2013-2014 Visitor View by FSView

Visitor View 2013-2014

The exclusive travel magazine for Florida State University and Tallahassee

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Visitor View Brendan Bures EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Katie Dolciato

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ondrej Pazdirek K. Maxwell Greenwood DEPUTY EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

Jennifer Fryer

Tyler Avery

LEAD DESIGNER

ASSOCIATE DESIGNER

Zachary Goldstein

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Ondrej Pazdirek

Tammy Noel

PHOTOGRAPHER

Blair Stokes

PHOTOGRAPHER

Setareh Baig

Perry Kostidakis

Blair Stokes

Jennifer Fryer

COPY EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS Ariel Backer, Setareh Baig, Brendan Bures, Nicole Cornwell, Zachary Goldstein, K. Maxwell Greenwood, Gerald Johnson II, Perry Kostidakis, Quin Lemieux, Brittany Lyons, Angelica Martinez, Tammy Noel, Ondrej Pazdirek, Carlo Piantini, Blair Stokes, Brittany Taman

IPAD APP

If you don’t love Tallahassee as much as we do, we’ll give you a full refund of your Visitor View purchase. Guaranteed. rom an outside perspective, it’s easy to conclude that Tallahassee revolves around Florida State University. The school and city have become synonymous with one another, unable to mention one without thinking of the other. While Seminole sports impress over the city and, as students, we joke about our own self-importance, we know Tallahassee is more than Florida State; it’s our second home.

Our goal when we began planning the Visitor View magazine was to establish what made Tallahassee special to us: the stories, restaurants, sights and activities we associate with daily life in Tally. We wanted to share the multitude of opportunities a resident has in daily life in Tallahassee. The city is always changing, always improving upon its unique formula, and each borough of Tallahassee has its own special side of culture to offer. Tallahassee isn’t one thing, but many things to many people. Each person has their own reason why they love Tallahassee and instead of telling you where you should go, what you should do and when you should do it, we wanted to show all the distinctive parts that form this wonderful whole of a city. If you try even half of the restaurants, half of the activities, half of the locations, detailed in this magazine, you’ll soon know what we’re talking about. But don’t let me convince you; I’ll let Tallahassee do its own talking.

Scan the QR code or visit the following link for the interactive iPad app version of the 2013–2014 Visitor View

http://fsune.ws/VV1314

Brendan Bures Editor-in-Chief FSView & Florida Flambeau Visitor View

Visitor View | Welcome

Dear Visitor, On behalf of the Student Government Association at The Florida State University, I would like to welcome you to Florida始s capital city. We are pleased to have you here, and welcome you to experience all that the great city of Tallahassee has to offer.

architecture, we are sure that the 400-acre campus will provide breathtaking views and plenty of photo opportunities. If you would like to schedule a tour of our university, please feel free to contact the FSU Visitor Center at (850) 645-1318.

During your visit, we hope you will find time to take a stroll on our campus and learn more about one of Florida始s preeminent institutions. From the historic Westcott fountain to the magnificent Gothic style

In Seminole Pride, Rosalia Contreras Student Body President, 2013-2014 The Florida State University

Downtown | Visitor View

DOWNTOWN

In the heart of Tallahassee, politicians mix with students and professionals, each enjoying the unique collection of attractions downtown has to offer.

Visitor View | Downtown

A View from Above

Words: K. Maxwell Greenwood Photos: Zachary Goldstein

The Florida State Capitol Observation Deck offers a new perspective on Tallahassee he view from the Capitol’s observation deck cannot easily be put into words. It would be comparable to explaining what the ocean is like to someone who has never been outside of Kansas. But if you had to describe the experience in a single word, “unifying” comes to mind.

The observation deck sits on the 22nd floor of the State Capitol Building in downtown Tallahassee, and stands a staggering 307 over the city. To get to the deck you’ll have to go through Capitol security and ride what feels like the world’s fastest elevator to the building’s top floor. But on a clear day, you can see as far as the Gulf of Mexico. >>

Downtown | Visitor View

From the observation deck, the city is no longer fractured into campuses, neighborhoods or parts of town, but is rather seen as a single entity 8

Any college student in Tallahassee can identify where one university’s campus ends and the other begins. From the observation deck, the city is no longer fractured into campuses, neighborhoods or parts of town, but is rather seen as a single entity, subtly transitioning from concrete, brick and asphalt into wilderness.

other structure in the city capable of rivaling the Capitol. The view is truly panoramic.

From the top of the Capitol, Florida State University and Florida A&M University run together into a single university. All the while, FSU’s Doak S. Campbell Stadium stands like a monolith in the distance, appearing to be the only

Tallahassee is Florida’s capital city, so the Capitol Building is a necessary stop for any visitor, new or returning, and the observation deck is sure to give a unique, unseen perspective on the city.

The floor is not for the acrophobic and the Capitol provides alternatives for those that need an escape—the Capitol tower also features an art gallery, a cafeteria and a snack bar, as well as tours of the complex.

Visitor View | Downtown

Downtown | Visitor View

Level 8 On the roof of one of Tallahassee’s most exclusive hotels, Level 8 doesn’t just offer drinks–it offers an experience

Words: Sawyer Vanderwerff Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Visitor View | Downtown

ake your night to the next level at Hotel Duval’s Level 8 Lounge.

At Level 8, guests can enjoy a view of downtown Tallahassee from the only rooftop lounge of its kind from here to Atlanta. The bar’s upscale environment invites a more sophisticated crowd, going hand-inhand with Hotel Duval’s history of catering to Florida’s political and business elites. With a glass-enclosed bar and an open-air terrace, Level 8 breathes a life of leisure eight stories

above the hustle-and-bustle of the city.

topped with a floater of champagne.

The bar serves a selection of cocktails, beers, wines and liquor, and hosts happy hour from 4-8 p.m. daily. On the first Tuesday of each month, Jazz bands are invited to perform at Level 8 for a night of classy entertainment. Performances by Florida State University’s own jazz band tend to pair especially well with Level 8’s Garnet and Gold cocktail, which contains Stoli Raz, grenadine, splashes of pineapple and orange juice and is all

For those who have a penchant for cigars, a wide variety of select cigars are available to members of Level 8’s Sky High Cigar Club. For interested patrons, the bottle service not only includes glassware and mixers but also a reserved couch on the terrace for a more exclusive experience of Tallahassee’s skyline. But no matter who you are or where you are from, the Level 8 lounge is sure to add an element of panache to your night.

Downtown | Visitor View

Words: Gerald Johnson II

College football fans rejoice; Downtown Getdown brings the gameday atmosphere to Friday nights

Downtown Getdown uring the college football season, it’s not hard to find a good time in Tallahassee. With the ’Noles returning to the top of college football, there is a lot to get excited about. The ’Noles only play on Saturdays, though, and most visitors arrive on Friday afternoon, looking for activities around town to keep them occupied until kickoﬀ. Visiting one of the local clubs found on the Tennessee Strip may be fulfilling for some, but the diehard Seminole fans and families

looking for activities to feed their craving for football, and all things related, should veer more toward Downtown Getdown on Friday nights. Downtown Getdown is a festival that showcases a few of Tallahassee’s most popular vendors, entertainers and some of Florida State’s most coveted traditions. With the bass of the drums being felt throughout the streets of downtown and the rustling of cheerleaders pom poms heard in the distance, fans of Seminole football begin to truly feel that

gameday is no longer days away, but mere hours until kickoﬀ. Children frolic around the Kleman plaza enjoying the fun activities such as face painting and balloon art, while the adults embrace the social atmosphere enjoying free food and drink oﬀered by local vendors. Downtown Getdown aims to create an environment that not only encompasses Seminole spirit, but also community. Downtown Getdown has been a local tradition since 2009. It features live performances from >>

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Downtown | Visitor View artists and bands like the FSU Marching Chiefs, ACME Rhythm and Blues and many other local talents.

game celebration, but also a one-stop shop for last-minute Seminole gameday apparel purchases.

Downtown Getdown is sure to immerse any Seminole fan in a similar-to-gameday atmosphere. An immediate first impression will be that the event is full of high energy generated by the upbeat rhythms of the live band, the chanting of the cheerleaders and the camaraderie shared by the Seminole fans attending. Along with the surrounding fan festivities are the food vendors lined across the plaza oﬀering BBQ, gyros and subs to satisfy any possible cravings. Seminole football paraphernalia is also available for purchase by vendors. Not only is this a place for a pre-

The event is a true celebration of Seminole pride as thousands of people crowd the Kleman Plaza enjoying the live bands, the social atmosphere and the diﬀerent minigames sponsored by local vendors. Special appearances from the FSU Cheerleaders and Chief Osceola give fans an opportunity for a more personal interaction with some of their favorite gameday attractions, who will be on the field in less than 24 hours, cheering on the Seminole football team. If any Friday night festivity is indicative of the true ’Nole spirit, it’s Downtown Getdown.

• New Clubhouse • New full-size basketball/ volleyball court • Tanning • Free food Friday

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Visitor View | Downtown

University Town | Visitor View

U-TOWN A short distance from Downtown,Tallahasseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Town is a haven for higher education, boasting three college campuses within walking distance of one another .

Visitor View | University Town

Words: Brendan Bures Photos: Zachary Goldstein

A Walk Down Legacy Lane At the center of everything in Tallahassee is Florida State–a place, a family, a sanctuary iving in Florida can be strange. The weird and wonky have firmly planted themselves alongside all those palm trees and pink, plastic flamingoes outsiders associate with the Sunshine State. It’s a beautiful place to be sure and attractive amusements are aplenty, but three of our four state borders are surrounded by water and people are inherently claustro-

phobic—we tend to go a little mad in such a tight space with nowhere to flee except north. Yet, 40 minutes from the Georgia state line and the Gulf of Mexico lies Tallahassee, an oasis out of place set against the backdrop of Florida’s cultural oddities. And hiding in the heart of Tallahassee is Florida State University. >>

University Town | Visitor View

Florida State refuses to conform to the Floridian identity that surrounds it, but it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. Instead, it’s everything at once: It’s generational South meets gentry North; it’s red-brick architecture fused with subtropical horticulture; it’s some of the country’s greatest minds and greatest athletes; it’s all cultures clashing harmoniously; it’s a 67-year old physics professor sitting beside a 21-year old English student at Atomic Coffee and discussing with their colleagues ways to revolutionize the world, when one smiles over at the other knowing how similar and important their conversations are; it’s walking around campus late at night, steam emitting from the vents and blue lights lending guidance, being intoxicated by the seductive energy hanging in the air, feeling that anything is possible, not in the way parents tell children to comfort them before falling asleep, but a true confidence felt throughout the body, mind and soul; it’s finding a new family who will forever be involved, supporting and loving for many years ahead; it’s a beautiful, wondrous place capable of innumerable possibilities and adventures—like jumping into the Westcott fountain or discovering an upcoming band or artist at Club Downunder or simply wasting a whole day laying out on Landis Green, maybe rising to lazily toss a Frisbee—FSU dares any passerby to reach out and grab all of this and more.

All of that comes after spending a few years here, though. Florida State can play a little hard to get at first. The campus may hint to newcomers what FSU has to offer, but won’t reveal itself all at once. It was a moment on the Legacy Walk during my first visit that confirmed it for me: Standing beside the Integration Statue on an FSU game day, looking down the brick-layered walkway, which led to Doak S. Campbell stadium, people rushed past on their personal pilgrimage. Every college in the country has pride in their school; that’s not what’s special about Florida State. What is special: A lost Seminole staring at an FSU map, scanning a way to the stadium only for five garnet and gold clad people to rush up and offer directions. A tailgater noticing a youngster staring longingly at the homemade Rice Krispies treat with the FSU insignia decorated on top, and offers him not one, but two healthy squares. “F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E” and “Garnet and Gold” chants echoing all around, popping up at random and shouted until lungs give out. All of that pales to the first time sitting in Doak under the lights and seeing some 82,300 Seminoles Tomahawk-chopping with an intensity sure to cause the onset of tendinitis, all in support of each other as much as the team on the field. That day, I learned what it meant to be a Seminole. And I can’t imagine not being one.

Forty minutes from both the Georgia state line and the Gulf of Mexico lies Tallahassee, an oasis out of place set against the backdrop of Florida’s cultural oddities. And hiding in the heart of Tallahassee is Florida State University.

