Tallahassee Magazine • November/December 2023

WHISKEY AND HONEY SOOTHE WHAT AILS YOU

BEST OF TALLAHASSEE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

RECIPES FOR MAKING LEFTOVERS LIKE NEW

Yuletide Treats

Bakeries fill cookie plates and satisfy holiday cravings

In our daily frantic lives, we can still find peace. Here .

Visit a Florida Blue Center to experience it for yourself.

For over 75 years, Florida Blue has been providing Floridians like you with health solutions to support a healthier life. And we can help you breathe a little easier with classes and activities that focus on whole body wellness—your physical, mental, and emotional health—like yoga, available to everyone at your local Florida Blue Center.

Contents

98

PROSPECTS FOR PEACE

FEATURES 116 BEST OF TALLAHASSEE

In an era characterized by division and self-absorption, the chances for widespread understanding and cooperation may appear limited. Several members of religious communities in Tallahassee and a professor of philosophy combined to acknowledge current realities and talk about how improvements might be made. “We live in a broken and divided nation,” said Rev. R.B. Holmes of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.

“There are more guns than people.” Peace cannot simply be legislated. It is ultimately an individual responsibility. “It is us,” said Rev. Becky Rokitowski of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. “We have to be the peace among us, though that choice is hard.”

by MARINA BROWN

Small businesses stand as a counterpoint to the homogenization, consolidation, corporatization and bigboxedness, to coin a word, that substantially has overtaken the consumer experience in Tallahassee and throughout the country. They succeed by providing high-quality, reliable goods and services, delivered with active goodwill. They are driven by relationships, not by a concern for shareholder value. And, they add to the color and the character of a community. Tallahassee is home to many such businesses that are deserving of appreciation and recognition. That’s what Tallahassee Magazine’s Best of Tallahassee readers poll and awards are all about.

We are pleased to present this year’s winners.

compiled by STEVE BORNHOFT and EMMA WITMER

74

323

25 PERSONALITIES Carlos Duart and Tina VidalDuart, Miami-born entrepreneurs who moved to Tallahassee as a result of their work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, oversee the CDR Companies.

32 WELLNESS The certified music therapists at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) leverage the psychological and neurological impacts of music to address a wide variety of issues in patients of all ages.

40 CHAMPION In  returning to Florida, Dr. Deborah Morris sought a community that is “committed to caring for everyone.” She was impressed by the Tallahassee community’s support for an in-hospital hospice unit.

PANACHE

49 CITIZEN OF STYLE Not all those involved in the arts are “costumed.” For Ashley Williams, curator at the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, a pretty sweater and a pair of slacks are often perfect for the occasion and the job.

54 WHAT’S IN STORE

The season of celebration is a time to sparkle and shine. Tallahassee retailers have the accessories and accent pieces with a lot of bangle for the buck.

GASTRO & GUSTO

67 DINING OUT You don’t need to pull out the family archives to elicit memories of Mom and Grandma’s best holiday cookie or cake recipe. Plenty of local bakers are happy to rise to the occasion.

70 DINING IN Don’t be quick to chuck the lingering holiday leftovers in your fridge. Repurpose and reimagine that tired turkey by combining leftovers with a few kitchen staples to create entirely new meals.

52

FASHION

The holidays bring occasions for vest wearing. “Doll it up, add some bling and celebrate the season,” says Gerry Phipps of The Fix Thrift Shop. At right: Holiday sweater vest by H&M.

74 LIBATIONS Since the 1700s, the hot toddy has been sipped in efforts to combat the common cold.

EXPRESSION

79 ARTS PROMOTION

AKT Artful assists artists, galleries and public agencies with cultural projects.

84 PUBLIC ART The Asphalt Arts initiative is reinvigorating Tallahassee’s public art scene.

90 MUSIC Congregated

come together to release natural and enticing fragrances in aromatherapeutic ways.

158 GREEN SCENE Autumn weather makes it easier to work outdoors, and there are plenty of colorful plants to add. Daylilies are a perennial that will deliver showy flowers when the weather warms.

of the Fried Turkeys converse like family while marveling at how a song comes to life.

DESTINATIONS

143 GETAWAYS A short run on a charter fishing vessel off the coast of Guatemala lies an underwater feature called the Pocket, a canyon that attracts concentrations of sailfish that may be the largest anywhere.

ABODES

149 EXTERIORS Spas have been beloved since the days of ancient Greece and Rome. Of course, Socrates and Julius Caesar couldn’t have envisioned modern features such as immersive sound, customizable jets and choreographed lighting.

INTERIORS In a simmer pot, also known as stovetop potpourri, a mixture of spices, citrus fruits and other ingredients

might sit down to a glass of milk and a few gingerbread cookies in August, but the treats wouldn’t taste the same as they do during the holidays. When the weather cools, bakeries heat up, turning out seasonal fare without which traditional celebrations would be incomplete. The gingerboy gracing our cover is from Treva’s Pastries & Fine Foods, located at 2766 Capital Circle NE. Treva’s is a 2023 Best of Tallahassee award winner.

38 BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Throughout the 2024 calendar year, Tallahassee and Leon County will provide plenty of ways to celebrate and commemorate 200 years of Tallahassee.

44 PHILANTHROPY FOCUS

The Community Foundation of North Florida encourages charitable giving in support of local nonprofits that shape the future of the region.

56 ↘ HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Holiday shopping becomes easy and enjoyable when you use our gift guide featuring shops in Tallahassee and Thomasville.

60 FEEL GOOD GOODIES Tallulah’s six locations offer the highest quality CBD, THC and mushrooms on the market in forms including THC treats, CBD pain cream and more.

62 TRUE GEMS A box under the tree from The Gem Collection will cause the eyes of your special someone to shine right along with the Christmas lights.

94 ↑ MUSIC MAKERS

The 30A Songwriters Festival, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, brings over 175 artists to listening rooms along the Emerald Coast.

96

← SPIRITED STAGINGS

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents a winter season full of holiday performances including the timeless classics, Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus and A Christmas Carol, and an original production, the Jingle Jangle Christmas Musical Review

107 GIVING BACK

In the season of giving, consider making a donation to a deserving nonprofit or community organization, several of which we profile.

162 BEST IN BIZ McNeill

Plumbing is a multi-year Best of Tallahassee winner committed to supplying their valued customers with quality workmanship and outstanding customer service.

164 DEAL ESTATE Two stunners are on the market: a modern home off Meridian Road and an elegant estate behind the gates of Moore Pond.

169 MEDICAL PROFILES

Our medical guide will lead you to the most qualified and caring hands, heads and hearts in health care.

186 CALENDAR   It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when our calendar brims with holiday happenings, seasonal performances, festivals and fairs, and our signature Best of Tallahassee event.

“ Find something that is going to touch you in a way that also touches others.”

LEE HINKLE Schwartz Rounds Program

Lee, an immediate past member of the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) Board of Directors, is a longtime donor and advocate. Her gift helped fund the Schwartz Rounds Program at TMH, which allows healthcare professionals to discuss the emotions they experience while caring for patients and families.

How is this gift meaningful for you?

I left my job in 2010 to take care of my husband, Cliff, who had Alzheimer’s disease. I understand the emotions that come with disease, not just for patients, but for their caregivers, friends, family and for the professionals who provide care. Caregivers need healing, too.

How does the Schwartz Rounds Program work?

The program is open to an array of people who provide care every day – physicians, nurses and social workers. It gives them a structured time and a safe place to talk about their experiences. It gives them an outlet for emotional release.

How did you work with the TMH Foundation to designate your gift?

I called the Foundation president and said, “This hospital means a lot to me. It’s doing wonderful things, but I want to support something that I know is giving tangible benefit to the people who are here.” He came back to me with the Schwartz Rounds Program, which was a perfect fit.

Why do you give through the TMH Foundation?

Everyone at TMH is working to make this a regional healthcare destination, an academic health center and a place where people know that they’ll get the absolute best care. We’re there now, but there’s more we can do. People in this community can make TMH even better with their support.

What would you say to others who want to make an impact?

Everybody has something that they’re passionate about, and most everybody has family and friends. There are a lot of people who will give, if you’ll just ask them.

Frett, Les Harrison, Lis King, Rochelle Koff, Emma Witmer

CREATIVE

VICE PRESIDENT / PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Saige Roberts

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS Sarah Burger, Shruti Shah

SENIOR PUBLICATION DESIGNER Scott Schiller

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 323 Media Group, Boo Media, Dave Barfield, Kate Eldridge, Jennifer Powell Photography, Kacey Lanier, Erich Martin, Nancy O’Brien, Alicia Osborne, Nathan Saczynski, The Workmans, Nathan Zucker

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS

SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray

SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton

DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi

DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker

ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER Tracy Mulligan

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Julie Dorr

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michelle Daugherty, Darla Harrison

MARKETING MANAGER Javis Ogden

SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett Frett

SALES AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Renee Johnson

OPERATIONS

CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE/AD SERVICE COORDINATOR Sarah Coven

PRODUCTION EDITOR Paige Aigret

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan

STAFF BOOKKEEPER Amber Dennard

DIGITAL SERVICES

DIGITAL EDITOR Alix Black

TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE tallahasseemagazine.com facebook.com/tallahasseemag twitter.com/tallahasseemag instagram.com/tallahasseemag pinterest.com/tallahasseemag youtube.com/user/tallahasseemag

ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

from the publisher

A REGION REALIZING ITS PROMISE

Northwest Florida has a unique collection of assets

To fully appreciate where Northwest Florida is today and its potential for the future, a look back is the best place to start.

As a precursor to much of the development ongoing in the region today, the duPont family and later The St. Joe Company acquired huge tracts of forest land from Jacksonville west to Pensacola. Edward Ball was made responsible for managing those investments.

While Florida’s Atlantic Coast was being developed, the coastal region of Northwest Florida remained pristine except for the town of Port St. Joe. The St. Joe Company built a paper mill there and shipped materials north by rail.

Ball developed SouthWood, a hunting plantation just outside of Tallahassee that he would call home for part of the year. He was known as a “curmudgeon” and ruled with an iron fist. He figures in a story told by St. Joe people today about a lost opportunity that could have changed the trajectory of Northwest Florida’s growth forever.

During the early 1960s, a California developer sought a meeting with Ball. After numerous calls, an appointment was made, and he traveled cross country intending to make a presentation at St. Joe’s corporate offices in Jacksonville.

The developer arrived for his 9 a.m. meeting on time but was left to sit all day without getting a chance to propose buying 5,000 acres north of Panama City adjacent to the planned interstate to be called I-10. At closing time, Ball had his secretary deliver a note to the visitor letting him know that he had no interest in meeting with a carnival guy.

The visitor was Walt Disney, who moved his project south near Orlando.

There are three major landowners in North Florida: the federal government, the State of Florida and St. Joe. The first two will never sell their land.

In the mid-1990s, however, St. Joe strategically pivoted to become a development company and sold off rural inland properties. In 2013, it sold 383,834 acres in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties to AgReserves, a private company owned by the Mormon church.

As a developer, The St. Joe Company is changing the face of Northwest Florida. It was a key player in bringing about the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Bay County and an emerging medical campus that will include Panama City Beach’s first hospital.

The company’s state-approved Bay and Walton counties sector plan envisions the creation of a new population center. In introducing its plan, St. Joe told local officials that in 40–50 years, it will have brought about a city to rival any in Florida. Today, that bold forecast is coming out of the ground in the form of Latitude Margaritaville Watersound and related developments.

St. Joe, of course, does not operate in a vacuum. It conducts business in a region that is rich in assets that include

■ Eight military bases and the private military contractors that support them.

■ The Florida Capitol.

■ Florida State University, the University of West Florida, FSU Panama City, Florida A&M University, Northwest Florida State College, Tallahassee Community College and other institutions of higher learning.

■ Three deep-water ports in Pensacola, Panama City and Port St. Joe.

■ Two heavy rail lines emanating from Port Panama City and Port St. Joe.

■ The best beaches anywhere.

■ The world’s most powerful magnet at Tallahassee’s Innovation Park, a center of pioneering research.

■ A U.S. Customs facilities project in progress in Tallahassee.

■ A new Amazon distribution center in Tallahassee and a FedEx Ground facility in Bay County.

■ And, an inviting lifestyle built on relationships, trust, faith and hard work.

The future of our region is bright.

Stay positive,

BRIAN ROWLAND PUBLISHER browland@rowlandpublishing.com

from the editor

A RARE AND VALUABLE SPIRIT

Dena Strickland leads others to pick it up a little

I met Sally Ann Papageorge only once and then briefly. I spied her daughter, Dena, as she and her mother were headed toward the amphitheater at Cascades Park where a Shakespeare in the Park performance was about to be held — or it would have been had it not been canceled by a thunderous tempest.

Dena was then the development director at Boys Town in Tallahassee and had at one time taken me on a tour of its facilities, presenting me with a booklet about the history of the organization and its founding by Father Edward Flanagan as well as the story behind its motto: “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”

Had someone other than Dena Strickland presented me with that booklet, I likely never would have read it. But she did, and I did.

Dena introduced me to her mom, who was in her 70s at the time, with abundant pride, and I was pleased to meet her. Sally Ann exhibited the very same qualities that have endeared Dena to so many in Tallahassee and beyond. It was said about Sally Ann that she had a talent for sales. She enjoyed success as a real estate agent for many years.

Dena sells causes.

For 15 years, she was the chief fundraiser at Boys Town. She has long been a part of the Greek Food Festival held each fall by the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church. Five years ago, she became the director of the Big Bend Hospice Foundation.

Dena had occasion to turn to Big Bend Hospice for help in the days leading up to the death of her mother on Feb. 19 of this year. Already, she had been working to generate community contributions to a capital campaign in support of Big Bend Hospice’s First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care (FCCCC) project.

The eight-bed center, which is located at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and will

cost approximately $6 million, has been designed to provide high-quality care in an optimal environment for patients and their families as they transition from hospital to hospice.

Dena is deeply grateful to Big Bend Hospice for all that its team did for Sally Ann and her family last February. Then, she was in a position to discover firsthand the differences that the FCCCC will make. She learned that even a short ambulance trip can be excruciatingly difficult for a person with critically low blood pressure and an elevated need for supplemental oxygen.

So it was that Dena came by an extra dose of motivation for her hospice fundraising efforts. As if she needed it.

Dena describes the rooms at the FCCCC with the kind of verve her mother surely displayed in touting the features of a fourbedroom, three-bath beauty on a two-acre lakefront lot.

“Steve,” she began, “these rooms are state-of-the-art. Can you imagine being in the hospital and being able to go to this restful place? We will have a bereavement area, a chapel. The patient rooms are like bedrooms. The beds have headboards. The wiring is hidden by gorgeous art. The art throughout the facility will relate to Big Bend Hospice’s eight-county service area. The couch will pull out into a bed! When we do tours, that is a big win with people! And in the ceilings, we have Sky Factory, a virtual skylight with moving clouds and swaying branches!”

I thought back to the tour I had taken with Dena at Boys Town. There, too, she directed my attention to details that mattered to her and as much as said, “Steve, they should matter to you, too.” Every shelf and nook, the ways in which the resident children made the rooms their own with personal effects, the tidiness of the place, the spaciousness of the kitchen, the sharing of duties.

I am enamored of Dena’s enthusiasm, no doubt, but it is that enthusiasm, combined with unmistakable genuineness, that makes her a dynamo and a refreshing break from all that tiresome and ubiquitous forced positivity. When she says “awesome” or “perfect” or “100 percent,” she means it.

“Dena is one in a million,” said Big Bend Hospice CEO Bill Wertman. “When she gets into something, she’s fully engaged. Our project at TMH, she has made that happen.”

What if she were even 10 in a million? What a difference that would make.

Be well,

STEVE BORNHOFT, EXECUTIVE EDITOR sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM

GIVEAWAYS

Win Tickets to the 30A Songwriters Festival!

Enter to win two general admission weekend passes to the 2024 30A Songwriters Festival, celebrating 15 years of “Hooks, Lines and Singers.” Scheduled for Jan. 12–15, this beloved South Walton happening is co-produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and Russell Carter Artist Management. Festival-goers will enjoy access to more than 175 artists performing original songs at more than 30 venues throughout South Walton. One of our readers will receive a superior holiday gift when the drawing winner is announced on Dec. 15.

Get all the details at TallahasseeMagazine.com/ 2024-30a-songwriters-festival-giveaway.

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NOMINATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR TALLY TOP PET 2024!

Nominations are now live for the 2024 Tally Top Pet photo contest. Last year’s finale saw bulldog Gunner, aka “Big Sexy,” take down the tall and lanky Bugsy in an epic matchup to claim the coveted title for 2023. Tally Top Pet is back for a new year of doggies and kitties — all to benefit Be The Solution, which provides free spay and neuter services to Leon and surrounding communities.

To submit your pet’s photo for this year’s contest, head to TallahasseeMagazine.com/ tally-top-pet.

NEW THRILLER BY FSU ALUM

Jarret Keene, who earned a doctorate in creative writing at FSU, is doing what he can to combat unsettling trends, both personally and via a character of his own creation, Lash, the heroine in his debut post-apocalyptic novel, Hammer of the Dogs, which was published in September. The novel is available at Midtown Reader, leading booksellers and Amazon.com.

Learn more in an exclusive digital story found here: Tallahasseemagazine.com/ nightmares-dreams-andkiller-flamingos.

Launching November 19

Introducing TSO’s own love letter to our artistic community a book for all ages

T is for Tallahassee

The ABC’s of our Musical City

Presenting

Cirque de Noel featuring Cirque de la Symphonie

HolidayMagic!

Sponsored exclusively by

Saturday, December 9

3:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Get your tickets today at TallahasseeSymphony.org/events

Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Assume that a heat dome has parked itself over Tallahassee and surrounding areas. High temperatures have exceeded 100 degrees for a week. The demand for power has become so great that outages are becoming a problem. Hospitals are overflowing with cases of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Hallways are being staged as makeshift emergency rooms. People without shelter are dying on the streets.

How would you address that crisis?

The scenario was run by Tina Vidal-Duart and Carlos Duart, Miami-born entrepreneurs who moved to Tallahassee as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they oversee the CDR Companies.

Notably, Vidal-Duart is the CEO at CDR/Health, a health care services contractor whose strengths include meeting community needs during crises or following natural disasters.

CDR/Health emerged as a goto player during the pandemic in several states. Vidal-Duart served as the CEO of Florida’s COVID-19 Infectious Disease Field Hospital System. After the hospitals were demobilized, she was instrumental in helping CDR/Health’s COVID-19 test site logistics team deploy a call center; develop software that facilitated the patient experience from registration through result delivery; and launch a proprietary vaccination data management system.

“I would take all those empty Kroger buildings in Southwood and bring in the one thousand hospital beds that we have in warehouses in various parts of the state and open an alternative care site to relieve the pressure on hospitals,” Vidal-Duart said.

“We would probably deploy a couple of hundred staff just like we did after Hurricane Ian,” she continued. “We would bring in supplies for treating heat stroke and heat exhaustion — ice, blankets and IV bags to hydrate people. We would devote one of the buildings to a shelter for homeless people or people without power. During Hurricane Ian, we built a shelter in an old Publix in Fort Myers where the AC units had been stolen from the roof. We brought in generators and very large portable AC units.”

“At hospitals owned by service districts, profit is sometimes looked at as a bad thing. What people fail to realize is that profit enables facilities to stay open, it allows for reinvestment and makes raises and bonuses possible. It takes time to change that mentality — to the benefit of the employees and the community.”

—Tina Vidal-Duart

Carlos Duart is the president/CEO at CDR/ Maguire Engineering, a heavy infrastructure firm whose work is confined to large state and federal projects such as interstate highway construction and reconstruction. He also advises the management team at CDR/Emergency Management, a disasterresponse company that has helped communities recover from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires. Like CDR/Health, it was involved with several states in combating COVID-19.

If a community were overtaken by locusts, CDR/ EM likely could develop an action plan. But what of the Tallahassee heat-dome scenario?

Vidal-Duart and Duart fielded the question immediately and with specifics.

“On the emergency management side, it’s basically the same idea,” Duart said. “We would set up cooling centers in tents or buildings. We would need chairs, beds, generators, food, staff, possibly IVs. It’s all about supply chains and logistics and the ability to move people and supplies quicker than anybody else.”

Both Duart and Vidal-Duart earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida International University. In February, they contributed $1.2 million to the school to establish endowed scholarships in the FIU Honors College. Vidal-Duart’s advanced degree (2004) is in international business; Duart’s is in taxation (1999). He is also a CPA. The couple began dating after they were introduced to one another by mutual friends at an FIU football game. They quickly discovered they had something in common: Both were going through divorces.

Early in her career, Vidal-Duart specialized in acquiring and turning around financially distressed rural hospitals for a business she helped create at age 22. All of the hospitals, located in Kentucky, Louisiana and Georgia, were in bankruptcy or had announced plans to close when Vidal-Duart got involved. Most were owned by a hospital service district and governed by calcified bureaucracies.

“In small communities, you have people who have been working at the same place for a really long time,”

Tina Vidal-Duart

Carlos Duart

outside the offices of CDR/Health, where she is the CEO. Early in her career, Vidal-Duart specialized in turning around financially distressed rural hospitals in multiple states, becoming something of an efficiency expert.

Vidal-Duart said. “Unfortunately, that is not always the best way to run a hospital. Some hospitals hadn’t updated their chargemasters (a schedule of services and fees) for years. They weren’t setting expectations for patient lengths of stay and admissions from the ER department. They may have failed to negotiate supply contracts. Or, the reputation of a hospital in the community may have been poor.”

Vidal-Duart, then, worked to make the hospitals more efficient and profitable, at times adding services and bringing in additional doctors.

“At hospitals owned by service districts, profit is sometimes looked at as a bad thing,” she said. “What people fail to realize is that profit enables facilities to stay open, it allows for reinvestment and makes raises and bonuses possible. It takes time to change that mentality — to the benefit of the employees and the community.”

As a CPA, Duart worked for PriceWaterhouse for three years and later became the controller at an engineering firm owned by his then father-in-law.

“I have always had a business mindset,” he said. “I started reading the Wall Street Journal when I was 11. Numbers are my thing. If you can competently and efficiently run a business and motivate its employees, you can do amazing things, and it’s not all about money.”

Duart is the son of Cuban immigrants. Vidal-Duart’s father emigrated to the United States from Cuba at age 3. Her mother was born in California to a Mexican-American father and an American mother.

They grew up in modest households and learned the value of hard work while very young. As a girl, Vidal-Duart contributed to the household income by mowing lawns and cleaning houses.

At age 4, Duart began picking Surinam cherries with members of his family. Three gallons were good for five bucks. At age 15, he was introduced to engineering. Standing at intersections with clipboard in hand, he counted cars. (Having misheard Duart when he told her about that experience,

↙

and her husband

stand

Vidal-Duart believed for years that he got his start counting cards.)

At the engineering firm, Duart the controller aspired to a bigger role in the business. The owner scoffed at the idea.

“He told me that I was an accountant and that I would never be able to manage things,” Duart recalled. “He said I wasn’t even capable of managing the office. But I became president and CEO of the company. When people tell me I can’t do something, it lights me up.”

In 2009, Duart purchased the Maguire Group, a 70-year-old, Rhode Island-based engineering firm with 200 employees.

“That was a big move for me as there was no safety net; the deal was funded by me,” Duart said. “And not everything was smooth sailing. In 2012, we went through a Chapter 11 restructuring due to significant liabilities that were undisclosed when I bought the business. But we survived, paid all our vendors 100 cents on the dollar, and even won two national awards related to the restructuring.”

Meanwhile, Duart had hired his future wife as a consultant who would rework the business’s approach to project management.

When COVID-19 took hold in Florida, the state reached out to CDR, given Duart’s and Vidal-Duart’s experience in emergency management.

“Once we understood what the needs were, I started calling all my contacts, and Carlos started calling people he knew in health care and we were able to secure additional lab capacity and medical supplies that the state was having a hard time getting,” Vidal-Duart said.

CDR’s COVID work expanded as the pandemic worsened. Vidal-Duart, as a former hospital CEO, helped educate state Department of Health employees establish and run field hospitals. Finally, the state asked her if she could open them.

“We did, and then we opened hundreds of mass testing sites for the state,” Vidal-Duart said. “That led to vaccinations. We were the first to

provide monoclonal antibodies on a mass scale, and we’re still the largest provider in the country.”

For Duart and Vidal-Duart, COVID-19 would become personal. Duart contracted the virus during Father’s Day weekend in 2020 and was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Miami. The antiviral medication remdesivir was administered, but it didn’t help. Duart said he had been scheduled to receive a ventilator when he started to improve in response to convalescent plasma.

“Carlos almost died, and I sat there thinking, ‘I am going to be a single mom,’” Vidal-Duart said.

So it was that she was greatly moved by a woman who had been tested for COVID and desperately needed her test results. Her husband had COVID, and doctors have given him 24 hours to live. She would not be permitted to see him unless she presented a negative test result.

↑ On Sept. 7, CDR Emergency Management was tasked by the Florida Division of Emergency Management with standing up a 100-person base camp at a sports complex in Mayo, Florida. The camp served as a headquarters for volunteers and mutual aid crews working in response to Hurricane Idalia. CDR Emergency Management got to work on Sept. 8 and the base camp became operational two days later. ↘ CDR Health CEO Tina Vidal-Duart met with Red Cross volunteers who worked with Fort Myers residents displaced by Hurricane Ian.

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“Carlos was sick at the time, and I remember thinking that this could be me in a couple of days,” Vidal-Duart said. “I called the lab and said I needed to have the woman’s results within eight hours. They told me they had thousands of tests to go through to find them, and I told them I didn’t care. They did it, and she was able to see her husband before he died.”

Duart and Vidal-Duart said they worked 20-hour days in Tallahassee during the pandemic and managed to see their two small children in Miami for only a couple of hours on Sundays. Eventually, they decided to make Tallahassee their new home.

They developed a building off Mahan Road that houses offices along with a medical spa, a primary care clinic and a testing lab, all part of their family of companies.

“We lead by example,” Vidal-Duart said of her and her husband’s management style. “There is nothing that we call on others to do that we would not do ourselves, even if that means responding to patient emails and giving them test results at 3 in the morning.

“We are willing to work side by side with our team. We feel like a family. There is a camaraderie and bonds that have been built that only come about when you come through a disaster or an emergency.”

Duart said of the company culture at CDR/ Maguire Engineering that “we are engaged in a team effort, everyone has a role to play and we don’t pass the buck. If something needs to be done, we’re gonna get it done.”

That approach can differ from that of government. Asked if he could markedly streamline a state or federal agency if given 90 days to do so, Duart had another ready answer.

“A hundred percent.” TM

↑ Together, Carlos Duart and Tina Vidal-Duart work to create a highly collegial atmosphere at their Tallahassee-based companies. “There is nothing that we call on others to do that we would not do ourselves,” Tina said. “We are like a family.”

2021 Winner Alice

2023 Winner Gunner

2022 Winner

Surf Dog

MUSIC AS MEDICINE

Therapists’ tools include guitars and ukuleles

by EMMA WITMER

Elvis Presley took the stage at Chicago’s International Amphitheater on March 29, 1957, in a gold lamé suit and proceeded to cause 13 girls to faint. One even fainted twice.

