Emerald Coast Magazine, August/September 2014

THE EMER ALD COAST MAGA ZINE

Bacon!

This sizzling side dish is hip, haute and— healthy?

STUDENTS & THE NEED FOR SPEED

WHAT’S IT THE NEW LIKE TO BE LGBT LEADERS OF ON THE EC? TOURISM

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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The Emerald Coast Magazine August + September 2014

contents

The Gulf Breeze Zoo is celebrating its 30th year, but many of the star attractions, like Gamba the baby giraffe, are new to this wild scene.

FEATURES

53

Bacon is Boss!

Way beyond breakfast, bacon-themed products, events and even bouquets are just the beginning of this sizzling, hot food trend.

PHOTO BY MARI DARR~WELCH

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

Has 58 Tourism Been Tested

We meet the new leaders and ask: What is the new normal now?

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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contents in the e.c.

17 Snapshot Regina Jaquess jumps into everything she does — what a champ!

18 Chat The Murray’s family business has been cruising along for 10 years.

20 Well-Worded Author Anna Banks rules the sea of young adult fiction.

23 Personality What’s it like to be LGBT on the EC? 27 Editor’s Choice Finals week frenzy has college students shopping the amphetamine black market.

34 Scene Have you heard the latest about the Emerald Coast?

happenings 37 Spotlight CVHN celebrates fall with hurricane-force wining and dining.

38 Culture We tap into tips from some of the top music teachers on the EC. 42 Calendar The last days of summer means it’s time for festive fall fetes.

45 Social Studies Look who we’ve “scene” out and about lately.

the good life 73 Eudaimonia Oh baby! The Gulf Breeze Zoo is crawling with little critters.

74 Habitat Sometimes less is much more … when it comes to rightsizing your home.

80 Gardening Here we go again with planting tips on perennials!

82 Going Places Roanoke is one reason why Virginia is for lovers.

82

84 In Motion Take a stand, and get on board a new fitness routine.

89 Dining Let us guide you to savor the flavors of the Emerald Coast.

94

93 A Taste For … pancakes.

94 On the Menu Synergy Organic Juice Bar & Café’s EverQuake Sandwich is ever so good!

A WORD WITH YOU 10 12 15 98

From the Publisher Editor’s Note EC Online The Last Word

SPECIAL SECTIONS

65 Professional Profiles 76 Deal Estate

38 6 August–September 2014

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Follow us @emeraldcoastmag

Like us at facebook.com/emeraldcoast

PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE (17, 94) AND MARI DARR~WELCH (38) AND COURTESY ROANOKE VALLEY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU — VISITVABLUERIDGE.COM (82)

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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VOL. 15, NO. 4 AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2014 THE EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES Linda Kleindienst EDITOR Zandra Wolfgram STAFF WRITER Jason Dehart EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Chay D. Baxley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chay D. Baxley, Lynda Belcher, Stacey May Brady, Tiffany Clemons, Janie Harris, Lis King, Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite, Gwen Lanier, Audrey Post, Rebekah Sanderlin, Mike Tokars, Zandra Wolfgram EDITORIAL INTERNS Mikaela McShane, Katie Mueller, Megan Williams PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan

SIP THE FINEST MARGARITA Experience the modern side of Mexican cuisine Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

CREATIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lawrence Davidson PRODUCTION MANAGER/ NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR Daniel Vitter

AD SERVICES COORDINATOR Lisa Sostre SALES EXECUTIVES Rhonda Lynn Murray, Darla Harrison, Tracy Mulligan, Chris St. John, Paula Sconiers, Alice Watts, Drew Gregg Westling MARKETING AND SALES ASSISTANT Christie Green

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Melissa Tease EVENTS AND MEDIA COORDINATOR Lynda Belcher CLIENT PROJECTS COORDINATOR Kerri Bryan STAFF ACCOUNTANT Josh Faulds ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Tabby Hamilton RECEPTIONIST Tristin Kroening

WEB DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Carlin Trammel DIGITAL SERVICES COORDINATOR Lentaya Gibson

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Saige Roberts

DIGITAL SERVICES PRODUCER Chelsea Moore

EDITORIAL DESIGNER Jennifer Ekrut

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

PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Shruti Shah ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Jillian Fry, Rebecca Sumerall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Matt Burke CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tommy Crow, Mari Darr~Welch, Scott Holstein, Rhonda Murray, Kay Phelan, Pure 7 Studios, Shelly Swanger, Jacqueline Ward Images, Zandra Wolfgram

SALES AND MARKETING MARKETING AND SALES MANAGER McKenzie Burleigh

ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS ONE YEAR (6 ISSUES) IS $30 Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

SINGLE COPIES ARE $3.95 Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Books-A-Million in Destin and at Sun Plaza in Mary Esther.

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GRAND BOULEVARD

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EDITORIAL OFFICE 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32308 CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS EC Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. EC Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright August 2014 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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from the publisher

An Apology Can Go a Long Way

It is almost a lost art … to take responsibility, to be transparent and to deliver an apology to a person or a group that you have done wrong.

I have always told my sales staff that when a mistake or an error occurs it is critical that you quickly contact your client and let him or her know there has been a mistake, that we own the mistake and we will be in touch with you soon with a resolution that will make you feel whole. In most cases, a client’s frustration and anger is mitigated by this proactive approach, and that person becomes amenable to working with you to find a satisfactory solution for both parties.

Of course, you might not always be given the opportunity to make that first contact. Sometimes the other person will beat you to it. So if the phone rings and an angry client comes at you with a swinging bat, my best advice is to just say nothing and let that person talk.

If you know you made a mistake, own it and simply reply with a sincere apology. I have found that more than 90 percent of the time the phone will go silent because the client expected excuses and is in disbelief that you are taking responsibility. From that point, find a solution that suits both of you, and you’ll find that building a stronger relationship becomes easier.

Reasonable people know that errors happen and, in the long run, a better relationship and a stronger trust will come when it is built on a foundation of truth and transparency.

We had a situation arise today where a client called because he was angry about his ad’s placement in the magazine. I listened to our sales manager provide a truthful, well-worded response that understood the client’s anger yet did not compromise the integrity of our business decision with regard to the ad placement. The individual’s response was curt and quick.

“I am not buying what you are saying and feel like you are patronizing me,” he said.

She politely ended the conversation with an understanding apology. An hour later, he called back to apologize to her for his passionate, yet caustic comment.

That was a stand-up thing for him to do, and it demonstrated a high level of integrity and professionalism. As a result of this incident, a stronger relationship has been formed between us. And there will be opportunities in the future where we will go above and beyond what this client expects from us.

It really is easy to say you are sorry. Many good things can and will happen when you do.

Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi restaurant executive sous chef Chris Fortner has all the ingredients for a sweet ending to a bacon lover’s dream dinner in his homemade Bacon Maple Ice Cream. You can find the recipe (p. 57) included in our Flavor story dedicated to all things bacon, and “fry” it out for yourself.

Photography by Matt Burke VOL. 15 NO. 4

— BRIAN ROWLAND BROWLAND@ROWLANDPUBLISHING.COM

on the cover

Bacon!

This sizzling side dish is hip, haute and— healthy?

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2014

10 August–September 2014

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STUDENTS & THE NEED FOR SPEED

WHAT’S IT THE NEW LIKE TO BE LGBT LEADERS OF ON THE EC? TOURISM

PHOTO BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN

THE EMER ALD COAST MAGA ZINE

PHOTO + FILM STUDIOS

WEDDINGS & PORTRAITS

AVA I L A B LE WO R LDW I D E . N O PL ACE I S TO O FA R .

FLORIDA E S TA B L I S HED 20 07

PURE7STUDIOS.COM

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editor’s note At some point in my career, one boss decided my nickname was “Bulldog.” As in “C’mon Wolfgram, where’s your fight? Be tough! Be a bulldog.” Being shorter, having a stocky build and a wrinkly brow with brown eyes — not to mention a lifetime love of bully dog breeds — it seemed to make sense, and I kind of liked it at first.

But no one wants to be considered a bully. Or do they?

As we head back to school this fall, I am hearing and seeing more and more discussion on the topic. There are full-on marketing campaigns to sniff out and snuff out the wedgie wagering, lunch-money-stealing sorts wherever they may be lurking.

Like “A Christmas Story’s” Scut Farkus, the “yellow-eyed” menace, just waiting to pounce on poor Ralphie at every turn. The “mean girls” are pretty easy to spot, too; just look for a gaggle of girl clones branded with the latest labels. They find power in numbers and, luckily, can only seem to function as one annoying unit.

But bullies are sneaky; they are not always obvious. It may have been 35 years ago, but I will never forget Cindy Black. She was my Scut Farkus. She had auburn hair, black eyes, well, they were probably dark brown, but they looked black and empty, like horrible black holes.

I was the new girl at Carl F. Schuler Junior High, as was often the case being raised in a military family, and she was not happy about it. I made friends easily, and for some reason that bugged her. I was 14 years old and beginning to draw some attention from boys, and, Handsome Henry and Too Sweet Tula apparently, she was really not happy about that. Other than that I am not sure why she decided to bother me, call me names and terrorize me with terrible threats etched on my desk in homeroom. All I can think of is … she was just a bully.

I had nightmares about Cindy Black. The walk to school was about three miles. To save a little time, I would cut through a field. Though she didn’t live near me, Cindy Black decided to make this her route, too. Everywhere I turned, there she was staring me down with those horrible black holes in her face like a spooky specter.

There was never any big showdown. (Well, not in real life. I certainly put Cindy Black in her place a thousand different ways in my mind.) We didn’t run in the same circles. Let’s just say Cindy Black wasn’t in any AP or honors classes. Eventually, I got more involved in activities, my group of friends grew and so did my confidence.

Ironically, the more successful I became, the more she diminished. Eventually, she faded away, found someone else to pick on or maybe she dropped out of school. Part of me hopes she got her comeuppance somewhere along the line.

But today I need to thank Cindy Black.

I’m certainly no Girl Scout, but her deficiencies magnified my way to do-what’s-rightville like a neon sign. She helped me realize what kindness looks like, what it can mean to cross the room to say hello to the new person in the group and how to be a friend. And her biggest gift to me? Showing me exactly the person I didn’t want to become.

Thanks, Cindy Black. Thanks, in part, to you I did grow up to be a “bulldog” — okay, maybe slightly stubborn, short and stocky but also strong, courageous and loyal.

I have a pretty good idea of what became of you, because in the end, the only bullies worth rescuing are the four-legged kind.

—Z ANDRA WOLFGRAM EDITOR@EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

12 August–September 2014

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editor’s picks THE BOOK ON HOW TO AVOID ‘IVY LEAGUE’ ENVY Florida author Mandee Heller Adler wrote the book she wished she had when she was applying to colleges. “From Public School to the Ivy League: How to Get into a Top School Without Top Dollar Resources” arms students and parents with tips and tools on how to navigate the college admissions process. From choosing high school courses and finding the “right fit” college to landing internships and studying for standardized tests, Adler gets right to the subject in this easyto-follow 213-page guidebook available at Amazon.com and in select Barnes & Noble stores for $14.95.

LOYAL LOCALS LEAD THE WAY FOR PATRIOTS’ TRAIL As we near Veteran’s Day, a salute to the City of Fort Walton Beach, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club for working to establish the Bud and Dorie Day Patriots’ Trail in Fort Walton Beach. The proposed project is a half-mile walking trail and nature preserve, which will wind its way from Staff Drive, along Nebraska Avenue, down California Drive and then follow a creek, eventually ending at Ferry Park. At various points along the trail will be markers honoring milestones in Col. Day’s remarkable life, including his time as a Vietnam prisoner of war, his myriad honors and his years of dedication to bringing our POWs home. The FWB Chamber is coordinating the fundraising efforts for the trail. Sponsorships are tax deductible and range from $20 for a onefoot section of the trail up to $10,000 for the pictorial wall. More information is available at fwbchamber.org.

TALK PIRATE TO ME Grab a bottle of rum, the waist of a fair wench and channel your inner Jack Sparrow mateys! Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and a great place to spend it is with the motley crew aboard the mighty Buccaneer in the Destin Harbor. As if we needed an excuse to parrot a pirate … Argh!

PHOTOS BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM (HENRY & TULA) AND COURTESY MANDEE HELLER ADLER (IVY LEAGUE)

Do You Have a (Bull)dog in this Fight?

Three great restaurants on the beach in Seaside, Florida 850.231.3113

850.231.5900

850.231.4781 EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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Local Craft Brewery Proudly located in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Reach out and touch us www.IdyllHoundsBrewingCompany.com 850.231.1138 845 Serenoa Road Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Please Enjoy Responsibly

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EmeraldCoastMagazine.com EXTRA CONTENT ONLINE ONLY

VIDEO!

» DIGITAL GRAFFITI RECAP EC Magazine was proud to sponsor Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, the must-do event of the summer season, and host the welcome soiree on Saturday night. Relive some of our favorite moments of this artful event.

Flip Books View this issue in a digital book format, and search our Archive section for past articles dating back to 2006.

DEAL ESTATE Emerald Grande is “legendary.” Find out about Destin’s crown jewel on the harbor, what’s just sold and what’s newly listed, plus more in this edition of Deal Estate.

Up-to-theminute calendar of events See what’s going on around the coast — or submit your own event. It’s free!

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Register to win a week’s stay at Sea Sabella Sponsored by Sunburst Beach Vacations

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OH, BABY! We are just wild about the little creatures at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. See more of Mari Darr~Welch’s photos at emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

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FRESH SEAFOOD?

One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?”

That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries.

Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported.

Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.

Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish.

We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood. We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.

Check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from Harbor Docks Seafood Market.

DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | H A R B O R D O C K S .CO M S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S

16 August–September 2014

Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

in the e.c.

PEOPL E + ST Y LE + H Y P E

Making a Splash

Having an accomplished career and successful business might be enough for some people, but Regina Jaquess isn’t your typical overachiever. “I pretty much have two professions,” blushed Jaquess. “I’m a professional water skier, and I’m also a pharmacist.”

For Jaquess, a laidback Georgia gal who relocated to Santa Rosa Beach in her teens, life is all about going with the flow — even if that means getting a doctorate degree in pharmacy whilst breaking world records on the water, one splashing run at a time.

From dawn to dusk, Jaquess is dedicated to absorbing every thrilling second of what her life as a top competitor in the world of women’s water skiing has to offer.

As her aquatic abilities and gold medals continue to pour in, she’s also steadfast on staying true to her roots and giving thanks to those who helped her become a true champion.

“My dreams all started falling into place,” recalled Jaquess. “They’re the best and my biggest fans — my family.”

— Chay D. Baxley

Photo by Matt Burke

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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chat

Two If by Sea The Murray Family Cruises into Their 10th Year Working Together

BY REBEKAH SANDERLIN

18 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Over the past decade the Solaris Yacht has become the “go to” for those looking for a popular place for a unique dining experience, a festive gathering spot for both local and visiting friends and family, and an award-winning destination wedding venue with a killer view.

EC: How did you go about starting the business together?

JIM: We weren’t totally novices, but we were close. James learned a lot, more than any of us, in a very quick period of time. It’s one thing to build yachts. It’s something else to operate them.

JAMES: Once I moved from the shipyard it was definitely a learning experience, but the key to it all was hiring the right people — good entertainment, good captains, good waitstaff, good chefs, good event planners — that’s what makes the company. I’m not cooking the food, I’m not driving the boat, I’m just managing people, and we have some really good people working here.

EC: What is it like to work with a family member?

JIM: It’s great. He does all the work!

Actually, I don’t really work with him, I work at the shipyard. I know how to build a boat, but I don’t know that I could run this business.

JAMES: It’s all about respect. I had a lot to learn when I started working for him, but he had a lot of confidence in me and always treated me with

respect, that’s why it has always worked. We don’t work together on a day-to-day basis, but when you have a family business, business is always on your mind. It’s part of your lifestyle.

It never really stops, but that’s not a bad thing.

JIM: We don’t sit around on holidays and have a big discussion about business. It’s just casual.

GAIL: Holidays are different for us now, though. Mother’s Day is a busy day for us. New Year’s Eve, we’re on this boat. I remember a time when we were first getting started and my oldest sister and mom were helping out by folding napkins. Family always rallies when we need extra hands.

EC: What future plans do you have for the company?

JAMES: We’d like to grow our catering business, and the SunVenture I is still in its infancy. It has a ton of potential.

JIM: Eventually, I’ll retire, but I don’t really have a specific plan. We’ve got great people working for us now, so I could probably put one more person in the office and I wouldn’t even have to show up. I might not have to ever retire! ec

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (SUNQUEST/EMERALD GRANDE HARBORWALK)

W

hen Jim Murray and his son, James, opened SunQuest Cruises in June 2004, they knew much more about being on the water than serving dinner. Jim Murray had been building boats since 1978 and had already constructed 66 yachts similar to the Solaris Yacht they would use for their dinner cruise business. He had not, however, attempted to wine, dine and entertain 150 people, many who would step aboard to celebrate their lives’ most significant moments. And neither of them expected that one of this region’s worst-ever hurricane seasons would strike during their first months in business.

James had finished college and joined the shipbuilding business and, having watched customers use the yachts they built to entertain guests in other cities, was convinced that his family could succeed with the same kind of business.

Now in its 10th year, the Solaris Yacht, which is anchored at Baytowne Marina, hosts more than 100 weddings each year, as well as corporate events and public cruises for people celebrating special occasions. What started with just Freeport Shipbuilding Inc. has evolved into a broad-focused hospitality business, encompassing not only the Solaris dinner cruises and events, but also dolphin watching tours on their second boat, the SunVenture I, and a full catering business for events on land and water.

EC sat down with the Murrays (Jim’s wife Gail also joined the conversation) to talk about what it means to spend a decade in business with family.

James Murray Jr., affectionately known to friends and family as Shorty, with his mother Gail, and father, Jim, who built the Solaris 10 years ago.

Photo by Pure 7 Studios

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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well-worded

Like Poseidon, Anna Banks Rules the Sea Goddess of Fantastical Young Adult Series Entertains with Romance and Wit as Underwater Worlds Turn Against Each Other

BY MARTHA J. LAGUARDIA-KOTITE

I

n high school, she stood out as the English teacher’s pet. She also scribed as a hired gun. “I wrote term papers for prom money. Fifty-bucks a pop and I’ll make it look like you wrote it,” said Anna Banks. “If you don’t get a B then I don’t get paid.”

Fourteen years later, Banks, 32, achieved the envy of every author. Her second young adult novel, “Of Triton,” became a New York Times best seller in June of 2013, and global giant MacMillan Publishers will release her third Syrena Legacy series title, “Of Neptune,” in 2014. Banks, a mother of a middle school daughter, targets a teenage audience and anyone fascinated by the idea of merfolk living in a fantastical world beneath the sea.

Banks’ writing career kick-started when she had too much time on her hands. After graduating and marrying her Niceville High School sweetheart, Jason Banks, the former Anna Powers worked full time at a bank. In the evenings, she continued her high school position waitressing at PoFolks.

“They raised me. It felt like a second family there,” she said.

Working two jobs and craving more time with her child, Maia, was not how she wanted to live. She quit waitressing a couple of years ago.

With the extra time, an old habit returned — reading. She picked up one of the Twilight Saga books by Stephanie Meyer. The story ignited her dream to be an author. Banks said, “This sounds horrible, I thought, ‘If she can write a book then I can write a book and get published.’

This makes me sound like a jerk — I don’t have that feeling towards her. One day she’s going to punch me in the face for that,

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and I’m going to let her because it makes it sound like, obviously, anyone can be published.”

Anna Banks has fearlessly jumped To get to the author’s stage, she learned from right into the deep sea rejection. Agents turned down her debut attempt, a of young adult fiction. story for adults. Unable to get her foot in the door, she She is pictured here seated in her English decided to find the right formula, because she believed class at Niceville High in her writing style. “I guess I’m a really good liar, School, where she because I can put it down on paper that way,” Banks first tested the waters of writing fiction … said. “I can not only tell you a lie, I can show you a lie and perhaps a few and really elaborate — something you need to be able term papers, too. to do as a writer.”

Relentless, she switched gears and submitted a manuscript for young adults to 30 literary agents. The mermaid tale, “Of Poseidon,” starts in Destin. One of the characters works at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. “I knew I had something — wasn’t sure if I had the something,” said Banks.

About to board a cruise ship with her four sisters, a call from New York literary agent Lucy Carson launched Banks’ career. “Anna’s writing stood out immediately because she has that incredibly rare combination: narrative voice infused with humor and warmth, but it never compromises the weight and emotional heft of

Photos by Jacqueline Ward Images

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS & Honeymoon Destination Magazine

poignant moments,” said Carson. “She doesn’t worry about trend — her books have real heart.”

When Banks stopped working as a banker in March, many of her days were spent writing. Yet, she says of her 3,000 words a day goal, “Sometimes it’s like squeezing blood from a tree.”

