At the Beach Magazine

AT THE

Beach

LOCAL FARMERSCUISINE,MARKETS, BOATING HOT SPOTS AND MORE!

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

Everything from shopping, dining and excursions to the arts, festivals and events

Features

44

SMALL-TOWN SPOTLIGHT: SEASIDE

A picture of New Urbanism, the small community of Seaside has much to offer. Alfresco eateries beckon, and cozy shops selling books, records and local art await — all within view of the Gulf of Mexico.

52

MELTING POT: LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE

Homes at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound and Watersound Origins have attracted new residents from throughout the U.S. creating blended communities with one major commonality — the desire to live an Emerald Coast lifestyle.

Departments

IN EVERY ISSUE

12 Welcome to the Beach

MAKING WAVES

16 BOAT DAY

Set out for a day on the water with this guide to the best boating spots in the area.

22 GULF WATCH

Lifeguarding dream job proves physically demanding and regularly rewarding.

LOCAL FARE

30 RESTAURANT ROUNDUP

A curated coastal dining guide for occasions casual, upscale or caffeinated.

36 FARMERS MARKETS

Where, when and what you’ll find at local farmers markets from Destin to Panama City.

ART SCENE

62 RESIN ART

Original pieces by artist Brendan Parker capture the serenity of the Emerald Coast.

68 PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographer Chandler Williams skillfully shoots landscapes both local and foreign.

76 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

The annual event welcomes locally and nationally recognized musicians for an impressive lineup of performances.

BEYOND THE BEACH

84 WHAT’S IN STORE

90 EVENT CALENDAR

Fill your itinerary with live music, wine and food festivals and more.

94 BEAR CREEK FELINE CENTER

A big cat sanctuary in Panama City welcomes visitors for educational adventures.

ON THE COVER Of Panama City Beach’s 27 miles of sand, there’s one stretch of beach that is quite objectively the place to be. Pictured on the cover, pristine emerald green waters welcome visitors to a lively surrounding scene at the neighboring Russell-Fields Pier, Pier Park and Aaron Bessant Park. PHOTO BY BOO MEDIA

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

BRIAN E. ROWLAND

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MCKENZIE BURLEIGH

EDITORIAL

EDITOR, AT THE BEACH, EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE Paige Aigret

SENIOR CONTENT EDITOR Laci Swann

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Bornhoft, Raemi Creteur, Mike Fender, Rebecca Padgett Frett, Carrie Honaker, Laurie Einstein Koszuta, Liesel Schmidt

CREATIVE

VICE PRESIDENT / PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Alissa Aryn Photography, Boo Media, Emily Ellis, Mike Fender, Bryan Lasky, Max Impact Photography, Sean Murphy, Shelly Swanger Photography, Chandler Williams / Modus Photography, Nathan Zucker

SALES, MARKETING & EVENTS

SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray

SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton

DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi

DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker

ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER Tracy Mulligan

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE/ AD SERVICE COORDINATOR Sarah Coven

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Julie Dorr

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Darla Harrison, Renee Johnson, Erica Wilson

MARKETING MANAGER Javis Ogden

SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett Frett

MARKETING FULFILLMENT COORDINATOR Katie Grenfell

OPERATIONS

CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan

STAFF BOOKKEEPER Amber Ridgeway

DIGITAL SERVICES

DIGITAL EDITOR/MARKETING SPECIALIST Alix Black

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

WELCOME TO PARADISE

Kick back and relax, you’re at the beach

Growing up along the Emerald Coast, my childhood was steeped in one main ingredient — the beach. Whether Gulf or bayside, sunny Saturdays were always spent on the sand. Birthdays were celebrated at beach pavilions with cake and freshly sliced watermelon. And family vacations involved a short drive east or west to neighboring beach towns. I can still recall the awe I felt the first time I roamed Seaside’s bustling New Urbanism streets.

While not everyone can reside in the Sunshine State, these experiences are hardly out of reach for families in the Southeast and beyond. Major interstates and highways connect surrounding states to areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast. And recent expansions at area airports have made flying convenient.

Walton County, home to Scenic Highway 30A communities, sees 5.3 million visitors annually, according to a 2022 report. Panama City Beach welcomes another 4.2 million visitors each year, as stated on its website.

In 2023, some 2.2 million people traveled to and from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport and another 1.6 million people to and from Panama City’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, according to tourism indicators compiled by the University of West Florida.

These coastal towns are hardly a best-kept secret. But we locals don’t mind. We hope to share the beauty of perfectly calm, clear waters. So you, too, can celebrate birthdays on the beach and experience milestones like watching your kids grow through family photos captured on Northwest Florida’s white sands.

In this issue of At the Beach Magazine, we’ve curated a guide to help you plan and enjoy your visit. As locals, we know all the best spots, from top seafood dining and neighborhood farmers markets to the best stops for boaters and favorite annual events.

You’ll also learn more about our local communities like Seaside, famed for its portrayal in The Truman Show, and Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, where a melting pot of transplants has found a home.

Who knows? After a few visits, you may be tempted to transplant, too.

See you at the beach,

PAIGE AIGRET, EDITOR

EXPERIENCE

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

SHOP

Altar’d State

Anthropologie

Arhaus

The Beaufort Bonnet Company

Billabong

Bluemercury

Faherty (Now Open)

Hemline

J.Jill

J.McLaughlin

johnnie-O

The Jewel

Hunter Douglas by McNeill Palm (Now Open)

Kendra Scott

KREWE

La Luna

Lilly Pulitzer lululemon

Ophelia Swimwear

Orvis

Peter Millar

Pottery Barn

Pure Collective Salon

Rose & Co

Southern Tide

Stallworth (Now Open)

Sunset Shoes & Lifestyles

Vineyard Vines

Williams Sonoma

AMC CLASSIC Boulevard 10 Grand Fitness

Emerald Coast Theatre Company

Ohana Day School (Now Open)

DINE

Another Broken Egg Café

The Bistro

(Located in Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard)

Black Bear Bread Co.

BrickTop’s (Coming Soon)

Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican

The Craft Bar

Emeril’s Coastal everkrisp

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

Kilwins

PF Chang’s China Bistro

Starbucks

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

Vin’tij Food & Wine

The Wine Bar ...and more!

Scan to view the directory.

Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

2024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

GRAND BOULEVARD

FARMERS’ MARKET

Every Saturday in Grand Park

9am–1pm

30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

January 12–15

Benefiting The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

GRAND CANINE CARNAVAL

February 8 from 3:30pm–5:30pm

Benefiting Dog-Harmony

THE CONCERT TRUCK

March 10–17

Presented by Sinfonia Gulf Coast & Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation

DOGGIE EGGSTRAVAGANZA

March 29 from 5:30pm–7:30pm

Benefiting Dog-Harmony

SOUTH WALTON BEACHES WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

April 25–28

Benefiting Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART

DINE + DIVE

May 1 from 6pm–9pm

A Fine Food, Wine and Art Experience.

Cultural Arts Alliance’s fundraising event benefiting the Underwater Museum of Art and the South Walton Artificial Reef Association

ARTSQUEST FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

May 4–5

An official South Walton Art Week event benefiting the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

BROADWAY ON THE BOULEVARD –

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Every Thursday at 7:30pm

May 23–August 9 (except July 4)

Presented by Emerald Coast Theatre Company

SUMMER LAWN GAMES

Every day in Grand Park

May 25–August 10 from 5pm–8:30pm

FALL LAWN GAMES

Fridays & Saturdays in Grand Park

August 16–October 26 from 5pm–8:30pm Some exclusions for events may occur

BENEFIT CONCERT IN THE PARK

FEATURING THE TIP TOPS

October 4 from 5:30pm–8:30pm

Family-friendly dance party benefiting Children’s Volunteer Health Network

DINO-LIGHT LIGHTWIRE THEATER

October 5 at 7:30pm

Presented by Northwest Florida Ballet

BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST WINNER’S SOIRÉE

October 10 from 6pm–9pm

Benefiting charity organization to be announced, based on reader’s choice voting

BARKTOBERFEST

October 25 from 4:30pm–6:30pm

Benefiting Dog-Harmony

HALLOWEEN ON THE BOOLEVARD

October 31 from 4pm–6pm

Stroll the Boulevard for complimentary treats from stores and restaurants!

30A BBQ FESTIVAL

November 8 from 5:30pm–8:30pm

Benefiting The Sonder Project

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY PARADE & CELEBRATION

November 22 at 5pm

FESTIVAL OF TREES IN GRAND PARK

December 3–December 25

Benefiting a dozen local charities, Festival of Trees kicks off on Dec. 3rd from 4pm–6pm and the trees remain on display through Christmas.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & SHOP-ABOUT

December 7 from 12pm–5pm

COASTAL WHITE CHRISTMAS MUSICAL REVUE BY EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY & PHOTOS WITH SANTA CLAUS

Fridays & Saturdays in Grand Park

December 6–21 from 5pm–8pm HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES

Fridays & Saturdays in Grand Park

December 6–28 from 5pm–8pm

These events are presented as part of the Coastal Culture Calendar of Events made possible by the Grand Boulevard Arts & Entertainment

Program. For a full listing of events and additional details, please scan the QR code or visit GRANDBOULEVARD.COM/EVENTS

Top spots to pull up and anchor down

STORY BY PAIGE AIGRET

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOO MEDIA

BOATBound

Here in sunny Northwest Florida, boat days are always the best days. And there’s no shortage of destinations to visit along the Emerald Coast. Here are some of the best spots to anchor down for a fun-filled day in the sun.

CRAB ISLAND

Located on the north side of the Marler Bridge, Crab Island connects the Choctawhatchee Bay to Destin’s East Pass. The widespread, shallow sandbar was once a small, manmade island created in the ’60s as part of the Destin Pass project. The area has since been a top boating destination for Okaloosa County visitors and locals.

The shallow 3-foot depth creates a pool-party atmosphere where visitors mingle with friends old and new, enjoy water games and relax on floaties, making

Crab Island the ideal pull-up and hangout spot for boaters.