Visitor View | University Town

University Town | Visitor View

Words: Brendan Bures Photos provided: The Patrick Hodges Land Studio

Tallahassee All Grown-Up Seminole Boosters plan for Collegetown, hope to transform Tallahassee into cultural epicenter

Visitor View | University Town istorically, Tallahassee has been known for three things: Florida State football, the state Capitol and its universities. People visited the self-described “sleepy, Southern town” to watch Seminoles football or to meet with state legislators to voice a concern.

However, those were weekend, or maybe even day, trips. Whenever anyone came to Tallahassee to stay, it was for one reason—a college degree. With three four-year colleges within walking distance of one another, the greatest long-term attraction to Tallahassee has always been higher education. The problem is, once graduated, many former students leave in search of an urban business market, like Jacksonville, Orlando, Atlanta or even Miami. Tallahassee’s greatest exports are intellectual minds. What leaves with them are the new ideas fundamental to economic and cultural growth and vitalization. Because of this, Tallahassee has been stuck in stasis, unable to grow up. The city has recently stagnated. A solution has arisen to this problem, though, one that is dedicated to evolving Tallahassee’s identity and urbanizing the community. It’s called Collegetown.

The Other 358 Days Andy Miller is the CEO of Seminole Boosters and a man who, as one colleague put it,

“has a zillion ideas all the time.” Six years ago, the Boosters had acquired land surrounding Doak S. Campbell stadium following the University Center renovation to accommodate the increasing parking needed for Boosters and fans. When Miller viewed the property, he saw more than a glorified parking lot for FSU football fans on game day. For seven days a year, the land teemed with people, but otherwise the property was a ghost town. So in early 2008, Miller approached Will Butler, head of Real Estate InSync, the Seminole Boosters’ real estate asset management firm, and asked to develop a better utilization strategy for the property. Initially, discussion focused on whether to market to a third-party or to foster the real estate themselves. But once the City of Tallahassee and Leon county dedicated major resources to revitalizing and redeveloping the area surrounding Booster property, particularly the focus placed on renovating nearby Gaines Street, Miller and Butler joined in the transformation of the area that serves as Tallahassee’s entryway. “It’s kind of the front door when people come from the airport, that’s the first impression they get of Tallahassee,” Miller said. “That was a big deal to us: to create a gateway into the city that the first impression you get on the Capitol, and Tallahassee and the university is something that makes you

want to be there and not leave.” Their objectives during planning were simple: enhance the FSU football game day experience, generate interest for visitors to Tallahassee and transform the long-ignored land around the stadium into a cultural center for the city.

College Towns and Collegetown Will Butler, along with Patrick Hodges who served as the lead on the masterplanning team, set out to visit iconic college towns across the nation and identify what made those markets as vibrant and successful as they were. They studied towns like Athens, Ga., Chapel Hill, N.C., Ann Arbor, Mi. and Boulder, Co., and what they discovered was surprising. “Even in the deepest depths of the recession, the college town markets were still as strong as any,” Butler said. “People were still going to college, and even people that were about to graduate, looked around and said, ‘not a lot happening, maybe I’ll go back and get an extended degree.’ There’s still money being pumped into those markets.” What Butler, Hodges and the rest of the masterplanning team learned through various studies was that young people are attracted to more urban environments, where shops, retail stores and restaurants are all within walking distance of one another and the culture is unique to the area. The prob- >>

University Town | Visitor View

lem is that Florida State is one of only two major universities in the U.S. not within three and a half hours of a major metropolitan area, according to Butler. There is nothing urban around. The team began to form the foundation for a complex called Collegetown, designed to serve as the central borough for Tallahassee and its currently disconnected neighborhoods. What they’re trying to do, as Butler describes it, is “build a city within a city.” Not only do they want to attract outsiders to stay for a longer time frame, they want to retain the newcomers they already have. “Tallahassee lacks economic diversification. Most kids love going to school here but when they finish school, they don’t necessarily want to leave. They leave because they have to go and find a job,” Miller admitted. And that’s a problem for the Seminole Boosters as they want to keep as many young FSU fans

in the area as possible. However, over the past 15 years, state oﬃces have relocated to the southeast satellite location of the Capital Circle Oﬃce Complex at Southwood, reducing the historically strong political influence of downtown Tallahassee. That, in conjunction with the revitalization of Gaines Street and the development of Collegetown, has Tallahassee nearing a true urbanization tipping point.

If You Build It, They Will Come The goal when acquiring tenants for Collegetown was to establish an organic, distinctive market that would appeal to college students, the demographic Butler has identified as their “strike zone,” as well as providing a family-friendly environment for visitors. In other words, they didn’t want to be another Midtown or Tennessee Strip, both bar scene hotspots.

Led by Alan Hooper, the lead developer of Collegetown, the team recruited two diﬀerent types of tenants: those with an FSU connection (generally Florida State alumni) and successful retail or restaurants in college markets who wanted to open another location. The goal was to find urban stores that embrace the unique atmosphere and identity of Tallahassee. A few have stood out from the rest—Recess, a second-floor bar that has caught many’s attention with its rooftop pool, and Madison Social, a mixed-social entertainment restaurant with retractable garage doors and top-class cocktails, come to mind—but the owners of the restaurants care more about promoting a brand through the sum of Collegetown than the individual parts. “We want to work together to build Collegetown as a brand,” said Matt Thompson, a part-owner at Madison Social. >>

Visitor View | University Town

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University Town | Visitor View

“It’s really important to us.” However, there are two entities that have legitimized Collegetown’s potential to revolutionize Tallahassee. The first is America’s Backyard, a company originally located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who will provide live entertainment 150200 nights annually. “When I was a kid I used to come up here to see concerts in Tully Gym,” said Patrick Hodg-

es. “We had Fleetwood Mac, we had Led Zeppelin, we had Spirit, we had Black Sabbath. We paid a student fee to see them. Well, we’re going to get those kind of big-name, contemporary acts, not the old stuﬀ.” The other is Urban Outfitters, a store that when it announced its addition to Collegetown, excited the other owners as much as the Tallahassee fashionistas. Both Butler and Thompson described the retailer as a

“game-changer” for the process. Urban Outfitters had initially looked at Midtown as a possible destination, but when they heard about Collegetown, and discovered the old, industrial Duraprint building the store will be located in, they decided it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

College Kids No More While Tallahassee may not transform over night into a

Visitor View | University Town

modern-day Metropolis, that’s not the goal of Collegetown. Their masterplan spans 10 years into the development of their property as well as the urbanization of the city. Collegetown is just Phase I of that plan. The group hopes to establish Tallahassee as a more legitimate destination spot. Visitors won’t want to come only for the big-name football games like Florida, Clemson or

Miami, but for smaller games like Idaho because, as Miller hopes, they love spending time in Tallahassee. Whatever happens, Tallahassee is sure to see drastic changes within the next 5-10 years. FSU football, state politics and universities won’t be the draw to the city, but the city itself will be the main recruiting tool for outsiders. In a town full of college kids, Tallahassee is about to become

an adult. “I want to see us finally grow up,” Will Butler said. “I tell a lot of folks I feel like we’ve been a teenager so long, I’m tired of hearing my voice crack. It’s time. It is our time. It’s FSU’s time. It’s FSU’s time to be one of top 25 public universities in the country. It’s the city of Tallahassee’s time to move into the next tier where it’s a true, vibrant, energetic, creative place.”

University Town | Visitor View

Words and photos: Tammy Noel

The FAMU Black Archives Experience history in Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Carnegie Library ntering the 106-year-old threshold of Carnegie Library, The Black Archives is one of Tallahassee’s time machines that transplant the mind back into historical moments, in not only FAMU history, but Black History overall. The museum donated by steel titan, Andrew Carnegie in 1908, and since 1978, Carnegie Library has been registered with the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds may marvel, but its what lies inside that truly inspires the journey of black society through U.S. History.

Special Museum Exhibits • • • • • • • • • • • •

African American Antiques African American Scientists & Inventors Blacks in Medicare and Science Blacks in the Military Dr. Don Hill African Artifacts Florida A&M University Memorabilia Frank Pinder African Artifacts Komics, Koon and Klan (KKK) Collection Lazzarus Brown Black Masons Memorabilia Leﬀall African American Family Memorabilia Pre-Columbian Artifacts “Slavery in the Old South” Memorabilia

Visitor View | University Town

Fall/Spring| MTWRF 9:00 – 5:00 Summer hours| MTWR 9:00 – 5: 00 Admission| Free

Alongside the museum’s exhibits is an extensive collection of archives, including a selection of rare books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers and photographs unavailable elsewhere. One notable item is the oﬃcial Rosewood Incident Papers. A center of research and inquiry, the archival collection encourages visitors to delve deeper into history: • Afro American and Central Life Insurance Companies Collection • Black Archives Obituary Collection • Floy Britt – 4-H Collection • Conoly, George W. – Florida A&M University Alumni Association and National Alumni Association Collection • William P. Foster – Marching Band Memorabilia • Alonzo “Jake” Gaither – Black College Football Collection

• Benjamin and Dorothy Holmes – Black Church Collection • Martha Leffall – Leffall Family Memorial Collection • John F. Matheus – Harlem Renaissance Collection • Carrie Meek – African Americans in Congress Collection • Joe Nash – African American Dance Collection • Leedell Neyland – Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association • Leedell Neyland and Gilbert Porter – Florida State Teachers Association Collection • Florida and Herbert Parker – Masters Golfing Tournament Newspaper Coverage Collection • Official Rosewood Incident Papers • Gilbert Porter – Desegregation Files • D.E. Williams – Negro Schools in Florida Photographic Collection

University Town | Visitor View

Railroad Square

Words and photos: Blair Stokes

Between the FSU and FAMU campuses lies Railroad Square, a bastion for arts, culture and local business ll saints and all sinners are welcome. On the other side of the railroad tracks lies a hidden center of art and culture. Railroad Square Art Park, with galleries enshrining the creative gifts of local art practitioners, is a district that exists as a sanctuary for the arts.

Beyond the city’s more prominent features of politics and higher education, Tallahassee’s art district subtly simmers like a large cup of All Saints Café’s

freshly brewed dark roast. Just as the smoldering coﬀee gradually warms to the temperature of optimal consumption, so too does All Saints Café and its surrounding district. “Don’t be afraid of it,” said Whitney Borkowski, an FSU student and a volunteer at the district’s Bread and Roses co-op grocery store. “A lot of people think that things are too weird or they assume people are pretentious hipsters if they like art. No. Just check it out.” On the doorstep of Florida A&M

University, encompassing Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue, this subsection of the city diﬀers vastly and necessarily from the rest of the capital, boasting trendy organic eateries and food trucks, record stores and a bevy of vintage boutiques. Bikes are the preferred method of transportation here, and the recently remodeled Gaines Street area mandates that bikes and cars share the road. Framed works on walls and sculptures are not the only art to observe. The park is a gallery >>

Visitor View | University Town

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University Town | Visitor View

“Donʼt be afraid of it. A lot of people think that things are too weird or they assume people are pretentious hipsters if they like art. No. Just check it out.” 30

of familiar and foreign faces in itself. Attending mass gatherings of local cultural oﬀerings like monthly First Friday celebrations breeds interactivity among citizens. From the odd ravegirl twirling about in luminescent hula hoops to the inexperienced fire poi swinger to the middle-aged belly dancer with enviable body confidence, such sights become standard rather than spectacle after a few visits. It also takes a few visits to get a handle on the area.

On the weekends, live music converges from all directions and beckons a listen as it pours out from Hop Yard and The Other Side Vintage’s front porch stage. With hand-painted murals, rusted and repurposed metal warehouses and a quaint do-ityourself creative atmosphere, the art district is a stark contrast to the Capitol. Their unexpected coexistence, while initially baﬄing, speaks to the range of citizens populating this city of contradictions.