The Air Force brat and youngest of six siblings was born in Marion, Virginia, and moved to the area when she was a tot. She attended Valparaiso Elementary School and Lewis Middle School.

“Ms. Nancy Huerkamp, my eighth grade teacher, taught me so much about writing and sentence structure,” she said. “Ms. Sharon Johnson, my high school teacher, is the one that taught me you could have a voice in writing, not just sentence structure.”

Just don’t give up Achieving her dream was on your dream only a matter of when she decided to make the effort. “I no matter how never took steps to do it, nor unlikely it seems did I believe in myself enough — don’t give up.” to see what could happen,” she said. “Just don’t give up on — Anna Banks your dream no matter how unlikely it seems — don’t give up.” Her first adult submission, “Degrees of Wrong,” has since been published under the pseudonym Anna Scarlett, and Banks plans for more, much more. ec

‘‘

The following is an excerpt from “Of Triton,” Anna Banks’ first novel.

“Road trip.

I used to love this about my parents. I’d come home from school and the car would already be packed. We’d take off without a destination, me and Mom and Dad and sometimes my best friend Chloe. Just driving and seeing and stopping when we wanted to see more. Museums and national parks and little specialty stores that sold things like plaster castings of Sasquatch footprints. We fell victim to Dad’s hobby as an amateur photographer, forced to hold touristy poses for the camera and the sake of memories. To this day, our house is practically wallpapered with past road trips — pictures of us giving one another bunny ears or crossing our eyes and sticking out our tongues like asylum patients.

The car jolts, sending my thoughts chasing after each other in a hazy race. Memories churn in a kind of mental whirlwind, and a few clear images pause and magnify themselves, like still life photos of a normal day. Mom, doing dishes. Chloe, smiling at me. Dad, sitting at the kitchen table. Galen, leaving through the back door.

Wait. Galen …

All the images line up, filing themselves in order, speeding up, animating the still shots into a movie of my life. A movie that shows how I came to be buckled in Mom’s car, groggy and confused. That’s when I realize that this is not a McIntosh family road trip. It couldn’t be.”

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personality

Emerald City For LGBT Locals, Life Looks Pretty Good at this End of the Rainbow BY GWEN LANIER AND REBEKAH SANDERLIN

S

teven Harper knows the South. the change seems to come in stops Not the South of caricatures and and starts. Every year since the 1980s, movies, where the good guys Pensacola Beach has hosted one of the are unquestionably good and nation’s largest LGBT (lesbian, gay, the bad guys are perpetrators of inhubisexual, transgender) gatherings, the man acts, but the real, multi-dimensional Gay Memorial Day Weekend Party, South — a place where regular people which draws as many as 60,000 people wrestle with questions of tradition, hisover four days. However, though the tory, comfort and faith and come up with event was mentioned on the website different answers. for the Pensacola Bay Area Convention Now 47 years old, Harper grew up in and Visitor’s Bureau, this year it was not rural northwest Alabama, just one county listed with the other events. Inquirers over from the KKK headquarters. “As far had to search for it by name to find it on as I knew, everyone was white, straight the site. To many in the gay community, and Baptist,” he said. He had his first this is an example of how the region still crush on another boy when he was in needs to change. kindergarten, and by the time he reached Life in the South has long been closehigh school he knew that he was gay. He ly connected with religious beliefs, and tried to live the same lifestyle as the othin an area like the Emerald Coast, with er boys, dating girls and pretending to be many large military bases, the expectastraight, because he knew that if he chose tion is that socially conservative opinto live authentically in his hometown he ions will prevail. And yet ... would be rejected and ridiculed.

This year Alicia Valen was named the Today Harper is just one person in Military Spouse of the Year for Pensacola the Emerald Coast’s ever-growing, ever-changing gay community during a time when people everywhere are giving new thought to varying definitions of sexuality.

It’s a trend that is likely to continue as the next generaSteven Harper tion of residents seems to be takes time to enjoy even more accepting. Guidthe Gulf view from ance counselors at several area his family’s Destin condo with Scott schools agreed that gay stuAikins, his partner dents here are not treated any of 11 years. differently by their peers.

“Students at Fort Walton Beach High School are accepting of all students and do not stereotype or judge a person by his or her looks,” said Linda Dugan, a guidance counselor at the school. “Our kids do an amazing job of seeing the person for who he or she really is, not as a label.”

But the area as a whole is still grappling with change and, often as not,

Photo by Matt Burke

Naval Air Station. It’s an honor she wouldn’t have even been eligible for three years earlier. As a woman legally married to a woman who serves on active duty in the Air Force, prior to the end of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in September 2011, Valen — a Marine Corps veteran herself — was not even considered part of the military community. That three short years later she is held up as an example for other military spouses shows that the military and the local community have been supportive.

“I’m always amazed when people ask about my husband’s job in the Air Force, and when I inform them that ‘she is a navigator,’ more times than not the response is, ‘Congratulations, I have a gay uncle,’ or ‘It’s about time’,” Valen said.

Likewise, Candise Woods is accustomed to doing things a bit differently.

The 28-year-old African American woman majored in Asian Studies — and then joined the Air Force as a Korean Airborne Linguist. Now a Staff Sergeant who works in Intelligence and is stationed at Hurlburt Field, Woods was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but has lived all over the world.

She said she knew she was different when she was just 6 years old. While the other girls had their first crushes on the

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personality

cutest boys in the class, Woods found herself attracted to the other girls. As she grew into puberty, she was afraid to talk to her family and friends, so she used the Internet to research and understand human sexuality.

In time, Woods decided that she would simply live with quiet courage. She did not disguise her sexuality, nor did she choose to become an activist. She had an openly gay relationship at her high school during her junior year and recalls a heterosexual teacher telling her that her courage was an inspiration.

When asked how she has been received as an openly gay woman in the military in this area, Woods said that once she mustered the courage to open herself to others and be vulnerable and honest, she found that others mostly responded in kind. “It still feels more like tolerance than acceptance, but it is moving in the right direction,” she said.

Perhaps the most evident sign of change is that for Harper, Valen, Woods and many in the local gay community, being gay is 24 August–September 2014

now just a part of who they are; it doesn’t define them.

Harper works as the director of sales and marketing for SunQuest Cruises. He is not an activist. He’s just a regular guy.

He goes to work, has been in a relationship with the same partner for 11 years, goes to church and enjoys being a part of the entire Emerald Coast community.

He doesn’t want special treatment for gay people, but he does want the same rights other Americans have. He wants the right to get married if he and his partner decide they want to be, and next of kin rights to make medical decisions for each other. He wants the same consideration straight couples have in matters of taxes and legislation. He doesn’t believe that being gay should be celebrated — but he doesn’t think it should be cursed, either.

Asked to consider the shifting attitudes locally and nationally toward gay marriage, Harper said, “We haven’t moved the mountain, but we have moved some piles of dirt.”

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Florida is one of 33 states that do not recognize gay marriages and one of 26 states that took the additional steps of banning gay marriage with a constitutional amendment and a state law. However, lawsuits have been filed in recent months to challenge Florida’s stance, giving hope to many that the law will eventually change. Valen and her wife are legally recognized by the military because they were married in Massachusetts (which does recognize gay marriage) and because they are in Florida on military orders.

“The South may not always look friendly in the news, but my South — the Emerald Coast — is like being at home with friends and family and barbecue,” Valen, a Texas native, said. “Great food, nightlife and sugar sand beaches. What more could you want? Sweet tea, crawfish, sushi? Sure, we have it all — plus, some drag queens who will dance circles around you and welcome you to our shores with open arms!” ec

PHOTO BY MATT BURKE

Candise Woods is an avid reader and a lifelong learner. Here she is pictured in her Fort Walton Beach home surrounded by her computer and various books on world religions — a topic she is exploring in hopes of fully understanding them all.

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editor’s choice

I Finals

Week Frenzy

Amphetamine Black Market Feeds College Students’ Need for Speed

BY MIKE TOKARS

t’s the Saturday before Finals Week in Tallahassee …

Four young men are working on laptops in the large living room of a house near FSU’s campus. Three are 22-year-old students, the other a 24-year-old freelance writer — me — hired to edit term papers for the students. They’re working diligently — reading and writing and editing and re-writing, cramming, amidst a galaxy of disarray. Garbage, plastic wrappers and empty fast food bags and pizza boxes are everywhere; price tags, receipts and cellophane are strewn about; empty beer bottles sit on every flat surface, including the floor — there’s no room on the coffee table — and, of course, dishes and bowls and pots and pans, and a 20-inch-long glass bong on a table in the corner. It’s a scene likely similar to many Tallahassee living rooms at this time of year, except for one thing — this is a drug house. All weekend long, students trickled in and out, gearing up for sleepless nights ... each arriving with cash and leaving with a pocketful of amphetamines ... fuel for Finals Week.

Buyers cycled through all afternoon, starting with a short-haired, athletic-looking white kid in sneakers who showed up around 11 a.m. He was 19, maybe 20 years old; came in smiling and casually asking, “What-up?” as if the visit required no formality or tact. He glanced around the large living room, nodding and smiling more “What-ups” at everyone, before politely calling across the room to ask another short-haired, athletic-looking white kid in sneakers, “Hey, is it cool if I get like ... seven?”

The second kid replied, “Yeah, man; no problem,” and reached for his backpack. After struggling with the zipper, he tore the backpack open and removed an orange plastic pharmacy bottle.

Dumping a pile of orange pills onto the desk before him, he began separating out seven of them — one by one — and buyer asked: “So that’s ... $35, right?”

“No ... $30,” the other replied, “I do five for $20.”

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THE NEED FOR SPEED Upon inspecting the label on the drug dealer’s orange bottle, one learns the orange pills inside are amphetamine salts — generic for the brand Adderall — a drug doctors prescribe to treat ADHD. A handful of different stimulant medications are used to treat the disorder, all of which do pretty much the same thing: they raise dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, stimulating the central nervous system in a manner that helps the patient to focus. Very powerful drugs, stimulants can be extremely harmful if not taken under the guidance of a health care professional.

According to Brad Schmidt of the FSU Psychology Clinic, Adderall and stimulants like it are addictive.

“When these drugs are not used appropriately, misuse could lead to a wide array of psychological and health problems, especially for those at increased risk for drug abuse,” he said. “These include problems with sleep and appetite, as well as problems with blood pressure and heart rate. There is also some risk for serious complications, such as stroke.”

The Drug Enforcement Agency classifies these medications as Schedule II stimulants, and according to the DEA’s website, Schedule II drugs carry a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe dependence. The website gives a few examples of Schedule II stimulants: Adderall (amphetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Desoxyn (methamphetamine). Baby Boomers might remember the drug by a different name: speed.

A handful of speed will get a stressed-out student through Finals Week, which for many is not really an actual school week, but more like two hellish 48-hour days, with a big time crash somewhere in the middle — or whenever one can find the time.

During Finals Week, a student will typically purchase one pill for each exam, paper or project on his or her schedule. Break a pill in half, and you’ve got a piece to study on and a piece to take before the test. The effects of amphetamines last four to six hours; dosage is based on tolerance, so regardless of whether the pills on hand are 10, 20 or 30 milligrams, an infrequent user with a low tolerance will be satisfied. Naturally, a higher dose will have stronger and potentially longer effects.

On college campuses in America, it is common knowledge that amphetamines will increase a student’s ability to focus; even giving one a heightened level of enthusiasm for coursework, and the stamina to get through it.

Stretched thin with academic responsibilities and more social obligations than ever before, today’s stressedout college students are reaching past caffeine with a new kind of voracity. Some students seek help and guidance through proper medical channels, but many turn to the black market, often because preliminary evaluations conducted to diagnose a person as ADHD are expensive and time consuming. And, even if one puts in the money and time, there is no guarantee he or she will be leaving the doctor’s office with a prescription for stimulants.

The FSU Psychology Clinic charges $425 to test a 28 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

student for ADD/ADHD. Assistant Director of the clinic, Jennifer Hames, said to be tested for ADHD, an individual must call the clinic to schedule a onehour screening appointment and complete a series of questionnaires about their current symptoms. “The screening interview will help determine whether the individual is an appropriate match to be tested at our clinic,” she explained. After screening, the individual must return to the clinic to complete a personality inventory and then will be assigned to an individual therapist, who will conduct the ADHD evaluation.

Students are often disinclined to pursue that route — regardless of whether they are simply wanting to get a prescription for speed or actually experiencing symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Only about five to 10 students are tested each semester at FSU’s clinic — numbers far less than the amount of students on our drug dealer’s list of clients. The end result? On the American college campus, every student with access to stimulant medications is a potential drug dealer.

Of course, these kids aren’t drug dealers in the traditional sense. They aren’t selling street drugs, and there is no gang affiliation; nor are we seeing drive-by shootings or turf wars. Additionally, it can be presumed that, if not prescribed speed, these kids would otherwise avoid illicit business dealings. However, technically and literally — they are drug dealers.

One pill for $5, five pills for $20, 10 for $40, etc.

Might sound like a fair deal, but it is actually in the same neighborhood as highway robbery given the fact that a bottle of 60 pills costs — Brad Schmidt, Joe College $10 with his FSU Psychology Clinic family’s medical insurance plan. Selling three pills puts him in the black, and the sale of a whole bottle at his usual rate could pay half of one month’s rent. But of course it wouldn’t, because Joe College’s mom and dad pay the rent.

It is, however, a very good deal for Saturday’s first customer; who after securing his seven amphetamine pills in an empty cigarette box, declared, “Man, I’m glad you answered — my other guy charges $10 apiece.”

Do the math. If a college kid pays $10 for one pill, the dealer covered his cost. Selling the rest is pure profit. At that rate, one bottle could pay the rent and the utilities.

This drastic difference in price results from the lack of a “going rate” in the college amphetamine black market, and there is no going rate because there is no supplier

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— no infrastructure. The supplier is the dealer, who is free to set any price he or she chooses, because supplies are always limited and stock is inconsistent. When the bottle runs out, Joe College is out of business until the next month’s refill. Doctor shopping doesn’t happen here, because Joe College doesn’t rely on his ill-begotten profits to live — it is all extra money, spent on keeping up with those demanding collegiate social expectations.

In terms of price setting, dealers of street drugs like marijuana and heroin operate on a much more ethical level than these pill-peddling millenials. That’s because, just like any business, the illegal drug trade involves a chain of capitalism: investors, manufacturers, buyers and dealers, all of whom respond to fluctuating markets.

Compared to the college amphetamine black market, the cutthroat illegal drug trade actually seems ... almost ... fair. But none of this matters to the non-prescribed, fullcourse-load American college student, who is eternally swamped; and it especially doesn’t matter on the Saturday before Finals Week.

DOING THE DEAL Forty-five minutes after the first customer, there was another knock at the door, and two bubbly blonde sophomore girls walked in swearing to God that they were about to die. They addressed all the room’s inhabitants, complaining about midnight deadlines and tests and exclaiming, “Thank God for Adderall!”

Five pills each, 40 bucks. The kid at the desk repeated his orange bottle/orange pill pile routine, and the girls were off to the library to begin a heavy cram.

By one o’ clock I’d finished editing the first paper and was explaining my suggestions when another customer came through with more “What-ups?” and bellyaching.

After buying 10 pills he pulled a joint from a cigarette pack and lit it. This was accepted with enthusiasm, so much in fact that, as a gesture of appreciation, the drug dealer at the desk pulled another orange pill from his orange bottle and gave it to him “on the house.”

Later, the drug-dealing student broke one of his orange pills in half and gave the pieces to his roommates, 15 milligrams each. One crushed his up and snorted it in lines like cocaine, because “that makes it kick in faster.”

“But, won’t that mess up your nose?” I asked. He replied, “No, I don’t think so — it doesn’t burn the way Xanax does,” and chuckled while getting situated with his laptop. The other swallowed his with a sip of beer, and the Finals Week grind was back on.

Two whole hours passed without anything unusual happening but then came a KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK, KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK, the way police bang on the door on “COPS.” Everyone looked up worried. The drug dealer held up a silencing finger, moved to the window and peered through the blinds.

“Jesus ... ” he sighed and explained who it was. He opened the door and went back to his desk while telling the new customer, “I told you not to knock like that, it freaks me out.”

“Sorry,” the customer offered, “that’s how I knock ... ”

Apparently, he too is not usually present during drug deals; otherwise, he would have knocked correctly.

Students like him only turn to speed during times of elevated stress — like midterms and Finals Week — apparently getting by just fine without drugs during the other 113 days of the semester. En route to the drug house, these types of customers undoubtedly pass a handful of convenience stores that are stocked to the roof with caffeine and B-vitamins, yet pass them up in favor of stimulants because they are the “go-to.” Speed has become that socially acceptable.

BETTY AND CAMILLE Of course, readily available caffeine still maintains a solid presence on the American college campus. Students don’t need to know someone, or know someone who knows someone with a prescription to get a triple-shot latte.

However, if that were the case, one imagines that Coca-Cola would have to reintroduce cocaine as an ingredient to stay relevant because, according to two sorority girls who were kind enough to chat with me, the kids prefer speed — almost every student they know, in fact.

The girls, both FSU juniors, asked that I not use their names, so we’ll call them Betty and Camille. Both are in the same sorority, both are very driven, personable and likeable. And they, too, are on speed. I introduced myself to the pair at Atomic Coffee, a pleasant off campus café where I’d gone to retreat after feeling clutter-induced claustrophobia, after yet another “customer” sat down next to me on the couch and casually prepared and snorted a line of just-purchased speed.

I was nursing an “Atomic Latte” when Betty and Camille came in chattering. The girls yakked through the line and also during the production of their smoothies.

Once they’d settled into a table near mine, I could hear the pair rattling on about Finals Week. I tried hard to tune them out, but it proved impossible — they were simply too loud and spastic. Out of sheer boredom, I listened to Betty and Camille chatter on and on … and on about this test and that test; the papers they’d yet to write; why Betty wouldn’t be able to go out Tuesday

I introduced myself to the pair at Atomic Coffee, a pleasant off campus café where I’d gone to retreat after feeling clutter-induced claustrophobia, after yet another “customer” sat down next to me on the couch and casually prepared and snorted a line of justpurchased speed.

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night like she usually does; their plans for break; and how stressed, sleepless and “haven’t eaten since yesterday but I’m still not hungry” they both were.

Betty is prescribed stimulants and Camille is not, but Betty takes her medication with only a slightly higher frequency than the kid with the heavy knock.

With plenty to spare, Betty is more than happy to share her speed with Camille. This is fortunate for Camille, whose doctor recently put her through “this grueling evaluation” before diagnosing her as ADHD, and sent her away with a prescription for ... more tests. Betty, on the other hand, got herself prescribed to avoid the hassle and risk of obtaining speed illegally, an inconvenience she’d endured during her first year at Florida State.

Betty’s experience at the doctor’s office was very different from Camille’s.

“It was really easy,” Betty told me, “I just went to my doctor and told her I have trouble focusing — which is true — and she said, ‘Well, you must be ADHD,’ and gave me a prescription for Adderall.”

For many Americans, it really is that easy. Betty said the medication really helps her. So why doesn’t she take it every day?

“Because I don’t want to become dependent on it,” she explained.

“But wouldn’t you do better in general if you took it every day?”

“I do OK.” NOT JUST IN COLLEGE Go ahead and type “Adderall abuse” or “amphetamines” into Google, and get ready to read about some weirdness.

ABC News ran a story last June about adult women who abuse the drug, reporting “a 750 percent increase in Adderall prescriptions for women between 26 and 39,” and featured a story about a suburban mother who started using her kid’s Adderall to stay on top of things, and wound up smoking crystal meth “in the bedroom with the door locked; all day, all night — every day.”

What this all boils down to, this dystopian phenomenon that is turning students and housewives into criminals and cretins, is the force that every American lives in pursuit of: the all powerful Edge — the ability to get there first, to work with superior diligence, productivity and composure, to lead the way.

The commitment and drive demonstrated by the drugaddled college students would have made me queasy with Edge-inferiority ... had I not been in possession of an orange plastic pharmacy bottle displaying a sticker bearing my own name, and a prescription for my personal piece of the Edge — Adderall, 30 milligram XR. According to my doctor, I am ADHD — but maybe I’m not; perhaps I’m just lazy. After all, I did earn a bachelor’s degree before being diagnosed and prescribed.

Either way, when I sat down to write this story, I reached into my brown leather duffel — like I always do — and pulled out my orange plastic pharmacy bottle, removed an orange capsule and knocked it back with a shot of coconut water. ec

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scene Here is just a little of the news we’ve heard people buzzing about on the EC scene …

NEW NEWS …

▪ Chef Dan Pearsall has opened Bistro 449 in Fort Walton Beach (in the former Black Angus location). The restaurant will feature lunch and dinner.