Vendor boats roam around selling food, beverages and souvenirs. Known for its array of floaties, including tubes and oversized flamingos, Crab Island Grill’s Food & Float Boat sells light snacks. Wild Coconuts offers a unique and refreshing beverage break with whole coconuts, pineapples and watermelon from its whimsically painted motorboat. A sister boat, Wild Boiled Peanuts, brings the down-home flavor. Reef Burger has a full menu that will satisfy your midday cravings. And Gulfstream Ice Cream keeps the classic boat day snack cold so you don’t have to.

While it’s possible to kayak or paddleboard to Crab Island, boating is the ideal mode of transportation and gives visitors a home base to stash food, beverage and belongings for a full day of fun.

DESTIN EAST JETTY

Adjacent to the Marler Bridge and opposite Crab Island, a stretch of beach lines the Destin Pass from Norriego Point at the Destin Harbor entrance down to Osteen Beach. At the end of the beach, the Destin East Jetty juts out, creating calm waters and harboring interesting marine life along the rocky shoreline.

While Norriego Point and Osteen Beach offer pedestrian access, the area is less crowded than other public beach accesses throughout Destin. Along Norriego Point, the sand gives way to four half-moon pools inset by a small stretch of rock at each opening. This area is great for shallowwater swimming and snorkeling.

At the south end past Osteen Beach, the stretch of jetty offers an optimal snorkeling environment

with deeper waters toward the end of the rockline. Anglers enjoy casting out from the end of the jetty, so be aware of your surroundings while swimming. Wearing a life jacket can help with endurance for less experienced swimmers and allows for a cool, casual view of ocean life as you float atop the saltwater. Snorkelers can expect to see blue crabs, hermit crabs, toadfish, flounder, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and mullet. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a sea turtle. Keep your eyes peeled for unique seashells and whole sand dollars along the shoreline.

Boaters can zip over to the nearby HarborWalk, just minutes away, to enjoy a respite from the sun. Dock in for a lunch break at Harry T’s Lighthouse or make a pit stop for frozen drinks and treats at Jester Mardi Gras Daiquiris.

BOATERS CERTIFICATION

Florida law requires boaters born after Jan. 1, 1988, to complete an approved boating safety course and receive certification from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before operating a vessel of 10 horsepower or greater. Those manning their own ship should plan ahead for course completion and certification.

SHELL ISLAND

Just east of Panama City Beach, a 7-mile stretch of undeveloped land provides its visitors with a unique Emerald Coast experience. Though the destination is a peninsula and not a true island, Shell Island is only accessible by boat. Its shores face St. Andrew Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

Throughout the day, a ferry delivers visitors to the island’s west end, where the main beach and jetty are located. The rocky stretch of jetty offers optimal snorkeling, and the sandy shores provide prime shelling. Snorkelers can expect to encounter stingrays, angelfish, redfish, sheepshead, octopus and several species of coral and sponges. Sea turtles can sometimes be spotted in the area, too.

Boaters can access more remote stretches of the island toward the middle and east end. St. Andrews State Park manages the west end, while the east end falls under Tyndall

Air Force Base territory. Boaters are welcome to anchor down and explore most areas but should mind signage and heed warnings.

A protected national wildlife refuge, Shell Island is teeming with Northwest Florida flora and fauna on land and in the water. Osprey and herons soar the skies. Armadillos and marsh rabbits roam the coastal terrain. The area’s beloved bottlenose dolphins regularly and unabashedly traverse near the shore and amongst human visitors.

If planning for a full day island-side, boaters should note that the undeveloped island is just that — undeveloped. There are no restrooms, restaurants or shaded pavilions. So, pack everything you’ll need: food, beverages, sunscreen, hat, umbrella, etc. To restock on necessities, boaters can drive about 15 minutes across the bay to the mainland Pier Store at St. Andrews State Park. And keep your eyes peeled for the 850 Shoreline Ice Cream boat that frequents Shell Island’s coast.

PONTOON

SAIL AWAY WITH ME

Leave the worries behind and set off on a chartered excursion. SunVenture Cruises (SunVentureCruises.com) will take you and your crew out for a day at Crab Island. Blue Dolphin Tours (BlueDolphinTour.com) will host you and your group for a Shell Island adventure; their expert captains know the best spots for snorkeling and provide all the gear.

WINE, DINE AND CRUISE

Looking for an upscale on-the-water experience? Book a sunset dining cruise on SunQuest Cruises’ Solaris yacht (SunQuestCruises.com) The Solaris sets sail from Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort with a year-round dinner cruise schedule. The Solaris can also be booked for private events.

Emerald Coast dream job comes with high-stakes responsibilities

STORY BY PAIGE AIGRET

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOO MEDIA

Lifeguard KaLee Pirtle always faces the challenge of rough surf days head-on and feels lucky to be one of the few chosen for the job.

GUARDINGon the Gulf

ESCAPING A RIP CURRENT

Most Gulf rips are relatively short, just the length of the sand bar where they can reach the intermediate area between Okaloosa Island’s two main sandbars. “Most of those are 50–100 yards,” said Okaloosa County Beach Safety Chief Rich Huffnagle. “If you can remain calm and tread water, the surfline will throw you back on the beach.” Swimming parallel to shore, he says, is also good advice. But being caught in a rip can be disorienting and make navigating water while swimming difficult. “The biggest thing is just not to panic. That would be my best advice; don’t panic and just tread water.” And, he says, “If you aren’t competent in the water, then don’t go in, especially when the surfs up.” Keep to the shallows of a couple of feet to cool off and enjoy the beach. “If you’re unsure about anything,” Huffnagle advised, “find a lifeguard and ask them.”

On any given day, some 9–18 lifeguards patrol Okaloosa County beaches stretching from John Beasley Park on the east end to El Matador condominiums on the far west side.

Return lifeguard KaLee Pirtle says there’s no place she’d rather be.

A transplant from Tennessee, Pirtle got her lifeguarding start at area pools. She moved to the Emerald Coast for her dream job with Okaloosa County Beach Safety three years ago.

“The most important thing for myself is being thankful that I’ve been presented with this opportunity,” Pirtle said. “Not everyone gets to be a beach lifeguard.”

And not everyone has the ability. During Okaloosa Island’s lifeguarding academy, physical training demands are nearly military.

Over two weeks in late February, 18 hopeful lifeguards are put to the test in a series of physical and standardized training. Both return lifeguards and rookies are required to achieve a 500-meter swim in under 10 minutes and a 10-minute mile on beach sand.

“That’s a pretty good feat. You have to be a good swimmer, more than competent, to get in 500 in 10 minutes,” said Rich Huffnagle,

Each year, Okaloosa Island Beach Safety Chief Rich Huffnagle is tasked with staffing his 3-plus-mile beach jurisdiction with able and educated lifeguards.

Okaloosa County Beach Safety chief. “You have to be fast, and that requires a level of fitness.”

Some recruits are accepted into the academy hitting a 12-minute mile or 12-minute swim. In their two weeks of training, they’re expected to reach that 10-minute mark.

“That tells you a lot about the person,” Huffnagle said of improving recruits. “They won’t quit, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Returning lifeguards like third-year Pirtle benefit from the academy, too.

“For a lot of us, the last time that we were doing water rescues was back in October,” she said. “So it’s always good to have a refresher. And you’re able to push the rookies as well; you feed off of each other’s energy and push each other to do better.”

During water entry drills, trainees run into Gulf of Mexico waters up to knee-high depth, then begin porpoising in, a technique that mimics dolphins and is a fast way to get through shallow water. Pirtle noted that, at entry, it’s important to be aware of sandbars and water depths that shift at the shoreline daily.

Other training aspects include identification of medical supplies; interactions with beachgoers; CPR training using dummies;

mock rescues where trainees act out everything from the water rescue to resuscitation on land; and identifying triggers that indicate a call to action or for backup.

“There’re thousands of pieces of information that they’re absorbing within that two weeks,” Huffnagle said. “All the way from how to be a waterman to how to take care of a patient once on the beach.”

Lifeguards are taught to look for signs of distress from swimmers. A person not making any progress in the water, Huffnagle explained, is your No. 1 indicator that something is wrong. Other signs include the double arm backstroke, looking to or making eye contact with a lifeguard, head bobbing in and out of the water, and hair in the face.

Lifeguards including Cory Moore (pictured right) and Pirtle keep busy protecting the area’s 1.8 million annual visitors and 20,000 full-time residents from red-flag conditions and unsuspecting rip currents

lifeguards to dip in the cool pools or enjoy a moment of indoor AC.

“If they don’t have enough sense to get their hair out of their eyes, they’re probably struggling,” the Beach Safety chief said.

Academy graduates achieve 48 hours each of lifeguard and first responder training and receive American Heart Association (AHA) CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications.

First responder training teaches lifeguards to identify advanced life support (ALS) triggers that signal the need to call for paramedic services. These signs can occur post-water rescue or during a beached medical evaluation, such as heat exhaustion. Loss of consciousness is a key trigger.

“We consider everything out here on the beach as a harsh environment,” Huffnagle said. “When it’s 120 degrees on the sand, you want to get those patients out as fast as you can.”

In the dead of summer, conditions prove challenging for lifeguards, too. And physical exertion exacerbates depletion.

To combat fatigue and dehydration, lifeguards keep gallon jugs of water on hand and are directed to take frequent breaks at their posting’s closest access pavilion. Postings can be as far as 3 miles from headquarters, which are located at the Okaloosa Island Pier. Cooling off in the Gulf is helpful, and good relationships with area lodging permit

On a normal day, about 10 lifeguards is a healthy number to manage patrols, with one lifeguard each covering a quarter-mile area. During peak season, that seemingly small zone can amount to 1,500–2,000 people. On those busy, red flag days, they’ll staff as many as 14 guards across the 3-plus miles of sand.

“Keeping people safe during rough surf days out here,” said lifeguard Pirtle, “that’s probably our biggest challenge.”

ATVs allow for constant patrolling and quick access when called to water rescues. The Okaloosa Island headquarters houses eight ATVs accessible to guards. A jet ski is also available for multi-victim rescues and to assist in hauling kayakers and paddleboarders back to shore when pulled out by the current.

When Huffnagle joined Okaloosa County Beach Safety 10 years ago, they were averaging 250–300 rescues annually. Today, that number is down to 30.