First Friday

Visitor View | University Town

Converted from a disused warehouse park, Railroad Square Art Park plays host to hundreds of artists and fans who gather to share in their mutual appreciation for local talent. Oﬃcially called the “First Friday Gallery Hop,” the first Friday of every month, Tallahassee’s finest characters gather for a free night of music, gallery openings, food trucks and all kinds of entertainment and shopping in one centralized location. First Friday provides an excellent, diverse sample of the art district, with its galleries galore and its more unique features like an oldschool arcade and a comic book store. To get acquainted with the

arts of Tallahassee, First Friday is the first place to start. Pick up a homemade cakepop for a dollar at one of the many street vendors, or opt for something heartier at one of the many food trucks stationed about the park’s circular thoroughfare. Visit Athena’s Garden Herbal Emporium for some local mysticism. Fiddle with classic pinball machines at Arcade Age and get enveloped in nostalgia. The Other Side Vintage shop boasts unique but pricey thrift, but is always good for a general peruse and cellphone photo-shoot. The 621 Gallery regularly highlights the work Florida State University art students on First Friday and

supports other local artists as well. The park also features meditation, a knitting club, belly dancing, free yoga classes, a rock-climbing gym and other weird treasures beyond Tallahassee’s copious eateries. Starting around 8 p.m. the park stays open for a couple hours, serving as an excellent precursor for other collegiate nightlife options. First Friday and Third Saturday, which is a smaller scale afternoon event in the park, are alternatives to the usual weekend activities of Tallahassee entertainment. “I know a lot of people who didn’t like Tallahassee until they discovered that there’s First Friday, and there are other things besides >>

University Town | Visitor View the Strip,” Borkowski said. “People don’t realize that although this is a college town and it’s very transient, there is a very good centered community and we all try to work together. People need to understand that there’s a really great art community here.” Each visit presents some nuance, be it a new local band, an undiscovered curio shop or an old hippie reading palms in a tepee. It’s always diﬀerent, but always in the best way possible.

Bread & Roses and Wild Greens Café One of the most culturally representative experiences is sharing local food, and the art district’s local fare is largely vegan and/or organic. The Bread and

Roses co-op grocery store began several years ago with local students calling for an active role in choosing their food and opting to eat local. An alternative to corporate grocery stories, They oﬀer vegan, vegetarian and organic options to the surrounding area with an emphasis on community. The co-op provides ingredients for the café right next door, Wild Greens Café.

Voodoo Dog Voodoo Dog oﬀers meatless hot dogs that appeal to any type of consumer. Housed in a quaint blue warehouse-esque building, its atmosphere is deliberately artsy and, as a whole, the restaurant fits well in its art district location. The hot dog toppings are a big draw; each dog can be topped oﬀ with mac n’ cheese, bacon, peanut butter and

a lot more.

Gaines Street Pies With menu items like the SXSW Salad and The Saucy Minx, it’s clear that Gaines Street Pies is a pizza place with a cheeky attitude. It’s generally got good food at a good price if you’re looking for some munchies in the area.

All Saints Café Yes, they seem pretentious. Yes, you may feel pressured to dress like a complete hipster just to buy a cup of coﬀee here. But their vegan food is on point. In large portions and largely delicious, try the Vegan Mac, an alternative to macaroni and cheese, it’s a fixture on the menu, full of tofu and pasta shells with red pepper bits.

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TALLAHASSEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S premier STUDENT LIVING close to campus + on bus route + private living + individual leases + roommate matching car wash station + fitness center + computer center + swimming pool with sun deck

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE

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University Town | Visitor View

Words: Perry Kostidakis

Why We Care Sports may not seem like they matter, but to FSU they fiercely do s humans, we have the uncanny ability to invest emotion into just about anything. We feel sadness at the most trivial things, we mourn animals that only ever saw us as a source for food, we get way too passionate about things that never really mattered that much at all.

A 34

If you were a pessimistic person, you would see it as a fallacy in mankind, a weakness in character. For someone who had a better sense of judgment, they would see the beauty of us being able to sympathize and relate to just about anything. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why sports are so important and such an essential part of the college experience, especially at Florida State.

It seems a little drastic to get all philosophical here when talking about what should simply be a game, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than just a game. See, sports are weird in the sense that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coincide with life: they are life. Every aspect of life is presented to you in a neat little package, a convenient short installment played out right in front of you.

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A football game on average takes just over three hours, and in that time span, you will learn of heartbreak, of hope, of disappointment, of anger and happiness and nervousness and just about every other emotion that a normal person could experience in a month, let alone three measly hours. That’s why Florida State contains some of the most passionate fans

that exist in the college football world. The sorority girl screaming in a high-pitched voice how “she bleeds garnet and gold” at your tailgate is not doing it (completely) for attention. She will be the same girl yelling obscenities towards refs and raising a certain single finger in the direction of any supporter of whatever team that the ‘Noles are playing. It’s a strange, absolutely beautiful paradox.

The greatest way to feel the impact of a game day is to head to Doak Campbell while it’s empty, absorb the emptiness of such a huge venue and then realize that on any given Saturday in the fall, there are at least 82,300 people in that stadium sweating and screaming. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s the reason a good majority of people end up spending their four years in Tallahassee. The history that >>

University Town | Visitor View lurks in all corners of the property is a feat that most campuses find hard to match. At one part, there is the trophy room, host to national championship crystal ball trophies and Heisman awards, and on the other side you’ll find the Sod Cemetery, where pieces of turf from every significant Seminole game lays in its final resting place. The area of Doak is Seminole sport hub, the football stadium neighboring FSU’s baseball, softball and soccer stadiums, along with the brand-new $15 million Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility looming to the side. Wherever you walk, you are in ’Nole athletic sanctuary. The buzz and electricity that flows through Doak during a game is hard to match, and it all starts with one of the most notable pregame traditions in sport. Chief Osceola, posted up on top of his trusted steed Renegade, trots out to midfield and rises his flaming spear above his head, and seemingly above the entire stadium. The crowd collectively “ooooohs”, and the chief throws his spear into the center of the giant Seminole head on midfield, sending chills throughout the stadium and signaling the start of the game. From that point on, you are no longer a single person, you are part of 82,300 strong, of a mob of delirious students and alumni teeming with excitement. There’s something comforting about becoming a part of a group for three hours, for shedding individuality for a little bit and joining something much bigger than yourself. Florida State has plenty of talent in plenty of sports, it by no means is simply a school with a good football team and then pitiful other teams. Seminole baseball and women’s soccer are both top programs in their respective athletic endeavors, with basketball on its on way up, but it would be a lie to say that Tallahassee isn’t a football town. And to go to a football town and not take in a game, to not go to Doak Campbell at any point and take in all that it has to oﬀer, is a crime equal to that of treason. Or something like that.

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You Belong at Hilaman.

We have golf clubs in case you travel light. 850.891.2560

Welcome W elcome tto oT Tallahassee allahassee great p lace to to live! live! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a great place

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Words: Quin Lemieux Photos: Zachary Goldstein

Getting Your Garnet and Gold On Need an outfit for gameday? In Tallahassee you won’t have to look far to find the perfect Seminole attire

ame day in Tallahassee is sacred.

It’s a day that students, fans and alumni alike gather to cheer for their beloved ’Noles. Football is obviously top dog, but even with sports such as baseball and basketball, game day is a day when those that consider themselves part of ’Nole Nation rally together in support of a common cause:

unconditional love for Florida State athletic teams. Your game day attire says a lot about you; it separates ’Noles from opponents, diehard fans from casual observers, seasoned seniors from first-game freshmen. So, what should you wear? Simply stated, the core step is to rock garnet and gold. T-shirts, tank tops, sundress-

es or Chubbies; if it’s got the colors, the time to show it oﬀ is on game day. Bonus points for having Chief Osceola and/or Renegade anywhere on you. It’s a sign of pride, so flaunt it. If you’re headed to Doak Campbell for a football game or Dick Howser to catch a couple innings, be sure to wear something cool; outdoor stadiums in the Tallahassee heat are no joke. >>

Visitor View | University Town If you find yourself without any garnet, gold or any other Seminole attire, don’t worry because there’s no shortage of great shops around Tallahassee to get you suited up and ready for a day at Doak. The FSU bookstore, located on campus is always a great place to look for oﬃcially licensed Seminole merchandise. With everything ranging from shirts to tumblers, it’s the easiest option to make sure you’re game day ready. In addition, due to the bookstore being aﬃliated with

the university, it becomes much easier to find more sport-specific clothing if you prefer a “Florida State (insert sport name here)” instead of simply a Seminole shirt. If you’re looking for something oﬀ-campus, head to Bill’s Bookstore and Garnet & Gold to help you out with any kind of FSU colored outfit you can think of, from mundane fan to crazy tailgater. The benefit of heading to independently owned retailers is supporting local businesses, along with the possibility of a better deal.

Billʼs has three locations on West Pensacola Street, West Tennessee Street and South Copeland Street, as well as Garnet & Gold who have locations on Industrial Plaza Drive, West Pensacola Street and Apalachee Parkway.

50 feet off the ground!

>> 850.575.8684 tallahasseemuseum.org | treetotreeadventures.com

University Town | Visitor View

Words: Ariel Backer Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

TCC Just west of the FSU campus, Tallahassee Community College is a haven for the visual and performing arts t a first glance, Tallahassee Community College seems like your typical institution for higher learning. Sturdy brick buildings, pastures of green, bold directional signage and a campus buzzing with activity. But have you ever taken a chance to take a look at this establishment through an artistic eye?

Just by taking a short stroll down the cement sidewalk alongside over 15,000 TCC Eagles that reside there, visitors stumble upon the Fine and Performing Arts Center. What seems like an ordinary building at first actually transforms into something spectacular upon entering its doors. Beholding a space for the re-

nowned Fred Turner Auditorium, TCC Fine Art Gallery, and the Ralph Hurst Gallery, the Fine and Performing Arts Center of Tallahassee Community College presents endless opportunities for visitors of the Tallahassee area to explore. Students are able to develop their creative and intellectual expression through music, dance, theater and art. They may participate in some of these activities for credit as well as for personal enrichment and the visitors of Tallahassee certainly reap the benefits of what this establishment produces. “The arts are an integral part of our institution because TCC recognizes the role that the arts play in helping to produce more

well-rounded, critical thinkers in all fields,” said Lisa M. Beckley-Roberts, Director of the TCC African Drum and Dance Ensemble. “Our programs are geared towards exposing students and the larger Tallahassee community to both classical Western and non-western art forms which reveal a tremendous amount about the cultures they represent.” Beginning in 2006, the TCC African Drum and Dance ensemble began with a mere five members. Since then they have grown into a 35-member ensemble and have oﬀered a credit course in which an average of 15 students enroll per semester. “I believe that students, faculty,

Visitor View | University Town

staﬀ and community members volunteer to be a part of, and enjoy the ensemble because it fosters a love and appreciation for culture,” said Beckley-Roberts. “We understand that this music is as classical as Beethoven, the dance requires as much technique as ballet, and we approach it seriously and with reverence to honor it.” The arts at Tallahassee Community College are appreciated throughout the college as a central source of entertainment and a foundation for the community to unite as one. Between programs such as “TheatreTCC,” TCC African Drum and Dance Ensemble, Capital City Band and the Big Bend Community Orchestra, this school embraces the concept of bringing everyone together to create and celebrate art. “The arts make us think and feel on a heightened level by stimulating our minds with innovative ideas and experiences: the kind of inspiration and invigoration that >>

University Town | Visitor View

“I’m very proud of Turner Auditorium. We recently had some major renovations done and I think it’s one of the most comfortable spaces for an audience to experience any type of performance.” make us better human beings,” said Eva Nielsen-Parks Director of Theatre at Tallahassee Community College. The Turner Auditorium is considered home to several art forms and a sanctuary for the community. This facility presents an abundance of opportunities for students, faculty and the greater surrounding areas to enjoy the performing arts.

