SAM #3 by Old City Mag

SAM $9

ST AUGUSTINE MAGAZINE

volume 1 | issue 3

issue 3\015

contents

publisher

editor 6 contributers

life 10 Pecha Kucha Night 12 challenge 11

adventure 16 fun 18 living 20 stlye 23 flash 30 flash 32 wine 33

cover

table talk 34

Model: Emma Voigt

foodie 36

Photographer: Cindy Marshall

poem 38

Crown of Smilax-Vine with one David Austine Garden Rose 57 Treasury, 144 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084 | (904) 827-1707 Hair and Makeup: Nancy Repp and Michelle Damon Salon Zellanova, an Aveda Concept Salon 1690 US 1 S, Suite B, St. Augustine, FL 32084 904.819.0130 | salonzellanova.com

flash 40 people 41 conversation 46

Exclusively available at Goldfinchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Luau Maxi Dress: The nude mesh and blue embroidered floral print and its body-conscious fit make for the ultimate in sexy and sweet. Goldfinch Boutique, 77 San Marco Avenue, Suite 1, St. Augustine, FL 32084 904.827.0749 | goldfinchboutique.com

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Victoria Golden, Fine art appraiser, archeoloGist and explorer club member brinGs two deliGhtFul Galleries side by side. Lost Art GALLery; FeaturinG antiquities to contemporary art and seA spirits GALLery specializinG in paintinGs, sculptures, artisan jewelry and special treasures inspired by the sea.

904 827-9800 210 St. George Street, Suite C-1 Saint Augustine, FL 32084

904 679-3811 210 St. George Street, Suite C-2 Saint Augustine, FL 32084

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publisher

by Yvette Monell

from the Publisher

It’s hard to believe this is already SAM’s third issue. In some ways, it feels as though we are just getting started—in others, it has felt like a lifetime creating these inaugural issues. So far, the most exciting and rewarding part of the journey for me has been seeing old friends and enjoying and learning more about the new friends I’m meeting along the way. Another thing I love about being a publisher is being able to provide an avenue to new talent in our area, a place they can be heard and seen, a place for their work to be published and enjoyed. Many dreams become careers when a writer or photographer crosses the hurdle of getting their first work published. Thank you for being an advertiser, subscriber or reader and helping to give them this valuable opportunity. For those of you who are picking up SAM for the first time, I want you to understand that this is your magazine. SAM is not just a venue for our contributors. Your feedback and advice help determine our content. By the sharing of ideas, we can all benefit by growing St Augustine Magazine into a valued and respected part of the media in this area. On our end, we will keep evolving, both in our content and platform, to best suit the community we love so much. As always, I ask that you please support the businesses that advertise with us. Their support does make a difference in what we can provide for you. Peace and Blessings, Yvette Monell

FAMILY MATTERS Divorces and breakups are often turbulent and very stressful.

Attorney Elizabeth Gonzalez will offer a fast, fair and amicable family mediation. She provides mediation services to help resolve marital issues, relationship problems, custody disputes, extended family disputes and much more. There are numerous advantages associated with mediation and the decision to participate in the mediation process. With over 2 million dollars in settlement proceeds for her clients, Ms. Gonzalez has worked tirelessly to bring her personal attention, expertise and experience to the cases she litigates. She takes great pride in her firm’s success through its goal of complete client satisfaction and personalized legal attention to the needs of each and every client.

Elizabeth Gonzalez Divorce - Personal Injury/Accident - Litigator & Mediator of Family Law 10175 Fortune Parkway, Suite 203, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 P: 904-545-8521 / F: 904-363-6003 / Email: Egonzalezlaw@gmail.com Website: Gonzalezlawyers.com

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TO B E N E F I T T H E K I WA N I S C L U B O F S T A U G U S T I N E Tickets can be purchased with cash or check at the following locations: Beaver Toyota 2995 US Hwy 1 South

Nettles Fine Jewelry 1811 US Hwy 1

Murabella Animal Hospital 3625 Pacetti Road

Tickets can be purchased by debit or credit card

RED RIVER BAND

MECHANICAL BULL

Olde Carriage Realty Historic Downtown 92 Charlotte St.

u Eventbrite.com u Boots and Bling St Augustine 2015

VIRTUAL SHOOTING RANGE

w w w. b o o t s an d b li n g s t aug . co m Be sure to Like us on Facebook

u Kiwanis Club of St Augustine, Florida

SILENT AUCTION

Oops!

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN MISTAKES CAN BE GOOD. When mistakes are brought to our attention, we know you are out there reading SAM! In this particular case, the magazine got to the printer before the Editor, oops. Please, always feel free to share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. • In issue #2, Leigh Cort’s name was misspelled. We do apologize Leigh. • Linda Bartimus is A Foundation of Strength! • Our email address: info@StAugustineMagazine.com.

by Zach Seymour

Letter from the Editor

In the last month, we (being the higher primate species Homo sapien, or thinking man) managed to send a human-made object, NASA’s New Horizons, equipped with incredibly sensitive instruments to what used to be the most distant planet in our solar system. Take that in for a second. Engineers and scientists essentially strapped a probe to the top of a missile and fired it out of Earth’s atmosphere with enough power, precision and forethought that even while traveling in excess of 36,000 mph for over nine years and through 2.96 billion miles of space, it was positioned perfectly enough that New Horizon’s delicate instruments were able to record Pluto in incredible detail. For reference on how large a billion is, a million seconds ago was roughly 11 days while a billion seconds in the past would set you back over 31 years. New Horizons was not just a success for the scientific community but for humanity as a whole. Being in the midst of St. Augustine’s 450th Anniversary, this is a great opportunity for us to reflect on change and progress. At our city’s founding, humans had little knowledge of the cosmos, how diseases or severe weather originate, believed that witches and evil spirits were responsible for most of their bad fortune and weren’t far removed from viewing drilling a hole in one’s head as an acceptable treatment for a headache. Since St. Augustine’s founding, a mere 450 years in the past, some of our species’ achievements are nearly incomprehensible: we’ve developed vaccines and medicines that can make life longer and less terrifying, mastered electricity the same way we once mastered fire and facilitated the proliferation of information and understanding.

staugustinemagazine.com 904.679.5433 | 904.501.1313 info@staugustinemagazine.com St Augustine Magazine™ | SAM™ The magazine for the Old City way of living.™ Mailing Address: St Augustine Magazine P.O. Box 3484 Saint Augustine Florida 32085 USA Street Address: St. Augustine Magazine 233 West King Street, A Saint Augustine Florida 32084 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. All material is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, published without responsibility for errors or omissions. St Augustine Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Text copyright © 2015 Photography © 2015 Digital © 2015 Introduction © 2015

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We have managed to simultaneously shrink our world and expand our universe by making global communication possible while peering deep into space and time with telescopes so advanced that the very concepts they’re built upon would make Galileo blush. We have split and fused atoms and mastered the seas and skies; maybe most importantly, we have created a system that has the capability to contain every book, map, article, experiment, idea and commentary and have them accessed at the touch of a button. This plethora of information is rapidly becoming accessible to nearly everyone throughout the world. If knowledge is power, then there has never been so much power in the hands of so many. Ironically, in spite of all of our unprecedented technological and scientific progress, we are now realizing the many new (and sometimes old) challenges that we must address. Perhaps the most important question to ask ourselves as we continue our journey of discovery is how we stay grounded and human in this ever-evolving and increasingly digital new world. With all the benefits of technology, science and constant flow of information, it becomes paramount that we make a point to foster our human connections and interpersonal relationships and remember to be good stewards of our communities and planet. Carl Sagan, when also writing about a NASA mission, so eloquently reminded that our exploration of space and expanding knowledge of our world should underscore our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and protect and cherish the only home we’ve ever known. g

The Team at Flagler Hospital has a New Look!