Preventative guarding has been essential. Lifeguards are trained to communicate with beachgoers and educate them on conditions.

“The biggest thing for us when we’re entering the season is to just get people knowledgeable,” Huffnagle said. “That’s our biggest tool, education. We want people to be safe. Come out and enjoy the beach, but be safe.”

BEACH FLAGS

GREEN

Low Hazard: Calm conditions, caution is still advised.

YELLOW

Medium Hazard:

Moderate surf and/or currents.

SINGLE RED

High Hazard: High surf and strong currents.

DOUBLE RED

Water Closed to Public: Water activity is prohibited.

PURPLE

Stinging Marine Life Present: Purple flags will be seen in conjunction with another flag color.

DAILY BEACH FLAG CONDITIONS AND UPDATES

Okaloosa County: Text BEACH to 44144

Walton County: Text SAFETY to 31279

Bay County: Text PCBFLAGS to 888777

NO-SWIM ZONES

Differing from double red flags present on the main flag poles, no-swim zones are marked with two red flags staked near the shore. This indicates areas with rip currents. You may see no-swim zones on yellow or red flag days. If you see double red flags flying on the main flag poles, that indicates that the water is closed to the public. After marking a no-swim zone, lifeguards will interact with beachgoers in the area to inform and educate them.

THE MEMORIES THAT LINGER MOST ARE THOSE THAT STAND OUT FROM THE REST THEY PAINT OUR SOULS WITH VIBRANT HUES AND CAPTURE TIME THAT WE INVEST

Panama City is just minutes from the beach, but we’re far from the typical coastal getaway. On our shores, you’ll find calm and clear waters, excellent fishing, and lots of boating opportunities, too. Our city’s laid-back vibe, locally-owned restaurants, and artsy shops are sure to leave your whole family wanting more.

plan your getaway!

NOTEWORTHY Dining

Black Bear Bread Co. bakes fresh pastries and leavened breads daily, offering flavorful sourdoughs, focaccia, croissants, cinnamon rolls and more alongside its specialty coffee and breakfast menus.

From

Don’t waste time scouring internet reviews to find your next vacay meal. This trusted resource is sure to lead to your latte fix, the cool yet casual local eatery, the spot with good food and views, and the finest dining of the Emerald Coast.

ESPRESSO YOURSELF

While on vacation, the quest for a good cup often haunts coffee drinkers. Fear not, caffeine fiends. A number of local cafes pepper the Emerald Coast.

Near the Destin Harbor, pop into East Pass Coffee Co. before your Emerald Coast excursions. Sip on a signature drink like the Cinnamon Bun Latte. A full menu of breakfast burritos, toast, sandwiches and acai bowls will keep you content past lunchtime.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at Black Bear Bread Co., a local cafe and bakery with three locations in Miramar Beach, Seaside and Grayton Beach. Pair a refreshing iced chai latte with French toast featuring seasonal fruit, pecans and ricotta, topped with sea salt and maple syrup.

STORY BY LACI SWANN

BLACK BEAR BREAD CO.

Cruise into Kith & Kin, located just off 30A’s west corridor entrance and bordering Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Steeped in community, this shop offers coffee from local roasters Amavida, baked goods from nearby Blue Mountain Bakery and features walls adorned with art for sale by local creators. Enjoy perfect pairings like the gluten-free cinnamon cake with a caramel macchiato, or roll the dice and try the weekly latte special. In Panama City Beach, neighborhood cafe The Pour brews local coffee and community service. The nonprofit shop benefits The Ark ministries. In 2023, it ranked among Yelp’s Top 100 Best Places to Eat in Florida. Here, locals cool off with frothy and sweet frozen mochas and favor the savory avocado toast.

KEEP IT CASUAL

For those clad in beachwear searching for a place to kick back for a chill meal, check out these cool, casual eateries. Neighboring East Pass Coffee Co., the family-owned Burrito Del Sol remains a local favorite. The “choose your own adventure” menu offers tortilla, protein and flavor options. Go for a burrito with steak, chipotle style; tacos with fish, Baja style; or veggie nachos topped with tempeh, Southwest style. Mix and match to your heart’s desire. And don’t forget to pair with a classic margarita.

Summer Kitchen Cafe in Rosemary Beach caters to early risers and lunchtime loungers. Start your day of light with a blueberry smoothie blended with banana, spinach and coconut water, or pig out on a Whole Hog

BURRITO DEL SOL

FISH OUT OF WATER

Omelet packed with bacon, sausage, ham and cheddar cheese. For lunch, dips, salads, wraps and sandwiches set the scene.

Health-conscious diners enjoy the light fare of Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar. This Panama City Beach spot is nestled within the lush Zen Garden venue. Enjoy the relaxing vibes and savor freshmade organic juices, breakfast burritos, and wraps and sandwiches for lunch.

ULTIMATE VIEWS

Louisiana Lagniappe delivers an upscale waterfront dining experience tucked away in the Destin Harbor. For Creole flavor, try the classic jambalaya or the shrimp and grits tossed in a smoked tasso ham cream sauce. Entrees like Snapper Destin and Oysters Lagniappe highlight that signature seafood flair.

WaterColor Inn’s Fish Out of Water features Gulf of Mexico views for days from their covered deck over the dunes. Enjoy signature Southern dishes like seafood boils, fried chicken and Cajun shrimp. Or sink your

teeth into a Wagyu burger or the braised beef short ribs.

Packing in local love from sea to farm, The Edge combines upscale casual with old-school fish house charm. Enjoy the refreshing shrimp ceviche with sweet mango as you gaze at panoramic waterfront views. Or delight in the seafood pappardelle with a citrus cream sauce. Take in the Destin Harbor from the

SEAGAR'S PRIME STEAKS & SEAFOOD

Runaway Island Beach Bar & Grill boasts two stories of Gulf-front dining, live entertainment and fresh seafood on the shores of Panama City Beach. Regular favorites, the mahi tacos and Parmesan-crusted flounder, pack a flavorful punch.

WINE AND DINE

A unique fine dining experience awaits at Firefly in Panama City Beach. Whether gathering for a special occasion or enjoying a romantic dinner, guests enjoy the everevolving, five-star menu from executive chef Rob Burgess. Indulge in the Australian rack of lamb, served with creamy pearl couscous and punctuated by bursts of tart cherries, promising a symphony of flavors.

Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood, Northwest Florida’s only AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse, is one of the finest dining destinations along the Emerald Coast. Located at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Seagar’s imparts an intimate dining experience with its award-winning 600-label wine list, fresh seafood and the finest aged steaks.

Located in The Market Shops at the entrance of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Bijoux offers French cuisine with

a New Orleans flair. Its intimate lounge features a full bar complete with a large selection of specialty martinis. Start your dining experience with the Duck Confit and crispy Brussels sprouts, but be sure to save room for the 20-ounce Cowboy Ribeye.

Gallion’s, in the heart of Rosemary Beach, offers an upscale cocktail lounge experience, boasting exquisite dishes, an opulent wine and spirits selection and bold cocktails. Tantalize your palate with a sophisticated small plate such as the smoked fish dip, and continue your culinary voyage with coastal favorite red snapper.

GALLION’S

FARM Fresh FROM THE

Markets along the coast foster community and connection

STORY BY LAURIE

EINSTEIN KOSZUTA

FENDER

We may be at the beach, but the farms are never far in Northwest Florida. Saturday markets pepper 30A and beyond, bringing to the coast farm-fresh produce, artisan bread, baked goodies and an array of handcrafted items. These four premier farmers markets — located in Panama City, Rosemary Beach, Sandestin’s Grand Boulevard and across the Choctawhatchee Bay in Niceville — are open yearround, offering a rotation of seasonal selections.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE

PANAMA CITY BAYSIDE

Farmers markets play an essential role in communities, providing a connection between farm and table, producer and consumer. “Farmers markets are like the last of the true town squares,” said Bill Davenport, market manager of the Panama City Farmers Market. “People bring their kids and dogs and make shopping a fun, social experience.”

Located bayside at McKenzie Park, the Panama City

Farmers Market attracts almost 3,000 people weekly with more than 80 vendors selling produce, meats, arts, crafts and jewelry. “The market offers so much, but some of the unique products are the meats,” Davenport noted. “There is great grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and pasture-raised pork from Lazy Acres Family Farm. Arrowhead Beef, for example, offers Wagyu beef, which people love because it is highly marbled and tastes great.”

The Rosemary Beach Farmers Market (left) hosts a myriad of local vendors welcoming new and return shoppers to their favorite booths. Vendor Phillip Woodley's (top) family-run farm practices regenerative farming to produce premier products such as eggs and meats. Tonie Scott (bottom) brings her New Orleans-style gumbo recipe packaged for a quick bite or take-home meal.

BY THE BEACH, BOULEVARD AND BAY

Diane Kolopanas, who runs the Rosemary Beach, Grand Boulevard and Niceville markets, noted that farmers markets are popular among tourists and locals alike. Many of the same vendors have stalls at all three markets with everyone specializing in high-quality, affordable foods free from preservatives. Niceville’s market also offers arts and crafts.

Kolopanas said that customers can find great meats such as fresh chicken, pork and grass-fed beef. Delicious Maryland crabcakes, farm-fresh eggs, crisp vegetables and honey are great finds. And the chips, guacamole, pies, hummus, cheeses, artisan

bread, pastries and fresh-cut flowers should not be overlooked. “Some of our vendors were chefs or were previously in the restaurant business, so they can offer recipes and the best tips on preparation.”

Candice Hodges, a vendor at all three locations and owner of Pearls in the Barn, works with her family to sell her products. “We sell strawberries and seasonally available hydroponic lettuce. In the summer, we grow tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, okra and peas. We sell handmade soy candles, soaps, homemade jams, jellies, pies and pickles,” Hodges said. “I put a lot of personality and thought into the products I make, which is why our customers love us.”

MARKET HOURS

PANAMA CITY

Open weekly on Saturdays from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. McKenzie Park, 218 Harrison Ave., Panama City

GRAND BOULEVARD

Open weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 600 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach

NICEVILLE

Open weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Palm Plaza, 1003C E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville

ROSEMARY BEACH

“The vendors at our markets have a huge following,” Kolopanas noted. “It is not unusual to have lines of 20 people waiting to buy a particular product. Our vendors are small-business owners, so they want to showcase their best products.”