“I’m very proud of Turner Auditorium,” Nielsen-Parks said. “We recently had some major renovations done and I think it’s one of the most comfortable spaces for an audience to experience any type of performance.” Since Tallahassee Community College’s establishment in 1966, “TheatreTCC” has blossomed into a multifaceted program. The theatre department started out

with the West End Players and today the student group is called Curtain Call; despite the changes in names, with the constant development of our society and the modernization of how we’re going into the future, “TheatreTCC” is going with those times as well. They have implemented a play selection committee consisting of a wide span of people from the student body, faculty and com-

Visitor View | University Town munity to get a finger on the pulse as to what people want to see on the TCC stage. Another recent addition to the curriculum includes a musical theatre course for those seeking to pursue a career on the Broadway stage. And a student theatre showcase has been inserted into this theatrical season as a means to give students of all spectrums of performing talent a venue to shine. Overall, “TheatreTCC” provides students and the community numerous opportunities to express themselves. “I think we have created something really unique here within our program,” Nielsen-Parks asserted. “What you see is a lot of love, sweat and hard work where not only do we have a diverse

student population made up of all ages between 18 and 70, but you also really get the community aspect because we bring you in. We do have actors from the community and designers in and out of state so it really is a unique prestige of creative forces.” Tallahassee Community College has an institutional commitment to the visual arts. They recognize that art has the capability to touch lives across cultures in a way that very few other disciplines can. The TCC Fine Art Gallery presents a diverse rotating exhibit schedule featuring student, faculty and regional artwork. Within the Ralph Hurst Gallery the college possesses a vast collection of important regional art

in a variety of media on display. “Visitors should come see what’s happening in the arts at TCC because we present professional and excellent programs which are always held to the highest standards,” said Beckley-Roberts. “Our students are incredibly passionate and talented and our shows are always impressive.” Next time you venture to Tallahassee, take a second glance at all of the opportunities for a cultured experience. Stop by Tallahassee Community College and witness all of the wonderfully rich artistic outlets that reside in the Fine and Performing Arts Center. Look at your experience through an artistic perspective because there are numerous new places to explore.

Midtown | Visitor View

MIDTOWN Although confined to a small square, this Tallahassee borough contains the finest blend of culture, food and bars the city has to offer. 44

Visitor View | Midtown

Words: Ondrej Pazdirek Photos: Zachary Goldstein

Alchemy Don your most dapper outfit and prepare to be transported back to the Roaring Twenties at Alchemy, Tallahassee’s prohibition-style speakeasy The Ambience The bar’s themed design—the covert entrance of the Midtown Filling Station, the time-appropriate attired doorman asking for a password, the dim, windowless booths and tall bar stools facing a long mirror behind the bar, the soft music, the spiﬃly-clad alchemists, the exit through a turning bookshelf—provides an almost Great Gatsby-ish atmosphere, unmatched by any other Tallahassee watering hole.

The Etiquette Alchemy requires its visitors to dress sharply and adhere to a conventional etiquette, which forbids smoking, cell phones and flash photography on the premises, and gentlemen must remove their hats before entering. A special rule also pertains to courting. “Gentlemen will not approach ladies,” the rule states, “if you’d like to make someone’s acquaintance, please ask >>

Midtown | Visitor View the bartender to introduce you.” Ladies, on the other hand, are free to mingle as they please.

The Cocktails Prohibition speakeasy theme aside, Alchemy prides itself on its hand-crafted artisan cocktails. Each alchemist (read: bartender/waiter) is held to a high standard when it comes to preparation of the “perfect beverage,” and ready to assist in crafting a concoction honed to one’s own palette. The Alchemist’s knowledge along with the bar’s generous selection of refined spirits, liqueurs, bitters, sodas, juices and fresh ingredients ensures even the finickiest tongue is satisfied. Alchemy’s menu showcases four signature drinks per base liquor: whiskey and scotch, rum, tequila and gin, as well as punch bowls, “hodgepodge” or miscellany cocktails. Still, the biggest draw seems to be the Absinthe (Alchemy’s highest is 109 proof), which is presented in the form of the Sazerac cocktail, the extravagant Absinthe Fountain—a blend of water, liquor and a flaming sugar cube—or as a customized drink. There’s no vodka served at Alchemy. If it’s your first time at Alchemy, don’t stop at one round. Try at least two diﬀerent cocktails to find what you like.

The People From the newbie to the craft cocktail aficionado, from the college student to the young professional, to the mother-daughter duo, Alchemy entertains a varied crowd, often playing host to birthdays, graduations and oﬃce parties, and sometimes even the occasional bachelorette revelry. The alchemists are knowledgeable, personable and always willing to go the extra mile in making sure the guests enjoy their evening.

Special Events From time to time, Alchemy hosts live entertainment, a featured-liquor tastings paired with food, monthly “no-rules” parties, or the recurring Flight of the Alchemist, an event where guests can savor and learn about a couple of diﬀerent cocktails for a one entry fee. Each month has its own theme such as America month, featuring a Flapper party and bourbon tasting, or an English-European month, featuring The Seven Deadly Gins tasting and a Sherlock Holmes themed party.

In Summation An outing to Alchemy is the perfect opportunity to dress up for a classy night in good company, a pleasant excuse to broaden one’s cocktail palette, a glory-trip back in time and an altogether experience worth sharing.

Visitor View | Midtown

Bar Blowout

Midtown may be the smallest borough in Tallahassee, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in cocktails

Words and photos: Zachary Goldstein

Midtown | Visitor View

Waterfalls, palm fronds, dim lights–the night fades into a blur of colors and sounds of a distant place Waterworks Here’s the place you want to go when you get tired of the club scene at any other bar. A comfy little hideaway that revolves around a Polynesian tiki theme, tasty cocktails, live entertainment and an attitude

that borders between intellectual and bacchanal thirst, you’ll either love it or hate it. You’ll probably love it, though. Drink a Zombie when you go— but make sure you stand up before you order another.

Waterworks is the only bar in town that serves absinthe in the traditional way, slowly dripping ice water over a spoon with a sugar cube into the glass. Watch out for the green fairy.

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Finnegan’s Wake This attractive Irish pub is way cleaner than some of the other bars of the genre I’ve been to—and that’s not a bad thing. What really sets this place apart, though, is that it’s an amazing venue for peoplewatching. It’s also a place that you can take mom and dad for a happy hour of civilized imbibement and return for a rager after you’ve tucked them in. They’ve got the standard fare of any bar in Tallahassee, but it’s an Irish pub. Just order a damn Guinness.

Midtown | Visitor View

Sip on cocktails, empty a few pints of craft brew, taste fine wines from around the world; it’s all here Mockingbird Two words: Whiskey Wednesday. A few more words: the best sweet potato fries in town. Cozy up to the bar, order a beer or a cocktail, and nom on some of the tastiest late-night bar food that

Tallahassee has to offer. This place is funky, eclectic and full of hip spunk. If you go on Wednesday, you get a dollar off any whiskey drink. If that’s not enough of a reason to go, I don’t know what is.

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The beer selection at Leon is fantastic, but so is the way itʼs served. Antique draught towers, some made of porcelain and more than 50 years old, have been restored to functionality and crank out pint after pint just as they were intended to. Drink up, history buffs.

Leon Pub If you don’t like smokey bars, don’t even think about going. If you are constantly annoyed by the beer selection at any other bar in town, don’t even think about skipping it. With over 300 available beers, 50 of which are on tap, you’ll be willing to put up with the smoke-friendly environment just to partake in the incredible selection. There’s also a real-live juke box, a huge collection of functional beer paraphernalia and a phone booth that acts as a free phone charging station. For serious beer lovers, there’s not a much better place in town.

Midtown | Visitor View

Words and photos: Tammy Noel

Classic Couture

Visitor View | Midtown

From The Grey Fox to Cole Couture, these Midtown boutiques offer Tallahassee’s best in fashion and style The Grey Fox Whether it’s hot cocoa or sweet tea, a familiar drink from your hometown sends a nostalgic energy with each gulp. Aside from a refreshing drink, it quenches a thirst for warmth and comfort. With the turn of a brass knob, The Grey Fox unlocks the memories of family. The home of timeless brands, this is a perfect place to pick up a gift for loved ones. With an emphasis on love, the generational gap is closed through their extensive merchandise collection. From baby items to men’s wear to pickled jam, The Grey Fox’s possibilities are disguised behind the glass storefront. This is one stop that openly invites the family to come in.

Divas and Devils Divas and Devils offers a haven for vintage babes and bros. Known for exclusive brands like Jeffrey Campbell and True Religion, D&D is the place for vintage finds and unique pieces. What’s second to the clothing is the décor. Like a time machine, the interior of D&D transports you to a hippie pad in the 70s. Every nook and crannie, leaves something to be discovered, whether it’s vintage pearl earrings from the ’60s or the latest True Religion jeans. In one word, D&D is cool.

Cole Couture Cole Couture lives up to its name. Serving the couture of the south, Cole Couture is the perfect boutique to find your contemporary items for a fashionista. With a wide variety of trendy lines, 7 for All Mankind, BCBG and Free People, this is the place for the professional girl, who needs a little party. You’ll want to return because the ambience is constantly being changed and updated. The artistry of window displays is truly something to admire, but always reflects a modern Southern flair, complete with a complimentary candy bar, Cole Couture’s customer service is as sweet as their treats.

Midtown | Visitor View

Lake Ella

Words: Nicole Cornwell Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Like a grassy square in a major city, Lake Ella is a perfect reprieve onstantly being surrounded by college-age students, nearly never interacting with those younger than 18 or older than 30, can make students think Tallahassee’s main features are its universities.

and bikers, as well as dog owners who, on nice weather days, turn Lake Ella into a proper puppy parade. Couples, hands held, stroll the lake’s perimeter, passing by a paperback reader situated on a bench near another who stands, phone to his ear, perhaps on a smoke break.

While in some aspects this is in true, in reality, the college bubble of twenty-somethings is a lot smaller than one may think, especially because Tallahassee is not exclusively a college town. Lake Ella is prime evidence of this; students as well as local families flock to the lake, one of Tallahassee’s iconic and most beloved locations.

“I go to Lake Ella because it’s peaceful and it’s really nice to run or jog around and ponder whatever’s on your mind, and step outside reality for a bit,” said Mike Arroyo, a Tallahassee resident.

Encircled in low-hanging, mossy trees, the lake is a simple picture of North Florida natural beauty. Scattered around the lake are turtles, geese and ducks. The sidewalk provides ample showroom for runners, walkers,

Located just north of downtown, Lake Ella is a sort of haven where locals spend their time in the myriad of shops and cafes, or using the roads and sidewalks surrounding the lake for exercise and recreation. Katie Ouellette, a runner and FSU student sees the lake as a natural training ground. “I’m starting to train for a 5K and

I find it really difficult to run in the areas surrounding my neighborhood, because it’s so hilly, so I’ve been coming to Lake Ella to run around because it’s a little bit more flat,” Ouellette said. For those less into the lake’s fitness aspect and more into the fare, Lake Ella offers a bevy of quaint, local eats. Big Easy Snowballs, a locally-owned, New Orleans-style snow cone shop, has recently made the move to Lake Ella. The shop is open seasonally and offers one of the best treats in town. Quarter Moon is a popular shop that sells imports of eclectic clothing and jewelry. There is also Joe’s Bike Shop, situated close to Big Easy, and Mickey’s Lakeside Cafe, a local spot open exclusively for lunch.

Visitor View | Midtown

But Lake Ella might be best known for Black Dog Cafe, one of the many local coffee shops in Tallahassee. Sitting alongside the American Legion, the cafe looks like another small white house in the neighborhood, but which just happens to be open for tea and lattes. Black Dog is owned by Carla Reid, a professor of Religion at FSU. It is famed

for its cozy-house-on-theside-of-a-lake charm, with dimly-lit insides and plenty of windows to gaze out on the lake. It is a very popular study spot for FSU students, but just far enough from campus to encounter other Tallahassee neighbors. It is also a destination for literary locals, being a hot spot for readings and other performances.

For students and tourists alike looking to get a glimpse of standard Tallahassee recreation beyond the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abundant bars and eateries, Lake Ella exists as a working introduction to a slower-paced lifestyle. Things here are a little more settled, less hectic and unwinding lakeside after a long day at work or school is standard practice. Engage the locals, engage the calming atmosphere.