Elvis catalyzed a ravenous fanbase, but there may be more to this story than star power. Music, as it turns out, has power all on its own.

The dedicated team of certified music therapists at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) leverages the psychological and neurological impacts of music to address a wide variety of issues in patients of all ages, from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to geriatric care.

Valerie Williams, the director of TMH’s music therapy department, leads a team of four full-time, certified music therapists, five part-timers and two interns who use guitars, ukuleles, piano and other percussion instruments and recorded music to reach clients in ways that only music can.

“In the simplest definition, music therapy is using music to accomplish nonmusical goals,” Williams said.

Anyone can engage with music on a physical level by swaying to a tune or tapping toes to a beat. These movements make people feel more present and alive. There are, however, distinct differences between enjoying music and music therapy. Certified music therapists hold a four-year degree in music therapy or a master’s degree equivalent and complete a 1,200-hour internship. They must also pass the CBMT Board Certification exam to work in a therapeutic setting.

“As board-certified professionals, we have a lot of training beyond just music,” Williams said. “We are trained in counseling techniques, psychology, neurobiology, basic anatomy skills. We look at how the brain works and why the music is working, not just the knowledge that music works.”

Williams and her team develop individual treatment plans, employ flexible intervention options and continually analyze data to measure progress. As part of the TMH ecosystem, Williams and her team operate in every unit in the main hospital as well as outpatient care centers

“As board-certified professionals, we have a lot of further training beyond just music. We are trained in counseling techniques, psychology, neurobiology, basic anatomy skills. We look at how the brain works and why the music is working, not just the knowledge that music works.”

— Valerie Williams, the director of TMH’s music therapy department

← Music therapist Brittany Rosado leads a Little One’s Music Play class, an early childhood development group representing a partnership between Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Florida State University. The project received support from the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy.

and parent-child groups. Some specialize in particular populations.

Hannah Sellers works in the NICU, using simple lullabies to introduce new stimuli to infants who are otherwise isolated due to their premature birth.

“One of the protocols that we use is the PAL, which is the pacifier-activated lullaby,” Sellers said. “That uses contingent music based on their sucking. So, they suck for 10 seconds and developmentally appropriate music plays. Then we can adjust those settings, making it harder for the music to trigger, so either they have to suck more times or stronger to get that music to play.”

The PAL was invented by FSU’s Dr. Jayne Standley and is now used to teach sucking to infants across the country.

Sellers is especially cautious when working with premature infants. Music therapy offers many benefits, but done carelessly, music can have counterproductive effects.

← Department director and former NICU music therapist Valerie Williams teaches a parent at the unit how to use Multimodal Neurologic Enhancement to increase tolerance to stimulation and improve neurologic development in premature infants. ↓ NICU music therapist Hannah Sellers helped a mother on the Antenatal Care Unit write a song thanking the medical staff on the unit for the care she received at TMH.

physiologically, we can’t be hyping them up with their favorite songs.”

TMH’s music therapists assist in the treatment of cognitive issues, Parkinson’s disease, emotional issues, lactation support, pain management, stroke and speech therapy among other conditions. Often, music helps to sublimate pain, discomfort and anxiety. Other times, music therapy can establish neurological shortcuts that, to laymen, can appear miraculous.

“Speech and singing essentially get to the same place in the brain, but they take different routes.”

— Michaela Schenkel, music therapist

“Infants in the NICU can’t listen to the same music that we listen to because they’re premature, and their brain literally will stop developing properly,” Sellers said.

These risks are also present in adolescent and adult patients.

“The one that always gets me is blood pressure,” added Michaela Schenkel, another music therapist with TMH. “People get excited when they hear music they like, but you could be working with a patient who’s on five different medications for their blood pressure. Then the nurse comes in because the excitement is raising their blood pressure and heart rate. Socio-emotionally, this is great for the patient, but

Processing music, rhythm and sound utilizes both sides of the brain, which can be of great benefit to patients with brain injuries. Patients who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury may lose the ability to speak, but through music therapy, many can learn to communicate by singing.

“Speech and singing essentially get to the same place in the brain, but they take different routes,” Schenkel explained. “Think of it like this, if you know the way to your house, there’s probably a road that you always take, and you don’t have to pull up a map to get there. You might know a couple of other ways to get to your house. Let’s say that route you always take just does not exist anymore. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get to your house.”

The music therapy department at TMH began in 1995 with a single therapist funded by Florida State University. At that time, the department served to fulfill internship requirements for FSU music therapy students, but having seen the positive impacts of music therapy firsthand, TMH, FSU and other charitable organizations have invested more and more funding to support the department.

Williams and her team hope that trend continues. TM

Brain surgery at TMH means Camilla can paint and draw again

Deep Brain Stimulation dramatically improves hand and other tremors, allowing patients to continue doing the things they love

by Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare

WhenCamilla Augustine was a teenager, she began to feel a slight tremor in her hands.

“It was almost imperceptible,” she said. “They were very minor, and they didn’t really impede anything that I was trying to accomplish.”

While Camilla grew up, got married, raised two daughters, and eventually became the president of a business for 22 years, the tremors slowly intensified, mostly in her right hand.

“I wasn’t aware of the fact that it was something that was going to get worse over time, or I would’ve sought remedies sooner,” she said.

She visited doctors who tested her for Parkinson’s disease, but they ultimately diagnosed her with essential tremor –a neurological condition that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking, usually in the arms, head or neck.

As the tremors got worse, Camilla, who’s now 74, slowly gave up hobbies like sewing and candle making and started doing things like gardening that didn’t require as much dexterity. Eventually, she gave up on her passions of drawing and painting as well.

In her professional life, she found it increasingly difficult to give presentations in front of an audience or even sign her name on a check or document.

She spent years working with a neurologist and taking medications to treat the tremors.

“The doses kept getting stronger and more often, and I didn’t really feel that there was a tremendous result,” Camilla said.

She even tried using alcohol to suppress her shaking –a common masking technique used by patients with similar conditions – but she didn’t want to make it a habit.

It reached a point where Camilla couldn’t take a drink from a glass or eat soup without making a mess.

Her neurologist referred her to Matthew Davis, MD, a functional neurosurgeon at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) who specializes in treating movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and essential tremor with a surgery known as Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS.

“Camilla had been using medical options available for her essential tremor, and it reached a point where they were no longer working,” Dr. Davis said. “She wasn’t able to do the things that she wanted to do, and it was profoundly impairing her quality of life.”

DBS is used to relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia and epilepsy. The procedure is remarkably well-studied and has demonstrated excellent results with long-term effectiveness. DBS has been FDA approved for over 20 years, and over 100,000 people worldwide have received DBS therapy. Because it is FDA approved, DBS surgery is covered by most major health insurance plans as well as Medicare.

DBS for essential tremor works by delivering a continuous electrical circuit to a specific, tiny area of the patient’s brain where the tremor originates.

The surgery is done in two phases – the first with the patient being awake in the operating room. The scalp is numbed, and a small hole is made in the skull. Using a computer navigating system and a CT scan, a wire is passed into the brain with sub-millimeter accuracy.

The patient is kept awake during the surgery to monitor the immediate changes that happen in the operating room. Patients undergoing DBS are tasked with drawing a spiral and writing their name both before and after the wire is placed.

Once the wire is in, there is an immediate reduction in the tremors, dramatically improving the patient’s ability to write.

In the second phase of the surgery, a battery, similar to a pacemaker battery, is placed under the skin in the chest. Together, the wire and the battery control the tremors.

Dr. Davis has performed 88 DBS surgeries since starting the Movement Disorders Program at TMH in 2020. TMH is the only hospital in the Big Bend bringing this lifeimproving technology to patients.

“This is a quality-of-life surgery,” Dr. Davis said. “You’re bringing back normal functionality and quality of life and that’s one of the most exciting things you can do.”

Camilla said she looked at other programs at other facilities before choosing TMH.

“I didn’t find any place that had as much experience as TMH and Dr. Davis,” she said.

When she first learned about the surgery, she was intimidated.

“I was scared to pieces,” she said, adding that she thought she was too old to have the procedure.

But she quickly learned that her age was not a barrier and that while she would be awake during the procedure, there wouldn’t be any pain involved because the skull and brain don’t have nerve endings.

“When I realized that people were having to cut my food for me and I was having to drink soup through a straw –I decided to give it a chance,” Camilla said.

She wants other patients with movement disorders to consider DBS for themselves.

“The advice I’d give to anyone is don’t wait; seek help now,” she said. “When I’m discussing DBS with anyone, I certainly would recommend that they go to TMH.”

Since having her surgery in October 2022, Camilla has seen a radical improvement in her quality of life, even in ways she didn’t expect.

“I’ve been more likely to put myself out there in social situations and meet people after the surgery,” she said.

She also enjoys volunteering at her church and spending time with her grandsons.

“All possibilities have opened up for things that I can try to do now – sew, knit, crochet, paint, draw – it’s endless. These are all things that one by one, I gave up when I had the tremors,” Camilla said. “I feel like I’ve gained many years back that I lost.”

To learn more about the advanced heart care offered at TMH, visit TMH.ORG/Services/Neurosciences.

The photo above shows the difficulty Camilla Augustine had drawing straight lines before DBS; on the right is after surgery.

Matthew Davis, MD has performed 88 DBS surgeries since starting the Movement Disorders Program at TMH in 2020.

DBS surgery is covered by most major health insurance plans as well as Medicare. Camilla encourages anyone experiencing tremors to seek help. Photos provided by Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Ambitious from the Beginning

Tallahassee-Leon County celebrates Bicentennial as community embraces future

BY KERRI POST, LEON COUNTY DIVISION OF TOURISM DIRECTOR

WE STAND AT THE EDGE OF A NEW CENTURY.

In 2024, our community will have the opportunity to celebrate the past through our 200th anniversary while embracing the next 100 years. Leon County Government extends an invitation for residents and visitors to join us as we honor our local story and the powerful chapter we prepare to write.

The Tallahassee-Leon County area is a community of doers, dreamers and believers with a profound, collaborative story. Our ambition endures to innovate, commemorate, illuminate, activate, educate, negotiate, elevate, celebrate, create and appreciate. The Bicentennial celebration is more than an anniversary; it’s an opportunity to share our community’s rich history, aspirations and accomplishments.

Leon County’s Division of Tourism leads the community’s celebratory efforts by implementing the Bicentennial Steering Committee. The committee builds on existing community efforts while infusing fresh insights to make the Bicentennial truly exceptional. Additionally, there are more than 150 community members engaged in Bicentennial Task Forces that report to the

Bicentennial Steering Committee. The task forces cover topics ranging from marketing, education, interfaith and more.

We use this unique moment in time to reflect on TallahasseeLeon County’s past and recognize the potential for our future. The Bicentennial kicks off this New Year’s Eve with an epic celebration in Cascades Park. Events continue throughout the year with community service activations, communitywide celebrations, educational programs, faith-based activities, conferences, concerts, festivals and special events.

The official website of the Tallahassee-Leon County Bicentennial is TallahasseeLeonCounty200.com. Featuring a calendar of events, it serves as a unique portal, chronicling the significant milestones of Tallahassee-Leon County from 1824 to 2024. In line with our commitment to community engagement and involvement, visitors and residents will have the opportunity to dive into our compelling story, explore fun facts about Tallahassee-Leon County, and discover ways to participate in the Bicentennial celebration.

Theresa McNeill Turner, Queen of the Bubbles, 1924 Centennial Parade

BENDING THE HEALTH CARE CURVE

New hospice unit reflects spirit of cooperation

by STEVE BORNHOFT

While a first-year medical student at the University of Florida, Deborah Morris visited her grandfather in a room he shared with another patient in a nursing home.

He was in his 80s, a retired military man. Tough, he had beaten esophageal cancer, but his heart, finally, was dying.

He had ping-ponged between a hospital and the nursing home for some time, and now he was in a bed at the end of a hall, as far removed from the nurse’s station as it could be. When his daughter arrived, he was gasping for breath and pleading for help.

“As a medical student, I said to myself, ‘We have got to do better than this,’” Morris recalled. “It was so far from OK. Really, it was that experience that drove me to pursue a career in hospice and palliative medicine.”

Morris moved to Tallahassee from Virginia about three years ago and worked for a time in palliative care at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). In February, she became the medical director at Big Bend Hospice (BBH).

In relocating, Morris said, she and her husband Tod, a TMH oncologist, sought a community that is “committed to caring for everyone.” In Tallahassee, they are convinced they found such a place. Morris points to community support for an in-hospital hospice unit at TMH as evidence for that belief.

As of this writing, the First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care (FCCCC) at TMH, which will be operated by BBH, was expected to receive its first patients in mid-November. The approximately $6 million project will provide eight acute care beds reserved for patients nearing the end of life.

Typically, those patients will be transferred from TMH to BBH and will have become so vulnerable and fragile as to be unlikely to survive even a two-mile ambulance ride from the hospital to BBH’s 12-bed Hospice House.

CHAMPION

↑ Patients rooms at Big Bend Hospice’s First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care at TMH have been designed to provide a home-like environment versus a strictly clinical one. The ability to transfer patients to hospice within the hospital will eliminate the need for stress-inducing ambulance rides.

For terminally ill patients too sick to be transported, the only option had been to remain in a sterile, noisy hospital room.

“They need an environment that is appropriate for end-oflife care,” Morris stressed. “TMH is a great hospital with great doctors and nurses, but the hospital space, itself, is not a hospice space. A favorite nurse of mine when I was in hospice training said, ‘We labor coming into the world, and we labor going out.’”

First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care rooms — the credit union was awarded naming rights given its $1 million contribution to the project — were designed as places where patients, family members and caregivers can comfortably gather. They have the feel of a room in a home.

Wiring is hidden. The patient bed has a headboard. The couch folds out into a guest bed. The rooms are conducive to efforts to meet spiritual, psychological and family needs. One of the rooms can readily be converted for use in pediatric cases.

In October 2019, Lee Hinkle and Rheb Harbison, then the board chairs at TMH and BBH, respectively, met to discuss how the two organizations might benefit by a closer relationship. Their meeting led to one between TMH CEO and president Mark O’Bryant and BBH CEO and administrator Bill Wertman. The two chiefs have been doing lunch ever since.

“Our first meetings were the genesis of the inpatient hospice unit at TMH,” Wertman said. “The discussion continued for the better part of two years concerning what it might look like. It’s a win-win. We benefit by having our acute care nurses in the hospital, and the arrangement helps TMH reduce the mortality rate within the hospital. Hospitals can be scrutinized very heavily for that.”

Like Morris, Wertman was profoundly affected by the passing of a relative, his mother, who died two years ago at age 89. For the last 15 years of her life, Wertman served as her caregiver.

“Let’s face it, there is a very specific reason that people need our services,” Wertman said. “It’s not until then that they find out what the true benefit of hospice is. You are grieving, and you are dealing with the sadness of what’s coming and still trying to be strong for your family and, in my case, for my mom.”

↑ FOUNDERS WALL A display will recognize people whose contributions made the hospice center at TMH

Wertman said that even given his years of service as a hospice CEO — he joined BBH in 2015, initially as human resources director — “I learned a great deal about hospice when I was vulnerable and I needed their help.”

BBH, which operates with a certificate of need issued by the state, serves 6,500-square-mile Area 2B comprising Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties. It employs 279 people and is the third-largest health care provider in its service area behind TMH and HCA Florida Capital Hospital.

On Aug. 10, its patient census stood at 435, including its palliative care program.

To staff up the new unit, BBH was engaged in August in what Morris called a “huge recruiting push” aimed at hiring nurses, providers and care aides. The search, she said, was focused particularly on prospective employees who enjoy acute care.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from nurses who have worked in hospital settings in critical care,” Morris said. “Many have been hearing reports about this unit for years, and they are very excited.”

Their interest level has been mirrored by community support for the project.

“First Commerce was amazing for us,” Wertman said. “Here you have a credit union that you wouldn’t think of as supporting a health care effort in a hospital, but one of their directors who was familiar with what we’re doing went to bat for us and their board overwhelmingly approved the donation.”

As of August, a capital campaign that was launched in late 2022 had sailed past the $4 million mark.

“That shows the level of compassion in the community for hospice, and it also speaks volumes to Dena’s abilities and her connections; she has made this happen.”

About BBH Foundation president Dena Strickland, Wertman said, “Many people love her and respect her, and when she asks, they give.”

Meanwhile, Wertman is encouraged that the TMH-BHH collaboration suggests possibilities for “a continuum of care that is not so fragmented and disjointed, but more aligned and more accessible.”

At those Wertman-O’Bryant lunches, important chatter takes place between bites.

“I think in the near future, we will see a new kind of health care delivery in our area that will be pretty much unparalleled elsewhere in the country. There aren’t a lot of projects like it, and this one has a lot of momentum right now.” TM

WANT TO HELP?

Big Bend Hospice continues to receive donations to its First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care project. Contact Foundation president Dena Strickland at (850) 878-5310 for further information.

Community Foundation of North Florida

Building a lasting legacy through philanthropy

Our actions today hold the key to shaping a brighter future for our families and community. As we think about the future, it is important to reflect on the values that drive us and form the bedrock of meaningful philanthropy, both today and in the future. Philanthropy’s true power lies not just in giving but in aligning our values with our charitable contributions.

At its core, the Community Foundation of North Florida firmly believes in the potential of every individual to make a difference. The foundation empowers individuals, families and businesses to delve into their personal values and discover how charitable

giving can transform lives and shape the future of our community. It offers opportunities to support local nonprofits, co-invest in community priorities and collaborate with like-minded philanthropists.

The unwavering commitment of the Community Foundation of North Florida lies in supporting individuals, families and businesses to build a legacy that endures beyond our lifetimes. Whether you choose to establish a donor-advised fund or support a specific cause, the foundation provides expert guidance to ensure that your charitable giving strategy aligns with your values and creates a lasting impact for generations to come.

People Focused. Performance Driven.

IN 2023, Leon County Government continued to make great progress and serve our citizens, all while striving to set the standard for performance, fiscal stewardship, and best practices for local governments everywhere.

VINCENT S. LONG, County Administrator

While addressing the critical needs of the citizens we serve, we remained focused on executing our longterm strategy of building and diversifying our local economy by opening Amazon, which brings more than 1,300 full-time jobs to our community and $114 million annually in local economic impact.

Thanks to our continuous efforts to grow our local tourism economy, we had another record year, with $1.23 billion in economic impact and nearly 2.35 million visitors. To keep this historic momentum

going, we opened the County’s one-of-a-kind Visitor Information Center downtown in the renovated rail station that will grow tourism and support the County’s leading efforts in celebrating our community’s Bicentennial in 2024.

Through the vision and leadership provided by the Board of County Commissioners and the hard work of our dedicated County employees, we at Leon County remain committed to listening to the people we serve, addressing the challenges we face together, and striving to be a place like nowhere else.

Please learn more about all of Leon County’s efforts this year on behalf of and alongside our community in the 2023 Leon County Annual Report.

CITIZEN OF STYLE

Curated Fashion

NOV/DEC

by MARINA BROWN

↖ Ashley Williams at the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, where she is the curator of exhibitions and collections. While centered in the art world, she eschews flamboyant fashion in favor of clothing that makes her feel good.

Ashley Williams’ personal style aligns with her career in the arts

Ashley Williams may be a little different than you’d expect — not the average eccentric, artistic type.

Williams is the newly appointed curator of exhibitions and collections at the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum. She’s worked at the museum for two years as the Art Zone educator and curatorial assistant before recently stepping into her new and vital role.

At 31, Willimas is joyful, yet she is serene. She is sure of herself. And she has a sense of style that clearly works for her.

With the varying hues of painted canvas swirling around her and the intensity of inspiration throbbing from the museum walls, one would expect some artistic influence in style. But how does one surrounded by art decide what to incorporate into their own style?

Of course, there was Salvador Dali. With his waistcoats and twirled mustaches, you knew he was an “artiste” when he walked in the room. Or Frida Kahlo in her brilliantly stitched Mexican motifs.

But not all those involved in the visual arts are necessarily “costumed.” Sometimes a pretty sweater and a pair of slacks pronounce a sense of style that is perfect for the occasion and the job.

Williams spends her days educating visitors and preparing exhibitions intended to delight museumgoers from all across North Florida. With this kind of proximity to art in all its guises, one needs to feel comfortable.

“Today, I’m wearing something that makes me feel good — a sweater with

panache

↑ Growing up, Ashley Williams loved libraries and poring over museum exhibition catalogs. She went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history and is now at work on a doctoral dissertation focused on adult play in museums.

a floral motif. Flowers appear in a number of pieces I love,” she said, adding there would be floral arrangements throughout her house if it weren’t for a cat who has other plans for petals and leaves.

“The problem is that one day I may be in meetings and another day installing an exhibition. I tend to keep things practical for that reason,” she said. “But I love bright, solid-colored pieces of clothing — just as my eye goes to

↙ Ashley Williams has embraced her mother’s preference for a solid-color wardrobe. Here, she has paired a sleeveless, navy blue jumpsuit with the delicate gold jewelry she loves and rarely leaves home without.

Florida where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history. “I was the kid who just loved libraries and looking at museum exhibition catalogs,” she said with a laugh. And she didn’t want to stop. Working in art galleries and as the lead educator at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, Williams envisioned a career in museum work and educating the public about the treasures inside.

At this writing, she has completed all of the coursework to achieve her Ph.D. from Florida State University in museum education and visitor-centered curation. She has planned a dissertation that will focus on “adult play in museum settings,” saying that, “Like children at a museum, adults can do it, too.”

“The problem is that one day I may be in meetings and another day installing an exhibition. I tend to keep things practical for that reason. But I love bright, solid-colored pieces of clothing — just as my eye goes to abstract paintings where color is used to express emotion.”

— Ashley Williams, curator of exhibitions and collections at the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum

“As far as my own style — it is evolving,” Williams said with a smile. Acknowledging that she is “traditional” in her clothing choices, she said that “trendy” styles sometimes give her permission to try things she ordinarily might not. “I bought a pair of hot pink shoes that I now wear all the time!”

abstract paintings where color is used to express emotion.”

Williams’ mother, whose parents were deaf, is a trained sign-language instructor. She gravitates toward solid colors, finding that they make for a better background when instructing. Williams said her mother’s solid-color wardrobe has been a “big influence” for her.

Raised in Weeki Wachee, Williams attended a community college before heading to the University of South

But everyone looks forward to a gala, and the Gadsden Museum’s Evening With the Arts reception gave Williams the chance to slip into a sleeveless, navy blue jumpsuit with flared, split legs that she paired with the ever-present delicate gold jewelry she loves.

With her thick, black hair which she does herself, a touch of eyeshadow, the soft scent of Burberry Her, and a very nontraditional glaze of Olive and June’s Forest Green nail polish, Williams shines — whether she’s attending elegant galas or climbing a ladder to hammer a nail for an exhibition install. TM

VERSATILE VESTS

Far more than just an extra layer

by REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

Think about vests, and various personas come to mind: the gun-slinging cowboy, the Harley Davidson rider, the shirtless rockstar, the avid outdoorsman, a sharp-dressed businessman or your great aunt at Christmas.

Vests are iconic, and such a statement piece does not stem from humble beginnings. The first noted and notable vest wearer was King Charles II of England in the 17th century.

What we now know as the vest was then referred to as the waistcoat. Royalty wore vests as a sign of status. Uppercrust folks liked them because when buttoned, they gave the appearance of broader chests and thinner waists.

Beginning in the 19th century, vests were largely reserved for formal occasions or as business attire. Men would wear them as part of suit ensembles, adding a bit of flair or a pop of color.

As men were donning their vests while lighting cigars in speakeasies, the women of the 1920s were experimenting with gender-bending fashion. The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City notes that many women began wearing vests and trousers in the early 1920s.

In the same decade, Irving Schott designed the first

leather biker jacket which would evolve to become the biker vest. The style wouldn’t reach its full potential until the 1960s when bikers started wearing “cuts” — cut-off vests typically made of leather or denim.

Rockstars and shunners of gender-specific clothing, including Harry Styles, Prince and Mick Jagger, took to wearing vests without shirts.

Today, vests are often worn as an accent piece, almost like an accessory or as a means of layering.

“The resurgence of vests, particularly in the South during winter, can be attributed to their remarkable versatility and adaptability to varying weather conditions,” said Stacey Getman, apparel stylist at Hearth & Soul. “With its role as a go-to layering item, the vest shines as a must-have addition for the winter season.”

Gerry Phipps, founder and owner of The Fix Thrift Shop, agreed, saying that shoppers look for vests in the fall and winter when Floridians begin to add layers.

↗ Sean Lambskin Suede Vest is from Overland. Crafted in a frontier spirit, it is designed to layer with ease. The vest is made of soft yet durable lambskin, thus adding dimension without bulk when paired with a dress shirt or a cashmere sweater. And, it’s equipped with four pockets inside and out to hold essentials.

And, the holidays bring occasions for vest wearing. Phipps said even a simple thrifted vest has potential.

“Doll it up, add some bling and celebrate the season,” she said.

For a timeless take, Getman suggests styling a vest with a smart collared shirt and trousers or a skirt. Think polished, preppy and professional. For a more laidback look, let the vest shine when paired with a simple tank and a fitted pair of jeans.

“A vest can be worn in many different ways to complement an outfit,” Getman said. “It is an essential wardrobe piece that can be effortlessly integrated into diverse outfits, making it

“Vests have a lot of potential; style them with items that reveal your ideas and

suitable for both corporate settings and evenings out. The ability to effortlessly transition from professional to chic is a key factor driving the vest’s popularity.”

A vest can be a statement piece in a bright color or bold pattern, or it can be a subtle extension of an outfit.

“Vests have a lot of potential; style them with items that reveal your ideas and passions, or keep it simple and clean depending on the occasion,” Phipps advised.

For both men and women, the sweater vest becomes a practical option when the weather turns chilly. Layer it over a buttondown for a classic, clean look, or do the unexpected and pair it with leather pants or a satin skirt.

A buttoned vest with fitted linen trousers is a look that has long been popular. Utility vests paired with cargo pants provide

↘ Short, fitted twill vest from H&M is lined and features a low-cut, square neckline, buttons in the front and shaping seams at front and back. It makes for a boldly elegant look even when paired with baggy jeans.

↖

Rib knit holiday sweater vest from H&M

What’s In Store?

A roundup of retail happenings

by REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

Loli & The Bean is your one-stop shop for holiday gifting for the homebody to the host and the teenage girl to the gameday fanatic. Their selection is vast and encompassing. Capri Blue Holiday Candles take the classic scent you know and love and make it seasonal. Not only do they smell good enough to eat, the jars are beautiful vessels that can be used as decor.

➸ Whether they call Tallahassee home or are only home for the holidays, the TALLAHASSEE CUTTING BOARD is a sentimental yet practical gift that reminds them home is where the heart is.

The Gem Collection

The holidays are the optimal time to add sparkle and shine to any outfit or occasion. Whether you’re seeking a timeless heirloom piece or a trendy bauble for people on your list, The Gem Collection offers it all in their jewelry box of treasures.

➸ A multi-colored GEMSTONE NECKLACE BY DESIGNER MICHOU is a vine of amethyst, garnet, quartz, pink topaz and peridot gems. It’s equal parts dainty and eye-catching.