“People do have their favorites at the Rosemary, Grand Boulevard and Niceville markets,” said vendor Mark Foehrkolb, aka “The Crabman” and owner of 30A Crabcakes. “I sell a very high-end product that is 80% crabmeat. I make them all by hand in a commercial kitchen, and my customers love them. I have clients

from all over the United States who vacation on the Gulf Coast and call ahead to preorder. I’m usually sold out by every market’s closing time.”

Phillip Woodley, another of Kolopanas’ vendors, is the owner of Sunset Ranch of Escambia Farms. Farming for Woodley is a family affair as his wife and two sons help with every aspect of the business. “We use a technique known as regenerative farming and rotational grazing,” Woodley said. “The animals get top-notch nutrients from lush, high grass, which makes the meat taste so good.”

Customers rave about Woodley’s steaks, hamburger meat and pork sausages, but the chicken flies out of stock. “It’s a challenge for us to have enough chicken breasts and tenders because everybody loves them. The same is true with our farm-fresh eggs. Our customers often tell us that our meat and eggs are the best they’ve ever eaten, a comment we get almost weekly.”

Whether you’re in search of jarred jams and unique crafts to take home as souvenirs or you’re sourcing tonight’s dinner ingredients to whip up back at the beach house, rest assured — there’s no wrong purchase at an Emerald Coast farmers market.

Open weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Barrett Square, 28 N. Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach

SEASIDE

Open weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Seaside Amphitheater, 2235 E. County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach

SUPER EASY SOUTHERN STRAWBERRY PIE

Courtesy of Candice Hodges

Pie crust

(ready-made or from scratch)

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 package of strawberry Jell-O

4 cups fresh strawberries, washed, cut and patted dry.

Prepare pie crust according to directions for a filled fruit pie. After baking, set aside. In a small saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cornstarch to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the strawberry Jell-O and cook another minute, stirring constantly. Set aside. Fill the pie crust with the strawberries. Pour the Jell-O mixture over the berries until completely covered. Refrigerate until cool and firm. Serve with whipped topping.

Colorful fruits and veggies attract buyers at the booth of Vernon-based Weslowski Farms at the Rosemary Beach Farmers Market. Below: Panama City-based DeVries Farms offers sunflower microgreens, and the Register Family Bee Farm keeps fresh bottles of Tupelo honey in stock.

Seaside SPOTLIGHT

A picture of New Urbanism, this small beach town is the quintessence of 30A

STORY BY CARRIE HONAKER

White picket fences line the sidewalks of the small, walkable Seaside community. A quaint downtown post office greets visitors with its bright red door. A nearby ice cream parlor beckons. Beach house porches face their counterparts across the street, fostering neighborly catch-ups over coffee.

Robert and Daryl Davis dreamed up this picturesque town back in 1980 when they looked out over 80 acres of family land in Santa Rosa Beach. A year later, their vision became reality and the birthplace of New Urbanism, a movement in urban development influenced by desires for a slower, more connected lifestyle.

Southeastern vacationers traveled to Seaside to unplug, ride bicycles around Ruskin Place Park and dip into the Gulf Coast’s emerald waters. In 1998, Seaside’s idyllic allure came alive in technicolor, reaching worldwide audiences as The Truman Show’s fictional town, Seahaven. Mike Ragsdale, founder of The 30A Company and resident since 2005, attributes the appeal to one word: design.

“The environment blessed us with natural design,” Ragsdale said. “Then, instead of building a 30-story tower with a pool, parking lot and miniature golf course, Robert Davis tried something radically different. His vision set the tone.

“The beach is the same 60 miles in either direction, but because of Davis, we are amid this flip-flop renaissance where people are creating businesses, pop-up events, music, art, food — we are designing the life we all want to live.”

Ragsdale’s iconic blue and yellow 30A stickers adorn bumpers all around Seaside where height restrictions cap buildings at four stories and five state parks and forests surround the town. Here, the urban bustle becomes a carefree amble as families ride bicycles to Modica Market for a cup of coffee and homemade pastries before popping next door to Sundog Books to grab a beach read.

The sense of community still reverberates throughout Seaside’s shops and restaurants, many of which, like Bud & Alley’s, have been

there since the beginning. An avid surfer, Dave Rauschkolb fell in love with the crystal-clear waters, soft white beaches and Seaside’s small-town charm. At just 24 years old, he opened his flagship restaurant with former partner Scott Witcoski because he believed in Davis’ plan for the town. Now he helms six restaurants on 30A, including Bud & Alley’s, Taco Bar, and Pizza Bar, all in Seaside. He and business partner Phil McDonald opened a third Black Bear Bread Co. location adjacent to Seaside Town Center in 2022, so their popular pastries and perfectly proofed loaves are now just a stroll away.

Susan Benton, local artist and writer, cites Bud & Alley’s as the iconic Seaside spot to visit. “You can usually find me eating the smoked tuna dip with lavash, sipping a cocktail, waiting for the bartender to ring the bell signaling sunset,” she said. “It’s the best view in town.”

BUD & ALLEY’S

“The

beach is the same 60 miles in either direction, but because of Davis, we are amid this flip-flop renaissance where people are creating businesses, pop-up events, music, art, food — we are designing the life we all want to live.”

— Mike Ragsdale

In the early 1980s, the Davis family brought to the Emerald Coast a vision for community. Seaside founders Daryl (center) and Robert (right) raised son Micah (left) in their picturesque town.

Downstairs at Pizza Bar and Taco Bar, visitors can grab casual beach bites in an open-air atmosphere. Next door is Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant where guests can “trade a day at the office for a day at the beach,” and sip on tropical cocktails served in whimsical glassware and enjoy tiki-inspired bites like spam musubi or tuna crispy rice.

Neighboring Bud & Alley’s sits a rotating pop-up market featuring artisans, independent manufacturers and crafters stocking unique gifts, beachinspired clothing, jewelry, shoes, hats and more. Just behind Pickle’s, a longtime favorite burger and shake spot, sits Sandbar, a popular new spot for a “toes in the sand, cocktail in hand” experience.

A day in Seaside would not be complete without a visit to Airstream Row where they serve everything from green smoothies to barbecue to portable frozen

DAYTRADER TIKI BAR & RESTAURANT

The family-owned, independent Sundog Books dates back to the early years of Seaside and stocks shelves with everything from beach reads to literary classics. Upstairs, Central Square Records keeps in tune, delivering a vinyl selection of indie, rock, pop and more.

rosé concoctions. Behind the food trucks, the amphitheater hosts regular events and performances. On Saturdays, 30A’s longestrunning farmers market takes over the amphitheater from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

After some shopping, refuel at Great Southern Café. Chef Jim Shirley has served the king and queen of Spain his Southern fare, cooked at the James Beard House and opened many restaurants from Pensacola to 30A. The 100-year-old house is home to Shirley’s famous Shrimp and Grits Á Ya Ya. His breakfast menu features eggs Benedict five ways, including a fried green tomato Benedict. But Shirley’s personal favorite is the Soul Rolls — a blend of collards and chicken encased in a crispy wrap, pickled peach chutney mounded on the side and zesty Creole horseradish mustard ribbons.

Creating the pedestrian-only semicircle on either side of Great Southern are longtime businesses like the Mercantile, Art of Simple, Fusion Art Glass, Sundog Books and Central Square Records

There, shoppers can find local art, locally made candles, new and used vinyls, stacks of books and boutique designer clothing. The ice cream parlor still anchors the circle, but now It’s Heavenly gelato shop joins the crowd. Ruskin Place Park now has a slew of independent shops and art galleries surrounding its graceful oaks. Even when its streets fill with ambling visitors, Seaside maintains that nostalgic appeal. As the world keeps moving faster, Seaside remains a town where you can hop on a bicycle, mail a postcard from the town center, and as Ragsdale said, enjoy a slice of paradise unlike anywhere else on Earth.

PEPPER CRUSTED TUNA

BLACK & BLEU CHICKEN SALAD

RAW OYSTERS

KEY WEST SHRIMP

Joey and Linda Guillot (couple at center), both 67, sold their home in Texas and moved to a cottage at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound in December 2022. The couple joins new friends at the community’s concert venue for dances. Bands and DJs keep the community hopping on Friday and Saturday nights. For the Guillots, Margaritaville feels like home; they’ve been Jimmy Buffett fans since the 1970s.

Blended COMMUNITIES

St. Joe developments are attracting buyers from across the country

MIKE FENDER

Since moving from New Orleans into the new Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community, Bill and Janet Niles have made more than a few friends from more than a few places.

There are Joey and Trina from Tennessee, Cliff and Janice from Texas, Blake and Teri from Canada and Barb and Ed from Ohio. And don’t forget Jackie from England and Leo who lives across the street. Leo moved from Denver but is originally from Switzerland.

Welcome to the new “Melting Pot,” or maybe in this new tech-driven world we should call it “Melting Pot 2.0.”

History remembers the melting pot theory with affection. Immigrants from all over the world came to America to settle. Their food, music, religion and distinct cultures would slowly merge to form the American culture we have today.

New communities in Bay and Walton counties are replicating the melting pot at a frenzied pace. Neighborhoods like Watersound Origins and Latitude Margaritaville are attracting new residents from just about everywhere.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY

“With these communities in particular, we really create a whole ecosystem that supports the lifestyle that these people are looking for.”

— Rhea Goff, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for The St. Joe Company

By the end of 2023, the Latitude community had attracted buyers from 49 states, according to Rhea Goff, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for The St. Joe Company. “The Origins community has brought in new residents from 26 states through May.”

Who’s missing from Latitudes you might wonder? “We’re only missing Oregon,” Goff said. The St. Joe Company is the developer for the Origins project and a partner with Minto Communities USA and Margaritaville Holdings for Latitudes. Goff says that Origins started sales in 2007 and is planned for over 1,500 units in the first phase. The Latitude community surpassed 1,000 home sales in the first two years since opening its sales center and plans to total 3,500

home sales in the first phase. Both communities have plans for even more homes in the future.

