standing very close to me, Father, have you noticed? I haven’t had a bath for three days. I can’t go home until the carp is asleep.” But things take a turn when Kinderman begins investigating a new series of slayings that boast the same M.O. of the Gemini Killer, a serial murderer who was executed 15 years prior, and consults an institutionalized man who eerily resembles the deceased Father Karris. Now, I won’t spoil it, but the events leading up to the movie’s big revelation feature some of the most dreadful atmospheres and disturbing dialogue that, to this day, chills me to the bone.
THE WITCH (2015) All right, let’s dial it in to this century with a movie I knew was going to be a staple of mine as soon as I left the theater: The Witch. Robert Eggers’ directorial debut stars Anya Taylor-Joy of The Queen’s Gambit fame as Thomasin, the daughter of English settlers who are banished by their Puritanical colony over an undisclosed religious debate and forced to build a life for themselves in the wilderness. But just as Thomasin, her four siblings and her parents begin acclimating to their Little House on the Prairie life, baby Samuel is seemingly snatched out of thin air.
Mother believes it’s Thomasin’s fault, as she was watching Samuel at the time, while Father says it “’twas a wolf that got him.” But twin toddlers Jonas and Mercy, who spend their time raising hell, singing creepy nursery rhymes and conversing with the family goat, Black Phillip, insist it was the Witch of the Wood. After all, Black Phillip told them.
The horror that unfolds is a slow burn, to be sure, but the 1630s Shakespearean dialogue, the stark, isolating New England landscape and the gradual unraveling of faith and family evoke a ceaseless dread that crescendos to a deliciously satisfying conclusion.
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)
I could delve into the layers of subtext, social commentary and symbolism that make Tobe Hooper’s Chainsaw one of the best movies ever made, period, but, as my Texan relatives would say, “I ain’t fixin’ to go into all that.”
If you’re not familiar with the movie that shocked and appalled audiences globally, it follows young Sally Hardesty, her brother and their friends who, on the way to an old family property in the bowels of rural Texas, become terrorized by a cannibalistic family of madmen. Now, it’s not the gore of the subject matter that gets you; it’s the remorseless brutality. It’s the raw, impenitent portrayal of human depravity captured on that grainy, 70mm film that just makes it feel … real.
That was precisely what Hooper was going for. The picture’s low budget, cast of unknowns, native Texan actors and “based on a true story” prologue, which was nothing more than a marketing tactic, truly made a masterpiece that spurred on the American slasher genre.
I like to celebrate the return of autumn with a viewing. The film’s final shot — that dusky, orange sky, the roars of Leatherface’s chainsaw dying with the sunlight — is among the most beautiful in cinematic history.
ROSEMARY’S BABY (1967) For me, this is the ultimate comfort movie. It’s what I put on when insomnia strikes, when I’m uninspired or when I just need a good dose of nostalgia from my favorite childhood story. Returning to Rosemary’s Baby is like a steaming cup of chicken noodle soup and a cold ginger ale when you’re sick. Does that make me sick? Maybe. For those unfamiliar, director Roman Polanski’s classic occult horror tale centers around a young woman and her aspiring actor husband as they move into a new apartment in New York City. The titular Rosemary, portrayed by Mia Farrow, is a stranger in a strange land. Surrounded by suspicious and meddlesome neighbors and her increasingly dismissive husband Guy Woodhouse, played by John Cassavetes, Rosemary’s paranoia comes to a head when she falls pregnant and begins to suspect that those around her belong to a Satanic cult, and wish to take her baby for ritualistic purposes.
The best part about this movie is Farrow. Watching her transformation from the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed newlywed enlivened by the prospect of motherhood to the gaunt, unstable and possibly delusional shell of her former self is a harrowing, unforgettable tale.