▪ The Market Shops at Sandestin has undergone the first renovation in the center’s 29-year history and has added new merchants, including a new fine dining concept by the management of Bistro Bijoux, Sirens at the Beach, Favori Gift Boutique and Market Shops Nails & Spa, with more to come. Several additional new merchants will be announced in the coming weeks, and many of The Market Shops merchants will be open for business during the renovation of the center.

▪ Governor Rick Scott appointed six business leaders to the Gulf Consortium, formed to meet requirements of the RESTORE Act. The group is tasked with developing a State Expenditure Plan for economic and environmental recovery of the Gulf Coast in Florida following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The gubernatorial appointments to the Gulf Consortium include: Pam Anderson of Capt. Anderson’s Marina in Panama City Beach; Peter Bos, CEO of Legendary LLC in Destin; Lino Maldonado, vice president of Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America; Collier Merrill,

Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast

co-owner of Merrill Land Company in Pensacola; Mike Sole, vice president of state governmental affairs for Florida Power and Light in Tallahassee; and Neal Wade, executive director of the Bay Economic Development Alliance in Panama City.

▪ Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast opened a new location on Greenway Trail in South Walton. Boys & Girls Clubs offer programs and services “to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.”

▪ FedEx Office has opened a new Ship Center in Destin at 34737 Emerald Coast Parkway.

NEW FACES …

▪ Sara Noel Childers has joined Coastal Skin Surgery & Dermatology as director of Business Development and Community Outreach.

Childers

▪ Pam George has been promoted to the general manager, and Secret HolmesDouglas has been promoted to the director of Animal Care and Training at Gulf World Marine Park.

▪ Blue Marlin Realty Group, based in Destin, welcomes Rebecca Browning Miller, Heather Hebert, Carrie Plasier and Tina Spicer to its team of 30 Realtors.

Miller

Hebert

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q in Destin and Niceville have been selected as two of only three locations nationwide to begin serving breakfast. They will serve traditional breakfast items along with classic Southern dishes, such as chicken and waffles and pork and grits.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHITNEY LEE (CHICKEN AND WAFFLES), WALTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (BOYS & GIRLS CLUB), TERRI SMITH (CHILDERS), BLUE MARLIN REALTY (HEBERT AND MILLER) AND VANCE PUBLISHING CORPORATION (SALON TODAY 200)

CONGRATULATIONS & KUDOS …

▪ Drink up, Destin. The city’s tap water won bragging rights for having the best-tasting tap water in a four-county area that includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton.

Four utilities entered, including Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA), Destin Water Users (DWU), People’s Water and Auburn Water System. Destin advanced to the regional level held at the 2014 Florida Water Resource Conference, but Floridians will raise a glass to Orlando Utilities Commission, which was named the best in the state by the Florida section of the American Water Works Association.

▪ Auto-Owners Insurance announced that locally based insurance agency Insurance Zone, of Miramar Beach, has been named the No. 1 Auto-Owners agency in the Tallahassee region for 2013. The Fortune 500 company has served Florida since 1952 and is the 18th largest property/casualty insurance company in the nation.

▪ Avantgarde Salon & Spa, with locations in Destin and Miramar Beach, was named a Top 200 Salon by Salon Today 200 (ST200) for excelling in the Growth category. Between 2011 and 2012, Avantgarde grew its business by 33 percent.

▪ Wine Spectator magazine has ranked the 2013 Destin Charity Wine Auction as sixth in the nation. Proceeds from last year’s auction allowed the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation to donate more than $1.37 million to 14 different children’s charities in Northwest Florida. Total auction revenues in 2013 were $1,295,581, a 13.3 percent increase over the 2012 event.

▪ Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics for the third year in a row and the fourth time since opening in 2003. Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters, is a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care.

▪ For the second consecutive year, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has been named among the 30 Best Meeting Site Boardrooms by ConventionSouth magazine. ec

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happenings EVENTS + CULTURE + CAUSES

spotlight

Helping Children with Hurricane Force “We are so pleased to be hosting the Hurricane Party benefiting CVHN again this year,” said Dave Rauschkolb, owner of Bud & Alley’s. “We are drawn to this cause because the heart of this organization is about enriching children’s lives.”

CVHN was established in 2005 as a non-profit organization committed to giving children in Walton and Okaloosa counties access to medical, dental, vision and mental health services by

utilizing a network of over 95 local volunteer health care providers.

Since it began, CVHN estimates it has provided more than 35,000 medical procedures.

Tickets are $75 with proceeds going to help the Children’s Volunteer Health Network. To purchase tickets, call (850) 622-3200 or visit cvhnkids.org.

— Zandra Wolfgram

PHOTO COURTESY MOON CREEK STUDIOS

Children’s Volunteer Health Network is celebrating fall with the force of a hurricane. Bud & Alley’s in Seaside will again host the charity’s 10th Annual Hurricane Party on Friday, Sept. 26. The doors will open at 7 p.m. with heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, both a silent and live auction, and a cash bar.

Guests are encouraged to channel the tropical island theme by sporting beachwear and straw hats with plenty of seaside spirit.

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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culture

MUSIC MAKERS THE INSPIRING INSTRUCTORS WHO TEACH OUR CHILDREN MUSIC, LIFE LESSONS BY TIFFANY CLEMONS

Music is everywhere. There is no beating it, so why not learn something about our “universal language”? Private lessons are available in homes, studios and music stores all along the Emerald Coast, so fulfilling you or your child’s dream of making music is just a skip and a beat away.

Ray and Lisa Cyr, of Santa Rosa Beach, have owned Studio 237 School of Music for four years. Though they both have been teaching for more than 20 years, owning their own studio is a dream.

Ray has played the drums his entire life. Lisa has played the piano for most of hers. Together, along with a number of other instructors, Studio 237 offers lessons for drums, piano, violin, clarinet, guitar, voice, bass, banjo, cello, ukulele and even the unique shofar — an instrument traditionally made from the horn of a ram.

Collectively, Studio 237 has more than 100 students. With 40 of those students on the piano, it makes the piano the most popular instrument at the studio.

The musical couple encourages students of all ages, and parents as well, to really consider the commitment before jumping into music lessons. Though circumstances can be tough, they are more than willing to work with the student as much as possible to keep their music dream alive. In fact, both said their favorite part of teach38 August–September 2014

ing is seeing their students’ passion and triumph. “Nothing is more exciting than seeing a student perform a piece of music that they’ve worked so hard on, and though they might not have played it perfectly, the light on their faces make it all worth it,” says Ray. “We teach education for performance, not necessarily entertainment. The entertainment comes naturally, but fundamentals are key.”

When it comes to picking an instrument to play, the parents to three musical children agreed to go with what you are drawn to. “If they are still struggling, we encourage and invite potential students to come and sit in various lessons,” says Lisa. When asked what is the most affordable instrument to start out on, they both laughed and said, “Well, your voice is free!”

Sometimes kids want to play an instrument that they can’t necessarily play due to age and size limitations, so Lisa recommends that students at least start music theory and learn how to read music. Then, when the

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Kate (below), 7, with piano teacher/ founder of Studio 237 Lisa Cyr; Nineyear-old Hank (bottom) beats out a drum lesson; Playground Music instructor Liz Aylor (opposite) gives student Mark Stevens some pointers on violin.

Music Makers PLAYGROUND MUSIC, FORT WALTON BEACH Band instruments, guitar, bass, keyboard/ piano, voice, drums ▪ Private weekly lessons, $100/month ▪ Classes held once per week for 30–60 minutes, $100/8 weeks ▪ Free lessons for life with a purchase of any guitar, bass guitar, drum set, keyboard or piano

JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

MARI DARR~WELCH

JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

(850) 243-2514, playgroundmusiccenter.com

child is able to reach or stretch their fingers to play an instrument, they will already be steps ahead.

The Cyrs believe in a three-month theory and that it takes about that long for something to stick. With flat monthly tuition rates starting at $100 for weekly 30-minute lessons, they try to keep lessons affordable, especially for their students who have to travel to get to the studio.

Lisa and Ray are tried and true musicians, and while they can play a number of instruments, their favorite to teach is still the piano and drums, respectively. However, the studio is designed to host six lessons at a time, so you don’t have to choose which instrument to play — you can learn them all!

STRING THEORY Liz Aylor teaches strings, (violin, viola, cello and bass) at Playground Music in Fort Walton Beach and has around 45 students. She has played for 50 years and has been teaching for 40 of them. Sinfonina Youth Orchestra (SYO) is a full youth orchestra of about 50 kids who are middle school to high school ages.

“Since the local schools don’t have string sections, having the youth orchestra is really special to those kids, because it gives them a place, when

STUDIO 237 SCHOOL OF MUSIC, SANTA ROSA BEACH Piano, guitar, voice, drums, bass guitar, violin, ukulele, banjo, theory, saxophone, cello, clarinet ▪ Private weekly lessons. Flat rates of $100/ month for 30-minute lessons, $150/month for 45-minute lessons, $200/month for one-hour lessons.

▪ Yearly registration per teacher, $36 (850) 231-3199, studio237musicschool.com PHYLLIS HASTY, SEAGROVE, BLUEWATER BAY Voice, piano ▪ Private weekly lessons. If enrolled, $125/ month for 30-minute lessons, $250/month for hour lessons. If not enrolled, $100/hour.

(850) 803-9913 HANS SCHOOL OF MUSIC, DESTIN Guitar, piano, harmonica ▪ For a single private 30-minute lesson, $40, or $140 for four 30-minute lessons paid in advance.

(850) 225-7953, hansschoolofmusic.com UPBEAT MUSIC, CRESTVIEW Drums/percussion, guitar, bass, brass and woodwind instruments, piano/keyboard, orchestral strings, folk instruments, voice, ukulele ▪ Private weekly 30-minute lessons, $100 per month.

▪ One time registration fee of $25 (850) 398-4009, upbeatmusic.com WALTON MUSIC, DEFUNIAK SPRINGS Guitar, bass, drum, piano, violin, voice and mandolin ▪ Prepaid 30-minute weekly lessons, $68 ($17 per lesson) (850) 892-7073, facebook.com/pages/ Walton-Music

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culture

there didn’t used to be one,” says Aylor. “The kids would take lessons, play in a room by themselves and then eventually quit because they had nothing to look forward to.”

While the dedicated strings teacher likes to have fun with her students by taking them on trips to perform at Universal Studios, the universal language of music comes first. She has even started the Suzuki method of teaching which taught her the ability to teach kids to play before they can even read. “It’s amazing,” she says. “Take a look on the wall in Playground Music’s showroom, and you will see the tiniest violin you have ever seen.”

Playground Music offers a variety of instruments, including rentals. Aylor, like the Cyrs, also recommends that anyone interested in taking lessons first select a teacher before purchasing, or even renting an instrument. That way, you can ensure you are making the right investment for yourself or child.

FIND YOUR VOICE Shannon McDonald, Miss Choctawhatchee High School 2014, chose her given instrument of voice. She grew up going to a summer community theater camp in New York owned by her grandparents. While she loved to act, she really loved to sing. “It was just inside me, and it is amazing what lessons have done for me. They have taught me to reach places and notes I never thought I would be able to reach,” she says.

When McDonald started training her voice four years 40 August–September 2014

MARI DARR~WELCH

Connor Moore (right), 14, has taken lessons for two years and hopes to major in music theory; At 59 Mark Stevens (far right) is taking lessons from Liz Aylor just because he wants to.

ago, lessons consisted of breathing technique and music theory.

Now sessions are rehearsals of full songs, perfecting them for the stage. She will be off to Florida State University in the fall, where she plans on majoring in criminology and musical theater. But she certainly left her mark by winning the talent portion of the Miss Choctawhatchee competition as the 18-year-old performed the popular movie Frozen’s hit “Let it Go” by Idina Menzel. She owes it to her voice teacher, Phyllis Hasty.

Hasty has been singing and playing piano since she was five years old. She has also been teaching the art of piano and voice privately since 1993. She teaches in the Seagrove and Bluewater Bay area and currently has 34 students who range in age from 6 to 60.

“My favorite part of teaching is that every lesson is a unique and different experience. And when the student has their ‘Ah Ha!’ moment, it’s priceless,” she tells. Hasty considers herself to be a traditional teacher when it comes to basics. “When a student starts voice lessons, they might not even sing a note until the fifth or sixth lesson. Breathing is very important, and without that you can’t sing.” Shannon laughed and jumped in, “And don’t expect to be perfect.

Looking at yourself in the mirror pretending to stretch your vocal cords with your hands might seem and feel silly, but in the end lessons are to grow and I couldn’t be happier with where I am and everything I have learned.”

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC There are numerous organizations trying to save youth music programs, including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) whose slogan is “Believe in music.”

NAMM envisions a world in which the joy of making music is a precious element of daily living for everyone; a world in which every child has a deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is a passionate champion and defender of that right. According to NAMM, regardless of socioeconomic status or school district, students who participate in high-quality music programs score 22 percent better on English and 20 percent better on math standardized exams.

Demetrius Fuller, music and artistic director of Sinfonia Gulf Coast, also is an advocate of starting music at a young age. He says, “Music and the arts in general are critical to a well-rounded education.”

Fuller started piano lessons at age 12 and clarinet in band that same year. “I grew up in Okaloosa County, which to this day has one of the best instrumental programs in the United States.”

Even for adults music education can be beneficial for continued learning. From “Empathy, Arts and Social Studies” by R.R. Konrad: “Music enhances the process of learning. The systems it nourishes, which include our integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities, are shown

to be the driving forces behind all other learning.” Fuller agrees, saying, “In my opinion, age is irrelevant. I believe that the introduction and exposure to music, whether it be chorus/ voice, piano or learning to play a musical instrument in band or orchestra, instills an appreciation of the arts and music that remains with you throughout your life.”

Fuller enters his ninth season with Sinfonia Gulf Coast and is redefining the symphony music scene along the Emerald Coast.

With the addition of the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra, it is clear that he truly believes in the art of music and its benefits to the community. “Music lessons, learning to play an instrument, playing in groups like band and orchestra, are much more than just learning to play an instrument. All of this teaches discipline, teamwork and offers many more benefits. If we can continue to educate in the arts, it benefits our communities in the long run.”

With all of the music teachers along the Emerald Coast, there are many talented and ready resources to help fulfill yours or your child’s inner desire to play the universal language of music.

“No matter what country you are in, music will always be read the same,” said Hasty, who has taught in countries like Korea and Japan. All of the teachers hold annual public recitals and invite you to come and see the students perform. With music all around us, why not chime in?

Even the largest orchestra needs a triangle player. ec

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thecalendar august + september

+art

Baytowne Wharf Art Walk Aug. 29–31 Welcome the fresh fall season

under the moonlight with a weekend good for the art and soul filled with world-class art and live music. Exceptional artists featured in the area’s leading galleries from across the Southeast will gather for this three-day festival featuring the best of the best in the world of art.

FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 9300 US Highway 98 W., Miramar Beach. 5–10 p.m. (866) 912-3224, baytownewharf.com

42 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Compiled by Janie Harris For more events in the EC, visit emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Tuesdays through Aug. 27

Pardi Gras Who wants some beads? Join us every week for Pardi Gras during the summer as HarborWalk Village transforms into “The Big Easy.” Enjoy dazzling floats, beads and lots of swag while parading through HarborWalk Village. After the parade enjoy a performance from the Village Brass Band on the main stage, along with a stunning vibrant fire dancing show. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 424-0600

Wednesday Nights through Sept. 24

+music

Gulf Place Summer Sunday Concert Series

Every Sunday through Sept. 24 Grab a blanket and your favorite lawn chair to enjoy a concert on the Amphitheater lawn. Come hear Cadillac Willy (Aug. 3), Ike Bartley (Aug. 10), Fearless Heights (Aug. 17), Owsley Brothers (Sept. 7), Hubba Hubba (Sept. 14), Chronic Jester (Sept. 21) and Boukou Groove (Sept. 28). All performances are free and appropriate for attendees of all ages.

PHOTO BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN (BIG GREEN EGG) AND COURTESY SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT/THE VILLAGE OF BAYTOWNE WHARF (ART WALK) AND GULF PLACE/FLETCHER ISACKS

Gulf Place Lawn and Amphitheater, 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach.

6–9 p.m. (850) 267-8458, gulfplacefl.com

+food

Eggs on the Beach EggFest Sept. 27 Celebrate the delicious results

Wednesday Night Concert Series Tantalize your taste buds with a familyfriendly outdoor music concert in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. FREE. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. 7–9 p.m. (866) 912-3224, baytownewharf.com

Thursdays through Aug. 29

Red, White and Blue Celebration Come out and help honor a local hero.

The celebrations highlight the efforts of people who go above and beyond to better their community. Enjoy live entertainment, free kids’ crafts and face painting, and a WWII replica flyover. The evening is topped off by a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd. Destin. 6 p.m.

Fireworks at 9 p.m. (850) 424-0600, emeraldgrande.com

Saturdays through Aug. 31

of cooking on the Big Green Egg grill with the Emerald Coast’s inaugural Big Green Egg Festival. Cook teams will smoke and grill their favorite dishes while tasters vote for their favorites. The event will be complemented with live music, cooking demonstrations and a charity raffle.

Rock the Docks Every Saturday night during the summer, come out for free concerts on the HarborWalk Village stage. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd.

Destin. 7–9 p.m. (850) 424-0600, emeraldgrande.com

Proceeds benefit the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. Advance tickets are $20 per adult, $10 per child and free for children three and under. Tickets at the gate cost $30 per adult. Seascape Resort, 112 Seascape Drive, Miramar Beach.

10 a.m.–3 p.m. (850) 269-4666, eggsonthebeach.com

Ongoing Window Art Display Drive by and stop to see the works of students in Thilia Newton’s Crash Glass Mosaics classes, on display in the studio windows of the Art Center.

FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Aug. 1–31

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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The Hotel

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Day Care • Full day or half day • Indoor and outdoor play area • Nap time in a private suite • Constant supervision & a lot of love and new friendships!

• Full grooming service • Bath/brush & maintenance • De-shedding treatment • Hair repair & more!

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LOBBY HOURS: M-F 8-6 • Sat 9-5 • Closed Sun/Holidays 4601 Opa-Locka Lane, Destin (behind Back Yard Burgers) (850) 460-7460 • goochiepoochiesparesort.com

thecalendar Aug. 4, 6, 11, 13

Adventures in Alys Join the Seaside Repertory Theatre for an original storytelling experience for children of all ages. Watch a new, one-of-a-kind Adventure in Alys, created by the audiences — and maybe even join in the stories yourselves. FREE. 147 La Garza Lane, Alys Beach.

10–10:30 a.m. (850) 213-5906, alysbeach.com/events

Aug. 5–9, 12–16

SummerWILD Children’s Summer Camps Summer goes wild with Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Children in first through sixth grades can spend an exciting week on the Destin Harbor learning about exotic animals and their natural habitats. $150 per child.

HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd., 2nd level Unit 242, Destin.

9 a.m.–3 p.m. Call Susan Leveille at (850) 830-3933 or email sleveille@ecwildliferefuge.com.

Aug. 5, 12

Summer Reels at Alys Beach Bring blankets and low back chairs to enjoy a movie under the stars in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. The Smurfs 2 will play on Aug. 5. On Aug. 12, Hotel Transylvania will play.

FREE. Alys Beach Ampitheatre, North Somerset St., Alys Beach.

8 p.m. (850) 213-5500, alysbeach.com/events

Aug. 5–Sept. 5

15th Annual Photography and Digital Arts Show Come by for a showcase of outstanding photography and

digital arts by ADSO members and other area photographers.

Opening reception Aug. 8 from 6–8 p.m. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach. Tue–Fri noon–4 p.m., Sat 1–4 p.m. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Aug. 6, 13

Alys Beach Summer Concert Series Join in for live music weekly in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre, with food and beverages from Piper’s. Courtyard Saints will play Aug. 6, followed by Seth Walker Trio on Aug. 13. FREE. Alys Beach Amphitheatre, North Somerset St., Alys Beach. 7–9 p.m. (850) 213-5500, alysbeach.com/events

Aug. 7, 14

The Seaside Rep’s Intro to Improv at Fonville Press Take an introduction to improv comedy workshop with actors from The Rep. Enjoy learning to think on your feet through improv games and exercises. All ages and experience levels are welcome.

FREE. Fonville Press, 147 Charles St, Alys Beach. 10 a.m. (850) 213-5500, alysbeach.com/events

Aug. 7, 14

Kickball on Kelly Green Grab the entire family for a pick-up game of kickball. FREE. Kelly Green, South Somerset St., Alys Beach. 3 p.m. (850) 213-5500, alysbeach.com/events

Aug. 7 & Sept. 4

Grayton Artist Collective First Thursday Art Walk Award-winning Grayton Beach

Exceptional Quality of Care

Proudly Serving All Rehab Needs of the Emerald Coast Offering Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Long Term Care and Assisted Living Services

Recently awarded “Highest Customer Satisfaction and Service Excellence Award” and in 2013 awarded “Deficiency Free Survey by The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.”

