Rosemary Thymes: Summer 2023

Rosemary THYMES ™

Chris Alvarado Rocks 30A Chris Alvarado Rocks 30A

with Driftwood Guitars

TWO ICONIC 30A EATERIES UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

A PEARL OF A SPIRIT: DISTILLERY 98 OFFERS SUSTAINABLE SPIRITS WITH A LOCAL TWIST

a Rosemary Beach® tradition since 1999

78 Main St Rosemary Beach, FL order to-go (850) 213 - 0521

a m e n i t i e s i n c l u d e c o m p l i m e n t a r y b e a c h c h a i r s + b r e a k f a s t a t

T h e S u m m e r K i t c h e n C a f e s u m m e r k i t c h e n c a f e . c o m

@ s u m m e r k i t c h e n r b

t h e r o s e m a r y b e a c h i n n . c o m

r e s e r v a t i o n d e s k : 8 4 4 . 8 6 5 . 5 7 8 3

@ t h e r o s e m a r y b e a c h i n n

c o a s t a l s o u t h w a l t o n . c o m

8 5 0 . 8 3 0 . 4 7 5 3

m i r i a m @ m i r i a m d i l l o n . c o m

@ c o a s t a l s o u t h w a l t o n

PURCHASE TICKETS TODAY — SPACE IS LIMITED

For tickets and more information, Visit 30AShowhouse.com, or Scan the QR code below.

INTRODUCING THE INAUGURAL 30A SHOWHOUSE

JUNE 5 – JUNE 29, 2023

Open Mondays-Thursdays from 10am-4pm (Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

75 Elysee Court, Inlet Beach, Florida 32461 | Located along 30A, just east of Seacrest Beach

30A SHOWHOUSE BENEFITS

Alaqua Animal Refuge | Children’s Volunteer Health Network | Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

Amenities Legend

A founding partner of The Premier Property Group, Keith Flippo is a consistent leader in sales of South Walton properties, ranking in the top 1% of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors since 2009. Keith specializes in the marketing and sales of luxury properties along with developing new area projects via The Premier Development Group, founded in 2015. A resident of Rosemary Beach since 1999, Keith possesses an intimate knowledge of the communities along Scenic Highway 30A and is known for taking the time to “make the home match” with a customer’s individual needs and desires.

The Premier Real Estate Agent for South Walton & Scenic 30A

PUBLISHED BY THE ROSEMARY BEACH PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

FRED KRUTZ PRESIDENT

MARK BUESE VICE PRESIDENT

LETTYE BURGTORF SECRETARY

TIM MARTIN TREASURER

BOB ELEY TIM SHADBURN DAVID WHEELER BOARD MEMBERS

LEE NETTLES TOWN MANAGER

BRET AZZARELLI TOWN ARCHITECT

ROSEMARY BEACH POA PO BOX 611010 ROSEMARY BEACH, FL 32461

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MAGGIE JACKSON KELLY ODEN NICOLE WILLIS

THE ROSEMARY THYMES IS PRODUCED BY BALLINGER PUBLISHING

MALCOLM BALLINGER OWNER

KELLY ODEN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

MORGAN COLE EDITOR

IAN LETT ART DIRECTOR

ALANA COX GRAPHIC DESIGNER/AD COORDINATOR FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 850.433.1166, EXT 27

ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS PAPER DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE POA BOARD.

ROSEMARY BEACH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OWNED BY ROSEMARY BEACH HOLDINGS, LLC AND IS USED WITH PERMISSION PURSUANT TO A LICENSE FROM ROSEMARY BEACH HOLDINGS, LLC.

From the POA Welcome to Rosemary Beach!

We are Glad You are Here.

OW THAT SUMMER IS UPON US, WE HOPE THAT everyone is settling in to relaxing days at Rosemary Beach. We are glad you are here! Take a moment to slow down along Barrett Square and enjoy that iced coffee, and notice that the breeze is a bit warmer, the trees are at their fullest green, and the sounds of the season are beginning to unfold.

We overhear a couple at the next table reflect on what a lovely wedding their law partner held on Saturday, and how the event created lifelong memories. They begin to plan the date of their next visit to our town, hoping their parents and siblings can join them for the getaway. Nearby there is the joyful laughter of three college friends, celebrating a longpostponed reunion, opting for our casual beach setting for a chance to unwind and reconnect. Two homeowners, after a morning of tennis,

stroll past and are discussing the upcoming Fourth of July festivities and what extended family will be joining them. A walk down Main Street and more sights of summer are present. Children negotiating with parents on candy purchases in front of the Sugar Shack, sisters leaving Cowgirl Feed and Supply with picnic snacks and a grandmother smiles, confident the purchases from GiGi’s are sure to delight her grandsons.