➸ Soar into the new year with Scottish designer KEITH JACK’S PETITE BUTTERFLY EARRINGS. These whimsical winged danglers are made of sterling silver and 10k gold.

➸ Sterling silver and BLUE TOPAZ STUNNERS BY ACLEONI transition nicely from the icy winter to the pastel hues of spring, and they are at a pretty price point for jewelry that looks much more expensive than it is.

➸ For loved ones with February birthdays, consider giving them their birthstone, AMETHYST, set in 14k white gold and surrounded by diamonds.

➸ Emerald is the epitome of elegance and stuns no matter the season. Paired with diamonds, EMERALDS elevate any appearance.

Sparkle Tallahassee

Sparkle Tallahassee has something for every lady. This store outfits residents in the latest styles at reasonable price points.

➸ Need a statement shoe for the holiday party? Look no further than MATISSE BOOTIES. These bedazzling rhinestone shoes are show-stopping.

➸ Loli & The Bean specializes in customization. Each year, their CUSTOM PICTURE ORNAMENTS adorn trees across the city. These personalized presents are sure to make anyone feel special.

➸ Maxi dresses are always having a moment. THE ARTISTIC TIERED HAVEN MAXI DRESS features a camitop, ruffled skirt and dramatic back cut-outs that add a bit of daring to a supremely feminine dress. Layer it with a chunky knit sweater and kneehigh boots.

➸ Now, your clothing can smell like your favorite candle. THE TYLER CANDLE brand has released a new line of detergent. Just add a capful to your unscented detergent. The Sparkle staff recommends the diva scent which features notes of chocolate, amber, fresh fruits and rich florals.

MONKEES OF TALLAHASSEE

This lux candle is a standout, stimulating multiple senses at once. It is an object that adds elegance and elevation to any space.

1817 Thomasville Road, Ste. 430 (850) 597-9676

MonkeesOfTallahassee.com

BROWNS KITCHEN

For the person who fills your stomach and your soul, gift them a dutch oven from Le Creuset, sold at your local gourmet kitchen store, Browns Kitchen. This brand is known for its durability and bold, seasonal colors.

2551 Capital Circle NE | (850) 385-5665

BrownsKitchen.com

GIFT GUIDE Holiday

Shops, boutiques and even a craft brewery are prepared to simplify your shopping with ideas that appeal to all five senses, plus your fashion sense.

EARTH REMEDIES

Eminence products are natural, organic, effective and extraordinary. Shop the full range of trusted skin care products that balance your routine and transform your sense of well-being.

310 E. Bradford Road | (850) 727-5377

EarthRemediesSpa.com

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Let incredible detail, texture and shape take center stage this holiday season with Foresta, created by maestro artisan Cristian Massaro for VIETRI. Handcrafted in Italy, this assortment of trees will create a magical winter wonderland. 14– 22 inches tall 1410 Market St., C3 (850) 681-2824 | ShopMFT.com

TINY CHEEKS BABY BOUTIQUE

Parents will love the functionality and style of the Itzy Ritzy diaper backpack. The design is intended for parents on the go while being on trend in eye-catching patterns.

2459 Mahan Drive | (850) 519-9582

PROOF BREWING COMPANY

Sip and shop local this holiday season. Tallahassee’s first craft production brewery has a variety of flavorful beverages that are ideal for giving as a gift or bringing along to holiday parties.

1320 S. Monroe St. (850) 577-0517

ProofBrewingCo.com

MILLENNIUM NAIL & DAY SPA

Pevonia’s Ligne Myoxy-Caviar line is known for its powerful ingredients that repair and replenish. It is the ultimate in skin care excellence and proven to deliver extraordinary results.

1817 Thomasville Road | (850) 224-2222

3427 Bannerman Road #201 | (850) 894-4772

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD

Fresh Gulf seafood makes a great gift for the holidays! Stone crabs and lobster are now in season and are always a hit at any party or at home among family and friends. Gift cards are also available.

1415 Timberlane Road in Market Square | (850) 893-7301

SouthernSeafoodMarket.com

MillenniumNailAndDaySpa.com

THE OTHER SIDE VINTAGE

Searching for funky, fun and festive gifts for the holidays? You will find a little bit of this and a little bit of that at this unique shop located in the Railroad Square Art District.

607 Railroad Square (850) 224-6666

TheOtherSideVintage.com

GIFT GUIDE Holiday

SPENCE AND LANE BOUTIQUE

Your fashionista friend will appreciate the Paula sneakers from Spence and Lane. These standout sneakers feature red alligator print and merge modern and vintage flares.

119 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Georgia (229) 977-1582 | SpenceAndLane.com

THOMASVILLE SHOPS

SENSOREÉ

A gift of beauty is certain to lift spirits and delight the senses. Poets of Berlin by Vilhelm Parfumerie is an energetic mixture of blueberry, lemon, bamboo, green wild orris and Haitian vetiver.

107 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Georgia (229) 977-2315 | ShopSensoree.com

THE PINK VALISE

The Pink Valise is a boutique with one-of-a-kind pieces for every occasion. Known for their topnotch customer service, you can be sure to have assistance picking out the perfect outfit.

108 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Georgia (229) 236-7465 | ThePinkValiseBoutique.com

IMAGINATION EMPORIUM

Tonies is an innovative and exciting way of storytelling. This audio player encourages children to discover, explore and expand their imagination.

101 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Georgia (229) 236-8697 | ImaginationEmporium.com

PHOTOS

Tallulah offers the highest quality CBD, THC, and mushrooms on the market. No medical card needed. All six locations are locally owned and operated.

Kava | Edibles | THC Drinks | THC-V for Weight Loss | CBD Pain Cream

1. LOVE BITES Keep the romance alive or reignite the passion with Love Bites sensual gummies for both male and female enhancement.

2. MAGIC MUSHROOM CHOCOLATE BAR Treat yourself to a buzz-worthy bar of chocolate that blends mushroom extracts into microdose amounts, offered in flavors such as chocolate milk, churro and cookies and cream.

3. SPACE WALKER

These third-party, labtested pre-rolls are infused with a power blend of live resin THC-2000 milligram strength.

4. ODYSSEY HYDRATION

PLUS MOOD DRINK Revive in an energy drink with zero caffeine that utilizes lion’s mane mushrooms, cordyceps mushrooms, electrolytes, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C.

5. SPACE GODS SPACE BAR

Space Gods Delta 9 + CBD is both potent and dreamy with 200mg total CBD + THC. Try all 5 flavors of these tasty chocolate bars!

6. MUSCLE & JOINT PAIN CREAM This roll-on recovery relief was carefully crafted by pharmacists utilizing maximum cooling menthol and 2000 milligrams of CBD to ease muscle and joint pain and discomfort.

1.

8.

9.

11. TWINKLE, TWINKLE 10k Yellow Gold 0.05tdw Diamond Petite Starfish Earrings $320

12. SPARKLING SOPHISTICATION (RIGHT PAGE)

14k

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Women’s & Men’s Apparel, Accessories, Furniture, Lighting, Kitchen & Bar Provisions, Library, Special Gatherings, Wedding Registry, Specialty Gifting & Design Services

Women’s & Men’s Apparel, Accessories, Furntiure, Lighting, Kitchen & Bar Provisions, Library, Special GatheringsWedding Registry, Specialty Gifting & Design Services

POLLY-O RICOTTA SAUSAGE SKILLET PASTA

Ingredients

1 lb. Rigatoni pasta

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups (24 oz.) prepared marinara sauce

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1-1/2 cups POLLY-O MOZZARELLA CHEESE, shredded

1 cup POLLY-O PARMESAN CHEESE, grated

15 oz. POLLY-O RICOTTA CHEESE

Directions

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in large skillet, add sausage and onion. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring to crumble the sausage. Once browned, add garlic and heat for a few minutes. Add marinara and red pepper flakes. Stir to incorporate all ingredients and bring sauce to a low boil. Stir in the drained pasta, Mozzarella and ¾ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Cover and let the combination heat through for a few minutes. Remove skillet from heat, uncover pan and top with dollops of Ricotta cheese and the rest of the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Polly-o ricotta cheese yes, please!

Our Original Ricotta is a smooth, slightly sweet cheese that’s crafted with simple ingredients. Add a touch of creamy flavor to any new or traditional family recipe.

Polly-O Cheese, Made in New York since 1899

Find your favorite

Polly-O cheeses

gastro&gusto

photography

The holidays are the sweetest time of year. All season long, wherever you go, an abundance of irresistible treats entice.

You don’t need to pull out the family archives to elicit memories of Mom and Grandma’s best cookie or cake recipe. Plenty of local bakers are happy to rise to the occasion.

“People want products like Grandma used to make,” said Mark Cross, who owns and operates Tasty Pastry with his siblings.

They are the second generation of a family-run bakery that has been preparing fruitcakes, cakes, cookies, rolls and bread since 1963. Their fruitcake, for one, is a recipe his dad devised when the bakery opened 60 years ago.

“People are looking for, and appreciate, traditional things,” Cross said. “We have a signature

cinnamon roll that’s been the same recipe forever.”

Bakers understand that there’s something about holiday desserts that make them special.

They evoke “wonderful memories of an aunt, a grandma, a mother,” said Linda Richards, owner of The Cake Shop and a baker for more than 30 years.

“My mother always made a chocolate steamed pudding at Christmas,” Richards said. “She made it with a little chocolate sauce for us children, six of us, and that was a big deal. I make it during the holidays.”

“In November, people want pies,” said baker and chef Treva Pasquarelli, owner of Treva’s Pastries & Fine Foods. “In December, the No. 1 item is gingerbread cookies.” TM

Whatever you’re looking for this holiday season, chances are you’ll find it at your local baker.

Here’s a look at seven local Tallahassee bakeries. One tip: Call early if you have a large or custom order, so your favorite shop can handle your request.

THE CAKE SHOP

➺ In her cozy shop, Linda Richards creates traditional holiday pastries including cakes, lemon bars, cupcakes, pies and cookies, and offers cookie kits for Christmas or Hanukkah.

1908 Capital Circle NE, (850) 386-2253

DECADENT DELIGHTS

TREVA’S PASTRIES & FINE FOODS

➺ Baker and shop owner Arkeba Bouie features a wide range of cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cheesecakes and cookies. Red velvet cupcakes are in demand all year but especially during the holidays. Four-layer cakes are a Decadent Delights specialty, offered in flavors hummingbird, carrot, red velvet and chocolate. You can also find Bouie’s baked goods at Southwood Sweets, Revel’s Meats & Groceries, Piggly Wiggly and monthly pop-ups at Governor’s Square mall. 1779 Apalachee Parkway, (850) 354-8702

TASTY PASTRY

➺ This traditional bakery offers a wide range of items including homemade bread, pies, cakes, cookies, coffee cakes and party trays.

1355 Market St., (850) 893-3752

ARTISTIC CONFECTIONS

➺ Baker and shop owner Maria Streety is known for her custom cakes and also offers cookies, cookie-decorating kits, pies, special holiday goodies and, always, a cheesecake of the month.

3710 Austin Davis Ave., Unit 140, (850) 577-3000

➺ Owner Treva Pasquarelli offers a lineup of artfully prepared cookies, cakes, pies, croissants and tarts along with buche de Noel. Also available are prepared savory to-go items.

2766 Capital Circle NE, (850) 765-0811

AU PÉCHÉ MIGNON

➺ Joseph and Lisa Gans, who have operated Au Péché Mignon since 1991, create French pastries and festive baked goods. Their signature holiday items include colorful macarons in seasonal flavors; decorative cookies; whimsical pastries shaped like snowmen, Christmas trees or wreaths; pies; rugelach, a small croissant-like pastry with flavorful filling; cakes; and cookies. They also create two versions of buche de Noel, or Yule log, a Christmas cake traditionally enjoyed in France and other regions.

220 N. Duval St., (850) 668-5533

THE HAWTHORN BISTRO & BAKERY

➺ The shop, part of the local Seven Hills Hospitality Group, is known for its scratchmade breads and baked goods. Customers can preorder specialty items such as pumpkin-shaped sourdough loaves, assorted pies, cinnamon rolls and cookies.

1307 N. Monroe St., (850) 354-8275

Pound cake from The Cake Shop

↗ TURKEY POT-PIE

A warm and cozy dish ideal for fall and winter, featuring leftover turkey and vegetables tucked cozily into pastry.

INGREDIENTS

➸ 1 tablespoon olive oil

➸ 2–3 cups of leftover vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces (carrots, green beans, broccoli, peas, etc.)

INSTRUCTIONS

➸ 1 onion, chopped

➸ 2 cloves minced garlic

➸ 1 teaspoon fresh thyme

➸ 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

➸ 1 cup of gravy

➸ 1 cup mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes

➸ 1 pound shredded turkey

➸ 1 pie crust

Preheat the oven to 400 F. While heating, add olive oil to a large pot or skillet on the stove. Add in desired vegetables, onion, garlic, thyme and parsley, and cook to a simmer. Reduce heat and add potatoes and gravy to the pot, stirring gently. Add shredded turkey, stirring all ingredients together to reach a heat that simmers the gravy. Reduce heat and roll the bottom layer of pie crust onto an oven-safe pie dish. Spoon filling evenly from pot into pie dish. Cover with the top layer of pie crust. Bake at 400 F for 35–40 minutes or until golden.

GIVE LEFTOVERS NEW LIFE

Continue enjoying your holiday feast with reinspired meals

by REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

During the holidays, we deck our halls and our homes with festive decor, and we fill our tables with an overabundance of indulgent foods. But on the weekend following Thanksgiving and in the meandering days between Christmas and New Year’s, we often find we can only eat so many slices of spiral ham and helpings of Aunt Linda’s sweet potato casserole. Your taste buds may be craving something new, but don’t be so quick to chuck the lingering leftovers in your fridge. Instead, repurpose and reimagine that tired turkey by combining leftovers with a few kitchen staples to create entirely new meals.

↑ TURKEY ON WHITE

I’ve had many sandwiches in my life, but the day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is always unparalleled in my mind. There have been variations over the years, but there are two that have stuck which always satisfy consumers; two recipes so simple in nature, I hesitate to call them recipes.

Each is always best served on classic white bread and piled high with turkey. The first is savory — mayonnaise, hot sauce, salt and pepper. The second is sweet — butter and cranberry sauce.

These sandwiches are not a culinary revelation, but they are something I look forward to every year because those exact combinations seem to only make sense during the holiday season.

DINING

INSTRUCTIONS

← HAM AND TURKEY SLIDERS WITH GRAVY DIPPING SAUCE

These sliders are ideal for post-Thanksgiving game days, nights gathered around the fire or a New Year’s Eve fete.

INGREDIENTS

➸ 12-count pack of Hawaiian rolls or dinner rolls

➸ 12 slices of your preferred cheese

➸ 8 ounces sliced turkey

➸ 8 ounces sliced ham

➸ 2 cups of stuffing

➸ 5 tablespoons of butter

➸ 1 teaspoon

Worcestershire sauce

➸ 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

➸ 1 cup cranberry sauce

➸ 1 cup gravy

Cut rolls in half and place in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place slices of cheese on top of rolls. Top cheese with sliced turkey and ham. Spread stuffing and cranberry sauce on top. Replace top half of the rolls. Melt the butter then combine with Worcestershire sauce. Spoon or brush butter and Worcestershire sauce mixture over tops of rolls. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Heat gravy. Place gravy in a bowl for dipping.

↑ LUCKY SOUP

Ring in the New Year with luck, good fortune and tasty soup. Don’t forget to serve with cornbread.

INGREDIENTS

➸ 1 tablespoon olive oil

➸ 1 large onion, diced

➸ 1 clove minced garlic

➸ 10 cups of chicken broth

➸ 1 pound diced ham

➸ ½ pound of precooked black-eyed peas

➸ 8 ounces precooked rice

➸ 3 cups of your preferred greens (collard, mustard, etc.)

➸ 1 tablespoon thyme

➸ 1 tablespoon parsley

➸ Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth. Add in ham, black eyed peas and rice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add greens, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook on low for at least one hour and up to two.

Hail to the Hot Toddy

A cocktail to chase the winter chill

by EMMA WITMER

As a Florida girl, I just can’t tolerate the cold. Riding river rapids in North Carolina, hiking through Yosemite National Park and strolling the streets of New York were beautiful experiences, but my violent shivering and seemingly paper-thin skin always put a damper on the adventure. Only one thing seems to remedy this ailment, a steamy hot toddy.

Every restaurant, bartender and at-home mixologist has his take on the classic cocktail, but most recipes follow a similar formula: hot water, sweetener, citrus, spices and a spirit. Purists cling to whiskey or bourbon, though some nontraditionalists incorporate sweeter spirits like rum or brandy. Add a dash of honey, a cinnamon stick and a twist of lemon, and you are well on your way to something special.

Believed to have originated in 18th-century Scotland, the hot toddy was often prescribed as a tonic to fight off the common cold. Opinions on these purported health benefits vary wildly today. Hot water and honey certainly have their benefits, but calling any liquor medicinal is sure to raise a few eyebrows. Still, there is no denying that a shot or two of warm whiskey can ease the bite of chilly weather.

More importantly, hot toddies are delicious.

Luckily, none of us has to brave snowbird country for a sip of the good stuff. Hot toddies are easy to make at home, and several local bars feature a toddy variation or two on their winter cocktail menus.

Bar 1903 keeps a simple but elevated hot toddy on its holiday cocktail menu.

↗ Pictured: A hot toddy from Bar 1903 in Tallahassee. Opinions vary as to the medicinal value of the purported cold remedy, but, hey, it’s a whole lot more enjoyable than those decongestants that are being pulled from the market.

“It’s a bit nostalgic for me, I guess,” general manager Austin Conatser laughed. “Even my parents used hot toddies as a sort of cold remedy when I was a kid.”

Conatser yields to customer preferences but is fond of experimenting with spirits, sweetness and spice. Rather than the traditional whisky, rye or scotch, Conatser often recommends rum, brandy or Calvados, an apple brandy. This particular brandy can only be produced in Normandy and gives a hot toddy a flavor similar to its spiritual cousin, spiked cider.

“Sometimes, I’ll encourage people to spruce it up with a bit of cinnamon or allspice,” Conatser said. “If I go the cinnamon route, I’ll add our cinnamon syrup and a cinnamon stick for garnish. Sometimes, I add Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, a rum-based liqueur we use for some of our holiday cocktails.”

“When winter rolls around, people come looking for a hot drink. Hot toddies are a crowd-pleaser.”

— Austin Conatser, General Manager for Bar 1903

At the Liberty Bar, bartender Kumi Oyama broadened my hot toddy horizons even further. Like Conatser, Oyama has no trepidation when it comes to experimenting with flavors. She foregoes the lemon squeeze for something a bit closer to the bar’s Florida roots.

“We usually do a combination of honey, Ology Bourbon infused with cinnamon and cloves to get that festive holiday spice and our house orange juice,” Oyama said. “Sometimes, I’ll just add a twist of orange peel as a garnish, so the oils infuse with each sip.”

While both Conatser and Oyama find a common ground with honey, many recipes call for sugar or agave. Across the pond, substituting hot water for Earl Grey is standard practice.

Without a time machine and a Scottish brogue, we may never know the definitive, original recipe for the hot toddy. That’s what makes the drink special. The simple recipe can be adapted to anyone’s taste, whether classic or elaborate.

“When winter rolls around, people come looking for a hot drink,” Conatser said. “Hot toddies are a crowd-pleaser.” TM

Restaurant Spotlight

Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

After recognizing an opportunity in the Japanese-inspired dining realm, owners Michael and Annie Chou opened Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar in Tallahassee in 1998. Having previously owned a Chinese restaurant in Tallahassee, Chou’s Dynasty, Mr. Chou saw an opportunity in uncharted dining territory: hibachi. While the Japanese Steakhouse concept was new for the Chous, the cuisine was not. Mr. Chou was raised in the sovereign state of Taiwan, which was occupied by Japan for 50 years.

From the conception of the Chou’s first Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, to the rebuild of their new Tallahassee location in 2020, the Chous have always held true to three enduring values: cleanliness, service and quality. Over the years, they have grown into other markets and opened Osaka restaurants in both Panama City Beach at Pier Park and in the heart of Destin.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, Osaka offers hibachi, a full-service bar, Gulf-fresh sushi and sashimi from their expansive sushi bar — which is the heart of each of their locations. The exterior architecture of the buildings, surrounded by koi ponds and tranquil landscaping, evokes an authentic feeling that could only be found at a local restaurant in Osaka, Japan.

The success of Osaka is due in large part to the commitment of Osaka’s employees. The head chef in Tallahassee joined the team shortly after the restaurant opened nearly three decades ago, and the head sushi chef has been with Osaka for 15 years. This type of tenure in the restaurant business is quite rare, but it speaks to the consistency and loyalty the Chous have established in the workplace, as well as a high level of job satisfaction from the employees.

Whether seated at a hibachi table or at the sushi bar, the Osaka staff makes their customers feel like family. A show in itself, the hibachi room is filled with excitement, laughter and the delightful aroma of fried rice. It’s the perfect space for all corporate events, special occasions and celebrations, with seating of up to 100. If you’re in the mood for something more intimate, step inside the sushi bar area to witness their meticulous handcrafted rolls filled with fresh-caught seafood and farm-fresh ingredients. The expansive menu allows guests to try something new during each visit along with their ever-changing sushi specials.

Over the years, Osaka has won numerous awards, including Best Sushi and Best Hibachi from the readers of Tallahassee Magazine as well as Best

Asian Restaurant, Best Sushi and Best Hibachi by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. They’ve also been voted as the Best in Destin for Asian Cuisine by VIP Destin Magazine. Visit OsakaHibachiAndSushi.com to find out more about booking your reservation for lunch, dinner or your next special occasion. Find Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the current specials, events and more.

Nov 11

Nov 23

Second Saturday in November

Lights! Lights! Thanksgiving Night!

Georgia’s Premier Special Event

Historic Downtown Moultrie, Georgia, is a charming southern town where hospitality comes first. Make plans to visit for the day or book an overnight stay. With more than 50 specialty shops and several upcoming events, you’ll be glad you did!

Dec 2

Dec 9

Dec 14

Santa Stroll ’n Roll

Second Saturday in December

Festival of Lights Christmas Parade

Sundays in December

Participating merchants will open at 1:00 PM

229-890-5455

DowntownMoultrie.com

PUBLIC ART COCA

The Fried Turkeys

EXTRAORDINAIRE Champion’s life has been colored by art from the start

ART PROMOTION photography

↗ The History and Culture Trail Project represents one of the largest infusions of outdoor public art in Tallahassee-Leon County history. Amanda Karioth Thompson is overseeing the selection of featured artists including Toronto-based Yasaman Mehrsa, who completed two 20-foot-tall murals, jointly titled We Are All One.

expression

Tallahassee-born Amanda Karioth Thompson has worn many hats, each of them an artistic creation of her own devising. Now, the former assistant director at the Council on Culture & Arts in Tallahassee has decided that her years of cultural and arts experience can serve an even wider audience.

Thompson’s new company, AKT Artful, is designed to assist artists and galleries, collectors

and museums, foundations, companies and governmental organizations with all of their cultural projects. Judging an art exhibition, acquiring a piece of exceptional sculpture, designing an arts and education program, curating public art and the business of arts marketing — amazingly, Karioth Thompson has had experience in each of these vital subspecialties so necessary to providing cultural experiences in a community.

Karioth Thompson says her interests were “programmed in at the molecular level.” With a master carpenter grandfather; a musician grandmother; her mother Sally Karioth, an educator and public speaker; and father, Gerald Ensley, an author and journalist, only-child Amanda knew from the beginning that hers would be a life colored by art.

In elementary school, there was theater and a passion for the way art classes made her feel. She wrote and staged plays and puppet shows for young friends, choreographed dance routines, designed multistoried doll houses and sewed constantly. She even showed early entrepreneurial impulses by renting out the family VHF tapes.

Her path seemingly set, Karioth Thompson plunged into college, earning a bachelor’s degree in studio art and two degrees in arts education. And although her early jobs were far afield — working with an attorney who specialized in death penalty cases, and later, as an organ and tissue donation coordinator — “the concepts of life and death are inextricably linked to art, culture, history and heritage.”

The always explorative Karioth Thompson expanded her scope to include working with the public as a special events producer.

“Weddings, grand openings, corporate events — all taught me to listen to the needs of clients and

←↑ Amanda Karioth Thompson is overseeing the acquisition of public art for the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency’s History and Culture Trail. Tallahassee artist Mark Dickson’s 15-foot-tall sculpture In Honor of the Worker is one of 12 new pieces of artwork so far collected. Above is one side of Yasaman Mehrsa’s two-faced mural, We Are All One.

expression

think about the details that would make their event truly special,” she said.

In 2006, Karioth Thompson went to work for COCA. She is grateful to the creative people she worked with there. She said each day was steeped in seeing, feeling, talking about and advocating for art and cultural opportunities within the community.

“Probably, I am most proud of the arts education grant I initiated which provides funding for arts educators to innovate and grow,” she said.

Her purview while at COCA was broad enough that one day may have found her hanging an exhibition at the airport or at City Hall, writing an article on school-based arts programs, or administrating the details of a

government project. And now she hopes to share her expertise with others through AKT Artful.

Like many high-energy creatives, Karioth Thompson says she needed to push the reset button at some point.

She hated to leave COCA, but it was the right time. Almost immediately, freelance arts consulting gigs came her way.

“To my surprise and delight, it went so well, I decided to formalize it into a company,” she said.

Karioth Thompson considers herself “multi-lingual” — fluent in artist, government and education.

“I can translate one to another for my clients and help regular folks interpret those languages, too,” she said.

↑ The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra partnered with art curator and creator Amanda Karioth Thompson to produce a book titled T is for Tallahassee, The ABCs of Our Musical City

That is exactly what AKT Artful is currently doing with projects with Capital City Bank, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency’s History and Culture Trail, the Downtown Improvement Authority’s acquisition of a sculpture celebrating Tallahassee’s 200th anniversary, and Karioth Thompson’s work with Big Bend Cares and the Gadsden Art Center and Museum.

“Wherever there’s a need, I’ll be there to make it artful,” she said. TM

photography

JANUARY

10 Elvis Costello Rock, Alternative

11 Jesse Cook Flamenco, Jazz Guitar

18

24 Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson Speaker

FEBRUARY

1

FEBRUARY CONT.

7

11

12 Vienna Boys Choir Choral

14 Complexions Contemporary Ballet Dance Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Symphony, Rock Ruthie Foster Blues

PUBLIC ART

ENLIVENING NEIGHBORHOODS

Partnership fosters mural projects across the Capital City

by EMMA WITMER

Saxon Street was quiet when the painting began.

At 4 a.m. on May 26, artists, volunteers and members of the Council on Cultural Arts (COCA) began hauling paint cans from trunks, passing out brushes and positioning stencils.

By midday, the streets were alive with curious passersby, kids pitching in and local leaders eager to catch a glimpse of the murals that were beginning to take shape.

