Tallahassee Magazine March/April 2011

TALLAHASSEE Volume 33 Number 2 THE DREAM TEAM

The Dream Team

In their first year as the First Couple, Eric & Molly Barron make friends, raise funds and brag about Florida State

The Animal Shelter’s Quest to Save Lives Wins Kudos The Story of the ‘New’ Capitol, 40 Years Later MARCH-APRIL 2011

Passover’s Seder is a Meal With Meaning Manufacturers Roll Out 2011’s Home Innovations

$3.95

MAR-APR 2011

www.tallahasseemagazine.com A product of Rowland Publishing, Inc.

It’s a Man (and Woman) Hunt. '%&&

4/03).',%3 / & 4 ! , , ! ( ! 3 3 % %

We’re searching for Tallahassee’s most eligible singles. And it’s all up to the readers of Tallahassee Magazine.

Nominate your favorite single at tallahasseetopsingles.com Don’t wait! The nomination deadline is April 15th.

For sponsorship opportunities or more information, contact McKenzie Burleigh at 878-0554 or mburleigh@rowlandpublishing.com.

S P O N S O R E D

B Y

P R E S E N T E D

B Y

Tallahassee

5

6

March–April 2011

March/April 2011

62

TWO FOR ONE FSU got an alumnus, an academic and a proven fundraiser when it hired Eric Barron as its 14th president.

And a bonus in First Lady Molly Barron.

76

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

Reporter Lilly Rockwell explores the decision-making process 40 years ago that led to the design and construction of Florida’s oftmaligned modern Capitol building.

IN THIS ISSUE

Organizers let us know “What’s Cookin’?” for the 43rd Springtime Tallahassee celebration in this special section.

Photo by scott holstein

68

FOR THE ANIMALS

In just a few years, the Animal Service Center has evolved from a controversial and dysfunctional municipal shelter to an award-winning facility that engages the community while serving the region’s companion animals.

ON THE COVER

Friendly and approachable, Eric and Molly Barron invite us into their “official” home to reflect on his first year as FSU’s president. Photo by Scott Holstein.

tallahassee

7

contents In Every Issue

Events

Mind & Body

A bit of the Baroque makes an appearance at The Brogan.

These specs are specially made for office workers.

39 SPOTLIGHT

13 From the Publisher 15 From the Editor 16 Letters to the Editor 146 The Last Word

138

116

86

125 IN FOCUS

40 CALENDAR

126 HEALTH

Quick Reads

March and April mean it’s time for Springtime Tallahassee and so much more.

Teaching the joy of bike riding.

55 SOCIAL STUDIES

Dining

19 ONE TO WATCH

Check to see if you’ve been seen on the scene.

20 GEN NEXT

FSUS students hop (and skip) aboard the Walking School Bus.

22 HOW TO

Dealing with dirty screens and keyboards.

Departments 26 EDITOR’S CHOICE

Corinne Mathis volunteers to make Red Hills’ cross country course a thing of beauty.

34 ARTS & CULTURE

Learn how to separate your oeuvres from your auteurs at the Tallahassee Film Festival.

86 TRAVEL

Enjoy the Southern delights of Thomasville and Washington County.

8

March–April 2011

133 FIRST COURSE

Home & Garden

Yummy, yummy, yummy, put some hummus in your tummy.

Mad Dog Construction, how does your roof garden grow?

For Jews, Passover’s Seder is a meal with a story on the side.

115 CHECK IT OUT

134 FLAVOR

116 HABITAT

138 DINING GUIDE

Building is in a funk, but there are plenty of new and exciting products for the home in 2011.

30 ON THE MOVE

You’re never too old to compete in Tallahassee’s Senior Games.

How today’s tech could be affecting the health of the millenial generation.

» 22

A taste-full guide to eating out around town.

Photos by Ana Goni-Lessan, Scott Holstein and courtesy Dana Haynes and Formica

20

tallahassee

9

March–April 2011

Vol. 33, No. 2

Publisher Brian E. Rowland Editor Rosanne Dunkelberger

designer Saige Roberts Staff Writers Jason Dehart, Lilly Rockwell Contributing Writers Tony Bridges, Ana GoniLessan, Angela Howard, Ashley Kahn, Tisha Keller, Linda Kleindienst, Trish Higgins Kurowski, Antonio Rosado, Adam Wright STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Scott Holstein

Editorial Interns Brittany Barriner, Holly Brooks, Ana Goni-Lessan, Terrika Mitchell, Bianca Salvant, Janeen Talbott traffic coordinator Caroline Conway

Sales Executives Lori Magee, Linda Powell Online tallahasseemagazine.com twitter.com/tallahasseemag facebook.com/tallahasseemag

President Brian E. Rowland

Director of Lisa Carey Publishing operations

Creative Director Lawrence Davidson

Production DIRECTOR Melinda Lanigan

Director of Linda Kleindienst Editorial Services

Manager of Finance Angela Cundiff HR/Administration Client Service Caroline Conway Representative Manager of Daniel Parisi Integrated Sales

Administrator of McKenzie Burleigh Sales/Events Assistant Saige Roberts

Creative Director Production Coordinator Carlin Trammel

senior designer Tisha Keller Graphic Designers Beth Nabi, Marc Thomas, Daniel Vitter Receptionist Lisa Sostre

Network Administrator Daniel Vitter

Web Site rowlandpublishing.com

Tallahassee Magazine is published bimonthly by Rowland Publishing, Inc. 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. 850/878-0554.

Tallahassee Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned.

Tallahassee Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Copyright March 2011 Tallahassee Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Partners of Visit Tallahassee and Member, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and Florida Magazine Association.

one-year Subscription $24.95 (SIx issues) (850) 878-0554 Tallahassee Magazine can be purchased at Borders Books, Barnes & Noble, Costco, Books-A-Million, Walgreens and at our Miccosukee Road office.

10

March–April 2011

Proud member Florida Magazine Association and Florida Press Association

If you EVER needed a superhero ... the time is now!

Ketcham Realty Group 850.681.0600 Patti E. Ketcham, FL/GA Broker, CRS, GRI, ePro, Leah Chapin, GRI, CLG, Janice C. Hagler, SRES, GREEN, CLG, Karen Blankenship, Gail Mobley-Loveless, Carol Waugh, Courtney Roberts, Linda Fohl, Robby Turner, GRI, Joan V. Stallings, MBA

Still Standing ‌for TRUTH, JUSTICE, and the AMERICAN DREAM!!!!

12

March–April 2011

From the Publisher

PHOTO by David eggleston

During Economic Recovery, It’s All About Your Brand I recently came to the stark realization that I am guilty of not practicing what I have advised others over the past several decades — the value of promoting a corporate brand from the perspective of shortand long-term benefits.

It happened recently during a conversation with locally based political consultant Gary Yordon.

When I asked his impression of Rowland Publishing and what we do, his first thought was to mention Tallahassee Magazine. After that, he had little concept of all we do as a regional publishing company.

Sitting at his conference table, I laid out examples of our proprietary magazines — 850, Emerald Coast and Bay Life. Then I added five resort and visitor publications we produce, along with more than a dozen other titles we publish for the public and private sector.

Yordon was visibly stunned by the range of our work. Then he admonished me for doing such a poor job of branding my own firm. Based on his reaction, I realized that many other decision makers in Northwest Florida probably also do not know the depth of the services provided by Rowland Publishing.

Ironically, our sales reps hit the road each day, spreading the word to local businesses about using our publications to promote their brand through advertising. But we have not done a very good job for ourselves.

A majority of our revenue is derived from advertising sales in the business and consumer magazines owned by Rowland Publishing. And a significant amount comes from a host of publication, design and management projects that we produce on contract. This is the side of the business that we haven’t done a good job of branding, outside of the small network of professionals we work with on a regular basis.

This fact was further reinforced recently when I left samples of our work with a prospective contract client. When I called to follow up, she told me she is completely satisfied with her printer. (We are not a printing facility — there is a huge difference between a publisher and a printer.) And this reinforced the fact that we have a brand perception problem.

So I’ve decided that the time is right for us to embark on a well-orchestrated branding campaign of our own.

So now, in our magazines, Rowland Publishing has embarked

on an educational and marketing campaign to build an increased awareness of our brand and our ability to produce complex printing and graphic projects ranging from annual reports to catalogs to proprietary corporate publications.

A company’s brand is a critical component of its long-term success, especially as the economy begins to transition out of recession into recovery. National businesses that have invested billions to establish well-recognized brands will be the first in line to reap the benefits as we enter more stable financial times.

Think about Nike, Mercedes, Apple, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines, Hilton, Calvin Klein, Levi’s and BMW. On a regional basis, successful branding has been accomplished by Proctor Honda/ Acura, Regions Bank, Hotel Duval, Gem Collection, Florida Commerce Credit Union and SouthWood.

Here’s a simple analogy I hope will bring this home for you.

Most people work a lifetime to establish their own personal brand — from the clothes they wear, to the neighborhood and house they live in, to their clubs and churches and the friends they gravitate toward. Much of what they do is driven by the thought of how they want others to perceive them. The business you own or lead deserves the same amount of thought, care and investment.

The bottom line is this: It’s all about creating an image for the product you sell and how good you will feel about yourself by investing in it. It all begins and ends with your brand.

This may also be a good time for you to think about your own company’s brand. The 16-county marketplace of Northwest Florida will begin changing dramatically over the next decade.

More competition will be arriving, trying to steal your market share. But having an established brand with a loyal following may be the key to maintaining and increasing your share of the market.

It is never too late to begin developing and nurturing your brand. It will be critical to your long-term success.

Brian Rowland, Publisher

tallahassee

13

14

March–April 2011

From the Editor

PHOTO by David eggleston

For the Love of Animals For most of our going-on-30-years of married life, my husband and I have had a critter in the house.

At first, it was a little white Maltese dog I brought home “on approval” who ended up being with us for 16 years. His name was Wrigley, which started our tradition of naming pets for historic ball yards.

When we were contemplating starting a family, my mom gave her approval by noting “well, you’ve done a pretty good job with Wrigley.” He would be the only Dunkelberger animal in the house for several years, and we put ourselves firmly in the column of “dog people” during that time.

But we had a daughter who talked about cats, drew pictures of cats and begged — relentlessly — for a cat, until we finally took the plunge when she was about five. We ended up with a tuxedo kitten that had been abandoned in front of our veterinarian’s office and was so tiny it could actually walk under Wrigley.

Cats have come and (sadly) gone in our home, but that little kitty Cammie (short for Camden Yard) is still with us, the grand dame of the household who’s pushing 15 and spends most of her time warming up her old bones on top of the DVR. Mary (the daughter) was a member of the Animal Services Center’s Pet Partners group as a tween and spent many a Saturday there sprucing up the pups and socializing with the cats. Later on, we would volunteer to foster little kittens for the Leon County Humane Society — basically playing with them at home until they were adopted. (Mary left home for college, but I’ve still got four foster cats in the house right now. Go to petfinder.com and look for Rome, Asia, India and Sandy.) People always ask me if it’s hard to give up my fosters, but it’s not because all have gone on to loving homes.

All of this is the long way of getting around to telling you of my great respect for the people whose job it is to take care of animals, particularly at the Animal Service Center. They are required to take all comers — the sick, the wild, the unwanted, the abused — and find them homes or — and this is heartbreaking — give them a peaceful death.

In writing the feature story about the ASC, I was heartened when speaking with those affiliated with the shelter. They were so positive and enthused about their recent successes. But their job will never be over until we take responsibility for spaying, neutering, microchipping and caring for our pets and other CATNAPPIN’ After a morning of eating, chasing, animals in the community. sunbathing, tussling and aggravating the humans Please consider opening your and older felines in the house, year-old foster home, your heart and your wallet kittens India, Rome and Asia take a snooze. to help.

Rosanne Dunkelberger rdunkelberger@rowlandpublishing.com tallahassee

15

Letters to the Editor

DO THE MATH I applaud the recent article in Tallahassee Magazine (January/February issue) regarding Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in Florida. Pertussis is the most common vaccine-preventable disease in American children under the age of 5.

The statistics cited in the article, however, were incorrect. The true percentages are actually even higher. The author states that Pertussis cases reported (probable and confirmed) increased by 33 percent from 2007 to 2008 and 61 percent from 2006 to 2008.

The correct percent increases are 48.8 percent from 2007 to 2008 (211 to 314) and 159.5 percent from 2006 to 2009 (121 to 314). Also note that prior to 2007, the data the author cites includes only confirmed cases. This means data prior to 2007 may not be exactly comparable to data from 2007 and forward.

Readers may also be interested to know that there were 497 probable and confirmed cases reported in 2009. This represents a more than 58 percent increase from 2008.

Chris Keller Office of Health Statistics and Assessment, Florida Department of Health I just want to thank you for the support that Rowland Publishing has given the Junior League. Your support has allowed us to increase our image in a positive way in the community. I look forward to the League continuing to work with you in the future.

Thank you, Angela Tilton Treasurer Elect, Junior League of Tallahassee Do you have something to say?

If you have a comment about or correction to Tallahassee Magazine, send a message to editorial@rowlandpublishing.com or 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

16

March–April 2011

tallahassee

17

18

March–April 2011

QUICK READS people | items | places

Photo Ana Goni-Lessan

One to watch

» TEACHING KIDS THE RIGHT WAY TO BIKE

Ken Foster has ridden bicycles his whole life. But it wasn’t until he started a bike rental company at the head of the St. Marks Trail in the late ’80s that he realized his passion.

“That’s where I discovered I enjoyed teaching people how to ride and introducing people to the sport,” Foster said.

In February 2010, he founded Bicycle Tallahassee (bicycletallahassee.com), a nonprofit organization aimed at teaching children how to mountain bike.

Foster first thought of the idea during a Stomp Out Type 2 Diabetes event, when

he noticed children and parents were illequipped. “The kids loved to ride, but often their equipment wasn’t working or wasn’t the right size,” Foster said.

With donations and a Florida Department of Transportation grant, Foster and his staff have visited three elementary schools to teach third through fifth graders the importance of bike safety during physical education class. Even though they’ve had approximately 1,000 participants, Foster is ready to think bigger. He hopes to buy two more trailers and hire two more staffers. “I would like to be at

three schools every month,” he said.

Classes during the first two weeks are held inside. After learning basic safety skills, the children are outfitted with helmets and bikes and taught how to use those skills on the blacktop. For graduation, the Tallahassee Police Department bike squad escorts the children on a real neighborhood bike ride.

“I think it’s really cool that they’re outside,” he said. “They’re not talking about how it’s done, they’re cruising around. And they love it.” — Ana Goni-Lessan

tallahassee

19

QUICK READS generation next

Student Power ‘Drives’ the Walking School Bus at FSUS

MyKey for Safe Teen Driving

The key to safer teen driving may lie in Ford’s innovative MyKey technology. Designed to encourage good driving habits, MyKey is a programmable key that can limit a vehicle’s top speed and radio volume as well as promoting safety belt usage by muting the radio until front-seat occupants buckle up.

The latest version of MyKey, which is standard equipment in most Ford vehicles, also allows parents to block explicit satellite radio content in the vehicle. In a poll conducted

by Penn, Schoen & Berland, more than half of parents said they would allow their teens to use the family vehicle more often if it were equipped with MyKey. — Holly Brooks

By Ana Goni-Lessan

20

March–April 2011

“They were just exhilarated by it, and that got people excited about the first walk,” Spillias said. She believes it creates a good atmosphere where the children can interact before school starts. “They like carrying their backpacks to school and walking hand and hand with their friends,” she said.

However, the cold months caused numbers to dwindle. Only 30 people showed up the second time, and 15 the time after that. “I foresee in the spring that a lot of parents will drop their children off,” she said.

The group leaves a little after 7:30 a.m. and walks along the sidewalk to school. Parent volunteers hold up special stop signs when it’s time to cross an intersection. By the time the children reach the outside of campus and meet up with the school’s crossing guards, they’re crosswalk pros.

School starts at 8, and the group arrives with a few minutes to spare. As the first bell rings, parents hug and kiss their children and say their goodbyes.

Kurt Hammon said his children, 8-year-old Caroline and 5-year-old Will, love the new program.

A resident of SouthWood, he believes walking is a good alternative to riding in personal cars to get to school. “It’s a fun way to encourage exercise, and the kids enjoy doing it with their friends,” he said.

Children and volunteers who participate in the walk to school are provided with yellow safety vests and stop signs. “I like wearing

A New Way to Plan Trips

Forget travel agents — why not let the kids take the reins when it comes to planning your next vacation? Haven Books is launching a series of travel guidebooks for kids ages 7 to 14. The kidsGo! series of pocket travel guides are based on recommendations by residents and well-traveled children. The guides feature fast facts, basic foreign phrases, things to spot and tidbits of history and culture.

KidsGo! guides get kids engaged in planning trips and interested in learning about new places. The kidsGo! series launches its first six guidebooks this spring, along with its website, kidsgotravelguides.com.

— Holly Brooks

the vests ... because I think it’s cool,” said Hammon’s daughter Caroline, an FSUS third grader. She and her friends talk about the program at school, and she looks forward to it every month.

On that cold January morning, Spillias considered canceling the walk and having everyone pile into a minivan to ride to school.

But when four energetic children bundled in winter coats come skipping to the rest of the group, she didn’t think twice and the “bus” was strolling along.

Photo by Ana Goni-Lessan

I

t takes about 15 minutes to walk to Florida State University School from the SouthWood Town Center.

Less if you’re skipping.

Just ask the kids who participate in the school’s Walking School Bus, a program that allows students to meet up and walk to school one Wednesday each month.

On a cold winter morning, eight children and six parent volunteers gather in a parking lot behind the Town Center. Children excitedly jump out of their cars and huddle together, ready to begin their walk to school, even though it’s literally freezing at 32 degrees.

Last year, one of the recommendations to come out of the school’s safe route to school workshop was to increase the number of students walking to school to lower the number of cars dropping children off, said Robin Spillias, president of the Parent Teacher Student Association. FSUS is a commuter school, and it does not have a busing system, so traffic congestion in the morning can be a problem.

The program encourages the 50 to 60 students who live in SouthWood to walk or bike to school and also allows for children who live outside of the neighborhood to get the walking-to-school experience.

Children can be dropped off at a designated spot away from campus. From there, with parent volunteers, the group walks the rest of the way. About 90 people joined in on the first walk in November.

tallahassee

21

QUICK READS how to

Clean Your Computer

B

ack when computers filled entire rooms, “bugs” were literally pesky insects. And if they got into the system, somebody had to literally dig amongst the endless wires and vacuum tubes to actually remove the little rascals.

Nowadays, the big problem computer hardware faces is people. We eat, drink, cough and sneeze all over our workstations — and computers bear the brunt of this abuse. We spill drinks on the keyboard, get cookie crumbles in the crevices, and if we read a funny e-mail we may spew coffee all over the monitor.

All of this mayhem is balanced by the fact that personal computers are small enough to be cleaned more easily than their gigantic predecessors. Well-maintained hardware keeps the machine in good working order, and a clean exterior prevents the spread of germs.

Personal computers come in two configurations — desktop and laptop. Their designs, and the environment in which they are used (dusty or clean), have an impact on how thoroughly and how often they should be cleaned. Regardless, they both generate

22

March–April 2011

heat that can warp critical components, and removing dust and lint from cooling vents and fans should be part of your cleaning regimen.

Before doing anything, be sure to read the owner’s manual regarding cleaning and have the following tools on hand: a soft cloth, water or rubbing alcohol, cotton or foam swabs, a portable vacuum and compressed air. Be sure to turn the machine off before doing anything and, if it’s a desktop computer, unplug any peripheral devices such as the mouse and keyboard.

Never spray any kind of liquid directly onto or into any computer parts. The easiest thing you can do is take a soft, damp, lint-free cloth and wipe down the exterior case and monitor of whatever device you have. Once it’s all sparkly, work on the small things.

Blow out dust and debris from the keyboard with a can of compressed air, or you can use a specialized portable vacuum to suck it up.

But check for loose keys before doing that.

If you’ve spilled something on your desktop computer’s keyboard, turn everything off right away and unplug the keyboard. Turn it upside down and give it a good shake, and while it’s upside down use a cloth to wipe off

the places you can easily reach. Once that’s done, leave it upside down to dry overnight, then clean up anything left behind. Cleaning a spill on a laptop is a different matter, because many laptop keyboards can’t be removed completely. If it’s a bad spill and the basic wipe-up doesn’t work, you might have to have it professionally repaired.

Speaking of keys, it might be a good idea to disinfect them. Wipe them down using a germ-killing cloth. Meanwhile, cotton swabs dipped in alcohol can be used to wipe dirt away from those hard-to-reach places between the keys, as well as the mouse and input/output ports. Don’t overlook the touchpad on your laptop; wiping it off with a damp cloth can improve its responsiveness.

Once the external areas are shined up, turn your attention to the computer’s cooling vents. These should be cleaned from the outside using a cloth or vacuum. Care should be taken when using compressed air to clean cooling fans, however. Smaller fans like those found in laptops should be fixed in place with either toothpicks or swabs to prevent spinning, which could cause damage.

For more helpful tips, go to computerhope. com or ehow.com

Photo by Scott Holstein

Don’t Let Dust Bunnies Ruin Your Valuable Investment By Jason Dehart

CREATING CONNECTIONS WHILE THE TITLE OF THEIR NEW publication was “Unconquered,” the Seminole Boosters were stymied by the challenges of producing a quarterly, glossy, 84-plus-page magazine with just one in-house graphic designer.

“We weren’t making deadlines,” said Jerry Kutz, the Boosters’ vice president of marketing and communications. “We’d get bottlenecked.”

Kutz said he approached Rowland Publishing in early 2009 because of the company’s reputation for creating quality publications on time. He also appreciated the publishing experience of owner Brian Rowland. “He’s a good consultant who can translate what I want into what I like,” Kutz said.

Since the collaboration began, Rowland Publishing has provided project management, design and editorial review services for seven issues of “Unconquered.” In addition to graphic designers refining the magazine’s look, seasoned editors from Rowland were able to make edits to the stories provided by the Boosters’ staff. “They like having that extra set of experienced eyes to look at them,” said Rowland Creative Director Lawrence Davidson.

Rowland’s services allow the Boosters to include timely information in their magazine. Most recently, stories about new recruits were included in an issue that went to press just five days after National Signing Day. “When needed, it’s all hands on deck to get the project done,” Kutz said. “Rowland people are easy to work with and they keep you on pace.”

“Unconquered” is sent to about 15,000 Seminole Boosters and also is used as a marketing and promotional tool. “The magazine is like having four brochures a year,” Kutz said. “The layout and design is

“Rowland people are easy to work with and they keep you on pace.”

Jerry Kutz, Seminole Boosters vice president of marketing and communications

tied to our marketing plan.” ■

At Rowland Publishing, we think one of our best attributes is the innate art to listen, understand and then produce what the client wants. Our creative solutions will showcase your business without straining your budget. Call (850) 878-0554 or visit rowlandpublishing.com today.

CREATIVE. PRINT. SOLUTIONS.™ tallahassee

23

2011 Tallahassee Top Salon Event Sells Out!

P R E S E N T I N G S P O N S O R R U S S E L L B . R A I N E Y, D . M . D .

TOP SALON 2011: Green Peridot MODEL: Tracy Brown CHARITY: The Oasis Center for Women and Girls PRESENTING SPONSOR:

Thank you for making Tallahassee’s Top Salon Event a success!

All clothing provided by Divas & Devils House of Style PRESENTED BY:

24

March–April 2011

Judges: Larry Prada, Marsha Doll, Dr. Russell B. Rainey, Jane Marks

Lifetime Achievement Award 2011: Mary Fannin

Editor’s Choice

IF YOU GO

Red Hills Horse Trials Fri.–Sun., March 11–13 Elinor Klapp Phipps Park Suggested donation: $15 per day or $25 for a three-day pass, children under 12, free Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 8 a.m.–until on Sun. Friday: Dressage Saturday: Cross Country Sunday: Stadium Jumping

Volunteer Corinne Mathis Brings Beauty and Whimsy to the Jumps at Red Hills Horse Trials By Trish Higgins Kurowski

W

hen Corinne Mathis assembles a list of items she needs for the upcoming Red Hills Horse Trials March 11– 13, it won’t include hay or oats or blankets or currycombs. Instead, it looks something like this: » Stuffed chickens » Large inflatable bugs » Bowling balls » A porcelain toilet » Three huge stuffed bears » Plants. Hundred and hundreds of plants.

As the volunteer jump “dresser” for the horse trials, Mathis is always on the lookout for unusual objects to add color and character to the various jumps on the cross country course.

“The bowling balls make perfect cannon balls, and the chickens can be used anywhere. You just staple their feet to the fence,” she says matter-of-factly.

26

March–April 2011

Sure, it’s an odd job — with the even odder name of “titivation” — but somebody’s gotta do it. And according to Hugh Lochore, principal designer and builder of the Red Hills cross country course, nobody does it better than Corinne Mathis.

“I probably don’t tell her often enough, but we couldn’t do this without her,” he says. “She is an absolutely superb jump dresser.”

But to hear Mathis tell it, she has little or no qualifications for the job other than an earnest desire to help and a spirit that is willing even when the flesh … doesn’t exactly have a green thumb.

“I’m not a plant person at all,” says Mathis, a retired labor union coordinator. “I don’t have a background in riding, though my daughter used to ride and compete, and I don’t know a thing about gardening. I just wanted to volunteer because I thought it would be fun.” So 14 years ago she joined the Red Hills team as a jump

judge and was drafted as a jump dresser seven years later, when the previous volunteer who filled that role left.

“We give her a very tiny budget,” says Lochore, “and she goes out to all the nurseries around town and borrows hundreds and hundreds of plants and flowers. She’s just amazing!”

And resilient. During her tenure as course decorator, Mathis has fought several battles with skin and breast cancer.

This past October, she underwent another round of aggressive surgery and treatment for a rare form of skin cancer. But, she’s still planning to be at her post when it’s time to get to work.

Photo by Scott Holstein

The Dresser

In addition to the competitions, the event includes a multitude of activities, including food vendors, shopping, environmental and educational exhibits, and a kids’ fun area. You can bring your own food and nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy during the event. Dogs can disturb the horses and you are encouraged to leave them at home. If you do bring a dog, it must be leashed at all times. Please remember there are no permanent facilities and the venue includes rough terrain. Accommodations can be made for people with disabilities. For more information visit rhht.org.

Making Pretty One of hundreds of volunteers at the Red Hills Horse Trials, Corinne Mathis is tasked with “titivating” the jumps on the cross country course.

“My job doesn’t really kick in until the end of January after all the jumps are built,” she says. “And I really do feel like I’ve beaten the cancer this time.”

But even before those jumps are finished, Mathis will walk the course several times with Lochore to get a sense of what he is trying to do at each site.

“I often draw from local history and natural elements when I design a jump,” says Lochore. Hence the “Semi-knoll” jump, which Mathis complements with garnet and gold flowers. The chicken-coop jump is adorned with … stapled chickens, of course. And one of the more fanciful jumps is an 8-foot-wide picnic table featuring three huge, stuffed bears enjoying a leisurely picnic lunch. “I have a lot of fun with that one,” Mathis laughs.