Patients and their family members can now quickly identify staff roles, such as RNs, Patient Care Technicians, Paramedics, Transporters, Respiratory Therapists, Cardiovascular Technicians and Rehab Therapists by the color of their new, advanced-technology uniforms. The new uniforms are made of an advanced anti-microbial fabric called VESTEXÂŽ which is highly repellent to bodily fluids, water, oil and dirt. The uniforms serve a dual role in supporting infection prevention while also helping patients and their families quickly recognize the roles of our team members â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even from a distance.

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contributors

Vanessa Lenoir

Marketing Director Relocated to St Augustine in Sept of 2006, and other of a beautiful daughter, I’m proud to have been part of the team in building the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine (NICU). Through my career as a NICU nurse, I found a passion for bettering the lives of children. Since leaving Flagler Hosptial in 2013, I became involved in volunteer work primarily with the Kiwanis Club of St Augustine, whose goal is to help children of the world starting with those in our own community. Currently the Vice President of the Kiwanis Club & Fundraising chair, I love living in St Augustine & I plan to share the best of our city.

Misty Begemann Social Media Editor

Misty Begemann graduated from Flagler College with her BA in Communication in 2010. She went on to get her MA in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2013. Not being able to tear herself away from the magic of St. Augustine, she moved back. She brings to SAM creativity, imagination, and the desire to showcase this city in the grand style it mandates. If you have an event that revolves around the Arts, Non-profits, or Charities — please email her at misty@ StAugustineMagazine.com.

Leigh Cort Writer With a passion for travel, food and celebrities, Cort’s interests take her to barrier islands, chef ’’s tables, world-class resorts and acclaimed historic inns. Her public relations company, LeighCortPublicity. com, specializes in creative PR campaigns and integrated marketing, as she represents restaurants, historic hotels and bed & breakfast inns, private islands, celeb chefs and specialty foods. Whether she’s promoting St. Augustine, Eagle Island, GA, Savannah, St. Simons Island, GA, Peachtree City or Spring Lake NJ, there is always a touch of ‘show business’ associated with her clients and projects.

For information on retailing St Augustine Magazine in your store please call 904.679.5433 Bulk issue rates for special events are available.

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Cindy Marshall Photographer

38 years old, single mom to three beautiful girls, I’ve lived in St. Augustine for 15 years. Before that, I lived in St. Petersburg Florida, where I was born and raised. I got into photography a few years ago after being a stay at home mom for so long and fell in love with it. I started working under Rick Wilson, the Jaguars head photographer and from there began working for 904 happy hour and shooting events and concerts for them. I also continued work with sports for both 904 and the associated press covering TPC and march madness. bluebirdphotog@aol.com 904.540.9215

Richard Lepre Writer

Is an aspiring writer, monarch, rapper and sometimes comdedian. For the past three years, Richard has been pretending to write a book about self-growth but cannot finish that kind of book until he grows. Richard has a promising rap career as ‘Puddled.’ check out his EP ‘I’m the best rapper alive’ on bandcamp. As a one time philosophy major Richard is on a never-ending (hopefully ending) quest for purpose. Currently he finds meaning meeting new people and experiencing new things and writing about it. Richard is nothing without his friends, who formed whatweare collective with him, an art and music collective that is designed for communal artistic growth. Richard likes to write about his feelings. St Augustine Magazine is published 10 times per year Subscriptions are $19 for 10 Issues | Single Issues $9

Jeanne Maron Writer

Maron has been the owner/operator of The Gifted Cork & Gourmet for the past six years. Her 29 years in retail in Jacksonville and St. Augustine have kept her busy, but she never sees a dull moment. Wine is her passion. She is Vice President of La Chaine de Rottiseur in Jacksonville (an international wine and food organization out of France), a past President and member of Women Business Owners of North FL, Children’s Home Society of FL, a member of the St. Johns County Chamber, Jacksonville Women’s Network & Leadership Jacksonville, Class of ‘04. Jeanne has her BS from UF in Journalism, specializing in Public Relations and is married to Howard Caplan. She has three sons.

Andrea Rosenblatt

Sue Bjorkman

Food Contributor

Writer

Nate Parks

Buster O’Connor Writer

Chef Andrea Rosenblatt has been teaching home cooks culinary fundamentals since 2004. She and her husband, Michael, opened A. Chef’s Cooking Studio in 2007, where cooking classes for all ages and skill levels are offered by Chef Andrea and many talented local chefs as well! Information at achefs.com

Sue Bjorkman is a freelance writer living with her husband Ernie, in St. Augustine Beach. She has 17 years of experience as a journalist and has written for newspapers and magazines in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Florida. Currently, she is concentrating on writing stories related to the 450th Commemoration.

Instant human, just add coffee. Nate specializes in fine art & commercial photography as well as graphic design and other multimedia production.

Design director and owner of Verdeo, a Floridabased design consultancy, Buster is graduate of the University of Florida and a native since 1964.

Creative & Technical Guru

St Augustine Magazine The magazine for the Old City way of living.