Midtown | Visitor View

Words: Angelica Martinez Photos: Zachary Goldstein

Farm Fresh Tomato Land reminds customers of simpler times when local, family-owned markets were the expectation, not the exception 56

Visitor View | Midtown

t’s reminiscent of a quiet Georgia town where vendors sold their fresh- picked fruits along the sides of winding roads. It’s got that hometown vibe. Tomato Land, a blink-andyou-might-miss-it little establishment down Tallahassee’s famous Thomasville Road, transports you to a time and place when openair markets and family-run business were the norm and not the novel exception. It’s hidden among the tupelo honey gum trees, making it seem as though Tomato Land stands at the edge of a forest, inviting all passersby to inhale the scent of ripe tomatoes and discover just what this restaurant has to offer –

and accepting that invitation merits a succulent surprise. Tomato Land is one of the few restaurants in the Tallahassee area that provides fresh, locally-grown produce for its customers. Their fruits and vegetables are from the surrounding counties of Jackson, Leon and Gadsden. Now owned and managed by Butch Reagan and his wife, it was once a tiny market owned by Reagan’s father-inlaw back in the mid-1960s. Since moving to its current location in 1986, the mini restaurant is entirely a fam-

ily with its customer basis of regulars and first timers alike made to feel welcome. That translates well with its customers. “What I enjoy most about running a place like this is the family atmosphere,” Reagan said. “Some of these customers, I’ve seen them have babies and I’ve seen those babies grow up and come here with their own families. Tomato Land is still here because of loyalty. I value that.” Boasting both an outdoor produce market and a small restaurant where friendly >>

Itʼs hidden among the tupelo honey gum trees, making it seem as though Tomato Land stands at the edge of a forest

Midtown | Visitor View

workers will prepare the meal of the day, Tomato Land customers can choose anything from smoked pork chops, chicken potpie, fried chicken and several other options. Add an extra side of okra or fried green tomatoes and you’ll feel like you’re sitting at grandma’s dinner table in New Orleans. Their sandwich selection, which includes customer favorites like the Subers Smoked Salmon Sandwich, reveals you don’t have to leave Florida to enjoy a true Southern home-cooked meal. And the prices are even further incentive to give the local fare a try: a hot lunch with two sides and bread usually costs about $6.50.

For those with a sweet tooth, the true magic of this place lies in the seemingly infinite rows and columns of mason jars that contain the wildest and most original flavors of preserves, jams and syrups in perhaps all of Florida. They offer jars of wild mayhaw syrup, hot pepper jelly, hot cinnamon apple syrup and key lime jelly. This array of flavors satisfies both curiosity and taste buds. Take one step outside only to be greeted by a world swarming with color. It’s everywhere: the green of the trees towering over the market, the vibrant reds of their signature fruit, the vivid yellows of the ripening bananas and papayas

and the golden hues of layered onions. The huts standing on the stony market walkway hold everything from melons, grapes and peaches to juicy watermelons that seem large enough to have won first prize at a county fair. Tomato Land’s well-stocked market demands that customers spend hours searching to find the perfect red apple. It’s normal to get lost in the assortment of strange vegetables never present at grocery stores. Tomato Land is for those eager to get a taste of a true Tallahassee gem and get perhaps a little nostalgic about a simpler time.

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THE

RIGHTCHOICE. OVER $1,000,000 IN RENOVATIONS

& JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM CAMPUS! • New Counter Tops

• Basketball Court

• New Cabinets

• Computer Lab

• Individual Leases

• Cookout Area

• Fully Furnished

• Courtesy Officers

• Cable with HBO

• Fitness Center

• Community-Wide WiFi

• Game Room

• Washer & Dryer

• Gated Community

• 24/7 Maintenance

• Pool & Hot Tub

• Patio or Balcony

• Resident Events

• Sand Volleyball Court

• Tanning Dome

www.TheCommonsTally.com C/CommonsFSU M@TheCommonsFL

1325 W Tharpe St | Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone 850.523.1000

Just Out of Town | Visitor View

JUST OUT OF TOWN Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to get caught up in the sights and sounds of Tallahassee, but just beyond the city limits lies a vast expanse of North Florida nature, history and culture.

Visitor View | Just Out of Town

Words: Setareh Baig and K. Maxwell Greenwood Photo Illustration: Zachary Goldstein

Bear Paw vs. Madison Blue Spring Natural springs present an opportunity for a relaxing, calming getawayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;here are some of our favorites

Bear Paw Inebriated by not only the alcohol but also the stream of relaxation, tubers float down the Chipola River. With a brewski in tow, the floaters can take in the fresh foliage surrounding the water, under the influence of the magnificent scenery as well as the booze. Their feet touch the water and an overwhelming sense of complacency overcomes them, their fuzzy perspective of shrubs reflected in the icy blue water makes them appreciate natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own tavern like never before. >>

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The 92.5-mile-long river is both vast and mysterious, but welcomes its patrons with an affectionate breeze. As the largest tributary of the Apalachicola, the Chipola River is home to 63 freshwater springs, holding the most in Northwest Florida. To experience the calming luxury of floating down Chipola, Bear Paw Adventures in Marianna, Fla. offers everything needed for a day of aquatic revelry—from tubing, canoeing, boating and several others. However, as any liquor devotee would guess, their intoxicating tubing trip is Bear Paw’s most coveted activity offered to date. The trip starts from the calm waters of Spring Creek, with crystal clear waters ideal for swimming, skin diving, scuba diving and canoeing, and ends back at the Bear Paw office on the river. The voyage takes visitors two miles down Spring Creek and 1.9 miles down the Chipola River.

Madison Blue Spring Branches of pine trees and hardwoods hang like outstretched arms over the basin, providing just the right amount of shade as the water flows into the Withlacoochee River. A divisive line forms where the spring water meets the plant-soaked river water, creating an obvious contrast of blue and copper. In the spring’s 25-foot-deep limestone basin, you can see a number of small fish, swimming lazily again the current before allowing themselves to be gently swept back into the significantly warmer river water. This is what painters think about when they set out to paint the perfect landscape. This is Madison Blue Spring. The spring is not easy to locate. It sits in a small state park about 10 miles east of Madison, Fla. in neighboring Lee on State Road 6, and if you’re not careful, you’ll turn too early or too late.

While canoe trips take on average about 2-2.5 hours, tube trips can take anywhere from 3-4 hours, making blissful laziness an all-day affair. Renting a regular-sized tube costs just $10; however, Bear Paw offers “Cadillac Tubes” for $5 more for those who want to feel like a rapper while floating idly in the midst of Mother Nature. During the journey, it is not uncommon to see fellow river resters befriending one another, or an ensuing “Redneck Yacht Club,” as one fellow Bear Paw patron described his family gathering, a jovial celebration encompassing barbecue, coolers and music right on the edge of the river. Bear Paw Adventures offers a heavenly escape from the stresses of everyday life; after all, few things in life are better than guzzling a cold beer while floating aimlessly down a magnificent river getaway.

But if you pay attention to the signs, keep your eyes peeled, pay a $5 fee at the park entrance and make a short trek through the woods, you’ll see the head of a spring so crystal-clear that it looks like someone has stretched blue cellophane over a hole in the ground. Swimming is allowed, but be warned, the spring is cold. And if swimming isn’t your thing, the park also boasts a number of riverside hiking trails through the woods, picnic tables and launch areas for canoes and kayaks (unfortunately, you’ll have to bring your own or rent them somewhere else). What makes Madison Blue a north Florida treasure, though, is the intimacy it oﬀers. The park feels much smaller than the better-known Wakulla Springs, and that’s because it is, making it a great (and possibly less expensive) option for shorter day trips and for people who simply want a little more low-key experience.

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Words: Ariel Backer Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Monticello

Take a trip back in time to the South’s most haunted small town onticello has been deemed one of the most haunted towns in the South. Paranormal enthusiasts from all over have made the trek to witness for themselves the spirits that haunt this eerily small town.

Coming into this historic rural area, tourists are greeted with antebellum homes, crepe myrtles, oak-draped streets and the ghostly gentlefolk rumored to linger there. Burrowed in one of the few remaining Florida counties without a single stoplight (Jeﬀerson County), Monticello couldn’t feel any farther from city life, although Tallahassee is a mere 26.5 miles away. Behind the Southern hospitality and plantation-era charm, Monticello’s claim to fame reigns as being known as the South’s “most haunted” small town. Spirits that haunt the area may actually root from a gem of this historic town – the Monticello Opera House. To visit the Opera House is to take a step back in time; enter a facility that lends itself to the sounds and the performances of >>

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yesteryear. “Oh, you have to come,” insists Katie Marshall, Monticello Opera House Administrative Assistant to Executive Director Fran Litton. “You can come here and experience very close to what people experienced in the 1890s when John Henry Perkins built the Opera House.” The ambience of the building is a part of what makes it so remarkable and it certainly contrasts from going to a contemporary theater. Feast your eyes upon the hardwood floors, antique chandeliers and high ceilings, alongside the original stage and boxes where dignitaries used to sit. Visitors are greeted with a certain awe when the doors open to the Opera House on guided tours. “The moment when I open the door to the theater and they catch their breath and they say

‘oh my goodness, I can’t believe this is here,’ and they are just amazed,” said Marshall. Despite its age, Marshall said the Opera House remains the heart of Monticello. “Well, I guess I look at it in terms of what things would be like if it weren’t here,” Marshall said. “If they had torn it down in the ’70s and we just had a parking lot instead that served maybe the courthouse, so much would be lost.” Originally known as the “Perkins Block” in 1890, enterprising businessman John H. Perkins had built a handsome edifice in high hopes of establishing an opera house. The railroad used to end in Monticello, and consequently brought in wealthy tourists from the North. They attended local plays, opera, Shakespeare and minstrel shows, even wrestling matches, all the while staying at the St. Elmo Hotel just a block up the street.

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However, shortly after the turn of the century, the railroads were re-routed and extended down to South Florida. Therefore, the tourists that originally came for the warm weather and were only able to get as far as Monticello now went further south.

cility. Local events such as high school proms, voting, political forums, rotary events, local art shows, meetings for the health department and women’s club, family reunions and weddings all take place in this unique, multipurpose venue.

But in 1972, the community pulled together and saved the opera house.

With a population of just over 3,000, Monticello is quintessentially a small town. And like all small towns, this is a place where everybody knows one another, the people are friendly and the stores stay open for you. Visitors can walk up at closing time, but they’ll let you in anyway and see what they can do for you.

“If we didn’t have the Opera House here, there would be people that never saw a live play,” Marshall said. “They would never hear a variety of live music. They wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to an art show and look at pieces of art on display rather than just on the Internet. I don’t know where the community would gather if they didn’t gather here.” For residents of Jeﬀerson County, the Monticello Opera House is a space that dually serves as a community center and a rental fa-

“I’ve lived in Monticello since 1990 and it’s my town, I love it,” Marshall said proudly. Even with its reputation as the most haunted small town, Monticello has a southern charm and very strong sense of history–and its residents value it.

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Words: Blair Stokes Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Protect and Preserve 66

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Located just over an hour east of Tallahassee, Seacrest Wolf Preserve offers visitors a chance to get up-close and personal with wildlife For a yearling pup, he waxes wise, as if privy to some innate knowledge that necessarily evades humans. Eye to eye with humans, Liberty approaches cautiously, his paws plodding against a barely beaten earth. He’s a diplomat for his fellow wolves as he sidles up to humans visiting his land, slobbering on hands in a salutation echoing an earnest handshake. Liberty has known human interaction since birth. Before his eyes could even open, he was taken from the den in preparation for his adult calling: education. He is one of over 30 wolf ambassa-

dors charged with dispelling human fear and imparting knowledge. Their docile, yet undomesticated nature aﬃrm the basic bond between human and beast. “Humans ignorantly and unknowingly are the ones that bring imbalance to ecosystems,” said Cynthia Watkins, founder of Seacrest Wolf Preserve where Liberty was born and raised. “All living entities in the natural world are connected and that connectedness comes back to humans.” Nowhere else in the state of Florida, if not, the nation, can both creatures interact on

such a base level. Here, humans are permitted to enter the enclosure, touch wolves and pose for photos, without any physical barriers. Typical wolf preserves do not allow such a close encounter. “We have visitors that come from all over the world,” Watkins said. “You will not get to see wolves exactly the way you get to see them here in any other place in the world that we know of.” Seacrest Wolf Preserve, the largest preserve of its kind in the southeastern United States, recognizes such an intrinsic relation and seeks to >>

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recontextualize wolves beyond their snarling, oft inaccurate representations in media. Contrary to the admonitions from Little Red Riding Hood, Liberty and his pack are certainly not the vicious wolves of fairytales. These wolves are big, but not bad. Fostering mutual respect, visitors and wolves are encouraged to get acquainted. Humans pet the friendlier animal ambassadors and admire the more timid animals while on a guided tour at the preserve located about an hour’s drive west of Tallahassee. Upon arrival, the 100-mile journey and $15 tour donation will be rewarded with the chance to walk with wolves. At The Oaks Farm, Cynthia and her husband Wayne founded their non-profit preserve in 1999 to fulfill the mis-

sion of “preservation through education.” In her denim work shirt with an elaborate depiction of wolves on the back, Watkins narrates the Saturday imprinting program, which allows visitors to engage the pack’s pups. Scooping up a tan Arctic Wolf pup, she aﬀectionately introduces Spirit Prince, an eight-weekold with a feisty temperament. Watkins says she has long been concerned with the welfare of North American wolves, fervently advocating for their preservation. “Hatred, fear and misunderstanding” on the part of humans has plagued the wolf for centuries, Watkins said. “The wolf is one of the most misunderstood and most persecuted species on the planet,” Watkins said. “Seacrest is a serious educational facility.