But, before she gets to the point where she can “glam up” the jumps, she has to spend hours on the course taking notes, measuring heights and widths, and conferring with Lochore about safety requirements and aesthetics.

“Then I spend a lot of time riding around the nurseries looking at different plants and shrubs, trying to imagine what might work at the various jumps.”

Though she is given almost free rein to be creative, her design goals go beyond fashioning a picture-perfect site. “I design for the spectators, but mostly I design for the horses,” she says. “If there’s a ditch on the other side, I’ll put a 6-foot-tall tree there to divert the horse, or I’ll fill in the space under a fence because the horses are not supposed to be able to see daylight under it.”

The exciting cross country competition is the highlight of Red Hills Horse Trial’s second day. This “off road” event tests the endurance of horses and riders as they dash through fields and woodlands hurtling challenging jumps along the way. (The precise movements of dressage are tested on the first day and the more controlled stadium jumping is held on the last day of competition.)

Some jumps require a lot of dressing, while others rely entirely on their natural elements. The water sites are Mathis’ favorites because they are always the biggest and most dramatic jumps to dress.

“It’s very rewarding to make something that’s bare come to life” she says. “But it’s tallahassee

27

Editor’s Choice HIGH PRAISE Cross country course designer Hugh Lochore has this to say about volunteer Corinne Mathis: “I probably don’t tell her often enough, but we couldn’t do this without her.”

also physically exhausting because we only have from Monday (when they deliver all the plants) until Thursday (when the technical delegates arrive) to get the course ready. We literally work from sunup to sundown, in any and all kinds of weather, and usually don’t even break for lunch.”

By “we” Corinne means herself, her retired husband, Cliff, and their grown daughter, Candi Uren. Sometimes another volunteer will pitch in for an hour or so, but for the most part it’s a family affair hauling the plants and props in golf carts to each jump site, then arranging the shrubs and flowers and spreading acre upon acre of pine straw.

“I don’t know how she does it,” says Lochore. She says she couldn’t do it “without the prison work crews.” The crews usually come in on Monday morning to unload plants off the nursery trucks. Every plant is placed in the central staging area and accounted for before Mathis and her “team” begin ferrying them out to the jumps. A few jumps can be dressed in less than an hour, while more complex sites may take two or three hours to get the plants, flowers and prop placement correct. “We’ll spend most of a day working on the main sponsor jump around the pergola,” she says.

Finally, after each jump has been perfectly “dressed,” the flower beds have been covered with pine straw, the chickens have been stapled to the fence, and the judges have finished inspecting the course, she breathes a sigh of relief.

At 5:30 the next morning, while the moon is still hanging over the pines, Mathis (flashlight in hand) is securing stuffed bears at the giant picnic table, checking each jump for signs of nocturnal visitors, and resetting pots blown over during the night. Shortly before the gates open and the Eventing begins, she walks to her assigned jump, and steps back into her original role as a jump judge.

“I just love doing it,” Mathis says.

“It makes me feel, well … sort of important.” n 28

March–April 2011

tallahassee

29

On The Move

Not So Senior After All Age is Just a Number for Senior Games Competitors

I

n the not-to-distant past, the word “senior” conjured up a picture of decrepitude, senility and stodginess.

But look up the antonyms for those words to describe the athletes who participate in Florida’s Senior Games.

There are runners, swimmers, tennis players, discus throwers and others proving that age is just a number.

“The label of senior athlete is becoming easier to deal with because we have some really competitive 50-plus athletes in great shape,” said Nick Gandy of the Florida Sports Foundation, the Tallahassee-based agency that sanctions the Florida Senior Games. “We had a tennis match with two gentlemen in the 90-94 age group, and you 30

March–April 2011

are seeing more competitive athletes in their 80s. There is one lady who is in her 80s and she has won medals in four different age groups. She started in her 60s.”

Florida’s first senior sports competitions came in 1974 when the Golden Age Games were established in Sanford. Since then, Senior Games have taken hold throughout the nation and have continued to grow in popularity as the population continues to age. Bradenton was the site of the first Florida Senior Games State Championships in 1992.

To get involved in the Florida Senior Games, Gandy said you have to attend one of the 18 qualifying events held in cities around the state. Once qualified,

athletes can go on to the state championship games held every December. National senior games are held every other year. Until recently, though, there were no qualifying games in Tallahassee, but that changed in 2010 with the advent of the Capital City Senior Games. The 2011 Capital City Senior Games held in February selected senior athletes who will compete in the 2011 state championship in Polk County.

Tallahassee offered competitions in 16 different sports, including typical Olympic sports such as swimming and track and field, and a few oddities like Pickle Ball. The games are held at various sports venues around the city, Gandy said, which is convenient for local athletes who

Photo by Scott Holstein

By Jason Dehart

Still Competing Rodney Letchworth (left) and Bill Tharpe have earned medals in statewide track and field competition at the Florida Senior Games.

previously had to go to Jacksonville or Gainesville to compete.

“Now, with the local qualifier, there are more people from Tallahassee advancing to the state level,” he said.

Rodney Letchworth said the Senior Games gives him a great excuse to get off the couch and meet people. He’s been involved in the program since 1998, and he only slowed down briefly to mend from triple-bypass heart surgery in 2006.

“I enjoy it, it’s fun,” said the 75-year-old shot put and discus thrower, whose choice of competition harkens back to his Leon High School days. “I’ve won the state meet several times but the competition has gotten stiffer since I had heart surgery. But I’ve improved steadily since 2006.”

Letchworth said discus was his main sport in high school and at FSU. “I enjoyed that one the most,” he said.

Letchworth competed in high school from 1947 to 1953 but “put it down” for nearly 40 years after graduation. After retiring from the Marine Corps and a stint as a stockbroker, the Tallahassee native and his wife settled down in the mountains of North Carolina where, in 1998, he decided to pick up track competition again in the 55-59 age group.

“First year I won the local event qualifier in Franklin, N.C., and then won the state,” he said. “And then I went to the nationals that year at the Disney Sports Complex in Orlando, and got fifth in the nation in discus and 10th in the nation with shot put.”

In 2000, Letchworth and his wife moved back to Tallahassee — but he was disappointed to find that Tallahassee didn’t offer qualifying events for the senior games.

So he wound up going down to Kissimmee to qualify.

“I had to go to Kissimmee, Gainesville, The Villages … I went every place they’d take me to get qualified,” he said.

And then, lo and behold, in 2010 that changed.

“This year was the first time Tallahassee had a senior game,” he said. “It was wonderful. I won both categories here in May (2010). And the neat thing about having them in Tallahassee is for the first time my grandson came out and was in the section rooting for me. I gave him both medals I won that day.” tallahassee

31

On The Move Likewise, fellow Tallahassee competitor Bill Tharpe was glad to learn he could qualify in his hometown for a change.

“I used to go to the one in Gainesville, but (in 2010) they had for the first time a qualifier for track and field in Tallahassee,” said Tharpe, 62, who entered the Florida Senior Games in 2003 when he was 54.

Like Letchworth, Tharpe said the senior games give him a chance to revisit skills learned in his youth that were set aside after high school.

Tharpe found out about the senior games after running in the 100-meter dash during an all-ages track meet at Maclay School in 2003.

“I ran faster than I thought I could run, faster for my age and that inspired me,” he said. “I enjoyed it and looked for other places to run and that’s when I found out about the Senior Games.”

It’s obviously a healthy activity for anyone who likes to compete, he said.

“You also make friends and frequently you’ll see them year after year. That’s always fun,” he said.

Gandy said it’s not unusual for “senior” athletes to hit the track for health reasons.

“You have a lot of people who have been advised by doctors that some sort of physical activity would benefit them and they take up a sport to accomplish that,” he said. “The majority of them are just out to improve themselves. You have the very competitive athletes who want to win

Choose Your Sport Anyone older than 50 can compete to qualify for the Florida Senior Games in 16 different sports. They are: Archery Basketball Billiards Bowling Cycling Golf Horseshoes Pickle Ball Power Lifting 32

March–April 2011

Race Walk Racquetball Road Race Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Track and Field

Photo Courtesy Florida Sports Foundation

Running Man Bill Tharpe crosses the finish line during the 100-meter dash at the Florida Senior Games State Championships Dec. 12 at South Fort Myers High School. He won the gold medal in the 60-64 age group with a time of 14.51.

medals, but others set goals for themselves and just try to improve their performance with every competition they are in.”

There are several age categories in the Florida Senior Games. Starting at 50, they go through four-year increments all the way up to 100-plus.

“You compete against people in your own age group,” Tharpe said. “I’m in the 60-64 age group, but I’ve met some competitors in their 90s. I hope to be doing this when I’m 90. I hope to be in a position where I am physically able to compete in my 70s, 80s and beyond. I think a lot of people would enjoy it if they tried it. A lot don’t think they can do it.”

A lifelong resident of Tallahassee and a lawyer in the state Department of Financial Services, Tharpe said he measures his success by the age group he’s in and the records set there. He set the state record for 100-meter dash for his age group in 2008.

“I would say if anyone enjoys running, in particular running at top speed, then they should look into one of these qualifying meets for senior games,” he said. “And, of course, for someone over 50 you would want to work your way up, perhaps even get clearance from your doctor, but start slow and work up slowly and find other people to train with you.”

Added Letchworth, “I tell you, I couldn’t say enough things about (the games). I’m absolutely ecstatic that we have games in Tallahassee now. The more Tallahassee people we can get interested, the better it will be for all of us involved.”

For more information, go to visittallahassee.com/seniorgames or call the Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department at 891-3866 (FUNN). n tallahassee

33

Arts & Culture

Film Festival 101

Tallahassee Film Festival April 6-10

L

ove movies, but tired of seeing the same old Hollywood schlock at crowded, overpriced theaters?

Then you have a treat coming.

The fourth annual Tallahassee Film Festival begins April 6 and organizers are promising more than 70 cutting-edge indie films — from full-length features to animated shorts — over the course of the four-day event.

Film buffs can pick and choose from a schedule packed with quirky comedies, heartbreaking dramatic narratives and compelling documentaries or, for less than the cost of a dinner for two, have their choice of everything on the program.

And the screenings are just part of it.

When you want to take a break from the visual feast, you can learn about the art of storytelling in seminars and Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, and socialize with industry names at upscale after-parties thrown in some of downtown’s most popular nightspots.

Heck, you might even get to meet a celebrity or two. After all, this year’s event celebrates the 25th anniversary of the black comedy “Something Wild,” which starred Melanie Griffith, Jeff Daniels and Ray Liotta and was largely filmed in Havana and Tallahassee.

34

March–April 2011

Just remember, seats are first-come, first-served, so start planning now to make sure you get the most out of this rich, bigscreen experience.

“You’ve got to sit down and really make a plan,” said Carolyn Smith, the volunteer heading up this year’s festival. “Enjoy everything. Don’t just go to the films.”

Hitting the ground running The Tallahassee Film Festival debuted four years ago as a project of the Knight Creative Communities Initiative.

The volunteer members of KCCI were looking for ways to take advantage of Tallahassee’s unique characteristics to help boost the local economy. As a state capital, home to Florida State University’s respected Film School, and a former location for several high-profile movies, the idea of a film festival just seemed natural.

A staff of volunteers provided the labor — the festival is run as a nonprofit organization — and grants and sponsorships covered the costs.

The first festival was a three-day event held in mid-May 2008, offering a dazzling selection of films, including Werner Herzog’s Antarctica documentary, “Encounters at the End of the World.”

Mark Hinson, a movie critic and senior columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat,

Festival Tips Thinking of attending the 4th Tallahassee Film Festival? Here is how to get the most out of your experience.

1

Buy an all-access pass. It’s only $25 and gets you into all the screenings, seminars, Q&A sessions and parties. Plus, pass holders get priority seating at events.

2

Go to tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

There, you can see film trailers, descriptions and show times for movies you might want to see. You also can get information on seminars and other special events.

3

Write out a schedule to make sure you get to see everything on your list. Remember, while some films will have multiple showings, others will be screened only once.

Photo Courtesy Tallahassee Film Festival

A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying Tallahassee’s Four-Day Homage to Independent Movies By Tony Bridges

Locations: Regal Miracle 5, Florida State University Student Life Center, Florida A&M University, All Saints Cinema Price: $25 for an all-access pass with entry to all events and priority seating; $10 for entry to Opening Night or the Best of Fest Screening on Sunday; $5 for general admission to individual events (tickets go on sale 15 minutes before show time) Website: tallahasseefilmfestival.com

And the Winner is … Film festival-goers gather during the 2010 event to hear the winners announced in several categories, including features, documentaries, shorts and the 48-hour film contests.

said, “they got off the ground pretty fast.

The first year, they kind of surprised everybody.” The second festival was a little weaker, he said, but returned strong last year with a showcase of films by FSU grads.

“They get some really good, kind-ofexperimental stuff,” said Hinson, who serves as a judge for the festival. “They do a pretty good job of getting a sampling of everything.”

Among his favorites of the 2010 film festival: “Special When Lit,” a documentary on the rise and fall of pinball in America; “Taqwacores,” another documentary about the Muslim punk rock scene in Buffalo, N.Y.; and “Medicine for Melancholy,” a love story starring Comedy Central’s Wyatt Cenac and directed by FSU grad Barry Jenkins.

This year is likely to offer more screen gems.

Programming Director Chris Faupel said the festival has received more than 200 entries, the highest number since the festival began. That includes entries from more than 30 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and much of Asia, he said.

“That’s pretty decent for our size festival,” he said.

Films to ‘sink your teeth into’ The 2011 Tallahassee Film Festival opens on a Wednesday night with select pre-event screenings and a party on the 8th floor of the Hotel Duval.

It continues the following night with additional films and is followed by two full days of screenings on Friday and Saturday and the “Best of …” showings on Sunday, which will feature the festival’s winning entries in feature films, shorts, documentaries and other categories.

All together, the festival is expected to screen between 70 and 80 films, split between shorts that typically last 15 minutes or less and feature-length films running an hour or more.

The films will be shown at several venues, including the Regal Miracle 5 theater, the All Saints Cinema, the FSU Student Life Center and Florida A&M University.

Available seating will vary by venue.

Between screenings, the festival will offer seminars with the filmmakers on topics such as screenwriting and editing, and Q&A sessions with the directors of selected festival films.

New!

Proud to offer Brighton Jewelry, Handbags, Wallets & Accessories

Bannerman Crossing behind Chik-fil-A 6668- “Lucky 13” Thomasville Rd. | 850-222-BLUE (2583)

John Wind * Kameleon * La Vie Parisienne * Sorrelli * Tervis Tumblers * Vinyl Art tallahassee

35

Arts & Culture Festival organizers are even trying to get Jonathan Demme, director of “Something Wild,” or Liotta, Griffith, Daniels and other cast members to attend this year as part of the film’s silver anniversary.

The panel discussions, seminars and after-parties are a big draw, said festival chair Smith.

“One of the neat things about a film festival is meeting the people that make the independent films,” she said.

As for specific films on the schedule, the list had not been finalized at press time.

However, Faupel said, “we have a really good mix. It’s pretty well balanced between narrative-type films and documentary films.”

He said last year’s entries were a little darker, including several crime dramas and horror films, while the selection this year leans more toward specialty documentaries and dramatic films about families.

“There will be some stuff this year that people can really sink their teeth into,” Faupel said.

Smith said the key to enjoying the festival is planning ahead to pick the films and events you want to attend. The way to do that is to look on the festival’s website, tallahasseefilmfestival.com, for the program, which should be posted by the first week of March, she said.

“It would be virtually impossible to see every (film),” Faupel said. “Folks will have to pick and choose.”

That’s why the schedule is arranged in “paths,” he said, so attendees can easily pick out the types of events they prefer. For example, if you’re interested in documentaries, the schedule is arranged so you will be able to see almost all of those types of film screened during the festival.

“It makes it more of an engaging experience,” he said.

Tickets for individual events are $5 and go on sale 15 minutes before show time.

Tickets to Opening Night and Sunday’s “Best of …” are $10. The best deal is the all-access pass for $25, which grants entry to all events and priority seating before general admission ticket holders.

Hinson, from the Democrat, said the price is a bargain for someone who wants to check out a film festival.

“I’ve been to Sundance, and you’re not getting in there cheap,” he said. “I think people in general are just kind of scared to take a chance … but I say, for a $25 pass, what the hell?” n 36

March–April 2011

Film Festival Remembers ‘Something Wild’ Tallahassee hit the big time in 1986 when director Jonathan Demme (“Silence of the Lambs”) chose it as a location for his offbeat road comedy.

The movie stars Jeff Daniels as closeted rebel Charlie Driggs and Melanie Griffith as Audrey, an uninhibited oddball who lures Charlie into a weekend road trip to attend her high school reunion.

As they rob a liquor store, run out on restaurant tabs and impersonate a married couple, they’re pursued

by Audrey’s violent, jealous ex-con husband, played by then-newcomer Ray Liotta.

Among the spots used in the movie: the old Apalachee Motor Lodge on Apalachee Parkway, a motel across from Lake Ella that is now the site of the Golden Corral restaurant, Mom & Dad’s Italian Restaurant and downtown Havana.

Locals, including poet David Kirby, also showed up in the film as extras.

This year’s festival will include a special screening of the movie, as well as seminars and panel discussions.

Special Events

48-Hour Contest Held March 18–20. This is a contest for professional and amateur filmmakers. Teams of three to five people are given a line of dialogue and one random prop and must complete a five-minute film incorporating those items within 48 hours. Winning films will be screened during the festival.

Digi Explorers On March 19, middle schoolers selected from area schools will go to Tallahassee Community College to learn how to put together 60-second films from beginning to end, then upload them to Facebook.

tallahassee

37

38

March–April 2011

best

BETS

Photo courtesy Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science

calendar | social studies | charity

SPOTLIGHT

» Baroque at the Brogan

The emotion and passion of Italian Baroque art comes to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science beginning March 18 with the opening of the exhibit “Baroque Painting in Lombardy from the Pinacoteca di Brera.” Fifty paintings worth $32 million from Milan’s Brera museum will be on display — the first time the museum has exported a complete collection outside of Italy. The exhibit, which runs through July 24, features the works of artists who worked in the 16th through 18th centuries, including Daniele

Crespi, Nuvolone, Sofonisba Anguissola and Vincenzo Campi, and is sponsored by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities.

In a unique collaboration, the Brogan is not paying a fee to display the works, but has agreed to finance painstaking restoration work on nine paintings. Anyone can become an arts patron by logging on to baroquepaintings.org to donate.

“Our hope at the moment is that by offering our constituents exhibitions and programs of

such outstanding caliber, people cannot resist,” says Chucha Barber, chief executive officer of the Brogan. “We hope that will keep us alive.”

The exhibit’s unveiling coincides with the kickoff of the museum’s annual Florida Wine Festival fundraising event. Tickets for the exhibit’s opening night are $50. Viewing for the remainder of its showing is free with general museum admission.

For more information, call (850) 513-0700 or visit online at thebrogan.org. — Terrika Mitchell

tallahassee

39

calendar March & April

March 7 ‘The Nutcracker Golf Classic’ Local golfers can showcase their skills at this tournament that benefits the Tallahassee Ballet. Registration is $175 (per person) and $575 (for a team of five). Southwood Golf Club, 3750 Grove Park Drive. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Erin Muire (850) 224-6917 tallahasseeballet.org March 10 Celebrity Ties Auction and Gala “Tie” one on during an evening filled with music, guest appearances, drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres. This gala and auction of celebrity neckties and other autographed memorabilia raises money for the Guardian ad Litem program. $30, $40 at the door.

6–10 p.m. The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, 350 S. Duval St. For tickets, call Brian Sealey at (850) 980-6016. tallyties.org March 11 ‘Share the Journey’ Concert Low Flying Planes, Del Suggs and Sarah Mac Band perform to benefit Big Bend Hospice. $25 for singles, $40 for couples. 8–11 p.m.

American Legion Hall, Lake Ella. Call Laura at (850) 701-1341. lowflyingplanes.com/bbh March 12 Shamrock Scurry This annual event supports Killearn United Methodist Church Mission Outreach. Enjoy a 5K or 1-mile run/walk and then reward yourself with a pancake breakfast afterward.

Registration is $10 and $15. Breakfast only for non-runners, $5. 8 a.m. 1-mile, 8:30 a.m.

5K. 2800 Shamrock South. For more information, call Connie Clarke, (850) 933-2429 or visit shamrockscurry.com March 19 ‘Leading the Way’ Gala Hosted by the Alzheimer’s Project, the gala is a night of dinner, dancing and a silent auction as well as live music for attendees. $75. 6 p.m. University Center Club at Florida State University. Call Karen James at (850) 386-2778. alzheimersproject.org March 19 ‘Vive La France’ Experience the world of live symphonic music with the Tallassee Symphony Orchestra. $10 for K–12 students through the “Pass the Baton” voucher program, $12 for college students with valid ID, $33–$46 for adults.

8 p.m. Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 600 Copeland St. tallahasseesymphony.org 40

March–April 2011

best bet: March 18-19 Florida Wine Festival Art and wine converge at The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science’s Florida Wine Festival fundraising event.

On Friday, participants are invited to enjoy choice wines with foods from area caterers, themed entertainment and a silent auction while enjoying the Baroque at the Brogan exhibit from 7–10 p.m.

Tickets are $50. A fun-filled Saturday follows as Kleman Plaza is transformed into an Italian carnival with grapestomping, live entertainment and crafts for children from noon–4 p.m.

Saturday’s park events are free to the community. Inside the museum will be lectures and exhibit-viewing for general admission prices. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thefloridawinefestival.com.

March 24-27 Florida State University’s Spring Opera Florida State University’s College of Music presents two one-act operas — Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and Poulenc’s “Les Mamelles de Tiresias.” $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and non-FSU students, $12 for FSU students with ID. Thu–Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. Opperman Music Hall, Kuersteiner Music Building on FSU campus. (850) 6457949, music.fsu.edu March 25-26 FSU School of Dance MFA Concert Enjoy artistic expression in the form of graceful and well-executed dance performance

by Florida State University dance students.

FREE for FSU students with student ID, $6 general admission. 8 p.m. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, Montgomery Hall, FSU campus. (850) 644-6500, dance.fsu.edu tallahassee

41

events calendar March 26 Morning Songbird Walk Wakulla Springs State Park offers visitors an opportunity to look and listen for the songbirds that wake us each morning with their harmonies. Free with park admission of $6 per vehicle with up to eight passengers, or $4 per vehicle with one passenger. Space is limited to 15 people. 8–10 a.m. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive. (850) 926-0700, floridastateparks.org April 1-2 Wakulla Wildlife Festival Celebrate Wakulla Springs State Park’s environment and wildlife through a series of

best bet March 5 ‘Pets and Their People’ This event is sure to have tails wagging.

Bring your pet to Proctor Subaru and receive a complimentary gift bag along with a 5-by-7-inch photo of you and your pet taken by USA Photo and Tallahassee Magazine. There will be free pet nail clipping, free pet microchipping for the first 35 participants and a limited number of free spay/neuter vouchers. Subaru of America and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will provide free etched pet tags. Satisfy your sweet tooth with cupcakes served on-site by Lucy & Leo’s Cupcakery. The Leon County Humane Society (LCHS) will be on-site for an adoption event, and there will be demonstrations by the Tallahassee Police Department K-9 Units and Search and Rescue Dogs throughout the day. Event participants are encouraged to bring pet supplies to donate to “Friends Fur Life” for a chance to win a prize drawing or purchase a $5 ticket for a chance to win. Proceeds benefit “Friends Fur Life,” an LCHS project that provides food and supplies to elderly owners of pets. The event will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proctor Subaru is located at 1707 Capital Circle N.E. — Holly Brooks 42

March–April 2011

activities, performances, exhibits and more.

Specialty tours are available, and vary in price. $6 per vehicle. Fri 6:30–9 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive. (850) 926-0700, wakullawildlifefestival.org

through the air with tricks and acrobatics that rival the pros. FREE for students with student ID; general public prices TBA. Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Haskin Circus Complex on FSU campus. (850) 644-4874, circus.fsu.edu

April 1-16 FSU Flying High Circus Join in this Florida State University tradition and watch in awe as amateur students soar

April 1 Springtime Tallahassee Downtown GetDown Enjoy the warm weather and blooming flowers as the downtown area kicks off Springtime Tallahassee with music, street dancing, live entertainment, exhibits and food vendors. FREE. 6–10 p.m. Adams Street Commons. (850) 487-8087, uwbb.org

best bet: April 9–16 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger Competitors from all around the globe will find their way to Tallahassee to play worldclass tennis — while supporting Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. In this year’s 12th edition, the events will include a qualifier tournament, main draw, and final for singles and doubles.

The excitement isn’t only for adults; children are also welcome to join the fun.

“Children act as ball kids throughout the tournament, free tennis clinics are offered, and they can participate in Quick Start events — all during the tournament,” said tournament director Karen Vogter. Since its start in 2000, more than $375,000 has been donated to the Vogter NICU and more than $40,885 has been raised to support the Walker endowment. This year, $6,000 was given to the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department in order to help improve tennis around Tallahassee. “Having these professional players ranked top 200 in the world in tennis here in our community [is one of the most exciting things],” said Vogter.

“We generally have players from over 25 countries.” For a copy of the full schedule and ticket information, call (850) 545-8740 or visit tallahasseechallenger.com. — Bianca Salvant

April 8 Bay Heart Ball More than 400 people can expect to be “transported” to “An Evening in First Class” at the newly built Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. The night will include a live band, silent and live auctions, redcarpet photographs and a host of gourmet foot stations. $300, tickets must be purchased in advance. 6:30 p.m. CST. SheltAir General Aviation Terminal and Hangar. (850) 687-3149.

April 8 Brehon Blue Ribbon Charity Ball An elegant evening of dancing and entertainment, the ball includes live and silent auctions. Proceeds support the Brehon Institute for Family Services, which provide services promoting healthy babies and preventing child abuse and neglect. $75.

7:30–11:30 p.m. Tallahassee Automobile Museum, 6800 Mahan Drive. (850) 656-7110, brehoninstitute.org April 9 Pioneer Breakfast Tuck into some sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes and grits, served by the Tallahassee Museum’s board of directors. $7 Adults, $5 children 14 and under. Tallahassee

Museum, 3945 Museum Drive. 7–11 am. Contact Marguerite Jordan at mjordan@tallahasseemuseum.org, tallahasseemusuem.org April 10-11 Tallahassee Jazz and Blues Festival This annual two-day event will take place on Tallahassee Museum’s outdoor stage.