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life

by Zach Seymour

The Dangers of Dodgeball

T THE BEGINNING OF COLLEGE WAS A TIME of boundless opportunity, eye-opening experiences and the liberation of free will. One such exercise in choice was the ability to select my own classes and the times at which I may or may not attend said classes. While most of the class registration process was merely a formality of trying to get into the most convenient required courses, the casual elective stood as a singular nod to the absurdity of choice at a large public university. The breadth of silly classes was intoxicating. Bowling, golf, archery; there seemed to be no limit to the number of hobbies I could cultivate while fulfilling credit hour requirements. Having recently been released from the bonds of parental supervision, I had settled into a comfortable lifestyle of carbonated adult beverages, pizza and anything deep fried. Although my metabolism still had the vitality of youth, I had heard the term ‘Freshman 15’ and decided I would do the responsible thing and take an elective that would combat the formation of a beer belly. With visions of a ripped midsection, I settled on a little gem of an elective called Conditioning. I arrived for my first day of class prepared to sweat off a hangover and exorcise the demons of a lackluster high school athletic career. As my colleagues slowly filed into the weight room designated for our first ‘class’ meeting, I could not believe my eyes or my good fortune. There were 28

girls and one other gentleman. The ratio was almost too much for my foggy mind to comprehend! What had I done in a previous life to deserve such a magnificent stroke of luck? From my first few weeks of class, I was able to ascertain that conditioning class was very much like middle school PE. Most of my classmates used the allotted time to move as slowly as possible in whatever mindless activity we were instructed to do and chat with their friends. Not this guy, though. No siree. There were to be no appeals to the better nature of my being, as I could not let well enough alone and use my class time to become better acquainted with the scholars of the fairer sex. My youthful competitiveness routinely got the best of me. While most of my classmates slogged through our exercises, I blitzed through them like some sort of deranged Olympic hopeful. Adding jet fuel to my already-incendiary fire, the aforementioned gentleman in the class shared in my primal competitive nature. When we would run stairs or wind sprints, I would be weaving and rubbing shoulders through lumbering chatty girls in my path like a rabid beast. My shouts of, “On your left!” or “Move it or lose it!” became my battle cry, much to the chagrin of my less-motivated peers. Jason, the other class psychopath, used similar methods to competitively navigate the landscape of loafers and the unenthused.

Needless to say, the rest of our classmates became quite agitated at our behavior. In their defense, we may have been taking a class meant for leisure exercise just a bit too seriously. Undeterred, Jason and I continued our song and dance, eventually becoming embittered rivals in a two-person display of shameless competition. We teetered between being mildly annoying to unequivocally insufferable depending on the nature and intensity of whatever activity we were participating in. It all came crashing down one rainy day midway through the semester. Because of the precipitation situation, our ‘class’ had been moved into the gymnasium for the day. As I sauntered onto the hardwood, chest and jaw jutted out, I laid my eyes on a glorious site. Lined up on the half-court line was a row of beautiful red rubber balls, the kind you played with at school before we softened up and began using innocuous foam balls for playground games. These were of hearty stock, a throwback to a bygone era where trophies were given to winners only and most injuries were treated with a “Rub some dirt on it!” or “Walk it off!” Dodgeball was the order of the day, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to emerge with scalps and glory from the ordeal. Naturally, our disinterested supervisor selected the two bulls to captain the opposing forces. Huge mistake on his part. As I carefully selected my troops making sure to pick the girls who at

least passively gave effort in our exercises, Jason meticulously did the same. Once the battle began, our numbers began to drop quickly, and no mercy was shown. Like a maniacal assassin, I eviscerated my adversary’s team with the efficiency of a cold-blooded pitching machine. As the only two people that cared about competing whatsoever, Jason and I grunted, sweated and yelled our way onto the wrong side of every person in that gym. I barked orders at my disinterested team like some sort of crazed warlord. As the numbers dropped, it became apparent that Jason and I were on a scorched-Earth collision course. One of us was going to leave that gym bathed in glory, and the other would have to live with the shame of their utter failure. I bobbed and weaved, deftly avoiding my opponent’s volleys while returning ferocious fire of my own. Then the moment came: Jason reared back and tried to pick me off with an ambitious effort from long range. He found himself unarmed and exposed. Our eyes locked, and everything went into slow motion. As if summoned by the dark lord himself, a rubber projectile slowly bounced in my direction. With the footwork of a trained dancer, I gracefully tiptoed towards the rolling rubber rocket. In one beautiful motion (at least this is how I pictured it in my mind) I bent down in a perverse reverse bowling motion and gently scooped up the ball. Jason had seen the writing on the wall and frantically ran to evade my death ray. Like a hungry tiger stalking its prey, I tracked his movement along the back wall. With a quick hop, my arm cocked back ready to ring the death toll. Hyper-focused, I began my throwing motion, as I tracked this unfortunate soul from right to left. And then it happened. In what can only be described as an unholy eclipse, Jason’s path took him behind one of his teammates, who was standing right on the center line like a bleating and clueless sheep. With my focus as sharp as forged steel, it wasn’t until the ball was nearly out of my hand that I even noticed her. She couldn’t have been more than five feet in front of me, and the thud was sickening. This poor girl took the full ferocity of my intercontinental ballistic missile directly in the kisser. As she flew through the air from the sheer force of that red rubber bringer of destruction, I let out an audible “No!!!” As Jason cackled like a sadistic schmuck, my classmates immediately turned on me, team and opposition alike. Cries of “It’s just a game!” and “You take everything too seriously!” sang through the building as boos rang down from all around me. While everyone attended to my unintended victim, all at once, my decency and humanity returned to me in immediate shameful resignation. I made an effort to apologize profusely to no avail. Head down, tail tucked firmly between the legs, I slowly walked off the court without a word to anyone. I knew my time there was done. For the sake of all parties involved, I never returned to the fickle partner that was conditioning class. It was the only class I dropped in my entire middling collegiate career. g

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Pecha Kucha Night

Pecha Kucha Night is an event where community comes together around creative ideas. Speakers present in a 20x20 format: 20 slides, 20 seconds each. Inspiration rules. pechakucha.org/cities/st-augustine

view more images from this event at StAugustineMagazine.com

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Light Shines 14 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 3\015

W WHAT A MAN WEARS SAYS A LOT ABOUT him. But what does it say when he proudly wears a historically accurate 16th-century uniform? For Chad Light, St. Augustine’s most widely recognized re-enactor, it shows a level of dedication to his city, his craft, and history itself. When Light portrays one of the most important figures in local history – Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles – he doesn’t just wear the clothes of the city’s founding Spanish explorer – he owns the role heart and soul. Playing Menendez, Light has starred in commercials for the St. Augustine Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau since 2012. Using the tagline, “Our history is not the same old story,” the current humorous spot shows the 16th-century Conquistador trying to make sense of modern day St. Augustine. He rides the trolley, gives advice to young sandcastle builders on the beach and shows off his “Castillo” to a bikini-clad woman. While the ads show off his playful side, Light said he takes the responsibility of his role very seriously. “I’m very aware that I represent the city when I play Menéndez. I don’t even jaywalk in St. Augustine. I feel like if I do something wrong, people will lose some respect for Menéndez himself. I can’t do that to his legacy,” Light said. Authenticity is everything. Once dressed as Menéndez, there is no trace of Light the regular, modern citizen. Not that he isn’t occasionally put to the test. “When I’m in character, people sometimes want to make a game of breaking me out of it, to play ‘trip up the actor.’ That’s not what this whole thing is about, though. Interacting with me as Menéndez is meant to be a teaching moment. I’m there to answer detailed questions about our 16th century history in an authentic, memorable way,” Light said. He doesn’t even mind answering complicated or “prickly” historic questions, such as, “Hey, Pedro, why did you authorize the slaughter of all those French Huguenots?” “I’m glad when people ask things like that because there is a lot of misinformation out there. I use it as an opportunity to set things straight,” Light said. “I never give answers just to be entertaining. It is always as true as I know it to be and as educational.”