Historically, Goff notes that most people moving into new Northwest Florida communities were primarily from the Southeast. She first noticed people moving to the area from all corners of the country as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Goff also credits other factors like the weather and beautiful natural surroundings.

“With these communities in particular, we really create a whole ecosystem that supports the lifestyle that these people are looking for,” Goff said.

These ecosystems offer miles of trails, abundant green spaces, entertainment venues

Rhea Goff, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at The St. Joe Company, inspects amenities at the Camp Creek community. Stays at the 75-room Camp Creek Inn (inset photo) entitle guests access to a wellness center, tennis and pickleball courts, a sprawling pool complex and three private dining venues. Immediately nearby is the highly rated Camp Creek Golf Course.

and activities like movie nights. The new Town Center opened in June at Latitude with indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and restaurants all overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. The Beach Club is one of the popular attractions at Origins.

The new communities are designed so that pretty much everything you need is within walking or golf cart distance.

When Cameron Hemphill moved his family of four from Utah in 2022, his arrival at Origins was partly COVID-inflicted and partly a lucky left turn.

Hemphill, 38, was looking for a beach vacation destination with his wife and two young daughters. He said COVID-19 restrictions in California and Hawaii, his usual choices, caused him to consider the Florida Panhandle as an alternative.

“We started Googling ‘best beaches in the United States,’ and this area kept popping up,” he said.

“We came down to check it out, and when we found (Scenic Highway) 30A, we were like, wow!” Hemphill said the beaches, the restaurants and the people were nothing like they had experienced before.

“It might be cool to live here,” he thought.

So Hemphill, who played golf in college, said he took a left onto Watersound Parkway and passed the Camp Creek golf course. His next stop was the Origins sales office where they bought a lot.

“If I didn’t take that left I probably wouldn’t be here,” he laughed.

Hemphill said his first year in the community has been special. “This is a different world,” he said, noting that in Salt Lake City, they were surrounded by people they had known their entire lives.

“Here, it’s different,” he said. “Everyone has moved here and most very recently.”

He said the cool thing is that it’s very easy to get injected into the community because people are trying to meet people, find kids for their kids to play with and people with whom they have hobbies in common.

“It was really easy to find like-minded people who are fun to hang out with,” Hemphill said. “If you move to Utah and try to break in, good luck. The cliques are already established.”

For Bill and Janet Niles, the sense of community sprung up fast. Theirs was the 14th home built in Latitude, and Janet said they made friends quickly. They had the third golf cart in the community. Everywhere you drive, people wave at each other. Their golf cart is champagne colored.

“I tell everyone I have a champagne golf cart on a beer budget,” Bill said.

Fifty people attended the first party that the Niles threw at their new home. They play euchre with their Canadian neighbor.

“When he comes to our house, we play American rules, and at his house we play Canadian,” he said with a chuckle.

Bill said Latitude residents share an outlook.

“We all came here to do things, not just sit on the couch and watch television all the time.” Janet was quick to add, “It’s a bunch of old people here acting like they are 15.”

And yes, Janet and Bill are Parrotheads.

The devoted followers of late performer Jimmy Buffett, whose song Margaritaville is the inspiration behind Latitude Margaritaville, are everywhere.

“I’ve been a Parrothead since Day 1,” Janet said. When she moved from New Orleans to Latitude, she brought along signed posters of Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino. But her prized possession is one signed by Buffett. It now hangs in her living room.

Joey and Linda Guillot, both 67, are Parrothead Club members, too. The couple moved to Latitude in December from Mauriceville, Texas, and they are proud to be Buffett fans.

“We go way back to the ’70s,” Joey said. Linda recalls first seeing Buffet in a concert with the Eagles in Houston. The couple named their new Latitude cottage Stars on the Water after a song recorded by both Buffet and George Strait, a popular Texas performer.

The Guillots first vacationed along Panama City Beach in 1986. Joey said when they saw the Latitude community being built, they decided to make a move after living 43 years in Texas.

Bill and Janet Niles, opposite page, moved to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound from New Orleans, as attested to by a wall decoration at their new home. Above, they speak with their neighbors Trina and Joey Jackson, who moved to the rapidly developing community from Tennessee.

“No one seemed to come around the house anymore, and the kids had moved out, so we decided to go to where we loved being all time,” Joey said.

At their first neighborhood party, Joey made up a Boudin dip from Texas to go along with Linda’s Texas accent. The couple counts people from California, Tennessee, Chicago and of course, Texas as new friends.

“You just go outside, and you are going to see someone you haven’t met yet,” Joey said. “All it takes is a wave, and next thing you know you are carrying on a conversation.”

At the opening of the new Town Center, the Guillots and their new friends kept repeating the same words in describing their new resort-style lives. Next to the new Texas-sized, zero-entry pool with Tiki huts and waterfalls, Linda kept saying over and over in disbelief, “We live here.”

“We live here.”

Transplanted Texans Joey and Linda Guillot have named their cottage at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound “Stars on the Water” — the name of a song recorded by Jimmy Buffett in 1981 as well as George Strait in 2001. “No one seemed to come around the house (in Texas) anymore, and the kids had moved out, so we decided to go to where we loved being all the time,” Joey said.

Featured local artist Sarah Stewart’s “Azul,” an acrylic and plaster piece inspired by MesoAmerican art.

A 2024 Brendan Parker original, Singularity’s blue and white hues draw viewers into a soothing vortex.

Tapping

flow INTO

Miramar Beach resin artist finds signature style in letting go

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN MURPHY

At 47, Brendan Parker is most at peace when he has his hands in paint, when his fingers are covered in pigment and he’s tapped into his flow. With each session, the colors move and settle, reacting with the epoxy resin that gives him the ability to create more depth and more dimension in his pieces.

“It’s like nature’s painting it because all of the materials I use create a chemical reaction with each other and with the resin,” Parker said. “They all have their little effects.”

Parker enjoys working with resin because its translucence allows for visually effective layering. But the medium can be tricky. Its reluctance to comply frustrated him early on. Still, it held his interest.

“The more you try to force it, the more it will laugh at you and work against you,” he said. “You have to learn to let go, so it’s a teacher in a way. … By the time you walk into the studio the next day, it’s typically different from how you remember it. Once you start adding heat by torching it, it becomes even more volatile.”

As much as resin wishes to will its own fate, Parker seems to have mastered the medium. His pieces are artfully unpredictable, graceful in their movement and mesmerizing in the way that each possesses energy, life and emotion.

“I don’t usually have a design in mind when I start — nothing really beyond size and color palette,” explained the Miramar Beach-based artist. “In the case of custom pieces, I’ll go in and measure the space, get a feel for the vibe that already exists there and work with that. But nothing inspires me like a blank wall.”

As a young man, Parker’s creative outlet was music. On his guitar, he played songs by ear with ease and created his own. But that energy was refocused on his 21st birthday after a severe grease burn on his hand prevented him from playing and the subsequent painkillers kept him from going out and celebrating. Instead, he pulled out some gel mediums he’d bought months before and let loose.

After 17 years of painting, Parker has learned how to “drop in” to a creative flow state where emotion and inspiration are free to run their course.

“Sometimes it happens quickly; sometimes it doesn’t happen at all,” he admits. “That’s art. There’s tremendous therapeutic value in just being able to let go and feel,” he said. “I just turn my mind off, put my hands in paint, start moving it around and finger paint as I try to find the flow. I’m not thinking, just feeling and having fun. I let the composition take over because it has a certain way it likes to move, and I just give it the freedom and space to do what it’s going to do.”

Parker’s cathartic approach becomes a technique, translating emotion to his canvas and expressing moods and energies through color palettes and movement. The fluidity of resin enhances the translation, mirroring intensity or calm with its results.

“Sometimes it happens quickly; sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. That’s art. There’s tremendous therapeutic value in just being able to let go and feel.”

— Brendan Parker

Much of his work has found a home in luxury hotels and real estate. Parker regularly works with interior design firms in the area. For Sandestin’s Hotel Effie, he was commissioned to supply more than 250 unique pieces ahead of its grand opening in early 2021. His custom works can be found in the lobby, conference center and the presidential suite. And each room features a print design created exclusively for Hotel Effie.

His industry experience has taught him the value in creating art for more than the sake of

art, for the sake of making a living. Recently, he’s created a course through his YouTube channel offering advice to artists on how to sell, pick up vendors and make a career of their passion.

A Georgia native, Parker has scratched the itch to wander outside the Southeast before, but he was always pulled back to the Emerald Coast. The free-flowing style of his work speaks to the coastal lifestyle. Whether his pieces grace the walls of a 30A beach home or a commercial coastal property, the calming designs inspire observers to find the beauty in letting go.

Parker’s Nebula piece creates an immersive experience for viewers, a visualization inspired by imagined vibrant galaxies.

LAURA BAILEY HEATED YOGA HEATED VINYASA STYLE YOGA WITH SHANNON HEATED VINYASA STYLE WITH KENZIE WITH SOUND BOWL ENHANCED FINAL SAVASANA KIDS YOGA (AGES 5-12) WITH KENZIE

LAURA BAILEY

KENZIE BURLEIGH

SHANNON KRAMOLIS

SLOW YOUR

Slow and intentional is Chandler Williams’ approach to photography. Having over 20 years behind the lens has taught him that art is the ultimate hustle. But, about four years ago, when he picked up a Phase One medium format camera, he learned there were new challenges to meet. He’s hardly put it down since.

In experienced hands, the medium format enhances image detail down to the finest wrinkles of one’s face or the intricate webbing of a leaf’s veins. For Williams, there’s no better way to shoot. The challenge of slower autofocus and burst rate may just be his favorite aspect. It forces him to anchor in the moment.

“It allowed me to think differently after the many years of having a camera in my hand,” Williams said. “If I’m able to think differently, then I can create more freely.”

Sitting in Williams’ Modus Gallery lounge in Santa Rosa Beach, the photographer looked at a favorite print of his, a rare shot using 1990s medium format underwater film. There was no on-screen review between shots.

“Probably the hardest shoot I’ve ever done in my life; that’s raw, that’s untouched,” Williams said, nodding to the image from his Sirens & Silver series, in which a nude model ascends from water depths.