Enjoy listening to jazz, R&B and blues. This event is suitable for all ages. $12 Adults, $10 children 14 and under. Tallahassee Museum, 3945 Museum Drive. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Contact Marguerite Jordan at mjordan@tallahasseemuseum.org April 29 Inaugural ChristTown Benefit Support this Christian-based mission dedicated to promoting recovery for people addicted to drugs and alcohol. A barbecue dinner is followed by a program featuring guest speakers, former Florida State University Defensive Head Coach Mickey Andrews and Phil Robertson, “The Duck Commander.” $20. 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, 210 W. Washington St., Quincy. For tickets, call Pastor Bob Wells at (850) 566-6077. christtown.net April 30 Walk for Babies Half a million babies are born too soon every year. Participants will walk three miles to raise money to support the March of Dimes’ community programs that help prevent premature birth. Cascades Park, South Meridian Road. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk beings at 10 a.m. (850) 422-3152. marchforbabies.org April 30 Tails and Trails Run one mile, 5K or 10K to raise money to provide homes for the hundreds of homeless animals in Tallahassee. $8–$15 registration fee.

Tom Brown Park 501 Eastwood Drive. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. (850) 891-2970. tallytailsandtrails.com

tallahassee

43

events calendar May 6-June 3 23rd Tri-State Juried Watermedia Exhibition The Tallahassee Watercolor Society presents its annual competition, open to regional artists from Florida, Georgia and Alabama who work with watercolor and other water-based media. FREE. Museum of Fine Arts, FSU. The opening reception May 6 is open to the public from 7–9 p.m. tallahasseewatercolorsociety.com.

May 7 Cinco De Mayo Chihuahua Parade Bring your dogs out for a parade around the plaza. Participants may win prizes for best costumes and more. $5 adults $2 children FREE seniors and active military. Mission San Luis 2100 W. Tennessee St. (850) 245-6406. missionsanluis.org/visitorInfo/ events.cfm May 13-22 ‘Plein Air Paint-Out’ Watch nationally acclaimed painters and artists capture the natural surroundings, beauty and culture of the Forgotten Coast. The 10-day event features exhibits, art demonstrations, workshops, art sales and a series of public receptions. FREE. (800) 378-8419, greatpaintout.com

best bet: April 10 The Capital City Caper

Saturday, April 9, 2011 (rain date of Sunday, April 10, 2011)

Gates will open at 5:30 PM Concert will start at 7:00 PM

Location

SouthWood Central Park Lake

Parking

SouthWood’s Town Center Admission to the concert is $10/person with children under 12 free. Tickets will be sold at the concert, at Beethoven & Company and at the SouthWood Sales & Information Center, located in SouthWood’s Town Center.

44

March–April 2011

2010

Best Florist Best Corporate Citizen

If you’ve ever wanted to be a contestant on “The Amazing Race,” this is the event for you. The Capital City Caper is a citywide scavenger hunt in which teams of eight travel by limousine to clue sites where they face physical or mental challenges. After each team finishes, they are transported back to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science for dinner and awards. There is also an award for best costume. The event is organized by Tallahassee Community College Foundation and benefits The Ghazvini Center, which focuses on health care education. It starts at 2 p.m.

To register a team or for sponsorship information, call (850) 201-8580 or visit capitalcitycaper.com.

Photo Courtesy The Tallahassee Ballet

best bet: April 2 MadWomen Forget MadMen, MadWomen do it better. After three years, The Tallahassee Ballet’s Annual Divine Sisterhood of the Costume Closet event has become one of the most hotly anticipated girl parties of the year. This year’s theme captures the vibe the ’60s-inspired television show “MadMen,” and more than 250 women are expected to attend. But this all-woman party is more than just a typical girls’ night out. Vintage decor, swanky cocktails, fabulous food and the retro sounds of the ’60s will get you in the swinging mood to support The Tallahassee Ballet’s three annual performances. Attendees also have a chance to participate in a live auction with prizes. Funds raised from the event are used to help pay for The Tallahassee Ballet’s costume and set decoration.

All costumes the ballet uses are handsewn by a talented team of parents and volunteers who know how to make all that beading, trim and lace dazzle on the stage in front of set designs that are handcrafted by local professionals.

MadWomen of all ages are encouraged to join in on this one-of-a-kind ladies’ night for a great cause. The event will be held at Florida State University’s University Center Club starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $100 each and may be purchased by visiting tallahasseeballet. org or calling (850) 224-6917 ext. 5.

tallahassee

45

46

March–April 2011

tallahassee

47

48

March–April 2011

tallahassee

49

50

March–April 2011

tallahassee

51

tallahassee

53

events

SOCIAL STUDIES

2

1

3

4

7 6

5

8 9 Big Bend Hospice: 1. Marjorie Turnbull, Bryan Desloge and Laurie Dozier 2. Carol Lewis and Virginia Goff 3. Karen Pellett, Mary Siebert-Culp and Mary Pat Peacock 4. Pam Wilson and Mayor John Marks 5. Reid Jaffe and Carla Braveman; Capital Medical Society Holiday Auction: 6. Brian Webb, Larry Harper 7. Brian Webb, Tracey Hellgren, Angelina Foley Cain, Christienne Sain, Cyneetha Strong, Barbara Williams, Garrett Chumney 8. Tanya Weaver, Patty McAlpine, Nan Nagy-Kato and Gloria Rollins 9. Pat and Charles Williams. [Photos by McKenzie Burleigh and courtesy Big Bend Hospice] TALLAHASSEE

55

56

March–April 2011

events

1

SOCIAL STUDIES

2

3

4

6

5

7

7

8

Holy Comforter Episcopal School Gala 2011: 1. Brewser Brown, Dr. Chuck Newell, Amy Newell, Sara Brown, Dr. Jerry Ford, Cay Ford, Brecht Heuchan, Hunter Heuchan, Collins Proctor and Katie Proctor 2. Jay Smith and Bri Smith 3. Heidi Valveri, Mary Owen Thames, and Josie Gustafson 4. Dr. Bill Thompson, Ida Thompson, Nancy Proctor and Tom Proctor 5. Bobby Leger, Kristi Leger, Jennifer Marks and Nathan Marks; Friends Though Dance: 6. Robin Stuyverson, Michelle Ackermann, Amy Lowe, Alison Bundrick, Cricket Mannheimer and Sharon Davis.

NORTHEAST BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: 7. Scott Hunt, Bruce Screws, Bryan Desloge, Terry Madigan and Art Jusko 8. Rick Minor, Scott and Dottie Hunt, Peggy and Ray Munroe. [Photos by Vanessa Culpepper, Dan Parisi and Jim Ashlock] TALLAHASSEE

57

58

March–April 2011

events

SOCIAL STUDIES

2

1

3

5

4

6

7

8 9

Tallahassee Top Salon: 1. Charles Hoy, Megan Campbell, Susan Adams 2. Terry and Lee Daniel 3. Sheila Monk, Tracy Fairfield and Marie Long 4. Pete and Cindy Lewis 5. Marsha Doll and Dean Faulkenberry 6. Caroline Conway, McKenzie Burleigh, Steven Lohbeck and Paige Benton 7. Vanessa Stallworth, Sara Gonzalez, Linda Collins, Sallie Cook, Marisa Mercurio and Rachelle Cariello 8. Stephanie Perry and Jasmine Gilbert 9. Carlos, Michelle, Phoenix, and Talon Torregrosa. [Photos by Lori Magee, Patrick McKee, Definitive Photography] TALLAHASSEE

59

60

March–April 2011

Tracey E. Hellgren, M.D.

B

oard certiďŹ ed in Family Medicine, Dr. Hellgren is the medical director of Patients First Parkway Medical Center, and has worked there for 18 years.

Dr. Hellgren believes in the importance of the family physician, preventative care, and a strong doctor-patient relationship as the pathway to good healthy living.

She serves as newly appointed President of Capital Medical Society, as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine and as a Clinical Preceptor for the Tallahassee Memorial Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr. Hellgren is graduate of FSU, the University of Florida College of Medicine and the Tallahassee Memorial Family Practice Residency Program.

She is married, has two children and has lived in Tallahassee for more than 20 years.

ADVERTORIAL

Sponsored Article TALLAHASSEE

61

62

March–April 2011

Photo Courtesy Michele Edmunds/FSU Photo Services

Team Barron Florida State University President Eric Barron and his wife, Molly, stroll the grounds surrounding their campus home. In the background is the old President’s House, which was renovated and repurposed as an alumni center.

The Seminoles’ Other Top Team President Eric Barron and His Wife Molly Work Together to Raise Funds and Share the Good News About FSU by rosanne dunkelberger

f

lorida State University trustees were enthused when they swept Eric Barron into the presidency in December 2009. On paper, he was the total package: an alumnus, a scientist of some renown and a university academic with a proven track record in fundraising.

Little did they know at the time they were getting a two-fer.

Because when Barron completed the circle and came back to lead his undergraduate university, he brought along Molly, his wife of nearly 30 years. As they have throughout their married life, the couple worked closely together during the first year of his tenure here to raise FSU’s profile — locally, with friends and alumni, and in the national academic community.

“I get the paycheck, she works hard, too,” is how Eric Barron explained their teamwork.

“For our first year we (say) ‘yes’ to almost everything if we can fit it in our calendar,” he said. “It’s a matter of exploring all the possibilities. Sometimes we’ll go ‘Wow, we don’t have anything this evening … let’s go watch the women play soccer’ — or we could sneak in a performance of something.”

Molly Barron continued: “I think we’re just trying to establish relationships with people right at this point. We do try and tell them what the university is like right now because a lot of the people that we’ve met haven’t had a lot of inter-

action with the university,” she said. “They may come back for a football game or something but I don’t know that they know exactly what’s going on.”

On a not-so-busy morning for Eric Barron —“It’s a fourappointment day, not a 10-appointment day.” — the couple dressed comfortably and sat down in their stately living room to talk about their first year at FSU and how they found their way to the President’s House — together.

Barron as an Undergrad

Barron was born in Lafayette, Ind. and living in Atlanta when he chose to attend FSU. “I had known since an early age that I was going to study geology. I made up my mind somewhere around high school that the geology of the oceans might be more of a frontier,” he explained. Undergraduate degrees in oceanography didn’t exist when he was going to college in the late ‘60s, and “Florida State had a program where, if you were an honor student, you could take graduate classes in your junior and senior year,” he said. He did take graduate-level classes and “I actually went on two coastal research cruises as an undergraduate through FSU.”

Tallahassee

63

First Days for the First Couple

Eric and Molly Barron met in Boulder more than 30 years ago at a dinner party given by her sister, who was married to a colleague of his. At the time, Molly was just visiting; the

64

March–April 2011

California native was teaching fourth through eighth graders in a two-room schoolhouse atop Palomar Mountain — home of the Hale Telescope.

“Molly went back to Southern California to teach and I said something to her sister about how much I enjoyed Molly, and Molly said something to her sister about how much she’d enjoyed me.” Playing Cupid a few months later, Molly’s sister invited her to make an extended visit during her summer break.

She arrived on June 21 — Eric Barron remembers because Molly came to a summer solstice party at his apartment. “I would say we were inseparable from then on out,” he recalled.

“Two months later, we knew we were going to be married and we knew we were going to have kids. We decided we’d wait a few months before we’d tell everybody that because we thought people would think we were a little crazy — that such a short time after getting together that we would be so committed. But, hey, it kinda worked.”

“I didn’t go back after that summer,” said Molly Barron.

The Barrons say the tone for their relationship was set on their very first date. Eric had asked Molly to go on a hike in the mountains — but they had to start early so he could be back in town for a seminar.

“We get in my pickup truck and we’re driving up the mountain and it’s like 6:30 and I yawned,” he recalled. “She said, ‘Am I boring you already?’”

Molly continued the story: “But then he promised me I’d never be bored — and I never have been.”

“That was part of my marriage proposal,” said Eric Barron.

“I said, “There’s no telling where we’ll be, what we’ll be doing, but I promise you, you won’t be bored.’

Photo courtesy Eric and Molly Barron

One of Barron’s roommates during his upperclass years was David Coburn, who spent most of his professional career in Tallahassee as a legislative budget staffer (and whose wife, Mary, now works for Barron as the vice president for student affairs at FSU.) Coburn describes his former roomie as “the hardest working guy you can imagine” and “smart as hell …. You certainly had a sense that he was going to be successful at whatever he did.

“He drank a lot of coffee and carried a really heavy academic load,” Coburn recalled. “He was a pretty good roommate to have (because) he was either in the library or in the lab a whole bunch.”

Barron banged around town with his friends in an old blue Pontiac and he “mostly wore cutoff shorts and sandals,” according to Coburn. “He had pretty long hair … and was pretty nearsighted. He wore some thick glasses.” (Subsequent cataract surgery has corrected his vision, said Barron, and now he just uses reading glasses.)

After graduating from FSU in 1973, Barron didn’t return to his alma mater until his presidential interview in December 2009. But he and Molly have plenty of opportunities to see how the university has grown and changed when they cross Tennessee Street to walk to campus events.

“Back then there were 15 to 17,000 students, I think. And now the total is close to 40,000,” he said. “That’s a big difference in terms of the size of the place.

“The physical plant has changed a lot. There are a lot of new buildings,” Barron said. “There was only one building past Smith Hall,” where his dorm room was located. “There was no engineering school …. There was swimming pool in the middle of campus when I was a student and now that’s out …. Doak Campbell was an Erector Set.” The football team was playing respectably during most of his time on campus, but “basketball was really good back in those days,” under coach Hugh Durham, with the team playing in the national championship game in 1972.

Barron said he doesn’t remember FSU playing second fiddle academically to the University of Florida during his undergraduate years here. “Maybe it’s because they weren’t that good in my discipline and what I was interested in,” he said. “I remember they were better at football than we were, but I almost think UF looms larger in people’s minds now than it did then.”

He would go on to earn master’s and Ph.D. degrees in oceanography, marine geology and geophysics from the University of Miami. After that, he would go on to do postdoctoral work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Co. It was a place he would find professional success — and his life’s partner.

Photo by Scott Holstein

At Home The Barrons take a moment for a hug in the breakfast room of the President’s Home. On the table is a quilted runner made by Molly Barron. The couple strikes a similar pose in Boulder, Co. (facing page) just before their 1981 wedding.

Tallahassee

65

“I don’t think you’ve been bored lately,” he said to his wife.

“No, not lately,” she replied with fond look and a smile.

While Eric Barron has the serious demeanor of the scientist that he is, it’s obvious he’s got a strong sentimental streak when it comes to his wife.

They wanted to get married on July 11, 1981 — the first anniversary of their first kiss — but Molly Barron’s brother couldn’t make it, so July 18 was their wedding date. (Note that their first kiss was nearly three weeks after their first date. “I don’t know whether this tells you — I was kinda slow,” he admitted.)

“We celebrate July 11 as anniversary of first kiss,” he said. “It gives us a week’s head start on our anniversary.”

Their daughter, Emily, was born the next July and their son, James, arrived 22 months after that.

The family would move to Pennsylvania State University in 1986 where Eric Barron started as a professor of geosciences, progressing to the position of Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He left Penn State in 2006 to become dean of the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin.

In his positions at the universities, Barron was lauded for his academic credentials (his CV, listing his honors, affiliations and publications, covers more than a dozen pages), connection to students and ability to fundraise.

In 2008, he left academia to return to the National Center for Atmospheric Research as its director.

Molly Barron said she spent their early married years raising their children and volunteering at school. “As in PTO president, and hours in the library and hours in kindergarten and hours on the playground,” Eric Barron said. Eventually, she was

The First Lady’s Favorite

I

n her first year as First Lady, Mollie Barron has committed herself to Women for Florida State University, an organization that strives to unite the women of Florida State as leaders, advocates and donors for the university. The group works to inspire and empower women by increasing awareness and education, while also providing opportunities for mentoring, networking and philanthropy.

Members are connected to a diverse network of women that spans multiple generations. There are no dues or donations required to join the group, just a passion for FSU and desire to support the university in whatever way they can. To join, one must fill out a printable membership form or register online at foundation.fsu.edu.

Members are invited to join in a signature annual event called “Backstage Pass to the Very Best of Florida State,” a behind-thescenes look at Florida State’s finest programs and traditions, set for the weekend of March 18-19. On this year’s program for the 100 women who have registered are a dinner and interactive performance with theater students, mosaics at the Master Craftsman Studios, a “white glove” tour of the special collections at the Strozier Library and a science-meets-art presentation at the National High Magnetic Field 66

March–April 2011

Out and About (left to right) Molly Barron dances with students at the Student Alumni Association’s Backyard Barbecue. FSU’s First Couple greet Bob and Anna Johnson Riedel at an event at the President’s House and Eric Barron helps with a Habitat for Humanity home building.

offered a position working in a middle school computer lab.

The Barrons worked together as a “team” and ultimately Molly would give up her school job to help Eric with his duties as dean — a model they have continued while fundraising during his FSU presidency.

“Our feeling has always been that most people interact with the university as a couple, they give money as a couple and so they should be talking to a couple,” Eric Barron said.

A Year at FSU

FSU’s President’s House is the Barrons’ primary residence. It’s a 13,000 square-foot Greek Revival-style showplace filled with antiques and designed with entertaining in mind. While they avail themselves of the well-appointed kitchen and the sunny breakfast room on the main floor downstairs, the couple’s private quarters are on the top floor.

Even that floor was completely decorated before they arrived, although Molly Barron has added at least one sizeable personal touch: A huge quilt in shades of orange, brown and rust she made dominates the third-floor landing. (Molly Barron’s official stationery features elements from her handiwork.) Quilting, she said, “Is where I go to find me — to have a quiet time.”

What recreation time Eric Barron can find these days is usually spent playing racquetball, he said.

The couple said the public lifestyle of the FSU presidency hasn’t been a huge adjustment for them. “It’s stranger for us not to be a part of campus,” he explained.

“We didn’t realize until this job came up, that we did kind of miss being around students,” Molly Barron said. “I kind of had been on my own the two years (in Boulder).”

To leave behind the presidential obligations, the Barrons purchased a lakeside home in eastern Leon County to use as a weekend retreat. “The idea was we would have a lot of our personal things there and we would just be able to take off for

Photos Courtesy Michele Edmunds and Bill Lax/FSU Photo Services

a weekend and relax,” said Eric Barron. But in his first year as president, “We haven’t had many weekends. I think we spent maybe six nights out there in six months.”

But the home is occupied by the couple’s 27-year-old daughter, Emily, and her husband. After pursuing an advanced degree in international relations, their daughter decided to switch gears and apply for medical school, so she is finishing up some physics credits at FSU, her father says. She was scheduled to present the Barrons with their first grandchild — it’s a girl — in February. Their 25-year-old son recently graduated from Colorado College and is now living in Denver.

In addition to their in-town duties, the Barrons have also taken their show on the road. Eric Barron estimates the pair has already made about 40 trips in and out of Florida. They like to travel together, but have occasionally struck out individually to spread the FSU gospel.

“Our job is to get people excited about FSU and to connect with people and get to know them and get them to understand why giving is important,” he said. “I have never felt that (fundraising) is a chore. I’ve never felt that it was onerous. I’ve always thought that it was fun.”

He continued: “You have this wonderful opportunity to talk to alumni. They’re interesting and successful people and so you have a good time meeting them and talking with them and you walk away going ‘I’m so glad we met them.’”

One of the Barrons’ secrets to success is to cast a wide net when asking for donations. “You have someone who can give a very large gift, but you also have 280,000 alumni that, if they gave small gifts, the multiplier starts to have a tremendous amount of impact.”

In her early days at FSU, Molly Barron participated in a “backstage tour” of the campus sponsored by The Women For Florida State, an arm of the FSU Foundation. Inspired by the programs she saw and the people she met, Molly has taken a particular interest in the group’s mission. The couple provided $25,000 in seed money for an endowment and she engaged in

a letter-writing campaign that netted $135,000. But the group, she insisted, isn’t just about raising money, but connecting women to the campus, whether they’re alumnae, parents or just friends of FSU. There are no dues, “so it’s just been ‘please sign up and get involved’,” she said.

Molly Barron said she enjoys telling people about FSU’s accomplishments. “They get all excited and that’s fun in itself,” she said.

“Go survey all the news stories (and) 98 percent of them are on sports,” said Eric Barron. “So our alumni don’t hear that our students won the national sales competition and that our students won three moot court challenges, that they were near the very top of the world affairs competition, that they won a hybrid car contest, that we got first place in the dissertation in nuclear physics … and we have people on Broadway.”

Apparently their efforts are paying off. While philanthropy in general is down by about 12 percent in 2010 and giving to higher education averaged an anemic 3 or 4 percent increase, FSU has seen a 30 percent increase in giving with “thousands” more individual donors, Eric Barron said.

During their inaugural presidential year, the Barrons said they have noticed something unique to FSU. “You get the impression FSU is a family,” Eric Barron said.

Molly had the idea to ask crowds of people which of them went to Florida State, and then who might have had a grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild attend. “The hands went up all over the room,” he said.

And that “family” feeling is alive and well on campus, too.

“I think there’s something about the kids … they want to help people around,” he said. “People will say if you are on some campuses in this state, you’re ignored. On this campus if you even have a questioning look on your face someone will come up and (ask) ‘Do you need help?’”

“That’s another bragging point to talk about for us,” Molly chimed in. n

Tallahassee

67

The Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center Celebrates a Season of Success

By Rosanne Dunkelberger | Photos by scott Holstein 68

March–April 2011

L

ast year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) threw out a challenge to 50 animal shelters and rescue groups nationwide: Save an additional 300 animal lives in three months.

The group that placed the most animals would win $100,000. An additional $25,000 would be given to the one that could best inspire the community to join in the effort to encourage pet adoption, reclaiming lost animals and transferring animals to rescue groups.

The Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Service Center (ASC) picked up the gauntlet and made an allout effort to adopt out as many dogs, cats and other companion animals as possible. More than 1,200 would find new homes during the 90-day period — 335 more than the year before. While they met the challenge, it wasn’t enough to win the $100,000.

But the ASC did bring home the $25,000 award, fueled by a creative array of adoption efforts and Facebook and tweet campaigns to encourage local residents to cast a vote for the local shelter.

“Not only did Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center save over 1,200 animals in three months, they inspired their entire community to become a part of their successes throughout the $100K Challenge,” says ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “Their campaign was innovative and smart, and clearly it created the buzz they needed to engage the community.”

“It was exhausting,” says Animal Care Supervisor Ann English, whose job it was to assure a steady supply of adoptable animals during the three-month effort. “It was worth it. It forced us to think outside the box. And it forced us to come outside our comfort zone.”

To kick off the three-month challenge in August, the ASC held a “Midnight Madness” adoption event.

“Who would have thought that people wanted to come in the middle of the night to adopt an animal?” asks ASC Director Erika Leckington.

“Well they did,” continues English. “There was a line outside the door at midnight. It was incredible.”

Throughout August, September and October, the ASC pulled out the stops with creative public events like a Halloween trick-or-treat showcase, a donate-blood-get-a-free-pet drive, local celebrity adoption “agents” and low-cost — and even nocost — adoptions.

The ASPCA contest, Leckington says, “opened a lot of doors and opened a lot of minds about what can be done in animal welfare.”

The ASC’s efforts to win the contest weren’t a flash-in-the-pan, but the culmination of years of effort to make the shelter a bright, welcoming place with professional staff, veterinary services and progressive methods of caring for animals.

But the feat does seem incredible, considering that as recently as five years ago, the facility was grim, the animals traumatized, the staff demoralized, and rescue groups demonized in a system that seemed intractably dysfunctional.

How it Was

Tallahassee old-timers may remember when the animal shelter was housed in an old, inadequate trailer near the airport. Ann English does; she started volunteering there 20 years ago as an intern before joining the staff.

It was the place where animal control officers from the city and county dropped off strays (Tallahassee and Leon County have separate animal control departments) and animals were adopted, reclaimed — and euthanized. The Leon County Humane Society

Tallahassee

69

Despite the Name, This Rescue is Not Just for Big Dogs

S

provided services there for several years, but didn’t have the funding to keep up with the need and preferred to focus on animal rescue. “That’s when the city stepped in and picked it up,” in the early ‘90s, English says.

In 1995, the operation moved to its current home on Easterwood Drive adjacent to Tom Brown Park and, over the next few years, developed cordial relations with rescue groups that would take animals from the shelter to be fostered and ultimately adopted. The city hired its first veterinarian, Dr. Gilles Meloche, in early 2002 to head the facility, in an effort to further professionalize the program.

It was a disaster.

Sheree Brown, now secretary of the Big Dog Rescue group, worked there — and was ultimately fired — during the Meloche years. “You could cut the tension with a knife,” she recalls. “He wanted to do it his way. He wasn’t interested in partnering. It was chaos with the (rescue groups).”

70

March–April 2011

“It’s about not judging the public (but) giving them the opportunity to try, even for those that have never had (a pet) before.” — Animal Care Supervisor Ann English English remembers those days too. “He just had the belief that animals should not be euthanized,” she says. “We had animals stacked in crates everywhere … in offices and bathrooms. It became a place where customers didn’t want to be. It smelled … it was really bad.”

Unfortunately, the placement rate didn’t change during his tenure, and the euthanasia rates stayed the same, at about 60 percent. “So it wasn’t helping anything,” she says.

Meloche would ultimately be forced out amidst a storm of controversy. (He would end up working for the shelter in

Louisville, Ky., where he resigned in 2009 after allegations of professional and sexual misconduct.)

A New Era

It is the mess Dee Crumpler inherited when he became Director of Animal Services in 2004.

Crumpler started working for the city as a police officer in 1985, worked for the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services for several years and then the state Department of Revenue before getting the director’s job. At the time, he

Photo by Linda Kleindienst

IT’S NO MYSTERY Sherlock, an English Setter, found a happy home through Big Dog Rescue, one of several nonprofit animal welfare groups operating in Tallahassee.

herlock likes to lounge his days away on the family couch — unless, of course, he’s outside pointing lizards or in the field pointing quail.

This life of comfort wasn’t assured when the malnourished English Setter was found scrounging for food in dumpsters and hauled off to the animal shelter in Dothan, Ala. But that’s where Big Dog Rescue of Tallahassee stepped in, bringing him to Florida and back to life.

From giant to miniature, dogs of all sizes owe their lives and newfound happiness to the rescue group, which began operating in 1998. Cats and even rabbits have also benefitted from the food, care and love provided by Big Dog Rescue, which depends on volunteers, donations and a foster home network to do its work.

“Depending on the situation, we can make room for just about anybody,” says Sheree Brown, the organization’s secretary, who stops by Tallahassee’s animal shelter once a week to see which dogs might fit well in a local foster home. Fosters also routinely scout local shelters to rescue animals they feel can be adopted. At any given time there could be up to 50 animals in Big Dog’s care.

A website, bigdogrescue.com, lists the animals up for adoption and on the second and fourth weekends of each month, foster parents bring their charges to PetSmart in hopes of getting them adopted. E-mails can be sent via the website, or call (850) 562-3200. — Linda Kleindienst

was also the District 2 representative on the Leon County School Board. (He continues to be a member, serving as chairman this year.)

He mentions two things he recalls from his first days at the helm — a terrible smell that had permeated the carpets and a folder in the file drawer labeled “Bad Relationships.”

“There were e-mails, there were handwritten letters,” he says, of the inchesthick folder. His first order of business was having “breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend” meetings with staff and people in the animal community to mend fences.