He’s Got the Look It is no coincidence that Light looks the part, even when dressed in modern-day clothing. His maternal ancestors were among the original Spanish families in Florida in the 1500s, with surnames of Sanchez, Alvarez and Solano. On his father’s side, the roots are in the Lightsey family. “St Augustine was the wellspring of both families and where all our family traditions come from,” Light said. Light’s father was a professor at the College of William and Mary and at Florida Atlantic University. He also enjoyed participating in historic re-enactments. As a child, Light lived in West Palm, but spent summers in St. Augustine with relatives. The Road to the Role Light enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, at age 19. During his four years as an enlisted soldier, he attended Marshall University in West Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in behavioral psychology from Cal State North Ridge. Light then served another eight years as an officer, including service in the Reserves. By the time he left the military in 1998, Light had also earned his master’s degree in forensic psychology from Stanford University. Thanks to time spent in El Salvador, Honduras and Panama, Light is fluent in Spanish. He also speaks conversational French, and some Russian, Italian, Japanese and Cantonese Chinese. Light comes from a highly educated family – both parents have Ph.D.’s – so when he said he wanted to be an actor, he wasn’t encouraged to go this route. “They wanted me to be a forensic psychologist, and I got that degree, but I also studied acting at every school I attended,” Light said. But after trying to make a name for himself in California, he came away discouraged. Although he snagged small parts in about seven film projects, he felt his career was going nowhere. So he returned to St. Augustine and took up reenacting as a hobby. He joined ‘Men of Menéndez’— The St. Augustine Garrison re-enactments -- and became well-known for playing general roles and his skills as a Spanish swordsman and knife-thrower. He still “trains

by Sue Bjorkman

people

constantly” to maintain these specific skills and will compete in an exclusive sword-fighting tournament this year at CombatCon, a huge annual exhibition in Las Vegas. For four years, Light worked at the Ponce de León Fountain of Youth & Archaeological Park portraying Menéndez. Then he auditioned for a part in commercials for the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau, and got the role. “Then all of the sudden my acting career was revived,” Light said. He got an agent and landed numerous roles in movies and television shows, including “The Last of the Mohicans,” and “Graceland.” As Menéndez, he also appeared in many documentaries including “Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience,” and “America Revisited.” When city leaders looked ahead to the 450th, Light was the natural choice to portray Menéndez for the commemoration. Light whole-heartedly took it on.

Keeping it Real To research the 16th-century Spanish colonial period in general and Menéndez specifically, Light pored over books, studied paintings, attended lectures, read letters written by Menéndez and even traveled to Spain. He relied heavily on the research conducted by St. Augustine authors and Spanish colonial history experts Dr. Eugene Lyon and Albert Manucy. Knowing the details of Menendez’s background helped Light learn to imitate his speech patterns and mannerisms. Light insisted that his 16th-century clothing be painstakingly authentic. Light’s first outfit was a tailor-made copy of the outfit that appears in Francisco de Paula Marti’s engraving in 1791. The engraving was based on the only painting done of Menéndez in his lifetime that hung in Spain’s “Hall of Heroes.” In subsequent research, Light discovered the artist’s rendering proved not completely representative so Light had a second outfit made. Later, a healthy loss of weight brought Light back to a tailor a third time and the authenticity was taken to the next level. His current clothing, made by St. Augustine local Maria Alvarez, is made of plain austere black wool and cotton. g continued >

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Light Shines by Sue Bjorkman continued from previous page But there was still one thing standing in his way. At the time, Light had thick, waistlength black hair; perfect for portraying Native Americans, not so appropriate for a Conquistador. “I had hair that girls would kill for. People suggested I just put it in a braid and hide it under my hat. But I said, if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this,” Light said. Once the scissors lopped his locks, he knew he was in it for the long haul. He started presiding over numerous events in 2009, including the opening of the city’s historic “Tapestry” exhibit, and the annual Noche de Gala banquet in honor of Menendez’s birthday. He is also involved in the 2015 Founder’s Day Landing Re-enactment Committee, American Legion, Post 37; Battle of Bloody Mose, The First Muster (Florida National Guard), and local tourism efforts. Light is committed to playing this role through the culmination of the celebration on September 4-8. Light will star in the Menéndez landing re-enactment followed by a Grand Procession on Sept. 8. As Menéndez, he will lead an international group of Catholic Bishops and clergy, political dignitaries, 16th-century Spanish military reenactors and others from the landing area to the Mission de Nombre, where the first Mass was said. A special Commemorative Mass will then be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. Light will also portray Menéndez at the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth’s landing event on September 5.

Other Talents An artist, photographer and film-maker, Light created a sculpture of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés that will be unveiled at the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in September. A painting of Menéndez he made in 2011 hangs in the St. Augustine City Council Chambers, with a copy displayed in the Visitor Information Center. His promotional video of St. Augustine filmed using a drone camera won Grand Prize in the city’s 450th video competition, “The Story of Us.” Through his role as the “face of the 450th,” Light has traveled extensively and met important politicians, high-ranking church officials, movie stars, Spanish Royalty, renowned archaeologists, historians and thousands of curious tourists. Light is now the actor he always dreamed of being. St. Augustine is celebrating the 450th anniversary of its founding in 1565 by Menéndez with a full schedule of festivities, exhibits, tours and reenactments. The main emphasis, however, is on sharing the real stories of the nation’s oldest city. And that’s where Light shines. He brings an intensity and authenticity to the role that puts a genuine face to the facts and helps make history come alive. g

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BayView Healthcare 7th Annual Caribbean Calypso Night

TPC Dancing With The Stars

Need to Breathe

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Linda Bartimus Retires

Linda Bartimus retires after 13-years as President of the Flagler Health Care Foundation.

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local

by Kimberly Leonardi

LIVING IN ST AUGUSTINE IS A UNIQUE experience. Spending one’s life in the quintessential historic city, filled to the brim with tourists during summer and snowbirds in winter, walking on the beach and sporting a tan basically all year round is something that few people really know about. We have our beautiful historic district bursting with culture, which includes the Post Office located on the corner of King Street and MLK Avenue. Just in time for The Oldest City’s 450th Birthday, Leonardi’s Nursery and Landscaping, which was established in St Augustine in the early 1960s, was thrilled when it was afforded an opportunity to provide its landscaping services for the United States Postal Service (USPS). As soon as they received the approval to proceed with the project, Kevin Leonardi Sr and Jr. began coordination with Donna Houston, Officer In Charge at the Post Office, to create the new vision for the grounds. As part of this experience, the landscape crew, led by David Leonardi, replaced the overgrown grass and tired shrubs around the building with lush foliage, adding beautiful Drift Roses, Ever Red Lorapetalum for contrast, Ligustrum and of course a few tropicals such as the large Robellini palms and Lantana for a butterfly-attracting pop of color. All additions were intertwined into landscape beds to provide the Post Office with the visual appeal of color and texture, which is the signature of any Florida lifestyle. The USPS was established at this location in July 1971 and has been providing its services to the residents of St. Augustine ever since. While the building is a landmark for tourists and part of a daily routine for many locals, the landscaping was doing it an injustice. Leonardi’s Nursery and Landscaping chose a fresh design to showcase the building without overpowering it. They installed an efficient irrigation system to help maintain the beauty of the landscape and topped it off with mulch to help retain moisture and reduce weed growth. The new layout is vibrant with life and color, which enhances visual appeal for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. g