138 Sandestin Lane Miramar Beach, FL 32550

Adjacent to Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast

850-267-2887 | gulfcoasthealthcare.com 44 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Jessica Faircloth Owner + Designer

850.227.4183 :: jessica@lemongrassinteriors.com lemongrassinteriors.com

socialstudies Sip ’n Shop April 4, 2014 Ladies and gents headed to LeCiel Ballroom at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for a “fashion extravaganza” hosted by Destin Jewelers. Guests sipped champagne, noshed on a three-course luncheon, enjoyed a fashion show and silent auction, and shopped all the latest in fashion, art, wellness and more. The event raised awareness and proceeds for Alaqua Animal Refuge.

Photos by Rhonda Murray

Lee Capers and Dr. Amber Weibe

Courtney Murray and Jessica Proffitt Bracken

Demetria McNeese and Demetrius Fuller

Sicis Reception April 8, 2014 Q Tile owner Suzy Accola hosted a welcoming reception party at the Q Tile Studio Gallery to celebrate one of its premier design vendors, Sicis — The Art Mosaic Factory, artisans of custom tile creations for the home based in Rome, Italy.

Photos by Rhonda Murray

Jim Accola and Scott Kirfirst

Marcia Hull, Mark Pollaski and Myra Williams

Amy Fogg and Suzy Accola

Lorenzo Canella, Betty and Don Hefner EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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thecalendar artists Andy Saczynski, Mary Hong, Justin Lyons, Allison Craft, Nicole Paloma and Modus Photography welcome the public to their cottage-style galleries, studios and workspaces for a meet-and-greet-style event.

Enjoy refreshments as you talk with the artists, watch creative demonstrations and get an inside peek into their working studios. FREE. Logan Lane off 283 in Grayton Beach (both Mystic Porte and The Shops of Grayton).

5–8 p.m. (850) 502-0072, graytonartistcollective.com

Aug. 8, 15

Vue on 30A Music Lineup Experience a great lineup of artists, Chris Alvarado on Aug. 8 and Bobby James on Aug. 15, while enjoying a fresh approach to dining with a delicious menu designed and prepared by the acclaimed Chef Giovanni Filippone, who was named “Best Chefs America 2013” and also featured on the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen.” FREE. Vue on 30A, 4801 W. County Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. 6–9 p.m.

(850) 267-2305, vueon30a.com

Aug. 15–Oct. 19

Guild Hall: An Adventure in the Arts Gaze at an exhibition that features paintings, sculptures and works on paper by a variety of significant artists that lived and worked in the East Hampton area of Long Island in New York over the past 140 years, including Chuck Close, April Gornik, Childe Hassam, Lee Krasner, Ibram Lassaw, Roy Lichtenstein, Thomas Moran, Jackson Pollock, Larry Rivers, David Salle, Andy Warhol and Jane Wilson. $5 per adult and $3 for military, students and seniors. The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., Pensacola. Tues–Sat, noon­–5 p.m. (850) 432-6247, pensacolamuseum.org

Aug. 16

3rd Annual Paddle at the Porch — The Destin SUP Cup Paddle at the Porch showcases the beautiful emerald green water and white sandy shores of Destin behind one of its most loved restaurants, The Back Porch.

This standup paddleboard event features a one-mile recreational 46 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

race, a three-mile recreational race and a six-mile elite race, followed by food, fun and $5,000 in cash awards. $48 for one mile; $60 for three- and six-mile races.

1740 Scenic Hwy. 98 E., Destin.

10 a.m. (850) 837-6241, paddleattheporch.com

Aug. 17

ARTwalk on the Harbor Come enjoy an art event along the Destin Boardwalk from HarborWalk Village to AJ’s featuring local and regional artists and vendors. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 11 a.m.­–4 p.m. artwalkontheharbor.com

Aug. 21

Third Thursday Wine Walkabout Join the Merchants of Gulf Place to sip hand selected wines and nosh on appetizers throughout each of the stores. Enjoy live music, giveaways and more. $15 per person. Gulf Place Town Center, 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach. 5–7 p.m.

(850) 267-8458, gulfplacefl.com

Aug. 23

28th Annual Sandestin Triathlon The 28th Annual Sandestin Triathlon will lure more than 700 participants for a half-mile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike along the coast, and a fourmile run through Sandestin’s beach and bayside community.

Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast. $140 per individual; $200 for a three-person relay team.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 US Highway 98 W., Miramar Beach. 6:30 a.m. (877) 276-8860, sandestintriathlon.com

Aug. 28

Meritage Spa Grand Opening Coastal Skin Surgery & Dermatology hosts a grand opening fete including hors d’ourves, raffle prizes, special prices on spa services, product samples, and a meet and greet to introduce dermatologist, Dr. Layne Fielder. FREE. Coastal Skin Surgery & Dermatology, 12469 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach.

5:30–7:30 p.m. (850) 654-3376

socialstudies

Mike and Angela Ragsdale and Kat and Scott Crompton with EC Magazine Models, Dawn Hamil and Isabella Chance Carmin Lugo, Peter Lugo, Kristian Lugo, Martin Lugo and Lauro Lugo with EC Magazine Models, Dawn Hamil and Isabella Chance

Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach June 5–7, 2014 EC Magazine was proud to host the welcome party, “Inside the EC Scene” on Saturday night of the 7th annual edition of Digital Graffiti. Like the magazine, the event was a celebration of all things local including a “haute” photo shoot that encouraged attendees to pose with local models wearing fashions from The Alys Shoppe.

Keith and Melissa Miller with EC Magazine Models, Isabella Chance and Dawn Hamil

Photos by Matt Burke

Summer House Grand Opening April 3, 2014 Melissa Skowlund celebrated her second Summer House Lifestyle location in Uptown Grayton with a simple but beautiful event that epitomized the company itself.

Photos by Rhonda Murray

Michelle Smith and Melissa Skowland

Steve Barber and Lauren Gall

Frankie and Hal Watkins with Melissa Skowland EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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thecalendar Aug. 30–31

Labor Day Weekend Celebration and Fireworks Kick off the fall this Labor Day with a weekend of family activities, concerts, finger-licking good food and fireworks! The celebration ends Sunday night with a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin harbor.

FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd. Destin. Time TBD. Fireworks at 9 p.m. (850) 424-0600, emeraldgrande.com

Aug. 31

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Alys Beach 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Located along Scenic Highway 30A, the course winds through the beautiful town. The event also features an oversized obstacle course for kids of all ages and will end with music, food and beverages available in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. For event registration details, visit Alysbeach.com/events. Proceeds benefit The Alys Foundation.

The Amphitheatre in Alys Beach.

The 5K Race begins at 7 a.m.

Alysbeach.com

Aug. 31

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Trustmark Bank Present ‘Almost Styx’ Come Sail Away with “Almost Styx,” an amazing musical tribute to Styx.

Bring a chair, wine and picnic or purchase dinner onsite. $20 per person or special MKAF members rate of $15 per person. Kids under 12 are free. Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive W., Destin. 7-9 p.m.

MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org

Sept. 1–30

Ongoing Window Display The works of Helen Blair, working in palette knife, acrylic and oil, will be on display in the studio windows of the Art Center. FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Sept. 9–Oct. 3

‘Play That Funky Music’ Show Take a peek into artists’ love of any type of music, in any medium, with this art exhibition. Opening reception on Sept. 12, 6–8 p.m.

FREE. Art Center, 17 First St. S.E., 48 August–September 2014

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Fort Walton Beach. Tues–Fri noon–4 p.m., Sat 1–4 p.m. (850) 244-1271, artsdesignsociety.org

Sept. 18

Third Thursday Wine Walkabout Join the Merchants of Gulf Place to sip hand-selected wines and nosh on appetizers throughout each of the stores. Enjoy live music, giveaways and more. $15 per person. Gulf Place Towncenter, 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach. 5–7 p.m.

(850) 267-8458, gulfplacefl.com

Sept. 21

ARTwalk on the Harbor Come enjoy an art event along the Destin Boardwalk from HarborWalk Village to AJ’s featuring local and regional artists and vendors. FREE. HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin. 11 a.m.­–4 p.m. artwalkontheharbor.com

Sept. 24

ADSO Luncheon Make your reservations to hear Dan Robison, instructor of History for Troy University and talented artist and art instructor, speak on Art History. Reservations are $12, $15 after Sept. 22. Art Center, 17 First St. S.E., Fort Walton Beach. 11:30 a.m. (850) 682-8827, artsdesignsociety.org

Sept. 25

Recycled Percussion Enjoy an unprecedented combination of extreme percussion, engaging humor and extraordinary athleticism with a show originally seen on “America’s Got Talent.” $35. Mattie Kelly Arts Center, 100 College Blvd., Niceville.

7:30 p.m. (850) 729-6000, mattiekellyartscenter.org

Sept. 26

Vue on 30A Music Lineup Experience a performance by Bobby James while enjoying a fresh approach to dining with a delicious menu designed and prepared by the acclaimed Chef Giovanni Filippone who was named “Best Chefs America 2013” and also featured on reality show, Hell’s Kitchen. FREE. Vue on 30A, 4801 W. County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. 6–9 p.m. (850) 267-2305, vueon30a.com ec

socialstudies Little Black Dress Party May 17, 2014 The fifth anniversary of the “Best Event on the Emerald Coast” (2013) may have been the best yet. The theme for this year’s glam gala, proudly sponsored by EC Magazine, was black and white, so ladies shimmied in LBDs with a flash of white (and gents graced the event in jackets and ties). All party goers wined, dined and danced to raise funds (during both a silent and live auction) and awareness for women’s wellness.

Proceeds from this sparkling event benefit the White-Wilson Foundation.

Photos by Tracy Mulligan and Kay Phelan

Keri Holguin and Tammy McGaughan

Cheri McDonughta and Jan Upshaw

Jennifer and Nick Guthrey

Melissa Zurick, Andi Mahoney and Julie Pike

Mary Florence and Marion Gipson EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach

Art, architecture and technology merged and converged when 27 dynamic digital art works created by artists from around the globe set aglow the iconic alabaster walls of Alys Beach during the 7th annual Digital Graffiti art festival. EC Magazine hosted the welcome soiree on Saturday evening that welcomed guests into the boho-chic lounge styled by Fisher Flowers and Events where they were served a signature EC Honeyberri cocktail concocted with Chaste No. 850 and Cathead Honeysuckle vodka (4). Delicious mini dessert cakes were courtesy of Sweet Henrietta’s. As DJ Lady Muse (5) mixed smooth sounds, chic models adorned in fashions fresh from designer Cheyann Benedict’s trunk show engaged with guests on the swank set of a “haute” photo shoot, while EC’s lovely staff “meeted and greeted” adorned in designer dresses from The Alys Shoppe (1). All party goers were invited to join EC’s exclusive Top of the EC club.

The event culminated with the announcement of the art competition winners. But there were still more surprises, as artist Justin Gaffrey drew the name of one lucky local who won a painting depicting lovely Alys Beach, which The Alys Shoppe commissioned from the artist just for the occasion. // PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE, JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (#5, 6, 10) AND PURE 7 STUDIOS (#3)

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Left to right: Jeremy T. Cranford, Arthur “Richard” Troell, III, Karen Powell Ward, William L. Ketchersid, David L. Powell

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Pig Out!

BACON IS A HOT, SIZZLING TASTY TREND

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

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Pig Out! WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? According to the Food Network, 72 percent of us are crispy crazed. To be sure your breakfast buffet sizzles here are some cooking tips:

SKILLET Arrange bacon in a single layer and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until dark golden brown (9 to 11 minutes).

OVEN Arrange bacon in a single layer on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350 until dark golden brown (about 25 minutes).

MICROWAVE Line a large plate with two paper towels. Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the plate and cover with two more paper towels. Microwave for 9 minutes, then immediately transfer the bacon to another plate.

You’ve Got to Fry This!

Bacon-themed anything is making cash registers fat and happy.

Bacon beverages, toys, candy, gift baskets, accessories … and if you are too lazy to shop for your own bacon, you can order in with various Bacon of the Month clubs.

To get your bacon fix head to Ruskin Place in Seaside to Quincy Avenue Art & Things to top your cake with a tube of bacon-flavored frosting. Serve it with a sizzling side of bacon candy. After all these treats you’ll want to freshen up your breathe with nothing other than bacon-flavored toothpaste. And to pay for it all … a bacon wallet to stuff full of yes, you guessed it — your hard earned bacon.

You can fry, but you really can’t make this stuff up folks!

And because we can’t seem to get enough, here are a few more things that are making bacon a sizzling hot national trend.

Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months in cold air.

Bacon may be eaten smoked, boiled, fried, baked or grilled, or used as a minor ingredient to flavor dishes. Bacon is also used for barding (cooking meats with bacon) and larding (weaving bacon through meats) roasts, especially game, including venison and pheasant. The word is derived from the Old High German bacho, meaning “buttock,” “ham” or “side of bacon,” and cognate with the Old French bacon.

Meat from other animals, such as beef, lamb, chicken, goat or turkey, may also be cut, cured or otherwise prepared to resemble bacon, and may even be referred to as “bacon.” But for the purist, the USDA defines bacon as “the cured belly of a swine carcass.” Yes, it’s Porky Pig, folks.

For the health conscious food shopper, bacon isn’t likely the first thing on your grocery list. But if you like to bet, pork bellies is not a bad one.

Bacon alone is so high in demand it has put pork on the market map, so to speak. With bacon practically a delicacy, prices have soared, but it’s still a bargain when you consider its flavor boosting power. And with low-sodium, veggie versions and lean cuts weighing in at just 39 calories per slice, even dieters can dine on swine and not sweat it.

1. Bacon For Your Backside 2. Hickory Smoked Bacon Scented Soy Candle Tin 3. Bacon Body Wash 4. Bacon Candy Canes 5. Bacon Bouquet 6. Bacon Soap 7. Bacon Soda (Get it?)

Quincy Avenue Art & Things, Ruskin Place in Seaside

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All products available at amazon.com, baconfreak.com and bacontoday.com

PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE (QUINCY AVENUE ART & THINGS) AND COURTESY AMAZON.COM, BACONFREAK.COM AND BACONTODAY.COM

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s the sexy ’80s commercial says, we want to bring home “the bacon” and fry it up in a pan. Some of us mean it literally, as in all we really want is bacon fried up in a pan. But when mainstream Americans are orchestrating over-the-top baconthemed wedding bliss and the guy in line next to you is snorting up the “wake up and smell the bacon” app on his smartphone like some kind of drug and prime time TV time slots are stuffed with commercials for edible bowls made out of bacon, you realize that bacon is big and it is back.

Well, it’s backfat, actually. The point is, there is a bacon bonanza going on and it makes some of us just want to squeal for joy! In honor of International Bacon Day (Aug. 31, 2014), we raise our bottle of bacon soda (yes, we said bacon soda), in celebration of all things bacon.

Bacon is a meat product prepared from a pig — usually from the side and back cuts of pork except in the United States, where it is almost always prepared from pork belly (typically referred to as “fatty” or “American style” outside of the U.S.).

It is usually cured using large quantities of salt, either in a brine or by a dry packing process; the result is fresh bacon (also known as green bacon).

Top 10 Reasons Why Bacon Is Best for You You’ve seen the commercials demanding us to “Eat more chicken” and asking “Where’s the beef?” and “Got milk?” Well, maybe it’s time to pour on the praise for pork by cheering for the benefits of bacon.

Here is a list of 10 reasons why bacon is actually healthy for you!

1 Protein Power: The protein found in bacon is extremely valuable to maintaining energy levels and a fully functioning, healthy body, with a minimum of the c-word, carbohydrates.

2 Bacon’s Blood-Balancing Bounty: Several university and medical center studies have shown that bacon eaten in moderation actually can lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, helping to prevent and/or alleviate the effects of diabetes, as well as heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

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Just the Fat Ma’am: Bacon helps to fully satiate our appetite with high protein/low carb energy, helping the body lose weight, raise one’s metabolism and build leaner, stronger muscles. In fact, bacon actually has less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than many popular cuts of beef and chicken. While some fish has less fat and cholesterol than bacon, bacon has more protein power and does not contain toxins such as mercury.

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Bacon on the Brain: Bacon is brimming with an important nutrient called “choline,” which helps increase our intelligence and memory. University studies show that as we age, the properties of bacon help fight off the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic mental impairments.

5 Pig Out … It’s Good For You: Bacon provides substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function healthfully, including 65 percent of our recommended daily intake of thiamin, 47 percent of our niacin, 38 percent of B12, 36 percent of zinc, 24 percent of vitamin B6,

22 percent of our riboflavin, 22 percent of phosphorus, 10 percent of pantothenate, 10 percent of magnesium and 9 percent of iron. Plus, the protein to fat balance in bacon is actually 4 to 1, which is one of the highest protein to fat balances found in most meat, fish or fowl.

Upcoming Bacon Bashes

6 Bacon Bliss: Bacon makes you feel happy, satisfied, blissful, which greatly reduces stress.

7 Nix the Nitrates and Nitrites: The fact is, while it is true that nitrates and nitrites are unhealthy for your body, they are easily avoided by simply not burning, charring or over cooking your bacon and by baking your strips in the oven.

8 Bacon Power: If we have veggie cabs right here on the EC, can bacon buses be far behind? In the UK, TMI foods has figured out how to use bacon fat to manufacture a powerful, low emission, environmentally friendly, all-natural, bio-diesel fuel that can be used to run everything from motor vehicles to turbines effectively and inexpensively.

Sept. 24 Baconfest St. Joe, St. Joe, Missouri

9 Better with Bacon: Think of all the healthy food you can’t wait to tuck in to when it’s wrapped in bacon, sprinkled with bacon or topped with bacon.

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If you love bacon, you are not alone. There are plenty of bacon lovers all across the land who love to celebrate their fav food by gathering at festive fetes. The biggest bacon event appears to be the Blue Ribbon Baconfest in Des Moines, Iowa, held each February. This year it grew from 8,000 to 12,000 bacon-loving attendees. Leading up to the event Des Moines celebrates “bacon week” filled with bacon-themed dinners, tailgate parties and tours. From big cities to small towns, bacon-inspired events seem to be heating up across the land. Here are a few you might want to sample:

Oct. 11 Ozarks Bacon Fest, Springfield, Missouri Oct. 18 Southwest Bacon Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico Nov. 8-9 BaconFest, Easton, Pennsylvania

Bacon ❤ Our Heart: Several studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids and “choline” found in bacon can actually protect the heart from developing detrimental problems, as well as actually help heal such anomalies after they have occurred.

For more festivals year-round all across the country, visit bacontoday.com.

Source bacontoday.com.

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Pig Out!

BACON MAPLE ICE CREAM Homemade ice cream flavored with Nueske’s thick cut apple wood smoked bacon and Vermont maple syrup Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi, Destin

Best Bacon Bites for B, L & D Must-fry menu items around town

Bacon is not just for breakfast anymore. From casual to fine-dining restaurants to upscale retail and quick-stop convenient shops, tasty bacon bites await all along the Emerald Coast.

Respect to those who bring home the bacon

BIG DADDY BURGER WITH BACON, CHEDDAR CHEESE AND JALAPENO (as featured on the Food Network) McGuire’s Irish Pub, Destin and Pensacola

You are probably familiar with the phrase “bring home the bacon.” Food writer Peggy Trowbridge Filippone writes on her blog, “In the 12th century, a church in the English town of Dunmow promised a side of bacon to any married man who could swear before the congregation and God that he had not quarreled with his wife for a year and a day. A husband who could bring home the bacon was held in high esteem by the community for his forebearance.”