Today, he finds himself addicted to that mindful focus and often shoots at 30A’s Western Lake when he needs centering.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said. “The light’s always changing, so that’s an attractive lure to me. It’s simple — I can always pull up to it. Kind of like an old friend.”

Still, he’s always seeking a new and exciting challenge. For years, he’s traveled the world, shooting sometimes for himself but more often for nonprofit organizations.

“The travel element has always been very fundamental,” Williams said. “I’m able to have these intimate experiences just by enjoying the culture and being part of it. It’s grounding in so many ways; it’s human connection. For me to create that is pretty cool, to bring that back and share that experience for nonprofits.”

Visiting Iceland, Chandler Williams sought unique nature shots. Here, Williams is pictured beneath the hidden Gljúfrabúi waterfall. Its name is Icelandic for “canyon dweller.”

The cavernous Gljúfrabúi often falls forgotten to its big sister, Seljalandsfoss falls. Despite its shy nature, Gljúfrabúi offers a special treat for those willing to journey below.

Williams’ elevated style has attracted big brands such as Leinenkugel’s beer (left) and Hyatt Grand Boulevard (right). Today, he’s focused on giving back through art, often partnering with nonprofits.

Specializing in landscape photography, Williams favors locations including 30A’s Western Lake and Emerald Coast beaches. Visitors can find his latest shots for sale at his Modus Gallery in Santa Rosa Beach.

But the hustle has kept him busy, too. He’s shot weddings and portraits, contracted commercial work for national brands like Lululemon, Audi USA, Leinenkugel’s beer and sometimes shoots using elevated architectural photography for high-end resort names, including Hilton and Hyatt.

“As long as I’m learning, as long as it’s challenging me, then I can keep interest in it.”

His adaptive nature allowed him to gain unique industry experience. His specialties and interests range from landscape and travel photography to underwater and astronomy shots.

“I would like to think that I have my own style; I don’t have a style from another location or from another photographer that I’ve seen travel,” Williams said. “That’s why I’m not on the Instagram echo chamber. I want my own stuff.”

Individuality has driven him to always shoot for himself first.

“It’s always been for myself, and the money’s been secondary,” Williams said.

Creating his own path in an oversaturated industry proved difficult for some years, but Williams always enjoyed the challenge.

“I was working 60–70 hours a week in property management,” he said. “But my photography is what kept me sane.”

His best advice to up-and-coming creatives: Identify your passion, and seek out the challenge in it. And don’t quit your day job.

“Find a primary occupation, and grow your creative outlet,” Williams advised. “It will allow you to be more creative because you don’t have to worry about the finances. At some point, on a successful level, you’ll be able to be as creative as you want.”

andSUNDAL, YARROW DONALD

They pulled people in, hooks, lines and singers

STORY BY STEVE BORNHOFT

Sam Bush, a member of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and the creator of the musical genre, “new grass,” had an album in mind.

He turned to Donnie Sundal, with whom he has a history of trading favors, and asked his buddy if he would be willing to record a demo album for him. Sundal, of Miramar Beach, was only too happy to help out.

Bush, whose New Grass Revival band once backed the late, great Leon Russell, would play several different instruments in recording the demo, which he intended to give to members of his band so that they could learn the songs and be prepared to lay them down for real.

The demo demolished those plans.

“Neither of us knew we were making a record,” Sundal said. “But somewhere along the line, someone told Sam that he would be a fool to re-record the demo, and months later, I found out we were going to actually use the stuff.”

And to good effect.

Their acoustic album, Radio John: Songs of John Hartford, received a 2024 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year. In addition to serving as recording engineer on

the album, Sundal sings background vocals on the song, In Tall Buildings

“When you are not trying to do something, that’s when it happens,” Sundal said.

Sundal first met Bush via his association with the local band Dread Clampitt, which had added players in assembling an electric

A regular on the lineup, career musician and Miramar Beach local Donnie Sundal (right) has performed at all 15 annual 30A Songwriters Festival events. Pictured above, Sundal’s longtime friend and renowned bluegrass artist Sam Bush flexes his fiddle skills on stage.

On stage at the January 2024 festival, Sundal matched vocals with New Orleans native Joy Clark. Responding through lyrics, the performers, he soulful and eclectic, she soft and introspective, complemented each other’s style.

version of itself. Sundal joined Electric Dread on keyboards and co-produced a record with the group.

Dread’s guitar player, Kyle Ogle, aware that Bush was in town on vacation from Nashville, screwed up the nerve to deliver him some oysters and invite him to the band’s CD release party.

“Whatever Kyle did worked, and Sam came and played with us,” Sundal said. Bush has done so at various times since then, always with a caveat — “I may not be able to stay to the end” — and never leaving early.

Sundal was among the scores of performers who participated in the annual 30A Songwriters Festival, held in January and billed, “15 Years

Derwin “Big D” Perkins (left) and Sundal (center) make up the soul-funk band Boukou Groove. Local musician Traylin Gastone (right) moonlights as the band’s drummer.

of Hooks, Lines and Singers.” He has the distinction of having played all 15.

On a Sunday evening at the Rosemary Beach Town Hall, he alternated songs with Joy Clark of New Orleans, seeking to complement, rather than overwhelm her soft, introspective songs of hope, desire and childhood memories. He answered Clark’s Tell It to the Wind — “Tell it everything I hope for, everything I desire” — with Stay Broke in which a forlorn soul laments, “I work my fingers to the bone and I can’t get no rest / Everything I try to do always turns out second best / It costs a whole lotta money / Just to stay broke.”

Here, then, was a restrained Sundal, but as if unable to help himself, he would turn up the dial with a driving song, Back to New Orleans, and the ribald Jump Back (In Your Pants). Sundal comes in various (musical) forms, and he may be at his best when he lets his bangs cascade over his eyes and wails.

He is a singer first — he discovered his musical ability in a high school choir class in Rockford, Illinois — and learned keyboards owing to a desire to be able to accompany himself. He “fell into” sound engineering, he said, and stuck with it to supplement his income as a performer and ensure that he wouldn’t have to get a regular job.

With New Orleans native and guitar player Derwin “Big D” Perkins, Sundal makes up the nucleus of Boukou Groove, a funkand-soul band capable, as Sundal has written, of “taking you low to highs you never know.”

Early in their relationship, Sundal listened as Perkins played a song he had been unable to finish. It married up in Donnie’s mind with a song he had started and abandoned.

“The vocals and words were right, but the music was not,” Sundal said. He put them on top of Perkins’ false start, and it all worked.

“When you play with some people, there is a certain communication,” Sundal said. “It’s not about how good you are together technically. You can play with the best musician in the world, and if he’s just playing over

the top of you, it’s nothing. When two guys get it the same way, that’s chemistry.”

Such chemistry is contagious, and that’s what the universal language of music and 30A Songwriters are all about.

At 85, Peter Yarrow can still bring the chemistry, the connection and thoughtful communion. He, too, played at the Town Hall, where for a couple of songs, he was joined by James Taylor’s brother, Livingston, and succeeded even in causing a polite, listeningroom audience to sing along with him.

The 30A Songwriters Festival encourages performers to share stories that relate to their songs. Perhaps no one was better equipped to do so than Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, a man noted for his activism during the Vietnam War era and for his efforts to combat the proliferation of nuclear power plants. He once wrote a song encouraging people to get colonoscopies. He was inclusive before inclusivity was a thing.

Yarrow doffed his roadster cap, shuffled toward a chair on the stage and settled in. His hands shook badly with an expressive tremor, and he was unable to reach and turn the tuning knobs on his guitar. A pick wasn’t working for him, and he asked if anyone in the crowd had a business card. A man came forward with one. Yarrow folded it in half and was ready to play.

“How many of you feel that there is a need in your heart and in your life for some understanding, for some compassion?” Yarrow asked. “That there’s some healing to do. How many of you feel that way?”

The audience applauded, and Yarrow proceeded to tell a story. He needed blinds for his apartment in New York. A young man arrived to take measurements and after doing so, asked Yarrow to write a song for his mother, who, he explained, was suffering with cancer. A big ask.

Something about the blinds man led Yarrow to agree to the request. He asked the man to supply him with a letter describing his mother and, on the basis of it, wrote With Your Face to the Wind (Harriet’s Song) Originally intended as a demo, a

first recording became the official Radio John: Songs of John Hartford album.

project earned Bush and recording engineer Sundal a 2024 Grammy nomination.

With your face to the wind, I see you smilin’ again

Spirit’s movin’ within,

I know that you’re gonna win.

Harriet succumbed to cancer, but, said Yarrow, “she had the feeling when she heard this song that every moment was precious and belonged to her, and that’s how this song got made.”

Yarrow, joined by Taylor, proceeded to sing Bob Dylan’s existential questions …

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they’re forever banned?

“How many of you feel that there is a need in your heart and in your life for some understanding, for some compassion?” Peter Yarrow asked his audience before performing at the 2024 Songwriters Festival. Of 1960s folk fame, the 85-year-old musician and activist performed music new and old and was accompanied by Livingston Taylor for a Bob Dylan cover.

… before they closed with Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land and all were reminded how vast and grand and small and delicate our country is.

It’s a darn shame that Amanda Donald was unable to take in the Yarrow moment, but she was a few miles removed from the scene playing music of her own at Red Fish Taco.

Like Yarrow, Donald, of Mobile, Alabama, is a balladeer for whom folk musicians are a big musical influence. She is a huge fan of Peter, Paul and Mary, and her favorites are Simon & Garfunkel. Her No. 1 record is the duo’s Live from New York album from 1967.

Donald is an accomplished musician — mandolin, guitar, fiddle — who often plays with her upright-bass-playing sister, Katrina Kolb. She sings with an entrancing lilt that favors Alison Krauss, by design. Her voice can turn slightly haunting as it does in the title song from her first album, 100 Roots, about a man, Charles Boyington, wrongfully convicted of murder, hanged and buried in an unmarked grave where 100 roots “grow ’neath the shadow of an oak.”

Boyington was buried in 1835. Famous as trees go, the Boyington Oak still stands in Mobile.