Three separate murals now decorate intersections in Tallahassee’s Greater Bond neighborhood. One

features magnolia blossoms, another holds an encouraging message for children and the third pays homage to Dr. Henry Lewis, a neighborhood native and trailblazer for equality in health care. Each mural was designed and executed by a local muralist: Lindsey Masterson, Franzline Whaley and Vardyce Gaines, respectively. This project, Asphalt Arts, was completed through a partnership between COCA, the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, and the City of Tallahassee’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs (PRNA) Department and

←

A mural by Vardyce Gaines has transformed the intersection of Saxon and Osceola streets in Tallahassee. The work is part of a project, Asphalt Arts, that includes as partners the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association and the Council on Cultural Arts.

was funded by a $15,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“Community leaders, who I didn’t realize knew or cared about the project, were there,” said Sam Joslin, the public art and exhibitions manager for COCA. “Curtis Richardson, one of the city commissioners, showed up every single day. Dr. Lewis came, and we had the director of neighborhood affairs show up. Most importantly, a lot of community members showed up.”

The Asphalt Arts Initiative signals a reinvigoration of Tallahassee’s already notable public arts scene. Public galleries, statues and murals have been hallmarks of COCA’s efforts for years, but recently, murals have taken center stage.

Anyone can visit public galleries like those at City Hall and the Tallahassee International Airport, but murals make art a part of everyday life. They fuse with urban and residential ecosystems, exposing people from all walks of

←↑ At left, artist Vardyce Gaines. Above, artists join in creating a mural as part of a Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative made possible by a Bloomberg Philanthropies grant. Local partners united to facilitate the painting of murals at five crosswalks and one intersection at three locations in the Greater Bond neighborhood.

expression

life to the value of creativity and self-expression.

“Since I’ve been here, the interest in murals and mural projects has been very heavy,” Joslin said. “I think Asphalt Arts may have actually sparked an asphalt art project on FSU’s campus.”

Murals have long been a feature of large, metropolitan areas, but in recent years, smaller cities have embraced murals as a means to showcase local culture, beautify urban hardscapes, stimulate economic activity and even promote safety.

In March of 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies released a study that showed an improvement in pedestrian and traffic safety at sites where asphalt art was present. This year, COCA is participating in Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the most comprehensive economic impact

study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry to be conducted in the country. The previous iteration of this study, conducted in 2017, showed that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $166.3 billion in economic activity, supporting 4.6 million jobs across the United States.

Even with these purported benefits, Joslin noted that public art efforts tend to be concentrated in certain areas while others are often neglected. That is something COCA is working to change.

“I’ve found that the public art seems to really reside in these more affluent locations,” Joslin said. “I feel like that’s part of what we were trying to change, and the Greater Bond community is a great example. We started with our Great Art for Greater Bond initiative. Now we are trying Griffin Heights.”

PHOTOS

A mural resulting from the creative talents of artist Lindsey Masterson suggests a seed bed that may give rise to the next generation of flowers. The cheery artwork is located at a crosswalk on Saxon Street at Linear Park. As the lower photos make clear, Masterson had a lot of help in executing her vision.

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Following the success of COCA’s initial Asphalt Arts project, Bloomberg Philanthropies reached out to encourage the organization to apply for its next round of grants. Members of the PRNA Department recommended Griffin Heights as the location for a second Asphalt Arts activity.

Inspired by these ongoing efforts, the PRNA Department is also seeking a partnership with COCA to establish mural programs in other areas of Tallahassee.

“For many of the artists in these projects, this is their first big opportunity,” Joslin said. “They’re not these hoity-toity artists who only show in high-end galleries. That’s something that I really like about Tallahassee. I’ve worked in galleries where I just did not appreciate the mission. Nothing ever changed. I like COCA because I feel like our mission is something that I actually care about. This is a place where I can take my passion for public art and run with it.” TM

↑ A mural by Franzline Whaley, at right, presents a study in contrasts at BIG meets THIN. The creation is located at Saxon and Tucker streets and is one of six murals that figure in the first phase of an Asphalt Arts project. Whaley was joined by Holly McPhail.

DEEP-FRIED AMERICANA

Feel-good anthems unite band, engage audiences

by MARINA BROWN

Afew oversized yard birds sat sizzling in hot oil as neighbors Frank Douglas and David Chapman strummed their guitars under the moonlight.

Suddenly, the picturesque Washington Street block party fell silent. Douglas and Chapman paused their serenade, stared at each other and erupted into laughter.

We sound pretty good! We should be a band.

Over the next few months, the newly formed Fried Turkeys added other musical neighbors and talented amateurs to their ranks. Together, the ever-evolving band cooked up a special kind of Americana/country magic that has sustained them for some 15 years. Upwards of 20 musicians have played with the Fried Turkeys over that span, each adding his own ingredients to the mix.

Congregated recently in the living room of lead singer and songwriter Douglas, six turkeys sat joking, teasing and breaking each other up. They converse more like family than colleagues, reminiscing about players no longer with them and marveling at how a song comes to life.

Douglas is the beating heart of the Fried Turkeys. His original songs comprise the band’s playlists. By day, he works as a lighting designer at Tallahassee Nurseries who enjoys an escape to St. Teresa Beach when he has the time. Often, he returns from the beach with a new song scribbled on a yellow notepad.

“The first thing you know, Chapin (Chapin Frazee, mandolin and guitar) will change the time — slow it down or speed it up,” Douglas said. “Then Johnny (Johnny Andrews, keyboard, bass and pedal steel) might switch the key signature, changing the whole feeling and making it better! These songs are collaborations.”

Frazee, a senior software engineer at Infinity, used to play with the Potlickers band, and Todd Bevis, who teaches biology at Florida State, also plays with Two Foot Level and Ten Pound Pancake. Shaffield Building Specialties contractor Don Horne is the keyboardist,

↗ DON’T FLOAT THE AIRSTREAM Band members, from left, Walter Kelleher, drums; Dillon BradleyBrown, drums; Todd Bevis, bass; Frank Douglas, acoustic guitar, lead vocals; Carol Ann Mathews, harmony vocals; Johnny Andrews, pedal steel, electric guitar; Chapin Frazee, electric guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals; Don Horne, keyboard.

expression

and Andrews introduces himself as an “electrical engineer and farmer.” The one woman in the group, known affectionately to her bandmates as “The Diva,” is singer and guitarist Carol Ann Mathews, who is retired from a career spent teaching voice and music at the Gretchen Everhart School.

“So what keeps us coming back through these years?” Mathews asked rhetorically.

“Well, it’s the food, right?” interrupted Andrews, who is known as the group’s gourmet chef.

“That’s it!” she giggled. “Band practice is always hilarious. These people are just so darned funny. They’re pretty nice, too.”

Frazee noted that, even with all the competition in the music business, he

↑

feels opportunities are opening up. The Fried Turkeys’ feel-good anthems are still grabbing people’s attention.

“Promoters are calling us often now,” Frazee said. “Playing places like the Suwannee Roots Revival, Due South, Porch Fest and the Cascades Park amphitheater during Word of South, it’s great inspiration when you’re up there on stage.”

Everyone agrees.

CONCERT DATE

The Fried Turkeys will be playing at Goodwood’s Wonderful Wednesdays on Jan. 1. For information about booking the band, contact Frank Douglas at frankdouglas@ comcast.net or at (850) 510-1944.

“Sometimes, in a harmony with Frank, there is this unspoken magic that goes off,” Mathews said.

“Even playing background, I can feel it, man. I’ve cried up there,” Horne said.

“You feel that rush,” Bevis added. “It’s like an electrical charge going between all of us and the audience.” TM

← Chapin Frazee, who is an electric guitar and mandolin player as well as a vocalist, believes the Fried Turkeys are ready for takeoff. “Promoters are calling us often now,” he said.

↑ BEVIS ON BASS A biology professor at Florida State University, Todd Bevis plays for the Fried Turkeys and two other area bands, Two Foot Level and Ten Pound Pancake.

30A Songwriters Festival 2024

Music makers merge for 15th annual coastal festival

Songs will swell from over 30 different venues throughout the Emerald Coast during the 15th annual 30A Songwriters Festival. From Jan. 12–15, more than 175 artists will perform at the largest gathering of nationally recognized songwriters performing in Walton County on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The event, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and Russell Carter Artist Management, features songwriters from all walks of their careers including local performers, Nashville up-and-comers and artists who’ve performed at sold-out arenas.

The 2024 headliners — Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Grace Potter, Rosanne Cash and KT Tunstall — will perform on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach.

The four-day event will transform bars, restaurants, patios, theaters, town halls, amphitheaters and more into music venues ranging from 100 to 6,000 seats. Attendees can download the 30A Songwriters Festival app or visit the website to view the artist lineup, schedule and venues.

“Music is the universal language that brings us together, and each year, I’m excited to see how attendees interact and engage with the music whether they come to see specific artists or are there seeking to discover new music,” said Jennifer Steele, executive director of the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County.

The festival is a main fundraiser for the CAA, with net proceeds supporting

its mission to advance the arts in Walton County. CAA’s purpose is to enrich the community culturally and strengthen the presence of the arts.

Additionally, the festival bolsters the local economy as attendees and music lovers travel from neighboring Northwest Florida towns and throughout the United States to hear the voices of current and past generations.

“If you’re coming from Tallahassee or anywhere in the North Florida region, it’s just a short drive down the road to experience world-class talent in such unique and intimate settings,” said Steele.

For travelers, Steele noted the option to include lodging packages for nearby hotels and resorts when purchasing festival tickets. She also encouraged attendees to purchase early as tickets tend to sell out.

Festival Weekend Passes are currently available. VIP tickets that include premium seating and complimentary gourmet food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also available. For a full description of each ticket package, visit 30ASongWritersFestival.com.

Jeff Tweedy

David Ryan Harris

Roberta Lea

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Since 2009, Be The Solution has helped fix over 53,000 animals which has helped to reduce the number of stray and surrendered animals that have ended up in the shelter by 63% and helped to decrease the number of animals euthanized by 89%.

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Get in the Spirit

The holidays are happening on the ECTC stage

December is the month where we indulge ourselves in nostalgia, putting on that record of favorite carols, queuing up Christmas movies and heading to the theater to see cherished holiday tales brought to life.

This holiday season, Emerald Coast Theatre Company is bringing to stage two timeless classics, Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus and A Christmas Carol, plus an original production, the Jingle Jangle Christmas Musical Review

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus will take the stage Dec. 1–9. This editorial was first published in 1897 as a 500-word piece and has since been adapted in over 20 languages, adapted as a film and presented on many stages.

The story merges two narratives, that of 8-year-old Virginia and a young newspaper editor. Virginia questions whether or not Santa exists while the editor struggles against the holiday blues as he’s faced with losing his job. While the two don’t know each other, they are brought together to find the Christmas spirit.

Friday morning showings at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. are reserved for school

field trips, Saturday performances will be held at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday performances are open to the public at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Get ready for the “bah humbugs” in ECTC’s rendition of A Christmas Carol, produced by guest director Marci Duncan. This production presents the Dickens characters you know and love — Tiny Tim; the Cratchit family; the Fezziwigs; the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet-to-come; and, of course, the beloved curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge.

While the play remains true to the tale, creative touches directed by Duncan enhance the holiday spirit.

“So many adaptations paint Scrooge as a one dimensional character,” said Nathanael Fisher, ECTC’s producing artistic director. “This production sheds light on why he is the way he is, stemming from hurtful childhood moments while also showing these very

touching moments between Scrooge and other characters.”

Bruce Collier, a theater favorite for his previous roles as Winston Churchill and Santa in Miracle on 34th Street, will reprise the role of Scrooge.

The production will run from Dec. 8–22: Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

From Dec. 16–21, mix, mingle, jingle and enjoy holiday music performed by talented vocalists during the Jingle Jangle Christmas Musical Review Classics will include Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Snow, White Christmas and more.

“During the holidays, we all want a story that reminds us there is good in the world, that feels like warm cocoa beside a fire,” Fisher said. “And that’s what these performances do.”

A Christmas Carol

Prospects for

peace

Most everyone wants it. How do we bring it about?

STORY BY MARINA BROWN PHOTOS BY THE WORKMANS

peace

PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE EDISON RESTAURANT

From Left to Right: Rev. Becky Rokitowski; Simon May, Ph.D.; Imam Monir; and Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky

It’s olo l

7 7 7 7

the holiday season. Seasonal music is playing in stores, and familiar movies have overtaken television channels. But many people, including a knot of folks loosely gathered outside a restaurant, are finding it hard to get in celebratory moods. Concerns about global warming, gun violence, refugees and war occupy their minds, and the problems seem intractable. How, they wonder, might they find peace? Is it even possible to have peace on earth?

The growing crowd takes notice as a priest, a rabbi, an imam and two pastors, joined by a Hari Krishna believer and a Florida State University professor of philosophy enter the restaurant. To the onlookers, the group appears weighty, important.

Reverend R.B. Holmes of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church takes a seat at the head of a table and presently comments on menu offerings to Imam Monir of the Islamic Center and Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky from Temple Israel. Father Michael Foley from Good Shepherd Catholic Church pulls up a chair beside Hari Krishna devotee Kaliya Damana Das and Simon May, Ph.D., from FSU. The Rev. Becky Rokitowski from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church settles in beside the Rev. Holmes.

All offer thoughts about peace and how on earth to get there.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In August,

a

Is it possible? If so, how?

when she tried — and in the story that follows,

My freedom has its limits at where your freedom starts. We can live without fences but with respect.”

— Imam Monir

A

contributing writer Marina Brown interviewed seven Tallahasseeans fairly described as thought leaders. They represent

broad sampling of religious faiths and philosophical outlooks and were asked in separate interviews about the prospects for peace on earth.

The writer found herself imagining a (real) meeting of her interviewees — it was easy

placed them together in an imagined setting as a way to juxtapose their thoughts.

We need to recognize that we do not have a monopoly on the truth. Hearing from others in a nonjudgmental way, noting our similarities and accepting those differences among us is a dialogue that can lead to better understanding.”

— Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky

Conferring, Father Foley and the Rev. Holmes pull no punches as they inventory the world’s crises.

“We live in a broken and divided nation,” Holmes says. “There are more guns than people. North Korea, China, Russia and Ukraine are a threat to our own peace.”

“Even within the church there are divisions,” Foley adds. “So few people want to surrender anything for the greater good.”

Imam Monir expands on what that greater good might be. “In Islam, God tells us to deal justly with others. To find peace is to spread such justice. But order yourself first. We are all on this ark together. And like the animals, though we are different — the beauty of life is that very difference.”

Rabbi Sidlofsky nods, saying we must react less and listen more. “Of course, one should be suspicious of those who insist they know the truth because there are different ‘truths.’ We

What is important is that conflicts can be resolved through the application of impartial rules rather than a recourse to violence.”

— Simon May, Ph.D.

Oneed to recognize that we do not have a monopoly on the truth. Hearing from others in a nonjudgmental way, noting our similarities and accepting those differences among us is a dialogue that can lead to better understanding.”

The onlookers have pressed their faces to the window and are listening intently.

Another vision from the faith leaders around the table comes from Kaliya Damana Das, who runs the Iskcon Center, a retreat and meditation center on 30 acres near Monticello.

“People want peace,” he says, “but their perception is that it is all about the body, all about the mind. Instead, we are spirit souls — a part of the Divine Mother and Father. Identifying ourselves as only physical or mental creatures is like presenting a fake I.D. to the world, with labels — black, white, gay, straight, Russian, Ukrainian — that can get in the way. We cannot find true peace without dropping this body concept that separates us.”

What is peace? It is the inner grace and grittiness to never quit. An authentic peace empowers us to remain faithful to our purpose or calling. Peace is a gift from God.”

— Reverend R.B. Holmes

The Rev. Rokitowski smiles. “Our Christian faith tells us that God will set all things right one day. But even now, we can see an in-breaking of that peace when we extend grace and love to one another. We can get glimpses as if real peace is both here already and not yet, all at the same time. But choosing peace is hard.”

Prof. May, who works in the area of moral and political philosophy, offers comments from a different perspective. “Immanuel Kant wrote in 1795 that peace is achieved not through just an absence of conflict, but through an acceptance of norms common to states, ones that don’t just reflect the dominant power’s cultural system.”

Really? It’s that easy? Just agree to some commonalities and subordinate conflict to a few impartial rules, and Kant says it will all work out peacefully? Most at the table sigh and shake their heads.

“Peace is a process,” Sidlofsky says. “Before we expect to see peace in the community and the world, we must begin by examining our own hearts, trying to realize that we will all make mistakes, and therefore we must prepare to offer forgiveness and understanding.”

Sidlofsky sits back from the table. “When I was in rabbinical school in London, I attended a conference with Christian, Muslim and Jewish students, some of whom had been impacted by the Holocaust. We each told our stories. And while the translators brought the stories to life in our own languages, we paused, thinking

RPI FILE PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

before responding, which enabled us to process the experiences of participants so different from ourselves. And that is when understanding began.”

Holmes then asks a question and quickly supplies an answer.

“What is peace? It is the inner grace and grittiness to never quit. An authentic peace empowers us to remain faithful to our purpose or calling. Peace is a gift from God.”

He continues: “What is peace? It is when one does not allow the cares of this world, the preoccupation with power, possession, position, popularity and profit to become one’s God. I firmly believe that peace comes when we strive to act justly, walk with God, love each other, forgive each other and rise up against the evils of racism, bigotry, homophobia and xenophobia.”

Foley has been quiet, but in his gentle Irish accent he now reflects on

the times when his home country was troubled. Catholic versus Protestant strife tore asunder England and Ireland, and many died.

“Since the 1600s, one group had felt oppressed by another, prejudice was passed down and people on both sides refused to hear the other,” Foley says. “And then something happened; a few men on both sides decided to compromise for the greater good. They came to the table together with a common goal, knowing all the while each would have to surrender some belief that had kept the troubles going. And so they did. And for that, I am hopeful that peace for man is possible.”

The imam reaches to take the hand of the priest, who grasps that of the rabbi, who links fingers with the two reverends, who extend the chain of clasped hands to the philosopher and the Krishna believer.

“Yes, Father Foley,” says the imam. “My freedom has its limits at where your freedom starts. We can live without fences but with respect.”

“What is important is that conflicts can be resolved through the application of impartial rules rather than a recourse to violence,” May says.

“I believe that dialogue holds the hope,” Sidlofsky says. “Yes, I am cautiously optimistic. We must never stop working in that direction.”

“We have known it when the truth has been spoken — Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King,” Kaliya Damana Das says. “The way has been pointed to peace.”

The Reverend Rokitowski nods. “It is us. We have to be the peace among us, though that choice is hard.”

And soon, like blessings from above, snippets of wisdom float through the air of the restaurant.

“The greatest good for the greatest number,” says the philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Martin Buber whispers, “I and thou, we must engage together, have dialogue, see the ‘other’ as an individual, and never dehumanize them.”

Mahatma Gandhi’s words provide a benediction.

“Peace is not an entity nor a commodity nor even a state of affairs between governments, but it is a way of life. To be one day united in peaceful ends means you must get there by peaceful means.”

From the tablemates and the onlookers beyond arises a collective “Amen.” TM

We have known it when the truth has been spoken — Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King. The way has been pointed to peace.”

— Kaliya Damana Das, left, pictured with wife Janesvari Devi Dasi

It is us. We have to be the peace among us, though that choice is hard.”

— Rev. Becky Rokitowski

Enjoy an active lifestyle emphasizing wellness and lifelong learning opportunities at our Life Plan Community on 140 acres of rolling hills in Tallahassee. At Westminster Oaks, every residence is maintenance-free, so you can take a wellness class in the fitness center, savor a chef-prepared meal, or enjoy the many walking and biking paths nearby instead of keeping up with your home. You’ll love the wide variety of spacious residences available, all with great

and amenities to enhance your lifestyle, like

and 24-hour security. Best of all, you’ll find

Enjoy an active lifestyle emphasizing wellness and lifelong learning opportunities at our Life Plan Community on 140 acres of rolling hills in Tallahassee. At Westminster Oaks, every residence is maintenance-free, so you can take a wellness class in the fitness center, savor a chef-prepared meal, or enjoy the many walking and biking paths nearby instead of keeping up with your home. You’ll love the wide variety of spacious residences available, all with great services and amenities to enhance your lifestyle, like housekeeping, scheduled transportation and 24-hour security. Best of all, you’ll find safety and security for the future with our full continuum of healthcare services, including Assisted Living, Nursing Care, Memory Care and more, should your needs change.

scheduled

and security for the future with our full continuum of healthcare services, including Assisted Living, Nursing Care, Memory Care and more, should your needs change.

GIVING BACK

In our midst are dozens of meritorious organizations dedicated to bettering our community and the people who call it home. They are focused on the needs of vulnerable people and demonstrate the capacity of towns and cities and other collectives to be stronger than the sum of their parts. Their combined efforts help feed the hungry, brighten final days and help people manage crises. Following are profiles of several organizations that are forces for good. There are many others, of course. As we approach holidays centered on gratitude and giving, you may wish to support their efforts with a gift in your name or the name of a friend or loved one.

UNITED PARTNERS for Human Services

The United Partners for Human Services organization could best be summarized in one phrase — people helping those that help people.

Committed to its community, UPHS acts as a collective voice empowering human service organizations through advocacy, engagement and education while positioning each member organization to perform and serve at its highest capacity.

Currently, UPHS consists of over 200 local human service organizations, associations and businesses. Human service organizations are nonprofits that provide services focused on the human condition including food, shelter, health, mental health, transportation and any other aspect a human would need to survive and thrive.

Members primarily benefit through workshops and training, networking opportunities and utilizing UPHS as their voice for advocacy. Monthly in-person and online training opportunities are provided, tailored specifically toward nonprofit work. As well, many networking opportunities are

available for members to collaborate and coordinate to make their greatest impacts.

UPHS works alongside Tallahassee-Leon County staff and elected officials to ensure funding supports are in place, as well as policies that are reflective and equitable to the needs of our neighbors their members serve.

In the past year, UPHS has advocated for the City of Tallahassee to implement a policy like the county’s which prevents any eligible agency from being able to come before the Commission for a request outside of the CHSP process, creating a more equitable system. As a result of the growing need for services, UPHS continues to advocate for more funding for the human services sector.

Another way UPHS raises funds is through the Tallahassee Beer Festival. The festival’s 2023 proceeds totaled $64,000. In the festival’s five years, a total of over $225,000 has been raised and provided to the agencies for funding.

In the coming year, UPHS hopes to work alongside city and county officials, child services,

211 Big Bend and other agencies to create a central hub of information so the public can understand what each local nonprofit provides.

“We are always aiming to create more equitable processes and reduce the burden on the end user, especially since many who participate in human service organizations are vulnerable and stem from disenfranchised systems,” said Amber R. Tynan, executive director of UPHS.

It’s important for UPHS to bring awareness to the community the vast network of nonprofits available totaling over 2,700.

“There is no shortage of nonprofits who are changing the lives of our neighbors,” said Tynan. “These nonprofits really are the fabric of our communities, and I hope that any interaction with UPHS leads to a greater understanding of the human ecosystem as a whole.”

UPHSFL.org

(850) 518-6092

2477 Tim Gamble Place, Ste. 200

SECOND HARVEST of the Big Bend & Capital City Bank

In a world of countless stressors, families should not have to worry where their next meal will come from. Sadly, food insecurity is a daily reality for residents throughout the Big Bend.

Second Harvest of the Big Bend works to alleviate and eliminate food insecurity as a nonprofit food bank that collects and distributes food to hunger-relief charities, specialized programs and food distributions undertaken with community partners.

The 41,000-square-feet warehouse facility in Tallahassee houses seven shipping docks, freezers, coolers and a fleet of 13 vehicles that process and distribute millions of pounds of food to the 16 counties that are serviced.

As a member of Feeding America, Second Harvest is the region’s primary source for charitable food, serving as the distribution depot for over 150 partner agencies.

In 2023, the nonprofit was able to open a protein repackaging room, allowing intake of large donations of protein to be repackaged into smaller, family-size packages. This innovative program decreases food waste and allows the food bank to offer more protein options such as chicken to their communities in need. Additionally, Second Harvest was able to invest more heavily into the local economy by seeking out local farmers for large food and vegetable quantities.

Looking to 2024, the nonprofit will be introducing systems that slice, dice and shred produce into vacuum-sealed packages with QR codes which link to sites that provide recipes.

Monique Ellsworth, chief executive officer of Second Harvest, suggests there are three main ways to support the nonprofit — advocacy, volunteering and contributing monetarily. By following Second Harvest on social media and sharing their posts, those neighbors

who may be in need can become aware of the services provided. For a hands-on approach, volunteers are welcome to help with packaging at the facility or at one of the large packing events they hold at the civic center around the holidays and during the summer. Monetary funds can always be donated online.

Too, Second Harvest’s efforts are largely made possible through foundational partners like Capital City Bank.

“Capital City Bank has not only contributed greatly monetarily, but has also demonstrated the type of commitment that nonprofits so often need in order to thrive,” said Ellsworth. “They legitimize our work by being consistent supporters of our efforts, serving on our board to guide our direction and providing meaningful counsel for our growth.”

Whether a partner, a staff member or a volunteer, Ellsworth is immensely grateful for the engagement and dedication of the souls who feed and service the Big Bend community.

“One of the most tangible impacts we see is neighbors who were once served by Second Harvest coming back and volunteering in order to serve others,” said Ellsworth.

MAKE-A-WISH

Central and Northern Florida

Organization’s efforts make dreams come true through help from community

Trips to Ireland, Hawaii and Disney; the chance to meet Dolly Parton; and swimming with dolphins. These are just some of the wishes that Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida has granted children faced with critical illness.

Faces of children and families radiate, holding possibly their first smiles in months, in photos as they surf Hawaiian waves and snuggle baby kangaroos. Smiles such as these are made possible through funding provided to Make-A-Wish Foundation by private donors, businesses, foundation grants, memorials, gifts-in-kind and events held by clubs, schools and service organizations.

Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida grants the heartfelt wish of any child over the age of 2½ and under 18 (at the time of referral) that has been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

After determining the child’s medical eligibility through their doctor or care team, a Volunteer Wish Team visits the child and family to determine the child’s wish, approves the wish and sets to work to make magic happen.

“When we meet each family, we learn of the emotional stress they’ve dealt with then learn of the child’s biggest wish,” said Kathleen Hampton, director of development

Left: Caroline, a 7-year-old Leon County resident, diagnosed with a rare disease, wished to visit Panama City Beach with her family to swim with dolphins and enjoy a kangaroo encounter at ZooWorld.

Right: Fisher, a 16-year-old Leon County resident, diagnosed with leukemia wished to visit Hawaii with his parents and learn to surf. He went on a UTV Raptor Tour at the Kualoa Ranch, experienced his first luau and booked surfing lessons.

for the Northwest Florida region. “After, we get to witness how the experience brought the family back together to bond, to forget their troubles and to make memories in a happy environment. Then, we get to share with our donors what their investment was able to provide for a child and their loved ones.”

Last year, 35 wishes were granted to children in the Northwest Florida chapter’s 18 counties. The goal is to increase that number to 40 wishes in 2024. On average, each wish costs $8,000.

To obtain this goal, Make-A-Wish depends on the gracious giving of individuals and companies, many of whom host fundraisers and events such as silent auctions, 5K races, fishing tournaments, contests, online contributions and more.