The activity and energy of a summer along 30A can be magical. Whether you have lived here for years or are on your first visit. Take time to slow down, feel the breeze on your cheek, and observe happiness and connection unfolding around you. Take a different route through town each day. Stroll the boardwalks past unique homes and seasonally changing natural landscapes. Find the directional “fitness trail” signs and follow them for a 2.3 mile walk through town past several workout stations and many town amenities. Ride a bike on the quiet streets and venture down a hidden lane and appreciate a different view of Rosemary Beach. Spend some time at Eastern or Western Green and watch the unrehearsed ballet of children and parents playing in isolated groups, then suddenly playing together. Carve out some time to enjoy one of the many smaller parks sprinkled throughout town. Grab some space on a bench for a quick rest or a leisurely afternoon reading that new book. Everyone has their favorite pool, try a new one tomorrow to see who you might meet. And be certain to take in your daily required amount of beach time. It might be long hours enjoying the sun and surf, an early morning sunrise or a romantic sunset. Enjoying the Gulf of Mexico as much as possible, signals Summer.

Conversations, reunions, memories, all with this beautiful town as the setting. It comes to mind quickly that this is what Rosemary Beach is truly about, Community. A community of people coming together to enjoy the splendor that surrounds them and taking time to soak in the moments. People visit for the beauty of our beach and our town. People visit for the opportunity to not need a car for a week. They plan their trips to strengthen family bonds or reconnect with those they have not seen in a while. Some meet new people, make new memories, and gain new friendships. Others are full-time residents enjoying the year living, working and playing from their Rosemary Beach cottage.

Summer visitors to Rosemary Beach enliven the community. There

are new people to meet and old friends to reconnect with; and there is always time for quiet time to enjoy the tranquil simplicity of the overall town. Everyone is part of this community if you live here, have visited for decades or if this is your first summer. Enjoy, explore, be amazed, and be kind to all your neighbors.

Now apply the sunscreen, gather your beach towels, and have some summer fun, remember, we are glad you are here!

ROSEMARY BEACH FOUNDATION

Rosemary Beach Foundation was founded in 2006 to bring the community together in the spirit of giving. Throughout the year, the Foundation hosts events, performances, tournaments, festivals and exhibitions.

Through these efforts, more than $1.2 million has been donated to local organizations and schools.

“We are grateful for the ongoing support of our charitable activities to address the needs of the growing and diverse population of Walton County, Florida.”

—Malayne DeMars, Executive Director, Rosemary Beach Foundation.

30A Cornhole Tournament

The 9th Annual 30A Cornhole Tournament was highly anticipated by locals and visitors and sold-out again this year.

“Players enjoyed a day of friendly competition while spectators cheered on their favorite teams,”

—Anna Weeks, Retail Buyer & Manager, Bombora Sun & Surf.

From the 4th Annual Rosemary Beach Holiday Tour of Homes proceeds, $25,000 was donated to Shelter House of NW Florida. The center offers free and confidential services for victims of domestic and sexual violence including a 24-hour hotline, shelter with on-site pet kennel, legal representation and prevention education.

From a field of 64 teams, the 2023 champions were ACC and Down in A Hole placed second.

From Left to Right: Kristen Moss, Rosalyn Wik, Malayne DeMars, Jessica Standley and Amanda Hampel

South Oak Title

Champions: ACC (Hal Page & Randle West) and 2nd Place Down in a Hole (Mark Johnson & Nigel Packer)

Held during Autism Awareness Month, the event benefited Rosemary Beach Foundation’s charitable partners: South Walton Academy, Special OlympicsFlorida and Westonwood Ranch. These organizations advocate for and serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Walton County community.

Music in Pictures

More than 4,000 students (Kindergarten – 12th Grade) from 20 Walton County Schools participated in the 12th Annual Music in Pictures. In collaboration with Florida State University faculty, the program includes art instruction, musical performances, a juried art contest and professional development for teachers.

During the academic year, students created paintings inspired by classical music by British composer Samuel-Coleridge Taylor, French composer Claude Debussy and Czech composer Bedrich Smetana.

On May 4th, Rosemary Beach Foundation awarded medals to 351 students whose artwork was chosen for public exhibition.

ABOUT

Presenting Sponsor Bombora Sun & Surf with Rosemary Beach Foundation Board Members and Charitable Partners

Kindergarten student artists from Tree House Montessori School – Wilder Standley, Rowland Hampel, and Kosta Vlahos

Isla Sebring, 2nd Grade, Dune Lakes Elementary, Chairman’s Award

Selfie with the Superintendent Russell Hughes and Megan Weller, 9th Grade, Freeport High School

Paris Hall, 12th Grade, Walton High School

ROSEMARY BEACH FOUNDATION: Rosemary Beach Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, operates on program revenues, sponsorships, grants and contributions from individuals and businesses. To learn more and to become a Friend of Rosemary Beach Foundation, please visit rosemarybeachfoundation.org.

Chef’s Corner: Ropa Vieja

The word “Ropa Vieja” translates in English to “old clothes.” The story goes that a penniless old man once shredded and cooked his own clothes because he could not afford to feed his family. This dish dates back to more than 500 years ago and has its origins in Spain, but today, is now considered the national dish of Cuba.