We’re not a zoo, we’re not a rescue facility. Education is one of our last hopes left to raise the consciousness of humans about the importance of the natural world.” Watkins and her staﬀ of volunteers at Seacrest have worked to preserve not only species of Gray, Arctic and British Columbian wolves, but also their natural habitats, which can be a challenge in Florida’s Panhandle. Liberty and his brother, playmate and fellow yearling, Yuma regularly romp around in dewy wilderness recreated for their needs as Gray wolves. The two are at play beneath a canopy of foliage, deftly darting in and out of dense woods with an agility domestic dogs can only mimic. A striking pair, they >>

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“Seacrest is a serious educational facility. Weʼre not a zoo, weʼre not a rescue facility. Education is one of our last hopes left to raise the consciousness of humans about the importance of the natural world.”

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manhandle each other in the pine needles, but get them close to humans and they’ll observe curiously before bounding forth for a pleasant pounce of a hug. As the newest additions to the Seacrest pack, the brothers have the most recent exposure to humans, even begging for the odd belly rub as Fido would. Their temperament is generally cordial, even inviting, although each wolf exhibits their own distinct personality. While Yuma and Liberty wrestled, Utah stood his distance, his stance evoking that of a proud, yet cautious buck. He seemed more regal this way, in a seemingly untouched state of nature, less influenced by the constant presence of humans, more instinctual in manner. Because they are still wild in most respects, these animals are not quite man’s best friend despite sharing many characteristics. To prevent provocation and possible injury, long pants and close-toed shoes must be worn while flashy jewelry and accessories are prohibited so as not to invite a swipe. Full safety rules and details are outlined on Seacrest’s website.

While a domesticated dog still has distant wild instincts, these wolves are nearer a completely wild state than common canines. The most patent difference is of course stature: Wolves dwarf most dogs and proportionally their paws are notably larger. Further, wolves are independent from humans whereas dogs were bred to be needy, veterinary technician and volunteer Candy Price said. “We changed their disposition, we changed their personalities all that time we were domesticating them,” Price said of the domes-

Liberty and his brother, playmate and fellow yearling, Yuma regularly romp around in dewy wilderness recreated for their needs as Gray wolves.

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tication process. “They all were just as independent as the wolf at one time.”

balancing the ecosystem and food chain.

Peopled by volunteers, Seacrest’s grounds are expansive, with over 400 acres of wolf-roaming territory. The staged land in the enclosure belongs to the wolves although, through early human imprinting, they are accustomed to the mild intrusion of guided tours.

“We are so passionate about helping people understand how important this species is,” Watkins said. “Someone once said ‘We will conserve only what we love, we love only what we understand and we understand only what we are taught.’ That is a profound call for education.”

At least for the sake of understanding, it’s a necessary intrusion. Watkins stressed that as a keystone species, the wolf’s presence is crucial to the course of nature. In the wild, wolves serve to check the populations of big deer like moose,

Palming Liberty’s silvery-white coat peppered with gray will leave tourists with bits of fur to remember him. That wolf fur lingers on clothing as a de facto souvenir of sorts, ensuring that the wolves have also left their own imprint on visitors.

Just Out of Town | Visitor View SWINE TIME FESTIVAL: CLIMAX, GA. When: First Saturday after Thanksgiving Distance from Tallahassee: 38 miles The Swine Time Festival kicks oﬀ with a parade down Main Street and features contests and entertainment including best dressed pig, corn shucking, hog calling, chitterlings eating, pig racing, syrup making, homemade quilt demonstration and auction, a beauty contest, baby crawling and a greased pig chase. Visitors can also see Climax’s historic Log Cabin, depot, old courthouse, school and original voting precincts. Arts and crafts and food booths are a given.

RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP: WIGHAM, GA.: When: Last Saturday in January Distance from Tallahassee: 35 miles The Rattlesnake Roundup attracts approximately 25,000 visitors each year and is hailed as one of the premier events in the Southeast. The event features such demonstrations as snake handling, snake cooking, or the now-famous milking of the venom from an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, as well as rides for children, arts and crafts booths and other entertainment.

BEAD FESTIVAL: HAVANA, FLA.:

RIVER PARK INTERTRIBAL POWWOW: CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLA

When: October and March Distance from Tallahassee: 16.5 miles

When: Second weekend in October Distance from Tallahassee: 44 miles

Every fall and spring, over 40 vendors and dealers from all over the United States gather to present their handcrafted bead creations at one of Havana’s most colorful events—the Bead Festival. Guests are able peruse the broad bead selection for that one-of-a-kind piece, attend beading classes or purchase wholesale beading supplies for their own crafting.

The annual Intertribal Pow Wow is a Native American social gathering, which takes place at the River Landing Park in Chattahoochee, along the banks of the Apalachicola river. The Pow Wow customarily includes a drum competition, native dancing and storytelling, crafts and food. The public is welcome to attend.

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10 GOAT DAY: BLOUNTSTOWN, FLA. When: Third Saturday in October Distance from Tallahassee: 50 miles Each year, Sam Atkins Park in Blountstown plays host to the Goat Day, a festivity of the goat. The event features live music, entertainment for children and a plethora of arts and crafts booths. Attendees have the opportunity to sample and buy goat milk, cheese and meat. As an added bonus, the festival’s date coincides with the Blountstown’s annual Pioneer Day, which takes place right next door at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement and includes tours of the Settlement, demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and other old fashioned activities.

BLUES AND BARBEQUE FESTIVAL: QUINCY, FLA. When: First Friday in May Distance from Tallahassee: 24 miles The ethnically diverse Quincy is home to perhaps the youngest festival on our list, the Quincyfest Blues and Barbeque. The festival is paired up closely with Quincy’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations and as its name suggests, this annual jamboree brings together a flavorsome blend of blues music and barbeque.

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10 ANNUAL SMALLTOWN FESTIVALS LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY DOWN HOME DAYS FESTIVAL, PARADE AND RODEO: MADISON, FLA.:

BY ONDREJ PAZDIREK

When: Third weekend in April Distance from Tallahassee: 56 miles Madison County’s Down Home Days is one of North Florida’s largest two-day events. Activities and entertainment include a parade, petting zoo, classic car show, antique tractor and engine show, cloggers, frog hop, world’s largest pinball, dessert bake oﬀ, watermelon seed spitting contest, 1K and 5K fun runs, dancing, kids train, rock climbing, dance routines, crafts, and most importantly: a two-night rodeo.

For lovers of small town charm and tradition, county fairs and festivities, animal shows and good food, there’s plenty to choose from all year round in Tallahassee’s close vicinity.

MULE DAY: CALVARY, GA. When: First Saturday in November Distance from Tallahassee: 23 mile In November, 60,000 to 90,000 people will travel to Calvary, a tiny town in Southwest Georgia, for the 41st annual Mule Day. There will be arts & crafts exhibitions, cane and corn grinding, gasing and gawking and syrup making, and a parade showcasing mules, horses and antique tractors. At the core of the festival is the Mule Show, which features contests and prizes such as the Mule Cob Race, Mule Barrel Race, Panty Hose Race, Best Jackass Halter, Best Jenny Halter, or Best Costume Mule.

FLORIDA FOREST FESTIVAL: PERRY, FLA.

WATERMELON FESTIVAL: MONTICELLO, FLA.

When: Last Saturday in October Distance from Tallahassee: 52 miles

When: Third week of June Distance from Tallahassee: 27 miles

The Florida Forest Festival debuted in 1956 as a way to promote forest fire safety and has since developed into an annual celebration of forestry in Florida. The festival traditionally features loader competitions, chainsaw contests, lumberjack shows, equipment demonstrations, the King Tree Parade, a carnival and the World’s Largest Free Fish Fry.

Dating back more than 60 years, the Watermelon Festival in Monticello celebrates Jeﬀerson County’s rich agricultural heritage, including a long history of growing watermelon. Around 1884, Jeﬀerson County was considered the top watermelon seed supplier in the world. Over the years, the festival has expanded to contain new events such as ghost tours, beauty pageants, street dance, a car show, face painting, a carving contest, melon run and a parade. At heart of the festival, however, remain the watermelons.

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BEACH TOWN Tallahassee is landlocked, but a short drive south of town yields Florida at its finest: Sandy beaches, blue springs, calm lakes and fresh seafood prove youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not Tally anymore; this is Beachtown.

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Heading Down South Words and photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

An accelerated travel log of the teeming culture along the way to Florida’s Gulf Coast t is said that the real Florida starts south of Orlando, that you haven’t seen a true beach if you haven’t been to West Palm Beach, but I am from the landlocked Prague, and now I live in Tallahassee, too close to an ocean to turn up my nose at what’s close, so I get in my Oldsmobile, tune in to 94.9 FM and head south to the Gulf. >>

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First stop, Wakulla Springs....

Wakulla Springs (mile 16) A designated National Natural Landmark, the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is the perfect place for a family picnic or a weekend retreat, a lake-style resort where amusement merges with Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful natural history. The park is home to rich wildlife, including fish, manatees, alligators, turtles, deer and a large number of different bird species, which

can be observed walking along the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nature trail or from a riverboat tour. The tours are guided by the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledgeable staff, and when the water is clear, visitors have the option to take the tour in a glass-bottom boat. The Wakulla Springs Lodge overlooks the spring and features a full-service dining room and facilities to accommodate business meetings. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. >>

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Following a lovely morning at Wakulla Springs, I head east to make a stop at the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail and then continue to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with the goal of reaching the Historic St. Marks Lighthouse. Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail (mile 25) In the early 1900s, the historic railroad corridor was used to carry cotton from the plantation belt to the coast, where it was shipped to textile mills in England and New

England. The trail is now paved and runs 205 miles from Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city to the coastal community of St. Marks, providing an excellent recreational outlet for biking, running and hiking. At U.S. Route 98, the trail joins a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail, which continues south.

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St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (mile 34) This 68,000-acre refuge was established in 1931 to provide a wintering habitat for migratory birds, and, as such, is one of the oldest in the United States. It encompasses several coastal habitats, including marshes, islands, tidal creeks and the estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to diverse plant and animal life. As such, it is a great place for kayaking, hiking and cycling, and provides a beautiful subject for drawing, painting and photography. The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is inhabited by black bears, bobcats, otters, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, alligators and many diﬀerent species of snakes, amphibians and birds. The refuge is a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail, and serves as a varied outlet for recreational anglers and fishing enthusiasts, oﬀering both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

Historic St. Marks Lighthouse (mile 40) Dating all the way back to the time of Andrew Jackson, the St. Marks Lighthouse has served as a navigational beacon for over a century and a half, guiding recreational, military and merchant vessels from around the world to the mouth of the St. Marks River. According to local legend, the limestone blocks, which construct the tower’s base, come from the ruins of the old Spanish Fort San Marcos de Apalachee. Over the years, the lighthouse has faced and prevailed through severe storms and hurricanes, requiring only minor repairs; however, the keeper’s house has been rebuilt several times. The lighthouse is still active today, aiding navigation for vessels on the Apalachee Bay. It is currently owned by the U.S. Coast Guard, but a transfer of ownership to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in the works. Once the transfer is finalized, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge plans to restore and open the lighthouse as a museum and historic site. >>

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When I leave the untamed wilderness of St. Marks, it is past lunch time and I still have larger portion of my trip ahead of me, so I decide to stop for lunch at Ouzt’s Too Oyster Bar & Grill, a small diner beside U.S. 98 Coastal Highway. After I eat my fill of excellent, fresh-shucked oysters, steamed, served with butter and garlic, it’s off to the beaches in the Gulf of Mexico, with stops at Alligator Point and St. George Island.