Assistant City Manager Tom Coe, who has known Crumpler since his days on the police force, summed it up this way: “Under Dee’s leadership, in the past five years we have come light years in terms customer service and animal care. We are very aggressive getting as many animals adopted as we possibly can.”

When Crumpler was promoted to director of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs in 2008, Coe said the department was reorganized so that he would still supervise the ASC, which has a budget this year of $1.83 million.

English articulated Crumpler’s new attitude. “He kept saying, if you want it, go for it,” she says. For her, “go for it” has meant the creation of two prison-based programs aimed at increasing the adoptability of dogs.

Undergoing Training & Obedience in Prison to Increase Adoptability — or UTOPIA — started in June 2007. In the program, inmates from the Taylor Correctional Institution’s Work Camp give obedience training to hard-to-place dogs from the ASC. Inmates had been training dogs all over the U.S. in the past, usually to do work such as drug sniffing, says English. But behavior training for adoption was a first here.

Ideal canine candidates are “rowdy dogs … like Dino in ‘The Flintstones’,” she says. “So we took those dogs and put them in the prison so they could get some manners. Those could have been dogs that just sat here for a month or two that just couldn’t handle the situation and the stimulus here.” While in their minimum of eight weeks of training, the dogs are advertised on the facility’s website and there’s a 98 percent placement rate.

“When they come back, there’s a list of people who want the majority of them,” English says.

Once the rambunctious pooches were taken care of, English shepherded in a program for dogs that were nearly impossible to place — those that had heartworms.

Veterinary treatment for the parasites can cost up to $1,000. “I’ve actually gotten dogs from vet clinics that were abandoned because people couldn’t afford treatment,” she said. Enter H.A.R.T. (Heartworm Assistance Rehabilitation Training), which began about a year ago.

In this program, dogs live in Wakulla Correctional Institution for three months.

For the first six weeks, the dogs are treated and put on cage rest “so the worms can dispel and remove themselves from the body,” then their activity level is increased and they’re obedience trained by inmates.

Placement for this program is 100 percent, English says.

While the dogs helped by these prison programs number in the dozens, English is in negotiations to implement yet another that has the potential to save about 1,000 animals each year. “In our euthanasia numbers, about 20 percent of that

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Workers at the Animal Service Center show off just a few of the critters available for adoption at the shelter. The bottom photo is ASC Director Erika Leckington holding Smellie, a Boston Terrier she adopted during the ASPCA Challenge.

Tallahassee

71

Quarterback Christian Ponder Brings a Little Dallas to Tallahassee

W Doggie Daddy Christian Ponder gets a slobbery kiss from Dallas, a Labrador retriever he adopted as a puppy from the Animal Services Center.

72

March–April 2011

ith a little time on his hands, a three-bedroom house and a big, leafy backyard all to himself, Christian Ponder was looking for a new best friend to spend time with.

But the former Florida State University quarterback had a few requirements.

This new friend needed to be young, lovable, obedient and into running. And he or she had to be a good sport about being locked in a cage most hours of the day and only going to the bathroom outside. What he really needed was a dog.

“I thought it was a good idea to get a dog while I had the house and the big backyard he could roll around in,” Ponder explains. “(The dog) could keep me company.”

is infant animals,” she says. Her plan is to have female inmates bottle-raise and socialize orphaned puppies and kittens until they’re big enough to be adopted.

The prison programs are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improving shelter services.

The ASC has created a satellite facility at Pet Supermarket for cat adoptions and adoptable animals regularly appear at adoption weekends in local pet stores.

Local businesses such as Lucy and Leo’s Cupcakery, Best Buy and Kevin’s Guns & Sporting Goods host four-legged adoption ambassadors. All of the shelter’s adoptable animals can be viewed online.

Four years ago, a group of dedicated volunteers created the Animal Shelter Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money to help the ASC in its efforts. The Foundation attempts to use its $130,000 annual budget for services that go beyond what can be expected of a taxpayer-funded municipal shelter, says Kate MacFall, president of the organization.

For example, the Foundation subsidizes an eight-week-long, $35 “doggie manners” class for dogs adopted from the shelter. “We know, because we’re well versed in the animal field, that dogs that bond and that are well trained and not behaving badly stay in those homes,” she says. “We don’t want them to come back. We want them to be happy and we want the humans to be happy.” They’ve also funded a

folder given to all adopters to help educate them about pet care and local resources.

The Foundation holds fundraisers like the shelter’s “Bark and Wine” happy hour/art show, but it’s largest event, the 10th annual Tails and Trails run, is set for April 30. More than 1,000 runners are expected for the 5K, 10K and 1-mile races that start and end at the ASC facility. For more information, visit tallytailsandtrails.org.

Shelter managers have also refined the adoption process to make it more streamlined, by doing such things as cutting down on the paperwork, making the process easier with on-site spaying and neutering and microchipping, and relaxing adoption rules.

“It’s about not judging the public,” says English, “(but) giving them the opportunity to try, even for those that have never had (a pet) before.” Basically, shelter staff checks three areas: Have you been a problem owner in the past? Are you allowed to have the animal? And can you take care of the animal? They don’t make adopters promise to keep cats inside and there’s no requirement to have a fenced-in yard for dogs, for example.

“If you want an animal, you’re going to get an animal, because if we tell you ‘no,’ you’re going to go to the paper, you’re going to go to Craigslist — you’re going to get one,” says English. “So we might as well let you try. If it doesn’t work out, we

After reviewing what was available through classified ads, Ponder decided to head down to the Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Services Center on a Friday afternoon in July.

While peeking inside the cages he noticed an adorable black Labrador retriever puppy with watchful brown eyes. This puppy was sitting quietly, in contrast to the hyperactive dog he shared a cage with. Ponder knew this dog belonged to him.

But a friend talked Ponder out of getting the dog that day and told him to sleep on it.

At 10 a.m. the next morning, Ponder came back to the shelter to get his dog, whom he planned to call Dallas, after his hometown. After paying $100, Dallas was his.

At first, Ponder says, it was an overwhelming transition.

“He was supposed to be sleeping in (his crate) at night and he would cry a lot,” he says. “It was like having a baby, you had to get up all the time.”

Like most young parents, he has learned a few lessons the hard way.

Feeling sorry for keeping Dallas in a crate while he was gone, Ponder decided to let his dog roam free in

won’t penalize you. We’re not the enemy, we’re here to help.”

Leckington says the ASC is also benefiting from a cultural shift that tells people adoption is the way to go.

“You see a lot of adoption messages out there now. Pedigree used to be ‘recommended by top breeders,’ and now it’s ‘come adopt from an animal shelter, Pedigree is supporting adoption in your area,’” she says.

“We’re continuing to put the message out there that we have a lot of animals to adopt and that there is a pet overpopulation problem here and that we do have your next best friend,” says Leckington.

“We want people to know we’re a fun place to come, whether it’s to browse or look for a lost pet, we want to welcome them here (and be) used as a resource in the community.”

“The doors didn’t open for any of this until Dee got here,” English says. “Before that we were your standard pound, unfortunately.”

The Sad Truth

To clarify, the Animal Service Center is what has historically been thought of as “the dog pound.” It takes all of the animals picked up by animal control officers — “dogcatchers” — working for the city and the county. The animals can be purebreds, mutts, feral, sick, injured,

the bathroom for the afternoon. After all, what damage could he do?

While Ponder was gone, Dallas chewed into the pipe underneath the bathroom sink, letting water gush out.

His next target was the bathtub, where he managed to turn the faucet on. Then he attacked the doorknob and somehow locked himself in.

“The bathroom was flooded and everything,” Ponder says, laughing.

He’s long since forgiven Dallas, who clearly worships his master. Dallas obediently sits when told to do so, occasionally needing an extra nudge from Ponder on his behind.

Ponder says his summer schedule before his final season was light so he was able to focus on bonding with Dallas.

“As a puppy, when he was really small, I got to spend a lot of time with him.”

Now the two are best friends, going on morning runs together and playing fetch at a nearby park. Ponder says he’s grateful he got him from the shelter. “The animal shelter is a great place to go,” he says. “They’ve got great dogs and it’s a good deal.” — Lilly Rockwell Tallahassee

73

A Helping Hand and a Banana For Horses in Need

N

inja loves bananas. Peeled, please.

A few months ago, he wasn’t so discerning. He gobbled the treat, peel and all. But then the 25-year-old Quarter Horse was starving, more a walking skeleton than a horse the day he was rescued from a sandy lot in Gadsden County.

Today he is about 200 pounds heavier and continuing to put on weight, a testament to his strong will to live combined with the love and care provided by the volunteers who work with Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation Ranch, better known locally as Triple R Horse Rescue.

This month, Triple R celebrates its second year of being one of the last resources for abused and hungry horses in the region. It survives on donations, goodwill from the North Florida horse community, the assistance of local veterinarians and dollars raised through food concessions at area horse shows.

“Horse abuse has always been out there, but it’s more prevalent now. Horses are going hungry because their owners can’t afford to feed them,” says Eric Pelletier, Triple R’s president and founder.

“Triple R is here to help rescue these noble animals and put them in foster homes, getting them ready for adoption. We also want to work with families who want to care for their horses, but don’t have the money. We can offer help.”

Horses are taken into Triple R’s foster homes after being voluntarily surrendered by their owners or seized by animal control officials.

To find out more about Triple R, check out the website at equinerrtlh.webs.com or the group’s Facebook Cause page, Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation Ranch. Pelletier can be contacted at equinerrr@ yahoo.com. — Linda Kleindienst

74

March–April 2011

Postscript

There was a very personal payoff for ASC director Leckington when the three-month Challenge was all over.

During it, Leckington fostered, and ultimately adopted, an adult Boston Terrier that had lived outside and needed heartworm treatment. She named this canine “diamond-in-therough” Smellie and their adoption story earned the ASC an additional $1,000 grant.

Smellie now accompanies Leckington to work, cadging cuddles throughout the day from Mom. “I’m trying to make up for all those years of not being in someone’s lap,” Leckington says, channeling her dog’s thoughts. “She’s just a love. She can’t get enough.” n

Photo by Linda Kleindienst

NEGLECT VICTIM When Ninja was rescued by Triple R, he was gaunt and starving. Since this photo was taken, the Quarter Horse has gained 200 pounds.

abused or as cute as can be. The center also takes animals that are given up by owners, left in the overnight drop-off cages or — and this happens, according to Crumpler — thrown over the fence.

Just under half of the animals that come through its doors are euthanized — killed.

Some are too hurt, sick or wild to be adopted.

Some get sick or stressed in the shelter environment and are put down. But there are also plenty of perfectly adoptable pets that must be euthanized because there is nowhere for them to go. “That is a very unfortunate aspect of what we do,” Crumpler says.

In round numbers, about 10,000 animals come to the ASC each year. The percentage of those euthanized has dropped 9 percent since 2005 and is below the national average, but it is still at 47 percent. During the busy spring and summer breeding seasons, Crumpler estimates 30 or 40 animals can be put down in a day.

The ASC does work closely with other animal rescue groups like the Humane Society, Big Dog Rescue, Capitol ARK and other breed- or species-specific nonprofit organizations, usually by releasing animals into their care.

Currently, the shelter has room for about 300 animals at a time. But the answer, says MacFall, is not a bigger facility. “If we had a shelter three times the size (of this one), we’d be full again,” she says. “It’s decreasing overpopulation … . It’s decreasing the flow that comes in the door.”

With that in mind, the foundation funds a voucher program that low-income individuals can use to sterilize pets that weren’t adopted from the ASC. “We feel like by spaying and neutering, that’s preventing a litter from coming into the shelter,” MacFall says.

For the Animals Cats or dogs, puppies or kittens, purebreds or mutts, ferals, birds and horses too, these area rescue organizations are on hand to assist in finding or caring for your companion animals.

Animal Shelter Foundation

Big Dog Rescue

EQUINE RESCUE AND

Ssnakes Reptile Snake breeders

(ASF) A nonprofit group

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to finding safe and permanent homes for allsized dogs and cats who face harsh living conditions and/or euthanasia. (850) 562-3200, bigdogrescue.com

REHABILITATION RANCH, INC.

Susan and Michael Sentman provide support and assistance.

(850) 421-1894 or (352) 6504910, ssnakes.com; Susan Sentman info@ssnakes.com

established to support the operations of the Tallahassee Animal Service Center.

(850) 891-2950, tallyasf.org/ Angels That Purr, Inc.

A nonprofit organization that rescues, spays/neuters and medically treats feral and domestic cats to place them in nurturing homes and safe environments. (850) 264-3425, angelsthatpurr.org Animal Aid Foundation

Low-cost spay/neuter and medically necessary services for domestic animals. Housed at the Animal Aid & Spay/Neuter facility.

(850) 386-4148, animalaid.us Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline, Inc. (ARPH)

Volunteers aiming to find permanent homes for Australian Shepard breed canines. (877) 277-4779, aussierescue.org Dan or Barb, dan_barb@ bellsouth.net Be the Solution

Be the solution is a nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to pet owners who want to get their pets spayed/ neutered. (850) 545-2043, bethesolution.us Big Bend Bird Club of Tallahassee

This bird-lovers club provides member support through monthly meetings, newsletters and more, along with educational outreach to the community. (850) 841-BEAK (2325), bigbendbirdclub.com

Birdland

Education and outreach for companion birds. For information about adopting a bird, or any of this nonprofit organization’s products or services, contact: Renee Ewart or Lisa Lazarus, (850) 933-8656 or (850) 877-0128 Boxer Aid & Rescue Coalition, Inc. B.A.R.C.’s mission is to

rescue and rehabilitate homeless Boxers in North Florida and South Georgia by meeting medical needs and finding secure homes.

(877) 633-2108, boxerarc.org Capitol ARK/ECAH Animals, Inc

Capitol Ark and Rescue Kennel advocates for the spay/neuter of cats and dogs while assisting seniors to ensure they can keep and care for their pets. They also offer pet disaster shelter and pet adoption services. (850) 668-1004, ecahanimals.org It’s Meow or Never for Ferals

A volunteer-operated, nonprofit organization performing trapneuter-return for feral and neighborhood stray cats. (850) 576-2676, itsmeowornever.com

(TRIPLE R)

Provides horse rescue for physically or psychologically abused, neglected, troubled or abandoned equines as well as rehabilitation, retraining, and placement or retirement. (850) 2191497, http://equinerr-tlh.webs.com/ Friends of Gypsy

An organization dedicated to the trap, vaccination, spay/neuter and release of Leon County’s feral cats in efforts to prevent overpopulation and/or euthanasia.

The public is encouraged to become a caretaker for feral colonies. (850) 926-1002, friendsofgypsy.org E-mail: fog@friendsofgypsy.org Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida Veterinarians and

volunteers collaborate to find the best homes for purebred Labs that are spayed/neutered.

Online applications for adoption are available. (866) 464-LABS, labradorrescue.net Leon County Humane Society

This “no-kill” organization advocates for the adoption and humane treatment of all pets through rescue, and community education and assistance.

(850) 224-9193, lchs.info Southeastern Greyhound Adoption Uniting regional greyhound owners, Southeastern Greyhound Club provides exclusive activities from obedience training to pet therapy for members, and an adoption program featuring former racing Greyhounds.

(770) GREYPET (473-9738), greyhoundadoption.org

Tallahassee Collie Rescue, Inc. Tallahassee Collie Rescue meets the medical needs, including heartworm treatment, of the rescued purebreds in the organization’s adoption program. (850) 251-6519, luckydogsolutions.com/ collierescue; Foster, adoption or volunteer info: (850) 309-1593 Tally-Ho Mustangs (wild horse and burro rescue & adoptions) Promoting the welfare of America’s wild horses and burros through education, demonstrations and exhibitions, and mentor and rescue with the goal of preserving and protecting wild horses and burros.

(850) 545-0024, tallyhorses@gmail.com TLC Rabbit Rescue, Inc.

This organization transitions rabbits from the animal shelter to permanent homes through their animal adoption program.

Spay/neuter and other medical needs are met while the rabbits await adoption. (850) 766-1435, petfinder.com; ddwayne@msn.com T.R.E.A.T.S., Inc. Treatment

Resources & Education for Animals in Temporary Shelter promotes responsible pet ownership through free spay/ neuter procedures and community outreach on humane treatment of pets. treatsinc.org

Tallahassee

75

Florida’s

Towerof Power

An Old Capitol

The common story is that the new Capitol was built to thwart efforts to move Florida’s capital city to Orlando. Forgotten is that the old Capitol was also falling apart. It was originally built in 1845, with several more recent additions, and by the 1960s, the Florida Capitol was a hodgepodge mess of offices that had been built during different times in Florida’s history.

76

March–April 2011

A Plain-Jane Joke, An Incomplete Dream or A Design for its Time?

A Look Back on How the ‘New’ Capitol Arose to Dominate Tallahassee’s Skyline

By Lilly Rockwell

“It was like a kid’s tree house,” said Bill Cotterell, a political reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat who worked out of the old Capitol as a United Press International reporter. “They kept adding on over the years, as the state grew.” There was no central air conditioning and the elevators were hand-operated. With the advent of electronic typewriters and clunky Xerox machines, the old building bulged with loose wiring. The electricity would occasionally blink off, leaving the Legislature to operate by candlelight.

During a time when criticisms of the old Capitol’s condition were mounting, Sen. Lee Weissenborn from Miami floated a proposal to move the capital to Orlando just as session got underway in April 1967. At the time, urban legislators grumbled about the costly travel to Tallahassee and complained about the poor phone and airline service.

Even worse, Tallahassee was a dry county.

“People were concerned,” said former House Speaker and Tallahassee area legislator Don Tucker. “The Legislature was used to having their drinking night.”

»

Photo by Scott Holstein

A

s legislators gather in Tallahassee this month to make laws that impact millions of Floridians, they will do so within the offices, conference rooms and hallways of Florida’s plain, white-walled, 22-story Capitol building.

Many are unaware the Capitol they spend so many hours in was almost never built and remains controversial to this day.

Unlike prized Capitol buildings in other states, Florida’s has settled into begrudging acceptance. The skyscraper building, finished in 1977, is often dismissed a snooze — architecturally boring and a bit of a joke for its obvious phallic image.

Tourists ignore it for the more photogenic “old” Historic Capitol Museum that sits just in front of the new. Locals give it tepid reviews, at best. Even the politicians who advocated for its construction in the 1970s now claim they don’t like it.

So how did a $43-million skyscraper that very few admit to liking become Florida’s state Capitol? The answer is a fascinating glimpse into a town determined to keep its powerful status as Florida’s capital, the shrewd political maneuvers of a supportive Florida governor and local legislators, and the unexpected strong influence of an outsider, a world-renowned architect who specialized in modern design.

The The Florida Florida Capitol Capitol complex complex is actually is actually three three buildings. buildings.

The The 22-story 22-story tower tower and and thethe two two domed domed chamber chamber buildings buildings beneath beneath it make it, make up up thethe main main Capitol Capitol building. building.

TheThe House House Office Office Building Building to to thethe northeast northeast and and thethe Senate Senate Office Office Building Building to to thethe southeast southeast areare connected connected to to thethe Capitol Capitol through through covered covered walkways. walkways.

(The (The Knott Knott Building, Building, which which does does notnot match match thethe rest rest of the of the Capitol Capitol complex, complex, is is located located southwest southwest of the of the Capitol Capitol and and is used is used by by thethe Senate Senate). and House).

On On the the top top floor floorisis the thepublic publicobservation observationdeck, deck, which whichcan canonly onlybe beaccessed accessed through throughcertain certainelevators. elevators.ItIt also alsohas hasaasmall smallart artgallery. gallery.

multitude of different offices. It houses offices of the state library and archives, the governor’s policy staff and other statewide offices such as the Office of Adoption and Child Protection. Also in the tower are several floors of House members’ offices, the Florida Channel, House information technology, as well as the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Department of Military Affairs.

1,500 people

work in the Capitol, though that number rises considerably during the legislative session.

There are two different cafeterias, one on the lower level and the other on the 10th floor.

There is a gym

in the Senate office building which is available only to staff.

The Capitol has a chapel and a health

The media gets

clinic staffed by nurses.

its own viewing room to observe House and Senate floor action.

Public elevators

have no button for the sixth floor. On that floor is the Capitol’s utilities room that only a small number of staff have the ability to access.

In general,

the House of Representatives occupies the north side of the Capitol the Capitol and and have offices in the members have tower, while offices in thethe Senatewhile tower, occupies the the south Senate occupies side. the south side.

The tower has a

The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture and consumer services commissioner each have offices on the plaza level. They gather just one level below in the Cabinet room for meetings.

Two levels of

underground parking have about 350 spots.

Tallahassee

77

The ‘New’ Capitol Weissenborn gathered a group of legislators from the Orlando and South Florida areas to talk strategy for his move-the-capital campaign, telling them that 80 percent of Floridians lived closer to Orlando than Tallahassee. What to do with all these state office buildings? Give ‘em to booming Florida State University.

Fortunately for Tallahassee, North Florida legislators rallied to the city’s defense.

A resolution to keep Tallahassee as the capital was swiftly put together just days after Weissenborn’s strategy session and pushed through the Senate and House over a three-day period. It directed the Capitol Center Planning Commission to build new legislative facilities in the Capitol building, with the $10 million in bonds that were approved by the Legislature in 1965 to build separate legislative facilities. “(This action) should end speculation about moving the state’s capital away from Tallahassee,” the Tallahassee Democrat reported on April 27.

Choosing an Architect

Despite authorizing $10 million for Capitol renovations, plans morphed in the next two years into building an entirely new Capitol.

Sen. Weissenborn did little to stop it, and even purchased a house in Tallahassee in 1969, which the Democrat gleefully reported.

At this point, the historical record and the memories of those involved get a little murky.

It seems no one wants to actually take credit — or the blame — for selecting the architect. Former Gov. Claude Kirk, who now lives in West Palm Beach, said it was the previous governor, Hayden Burns, who picked the architect. (Though news articles indicate the timing made this unlikely.) Former Gov. Reubin Askew recalled a planning commission making the initial selection, with the six-member Cabinet and then-Governor Kirk approving that selection. The Democrat and “The Florida Handbook” allude to the Florida Cabinet and Kirk choosing the architect.

Whomever made the decision, by September 1969 New York architect Edward Durell Stone and the Jacksonville firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills presented the Florida Cabinet with a design of a sleek, modern skyscraper building with legislative chambers beneath.

Stone was an internationally known architect who was in the midst of designing the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and had designed the Modern Art Museum in New York. Stone was even on the cover of Time Magazine in 1958.

78

March–April 2011

Alternative Number Three

The State’s Historic Capitol Endures as a Tallahassee Icon

By Jason Dehart

F

lorida became a U.S. territory in 1821, Replica of the first Capitol, 1824. and the twin problems of geography and sparse population made governing difficult. There were two capitals, located in the two North Florida population centers of Pensacola and St. Augustine.

Early on it was evident a more central location was necessary for state government to work, said Bruce Smathers, former secretary of state and champion of the Historic Capitol.

“The first territorial session was in Pensacola and the next one in St. Augustine, but the Pensacola delegation shipwrecked off the Keys, and made it emphatic that something had to be done,” he said.

Tallahassee became the state capital in 1824. Territorial Gov. William Pope Duval commissioned two men, William H. Simmons of St. Augustine and John Lee Williams of Pensacola, to survey a suitable spot somewhere between the two cities. Finding the “old fields” of Tallahassee to their liking, they established a survey marker near a ravine where cascading water flowed.

The first Capitol was a simple wooden cabin, soon followed by a two-story house. A sturdier brick-and-mortar structure was commenced in 1839 and completed in 1845 — just in time for statehood.

But by the late 19th century, the state’s population started booming. Suddenly, the capital’s presence in North Florida became challenged by a population moving ever southward.

“Two things happened. Plant built his railroad south into Tampa, and Flagler built his railroad south to Miami,” Smathers said. “You had this explosion of population based upon the expansion of the railroads on both coasts. In 1900, basically at the turn of the century, they held a vote of the citizens whether they should move the state capital to a more centralized location. The other locations were Ocala and Jacksonville. But the people voted for Tallahassee.”

This vote was a catalyst for construction of the “1902 Capitol,” Smathers

A Modern Capitol

Stone’s design for Florida’s Capitol was received with enthusiasm when the Florida Cabinet officially approved it in September 1969.

“There’s an ingenious blend of the past and future Florida, the nostalgic and the visionary, in the architectural design for a new state Capitol unveiled today,” wrote editor Malcolm Johnson in the Tallahassee Democrat.

Stone’s original design looks a bit different from the Capitol today. There was still a tall office tower, but it was only 18 stories and was set behind a lower-slung office building with two legislative wings attached to it. There were no domes, only

three “bubbles” atop the tall tower and an observation gallery. Stone included the old Capitol in his design, but the smaller 1845 version. “The old Capitol will be trimmed back to its 1845 form and dimensions as a historic centerpiece for the complex,” the Democrat explained in September 1969.

Part of Stone’s vision was not just the Capitol, but also a complex of state buildings and legislative offices, with an elaborate park and pedestrian mall in front of the new and old Capitols, with fountains and gardens. This would have required rerouting Monroe Street to where Gadsden Street crosses Apalachee Parkway and developing Cascades Park.

said. This new Capitol took the center portion of the 1845 structure and added two large wings for legislative chambers and the Supreme Court. A large dome replaced a smaller cupola installed in the 1890s, and around this time the “candy stripe” awnings were installed. But the population continued to grow, and 20 years later the Capitol’s size changed with it. Instead of new wings, the 1923 Capitol featured an east-west expansion. This version of the building would be the last in which all three branches of government — legislative, executive and judicial — would be housed under one roof. Henry J. Klutho, architect of the 1923 Capitol, doubled the useable space of the building but kept its classic lines. Only two more additions would be made to the Klutho capitol, one in 1936 for the House and one in 1947 for the Senate.

In the 1950s, a government panel said an altogether new Capitol should be built, but it wasn’t until the 1970s — after another attempted relocation effort was confronted — “that Gov. Reubin Askew and the cabinet approved a design for a new building.”

Shortly after the “new” Capitol was built in 1978, legislators debated on what to do with the “old” Capitol, which now was squeezed in tight between the new Rendering of second building’s legislative ofCapitol, fice wings. Smathers 1830. loved the jaunty old building so much he refused to move his office into the new one.

“I vowed to stay in the historical Capitol building to demonstrate the structural soundness of it,” he said.

“It was portrayed by proponents of the new one that the old one was a threat to human life and safety.”

When it looked like the Old Capitol was going to be demolished, Floridians flocked to its defense in a “Save The Capitol” movement. Thousands of petitions were signed, and Smathers himself hosted a party for thousands of supporters who toured the old building and decorated it with more petitions of support. During the drive to save it, Smathers started calling it the “Historic

Photos and Renderings Courtesy Florida Archive

From Approval to Criticism

Because $10 million had already been appropriated for legislative buildings, excavation began on them in 1970, using Stone’s design concept. The new Capitol was underway.