Ingredients:

3 pounds - Chuck Eye Roll (Chuck Roast)

1.5 ounces - olive oil

1 each - red bell pepper (julienne)

1 each - green bell pepper (julienne)

1 each - red onion (julienne)

2 Tablespoons - sweet Spanish paprika

1 Tablespoon - hot Spanish paprika

1 Tablespoon - cumin

2 teaspoons - coriander

1.5 Tablespoons - dried oregano

1 Tablespoon - garlic (minced)

16 ounce can - whole San Marzano tomatoes (handcrushed)

1.5 ounces - tomato paste

6 ounces - white wine

8 ounces - beef broth

Procedure:

1. Pre heat oven to 300 degrees

2. Season the chuck roast liberally with salt and pepper

At Havana Beach Bar & Grill, we serve this over our breakfast potatoes mixed with peppers and onions, topped with two poached eggs, Cholula hollandaise and garnished with pickled red onions and sliced jalapeno.

3. In a pre-heated Dutch oven, sear the roast on all sides and remove from heat, setting aside while preparing the rest of the ingredients

4. In the same pot sauté the peppers, onions and garlic for 2-3 minutes

5. Add the spices and tomato paste and cook an additional 2-3 minutes

6. Add the white wine and reduce by half.

7. Add the crushed tomatoes and beef broth and bring to a simmer

8. Add the roast and any juices that have been released during the resting process, cover and place in the oven. Cook until roast has reached an internal temperature of 195 degrees.

9. Remove the pot from oven and leave covered allowing to rest for 45 minutes

10. Remove the roast and shred the meat using two forks, this can also be done by hand if you have gloves.

11. Mix the shredded meat back into the braising liquid and peppers. Note: you may not need all of the liquid, but this is a personal preference on how wet you like your final product.

Courtesy of Havana Beach Bar & Grill

now serving

SUNDAY BRUNC

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Crab Cake Benny

Omelette du Jour

Deviled Eggs

Sweet Potato Pancakes

...and so much more

Meet the Team

Roxanne Sparacello, RBPOA Security Director

By Maggie Jackson

Security Director Roxanne Sparacello has been serving the town for seven years and is responsible for implementing and maintaining policies and procedures to help keep Rosemary Beach safe for its visitors and residents.

Tell me about your role as security director for Rosemary Beach.

My current role as security director includes managing a security team of 17 individuals who are responsible for patrolling the town and enforcing specific regulations, policies and procedures for the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association. I am also responsible

for ensuring adequate staffing and training, as well as equipping the security team with the tools necessary to perform their daily duties. I work with various stakeholders within Rosemary Beach, including the owners, merchants and management companies, as well as the Walton County governing agencies, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, South Walton Fire Department, local utility companies and other community entities. Building these relationships is vital to the daily operations of Rosemary Beach and the security team.

How long have you worked on the Rosemary Beach team? How has the community changed over the years?

I just had my anniversary in April and have been with the Rosemary Beach Team for seven years. Over those years, as it relates to the Rosemary Beach POA and the community, I have seen significant growth and improvements, all geared toward the town and its operations. We now have lifeguards from the South Walton Fire Department on the beach during the busy season. Our Beach Service, who provide the beach chairs, umbrellas, watercraft and bonfires, is now run in-house, rather than by an outside vendor, offering what we believe to be enhanced services for the owners and guests. We have also enhanced security by increasing staffing, installing the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Access System for our town pools and walkovers and strategically placing cameras throughout the town for additional safety. There have also been extensive infrastructure projects and improvements, such as our new drainage systems and the installation of paver roads.

Over the years, Rosemary Beach has seen a steady increase in tourism, with a mix of both returning guests and those who have discovered our town and are visiting for the first time. It maintains its family-friendly vibe, which has only grown over the years. The town is nostalgic for many people who have their favorite restaurants, retail shops and accommodations, drawing them back year after year.

What is your favorite thing about working in Rosemary Beach? Do you have any stories or examples you would like to share?

Rosemary Beach has a light-hearted, relaxed atmosphere with a family vibe. We are constantly crossing paths with owners and merchants and quickly develop a rapport and connection, which helps create that feeling of being a part of the community.

What do you like to do in your free time?

That depends on the day, but family time is essential, spoiling the four-legged children, Lucca and Jake, which is a full-time job, being a crazy New Orleans Saints fan (WHO DAT), rowing and dabbling in real estate.

Two Iconic 30A Restaurants

Now Under New Ownership

By Maggie Jackson

and the surrounding areas are home to some of the best restaurants in the region, and two of them, Shades Bar & Grill and Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar, have recently undergone an ownership change.

On April 1, Spell Restaurant Group, led by father-daughter duo Rick Spell and Christy Spell Terry, acquired Shades and Shaka from Last Call Restaurant Group, headed by Joe Freer.

“It has always been our goal to have a strong presence in the 30A hospitality industry and adding Shades and Shaka to our portfolio helps us do just that,” Spell Terry said. “We are not only expanding our roster, but we’re also expanding our geographic footprint a little further east, as well. While we have Saltwater Grill in Panama City Beach, our four other Florida restaurants are located in the Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach areas.”

Shades opened in 1994, spending its first 11 years in Seaside before moving to its current location at Inlet Beach Village located at 10952 E. County Hwy. 30A. Shaka, which is located at 13625 U.S. Hwy. 98 E., Suite 5-6, opened in April 2019.