RESTORATION

RENOVATION

NEW CONSTRUCTION

CUSTOM HOMES

“Building for the next hundred years”

johnvaldesandassociates.com 904.824.6150 St. Augustine, Florida JOHN VALDES & ASSOCIATES, INC. issue 3/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 25

I scene

by Richard Lepre

I’VE BEEN GOING TO CHURCH LATELY. I’m taking what I can get; Baptist, Episcopalian, Catholic, complete with kneeling and the Eucharist. All in all, its been a positive experience. I’m not searching for faith, I am enthralled by it. I love the creative ways humans have found community, rationalized suffering, purpose and existence in a myriad ways. My recent experimentation with religion has been a personal quest to positively connect with people I otherwise wouldn’t talk to. As a young person, I’ve only interacted with organized religion through a filter of stereotypes and a youth of negative experience. As a firm believer in ‘don’t knock it until you try it.’ I had to find what people draws to churches and their faiths.

The

press in, either at a show or an open-mic night, is a lifesaver. I have a lot of intense feelings, and if I don’t say them somewhere, I would never say them. An audience makes my internal thoughts externalthoughts and gives them strength, much like at church the interaction between the artist and the audience is very similar to the preacher in the pulpit and their congregation. A lot of my lyrics and the lyrics of other musicians who label their music as punk or DIY involve radical or revolutionary rhetoric. If we didn’t have an environment to express these ideas in, and a like-minded audience to feel connected to, there would be a lot radical lone wolves in the world. I asked Andrew Virga, a long-time Nobbys bartender, music promoter and musician in several bands, what these like minded ideas looked like: “There are some different crews in St. Augustine. While they may be on different pages, I feel everyone is at least in the same book. That means supporting genuine artist, particularly as they are coming up, learning, and evolving. That is where places like Nobbys and Sarbez are crucial. if someone has a spark, regardless of roughness, it needs to be encouraged, even if it sucks. Everyone sucks at first. The sooner you can accept that and move past it, the better you will be. At one point, the songwriters of the world were playing in a street…If a town does not have a place for punk and original art/music, the town is no longer relevant.” As much as someone would call their church crucial, I consider the venues I play and interact with as crucial to my personal growth. Knowing there is a local community that supports my art just because its art gives me the eternal confidence to keep making it.

art of church:

Church is more than the building and the religion it is centered around. The building would be a husk without a community to fill it; the theology would be lifeless thought without the faith that makes it real. At the services I’ve been to, there isn’t much difference between what the individual Presbyterian or Catholic gets out of the experience, and I imagine if I went to a synagogue or the center for spiritual living, their average member would report similar internal benefits for joining a church. A church provides its members with a community of people united in belief, a place to self-express, an offer of purpose and ultimately an atmosphere of growth and positivity. I imagine every congregation of people looks for those promises when they join together. As someone who doesn’t subscribe to a specific faith, just simply faith in faith, faith in myself, my mind, my friends, positive people everywhere, I too crave what a church inherently is: a place to grow with other like-minded individuals. However much I have enjoyed my experience at the churches I’ve visited, it just isn’t my scene. That sentiment is shared by a lot of other young people, who I argue crave the attributes of a church, just…not church. I think we find that communal experience in our bars and music venues and houses in the creation and participation of music. I have been making music for four years now and it continuously enhances my life. As an introverted person, making music, particularly punk music has helped me self-express. Once you stand in front of a room full of people screaming your heart out, it is hard to be fearful of everyday conversation. Having an environment to self-ex-

Above all else making music and participating in the music scene gives myself and others purpose. It is hard to find purpose in the 9-5 world. As a young person, I feel like much of our growing up experience is rooted in our quest to find purpose. I spent the last years of high school and the beginning of college existentially depressed and unsure of a place in an increasingly chaotic world. I didn’t want to work or do normal young people things, I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My friend Cameron exposed me to punk and emo music, which showed me the range of emotion and expression music could have. Music doesn’t have to end up on the radio or be catchy. It can be made in your bedroom and consist of nothing more than a confessional. Music doesn’t have to be for anyone else but you and your need to make it. I saw people get on stage and sing about break-ups and depression and anarchism and meaninglessness, or scream those things, and it made me think ‘I can do that, I need to do that.’ I owe a lot of healing to music. Art is a never-ending cure for depression and its close friends boredom and meaninglessness. My friend Jack Studer, guitarist for West King String Band, a local bluegrass outfit, relates music to his personal growth. “It has made me more confident, that’s for sure. It keeps you driven, hopeful that you can make it doing something different in the world besides excepting your fate, doing the same-old.” I think much of the worlds problems stem from misdirected or negligent purpose. If people were happy doing what they wanted to do, they wouldn’t spend their time being so miserable and thus prone to creating more misery. When I asked Jack about where revolutionary lyrics and throught becomes reality, he simply says ‘enjoying life is in itself a revolution, positivity and spreading that positivity is it {the revolution}.’ That positive revolution exist in that moment of performance,

photography by Brian Newby or before that when you decide to create something and become a co-creator of something beautiful. By creating art you participate in what Ursula Le Guin calls ‘the most communal thing.’ The artist is internally rewarded with purpose in the creation of art and the community as a whole benefits by participating in something positive, someone’s quest for purpose. I believe communities as a whole should be cognizant of their individual member’s need for purpose by giving them the spaces and support they need to self-actualize. A community filled with purpose in the creative and ecological arts is internally and externally happy. So where do we sign up? Where’s church? My friend Magdelina’s grandfather is rumoured to say ‘church is wherever your heart is happy’. I encourage people of all faiths, creeds and musical interest to take place in the revolution and find happiness in more places. Make more places church. Be a part of commu-

nities you otherwise wouldn’t associate with. Listen to genres you wouldn’t normally listen to and think about the purpose behind self-expressing in that way. Like Virga said, a town that doesn’t actively participate in the creation of original and diverse music isn’t relevant. I think if St. Augustine wants to pride itself on its art and culture, it shouldn’t limit that to a few venues or to venues at all. I would like art in the streets, street musicians playing out and about, homes turned concert hall for the evening. Do the world a favor and support local, original music. Be a part of someone’s audience and life. Hear what they have to say. Some of the purest messages come from those saying them for the first time. g