A year later, discord emerged over Stone’s design. Florida had a new governor, Reubin Askew, and a new Cabinet. This new Cabinet was not the same group that had approved earlier designs of the Capitol and some new members were unhappy with the design. “When people come to see the Capitol, they expect to see something that looks like a Capitol,” complained Senate President Jerry Thomas to the Democrat.

Comptroller Fred “Bud” Dickinson led

Capitol” to emphasize its Third Capitol, 1845. importance.

The Legislature considered several options for dealing with the old building. Options included total demolition; demolition, and marking the foundation of the 1845 capitol; restoration of either of the 1845, 1902, 1922, 1947 buildings, and making no change at all. Finally, in 1978, it was decided to restore the 1902 version, which was titled “Alternative No. 3” during the concept phase.

The building we see today was completed in 1982. This plan was the most attractive because it did away with the wings of the 1947 complex, which made for cramped quarters on the hill.

Smathers said realizing the vision of the 1902 version’s interior appearance was helped along by Tallahassee residents. He said many looked into their attics and old trunks to find photos that could help guide the restoration.

“We had good photo evidence of the 1923 Capitol, but not for the 1902 building. Interior photographs were lacking to tell us what it looked like inside,” he said.

Fast-forward to the present, and the Historic Capitol enjoys its status as an elder statesman, revered and cherished as a landmark of great significance. It’s a museum of not only its own history, but the history of Florida’s changing political landscape. However, it still needs help.

“We have a wonderful building but a lot still needs to be done with it,” said Smathers. “Not only is it the most important historical structure since colonial times but it also is a symbol of Tallahassee.”

In 2009, the Florida Legislature created the Historic Capitol Foundation to provide financial support, advocacy and stewardship to promote its program of civic education.

“Our goal is to help raise funds, and a proposal has been made to turn the historic state Capitol into a wonderful, first-class museum to not only preserve the artifacts of Florida history, but also be a sort of living museum for not just the people of Tallahassee but also the people of Florida,” Smathers said.

Green Space Architect Edward Stone’s early design concepts included a shorter tower, keeping the old Capitol and an extended pedestrian plaza with gardens and fountains that would have required rerouting Monroe Street.

Tallahassee

79

the charge against building the new Capitol, pushing for a more traditional domed Capitol. Stone’s design was criticized for being too contemporary and for overshadowing the Florida Supreme Court building.

Stone was flown in to offer a new design.

The architect met with the Florida Cabinet and legislative leaders on March 16, 1971 ,at the new, swanky Killearn Country Club and revealed a revised Capitol design that was an effort toward pacifying the critics.

His new design eliminated the tall tower, pushing those offices into the same building with the two legislative chambers. It still had the vertical lines and simple facade of the taller structure and kept the 1845 old Capitol.

This new version did not appease his critics or supporters.

“Completely unappealing,” commented Askew. The governor supported the tower concept but also conceded that a dome might be a nice addition. Suggestions flew around the room. Some wanted a dome, some didn’t. Some wanted it to have the look of a “Southern plantation,” others liked the modern efficiency of a tower.

Meanwhile, Stone sat in the back of the room, “chain-smoking and intermittently calling for something ‘architecturally distinctive,’ ” the Democrat reported. “Stone was told in effect to go back and try again — along more traditional lines.”

Askew to the rescue

Fortunately for Stone, he had Askew on his side.

Askew, a Democrat from Pensacola, is often portrayed as a huge supporter of the Capitol and its design. But Askew said design plans were already in place by the time he became governor in 1971. He felt it would slow down the important effort to build a new Capitol if the design was completely scrapped and the Cabinet had to start anew.

“I personally made the decision that I was going to pursue building a new Capitol,” Askew said. But, he says, “If I had started from the very beginning, I would have preferred, frankly, the traditional design of the Capitol.”

As a compromise, Stone returned with a modified design that included two “domes” on top of each legislative chamber to please the traditionalists.

It’s unclear whether legislative leaders and the Cabinet realized at the time that their compromise domes only contributed to the Capitol’s already phallic image.

Hicks Stone, Edward Durell Stone’s son, said the phallic look is merely “an accident.”

80

March–April 2011

The ‘New’ Capitol

Change of Plans Responding to criticism of the tower, the new Capitol’s architect showed Cabinet members a version without a tower (top). The Florida Cabinet and Governor finally approved a design (below) that closely resembles the Florida Capitol we know today.

Good Food.

Good Drinks.

Good Times!

••• He is certain his father did not intend for it to be snickered over for decades.

When the Cabinet voted whether to approve Stone’s design, the vote came down 4-3 in Askew’s favor. “We did vote 4-3 the first time and I didn’t want a 4-3 vote,” Askew said. “We went through a delay for a year or two and then came back with the same 4-3 vote. I said ‘Well, we’re going to go forward and build it.’ The money was there.”

Renderings Courtesy Florida Archive

Construction

Askew had ensured $25 million was set aside for the new Capitol and was concerned the money wouldn’t be available later. In 1973, construction of the tower and chambers began. Askew said the plan to re-route Monroe Street was scrapped. Gone were the pedestrian malls, parks and fountains.

As construction on the tower began, the House and Senate office buildings opened for business. Many legislative staffers made the transition from the old Capitol to the new.

Phelps, the current Senate Rules Committee staff director, remembers working through the noisy, disruptive construction of the Capitol as a policy analyst for a House committee.

“It was like living in a dentist’s office,” Phelps said. “The pillar, the support columns, were being driven into the ground and all day long it was WHAM, WHAM.” After four years of construction, in which Tallahasseans watched a

Vintage Bistro & Bar 1019 N. Monroe St. 850.224.1175 ••• Friend us on Facebook for a free appetizer.

Tallahassee

81

Edward Durell Stone Architect of Florida’s Capitol

E

dward Durell Stone came into his own as an architect during the heyday of modern design.

Born in 1902 in Arkansas, he got his architectural degree from the University of Arkansas. At the urging of an older brother, Stone moved to Boston in the 1920s and apprenticed at an architectural firm there.

After moving to New York City, Stone had amazing success early in his career. DurGeneral ing the Great Motors Depression he building in worked on two New York buildings still redesigned vered for their

by Edward Stone. design: 30 Rockefeller Plaza and Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Stone’s contemporaries were architects like Mies Van der Rohe, a pioneer of the modern design movement known for its clean lines and simplicity. Gone were the fancy adornments of Gothic or Classical architecture. Its beauty was its austere design.

Like Van der Rohe, Stone gravitated toward modern design. Hicks Stone is the son of Edward Durell Stone, who died in 1978. He has written a book about his father’s career due to be published this fall. Hicks Stone said, at the time, modern architecture was considered cuttingedge and “highly controversial.”

“It was something completely alien in a way we can’t quite comprehend,” he said. “It totally contradicted a millennia of established architecture tradition.”

Stone opened up his own office in the 1930s and, except for a brief stint designing army bases during

82

March–April 2011

The ‘New’ Capitol

World War II, he continued to receive residential and commercial commissions. One of his first commissions was New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which cemented his growing reputation as a talented modern architect.

Modern design may have been underappreciated by the public, but was considered the only acceptable form of design by academic and architectural communities by the middle of last century, Hicks Stone said.

“They were trying to expunge the legacy of historicism,” he explained.

“They fought it and thought they won in the 1930s.”

But by the 1950s, Stone began to separate himself from his contemporaries, gravitating more toward a hybrid of modern and classical design.

When he designed the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, completed in 1954, he stuck to modern design, but included some “historical references,” such as arches or arcades, Hicks Stone said.

This hybrid design became his calling card but angered proponents of modern design. He became disliked within the academic and architectural communities, but more commercially successful. He even appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 1958.

“My dad was famous for his charm,” Hicks Stone said. “And his accessibility.”

By the late 1960s, Stone was one of the top architects in the nation.

Though he hadn’t done any prior Capitol buildings, Stone was selected to design the Florida Capitol.

While many Floridians now say they are disappointed Florida’s Capitol is modern and not a more traditional design, Hicks Stone said the building is merely a product of its time. “If it was the year 1980, you would have gotten a very sensitive re-creation of the existing Capitol building, but at the time (1970) people weren’t working in that kind of fashion. In fact, Dad’s settled use of historical elements was considered heretical.” — Lilly Rockwell

Tallahassee

83

rising tower remake their skyline, the Capitol was ready to be occupied by the fall of 1977.

Decorating a Capitol

The Capitol needed new furniture. Legislative leaders and Cabinet officials were allowed to decorate their offices and chambers as they saw fit. A skeptical public and press were critical of such purchases and saw the new Capitol as unnecessarily lavish.

Tucker recalls traveling to Chicago and picking out chairs and desks at the Merchandise Mart. “I had to pick out furnishings for the seats of the chamber, the carpet, and picked the color of the carpet and the kind of wood,” Tucker said. “Then I furnished the speaker’s office and the press grabbed hold of (my desk) and made out like … I’d take it home with me. So I sent it back. I said ‘I don’t want the damn thing.’”

The lobby is floor-to-ceiling cream-colored marble quarried in America but sent to Italy for finishing, Florida Trend reported.

The giant screen above the House speaker’s podium that tracked bills and digital clocks to time debate were also noted.

A column in the Tampa Tribune from March 27, 1978 said legislators would engage in debates while sitting in chairs worth $434 apiece. “Those desks are $693 worth of teak in the House and $950 of rosewood in the Senate,” the column said.

Others saw the new Capitol as impersonal.

“There was nothing in it to suggest you were in Florida,” legislative staffer Phelps said. “It could have been anywhere — a post-modern boardroom.”

Capitol employees appreciated the modernity of the building. “A monument to late 20th century technology — and a few savvy politicians who figured a way to get it off the ground after arguing about it for more than a decade — it was built to last a thousand years,” The Democrat trumpeted the day it was unveiled to the public.

A Building Unveiled

While the new Capitol was being criticized for its design, cost and furnishings, the old one was enjoying a bout of positive publicity like it had never seen before.

On the eve of the new Capitol’s dedication ceremony in March 1978, a huge rally was held at the old Capitol where members of the public were invited to glimpse it, for what could be the last time. The Democrat described the Capitol as an “old lady” who “welcomed them with a warmth that worked its magic on almost everyone who 84

March–April 2011

The ‘New’ Capitol

attended.” This party was organized by Secretary of State Bruce Smathers and his wife Nancy, who were huge proponents of keeping the old Capitol.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I know of, that I have seen anywhere,” gushed one partygoer to the Democrat. “Anyone that wants it torn down — why, that’s ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, the new Capitol was getting ready for its debut the very next day. Comparisons were inevitably made to the old Capitol — and most were unfavorable.

“Standing tall and plain in $43 million worth of concrete splendor, Florida’s new First Lady made her official debut Friday,” The Tampa Tribune wrote of the dedication ceremony. The dedication itself was held at the Capitol’s rear entrance because the front entrance was blocked by people rallying to save the old Capitol.

Tucker said at the dedication that people would grow to love the new Capitol.

Askew, the Capitol’s biggest cheerleader, took the podium and extolled the virtues of the Capitol.

“We do not own this building,” Askew said. “The building is dedicated to the service of the people of Florida.” He called the Capitol a “monument to the popular will,” and tellingly said afterwards that the most impressive part of it was that it was complete.

The Capitol’s Legacy

Over the years, the new Capitol was never quite embraced by the public. Phelps, who used to be the curator for the Historic Capitol Museum, put it bluntly: “Most people I know don’t like it.” Tucker said if he could vote over again, he would have just expanded the old Capitol rather than build a new one. Askew says he would have preferred a traditional design.

The one universally applauded aspect to the new Capitol is its 22nd floor, which is open to the public and offers views of the countryside. On a clear day, visitors can see the treetops of Georgia to the north and almost to the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

While many Floridians may now question the wisdom of the plain white tower that dominates Tallahassee’s skyline, an aging former governor still wistfully imagines what could have been if Monroe Street had been moved and Stone’s full vision of the plaza in front of the old Capitol was realized.

“Edward Durell Stone knew what he was doing and … we missed a chance to have one of the most beautiful Capitol centers in the country,” Askew said. n Tallahassee

85

Jean Trips

e

Thomasville

Looking for a quick weekend getaway with minimum planning and maximum return? Pull on your favorite pair of blue jeans, hop in the car and get ready to meet the neighbors!

Washington County

86

March–April 2011

e

Thomasville History, Shopping and Fabulous Food Driving Time: 45 minutes | Miles: 35

By Lilly Rockwell

M

y husband and I thought we knew the usual suspects of Tallahassee area tourism. We shivered in the cold waters of Wakulla Springs, toured historic Goodwood and visited just about every museum in or around downtown, hitting some twice.

Yet we were surprised to find a hidden gem 30 miles north of Tallahassee.

In the heart of the quaint city of Thomasville (population 20,000), we found the expected: history museums, a bed-and-breakfast and antique shops galore.

But unexpectedly, I also found a shopper’s paradise. Along Thomasville’s downtown Broad Street I discovered a sportsman’s heaven of high-class hunting gear, hip clothing and houseware boutiques, a food shop coveted for its locally made cheeses, a charming bookstore, a sweet-smelling bakery, a coffee shop that rivals any big city’s Starbucks — and even an old-fashioned soda fountain with children sipping malted milkshakes.

But this town’s got more going on than shopping. Recreational opportunities abound. We blasted 20-gauge shotgun shells at clay pigeons; and had we planned for it, a prestigious 18-hole golf course would have been beckoning.

Downtown Thomasville

Rufus Smith House

photos Courtesy Thomasville Tourism, Chipley Railroad photo courtesy Washington County TDC

The Resort Era

There are plenty of lodging choices in Thomasville, from chain hotels like Holiday Inn to bed-and-breakfasts. We stayed at Paxton House Inn, a home built in 1884 that boasts wide porches, cozy cottages and a mouthwatering breakfast that lived up to the hype.

To understand more about Thomasville, we first visited the Thomas County Museum of History, located inside a historic house. The house itself is filled with artifacts, such as the tiny-waisted dresses women wore in the 1800s. There is a handy video tour and a guide will typically show guests around other historic homes on the property.

Unlike other Southern cities, such as Atlanta and Savannah, Thomasville was spared from property and rail damage inflicted during the Civil War. The town was able to bounce back quickly during Reconstruction and focused on tourism, drawing Northerners who wanted a vacation spot with fresh, pine-scented air where they could avoid the mosquito-ridden coasts.

Several resort hotels catering to the super-rich were built during the late 1800s, with the latest and greatest amenities of the time. Unfortunately, Thomasville’s resort era drew to a close in the early 20th century when Henry Flagler began building his railroads along Florida’s east coast, and South Florida became the new vacation hot spot.

Remnants of this resort era, and the wealth Thomasville accumulated during that time, remain in the Thomas County area, with more than 40 plantations still in existence.

While there is much documented about the wealthy plantation class, little was kept or written down about the lives of black people throughout Thomas County’s history.

Luckily for tourists, military veteran and Thomasville resident Jack Hadley decided to turn his personal collection of black memorabilia into a museum.

Hadley’s Black History Museum features his exhaustive personal collection and donated items.

Pebble Hill Plantation

Tallahassee

87

88

March–April 2011

Jean Trips Thomasville

Where To Go Lodging

Paxton House Inn (229) 226-5197, 1884paxtonhouseinn.com Freedom Oaks Bed and Breakfast (229) 227-1749, freedomoaksbb.com Dining

Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop

The sheer variety of photographs and memorabilia can be overwhelming, but Hadley eases any confusion with a detailed tour, pointing to astounding artifacts like rusted chains used to imprison slaves. His own history is equally intriguing. Hadley was born on the area’s most well known plantation, Pebble Hill.

Pebble Hill Plantation is a museum that is open to visitors and should be a required stop for all Thomasville tourists. The plantation is simply gorgeous, with magnolias and trees dripping in Spanish moss across 3,000 acres. Visitors can roam the grounds, or pay for a tour of the main house, which was finished in 1936.

Many of the other plantations in the greater Thomasville area are privately owned and rarely seen by the public, which is what makes Pebble Hill special.

Photo By Scott Holstein, Inset photos Courtesy Thomasville Tourism

A Shopper’s Paradise

Unlike many small towns that have watched their Main Streets shrink as the popularity of large indoor shopping malls and superstores rise, Thomasville has successfully fought back. Its Main Street program has revitalized downtown, drawing in tourists.

Visitors should spend an afternoon on Broad Street, where many of the shops are located. (Don’t neglect some of the side streets as well). Broad Street features a chic clothing boutique called Ally B with trendy clothes for young women. I adored Relish and Limelight. At Relish, shoppers will find high-end cookware and cookbooks, delicious and decadent desserts, and a fitness clothing store in the back called Dash.

Limelight has something for everyone, from seasonal decorations to clothing and

shoes for women and children. For homebodies, Thomasville offers plenty of home decorating stores, such as Nest and Firefly. I spent 30 minutes just smelling Nest’s plentiful supply of soaps and lotions, vowing to return with a bucketful of cash.

I’ll admit — my husband, Mark, did spend much of his time sitting on benches outside the stores while I shopped, though he liked the running shoe selection at Dash.

For the huntin’ and fishin’ types, Kevin’s is the place to go for hunting gear, guns, ammunition and a surprisingly good selection of Southern cookbooks.

Dining Out

Don’t leave Thomasville without having the white cheddar cheese grits at Jonah’s Fish and Grits. They were truly the best grits I’ve ever had. Jonah’s is regionally known and was recently featured in Southern Living magazine. Mark had their famous shrimp and grits, which are sautéed with bacon and chives and a buttery, light cream sauce. I sampled their tasty fried green tomatoes and fruit-laden harvest salad (and grits, of course).

Also downtown is Sparkle Goat Café, a quirky café with a vegetarian-friendly menu you don’t often find in South Georgia. Thumbs up to its belly-warming vegetarian chili and grilled cheese made with spinach and arugula. Go to Sparkle Goat while you can — it is currently for sale.

My personal favorite was Café Marebella. This snug Italian restaurant is located inside a renovated old train depot, with outdoor and indoor dining. The menu is full of tempting choices, such as shrimp fettucine alfredo, and plenty of traditional Italian fare. I had a fettucine linguini that

Jonah’s Fish and Grits » (229) 226-0508, jonahsfish.com Sparkle Goat Café (229) 225-9030, sparklegoatcafe.com Café Marebella (229) 225-1496 Liam’s (229) 226-9944, liamsofthomasville.com Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop (229) 228-6704, sweetgrassdairy.com Moonspin (229) 226-4488, moonspinpizza.com Local history

Thomas County Museum of History » (229) 226-7664, thomascountyhistory.org Jack Hadley’s Black History Museum (229) 226-5029, jackhadleyblackhistorymuseum.com Pebble Hill Plantation (229) 226-2344, pebblehill.com Thomasville Genealogical History and Fine Arts Library (229) 226-9640 Shopping

Relish/Dash (229) 227-0024, isadorapopper.com Ally B (229) 227-0402 Firefly (229) 226-6363, fireflyhome.com Nest/At Home in Thomasville (229) 227-0501, athome-online.com The Limelight (229) 228-4915 Mode (229) 226-8861 Kevin’s of Thomasville (229) 226-7766 The Bookshelf & The Gallery (229) 228-7767 Rest and Recreation Metta Day Spa (229) 225-6792, mettadayspa.com Myrtlewood Hunting Plantation (229) 226-1780, myrtlewoodplantation.com Glen Arven Country Club (229) 226-1780, glenarven.com Seasonal Events

Victorian Christmas, December Thomasville Rose Show and Festival, April 21-23 Boston Mini-Marathon and Festival, October Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival, November

made my eyes roll back in my head — it was that good.

One of the most unique Thomasville dining spots is the Sweet Grass Dairy cheese shop. This shop features cow and goat cheese made entirely by a local farm.

Tallahassee

89

90

March–April 2011

Jean Trips Thomasville

It is a foodie’s paradise, with exquisite jams, crackers and cheese piled high on tables. There is a bar and several tables where patrons can order wine, beer and cheese sampling trays.

Mark and I tried the Thomasville Tomme, Georgia Gouda, Cyprus and Asher Blue cow cheeses as well as the Eden goat cheese. Their flavors were memorable, with pairings such as honey or jams that complemented each cheese.

For Your Amusement

Whether you’ve got a lot or a little money to spend, Thomasville has plenty of recreational choices. Thomasville is a veritable hunter’s paradise. There are numerous quail and turkey hunting plantations and lodges that will host you, though you have to know where to look, or who to ask, to find out how to book a hunting excursion.

Myrtlewood Hunting Plantation is one lodge that offers fishing, skeet shooting, quail and white-tail deer hunting. These lodges aren’t just for the men. I tried my hand at skeet-shooting (the first time I’d ever shot a gun). I was terrified at first, and a terrible shot, but got into the rhythm and managed to obliterate five clay pigeons.

Golfers will love the Glen Arven Country Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in the South. It was established in 1895 and has hosted many of the nation’s best golfers as well as luminaries such as then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Thomas County is also known for several local running races, including the famous Boston Mini-Marathon, a 13.1-mile half-marathon that is a favorite of runners because afterward you can boast that you “ran Boston.” That’s a nod to the challenging Boston Marathon in Massachusetts that requires tough qualifying times just to get in.

And finally, ladies, I have saved the best for last. Located downtown is Metta Day Spa, offering manicures, pedicures, facials and massages. So whether your feet are tired from shopping, your shoulder is stiff from shootin’ guns or your mind reeling from 150 years of plantation history, Metta will rejuvenate your spirit. n

Tallahassee

91

Jean Trips

Washington County Water, Wolves, Wine and More Driving Time: 2 hours | Miles: 105

By Lilly Rockwell

A

fluffy-haired white Arctic wolf jogged to where I was sitting on a grassy hillside and started licking my face.

Instead of panicking or running away, I giggled.

I wasn’t the slightest bit afraid because I had just spent the last few hours getting to know the dozens of wolves that make up Washington County’s Seacrest Wolf Preserve.

This extremely rare experience — Seacrest Wolf Preserve is one of a handful of places that allows people to go into wolf enclosures and pet them — was just one of many delightful diversions my husband, Mark, and I experienced as tourists in Washington County.

Sitting just north of populous Bay County, Washington County is often overlooked by tourists as a weekend destination because it is outshined by the coastal attraction of its beach-laden neighbor.

My husband and I assumed Washington County had nothing to offer tourists beyond the fast-food fare we spied out our car windows as we drove along Interstate 10. Oh, how wrong we were.

Falling Waters State Park

Seacrest Wolf Preserve

92

March–April 2011

Yes, Washington County doesn’t have a large city like Pensacola, and you won’t find a mall. But what it offers in exchange is the opportunity to glimpse unfettered nature in a way you can’t in a larger city.

Just off the intersection of Interstate 10 and Highway 77 is Falling Waters State Park. This pine-forested state park lives up to its name. If visitors are lucky (and there has been a recent rainstorm), they can glimpse the beautiful 73-foot waterfall, the tallest in Florida. Water gushes from the top of fern-covered rocks, dropping dramatically into a large sinkhole below. There are many sinkholes at Falling Waters, which visitors can view from a winding boardwalk that allows you to peer inside them. Falling Waters also offers camping year-round as well as swimming and hiking.

For the hunters and fishers, opportunities to play in Washington County abound. At Hard Labor Creek Plantation, a 2,700-acre spread of land coated in pine trees, visitors can rent an A-frame cottage that sits steps away from an unspoiled blue lake surrounded by wilderness. Owner Ted Everett tells us his land is most popular with hunters. He offers quail and deer hunting as well as archery and skeet-shooting.

And if that’s not enough amusement, beginning this year Everett has ambitious plans to turn part of his land into a camping ground and ATV-riding play land. He has developed 20 miles of skull-rattling trails for ATV riders and motocross racers.

For those interested in a more refined outdoor experience, check out the Sunny Hills Golf Course, just off Highway 77. This course was opened in 1974 and designed by renowned professional golfers Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi.

We aren’t avid or skilled golfers, yet we had a blast attempting to aim our ball anywhere near the flag. Each of the 18 holes offered a new, enticing challenge. While waiting our turn, we enjoyed the Bermuda grass-covered course surrounded by sky-high pine trees.

Waterfall Photo Courtesy Dana Haynes, Seacrest Photo Courtesy Washington County TDC

The Outdoors

Afterward, we ate at Sunny Hills’ cafeteria, which had a smorgasbord of hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and more.

For the History Buffs

Everywhere you turn, there’s a bit of history to learn about Washington County.

At the Knothole Restaurant in New Hope, proprietor Allen White tells us over mouthwatering steaks that the nearby Choctawhatchee River has an island that was once home to post-Civil War marauders who used it as a party crash pad, a bit of historical trivia he shares in his new venture giving “swamp tours” of the river.

In Chipley, Washington’s county seat, we took a walking tour of the historic downtown. Washington County Historical Society President Dorothy Odom tells us the town was named after William Dudley Chipley, a man who never lived in the area but was responsible for steering the railroad through it.

Having the railroad made Chipley the economic engine of the county and a good contender for county seat, which it yanked from the city of Vernon in 1927. Visitors on the walking tour will learn the origins and lore behind the town’s oldest structures, many built in the late 1800s that managed to survive not one, but two, ravaging fires.

Touring the town with Odom means you’ll also learn a little about every county resident she runs into, and with every wave or hello comes a new tidbit or story.

Visitors shouldn’t neglect the History Museum in Chipley, which Odom runs.

This charming museum is the keeper of all things historical about Washington County. It is a treasure trove of fascinating artifacts, such as a clunky, ancient wooden phone operating system, musty old yearbooks, uniforms and books that explain the area’s history.

Our walking tour left us famished, so we stopped into the Gingerbread House, an adorable blue cottage on the periphery of downtown. Owner Beth Goddin offers Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, an investment that I could tell pays off once I bit into my yummy three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich. My husband had the Reuben with pastrami and corned beef. Goddin’s cottage is so picturesque that she hosts weddings there.

Fun and Games

When we weren’t soaking up history or enjoying the outdoors, Mark and I were kept occupied by the myriad choices for entertainment.

Tallahassee

93

The aforementioned Seacrest Wolf Preserve was an unforgettable experience we talked about for days afterward. Owners Cynthia and Wade Watkins started the preserve in 1999 and it is now home to more than 30 wolves. Their desire is to provide a safe haven for wolves, which they believe are misunderstood and wrongly viewed as being violent toward humans. Cynthia Watkins wants to educate the public on wolves’ true nature.

She does take precautions, such as requiring visitors to remove hats and jewelry.

I was surprised to discover the wolves were just like friendly, slobbering German Shepherds that wanted a little bit of food and attention. They even rolled over on their backs to get their bellies rubbed.

We also visited Three Oaks Winery in Vernon for a tour. This small, local winery produces just 3,000 gallons of wine a year.

Owner Byron Biddle likes to explain the winemaking process to visitors, showing us the enormous silver barrels he uses to make wine. He grows his own grapes, using the Conquistar or Muscadine variety for his wine.