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Jackacudas Bacon Maple Ice Cream Courtesy Chef Chris Fortner

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup Vermont grade A maple syrup 4 cup organic whole milk 1 ½ cup granulated sugar 5 organic egg yolks ½ lb. Nueske’s thick cut apple wood smoked bacon

EGGS BLACKSTONE FEATURING APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON Another Broken Egg, Destin, Miramar Beach and soon-to-open Grand Boulevard

PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE (BACON MAPLE ICE CREAM, BIG DADDY BURGER, CHOCOLATE DIPPED BACON AND BACON JERKY), SCOTT HOLSTEIN (FRIED GREEN TOMATO SANDWICH), JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES (MARINA CAFÈ PIZZA), SHELLY SWANGER (FRIED OYSTER BLT), TOMMY CROW (BACON PLATTER) AND COURTESY ANOTHER BROKEN EGG OF AMERICA AND GREAT SOUTHERN CAFÉ

PROCEDURE: In a medium saucepan over moderate heat, reduce the maple syrup by half and hold. Over moderate heat in a medium saucepan, heat the milk with ½ cup granulated sugar until hot and just bubbling around the edges. In a bowl, whisk the yolks with ½ cup sugar, then add 1 cup of hot milk in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Pour the egg mixture back into pot and heat over moderate heat stirring constantly until the mixture reaches around 170° (do not boil!). Strain mixture and stir in maple syrup, chill overnight. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and arrange bacon slices next to each other and bake until crispy. Drain the fat away, chop bacon into small pieces. Place the remaining sugar in a saucepan and heat over moderate heat. Stir with a fork until all the sugar is melted and golden caramel color is reached. Stir in the bacon to coat. Pour the caramelized bacon onto a sheet tray and allow time to harden. After bacon hardens and cools, chop fine. Freeze the custard in an ice cream maker (20–30 minutes), while incorporating the candied bacon at the last minutes and churn all together until well combined. Scoop and enjoy or transfer into an airtight container and freeze.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED BACON Two thick slices of cherry wood smoked bacon dipped into dark chocolate La Crema in Rosemary Beach

FRIED OYSTER BLT Vintij Wine Boutique, Miramar Beach

BACON JERKY Pepper bacon and bacon and cheese The Beef Jerky Outlet, Destin

BACON SAMPLER PLATTER Three flavor-infused gourmet bacon bites of the chef’s choosing from chicory to rosemary The Pearl Hotel’s Havana Beach Restaurant, Rosemary Beach

FRIED GREEN TOMATO SANDWICH WITH BACON Cabana Café in Seascape Resort, Miramar Beach

PIZZA FEATURING ARTICHOKE HEARTS, CARAMELIZED ONIONS, ROASTED SWEET PEPPERS AND SMOKED BACON Marina Café in Destin

BACON AND PECAN WAFFLE WITH CHOPPED BACON AND LOCAL PECANS Great Southern Café in Seaside

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Weathering THE STORMS

Three Titans of Tourism Tell us How they Plan to Navigate the New Normal

BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

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hen it rains it pours, sometimes quite literally. The Emerald Coast is used to preparing for hurricane force winds, but it was not ready for record rains that brought floodwaters so deep and swift the area’s streets eroded while cars, businesses and homes flooded. But that’s just what 24 hours of April showers brought ... along with a disaster designation heading into May — the beginning of the peak summer tourism season. But the Emerald Coast has weathered storms before — both those created by Mother Nature and the manmade variety.

Mother Nature is not the first villain to cast a shadow along the sugar-sand beaches of Northwest Florida. Other unwelcome visitors with names like Opal (1995), Ivan (2004) and Dennis (2005) have come and gone with gusto. Occasional brush and wildfires make the Sunshine State the kind of hot that isn’t cool. Even indigenous creatures that call the Gulf home have crept onto the scene from time to time. In June 2005, two separate bull shark attacks in a period of three days was such an anomaly, garnering international headlines. Not the kind of PR most on the coast would prefer.

Soon after, the coast was bitten again ... in the wallet.

The economy tanked during the Great Recession and the real estate market imploded, sucking all the remaining wind out of the regional economy’s sails. But the decade still had more in store. In 2010, the unimaginable happened when the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster spilled 3.5 million gallons of oil off the Louisiana Gulf coast. Though there was little oil on Emerald Coast shores, the perception that tar balls covered the coastline washed away any hopes for decent tourism traffic for several summer seasons.

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Two years later, just as everyone thought the coast was finally clear, a PR storm raged in Okaloosa County when the newly hired Emerald Coast Conventions and Visitors Bureau president diverted millions of the county’s BP dollars to accounts he could freely access to cushion his lifestyle with luxuries such as an SUV, a custom motorcycle, a yacht and even a Destin home. The terrible situation turned tragic when Mark Bellinger ended his life after fleeing the area, making the stain of the BP oil debacle even worse. Weeks of headline news sent tongues wagging, fingers pointing and heads shaking. The incident cast a dark shadow all along the coast.

Two years have passed since then. And, after some musical chairs, three of the region’s current tourism leaders may be finally settling in to their new roles: Jim Bagby at the South Walton Tourist Development Council, Ed Schroeder at the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau and Steve Hayes at Visit Pensacola.

It can’t happen soon enough. Tourism is big business for the Sunshine State. More than 97 million visitors travel to Florida each year to enjoy nearly 1,200 miles of coastline. Of those guests, nearly 20 million venture to the Emerald Coast. Regionally, there are approximately 3,200 restaurants and 1,600 hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals. All in all, it is a $67 billion industry with nearly $4.6 billion in tax revenue collected annually in Florida’s state coffers alone.

As they approach and mark one year on the job, we were curious. After the ravages of so many “super storms,” we wondered what is the new normal for Northwest Florida’s tourism industry now?

To find out, we sat down with three of the coast’s tourism titans, and here is what they had to say.

Steve Hayes

PRESIDENT, VISIT PENSACOLA

First day on the job: March 4, 2013 Background: Steve worked his way up in tourism after working in PR and promotions for the Greater Peoria CVB during college. When he graduated they created a job for him putting his degree in advertising and marketing to work. For the past 26 years he has led the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Family: Hayes’ wife, Mary, works in the hospitality industry in meeting planning.

His daughter, Madison, is headed to college in the fall, and his son, Jonathan, is a high school sophomore.

Leisure time: Loves watching European or premier league soccer; traveling and doing activities outdoors — golfing, biking and walking trails.

EC: How do you expect you will interact with your tourism counterparts?

SH: As an area we need to ask what can we do together?

There was a meeting in March that connected the Northwest Gulf Coast (to talk about) how to attract business that wasn’t crisis related. I recently had an opportunity to bring a travel writer in from Canada, working with Panama City Beach on it. I said, “That’s a no brainer. Bring it on.” Because the more coverage we get the better. There are some things I’m going to fight over, but collectively there is a lot we can do together.

the consensus builder:

WE NEED TO ASK ‘WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER?’

EC: Where are the opportunities?

SH: We are focused on the beach, but we’ve been missing the other ways we can drive business. In the fall and winter, the beach is still important, but the numbers of those who participate in cultural and historical activities has jumped. So now your message to the fall/winter visitor may include the beach, but are we also talking about the cultural offerings — the opera, naval aviation museum?

BROOKE FLEMING

EC: What are some of your specific plans?

SH: In November we will be working with ACE (Art Culture & Entertainment Inc.) in Escambia County to brand everything related to arts, culture and culinary. We hope to work with everyone from the Great Gulf Coast Art Festival to the Blues Homecoming Show and the Frank Brown Songwriters to Gallery night and so on to provide a 10-day time period for visitors to come to this community. I don’t think it’s been done in the past, but it could really drive our business.

EC: What do you see as the priorities for Pensacola?

SH: Looking toward the future we need to ask: “What do we want to be when we grow up?”

So with visitors you always

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have to have things to keep them coming back.

Are we indeed taking care of the visitor, and how do we grow it? Internationally? Domestically?

With cruise business? What’s our infrastructure? We need to grow it smartly and with purpose that provides impact to the community. It takes long-term planning to increase the business.

On the impact of tourism on business.

We use “Economic Development through Tourism” as a tagline in the industry, and that’s what we are. There is a financial impact to this community from visitors.

We need to let people know why it’s important — and make ourselves even more hospitable, so they want to come back.

EC: How will you do that?

SH: We have to build consensus … to educate. That will make this area even more hospitable. Once you get that done, then everything is easier to do. You have to show the people the value, show the research, talk about the message points and get people on the same page. You have to get them involved in the process.

EC: What is your “new normal” now?

SH: I would have to say the biggest thing that came out of the BP oil spill was the bringing together of the tourism industry.

Before BP, in terms of advertising, it was going to broad and different organizations. After BP we had all this money going to advertising talking about the Gulf Coast, and in doing that we essentially had a unified budget and more marketing power. BP showed if you have one message you have a greater impact.

EC: What kind of research have you used to learn about your customer?

SH: Our research started in May of 2013. Every month (we’ve been evaluating) 300 visitors in

the market. That data is looking at where they are from, how much they are spending, size of their group, their activities and lodging choices. Part of that is better understanding the international visitor and asking why aren’t we going after Germans, Canadians and Brits? They can come and spend a week on the beach and also experience Historic Pensacola Village and the Aviation Museum. They like exploring destinations.

People assume because we don’t have direct international flights we don’t have international business, and that isn’t the case.

We need a better understanding of them and then sell the area to them. Long term, it’s a matter of how you’re going to grow it.

Another effort will capture data on special event attendees.

This will tell us how far in advance they plan, the time of year they come, the type of events they like and give us more data to share back with events. In Perdido Key the chamber has done a lot of events, and now when they talk with potential sponsors they can talk more intelligently and better target their marketing.

EC: What is your take on the separation of the Chamber and Visit Pensacola?

SH: I think there was a time when it was appropriate for the CVB to be a part of the Chamber, but given the tourism growth here I think it was time for it to pull out.

EC: One year from now what kind of impact will you hope to see?

SH: One is to see that what we did was successful. What was the overall spend? Did it go up? If they are spending more money it impacts businesses in the community. Did we get the industry and community talking about tourism, and are we pointed in the same direction?

And … are we having fun? If you can’t have fun, you’re in the wrong place.

For stats on bed taxes across Northwest Florida go to emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

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EC: A lot has transpired in the past couple of years.

How has it affected the South Walton TDC? JB: With the Bellinger issue trust evaporated with everybody. So, we got an audit by the Clerk’s office, and we will get audited every two years. The management controls were not there, and that’s probably true of every TDC up and down the coast, so there was a heightened scrutiny of all the TDCs.

the business leader: ‘WE’RE A POSITIVE FORCE NOW’

EC: What do you do differently now?

JB: The first thing we did was hire a person with an accounting degree to be the director of our administration. We have to have better accountability. We had $250 gift cards locked in the desk.

If you’ve got 20 of them, that’s $5,000. Would you lock $5,000 in cash in a desk? Nobody would. So we now understand gift cards and cash cards are cash equivalents.

As I reiterate to my staff: We are an $18 million business, and we have to run like one.

We’ve also engaged the Tourist Development Council. Their primary responsibility per the statute is financial oversight, and they weren’t getting the information they needed to properly execute the task that they are required to do, so now they get everything.

If there’s a problem, I want them to find it.

Jim Bagby

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTH WALTON TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

First day on the job: June 1, 2013 Background: After 24 years in the United States Army with a variety of operational and staff assignments throughout the world, in 1999 the West Point graduate left the service to remain in the area and applied his graduate degree in public administration to the position of town manager in Rosemary Beach, one of South Walton’s 16 beach neighborhoods.

Leisure time: Loves to travel, read, play golf, enjoy good red wine, ride his Harley and be with his kids.

PURE 7 STUDIOS

Family: His wife, Jennie, works in education; oldest daughter, Sara, works in D.C.; and youngest daughter, Jennifer, recently graduated from New York University.

EC: The South Walton TDC received nearly $7.7 million in BP dollars. How will you spend it?

JB: A lot of folks view this as a Destination Marketing Organization, and a lot view it as a Destination Management Organization. We maintain 62 beach accesses and bay access, bike paths, we do a lot of things outside of pure marketing because we are a destination experience organization. We want the visitor and resident to enjoy the South Walton experience.

We have $38 million in reserves; $21 million of that is earmarked for beach nourishment in 2015. Then we have an amount to completely replace all of our beach accesses

and bay accesses and whatever is non-insurable should there be a catastrophic event and that’s around $7 million. Then we’re going to set aside $1 million to $1.5 million in case of a catastrophic event, to blitz feeder markets and get the word out that we’re back in business.

On the marketing dollars, the guidance I’ve given the marketing team is to budget 10 percent of what’s in that reserve each year.

One big splash is one and done; we want a slow burn.

EC: What does your research indicate about the market?

JB: I went to the property appraiser and took a look at (the owners of) non-homesteaded single-family residences, condos and townhomes in 2003, 2008 and 2013. That was 16,242 records. I wanted to know what their home zip codes were. So that told us where our top 40 markets are.

I created an informal working group comprised of CEOs of the 15 largest bed tax collectors.

They are my sounding board.

They understand from a CEO’s perspective. The logo is a good example. Marketing people like this nice cursive logo, but it’s not legible. CEOs were like, “Get rid of that thing. You can’t read it.”

EC: How will you use the research?

JB: We work to bring people here. They will decide on their own to stay and buy. We’re trying to find out where do we have people who have not made that total commitment to buy because they have a few more trips in them. Say Dallas and Houston.

So we’re doing a big event with the Dallas Symphony. We have this experience booth to give them a taste of South Walton.

And we’ll hit the Dallas and Houston markets hard.

EC: Where does the international market fit in with your plans?

JB: Here are the challenges. There are no direct flights. We’d love to do something with direct flights to Canada … to Montreal and

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Toronto, because I don’t think we do enough with Snowbirds and their friends. Part of the challenge is commitment, because if you are going to go after the market, you have to say we’re doing this for five years and we may lose funds for four and a half.

On taking the long view.

We’re a reflection of American society. We used to invest in the long term, but we’re in a business that gets measured every month. That’s the reality. I don’t manage that way. As long as we have steady growth, I’ll take 5 percent growth every year. You don’t get sustained growth by looking at last month’s numbers, you get it by going “This is the market we’re going after and sticking to it.” By asking, “What can we do better than anybody?” we can attract highend consumers to the beach to experience our nature’s beauty. So that’s what we’re going to focus on.

On hard lessons learned.

If there is only one lesson learned in this entire Bellinger thing, it’s you have to stay at the forefront of people’s thoughts. Yes, you need oversight and accountability and transparency, but if you are not out in the market place trying to get people to come to your beach, they’ll go to a beach but it just won’t be yours.

EC: What do you like most about your new job role?

JB: I like making a difference. No, we’re not feeding hungry children, but we’re allowing people to come to a destination and experience their families and grow closer, we’re allowing people who live here to have good paying jobs in a respectable industry. We’re a positive force now.

BP’s Payments Related to Gulf Coast Recovery } Response and clean up $14 billion+ } Claims, advances and settlements $12.5 billion } Funding for the natural resource damage assessment process $1 billion+ } Early restoration projects $698 million } State-led tourism campaigns $178 million } State-led seafood marketing programs $47 million } State-led seafood testing $24 million Source: BP.com (as of Dec. 31 2013)

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EC: What experience in Pensacola will you apply to the Emerald Coast market?

ES: Everything I learned in Pensacola in the 13 years I was there I’m bringing with me here. A lot of what you learn is what not to do, so there is no danger of trial and error on things here on the Emerald Coast that I already know don’t work.

the coach:

MARI DARR~WELCH

BUILDING TRUST WITH A ‘CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER’ TEAM

EC: What are your first priorities?

ES: There are a lot of first priorities. Part of our low impact as a marketing organization was trying to find our way through the processes set up after the audit. They are good at accounting and financial procedures and policy, but it’s a big change from what was done before so it left people confused to some degree to how they were supposed to work the marketing through that system. My priority was to make sure everyone got on board quickly to do that right. Now, we have a good process we can follow, clearly defined.

On the marketing side, one priority was to change our

Ed Schroeder EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMERALD COAST CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

First day on the job: Dec. 10, 2014 Background: Before he came to the Emerald Coast CVB he was director of sales for Marcus Pointe Golf Course for two years; prior to that he worked at four Conventions & Visitors Bureaus, including serving as director of Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1999–2011.

Family: Married to Donna with three children: Holly, Kyle and James.

Leisure time: Loves exploring and says, “I wear this hat 24/7 just like everybody in this industry.

I guess over time the difference between your private and public life blurs, because when I go out to dinner, I’m not just going to get a meal. I am remembering the restaurant, the meal, the service, so I can tell people about it.”

look. The quality as well as the quantity of our messaging in markets was not to our advantage. We have tremendously ramped up both and hope to brand our image as a family fun destination.

EC: What is the “new normal” now for the Emerald Coast CVB? ES: Honestly, the staff was battered and bruised. My job is to help them let go of all that is in the past and find their role in the future of this destination.

My second priority is to ensure trust and confidence in the tourism industry in this county. We need to show that we have the team, staff, leadership, vision and that we are transparent in all our processes, so there is no concern of a repeat of what happened in the past.

The third priority is to help folks realize that what happened here affected us dramatically, but from a tourist standpoint, it’s not a blip on the radar. A tourist comes here to have a great vacation, not to delve into the inner workings of the convention and visitors bureau. So, this incredible destination has not been blemished at all for the tourists who want to come here.

EC: Do you interact with your tourism counterparts?

ES: There has been a drop off since the urgency of the oil, and that’s to be expected.

The need to get together as a Northwest Florida group is going to ebb and flow, depending on what’s happening in any single community or across the coast. But the relationships are there, so it’s easy to assemble the team.

EC: What are you most looking forward to in your first year?

ES: Anybody that comes to a destination like this, you’ve got to be excited about experiencing a whole year’s cycle of

everything that happens here.

On top of that, watching the new effort that we are making bear fruit, watching the results of what we do, that is the biggest thing.

Even after the Bellinger crisis, the CVB was criticized for its marketing direction.

Since Peter Mayer has taken the contract, they have stumbled and our office stumbled.

They were not getting very good direction from us and they were not filling the gaps with their own effort or enthusiasm, and as a result they under produced what they are capable of, and we didn’t ask better of them.

In a larger sense, I think this community is 100 percent behind us now. This community wants to see us succeed. They want a victory.

Our team is not the team that struggled for the past couple of years. We are a championship caliber team that our community expects to win. And I’m confident we have the people on board to make that happen.

EC: What do you feel is the core role of the CVB? ES: That is a question that is on fire throughout all levels of destination marketing. Typically we are called a DMO, but the debate now is: Are we a DMO that is for marketing or are we a Destination Management Organization? CVBs all over the country are switching from one role to the other. If you are a management organization, you do marketing but you also do development to build new hotels and attractions to help redefine what an area looks like and spend money locally to enhance the tourism product. For example, here we pay for lifeguards to enhance the experience on our beaches.

Are we part of economic development? When you live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, economic development starts with us.

We’re not a part of it, it starts with us. ec

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DestinDentist.com 850.654.8665 4635 Gulfstarr Drive, Destin, Florida 32541

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309 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, Florida 32407

64 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

Julia Skinn Skinner, DMD

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFESSIONAL

PROFILES

It’s all about trust. Choices are made every day to consult professionals on matters as varied as event catering to legal representation. In this special advertising section of EC Magazine, you’ll meet some of the area’s top professionals in their fields who are dedicated to earning your business by providing solutions and services you can trust.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

JODI KETCHERSID

OWNER, REALJOY PROPERTIES WHAT SERVICES DOES REALJOY PROPERTIES PROVIDE? We are a full-service real estate company.

We list and sell — as well as manage­— propery, offering professional photography and staging suggestions. Marketing is a big job, and we market to a large audience using a diverse set of tools including the Internet, print, social media and direct mail. My background is in direct marketing so I always try to incorporate this into our marketing.

MARI DARR~WELCH

WHY DID YOU OPT TO BUILD A CAREER ON THE EMERALD COAST? The Emerald Coast really chose me. My husband and I moved here to be close to family in 2000 after graduating from law school in Miami. My brother is a local physician, and, prior to him moving here, I had no knowledge of the area. I have lived all over Florida, but the unspoken beauty here takes your breath away. The Emerald Coast really is the perfect place to enjoy life while fulfilling dreams.

“ The Emerald Coast really is the perfect place to enjoy life while fulfilling dreams.”

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Family comes first, but I work hard and I work full time so I know this business. I understand that it is usually a family or investor’s largest asset, so I always try to look at a purchase as if I were buying it myself. I am here before, during and after the process.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? It is probably not a secret, but my business depends upon referrals and remaining confident. By this I mean that I fully understand and comprehend this market and the trends as well as the needs of my clients. A huge part of my job is managing expectations for both buyers and sellers. I am very hands-on from start to finish. I am blessed to have made many lifelong friends in my chosen profession.

4014 Commons Drive, Suite 100, Destin P 850.424.3094 I RealJoyProperties.com I Jodi@realjoyproperties.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

SCOTT HOLSTEIN

MATTHEWS & JONES, LLP

Michael Jones and Dana Matthews

WHAT KIND OF LAW DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN? Matthews & Jones transaction and litigation teams encompass a full spectrum of real estate representation, estate planning, asset protection, corporate reorganization and complex work-out transactions, bankruptcy, civil, criminal, family law, personal injury and immigration. The firm has attorneys licensed in federal and state courts in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, District of Columbia, Alaska, Alabama and Georgia and has offices in Destin and Niceville.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We truly believe hard work and our free enterprise system in a democratic society make it possible to turn dreams into reality. When you incorporate that concept into the desire to provide unparalleled service to clients in need, success and client satisfaction will result.