Other companies make service donations, such as a pool company which provided the materials and labor for a backyard pool or a construction company that custom-designed a playground utilizing Braille to meet the child’s unique needs.

These monetary contributions result in a lifetime of memories, often ones that the child gets to reflect on into adulthood. Hampton and others with Make-A-Wish want to clear the perception that wishes are granted only to terminally ill children. While eligible children may suffer from lifethreatening illnesses, many wish recipients survive to experience long, healthy lives.

Hampton shared that 89% of health care workers agree in seeing a positive influence on health experienced by children looking forward to their wish coming true.

“Knowing and then having their wish come true often changes the trajectory of their treatment,” said Hampton. “Hope gives children and families the strength they need to keep going.”

Mailing

211 BIG BEND

Hotlines provide crucial services to Big Bend communities

No matter the time of day, day of the week or day of the year, you are not alone. Life and the complications it can present are 24/7, and so is the support and response that 211 Big Bend provides.

211 Big Bend provides emotional support, crisis counseling, suicide prevention, human service information, referrals and more to eight counties in Northwest Florida. Helpline 211 is a 24/7 hotline providing a specialized staff that connects callers with necessary resources.

The trained crisis counselors navigate callers through emotional distress and suicide crisis whether they call the 211 number or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988. Callers do not have to be actively experiencing a crisis to call the line, there’s no eligibility criteria and the services are free.

“Mental health doesn’t discriminate and can impact anyone, which is why we are open to all people and any crisis they may face,” said Stephen Sardelis, director of hotline programs with 211 Big Bend. “If you feel you’re lacking the support, our trained hotline counselors will take all the time you need to help you feel safe in tense and difficult situations.”

The line exists to help community members be connected with the services they need in a timely and nonjudgmental way. Callers who receive mental health related referrals are also eligible for a follow-up with a mental health navigator. Each call is completely confidential and solely intended to provide solutions and support.

“Bad days are temporary, but we all have them, and we want the community to know they can call at any time for any reason,” said

Kay Meyer, director of advancement and social enterprise strategies with 211 Big Bend. “We exist as a gateway to connect people to services they maybe didn’t even know are out there.”

211’s comprehensive database contains contacts with over 2,000 human service agencies and mental health providers throughout the Big Bend region. The website offers ways to search for community resources should someone feel uncomfortable calling.

Alongside suicide prevention, 211 provides services including the Florida Veterans Support Line, Family Health Line, Florida HIV/ AIDS hotline, Ride United & Door Dash connections and Help Me Grow® Florida, promoting healthy development for children.

“It is due to the dedication of our staff and volunteers that we are able to provide our community with 24-hour access to information, referrals and mental health support,” said Matt Guse, president and CEO of 211 Big Bend.

In each of these programs, 211 seeks community support to continue expanding their partnerships — building connections with law enforcement and expanding their reach to include a textable hotline option.

211 Big Bend could not operate without the selfless and empathetic work of its hotline counselors, many of which are volunteers. Training opportunities for hotline counselors are available multiple times throughout the year, and the next volunteer cycle begins January of 2024.

“While we understand that mental health is complex, and may not be completely resolved with one call, we can guarantee that each caller will receive compassionate care and connections to valuable resources to aid their outcome,” said Meyer.

BIG BEND HOSPICE and First Commerce Credit Union

When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is too fragile to leave hospital care, families can face difficult and heartwrenching decisions about how to help the person they love transition peacefully in a private, home-like setting. Thanks to the vision of Big Bend Hospice and the generosity of multiple donors, the First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care, a new hospice care facility, opened its doors inside Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) in November. The new facility offers families peace of mind by allowing their loved one to receive the skilled hospice care they need without ever leaving the hospital.

To realize its vision, Big Bend Hospice launched a capital campaign to garner support from the community. First Commerce Credit Union, a longtime partner with Big Bend Hospice, stepped up with a $1 million gift over 20 years to help establish this one-ofa-kind option for families in the region. In

appreciation, Big Bend Hospice named the new center in their honor.

“Over the years, I have been incredibly inspired by the work Big Bend Hospice does for our region,” said Cecilia Homison, CEO of First Commerce Credit Union. “As a credit union that helps drive positive transformation in the communities we call home, we believe our foundational gift, combined with the generosity of other donors, will create a beacon of hope in Tallahassee and surrounding areas that will last for generations.”

The First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care staffs highly skilled doctors, nurses, social workers, bereavement therapists, music therapists and trained volunteers that provide loving, specialized

care to both patients and families. The center, located on the third floor of TMH, serves individuals with terminal illnesses who are too fragile to leave the hospital to go to Big Bend Hospice’s Margaret Z. Dozier inpatient hospice unit.

Each of the eight rooms exudes comfort and peace in a private, home-like setting, including video “sky windows” on the ceilings that display nature scenes and beautiful artwork on the walls created by local artists. All patients are treated to round-the-clock attention and receive care and transition plans individualized to their and the family’s needs.

The opening of the First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care coincides with the celebration of Big Bend Hospice’s 40th anniversary serving as the hometown hospice for eight Big Bend counties.

“First Commerce Credit Union has been a longtime partner to Big Bend Hospice and the community, and we are honored by their legacy gift to our capital campaign,” said Bill Wertman, CEO of Big Bend Hospice.

BIG BEND CARES and Centennial Bank

Every child deserves gifts under the tree.

This is a belief held wholeheartedly by both Big Bend Cares and Centennial Bank, one that led to their partnership on the Holiday Angels program.

Since 1987, the nonprofit organization Big Bend Cares has provided assistance to people living with HIV by offering free HIV prevention and educational programs for eight counties throughout the Big Bend. During the holiday season, the organization supports its clients through Holiday Angels, a program that provides assistance with presents for children and grandchildren.

Many Big Bend Cares clients are parents who struggle daily to balance the financial strain of food, utilities, rent and transportation on top of their medical care. The Holiday Angels program aims to alleviate the extra stress and emotional burden the holidays can bring by donating presents and a holiday meal to each family.

“With 82% of our clients living below the federal poverty line, we want to provide them

with the happy holidays others get by serving this population that in many ways wouldn’t otherwise be served,” said Rob Renzi, chief executive officer of Big Bend Cares.

Since 2020, Big Bend Cares has partnered with Centennial Bank to spread the word about Holiday Angels and host drop-off locations for presents and donations.

“Big Bend Cares has been a longtime, trusted client of the bank with a wonderful mission,” said Kimberly Smiley, market president of Centennial Bank. “Through this partnership we are able to make a lot of kids happy.”

In 2022, 360 children were given gifts through the initiative. While that many children were served, not every child was assigned an angel. Funds supplied by Centennial Bank covered the costs for the remaining families.

In 2023, the wish is for every child to be adopted by an angel, in hopes that Big Bend Cares can utilize the additional funds to supply gift cards to families to be spent on themselves or other holiday necessities.

Starting Nov. 1, community members can be matched with a child or children by visiting Big Bend Cares and by signing up online. The Centennial Bank locations serve as drop off spots for gifts. The community member can elect to purchase that gift themselves or donate the money for a volunteer shopper to purchase.

Volunteer shoppers are members of the Big Bend Cares team, the Centennial Bank staff and community volunteers. The same team will wrap the gifts on Dec. 16, a week before the gifts are delivered to families from Dec. 19–23.

“We are dependent on the generosity of the community and the places we partner with, such as Centennial Bank, to make the holidays happy for deserving families,” said Renzi.

2023

TALLAHASSEE of

There is a particularly positive feeling that comes with doing business with a service provider, merchant, restaurant or home to good times whose owners and employees you know. Over time, you develop rapport and relationships of trust with those folks who recognize you, recall the last time you visited and look forward to seeing you again soon. Patronizing such businesses, you know that the money you spend will remain in circulation in our community. Annually, Tallahassee Magazine conducts a poll that gives readers a chance to register support for businesses that they value and would recommend to others. We are pleased to present over the following pages the Best of Tallahassee winners for 2023.

We salute the winners of our annual readers poll — businesses that have earned the respect and support of their customers.

Best OF TALLAHASSEE

COMPILED BY STEVE BORNHOFT, MELINDA LANIGAN AND

EMMA WITMER

PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

Jeri’s Love on a Plate

Food & Beverage

APPETIZER

Backwoods Crossing

Fresh sage and Bradley’s sausage add layers of flavor to deviled eggs, while garden chives and rich bleu cheese enhance mouthwatering fried Gulf shrimp.

6725 Mahan Drive (850) 765-3753

backwoodscrossing.com

ASIAN

Dao Restaurant

Fresh sushi, Asian fusion, Chinese and Japanese classics reflect the owners’ more than 40 years of experience in Tallahassee.

3425 Bannerman Road, #A102 (850) 999-1482

daotally.com

BAKERY

Tasty Pastry Bakery

Tallahassee’s oldest bakery has 60 years of decadence under its belt. The family recipes provide an unmatched selection of cakes, cookies, breads, pies and pastries.

1355 Market St., #A5 (850) 893-3752

tastypastrybakery.com

BAR

Bar 1903

An oasis for craft cocktail lovers with an affinity for exclusivity. Located within the historic Walker Library. Seating is limited to 36 people served on a first-come basis.

209 E. Park Ave. (850) 354-9739

bar1903tlh.com

BARBECUE*

The Red Shed

Saucy, savory and tender to the bone barbecue comes on sandwiches and hot dogs with down-home sides. Open-air

seating and frequent live musical performances.

3031 Crump Road (850) 510-3992

Instagram.com/the_red_shed_

BREAKFAST

Canopy Road Cafe

Offering something for everyone. Their robust breakfast menu features tasty takes on Benedicts, pancakes, omelets, French toast, skillets, waffles and more.

Multiple locations (850) 668-6600

canopyroadcafe.com

BREWERY/CRAFT BEER

Ology Brewing Co

Ology may as well have a Ph.D. in flavor. Head brewer and founder, Nick Walker, pulls on a family history of research into taste, smell and microbiology to craft bright sours, easy ales, rich stouts, layered IPAs and more. Multiple locations (850) 296-2809

ologybrewing.com

BRUNCH

Jeri’s Love on a Plate

Jeri’s offers “love on a plate” with a host of elevated, homestyle brunch dishes like gouda grits and shrimp, lively avocado toast and a frittata of the day.

Multiple locations (850) 756-7660

jeristallahassee.com

CAJUN RESTAURANT

Coosh’s

Louisiana transplants

Durand “Coosh” Willis and his wife, Margaret, bring a bit of the bayou to town with flavor-packed jambalaya, crawfish étouffée and other Cajun classics.

62627 Old Water Oak Road (850) 894-4110

cooshs.com

CATERING

Black Fig

Black Fig’s refined Southern dishes are elegantly plated with indulgent flavors adding a touch of class to any event, and service always comes with a smile.

1400 Village Square Blvd., #7 (850) 727-0016 blackfig.net

CELEBRATION/SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT The Huntsman

The Huntsman blends fine dining and country living with an expertly crafted menu of ethically sourced fish and game. Carnivores and omnivores alike experience the best of what nature has to offer.

320 E. Tennessee St. (850) 765-1887

huntsmantallahassee.com

COFFEE SHOP

Lucky Goat Coffee Co.

Lucky Goat boasts bold roasts, cold brews and tens of

tantalizing latte concoctions with five locations across Tallahassee — ideal for your morning caffeine fix or a cozy spot to crack open a book. Multiple locations (850) 422-0300

luckygoatcoffee.com

DESSERT

Food Glorious Food

Save room for dessert. Phyllo dough and honey add a crisp taste of the Mediterranean to the baklava cheesecake, and the warm turtle truffle torte is sure to satisfy the sweetest tooth.

1950 Thomasville Road, Ste. #C (850) 224-9974

foodgloriousfood.com

FINE DINING RESTAURANT

IL Lusso

Prime steaks may be IL Lusso’s claim to fame, but handcrafted pastas and scratch-made desserts beckon diners to save room for one more bite.

201 E. Park Ave., Ste. 100 (850) 765-8620

illussotally.com

PHOTO BY KATE ELDRIDGE (JERI’S LOVE ON A PLATE) AND SOCIETY SOCIAL MEDIA (THE RED SHED)

BEST BARBECUE*, The Red Shed

Lofty Pursuits

Lofty Pursuits combines the nostalgia of an old-fashioned soda fountain with a vast array of chilled treats, including ice cream, sorbet, sherbet and vegan ice cream. Great by the scoop, or have your favorite flavor mixed into a milkshake, float or sundae.

1355 Market St., Ste. A11 (850) 521-0091

loftypursuits.com

HAMBURGER

Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack

Burgers don’t have to be complicated to be delicious. Customize the BYO Burger’s juicy patty (or two) and brioche bun with whatever toppings suit your fancy.

325 N. Bronough St. (850) 222-1075

birdsoystershack.com

The Huntsman

Specialty cocktails, wine, beer and scrumptious small plates. Standard happy hour daily; late-night happy hour Monday through Saturday.

320 E. Tennessee St. (850) 765-1887

huntsmantallahassee.com

HIBACHI

Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

Talented hibachi chefs provide an exciting and immersive dining experience. A familyowned business, Osaka takes pride in serving organic, local produce, Gulf-fresh seafood and high-quality beef.

1489 Maclay Commere Drive (850) 900-5149

osakahibachiandsushi.com

Dog Et Al

Dog Et Al is Tallahassee’s hot dog authority. This old-school restaurant offers sausage dogs,

1456 S. Monroe St. (850) 702-1068

dogetalusa.com

Pursuits

FROZEN TREAT

HAPPY HOUR

HOT DOG

turkey dogs and veggie dogs in addition to the all-beef classic.

BEST FROZEN TREAT, Lofty

SUSHI Kiku Japanese Fusion

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Bella Bella

A Tallahassee favorite for more than 20 years, Bella Bella’s cozy dining room invites you to sit down with a glass of wine and a plate of Capellini Marinara.

123 E. 5th Ave. (850) 421-1114 thebellabella.com

LUNCH

Hopkins’ Eatery

Hopkins’ features a wide variety of delicious hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets that balance fresh ingredients with big flavor. Locations on Market Street, Capital Circle and Monroe Street.

Multiple locations (850) 386-4258 hopkinseatery.com

MARTINI/COCKTAIL

Bar 1903

Bar 1903 honors favorite drinks from the past 160 years with care and precision. Indulge in history with a pre-1880s sazerac, or stick to the present with a modern-day penicillin. 209 E. Park Ave. (850) 354-9739 bar1903tlh.com

MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant

Beloved for its authentic Mexican cuisine and family-friendly atmosphere, at the “home of the 2-for-1 margarita,” it’s always a fiesta at El Jalisco. Multiple locations (850) 878-0800 eljalisco.com

OUTDOOR DINING RESTAURANT

Table 23

Enjoy fine Southern dining under the twinkling lights of a mossy oak canopy. The outdoor porch seating offers a breezy respite amid the bustling nightlife of Midtown.

1215 Thomasville Road (850) 329-2261 table23tally.com

PIZZA

Momo’s PIzza

Serving “slices as big as your head,” but it’s not all about size. Top-tier pizza and creative monthly specials like the Cranberry Christmas, Just Peachy or Mexican Street Corn Pizza. Multiple locations (850) 224-9808 momospizza.com

SEAFOOD MARKET Southern Seafood Market

Committed to offering the best local seafood on the market, addinng seasonal out-oftown favorites and charging a fair rate. Tallahassee’s most trusted name for the catch of the day.

1415 Timberlane Road, Ste. #311 (850) 893-7301 southernseafoodmarket.com

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Tally Fish House & Oyster Bar

The Fish House serves up tastes of the coasts daily from fried shrimp to crab claws and hush puppies. Out-of-thisworld crab cake Benedicts and bottomless mimosas highlight Sunday brunch.

6802 Thomasville Road (850) 900-5075 tallyfishhouse.com

SOUTHERN CUISINE/FOOD Backwoods Crossing

Elevating Southern classics with innovative pairings and ingredients plucked straight

from the farm behind the restaurant. The owners’ passion for food shines through on every plate.

6725 Mahan Drive (850) 765-3753

backwoodscrossing.com

SPORTS BAR

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

Menu goes beyond bar fare with Cajun favorites and ahi tuna. Catch the game inside, or grab a seat on the porch for cocktails with friends.

3390 Capital Circle NE (850) 597-7736

walk-ons.com

STEAKHOUSE

IL Lusso

Prime cut ribeyes and filets get the dry-aged treatment for a fork-tender experience. The succulent Wagyu steaks are a marbled marvel.

201 E. Park Ave., Ste. 100 (850) 765-8620

illussotally.com

SUSHI

Kiku Japanese Fusion

Fresh and flavor-packed specialty rolls are a must. A perfect spot for date night, Kiku also offers delicious sushi lunch specials.

3491 Thomasville Road, Ste. 12 (850) 222-5458

kikubogo.com

WINGS

Island Wing Company

With 26 bold flavors that range from mild to scorching, wing lovers are sure to find their perfect temperature. Crispy-baked bites make for a surprisingly health-conscious feast.

1370 Market St., Ste. 2 (850) 692-3116

islandwing.com

BEST

Service Providers

AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING Benson’s Heating & Air

Conditioning Inc.

With more than 40 years of experience at their backs, the Benson’s team is always ready to lend a helping hand at both residences and businesses.

5402 Tower Road (850) 562-3132 bensonshvac.com

ALARM/SECURITY COMPANY*

Lawson Alarm, LLC

Their three-step approach focuses on educating clientele, finding the ideal solution for their specific needs and providing high-quality installation and service. Lawson Alarm offers fire detection, monitoring and lifealert systems.

5021 Metzke Lane (850) 75-ALARM lawsonalarm.com

ALTERATIONS

Sunshine Alterations

Whether you want to stun at a formal event or simply look and feel your best day to day, Sunshine Alterations makes offthe-rack look like couture.

1997 N. Monroe St. (850) 383-1071

sunshinealterations.centurylinksite.net

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FACILITY

North Florida

Spine and Wellness

Adhering to a drugless, nonsurgical approach to treatment, the clinicians offer chiropractic services, functional neurology, clinical nutrition and more.

1610 W. Plaza Drive (850) 877-6790

healthytallahassee.com

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY*

Westminster Oaks

Westminster Oaks balances independence with assistance while offering exclusive access to arts and wellness programming, lifelong learning opportunities, gourmet dining options, trails and activities.

4449 Meandering Way (850) 878-1136 westminsteroaksfl.org

AUTO/BODY SHOP

Capital City

Collision

Committed to high-quality, speedy repairs. With guaranteed auto body work and minor mechanical repair, Capital City Collision will watch your back (and bumper) throughout the life of your vehicle.

1320 Lake Bradford Road (850) 575-9202 capitalcitycollisioninc.com

AUTOMOBILE DEALER*

Proctor Dealerships (Proctor Honda, Proctor Subaru, Proctor Acura)

Providing expert service and reliable vehicles at three local dealerships: Proctor Honda, Proctor Acura and Proctor Subaru. Proctor supports organizations including the Leon County Humane Society and Big Bend Hospice Foundation.

3523 W. Tennessee St. (Acura)

Proctor Acura: (850) 574-6600

2373 W. Tennessee St. (Honda)

Proctor Honda: (850) 576-5165

1707 Capital Circle NE (Subaru)

Proctor Subaru: (850) 702-5678 theproctordealerships.com

BANK*

Capital City Bank

Capital City Bank Group is a

trusted leader in banking for individuals and businesses for more than 125 years. They provide a full range of services, including mortgage services, loans and home equity loans.

11 office locations in Tallahassee (850) 671-0400

ccbg.com

BANQUET FACILITY/ EVENT HALL

Goodwood Museum & Gardens

“The site of a historic plantation home, Goodwood Museum & Gardens’ stunning grounds are perfect for weddings, corporate banquets or any night to remember. They feature weekly and monthly events.

1600 Miccosukee Road (850) 877-4202

goodwoodmuseum.org

CANNABIS/CBD FACILITY Tallulah

CBD

Mushrooms THC

Offering a wide range of high quality CBD and THC products from the top, industryleading CBD suppliers in the United States. A friendly and knowledgeable staff is always there to offer guidance, answer questions and find the right product for you.

1410 Market St., C-4 (850) 727-5708

tallahasseecbd.com

CARPET CLEANER

Prestige Carpet Care & Pressure Washing of Tallahassee

Prestige offers deep-cleaning treatments with attention to detail and affordable rates while extending the life of carpets.

1370 Tallavana Trail, Havana (850) 556-9041

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPITAL CITY BANK

CHILD CARE PROVIDER

Growing Room Tallahassee

The Growing Room partners with parents to create an enriching, nurturing and educational child care setting with developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years.

Multiple locations (850) 386-4769

growingroomchildcare.com

CHIROPRACTOR

Smith Family Chiropractic

With a focus on education and patient satisfaction, Smith Family Chiropractic improves the lives and health of people in the Tallahassee community through professional chiropractic treatment.

2447 Millcreek Court (850) 325-6468

smithfamilychiro.net

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY Coldwell Banker Commercial

Hartung

This full-service real estate company specializes in residential, commercial and corporate relocations in Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty and Franklin counties, as well as parts of Southern Georgia.

3303 Thomasville Road (850) 386-6160

cbhartung.com

CREDIT UNION*

First Commerce

Credit Union

First Commerce Credit Union helps its members achieve their financial goals through high savings rates, low loan rates and minimal fees.

2073 Summit Lake Drive (850) 488-0035

firstcommercecu.org

CUSTOMER SERVICE

All About Cats Pet Sitting

Care for your cats where they are most comfortable — at home. Maria’s upbeat attitude, kindness and consideration put her clients and their pets at ease. (850) 364-0722

allaboutcatspetsitting.com

DANCE STUDIO

Dance Fusion Studios

Dedicated to enriching lives through the art of dance, Dance Fusion offers instruction for students aged 1 to 18 with a technique-focused approach to acro, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and hip hop.

1600 N. Monroe St., Ste. 12 (850) 519-1191

dancefusiontallahassee.com

DAY

SPA Millennium Nail & Day Spas

A little pampering goes a long way, but a lot of pampering goes further. Enhance your natural beauty with services including facials, nail care, massage and eyelash extensions.

3427 Bannerman Road, Ste. 201 (850) 894-4772 millenniumnailanddayspa.com

DENTAL PRACTICE

Dr. Chaney, Couch, Callaway, Carter and Associates

This first-class dental practice offers general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and surgical dentistry.

3612 Austin Davis Ave. (850) 877-0215

tallyteeth.com

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee

This practice has been meeting and exceeding expectations for more than 35 years by addressing skin care needs — from reducing signs of aging and sun damage to life-saving skin cancer screenings and treatment.

1714 Mahan Center Blvd. (850) 877-4134 datfl.com

DRY CLEANER

Blue Ribbon Cleaners

This family owned and operated dry cleaner may charge a bit more than the competition, but Blue Ribbon’s results are unmatched. Customers trust them with everything from wedding gowns to bedding.

2107 Capital Circle NE (850) 385-7541

blueribbondrycleaning.com

ELECTRICAL COMPANY

Lawson & Lawson Electrical Services, Inc.

Lawson & Lawson Electrical Services offers 24-hour electrical services for residential, commercial and industrial properties from experienced professionals. They have kept the lights on for more than 40 years and will continue to do so for many more.

5021 Metzke Lane (850) 562-4111 llelectrical.com

EVENT/WEDDING PLANNER

John Gandy Events

Bringing dream weddings to life by working hand in hand with clients to create a gorgeous and unique celebration to remember.

3463 Garber Drive (850) 570-5999 johngandyevents.com

FAMILY PHYSICIAN PRACTICE

Tallahassee Medical Group

Formed in 2022 by the VanLandingham brothers, Tallahassee Medical Group may be new to town, but its physicians are veterans of care. Tallahassee Medical Group takes a proactive approach to health and wellness by treating illness and offering preventative care.

1511 Surgeons Drive (850) 878-6134

1843 Fiddler Court (850) 878-5500 (850) 402-6215 (850) 702-5940

317 Norton Drive tallahasseemedicalgroup.com

FINANCIAL PLANNER

MillCreek Financial Consultants

Expert financial planners

simplify investing, protect your assets, understand your financial goals and work with you to achieve them.

2425 Millcreek Court (850) 727-5491 millcreekfinancialconsultants.com

FITNESS CENTER

Premier Health & Fitness Center

The large, 55,000-square-foot facility provides the latest in equipment and fitness technology, an indoor track, NBA-size basketball court, two heated pools and a cafe.

3521 Maclay Blvd. (850) 431-BFIT (2348) premiertlh.com

FLOORING (CARPET/TILE/ETC.)

Brian Barnard’s

Flooring America

This family-owned business offers some of the most competitive pricing in the market for thousands of flooring options, including carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate and luxury vinyl, backed with a warranty.

2731 Capital Circle NE (850) 273-4373

barnardsflooring-america.com

FLORIST

A Country Rose

A Country Rose expertly styles bouquets and other arrangments with the brightest blooms and freshest greenery available.

250 E. 6th Ave. (850) 877-8294 acountryrose.com

HAIR SALON/STUDIO

Chelsea Salon & Spa

Highly trained stylists provide clients with a full consultation, stress relieving scalp massage, invigorating shampoo and conditioning treatment, haircut and styling tutorial.

1629 Mahan Center Blvd. (850) 878-8282 chelseasalon.com

HAIR WAX

LASER SERVICES

BumbleBee

Skincare and Waxing

BumbleBee provides results, including shapely brows and silky smooth skin, while ensuring that clients are comfortable through every step of the process.

359 N. Monroe St. (850) 631-1868

bumblebeeskincare.com

HOTEL*

Hotel Duval

A sensation for the senses located at the heart of the city since 1951, Hotel Duval offers two enticing dining options and the famed rooftop bar, Level 8 Lounge. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6000

marriott.com/tlhak

INSURANCE AGENCY

Doug Croley Insurance Services

This full-service agency has been supplying commerical and personal lines of insurance to customers for more than 40 years.

2814 Remington Green Circle (850) 386-1922

dougcroleyins.com

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM

Southern Home Staging Co.

Talented designers and hardworking movers create an undeniable “wow” factor in every space they touch.

3080 W. Tharpe St. (850) 296-7440

sohostagingco.com

BEST

SERVICES

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN SERVICES

Blade Runners Lawn Care Services

This family-owned lawn care service transforms yards from a basic plot of grass into an outdoor oasis.

105 W. Century Park Circle (850) 544-6200

bladerunnerstlh.com

LAW FIRM/ATTORNEY PRACTICE

Fasig | Brooks

Law Offices

Their skilled legal team ensures that clients receive fair compensation for injuries caused by negligence or wrongdoing.

3522 Thomasville Road, Ste. 200 (850) 777-7777

fasigbrooks.com

MEDICAL FACILITY

Tallahassee

Memorial HealthCare

This private, not-for-profit community health care

provider carries out its care mission by transforming care, advancing health and improving lives in its main hospital and dozens of off-site facilities.

1300 Miccosukee Road (850) 431-1155

tmh.org

MEDICAL SPA

Skin Science Aesthetics

Skin Science Aesthetics is dedicated to helping clients achieve their beauty goals and changing the way people think about cosmetic treatments. They offer non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments that yield natural looking, beautiful results.