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1. Wakulla Springs 2. St. Markʼs Historic Railroad State Trail 3. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge 4. Historic St. Marks Lighthouse 5. Alligator Point 6. St. George Island 7. Apalachicola

Alligator Point (mile 83) Alligator Point is nestled between the Gulf of Mexico, Alligator Harbor and Bald Point State Park, and consists of a quiet beach community and a narrow beach peninsula offering eight miles of a quiet shoreline. Alligator Point is known as a fantastic saltwater fishing area and scenic wildlife habitat. The nearby Alligator Harbor—a shallow estuary and a barrier spit lagoon renowned for its clam harvesting—was featured on Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.”

St. George Island (mile 134) The barrier island, mostly made of white sand dunes with sea oats and pine trees, is enclosed by the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola Bay, and is one of the prime family vacation destinations in Franklin County. St. George Island oﬀers many attractions, from fishing and fresh seafood, through beach and outdoorsy activities, to shopping and nightlife. The area boasts a quiet small-town-Florida coastal feel while still oﬀering plenty to do. The island is also home to the St. George Island State Park. >>

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The sun is low on the horizon as I set out to Apalachicola, my final destination, and formerly the third-largest shipping port on the Gulf Coast.

Apalachicola (mile 150) Although the days of Apalachicolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former glory are now gone, the city continues to be the homeport for a number of seafood businesses, including oyster harvesters and shrimpers. In fact, more than 90 percent of Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oyster production is harvested from the Apalachicola Bay, on which the town resides. The city annually hosts the oldest seafood festival in Florida on the first weekend in November, featuring a carnival, an oyster eating contest, oyster shucking contest, blue crab races, a 3.1 mile road race, a country music concert and arts and craft booths.

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Apalachicola’s maritime culture soaks through in the picturesque historic district, which serves as a daily reminder of the prominence Apalachicola once enjoyed. This “fishing village” is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists seeking experiences of “Old Florida,” as many describe the feel of small-town communities along Florida’s coast. Fresh seafood is available yearround at most of the restaurants in the city. Apalachicola is also considered the artistic center of Franklin County: it is home to the Dixie Theater, a professional Equity theater, as well as the Art Walk and Wine Festival and the Apalachicola

Riverfront Film Festival, and frequent host of the Florida’s Forgotten Coast Plein Air Paintout. Following my footsteps and visiting seven places in one day might prove to be a bit too much, and honestly, each and every single one of these locales is worthy of a day trip on its own, although my by far favorite destination had to be Apalachicola. So, if you’re in town for a visit and looking for a place to spend a day, head south, there’s plenty to choose from. And if you live in Tallahassee and have never traveled to the Gulf Coast, you’re missing out—the beauty of Florida nature, after all, is only a stone’s throw away.

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Words and photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Fresh from the Bay Angelo & Son’s Seafood offers the perfect blend of worldly cuisine and low-key local dining here’s no better seafood than fresh seafood and there’s no better fresh seafood from Tallahassee to the Gulf than Angelo & Son’s Seafood Restaurant.

Located in the beautiful Ochlockonee Bay, near Panacea, Fla., Angelo’s offers a perfect blend of worldly cuisine and low-key local dining. Built on stilts, the restaurant looms over the water and provides a spectacular view of the bay. The business itself is large enough

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Price| $$$$$ Hours| MWR 4:30 - 10 FSa 4:30 - 11 Su Noon-10

of an operation to accommodate its guests on a busy day, yet small enough not to feel touristy and keep up its Mom and Pop feel. At the restaurant’s heart is, of course, the seafood, which is served the way seafood is meant to be served: fresh and without extensive embellishment. The fish and shrimp are caught by Angelo’s own boats, the Tropical Trader fleet, and cleaned directly on the premises. The owners, Angelo and Arline Petrandis, recently came out of retirement to run their business once again. They are open and friendly people, always happy to meet the

guests, ready to go out of their way to ensure the customers enjoy their stay. “Most of my customers come in the kitchen and ask me what to get, they want to meet me; they will just come back and say ‘what’d you want me to eat’ and I tell them what we just caught,” Angelo says. What is available depends on the weather and the time of year. The usual selection includes grouper, snapper, scamp, flounder, mullet, bass and shrimp. The seafood is prepared broiled or fried (although charbroiled is the

way to go) and served simply: with to-die-for homemade hush puppies, lemon butter sauce, topped with a parsley and onion garnish. And while you can’t go wrong with a nice broiled snapper or grouper, it is almost a sin not to try the head-on shrimp when oﬀered. For first-timers, I recommend getting a combination of the two. Red meat lovers have the option to order a rib-eye steak and vegetarians can choose among a couple of pasta dishes, prepared with alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, or olive oil and garlic. >>

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When it comes to the choice of soup of the day or salad, go for the soup, whether it’s Gumbo, Grouper Chowder or some other alternative. But if you prefer salad, Angelo likes to make the Greek House Dressing himself. Angelo works at the restaurant every day, doing a bit of everything. He lives right across the bay bridge, calls Panacea “God’s country—a perfect place to live, go fishing, crabbing, hunting” and employs a friendly and attentive staﬀ from the area. “We love him [Angelo], he’s like a father to all of us working here, he is so caring, always making sure everyone’s doing okay,” said Rae Ministerio, who’s worked at the restaurant for six years. Angelo & Son’s started as George’s Café and Bar, an establishment built by Angelo’s father George Petrandis back in 1945. It was originally constructed on pilings and located over the water in order to be in a “wet” county, as both Leon and Wakulla were dry at the time. Angelo’s family came to the United States from Greece, and their story since then has been one of success and adversity; an American dream type of story, stripped to the bone of its romantic shell—a family of hard-working, self-made people. In 2005, due to extensive damage caused by hurricane Dennis, the old building had to be torn down. Angelo, however, did not give up on the business, and with the help of his family pulled through the hard time, erecting a new structure in the old one’s stead. Despite the hurricane and a few other setbacks, not much has changed at Angelo’s since the restaurant’s founding almost 70 years ago. It is still the hardy family business it used to be, where a mix of the owners’ dedication, Greek roots and love of fresh seafood combine into a wonderful dining experience.

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The Rez Words: Brittany Lyons Photos: Ondrej Pazdirek

Sun, sailing and swimming, FSU’s lakeside haven offers a beach within minutes of campus

t seems that when outsiders think of Florida, they automatically think of sunny days and sparkling waters. “You must go to the beach all the time,” they say to every Floridian they converse with. Well, not exactly. Tallahassee is not a coastal area. You can take a day trip to St. George Island or Panama City Beach, but the capital itself is landlocked. But for all of those Floridians who grew up practically living on the shore or for visitors dying for a little fun in the sun, Tallahassee does offer an alternative: The Reservation. The Rez is situated on 73 acres that encompass Lake Bradford and it offers students, native Tallahasseans and visitors a kind of beach substitute. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can attend a sailing clinic and then rent a sailboat to go out on the lake. There’s also an area just for swimming, or visitors can rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards for the whole day or by the hour. Even if swimming isn’t your thing, there’s plenty to do at the Rez. The facilities offer a recreation hall complete >>

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Slather on the sunscreen, pack your picnic basket and grab a Frisbee to toss around with friends because the Rez makes for a perfect daytime escape without having to actually leave Tallahassee.

with table tennis games and picnic shelters complete with grills that you can reserve or rent out. You can also play disc golf, get an ace on the beach volleyball courts or scale a 40-foot rock climbing wall. The Rez is an outdoor tradition at Florida State since 1920, when it was known as Camp Flastacowo–a play on the first letters of Florida State. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the number of activities and facilities

available in Tallahassee. On FSU’s campus, students can do everything: From playing a game of racquetball at the gym to watching free movies at the Student Life Center or going bowling at Crenshaw Lanes. But the Rez has so much to offer to anyone who wants to spend the day outdoors. So slather on the sunscreen, pack your picnic basket and grab a Frisbee to toss around with friends because the Rez makes for a perfect daytime escape without having to actually leave Tallahassee.

North of Town | Visitor View

NORTH OF TOWN

Located just north of the Florida-Georgia border, Thomasville provides an oldtime Southern charm that makes it the perfect day trip destination.

Visitor View | North of Town

Words: Brittany Taman Photos: Zachary Goldstein

If Walls Could Talk Thomasville’s antique shops look beyond the old and neglected and see the potential within tepping into an antique shop in Thomasville, Ga., you’ll be greeted with the sights and scents reminiscent of your grandmother’s house. Time travel seems like a viable possibility as you find yourself surrounded by hat boxes, typewriters, aged cameo jewelry and hundreds of old Coke bottles.

Just 45 minutes north of Tallahassee is a historic city that serves as home to over 70 quaint stores and restaurants. The destination is the perfect place for a day trip, filled with old houses,

museums, the famous Big Oak and, of course, Southern charm. However, what brings visitors from all over to Downtown Thomasville is its collection of winsome antique shops.

These vintage pieces in Thomasville and beyond aren’t Upon arriving in Thomasville, make a trip to the Visitor’s Cenabout following ter on Jackson Street to pick up a a trend – they downtown guide, or just ask one of the locals for a recommendaprovide comfort tion – chances are, if you look at all lost, they’ll approach you with and assurance while that signature sweet Georgia hospitality. showing beauty in While antique shops have always what has been. thrived, the market has grown >> 91

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in the past few years with the increasing popularity of the worn-out and rustic design aesthetic. Not only are customers looking for antique pieces; they’re searching for ways to transform the classical into their own unique creation. That’s what Melissa Rigsby, owner of Relics, facilitates in her huge warehouse on South Madison Street. “Most of these items are in their original antique state, and then I just clean them up and repurpose them for something else,” Rigsby said. Stepping into her shop, you’ll be pleasantly overwhelmed by her ability to modify outdated junk into innovative and functional home décor. “I actually used to own a restaurant next-door, but realized soon after opening that my heart wasn’t in it,” Rigsby said. “After that, I started redoing an old home that I needed antique parts for, and that’s when I really started to learn about the business. I started out just renting a space in this building with a friend, and as time went on and I continued to accumulate all of these items, I ended up taking up the whole place. It’s just a hobby that’s turned into something bigger.” Some of her most eye-catching renovations include side tables made from antique file cabinets and suitcases, a chest made from shipping crates, a coﬀee table out of a map chest and columns from the remains of an old porch that served as room dividers in her space. “I find these old parts here in Thomasville, but I often travel elsewhere if I hear of a particularly good salvage,” Rigsby said. “People will bring their

Visitor View | North of Town

An-tique|(n) A collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age. Relic|(n) An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental value.

things to the shop, too.” Rigsby also takes a particular interest in creating light fixtures out of unusual items. “My husband used to make traditional lighting before I started up my shop here and I realized that I could make light fixtures out of pretty much anything,” Rigsby said. From the wire cages of old fans to attic vents and woven baskets, Rigsby uses the relics she finds to make something completely her own. Thomasville also hosts one of

the largest antique stores in the South, Toscoga Market Place. You could spend hours exploring all 18,000 square feet of the antique and interior store and still find something you hadn’t seen before on the way out. The shop has three floors, and each one gives oﬀ its own vibe. “The first floor is mostly items bought by Toscoga. As you go up, you’ll see that some of the merchandise is from other vendors. The third floor is predominantly booths rented out by 30 local antique sellers,” Manager of Toscoga Market Place Kevin >>

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“Most of these items are in their original antique state, and then I just clean them up and repurpose them for something else.” Fuchs said. The booths on the third floor each have their own theme, from a shop with old Army items to a corner with DIY projects. Toscoga, like Relics, aims to present their pieces in a way that is more appealing to customers. “We try to arrange things into separate rooms, combining both antique and new pieces, so that shoppers can visualize how things would look in their own home,” Fuchs said. “Not everyone can look at a pile of knick knacks and deteriorating furniture and see how they can work together with their home.” With the look of a high-end furniture store, Toscoga oﬀers an upscale look for a reasonable price. Further down South Broad Street is an antique shop quite unlike any other in Thomasville. Though they opened in 2011, ForeveRetro and Apollo Records are still the new kids on the block, bringing mid-century mod and a UK influence to the south. “This is the kind of shop you’d see in Camden or Notting Hill, just very laid back, but still bringing in quality stuﬀ,” said Robert Kelly, the owner of Apollo Records, who moved with his collection of records from England a few years ago. Both the

records available and interior items are rarities in these parts, making the partner shops a hot spot for music and mod lovers. While you’re guaranteed to run into several Thomasville locals on your trip you’ll find that most people come from out of town to enjoy the Old World atmosphere. “I’m from Baker County, but I drive out here every week to go shopping. There’s just nothing like it,” gushed a shopper loading up her car after a few hours at Relics. With all the history and charm of the city and its people, Thomasville is a perfect getaway. Rigsby said the town is a popular spot on the weekends. “We get a good bit of our business from college students,” Rigsby said. “They come out here with their friends or parents on Saturdays to pick out things for their apartments. We enjoy having them in the shop because they really seem to appreciate what we’ve done with the place.” These vintage pieces in Thomasville and beyond aren’t about following a trend – they provide comfort and assurance while showing beauty in what has been.