“The memories [of Shades and Shaka] will last a lifetime,” Freer said. “June would have been 30 years [of Last Call Restaurant Group] owning Shades. Seeing this area grow and prosper has really been crazy. Most folks thought we were insane leaving Seaside and moving to Inlet Beach and it proved to be a defining moment for us. It has been a great ride for a long time. It hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

While the ownership of Shades and Shaka may have changed, the menu offerings will mostly stay the same.

Shades features a chef-driven menu, which results in the dishes being so much more than traditional bar food one might expect. Shades also offers more than a dozen rotating beer selections on tap, 20 TVs as well as a projector screen, making it a great spot to watch a game or just hang out, Spell Terry explained.

Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar is located less than a mile from Shades at the Shoppes at Inlet and is named after the Hawaiian hand gesture the shaka, which translates to “hang loose.” It is open for dinner nightly beginning at 4 pm and is led by the legendary Chef, James Sargent. “Chef James and his culinary team receive fresh fish daily, which is what makes the food here so delicious,” Spell Terry said. “Chef James and his team serve up everything from sushi rolls and sashimi to ramen bowls and seared tuna in a laid-back atmosphere. It is important to mention Chef James’ in-home private dinners and the restaurant’s custom catering offerings, as well. Both are wildly popular.”

While Shaka is the father-daughter team’s first Asian fusion eatery, Spell and Spell Terry have extensive experience in managing sports bars similar to Shades. They have owned the wildly popular Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis since 2004. Even still, Spell and Spell Terry have relied on existing employees, all of whom will be asked to stay, to get to know the ins and outs of both establishments before both restaurants officially transferred ownership on April 1.

It has always been our goal to have a strong presence in the 30A hospitality industry and adding Shades and Shaka to our portfolio helps us do just that”

“As soon as the deal was made final, the team members at Shades and Shaka became part of our family in our eyes,” Spell Terry said. “They, along with Greg Wakeham, the Freer brothers and Steven Sapp of Last Call Restaurant Group, have played integral roles in making these establishments what they are today, and we have tremendous respect for all they’ve done. We look forward to learning from their teams and having their help in the continued success of both restaurants for years to come.”

Spell Terry also added that the staff at both Shades and Shaka are the backbone to the establishments and are part of the reason why locals and tourists love to visit.

“I know both Shades and Shaka have a lot of repeat business from locals and those who vacation in the area multiple times a year,” Spell Terry said. “Like with the staff at both restaurants, I’m really looking forward to getting to know the regulars, too. Without them, our restaurants wouldn’t be what they are today, so we’re grateful for their continued, year-round support and appreciate their feedback.”

Last Call Restaurant Group will maintain ownership of The Courtyard at Pescado and Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar in Rosemary Beach.

“We will be keeping Pescado in Rosemary Beach. I love this area and definitely won’t be going anywhere. We will miss our amazing staff and all the friends we have made throughout the years,” Freer said.

CHEF JAMES SARGENT AT SHAKA SUSHI & COCKTAIL BAR

A Pearl of a Spirit

Distillery 98 offers sustainable spirits with a local twist

By Kelly Oden

Cardboard, oyster shells and corn may not be words typically associated with vodka distillation, but Distillery 98 in Santa Rosa Beach is finding new ways to produce and package America’s most consumed spirit. With a passion for spirits and sustainability, Harrison Holditch and his brother-in-law, David Kapitanoff, set out to turn a backyard hobby into an environmentally conscious business.

Originally from the Houston area, Holditch had long been distilling with Kapitanoff for fun, but it wasn’t until he was helping a friend open a business in Colorado that the two had an epiphany—why not open a distillery? Holditch and Kapitanoff were familiar with 30A as they had vacationed in the area over the years and they were casually considering it as a location for their distillery. After seeing many serendipitous signs (including a Houston wedding catered by Grayton Beach Beer Company and a 30A bumper sticker on a car in Colorado) they decided it was the perfect place to put down roots and open their dream distillery.

With Holditch as CEO and Kapitanoff as head distiller, the pair set out on their mission to make top-tier, grain-to-glass craft vodka using local resources and utilizing sustainable practices as much as possible. To that end, the pair uses non-GMO corn (that is grown just a few miles away in Okaloosa County) to create their signature vodka, Half Shell. Half Shell is filtered through coconut carbon and seven to eight inches of whole oysters for roughly 72 hours. Beyond being a unique nod to our area, Holditch said that oyster filtration actually serves an important purpose.

“Live oysters take the dirt and grime out of the water and turn them into pearls,” Holditch explained. “They are naturally filtering our gulf as they do their job. What’s also really cool about oyster shells is that they are made of a lot of earth minerals, but predominantly calcium. That calcium raises the pH of our high-proof spirit when we filter it. Raising the pH neutralizes it and makes it more balanced and less acidic. It just adds an extra balancing technique to our process. It’s taking our vodka and turning it into a pearl. That’s how we think of our spirits. We filter it through those oysters and remove the dirt and grime from the corn growing in the field. As it passes through those oysters, it becomes that pearl of a spirit that we put into our bottles.”