1350 Market St., Ste. 103 (850) 597-9623

skinsciencetallahassee.com

MOVING COMPANY

AMWAT Moving Warehousing Storage

High-quality, personal service sets the standard for

comprehensive relocation support in Tallahassee.

319 Ross Road (850) 877-7131

amwatmovers.com

NAIL SALON

Millennium

Nail & Day Spas

This favorite nail salon offers a variety of luxurious manicure and pedicure options as well as gel polish and acrylics.

3427 Bannerman Road, Ste. 201 (850) 894-4772

millenniumnailanddayspa.com

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Hang Tough Foundation

The Hang Tough Foundation offers support to families navigating childhood illness and special needs. The founders established the organization after having children diagnosed with leukemia. 227 E. Virginia St. (850) 274-6413

hangtoughfoundation.org

OPTOMETRY/ OPHTHALMOLOGY PRACTICE

Eye Associates of Tallahassee

Eye Associates provides eye care with compassion and stateof-the-art technology. Their services range from child eye exams to specialist-driven LASIK and cataract treatments.

2020 Fleishmann Road (850) 878-6161

eyeassociatesoftallahassee.com

ORAL HEALTH CARE

SPECIALTY PRACTICE

Redemption

Orthodontics

Redemption Orthodontics offers multiple alignment options to fit your lifestyle and create a smile you’ll want to show off.

1384 Timberlane Road (850) 782-3232

redemptionorthodontics.com

PEDIATRIC PRACTICE

North Florida

Pediatric Associates

This caring team works closely with parents, keeping them

PHOTO BY NATHAN SACZYNSKI

informed while maintaining a warm, nurturing environment that puts them and their children at ease.

2255 Killearn Center Blvd., Ste. 100 (850) 877-1162

northfloridapeds.com

PEST CONTROL SERVICE

Paul’s Termite & Pest Control

Locally owned since 1971, Paul’s rids homes of unwanted visitors with expert knowledge, exceptional staff and proven methods.

254 E. 6th Ave. (850) 222-6808 callpauls.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer Powell

Photography

This favorite photographer specializes in branding, boudoir, family, birthday, baby and graduation photography for clients in the Florida Panhandle and South Georiga.

2627 Capital Circle NE (850) 933-6033

jenniferpowellphotography.com

PLUMBING SERVICE

Keith McNeill

Plumbing Cont. Inc.

Keith McNeill Plumbing supplies expert, friendly service to commercial properties, residences and new developments. They deliver guaranteed work and leave your space clean when the job is done.

3505 N. Monroe St. (850) 562-5504

mcneillplumbing.com

PRINTING/COPYING SERVICES

Target Print & Mail

“This large-scale commercial printer is Tallahassee’s premier provider of commercial printing, signs, mailing and graphic design solutions.

2843 Industrial Plaza Drive (850) 671-6600

targetprintmail.com

RESIDENTIAL

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer

RESIDENTIAL

Tallahassee Homes

Bringing the latest in home designs, materials and new technology to create awardwinning, luxury homes — that’s Tallahassee Homes.

8501 Castle Pine Drive (850) 545-8491

tallahasseehomesrealty.com

Superior Painting

Superior Painting lives up to its name with guaranteed estimates and skilled painters who will never be satisfied until the customer is satisfied.

2184 Lake Hall Road (850) 297-1882

to getting clients

the

PHOTO BY JENNIFER POWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Apogee Signs

ROOFING REPAIR/SERVICES

Lloyd Roofing and Construction Inc.

Committed to exacting, highquality workmanship, Lloyd Roofing and Construction is equipped to deal with residential roofing, emergency repairs, commercial roofing, storm damage, inspections and more. 1979 Maryland Circle (850) 728-8101

tallahasseeroofingcompany.net

SIGN COMPANY

Apogee Signs

Experienced designers and fabricators take pride in surpassing client expectations. They work closely with their clients to tailor each project to meet the needs of businesses large and small.

251 Fortune Blvd., Midway (850) 224-7446

apogeesigns.com

IGT Solar

IGT Solar is paving the way for Florida’s green future with reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions, offering turnkey installations to get systems up and running with ease.

3954 W. Pensacola St. (850) 576-7657 igtsolar.com

SPECIALTY FITNESS STUDIO (YOGA/PILATES/GROUP FITNESS)

Drip Drop Fitness

Choose from numerous moderate to high-intensity classes that incorporate music, dance, weightlifting, pilates, yoga and functional fitness.

218 E. Third Ave. (850) 792-7333

dripdropfitness.com

SURGICAL PRACTICE

Tallahassee

Orthopedic Clinic

Team TOC specializes in

reconstructive surgeries, including full joint replacements of the knee, hip and shoulder. They deliver outstanding outcomes and compassionate care.

3334 Capital Medical Blvd. and 2605 Welaunee Blvd. (850) 877-8174 teamtoc.com

TRAVEL AGENCY

Effortless Travel LLC

Make travel adventures efforless with award-winning service and customer-centered values. P.O. Box 5573 (850) 321-5477 makingtraveleffortless.com

TREE SERVICE

Miller’s Tree Service

Miller’s Tree Service offers tree care services for residential and commercial properties while employing the latest modern equipment and safety practices.

4951 Woodlane Circle (850) 894-TREE (8733) millertreesrv.com

WEDDING VENUE

Goodwood Museum & Gardens

Enveloped by sprawling live oak trees and steeped in Southern charm, Goodwood provides a stunning backdrop on your big day.

1600 Miccosukee Road (850) 877-4202 goodwoodmuseum.org

WEIGHT LOSS CENTER

Healthy Solutions Medical Weight Loss & Spa

Offers individualized treatment plans with a focus on behavior, Healthy Solutions’ services include medically supervised weight loss, CoolSculpting and Botox.

2003 Miccosukee Road (850) 309-0356 hs-med.com

SOLAR ENERGY CONTRACTOR

Dr. Lauren Combs

Shopping

BOOKSTORE

Midtown Reader

This independent bookstore has a passion for lifelong learning. Pick up a classic, or seek out new and noteworthy works ranging from science fiction to cookbooks.

1123 Thomasville Road (850) 425-2665 midtownreader.com

COSMETIC VENDOR

Kanvas

Kanvas is beautifying Tallahassee with a wide assortment of luxury cosmetics, bath and body products, skin care, hair care products and more.

823 Thomasville Road (850) 224-7467 kanvasbeauty.com

FURNITURE STORE

Turner’s Fine Furniture

Turner’s Fine Furniture offers an enormous selection of beautiful furniture to fit any budget, including mattresses, recliners,

rugs and pieces for your living room, dining room, home office, bedroom and outdoor space. Multiple locations (229) 377-1030 turnerfurniture.com

JEWELRY STORE

The Gem Collection

A one-stop-shop for finely crafted jewelry, The Gem Collection has an ever-changing assortment of gorgeous gemstones and pieces created by prominent designers and rising star jewelry artists.

3501 Thomasville Road (850) 893-4171 gemcollection.com

KIDS CLOTHING

Pink Narcissus

A supplier of flowy dresses, adorable sets, bold prints and bright colors, Pink Narcissus stocks high-quality brands like Lilly Pulitzer that are built for fashion that lasts.

1350 Market St., Ste. 100 (850) 597-8201

Instagram: Instagram.com/ pinknarcissustally

BEST

MEN’S CLOTHING/ ACCESSORIES

Nic’s Toggery

Ranked by Esquire Magazine as one of the “Finest Menswear Specialty Stores,” Nic’s has its customers looking suave from day to night with top brands and current styles. Mulitple locations (850) 893-9599 nicstoggery.com

NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER

Tallahassee

Nurseries

Stunning outdoor garden center is an attraction on its own. Offers expert advice, stellar landscaping services and a variety of local and tropical plants.

2911 Thomasville Road (850) 385-2162 tallahasseenurseries.com

SPECIALTY RETAIL STORE

Browns Kitchen

A homemaker’s dream, Browns Kitchen delivers quality

cookware, cutlery and unique local finds as well as weekly cooking classes, wine tastings and hobby events.

2551 Capital Circle NE (850) 385-5665 brownskitchen.com

SPORTING GOODS STORE

Kevin’s Fine Outdoor Gear and Apparel

Kevin’s is the go-to sporting goods store and outdoors outfitter for Tallahassee’s Southern belles and gentlemen for more than 40 years.

3350 Capital Circle NE (850) 386-5544 kevinscatalog.com

WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES

Sparkle

Tallahassee

Throw on a wide-brimmed hat, and grab your graphic tote to make a statement wherever you go with boutique jewelry

and accessories from Sparkle Tallahassee.

2627 Capital Circle NE (850) 567-1805 sparkletallahassee.com

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

Sparkle

Tallahassee

With gameday fashion, adorable weekend looks and Pinterest-worthy outfits, the new arrivals at Sparkle Tallahassee keep customers on trend.

2627 Capital Circle NE (850) 567-1805 sparkletallahassee.com

WOMEN’S SHOES

Narcissus

Narcissus supplies trendy footwear for every occasion. Shop from a selection of designer brands for fashionable tennis shoes, high heels, flats, sandals and wedges.

1408 Timberlane Road (850) 668-4807 narcissusstyle.com

BEST SPECIALTY RETAIL STORE Browns Kitchen

BEST JEWELRY STORE, The Gem Collection

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROWNS KITCHEN TALLAHASSEE, TURNER’S FINE FURNITURE AND THE GEM COLLECTION

Entertainment

BAND

Anna Wescoat

A musician of unrivaled skill, Wescoat plays more than 20 instruments, and thanks to looping technology, can simultaneously sing and perform up to eight instruments. (850) 590-6222

annawescoatmusic.com

COMMUNITY EVENT

Springtime Tallahassee

Springtime Tallahassee has been a premier annual event for more than 55 years. This massive celebration includes live music, a parade, children’s events and various arts, craft, boutique and food vendors from around the country.

114 E. 5th Ave. (850) 583-9613

springtimetallahassee.com

GOLF COURSE

Golf Club at Summerbrooke

This recently renovated course features 18 new holes. Summerbrooke’s lighted driving range is open until 10 p.m.

7505 Preservation Road (850) 894-4653

theclubatsummerbrooke.com

PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS

Tallahassee Museum

Offering hands-on, experience-driven learning and tons of fun for kids of all ages, their outdoor setting is rich with Florida wildlife enclosures, trails, play areas and a tree-totree obstacle course. 3945 Museum Drive (850) 575-8684

tallahasseemuseum.org

RADIO PERSONALITY

Greg Tish, 93.3

With Tallahassee’s weekday wake-up call, Tish kicks off the morning with conservative banter and dry wit on Real Talk 93.3 from 6 to 9 a.m. 2607 Callaway Road (850) 396-8255

realtalk93.com

TV PERSONALITY

Lanetra

Bennett, WCTV

This FAMU graduate started her career as an associate producer and spent many years reporting in the community. Now, she serves as the anchor of WCTV’s Good Morning Show 1801 Halstead Blvd. (850) 893-6666 wctv.tv

BEST PLACE TO TAKE KIDS Tallahassee Museum

BEST BAND Anna Wescoat

PHOTOS BY BRENNA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY (WESTCOAT) AND COURTESY OF TALLAHASSEE MUSEUM

VIP early access at 5:30pm | Doors open at 6pm

To buy tickets and to get more information please go to: tallahasseemagazine.com/best-of-tallahassee/

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PACIFIC FINS

The feeling when you’re reeling is hard to describe by

BRIAN ROWLAND

Boats fishing out of Pacific Fins Resort in Guatemala head for a feature called the Pocket, an underwater canyon that attracts numbers of sailfish like this one that was landed by anglers and crew aboard the Checho’s with Capt. Carlos Diaz.

On our globe today, there are fewer than 10 places where anglers can reliably catch billfish in numbers. Two of them are found in the Pacific off Guatemala and Panama, and both are within 20 miles of shore.

For several years, I have enjoyed an association with the Guy Harvey organization. I helped develop their expedition program whereby anglers, both novice and seasoned, enjoy trips of a lifetime catching and releasing sailfish and marlin and landing yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and other fish that may wind up on dinner plates.

Our destination in Guatemala is the Pacific Fins Resort, located about two hours from Guatemala City in the port city of Iztapa.

Earlier this year, I made my second trip to the resort. So, too, did Emerald Coast native Stephen Sametz. Both of us greatly enjoy all that Pacific Fins has to offer, while also participating in the expedition program, which benefits the Guy Harvey Foundation and its research in the eastern Pacific. The foundation’s work, aimed at protecting marine species, is seeing to it that sportfishing activity continues to economically benefit Guatemala as a developing nation.

Sametz, a real estate broker who is also the business manager at the Matthews & Jones law firm in Destin, strongly believes in the foundation’s mission.

“I like giving to that organization,” he said. “I have five grandchildren, and I

hope that we will sustain our marine fisheries so that they can enjoy them when they are older.”

Sametz said he is especially appreciative of efforts by the foundation to supply marine curriculum to K-12 schools in Florida and beyond.

Soon after you land in Guatemala, a Pacific Fins representative greets you as you come through customs and takes you to the resort or to the old capital city of Antigua for lunch and some sightseeing. Once at the gated property, you are escorted to your very clean and comfortable room

that adjoins an open-air restaurant/bar and pool overlooking an inland waterway. Pacific Fins is an all-inclusive resort whose restaurant is open from 5 a.m. into the evening; the bar opens at midday and closes when people are ready to retire.

The restaurant’s menu offers many options, but seafood entrees take top billing. Fish dishes are prepared in a variety of ways, mostly with mahimahi (dorado) and tuna caught that day. At dinner, guests come together and talk about their catches. Here, there are plenty of true stories to be told.

PHOTOS BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: LUCY BROWNLOCA4MOTION (HILLTOP VIEW), SL_PHOTOGRAPHY (ANTIGUA) AND COURTESY OF PACIFIC FINS GUATEMALA (RESORT)

↑ Amenities at Pacific Fins Resort include a pool and outdoor lounging area. Freshly caught tuna and mahi-mahi highlight meals at the resort. Billfish are caught and released.

←

Hilltop view from near Antigua, Guatemala, includes a portion of Lake Amatitlan. In lower photo, the Agua volcano appears in the background behind the Santa Catalina arch. The arch, built in the 17th century, once connected the Santa Catalina convent to a school.

destinations

The resort’s boats are all at least 35 feet in length and are equipped with air-conditioned cabins and restroom facilities; they are manned by a captain and two crew members.

Trips are limited to two or three anglers, meaning that everyone gets plenty of time in the fighting chair. There is an art to setting a hook in a billfish, so the mate usually accomplishes that before handing the rod off to an angler, who will spend 20–30 minutes winding the fish in. Mates teach anglers how to let their stout fishing rod and the captain’s maneuvering of the boat assist them in taming a bruising billfish.

Fishing over a deep underwater canyon called the Pocket, Sametz and his fellow anglers had hooked some 20 sailfish on conventional tackle and brought the majority of them to the boat before he was given a chance to hook one on a fly rod.

He made a cast of about 30 feet to a sailfish that had been attracted by teaser lures dragged behind the boat.

“Dr. Harvey explained to me that sailfish are the only billfish that stop in the water when they catch their prey,” Sametz said. “So, after you feel the bite, you need to give the fish five or seconds to chew and then set the hook.”

Sametz did so, and the fight was on.

Whipping a sailfish, he said, does not involve the kind of pump-and-wind grinding that characterizes bottom fishing for grouper. Rather, the angler gains line when the fish is ready to surrender it. Try to horse the fish, Sametz said, “and you may find yourself with fingers bruised by a spinning reel handle.”

“You can only get so much leverage with a fly rod,” he said.

Before it is released, you have a chance to get a few photos of your billfish at boatside. Meanwhile, your fellow anglers will have captured video footage of your fish leaping from the water during the fight.

The boat is stocked with various cold beverages, and the crew prepares a hot lunch. Should the boat catch a yellowfin tuna, you will enjoy fresh sashimi on the way in.

Regulations require that billfish be released. They often recover within hours and are ready to challenge an angler again. On an average day, 10–12 billfish will be hooked. On days when the wind and water temperature are just right, catching 25–35 is not out of the question. To

Boats return to the resort each day around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. There, a dip in the pool, a cocktail and an appetizer restore the angler, who is glad to be back on land for a time before the boats leave out again in the morning.

On departure day, you rise early for breakfast, head for the airport, catch an afternoon flight to Miami or Atlanta and make your connection to North Florida before delightfully crashing in your own bed. TM

Big

←→

sailfish hooked by anglers operating out of Pacific Fins Resort are a challenge to land on conventional tackle, but the especially adventurous fisherman may land one with a fly rod, as seen in photos at left and upper right. In those photos, it is Steve Samatz of Destin (in white cap) who accomplished the feat. Sportfishing yachts in the Pacific Fins fleet include Checho’s and the Gypsy.

Spa Day, Every Day

Soak your cares away at your own backyard oasis

by LIS KING

INTERIORS Simmer Pots || GREEN SCENE Daylilies

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Once in place, a portable hot tub is simply filled with water and plugged in, while in-ground varieties require planning, overall landscape design, excavation and dealings with a number of tradespeople.

Spas have been beloved since ancient Greece and Rome. Of course, Socrates and Caesar didn’t have access to modern features such as immersive sound, customizable jets and choreographed lighting. But they certainly appreciated the therapeutic benefits of hot water soaks.

Spa pros like Brian Poggie of Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa in Tallahassee and Rob Abel of 30A Hot Tubs in Miramar Beach are passionate promoters of spa hydrotherapy.

Poggie, who runs three Tallahassee Pinch A Penny stores, keeps busy alongside his wife raising two young girls. He enjoys the benefits of a good soak after a long day.

“At the end of the day, we head for our spa and spend 30 to 50 minutes soaking away the day’s slings and arrows, sore feet and muscles,” he said. Poggie’s personal spa, an Aria, offers multi-level options, a lounge seat, and calf and foot jets. “It’s perfect for us,” he said.

In the spa business for 30 years, Abel shares his knowledge with

Emerald Coast residents through a hot tub school that covers 21stcentury hydrotherapy. He offers advice on choosing the right spa and maintaining it and discusses the health benefits.

INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Poggie and Abel acknowledge that the number of spa options can be overwhelming. Hot tubs may be designed for pleasure, relaxation or hydrotherapy; can accommodate from two to seven or more people; and may feature several well-placed jets or offer elaborate technology.

The first consideration is choosing between a portable spa or an in-ground model. The portable hot tub is simply filled with water and plugged in, while the in-ground version calls for planning, overall landscape design, excavation and employing a variety of tradespeople.

Costs for an above-ground, portable hot tub range from $2,000 to more than $5,000. Expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 for a basic in-ground spa package. Another option is dropping a manufactured

↑ Hot tubs may be customized with features such as immersive sound, customizable jets and choreographed lighting. Add them to taste. Just the right amount of sensory stimulation for some people may be too much for others.

shell, typically made of molded acrylic reinforced with fiberglass, into a deck. But keep in mind that it will need proper support from below, for example, a steel frame.

Abel recommends careful consideration of the number of jets, noting that more jets don’t always equate to increased therapeutic benefits. When there are too many jets competing with each other, you will eventually start losing jet power. Concentrate on the location of those pre-installed jets — make sure they address the right areas.

SAVE ENERGY, WATER AND MONEY AN EFFICIENT HOME IS A HAPPY HOME

FREE ENERGY AUDITS

The City of Tallahassee energy auditors inspect homes and provide information to customers on low-cost and no-cost energy e ciency measures.

Visit Talgov.com/YOU for more information.

Installing a spa in the garden versus close to the house can enhance your landscape and create a nearby escape. But consideration should be given to privacy and prevailing wind patterns. For in-ground spas, soil and obstacles such as rocks and tree roots must be considered. Portable spas will need a level spot.

ADDITIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS

Modern spas offer a number of feature enhancements. Good examples are water-care systems, in-spa audio, remote control operation and numerous lighting options. They are meant to improve the experience and simplify maintenance, but Poggie and Abel warn that some features amount to unnecessary frills.

Examples of spa lighting include back-lit water features, full-color in-spa lighting, lighted cup holders and exterior sconce lighting for safety.

Audio systems to heighten the spa experience include seat-surround speakers, an in-spa subwoofer or simple Bluetooth connectivity for phone or digital audio.

SPA WELLNESS

People with heart disease or other health issues might best refrain from hot-tubbing. Even if you’re healthy, a dirty spa can cause illness, which is why every spa dealer emphasizes spa cleaning and maintenance. Spa owners should regularly assess pH levels and check for chemical balance and cleanliness.

Wellness pros acknowledge that a spa dip feels great and can offer many health benefits. Safety can be maximized, they say, if you keep the temperature below 104 degrees and listen to your body.

As long as you take a few precautions and check for cleanliness, a safe and relaxing at-home reprieve is yours for the soaking. TM

↑ Homeowners inclined to place a hot tub away from the house should be mindful of privacy considerations and even prevailing wind patterns. Unwelcome buzzing visitors may frequent spas left open to surroundings. Spas require level ground and may necessitate the removal of tree roots.

SIMMERING SCENTS

Cooking up holiday aromas

by RAEMI CRETEUR

No sense fills you with the holiday spirit quite like your sense of smell.

Cinnamon pine cones, pumpkin pie and hot chocolate all set the mood for gift giving and quality time with those we hold dear. You can produce those same magical aromas in a simmer pot.

In a simmer pot, also known as stovetop potpourri, a mixture of spices, citrus fruits and other ingredients come together in simmering water to release natural and enticing fragrances. By adding moisture to the air along with the warm scents, the pots provide the added benefit of softening dry, frigid air seeping in from the wintery outdoors.

Dr. Monica Hayes, a certified aromatherapist, loves to share the joy of educating others on the physical and mental benefits of aromatherapy.

“I’m all about getting us back to more natural ways of living,” Hayes said. “If you know about the natural things, and so often we grow them in our backyard, they can help relieve pain, keep away insects and diminish headaches.”

Studies have uncovered a phenomenon now known as the Proust effect which provides an understanding of how our brains process smells in relation to our memories. Arousing your senses with a familiar smell or taste can bring nostalgic memories flooding back. Imagine, then,

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Trigger memories of past holiday get-togethers and help make this year’s celebration special by infusing your home with scents of

➺

➺

➺

➺

In a simmer pot, a mixture of spices, citrus fruits and other ingredients come together to release natural and enticing fragrances. Starting your first simmer pot is easy; any pot will do. Or bring out a clear glass container to add elegance.

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how a simmer pot at holiday gatherings might instantly remind family and friends of past years, spawning conversations about the good old days.

“The limbic system controls emotion, and the olfactory system is connected,” Hayes said. “If you smell something good, it can bring up memories and have therapeutic effects. You begin to feel better. You can remember Grandma baking cookies or Mom preparing the turkey. Recreate those scents, and voilà! You have the memory or emotions brought right back.”

Starting your first simmer pot is simple. Grab any pot you have on hand — or consider investing in a clear glass pot that has an elegant visual aesthetic — and add in some water and your favorite ingredients to create a symphonious scent.

There are some guidelines to follow when experimenting to create your perfect simmer pot combination. Start with citrus, such as orange, lemon, lime and even grapefruit. Cranberries are a good addition to a holiday blend and provide a beautiful red color, especially eye-catching in a clear pot.

Spices and herbs can be added to complement the blend. Whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger and cloves can be purchased in bulk to use all season long as only a few are needed in each pot. Finally, consider some fresh herbs, such as rosemary, oregano and mint.

Flowers and fruit can be added, but take care to not heat ingredients for too long as they turn to mush after a few hours, creating a less attractive visual experience.

Autumn weather makes it easier to work in the home landscape, and there are plenty of colorful plants to add. Most additions will be annuals which bloom in the next few months.

There is also a perennial that will deliver showy flowers when the weather warms. Bareroot or potted daylilies can be planted in the autumn.

Daylilies grow best in full sun or filtered shade. The darker-colored red and purple varieties flourish better in partial shade, while yellows, pinks and pastels need full sun to bring out their best colors.

The filtered light level under pine trees is ideal for growing daylilies. Heavy shade should be avoided because it will cause thin, spindly growth and poor flowering.

The soil pH should be between 6.2 and 6.8, with 6.5 being optimal.

PERENNIAL SOURCES OF COLOR

Daylilies boast blooms in a variety of hues

by LES HARRISON, UF/IFAS EXTENSION AGENT EMERITUS

The soil of daylily beds should be topped with three to four inches of organic matter, such as peat, compost or well-rotted manure. The amended soil should be mixed or tilled, leveled and then moistened.

Daylilies survive dry conditions well because of their extensive root systems. However, the number and size of blooms, plant growth and overall vigor can be adversely affected by prolonged drought. Planting now gives them a chance to develop their roots before blooming and warm weather begins.

Daylilies can multiply rapidly, so proper spacing is important. Leave 18 to 24 inches between plants. When larger clumps develop in a few years, plant division is easy.

Dig up the entire clump and shake or wash off the soil without damaging the roots. It is easy to see where divisions can be made by pulling smaller clumps free for new plantings.

Repairing Bald Spots

Annual ryegrass can be used to temporarily “repair” spots in the lawn where turfgrass is missing. It is readily available, inexpensive and grows well in the area.

It is important to purchase a turf-type annual ryegrass which should be mowed to two to three inches in height during its cool season growing height. Foragetype annual ryegrasses will not produce satisfactory results when used on a home lawn.

For best results, break up the soil’s surface and sow the seed as per instructions on the bag. Depending on weather conditions, the seed will germinate and emerge in two weeks to a month.

In most cases, fertilizing is not necessary. There are likely enough soil nutrient residuals remaining from warm season applications.

Mowing can begin 30 days after the ryegrass emerges. This gives the roots time to become well established.

Annual ryegrass will gradually die as the temperature rises in the spring.

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

While most weeds are going dormant or dying, there may be mushrooms popping up randomly and populating lawns. For many, the native mushrooms are the easiest fungi to identify. Technically not plants, fungi do not contain chlorophyll, and there are other differences. What is commonly identified as a mushroom is, in reality, only part of the fungus. The section protruding out for all to see is known as the fruiting body. The fruiting body is the section that produces the spores for the next generation of mushrooms. This portion is the final stage of the mushroom’s life cycle and may take only a few hours to complete. Spores are usually distributed by the wind, water or insects when they reach maturity. Only a small percentage find an ideal location for growth and development. Most local mushrooms are a white to brown earth tone in color, depending on the species and the stage of life. A few produce bright colors, which are influenced by the growing medium. Control can be accomplished in two ways. First, collect the fruiting bodies of mushrooms as they appear. Use rubber gloves or a shovel, being careful not to touch them as some are toxic. Bag and remove from the site. Do not compost as the spores may germinate. Second, remove any woody debris remaining below the surface of the lawn (roots, stumps, etc.) Mushroom spores use the nutrients in decaying wood to flourish.

GREEN SCENE

VOLUNTEER MUSHROOMS

Mushroom spores use the nutrients in decaying wood to flourish.

McNeill Plumbing Wins Best of Tallahassee

Locally loved business shares appreciation for customers and community

As a fourth generation Tallahassean and owner of a multigenerational company, Chase McNeill, owner of McNeill Plumbing, takes winning Best Plumbing Service as part of the Best of Tallahassee awards seriously.