Above all else,making music and participating in the music scene gives others and me purpose. issue 3\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 27

workout

The Bill & Jen

ME E T J E N N I F E R H U N T A N D BI L LY AL MAGUER : The two have been chosen by the trainers of DRiV Fitness to follow as they progress to their fitness goals. You are invited to journey with Jennifer and Billy through the next 6 issues of SAM. Both are athletically fit, very active, lead busy lives and make time to not just workout and maintain but have designed a clear plan to raise the bar through CrossFit training. “CrossFit is constantly varied,” says Alison Johnson, Manager of DRiV. “All of our athletes follow the same programming, twhich scaled to their ability (everyone does the same workout each day, with modifications of weight or reps). Billy and Jennifer aren’t getting any more ‘specialized’ training, over another member.” DRiV Fitness is a place where people become strong. The individual becomes part of a community, and goals are realized. The

foundation of any great program needs to be sustainable, not only now, but also for the years ahead. The backbone of their program is functional movements; movements that we all see in our everyday life. Their goals are to help people succeed inside the walls of the gym and to provide a safe environment that has proven to increase strength, endurance, coordination, accuracy, balance, power, agility, speed and flexibility. Improving these skills will allow you to be better prepared for what life throws at you and promote a longer life and healthier lifestyle. They train all age groups and tailor workouts to fit any individuals needs. Billy and Jennifer’s respective journeys to elite fitness may be different, but both are attainable with a focus on proper mechanics, consistent effort, and intensity. We can’t wait to share their results with all of you! Jennifer Hunt - I am 40 years old and have worked for the federal government for the last 15 years. I am married with a seven-year old little boy. I have always been relatively healthy, but about two years ago, I decided that in order to ensure a long quality of life with my son, I needed to make some changes in my life. I was age 37 at the time. I initially set my fitness goal at running and completing my first 1/2 marathon. I went on to drop almost 20lbs going from around 123lbs to 103lbs at my lightest and running four half marathons. Last year, I set my goal at running my first full marathon. In October of 2014, I completed the Chicago marathon in 5:03. The interesting thing was that I actually gained almost all my weight back over the course of that year of training. The long slow pace of marathon training did not produce the necessary calories expenditure to equal weight loss. My cardio output actually went down, but my food intake stayed the same. I decided to run my second marathon this year but to change my tactics. Instead of only focusing on running, I wanted to introduce a high intensity workout that includes muscle building as well as cardio. A few of my friends had recently started CrossFit and had amazing results. After some extensive reading, I decided to try it myself. I gave several gyms in the local area a call to discuss their program and how it worked. DRiV was not only friendly but also didn’t make me feel pressured to join. The ability to attend the group classes, without a set contract and pro-rating the months like they had a greater concern in their athletes and less of a concern about sucking people into a contract. At DRiV, I feel made me feel like the coaches love CF and want their athletes to love it just as much. To do that, they create a challenging, yet comfortable environment for new people like myself to learn. I am convinced that with the coaching of the DRiV team and the addition of the CF into my training regime that I will meet my goals of losing 12lbs, gaining muscle and improving my marathon time to under 5:00 completion.

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Series

Billy Almaguer - I am a 41-year old, people loving, church planter who just recently moved to St. Augustine. I have been married since 2002 to my wife Kelli. We have 4 incredible children (2 boys and 2 girls) ranging in age from 5 years old to 10 years old. I hold two engineering degrees from Texas Tech University and am a registered professional engineer in the state of Florida. During the past 8 years of my life I have been on staff at a few different churches. Two months ago I left my staff position at Southbrook Church (located in Charlotte, NC) to move to St. Augustine to plant a church (Awaken City Church). I have always been a driven individual. As a result, I have been involved in athletics since the 4th grade. I knew in high school that I would never make a career of sports so I shifted my focus to running. I have always enjoyed pushing myself in sports that my body was not designed to participate in. Physically, I am not a runner; but mentally I am. This has caused an interesting tension with my training, but nonetheless I push through. To date, I have completed over 14 (full and half) marathons. Since relocating most of my time has included meeting with community leaders, connecting with people in this area, and connecting with church leaders in our city. I have a unique opportunity to dream big, help others, and to change my own life and the lives of those around me. My goal in this season of life is to push forward with the church plant and to improve my overall physical ability. My best marathon thus far has been a 4:17 (H:MM). I am not sure if I can match or even eclipse this time, but I will give everything I have to run my best marathon ever next year. I believe the gateway to a better time for me will be rooted in CrossFit. CrossFit is a new adventure for me. I am nervous and a little anxious, but—more than that—confidant that this will be a great thing for me. Everyday you can choose to live your life by making excuses or by making small changes that lead to major life change. I know this next season of life will yield some incredible opportunities for me personally. Opportunities centered around my church, and opportunities related to my fitness journey. I have two major goals over the next 8 months. The first is to launch Awaken City Church, and the second is to run my best marathon ever in January 2016. You are invited to follow my adventure daily: blog: billyalmaguer.com or Instagram: @billyalmaguer.

Trainers they will work with: Todd Occhiuto - CrossFit Level 4 Trainer & HQ Trainer (6+ years coaching) Aaron Johnson - CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (3+ years coaching) Kaylee Davis - CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (2+ years coaching) Rena John - CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (1+ years coaching)

Billy and Jennifer’s respective journeys to elite fitness may be different but both are attainable with a focus on proper mechanics (mastering movements/skill/technique first), consistent effort (performing movements/skills correctly and regularly), and intensity (adding weight/speed/power to perform movements/skill at maximum output).” The aim of CrossFit is to forge a broad, general and inclusive fitness. CrossFit is a program that will best prepare trainees for any physical contingency- not only for the unknown, but also for the unknowable. In sum, our specialty is not specializing. CrossFit’s prescription for helping Billy and Jennifer achieve their goals is through constantly varied, functional movements executed at a high intensity- which will improve work capacity across broad time, modal, and age domains. g

Come with us as we follow their journey. Recieve weekly up-dates by way of our email Blast or Facebook page, and visit our website at StAugustineMagazine.com.