This special filtration process is what gives Half Shell a distinctively clean, coastal flavor with a slight hint of corn on the back end, Holditch said. The leftover corn mash that isn’t used in the distilling process is picked up by a local farmer to be used as feed, creating a nice biodynamic circle of sustainability.

Another wonderfully unique aspect of Half Shell is the sustainable packaging. Ingeniously “bottled” in a cardboard box, the packaging is 97 percent recyclable. While such bottling has become popular in the wine industry, Holditch says that Distillery 98 is the first in the US to use it to bottle spirits.

“We’re going towards a more beach and environmentally friendly product,” Holditch said. “It’s customer friendly, too, because it’s at a lower price point. What’s cool about this cardboard is that you can take it down to the beach and you can take it on the boats—anywhere you’re not allowed to have glass. The Half Shell packaging has a carbon footprint that is six times smaller than a glass bottle. There are a lot of things that we wanted to do differently here at Distillery 98 and one big thing was to be a better steward of our environment.”

As for the distillery itself, the production portion consists of an impressive 5,000-square- foot distillation space that cranks out a few thousand gallons of spirits per year using geothermally cooled equipment. While Dune Laker is the featured spirit of Distillery 98, they also produce another, limited edition, signed bottle vodka called Dune Laker, which is named for the famous coastal dune lakes found in our region and is only available along 30A. Holditch and Kapitanoff are also working on producing a couple of new rums using

Florida cane sugar and blackstrap molasses, which will be introduced in the coming months.

A lovely, coastal tasting room that is anchored by an impressive cypress bar and decorated with oyster shell chandeliers, whiskey barrels and vintage Florida photographs takes up the other 2,500-square-feet of the distillery and also serves as an event space. The tasting room offers a variety of cocktails using the distillery’s signature products as well as many locally sourced mixers and garnishes from regional businesses like Amavida Coffee and Noli South Kombucha.

Distillery 98’s vodka can be found all along 30A and at bars, restaurants and spirit stores throughout Florida. The distillery is located at 835 Serenoa Road in Santa Rosa Beach. Open-hour tours are available Monday through Thursday from 2 to 4 pm. The tasting room is open seven days a week from 1 to 7 pm with a happy hour from 2 to 5 pm. For more information on Distillery 98, visit distillery98.com or check out Distillery 98 on Facebook.

We filter it through those oysters and remove the dirt and grime from the corn growing in the field. As it passes through those oysters, it becomes that pearl of a spirit that we put into our bottles.”

With Handcrafted Driftwood Guitars Chris Alvarado Rocks 30A

By Nicole Willis

hris Alvarado is a luthier, musician and 30A local who crafts playable pieces of art. As the founder and owner of Driftwood Guitars, Alvarado creates one-of-a-kind, handcrafted acoustic guitars that both sound and look beautiful.

Alvarado established Driftwood Guitars in 2007, but has had a love of both music and craftsmanship since a young age. His love for music stems from being around his father, who has been a musician since Alvarado was young.

“My dad is a full-time musician; even when he was in the military, he played music full-time, so I was always surrounded by music. I started playing the acoustic guitar when I was 13,” Alvarado explained.

Alvarado attributes his love and passion for woodworking to all of the time that he and his father spent building model airplanes together. “When I was a kid, my dad and I started making model airplanes, like remote control airplanes,” Alvarado said. “We started building those from scratch out of balsa wood. I just became completely obsessed with it, which I think was the seed of me learning that I love to make things.”

At age 18, Alvarado joined the military, in which he served for eight years. Upon completing his military service, he returned home and has been performing and handcrafting his own guitars ever since.

Alvarado’s career as a luthier took off in a rather unexpected way. In his free time, Alvarado was only making guitars for his personal use, with no intention of selling them. However, as people attended his gigs along the Coast, they began to notice and admire the quality and sound of his beautiful handcrafted guitars.

“[When playing live,] people talk to you while you’re on break, which then leads to ‘Hey, I heard you build guitars.’ Then people start purchasing guitars from me,” he explained. “It organically went from me building my acoustic guitars just for fun, to ‘Okay, I’ve got somebody who I’m building a guitar for.’ Then, the next thing I know, I’ve got a one-year, two-year, three-year waitlist.”

The Driftwood Guitars waitlist is still years long to this day, and people are more than willing to wait to get their hands on one

of his custom pieces. Each piece requires Alvarado putting in an immense amount of time and labor to build a completed guitar.

The wait time is due to the immense amount of time and labor that Alvarado puts into each piece.

“I spend four to six months hand making every acoustic guitar. My laser focus from the first moment that I put a chisel to a piece of wood is to make the most incredible sounding guitar that a particular piece of wood will allow me to make. That’s my overall mission statement,” Alvarado said.

When first starting on a piece, Alvardo turns to nature to serve as his guide, for both the woods he uses and the beautiful nature-filled imagery of the 30A area. “I kind of let the guitar lead me in a direction creatively,” he explained. “It’s the wild grain on the wood and what that imagery gives me. A lot of the time I’ll pull from nature, you know, living where we live, whether it’s the beach, or even the cypress tree.”