WHAT IS THE “SECRET” TO YOUR SUCCESS? Client service is key to our law practice. Our clients can expect an honest assessment of their legal situation without empty promises.

4475 Legendary Drive, Destin 850.837.3662

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We strive to develop relationships with each and every client so that our attorneys and staff have a clear understanding of each individual client’s personal and business needs.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RECENT EXPANSION OF STAFF AND SERVICES. Dana Matthews started the Destin firm in 1983. Michael Jones had his own firm and since 1984 served our region with diligence, compassion and integrity in the areas of personal injury, probate and estate planning. “Mike and I have been best friends since age 12 and decided to spend the rest of our careers working side by side,” says Dana Matthews. Over the past year we hired three new attorneys to handle the firm’s growing litigation practice and expanded our market by opening an office in Crestview.

YOU MADE A BOLD CHOICE TO USE A PANTHER TO SYMBOLIZE YOUR FIRM IN YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN. WHY? The Florida panther’s strength, agility and tenacity are the qualities our clients expect and deserve.

323 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville 850.729.7440 DestinLaw.com

596 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview 850.682.6211

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August–September 2014 67

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

C. LEDON ANCHORS ANCHORS SMITH GRIMSLEY

There are numerous reasons why I still enjoy coming into the office five days a week, even after 48 years of practicing law. One reason is the relationship I have with my institutional and individual clients. I’ve represented some of them, such as the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and South Walton Utility Company, for more than 40 years. There are those — such as Medical Magnolia Clinic, Okaloosa Gas District and American Classifieds — that have been clients for fewer years but are made up of equally wonderful people — the kind of people that you enjoy trying to help.

Another reason that I enjoy coming to the office is the experience of working with intelligent, creative and honest attorneys who offer knowledge and experience in many areas of the law. Jim Grimsley is a veteran of more than 45 years in the legal business. Jeff McInnis represents a number of governmental clients, including the Okaloosa County School Board.

Tim Shaw is not only a seasoned and aggressive criminal defense attorney but he also has an extensive family law practice. Rick Petermann and Steven Bauman each have more than 30 years of experience representing institutional lenders and litigating all types of civil cases. Rick also has an extensive real estate practice and Steven is a certified mediator who has mediated hundreds of cases throughout Northwest Florida. Shiraz Hosein has a varied civil practice, including more than 10 years of experience in bankruptcy law. Assisting all of us with our varied practices are three bright, intelligent and creative young attorneys: Jeff Burns, Gresham Foster and Parker Destin.

“ It is a joy to be surrounded by a staff that is devoted not only to their employers but also to our clients.”

Finally, it is a joy to be surrounded by a staff that is devoted not only to their employers but also to our clients. They are a critical and essential part of the Anchors Smith Grimsley team.

We invite you to experience our experience.

909 Mar Walt Drive, Suite 1014, Fort Walton Beach P 850.863.4064 I F 850.862.1138 or 850.664.5728 I ASGLegal.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

JAMES W. GRIMSLEY

STEVEN BAUMAN

C. JEFFREY MCINNIS

RICHARD P. PETERMANN

TIMOTHY W. SHAW

SHIRAZ A. HOSEIN

GRESHAM FOSTER

JEFFREY L. BURNS

PARKER DESTIN

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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August–September 2014 69

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

ANDRE DREVINSKAS, OWNER/PRESIDENT, 654 LIMO WHAT SERVICES DOES 654 LIMO PROVIDE? We offer limousine, shuttle and taxi services throughout the Emerald Coast. We specialize in luxury, chauffeured transportation for any occasion. This includes airport transfers, corporate transportation, shuttle service and wedding limousine service. We have a large and well-diversified fleet of stretch limousines, sedans, SUVs, vans, buses and classic cars.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DESTIN? The first time I came to Destin to visit a friend, I fell in love with the area. From the white, sandy beaches to the laid-back Florida lifestyle, this place is just rich in history. I moved here permanently in 2001 and started my company just two years later.

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: We at 654 Limo have a passion and commitment to excellence, which has earned us a reputation for quality performance. This stems from the people that work for 654 Limo to the vehicle fleet and management philosophy. Our goal is to provide the highest quality chauffeured transportation service to corporate clientele and the general public every day of the week.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? I believe and invest in people. With a great and dedicated team around you, anything is possible.

MATT BURKE

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED? Over the last four years, we’ve seen a great deal of growth in terms of

the services we offer. We’ve added a taxi/shuttle service that does not require advance reservations. We also cultivated a hassle-free online reservation system to make it easy to reserve services. 654 Limo now also has classic car rentals for special occasions.

“We at 654 Limo have a passion and commitment to excellence, which has earned us a reputation for quality performance.”

221 Main St., Destin 850.654.5466 I 654Limo.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

DANIEL W. UHLFELDER, P.A. AREAS OF SPECIALTY: Real Estate, Divorce, Litigation, Foreclosures, Condo/Association, Business Law and Estate Planning/Asset Protection WHY DID YOU ENTER THIS PROFESSION? I have always wanted to be an attorney, because it allows me to channel my curiosity, competitive passion for solving problems and fighting for fairness.

WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO BASE YOUR PRACTICE ON THE EMERALD COAST? I was raised in North Florida. After attending Stanford University, Georgetown University Law Center, University of Florida College of Law and working and practicing in Washington D.C., California and Miami, I decided 13 years ago to return to my roots. In this growing and exciting region I have been able to run a thriving practice by using my unique set of skills, background and education to provide high-quality, personalized legal counsel and services. My clients are not “just a case” at my office because I am truly invested in their legal success.

“ The practice of law requires attention to detail, determination, patience and good listening skills. My firm’s goal is to provide our clients with all the legal services they need to address their problems, whatever they may entail. I enjoy the challenges involved in taking on complex cases, which other attorneys may shy away from. My philosophy has always been the bigger the challenge, or the bigger the opponent, the better.”

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO BUSINESS? We strive to fully understand our client’s objectives and aggressively, creatively and honestly aim to achieve those targets. Our strategy is to work within the bounds of the system to make sure all viable options are pursued whether they involve negotiation, mediation or litigation in federal or state trial or appellate court. Because of my experience working all over the country, I am very good at looking at a case from a variety of angles and coming up with successful solutions that another attorney might not attempt.

124 E. County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach 850.534.0246 I daniel@dwulaw.com I DWULaw.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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August–September 2014 71

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

EMERALD COAST MOTOR CARS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? I’ve been in this business since 1969.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Emerald Coast Motor Cars is your broker that will acquire a vehicle for you once you have employed our services. The broker’s job is to locate a suitable vehicle and get the best price for you. We also offer new car broker services.

WHAT TYPES OF CLIENTS UTILIZE YOUR SERVICES? Emerald Coast Motor Cars services clients from a diverse array of backgrounds. However, no matter who the client, customers are considered family to the entire team.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? I attended Georgia Southwestern College, served my military duty with the Georgia National Guard for six years and moved to Destin from the Atlanta area in 1997. Eventually, I saw the need for a personalized car-buying service in the Emerald Coast. For this reason, my wife, Bunny, an interior designer at Lovelace Interiors, and I decided to open Emerald Coast Motor Cars LLC in Miramar Beach, Florida in 2013.

11714 Emerald Coast Parkway I Miramar Beach 850.830.3083 I ECMotorCars.com I StanHall1@live.com

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? We stick with the slogan: “No hassle car-buying service delivered to your door!” I handle each sale with a one-on-one approach and operate by the motto: “Sell yourself to the customer and make them a lifetime buyer, not just a one-time buyer.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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the good life FOOD + TRAVEL + HEA LTH + HOME

eudaimonia*

Oh, Baby!

There has been a jump in baby animals at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, including two kangaroos, and people are springing into action to see the new additions to the zoo’s family.

But kangaroos are not the only babies added to the mix. You might hear someone shouting, “Hip-hippo-ray!” — to celebrate the new hippo’s birth. You might even hear the question, “When does a bongo have eight legs?” The answer? “When there are two of them,” since the zoo just welcomed two baby bongos, an animal that is part of the antelope family.

But that is not all; crowds flocked to gaze at Gamba, the new giraffe (pictured here), and zipped over in hopes of seeing the birth of a baby zebra.

Gulf Breeze Zoo is located off Highway 98 and is open every day, rain or shine, March to September from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and December to February 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All general admission tickets are under $15. — Janie Harris

Photo by Mari Darr~Welch

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habitat

S - M - A - L- L

BIG I S

T H E

N E W

THE LESS-IS-MORE PHILOSOPHY HAS COME TO THE FAMILY HOME, WITH SQUARE FOOTAGE TAKING A BACK SEAT TO QUALITY, FUNCTIONALITY, CHARM AND CHARACTER

fter years of building ever-bigger houses, we’re looking for new values, say Emerald Coast builders and designers. We’re more interested in reconnecting with family and friends in deeper ways than in showoff houses, and the result is a trend towards smaller, smarter homes.

“What we all want is a life of quality,” explains Randy Wise, a Niceville builder.

“This is nothing new, of course, but the way we think about it and attempt to achieve it has changed. There has been a backlash against conspicuous consumption, and we’re seeing a new understanding that true luxury is comfort, solace and connection. So we’re paring down, simplifying and editing.

“In construction, this translates into homes that are significantly different from the ones we built just a few years ago.

Homebuyers no longer think of a house in terms of resale, so now they turn their backs on the formal dining room, living room and two-story foyer they used to find necessary to appeal to the next owners. They just want what they need for their own family.”

Realtor Dwight Atchley agrees. “It’s no 74 August–September 2014

longer desirable to own the biggest, grandest home on the block,” he says. “In fact, buyers might well run the other way.”

“For the first time in my memory, the formal dining room has become a flex room,” adds Wise. “That’s builder-speak for a multi-purpose room. It can be a home office, a library, a downstairs bedroom. Also, the downstairs powder room is now becoming a full bath, so with the flex room you now have a first floor master suite, very desirable today. With assisted living costs sky high, aging parents move in with their children.

The added benefit is that these grandparents can help care for their grandchildren.

That’s the way it used to be. It worked. And it makes sense today, too.”

The new smaller home also emphasizes outdoor living spaces like never before, says Wise, and attic spaces are super-insulated to provide good storage.

Wise grants that today’s small house often isn’t less costly than the bigger one, but buyers, he says, accept that as long as they’re spending their money on high-quality design and features, including those that cut utility costs.

“The point is that when you build smaller,

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

you can spend money on higher-quality materials and features,” he summarizes.

EDITING ELEGANTLY Designers Joey La Salle and Cassidy Pickens find the new trend towards downsizing “satisfying and exciting.”

“There comes a point when that large and grand home filled with possessions exhausts you,” says La Salle, like Pickens an associate of Lovelace Interiors in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach. “You don’t even see those possessions anymore. So you decide to get off the treadmill of acquisition and go for a smaller home. That means getting rid of a lot of furnishings, and as a designer, I must admit that I enjoy helping clients edit elegantly and creating spaces where you can really see beautiful, high-quality materials and prized collections.”

Pickens explains that even when a client relocates to the Emerald Coast from another state, she gets involved in the editing process.

“The clients send us photos of their belongings,” she tells. “And we help them decide what to keep and what to donate or sell. Often, some of their furniture needs a lighter look to fit their new coastal home, so

PHOTO COURTESY WISE HOMES/TROY WARD

a

BY LIS KING

This Hart III model home in the Hill Creek Farms neighborhood in Baker, Florida, cleverly and efficiently utilizes all available space with an “open concept” that connects the kitchen and dining areas with a built-in office nook.

refinishing and re-upholstery are in order. Of course, we also help them with the interior finishes in the new home, choose whatever new pieces we feel would make it more livable and place the furniture, collections and so forth. Right now, we’re helping a couple down-size from a 7,000 square foot home in Oklahoma to 2,500 square feet here.”

Universal design is often part of the new smaller homes, say both designers, even for younger, active homeowners. They plan for the future and want to stay in their homes. So elevators or one-floor living layouts and wider doors become part of the downsizing process.

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE Is it traumatic for homeowners to downsize?

Dwight Atchley and his wife, Carol, moved from a 2,300-square-foot home on a lake to an 1,800-square-foot cottage in Hammock Bay and are happy with the decision.

“The old house was well located on a lake, but it had a very large lot as well as a pool,” he tells. “I am semi-retired, and we were tired of all the upkeep. We wanted to be free to travel and have more time for ourselves. That’s precisely what we’ve achieved moving to our new community.”

Most people in Christy Scally’s shoes would feel disadvantaged after moving from a 5,000-square-foot home with a seven-car garage to a 1,700-square-foot townhouse. But she is not. A divorced mother of two teenagers and one 10-year-old, she says that, on the contrary, she feels liberated.

“Here, there’s no yard work, no maintenance issues, easy access in and out, and dramatically less overhead and waste,” she says. “I sold everything in the previous house, just held an estate sale. I literally started from scratch when we moved to the town house here in Santa Rosa Beach.

Did I feel sad to let go of my things? Not at all. I have never really been attached to material things. I think your value as a person is more important. Look, I’m not arguing with other people’s attachments to private planes, yachts and other tokens of the multi-millionaire life. It just doesn’t matter to me.”

What does matter to Scally is the fact that her kids have adjusted well, that she and they enjoy their new simpler life and that she loves her work as president of Nokuse Education at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, Miramar Beach.

SMALL IS THE NEW BIG For decades, architects have objected to the big-house obsession, and then one of them, Sarah Susanka, wrote “The Not So Big House,” a book urging homeowners not to fall for the “castle urge.” The book became a big hit and is credited with launching the nationwide trend towards sensibly sized housing.

“The book hit the mark,” says Wise.

“People were fed up with all that wasted space, rolling their eyes at gift-wrapping and wine-tasting rooms.”

“Susanka also plays up sustainable design,” he continues, “and that’s another important housing trend. Of course, building a smaller home that’ll last a long time is, in itself, a ‘green factor,’ but in addition, today’s home buyers are enormously attracted to reclaimed materials, water conservation features and more efficient heat pumps and windows.”

The author lives as she preaches. She built a 2,200-square foot Cape Cod on a country-looking lot close to the airport, the grocery store and a pretty lake. “What more could one want?” she asks in her next book, “Not So Big Remodeling.” ec

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DEAL ESTATE

in the neighborhood

GO TO EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM FOR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

All statistics listed below pertain to sales in May 2014 and are provided by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Florida Realtor and the National Association of Realtors.

LOCAL The Emerald Coast closed 511 single family home sales in May 2014 — 132 of which were paid in cash. 403 were traditional sales, 84 were foreclosures and 24 were short sales.

Emerald Grande is Giving Destin’s Sleepy Fishing Village a Wake-Up Call BY ZANDRA WOLFGRAM

P

eter Bos is legendary. The enigmatic CEO of Legendary Inc. is known along the Emerald Coast for building development projects that get the community talking. Bos’ vision has helped shape the Destin area over the past decade plus. After 10 years, the Emerald Grande and HarborWalk Village are now indeed, iconic.

EC Magazine was curious what inspired Bos’ vision for the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village project. It turns out he did his research.

“We did a survey and found 52 percent of those we talked to didn’t know there was a Destin harbor. So given that, what I theorized is that you had to create something that was fanciful or Disney-esque, so to speak, a building that was unique enough that someone would comment on it, positive and negative. This is not the image of Destin Harbor, I understand that. This is not the image of the sleepy little fishing village, but that’s the problem. The sleepy little fishing village had gone to sleep. It’s no different than the opera hall in Sydney, though I’m not in that same league. That’s what you have to do, you have to create an iconic structure to rebuild the area.

And it worked.”

Thanks, in part, to visionaries like Bos, Destin is “on the map.” Not only do millions of visitors venture to this stretch of Northwest Florida for vacations each year, but after a few visits many of them invest in a patch of paradise to call home,

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or save as a second home, as the case may be. In addition to nabbing all kinds of “best” accolades for its beaches, the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” is also a plum pick when it comes to real estate. Destin, Florida, was listed by Forbes as a “Top 10 Recession Proof City for Real Estate” in 2011 and just last year was named one of the “10 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home” by the Huffington Post.

And the market bears that out. Pending sales for condominium properties are up 10 percent, and inventory is decreasing by more than 25 percent from a year ago. Emerald Grande Real Estate reports that during the second quarter (April–June) average sales went up from $426,573 to $468,576.

Condo sales for waterfront property (on the Gulf or the harbor) in the Destin area has increased by 33 percent over spring of 2013.

It’s no surprise the numbers are up. Emerald Grande is not a hard sell. It is a full-service condominium community conveniently located adjacent to the vibrant HarborWalk Village, which is arguably the “heart beat” of Destin.

This mixed-use development has a dynamic feel and features the convenience of boutiques and retail shops, restaurants, night life, year-round entertainment and everything that comes with a full-service marina, such as water sports, fishing, jet ski and pontoon rentals. With 286 luxury residencies, a full-service European spa, state-ofthe-art fitness center, concierge, valet, 24-hour security and covered parking, Emerald Grande offers resort-style living on prime real estate also laden with family-friendly amenities. Emerald Grande Real Estate is positioning the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village as “a destination within a destination.”

Looks like Bos’ “crown jewel” is giving this once sleepy seaside fishing village quite a wake-up call. You have to hand it to Bos. It did work. ec

Florida closed

10,558 townhouse

and condo sales — 7,088 of which were paid in cash. 8,370 were traditional sales, 1,689 were foreclosures and 499 were short sales.

The median sale price for townhouses and condos in Florida was $145,000 — a 13.7% increase over last May. NATIONAL In May 2014, all 4 regions of the country saw increases in pending sales, with the Northeast and West experiencing the largest gains.

The total number of existing home sales reached 4.89 million units in May, with a median price of $213,400.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEGENDARY INC. (EMERALD GRANDE) AND CENTURY21 COLLINS REALTY (ST. GEORGE ISLAND)

Emerald Grande

STATE On average, Florida’s closed single family home sales received 92.9% of their original list price.

DEAL ESTATE

second home

‘Tally–Ho!’

We’re Off to the Beach at St. George Island

BY LYNDA BELCHER

I

f ever there were an opportunity to live in paradise, then this stunning waterfront jewel may be it. Spanning 6,300 luxurious square feet, Tally-Ho is a five-bedroom, seven-bath custom built home offering amenities that would appeal to any island dweller. It is situated on Schooner Landing in the St. George Island Plantation.

Mason Bean of Century21 Collins Realty, which carries the TallyHo listing, attributes its appeal to the carefully planned details of the home and its much-desired location. “The magic of St. George is part of why so many people want to have a home here,” he says. “It’s a great small town, and this particular house is special. It’s the perfect place to spend time with family and friends and just enjoy the slower pace.”

The attention to detail is noted throughout Tally-Ho. The home faces west, offering stunning sunset views. Cooking aficionados will appreciate the gourmet kitchen replete with double ovens, warming drawer, KitchenAid refrigerator, dishwasher, wine cooler and trash compactor. The home also boasts tile floors, a breakfast bar and plenty of cabinet space.

For entertaining purposes, Tally-Ho offers a recreation bar area, two built-in entertainment areas and oversized pool with hot tub. Each bedroom on the upper level has its own view of the island. Stepping outside, the immaculately landscaped yard leads to a wide lighted boardwalk. Where it ends, there is a spacious covered dock, which has

a fish cleaning station, electricity and running water, built-in tables and seating, and a boatlift.

According to Bean, the home has never been rented and has been well maintained. Its proximity to Bob Sikes Cut, the channel that separates Little St. George Island from the main island, makes for an ideal fishing spot and offers yet another glimpse of the unspoiled scenic views for which the Forgotten Coast is so well known. ec

QUICK LOOK

LIST PRICE:$1,950,000 SQUARE FEET: 4,300 heated/cooled; 6,300 total BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 5 full; 2, ½ baths CONTACT: Marilyn and Mason Bean, Century21 Collins Realty

John Cook and Team “A Reputation for Results!”

Dedicated to Luxury y Real Estate Regatta Bay R John Cook

•

850.582.0874

•

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

www.JohnCookDestin.com

•

•

4458 Legendary Drive

•

Suite 100

•

Destin, FL 32541

John.Cook@cbunited.com

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just sold

New Owners Take Up Residence in Emerald Bay Waterfront Paradise

BY LYNDA BELCHER

T

he previous owner of 1400 Emerald Bay Drive in Destin purchased the property directly from the builder and spent a great deal of time enjoying the stunning waterfront views. However, life took a different direction, and the home was recently put on the market and quickly snatched up. The views are just one amazing amenity of this home. Spanning more than 6,200 square feet, with 1,500 of that in the garage alone, the home has a vast array of attractive features. The exterior offers a spacious swimming pool and lanai with lush landscaping framing the property.