He offers tasty samples of his wines, including his Chardonnay and Merlots, made from grapes that were not grown in Florida. One thing that makes his wine unique is its lower alcohol content since Washington is a dry county.

On a Saturday night, Mark and I headed to the Ebro Race Track, which sits in the southwestern corner of Washington County. Founded in 1955, this greyhound racetrack has a long history in the area. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed.

94

March–April 2011

Photo courtesy Washington County TDC

Ebro Race Track

Jean Trips Washington County

Where to Go Lodging

Holiday Inn Express hiexpress.com, (850) 638-3996 Comfort Inn comfortinn.com, (850) 415-1111 Hard Labor Creek Plantation floridaquail.com, (850) 527-6063 Dining

Knothole Restaurant (850) 535-9537 The Gingerbread House (850) 415-5411

Ebro Race Track ebrogreyhoundpark.com, (850) 234-3943 Skins & Bubba’s (850) 638-4227 Cancun’s Mexican Grill (850) 415-1655 Outdoor Recreation

Hard Labor Creek Plantation floridaquail.com, (850) 527-6063 Falling Waters State Park floridastateparks.org/fallingwaters, (850) 638-6130 Sunny Hills Golf and Country Club sunnyhillsgolfandcountryclub.com, (850) 773-0026 Fun and Games

Photo By Scott Holstein

Seacrest Wolf Preserve seacrestwolfpreserve.org, (850) 773-2897 Ebro Race Track ebrogreyhoundpark.com, (850) 234-3943 Three Oaks Winery threeoakswinery.com, (850) 535-9463 History Museum (850) 638-0358 Swamp Tours (850) 535-9537

To our surprise, the track offers a formal dining area where we enjoyed a delectable meal — a spicy southwestern burrito on a bed of rice and vegetables for me and a prime rib with a vegetable medley and creamy mashed potatoes for Mark. While we dined, we could place bets on greyhound races happening at other tracks in Florida. We lost our bets, but loved the thrill of rooting for our favorite dog.

Ebro also offers a little bit of Las Vegas with its poker tables. You can play Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha Hi-Lo or Florida ThreeCard poker on limit and no-limit tables. But after our embarrassing losses at greyhound races, we decided to call it a night. n Tallahassee

95

96

March–April 2011

A MESSAGE FROM JIM MURDAUGH March/April 2011

A Newsletter for the TCC Foundation

Jim Murdaugh, President Tallahassee Community College

I

t is truly a privilege to serve our community as president of Tallahassee Community College. During my 11 years at TCC, I have seen the College experience tremendous growth and success, both locally and beyond the borders of our service district of Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties.

As 2011 begins, an unprecedented opportunity exists for TCC to be recognized as the educator of choice for students in our district, the employer of choice for faculty and staff, and the partner of choice for employers and organizations in our community. To reach our goals will require teamwork, and I look forward to extending relationships throughout the community.

The College is embarking on a major campaign to enhance our health care education programs to meet the needs of our students, as well as health care providers who hire those same students. The Health Care Provision and Excellence Campaign is an ambitious plan to ensure that in the decades to come, Tallahassee Community College remains a leader in providing cuttingedge training to meet our community’s need for highly skilled health care professionals, creating jobs and boosting our local economy. The goals of the campaign include developing programs in emerging fields such as surgical technology; improving the equipment available to our dental health programs; and continuing to ensure the excellence of the faculty and curriculum at the heart of these programs.

The Health Care Provision and Excellence Campaign fits perfectly within the TCC Foundation’s mission to strengthen connections to the community, promote excellence in teaching and expand access to a college education. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is at the forefront of this effort, with Doug Bell chairing the campaign.

I look forward to working with the Foundation and all our donors to secure investments that continue to brighten the future of students who choose TCC.

TCC looks to the future of the health care industry

I

n order to ensure that the Big Bend region continues to have access to quality health care, Tallahassee Community College is expanding its health care programs in anticipation of growing community needs.

Beginning in 2011, 10,000 additional people will become eligible for Medicare every day. Largely in response to the aging of America, the health care industry will generate over 3 million new jobs by 2018, more than any other industry — and current projections predict a severe shortage of trained health care professionals in the coming years.

To address this need, TCC plans to increase its health care programs’

Doug Bell, Campaign Chair

John Hogan, Honorary Chair

(Continued on Next Page)

The Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education will host classes beginning in the Fall 2011 Semester

Capital City Caper

Presented by Mainline Information Systems April 10, 2011 2:00–7:30 p.m.

T

he Tallahassee Community College Foundation will host its fourth annual Capital City Caper, presented by Mainline Information Systems, on Sunday, April 10 to benefit TCC’s Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education.

The Capital City Caper is a zany limousine scavenger hunt, unlike anything else in Tallahassee.

It is not about figuring out where you are going or retrieving an item when you arrive, but instead solving puzzling clues which might be physical or mental. Teams of up to eight solve clues and accumulate points along the way, with the winners determined at the end.

After all the puzzles are solved and challenges

completed, the chauffeured limousines will return the competitors to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science for dinner and the announcement of the winners.

Contact the TCC Foundation at (850) 201-6065 or log on to www.capitalcitycaper.com to find out how you can be part of the fun.

Tallahassee Community College Foundation 2010-2011 Board of Directors OFFICERS:

DIRECTORS

Douglas S. Bell, President Mary L. Pankowski, Vice President James Ashmore, Secretary Todd Hunter, Past President

Mark Bates A.J. Brickler, III Steve Brown Pam Butler Marshall Cassedy, Jr. Frank Holcomb Darrin Holloman Mike Illers

Pamela Johnson Summer Knight John Lentz David Miller Almena Pettit Jim Rodgers Brian Rowland Frank Ryll

Winnie Schmeling Jimmy Suber Allison Tant Greg Thomas John Thomas Susan Payne Turner Richard “Rick” Weidner Polly White

Ex-Officio Janice France Eugene Lamb Jim Murdaugh

TCC Looks to the Future of the Health Care Industry (continued from front) enrollment by close to 100 percent over the next five years. In March of 2009, TCC broke ground on the new Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education. Construction is proceeding on time and the Center will host classes beginning in the fall. The facility’s 88,000 square feet of additional learning space will allow TCC to grow its health care education offerings — including expanded dental health programs and a new surgical technology program.

The TCC Foundation’s Health Care Provision and Excellence Campaign supports TCC’s growing health care programs by seeking investments for facilities, stateof-the-art technology, student support services, scholarships and more. As a show of support for TCC’s current and future students, all members of the TCC District Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors and the 26 full-time faculty and staff members of TCC’s Division of Health Care Professions have contributed to the campaign.

Chairing the campaign is Doug Bell, who will also serve as the campaign’s Board

Division Chair. John Hogan, President & CEO of Capital Health Plan (CHP), will serve as honorary chair.

Bell is a lawyer with Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar. His primary area of practice is legislative affairs, and he represents various Fortune 500 companies, local governments and not-for-profit organizations.

“It is an honor to be a part of such an important campaign which will, among other things, pay for the latest health care training technology and allow TCC to address the nursing and allied health care professional shortages,” said Bell.

Eugene Lamb, chair of TCC’s District Board of Trustees, said, “Doug Bell will be an excellent campaign chair. His service on the Foundation’s Board of Directors has demonstrated his incredible support for and understanding of TCC’s mission. The College is excited to have his experience and dedication to draw upon during this important fundraising campaign.”

Hogan, who will serve as the campaign’s honorary chair, has led Capital Health

Plan for over 30 years, from its initial development as its only employee to its current status as one of the area’s largest health care organizations.

CHP has been consistently recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as one of “America’s Best Health Plans.”

TCC District Board of Trustees member Karen Moore said, “John Hogan is the ideal person to lead TCC’s Health Care Provision and Excellence Campaign as honorary chair. His name is synonymous with quality health care in our region and his energy and innovation make him an invaluable resource for the College as it enters one of the most exciting, albeit crucial fundraising campaigns in its history.”

I nc re dib le o ppo r t unit ie s wi l l dot 2011 at TCC — the first year of Dr. Jim Murdaugh’s presidency, the grand opening of the Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education and the continuing efforts of the TCC Foundation to support the College and help secure a healthier tomorrow for our community.

2 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Photo by Whitney Fletcher Photography

WELCOME

Inside Your Guide

Springtime Tallahassee Partners.................... 5 Schedule of Events............................................................ 6 Main Stage Music Festival...................................... 8 Meet The Parade Judges......................................10 Title Sponsor....................................................................... 13 Memories................................................................................. 13 Andrew and Rachel Jackson.......................... 14 Belles and Gents............................................................. 14 Logo Design

Tallahassee Democrat Cover Design

Tallahassee Magazine Cover Photo

Joe Parramore

Published By

Rowland Publishing, Inc. Portrait Photography

Whitney Fletcher Photography

Contributing Authors

Richard Musgrove, President Elle Mick, General Chair Title Sponsor

Tobacco Free Florida 2011 Miss and Mr. Springtime

Lauren Lastowski & Ben Revell

Springtime Tallahassee would like to thank Tallahassee Magazine for their time and effort while putting together this year’s Festival Guide. Thank you for your hard work!

Elle Mick, General Chair & Richard Musgrove, President

M

any of our festival visitors tell us “spring truly begins here” in our Capital City. We want to thank you all for your faithful participation in the past and invite you to join us downtown to participate in this year’s 43rd Annual Springtime Tallahassee Festival. Largely due to your participation, Springtime Tallahassee continues to rank as one of the Top Events in the USA, Top Events in the Southeast, Top 10 Events in Florida and Best Community Event by the Readers of Tallahassee Magazine.

Our Springtime Tallahassee theme this year — What’s Cookin’? — will set the stage for cookin’ up good times for everyone. Enthusiasm abounds with all of our Springtime members, who are busy volunteering their time and contributing their helpful “recipes” to a successful series of events for all to enjoy. We are definitely “cooking up” some wonderful “menus” for our festival season, as well as “infusing” the entertainment necessary to delight the community and showcase our Southern hospitality.

The festival includes a lot of fun, complimentary venues for families and friends, such as the Grand Parade, Jubilee in the Park, our Children’s Park — always a hit with families — and entertainment stages throughout the Jubilee with local and regional entertainment acts. It’s one of very few places where a family can pack snacks and come downtown to enjoy entertainment.

We have also brought together a fantastic group of arts and craft vendors to offer many unique items at “direct-from-the-artist” prices, including those that are handcrafted. Our Seafood Festival will be held at Kleman Plaza, where our main stage will feature rising entertainment stars. Everyone should visit our Community Stage and Rock/Jazz/Blues Stage to enjoy some great local talent.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our many sponsors, as well as our Springtime members, whose hundreds of volunteer hours help to make this Festival weekend a huge success. Please honor our sponsors by visiting their booths and appreciating their services.

We are excited for this year’s Springtime Tallahassee Festival — especially the fun activities and menu of wonderful flavors prepared for our friends throughout the region. So come and enjoy and be a part of WHAT’S COOKIN’? — SPRINGTIME TALLAHSSEE! Springtime Tallahassee 2011 3

4 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Springtime Springtime Tallahassee Tallahassee 2011 2011 55

Schedule of Springtime Tallahassee Festival Events 2011

March

9

Breakfast in the Park 6:30–10 a.m. in Downtown Tallahassee, Bloxham Park

Join us for a delicious old-fashioned breakfast downtown and mingle with old friends.

Capital City Bank Downtown GetDown 6–10 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee, Adams Street

April

1

Kick off the weekend festivities at the GetDown Street Party located at the Adams Street Commons.

April

Grand Parade

2

10:30 a.m.–Noon on Monroe Street

One of the largest parades in the Southeast, the Springtime Tallahassee Grand Parade needs no introduction. Come see more than 100 colorful units and floats, marching bands, dance groups, Springtime Krewe floats and much more!

Jubilee in the Park 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee

With more than 250 arts, craft and food vendors from around the country, this event is represented by some of the best. You can expect artists displaying incredible original, handmade masterpieces and find cuisine with international flavors to ignite anyone’s taste buds!

April

2

April

2

HOT

spot!

Looking for the best parade viewing seats in the house or a morning snack before the activities begin?

Stop by Hotel Duval.

6 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Children’s Park

9 a.m.–5 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee

Looking for something for all ages, both young and young-at-heart? Here you’ll find a day full of fun-filled activities for all ages that will get those imaginations running with creativity. The Children’s Park has been designated as a smoke free zone. Almost 22 million children are being exposed to secondhand smoke . Tobacco Free Florida hopes to reduce these numbers by incorporating a smoke-free zone at Springtime Tallahassee’s Children’s Park.

Photography by Lawrence Davidson

Musical Guests April 2, Noon–5 p.m.

Community Stage

Noon–5 p.m.

Mason School of Music Killearn Dance Troupe Raa Middle Eastern Dance Excellence Dance, Inc. Firestorm & Kahu Ahi Capital City Shakespeare

Rock/Jazz/Blues Stage Noon–5 p.m.

The Wiley Coyote Band Sarah Mac Band Bill Hart Band

Reviewing Stands

9:30 a.m.

Tallahassee Community College’s Capital City Band

Jubilee

9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Hot Tamale!

Springtime Tallahassee 2011 7

Main Stage Music Festival

Presented by:

Springtime Tallahassee Seafood Festival and Shock Top Beer Garden April 2, 12:00–5:00 pm at Kleman Plaza The fifth annual Seafood Festival will offer a variety of cuisine guaranteed to ignite your taste buds. Come taste the best seafood around from vendors joining us from across the Florida coastline.

8 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Jason Jones

Stony Run

April 2, 1:00–2:15 pm at Kleman Plaza The powerhouse trio Stony Run is back! The group — Anna Ash, Marty and Angela Short — is taking the country music circuit by storm. The group is making a name for themselves with a harmony blend that will send chills though you as well as a unique sound and stage presence that captivates the audience.

With musical influences from Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, George Jones, George Strait and more, Stony Run has a winning style all their own. Get ready to enjoy Stony Run again this year!

April 2, 2:40–4:00 pm at Kleman Plaza Jason Jones grew up just south of Tallahassee in Wakulla Station. He attended Tallahassee Community College and spent a semester at Florida State University. Now, he’s on the fast track with a MAJOR record deal with Warner Bros. Music in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones is without a doubt destined for success with his songwriting and performance skills. Count on him to put on a fun, upbeat show.

Jason’s single drops to national radio on March 7, so call your local radio stations and request some Jason Jones. You can get details at www.myspace.com/ jonesville.

Tallahassee … Wakulla Station … come on out on April 2 and celebrate Jason’s national single under the Warner Bros. Music label.

Springtime Tallahassee 2011 9

Meet the Springtime Parade Judges From an astronaut to Teacher of the Year — Springtime Tallahassee’s 2011 Parade Judges are a few of Tallahassee’s most commendable citizens. In the article below, you will see why we’re fortunate to have them as a part of the 43rd Annual Springtime Tallahassee Festival.

Art Myers Art Myers worked at several broadcast stations before coming to WCTV in 1984. He and his coanchors bring the latest news and weather to North Florida and South Georgia morning and noon, Monday through Friday on the Good Morning Show and Eyewitness News at Noon. Art attended Tallahassee Community College and went on to major in Mass Communications at FSU. He comes from an Air Force family, the son of a man who loved the service and especially flying. His family lived many places while he was growing up, from Hawaii to Washington, D.C Art is the winner of several Associated Press awards for excellence in journalism. The latest was for coverage of the rebuilding effort in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina. Art is married to his sweetheart, DeeDee, the love of his life. Art and DeeDee enjoy traveling, gardening, and worshiping the Lord together at Tallahassee’s Wildwood Church.

10 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Tobacco Free Florida

Presents the Grand Parade

Missy began teaching science at Godby High School and currently teaches Earth Space Science Honors and is the Technology Coordinator at Deerlake Middle School. Missy is also a national board certified teacher in the area of Early Adolescent Science. Missy has also presented at many educational conferences in the areas of science education, gifted and exceptional student education as well as technology instruction.

Missy attended Florida State University and received a BS in Biology in 1986 and MS in Science Education in 1987. She has been actively involved in Girl Scouting, Junior League, Delta Zeta Sorority, Capital Regional Science and Engineering Fair and numerous other volunteer activities. Her husband is a native Tallahassean and all three of her children attend public schools here in Leon County.

Peggy Brady

General Snowden

Peggy Brady is the Executive Director of the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), the local arts and culture agency for the Capital area. Peggy is also a playwright and theatrical director and the co-writer/director of The Laughing Stock: Florida’s Musically Twisted Political Cabaret, poking fun at politics and everyday life in song.

Peggy was educated both at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA and at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida she began her now 40 year residence in Tallahassee as a teacher in the Leon County Schools Gifted and Talented program and curriculum designer for the Department of Education and the Federal Project for Gifted Education. Peggy was also the Executive Director for the Center for the Arts School of Theatre (C.A.S.T.) prior to becoming COCA’s Executive Director.

Lieutenant General Lawrence F. Snowden retired from the Marine Corps after more than 37 years of service, the last years of which he served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps. General Snowden was born April 14, 1921, in Charlottesville, Va., graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS degree in Commerce in 1942 and holds a masters degree in Personnel Administration from Northwestern University (1950).

General Snowden assumed the assignment of Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps on May 21, 1977 and served in that capacity until his retirement on May 31, 1979. For his service at the Marine Corps Headquarters, was awarded a second Distinguished Service Medal. His decorations and medals include: the Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Legion of Merit with Combat “V” and four Gold Stars in lieu of second through fifth awards; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Purple Heart with one Gold Star in lieu of a second award; Combat Action Ribbon; three Vietnamese decorations; one Japanese decoration; three unit awards plus eleven campaign and service medals.

Michelle “Missy” Atkinson Michelle “Missy” Atkinson is a 23 year veteran of the Leon County School system. She was named Leon County Teacher of the Year for 20009-2010.

Norm Thagard Norman Earl Thagard, born July 3, 1943 is an American scientist and former NASA astronaut. He is the first American to ride to space on board a Russian vehicle, and can be considered the first American cosmonaut. He did this on March 14, 1995 in the Soyuz TM-21 spacecraft for the Russian Mir-18 mission.

His accomplishments include: Inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame (2004), Member of Who’s Who In America & Who’s Who In Science and Engineering, Lifetime member of Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society as a result of performance in the Engineering Graduate School at FSU, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Academic Honor Society as a result of a 4.0 GPA in U.F.’s Executive MBA program, Erskine Visiting Fellow, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, N.Z., (2001), Designated Honorary Conch and Citizen of the Florida Keys (2000), Guest conductor of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (1999), Participated in the 1998 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on an award-winning float (“Best Animation”), Admitted to FSU’s Circle of Gold Honorary Society (1998).

Springtime Tallahassee 2011 11

RED HILLS HORSE TRIALS March 11,12,13 Klapp-Phipps Park Tallahassee

A Salute to Our Community 12 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Memories

Photography by Scott Holstein

I love Springtime Tallahassee because it brings the whole community together to celebrate the beautiful things in life — Friends, Family and Springtime in Florida!

— Alexa Von Staden

I marched in the parade while in high school band. My family and I continue the tradition of attending the parade with my nephew, now 12.

Necklaces, crewes, costumes, bands; too many memories to list. — Laura Cogdill

I have been to the parade many times with so many wonderful memories; In 2004 we won the runner-up award for not-for-profit with our beautiful float and a huge Taipei 101 tower. In 2007 our 3o-foot-long dragon won the top prize. Then in 2009 … the Taiwanese Youth Folk Sport Troupe won the best not-for-profit award again. The parade serves as a bridge for friendship and fellowship between people from my country, Taiwan, and my chosen one, USA. — Carl Huang My favorite part of Springtime Tallahassee is watching the live performances and musical acts on the different stages. I get to see new bands in person. One year, a band let me help set up. And, there are so many different types of food to try. There are tons of people, lots to do . . . It is like a big celebration. — Mac Carey

T

obacco Free Florida (TFF) is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded

by Florida’s tobacco settlement fund. The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health, specifically the Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program. TFF’s mission is to combat the pervasive problem of tobacco use in the Sunshine State, where each year, more than 28,000 Floridians die from smoking and tobacco-related diseases that cost the state an estimated $19.6 billion in healthcare and lost productivity.

Since its inception in February 2008, TFF has reached millions of Floridians through advertising, grassroots initiatives, social media and public relations efforts as a means of providing information and offer resources to help tobacco users quit. Smokers and

Our friends own a business on North Monroe, located at the beginning of the parade route. Each year, a group of us (about seven families) go early before the roads are closed and “tailgate” in the store’s parking lot. We bring community snacks and drinks (crackers, gummies, granola bars, juice boxes) for all the kids, as well as our fellow moms and dads (Diet Cokes, waters, mimosas!). Each year, we’ve added more kids to the mix as we’ve had them, and it’s so much fun to watch the”magic” of the parade in their eyes. As the cool morning breaks to the warmth of parade time, we shed cardigans and get ready for bead catching! After the parade ends, we load up the strollers and head downtown to enjoy the rest of the events. All of us are from Tallahassee, and attended the festivities as kids, so it’s the “circle of life,” Springtime Tally style! Would love to have a picture taken of our “bed store krewe” and gaggle of kiddos! :) — Evie Crosby

smokeless tobacco users interested in quitting are encouraged to look into Tobacco Free Florida’s FREE quit-smoking resources to get help and make this quit attempt their last.

Although permanently quitting tobacco is very difficult, it is not impossible. Sixty-one percent of adult Floridians who have ever smoked have quit, and there are more former smokers in Florida than current smokers. In 2009, about 58 percent of Floridian smokers tried to quit. The following tips will help smokers get started:

NOW to speak with a Quit Coach who will help assess the user’s addiction and create a personalized quit plan.

Online: Enroll in online counseling with the Florida Quitline, where each user can create a personalized, web-based quit plan. Visit https://www.quitnow.net/ florida to enroll.

In-person: Visit the Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network’s Web site, http:// ahectobacco.com, to locate a local AHEC and sign up for Quit Smoking Now group classes.

Step One: Set a Date

Step Three: Keep Trying

The first step one needs to take is to set a quit date.

Once the quit date is set, cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters should be removed from the home, office and vehicle.

Step Two: Get Help In many cases, treating tobacco addiction requires a comprehensive approach, including counseling and medications.

Tobacco Free Florida offers a number of free resources to help smokers quit.

Phone: Call the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-

“Quitting is only half the battle,” said Kim Berfield, Deputy Secretary of Policy and Advocacy for the Florida Department of Health. “Relapses happen, but it’s important that people keep trying and trying.”

Most successful quitters make several attempts before finally quitting permanently. In fact, the average number of attempts varies anywhere from five to more than 10.

You can follow the Tobacco Free Florida campaign on Facebook http://www.facebook. com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at twitter.com/ tobaccofreefla.

Springtime Springtime Tallahassee Tallahassee 2011 2011 13 13

Andrew and Rachel Jackson and the Belles and

Scott and Karen Jay Andrew and Rachel Jackson

Mr. Springtime — Ben Revell 14 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Miss Congeniality — Julie Greenberg

Miss Springtime — Lauren Lastowski

Gents of Springtime Tallahassee 2011

Photography by Whitney Fletcher Photography

(From Left to right) Bottom Row: Mary Beth Shields, Caroline Shaffer, Jo Thorn, Elaina Doxsee, Madison Hunt, Summer Shiver 2nd Row: Annie Jansen, Kirsten Rosenbaum, Kim Huffman, Janie Jansen, Mr. Springtime Ben Revell, Miss Springtime Lauren Lastowski, Miss Congeniality Julie Greenberg, Emily Ostreich, Alexis Snyder, MacKenzie Hunt 3d Row: Sarah Taff, Meaghan Maus, Kelly Rosser, Megan McKinley, Cassidy Claire, Morgan Bull 4th Row: Morgan Sykes, Philip Widener, John Michael Gatlin, Ryan Forgas, Garrett Larkin 5th Row: Matthew Widener, Alec Cramer, Mark Catney, Travis Sullivan 6th Row: Matthew McKissack, Brandon Smiley, Tyler Beal Top Row: Johnnie Blue Craig, Cole Bond, Carson Dumont

T

he Belles and Gents are the high school representatives of Springtime Tallahassee. They are sponsored for membership through existing Springtime Tallahassee members. The Belles and Gents participate in various functions throughout the year, including charitable and philanthropic events, etiquette lessons, ballroom dance lessons, participation in three parades including the Tallahassee Springtime Parade, monthly get-togethers and various formal functions.

This year the group consists of 42 kids ranging from high school freshmen to seniors. They had the opportunity to spend time with senior citizens at the Woodmont Assisted Living home as well as participate in leadership and team-

building events at the FSU Reservation. So far this year they have participated in two parades, the Perry King Tree Parade and the Tallahassee Festival of Lights Parade.

The main event of the Belles and Gents calendar each year is the crowning of Mr. and Ms. Springtime and Miss Congeniality. These high school seniors undergo a panel interview as well as a peer vote and earn participation points throughout their time spent with the Belles and Gents. The three stand-out seniors who earned these prestigious titles this year are: Miss Springtime Tallahassee Lauren Lastowski, Leon High School; Mr. Springtime Tallahassee Ben Revell, Lincoln High School; and Miss Congeniality Julie Greenberg, Leon High School.

Springtime Tallahassee 2011 15

16 Springtime Tallahassee 2011

home&

Photo Photos Courtesy Courtesy Mad Mad Dog Dog Construction Construction

GARDEN

CHECK IT OUT

» ROOFTOP GARDEn

Mad Dog Construction’s headquarters is green inside and out — and on top, too. Having built the only privately owned green roof in Tallahassee, the company has completely transformed a 1950s-era doctor’s office into one of Tallahassee’s most environmentally friendly buildings.

Plants varying from cacti to local herbs and grasses grow on the rooftop, planted in 6 inches of soil. When it rains, the water filters through and travels down gutters into a 3,000-gallon cistern buried in the front yard of the lot. The water

is then re-used for irrigation — an environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing alternative to a holding pond.

“It’s meant to be very low maintenance and not need very much water so that the capacity of the cistern can sustain the irrigation,” said Kelly Dozier, vice president and co-owner of the company.

The soil and plants also insulate the building from the heat and cold and block the sun’s UV rays. Not only does it help reduce utilities,

design | tips

but it prevents roof deterioration and can prolong the roof’s life span up to twice as long as the average.

The building also includes solar panels, lowflow water fixtures and Energy Star lighting, and should have its gold LEED certification soon.

The company has always been known for being green, but building the green roof was a way for them to become experts in the field.

“It was a way for us to practice and learn ‘the new green,’” she said. — Ana Goni-Lessan

TALLAHASSEE

115

What’s H New @ Home Manufacturers Roll Out Innovations at the 2011 International Builders’ Show

By Rosanne Dunkelberger

116

March–April 2011

appy Days Are Here Again” may be the theme song for Wall Street in early 2011, but builders are one sector still singing the blues. While the 47,000-plus attendees at January’s NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando is a goodly number of people, it’s less than half of the 105,000 who showed up at the show’s peak in 2006.