Each guitar Alvarado makes is unique and intricate in its own way. Each customer who purchases one of his guitars receives a completely customized piece. When a customer places an order, he takes the time to get to know the guitar’s future owner so that he can craft a guitar to best suit them. Alvarado also interviews the customer to figure out the specifics of what they are looking for.

“I make it even more specific when I’m making it for a customer. Part of the interview process is what kind of music are you going to play? You know, what’s the life of this guitar gonna be? I even further refine the sound of the guitar to meet the customer’s specifications,” he explained.

We started building those from scratch out of balsa wood. I just became completely obsessed with it, which I think was the seed of me learning that I love to make things.”

One of Alvarado’s favorite pieces that he has done features an inlay that depicts a portrait of Bob Dylan. He created the guitar for a client who loves Bob Dylan and wanted to capture Dylan and his music into a piece. “I found a photograph of Bob Dylan and I really liked it. He was smoking a cigarette and then I added the lyrics to the song, ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’, as if it were the smoke coming out of his cigarette and going up the fretboard,” Alvarado described.

From each guitar’s detailed inlays to its exotic woods, Alvarado’s guitars are unmistakably his own. “Unlike other genres of art like painting or sculpting, the customer base [for guitars] expects a certain level of tradition,” he said. “If you veer too far outside of the traditional bounds of what they’re used to seeing, it can either be embraced or rejected. I am definitely one of those acoustic guitar builders that likes to push the limits.”

In addition to making custom guitars, Alvarado dedicates some of his time to sharing his craft and releasing educational content on his Youtube channel, youtube.com/@DriftwoodGuitars.

Alvarado’s long-time friend and fellow guitar craftsman, Matt Miller, joins him in many of these videos. Miller has a background in engineering and a love for music, so Alvarado brought him onto the Driftwood Guitars team to help him build electric guitars. Together, the two post videos on Youtube to share their guitar-building techniques, tips and a behind-thescenes look into Driftwood Guitars.

You can also find Alvarado’s work online at driftwoodguitars.com, on Instagram at @DriftwoodGuitars, and on Facebook at Driftwood Guitars. If you are interested in having a custom guitar made, visit driftwoodguitars.com.

Calendar of Events

FAITH

Chapel at the Beach SUNDAYS, 8:30 to 10 AM, TOWN HALL

Chapel at the Beach is holding worship services in Town Hall at 9:00 AM every Sunday. For more information, please visit their website at chapelatthebeach.org.

Apostles by the Sea SUNDAYS, 10:30 AM, 6925 U.S. HWY 98, SANTA ROSA BEACH

Apostles By-The-Sea Anglican Church is holding Sunday services at 10:30 AM at their new location at 6925 U.S. Hwy 98 in Santa Rosa Beach. For more information, please visit their website at apostlesbythesea.com.

MERCHANT EVENTS

MONDAY

Here Comes the Sun Summer Concert Series

May 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7 6:30 to 8:30 PM St. Augustine Green/Owners Pavilion

Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening of entertaining musical performances. Each week is a different band…be sure to catch one or all!

May 22- The Barry Fish Band

May 29- The Rubiks Groove

June 5- Few Miles South

June 12- Dave Jordan and the NIA

June 19- The Rusty Wright Band

June 26- Boukou Groove

July 3- Arcade Sounds

July 10- The Coppertones

July 17- Heat and the Zydeco Gents

July 24- Anthony Peebles

July 31- Joey Shaling and the Paisley

Blues Band

August 7- Sons of Saints

TUESDAY

We Must Believe in Magic—Magic Show

May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25 and August 8

7:00 PM to 8:15 PM

St. Augustine Green/Owners Pavilion

WE MUST BELIEVE IN MAGIC,” is a nostalgic journey with a contemporary twist! Prepare for a vintage-feel, modern-day crusade of magic with the International Award-Winning dynamic duo, Julian and Melody Pittman. The show includes amazing magical feats developed and performed by some of the greatest magicians of all time! Come immerse yourself in a magical, “modernly vintage,” evening with PITTMAN MAGIC PRODUCTIONS because after all is said and done, “WE MUST BELIEVE IN MAGIC!”

WEDNESDAY

Cinderella—Kids Theatre

May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26 and August 9 at 6:30 PM North Barrett Square

Another favorite fairy tale brought to life by The REP Theatre! A group of traveling actors create much onstage merriment by presenting their own version of the classic children’s story, Cinderella. This fast-paced and funny show is sure to delight the entire family with happily ever after laughter. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome!

THURSDAY

Moonlight & Movies and Face Painting

May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27 and August 10

Starts at 5:00 PM, Movie at 8:00 PM

Western Green

Bring the family for a wholesome and fun movie night under the stars! Blankets and Lawn Chairs are Welcome! Come early and get your face painted by one of our talented artists! Enjoy popcorn and the best hot dogs on the beach from DogManDu!