The new owners were bowled over by the characteristics found inside. From 10- and 12-foot ceilings to hard coat stucco and hardwood floors throughout the main living areas, there were numerous features about this home, which appealed to the new owners. With a 152-foot pier complete with boat slip and Jet Ski lift to the travertine

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

1400 EMERALD BAY DRIVE, DESTIN flooring and Corian countertops, this four-bedroom home was constructed QUICK LOOK with no detail overlooked. The den and LIST PRICE: $1.35 million bedrooms are carpeted and the kitchen SOLD FOR: $1.2 million boasts top-of-the-line appliance brands SQUARE FEET: 4,084 and a movable island.

BEDROOMS: 4 Built in 2001, Realtor Susie Kirkland BATHROOMS: 3.5 was responsible for selling the home from the original owner and this time as well; the home sold for $1.2 million. Drawing on her years of local real estate knowledge, she was able to carefully navigate each new owner through the purchasing process so they could enjoy their new waterfront paradise. ec

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just listed

408 KELLY PLANTATION DRIVE, # 1012, DESTIN

One Water Place Condo is Bayfront Extravagance

Luxurious Amenities and Privacy Features Abound in this Three-Bedroom BY LYNDA BELCHER

PHOTOS COURTESY SUSIE KIRKLAND (JUST SOLD) AND NATHAN ABBOT TEAM (JUST LISTED)

F

or some, time spent on the stunning shores of the Emerald Coast is indulgence enough, but this Bay-front condo takes the concept of luxury to the next level. Located within the gates of the exclusive One Water Place community, this three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom space offers a combination of extravagance and privacy.

Homeowners enjoy a two-car garage with plenty of room for outdoor storage. The exterior of the home also offers three different balconies from which to breathe in the fresh ocean air. One of the balconies offers a full outdoor kitchQUICK LOOK en setup, perfect for entertaining.

LIST PRICE: $1,048,000 Wandering inside, from the first ($306.88/sq. ft.) step taken off of the private elevaSQUARE FEET: 3,415 tor, the impression is one of opuBEDROOMS: 3 lence and attention to fine detail.

BATHROOMS: 3.5 The 10-foot ceilings and oversized CONTACT: Nathan windows create the impression of Abbott, Nathan Abbot even more spaciousness, and thick Team, (850) 803-7653 crown molding adds to the ornate feel of the home. Sliding glass doors provide unfiltered views of Choctawhatchee Bay, and from the living room these views of the water are completely unobstructed.

The kitchen is where state-of-the-art appliances are the perfect complement to gourmet meal creation, with a breakfast bar and an airy dining space just off of the kitchen. Rich hardwood floors extend throughout the entry, living area, dining room, media room and hallways. Bedrooms come complete with ceiling fans and carpeting, providing a neutral palette for homeowners to base their most creative interior design ideas.

Units rarely become available in the very popular west tower at One Water Place, according to listing agent Nathan Abbott. The attraction to this home lies in more than just the opportunity for waterfront living. There are numerous amenities within this community, including multiple clubhouses, an oversized swimming pool and jetted spa, bocce ball courts, putting green, fitness center, wine cellar and full-service spa. ec

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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ms. grow-it-all

FLOWERS

with Staying Power MANY PERENNIALS CAN STAND UP TO SUMMERTIME HEAT AND HUMIDITY

BY AUDREY POST

My garden starts to look a bit bedraggled by mid-summer. Are there any flowers that can withstand our summer heat? I’d really prefer to plant mostly perennials. My garden is mostly in sun, but one end is shady.

A: The trick to planting perennials in North Florida is that they must be able to handle the heat and humidity of our summers, as well as freezes in winter. After several years of fairly mild winters, last winter was colder than usual and wetter than usual, and some perennials that weren’t protected didn’t survive. Gardening is always an adventure, some years more so than others.

But there are a number of perennials that should work nicely for your yard.

Remember that it takes three years for perennials to establish themselves in your garden: The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap.

So leave enough space for your perennials to spread as they settle in to their new home, and plan on dividing them every three or four years. If you don’t divide them, they crowd each other out and bloom suffers.

For the sunny section of your garden, try pairing canna lilies and black-eyed Susans.

Whether you choose cannas with green foliage or a cultivar with variegated foliage, 80 August–September 2014

this perennial can handle both our heat and our cold.

Flowers come in red, orange or yellow, and contrast nicely with the golden blooms of black-eyed Susans.

Deadheading, or removing the spent flowers, will keep it blooming and you can trim any foliage that starts to look scruffy.

Crinum lilies and daylilies are also good choices for the sunny garden. Crinum lilies, also known as swamp lilies or bog lilies, are very tough plants and, like canna lilies, prefer most soil. However, once established, cannas and crinums, as well as daylilies, can tolerate dry conditions. So be prepared to water regularly the first season or two. Also, native hibiscus and lantana will provide flowers throughout the heat of summer.

Flowering shrubbery gives structure to the garden and can create shady conditions for plants that benefit from respite from late-afternoon sunlight. Heirloom roses, butterfly bushes and angel trumpet are all good choices. Select cultivars with bloom shades that coordinate well with other flowers in your garden.

Don’t overlook trees as a source of flowers for your garden. Crape myrtles come in shades of red, pink and purple as well as white. Confederate rose forms a small tree and its blooms change color as they mature.

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

AUGUST GARDEN TASKS » Clear out the remnants of your

summer vegetable garden and prepare for a second planting in September. Be sure to get a soil test.

» Watch for spittlebugs in centipede lawns and cinch bugs in St. Augustine grass. » Pull weeds in your garden beds before they set seeds, so you’ll have fewer weeds next year. » Give citrus its final fertilizer dose of the year before the end of August. » Cut back straggly perennials to encourage another round of blooms in fall. » Plant seeds of cool-weather annual herbs such as dill and cilantro.

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Bee balm, either red or purple, is another tough perennial for our gardens.

Phlox used to be difficult for gardeners in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend because of its susceptibility to mildew and fungus. However, some of the newer cultivars are more resistant, making them a welcome option. Try David for white blossoms or Flora-Bama for purplish/pink blooms. Phlox pairs well with purple coneflowers or Stokes asters, and phlox can tolerate part-shade.

Other perennials that perform well in light or partial shade include hostas, coralbells, flowering gingers and firespike. Many plants that bloom in shade have a springtime flowering season and go dormant in midsummer, so the choice of plants is narrower than for sun-loving plants. If your shady section is deep shade, you’ll have a difficult time getting anything to grow there, much less bloom. I suggest covering the shady area with mulch and creating a sitting area from which to enjoy your flowers. ec © 2014 Postscript Publishing, all rights reserved. Audrey Post is a certified Advanced Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County. Email her at Questions@ MsGrowItAll.com or visit her website at msgrowitall.com. Ms. GrowIt-All® is a registered trademark of Postscript Publishing.

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81

going places

Roanoke Fall in Love with

AN UNEXPECTED DELIGHT IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

n

BY CHAY D. BAXLEY

eatly nestled in a valley of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains lies the once booming railroad city of Roanoke.

A lifetime ago, when the transportation mecca was in its prime and weary travelers lined the streets, Roanoke’s downtown district was seen as an undesirable point of transition, a necessary evil.

Fast forward a century, and you’ll find a 15-block cultural oasis. Today, Roanoke’s city center is characterized by stunning turnof-the-century architecture and Southern hospitality. Several museums, individually focusing on art, natural history and the evolution of transportation, are meant to educate and engage as well as entertain. Local eateries, chic boutiques and artisan gift shops line bustling streets, while live musicians make happy hour amongst the Appalachians an utterly unforgettable experience.

And all of this is just a moment’s walk from historic Hotel Roanoke. Built in 1882, the fully restored Tudor-style hotel and conference center is equipped with all the modern amenities you can ask for, plus plenty of room to roam. Two tastefully designed restaurants — the Regency Room, an upscale dining option, and the Pine Room, which embraces more of a pub-like atmosphere — are within the hotel’s walls.

Delightful as the picturesque hotel’s appearance may be, a trip to Roanoke isn’t authentic without a pit stop at Black Dog Salvage.

Made famous by the DIY Network and HGTV show Salvage Dawgs, this 40,000-square-foot warehouse is filled with architectural antiques, vintage artwork and top-notch designer home goods. With 13 years in the salvaging business and two successful seasons on cable television behind them, Sally (the second black lab to grace the shop’s doorsteps as the official mascot/ namesake) and her owners have the place fully stocked.

“We have a very unique business,” said Mike Whiteside, TV personality and coowner of Black Dog Architectural Salvage.

“There may be a couple of places similar to us around the country, but the truth is — we do salvage differently. (Our store) is fun for the whole family, and it’s very visually stimulating. You’ll see things here that you’ve never seen before.”

DESTINATION: ROANOKE / DISTANCE FROM THE E.C. APPROX. 773 MILES / AIRPORT: ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT (ROA) / AIR SERVICE: AMERICAN AIRLINES, DELTA AIRLINES, UNITED AIRLINES, US AIRWAYS

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(Clockwise from bottom left) Culture, art and entertainment are everywhere in Roanoke’s downtown district; For outdoor enthusiasts, Roanoke is a dream vacation spot. Canoeing and kayaking trips on the James River are made easy with guided tours from local aficionados; Black Dog Architectural Salvage, made famous by HGTV’s hit show “Salvage Dawgs,” has a little (or a lot) of something for everyone.

Be sure to check out: 202 Market 202market.net (540) 343-6644 Black Dog Salvage blackdogsalvage.com (540) 343-6200 Blue Ridge Vineyard blueridgevineyard.com (540) 798-7642 Center in the Square centerinthesquare.org (540) 342-5700

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Everywhere you turn, Roanoke boasts quality locales to dine, shop and just relax.

But half an hour outside the valley’s downtown district, nature reigns supreme.

Outdoor enthusiasts can have their choice of hiking, canoeing and biking with a variety of outfitters through the rugged mountain terrain. Botetourt County, 45 minutes northwest of Roanoke, provides some of the most exceptional scenic views on The Blue Ridge Parkway, the nation’s longest national park. The James River, which runs from Botetourt to the Chesapeake Bay, allows for fishing, rafting and camping excursions year-round.

The fresh, crisp air and rich valley soil of the region have created the perfect conditions for many of the established wineries to flourish.

The three family owned and operated vineyards in the area, known together as the “Wine Trail of Botetourt County,” each offer something truly unique.

But alas, everyone’s entitled to a favorite, and at the top of this writer’s list is the Blue Ridge Vineyard. With instructions alongside their creations to “sit in the barn with butter cookies sipping Sweet Shiloh on a summer’s day,” and “makes a great burger even better,” it’s easy to appreciate the laid-back, humble style of these soothing libations.

For vacationers looking for big city culture on a small town budget, Roanoke truly has it all.

Data shows savvy tourists are starting to catch on. According to public record, tourism revenue for Virginia’s Blue Ridge, which includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin, reached $703.6 million, an 8.2 percent increase over 2010.

For locals, the boom comes as no real surprise.

“We’re kind of the hub,” said Landon C. Howard, president of the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. “If there’s a heart of Virginia, Roanoke is the right chamber and Salem is the left.” ec

Grace’s Place Pizzeria gracesplacepizzeria.com (540) 904-5424 The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center hotelroanoke.com (540) 985-5900 La De Da, Inc. ladeda.net (540) 345-6131 The Roanoker Restaurant theroanokerrestaurant.com (540) 344-7746 The Taubman Museam of Art taubmanmuseum.org (540) 342-5760 Urban Gypsy urban-gypsy.org (540) 400-8552 White Oak Tea Co. whiteoakteas.com (540) 992-6901

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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in motion

84 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

What’SUP with that?

BOARDS AREN’T JUST FOR STANDING ANYMORE

BY TIFFANY CLEMONS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY PURE 7 STUDIOS

B

ored with your current workout? Just standing around?

Try standing on a board and taking your workout to the next level. Stand up Paddleboarding (SUP) has already made its presence known along the Emerald Coast, and now it is accelerating its popularity by incorporating yoga and Pilates. Who knew that doing something as fun as SUP could be such a great workout too? Burn calories and build strength with this new trend.

“SUP Yoga isn’t as hard as it looks,” says Patricia Dittrick of Aqua Life Fitness in Navarre. “All levels are welcome, even if you have never tried yoga or stand up paddleboarding. However, we do offer yoga in our studio, as well as an Intro to SUP class if clients need to feel more comfortable.”

Dittrick, 51, trained in yoga and paddleboarding for more than two years before starting to teach last season. She now owns her own studio offering various yoga classes as well as SUP yoga and Sunset SUP, which is a Lisa Turpin (opposite) slower, tranquil SUP yoga class offered at performs an Upward sunset when the waters are calm.

Facing Dog on a SUP; a backbend on The former surfer gal turned yogi SurfSet board provides teaches SUP yoga and Sunset SUP a deep stretch and balance challenge. alongside instructor Cara Gaddy on

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

85

in motion Navarre Beach, and they both believe that the key to a successful SUP yoga experience is an open and free mind. “If you can’t relax, then you can’t enjoy your surroundings and you might be more liable to fall in,” Dittrick says.

Aqua Life Fitness SUP Yoga classes are about 60 minutes long and include guided yoga instruction, as well as a board and paddle if needed. Before you show up, Dittrick recommends bringing the following: form fitting comfortable clothes, towel, sunscreen, water and, most importantly, a great attitude. Her best advice: “Don’t be afraid to get wet!”

Fitness Guru Lisa Turpin, 45, of Get Up Stand Up (GUSU) Paddleboards’ Studio E in Destin, has been teaching SUP Pilates for three years. She has a degree in sports and fitness management and has been practicing Pilates for 14 years. “Don’t be nervous. The best thing about Pilates,

Dhyana is a meditation pose for all levels intended to help with “self inquiry.” (Far right) Yoga guru Rhonda Comparin works her abdominals and hip flexors while doing the Paripurna Navasana (par-ee-POOR-nah NahVAHS-anna) or the Full Boat yoga pose.

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86 August–September 2014

EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

especially SUP Pilates, is that every motion can be modified for your fitness level,” she says. “Anyone can do it!”

Classes are offered at the Legendary Yacht Club in Destin, and all you have to do is show up. Boards and paddles are provided if needed. All Turpin asks is that you show up ready for anything.

Not quite ready to hit the water? SurfSET is a new trendy workout inspired by surfing.

Yet you never have to even think about water.

SurfSET is offered inside at Studio E and incorporates a module essentially made of a surfboard strapped to a platform, with three exercise balls in the middle to simulate the feeling of being on a surfboard in the water.

Turpin is also certified in SurfSET and has been teaching it since its release about a year ago. “The best thing about SurfSET is that you can upgrade any Pilates or yoga workout by using it. It is also great for beginners.”

Including this writer, who put her sea legs to the test during a recent SurfSET class at Studio E with instructor Nicole Larson, who has been practicing and teaching SurfSET since its release. I hadn’t been on a board in months, let alone been in the gym, and I didn’t once fall off! I took the advice of Lisa

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and dove in headfirst, ready for anything.

While the class was challenging, along with help from Nicole and a few modifications by the end of class I was hanging ten and feeling the burn! If you are one of those people who don’t necessarily like the gym, like myself, I highly recommend giving this new trend a try!

So no matter where your fitness level is, or whether you are eight or 80, you can take a “stand” against boring workouts this season by hopping on board the SUP yoga, Pilates and SurfSet exercise wave craze. ec

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EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM

dining

atmosphere. Dine in, carry out, drive through and catering. Full bar. Serving lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Tues–Fri and dinner at 5 p.m. Tues–Sun. 2260 W. County Highway 30A, 850-278-6856. $$ L D BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH CREAMERY Ice Cream. Homemade ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt treats. Open daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Cash only.

2129 S. County Highway 83, 850-278-6849. $$

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

Destin

The Key ★ B L D

Best of the Emerald Coast 2013 Winner Breakfast Lunch Dinner Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ Inexpensive $$ Moderately Expensive $$$ Expensive

Alys Beach

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH American. Seafood, burgers and sandwiches at the perfect beachy-casual spot. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. 30 Castle Harbour Dr., 850-641-0017. $$ L D

Blue Mountain Beach

GRECIAN GARDENS RESTAURANT Mediterranean. Traditional Greek cuisine served in an open-air atmosphere perfect for special occasions or parties. Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

3375 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3011. $$ L D MARIE'S BISTRO & BAR Mediterranean. Enjoy made-to-order seafood, steak, pasta as well as sushi in a casual

AJ’S SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR ★ Seafood. Choose from fresh local seafood, sandwiches, pasta, chicken or specialty dishes like the oysters Eugene or Rockefeller. Open daily 11 a.m. 116 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-1913. $$ L D ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts.

Open daily 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays. (Open Memorial and Labor days.) 979 E. Hwy. 98, Suite F, 850-650-0499. $ B BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR ★ Seafood. Discover Destin’s best-kept secret.

Come here for ice cold beer, raw oysters, awardwinning gumbo and a great view of the Destin Harbor, and leave with a signature T-shirt from the gift shop.

Open daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m. 288 B Harbor Blvd., 850-837-3645. L D BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★ Seafood. Located on the beautiful Destin Harbor, this seafood spot will spoil you with spectacular sunsets, sensational Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine (including award-winning oysters!) and family-friendly service all in a fun, relaxed, casual atmosphere. Open daily at 11 a.m. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin, 850-424-7406. $$ L D CALLAHAN’S RESTAURANT & DELI ★ American. Voted Best Locally Owned Restaurant 2008–2013, Callahan’s serves up great sandwiches,

seafood specials and prime rib. Mon–Sat 10 a.m.– 10 p.m. 791 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-6328. $ L D CRAB ISLAND CANTINA Mexican. Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine in a casual waterfront dining atmosphere offering the best views of Destin Harbor. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 2 Harbor Blvd., 850-424-7417. $$ L D DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★ Gourmet Takeout. Everything you need for a fresh and delicious meal. Choose from fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent deserts and an assortment of wines, cheeses, spices and more.

Open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m. 663 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-8333. $$ L D DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE ★ Seafood. One of Destin’s most popular restaurants serves up charm and award-winning seafood in a quaint house overlooking the scenic Destin Harbor.

Open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 202 Harbor Blvd., 850-837-7525. $$$ L D DEWEY DESTIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★ Seafood. True local charm in an outdoor setting and some of the freshest seafood around. Open 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. 9 Calhoun Ave., 850-837-7575. $$ B L D GRAFFITI Italian. Traditional Italian favorites and house specialties like seafood pizza. Mon–Thu 5–9 p.m., Fri– Sat 5–10 p.m. 707 E. Hwy. 98, 850-654-2764. $$ D HARBOR DOCKS ★ American. A local’s favorite, this family-owned and operated surf-and-turf restaurant overlooking the Destin Harbor offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the Emerald Coast. Open daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m. 538 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-2506. $$ B L D

SAVE the DATE Come celebrate your winners!

The 2014 Best of the Emerald Coast Event

October 25th l 6–9:00pm Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® Brought to you by EC Magazine to benefit the

Junior League of the Emerald Coast.

The 2014 winners will be on display at Grand Boulevard. The public is invited to an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment.

Join us at our 14th annual event as we sample from the best restaurants, shopping and businesses on the Emerald Coast.

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Visit emeraldcoastmagazine.com and look for the Top of the EC logo for your chance to win: 4 VIP TICKETS TO THE 2014 Best of the emerald coast EVENT ON October 25!

Offer ends September 1, 2014 • Total value over $300

- or VIP Package for 2 to the 2014 Destin Seafood Festival October 3–5!

Offer ends September 1, 2014 • Total value over $200

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dining HARRY T’S ★ Seafood. Lounge on the beautiful patio and watch the passing boats as you enjoy an endless variety of delicious dishes. Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 46 Harbor Blvd., 850-654-4800. $$ B L D JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI Seafood. Fresh seafood, sushi, salad, sandwiches and more served in a casual atmosphere overlooking the Destin harbor. Enjoy live music and Sunday brunch. Open daily from 11 a.m. Sunday brunch at 10 a.m. 56 Harbor Blvd, HarborWalk Village, Destin. 850-424-3507. $$ L D JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q ★ Barbecue. Southern smokehouse barbecue. Beer and wine. Open daily 11 a.m. 14073 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-351-1991. $ L D JOHNNY O’QUIGLEY’S ★ American. Award-winning steak, seafood and barbecue in one of Destin’s favorite sports bars. Mon– Thu 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–1 a.m, Double Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–close.

34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-837-1015. $ L D MARGARITAVILLE American. Escape to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for island-inspired food, fun and the “it’s five o’clock somewhere” mentality. Open daily from 11 a.m. 76 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village, Destin.

850-460-7700. $$ L D MARINA CAFÉ American. Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine. Open daily 5–10 p.m. 404 E. Hwy. 98, 850-837-7960. $$ D MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian. Mimmo’s is the new hot spot in Destin for authentic Italian dishes bursting with flavor

and color. Enjoy happy hour at the full bar serving authentic Italian cocktails. Catering available.

Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m–10 p.m., Sat–Sun 5–10 p.m.

979 Highway 98, Suite 5, 850-460-7353. $$ L D OSAKA ★ Japanese. Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood.

Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner 5–10:30 p.m.

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-4688 or 850-650-4689. $$ L D PEPITO’S ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast, locals love Pepito’s for its authentic Mexican cuisine and mouthwatering margaritas. Happy Hour specials all day Mondays, including small rocks margaritas and all beer and well drinks for $1.99. Open daily 11 a.m.– 10 p.m. 757 E. Hwy. 98, 850-650-7734. $$ L D RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★ Steak and Seafood. New Orleans-inspired appetizers, desserts and award-winning wines. Mon– Sat 5:30–10 p.m., Sun 5:30–9 p.m. Silver Shells Resort.

1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-337-5108. $$$ D SARAH K’S GOURMET ★ Gourmet Takeout. Chef-crafted, ready-toheat cuisine. Jumbo lump crab cakes and fresh chicken salad are the house specialties. Open at 11 a.m. 34940 Hwy. 98, 850-269-0044. $ L D TUSCANY ITALIAN BISTRO Italian. Northern Italian cuisine featuring choice meats, fresh seafood and garden vegetables. Tues– Sun 4 p.m.–close. 36178 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2451. $$ D

Fort Walton Beach

AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★ Greek. Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant. Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. 1259 Eglin Pkwy., Shalimar, 850-613-6120. $$ L D

BENJARONG THAI CUISINE & BBQ Thai and Barbecue. Barbecue, chicken, ribs, steak and spicy Thai food. Lunch and dinner Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 251 Mary Esther Blvd., 850-362-0290. $$ L D THE BLACK PEARL Steak and Seafood. Dig into some coconut shrimp and a juicy steak while enjoying a lovely view of the Gulf. Located in The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Open daily 4 p.m. 1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-833-3016. $$ D BUFFALO’S REEF FAMOUS WINGS ★ American. This restaurant is famous for hot wings and cold beer. Ask about the daily specials.

Tue–Sat open at 10:30 a.m., Sun open at noon.

116 Eglin Pkwy., 850-243-9463. $ L D CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN ★ Italian. This family-owned restaurant features authentic Italian cuisine and a full bar. Lunch: Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Dinner: Mon–Fri 5–9 p.m., Sat 5–9:30 p.m. Closed Sun. 75 Eglin Pkwy., 850-243-0707. $$ B L D HELEN BACK Pizza. The world’s finest hand-tossed pizza and cold beer in a sports bar atmosphere. Locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview and Valparaiso.

Open daily 11 a.m.–4 a.m. 114 Amberjack Dr., 850-796-1451. $ L D MAGNOLIA GRILL Steak, Seafood and Italian. Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Sat, open at 5 p.m. Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., 850-302-0266. $$ L D MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★ European. This award-winning breakfast is culinary perfection. Enjoy a diverse menu of authentic Old World family recipes. Sat 8 a.m.– noon, Sun 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Clemenza’s Uptown, 75 Eglin Pkwy. 850-243-0707. $$ B

Economical. Convenient. Painless.

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dining PANDORA’S Steak and Seafood. Early evening specials weekdays 5–6 p.m. Happy Hour weekdays 5–7 p.m. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m., 1226 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-8669. $$$ D PRANZO ITALIAN RISTORANTE Italian. The Montalto family has been serving classic and contemporary Italian cuisine in Fort Walton Beach for nearly 30 years. Dinner Mon–Sat, 5 p.m. 1222 Santa Rosa Blvd., 850-244-9955. $ D SEALAND Steak and Seafood. Serving American cuisine as well as Thai offerings in a homey atmosphere. Lunch Sun 11 a.m. until. Dinner Tues–Sat from 4:30 p.m. 47 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy., 850-244-0044. $$$ B D

Grayton Beach

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Mondays. (Open Memorial and Labor days.) 51 Grayton Uptown Cir., 850-231-7835. $ B PANDORA’S Steak and Seafood. Warm, traditional steakhouse with early evening specials. Weekdays 5–10 p.m. Weekends 5–11 p.m. 63 DeFuniak St., 850-231-4102. $$ D PICOLO’S RESTAURANT Seafood. Dine on delicious fresh seafood while listening to live music. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ L D RED BAR ★ American. A favorite among locals, visitors and celebrities and a must-visit when in Grayton Beach. Kick back on the funky furniture and listen to live music while enjoying great food and cocktails — especially the awardwinning Bloody Mary. Breakfast 7–10:30 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 5–10 p.m. Bar open 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight. Cash or check only, no credit cards. 70 Hotz Ave., 850-231-1008. $$ B L D TRATTORIA BORAGO Italian. Enjoy a balsamic-laced pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from the open kitchen. Open 6 p.m. daily. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach, 850-231-9167. $$ D

Miramar Beach

AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★ Greek. Sip an ouzo at the beautiful stone bar before savoring the flavors of the Mediterranean at this authentic Greek restaurant. Breakfast 8–11 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Dinner 4–9 p.m. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-460-2728. $$ B L D ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★ Breakfast. Award-winning breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily from 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Two Sandestin locations: On the Bay (next to the LeCiel at Sandestin) and in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, 850-622-2050. $ B (in the Village) BISTRO BIJOUX ★ Steak and Seafood. Coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair. Fresh seafood daily. Featuring our signature dish — “Black Skillet” filet mignon topped with a tempura-fried lobster tail. Open daily 5–10 p.m. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-622-0760. $$$ D CANTINA LAREDO ★ Mexican. Boasting a contemporary décor and fiery flavor, the new addition to Grand Boulevard offers gourmet twists on Mexican favorites. Save room for dessert, and check out the Sunday brunch. Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 585 Grand Blvd., 850-654-5649. $$ B L D FAT CLEMENZA’S ★ Italian. Feel like part of the family as you enjoy homemade classical Italian cuisine. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner Mon–Wed 5–9:30 p.m., Thu–Sat 5–10 p.m. Holiday Plaza/Hwy. 98, 850-650-5980. $$ L D ELEPHANT WALK American. Enjoy attentive service, excellent continental cuisine, a dynamic wine list and panoramic views of the Gulf. Serving lunch seasonally and dinner daily 5–10 p.m. Beachside at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., 850-267-4800. $$$ L D FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR ★ Steak and More. This award-winning restaurant offers prime steaks, 92 August–September 2014

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a taste for ...

Pancakes!

Pancakes are also known as Johnny cakes, journey cakes, hot cakes, griddle cakes, silver dollars, flap jacks. No matter what you like to call this breakfast treat, it’s hard to get through a weekend without them.

Variations of the pancake have been around so long no one is sure when it was actually invented. A pancake is such a perfect food, it is universal. Holland has poffertjes, Finland has lettu, India serves up pooda and France serves crepes. In America, we love a heaping stack of hot, homemade pancakes.

You can find pancakes on menus all along the coast but, as the name suggests, The Pancakery on Highway 98 (in the complex with Sunsations and Mellow Mushroom) serves up gourmet made-to-order ones that would make Mrs. Buttersworth proud. With fun names like Blueberry Hill, Strawberry Fields, The Big Apple, The Red, White and Blue and … the Destinite, ordering these plate-sized pancakes is almost as fun as eating them.

As if being served homemade pancakes wasn’t heavenly enough, at The Pancakery you can build your own cake. You choose the batter (buttermilk or whole grain), choose add-in ingredients (fresh fruit, pecans — even M&M candies) and your topping (fruit, whipped cream, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, etc.).

Hey Pancakery, you had us at whole grain!

— Zandra Wolfgram

BEST HIBACHI

18 H ibac ib achi hi Tables Tab able less · Sushi Sushi Bar · Private Dining g · Happy ppy Hour 4–6 4 Hibachi 850.650.4688 or 850.650.4689 • 34745 Emerald Coast Parkway / Destin EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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on the menu From super-healthy sandwiches to super-fresh seafood specials, fall is best of all on the Emerald Coast dining scene with cooler temperatures, thinner crowds and even more great Gulf coast eateries to choose from.

SYNERGY ORGANIC JUICE BAR & CAFE, FORT WALTON BEACH

Sometimes your diet falls off the rails. This quaint organic café is a great way to get back on the train to healthy town. They serve breakfast and lunch daily.

(On Wednesdays you can stock up on fresh fruits and veggies from 4 to 6 p.m.)

Everything is homemade and organic, and the menu ranges from “turbo charged”

shooters and smoothies to salads and sandwiches.

The EVERQUAKE includes avocado, tomato, cucumber, sunflower seeds, sprouts and mixed greens tossed in the Evergreen marinade. $10.95. Ever so good!

Dinner MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO, DESTIN

This restaurant is warm and rustic. You can belly up to the bar seating in front of the brick oven and watch your

SYNERGY ORGANIC JUICE BAR & CAFE’S EVERQUAKE

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pizza pie made and baked before your eyes. Nothing on the menu disappoints, but the special is just that — special. We recently tried the CHEF’S SPECIAL of whole red snapper (fresh from Harbor Docks) stuffed with garlic and rosemary, crispy baked potatoes and sautéed spinach, and it was the best seafood meal we’ve had in a long time. It was large enough for two, so we shared it. $31. Mama Mimmo that is delicioso!

Dessert IT’S HEAVENLY, SEASIDE

A visit to Seaside is that much sweeter with a stop at It’s Heavenly for a scoop of G.S. Gelato Italian ice cream.

There are dozens of flavors.

We tried TIRAMISU, and it tasted just like the classic Italian dessert — layers of vanilla and mocha with a hint of cinnamon. Just like the name promises, the sweet frozen treats here are just that — heavenly. $4.95

PHOTO BY MATT BURKE

Lunch

dining chops, chicken, seafood, fresh salads and a variety of unique sides and desserts served in a comfortable but elegant atmosphere. Featuring 100 wines by the glass. Open Mon–Thu 5–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 5–11 p.m., Sun 4–9 p.m. 600 Grand Blvd., 850-269-0830. $$ D JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT & NIGHTCLUB ★ American. Rock your evening with dinner and dancing on the best dance floor on the Emerald Coast. Village Door Smokehouse with seating on deck overlooking the bay serving barbecue and seafood daily 5–9 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 126 Fisherman’s Cove. 850-502-4590. $ D

& Lunch & Dinner Monday through Saturday

European Breakfast Saturdays & Sundays

MARINA BAR AND GRILL American. Seafood, po-boys, burgers, salads overlooking the Baytowne Marina and Choctawhatchee Bay. You catch ’em we cook ’em service. Open daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 a.m. Kitchen closed Mon–Tue. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., 850-267-7778. $ B L D MARLIN GRILL ★ Steak and Seafood. Fresh seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers served inside or outside. Open nightly at 5 p.m. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-351-1990. $$$ L D P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO ★ Asian. Sample crunchy lettuce wraps or Chinese favorites like Kung Pao Chicken in a chic atmosphere. Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

10640 Grand Blvd., 850-269-1806. $$ L D PEPITO’S ★ Mexican. Voted Best Mexican on the Emerald Coast. Authentic Mexican cuisine, delicious margaritas and weekly specials. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

11225 Hwy 98, 850-269-7788. $$ L D POPPY’S SEAFOOD FACTORY Seafood. Enjoy fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes with a view of the bay. Open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Village of Baytowne Wharf, 850-351-1996. $$$ L D

The Tradition Continues (850) 243-0707 • 75 Eglin Pkwy. • Ft. Walton Beach

ROYAL ORCHID Thai. Escape to Thailand at this authentic Thai restaurant. Sink into a traditional sunken table surrounded by pillows or dine American style at a table or booth. Thu–Tue 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Closed Wed. 11275 Emerald Coast Pkwy., 850-650-2555. $$ L D SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ★ Steak and Seafood. Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar. Open 6 p.m. daily. Hilton Sandestin. 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., 850-622-1500. $$$ D TOMMY BAHAMA’S RESTAURANT & BAR ★ Caribbean. Get a taste of the islands with jerk spices, fresh fish and the best desserts on the coast as voted by readers of Emerald Coast Magazine.

Open Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight. 525 Grand Blvd., 850-654-1743. $$ L D VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO American. Traditional favorites and unique house dishes. Open daily 11 a.m.– midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 103, 850-650-9820. $ L D

Niceville/Valparaiso

COMPASS ROSE RESTAURANT AND BAR Caribbean. Waterfront dining overlooking Tom’s Bayou. The cuisine is coastal with a Caribbean-West Indies flair. Enjoy Happy Hour, daily specials and Sunday brunch. Tue–Thur 11 a.m.–9 p.m.,Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat 4–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 303 Glen Ave., 850-389-2125. $$ L D

BEST WINGS

ONE 20 A MODERN BISTRO ★ American. Modern American cuisine specializing in seafood, steaks and local fresh produce. Lunch Tue–Fri 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner Tue–Sat 5–9 p.m., Brunch Sun 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Closed Monday. 120 Partin Drive North, Niceville, 850-729-2120. $$ B L D PEPITOS ★ Mexican. Locals love the authentic Mexican cuisine, margaritas and all-day Monday Happy Hour special. Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 4585 E Hwy 20, Suite 100, Niceville, 850-279-4949. $$ L D TRADEWINDS Italian. A cozy favorite among locals serving heaping portions from old family recipes. Enjoy a number of pasta variations as well as seafood, chicken, veal, steak and thin crust pizza. Expansive wine and beer list.

Reservations required. Open Tue–Sat 5 p.m. 205 Government St., 850-678-8299. $$ D EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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75 Sugar Cove Rd • 850.420.4566 • SweetHenriettas.com

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dining

Santa Rosa Beach

BASMATI’S ASIAN CUISINE & SUSHI Asian. Asian dishes and full sushi bar. Open 4 p.m. daily. 3295 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-3028. $$ D CAFÉ TANGO American. Seafood, poultry and pasta served with specialty sauces.Homemade desserts. Open Tue–Sun 5–10 p.m. 14 Vicki St., 850-267-0054. $$$ D FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT Continental. Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair: tuna, crab cakes, shrimp and scallops. 5:30–10 p.m. daily. Located in the WaterColor Inn, 850-534-5050. $$$ D LOUIS LOUIS American. The only thing that isn’t over the top at Louis Louis is the menu pricing. The Moulin Rouge-inspired interior décor is outrageously wonderful. Dine outside or in. The menu has six tasty items, including crab cakes, panned chicken, blackened fish and a few pastas. Mon–Sun 5–10 p.m. 35 Mussett Bayou Rd., 850-267-1500. $ D THE MARIGNY Creole. Enjoy authentic New Orleans-style cooking inside at linen covered tables or poolside on the covered patio lounge. Serving lunch and dinner daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Enjoy the bar until midnight. 306 Bald Eagle Drive, 850-622-9101. $ L D VKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE & SUSHI BAR Asian. Using the freshest ingredients this Japanese gem serves up tasty Hibachi-style stir-fry meals of steak, seafood and chicken prepared at your table as well as artfully prepared sashimi and sushi rolls. Open daily.

Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Dinner 4:30–9:30 p.m. 4552 Highway 98, Santa Rosa Beach, 850-267-2555. $$ L D VUE ON 30A American. Seafood, beef, poultry, lamb, veal, pastas, soups and bisques.

Open Tues–Fri 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Wed–Sat 5–9 p.m. 4801 W. Hwy. 30A, 850-267-2305. $$ L D

Seaside & Seagrove Beach

2008 - Best Italian 2009 - Best Pizza 2010 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2011 - Best Pizza, Best Italian & Best Chef 2012 - Best Italian 2013 - Best Pizza & Best Walton Restaurant

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

fatclemenzas.com 850.650.5980 Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach

ANGELINA’S PIZZA & PASTA Italian. Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. 4005 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2500. $ L D BUD & ALLEY’S RESTAURANT American. A pioneer of farm- and sea-to-table dining serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Famous bell ringing tradition with Happy Hour specials daily at sunset overlooking the Gulf. Open 11:30 a.m. Mon–Fri. Roof bar open 11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. in summer. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-5900. $$$ L D CAFÉ THIRTY-A Seafood. Seafood, lamb, duck, filet mignon and pizza. Open daily 5 p.m.

3899 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-2166. $$ D CRUSH American. Crush features an extensive wine menu, sushi and small plates. Open daily for lunch and dinner, noon–10 p.m. 25 Central Sq., 850-468-0703. $$ L D GREAT SOUTHERN CAFÉ Southern. Jim Shirley serves up Southern comfort food with a twist.

Open daily for breakfast 8–11 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.–4 p.m., dinner 4–11:30 p.m.

83 Central Sq., 850-231-7327. $$ B L D LA BOTANA Tapas. Small plates of Latin-inspired cuisine served in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Wine bar. Lunch and dinner Mon–Fri 4–11 p.m., Sat–Sun 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 4281 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-0716. $$ L D LA COCINA MEXICAN GRILL & BAR Mexican. Traditional Tex-Mex with a coastal twist. Open daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Bar open until 10 p.m. 10343 E. Hwy. 30A, 850-231-4021. $$ L D OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE AND BAR Seafood. Rustic seafood restaurant featuring a new take on old seafood favorites. Full bar. Dinner daily 5 p.m. 5235 Hwy. 30A, 850-534-3045. $$ D V SEAGROVE RESTAURANT Seafood. Chef David Cunningham serves up fresh seafood and produce that is locally sourced in a resort casual atmosphere. Open Tue–Sat at 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. 2743 E. County Highway 30A, Seagrove, 850-468-0973. $$$ D SEAGROVE VILLAGE MARKET CAFÉ Steak and Seafood. Enjoy surf-and-turf and a glass of wine, then shop for gifts and souvenirs in the adjacent gift shop. Open 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. daily. 3004 S. County Rd. 395, 850-231-5736. $$ L D ec EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM August–September 2014

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the last word

Fly Little Birds

PARTING IS SUCH BITTERSWEET SORROW FOR THIS EMPTY NESTER

a

fter giving birth to the first of my two daughters, I remember thinking, “This is why I have been put on earth — to procreate and be a mother.” Boy, those endorphins are dangerous chemicals. There is no way to explain the feeling of pure joy and contentment that comes with becoming a parent, quickly followed by 18 to 60 years of worry, aggravation, pride, love and consternation.

I’m in years 25 and 20 of co-parenting two daughters, and I’m pretty sure the smug “I told you so” years are just around the corner. For the sake of pseudo-anonymity, I will refer to my girls as “daughter No. 1” and “daughter No. 2.” Anyone who knows us will appreciate the “No. 2” reference since bodily functions have been the cornerstone of so many Brady laugh-till-you-cry moments. We are not a proud people.

Much to my astonishment, my husband of 27 years and I are on the precipice of becoming “empty nesters.”

With one daughter graduated from college and working in a professional capacity and daughter No. 2 (snicker, snicker) starting her third year of college, we find ourselves contemplating our lives untethered by daily parental obligations. Caribbean vacations! Time for workouts! Long walks on the beach! A naked room! Okay, we can scratch at least one of those bucket list items.

I remember only five short years ago, the husband and I dropping off No. 1 in front of her dorm at FSU. Intellectually, I completely understood this rite of passage and implications. I felt emotionally prepared and kept the process upbeat and nonchalant. The day of the drop-off was dark and windy as a tropical storm approached. It was hard not to consider this as some kind foreshadowing as the unstable weather bore down on us.

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We all kept it together in the car as we pulled up to the dorm drop off point and then the skies opened up.

And by skies, I mean the three of us — father, mother and daughter — began bawling like babies. As we got out of the car I tried to offer words of encouragement through my blubbering, but all we could do was hug and sob. I probably would have been embarrassed had it not been for the compassionate nods and clucks of understanding from the other moms and dads.

Thank goodness for Skype. We Skyped No.1 as soon as we got home to Destin and we all felt better, tears dried.

Two years ago, with No. 2, the drop off in St. Augustine was not so dramatic since we had been through it once before. The college transition for No. 2 was a bit bumpy and I waivered for a moment, but she quickly found her groove and all was well with our “baby.” Now, the husband and I enjoy driving over to Flagler, ostensibly to visit No. 2, and then making a weekend of it.

With daughter No. 1 getting ready to fly the coop to have her own place and daughter No. 2 attending summer school and two more years of school, the hubby and I find ourselves contemplating our home without the kids. Based on preliminary testing, the house is much quieter and the remotes remain where I left them. Dirty glasses are not on the countertops and flip flops are not strewn about. When folding laundry, the husband is not furrowing his brow contemplating the designated purpose of the colorful string of material in his hands. The grocery bill is much less, and there is no longer the daily ceremonial moving of the cars in the driveway.

It’s bittersweet, and it is as it should be. And now, about that trip to the Virgin Islands … ec

ILLUSTRATION BY FELIX OLIHA

BY STACEY MAY BRADY