Cindy Marshall

Dancing With The Stars

Philip Phillips

TPC

Cinderella

Saints of Valory

Oar

Need to Breathe

Viloent and Barenaked

event coverage by photographer Cindy Marshall

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wine

by Jeanne Maron

A Wine-World Corporate Buyout

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THE WINES OF the Wagner Family under the well known labels of Caymus and Belle Glos. They are seen as leaders in the California region when it comes to Pinot Noir and Cabernet. The Wagner family started a lower-priced line, Meomi, which took off in 2006, selling almost 600,000 cases in 2014 alone. Fast forward, and the Wagner family just announced that Constellation Brands Inc. will be purchasing the Meomi brand in early August…for about $315 million. Why couldn’t that have been my product? Meomi products are known for blending different regions’ grapes to achieve a unique flavor for the wine. The latest gem created by Joe Wagner is a smooth red Zinfandel called Beran. Joe is a fifth generation Napa Valley winemaker with a dedicated passion for the business. Beran is bottled in Rutherford, California. The blend has the ripeness of the warmer regions and brightness from the cooler regions. The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness, combined with extended fruit maceration over 30 days at a time then laid to rest for 12 months in a combination of American and French oak. This process has created a flavor-packed, easy-drinking Zin with a soft, supple mouthfeel and balanced acidity. The wine tastes of smoky cedar, vanilla and sweet tobacco flavors. You can also detect cassis, cranberry, and dark fruits like warm blackberry pie. It goes down easy with soft refined tannins and is balanced by a fresh acidity. Constellation is a public company whose stock has gone up since the sale announcement. Instead of purchasing stock, buy yourself a bottle of Beran, and enjoy this new experience. It pairs well with most meats and sauces, or it can be enjoyed with flavorful cheeses. The Gifted Cork is located at 64 Hypolita Street in the historic downtown of St. Augustine. g

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issue 3/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 31

Daily Inspiration at Henleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steak & Seafood

O photography by Nate Parks

by Leigh Cort

ONE COULD EASILY GET LOST IN ST. Augustine – lost in the fascinating history, extraordinary architecture, tempting galleries, lively restaurant kitchens and brick-paved avenues. It’s a jewel of dining options. Patrick and Annmarie Henley are familiar faces in the city from owning their first pub-style bar on the waterfront for ten years. Now their second dream has brought the downtown historic district Henley’s Steak & Seafood, positioned on the iconic corner of St. George Street and Hypolita. It’s a jewel of pleasurable pursuits, providing open-air balconies, lavish indoor bar and handsomely polished dark wood trimmed dining rooms where guests can enjoy some of the highest quality triple-star dining in northeast Florida prepared by Chef Melody Stewart. If you’re a wild beer sampler, Patrick’s career in how and why to pour the best and most extensive selection of brews inspired the 100+ beers on tap. Henley’s leads the parade where one can luxuriate in the quandary of which pour to select for lunch, dinner, late night dining or to just stop in for a Spaten Lager, Kronenbourg or Hoegaarden. With two first floor entrances that lead you upstairs to Henley’s fashionable décor, you’re immediately surrounded by the professional staff and warm welcomes everywhere. It’s a gracious representation of ‘neighborhood’ with enough primeview seating options that makes a visit more than a meal, especially when you can sit above the city

vibe and people watch. But it’s also a comfortable place where business people can discuss issues over a snifter of brandy or a bourbon reserve and enjoy leisurely dining away from the crowds. Whether you’re a gourmand, contemporary foodie or weary traveler, the aromas from Chef Melody’s kitchen will accompany you to her daily selections, which somehow transport you from page to page; your impulsiveness may tempt you to want everything on the menu. Known for raising the bar at many of the area’s leading restaurants, she now has her ‘own kitchen’ that the Henley’s have bestowed upon her. The restaurant’s choice of Harris Ranch beef that is hormone free, grass and grain fed left me with no choice but to anticipate a Chargrilled Bone-In Ribeye that (days later) I’m still remembering. It was flawlessly prepared. Select a sauce or two to accompany from the variety of chimmichurri, bacon bleu, cognac peppercorn or sherry and shrooms. The chimmichuuri and bacon bleu were ethereal! If ordering from The Butcher’s Block please select a side dish too. White cheddar creamed spinach (fresh spinach) couldn’t have been more delicious, prepared to order and not over salted. Chef ’s Maine Lobster Pasta was lusciously composed. I was swept away with jumbo pieces of freshly shelled succulent lobster, English peas and mushrooms dancing under roasted garlic lemon cream sauce over linguine. I was compelled to eat

table talk

it very slowly, savoring the brilliant flavor combinations. There isn’t one lackluster description on her menu including Crispy Seared Duck topped with Orange Reduction served with White Cheddar Risotto or Salmon Glazed with Honey, Balsamic and Whole Grain Mustard, baked & topped with Caramelized Onions served with couscous. As tasty light jazz played in the background, I only imagined Henley’s casual lunch menu that would encourage me to return and indulge in a bit of lighter fare like Bacon Wrapped Shrimp ~ Horseradish Stuffed, Grilled and served with Thai BBQ Glaze or this creative wizardly Chef ’s sandwich named ‘The Fab’ ~ Chargrilled Filet Mignon, Brie Cheese, Grape Cilantro Salsa on Texas Toast. Melody hardly leaves her guests an appetite for dessert. Ah, dessert. They’re not listed on the menu because they’re all inspired spontaneously each day. Butter Pecan Caramel Bread Pudding, Raspberry Cabernet Cake with Citrus Coulis ~ or Crème Brulee Granita. This happy ending is only the beginning of one of St. Augustine’s newest dining adventures. Henley’s opened on New Years Eve and is continuing a tradition of culinary discovery. It’s a magical city where restaurants enjoy preserving a reputation for excellence. It’s hard to say where the past ends and today begins. The Henleys have put their heart into a captivating new restaurant. When I come back, I’ll start where I left off ~ not being lost at all. g

issue 3\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 33

foodie

by Chef Andrea Rosenblatt

The month I dread all year long has finally arrived. In truth, I actually get a little excited on August 1, in that same way I used to on the day of a big exam. The end is in sight, and a “let’s do this” attitude takes over.

It’s here: August in Florida.

A GREAT WAY TO SURVIVE AUGUST IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA STARTS IN the kitchen. Setting yourself up for a month of no-cook dinners and stocking the fridge with foods that are naturally cooling, like chilled watermelon, cold yogurts, cucumbers, lemon water, hummus, will help. I make a batch of gazpacho at the start of each week for a refreshing snack or dinner. Light vinaigrettes are stored in small glass jars ready to drizzle over any cold veggie I can find, and I keep fresh mint and basil on standby. Canned items like tuna, white beans and garbanzos move from the pantry into the fridge, so the moment I feel like using one of these staples, it’s already chilled and ready to eat! Here are a few recipes that are sure to keep you cool and calm through this, our hottest month. Eat, sip cold wine and smile knowing that the month you have dreaded all year is already passing you by!

Recipes Homemade Boursin Cheese – make a tub of this and keep it in your fridge – a few crostini spread with this delicious cheese and served next to a bowl of gazpacho is no-cook-dinner-perfection! Homemade Boursin Cheese Yield: 3 cups 2 garlic cloves 8 ounces butter, at room temperature 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (the real stuff, and freshly-grated) 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed, crumbled ½ teaspoon dried marjoram ½ teaspoon basil ½ teaspoon chives ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley Crush garlic and peel. In a food processor, mix cheeses, butter and garlic. Add remaining ingredients, mix well. Pack into a container just large enough to hold the Boursin and store in refrigerator. To serve, bring to room temperature. Serve with crackers.