May 25- Lightyear

June 1- Minions: The Rise of Gru

June 8- DC League of Super-Pets

June 15- Encanto

June 22- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

June 29- Moana

July 6- Minions: The Rise of Gru

July 13- Lightyear

July 20- DC League of Super-Pets

July 27- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

August 10- Moana

FRIDAY

Treasure Jars, Airbrush Caps & Tunes

May 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28 and August 11

9 AM to 12:00 PM Western Green

Join us for some crafty fun on the green!

Create your very own treasure jar to commemorate your trip to the beach! Plus get a custom designed airbrushed hat complete with your name. (PLEASE NOTE: Airbrush hats are limited to the first 150 children each week.)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Memorial Day Concert

May 29

Bring you red white and blue dancing shoes for the kick off to summer Memorial Day Dance Party…with Rubiks Groove! Rubiks Groove is the premier “Outside of the Box” 80s, 90s & 00s Tribute Band! This high energy, character-driven act will take you back to the best eras of music with a complete 360 degree interactive experience that includes live music from rock to hip hop, characters, costumes, and videos! Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome.

Where’s Waldo? Scavenger

Hunt

July 1- July 27

Visit The Hidden Lantern Bookstore or the front desk at Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company to pick up your scavenger map, then wander around the Town Center to participating merchants to find Waldo at each location. Weekly winners announced every Thursday before the start of Movie Night on Western Green.

July 4th Celebration

July 4

Start bright and early with our Bike Decorating Contest & Breakfast (7:30 AM) followed by the bike parade (8:30 AM) and block party, where we will announce the winners of the bike decorating contest. We will have special sweet treats from our friends at Kona Ice as well as face painting, airbrush tattoos, balloons, colored hair spray and more! Finish off the day with a star-spangled fireworks display at 8:45 PM! NOTE: In partnership with the Rosemary Beach Foundation, bike decorating kits will be available in advance of the event for a suggested donation of $5. Proceeds will benefit Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast. Check rosemarybeach.com/events for more information about the times and locations for bag distribution.

SEA CHANGE

BY WILL NEDIGER / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

Will Nediger is a professional crossword constructor from London, Ontario. This is his 47th puzzle for The Times since 2006. He likes puzzles that violate standard crossword rules and conventions, as a way of making solvers think about the reasons behind those rules. This puzzle’s subject is a philosophical conundrum that, in case you’re interested, is explained in more detail on Wikipedia.

— W. S.

89 Move slowly

91 ____ Mangeshkar, Indian singer known as the ‘‘Queen of Melody’’

92 Fast-food offering that may come with a toy

93 Lake that’s home to South Bass Island

94 ‘‘Ideas worth spreading’’ spinoff

97 Can spare a few moments

99 Thwart the interrogators

100 Good way to be regarded

102 Makes crispy

104 Bay Area sch.

105 Tidy up

107 Septet in a Christmas carol

108 Digs in a forest

109 Patriot Allen

112 Food served with gari and wasabi

116 Dad, in Korean

118 Rosalind of ‘‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’’

120 Scrabble rating system

122 Durable wood

123 Link, of a sort

124 Challenge for a cleaner

by CHRISTIA PALIZZI

Brynn (8) and Jack (10) from Abilene, Texas have a literal zoo at their house! They live at the Abeline Zoo! They have giraffes, flamingos, lions, capybaras, reptile house and hyenas. They love the zoo camps in the summer. Brynn’s favorite snake in the reptile house is the king cobra, and Jack loves the boa, he’s an albino. They love to feed the giraffes and fish and ride in the swan boats. While on their visit to Rosemary Beach, Jack saw dolphins and caught a trout on their boat ride! They made the most delicious fish tacos!

Margo (almost 10) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL went to her first concert. Just like her first CD was Taylor Swift, so was her first concert. She and her mom danced for three hours straight to 46 songs! She says Taylor is an awesome performer! Margo was gifted a VIP package and handed out friendship bracelets to her new friends.

Davis (6) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL has been promoted to the camo belt in karate! He also was able to visit the Georgia Aquarium with his dad while his mom and sister attended the Taylor Swift concert. The sharks were definitely the best part of that trip.

Lucca (14) and his middle school aged friends rehearsed for months and performed in Emerald Coast Theater Company’s production of The

Music Man. Lucca starred as The Music Man, Harold Hill, and did an incredible job! The entire production was fantastic and was cast so well! This was his first starring role, but definitely not his last! Great job, Lucca and cast!

Victor (10) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL was very nervous about competing in the Regional Science Bee but he did thanks to his supportive teacher. He had so much fun and ended up placing third overall! He was then invited to compete in the National Science Bee in Washington, DC! What an accomplishment! Way to go, Victor!

Jackson (10) from Oklahoma broke his arm doing parkour at his school with his buddies. He knows to avoid the cameras and the principal.

Sisters Logan (10) and Sims (12) came to visit our area after playing in a soccer tournament from Fairhope, AL. Logan’s team won both of their first games and made it to the semi finals.

Sims’ team played great but unfortunately didn’t advance. It was her team’s first time playing 11 v. 11 which utilizes a much larger field. They both had so much fun and learned so much. They’re looking forward to summer camps this summer and tubing.