McNeill Plumbing has won the reader- voted award for 2023 as well as 2020–2022, 2006–2015 and 2001. As a multi-year award winner, the company has established itself as a trusted source in Tallahassee.

“Winning Best of Tallahassee is a reason to celebrate, and we greatly appreciate it,” said McNeill. “We are a humble group of plumbers who show up to jobs to work hard with integrity each day. It is rewarding to get the extra and important vote of confidence from our customers and friends. This shows us they see these things and value them as much as we do.”

McNeill Plumbing has been a fixture in the Tallahassee community since its founding in 1978 by McNeill’s father, Keith McNeill. From a young age, McNeill had an inkling he would take over the company as his own career path and spent summers working for his father.

After graduating from college, he pursued a career in new construction before becoming the youngest statecertified master plumber in 2005. By 2008, he was managing the company, and then purchased it from his father in 2010.

McNeill Plumbing is a full-service plumbing company engaged in everything from service house calls to residential, commercial and industrial installations and natural gas piping.

The company has over 90 employees that service Tallahassee, South Georgia, Wakulla County, Franklin County and

Gulf County. The company has plans to continue growing their coastal and surrounding community divisions.

“Being a local business in Tallahassee is a great thing,” said McNeill. “It is a growing area but still maintains its smalltown feel in many ways. It is rewarding to work on awesome projects with awesome people, and the friendships we have made in homes and businesses are plentiful.”

Dedicated to staying loyal to local, the company gives back to youth athletic programs, The United Way of the Big Bend, wildlife conservation efforts and many more nonprofit organizations throughout Northwest Florida.

“We believe that we have earned our clients’ loyalty by offering consistent quality work that they can trust, delivered by people that they trust,” said McNeill.

PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

CHASE MCNEILL

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

A Hidden Gem Off Meridian Road!

This exquisite, centrally located gem is the epitome of modern living. Prepare to be enchanted by this charming home in immaculate condition. Meticulous attention to detail radiates from every corner. Boasting an intelligently designed floor plan that effortlessly combines style and functionality, this home embraces a lifestyle of comfort and luxury. With four generously appointed bedrooms, including an inviting loft area and three full baths, this residence offers ample space for both relaxation and productivity. Versatile space easily adapts to your needs whether you envision a charming formal dining area or a dedicated home office. Your dream home awaits.

LISTED PRICE: $569,900

ADDRESS: 2138 Stiles Pond Court

SQUARE FEET: 2,450

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

YEAR BUILT: 2020

FEATURES: Step into a gourmet kitchen, where granite counters and stainless-steel appliances elevate culinary endeavors. The enchanting rope lighting delicately tracing the tray ceiling adds a touch of elegance, complemented by upgraded lighting fixtures that create an ambiance of refined sophistication.

APPEAL: Centrally located with effortless access to downtown attractions, shopping havens and a plethora of dining options. Beyond the interior, a world of tranquility and natural beauty unfolds before your eyes. Mesmerizing pond views grace the surroundings, creating an idyllic backdrop for serene moments and joyful gatherings. As the sun sets, the tranquil pond becomes a stage for captivating wildlife, providing a mesmerizing spectacle that will forever captivate your heart. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this extraordinary treasure firsthand.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sandy Dallett, (850) 528-3285 sandy@iselltallahassee.net Coldwell Banker Hartung

JUST LISTED

Moore Pond Estate Home

Welcome to the epitome of luxurious living nestled within the prestigious gated community of Moore Pond. This exceptional four-acre estate is a harmonious blend of elegance and comfort offering the ultimate sanctuary for those with discerning tastes. The heart of this residence is the gourmet kitchen, where top-of-the-line appliances, custom cabinetry and exquisite finishes converge to inspire culinary mastery. Adjacent to the kitchen, a formal dining room provides an exquisite space for hosting memorable gatherings, complete with intricate detailing and ample seating. The living areas are spacious yet intimate with rich design details that invite relaxation and conversation. Stepping outside, a haven of leisure awaits. The pristine pool and spa offer a refreshing oasis on hot summer days, while the surrounding lounging areas provide the ideal setting for sun-soaked relaxation. Adding to the allure of this estate is a charming two-bedroom guest house. With its own living area, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen, it offers unparalleled comfort and independence for guests.

LISTED PRICE: $1,785,000

ADDRESS: 6438 Heartland Circle

SQUARE FEET: 6,526

BEDROOMS: 6

BATHROOMS: 5 Full, 2 Half

YEAR BUILT: 2005

FEATURES: Gated community, four bedrooms, 4 ½ baths; two-bedroom, 1 ½-bath guest cottage with private garage. Four acres professionally landscaped, gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, luxury pool and spa, oversized three-car garage plus fitness room.

APPEAL: As you approach the estate, the meticulously manicured landscaping and the stately architecture create an immediate sense of grand welcome. The architecture is a testament to timeless sophistication, featuring a blend of classical design elements and modern refinement featuring four lavishly appointed bedrooms that exude sophistication and comfort.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Kevin Davis, Broker Associate The Naumann Group Real Estate (850) 545-7244

DEAL ESTATE

MEDICAL

Profiles

The most fundamental factor in happiness is good health. We can help ourselves out by eating well, exercising regularly and eliminating sources of stress. Medical professionals are essential, too, as experts in preventive care and treatment of symptoms and diseases. In this section, we profile dedicated health practitioners, their practices and their approaches to keeping their patients healthy and helping them make important health care decisions.

PATIENTS FIRST TALLAHASSEE

James Yost, MD, MS, MBA, Chief Medical Officer

WHEN YOU’RE IN PAIN, the experience of going to an urgent care should not cause further pain and strain. Since 1989, Patients First has provided convenient and affordable care for those seeking an alternative to the emergency room.

The practice’s motto, “Get in. Get out. Get better.” emphasizes the staff’s desire to treat patients effectively and efficiently by providing readily available appointments, exemplary care and thorough treatment plans.

Getting in and out is easily achieved with eight walk-in clinics throughout the Tallahassee area including Appleyard, Bucklake, Crawfordville, Lake Ella, Mahan, North Monroe, Tennessee Street and Thomasville Road. Most of these clinics are open seven days a week, nearly every

day of the year, with extended hours. More locations are expected to open in the coming year.

“Patients First intends to be Tallahassee’s go-to choice for urgent care,” said James Yost, chief medical officer of Patients First. “We invest in each community we are in by being evidence based, listening to each patient and investing in quality providers.”

Yost states that Patients First’s success all begins with the provider life cycle. Each hired physician is rigorously screened and undergoes a detailed onboarding process to guarantee they align with the company’s policies, procedures and evidence-based medical practices, and also that they exhibit a positive bedside manner, demonstrating interactions that are caring and courteous.

Each urgent care location offers treatment of minor illness, flu, COVID-19 testing and treatment, injury, minor surgical procedures, stitches, treatment of broken bones, physicals, diagnostic testing, telehealth visits and more.

The providers can handle non-lifethreatening, non-medical emergencies and have lab and X-ray capabilities on-site. Should further treatment be needed, they are able to provide referrals to doctors who can best assist the medical issue.

“We have a robust medical leadership structure with high expectations that trickle down to the patients so they know they are truly first, being treated by caring, compliant and compassionate people who we have hired from their own community,” said Yost.

SANITAS MEDICAL CENTER

WHEN SANITAS MEDICAL CENTER first came to Tallahassee in December of 2022, they had a core intention — to tailor their health care approach to the needs of each individual community they would inhabit.

The four Sanitas Medical Center locations occupy the areas of Killearn, Apalachee, South Tallahassee and North Monroe. Strategically placed throughout the city, the comprehensive care team at each location actively conducts research to stay abreast of the unique concerns of each neighborhood.

The comprehensive care teams include community health workers who are hired to help understand what each community needs, extending beyond physical needs to include emotional, behavioral and social aspects. Social aspects such as transportation, food insecurity and housing make prominent impacts on health.

“Sanitas came to Tallahassee to help the community by bringing a holistic approach to medicine, expanding health care access and providing primary care that people can trust,” said Dr. Raul Daza, chief medical

officer of Sanitas Medical Center. “You can consider us your quarterback of care.”

Sanitas Medical Centers offer a variety of services including preventive care, wellness visits, urgent care, same-day appointments, chronic condition management, lab work, diagnostic imaging services, therapy services

Lawrence D. Kaelin MD, FACS

through the Be Well mental health program and more. In addition, patients have 24/7 access to a primary care digital portal with over 50 providers on staff to respond.

As a result of all services being in one center, wait times are reduced and patients don’t have to navigate around town to attend various appointments.

Should the patient need an outside opinion or specialist, comprehensive care leaders are on staff to help patients navigate the system and connect patients with providers and specialists that best fit their needs. This brokerage is a unique asset that puts people in touch with who they need, when they need them.

As Sanitas continues to grow and learn about the communities it serves, staff and providers will seek to extend hours, offer weekend hours, decrease wait times for specialists, and provide more virtual appointments and at-home primary care visits for those who are too unwell to travel.

Looking to expand the Be Well mental and behavioral health program, the future will bring to facilities licensed professionals who specialize in substance abuse care and adolescent behavioral health.

Another distinct aspect of Sanitas Medical Center is its direct relationship with Florida Blue insurance. This ensures that patients can afford comprehensive medical care — often at a $0 copay.

Dr. Daza emphasizes the importance of the relationship with Florida Blue, stating that the health care team at Sanitas works alongside the insurance company to closely understand the treatments and specialists a patient needs, then aligns that with their coverage.

“When we arrived in Tallahassee, the Sanitas name wasn’t well known, but that has quickly changed,” Dr. Daza said. “We’ve become noticed because we emphasize holistic, wholeperson care. We guide you to the best care by any and all means available.”

Dr. Raul Daza, chief medical officer of Sanitas Medical Center

Meet

THE VEIN INSTITUTE Specialists

Tallahassee’s only IAC Accredited Vein Center

VENOUS DISORDERS AFFECT BOTH

MEN AND WOMEN

Unsightly veins may not just be cosmetic as they could be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. By identifying the underlying cause of your varicose veins, we can prevent and treat lifelong chronic venous disorders.

WHY A VASCULAR SURGEON IS THE RIGHT CHOICE

A vascular surgeon’s sole expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of all vascular conditions. Our training encompasses over two decades of knowledge in the continued pursuit of learning this pathology. In order to identify the best treatment plan for you, we have a superior knowledge base of the entire spectrum of vascular anatomy and the disease process to best identify and cure venous disorders. No other physician that claims to treat venous disease can compare with the decades of education and training that only a vascular surgery residency and fellowship can provide. This foundation allows our specialty to best diagnose and formulate a comprehensive and complete treatment plan individualized for each and every patient. At The Vein Institute, our team is led by the only board-certified vascular and endovascular surgery practice in Tallahassee and the Big Bend area.

WELCOME TO OUR VEIN INSTITUTE

The Vein Institute of Tallahassee welcomes you to our new office located at the regional office center. The office is comfortable and spacious, featuring new patient examination

rooms, a dedicated venous ultrasound specialist, sclerotherapy and laser treatment room, and two operating suites. Recovery rooms are arranged for efficiency and patient comfort. We also have a conference room with audiovisual capability for educational presentations to patients. Because this facility is state-of-the-art and created for the best possible clinical results, our highly trained staff can accommodate any needs while providing the highest quality service.

During your first visit, you will be evaluated by one of our venous specialists. If indicated, a comprehensive venous ultrasound examination will be performed. The combination of the history of the clinical problem, your physical examination, the ultrasound study findings, and the visualization of veins beneath the skin surface, will provide a complete assessment of your overall venous health. We will explain the findings and their significance, and if indicated, we will offer recommendations for treatment with any alternatives and risks of the procedures.

At The Vein Institute, we want you to be fully informed and, most importantly, be comfortable knowing that your best possible clinical result is our ultimate desire.

We are honored and excited to offer this new practice to the Tallahassee community. We thank you for your continued support and encourage you to explore our website for the latest information on venous disorders and treatments. Our goal is to provide the highest quality of vascular care to our patients and ensure your partnership with us for your venous health for years to come.

Robert S. Brumberg DO, FACOS, Medical Director

Megan I. March MD, RPVI, FSVS

Lawrence D. Kaelin MD, FACS

▪ Spider Veins

▪ Hand and Facial Veins

▪ Varicose Veins

▪ Superficial and Deep Venous Insufficiency

▪ Deep Vein Thrombosis

▪ Pelvic and Labial Veins

▪ Leg Cramps

▪ Restless Leg Syndrome

▪ Venous Ulcers

▪ May-Thurner Syndrome / Deep Vein Compression Syndrome

▪ Leg Heaviness and Lymphedema

▪ Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

▪ Superficial Venous Thrombosis and Phlebitis

▪ Scrotal Veins and Male Infertility

▪ Venous Malformations

▪ Venous Skin Conditions

VENOUS DISORDERS MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENTS

▪ Topical and Endovenous Foam Sclerotherapy

▪ Ultrasound Guided Endovenous Chemical Ablation

▪ Micro-Ambulatory Phlebectomy

▪ Topical Skin, Facial and Hand Laser Therapy

▪ Endovenous Radiofrequency Vein Ablation

▪ Endovenous Laser Vein Therapy

▪ Venography with Angioplasty and Stenting

▪ Intra-Vascular Ultrasound Diagnostics and Therapy

▪ Deep Vein Thrombectomy and Clot Retrieval

▪ Ovarian, Pelvic and Scrotal Vein Embolization

▪ Inferior and Superior Cava Filter Placement

Cassie Davis, APRN

CAPITAL PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES

Dr. William T. Baldock, Jr., DMD, MS

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE? Comprehensive periodontal care with services that include preventing and treating gum disease, gum recession, placing dental implants, as well as saving compromised teeth and treating peri-implantitis.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS? A big part of our success is our team. Nothing I do here is done by myself. I succeed because of my team that is dedicated to exceptional service with a kind and caring mentality.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO THIS CAREER? The periodontal field combines everything I love. It’s a good combination of science and technology. There’s always new research and literature, which keeps the job interesting and ensures I’m constantly learning. All of these advancements make sure patients’ lives continue to improve. I greatly enjoy the surgical side and all the different procedures we get to do. I love talking to people, and this career gives me the opportunity to meet people and build relationships. We see many patients for most of their lives, allowing us to get to know them and their families.

HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY?

Our goal is to provide excellent health care by providing a place where patients feel comfortable while we help them with their periodontal conditions. We love to give back to our community because we wouldn’t be here without them. We provide our services through different volunteer programs such as Mission of Mercy and offer free charity care every month.

WHAT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION HAS YOUR PRACTICE RECEIVED? The most special rewards are the gifts patients give us — doughnuts, handwritten letters, kind compliments. Those little things warm my heart and make us realize we improve quality of life. Our patients bring us joy every day. We were also honored to have won the Best of Tallahassee award in 2021 for Best Specialty Dental Practice.

BRANDI ROBERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

DERMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS OF FLORIDA AND AQUA MEDICAL SPA

CHOOSING A DERMATOLOGY PROVIDER

to care for your skin is a big decision.

Dermatology Specialists of Florida in Tallahassee conveniently offers comprehensive dermatologic care for patients of all ages, including medical, surgical and cosmetic treatments, all under the same roof.

The experienced providers, board-certified dermatologist Dr. I. Wayne Freilich and certified advanced practice registered nurse Elizabeth Miller, are committed to delivering personalized care to each patient they serve.

Dr. Freilich has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of dermatology, making him a true asset to both the practice and to the entire Tallahassee community. Miller also has many years of health care experience and enjoys educating patients about their specific skin conditions and diseases, developing individualized treatment plans and providing cosmetic dermatology services.

Patients come to Dermatology Specialists of Florida for a variety of skin concerns, including

the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, rosacea and many other conditions.

The providers work with patients on how best to care for their skin and prevent skin cancer. It is important to take steps daily to prevent sun-related skin issues as well as to schedule an annual skin exam to allow for early detection and treatment of skin issues that may arise.

One of the major benefits of choosing Dermatology Specialists of Florida for your dermatology needs is the ability to schedule appointments and be seen in the same week. Note that if insurance preapproval is required, scheduling can take longer. Access to quick and reliable care allows for early diagnosis and treatment of skin issues for members of the community.

In addition to medical treatments, the team offers a variety of cosmetic services designed to help clients feel confident in their skin and fight the visible signs of aging as well as other aesthetic concerns. Laser hair removal, laser

skin resurfacing, and cosmetic injectables like Botox and dermal fillers are among the most popular cosmetic treatments.

Aqua Medical Spa, the physician-supervised medical spa, is conveniently located in the same building as the dermatology clinic. Licensed aestheticians Julie Mahieu and Caroline Mahoney provide a variety of services including facials, body contouring, microneedling, chemical peels, waxing and more. Mahieu and Mahoney offer complimentary skin care consultations to help clients with individual skin care concerns and create personalized treatment plans and product regimens.

New and existing patients can make an appointment by calling or visiting the website. The providers, aestheticians and entire team at Dermatology Specialists of Florida and Aqua Medical Spa are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to the Tallahassee community and helping patients feel and look their best, now and for years to come.

Left to right: Caroline Mahoney; Elizabeth Miller, APRN-C; I. Wayne Freilich, MD; Julie Mahieu

EARTH REMEDIES SPA

SELF-CARE AND TOTAL WELLNESS SERVICES AREN’T INDULGENT, they’re preventative necessities. David and Shelly Goodson make this preventative care accessible at Earth Remedies Spa.

Earth Remedies Spa is a luxury medical spa and wellness retreat specializing in customized treatments for the body and mind. The tranquil environment alongside the knowledgeable and hospitable staff promotes relaxation, rejuvenation and healing.

As both a med spa and a day spa, services offered include laser treatments, Botox, body contouring, facial skin tightening, liposuction, microneedling, CBD products, luxury skin care, facials, massages, skin treatments, skin care, wellness therapies and more.

Earth Remedies merges modern technologies with natural remedies. This outlook is inspired by David Goodson’s

background in health care and his own personal wellness journey.

Goodson uses his experience of nearly 30 years in the field as owner of Whitewater Valley Rehabilitation and owner/operator of other health care facilities. It was his personal experience with chronic back pain that brought him to seek alternative forms of relief, discovering the benefits of CBD. This furthered his interest in overall holistic health practices and a desire to provide them to the Tallahassee community.

“People often wait until they are sick and exhausted before they treat themselves to holistic or self-care services, but we aim to recalibrate that thinking into self-care being the preventative measure,” said Goodson.

Further, the Goodsons want clients to know that spa services shouldn’t be reserved solely for vacations or special

occasions. Earth Remedies is its own paradise destination right down the road, easily scheduled for single service, a half day or full day of services.

The Nook offers specialty beverages and bites such as charcuterie boards that make lovely additions to any spa service. The spa and Nook can be booked for corporate retreats and celebrations.

Where the spa office is the heart of Earth Remedies, the advanced medical technology and expertly trained staff is its pride. Having spent his career in the business side of medicine, Goodson knows the importance of the latest technology and invests in the continued education of his providers.

“Our quality sets us apart,” said Goodson. “There’s nothing like this in the area. We present the luxury of a high-end resort spa with the option and peace of mind to receive medical spa procedures.”

PHOTO BY SAIGE ROBERTS

EYE ASSOCIATES OF TALLAHASSEE

SINCE 1960, EYE ASSOCIATES OF TALLAHASSEE has provided insight on eyesight. Originally established in Tallahassee, the practice has expanded to Marianna, Perry, Quincy and soon to Crawfordville, with groundbreaking set for the newest location in 2023.

Being the oldest and most expansive ophthalmology and optometry practice in the area, they offer eye exams, contacts and glasses, Lasik surgery, glaucoma treatment, cornea surgery, cataract surgery and implants, dry-eye

treatment, oculoplastic, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric care and urgent eye care. Their nine doctors are highly educated on the latest techniques and continue to broaden their training and services to fit patient needs. The practice continuously acclimates to fit the expanding audience and to be the most convenient for patients so they are able to stay where they reside. With locations throughout Northwest Florida, Eye Associates of Tallahassee ensures patients’ eye care needs

are easily accessible. For further community outreach, they actively participate in “Lunch and Learn” events at local senior centers.

Patients are assured they are in good hands as Eye Associates has won Best Optometry/Ophthalmology Practice from Tallahassee Magazine for multiple years. Patient satisfaction is always at the forefront of the practice’s vision and mission to provide personalized care while being inclusive of the needs of Tallahassee and the surrounding area.

Deanna Louie, MD

Viet N. Bui, MD

Jerry G. Ford, MD

Paul Harman, OD

Sarah Ko, MD

Kenneth P. Kato, MD

Elizabeth Strickland, OD

Joshua M. Trafton, OD

Tony A. Weaver, MD

FLORIDA CANCER SPECIALISTS & RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Tallahassee Cancer Center

SHOULD YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE FOR be faced with a cancer diagnosis, you want to be assured of compassionate care, advanced treatment options and a personalized approach.

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) assures those aspects and more at a world-class cancer center that’s close to home.

Medical oncology and hematology physicians Viralkumar Bhanderi, Tien Do, Paresh Patel and Scott Tetreault specialize in treating cancers at all stages alongside leukemias, lymphomas and blood disorders.

FCS Tallahassee Cancer Center stands out among other cancer centers because it provides complete cancer care all under one roof, including consults, treatments, lab tests, genetic testing, clinical trials, CT scans, PET scans, therapy, infusions, counseling, pain management and palliative care.

“With everything being offered in one location, this helps to increase patient outcomes and

satisfaction because it makes life easier when patients don’t have to travel and are able to be treated and seen by the same staff,” said Dr. Patel, who also serves as quality committee chair for the FCS Executive Board.

As a large clinic recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a National Clinical Trials Participation Award, FCS is able to offer more clinical trials than any other private oncology practice in the state of Florida. It currently has access to more than 300 clinical trials, with that number consistently increasing.

FCS patients have access to many groundbreaking therapies, which includes the ability to participate in national clinical research studies of the most promising drugs and treatments. The majority of new cancer drugs recently approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation prior to approval.

As a clinic that’s diligently improving, FCS seeks to expand their clinical trial menu and has recently brought on an additional provider at the Tallahassee office, Dr. Do.

Even as a practice that is at the forefront of cutting-edge medicine on a national level, the care provided by FCS is meant to feel familial and close to heart and home. Patients throughout the Tallahassee area never have to travel more than 30 minutes, and once they arrive, all tests and therapies are provided.

“When at FCS, each patient is assured their needs will be met, as the same eyes and ears are assessing their individual treatment cases every visit,” said Dr. Patel. “A cancer diagnosis is often stressful for both the patient and their loved ones, which is why it’s important that each patient knows they are being listened to and cared for like they are our own family members.”

Tallahassee Cancer Center

NORTH FLORIDA PEDIATRICS

Scott Nelson, MD

CHILDHOOD YEARS ARE OFTEN THE MOST FORMATIVE, especially when it comes to developing health and wellness routines. For these reasons, having a pediatrician you trust, one who has your child’s best interests in mind, is important.

Since 1982, North Florida Pediatrics has been committed to providing the highest level of compassionate and complete care to infants, children and adolescents. Their mission includes helping parents to become advocates of good health for their children so they can grow to achieve their fullest potential.

The five doctors, seven practitioners and the staff are trained in the most current medical treatments and procedures while remaining true to the empathetic care children need.

Scott Nelson, M.D., is the office’s most recent addition, joining the practice in July of 2023. Nelson was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, where he developed a desire to help children during weekends spent helping his mother teach Sunday school.

“By high school, I knew I wanted to help people by becoming a doctor,” said Nelson. “After that, I soon realized I wanted to become a pediatrician. The best people in health care work with children, and I firmly believe pediatrics is the most rewarding field in medicine.”

For undergraduate studies, Nelson attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill then went on to attend medical school at Florida State University. It was during medical rotations at FSU that he learned of the respected reputation North Florida Pediatrics held.

After completing a three-year residency at Prisma Health in Columbia, South Carolina, Nelson felt drawn back to Tallahassee’s abundant medical community and, as an avid hiker and runner, to its many parks and trails.

He reached out to a mentor who put him in touch with Dr. Anna Koeppel of North Florida Pediatrics. As it happened, they were looking to hire another pediatrician.

Nelson believes in the practice of evidence-based medicine while also leading with kindness, compassion and a dash of humor, when appropriate. His most valued roles as a father and a husband help to shape the way he approaches and understands each family.

“As I begin my professional career, I look forward to providing the same high-quality health care that patients and families have come to expect at North Florida Pediatrics. I’m excited to get started and grow alongside my patients for years to come,” said Nelson. “In many ways, I look forward to putting roots down in this community again.”

SQUARE ONE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS

AT SQUARE ONE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS, prevention is just as important as healing when it comes to the complete health and well-being of a person.

Timothy Walker, M.D., and Hannah Walker, APRN, founded Square One Aesthetics & Wellness after years of working in a medical industry focused around the disease model, which revolves around treating those who are already sick.

With Square One, they took a different course, beginning with prevention and uncovering root causes to help change the trajectory of a patient’s health.

“There’s so much in life that we can’t control, but we want to help patients take the reins on their health, to have some control over that aspect of life,” said Hannah. “We are constantly promoting total wellness by adding new treatments that highlight looking and feeling good and confident.”

As a medical spa, they offer corrective and preventative treatments that promote physical and mental health, energy, beauty, restoration, rejuvenation, weight loss and overall well-being.

Services include advanced aesthetics, IVs, injectables, bioidentical hormones, medical weight loss, addiction treatment, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and headache relief, men’s health, primary care, urgent care and more.

The most recent and revolutionary service they have added is Spravato (esketamine), which treats major depressive disorders that haven’t responded to traditional treatment. Spravato is a nasal spray which patients self-administer under the supervision of a health care provider. Improvement of depressive symptoms has been reported in as little as four weeks. Square One Aesthetics & Wellness is the only clinic in Tallahassee to offer this FDA-approved treatment.

In the past year, the practice has continued to expand by adding nurse practitioner Rachel Elliot and receptionist Lizzy Davis to the team. To best accommodate patients, the medical spa has expanded hours to include some late-evening appointments and once-monthly Saturday hours.

“We respect that our patients have busy schedules and personal lives, so we intend to personalize the experience to them,” said Hannah. “We meet them where they are in their personal relationship to health and individualize a health plan for them whether it be aesthetics, wellness or a combination of both.”

Left to right: Timothy Walker, MD, Hannah Walker, APRN

TALLAHASSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATES

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?

We provide cosmetic, general and implant restorative dentistry — including aesthetic crowns and bridges, veneers, onlays and smile whitening. Also, tooth-colored fillings, root canals, oral cancer screening and dentures. Implant retained restorations include single-tooth replacement, as well as full-arch tooth replacement with permanent non-removable hybrid restorations.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?

By the quality of the relationships we establish with our patients. Patient satisfaction is huge. We work hard to provide the best care possible. We feel successful when the patient has had a pleasant and positive experience.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY?

To always have our patient’s best interests in mind and to treat each person with the utmost respect.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS EXPANDED?