Some manufacturers didn’t make the trip to show off their wares, and those who were there had more subdued displays than during the glory years of the early 2000s. That said, there were acres of vendors inside the Orange County Convention Center and three complete houses built in the back parking lot. I spent a day and a half onsite and saw plenty — including HGTV hotties Eric Stromer and Carter Oosterhouse — but barely scratched the surface of what was there.

Here are some of the things I found in the cavernous convention hall: Very rarely do you see the rollout of a product that has never been seen before, like the first generation of microwaves, Corian or LED home lighting. Most of what’s “new” at the show are products featuring aesthetic changes or that are incrementally more functional.

That being said, it’s gobs of fun to see what’s

Photos Courtesy Formica and Merillat

Habitat

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

KITCHEN INNOVATION Is it marble? Formica’s new 180fx line of laminates (facing page) features oversized patterns with the look and feel of real stone. On this page, “dead” space in the corner comes alive with Merillat’s cut-in workstation and drawer storage (inset).

TALLAHASSEE

117

TALLAHASSEE

Watch

&

Habitat

Estate

Certified Raymond Weil Dealer NEW STORE (Next to Jos. A. Banks) 1350 MARKET STREET #105 850.877.3335

Always buying ne jewelry and watches

BUYING AND SELLING DIAMONDS AND GOLD 850.906.9213 TallahasseeDiamonds.com Private Appointments Available 118

March–April 2011

in store in the upcoming year. And so many leave you smacking your forehead, saying “Of course! Why didn’t somebody think of that sooner?”

Cabinetmaker Merillat hit a couple of home runs in this category for me.

The first is what they call a Core Guard Sink Base.

Who among us hasn’t had the underplumbing of a kitchen or bath sink spring a leak? By the time we figure it out, the cabinet base is wet, warped and moldy.

With the new Merillat product, the wooden outer parts of the cabinet snap onto a plastic-like polymer core. It’s designed with a slight tilt and grooves that contain and funnel wetness to the front of the cabinet. It also makes for easy cleanup if anything stored under there should happen to spill.

And I was totally enamored with their new CornerStore cabinet. Typical L-shaped kitchen layouts have large inside corner areas that are impractical as workstations and even worse for storage.

Merillat’s new corner base cabinet features a notched-out area where a person can stand and work. Best of all, there is a center stack of three long drawers flanked by two skinny pull-out pantry trays.

“CornerStore’s intuitive operation allows the homeowner to store more items, easily see what’s stored and (have) the ability to access those items quickly,” said Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat.

While “matchy-matchy” has long been

passé for clothes, jewelry and home décor, cabinet makers are also encouraging homeowners to mix up woods, finishes and cabinet styles when planning a kitchen.

Gingerbread and rosettes are making way for simpler moldings and accents.

I also saw lots of deep drawers in base cabinets rather than shelving, “soft-close” drawers and doors that eliminate banging and — this is genius — cabinets that light up when you open them.

The Formica company has been around for 113 years and, let’s face it, the name conjures up images of products that are outdated and low-grade.

But they blew my mind with new additions to their 180fx collection of laminates. These oversized patterns mimic natural stone and I defy you to tell the difference between Formica’s Calacatta Marble or Black Fossilstone and the real deal until you get close and touch it. There are finishes that match the subtle surface clefts and crevices of stone or the shiny highlights found in granite.

While it is more expensive than the regular Formica line, 180fx is still less expensive than natural stone without the upkeep. The pattern is massive — 5 feet wide and 8 feet long — which means you could cover an entire counter and backsplash without a repeat or seam.

The realistic look (and feel) is also underfoot with Armstrong’s new Duality line of vinyl flooring. The company boasts of a process that creates depth, dimen-

Photos courtesy Armstrong, GE and Broan-Nutone

New and Notable Products unveiled at the 2011 International Builder’s Show included Armstrong’s new Duality line of durable fiberglass flooring, GE’s Profile washer that can wash and dry a small load over night (below) and Broan-Nutone’s “Lipstick” range hood (facing page) in look-at-me red.

sion and definition in its flooring “so that stones look and feel like stones, and wood looks and feels like wood.” It’s made out of fiberglass and comes with a lifetime warranty, so add a fourth D — durability — to its attributes.

GE’s newest innovation for the laundry room is its Profile Frontload Steam Washer, featuring an “overnight ready” cycle. Picture this: It’s 9 p.m. and Junior has just informed you the smelly soccer uniform just unearthed from his closet needs to be cleaned by the next morning.

Rather than staying up late or waking at oh-dark-hundred to do laundry, the new cycle allows Mom to pop a small load in the washer, which will wash and then air dry the clothes for eight hours, so they’ll be fresh and ready to go.

But I was more thrilled by last year’s washer innovation — SmartDispense.

The pull-out pedestal drawer underneath the washer has large containers that hold a six-month supply of detergent and fabric softener that are automatically dispensed, depending on the cycle you choose. The washer, which comes in a lovely champagne color, is priced at $1,500.

One of the buzzwords of kitchen design is “integration,” which basically means appliances that fit in seamlessly with the cabinetry. The vast majority of the time, a refrigerator or dishwasher can be camouflaged with a front piece that matches the cabinets, but there’s usually a telltale knob or hinge sticking out somewhere.

In its top-of-the-line Monogram showcase kitchen, GE featured a cool Asian kitchen design, with tone-on-tone black walls and red weathered wood cabinets with brass lion’s-head pulls the size of butter plates. Give them a yank, and they opened to reveal the dishwasher and a skinny refrigerator that features a fresh food compartment, a smallish freezer drawer with an icemaker and a third TALLAHASSEE

119

Habitat

“convertible” drawer that could be used as a refrigerator, freezer or wine cooler.

Also in the kitchen, Broan-NuTone seemed to have a split personality with its range hood offerings. One of the Broan Elite hoods is designed to fit flush with a cabinet bottom, making it virtually invisible. On the other end of the spectrum, the company’s BEST brand features a shiny bright red European-style cylindrical range hood called “Lipstick” that would

become the focal point of any kitchen.

“Green” is still a buzzword for many products used in the construction or outfitting of homes.

Appliance manufacturers have been expanding their energy-saving Energy Star lines for years and now kitchen and bath fixtures have a new classification called WaterSense. Similar to Energy Star, WaterSense is an Environmental Protection Agency program that sets benchmarks for

Call ((850)) 878-0554 or visit today rowlandpublishing.com today.

CREATIVE. PRINT. SOLUTIONS.™

120

March–April 2011

Beatriz Ball • Home Source • Sferra Brothers • Down Town • Bunnies by the Bay • Lady Primrose

Rowland Publishing offers expert services in identity development, print collateral design and photography. Whether you need a logo, business card, brochure, newsletter, direct mail piece or annual reports, we specialize in creative print solutions that showcase your business without straining your budget.

is Home!

 Continuing the beautiful tradition with new owners, old favorites and the latest in affordable luxuries

Visit us at our new store at The Gallery on Market Street (down from Hopkin’s & next to Nic’s Toggery)

Free Gift Wrapping ~ Gift Registry

1495 Market St. (850) 893-1713 Mon.-Sat. 9:30-6pm Vera Bradley • Thymes • Crabtree & Evelyn • Trapp • Claire Burke • Peacock Alley • Matouk

The first thing you did was name your business. Now put a face with the name. Your visual products communicate who you are to your customers. Without well-designed, well-marketed materials, you’re just another face in the crowd.

Beatriz Ball • Home Source • Sferra Brothers • Down Town • Bunnies by the Bay • Lady Primrose

Vera Bradley • Thymes • Crabtree & Evelyn • Trapp • Claire Burke • Peacock Alley • Matouk

Photos courtesyMerillat

Less Mess Polymer undersink cabinets by Merillat contain leaks and spills and channel them to the front of the cabinet for easier detection and cleanup.

water savings and performance (in other words, is the showerhead able to rinse out the shampoo?) and awards the designation to those fixtures that meet them. For more information about the program and to develop strategies for saving water at home, visit epa.gov/watersense.

They appeared on the scene a few years ago, and now energy-saving LED lights are popping up everywhere — from refrigerators to traditional home lighting.

Initially, LEDs were just plunked into fixtures originally designed to hold incandescent light bulbs. The Phillips family of lighting created a “hockey puck” design to hold their LEDs, which fits in superbly with sleek Euro-style fixtures. But, says Product Manager Dennis Arnold, they’ve also created designs that take advantage of the fact there is no light bulb sticking up in the middle of the fixture. For example, the “Brocade” collection has a very traditional look, with a perforated metal shade that illuminates beautifully.

Another trend all over the show floor is “universal design” or “aging in place.”

Although there’s plenty of discussion over what it should even be called because many people equate the concept with “old” and “institutional.”

“We’re still working” on an identifier, said Amy Levner, the AARP’s Manager for Livable Communities. “These products are for people of all ages …. It’s just good design.”

In other words, wide doorways work just as well for the new mom trying to wrestle through a double stroller as they do for a wheelchair-bound elder. Or, a “curbless” shower that eliminates stepping over a tub is stylish and practical.

Kohler was showing an elegant Rising Side Tub. It fits in the standard 60-inchlong bathtub space, but sits higher and, once you’re sitting inside, the side slides up and seals. It looks considerably less clinical than the tubs with doors that open and shut.

Also on the bandwagon is Moen, which was introducing its Home Care line of bath accessories. There are stylish and functional shelves, towel racks and toilet paper holders in a brushed nickel finish that also can support a 250-pound person, eliminating the need for institutional-looking grab bars. They’ve also developed an anchoring system that doesn’t require the bars being bolted into a stud, so they can be located in more aesthetically pleasing places. n

Landscaping & Lawncare,LLC. Licensed & Insured

Lawn Maintenance ◆ Tree Trimming Debris Removal ◆ Roof & Gutter Clean-Outs Pressure Washing ◆ Overgrown Lot Clean-up COMMERCIAL

◆

RESIDENTIAL

Ben Vasilinda 850 228-7208 TALLAHASSEE

121

TA L L A H A S S E E OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND FOR THE YOUTH OF TALLAHASSEE THIS SUMMER!

Reading Success Starts Here

e

• One-to-one Reading Tutorials • Comprehension Classes • Study Strategies WOODLAND HALL ACADEMY’S Summer Program JULY 5TH–30TH

CALL 893-2216

122

March–April 2011

S U M M E R C A M P S 2 0 1 1 Announcing Tallahassee Little Theatre’s Dynamic Summer Day Camps!

Travel through the jungle, be a princess or a pirate, make up Tall Tales, enjoy theatre games inside and outside or put on your own show! Sessions available Jun.–Aug. for ages 5–17. Check out the camp schedules or register your child by going to:: www.tallahasseelittletheatre.org LIMITED ENROLLMENT Early registration begins Feb. 4–Mar. 31 starting at $99 a week.

1861 Thomasville Rd.

TALLAHASSEE

123

124

March–April 2011

mind&

BODY

In Focus

» OFFICE GLASSES

For many office workers, a long day of shifting focus between the computer screen, keyboard, desktop documents and people’s faces can cause tired eyes, headaches, and back and neck pain. Not to mention the inconvenience of constantly putting on and taking off — or peering over — reading glasses.

The fusion of traditional reading glasses and the more handy progressive lenses is the answer to this eye-straining conflict. “Office lenses” are glasses specifically designed to

allow for hassle-free transitions throughout the workday.

“They are used for computers and reading mainly,” says Antuawn Hinkle of The Hour Glass. “It’s a no-line bifocal that gives you the ability to have computer distance as well as your reading range without the visible lines.”

They offer the advantage of a wider reading range than standard progressive lenses.

Because they correct for near vision, objects more than 15 feet away get blurry. “You

your life | well-being

can’t drive with them,” Hinkle says. “They’re solely for computer and up-close use.”

Your local eye care professional can prescribe office lenses tweaked to your exact vision prescription. Or, for a less expensive alternative, the website computereyed. com offers a variety of men’s and women’s styles of office glasses for $39.99 plus shipping costs. You can choose from seven reading strengths between 1.5 and 3.0.

— Antonio Rosado

tALLAHASSEE

125

Health

Sorry

Safe?

or

Today’s Technology May Cause Next Generation Health Concerns

By Ana-Goni Lessan

126

March–April 2011

Whether they’re on the job or having fun, some of today’s habits and recreational activities of the millennial generation put them at risk for multiple chronic health problems that can surface later in life.

Tanning Beds The cast of Jersey Shore should think twice before they hit the tanning bed as part of their “gym-tan-laundry” daily routine.

“There is no such thing as a ‘healthy’ tan,” said Dr. Marc Inglese, a dermatologist with Dermatology Associates. In reality, a tan is a protection mechanism that occurs when skin cells are damaged, and it doesn’t matter whether you get one in the sunshine or in a tanning salon.

Tanning beds give off a very high dose of UVA radiation instead of the sunburn-causing UVB rays. A common misconception is that the skin isn’t being damaged because it hasn’t been burned.

Young people think they’re safe so they keep doing it, Inglese said. But the amount and frequency of tanning can cause the skin to overdose on UV light, in a manner of speaking, and form cancerous cells.

Inglese said he sees three to four new cases of melanoma each month. Luckily, most are caught early. However, it is still one of

the most rapid growing and aggressive forms of cancer. According to the dermatologist, today melanoma is 15 times more common than it was 40 years ago. It is the most common cancer in 25 to 29-year-olds and is most common in females.

Under current law, children under 16 need a signed parental consent form to use a tanning bed in Florida. But because of alarming statistics, Inglese and other dermatologists in Florida are urging harsher restrictions on tanning beds. “The push is to restrict tanning beds so minors can’t use them,” Inglese said. Several states have already banned tanning for minors. “As more data comes out, I think that’s going to become the trend,” he added.

And tanning naturally outdoors is just as dangerous.

The SPF rating on sunscreen only works correctly if it is applied heavily. “If you put on half the amount, you get a quarter of the effect,” Inglese said. In order to be completely safe from the sun, the doctor recommends staying out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and wearing protective clothing and sunscreen.

But if you’re still itching for a tan, spray tans are completely safe and are available at most of the tanning salons that offer tanning beds.

Earbuds While loud concerts wrecked the hearing of Eric Clapton, Roger Daltry and many baby boomers, blasting Lady Gaga on the iPod may be the culprit for the next generation.

Tanning Truths The only “safe” tan is a spray or self tan.

According to dermatologist Dr. Marc Inglese, tans from sunlight or tanning beds indicate skin damage.

tALLAHASSEE

127

Health

Azalea Women’s Healthcare Women taking care of women

Adrienne George, MD Anitra Brown, MD Regina Lewis, ARNP, BS Deborah White, CNM Kimberly Morphet, CNM Erin Schleicher, CNM OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 1219 Hodges Dr. • Tallahassee (850) 877-5767

128

March–April 2011

Lisa Myrick, a doctor of audiology and director of Tallahassee Ear, Nose and Throat, advises earbud users to never turn up the volume louder than 50 to 60 percent. The number of hours one listens and how loud the volume is can directly affect the damage done to the ear. “Even as little as 18 minutes in certain environments can cause damage,” Myrick said.

In the past, noise damage was usually seen among people whose jobs put them close to loud machinery, such as military personnel, hunters and farmers. Because noise exposure is cumulative, noise-induced hearing loss is typically seen later in life and is irreversible.

However, the millennial generation is at serious risk for noise exposure because of technological advances like iPods and custom earpieces. Custom earphones can be more comfortable, but they may be more damaging than regular earbuds, said Myrick. Because the sound goes straight down into the ear canal, it can cause more damage. However, for the same reason, the volume doesn’t have to be turned up as high.

“You just have to use common sense,” she said.

If you’re concerned about noise damage, it’s important to go to a doctor and ask for a hearing evaluation and an otoacoustic

Eyes to Ears To minimize hearing damage, keep the volume low and limit the amount of time you use earbuds.

The proper room lighting and screen brightness can help you avoid eyestrain.

emission test. “Those are good baselines to have,” she said.

Also, noise-canceling headphones — the bigger ones that look like earmuffs — can be safer for listening. “It should be safer to have a noise canceling system than not,” Myrick said. They produce a better quality of sound and reduce ambient noise while allowing the listener to better hear the music at a lower volume.

It is too soon to tell how many of the millennial generation will be affected by noise damage, but Myrick believes wholesale hearing loss can be easily avoided. “If we educate and make changes to our listening habits, projected numbers of hearing loss won’t be reached,” she said.

Texting and Typing Good news, 20-somethings: Don’t be afraid to take advantage of your unlimited texting plan. Contrary to popular belief, texting, typing on your computer and playing video games won’t cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

No studies show a direct relationship between gaming and carpal tunnel, said Dr. David Bellamy, an orthopedic surgeon at Tallahassee Orthopedic Center.

Bellamy opines that it’s more likely one will get tendonitis with texting rather than carpal tunnel. “If you’re having pain tALLAHASSEE

129

Health

around your thumb, it’s a good chance it’s tendonitis,” he said.

Every time someone texts, he or she uses the tendon that stretches from below the thumb through the lower part of the arm. If it gets inflamed, it can affect the nerve and can cause discomfort.

By changing keyboards or wearing a wrist split while typing, the pain can resolve itself on its own and more serious methods of pain relief like steroid injections and surgery can be avoided.

However, Bellamy believes it depends on the anatomy of an individual as well.

“It may be less important what you do than who you are,” he said. “People that are prone to get it may get it sooner,” or they might get more symptoms. Those without much room for the tendon to swell might experience more pain than someone who has lots of room around the nerve.

Tendonitis is most common among those older than 30, so unless symptoms start to develop, Bellamy says young people shouldn’t worry. “It’s so rare in younger folks, even doing stuff like that won’t have a large effect,” he said.

Of course, young people who text while driving may not make it to a ripe old age.

AAA quotes reports that say reaction times drop by 35 percent and steering control drops by a whopping 91 percent while texting and a University of Utah study says you’re eight times more likely to get into an accident while texting.

Laptops Laptops are convenient, but they can cause damage when actually used on a man’s lap.

The heat the laptop generates can be too hot for testicles, said Dr. Kevin Winslow of the Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Jacksonville.

According to a recent study from SUNY Stony Brook, laptops do increase the temperature of the scrotum, which can then cause infertility.

However, “one of the bigger issues is just sitting with your legs together,” Winslow said. If the inner thighs are both presssed against the scrotum, like when someone is in the sitting position, it also generates heat. Many truck drivers, for example, have infertility problems.

The study found that men who spread their legs at a 70 degree angle significantly lowered scrotal temperature elevation.

130

March–April 2011

“From a practical standpoint, that’s going to help you more,” Winslow said.

For guys who use a laptop for an extended period of time, Winslow suggests taking a break to walk around.

Also, use something with rubber or a laptop pad when placing the laptop on the body — not a pillow. Even though you’re protecting your lap from the heat radiating from the laptop, the pillow can act as an insulator and still raise the temperature of the scrotum.

Computer screens The rumor that staring at a computer screen will rot your brain isn’t all false.

Years ago, old cathode ray tube computer monitors were a cause for concern, as they had an electromagnetic coil inside that some thought would emit radiation, said Tallahassee optometrist Tim Moore.

The new LCD computer screens used today are totally safe, Moore said. However, because people use computers so often, people are now affected by other factors.

If a person is predisposed to become nearsighted, doing a lot of close-up work on the computer can cause them to become nearsighted sooner, he said.

Staring at a computer for long periods of time can cause dry eye, but this problem can be easily fixed, he added. Remind yourself to blink more often or buy a bottle of lubricating eye drops and use them while you’re working.

Moore said that younger people may be prone to eye strain because of intense computer usage.

Using a larger font can help alleviate the stress on tired and strained eyes. Playing around with the brightness of your screen helps as well.

“Sometimes people put the screen way too bright, and that can affect them,” he said.

Ambient light, like from a window or overhead fluorescent lighting, can also cause glare on the computer screen, which can make it harder to see. “It’s better to have a lamp in the room or indirect lighting,” Moore said.

However, the best thing you can do is take a break from work and let your eyes readjust.

“It wouldn’t hurt to let your eyes rest once in a while to let your eyes refocus away from the computer to give them a chance to relax,” he said. n tALLAHASSEE

131

132

March–April 2011

dining

GUIDE

restaurants | food | atmospheres

first course

» Hummus Among Us

Though hummus has been around for 10,000 years, the creamy concoction has enjoyed a recent gain in popularity in the U.S. Typically served as an appetizer, hummus can be paired with pita bread, crackers, carrot and celery sticks, tortilla chips or can be used as a sandwich spread.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase in popularity in hummus,” said Cristin Burns, marketing and project manager for local natural grocery store New Leaf Market. She attributes this increase in sales to the public’s recent interest in healthier eating.

“It can introduce you into the world of eating healthy and all natural and organic foods,” Burns said. “It’s a great transition food.”

The original hummus recipe includes mashed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, salt, garlic and olive oil. However, an infusion of new ingredients has evolved hummus into a food anyone can enjoy with different flavors like roasted red pepper, garlic, sun-dried tomato, Greek and chipotle.

“It’s easy to modify it to your own personal taste,” Burns said. The most popular variety at New Leaf is Sonny & Joe’s

Hummus Galilee, containing black and green olives.

And not only is hummus tasty, but it’s also a much healthier alternative to calorie-filled mayonnaise-, sour cream- and cheese-based dips. It’s a good source of iron, low in carbohydrates and it can help reduce cholesterol levels, according to the website of hummus manufacturer Sabra Dipping Company.

“Even people who aren’t necessarily inclined to eat healthy, eat hummus,” said Burns. “It always has been and always will be delicious.”

— Ana Goni-Lessan and Brittany Barriner

tALLAHASSEE

133

Flavor

Rich in Meaning The symbolic foods of the Seder plate are the centerpiece of the Passover meal, which is shared with family and friends.

134

March–April 2011

Story of a

Supper Traditional Seder Meal Tells the Tale of a Welcoming People By Ashley Kahn

I

f there’s one invitation you should finagle this season, land yourself a seat at a Seder. Equal parts educational and epicurean, the meal representing the Jewish Passover holiday is one you will never forget.

Sometimes carried out in the community, but more often performed in the home, the ritual engages each guest in the retelling of the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, as written in the Old Testament’s Book of Exodus.

It is customary to perform the Seder meal at sundown on the first night of Passover, April 18 this year, but some families will host or attend more than one Seder throughout the duration of the Pesach holiday. Many temples, synagogues and even Christian churches hold public Seder dinners for fellowship and religious education.

Exodus may be the subject of the story, but departure is far from the theme of the meal. Jews all over the world are compelled and even encouraged to share the Passover, or Pesach, story with anyone who will listen.

If you attend a Seder — come a stranger, leave a friend.

Dinner Conversation The Seder plays a key role even in the least observant Jewish families, likely due to its easy symbolism and joyous tone. It is through this mealtime story that many Jews pass down faith and tradition to their children.

The first thing you may notice when you come to the table is a book on your plate. Called the Haggadah, its pages are filled with the story of the Jews’ freedom from slavery, anecdotes and songs celebrating the resilience of the Jewish people.

Everyone is expected to read from the text, so prepare to lend your voice to the occasion. Bring your appetite, too, because not only is the food scrumptious — it’s symbolic.

Plate Time Consider the Seder plate. The dish, by design, is something of a lesson plan. Arranged upon it are six symbolic items, with a seventh placed nearby on the table. Each item, outlined below, signifies one aspect of the Jews’ journey out of Egypt and away from persecution: MAROR: Bitter herbs, such as freshly grated horseradish, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery the Jews endured.

CHAROSET: A sweet paste of fruits and nuts, representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves in building for the oppressive Pharaoh.

KARPAS: A leafy vegetable, usually fresh parsley, which is dipped into salt water in a cleansing ritual, a reminder of the tears shed by ancestors.

ZEROA: A roasted lamb bone, a reminder of the Pesach sacrifice, an offering of a lamb in the Temple in Jerusalem to show gratitude for God’s intervention in the Jews’ plight.

BEITZAH: A roasted egg, symbolizing the festival sacrifice offered in the Temple in Jerusalem then eaten as part of the Seder meal.

MATZOH: A thin, unleavened cracker representing the haste with which the Jews fled Egypt, with not even enough time to allow their bread to rise.

Meaningful Meal Every word, every bite, every custom has a purpose during the Passover Seder. If you are a first-time guest, you can either sit back (reclining is part of the service) tALLAHASSEE

135

Flavor

THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE

2010

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Join us for lunch and dinner at our beautiful new location on Apalachee Parkway.

Our steaks are not only the best in Tallahassee, but USDA choice midwestern corn-fed beef, specially selected, aged to our specifications and cut daily. We also serve fresh jumbo shrimp and fish – grilled, blackened or fried. So please join us for lunch and dinner or just meet up for drinks at our fully-stocked bar.

F

MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAK HOUSE

2705 Apalachee Parkway | Tallahassee, FL | (850) 270-9506 136

March–April 2011

or explore your curiosity. There are plenty of opportunities for questions, the most important of all being the Four Questions, traditionally recited by the youngest person in attendance.

After the blessing of the wine, the washing of the hands, the dipping of the parsley and the breaking of the (unleavened) bread, the telling of the Pesach story begins in earnest with an invitation to the hungry, needy — or just plain inquisitive — to join the Seder.

The Four Questions, or Mah Nishtanah, address a broader question you may be asking yourself as you sit, book in hand, still no brisket in sight: Why is this night different from all other nights?

An attempt is made to explain the importance of Passover by answering the following: Why is it that on all other nights we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?

Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?

Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?

Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our foods even once, but on this night we dip them twice?

As you may have realized by now, each question can be answered by consulting the Seder plate.

We eat matzoh to remind us of the Jews’ quick escape, fleeing with raw dough that baked into thin crackers in the desert sun.

We eat bitter herbs to remind us of the cruel way the Jews were treated while enslaved in Egypt. We lean on a pillow to remind us that we can relax now that we are free. We dip parsley into salt water to remind us not only of our ancestors’ tears, but also of the promise of a new and better life.

It is this “new and better life” the Jews celebrate each Passover through the retelling of the story of how we got here. Because of the oppression the Jewish people suffered, our faith teaches us always to be mindful of others who still are not free, to celebrate life with family, friends — and even strangers — ever aware of our neighbors in need.

At this point in the service, when all you have been served is a book, a sprig of salty parsley and a few drops of wine, you may be wondering if you’ll be expected

to subsist on paper and crackers alone.

While much of what you consume during a Seder holds symbolic meaning rather than gastronomic flair, the main course will satisfy. A typical Seder supper begins with an appetizer of gefilte fish or matzoh ball soup before the main course of beef brisket or roast chicken, sides like fresh vegetables or noodle kugel, and unleavened desserts such as cheesecake, angel food cake or macaroons. n

Joyce’s Brisket 6-pound beef brisket 1 very large onion, sliced 1 package onion soup mix Salt, pepper and garlic powder Trim brisket and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place on large piece of heavy tinfoil to be sealed before cooking.

Cover with sliced onions and onion soup mix, then seal tightly with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for two hours on middle oven rack.

Cool to room temperature before slicing.