Words: Setareh Baig Photos: Zachary Goldstein

A Fairytale Visit from America’s Darling

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Almost 50 years later, Thomasville continues to remember Jackie Kennedy’s iconic visit as one of the most enchanting moments in the town’s history

North of Town | Visitor View

“There you are in all your glory and all of a sudden, you got your husband laying dead in your lap and you got a handful of brains and blood all over your clothes. What a horrifying thing to happen, even if you’re not famous.” 96

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hen John F. Kennedy was assassinated next to his wife on that dreaded November day in 1963, Ken Dunson was a junior at Florida State University driving on what was then known as Jefferson Street behind the Capitol building. As the initial dread overcame him after hearing it on his car radio, he drove home to watch Walter Cronkite report live that the President of the United States had been assassinated. As Dunson reminisces the event, four months short of 50 years later, tears swell up in his eyes as if it happened yesterday.

The traumatic incident sparked a keen in-

fatuation in the college-aged Dunson for the enchanting, widowed first lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and his flame for her has not emaciated to this day. One of the most peculiar facets of her life that Dunson recounts: of all the places in the world she couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve voyaged after the death of her husband, Mrs. Kennedy chose to come straight to the exquisitely charming Thomasville, Ga., just 45 minutes North of where Dunson resided in Tallahassee at Florida State.

Greenwood Plantation Maybe it was the quaint and mystical charm of the sleepy town in South Georgia that allured Jacqueline, the seclusion away from the incessant Washington reporters or the prom-

North of Town | Visitor View ise of safety for herself from the anonymous marksman who took her life companion away from her. In any case, for one week soon after the death of her husband, she made Thomasville’s Greenwood Plantation her home. The Whitney family, who were close friends with the Kennedys, owned the elusive estate at the time. The 5,000-acre Greenwood Plantation is a mysterious entity that dwells down lower Cairo Road, a rustic white gate guarding its haunting interior. Kept inexplicably private, the Greek revival building is magnificently vast, covered by ancient oak trees and held together by sturdy white columns. A local Thomasville legend tells that the antebellum Greenwood estate was the inspiration for the Wilkes family’s Twelve Oaks plantation in the film Gone With the Wind. The theory is not far-fetched; John Hay “Jock” Whitney, who owned the plantation at the time, was one of the major backers of the Gone With the Wind movie and teamed with MGM studios to create what would become the classic film. As part of a well-to-do family with many social ties, Jock Whitney was U.S. Ambassador to the U.K., publisher of the New York Herald Tribune and was listed as one of the wealthiest men in the world. When he reached out to his dear friend Jacqueline to welcome her to his home in Thomasville, she wholeheartedly agreed. Among other Greenwood visitors

Visitor View | North of Town over the years were President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Babe Ruth, World War II Admiral William Halsey, Jr. and actor Fred Astaire. It is rumored that when Eisenhower was staying at Greenwood and went golfing at one of Thomasville’s large golf courses, he made it to the last hole, looked dead at his friends and uttered, “If I can climb that hill, I can run for president.” However, Thomasville inhabitants were most impassioned by the visits from the charming first lady.

All Saints’ Episcopal Church

Jacqueline’s visit was kept strictly secret until she found solace during Sunday Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church, which was located at East Jefferson and North Dawson Street at the time. Originally built in 1881, the church has since been moved to Hansell Street in December 1980 and renamed All Saints Episcopal Church. “The little church sat vacant. In 1980, a group of 43 of us decided that we would like to establish an Episcopal Church using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer because the 1979 book had come in, which was the new book, and we wanted to keep to the old

ways,” Jinanne Parrish said, one of the 43 founders of All Saints Episcopal Church. The founders were allowed to renovate the Church to Hansell Street, under the strict condition that it must be restored as closely in appearance to the original as possible. Upon entering the church today, visitors are greeted with the cryptic resonance of a live organ and the warmest southern hospitality of the church’s overseers. Though the location and times have changed, not much else of the church has, and it is easy >> to see why Mrs. Kennedy

From the Collections of the Thomas County Historical Society 99

North of Town | Visitor View achieved such tranquility from her time there. The cross-shaped establishment endures as one of Thomasville’s most stunning works of architecture, as green gardens reminiscent of a fairytale surround the church’s outskirts. After word got out of Mrs. Kennedy’s visit, a crowd congregated outside of Thomasville Municipal Airport to see her off; the small-town folk stood in wonder, watching America’s darling walk gracefully through their quiet town— the complete contrast of a place where a national public figure was expected to be.

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Back to Greenwood On her second visit to Thomasville in 1967, Jackie returned to St. Augustine Church the minute she arrived and stayed with the Whitneys at Greenwood once more. This time, her demeanor was vastly different than her visit under the previous circumstances: she was as lively and charismatic as the world originally remembered her, the mere thought of her presence intoxicating residents of Thomasville. Everyone was well aware of her visit after she was spotted at a local drug store buying camera supplies. Legend has it that Lord Har-

lech, who was also a visitor of Greenwood at the time, proposed to Jacqueline during their ’67 Thomasville stay. She politely declined. Harlech, whose wife had died in an automobile accident several years earlier, was Great Britain’s ambassador to the United States and was a close friend of the Kennedys. The rumors were soon ignored after she became engaged to Aristotle Onassis later that year. She spent her days during her second visit horseback riding at Greenwood and attending St. Augustine Church, which offered the iconic living legend a chance at a tranquil

Visitor View | North of Town escape from the rest of the world. Thomasville, with its mystical Southern allure, managed to seduce Jacqueline to return yet again. The old-fashioned town seems to work in that way, possessing the celestial ability to detach visitors from reality not unlike the way an ethereal daydream would.

From Then to Now Dunson continued his days fawning over the great Jackie O. Then something both perplexing and spectacular occurred—an event that would only happen in a remote fantasy.

In 1967, Dunson was an

A local Thomasville legend tells that the antebellum Greenwood estate was the inspiration for the Wilkes familyʼs Twelve Oaks plantation in the film Gone With the Wind.

army officer exploring the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington D.C. He was “dressed to impress—like Price William at the wedding” in his finest army attire. Dunson was looking to inquire about renting one of the houses in the National Trust due to the housing crisis after his return from the Vietnam War. He creaked opened a door to inquire about who to talk to and poked his head in a room. Then he saw her. Sitting inside the room with Nelson Rockefeller and two others was the enigmatic woman Dunson had spent his years haunted by, none other than Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. It was Dunson’s Camelot. Though he left after a few seconds and never got the chance to speak to her, the electricity he felt in that moment stuck with him; his “brief, shining moment” prevails as one of the most enchanting experiences of Dunson’s life. This upcoming November will be the 50th anniversary of that dreaded November day when America’s beacon of hope was ruthlessly stolen. “They were just exciting,” Dunson said. “They just seemed to offer so much hope for everyone and they were so young.”

Church still sits majestically on South Hansell Street, its fairytale appearance still reminiscent of the original church. The altar in the building today is still the same altar that was used in the church’s predecessor, existing as one of its few remaining historical relics. Greenwood Plantation remained a dazzling virtue of Thomasville until the main house was ripped apart by an electrical fire on April 2, 1993. The estate went on sale for the first time in 113 years in 2012, with a listing price that is nonexistent. Though its interior was gutted, the restored hollow exterior of Greenwood’s main house eerily remains standing today, an elusive and aloof testament to the town’s intriguing past. In retrospect, Jacqueline holds an uncanny resemblance to the arrestingly beautiful Thomasville town nestled in the south of Georgia. Her elegance entranced Americans, exhibiting a veneer that was dazzling and mystifying and powerful all at once. Hiding a dark and impenetrable world inside her, she radiated a kind of charm only duplicated through the angelic vines found creeping up Thomasville’s walls, both her and Thomasville evoking an entrancing sense of idealism and wonder to all who stopped and stared.

Today, All Saint’s Episcopal

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Heritage of the Hunt “See that Purdey on the table? That’s a quarter of a million dollars sitting there.”

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evin Kelly was gesturing to a fine English shotgun from the 1930s sitting in a wooden case on an end table, its beautiful walnut and steel gleaming in the window light. He was giving me the deluxe tour of the fine gun room at Kevin’s Guns & Sporting Goods—something that is usually completely off-limits to the general public.

plantations on vast plots of land and the tradition of hunting quail became firmly entrenched in the culture of the area. This tradition remains strong today, keeping a place like Kevin’s not simply open, but thriving.

You might think that a small town in southern Georgia should be the last place one would expect to find a $250,000 shotgun for sale.

I met Kevin by pure chance. I was admiring a polished sterling silver flask in one of the perfectly curated display cases when he walked by and asked if I needed help with anything. Not knowing who he was, I inquired about the price. He found it for me, I thanked him and I stuck out my hand to introduce myself.

But there’s a lot of history in these parts. After the Civil War came and went—leaving the South in shambles—northerners descended by the droves to buy up the southland for pennies. These Yankees built elaborate

“I’m Kevin,” he said with a firm handshake. Of course, I thought. The pieces fell into place and all at once I understood how such a store came to be. It’s not just the town or the history or the heritage of the hunt—it’s >>

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Visitor View | North of Town also the man behind the curtain. He’s a genuinely nice guy who cares about his customers and is always willing to help them—even when he probably knows that they’re not really in the market for a $250 hip flask. Walking into Kevin’s is like walking into the sporting goods store of our fathers and grandfathers. The smell of hardwood and gun oil fill your nostrils and you become swept up in the nostalgia. “This kind of place just doesn’t exist anymore,” said Kelly, as I continued to browse the racks of rare guns. “It’s the kind of store that Abercrombie & Fitch used to be before it turned into what it is today.”

Of course it’s not all about nostalgia—utility and function reign supreme. That’s the beauty of Kevin’s: It’s not like Disneyland where the smells and sights aren’t real but planted to give us the impression of reality. Everything here has a purpose, a function, a reason. It’s that form-follows-function idealism that gives the nostalgia a right to exist in the first place. Here’s the bottom line: If you want to go buy a cheap used gun or some tacky outdoor apparel, Kevin’s isn’t the place to do it. You’re not going to walk in there and buy a shotgun for less than a grand, and it quickly becomes obvious that this isn’t your local pawn shop. But even if you don’t

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That’s the beauty of Kevin’s: it’s not like Disneyland where the smells and sights are fake. Everything here has a purpose, a function, a reason—it’s a form-follows-function idealism that gives the nostalgia a right to exist. 106

plan on walking out with anything, it’s an amazing place to visit. Every time I cross the threshold I feel transported to an era much older and wiser than my own, and Kevin’s winds up being much more for me than an emporium for fine hunting and outdoor goods. “I don’t sell guns,” said Kevin. “I sell a lifestyle. We do everything ourselves—the inventory, the catalog, the photos of the guns. We have our own custom line of clothing and guns. There’s really nowhere else like this in the country.”

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