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Gazpacho – not salsa soup! Try this: add extra cucumbers or spice it up with hot peppers if you like – this is a very forgiving recipe – and add any veggies you like. Classic Spanish Gazpacho Serves 6-8 1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped 1 large red bell pepper, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 large green bell pepper, peeled and coarsely chopped ¼ cup white wine vinegar 3 slices whole wheat bread (choose one without a lot of nuts or grains) 5 or more garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 5 pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil sea or kosher salt, and fresh black pepper if desired splash of Datil pepper sauce, if desired Put one quarter of the chopped onion in a small bowl and add ½ teaspoon vinegar, and 3 tablespoons cold water. Set aside. Reserve one quarter of the prepared red and green bell peppers and cucumber. These will be used as garnish at the end. Put the bread and garlic in a bowl and sprinkle with the remaining vinegar and 1 cup cold water, let soak. Cut the peeled tomatoes in half and cut out the core. Strain the tomatoes through a strainer over a bowl with a spoon to extract all the juices. Put the juice in a blender and add the soaked bread mixture and half the tomatoes. Blend until smooth and pour into a bowl. Put the remaining tomatoes, onion and ½ cup ice water in the blender. Pulse 8 times to get a medium chunky effect, and then pour into the bowl. Put the remaining chopped peppers, cucumber, oil, salt and 2/3 cup ice water in the blender and pulse 8 times. Add to the bowl and stir in Datil pepper sauce, if desired. Chill for 2 hours. Serve chilled and garnish with remaining cucumbers and peppers.

White Bean, Tuna and Red Onion Salad – An easy lunch and perfect for the beach! Make plenty, as this is great a day or two later! White Bean, Tuna and Red Onion Salad 2 cans white cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 can good quality tuna packed in olive oil 2 Tablespoons finely chopped red onion 3 Tablespoons finely chopped parsley zest of one lemon 2 Tablespoons good quality olive oil salt, crushed red pepper to taste Combine everything in a bowl. Taste for salt and add crushed red pepper for a little heat. Chill and serve! Peach and Watermelon Salad with Basil and Mint – Buy sweet Georgia peaches and local watermelon. You can even grow your own basil and mint! This is a “make on Sunday and eat all week” kind of salad. Ice cold, it’s also a great dessert! 2 cups fresh watermelon, diced 2 ripe peaches, diced 6 leaves basil, chiffonade or finely chopped 6 leaves mint, chiffonade or finely chopped 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon good quality olive oil Toss everything together in a bowl being careful not to mash up the fruit too much. Chill and serve cold as a first course, side, or dessert. Peel and Eat Shrimp with Zesty Cocktail – no recipe here – just shopping advice: Call Kyle’s seafood or the Seafood Shoppe, and order a few pounds of steamed, shell on local jumbo shrimp. Tip the guys a few bucks for their trouble when you pick up. Chill and serve with homemade cocktail sauce and a pile of sliced cucumbers in red wine vinegar. Easy and delicious! Cocktail Sauce: Makes 1 cup ¾ cup ketchup 1 heaping tablespoon creamed horseradish few dashes good Datil pepper sauce juice of ½ a lemon Mix all ingredients and serve with chilled shrimp. Questions for Chef Andrea? Email me through my web site at www.achefs.com. g

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Hours: Mon—Thurs 11 to 6:30, Fri & Sat 11 to 9, Sun 12-5 info@thegiftedcork.com - www.thegiftedcork.com - (904) 810-1083 issue 3\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 37

CRAVE adventure

story and photography by Buster O’Connor

I’M HIKING NORTH ON CORDOVA STREET. IT’S late and I’ve been sent on an errand. A hungry girlfriend waits back at the cottage for the scones. I must hustle. My destination lay just ahead. It’s that fancy hotel on the corner and the quickly closing cafe. I pop through the lobby — a few turns and I’ve made it. Alone and busy behind the counter is a young man who one year from now will change the face of the St. Augustine food scene and point it toward the future. He bags the goods and with a twinkle says — “I have a plan.”

Food Now for the Future That plan was Crave Food truck. And yes kids, the eagle has landed. With his lovely and talented partner Reneé Spadaro, Andrés Guardiola has created a sensation on wheels that never moves off the mark of spectacular. The idea was simple. The freshest food they could muster, customer customization, served with the kind of friendly smiles and courtesy that emanates from some lost elegant universe. And with every visit, they deliver this formula day in and day out. The food is outstanding: simple wraps, and salads done right. This is real food that will keep you going through the day. Delicious and healthy, man, woman or child needs nothing more. For a time, I was convinced that I was Andrés’ best friend. His affable nature belonging to someone you have known for 20 or 30 years. This was only enhanced by Reneé’s lovely demeanor and constant smile. I soon found out that almost everyone in the 10 person deep crave line was also feeling the same way. Still Andrés and Reneé never fail to make you feel special once you hit the window with your order. All of this didn’t come together overnight. Andrés and Reneé worked and planned for a better part of a year before hitching their destiny to this little blue trailer. And they were met with unexpected challenges from some local establishments who viewed their early success as a threat. It seemed that rocking the boat for the better sometimes cooks up some resentment. After tangling with all the city regulations and red tape, Crave launched in a parking lot off of King Street. Soon however, they realized that the location they had arranged was not going to work out. Fate dealt them the winning hand when Crave relocated to the funky light industrial marina owned by Scott Goedert. Overlooking the San Sebastian River with the breeze and the gulls, Crave hit the sweet spot. And it’s been a rocket ride to the top ever since. 40 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 3\015

One recent afternoon, I stopped by Crave after running some errands. Andrés, in his giddy-boyish manner, sat me down at one of the picnic tables and announced that Crave was now the number one restaurant in St. Augustine on Trip Advisor. (A ranking they hold as I write this) After I high-fived him, he remarked on the irony that a food truck was number one – being that they’re were so many places to eat in town. I assured him that they deserved this. But

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newbies

Welcome to the World

Scarlett Kate Haigler Born Friday May 29, 2015 8 lbs. 7oz. 21 inches long Proud parents: Ethan Haigler and Jennifer Haigler

Brody Lucas Hyde Born June 25, 2015 6 lbs. 10 oz. 19 1/2 inches long Proud parents: Randy and Anna Hyde

Birth Announcements:

Have a new baby or grandbaby we can welcome? Please submit one high-resolution photograph to info@StAugustineMagazine. com. All babies must be under 3 months of birth at the time of our deadline (born after June 21, 2015). The deadline for next issue submissions is Friday August 21, 2015.

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SAM TM

Celebrating 35 Years of Serving Saint Augustine

COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO WEALTH PLANNING RETIREMENT

cowan financial group c ow aour n website f i n a nwww.cowanfg.com c i aolu pg rin Visit learn about our Lifetime Financial Strategies Program 136 Malaga Street, Saint Augustine, FL 32084 • 904.824.8147 Cary J. Cowan, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CWS® SM

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