Donald is an old soul possessed of a lively inner child. When a writer suggested that she was channeling or harboring past lives, her eyes widened.

“Lately, I’ve been nerding out on ancestry.com and digging into my family tree,” Donald said during a conversation following a festival performance on Saturday at the Camp Creek Inn. “There is a lot of Irish on my dad’s side, and I am super connected to them. I love Irish music. Have you ever heard of DNA memory?”

In ’Til the End of Time, Donald sings about her paternal grandparents who married young, had too many kids and struggled to support their household. When Peepaw started a worm farm as a side hustle, Meemee gladly suffered the indignity of delivering inventory to gas stations and bait shops.

She dies first.

Her mind ain’t working like it used to, She calls her sister by her daughter’s name, But he stays right there with her, Keeps her safe ’til her last day.

“My music is from my heart, and I am glad when I learn that people can see that,” Donald said. Her songs are rich, deep, genuine and of her backyard.

She is a believer in love like that of her grandparents but recognizes that there are different kinds of love, some of them dangerous.

“I’m still denyin’ the rip tide is pulling me away from the shore / Back to your arms once more,” she sings in Red Flags.

Donald, too, is a believer in songs and hopes that an appetite for storytellers survives an era of diminished attention spans, superficiality and conformity to trends. In What If the Music Was Enough? she sings …

As long as you look pretty, They don’t care if you can sing, They just wanna look, They don’t wanna listen, But what if the music was enough?

Sometimes, it is enough, Amanda. Enough to turn tides, enough to pull people up and together. Sometimes, like love, it’s what there’s just too little of.

MUSIC FOR SALE

A master of string instruments, including the mandolin, fiddle and guitar, folkfusion musician Amanda Donald draws inspiration from ’60s genre trailblazers Simon & Garfunkel and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Mario and Jort Koopman, owners of a vinyl record store in the Netherlands, are fans of Donnie Sundal and Derwin “Big D” Perkins, mainstays in the New Orleansstyle funk band, Boukou Groove. The Koopmans reached out to the duo seeking permission to press a record made up of selected songs from Boukou’s previous releases and to market it across Europe. “They created a label called Juicy Records and they picked the songs, and we sent them photos,” Sundal said. The Koopmans are accepting orders for the album, called Groovin’, on their website.

Sundal and Perkins plan to make it available at boukougroove.com.

To obtain a copy of Amanda Donald’s CD, 100 Roots, visit amandadonald.com.

A new home designed around you, with a backyard for parties and fun. Plus, a new amenity center ready to enjoy life without leaving the neighborhood. The Gathering Place clubhouse features a resort-style pool and sundeck, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts and event lawn. Our gated community is just a short bike ride or drive to the activities and adventure awaiting you at 30A and the Emerald Coast. NatureWalk by Kolter Homes is outside the ordinary, and open daily for you to explore.

WHAT’S IN STORE on the Shore?

A roundup of retail happenings from Destin to

Panama City Beach

COMPILED BY REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

SHIMMERING SEAS JEWELRY & GIFTS

Panama City Beach

Coastal Casuals’ sister store, Shimmering Seas, is a treasure trove of jewels. Many of the designer pieces are inspired by the beauty and tranquility of the sea featuring brands such as ENewton, Gorgeous Pearls, Larimar, Sea Life Collections, Uno de 50, Pandora, Spartina and more. The store now offers permanent jewelry by appointment or walk-in. Create a personal bond with a friend or family member by selecting from over 40 chains, connectors and charms.

WATERCOLOR STORE

Santa Rosa Beach

You can’t visit WaterColor without snagging one of their iconic T-shirts or crewnecks. Outfit the whole family in the WaterColor branded collection featuring the softest cotton and an array of vibrant hues. In addition to the WaterColor merchandise, you’ll find clothing brands, lifestyle products, jewelry and vacation essentials. Popular brands include Lululemon, Peter Millar, Supergoop! and more.

COASTAL CASUALS

Panama City Beach

Located just steps away from the beach in Pier Park, Coastal Casuals outfits ladies in fashions that transition from beach day to sunset drinks and dinner. Floral, feminine, flounce and fun are the fashion statements you’re sure to make in the store’s pretty print dresses and pastel sets.

SPA LILLIANA AT HOTEL EFFIE

Miramar Beach

You deserve to be pampered and put first. Hotel Effie’s Spa Lilliana will ensure you receive a luxury experience. Rejuvenate, restore and relax with a spa menu including massages, facials, scrubs, manicures, pedicures and indulgent, high-end products. The Golden Opulence Hair and Scalp Ritual is a new, indulgent sensory experience that incorporates a scalp massage using ancient Japanese techniques, paired with antiaging products infused with bioactive 24-karat gold, leaving the hair nourished and gorgeously glossy. Follow it up with the Sublime Ultra Brilliant Mist by Miriam Quevedo, a hair mist that protects hair from Florida’s UV rays and promotes a silky, shiny finish.

MCCASKILL & COMPANY

Destin

McCaskill & Company holds an upstanding reputation for having the finest jewelry and watch brands in their cases. This family-owned company takes care and consideration when helping you select pieces for special occasions or that will become family heirlooms. From a Rolex timepiece to engagement and wedding jewelry to costume pieces, there’s something for her or him. The staff are excited about highlights from Marco Bicego with 18-karat creations handcrafted in Italy and from Jude Frances whose 18-karat gold and sterling silver pieces are ideal for layering and stacking.

KISS THE SKY BOUTIQUE Destin

From casual to couture, Kiss the Sky Boutique can stock your closet with the pieces you need. Popular brands regularly on racks include Louisa Lynette, Johnny Was, Elan, Matisse, Rosa Clothing, Pinch and more. Outside of clothing and accessories, this is a great place to find a unique gift. The boutique features local artists who specialize in paintings, jewelry and mixed-media art. Newly added, the back half of the store will feature highend, designer consignment including clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories.

JES & GRAY LIVING

Miramar Beach

Jes & Gray is a casual and cozy lifestyle and design store that promotes living real life with everything from furniture that holds up to kids and pets to special occasion tableware and pullout servers for dinner parties. Outfit your whole home from plush bedroom sets to indoor decor and outdoor seating. Allow the staff to help you select the furnishings that make you feel most at home.

SHOPPING DESTINATIONS

The Village of Baytowne Wharf

Miramar Beach

Located a shuttle ride away from Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, The Village of Baytowne Wharf awaits offering shopping, dining and nightlife. For shoppers, there’s a little something for everyone from clothing and toy stores to art galleries and more.

Grand Boulevard

Miramar Beach

Have a grand experience as you shop, dine and catch a film at Boulevard 10 Cinema, all within one premier shopping locale. Grand Boulevard merges high-end brands with locally loved retailers making for an exciting shopping experience.

Silver Sands Premium Outlets

Miramar Beach

Peruse premium deals on designer goods such as Michael Kors, Nike, Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Coach and more. Shop til you drop, then head back to the beach in your new fits.

Destin Commons

Destin

Visit this award-winning lineup of over 85 stores and restaurants. Shop and dine al fresco, enjoying the Florida sunshine while finding your favorite stores and discovering the charm of local retailers.

Pier Park North

Panama City Beach

There’s something for every shopper at Pier Park from designer stores to outlet options. Shop, stroll and sup at this impressive outdoor mall.

Seaside Shopping

Seaside

The epitome of luxury, shop artisan stores for adult and children’s clothing, jewelry, books, gifts, home goods and more. You won’t want to leave without an iconic Seaside Style T-shirt, crewneck or hat.

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CALENDAR event

JANUARY

30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

More than 175 singersongwriters will take the stage at over 30 venues throughout the 30A region. The 30A Songwriters Festival is the largest gathering of nationally recognized songwriters performing on the Florida coast. 30asongwritersfestival.com

FEBRUARY

PANAMA CITY BEACH FOOD TRUCK & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Florida’s most popular food trucks will dish out fan favorites while the season’s top craft beers will be available for sale. This festival will be a weekend of craft beer, great food, lawn games, music and fun f or the whole family. foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/ panama-city-beach

SEASIDE SCHOOL HALF MARATHON AND 5K RUN

Choose between the half marathon or 5K. Either option will be scenic, and both benefit the Seaside School. Proceeds enable students to participate in advanced placement and career readiness courses.  runseasidefl.com

30A WINE FESTIVAL

Sip and sup at the annual 30A Wine Festival, a mustexperience for lovers of fine wines and the culinary arts.

Proceeds from the wine festival will support the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to health services for children in Walton and Okaloosa counties.  30awinefestival.com

MARCH UNWINED

Spend the weekend sampling craft beer, wine and spirits while enjoying cuisine from renowned area chefs and local eateries. Aaron Bessant Park will be transformed as it hosts a stylish garden party.  visitpanamacitybeach.com/ unwined

APRIL ⮝ SANDESTIN WINE FESTIVAL

Sip and savor for four days at the annual Sandestin Wine Festival, featuring tastings from hundreds of wines, exclusive wine dinners with celebrity chefs, live music, culinary tents and discounted bottled-wine rates. Festival proceeds benefit the Fisher House and Sandestin Foundation for Kids.  sandestinwinefestival.com

30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

SEABREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival brings together top smooth jazz artists with a full weekend of fun, sun, good times and great tunes. seabreezejazzfestival.com

SOUTH WALTON BEACHES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

More than 800 wines, spirits and craft beers will be poured and paired with celebrity chef cuisine and local bites during this four-day celebration benefiting the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. Enjoy VIP and Grand Wine tastings, plus live music and seminars with the country’s leading winemakers and distillers. sowalwine.com

MAY

ARTSQUEST FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival presents a juried art show with categories including ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oils and acrylics, original digital art, photography, sculpture, wood and works on paper. The event welcomes attendees to view and purchase original art from over 100 artists from around the country. culturalartsalliance.com/arts-quest

30A FOAM FEST

The annual 30A Foam Fest returns to South Walton for another round of craft beer celebration and

revelry! Presented by 30Avenue and Idyll Hound Proper, this twoday extravaganza will showcase the finest offerings from beloved local craft breweries along the Emerald Coast and beyond. Guests can indulge in an extensive array of unique and exciting beers while enjoying live music performances, interactive games, wine, seltzers, photo booths and a diverse selection of cuisine from 30Avenue restaurants. foamfest30a.com

DIGITAL GRAFFITI

The white walls of Alys Beach will serve as canvases for highly talented national and international digital projection artists. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded to digital artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, photographers and producers.  digitalgraffiti.com

JUNE GULF COAST JAM

Get your jam on with the biggest names in country music featuring four days, 32 artists and one big beach party.  gulfcoastjam.com

⮝ BLUE MARLIN CLASSIC

The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is a much-anticipated fishing tournament that attracts top anglers who compete to land the biggest billfish, tuna, wahoo and more. All are invited to witness weigh-ins and enjoy live music, seafood, fireworks and other festivities.  fishecbc.com

JULY

RED, WHITE & BAYTOWNE

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

DIGITAL GRAFFITI

featuring live music, crafts, face painting, family activities and, of course, fireworks!   baytownewharf.com

REAL. FUN. FOURTH.