Nana’s Charoset 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup plumped raisins 2 medium apples, peeled and cored 1 teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons Manischewitz wine Plump raisins in hot water while chopping apples and pecans. Drain the raisins to remove excess liquid. Add raisins to chopped fruit and nuts. Keep chopping! Add cinnamon and wine. Chop to a coarse paste.

Homemade Gefilte Fish* For the fish: 3 pounds white fish filets, such as grouper, red snapper or scamp (keep heads and bones) 1 medium onion 3 eggs, well beaten 2 teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons matzoh meal ⅓ cup water

For the broth: 2 quarts heavily salted water fish heads and bones 1 carrot, peeled and sliced 1 medium onion, halved Boil fish heads and bones in salted water in a large Dutch oven for 30 minutes. Remove solids and strain broth into pot. Add sliced carrots and onion. Meanwhile, grind the fish and onion in a food grinder twice, using the fine blade, or puree in food processor. Place the ground fish in a bowl and mix in the remainder of ingredients. Form the fish mixture into balls or ovals. Carefully place into the fish broth. Liquid should cover the fish; if not, add more water. Place lid on pot and bring to a boil. Uncover and reduce heat, then simmer for two to two-and-a-half hours until the stock has been reduced by half. Carefully remove the fish and place in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Strain the stock and pour over the fish. Add carrots to fish as a garnish; cool and refrigerate until stock gels. Serve with fresh horseradish. *Nothing like the type you find in a jar!

Nosh at the

Jewish Food Festival If this story puts you in the mood for Jewish food, Temple Israel has got you covered.

The second annual Tallahassee Jewish Food Festival on April 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will feature favorites like potato knishes, kugel, falafel, matzo ball soup and even corned beef and other delicious food from the famous Carnegie Deli in New York City.

More than 2,000 people attended last year’s event, so this year, the congregation has started baking months in advance.

“We’re doubling the amount of food and hopefully doubling the amount of people,” said Heather Kufert, program director for Temple Israel.

Besides food and craft vendors, entertainment, music and dancing will go on throughout the day, rain or shine. Children are also welcome, as the festival will have a children’s play area with arts and crafts, face painting, a bounce house and much more.

“It’s going to be bigger and better, and we’re really excited about it,” Kufert said.

Admission is free. Temple Israel is located at 2215 Mahan Drive. For more information, visit tallahasseejewishfoodfestival.com or call (850) 877-3517.

tALLAHASSEE

137

dining guide 2010 Best of Tallahassee.........................

Breakfast/Brunch....................................

Lunch......................................................

Dinner.....................................................

Takeout Available...................................

Outdoor Dining......................................

Live Music..............................................

Bar/Lounge.............................................

Reservations...........................................

Credit Cards Accepted............................

Up to $10............................................... $ $10 – $15................................................$$ $15 and up.......................................... $$$

Gourmet Specialty A LA PROVENCE $$$ French. A rich décor and graceful atmosphere create a memorable dining experience, offering FrenchMediterranean cuisine, including Crepes De Mer and Escargot de Bourgogne. A complimentary treat of amuse bouche, a bite-size appetizer, allows chefs to show off their culinary skills to guests. 1415 Timberlane Road. Lunch 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri., Dinner 5:30–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat. (850) 329-6870 A.J. Sports Bar & Grill $ American. This hangout spot is known for its sandwiches, backyard burgers and flavored wings. Watch sports from one of their 50 flat screens, shoot some pool or play darts, or enjoy happy hour. 1800 W. Tennessee St. 5 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon–2 a.m.

Sat.-Sun. (850) 681-0731 $$$ Andrew’s 228 American and Italian. A chic urban restaurant serving signature blends of creative American and Italian cuisine. Named one of the Top 20 Restaurants in Florida three years in a row by Florida Trend and “Best Romantic Restaurant” by Tallahassee Magazine in 2008.

Private rooms are available for banquets and meetings. 228 S. Adams St. 6–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 6–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-3444.

Andrew’s Capital Grill and Bar $$ American. Andrew’s, a Downtown landmark for 35 years, is an energetic, casual, see-and-be-seen spot.

House favorites include Capital Dip, hamburgers, chicken quesadillas, Mediterranean Pasta, Cedar Plank Salmon and Chicken Fiorentina. Downtown delivery. 228 S. Adams St. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.– Thu., 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; Brunch 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. Sun. (850) 222-3444/Fax (850) 222-2433.

Another Broken Egg Café $$ American. Made-to-order items using the finest ingredients, cooked to your liking. Voted Tallahassee’s best seven times, including the 2010 award for “Best Breakfast and Best Brunch.” Tallahassee’s second location is now open in Evening Rose at 5740 Austin Davis Ave. 3500 Kinhega Drive.

7 a.m.–2 p.m. Tue.–Sun. (850) 907-3447.

138

March–April 2011

CHEZ PIERRE $$$ French. French and Southern hospitality converge at Chez Pierre, which offers gourmet cuisine sure to please when you want to make a good impression.

From the signature Crepes Poulet to delicious grilled duck breast and fresh-ground Australian lamb burgers, the restaurant earned “Best Happy Hour” and Best Outdoor Dining” honors by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine in 2010. Live music accompanies your meal most nights of the week. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. 1215 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-0936.

Circa Sushi $$ Japanese. Enjoy delicious Japanese dishes in the fun, modern atmosphere of Tallahassee’s first conveyer belt sushi restaurant. Diners can opt for tableside service and menu selections such as Thai specialities tempura and noodle stir-fry, or they can sit beside the belt and partake of a rotating sushi feast. Catering available. 2819 Mahan Dr. No. 106. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; Dinner 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 5–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-4722. $$$ Cypress Restaurant New Southern. Voted “Best Fine Dining” by Tallahassee Magazine readers in 2010. Sophisticated Southern regional dining in a contemporary, metropolitan setting. Menu features chef-cut fish and aged meats, fresh in-house preparations, comprehensive wine list and full bar. Valet parking available at night.

320 E. Tennessee St. Dinner only Tues.–Sat. Open at 5 p.m. (850) 513-1100.

Food Glorious Food $$$ American. Choose from several savory soups, nearly a dozen salads, and a great selection of sandwiches and pastas with hot entrées that represent a variety of world cuisines. Heavenly dessert concoctions — voted “Best Dessert” in 2010 by Tallahassee Magazine readers — will please even the most discriminating diner. 1950 Thomasville Road. Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., Dinner 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Tues.–Thurs. and Sun., 5:30–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., Closed Mon. for dinner. Sun. Brunch 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (850) 224-9974.

Georgio’s $$$ American. If George Koikos is in the house, you can count on a visit to your table from him during your meal. His hands-on commitment to quality, food, service and a personal touch have kept his restaurants in business for 44 years. Now with two locations.

3425 Thomasville Road. Opens 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (850) 893-4161 or 2971 Apalachee Parkway. 4-10 p.m.

Mon.-Sat. (850) 877-3211.

Kitcho Japanese $$ Restaurant Japanese. Its specialty, sushi, was named the best in Tallahassee in 2006. Step inside Kitcho’s Velvet Lounge for a sip or two of sake as you sit comfortably while waiting for your table. 1415 Timberlane Road. 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–10 p.m. Tue.–Fri., 5:30–10 p.m. Sat., 5:30–9 p.m. Sun. (850) 893-7686.

Liam’s Restaurant $$$ American. Located in historic Downtown Thomasville, Ga., Liam’s serves delicious sustainably sourced, natural, organic foods. The menu changes based upon T ALLAHA S S E E

139

Dining Guide

what the owners find to be the best available ingredients from small artisanal producers. Look for a catch of the day along with great tasting beef and pork dishes. A large selection of cheeses is a specialty here. 113 E. Jackson St. Lunch 11a.m.–2 p.m. Tues.–Fri. Dinner 5:30 p.m.–close Thurs.–Sat. European Breakfast 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sat. (229) 226-9944 Mockingbird Café $$ Fusion. Enjoy hand-cut steaks and Gulf seafood along with American regional, Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern dishes in an upscale refined atmosphere. Food is fresh, locally purchased and seasonal, made from scratch by talented in-house chefs.

Diners will also enjoy delicious seasonal desserts, nightly food and drink specials and live music on weekends. 1225 N. Monroe St. Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., dinner 5:30–10 p.m Mon.-Sat. Bar/ lounge 5:30 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.–Sat. Brunch 11 a.m.– 2:30 p.m. Sun. (850) 222-4956.

Sushilicious $$ Japanese. Modern Japanese and Thai cooking makes Sushilicious the place to enjoy a culinary trip to the Orient. With a six-page menu of makimono, sashimi and special sushi rolls, sushi lovers have plenty of options. You can also enjoy the red and yellow Thai curries, the deep-fried crispy soft shell crab with tempura sauce or the house shrimp with honey-wasabi sauce. 2915 Kerry Forest Pkwy., Suite 604. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 906-0400.

VINATAGE BISTRO & BAR $$$ Fusion. Vintage Bistro & Bar has a new chef and a revamped menu. Its palate-pleasing menu offers selections featuring local and fresh ingredients. Relax and unwind with live entertainment, a cocktail, a fine cigar and, of course, a glass of wine from hundreds of selections. 1019 N. Monroe St. 5 p.m.– 2 a.m. Mon.–Sat. (850) 224-0322.

Specialty Anthony’s Wood Fire Grill $$ American and Italian. After 26 years in Betton Place, restaurateur Dick Anthony has returned in a new location with a new menu featuring grilled chicken, steak, fish and hamburgers. Italian favorites that made the original Anthony’s so popular have returned on the “First Loves Second Chances” portion of the dinner menu. 1355 Market St. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri., Dinner 5–9 p.m. Mon.– Sun., Brunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Sun. (850) 224-1447, anthonyswoodfiregrilltallahassee.com AZu — a Lucy Ho’s restaurant $/$$ Asian. Serving Tallahassee since 1970, Lucy Ho’s offers Japanese style cooking with Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Peking and Taiwanese influences. After nearly four decades, Lucy Ho’s has moved back to the Apalachee Parkway, just east of Capital Circle Southeast, to better serve its customers. Diners will also find a full bar and the freshest sushi. 3220 Apalachee Parkway. Weekdays, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat., noon–10 p.m.; Sun., noon–9 p.m. (850) 893-4112.

140

March–April 2011

Bella Bella $$ Italian. Cozy home-like atmosphere and authentic homemade traditional Italian food make this a Midtown dining hotspot. Try their famous Bubble Bread and delicious pasta specials. Catering available. 123 E. 5th Ave. Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 5–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 412-1114. $$ Carrabba’s Italian Grill Italian. The ambiance of the restaurant can romanticize any meal as you sip the best wines around and dine on fresh Italian cuisine. Voted “Best Italian” by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine again in 2010. 2752 Capital Circle NE. 4–10:30 p.m.

Mon.–Thurs., 4–11:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 297-1100.

Authentic Mexican Restaurant 2010

TWO LOCATIONS

2022 N. Monroe St. (850) 878-0800 NEW LOCATION!

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

2915-301 Kerry Forest Pkwy.

(850) 668-1002

$ The Crepevine French Fusion. Delicious signature crepes are stuffed with fillings that make them savory or sweet. You can order from the menu, or create your own. Try breakfast-style crepes that are served all day long. The menu at this casual bistro also includes salads and yogurt bowls. 2020 W. Pensacola St., (850) 562-7373; 1304 N. Monroe St., 3296754. thecrepevine.com $$ EL JALISCO Mexican. With two–for–one margaritas most nights of the week, where can you go wrong? And the food, named “Best Mexican/Latin American” in 2010, is great too. Endless chips and salsa complement any menu item; the chicken quesadillas and beef tamales will keep you coming back for more. Mon.–Sat. 11 a.m.–12 a.m. Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 2022 N. Monroe St. (850) 878-0800. 2915-301 Kerry Forest Pkwy. $ Hopkins’ Eatery American. Sandwiches, salads, delicious sweets and more. Once again voted the best place to have lunch by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine in 2010. 1660 N. Monroe St. and 1415 Market St. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. (850) 386-4258, (850) 668-0311. $$ Jonah’s Fish & Grits American Southern. This Thomasville, Ga. restaurant serves good food made fresh daily in an alcoholfree, family friendly. Soups, salads, pastas and specialty sandwiches focused on fish and seafood with a Southern twist are featured at lunch and dinner.

Dinner also includes a more extensive selection from their wood-burning grill including their signature Gingersnap Salmon. Made-from-scratch Hush Puppies are a house specialty. Kids and low-fat menus are available. 109 East Jackson St. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5–9 p.m. Mon-Fri. Open Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. (229) 226-0508 $$ Kiku Japanese Fusion. With a wide selection of sushi rolls and traditional Japanese dishes, Kiku caters to a variety of tastes. 3491 Thomasville Road Suite 12. Open Mon.– Thurs. 11–2:30pm, 4:30–10 p.m., Fri. 11–2:30 p.m., 4:30–10:30 p.m., Sat. 12-10:30 p.m. and Sun. 12–10.

(850) 222-5458.

T ALLAHA S S E E

141

Dining Guide

Kool Beanz $$/$$$ Fusion. As winner of Tallahassee Magazine’s 2010 “Best Locally Owned” restaurant, this colorful and casual spot has been serving up gourmet dishes since 1996. Diners can expect delicious modern American cuisine, as well as dishes influenced by the worldwide travels of the kitchen staff. Menus change daily so guests can expect something new with each visit. 921 Thomasville Road. Lunch Mon.– Fri. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner Mon.–Sat. 5:30–10 p.m.

(850) 224-2466.

LUNA’S ITALIAN FOOD $ Italian-American. Gourmet deli sandwiches and pasta dishes to take home. Large selection of imported wine, cheeses, sauces and Italian grocery items — plus Italian gelato. 1122 Thomasville Road. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. (850) 421-5862.

Masa $–$$ Asian Fusion. This sister restaurant to Lucy Ho’s serves up a creative menu with items such as Chilean Sea Bass Wraps with mango salsa, Tropical Fruit Sweet and Sour Chicken and Japanese tiramisu. Voted “Best Asian” and “Best Sushi” in by Tallahassee Magazine readers in 2010. Enjoy an extensive selection of wine, beer and sake in a dark, original and casual dining setting. 1001 N. Monroe St. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon.– Sat., Noon–10 p.m. Sunday. (850) 847-0003.

The Melting Pot $$$ Fondue. This restaurant offers a variety of fondues including cheese and chocolate dessert. The Melting Pot earned two “Best of” awards in 2010, for “Best Romantic” and “Best Celebration/Special Occasion” restaurant. 2727 N. Monroe St. 5–11 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5 p.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat. (850) 386-7440.

Old Town Café $$ American. Southern hospitality is embedded throughout this family-owned restaurant. Mom’s meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans makes you feel like you’re home, not to mention their world famous prime rib, which slowly roasts all day. Timberlane Road. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon. Thurs., 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri. and 4-10 p.m. Sat. (850) 893-5741 Osaka Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar $$$ Japanese. Known for its sushi, but also serves a variety of dishes including chicken, steak and seafood.

1690 Raymond Diehl Road. 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 531-0222. Private parties.

Po’ Boys Creole Café $ Creole. Specializes in Po’Boy sandwiches, jambalaya and gumbo and named 2010 “Best Cajun” restaurant by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine. 224 E. College Ave. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 11 a.m.–2 a.m.

Fri.–Sat., 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 224-5400 and 1944 W. Pensacola St. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 574-4144. 1425 Village Square Blvd. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.– 10 p.m. Sun. (850) 906-0020. Catering available.

Sakura $$$ Japanese. Sleek interior design mixed with amazing dishes equals a spectacular meal experience. This new and exciting Japanese cuisine rewards not only your taste buds but also your eyes with its beauti142

March–April 2011

fully prepared dishes of sushi and other traditional Japanese fare. 1318 N. Monroe St. Lunch 11:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. Mon.–Sat. Dinner 5–10 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4:30–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 222-9991.

THE WINE LOFT Wine Bar $$ American. Enjoy delicious items off the small plate menu and a vast selection of wines in a chic, sophisticated atmosphere downstairs or on the balcony overlooking Midtown. The Wine Loft boasts a generous array of more than 50 wines by the glass and more than 70 by the bottle that earned it “Best Wine List” honors in 2010. The Wine Loft has two full liquor bars and Tallahassee’s only balcony bar. 1240 Thomasville Road. Open 5 p.m. Mon– Thu., 4 p.m.–2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. (850) 222-9914. thewinelofttallahassee.com

Family five Guys BURGERS & Fries $ Burgers. A newcomer to the local dining scene, Five Guys was a quick hit with the readers of Tallahassee Magazine, who named its burgers the best in 2010.

Serving up made-to-order burgers and hot dogs with your choice of Cajun or home-style fries, it’s no wonder this restaurant has customers coming back for more. 1872 Thomasville Road. Mon.–Sun. 11 a.m.– 10 p.m. (850) 597-7514 Earley’s Kitchen $ American Southern. For 33 years, Earley’s has been dishing up “good ole Southern” country cooking for breakfast and lunch at its restaurant inside Henry’s Meats. A second location now open in SouthWood will be serving fried chicken, pork chops, made-fromscratch vegetables, desserts and more, as well as a few extra Savannah-style dishes like shrimp and grits. The SouthWood restaurant also serves a Sunday brunch buffet. At the 1812 S. Monroe St. location: Mon.–Fri., 6:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sat. (breakfast only) 7 a.m.–noon. (850) 224-7090. The SouthWood location at 3196 Merchant’s Row Blvd.: Mon.–Sat. 7 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.–1 p.m. (850) 692-3491.

MOMO’S $ Pizza. Boasting the largest pizza you’ll find in Tallahassee — and possibly the Southeast — Momos offers big flavor that’s gotten a “Best of” award in 2010 along with size. Fill yourself up with a slice for yourself or order a pie to share. Now with two different locations: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 1410 Market St. (850) 412-0222 and 1416 W. Tennessee St. (850) 224-9808.

Red Elephant PIZZA AND GRILL $ American. Enjoy a fresh, fast and filling meal that will satisfy your taste buds and wallet. The casual atmosphere is perfect for social gatherings with friends and family. 2910 Kerry Forest Pkwy Suite C-3., Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.– 10 p.m. 1872 Thomasville Road Suite A., Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Fri. Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Kerry Forest (850) 668-7492. Midtown (850) 222-7492.

Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q $ Barbecue. Enjoy Sonny’s “feel good” barbecue and special sauces. Voted “Best Barbecue” in 2010. 3101 Dick Wilson Blvd., 2707 N. Monroe St. and 1460 Timberlane Road. All locations 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.– T ALLAHA S S E E

143

food bites

Anthony’s Wood Grilled Pork Porter House

Got Menu Anxiety and can’t decide what to order? Here are a few prescriptions sure to cure what ails you:

ENTRÉE | Anthony’s Wood Fire Grill

When you’re hungry and hankering for a substantial meal, you can’t go wrong with Anthony’s Wood Grilled Pork Porter House. It’s a giant chop glazed with cane syrup mustard and piled high with Vidalia onion rings on top. Mashed potatoes and collards round out the plate. $16.95

Seared Tuna and Rice is just one of five light choices — each with fewer than 400 calories — recently added to the Red Elephant menu.

Slices of brown-around-edges fish are arranged on a bed of lettuce that you can dress with a ginger/soy dressing served on the side. Saffron rice and mandarin orange slices complete the meal. $8.99

144

March–April 2011

LUNCH | Liam’s Restaurant

Housed in a charming brick building in the heart of downtown Thomasville, Ga., Liam’s serves an absolutely delicious house roasted Leg of Lamb sandwich with truffle aioli and Brie cheese on toasted ciabatta bread. This winner also includes fries and a side salad topped with a delicious lemon oregano vinaigrette dressing.

It’s well worth the trip north. $9.95

SANDWICH | M.A.D About Food

Order the M.A.D. Melt and you get to pick your panini — tuna salad, chicken salad or honey ham with Swiss and American cheeses. The hearty grilled sandwiches get an extra kick from a tasty spread slathered on the outside instead of butter. The secret recipe, we are told, includes “a ton of seasonings and a bunch of garlic.” $6.50 or $4.25 for cheese only.

Photo by Scott Holstein

ENTRÉE | Red Elephant Pizza and Grill

Dining Guide

Thu., 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Dick Wilson Blvd. (850) 878-1185, N. Monroe St. (850) 385-2167, Timberlane Road. (850) 906-9996. Catering available.

Wing Stop $ Wings. Declaring themselves the “wing experts,” Wing Stop offers freshly made wings sauced and tossed in a choice of nine flavors. Savor something sweet with the Hawaiian sauce or something zesty with the Hickory Smoked BBQ. 1964 W. Tennessee Street, 3111 Mahan Drive, 6668 Thomasville Rd., All locations 11 a.m.– midnight Tennessee St. (850) 574-9464, Mahan Dr. (850) 942-9464, Thomasville Road (850) 219-9464.

VILLAGE PIZZA AND PASTA $$ Pizza/Pasta. Made-from-scratch New York-style pizza is a favorite at this casual Italian spot, but its mouthwatering pastas with secret marina sauce are close behind. One of its most popular choices, the Village Special, includes enough fresh toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, broccoli and mozzarella, to satisfy any pizza lover. Not to mention homemade garlic rolls. 1400-33 Village Square Boulevard. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sun. For catering call (850) 893-9001.

Steak/seafood BONEFISH GRILL $$$ Steak/Seafood. Although a chain, Bonefish works hard to make each restaurant—and each meal— unique with an array of seafood and sauces that can be mixed and matched to diners’ tastes. The restaurant earned 2010 “Best of Tallahassee” honors for its appetizers (Can you say Bang Bang Shrimp?) and the star of its menu, seafood. Mon.–Thurs. 4–10:30 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 4–11:30 p.m., Sun. 4–10 p.m. 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 297-0460.

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill $$ Cajun. A New Orleans dining experience you won’t soon forget! Delicious Creole cuisine, fresh seafood and steaks, rich pastas, sensational salads and more.

“Great Food, Great Service; Good Value, Good Times.”

301 S. Bronough St. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Thu.–Sun., 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-3976.

Southern Cuisine

with fresh, made from scratch entrées,vegetables and desserts.

Marie Livingston’s Steakhouse $$$ Steak. This restaurant specializes in steak — named Tallahassee’s “Best Steakhouse” in 2010 — but also serves seafood such as shrimp and fish. Marie Livingston’s has moved to a new location with a sophisticated decor, but the quality and value remain the same. 2705 Apalachee Parkway. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5 p.m. daily (850) 562-2525.

Shula’s 347 $$$ Steak. The legendary Miami Dolphins’ head coach brings his philosophy for winning football games — the quest for perfection — to the dining table at his namesake restaurant, located in the newly refurbished Hotel Duval. Keep it light and casual with Premium Black Angus Beef burgers or a gourmet salad or opt for one of their signature entrées — “Shula Cut” filet, New York strip or Cowboy steaks. Reservations are suggested. Sun.,–Thurs., 5–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 5–11 p.m. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005 n

A Tallahassee tradition since 1985 Full Service Catering 3196 Merchants Row Blvd. Ste. 110 • 692-3491 • 692-3492 (SouthWood Town Center) Breakfast & Lunch 7 am–3 pm Mon–Fri • Saturday 8 am–2 pm Sunday 8 am–1 pm (Breakfast only) 1812 S. Monroe st. • 224-7090 • (located inside Henry’s Meats) Breakfast & Lunch 6:30 am–2 pm Mon–Fri Saturday 7 am–noon • Sunday Closed T ALLAHA S S E E

145

The Last Word

Transforming Tracy Brown

EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL Tracy Brown beams as her makeover is revealed (left) during the Top Salon competition in February. She poses with her transformation team and contest judges (center) and with Green Peridot Salon owner Katie Wright (right).

Or, How A Makeover Contest Can Change Lives By Adam Wright

146

March–April 2011

We also believe a beauty transformation does so much more than just make the outside match the inside. A true transformation elicits inner qualities of beauty and strength. Bringing out a person’s inner beauty is a lot more involved than just giving someone an awesome haircut. It requires interacting with the whole person.

With Tracy, we started by sending her flowers. Admittedly, it’s an odd group of people who believe the glow from receiving flowers is more important than the color of your eye shadow. But being odd is half the fun of being artists, and we’re pretty proud of it. Even before her makeover day Tracy said, “I feel so good — I used to not be able to look in the mirror.

Now, I’m taking more time for myself. I’m fixing my hair. Before, I wouldn’t even take that time!”

Second step? Telling her how much we actually like her. Then exposing her to people we knew would find her spirit so attractive they would instinctively give of their talents to her (which they did). Then, making her laugh.

Tracy echoed our beliefs when we talked to her right before the Top Salon competition. “Six months from now, the biggest change will be what this has done for me

on the inside. It’s made me see myself as a totally different person. It’s opened me up, and I’ve realized that the person who thought she didn’t look good does look good, who wasn’t attractive can be attractive. It’s brought a beauty to the inside, not just the outside.”

One of our stylists told me, “I wanted to win. Then we helped Tracy and her daughter pick out extra clothes to update their wardrobes — not even for the competition, just for them. Tracy teared up and said, ‘I feel like I’ve won the lottery.’ And I got what this is all about. At that point, I realized we had won, regardless of what happened at the event.”

We invite everyone to redefine what winning means in the world of beauty. It might be a moment, a kind word, a giving smile, a ridiculously enthusiastic hug. Because drawing out what beauty can do for a person excites us every day, and we think it should excite you, too. n Adam Wright is the owner of Partenza Salon and Spa in Marianna and the manager of Green Peridot Salon, which won Tallahassee Magazine’s inaugural Top Salon competition Feb. 5. More about the event can be found on page 24.

photos by Scott Holstein

W

hen Brian Rowland, Russ Rainey and Tallahassee Magazine first introduced the Top Salon Makeover Competition, we at Green Peridot immediately realized the awesome opportunity they were bringing to the beauty industry in Tallahassee. What we didn’t know was that we would discover so much about ourselves, our deepest beliefs about beauty and personal transformation in the process.

We even worried a little bit at first. What would it say about us if this makeover was only skin-deep? How could our stylists grow as artists and professionals through this process?

These worries disappeared when we met Tracy Brown. Something about her open and loving spirit — in spite of having escaped an abusive relationship, in spite of her diagnosis with a neurological disorder that has limited her mobility — warmed our hearts.

At Green Peridot, we believe pretty passionately that beauty is first and foremost an internal quality. Tracy is so beautiful on the inside — her eyes shine, her smile is genuine and kind, and her tenderness is evident the moment you talk to her.

TALLAHASSEE Volume 33 Number 2 THE DREAM TEAM

The Dream Team

In their first year as the First Couple, Eric & Molly Barron make friends, raise funds and brag about Florida State

The Animal Shelter’s Quest to Save Lives Wins Kudos The Story of the ‘New’ Capitol, 40 Years Later MARCH-APRIL 2011

Passover’s Seder is a Meal With Meaning Manufacturers Roll Out 2011’s Home Innovations

$3.95

MAR-APR 2011

www.tallahasseemagazine.com A product of Rowland Publishing, Inc.