Tallahassee Dental Associates is excited to welcome Dr. Alex Tyre to the team. Dr. Tyre is committed to delivering the highest quality of dental care possible for his patients. He, like the other doctors, is experienced with the latest treatment procedures and technologies. The doctors utilize a digital scanner to take impressions, which avoids the use of impression materials that can be uncomfortable for some patients. We utilize digital radiography which reduces our patients’ exposure to radiation by as much as 70%. We employ intraoral cameras, which allow patients to see inside their own mouths. For our patients, we provide metal-free, all-porcelain veneers and crowns, which are the most aesthetic restorations available.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART?

Our commitment to continuing education for the doctors and staff. Each year, we take hundreds of hours of classes at the Spear Institute, the top-rated dental education center in the U.S. Also, we work with consultants to improve our teamwork, services and efficiency. Because we have five doctors, we can accommodate our patients’ needs and schedules by providing expanded hours and emergency care.

HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY?

Every year, we provide the Smiles By Beck Scholarship for dental hygiene and dental assisting students who attend Tallahassee Community College. We support many local fundraising events large or small. We guest lecture at UF, FSU and TCC. We also continue to provide dentistry in our area to low income people in need by volunteering for the We Care program.

PHOTOS BY DAVE BARFIELD

Dr. Brian Beck

Dr. Glenn Beck, Jr.

Dr. Alex Tyre

Dr. Hunter Brantley

Dr. Julie Bailey

TALLAHASSEE PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC

SINCE 1978, Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic has provided services to rejuvenate, revive and reconstruct patients. Being in tune and in touch with the latest techniques and desired procedures, the practice strives to exceed patient satisfaction above all.

The three board-certified physicians — Dr. Larry Harper, Dr. Alfredo Paredes and Dr. Jeffrey Rawlings — alongside the medical care staff, blend art and science to craft and customize procedures to meet each patient’s personal needs and intended results.

The practice offers cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for the face and body. The cosmetic team enlists the talents of experienced physician assistants Sharon Banasiewicz, Megan Wilson and Lauren Zirgibel and licensed esthetician Mysty Bilbrey. The experienced team of highly trained injectors will ensure an enjoyable visit while providing outstanding outcomes.

Nonsurgical services include neurotoxin, dermal fillers, Morpheus 8, hair restoration, microneedling, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, micropeels, dermaplaning and laser treatments for brown spots, acne, tattoo, vein and hair removal. The Skin Care Clinic provides SkinCeuticals products.

The offices are elegant and welcoming, intended to put patients at ease. Paired with the expertise and highly acclaimed doctors and medical staff, confidential, compassionate and quality care is ensured.

Adjacent to the main office is the Surgery Center, a fully accredited outpatient surgery center with the mission of providing boardcertified surgical procedures and outpatient care in an environment of safety, comfort and respect. Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic is honored to be one of the most highly respected and sought-after practices in the Southeast.

Alfredo A. Paredes Jr., MD; Larry Harper, MD, FACS; and Jeffrey M. Rawlings, MD, FACS

Sharon Banasiewicz, PA-C

Lauren Zirgibel, PA-C

Megan Wilson, PA-C

Mysty Bilbrey, Licensed Esthetician

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that visitors will experience more than just the

dental practice when they visit. Each patient’s comfort and confidence comes first when matters of dentistry are concerned. Their mission is to provide the highest quality of dentistry and patient care available.

The staff maintains the highest level of accreditation and education in order to stay in tune with the latest trends in dentistry. They offer a full range of treatment options that can be personalized to meet your unique needs and expectations. Their services include preventative care, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, teeth whitening, general dentistry and more.

JAMES

DAVID

NOV. 16

PHOTOFEST 2023

→ Presented by the Council on Culture & Arts, Photofest is a juried fine art photography exhibition displayed at the Tallahassee Airport “Artport” Gallery. The show, which will be in place from Nov. 4 to Jan. 22, features more than 30 local and regional photographers.

To learn more about the exhibit or to purchase specific pieces, contact Sam Joslin, public art and exhibitions manager, at sam@tallahasseearts.org.

BEST OF TALLAHASSEE

Escape the ordinary with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Magic!

Featuring Cirque de la Symphonie, this show features your favorite holiday music plus jugglers, tumblers, aerialists and more!

Buy your tickets today at TallahasseeSymphony.org.

→ The public is invited to attend the 25th annual Best of Tallahassee event, presented by Ox Bottom Animal Hospital. The intimate gathering will bring together the best businesses in the region as established by a Tallahassee Magazine readers poll. Enjoy an evening of entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres and more as we honor the businesses that make Tallahassee a great place to live.

For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/best-of-tallahassee.

REGIONAL DEC. 8–22

EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS A Christmas Carol

→ From the first “Bah humbug” to the final “Wassail,” this timeless classic is sure to rekindle your holiday spirit. This thrilling adaptation uses only five actors to bring Dickens’ most beloved characters to life. Witness Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from a stingy miser to a man who generously celebrates the spirit of the season all year long in this highly theatrical adaptation. Performances are slated for Thursday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 22.

Consult EmeraldCoastTheatre.org/on-stage for showtimes..

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

DEC. 7

MACMASTER & LEAHY CELTIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS

→ This December, Celtic music superstars and Canadian fiddle virtuosos Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy invite their children onstage for an unforgettable night of holiday fun!

To purchase tickets, visit OpeningNights.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-7670.

NOV. 9-19

28TH WILDLIFE ARTS FESTIVAL

→ The Thomasville Center for the Arts invites you to celebrate the sporting life through art at the 28th Wildlife Arts Festival. The event features parties, workshops, an artisan market and a renowned fine art show.

Tickets and details at ThomasvilleArts.org/wildlife.

Check websites to see if the listed events will occur as scheduled. Times and dates for events are subject to change.

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER? Send an email to sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com or promote an event at TallahasseeMagazine.com/local-events at no cost.

NORTH FLORIDA FAIR

NOV. 3–13

Ten days of dizzying rides, tasty food, lively entertainment, children’s attractions, agricultural displays and more will entertain crowds at the 80th annual North Florida Fair. northfloridafair.com

FLORIDA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

NOV. 4–5

The historic city of Apalachicola celebrates Gulf seafood served in all forms and flavors. The festival features seafood vendors, oyster eating and oyster shucking contests, a parade, the 5K Redfish Run, blue crab races, arts and crafts, musical entertainment and more. floridaseafoodfestival.com

PANDORA PRESENTS DISNEY PRINCESS THE CONCERT

NOV. 5

Generations have adored Disney princesses. Now, a quartet of Broadway and animated film icons celebrate these beloved songs on stage with pure Disney magic. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ disney-princess-the-concert

ZACH WILLIAMS

NOV. 5

Join Zach Williams and special guest Ben Fuller for a night of music and ministry that will fill your heart and have you singing along all night long. Grammy Award-winner Williams and his signature blend of Southern rock, country and faith-filled songwriting are unlike anything else in

Contemporary Christian music today.

tuckerciviccenter.com/events/ detail/zach-williams

SEVEN NATIONS

NOV. 17

Seven Nations, which refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galicia, Isle of Man, and Brittany, is not your father’s Celtic band. With a passionate, tender and at times rollicking style that veers from roots and folk to dance and fusion-rock, Seven Nations has earned a growing reputation as an adventurous band with a charismatic stage presence. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ seven-nations

TURKEY TROT

NOV. 24

Before gorging on the big bird, burn some calories in a 1-mile,

5K, 10K or 15K race, all part of the Turkey Trot. Set a personal best time or simply celebrate with friends and family.

tallyturkeytrot.com

LEMOYNE ARTS ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW

NOV. 25–DEC. 24

The LeMoyne Arts Annual Holiday Show has been a tradition for 59 years. Purchase unique handmade gifts created by local and regional artisans. Throughout the month, there will be events including an ugly sweater contest, a cocktail party, family day, a multicultural holiday celebration and more. lemoyne.org/holidayshow.html

TALLAHASSEE ARTISAN FESTIVAL

NOV. 26–27

A seasonal artisan festival

featuring the best painters, ceramicists and craft artists in the Tallahassee area.

visittallahassee.com/events/tisthe-season-artisan-festival

WINTER FESTIVAL

DEC. 3

Tallahassee becomes a winter wonderland during a night of twinkling lights, Christmas tunes, holiday treats, food vendors, children’s activities, the lighting of the trees at the Chain of Parks, the Jingle Bell Run and the City of Tallahassee Nighttime Holiday Parade.

talgov.com/parks/winterevents

SEASONAL CELEBRATION

DEC. 4

Sing along with the combined choirs of the Florida State University College of Music as they come together to “sing in” the holiday season

with time-honored traditional choral arrangements and contemporary favorites. tallahasseearts.org/event/seasonalcelebration-5

TENTHING BRASS ENSEMBLE

DEC. 8

The all-female Norwegian tenThing Brass Ensemble, formed and led by trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, brings joy and excitement to Christmastime. It presents a powerful yet fun soulful and lyrical evening of brass music. openingnights.fsu.edu/events/ tenthing-brass-ensemble

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS THOMASVILLE

DEC. 8–9

The annual Victorian Christmas will take you back in time to another era. Stroll the brick streets and be entertained by performers, carolers and musicians. Shop, dine and welcome the holiday season in Downtown Thomasville. thomasvillega.com/attractions/ events/victorian-christmas

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

DEC. 9–18

At Theatre Tallahassee, the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future journey through time to remind an iron-hearted Scrooge what Christmas is truly about. This thrilling adaptation by Patrick Barlow brings Charles Dickens’ most beloved characters to life using five actors, imaginative props and mesmerizing design. tallahasseearts.org/event/achristmas-carol-4

TALLAHASSEE BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER

DEC. 10–11

Sugarplum fairies will dance in your head, and snow will fall as the beloved Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, twirls to life on the Ruby Diamond stage. The Tallahassee Ballet welcomes all ages to enjoy a treasured performance of beautiful ballet, a live orchestra, intricate costumes and a breathtaking set. tallahasseeballet.org

As 2023 draws to a close, I want to thank all of those who have supported LIVE! IN TALLAHASSEE. For over 10 years, this show that I dreamed up to showcase the fun things happening in Tallahassee has been going strong! I really do love attending events and meeting people that make our town special. I look forward to seeing all of you in 2024. Let’s get together soon!

Family Owned Since 1999

dining guide

AMERICAN

BACKWOODS CROSSING ★

Sit down at this 2023 Best of winner for fresh gourmet food at Tallahassee’s farm-to-table, destination concept restaurant featuring locally caught and produced soft-shell crabs, sausage, duck and blueberries. 6725 Mahan Dr. (850) 765-3753. $$ L D

BAR 1903 ★

Located in the historic Walker Library, Bar 1903 honors the history of mixology while pushing the boundaries of the cocktail experience. Small plates, snacks, bar sandwiches, sweets. Intimate setting, 36-seat capacity. Voted Best Bar and Best Martini/Cocktail for 2023. 209 E. Park Ave. (850) 354-9739. $$ D

BIRD’S APHRODISIAC

OYSTER SHACK ★

Tallahassee’s classiest oyster shack and Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in the Best Burger category. Serving burgers, veggie burgers, chicken and grouper sandwiches plus hot dogs, with sides. Full bar. Entertainment includes live music, comedy and karaoke. Close to downtown and the FSU campus. 325 N. Bronough St. (850) 222-1075.

$$ L D

CHARLIE PARK

Tallahassee’s first rooftop cocktail experience offering small plates and shareables has an innovative and exciting menu built around plates to share and experience with others. The specialty craft cocktails are inventive, and the views of Tallahassee’s downtown and beyond are spectacular. 801 S. Gadsden St. (850) 759-4300.

HOPKINS’ EATERY ★

A Best of 2023 winner, Hopkins’ provides favorites such as the Ultimate Turkey, the Linda Special and a variety of salads to keep customers coming back. Multiple locations. Hours vary. $ L D

ISLAND WING COMPANY ★

Get baked! This 2023 Best of winner for Best Wings won’t serve you up greasy, fried wings; instead Island Wing bakes them fresh. 1370 Market St. (850) 692-3116. $ L D

JUICY BLUE

Located in the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown, this cool lobby restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unique dishes include tapas with a twist, such as the Georgia peaches with caramel. 316 W. Tennessee St. (850) 422-0071. $ B L D

LIBERTY BAR AND RESTAURANT

Carefully crafted unique cocktails mixed with a gourmet menu that features fresh, local produce. 1307 N. Monroe, Unit No. 2. (850) 354-8277. $$ D

LOFTY PURSUITS ★

This old-fashioned soda fountain serves ice cream, milkshakes and candy — plus brunch dishes and a selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. 1355 Market St., A11. (850) 521-0091. $ B

OLOGY BREWING CO ★

$$ D

DOG ET AL ★

Foot-long and veggie entrees alike grace this award-winning menu. Also ask about their incredibly valued family packs. 1456 S. Monroe St. (850) 222-4099.

$ L D

THE EDISON

This relaxed, fine dining establishment is equipped with a beer garden, wine cellar, casual cafe, open-air alternatives and a gorgeous view that has become a Tallahassee favorite. 470 Suwannee St. (850) 684-2117. $$/$$$ B L D

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ★

The name says it all! This restaurant boasts a palate-pleasing combination of personalized service, eclectic ambiance and award-winning cuisine and is the Best Desserts winner for 2017–23. 1950 Thomasville Rd. (850) 224-9974. $$ L D

Craft brewery born in a spirit of innovation. Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in Brewery/Craft Beer category. From IPAs to stouts and sours to barrel-aged brews, an ever-evolving tap list invites a journey of taste and exploration. Also offers shareable plates. 2910 Kerry Forest Pkwy. (Northside location). (850) 296-2809. $$

PROOF BREWPUB

Tallahassee’s first brewery, Proof’s brewpub in downtown offers shareables, such as sliders and fried oysters, plus burgers, sandwiches and tacos to pair with their tasty craft brews. 1320 S. Monroe St. (850) 577-0517. $$ D

R&R EATERY

Located in Hotel Indigo, R&R Eatery is a modern American restaurant with fresh takes on classic dishes and a mix of signature craft cocktails. 826 W. Gaines St. (850) 210-0008. $$ B D

SAGE RESTAURANT

Sage’s menu masterfully melds regional influences, including Southern and French. The setting is gorgeous but cozy, and the outdoor patio sets a charming, romantic tone for a relaxing evening. 3534 Maclay Blvd. (850) 270-9396. $$$ B L D

TABLE 23 ★

This “Southern porch, table and bar” is cozied up among oak trees on one of Tallahassee’s favorite street corners. Lucky Goat coffee-rubbed ribeye and Schermer pecan-crusted chicken are among the regional offerings. 1215 Thomasville Rd. (850) 329-2261. $$$ L D

THE HUNTSMAN ★

This Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in the Celebration/Special Occasion Restaurant category creates exceptional dining experiences focused on ethically sourced wild game, as well as field and stream to table. Also offering vegan and vegetarian fare. Five-course guided culinary expeditions require group participation. Happy-hour and late-night offerings. 320 E. Tennessee St. (850) 765-1887. $$$ D

UPTOWN CAFÉ

Specialties at the bustling, family-run cafe include apricot-glazed smoked salmon, oneof-a-kind omelets, banana bread French toast and flavorful sandwiches. 1325 Miccosukee Rd. (850) 219-9800. $ B L

WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX ★

Not your usual sports bar, this import from Louisiana offers seafood, traditional Cajun cuisine and burgers built for two hands — plus 40 beers on tap and wall-to-wall TVs for the big games. 3390 Capital Circle NE. (850) 597-7736. $$ L D

ASIAN

AZU LUCY HO’S

Enjoy an extensive array of classic dishes with a modern flare, including gyoza dumplings,

crab rangoon, General Tso’s chicken and Szechuan beef, all in a relaxed setting. 3220 Apalachee Pkwy., Ste. 13. (850) 893-4112. $$ L D

DAO RESTAURANT ★

Asian fusion restaurant and a Best of Tallahassee 2023 winner in the Best Asian category. Indulge in lobster, blue crab, spicy prawns, Peking duck or a grouper filet with mapo tofu. 3425 Bannerman Rd. (850) 999-1482. $$ L D

JAPANICA STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI BAR

Hibachi-cooked fare, signature sushi rolls and Japanese kitchen entrees are expertly crafted by skilled chefs using only the freshest ingredients. Bat 1.000 with the Millenium Roll: salmon, avocado, kani and spicy mayo inside with yellowtail, tuna, scallions and massago on top. 3111 Mahan Drive. (850) 656-9888. $$ L D

KIKU JAPANESE FUSION ★

From tempura to teriyaki and sushi to sashimi, Kiku Japanese Fusion, voted Best Sushi in 2023, fuses vibrant flavors with fresh ingredients. 800 Ocala Rd. (850) 575-5458, 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-5458. $$ L D

MASA

Masa’s menu offers a creative blend of Eastern and Western cuisines. 1650 N. Monroe St. (850) 727-4183. $/$$

OSAKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR ★

Rated Best Hibachi for 2023, Osaka provides dinner and a show, with the chefs seasoning and preparing your meal right in front of you. 1489 Maclay Commerce Dr. (850) 900-5149. $$$ D

ROCK N ROLL SUSHI

This American-style sushi chain born in Mobile offers fresh rolls, salads and hibachi — all with a rock-and-roll theme. 1415 Timberlane Rd. #305. (850) 999-1748

$$ L D

BARBECUE

THE RED SHED ★

Locally owned barbecue joint and the Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in Best Barbecue category. Sammies, bowls and briskets. Assorted sides. Chef Mark adds extra doses of tender loving care to his secret-rub ribs and pizzas. Pours pitchers of craft beer. 3031 Crump Rd. (850) 510-3992.

$$ L D

WILLIE JEWELL’S OLD SCHOOL BBQ

Platters, sandwiches or by the pound, Willie Jewell’s offers smoked brisket, pork, turkey, sausage, chicken and ribs with a bevy of Southern sides. 5442 Thomasville Rd. (850) 629-4299. $ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY

CANOPY ROAD CAFÉ ★

Traditional breakfasts, fluffy omelets, skillets, French toast and sweet potato pancakes keep customers coming back to this 2023 Best Breakfast winner. Canopy also goes all out on lunch favorites. Multiple locations. (850) 668-6600.

$ B L

LUCKY GOAT COFFEE ★

Coffee roaster, wholesaler, distributor, online retailer and cafe serving highquality beverages. Flavored coffees include pumpkin spice and Southern pecan. Best Coffee winner as voted by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine in 2023. Multiple locations including Bannerman Crossings. (850) 727-4769.

JERI’S LOVE ON A PLATE ★

Filling bellies and hearts with love. This Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in the Best Brunch category offers homestyle dishes created with farmto-table, top-quality ingredients. Brie from France, baguettes from New York and heaping portions of gouda grits and shrimp, enough to share with a fellow diner. 1123 Thomasville Rd. (Midtown location). (850) 385-7268. $$ B L

MA’S DINER

No one does it like Ma! Ma’s Diner serves family-style food in a family-friendly setting. Homestyle classics are served for breakfast and lunch with quick, attentive and friendly service. 6668-9 Thomasville Rd. (850) 765-1910. $ B L

THE EGG CAFÉ & EATERY

When you’re looking for breakfast favorites, even if it’s lunchtime, The Egg is the place to be. Multiple locations. (850) 907-3447.

$$ B L

TASTY PASTRY BAKERY ★

Tallahassee’s original cakery and 2023

Best Bakery winner features fresh breads, bagels, pies, cakes and catering. Mon–Sat 6:45 a.m.–6 p.m. 1355 Market St., Ste. A-5. (850) 893-3752. $ B L D

CAJUN

COOSH’S BAYOU ROUGE ★

This Best Cajun Restaurant winner for 2023 brings a menu jam-packed with Louisiana-style dishes, including favorites like jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, po’boys and seafood gumbo. Multiple locations (850) 894-4110. $$ B L D

CATERING

BLACK FIG ★

Provides family-size and smaller-portion meals that are flavorful and stress-free. Best of Tallahassee winner for 2023 in Catering category. Appetizers; salads; chicken, pork, beef and seafood entrees; and desserts. Vegetarian and gluten-free options. 1400 Village Square. (850) 727-0016. $$ L D

CATERING CAPERS

Offering meals, bar services and more, Catering Capers makes entertaining and planning corporate events, weddings or private parties in Tallahassee easy. 2915 E. Park Ave., Unit 4. (850) 385-5953.

SIMPLY ENTERTAINING

Serving as a “one-stop shop” for intimate parties. Committed to making events simple by taking care of everything. Also offering Simple Dinners on Tuesday and Thursday nights. 1355 Market St. (850) 668-1167.

ITALIAN/PIZZA

BELLA BELLA ★

Voted Best Italian in 2023, this locally owned and operated restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and serves all the classics to satisfy your pasta cravings. 123 E. Fifth Ave. (850) 412-1114. $$ L D

IL LUSSO ★

Homemade pasta, local seafood and a choice of prime steaks define this downtown fine dining experience. 201 E. Park Ave., Ste. 100. (850) 765-8620.

$$$ D

MOMO’S ★

After devouring a slice “as big as your head” at this 2023 Best Pizza winner, chain pizza simply is not gonna cut it. Multiple locations. (850) 224-9808.

$ L D

RICCARDO’S RESTAURANT

A Tallahassee tradition since 1999, Riccardo’s features savory Italian classics, from pasta and pizza to homemade subs and calzones — plus a wide-ranging selection of wines and craft brews. 1950 Thomasville Rd. (850) 386-3988. $$ L D

MEXICAN

EL JALISCO ★

In the mood for sizzling fajitas and frozen margaritas? Make your way to the 2023 Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant, El Jalisco, where they do Mexican cuisine to perfection. Multiple locations. $ L D

MARIA MARIA

Fast casual restaurant serving homemade Mexican food. Named for owner Edgar Gomez’s mother and grandmother, Maria Maria never cuts corners — dishes are never prepped ahead of time. Choose the Taco Dorado, Maria’s Tostada or Chicken Mole and be assured that it has been created with the freshest ingredients.

1304 N. Monroe St. (850) 270-9057. $ L D

SEAFOOD/STEAK

CRAFTY CRAB

Offering the freshest seafood and most authentic recipes in the area, including crab, crawfish, calamari, lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops and more.

1241 Apalachee Pkwy. & 2226 N. Monroe St. (850) 671-2722. $$ L D

GEORGIO’S FINE FOOD & SPIRITS

George Koikos has over 50 years of experience in Tallahassee restaurants, and his hands-on commitment has made this upscale restaurant a local favorite featuring local seafood, prime steaks and banquet rooms for private parties. 2971 Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 877-3211. $$$ D

HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILLE

Serving Southern, Cajun and Creole flavors in classic and modern dishes since 1987. Full bar is available at each location. 301 S. Bronough St., in Kleman Plaza. (850) 222-3976. $$ L D

SHULA’S 347

Located in Hotel Duval. Keep it light and casual with a premium Black Angus beef burger or a gourmet salad, or opt for one of their signature entrees — a “Shula Cut” steak. Reservations suggested. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005. $$$ L D

SOUTHERN SEAFOOD ★

Whether you’re looking for fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, crab or lobster, the 2023 Best Seafood Market winner brings the ocean’s freshest choices to Tallahassee. 1415 Timberlane Rd. (850) 668-2203

TALLY FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR ★

Explore four types of topped oysters, load up with stuffed grouper or opt for “turf” with a chef’s choice cut steak. Serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Voted Best Seafood Restaurant winner in 2023. 6802 Thomasville Rd. (850) 900-5075. $$ L D

TED’S MONTANA GRILL

Co-founders Ted Turner and George W. McKerrow imagined a restaurant that would provide friends and family with an experience founded on the ideals that made America great — simplicity, honesty and authenticity. And nothing is more authentically American than bison. 1954 Village Green Way. (850) 561-8337. $$ L D

THE SEINEYARD

Fried, grilled or blackened, the area’s best and freshest seafood is found at The Seineyard. Grab your basket or mix it up with a plate of grouper, catfish, shrimp, oysters, scallops and more. Multiple locations. (850) 421-9191 $$ L D

our comprehensive, searchable dining guide online at TallahasseeMagazine.com/restaurants.

HOLDING TIGHT TO TRADITION

The holidays keep us true to who we are

by REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

Agreen-and-white gingham couch is a furnishing from my childhood. From as early as I could form memories until June of this year, my parents had the same couch.

When it came time finally to replace it, my mom consulted me before selecting a cream, tufted couch. So, I knew what to expect when I first laid eyes on it, but still it came as a personal affront. My parent’s living room wasn’t supposed to change.

I come from a family of, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it and if it is broke, fix it.” We keep things, including holiday traditions.

I grew up in a vaulted log cabin that my dad built mostly on his own with no prior construction experience. You simply cannot put a 6-foot artificial Christmas tree in a log cabin with 26-foot ceilings.

In the days preceding Thanksgiving, we would pile into my dad’s Chevrolet flatbed truck and drive an hour to a tree farm in Dade City to select the tallest tree there. I was filled with pride when passersby clapped upon seeing my dad expertly fell the tree. I would smile some more and wave at people in cars on the way home. A 21-foot strapped and wrapped tree on a truck is a sight to behold.

With the tree in place, we listened to classic Christmas music and ate homemade Christmas cookies while taking all day to decorate ol’ Tannenbaum with mostly handmade ornaments that spanned three generations.

In the following weeks, my dad would string lights and make wreaths which we would pose in front of in plaid shirts for the yearly family Christmas card. My mom would take to the kitchen, whipping up batches of her peanut butter fudge. My sister and I would begin rehearsal for our annual performance of The Nutcracker, something we did for many more years than I care to admit.

December has long been my favorite month because in a world that constantly spins in unexpected ways, it brings the expected, the routine, the traditional. Until, one year, that changed.

As the story often goes. You meet someone, and he changes your life. What I wasn’t going to let that man change was my Christmas. I intended that he celebrate the holiday with his family in Tallahassee, and I would be with my family in Lakeland.

That lasted for a year before I realized I had a future with this man and that I wanted us to be a part of each other’s traditions. For his family, Christmas Eve is a big ordeal. For mine, Christmas Day is the real deal.

His family always ordered pizza on Christmas Eve. I didn’t quite get it. Wasn’t pizza for sleepovers or when parents didn’t feel like cooking? Yet, when I saw his family members’ faces light up while piling slices onto plates, I understood this was much more than pizza. It was tradition.

We would continue this for years, even after moving from Tallahassee to

Nashville. We would spend Christmas Eve with his family, then drive through the night to spend Christmas Day with mine.

Last December, due to unforeseen medical circumstances, my now husband and I were unable to travel to Florida. At first, I was devastated, but it turned out to be one of my most cherished Christmases.

On Christmas Eve, we ordered too much pizza with too many toppings and polished off two bottles of wine during an all-day classic Christmas movie marathon. The next day, I made the meal my own parents always make on Christmas Day, and we opened presents via Zoom. All of this occurred while we were snowed in — our first white Christmas.

That Christmas reminded us that tradition binds us to those we love. We clasp tightly to what has always been and savor the peace and joy that it brings. TM

↑ Rebecca Padgett Frett’s family gathered at Thanksgiving for a photo that would make its way to the front of a Christmas card. → Festooned with green and red peppers, a pizza works, at least for some, as a Christmas Eve tradition.