Panama City Beach celebrates Independence Day with a massive fireworks show. For three nights, visitors and locals alike can witness the wonderful display from various locations along the water.  visitpanamacitybeach.com/ events/holiday-events/ realfunfourth

AUGUST

BUBBLY BAYTOWNE

Sip and shop through the streets of The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy free champagne while shopping with participating merchants.  baytownewharf.com

SEPTEMBER

DESTIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

The Destin Seafood Festival presents the freshest catches the Gulf has to offer. Seafood lovers won’t want to miss this opportunity to dine and shop your way along the historic Destin Harbor and HarborWalk Village while enjoying live music, arts and crafts, and kids activities. destinseafoodfest.com

OCTOBER BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST WINNERS SOIRÉE

The public is invited to celebrate the annual Best of the Emerald Coast event to celebrate the best of the best businesses as voted by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. The celebratory Winners Soirée will be held at Grand Boulevard where guests will enjoy an evening of stimulating the senses with live music, visual arts, delightful cuisine and refreshing libations. Each year’s event will benefit the organization voted as Best Charity/Nonprofit. emeraldcoastmagazine.com/ bestofec

PANAMA CITY BEACH FISHING RODEO

The fishing tournament is a three-weekend, 17-day event with two weigh-ins daily. This year will feature competition in 11 species that anglers may pursue from shore, boats, paddleboards, kayaks and more. There will be live music and food sponsors daily.  pcbfishingrodeo.com

⮝ BAYTOWNE WHARF BEER FESTIVAL

The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents its annual festive beer tasting featuring over 200 domestic and international beers, food samples, live music and more. Taste local brews while chatting with the brewers themselves. baytownebeerfestival.com

⮟ PIRATES OF THE HIGH SEAS AND RENAISSANCE FEST

Ahoy, mateys! In celebration of the marauders who once sailed the Gulf, pirates will invade Panama City Beach for a weekend of activities including a big parade,

a kids parade, a treasure hunt, a costume contest, live music, food vendors, fireworks and more. visitpanamacitybeach.com

HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

Epicurean excellence awaits at this festival, which merges fine wines and culinary creations. The weekend features wine dinners, vendor tents, a silent auction and a grand tasting with over 400 wines from around the world. dcwaf.org/harvest-festival

NOVEMBER

ALYS BEACH CRAFTED

Alys Beach Crafted invites you to gather with masters of food and drink and renowned craftspeople from around the country sharing the products of their crafts. Events include the Makers Market, Firkin Fête, Cocktail Seminars and a Spirited Soiree. All proceeds will benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. alysbeachcrafted.com

DECEMBER

12 NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

During December at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, enjoy a festive light show every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday leading up to Christmas. This sparkling event will also be featured during the special holiday edition of the Wednesday Night Concert Series. baytownewharf.com

Dani California, a Florida panther, eyes her food at the Bear Creek Feline Center, a sanctuary where big cats, including mountain lions, servals and jaguarundis, are cared for.

FOREVER HOME A Good

Big cats find sanctuary at feline center

STORY BY RAEMI CRETEUR PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER

The mountain lions stir with a low rumble as they rise to be fed.

The big animals gently accept their meals and eat in a way that seems delicate, until you hear the crunch of bones between their powerful jaws.

“Gentle, gentle,” the tour guide calls to the animals as she feeds a puma named Saint, who is positioned in an overhead walkway where he can easily be seen by visitors. “That word makes a big difference.”

The Bear Creek Feline Center (BCFC) is a big cat sanctuary that cares for mountain lions, servals, jaguarundis and more. It works closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide a permanent residence for wildcats, many of which were once kept as pets or used as feline celebrities. Others may have been struck by cars and sustained injuries that prevent them from being returned to the wild.

The 20 wildcats residing at BCFC are well cared for and well fed. “Round is a shape,” said Bertie Broaddus, wife of sanctuary founder Jim Broaddus, using a phrase intended to mean that there’s nothing wrong with a fat cat.

member Jared Williams feeds Sheena, an African serval at the Bear Creek Feline Sanctuary.

Like many cats, the serval is able to purr and may at times cackle, growl and grunt. In the wild, it preys on rats, small birds, hares, frogs, insects and reptiles. The Spirit of Bear Creek, a Siberian Lynx, stares down feline center staff before a morning meal.

Staff

I had arrived at the sanctuary about the same time that the Ferlock family of Houston did. Tripadvisor lists the sanctuary as No. 1 on its list of things to do in Panama City, and the Ferlocks’ trip to BCFC provided them sanctuary from the scorching sun and blistering sand.

Bertie explained her role as tour guide and our responsibilities as interns.

“BCFC is not a zoo, so we don’t offer tours,” she explained. “Today, you are all interns on an educational adventure.”

We were warned to keep our fingers out of cages. “They look like little meat sticks to munch on,” Bertie said. She asked that we call out “Mistake!” if we saw anyone, even owner Jim, violate the finger rule.

“We’ve not had a guest get scratched in more than 20 years,” Jim boasted.

Bertie led us to cats, some of which we fed and others that we petted.

We stopped at a cluster of habitats containing four big cats in the puma family: Saint, Takota, Marilyn and Thatcher. Bertie and a

Birds and big cats may seem to be an odd mix, but center owners Jim and Bertie Broaddus see to it that George and Gracie, a pair of blue and gold macaws, are kept out of harm’s way.

Wildman is one of the newest residents at the center. The bobcat was seriously injured when he was hit by a car. He has undergone surgery and has a metal plate in his leg. His condition will not allow him to be returned to the wild.

Marilyn Munster, a cougar, looks on as staff prepare to feed her. Visitors to the feline center are warned to keep their fingers out of cages. “They look like little meat sticks to munch on,” says Bertie Broaddus, whose husband, Jim, owns the center.

couple of volunteers prepared metal bowls filled to suit carnivores. A few chicken legs and some steaks made for Saint’s breakfast.

“This is just a morning snack,” Bertie said. “They eat high-quality meat that is USDA certified. Collectively, our cats go through about $400 of the stuff every week.”

Saint and Takota are brother mountain lions and retired celebrities. Having served at the start of their lives as ambassadors, they never learned necessary skills to hunt and survive in the wild.

We moved to the next section of habitats, home to the bobcats and one serval. Bertie explained that one of the bobcats would likely remain hidden during our visit. He had been run over along the highway and needed emergency surgery to salvage his hind legs.

Next door was a bobcat that had been smuggled in a pillowcase as an infant to become a pet and was kept in a windowless basement for years. Despite access to a large habitat, she preferred the security of hiding under her raised bed.

A small, enclosed and air-conditioned space made a comfortable home for the jaguarundi, which was about the size of a house cat. She hissed and did her best to make herself appear threatening to our group. We were invited to enter the enclosure, one or two at a time, to observe her.

Bertie explained that jaguarundis are not often interested in physical contact, but this one did allow a sanctuary volunteer to approach and eventually even pet her — a rare experience.

Finally, we were invited inside for coffee and cookies. I enjoyed my share, remembering to be “gentle, gentle” as I ate.

In a den area with a couch, bean bag chair and recliner,

Athena, a dog-sized serval, mingled with the guest interns. Unlike the jaguarundi, she was accustomed to the affection we offered and even willing to return it.

Jim, whose background includes years spent in radio, explained that BCFC obtained sanctuary status from the state of Florida in 2021, making it one of only nine such facilities in the state.

Because of the development boom in Panama City, Jim anticipates that the number of wildcatto-human interactions will grow. He said anyone encountering a wildcat should back away while facing the animal and give BCFC a call.

The BCFC relies entirely on donations, grants and the work of volunteers. Most volunteers help out purely because they love animals, but some are there to earn hours toward their own license to care for wildcats.

BEAR CREEK FELINE CENTER

The center, located off U.S. 231 between Panama City and Youngstown, welcomes visitors by appointment only. Contact it via email at bcfctours@gmail.com or (850) 722-9927

“When I get a grant, a big donation, it goes right into this place,” Jim said. “It goes to the cats.”

I fell in love with the center during my visit. We discussed ways to help get the word out about its work and to increase visibility with potential donors.

A livestream feed originating at the habitats may be a way to help raise the nearly $3,000 a month required to care for the 20 cats.

I look forward to returning as a volunteering intern in the near future.

Bealls Outlet • Dick’s Sporting Goods

Ross • The Fresh Market

EATERIES

Chili’s • Wayback Burgers • Craft Bar: a Florida Gastropub

Texas Roadhouse • IHOP • Jersey Mike’s Subs • CAVA Grill

Chili’s • Wayback Burgers • Craft Bar: a Florida Gastropub

Texas Roadhouse • IHOP • Jersey Mike’s Subs • Zoë’s Kitchen

Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt

Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt

SPECIALTY STORES

SPECIALTY STORES

PetSmart • Kirkland’s • Verizon • Michael’s • Burlington

PetSmart • Kirkland’s • Verizon • Bed, Bath and Beyond

Chan’s Wine World • World Market • Shoe Carnival

Michael’s • Chan’s Wine World • World Market

Shoe Carnival and more!

uBreakiFix • Dixielectricar • Barnes & Noble and more!

15750 Panama City Beach Pkwy

PierParkNorth.com

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