Colton (12) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL spent 25 minutes fighting for the

fish of his life! He caught a massive black drum from the bank of the Choctawhatchee Bay! Way to go Colton! That is a true fish story!

Ari (5) from Seattle, WA started playing basketball! He loves it so much and wants to dunk like Chang from his favorite movie, Chang Can Dunk. He also loves Charmander from Pokemon.

Charlie (8) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL is obsessed with working for Gigi’s and Stellar. She’s a self proclaimed professional model for Stellar and is her new career goal. She had her mom buy her a working cash register so that she can practice for when her time comes.

Coen (12) from Santa Rosa Beach, FL had a shutout soccer game! As a goal keeper that’s quite the accomplishment! He has enjoyed his time playing soccer and can’t wait to play again next year.

Izzy (15) had the amazing opportunity to serve as a page in the State Senate Page Program at the state capitol in Tallahassee. She assisted members of the Florida Senate by distributing legislative materials and correspondence in the senate chamber while observing the senators as they discussed and debated legislation. She was able to see two senate sessions where several controversial bills were debated on. They also

participated in mock sessions where they had to introduce their own bill to members of the senate all while learning about the laws and how bills are drafted. Izzy plans to become a lawyer when she ‘grows up’ so this was a very exciting experience for her!

Kirie (10) from Knoxville, TN was able to finally see her musical idol in concert! She and her mom went to the Taylor Swift concert in Nashville! Kirie spent days making friendship bracelets to hand out, and already knew every lyric which she sang along to the whole night. It was definitely an experience to remember. She’s also been working on her crow pose in yoga and managed to hold it for at least three breaths at the last kids yoga class! She was given the team spirit award for her robotics team and completed the last challenge to pick up trash on the beach and programmed their robot to dance to “Primadonna Girl”.

Emilia (10) scored her first goal in lacrosse! It was her first time ever shooting a penalty shot in a game and had never practiced it, but she made it! She also had an awesome assist right before she scored the goal! She says she’s so excited

about “finding her thing” in lacrosse and that when she’s playing lacrosse, “She doesn’t think about anything else.”

Owen (12) and his BFF Daisy (12) along with the rest of their band class had their first performance. Owen played the tambourine and Daisy the glockenspiel. Both were essential instruments in the piece that they performed. And now onto the lost teeth…

Jack (10) lost his tooth brushing his teeth. It just fell right out!

Brynn (8) lost a tooth one day and then the very next day she lost another! The tooth fairy forgot to come but made it up to her!

Emilia (10) had a wiggly tooth for a very, very long time we’re talking weeks. One day it got so loose that it just fell out when she wiggled it! The tooth fairy brought her a gummy needo in exchange for her lost tooth.

Logan (10) lost a tooth at a volleyball tournament. It was so loose and her mom just pulled it out between games!

News the way kids like to tell it... all good, mostly true and, of course, totally earth shattering.

Victor and His Science Bee Medal

Colton & the Whopper

Izzy as a Senate Page

Kirie at the Taylor Swift Concert

Margo at the Taylor Swift Concert

Activity Page

Find the word in the puzzle.

Words can go in any dir

Words do not shar

ection

SUMMER FUN WORD SEARCH

BICYCLE SEA TURTLES

DOLPHI N CRAB

SEAGULL SAND CASTLE SWIMSUIT SURFBOARD

BONFIRE ICE CREAM

BICYCLE DOLPHIN SEAGULL SWIMSUIT

BONFIRE ICE CREAM SEA TURTLES

Find the word in the puzzle.

Words can go in any direction.

Words do not share letters.

CRAB SAND CASTLE SURFBOARD

F O O D & D R I N K

1 Amavida Coffee & Tea

850.231.1077 | amavida.com

2 Charlie’s Café

850.588.3050 | charliescaferosemary.square.site

3 CK’s Feed & Supply

850.588.0908 | cowgirlkitchen.com/feed

4 Cork & Barrel

850.399.4919 | 30acorkandbarrel.com

5 Cowgirl Kitchen

850.213.0058 | cowgirlkitchen.com

6 Edward’s Fine Food & Wine

850.231.0550 | edwards30a.com

7 Havana Beach Bar & Grill

850.588.2882 | thepearlrb.com

8 Havana Beach Rooftop Lounge

850.588.2882 | thepearlrb.com

9 Kilwin’s

850.399.4000 / kilwins.com/rosemarybeach

10 La Crema Tapas & Chocolate

850.534.3004 | lacrematapas.com

11 Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar

850.213.4600 | rooftop30a.com

12 Playa Bowls playabowls.com

13 Restaurant Paradis

850.534.0400 | restaurantparadis.com

Summer Kitchen

F A S H I O N

B E A UTY, H O M E & G I F T S

Curate 850.231.1808 | curate30a.com

Huck & Harlowe 850.848.9808 |

LOD G I N G

S E R V I C E S

USEF U L

ROSEMARY BEACH is a registered trademark owned by Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC and is used with permission pursuant to a license from Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC.