VIE Magazine May / June 2016

CAYCE COLLINS SWIMWEAR Oh So Chic!

SUMMER

ESCAPES

Summertime!

May/June 2016

THE GREAT BITE

A Mostly True Fish Tale

C’EST AMERICA LA VIE AIN’T THAT Sun-drenched and Salty

A Curated Summer Collection

TIMELESS ELEGANCE S OP H I ST IC AT E D ST Y L E I N SP I R E D I N T E R IOR S

A LICE NSE D I NTE R IOR DESIG N FI R M

FINE INTERIORS ALONG THE EMERALD COAST DESTIN. WATERCOLOR . ALYS BEACH. ROSEMARY BEACH

850.837.5563 12870 US HIGHWAY 98 WEST / MIRAMAR BEACH, FL W W W. L O V E L A C E I N T E R I O R S . C O M

A P PA R E L ,

J E W E L R Y,

H O M E

AC C E S S O R I E S ,

A LY S S H O P P E .CO M

A N D

G I F T S

Three great restaurants on the beach in Seaside, Florida budandalleys .com

850.231.3113

30 years of Good Food, Good People & Good Times!

850.231.5900

850.231.4781

McCaskill & Company —— Finest Jewelry & Watches ——

13390 Highway 98 West, Destin, Florida 32550 850.650.2262 • www.McCaskillandCompany.com

BESTIN DESTIN VIP DESTIN MAGAZINE READER CHOICE AWARD

2016

T H E M O S T C R E AT I V E C U L I N A RY E X P E R I E N C E O N 3 0 A Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 pm • Happy Hour 5:30–6:30 pm 8 5 0 - 2 1 3 - 5 7 0 0

|

C A L I Z A R E S T A U R A N T . C O M

IN THIS ISSUE:

66

86

172

118

132

38

26

FEATURE

CULTURE

HEALTH

Vintage Meets Mod: Swimsuit Designer Inspires a Retro Summer 86

Education on Pointe: Northwest Florida Ballet Continues to Shine 78

Greatness from Within: Real People, Real Fitness 107

The Furnace Is Lit: Sloss Music and Arts Festival 164

HOME AND GARDEN

Kasey Williams Steps into the Spotlight 172

The 30-A Real Estate Market Shows Upward Price Trends 62

COUTURE Ain’t That America: Sun-Drenched and Salty 26 Naturally Adorned: Chic Verte Jewelry 126

Botanical Beauty: The Link between Humanity and Mother Nature 180

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD

VOYAGER

Blackberry Farm: Planting the Seeds for a New Way of Life 132

Skier’s Paradise: Pickos Ski School in Northwest Florida 38

In Good Spirits: Timber Creek Distillery 158

The Great Bite: Phenomenal Sportfishing in Mexico Beach, Florida 50

The Modern Minimalist: Chapter Four 152 C’EST LA VIE CURATED COLLECTION: SUMMER 2016 118

World-Class Golf and Luxury Combine at Champions Retreat 66 Majestic Beauty: A Mother and Son’s Legacy 140

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 13

CREATIVE TEAM: FOUNDER / PUBLISHER LISA MARIE BURWELL Lisa@VIEmagazine.com FOUNDER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GERALD BURWELL Gerald@VIEmagazine.com

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR JORDAN STAGGS Jordan@VIEmagazine.com CHIEF COPY EDITOR MARGARE T STE VENSON CONTRIBUTING W RITERS SUSAN BENTON, SALLIE W. BOYLES, CHRIST Y MILLIKEN, ERIN ODEN, K YLE PE TIT, TORI PHELPS, MIKE RAGSDALE, JACOB SUMMERS, CHAD THURMAN

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIREC TOR TRACE Y THOMAS FILM CUR ATOR TIM DUTROW GR APHIC DESIGNERS RINN GARL ANGER, LUCY MASHBURN CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGR APHERS GINNARD ARCHIBALD, JENNIFER BOLES, LIZ CRAWLE Y, TOMMY CROW, MARCO GOVEL, JESSICA IAMPOLSK AIA, FORE VER PHOTOGRAPHY, GLYNNIS JONES, TIARE MIRANDA, ANDI RICE, ROMONA ROBBINS, MICHELLE STANCIL, JOSH WEICHMAN, DAWN CHAPMAN WHIT T Y, BE ALL + THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTPOINT

ADVERTISING, SALES, AND MARKETING WEB DE VELOPERS MEGHN HILL, MARK THOMAS BR ANCH OFFICE MANAGER – IREL AND SHARON DUANE MARKE TING MANAGER AMANDA CROWLE Y CRE ATIVE ST YLIST SUVA ANG-MENDOZ A ACCOUNTS MANAGER L AUREN SHAW Lauren@VIEmagazine.com ACCOUNT E XECUTIVES JULIE DORR Julie@VIEmagazine.com MARY JANE KIRBY Mar yJane@VIEmagazine.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER TIM DUTROW DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR SHANNON QUINL AN

VIE is a registered trademark. All contents herein are Copyright © 2008–2015 Cornerstone Marketing and Advertising, Incorporated (Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. VIE is a lifestyle magazine and is published six times annually on a bimonthly schedule. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by state law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or the Publisher. VIE is a paid publication. Subscription rates: Digital magazine (iPad only) – One-year $11.99; Two-year $17.99 / Printed magazine – One-year $29.95; Two-year $54.95 (U.S. Only – price includes free access to digital magazine versions for iPad). Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.VIEMagazine.com.

14 | M AY/J U NE 2016

ON THE COVER:

Sweet and sassy! We’re ready for summer and hope you are too. Destin, Florida-based designer Cayce Collins’s retro swimwear line is just what we needed for a fresh perspective on what it means to beat the heat and look good while doing it. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida, was the perfect backdrop for Cayce’s modest yet fun vintage-inspired swimsuits.

We hope this summertime photo shoot, captured by photographer Tommy Crow, and Cayce’s journey to fashion stardom inspire you to stay cool this summer! model: emme martin hair and makeup: morgan king

PUBLISHED BY THE IDE A BOUTIQUE

www.TheIdeaBoutique.com info@theideaboutique.com USA 114 Logan Lane, Suite 4 Grayton Beach, Florida 32459 850.231.3087

IRELAND The Grain Store, Suite 1 Clifden, Co. Galway 85.158.9879

MIRAMAR BEACH 9705 HWY 98 850-654-8009

GULF BREEZE 1149 GULF BREEZE PKWY 850-934-6200

JMILLERSFURNITURE.COM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

SCHOOL’S OUT for SUMMER Cotton Candy, Carousels—and Cayce Collins

E

verything seems different to me in the summer. It may be that it takes me back to my youth in my hometown of Duxbury, Massachusetts, when summertime meant no school, a slower pace, cookouts in Cape Cod, ferry trips to Martha’s Vineyard, slathering on baby oil to get that summer-long tan (when it was still in style to do so), and evening ice cream runs to Farfar’s. One of my favorite summertime rituals was a long evening walk to the beach across the half-mile-long Powder Point Bridge, which once held the Guinness record for being the oldest, longest wooden bridge in the world (prior to being rebuilt in the ’80s)—a regular town brag back then.

I’ve spent the majority of my life living beachside in New England (Duxbury for twenty years), in Northwest Florida (Seagrove Beach for twenty-four years), and most recently in Connemara along Ireland’s west coast—so I guess I can claim to know and love coastal living. I reminisce about this fact while writing this note, and I realize just how very blessed I have been.

It’s summertime and the “livin’ is easy” as the saying goes but, really, who doesn’t welcome a new summer season that may include a combination of a longing for summers gone by with the hope of having your best one yet? Since this year is our first issue bearing the moniker of this welcome season—Summertime— I wanted to share an entire issue dedicated to the happy, fun, and carefree time of year—a time of year that forces you to take a deep breath and thank God for a slightly slower pace. Summertime is also the only time of year to explicitly offer the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends the special sights, sounds, and smells of three of my favorite holidays: Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Hot dogs with yellow mustard never looked and tasted so good.

And, to lick the salt from your lips after a day in the sun at the beach or on a boat is just delicious!

Within this issue, we have some eye candy for sure with the “Vintage Meets Mod” fashion shoot at the Village of Baytowne Wharf—the epicenter of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida—a fun-filled venue with an architectural vernacular inspired by the historic and lively French Quarter of New Orleans. It was the perfect backdrop, evoking a vibe of days gone by. I was first introduced to the talent of fashion designer Cayce Collins at South Walton Fashion Week in 2014. When Collins showed again in 2015 with her retro, vintage-inspired swimwear collection, I was impressed enough to pursue featuring her talent within the pages of VIE. With piercing blue eyes set against a perfect

Lazy Sunday afternoon at Seagrove Beach, Florida Publisher Lisa Burwell and Sucre Photo by Gerald Burwell

complexion and silky, jet-black hair, Collins’s beauty is rivaled only by her kind and genuine personality. Her swimsuit designs motivated us to pay homage to bygone summers complete with cotton candy, oversize sunglasses, and big locks of hair à la Brigitte Bardot, all appropriately set among an old-fashioned carousel and game arcade. Read all about it in Suva Ang-Mendoza’s article, “Vintage Meets Mod: Swimsuit Designer Inspires a Retro Summer.”

Without further ado—happy summer, y’all!

To Life!

—Lisa Marie V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 17

Verragio Engag emen t Rings and Verragio Men's Wedding Bands.

The perfect marriage of elegance, style and quality.

Available in Destin, exclusively at

Emerald Lady Jewelry I N T HE B EST B UY P L AZA

♦

850-424-3823

♦

E M E R A L D L A DY J E W E L R Y . C O M

W I L LOW

A lifestyle brand men | women | home

Online

W E A RW I L LOW.C O M

kiki risa clothing

s t yl e O U R C UST O M E RS A R E L I K E F AM I L Y T O U S A N D W E E NJ O Y C R EA TI N G ST Y L E S TH A T R E F L E C T TH EI R I ND I V I D U AL PER S O NAL I T Y .

L ET U S B E Y O U R PER S O N A L ST Y L I ST .

with love, M A RI SA

REBECCA TAYLOR ALEXIS DEREK LAM 10 CROSBY THEORY CITIZENS OF HUMANITY MOTHER DENIM JOIE ALICE AND OLIVIA

(850) 650-0554 36236 EMERALD COAST PKWY SUITE E, DESTIN, FL 32541

30Avenue

DESIGN WORTH WAITING FOR...

AWAKENING Change Inspiration Creativity Energy DESIGN SERVICES

Antiques • Rugs • Art • Lighting • Gifts • Stone Mantels

BOUTIQUE AND STUDIO 30AVENUE 12805 US Highway 98E , Suite Q101 Inlet Beach, Florida 32413

(850) 231-4844 • www.DesignontheGulf.com

AIN’T THAT AMERICA S UN- D R E N C H E D A N D S A L T Y

By JORDAN STAGGS Photography by DAWN CHAPMAN WHITTY Hair by BROOKE MILLER // Makeup by YVETTE NATION

F

or decades, vacationers from the Southeast and beyond have flocked to the Gulf of Mexico each summer to enjoy the sun-soaked beaches, the fresh seafood, and the down-home yet exciting atmosphere in Panama City Beach, Florida. Its strategic location just west of the mouth of the Apalachicola River means the beaches’ quartz-rich sands are white as snow and sparkle like diamonds. Long known as a popular spring break destination, Panama City Beach in the summer brings vacationers of all ages

to enjoy the warm Gulf waters, vibrant nightlife, quirky attractions and theme parks, and a constant flow of concerts, festivals, and other events.

Beach communities always seem to form cultures all their own, but whether it’s along the rocky California coast, the classic Hamptons shoreline, or the hot and sunny Florida Panhandle, there is a style that evolves from the environment.

Friends wearing breezy linens and light cottons camp out around beach bonfires and play reggae and classic rock on the guitar. Sunny days spent cruising in the Jeep or paddleboarding mean colorful swimwear, shades, and fun accessories as the smell of salt air and suntan oil wafts through the palms.

BOOK YOUR PANAMA CIT Y BE A C H G E T AWAY! W W W.R E SO R T C O LLE C T IO N .C O M

26 | M AY/J U NE 2016

THIS PAGE // Bikini available at Ophelia Swimwear Sunglasses by Ray-Ban, available at Sunglass World Pier Park

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 27

TH IS PAG E // Bikini available at Ophelia Swimwear

O PPO S ITE PAG E // Bikinis available at Ophelia Swimwear Men’s swimwear by Original Penguin Sunglasses available at Sunglass World Pier Park

YOUNG & WILD & FREE

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 29

THE GIRLS OF SUMMER

30 | MAY/J U NE 2016

THIS PAGE // Bikinis available at Ophelia Swimwear Sunglasses by Ray-Ban, available at Sunglass World Pier Park Flash tattoos available at Ophelia Swimwear Jewelry available at Mercantile in Seaside

Modern Realism Depicting the Beauty of the Coastal South

OFFERING ORIGINAL OIL PAINTINGS AND FINE ART PRINTS

Catering to Collectors and Professionals.

Including Interior Designers and Art Consultants.

W W W. M A R G A R E T B I G G S . C O M

32 | M AY/J U NE 2016

ESCAPE TO THE COAST OPPOSIT E PAGE // Sunglasses available at Sunglass World Pier Park Women’s clothing available at Mercantile in Seaside Menswear by Original Penguin

T HIS PAGE // Sunglasses by Ray-Ban, available at Sunglass World Pier Park Jewelry available at Mercantile in Seaside V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 33

SUMMER DAZE

THIS PAGE // Bikini by Clover Canyon, available at Ophelia Swimwear Sunglasses by Ray-Ban, available at Sunglass World Pier Park 34 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Shops of Old Seagrove, behind 723 Whiskey Bravo #30 Gardenia Street, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

850.231.6201

L I F E

D E F I N E D

H H 5 · 9 7 S O U T H C H A R L E S ST R E E T

This 3,744 square-foot home designed by Domin Bock Architecture features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and is located on a corner homesite south of 30A close to the Gulf Green beach access. The home’s lavish courtyard hosts a large pool complimented with a summer kitchen. The second floor outdoor living area provides views of the Gulf.

U23 · SOMERSET HOME

Located on the corner of Arboleda Park and Nonesuch Way, this Somerset Home designed by Jason R. Dunham features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, a spacious living / dining area, expansive courtyard with pool and grill area, and two-car garage. Buyers can make personal interior finish selections for the home.

G4 · 55 HOGPENNY ALLEY

This custom home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a bunk room, and a two-car garage.

The entry has a 22-foot ceiling and custom stairwell. The kitchen is open to a dining and living area, and the outdoor courtyard has a garden and loggia, a fireplace, and summer kitchen. The second floor master bedroom and bath open to a master terrace.

A6 · 50 SEVEN WELLS COURT

This 2,672-square-foot courtyard home is designed by renowned architect Robert Orr. A generous dipping pool, built-in seating and an outdoor fireplace ensure the courtyard, encompassed with greenery, will be used every season. On the second floor, two spacious guest suites open into a louvered gallery and a spacious rooftop terrace.

A2 · 22 SEVEN WELLS COURT

This stunning 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home was designed by the renowned architectural firm and Town Planners of Alys Beach, Duany Plater-Zyherk. The living room, kitchen and master bedroom feature expansive windows that give colorful views of the courtyard and pool, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.

A L Y S B E A C H . C O M

U8

·

5 2

SP I CE

BE RRY

A L L EY

Framing Arboleda Park, this 3,297 square-foot home is designed by renowned Khoury-Vogt Architects. The home features 2 master suites, 2 guest bedrooms, bunk area, 4.5 baths, media room, park side loggia, two-car garage, courtyard loggia, and pool. Buyers have the opportunity to make many of the interior finish selections for the home.

·

8 5 0 . 2 1 3 . 5 5 0 0

Alys Beach Properties, LLC, Licensed Real Estate Broker participation welcome. Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not an offer or solicitation in CA, NY, NJ or any state where prohibited by law. ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2016

We Can Solve Your Water Issues

A Testimonial Dear Alan, It has been over ten years since our wonderful Gulf-front home was completed, and I wanted to take a moment to tell you how happy Ed and I are with each and every detail. As an interior designer myself, and Ed with a career in real estate, we were knowledgeable and very involved clients.

Building a house on the dunes comes with its own set of engineering complexities. Our project was especially challenging because of the massive amount of steel and concrete. You accepted the task with confidence and skill, with an end result of beauty and structural integrity.

Besides hearing of the fine craftsmanship of Ficarra Builders from past clients, we kept hearing the words “honest and trustworthy� time and time again. Having worked with many builders in our respective fields, Ed and I really value quality and honesty.

We always felt you could solve any unforeseen problem, and that confidence allowed us to experience the building of our custom home. We also appreciate the fact that you are as accessible today as you were during construction.

You have our highest recommendation.

Sincerely, Anne and Ed Erbeseld

Custom Residential / Commercial Additions / Renovations 228 Market St., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | 850.267.2898 www.ficarra.com | CGC1515280

Skier’s Paradise PICKOS SKI SCHOOL BRINGS WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES TO NORTHWEST FLORIDA

BY KYLE PETI T | P HOTO G R A P HY BY T I A R E M I R A NDA

38 | M AY/J U NE 2016

O

ur beloved corridor of Scenic Highway 30-A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is known far and wide for its lovely white sand, warm Gulf water, amazing artists, nice dogs, and strange people. Those of us who live here are blessed to make our homes amid the quaint beauty of the small beach villages that line our bit of the coast. Tourists flock here each season hoping to enjoy the same things that make up our daily lives.

We see them sitting with sunburned feet outside the ice cream parlor and smugly reassure ourselves that they won’t ever know as much about our home as we do.

But do we really know everything about the place we live in? I have lived here for the entirety of my adult life and find myself discovering new gems all the time! One of the hidden jewels of the 30-A corridor is the very reason I call myself a resident. Just four blocks north of the beach, off a road named Sugar Drive, a very unique neighborhood has eluded even some of the most in-the-know residents. At the end of Slalom Way on a cul-de-sac known as Jump Street sits the Cory Pickos World Ski Center.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 39

A S TH E YEARS H AV E G O NE BY, T H E WO R L D S K I CENT ER H AS GAI N ED A R E P U TAT IO N FO R B E ING T H E B ES T WATER- S KI TRAI N ING C E NT E R IN T H E WO R L D. In 1992, world-renowned water-skier Cory Pickos and his beautiful wife, Rose, lived in South Florida and ran a ski school on park land until their lease ran out. Needing to relocate and also expecting their first child, Cory and Rose began to search for a man-made lake to host their operation. As luck would have it, an ambitious developer was working on a project in Santa Rosa Beach at the same time. The goal was to dig three man-made lakes specifically designed to be excellent for waterskiing. Luckier still, the developer was also a competitive water-skier, and like most skiers, a huge fan of Pickos. He needed a professional to bring his dream of a ski school nestled in the heart of a water-ski lifestyle community to fruition. Just like that, the Pickos World Ski Center was born—just in time for little Adam Pickos to be born as well!

As the years have gone by, the World Ski Center has gained a reputation for being the best waterski training center in the world, and the Pickos family grew to include a sweet daughter named Alexis. Athletes come to this sunny haven from all corners of the earth. Santa Rosa Beach has been privileged to host world-class water-skiers from countries such as Japan, the Czech Republic, England, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Belarus, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and more—I could go on forever!

Talented individuals come to the school seeking wisdom and training from Sensei Cory and his amazing family. His “only the strong survive” philosophy can be found painted on walls in Mexico in homage to the Water Ski Hall of Fame inductee. The master himself holds twenty-four world records, two world titles, ten Masters wins, and ten U.S. Open wins in men’s waterskiing. Cory and his son, Adam, also achieved a milestone in their sport in 2009 when they became the first father-and-son duo to represent their country in the same discipline at the same time in the world championship competition.

Yet another first occurred when Adam won the

40 | M AY/J U NE 2016

world title last year in Mexico, making them the only father and son to hold world titles in the same event.

Not all of the athletes who train on these beautiful lakes—which boast the most sanctioned world waterskiing records of any on earth—come from abroad. In fact, plenty hail from the United States.

One such athlete came to live with Cory and Rose at the tender age of fourteen. Hailing from the great

WE PROUDLY FEATURE ALL LOCALLY OWNED MERCHANTS AFFINITY | BAYTOWNE JEWELERS | BEN & JERRY’S BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SACRED HEART DESTIN LUXURY REAL ESTATE & RENTAL DIG EATERY | FAVORI GIFT BOUTIQUE FORMULA FRESH JUICE & COFFEE BAR JEWEL TOFFIER | MARKET SHOPS NAILS & SPA PRIMP SALON | PROFFITT PR SACRED HEART MEDICAL GROUP SACRED HEART REHABILITATION SIRENS LINGERIE & SWIM | SUNSET SHOES THE VILLAGE BOUTIQUE

9375 Emerald Coast Parkway At the Entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort | themarketshops.com For leasing inquiries, please contact CBRE | Tom Watson | 850.527.3524 | 850.231.6694

42 | M AY/J U NE 2016

ELECTRIC CART C O M PA N Y

TIME FOR SOME SUMMER FUN! ...time to visit the Electric Cart Company

SEVEN REASONS TO VISIT TODAY 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Largest Selection in the Southeast Two Locations to Serve You Better Carts Starting at $3,999 Huge Selection of Accessories Custom Wheel & Tire Packages 12,000sf Service Center

7.

Pickup & Delivery Service

THE B OAT S RU N F ROM SU NU P TO SUNDOWN NEARLY ALL YEAR LONG, AND S PECTATO R S ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO CO M E A ND WATCH F OR F REE! state of Georgia, a young Regina Jaquess met the Pickos family and saw a tremendous opportunity to learn. Years of nurturing, dedication, and training resulted in Regina’s becoming a champion among champions. Some Santa Rosa Beach locals may not realize that the sweet, petite lady that runs the Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy is actually a massive force of nature! Regina thrived at the World Ski Center and went on to become perhaps the most prolific female athlete that the sport has ever seen. She’s not just a brilliant pharmacist, folks—she’s also the reigning world-record holder in both slalom and overall categories as well as the reigning world tournament champion in both categories.

Her slalom record of 3.25 buoys at forty-one feet off the rope is a feat that seems absolutely impossible until you actually witness it yourself.

Stop in today and talk to one of our professionals ELECTRIC CART C O M PA N Y

Visitors can witness any and all of the feats accomplished at the World Ski Center on any given day. The boats run from sunup to sundown nearly all year long, and spectators are always welcome to come and watch for free! Many tournaments are held at the lakes throughout the year, and these present great opportunities for afternoons of entertainment watching us crazy skiers slalom, trick, and jump our way to glory. Yes, I said us crazy skiers. As I mentioned, the World Ski Center is the very reason I call myself a local today. As the captain of the University of Kansas waterskiing team, I found myself traveling to these lovely beaches every spring break to train with the greats. In my last year of university, I blew off all internship opportunities to pursue a higher aspiration as an employee of the World Ski

4552 US Hwy 98 West Santa Rosa Beach, FL (4 miles east of Sandestin between Shrimpers & Louie-Louie’s)

9200 PCB Parkway Panama City Beach (6 miles east of Pier Park)

ElectricCartCompany.com/vie 850-622-2000

THE P I CKOS FAM I LY A N D THE WO R LD S K I C E N T E R TEA M A R E I M P ECC AB L E HOST S A ND PAT I E N T TEACHERS, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LU CKY TO B E A PART O F T H E I R WO R L D. Center. As the center’s cook, I was afforded ample water time, room and board, and expenses. It was an absolute dream come true for me. During that stay, I met the man whom I would later marry, and thus I never really left the Emerald Coast again.

I still compete, and I try to be the best student possible on the water. (Sensei thinks I talk too much, but what does he know?) Life in our neighborhood is never boring, and the people at the ski school have become my extended family. They gave me a place to turn when times got tough and continue to support, nurture, and guide me and my children. They even guided me to earn a spot representing the USA in the 2014 World Over 35 Waterski Championships!

You don’t need to be a champion or have competitive goals to learn a thing or two at the World Ski Center.

They teach people of all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to spend a few days on the water getting pointers from the pros. Imagine taking a day off from the beach, relaxing in a boat or by the lake instead. The ski school accepts call-in appointments, or you can book by e-mail through its website at www.SkiCory.com.

Don’t worry about having the right equipment. The Ski Shack pro shop has everything you’ll need, and the Ski Center has plenty of equipment for you to borrow while you learn the ropes. I highly recommend checking out this most unique enterprise if you find yourself on or near 30-A. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to our beautiful neck of the woods, a trip down Slalom Way will always prove to be interesting and exciting! The Pickos family and the World Ski Center team are impeccable hosts and patient teachers, and I consider myself lucky to be a part of their world.

www.SkiCory.com

44 | M AY/J U NE 2016

SIP THE FINEST

MARGARITA

Sip the finest margarita Savor fresh seafood, enchiladas and more with sauces from scratch Join us for drinks, dinner, lunch or Sunday brunch

limited time

The Verde Infusion ‘Rita

CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO! 5.5.16

GRAND BOULEVARD Sandestin 850.654.5649 cantinalaredo.com

E R I C W A T S O N A R C H I T E C T , P. A . ericwatson.com • 850.213.0004 FL#AR0014122

A Jewelry & Accessory Boutique

w w w. d e s t i n j e w e l e r s . c o m | 8 5 0 . 8 3 7 . 8 8 2 2 50 South Holiday Road, Suite 700 Miramar Beach, F lorida 32550

F E AT U R I N G

$

1,999,000 MLS#738549

Sophisticated Scenic Seclusion Uniquely located south of Scenic Highway 30A, Grace Point sits nestled between Prominence South and WaterSound Beach, Florida.

Homesites starting at $425,000 1

2

9

10

17

18

Pool Amenity

Grace Point Way 3

4

Pocket Park

5

6

11

Pocket Park

13

25

26

33 SOLD

34 35

42

43

Grace Point Way 12

14

19

Pocket Park

21

20

22

27

Pocket Park

29

28 30 SOLD

41

36 SOLD 37 SOLD

Pocket Park

Pocket Park

Entr

yG

8

15

16

23

24

31

32

38

39

40

ate

CR

30A

7

www.gracepointsales.com Debbie James EXCLUSIVE AGENCY – 850 PROPERTIES

(850) 450-2000 debbie@850properties.com

Marie Solomon (850) 502-6021 marie@850properties.com

I sl and stayc a ti o n , F lo r i da s t yl e Somewhere between indulgence and nature lies a place that connects both.

Get spoiled with full-ser vice resort amenities along miles of unspoiled island paradise.

A MOSTLY TRUE TALE OF PHENOMENAL SPORTFISHING

By Chad Thurman Photography courtesy of Mexico Beach Community Development Council

all me Fishmael. Some years ago—it doesn’t matter when exactly; only know that it was another lifetime altogether— I, like many others before me, elected to clear my thoughts by trying my hand at fishing the waters off of the Northwest Florida coast. This particular afternoon in late August turned out to have beautiful weather and perfect conditions for this endeavor. Once upon the water, we were able to quickly and efficiently muster a fine mess of perfectly proportioned black snapper for our highly anticipated evening fish tacos.

As the sun began to slip beneath its watery blanket on the horizon, our thoughts turned to the return voyage and the bounty of succulent morsels of fish that awaited. It was time to call it a day. The bite of the fish had begun to slack off—that is, save for that last bite, the Great Bite, as it would later be known.

Suddenly and with thunderous fury, the quiet was shattered as my reel began to spool out, singing the melodies of a line tightened by a large fish. The tip of the pole in my hands doubled under as the reel’s drag was locked in a seemingly inseparable dance of splendid effort between the unseen force that lurked beneath the waves and its beckoning puppet master above. The fish was on.

It was then, many years ago, that I and those with me witnessed an exhilarating and exhausting battle that made it seem as if the very seafloor was being torn asunder. At long last, we beheld the glorious beast as it begrudgingly breached the surface. Having no means sufficient to net the magnificent mass, the crew attempted to hoist its hulking girth onto the vessel. Maneuvering the fiend from its watery womb to a position where it could crest safely over the starboard gunwale, we paused briefly to behold what was surely the largest black snapper that mankind had theretofore known. The men wept at the sight.

As we gazed in wonderment, the gossamer leader twinkled in the waning sunlight. At the exact moment that the size of the fish was properly fathomed, we all heard the tensile sound of fluorocarbon snapping: a high-pitched pop that deflated all our exuberance in an instant.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 51

WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF MEXICO BEACH, THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, MBARA IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO ACHIEVING THE MILESTONE OF A THOUSAND ARTIFICIAL REEF EMPLACEMENTS. In veritable slow motion, we watched as the brute slid over the boat’s side and back into the foaming, churning abyss below. All was quiet for a moment.

We had lost the Paragon of the Piscine, the Mother of All Black Snapper—the MoABS.

off the coast of Mexico Beach, to educate the public on the values of sustainable artificial reef fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, and to promote scientific research and evaluation of reef designs, biomass development, and fish productions. At present there are over two hundred reef emplacements deployed there, with more planned and happening every year.

After much time had passed, my spirit and constitution healed and, strong from the vexing, I gained knowledge of reports of those who claimed to have spotted the MoABS (pronounced “Mobes”) nearby.

Tales supported rumors purported by fishermen who had tracked the MoABS and its progeny over the past decade to the artificial reef emplacements of Mexico Beach, Florida.

MBARA has hosted marine ecosystem and artificial reef workshops for adults as well as for children in public schools, allowing many youngsters their first opportunity to get up close and personal with our marine ecosystems. Working closely with the City of Mexico Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, MBARA is well on its way to achieving the milestone of a thousand artificial reef emplacements. With the help of MBARA stewards including Bob Cox and Ron Childs, Mexico Beach has established an enriching fishery program nurtured by an actively engaged community.

MBARA

The annual MBARA Kingfish Tournament is one event keeping the focus on the artificial reef program. Its purpose is to raise funds to build and deploy artificial reefs. All proceeds from the tournament are used to continue the creation of a thriving marine habitat and to improve the Mexico Beach fishery for everyone to enjoy. The event usually brings between one and two hundred vessels from all over the Southeast vying for the top king mackerel, wahoo, and Spanish mackerel. The tournament celebrates twenty years in 2016, with the main event taking place Saturday, August 27. Learn more or register to compete at MBARA.org.

Since its incorporation in 1997, the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) has had a threepart mission: to construct an artificial reef habitat to enhance sustainable fishing and wildlife growth

Captain Mitch Coleman of FloriDaze Adventures charter company says, “It’s a really big deal that the tournament is family oriented. There will be a beer wagon, but it doesn’t get out of hand. There’ll be a captains’ party with door prizes; it’s a fun community event with a definitive purpose and goal in mind—the sustained enhancement of this fishery management.”

Captain Coleman is a retired air traffic controller who uses his immense knowledge from years of observing the weather to augment his fishing. He charters primarily out to nine nautical miles from shore. “I don’t need to go any farther; that’s as far out as I need to go,” he says. “My bread-and-butter business in the winter is catch-and-release red snapper fishing. I get the fish up behind the boat; you can literally toss with spinning tackle to the fish you want to catch. And

52 | M AY/J U NE 2016

then we release them unharmed. It’s a healthy release because these are always fun and big fish that don’t have to worry about dolphins eating them as they make their way back down.”

Captain Darrell Key has been landing memorable fish for fifteen years as a master fly angler of tarpon among other species. Captain Key has fished from the Florida Keys all along the Gulf Coast to Venice, Louisiana. “There are over two hundred reef sites currently on the bottom off of Mexico Beach.

The reefs are not only bringing people here to fish, but they’re also bringing fish here to the people,” Key assures. “The goliath grouper is supposedly endangered; it’s not endangered here. There is one

or two on nearly every site.” Other pelagic, or deepwater, species that the artificial reefs bring in include sailfish and flying fish, as well as many baitfish. “The fishermen who are out here believe that the reason we are seeing this type of activity not commonly caught in our waters is because of the proliferation of artificial reef habitat that has been deployed over the last eighteen years. It’s good for the pelagic species, it’s good for the fish that live here yearround, and it’s good for the people who depend on the fish for sustenance and livelihood. We did not see this type of activity ten years ago or even five years ago; this fish resurgence is a direct result of the artificial reef program.”

DAY ONE THE DAWNING I awoke on the first day of the hunt to an electric-blue flash of lightning followed by a long peal of thunder.

For weeks, I had been gathering information, which led me to an ancient mariner who spoke of the last known sighting of the MoABS. For the price of one pint of beer, the old salt professed to know of a certain fishing rodeo weighmaster who had spotted the MoABS in 2010 and who was purportedly aboard a vessel known as the Gloria when it happened.

Through missing teeth, a waxed smile, and a beard holding the luxuriously creamy froth of properly hopped pale ale, the mariner told the tale of the weighmaster and his captain attempting to race a tempest back to harbor. It is said that as the waters raged, the old weighmaster, perched high in his lookout, spotted dozens of sea turtles, which began to swim around the vessel. There, in their midst, was none other than the diabolical beast—the MoABS. With wild eyes the old salt told me how the weighmaster grabbed his trusty hand line, and in one sure shot was able to sink a treble hook deep into the hide of the malignant being. The ravenous beast flailed, and with safe passage just in sight the weighmaster began to bring the fiend to the side of the accursed vessel. It was then that a mighty bolt of lightning was unleashed from the heavens to strike the ill-fated Gloria, disabling her bilge systems and causing her to take on water. Within minutes, according to the old salt, it was all over.

The fifty-foot vessel was laid to rest as the MoABS swam away east with the weighmaster still holding the line. Witnesses claimed that the Coast Guard arrived just in time to cut him loose and save his life.

With the last gulp of his pint, the old salt imparted to me that it was only after this tragedy that coastal residents came to know of and believe that the MoABS indeed possessed the supernatural powers to call forth minions, summon lightning, and sink ships.

Last year, MBARA was approved for a $1.5 million grant to build an artificial barrier reef three miles out on a site known as Bell Shoals, a place where locals already catch many of their cobia. When this project is finished, not only will it further increase the value of the cobia fishing off Mexico Beach, but it will also be a spectacular place to go snorkeling. People will be able to take guided tours and float for miles to see the different structures and the fish that inhabit a reef system. The barrier reef installation will surely enhance both the artificial reef program and the community as a whole.

54 | M AY/J U NE 2016

So, knowing this fish like the veins in my arm, one stormy morning I came to be in the south room of the Driftwood Inn in Mexico Beach, overlooking the Gulf with two men rumored to have recently seen the MoABS in their waters.

Captain Coleman had gotten word to me that the brute was in the vicinity and had assured me that

AS THE WATERS RAGED, THE OLD WEIGHMASTER, PERCHED HIGH IN HIS LOOKOUT, SPOTTED DOZENS OF SEA TURTLES, WHICH BEGAN TO SWIM AROUND THE VESSEL. THERE, IN THEIR MIDST, WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE DIABOLICAL BEAST—THE MoABS.

SOMETHING BIG HAD PASSED BELOW. IT HAD GONE AS SUDDENLY AS IT APPEARED, AND WE WERE LEFT WITH STILLNESS UNDER THE BURGEONING MOONLIGHT.

56 | M AY/J U NE 2016

he could find and finish the task of bringing the MoABS to justice—though he knew we would need a bigger boat. So he agreed to enlist in the expedition as first mate under the one man who could lead us to the lair of the mythical leviathan, Captain Key. We would head out on his vintage Mako, the Low Key. Key is the sort of man who can smell the fish, find the fish, entice the fish, stare them down, and bring them back to port with all passengers accounted for. He had what it took—except that he didn’t have all of something: his right forefinger was missing above the first knuckle. Rumor had it Key lost this part of his finger during his last encounter with the MoABS. Alas, I had not the courage to ask him about it, for fear of having to swim many miles back to shore. Nonetheless, these were the men for the job.

Though on the first day of the expedition we would do nothing more than partake of coffee, watch the rain and lightning, and absorb the thunder, we also made our plan. With the new moon, we charted a judicious two-day course to explore all areas of the Mexico Beach artificial reef system in search of the MoABS. We would have to wait for the weather to clear, but before we left the Driftwood Inn that soggy day, Captain Key foretold that we may ultimately have to “bring in he who communes with the fishes.” With that statement there was silence, and I wondered what would be.

DAY TWO THE PARTING OF THE CLOUDS The fierce weather of the morning cleared and we elected to launch the Low Key for an afternoon reconnaissance voyage. We made our way out through the pass to open waters, assessing the bite by fishing for king mackerel—purportedly the choice morsel of the MoABS. Within ten minutes of exiting the pass and three minutes of wetting the hook, we had caught our first kingfish. Not only did this portend well for the rest of our hunt, but it also shone light on the impressive ferocity of striking kingfish in the artificial reef area just one month before the upcoming MBARA Kingfish Tournament.

After assessing our quarry, we changed tackle and began our efforts at locating the lair of the beast. Throughout the afternoon, we experienced nearly nonstop catch-and-release fishing off many of the artificial reef structures. Eventually we decided to move to an area where the MoABS had recently been spotted, an area known as the Tower. Lo and behold, before we were able to weigh anchor we spotted a lone turtle near the boat, steadily eyeing our toil. Just then, Captain Key called out that he had witnessed a phantom on the sonar fish finder; something big had passed below. It had gone as suddenly as it appeared, and we were left with stillness under the burgeoning moonlight. Was this turtle perhaps a minion of the MoABS? We continued to catch and release many fish into the early evening, though we did not find our prize.

The moon disappeared behind the shroud of an approaching fog, beckoning us toward shore and sleep, and Captain Key ordered Coleman to prepare the bow to point north. As Coleman readied the vessel, he let out a sigh as he uttered, “We’ll have to summon Beauregard the Fish Whisperer.”

DAY THREE THE FATHOMS BELOW

On the third day we woke early with a good start of beautiful weather. We gathered at Captain Key’s garrisoned compound, where I met Beauregard the Fish Whisperer for the first time. As I walked up to shake his hand, he stood tall and straight with the rising morning sun behind his head. He appeared as an always-smiling man with a relaxed countenance, a florid complexion, and a determination to bring forth that which we sought.

Though the seas this day were sporty with five-foot swells, our spirits were high, and now we had the Fish Whisperer on board. We worked the Low Key out of port, pointed the bow to the southwest, and commenced out along over two hundred artificial reef emplacements, which the captains knew by name and number as well as by the types of fish most often found at each one. We spent the afternoon churning the waters, catching many fish, and enjoying the sun. We were on a path to an area of a MoABS sighting, known as the Car Bodies, so called because over many years, old railroad cars had been placed there as fish habitats. It is now a thriving part of the Mexico Beach artificial reef. We prepared our tackle and our mortal souls to challenge the MoABS once again.

After a short benediction, Captain Key ordered the bait into the water as Beauregard, barely audible at first, began to chant. His meter reached a rhythmic pulse and his tone a consonant pitch; multitudes of ravenous red snapper appeared, all rolling on the surface in a metered dance with the Fish Whisperer; it was truly a sight to behold. Within minutes of beginning his ritual, Beauregard had summoned the biggest and most beautiful red snappers to the back of the boat, fish of a size rarely found within sight of shore. If a net had been at hand, no doubt we could have scooped a few out of the fold. Captain Key ordered the fishing to begin, and with medium spinning tackle we caught red snapper after red snapper after red snapper, but we still had yet to face our ultimate prize.

With sunset imminent, Captain Key ordered that we return to shore before an approaching storm made its way in. Just then, in the subsiding melee that had been summoned by Beauregard, I spotted an ominous, gigantic shadow looming beneath the boat. All of the fish that had been gathered around the Low Key disappeared to the depths as the leviathan swirled and twirled the waters with its massive tail. For several grueling and anxious minutes, we tried to hook the creature to ascertain whether it was indeed the MoABS. Ultimately, we were unsuccessful. We had to move on before the approaching storm sent us to join that which lurked below.

Though we did return to port safely with all men on board, I still feel crestfallen.

In my heart of hearts, I know that the MoABS is still out there, mercilessly swimming the depths of the Mexico Beach artificial reefs until the day that fate dictates I may return. The brute and I will meet again on Poseidon’s battlefield.

Next time, though, I think I’ll bring along a nuclear-powered submarine, about three dozen hired harpooners, a diving bell, and perhaps some dynamite.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PHENOMENAL YEAR-ROUND SPORTFISHING, BEACHES, EVENTS, AND MORE IN MEXICO BEACH, FLORIDA, VISIT WWW.MEXICOBEACH.COM 58 | M AY/J U NE 2016

THE 30-A REAL ESTATE MARKET SHOWS UPWARD PRICE TRENDS

BY ERIN ODEN

P

ricing trends along the Scenic Highway 30-A corridor in Northwest Florida have experienced a strong three-year uptick. Taking a closer look at the history of price trends from the peak of the market to today provides greater insight.

The average sales price of all Scenic 30-A closed residences in 2015 was $875,000, which was up an impressive 10 percent over 2014 and showed a notable 38 percent three-year increase. In looking back at 30-A’s yearly average sales prices, this is the highest average sales price we have seen since 2007.

percent three-year increase. This was the peak year for WaterSound Beach. As the young community continues building out, we anticipate this healthy appreciation to continue.

WATERCOLOR The well-established 30-A community of WaterColor remains in high demand.

Its home and condo sales for the first half of 2015 delivered an average sales price of $1.5 million, up a nice 21 percent over 2014, and up 35 percent over the past three years and 48 percent over the past four years. Pricing is just above where it was in 2007 for WaterColor homes and condos.

30-A’s most popular planned communities show similar positive price movements.

ROSEMARY BEACH Pricing for the community of Rosemary Beach is trending similarly to the overall market, with the average sales price of closed homes and condos in 2015 at around $1.7 million—up 9 percent over 2014 and up 41 percent over the past three years.

WATERSOUND BEACH The community of WaterSound Beach’s pricing continues to strengthen, with an average sales price of just under $1.9 million for all closed homes and condos in 2015, which was up 5 percent over the previous year and showed a 38

62 | M AY/J U NE 2016

While WaterColor boasts a high level of coastal lifestyle amenities, lending to the ideal family beach experience and attracting affluent purchasers and vacationers, it also offers the greatest affordability of all of the planned communities.

30-A GULF-FRONT Homes and condos on the Gulf-front along Highway 30-A have seen sales continue to rise this year. The average sales price for 2015 was $1.6 million, up 10 percent over the last year and boasting an impressive 63 percent three-year appreciation. We expect the Gulf-front market to remain healthy and in strong demand with inventory becoming scarce.

While the future of the real estate market is certainly unpredictable, knowing where the market is today and where it has been provides an advantage in assessing our real estate opportunities. We anticipate that the 30-A market pricing will continue to strengthen in the coming seasons.

Erin Oden is the principal broker and owner of Coastal Luxury, maintaining a strong emphasis on intimate market knowledge and expertise in the luxury and Gulf-front markets. Erin can be reached at (850) 502-1220, erin@coastalluxury.com, or stop

by Coastal Luxury, located directly on 30-A, the first office east of Alys Beach. Search all available properties at www.CoastalLuxury.com/search.

z

rmelon Fiz Florida Wate

Delicious "

is always served

Fresh From

Florida.

For recipes visit FreshFromFlorida.com

"

World-Class

G OL F & LU X U RY Combine at

C H A M P I O N S R E T R E AT

By Sallie W. Boyles Photography courtesy of Champions Retreat

Every place has a story, beginning with the elements that nature provided to lure, challenge, and inspire individuals to leave their marks on the landscape. Some like to debate whether the people or the place more strongly influences the other.

Either way, both play a role in shaping the momentous events, legendary tales, and little anecdotes that make life more interesting. Take, for example, Champions Retreat golf club. A story in the making, it starts with three pro golf legends and a particular parcel of land in the town of Evans, Georgia.

66 | M AY/J U NE 2016

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 67

n easily overlooked dot on the map, Evans is like many towns that have evolved into family-friendly suburbs of nearby cities. This community’s proximity (just under fifteen miles) to the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the prestigious Masters Tournament, presented a rare opportunity for 365 picturesque acres along the Savannah River. The owners of the land—golf lovers with connections—could have selected any number of prestigious course architects for their project, but they reserved the gently rolling terrain, graceful pines, rich hardwoods, and wetlands for something extraordinary. Wisely, they went to Gary Player, who equally appreciated the area’s natural assets.

Recognizing the potential of three distinct types of topography, Player—the celebrated South African golfer who initially won the U.S. Open at the age of twenty-nine, becoming the only non-American to win the Grand Slam (all four major tournaments)— envisioned a private club with three different ninehole courses. He devised a plan that involved two longtime friends: Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Together, they comprise the Big Three, a designation they’d gained from dominating the Masters with a dozen titles over eighteen years (1960 to 1978); Player could not imagine a better partnership for the project. He aptly chose the 1999 Masters Champions Dinner to divulge the scheme and recruit the others. By collaborating for the first time, the Big Three started a new chapter of golf history, making Champions Retreat the only place in the world where they’d each designed a championship course.

To assign the courses, the gentlemen agreed on a drawing. Player already had names to describe the different sections—Island, Bluff, and Creek. Palmer’s seniority and record of playing in more Masters than the other two determined that he drew first, pulling Island. Player took his turn next and got Creek, reserving Bluff for Nicklaus.

Now officially named the Island Nine, the Bluff Nine, and the Creek Nine, the individual courses— collectively called the Nines—grant exceptional experiences for playing golf and being outdoors. For an overall impression, Champions Retreat head golf professional Dan Terlescki reveals that the Island has a reputation for beauty; the Bluff, difficulty; and the Creek, variety. “All three courses are championship caliber,” Terlescki affirms. “Usually, when a golf club has multiple venues, one is weaker and one is stronger.

These are all equally fun and challenging.”

Now officially named the Island Nine, the Bluff Nine, and the Creek Nine, the individual courses—collectively called the Nines—grant exceptional experiences for playing golf and being outdoors.

Positioned between the Savannah River and the Little River, the Island’s flowing currents, conserved riverbanks, and mature trees are sources of serenity. “It’s also the flattest of the three courses,” Terlescki points out, “so golfers get a break from the uneven lies.” To play well, however, no one should grow complacent. “With water on both sides,” he warns, “comes a whole other level of anxiety. The golfer who’s hitting the ball straight has a nice, enjoyable round. The one who’s hitting it to the side is not going to get a break.” Many agree that the Island’s qualities— genteel yet competitive—reflect Palmer’s personality and playing style.

The Bluff, in comparison, seems to mirror Nicklaus’s ability to win against all odds. Incredibly, twenty-three years passed between earning his first and sixth

green jackets—one of many reasons Sports Illustrated named the Golden Bear the best individual sportsman of the twentieth century. “A lot of people consider the Bluff to be the most demanding of the three,” says Terlescki. Rather than removing tons of dirt so the topography would conform to a plan, Nicklaus preserved the natural contours of the land as a challenge, forcing repeated shifts in direction. “The Bluff takes into play the naturally rolling hills and mounds that are prevalent, in addition to the tall pine trees,” Terlescki adds. “The golfer is forced to hit the ball solidly.”

Meanwhile, the Creek, according to Terlescki, “gives players the most interesting of the three layouts, the widest variety of holes. As a matter of fact, they tend to bend around creeks and marshland. Since water is typically right in front of the hole, the layout is difficult for one who isn’t hitting the ball high enough in the air, but less challenging for the guy or gal who is hitting it a little crooked.” Not unlike the enduring Black Knight who devised the challenge, the ninth hole, which goes over and around a lake, promises a fun and worthy competition to the end.

“When staying for a couple of days and playing all three courses, people feel like they’ve experienced multiple golfing trips in one,” says Terlescki. The freedom to play just nine holes or up to twenty-seven in a day is another perk. With that in mind, he cautions, “A person can play well on one course and nine holes later have a more difficult round.” Fully aware of how exciting and frustrating those moments can be, the pros and caddies, who intimately know every hole, happily impart their insiders’ insights.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 69

Offering every advantage, a well-appointed fitness facility and expert trainers provide one-on-one and group conditioning to improve range of motion, balance, and strength. Also, whether seriously seeking a regimen to maximize a golf swing or casually learning the basics to participate and socialize, club members and their guests find that the pros at Champions Retreat love giving lessons and devising clinics for all ages and levels. Junior clinics are quite popular.

In-room massages and other treatments are also available for individuals and groups who ache for a little pampering before, after, or in lieu of playing golf.

While the concept of play varies by individual, those who gather at Champions Retreat go there to relax among friends. “We’re more of a sanctuary than a stuffy club,” says Chris Calloway, the director of project management at Heritage Golf Group. The hospitality company, which specializes in managing premier golf properties (private, resort, and daily fee courses), has owned and operated Champions Retreat since 2014. When the original, local owners —who still enjoy the club they opened in 2005— decided to sell, they purposefully placed Champions Retreat in the hands of hospitality professionals who believed that guests should want for nothing and who would apply ingenuity and resources to improve upon what was there.

70 | M AY/J U NE 2016

More than ever, the ecosystem at Champions Retreat thrives on a special blend of Southern hospitality—attentive yet laid-back and seasoned with subtle refinements that one gathers from worldly pursuits such as travel. Before stepping foot on the greens, members and their guests receive a smiling welcome at the gate. From there, as Augusta-based architect Richard Fletcher puts it, turning into the property is akin to taking a bend in an old country road and encountering a pastoral township.

(Fletcher significantly influenced the character of Champions Retreat upon designing the Acadian-style clubhouse village for the original developer.)

With generous porches lined with rocking chairs, country shutters, and rustic wood-and-old-brick exteriors, the buildings that house the Grille House restaurant, pro shop, fitness center, and golf carts could be relics of a century ago. Once inside, discerning guests recognize impeccable taste and encounter openly friendly staff members who echo Calloway’s words: “Hospitality is my thing!” Likewise, tangible features—wide plank floors, open beams, big windows with broad views of the greens, and large tables with ample seating—invite all to make themselves at home.

The food and drink, catering to those who are accustomed to great pairings, come with pleasant surprises. Executive chef Doug Seaver, who confesses to working his way up over thirty-two years without formal training, started out washing dishes. He most recently served as executive chef for Big Night Entertainment Group of Boston before joining Champions Retreat, where he loves to experiment. Thankfully, he has a penchant for making scandalous changes to handed-down Southern recipes, proving that a little blasphemy in the kitchen can lead to heavenly flavors!

“Learning about grits during my first couple of weeks here,” Chef Seaver recalls, “I was following along, asking the other chefs to make their mothers’ and grandmothers’ recipes.” Each confident of having the best tried-and-true method, some

started with instant grits right out of the box, but “all of their grits turned out the same,” Seaver claims. For a change, Chef Seaver chose mace, which gives a hint of nutmeg flavor. “They told me I was crazy for adding mace,” he shares, “but they all loved what it did to their grits.” Generous about disclosing recipes, the chef hopes readers enjoy his quail bites with Cheerwine glaze.

Chef Seaver has a farm-to-table sensibility, so his dishes fluctuate. Nevertheless, if guests request something not on the menu, he and his team are inclined to please.

Invariably, when the chef and Champions Retreat’s personal pit master, Hal Rowland, collaborate, the food itself—succulent barbecue or mouthwatering Low-Country boil—is a celebration. Stating that he has been cooking since he “could see over a stove,” Rowland spent twenty-five years as a stockbroker before following his true calling. Those who are lucky enough to taste his homemade andouille sausage with his secret mustard sauce are thankful that he ditched the desk for an outdoor grill.

Beverages also flow freely at Champions Retreat, no matter the preference— a Moscow Mule, a bottle of Dom Pérignon, or a round of domestic beer. Tasting parties with fine wine, bourbon, and other spirits also entertain collectors and cocktail newcomers alike.

Whether staying on the property or visiting for the day, small and large groups feel they’re being hosted by friends who know all about supplying the luxuries without hovering or interfering. For overnight stays, the Cottages, individual homes within a quick walking distance (or a one-minute cart ride) to the clubhouse village, carry the aesthetic hallmarks of gentrified country residences. Beautifully upholstered chairs, rich leather sofas, oversized dining tables, thoughtful artwork, hardwood flooring, paneled walls, and gorgeous tiles augment cooks’ kitchens, welcoming dining areas, cozy dens, and inviting gathering spaces. On the main and upstairs levels, open floor plans bring the spectacular golf course views indoors and create natural transitions to outdoor porches and terraces. With golf parties in mind, most homes have either eight or four king-sized master suites.

With generous porches lined with rocking chairs, country shutters, and rustic woodand-old-brick exteriors, the buildings could be relics of a century ago.

All cottages—whether owned by Heritage Golf Group, corporate entities, or individuals—are available as rentals for other members and their guests. To preserve Champions Retreat’s value and purpose, as well as to facilitate a high return for those who have invested, owners not only agree to occupy their cottages a limited number of days each year, but also to leave Heritage Golf Group in charge of rentals and management. In addition to the ones already built, thirty-five new cottage sites are now being offered to members. Once Heritage Golf Group approves their plans, buyers are free to choose their own architects and builders.

Dine Daily on The Porch • 11AM Dinner • 5PM

Live Music

Wednesday-Saturday entrees 25% OFF All5-6PM Daily Seafood • Sushi • Steaks • Sports • Lunch Sunsets • Large groups • Happy Hour

5235 E County Highway 30A (850) 534-3045

www.OldFloridaFishHouse.com

While operating as a private club, Champions Retreat espouses a philosophy of “the more the merrier.” Erected to host more celebrations and larger guest lists, The Barn, an events facility, opened just in time for the 2016 Masters. “My challenge,” says Fletcher, also The Barn’s architect, “was to complete the picture that existed.”

The red-roofed structure intentionally resembles an old stable that’s been renovated by people who know how to throw a shindig. “What better place to hold a party than a barn!” says Calloway.

Fletcher divulges that Blackberry Farm (Tennessee), Artisanal Restaurant (North Carolina), and Old Edwards Inn (North Carolina) all provided inspiration for a venue that exudes charm and elegance while also letting people kick off their shoes to dance. Working with over ten thousand square feet, architect and interior designer Elizabeth McGee, a member of Fletcher’s firm, blended antiques and replicas, denim and linen, golf artifacts and new acquisitions, and copper and leather to facilitate what Fletcher calls “a fresh, modern take on rustic.”

The Grand Hall’s vaulted ceiling, exposed trusses, and expansive glass doors ensure that the large room always feels open and airy, even when filled to capacity. Other elements—such as string lights in metal cages, a dozen chandeliers made from antique glass bottles, and a majestic fireplace—inject a romantic, timeless quality.

Movable walls achieve varying degrees of space and intimacy, ideal for holding a rehearsal dinner for sixty guests or a wedding reception for four hundred. Other smaller rooms, including a green room/bridal room and a groomsmen’s lounge/ game-day hangout, oblige a multitude of purposes. Incidentally, the flooring resembles reclaimed wooden boards, but the intricate pattern has been stamped onto concrete, making maintenance much easier. Overlooking the Bluff ’s ninth hole, The Barn’s covered porch, patio, and impeccably landscaped lawn (which can be tented) entice many to take the party outdoors. One hidden gem, the gourmet catering kitchen, is perfectly situated so that service does not detract from the event.

72 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Presenting The Barn as an all-inclusive venue, general manager and host of Champions Retreat Cameron Wiebe lists a range of events—sophisticated weddings, black-tie affairs, corporate gatherings, tournament watch parties, intimate wine dinners, and casual barbecues—among the possibilities. Generally, The Barn is reserved for Champions Retreat members and their guests, but Wiebe notes that membership is not a requirement for wedding events.

When not partying, playing golf, or being pampered at Champions Retreat, visitors find plenty to see and experience in nearby Augusta and surrounding areas. Many take to the water. In addition to the rivers, Lake Strom Thurmond— the third largest man-made reservoir east of the Mississippi—is a great spot for boating, fishing, and camping, and it’s only fifteen minutes away by car. Another option, the Augusta Museum of History, enthralls history buffs with a permanent exhibition that takes a twelve-thousand-year journey back in time.

While spending time at Champions Retreat, people tend to forget that the place, with such remarkable origins and offerings, is still in its infancy. Thanks to some visionaries and three golf legends, the groundwork has been laid for current and future generations to make memories—and maybe even some history-making shots. A handful, over time, could even become tomorrow’s golf legends, but all who walk the Nines should come away with at least one good story to tell.

For more information about membership, golf, cottage rentals, or events at Champions Retreat, visit www.championsretreat.net, contact club@championsretreat.net, or call (706) 854-6960.

䤀䘀 䌀䄀刀䔀䰀䔀匀匀 䐀刀䤀嘀䔀刀匀 䠀䄀吀䔀 䴀䔀Ⰰ 䤀ᤠ洀 搀漀椀渀最 洀礀 樀漀戀⸀

娀愀爀稀愀甀爀氀愀眀⸀挀漀洀

匀䔀刀䤀伀唀匀 䤀一䨀唀刀夀 ☀ 䐀䔀䄀吀䠀 䌀䄀匀䔀匀

嬀㠀㔀㔀崀栀椀爀攀樀漀攀 倀䔀一匀䄀䌀伀䰀䄀

匀伀唀吀䠀 圀䄀䰀吀伀一

Recipe from

Chef Doug QUAIL BITES WITH CHEERWINE GLAZE

Ingredients 12 pieces of boneless quail* breast, skin off (*Duck breast can be substituted.)

1 red jalapeĂąo, cut into 12 julienne strips 3 scallion whites, cut into quarters 1 small package of cream cheese, cut into 12 sticks 6 slices of thinly sliced bacon, cut in half 12 toothpicks

Glaze: 2 cans (24 ounces) Cheerwine 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced 1/2 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced 3 ounces unsalted butter, cubed A few turns of black pepper 74 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Preparation: For the glaze, open the two cans of Cheerwine and place the contents into a heavy-bottomed stainless steel or nonreactive pot. Add the garlic, ginger, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on medium heat and reduce until about one cup remains. Remove from the heat, cool slightly, and then whisk in the cubed butter. Finish with a little black pepper. Reserve until quail is cooked.

Using a small knife, make a cut into each piece of quail that’s deep enough to stuff with the jalapeno, scallion, and cream cheese. Stuff and then wrap the quail bites with bacon, and then hold each together with a toothpick. The quail can be either deep-fried at 350 degrees for about three minutes or baked in the oven at 425 degrees for about five minutes. Toss the cooked quail with the glaze, and enjoy.

WE ARE BREAKING RECORDS

53 & 55 Sunfish Street Destin, FL 32541 | For Recorded Details and Pricing, Call 800.359.0527 x 6457

Jonathan M. Spears, REALTOR® $107+ Million Sold by Jonathan 2011-2016

850.974.1761 | jonathan@scenicsir.com

Information presented is subject to errors, omissions, changes, or withdrawls without notice. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

has over thirty years of resort real estate experience in the northwest florida market with a focus on the 30-a scenic corridor. she has consistently been one of the top producing agents in the emerald coast association of realtors. her passion for real estate is both professional and personal, providing an understanding of the real estate industry that is greatly appreciated by her clients.

PHOTO CREDIT TO ZIMMERMAN’S BEACH DREAMZ

marianne grant c. 850.585.0621 ma@mariannegrant.com mariannegrant.com

blake cooper kizlauskas c. 850.218.0202 blake30a@mariannegrant.com

The Northwest Florida Ballet, founded in Fort Walton Beach in 1969, is known as one of the oldest and most prestigious fine arts institutions in the region. It boasts a full curriculum for students in grades three through eight at its Académie—for free. Those who audition and demonstrate the potential to excel in dance may attend the Académie, whose integrated fine arts and academic programs cover all core classes in addition to dance. Students wishing to pursue a professional ballet career may then move on to the school’s preprofessional high school program. The Northwest Florida Ballet also offers a full range of nighttime classes and workshops for anyone interested in pursuing ballet, jazz, hip-hop, or other genres of dance and musical theatre.

By Jordan Staggs

Photo by Romona Robbins

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 79

“We have been training dancers and performing for forty-six years, we employ professional dancers and international guest artists, and we have one of the nation’s best outreach programs in the NFB Académie,” says Northwest Florida Ballet’s artistic director, Todd Eric Allen. “Students audition to get into the school. They study art, music, and French and have ballet class every day. There are also eight academic teachers who ensure a rigorous academic study. The Académie has been an A-plus school since its inception.”

Kelly Day, the Académie’s academic director, says the school’s great success in education is thanks to the collaboration and dedication of Allen’s team of instructors and the Okaloosa County School District teachers who work alongside them. “It allows for a harmonious balance of education and the arts,” Day says. “We work together as a team, with each of us fully supporting the others’ areas of expertise.”

A typical schedule for a student at the NFB Académie entails ballet training every day for an hour and a half, French classes twice a week, and weekly music and art lessons, in addition to formal academic instruction in core subjects.

“The arts stimulate a passion for life, taking a routine education and adding an appreciation for beauty and truth,” Day explains. “Fine and performing arts require discipline and commitment, and the struggle to succeed translates to a commitment to education as a whole. Education is what makes us intelligent; the arts make us human.”

“STUDENTS AUDITION TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL. THEY STUDY ART, MUSIC, AND FRENCH AND HAVE BALLET CLASS EVERY DAY. THERE ARE ALSO EIGHT ACADEMIC TEACHERS WHO ENSURE A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC STUDY.”

All that hard work and training culminates in a season’s worth of incredible ballet performances that the whole community gets to enjoy. The Northwest Florida Ballet’s seasonal performances are open for the public to purchase tickets and attend, usually at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville, Florida. This past season featured a record three productions, including the dramatic and dark Dracula in October 2015, the annual Christmastime favorite The Nutcracker, and the whimsical fairy tale classic Cinderella in March 2016.

In a joint effort to bring more live music back to the ballet, The Nutcracker and Cinderella were performed in conjunction with the Sinfonia Gulf Coast orchestra. “Cinderella was the first classical ballet that I choreographed for the company in 1996, and we usually restage it every five years,” Allen says. “I also wanted to do it for the first time with live music. It was a big undertaking for 80 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Photo by Romona Robbins

Photo by Jennifer Boles

a unique shopping experience

HOME

•

GARDEN

•

GIFT

•

DESIGN

32 E C ounty H wy 30A, G rAyton B EACH , F l 32459 | (850) 534-0700 w w w .B e a u H o m e I n t e r I o r s . c o m

both NFB and the musicians of Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and I’m happy to say that all did a wonderful job. We strive to use live music whenever possible, as it is really the way the art form should be viewed. Of course, it isn’t cheap to use live music, so we have had to work very hard to raise the necessary funds to make it happen.” VIE is proud to be a presenting sponsor for Northwest Florida Ballet and Sinfonia events each season.

This summer, the Northwest Florida Ballet will also host its Summer Ballet Intensive Program from June 6 until July 1, with guest teachers from major ballet companies training students in ballet, pointe, modern dance, jazz, repertoire, Pilates, and yoga. There will also be programs available for beginners and intermediate/advanced dancers. On June 25, the Summer Intensive students and their teachers will perform with Northwest Florida Ballet dancers at Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, Florida.

“It is such a pleasure to contribute to the culture of our amazing community, both through the training and education of our students and through our outreach efforts and performances,” says Allen. “We are making final adjustments to our 2016–2017 season and can’t wait to share it with everyone!”

Photo by Jennifer Boles

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTHWEST FLORIDA BALLET’S EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PERFORMANCES, OR TO MAKE A DONATION, VISIT WWW.NFBALLET.ORG.

locally-owned and operated boutiques & restaurants

Makenzie Carter at Perspicasity

Dream a Home. Discover a Lifestyle.

H O M E S F R O M T H E M I D 4 0 0 ’ S S O U T H W A L T O N ’ S #1 S E L L I N G C O M M U N I T Y ON US 98 ACROSS FROM C A MP CREEK G OLF CLUB

1.866.563.0070 Watersound.com The St. Joe Company 2016 All Rights Reserved. “JOE®”, “St. Joe®”, “St. Joe (and the Taking Flight design)®”, the “Taking Flight” design®, “Fish Out of Water®” and “Watercolor®”are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates. “Watersound OriginsSM”, “OriginsSM” and “St. Joe Club & ResortsSM” are service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates. The materials and features and amenities described and depicted herein are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. This does not constitute an offer to sell real property in any jurisdiction where prior registration or other advance qualifications of real property is required, including New York. Void where prohibited by law. Equal Housing Opportunity. St. Joe Club & Resorts is a private club, membership in which permits Watersound OriginsSM owners the use of facilities designated by the Club. Use of additional Club Facilities requires purchase of a separate membership upgrade. Club membership may be subject to application and acceptance, payment of fees, membership requirements, rules or other limitations, all of which are subject to change. Club Facilities are also available to other club members and persons who stay in rental program residences. The St. Joe Company does not guarantee the obligations of, nor provide any warranties for unaffiliated parties who build homes or offer services in the Watersound OriginsSM community.

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property.

Indulge

your senses Tickle your

i m a g i n at i o n And do it all in style

SHOP . DINE . PLAY . STAY

Three exceptional stores. One fashionable location. When you’re looking to enhance your sense of style, look no further than Grand Boulevard.

N OW OPE N

Our exclusive retailers and restaurants include...

Another Broken Egg Café Billabong Brooks Brothers

Cantina Laredo Mexican Gourmet Chico’s fab’rik Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Grimaldi’s

GRAND BOULEVARD | 850.837.3099 | 600 GRAND BOULEVARD, SUITE 203 MIRAMAR BEACH | FLORIDA 32550 | GRANDBOULEVARD.COM

A HOWARD GROUP | MERCHANTS RETAIL PARTNERS DEVELOPMENT

J. Crew-at-the-beach J. Jill L’OCCITANE Mitchell’s Fish Market The Orvis Company P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Starbucks Coffee Don’t forget to catch the latest blockbuster at Boulevard 10!

Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

...and many more! #GrandBlvdFL

VINTAGE meetsMOD SWI MS UI T D ESIGNE R INSPIRE S A RE TRO SUMME R

By SUVA ANG-MENDOZA Photography by TOMMY CROW Art direction and set design by TRACEY THOMAS Hair and makeup by MORGAN KING

On a hot, sunny day, the charming Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida, brings to mind summer memories, washing them up like a message in a bottle in a quaint, sandy cove.

Whimsical boutiques, eateries, and galleries flow perfectly along the scenic shores of the Choctawatchee Bay. It’s no wonder the outdoor space is home to festivals and events throughout the year. In the summertime, it’s especially electric.

86 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Bangles from Fuss Boutique Cuff from Mercantile in Seaside Watermelon cooler bag from Duckies Shop of Fun Radio from Abode + Beach Interiors; See page 119

U

pon entering Baytowne, as it’s known to the locals, you leave the colors of everyday life behind and take a step into soft shades of sherbet orange, cottoncandy pink, and seafoam green, among others. The atmosphere brings back familiar sights and sounds of fun fairs and carnivals: laughter you shared with friends, whimsical chimes from the carousel, late night burgers and shakes, waffle ice cream cones with rainbow colored sprinkles, and arcade games— these are the tastes and colors of summer. This year the season is all about good old-fashioned fun, and we’re excited to bring that back to life!

COOL FOR THE SUMMER As the fashion industry takes a step away from minimalism in light of summer, it brings eyecatching trends such as daring stripes, flirty peek-a-boos, romantic ruffles, and bold pops of color to capture the essence of the season. Destin, Florida-based designer Cayce Collins caught VIE’s eye with her fun womenswear line on the catwalk of South Walton Fashion Week back in 2014. Her styles returned to the runway of SWFW 2015 with a superfun, retro-inspired swimwear collection that brings all these must-have summer trends together.

88 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Earrings, ring, and bangles from Fuss Boutique Necklace from Mercantile in Seaside

“

They empowered me to take risks with sewing and taught me basic sewing and patternmaking.

�

“We’ve always loved Cayce Collins’s designs, especially her swimsuit collection,” says VIE’s art director, Tracey Thomas. “Introducing the vintage-inspired collection in a photo shoot with a mix of retro props and accessories such as giant rainbow lollipops, candy necklaces, cotton candy, and more was so much fun. We were also lucky and thrilled to have clothing and accessories from the WaterColor Store, Fuss Boutique, Mercantile, Duckies Shop of Fun, and the Eye Gallery as great accent pieces, which really made Cayce’s collection stand out at Baytowne Wharf.”

SWIMMING WITH MERMAIDS

Earrings from Fuss Boutique

It all started with a precocious eight-year-old Cayce Collins, a sewing machine, and the loving encouragement of her two grandmothers, who allowed her to develop the skill set upon which she’s built her patternmaking for swimwear today.

“My grandma Pat Baird was the one who taught me to make patterns, and my other grandma, Helen Ann Murphy, taught me how to sew stretch fabrics—which is obviously huge,” Cayce says.

“They empowered me to take risks with sewing and taught me basic sewing and patternmaking.

I really didn’t understand what a gift it was to be taught so confidently to believe in myself and to make mistakes and learn from them.”

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 91

“

I’ve always adored swimwear that was unique and reasonably conservative.

”

A busy and talented personal trainer and mother of three, Cayce began her design ventures with a children’s clothing line. As her children were speedily growing up, so were her designs, leading Cayce to create women’s clothing and then to “get her feet wet” designing swimwear in 2008.

Swimsuits have provided the perfect balance of playfulness and maturity, keeping her constantly inspired and excited. “I’m a mermaid at heart, so swimwear was a natural progression for me,” she laughs.

Although her journey into swimwear is relatively new, Cayce’s passion for it started long ago as an athlete growing up along the beaches of Northwest Florida. “I have spent as much time as possible on the beach every summer since I can remember,” says Cayce, gleaming with passion. As for the inspiration behind her high-spirited, vintage-inspired swimsuit designs, she adds, “I’ve always adored swimwear that was unique and reasonably conservative.”

92 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Necklace and bangles from Fuss Boutique Headphones

by FRENDS; See page 118 iPhone 6/6s case

by Moschino

Bangles from Fuss Boutique Cuff from Mercantile in Seaside

“

Something I did do when designing this current collection was make physical inspiration boards. From there, I came up with basic silhouettes and patterns, and then I added details.

�

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 95

“

Sometimes the fabrics speak to me. I can hear them say, I would look amazing as cheeky little bottoms!

‘

”’

That same passion can be felt through her bubbly personality as she walks through the process of designing her collection. “My design process is always different,” she admits. “However, something I did do when designing this current collection was make physical inspiration boards—scraps of fabrics, pictures, drawings, a shell that I found, a piece of driftwood. From there, I came up with basic silhouettes and patterns, and then I added details.” There’s an endearing humility in her voice as she speaks of her creations. “Sometimes the fabrics speak to me. I can hear them say, ‘I would look amazing as cheeky little bottoms!’”

F L O O R S F L O O R S F L O O R S 17 Uptown Grayton Circle Grayton Beach, FL 32459

850.213.0000 Q-tile.com

Earrings from Fuss Boutique V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 97

Necklaces by S. Carter Designs from The WaterColor Store 98 | M AY/J U NE 2016

“

I almost always listen to music while I’m working.

This collection was heavily influenced by St. Vincent and Aretha Franklin.

”

As is the case with many artists, tunes also lend to Cayce’s creative process.

“I almost always listen to music while I’m working.” She adds, “This collection was heavily influenced by St. Vincent and Aretha Franklin.”

VINTAGE DOLLS The early April morning at Baytowne Wharf started out overcast and cloudy, but that quickly morphed into soft blue skies as the sun greeted high-fashion photographer Tommy Crow and his crew, models Emme Martin, Brooke Miller, and Piper Williams, and the cheery classic carousel at Baytowne.

SUNSET SHOES 9375 Highway 98 West Destin, Florida 32550 850-837-5466

758 West 23rd St Panama City, Florida 32405 850-785-6014

“

As a creative, I really put myself out there. When I designed this collection, it was a pure visual representation of my style, my taste, my personality.

”

A humble and proud Cayce Collins stood in the background, beaming. “This is so exciting! I’m so excited and proud,” she squeaked. “As a creative, I really put myself out there. When I designed this collection, it was a pure visual representation of my style, my taste, my personality. Being recognized for my designs feels like validation of all my hard work and editing. There is an illustrious satisfaction when your work is not only recognized, but also honored in such a profound way.”

AWARD-WINNING

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM AND ART GALLERY

Fine Furnishings & Accessories Showroom Full Service | New Construction | Remodeling

Model Home Open Watersound West Beach – 22 Tumble Home Way

850-837-5157

www.sugarbeachinteriors.com 11974 US Highway 98 West Miramar Beach, FL 32550 w#26000633

Earrings from Fuss Boutique V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 101

CHASING THE SUN Hartell’s Village Diner, the Blast’em Shootin Gallery, Blast Arcade, the Candymaker, and Tony Larue’s in Baytowne provided backdrops for a fun-filled day of showcasing Cayce’s swimsuits in action. Near the end of the day, the team was racing the setting sun and the Florida humidity as it melted Tony Larue’s cotton candy at a speedy rate, but it made for a very sweet—pun intended— celebration as the shot was captured. Hues of oranges and pinks filled the sky and bubbles floated through the air with a quintessential summer appeal.

“Bubbles! What a warm way to end such a wonderful day,” Cayce says, her positivity radiating like the sun. With a bright outlook on life and swimsuit designs that really stand out, this designer, mother, and wife is proof that you can do anything if you put your mind—and some hard work—to it.

Special thanks to Marianna Zeuch and the vendors at the Village of Baytowne Wharf for their generous hospitality!

WWW.BAYTOWNEWHARF.COM

Designer Cayce Collins Sunglasses from The Eye Gallery

Consistently Delicious since 1995! www.cafethirtya.com

3899 East Scenic Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach · 850.231.2166 Online Reservations. Major Credit Cards. Open Daily At 5.

Adventure is better with family!

Save 20% when you book a Panama City Beach vacation at one of Resort Collection’s 11 unique properties and pay in full at least 21 days in advance.* Book Now at ResortCollection.com Or call (866) 323-1391 Promo Code: ADVENTURE Free round at Hombre Golf Club and Resort Collection Rewards Card worth up to $300 in saving included with each stay!

R E S O RT C O L L E C T I O N . C O M *Some restrictions apply. See website for details.

FRESH SEAFOOD?

One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?”

That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries.

Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported.

Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.

Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish.

We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood. We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.

check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from harbor Docks Seafood market.

DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | h a r b o r D o c k S .co m S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S

Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html

GREATNESS FROM WITHIN Real People, Real Fitness by jacob summers

T

oday, we often find ourselves facing seemingly insurmountable hurdles between us and the American Dream. College tuition costs increase every semester, and student loan debt stays with us a long time. New laws affect us. Our bills seem to keep increasing. Our country is fraught with socioeconomic strife and some very real battles in the streets. It’s more tempting than ever to give up on achieving the dreams we had when we were young and just settle for less. We are handed ever more reasons not to fight back: Politicians tell us they’ll solve our problems for us. Depending on which channel you turn on, you hear that you’re either a victim and there’s nothing you can do, or the problem won’t affect you, so you don’t need to worry.

man, a bank teller, a systems engineering lead, a couple of students, a marketing manager, a gym representative, and a cop have in common?

I’ll give you some hints: one of the IT guys wears nothing but a pair of spandex trunks on any given weekend, the other one has a mean swing, and that garbage man could pick up your trash can and toss it, even if you loaded it with bricks.

Life. The times. Excuses.

Every one of these people works to overcome life’s hurdles and shed any excuses by focusing on a transformation achieved through physical fitness. Their kind of drive rarely stops them or allows them to settle for “good enough,” and every one

Life. The times. Excuses.

These are the things to overcome. No one who ever left a mark on the world ever gave into excuses or settled for just fitting in, and they certainly never let life keep them down. Every one of the abovementioned hurdles will slow you down temporarily, but as General Custer once said, “It’s not how many times you get knocked down that counts, it’s how many times you get back up.”

In case you think I’m being preachy and spinning too grand an image, let’s play a game.

What do a couple of IT guys, two personal trainers, an anesthesia resident, a CrossFit coach, a garbage

Photo by Sportpoint

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 107

of them also competes in at least one fitness-related activity. For many, this means great physical sacrifice, as well as spending more of their precious free time away from their families. For everyone, it means a lifestyle change.

going for them, to loosely quote Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is that they are the hardest workers in any given room, and the knowledge that they can be better drives them to be better.

You can be better, too.

I use these wonderful, real people to make a larger point: you can still accomplish real and positive change even if you’re not a professional athlete or don’t have a lot time on your hands. The recipe for it has always been the same: hunger and hard work.

None of these people I mentioned are the best or the brightest in their fields or communities. They’re all intelligent and amazing people, but someone can always beat them. Elijah, a personal trainer, can win a race one day and the next day be beaten by a second or by a minute. Trish, the resident, can always be beaten by one place in CrossFit. I’m a Strongman competitor and I consistently come in no higher than third place at meets, and even then, my numbers could be beaten the next day at a competition across the country.

With that knowledge, it would easy to just admit defeat and give up. But what all these people have

Top: Bob Gendler, 32, laptop programmer, powerlifter, and wrestler. Photo courtesy of Bars and Stripes Fitness Middle: Elijah Hassertt, 21, salesman, powerlifter, Crossfit trainer, and ultramarathoner. Photo courtesy of Bars and Stripes Fitness Bottom: Photo by Sportpoint

108 | M AY/J U NE 2016

To effect real change in your life, you must first know where you are. Then you have to know where you want to be and decide how you’re going to get there. Ask yourself how badly you want it. Once you want something badly enough, the work ethic follows. At first, getting out of bed to go work out happens about once a week. Then it’s two or three times a week. Before you know it, you’re going daily.

You can be better, too.

Fitness is the great equalizer. We aren’t all born with looks, money, family, social status, or great intellects; we have no say as to where in the world we are born. But each of us has a body, and that body can be made to move. The body is the only real estate we carry with us throughout our whole lives. It’s the only thing that we have left when we’ve lost everything else. Parts may have fallen off,

Gr ay ton 19 68

Original G rayto

n Girl

Photo by Glynnis Jones

withered away, shrunk, or failed. But until the day you die, you have some part of it left to use.

Why wouldn’t you take care of that resource and hone it to be the best it can be? Why wouldn’t you test its limits? Why wouldn’t you want to know what this body—your body—is capable of ?

Taking care of your body can and will help improve other areas of your life.

Everyone I mentioned before has a day job. Very few people are full-time athletes. But if your job, your personal life, or some misfortune has gotten you down, the endorphins released during exercise can help with your mood.

The physical stress of lifting weights can give your mind sword-sharp focus.

Kitty Taylor, Broker, GRI, CRS, CIPS Catherine Ryland, Broker Associate

“Grayton Girl Team” Selling Grayton and Beach Properties along 30A.

850.231.2886 | 850.585.5334

133 Defuniak Street, Grayton Beach, FL 32459 www.graytoncoastproperties.com

backward, and I could barely understand him, but I helped the man, tried to find him the best deal, and drove cars around for him to see. As I did, three things happened: I remembered my sense of a calling to help people and wanted that back desperately; I counted my lucky stars that my wife, Joanna, and I are in good health; and I immediately wished I wasn’t where I was. It’s not that I hate my job.

I told my boss going into this that I was here to save up money to open my own full-size gym in a few years. But I desperately want to be there now.

I’m not a doctor. I’m not a lawyer. I’m not someone who has a wonder cure or a miraculous ability to make people better. But what I can do to help improve people’s lives also involves my passion: fitness. Through nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, we can help prevent some diseases, illnesses, and injuries, and we can rehabilitate some as well.

So, how can you take the first step toward transforming yourself by transforming your body? Here are some tips from the people mentioned above.

“My notebook,” says Nora, the CrossFit coach. “I wrote down my starting benchmarks: push-ups in a minute, sit-ups, pull-ups, mile run, and lifts. My goal was to beat them. I also wrote down my measurements and my weight.”

You have to know where you are and where you want to be. You have to track progress to remind yourself that change has actually occurred.

Nora Zazueta, 37, Crossfit trainer, Olympic lifter, obstacle runner, and martial arts expert. Photo courtesy of Bars and Stripes Fitness Opposite Page: Photo by Marco Govel

Getting up and eating right, exercising, planning, changing, adapting, and rounding out your fitness regimen all develop discipline and willpower that will extend to other areas of your life, helping you to make better decisions and stay the course when things get tough.

Making fitness part of a lifestyle change and being honest with the amount of time it will take to achieve your goals will help keep you going.

If I sound like a salesman or apostle for fitness, it’s because I am. I care. I’m not pushing you to go buy a product. I’m pushing you to take care of the most valuable possession you already have.

“Making the bed. That sets everything in motion and makes my day productive,” says Elijah, the personal trainer and competitive lifter and runner. “It has to start and end with discipline. It’s not five minutes, or a day, or a week of being consistent; it starts at the beginning of the day, every day.”

Almost four years ago, I began my proper fitness journey. I had been to the gym before, but never with a cause. Now, I train every day to compete on weekends, and I take people to my tiny outdoor gym to train for Strongman events. But right now, my day job is at a car dealership.

I’m not pushing you to go buy a product.

I’m pushing you to take care of the most valuable possession you already have.

A man came into the dealership to look for a car.

When he stepped out of his car, he could barely walk. I went over to talk with him and learned that he not only had cerebral palsy, but also had had polio earlier in his life. He was hunched over, his legs were wobbly, he could only step two inches at a time, one of his wrists was turned completely

110 | M AY/J U NE 2016

“I got hooked in college,” says Bob, the IT guy and wrestler. “I would schedule gym time in my day just like a class. I made it as important as brushing my teeth.”

Jack, a personal trainer and competitive power lifter, says, “I never wanted to be the dad that comes home and drops into a chair with a remote and a beer. That makes me sick. I’ve always wanted to be active with my kids. My kids keep me motivated because I want to leave some kind of a legacy for them. Picking up heavy stuff and getting into the fighting ring are the best I got to work with.”

Legacy and purpose are great motivators. You can want to be the best for your kids—and to be the best there is, period.

Project Designer: Lindsay Miller & Karen Kearns of Lovelace Interiors

Beach Blinds draperies & More Serving the Beaches & Beyond

Roman and Natural Woven Shades Plantation Shutters • Custom Draperies • Designer Wallcoverings Motorized Treatments • Solar Shades Custom Bedding & Pillows

now located at the crossings at inlet Beach 13123 US Hwy 98E, SUitE A, inlEt BEAcH, Fl 32413 Destin: 850.543.4424 inlet Beach: 850.502.5401

South Walton’s Authentic Community Website www.SoWal.com

Eddie, garbage man and Strongman, explains what drives him: “My incredible, sometimes consuming competitiveness. I want to be the best (win a national title), and I’m not right now. That’s what motivates me to train.”

Once you get the fitness habit rolling, it becomes a lifestyle.

“Honestly, I just got tired of being a typical weak nerd and decided I’d rather be a strong nerd,” says Bryan, the engineering lead, power lifter, and Strongman. “Once the decision was made and I started seeing progress along those lines, it was selffulfilling. I have always been a self-starting, driven person. It may take me some time to get there, but once I choose a course of action, it will get done.”

There is no magic pill. There is no one-week cleanse.

There isn’t an easy-way-out supplement. Even those

Work hard. Live free.

Stay hungry. who “juice up” still have to eat right, sleep right, and work out right, day in and day out. There are six words I can give you to sum up how to take control of your life and free your mind through fitness: Work hard. Live free. Stay hungry.

Thank you, Bob, Brian, Bryan, Eddie, Elijah, Ezrah, Jack, Jason, Joshua, Kelsey, Lindsey, Nora, Sami, Trish, and Vickie for lending your lives’ experiences to make this article a message for hope and encouragement. www.BarsandStripesFitness.com

O’DONNELL PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 6757 Highway 98, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

WELCOMING TENANTS:

O’Donnell Eye Institute Suite 101 – Full Optical Services & Retail, Same Day Service

Great Florida Smiles & Orthodontics Suite 301 – Orthodontics, TMJ, Laser, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry

Leasing Available!

Contact Tina Roberson (850) 502-5400

Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Suite 202 – Comprised of more than 2700 Realtor® members

Escape to the

Beaches of South Walton along Scenic Highway 30A Offering professionally managed beach homes, condos and resorts.

Why wait? Book your well-deserved getaway today.

MyRQ30A.com / 866-876-8675

Over 30 years on 30A… When it comes to years of experience and local knowledge, our 30A team of licensed REALTORS© has you covered. Look no further than your local 30A real estate experts. 855-454-8141 / RQ30ARealEstate.com Want your 30A investment property to work for you? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation property analysis: 844-457-5220 / NewOwner@wynvr.com

©2016 Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America, LLC. 14 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Wyndham Vacation Rentals and related marks are registered trademarks and/or service marks in the United States and internationally. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Destin's most awarded...

OPEN 5–10PM

ON THE HARBOR ON DESTIN HARBOR

Gulf Seafood • USDA Prime Steaks • Sushi

DECADENT MARTINIS & SENSATIONAL COCKTAILS

HAPPY HOUR 5-7PM DRINKS, SUSHI & SELECT APPS HALF-PRICE IN THE BAR AREA & WATERFRONT COCKTAIL DECK

(850) 837-7960

Extensive wine selection Breathtaking views Veranda sunset dining Eclectic menu Boat dock parking Reservations accepted

.com

404 HARBOR BLVD.

A TRADITION

EST. 1958

The Art of Science and Water

Custom Pools and Spas • Outdoor Furniture • Grills DESTIN FLORIDA:

36074 Emerald Coast Pkwy.

Destin, Florida (850) 650-9138

COXPOOLS.COM

Lic. CPC056661

PANAMA CITY BEACH:

12216 Panama City Beach Pkwy.

Panama City Beach, Florida (850) 235-7957

www.aboheme.com

BOHEME DESIGN

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED A BOHEME DESIGN AND MCGINN PHOTOGRAPHY 2016

A

AA 26001879

interiors for your abode at the beach or miles away

• unit 105 • seagrove beach, florida 32459 231-1783 • abodebeachinteriors.com

4281 east county highway 30a (850)

SUMMER 2016

Say hello to summer with VIE’s top picks of the season— whether you’re spending your days at the beach, sightseeing on vacation, or sipping coffee in your garden, these items will have you staying cool and chic all summer long.

Curated by the VIE CREATIVE TEAM Written by SUVA ANG-MENDOZA AND JORDAN STAGGS Photography by RINN GARLANGER

1

Tune In

FRENDS Taylor Gold and White Headphones $119.95, wearefrends.com 118 | M AY/J U NE 2016

SUMMER VIBES This summer is all about feminine flair with tassels, fringe, and vibrant pops of color.

Mix up your nudes and blush hues with a bold shade of hemlock green, hibiscus pink, or poppy orange. From fashion and technology to home and garden, this summer 2016 season is full of high-impact trends with a retro twist.

2

Ooh la Loli!

Loliware Edible Cups (set of four) $15.99, loliware.com

Fringe with Benefits 3

Less Hassle, More Tassel

4

Pamela V Multicolor Bead and Fringe Bag $372, shopmerc.com

Lizzie Fortunato Polynesia Tassel Necklace $585, shopoutpost.com

5

Call Me—Maybe?

Ringly Aries Collection Smart Bracelet $195, ringly.com

Speak Up

6

SunnyLife Beach Sounds Portable MP3 Speaker and Radio $49, abodebeachinteriors.com

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 119

Clearly

amazing!

7

8

you in total comfort in

this totally clear boat!

Buy your own today!

(850) 598-0454

|

www.KlearKanoo.com

Throwin’ Shade

Salvatore Ferragamo Round Frame Acetate Sunglasses $245, ferragamo.com

Discover the world below

Picture yourself in a clear canoe! There’s nothing like floating on a totally clear boat while discovering the world below and around you in total comfort. Formed seats with back support in lightweight but super tough polycarbonate make this boat the MUST-HAVE for your beach or bay house! All ages and skill levels can Kanoo.

It can even be used as a paddleboard!

Love Yourselfie

Polaroid SX-70 Original Camera $408.99, impossible-project.com

One Lump or Two?

9

Miranda Kerr for Royal Albert Teacup and Saucer (set of four) $179, royalalbert.com

10

Light My Fire

Paddywax Urban Candles $15–$42, theartofsimpleonline.com

Hola, Summer!

11

Marrakesh Bag—Hola Sold with Milla Pompom $108, misalosangeles.com

12

Green Thumb

Wacamole Ceramic Pots $65–$85, adaroart.com

LINGERIE. LOUNGE. SWIM. SIRENSATTHEBEACH.COM (850) 837-2441

LOCATED IN THE MARKET SHOPS AT SANDESTIN 9375 Emerald Coast Parkway Miramar Beach, Florida 32550

Five Star Cuisine, Service and Atmosphere Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award winner four years in a row Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for eight years running (2008-2015) Honored on Urbanspoon’s list of “America’s Top 250 High-End Restaurants”

Steak | Seafood | Sushi | Pizza | Dessert | Cocktails Private Rooms and Full-Service Catering Available.

Firefly Restaurant & Lounge at the Shoppes of Edgewater Panama City Beach, Florida

850.249.3359 • fireflypcb.com

When your dream wedding includes sand between your toes and your vows perfectly timed with the sunset, nothing could be better than the sugar-white sands of our beaches.

Panama City Beach, Florida, is the ideal place to say “I do.�

To start making plans for your special wedding, please contact us at (850) 233-4029 or e-mail weddings@resortcollection.com.

www

.resortcollection.com

10859 Emerald Coast Parkway West Ste 203 Destin, FL 32550 850.650.9092

1217 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850.769.7043

www.builderspecialties.net

126 | M AY/J U NE 2016

By SALLIE W. BOYLES Photography by RINN GARLANGER

“How did you make that?” is the question often posed to jewelry artisan Lisa Sheryle Phipps upon encountering her displays at art shows.

She’d love, instead, for people to ask why she made them. As a psychology major in college with a keen interest in human nature, Lisa has an answer that also explains why individuals, drawn to her handmade creations, feel compelled to touch them. Based on her observations, she concludes, “It’s an innate response.” Humans need to connect with nature.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 127

“I’m helping people express themselves with jewelry that means something to them. It’s about values.”

Launched three years ago by Lisa and her husband, Gavin Phipps, to engage the senses and revive that connection, Chic Verte (namely, “Fashionably Green”) presents moderately priced jewelry and accessories for everyday wear and pleasure. Responsibly sourced animal, plant, and mineral components, as well as man-made relics associated with outdoor pursuits, distinguish Lisa’s one-of-a-kind pieces.

Keeping many of her supplies in a large vintage card catalog cabinet from the University of Texas’s law library, Lisa gathers the majority of her raw materials from family-owned properties—Ayavalla Plantation in Northwest Florida, Heirmosa Ranch in Northern Montana, and a vacation home in Cape Cod. “My pieces use materials that are overlooked,” Lisa notes.

Aware of her mission, friends help, alerting her when they have a tree that has fallen in a storm, or when they’re ready to dispose of old riding gear. “Now people, usually hunters, will bring me feathers,” Lisa says. Some also give her special articles, such a beloved horse’s hair, for custom work. Always personally inspired, Lisa has designed collections to reflect the character and values of each region.

128 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Conjuring what she describes as an “oak-shaded, Spanish moss landscape,” the Plantation Collection features acorns, feathers from game birds, horsehair, horse tack, and wood from fallen cedar, dogwood, lacebark elm, oak, and pecan trees. The mule deer’s shed antler is a hallmark of the Ranch Collection, which also incorporates arrowheads, barbed wire, bison horn, buffalo teeth, cowhide, horsehair, horsehide, and braided leather. With a twenty-year cache of beach glass, oyster shells, sand dollars, bamboo, coconut, coral, driftwood, lava rock, and sand, Lisa occasionally gets ideas for the Shore Collection just by opening a drawer. Recently rediscovering some crab claws, she says, “I am obsessed with the beautiful coral color.”

Borrowing from the Plantation, Ranch, and Shore Collections, the Bohemian Collection’s aesthetic is a little more rugged and carefree. “We knot the leather,” Lisa points out, “to form a macramé-style base.”

The Tally Collection makes another statement—as in “Go Seminoles!”—with an array of garnet and gold, the colors of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The Petite Verte Collection appeals to

pillows or comforters rather than discard them. It’s about respect,” she muses, “respecting the animal, respecting the planet—not being wasteful.”

Sharing Lisa’s passion for conservation, Gavin upholds a family legacy of land ownership and accountability that dates to his great-great-grandfather, Henry W. Phipps, Jr.—business partner of Andrew Carnegie (founder of U.S. Steel). Henry invested heavily in real estate. Over time, Gavin’s great-grandfather and grandfather also acquired land, including thousands of acres in Northwest Florida, home to Ayavalla Plantation, headquarters for Chic Verte. Dedicated to preservation and responsible land management, Gavin and his father remain involved with various conservation causes, including Florida-based Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, which conducts research and provides education to promote “exemplary” land stewardship.

“It’s about respect.

Respecting the animal, respecting the planet—not being wasteful.” younger customers by injecting pops of color and Swarovski crystals. With any creation, Lisa aspires to showcase the beauty and significance of nature.

Beyond fabricating pretty adornments, Lisa explains, “I’m helping people express themselves with jewelry that means something to them. It’s about values.” She refers to her great-grandmother, who grew up on a farm. “She was in charge of caring for the chickens,” Lisa recalls, “and one of the things that resonated with me was she would keep the feathers to make

Their respective ancestors also passed along artistic traits that explain Lisa and Gavin’s affinity for jewelry design. In fact, Gavin’s greatgrandmother, Elizabeth Klapp, received honors at the Paris Exposition of 1900 and the Pan-American Exposition of 1901 for her avant-garde jewelry creations. Lisa, in comparison, says, “All of the women in my family had busy hands. My great-grandmothers and grandma were constantly knitting, and my mom loved needlepoint and all kinds of other media.”

Neither Lisa nor Gavin, however, planned on the jewelry business.

Married twenty years, Lisa says, “Gavin and I were college sweethearts.” Lisa intended to earn her master’s degree in psychology, but after graduating from Rollins College in Florida and marrying, the couple moved to London, where Gavin trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu. Returning to Florida, he put his culinary skills to work at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. Lisa managed the local Golden Basket jewelry store, known for its miniature Nantucket lightship baskets in gold and silver. A kitchen fire put Gavin’s job on hold, so he joined Lisa in the store. “We loved the dynamics of working together,” she says. On occasion, they’d sketch alternative

life shines 30Awine.com

“We use Renaissance Wax to give them a protective coating.

I realized that it filled in all the pores so that the cross-sections looked like stone.”

They have a New York jewelry fabricator on hand for Phipps, but Lisa and Gavin craft all of Chic Verte’s collections on location in the studio along with some assistants who assemble the pieces. “Gavin is my CCO, or chief chainsaw operator,” jokes Lisa, who buffs and shapes smaller pieces. A jewelry professional accredited by the Gemological Institute of America, Lisa says her hands-on skills are self-taught, often by trial and error.

Chic Verte’s proprietary antler cabochon process resulted from experimentation. Like a gem that has been shaped and polished rather than faceted, Lisa’s antler shards shine from sanding, buffing, and waxing.

“We use Renaissance Wax to give them a protective coating,” she says. Knowing that the British Museum used the same polish, Lisa initially applied it to wood before she “popped it on the antlers. I realized that it filled in all the pores so that the cross-sections looked like stone.”

Fresh ideas frequently pop into Lisa’s head, such as branching into housewares. “We currently have wood coaster sets that when put together make a butterfly,” she says. “I would love to learn to turn wood and make some giant salad bowls, maybe with antler handles or a base.”

Merging aspects of Chic Verte and Phipps Jewelry to broaden their customers’ options is also on the drawing board—always with why in mind.

designs for customers who wanted something a bit different, prompting them to launch their own operation, Phipps Jewelry Company in Tallahassee, with signature collections (quail, Labrador retrievers, acorns, and couture) and custom offerings.

Visit www.ChicVerte.com to see more from each collection, find retailers, shop via Etsy, and contact Lisa. Details about Phipps Jewelry Company are available at www.PhippsJewelry.com.

When You Want To Call It Home, Call Kristen.

The Emerald Coast’s Mortgage Loan Leader.

When you’ve found your dream home on our beautiful Emerald Coast, let Kristen Blossman get you the financing you need to make that dream come true. With more than 20 years originating mortgages for Florida families, Kristen can help you with a variety of financing options, including Fixed rate mortgages Adjustable rate mortgages First-time home buyer program loans Piggyback mortgages Condominium loans With over 5,500 mortgages totaling over a $1 billion in value and as one of the Emerald Coast’s preferred lender, Kristen and her staff rank as the area’s home loan leader.

Her profession is her passion. You do the fun part–find your dream home– and let Kristen Blossman take care of the mortgage loan.

850.585.3335 KristenBlossman.com

P L A N T I N G T H E S E E D S F O R A N E W W AY O F L I F E

BY SUSAN BENTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEALL + THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Blackberry Farm is often described as “Easy to get to. Hard to leave.” It is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and offers some of the world’s finest wines and cuisine and superb opportunities for fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, clay shooting, cycling, and more. This once-small farm home is now a sixty-eight-room property managed by Relais & Châteaux with a new spa and a series of annual culinary, enrichment, wellness, and adventure events. This spring, the farm announced it will add a nine-thousand-square-foot grand barn building for hosting even more events.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 133

lackberry Farm’s growth is quite astounding. The idea for the resort sprang from the imagination of proprietor Sam Beall (pronounced “Bell”), a young entrepreneur who began life in a small town in the foothills of the Smokies. Beall generated a self-sustaining business on the property that his parents began, with the singular mission of making it a destination for food, wine, and outdoor enthusiasts, all within the confines of the safe haven he had known from childhood. Blackberry Farm has now become an international brand.

Early one misty morning in 2000, in those same foothills, I stumbled upon Blackberry Farm while my husband was attending Steve Kaufman’s Flatpicking Camp in nearby Maryville, Tennessee. The camp was an enjoyable break from his usual work, allowing him time to brush up on his guitar skills while meeting like-minded artists. On this particular visit, I had our two young children to entertain, so I thought exploring the back roads leading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would be an exciting idea—I was right.

When we entered the community of Walland and turned onto West Millers Cove Road, a winding, paved path where each mile seemed more tranquil than the last, I began to follow a long white picket fence guiding me to a secret hideaway—or so I thought. I entered the Blackberry Farm property to get some information and, car still idling, was immediately greeted with warm hospitality and invited to come inside with the children. We were directed into the main check-in area, which also housed a small gift shop showcasing local wares, high-end clothing, and a number of products made on-site. We spent some time looking around. I felt as if I had discovered a rare gem in the wilderness, so new to a gal from the beaches of South Walton, Florida, who had never visited East Tennessee.

I FELT AS IF I HAD DISCOVERED A RARE GEM IN THE WILDERNESS, SO NEW TO A GAL FROM THE BEACHES OF SOUTH WALTON, FLORIDA, WHO HAD NEVER VISITED EAST TENNESSEE.

Departing the property with information in hand, I knew I would soon return to what was already a foodie’s dream, with Chef John Fleer at the helm.

Within the year, I was back at the farm with my husband, walking among stalks of corn and rows of produce with master gardener John Coykendall and learning about his heirloom seed collection, some of which he gave to me to take home and which, carefully tended, are still sprouting in my garden today.

My husband and I had worked up an appetite— a good thing to do when visiting Blackberry Farm, as meals are inclusive—and we headed to the main house dining room. Our corner seat for brunch overlooked the pastoral setting, which can only be described as heaven on earth. Sam Beall approached us and asked if he could take a seat. We had heard that he was well liked in the hospitality industry and the reason became evident—he was a true Southern gentleman. He spoke to us as if we were visiting family members whom he had not seen in a while.

Our conversation extended to his enjoyment of the beaches of South Walton, particularly Seaside, and we discussed how enamored we had become of the peaceful side of the Smokies.

With a twinkle in his eye and passion in his voice, Sam spoke of the renovations and plans he had for the farm, as well as for land expansion. Sam’s mother, Kreis Beall, was just twenty-three years old and had one child with another on the way in 1976 when she and her husband, Sandy (founder of Ruby Tuesday Inc.), were captivated by Blackberry Farm and purchased it for their family home. Wanting to entertain friends and family, they opened the scenic mountain property to the public as a nine-bedroom country inn.

This was the magical place where Sam and his wife, Mary Celeste, also planned for their own family to flourish.

Sam attended the University of Tennessee and the California Culinary Academy, an affiliate of Le Cordon Bleu, in San Francisco, and later worked under the tutelage of Thomas Keller at the French Laundry in Yountville, California; with Sue Conley and Peggy Smith at Cowgirl Creamery in San Francisco; and at the Ritz-Carlton. Bitten by the wine bug and loving the sustainable food scene, Sam was motivated to bring those experiences to his guests at Blackberry Farm.

134 | M AY/J U NE 2016

He made good on his plans for transformations once he returned home to Walland, and with Mary Celeste by his side added the Barn, a fine-dining restaurant where on-site agriculture drives the seasonal menu, and the Wellhouse, a spa and health center where South Walton’s own Jennifer Kuntz of Raw & Juicy has already taught a vegan and raw food class. Meanwhile, Seaside’s pearl girl, Wendy Mignot, has her precious jewelry on display in one of the farm’s several gift shops. Within the main house, the Dogwood dining room has become a more casual restaurant for families to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sam, along with Andy Chabot (whom I met on another visit in 2003), created an ambitious wine program with a massive cellar for its collection. In less than six years, Blackberry’s wine cellar grew from 17,000 bottles to 166,000. Plan to bring your reading glasses to peruse their extensive wine menu while savoring food pairings from Cassidee Dabney, a ten-year Blackberry veteran, who recently replaced Joseph Lenn (2013 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast) as the executive chef.

It has been a pleasure to watch Blackberry blossom and its team evolve, many having moved on to other very successful restaurant and business ventures.

Over time my husband and I have also taken part in a few of the farm’s creative food events, one of the first being Chef Fleer’s on-site introduction of Allan Benton—although we had already met him by way of his business, Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams in Madisonville, Tennessee (we saw his road signage and had to stop, since we share the same last name). A humble man whose eyes welled up while speaking of the ham-and-bacon business that his grandparents had started (he took over in 1973), he was in disbelief that a group of us were there to learn more about him and taste his wonderful products.

(During this event, we also had the opportunity to drink Australian wines with winemaker Dan Philips.) This was, of course, before Benton graced the pages and covers of every food magazine in the country and his products landed on menus from New York to Los Angeles.

It has been an honor to take part in events held in Kreis Beall’s former home and gourmet kitchen and be but a minute part of Sam’s vision come to life. I know that many guests, chefs, winemakers, artisans, musicians, and friends of the Beall family feel the same.

136 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Sadly, on the morning of February 26, 2016, crushing and tragic news broke on social media. Sam Beall died in a skiing accident in Colorado at the age of thirty-nine, leaving behind his wife and five children.

Two weeks after the untimely passing of her husband, Mary Celeste assumed the role of president and proprietor of the farm. The Beall family, as well as Blackberry Farm executives, emphasized the significant role Mary Celeste has already played in the destination’s growth and success. “Mary Celeste has directed retail operations on property, led key design projects, hosted wellness and arts events, and was an integral leader in the development of the Wellhouse, all while raising a beautiful family,” said Kreis and Sandy. “She’s just always been a contributor and a true partner to Sam, which makes her the obvious choice as Blackberry Farm’s next proprietor.”

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WATCH BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM AND ITS TEAM EVOLVE, MANY HAVING MOVED ON TO OTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT AND BUSINESS VENTURES. “Sam and I—and of course the entire Beall family— share such a deep love for this special place, and for the future that our children and grandchildren will create here,” said Mary Celeste about the announcement. “This new role is the most authentic way I can imagine to honor Sam’s legacy, fulfill our shared vision, and demonstrate our commitment to our guests, team, partners, and the local community.”

Blackberry Farm is celebrating forty years under the Beall family’s care this year, and it has been shaped into one of the most awarded and well-regarded destinations in North America. The property and the talented team who run it have received the hospitality industry’s highest honors: consecutive James Beard Awards for Best Chef: Southeast, Outstanding Wine Program, and Outstanding Service.

Our most recent visit to the farm was in March, and my husband and I spent the day muddying our boots hiking the familiar farm trails, playing with the Lagotto Romagnolo puppies (bred to sniff out truffles), relaxing in the upstairs Wellhouse overlooking the scenic landscape, and sipping cocktails in the main bar while nibbling on our favorite pimento cheese before dining at the Barn.

We felt Sam’s presence, along with the enthusiasm that the Blackberry Farm team has for the future. Sam’s physical being might be gone, but his spirit fills the environment. There is no doubt that Blackberry Farm will continue to be a resounding success.

For more information on Blackberry Farm or to make reservations, call (800) 557-8864 or visit www.BlackberryFarm.com. Donations can be made to the Blackberry Farm Foundation in Sam’s memory by visiting www.BlackberryFarm.com/foundation/give.

Susan Benton is a freelance writer and the owner of 30AEATS.com, where she shares her passion for food and travel and her commitment to promoting local farmers, fishermen, chefs, artisans, and restaurants in the South. Look for her cookbook release in 2016.

Sam Beall

COMPLETE YOUR KITCHEN EVENT

The kitchen you’ve always wanted, with the savings you never expected.

Purchase a combination of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and get up to $7,000 worth of Wolf Gourmet products.

For details, visit: subzero-wolf.com/promotion

Destin - Pensacola - Fort Walton Beach www.unitedlighting.com

We connect the dots from where you are to where you dream to be

35 years living, marketing and selling the emerald coast lifestyle – experience is the difference

Over $1 billion in real estate transactions

32 East Highway C-30A, Suite J Santa Rosa Beach, Florida Office 850.231.7896 Toll Free 866.533.3429

laflorida.com Connect with us

Service | Integrity | Excellence

Expert advice on price, staging and negotiations

Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

MAJESTIC BEAUTY A Mother & Son’s Legacy

The lonely dirt road, traversing rolling, grassy hills, seemed to go on for miles. The way was so devoid of landmarks and inhabitants that it didn’t seem possible that an equine legend lay somewhere ahead. The evening before had been cool with a light dew, but the April sun over Clermont in Central Florida can make a day warm up quickly. Rounding a bend, Al-Marah Arabians suddenly appeared in all its glory with rolling fields of lush green paddocks embroidered with lengths of wood fencing. About thirty minutes due west of Orlando and situated in between Lake Nellie and Little Lake Nellie, this impressive eighty-acre horse farm is home to about sixty prizewinning Arabians with state-of-the-art stables, riding arenas, and amenities.

By LISA BURWELL Photography by AL-MARAH FARMS / LIZ CRAWLEY OF ASSISTANT TRAINER CAMILLE REED

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 141

l-Marah vice–president Kriss Titus offered a warm welcome. Kriss, whom I knew many years ago when she held the position of director of the South Walton Tourist Development Council in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, was the motivation behind the story. The stables seemed to be abuzz with excitement. Al-Marah’s herd had recently greeted new arrivals. Like a proud father might observe his children at play, Mark Miller stood at the fence to watch over a group of mares nurturing their foals in the wisdom of equine life. Mark, the owner of these magnificent Arabians, looked the quintessential horseman—a tall and sturdy gentleman sporting jeans, boots, and a Stetson—with a kind face and eyes to match. Besides having a personable side to him, Mark had many reasons to smile: thirteen in particular—the number of new Arabian foals. In the past two hundred years, this particular Arabian horse herd has been owned by only three families, with the Millers as the third and current family at the reins. We mingled with the herd while conducting our interview. It was such a peaceful experience and one that I did not want to end too quickly. Watching a mare run in the field with her foal is a breathtaking sight. It brought to mind a quote often ascribed to Winston Churchill: “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”—a quote and sensibility that Mark was all too familiar with.

After all, breeding and working with Arabians has consumed Mark’s life from the time he was a boy.

WATCHING A MARE RUN IN THE FIELD WITH HER FOAL IS A BREATHTAKING SIGHT. THE AL-MARAH HERITAGE As with all great legacies, it helps to first know where and how the story all began.

Ruth “Bazy” Tankersley, with her first husband Peter Miller, founded Al-Marah Arabian Horse Farm in Tucson, Arizona, in 1942. Bazy grew up in the Midwest, the heiress daughter of a conservative Republican father, who was a US senator and owner of daily newspapers, and a mother who was an Illinois congresswoman.

While growing up, Bazy fell in love with riding horses on her family’s ranches in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado.

This Page: A mare and her foal run free in one of Al-Marah's lush paddocks along the bank of Little Lake Nellie.

142 | M AY/J U NE 2016

In her adult life, Bazy’s notable publishing career—including a stint as publisher of the Washington Times-Herald for nearly two years—took her across the country from Illinois to Maryland and Washington, D.C., and then ultimately back to Arizona with the Al-Marah Horse Farm in tow and growing through the years. In the early ’90s, Bazy moved a portion of Al-Marah to the Hat Ranch in northern Arizona, where she spent her summers for the next seventeen years and was frequently joined by prominent Arizonian politicians, conservative leaders, and academics.

Throughout her life, Bazy was a generous philanthropist who was concerned with many conservation matters, education, and much more. During the course of her career as a breeder of Arabian horses, which began in 1942, she bred 2,900 foals, a world record to this day. Upon Bazy’s death at the age of ninety-one, she donated the $30 million Tucson horse farm to the University of Arizona. In homage to her lifelong legacy and dedication to the Arabian breed, the eight-thousand-square-foot Al-Marah Galleries of the Arabian Horse in Kentucky Horse Park was named in her honor; here, the Arabian breed is showcased from its desert beginnings through its emergence across Europe and America. The interactive exhibit traces— through art, film, and books—the importance of the Arabian and how it has changed the world.

Now the caretaker of the Al-Marah brand, Mark’s love for his horses beams from his face. While listening to Mark speak about his mother, Bazy, it was clear that the sorrow of her passing in 2013 was still there. His love, admiration, respect, and even a hint of amusement for her could be heard in his voice. Mark recounted stories about his mother’s feisty nature with a twinkle in his eye.

A milestone for Bazy’s Al-Marah Arabians came in 1956 when she added the horses from Crabbet Stud and Hanstead Stud to the herd. Pointing out the significance of these two blood lines, Mark said, “Our brand of horses are direct descendants of the first and greatest gathering of Bedouin horses from the Arabian Desert in 1815 by Abbas Pasha while he was Governor of Arabia.” The landmark decision

Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

Photo by Gerald Burwell

HIS LOVE, ADMIRATION, RESPECT, AND EVEN A HINT OF AMUSEMENT FOR HER COULD BE HEARD IN HIS VOICE. MARK RECOUNTED STORIES ABOUT HIS MOTHER’S FEISTY NATURE WITH A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE. made Al-Marah the oldest privately owned band of Arabian horses in the world, with Mark being only the sixth person in its two-hundred-year history to have control of this herd. In addition to the impressive heritage, the new lineage was noticeably superior to the bloodlines that Bazy had previously bred. Within a few years, the quality of the herd began to improve, and within ten years, Al-Marah Arabians were dominating national competitions. It was also around this time that Bazy began to really talk to Mark about taking up the breeding torch. “We are the designers of the Arabian breed,” Mark proudly proclaimed.

show 365 days a year to over ten million guests during its quarter-century run.

After realizing the hard facts of a changing economy, he closed the doors on New Year’s Eve in 2013 to begin the next chapter of his life.

His legendary string of Arabians had literally taken center stage at the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Kissimmee, Florida, where, alongside acrobats from around the world, they performed a magical fairy-tale story of a princess looking for her prince. Mark founded and orchestrated the crowd-pleasing dinner and theatrical equestrian

As riding instructor Danielle Contarino prepped Kismet for us to ride in the ring, the interview continued with a little show-and-tell. Danielle expounded on some basics of horse care while brushing down the mare and then cleaning her hooves. Throughout the stable, the horses would greet Mark with a “kiss” as he walked toward them, and you could tell that this connection between horse and man went back many years. Demonstrating on Swift, an incredibly patient horse, Mark described the physical features that make the Arabian the special breed

144 | M AY/J U NE 2016

THE NEW LEGACY During the span of our half-day visit, we were able to get up close and personal with several of members of the Al-Marah herd. Along an interior wall of the neatly kept stables was a conspicuously placed wall of fame containing thousands of ribbons and prizes. And, why not? With stall after stall of beautiful Arabians, there was no reason to be bashful about the Al-Marah accomplishments. While waiting for a couple of Arabians to be brought out of their stalls, we killed a little time with some watercooler talk.

Above: Mark Miller speaks passionately of the Al-Marah legacy passed down by his mother, Bazy.

Opposite, Bottom: The wall of fame inside the Al-Marah stable.

Regina Jaquess. Pharm D Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

Anti-Aging • Bio-identical Hormones • Dental • Dermatology • Gastroenterology • Infertility • Men’s and Women’s Health • Pain Management • Pediatric • Podiatry • Sports Medicine • Veterinary • And More! www.eccpharmacy.com info@eccpharmacy.com

850-622-5800 Fax: 850-622-5802

Photo by Gerald Burwell

Facebook.com/ECCPharmacy Twitter.com/ECCPharmacy Instagram.com/ECCPharmacy

146 | M AY/J U NE 2016

that it is. He explained how the flared nostrils and enlarged windpipes make them ideal for longdistance running. Also, for their size, they have an extremely powerful rear end. “It’s like a Porsche, a rear-engine car, with all the power right here,” said Mark, pointing to the backside of the horse.

As the brand ambassador of the Al-Marah legacy, Mark has an obvious passion and dedication for continuing his mother’s good work. He said, “To ensure we are still breeding the warhorse of the desert, an Al-Marah horse must have the following three criteria to ensure the brand is protected: they must be athletes with endurance, agility, and hearts of warriors; they must be beautiful with great Arabian type and correct confirmation; and they must have wonderful dispositions.”

THE ARABIAN IS CONSIDERED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL HORSES, AND IT IS THE OLDEST PUREBRED IN THE WORLD.

26 LANES OF BOWLING ARCADE POOL TABLES AIR HOCKEY PING PONG DARTS GOLDEN TEE LIVE BAR & CAFE

Mark continued with stories of the international sport of endurance racing, and it boggles the mind that these horses can withstand all that is required of them, including going through tough terrain and usually a fifty- to one-hundred-mile race. “Arabians have the capacity to use more oxygen more efficiently than any other breed of horse, and they usually always win these competitions.”

Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

The Arabian is considered the most beautiful of all horses, and it is the oldest purebred in the world, with the first breeders being the Bedouin of Arabia. These desert tribesmen valued the horse above all else, and treated them like members of their own family, with foals and children being raised alongside one another.

The word for “horse” in Arabic means to “walk with pride.” Mark explained that Carl Reinhard Raswan (1893–1966) has been credited with keeping the peace between the Bedouin tribes, and during WWI he actually lived among the Bedouin. During the filming of The Son of the Sheik, Raswan served as Rudolph Valentino’s stunt double, performing in sequences that required dangerous or fast riding. He is attributed for naming the farm Al-Marah, after

34876 Emerald Coast Pkwy Destin, FL (850) 654-5251

Photo by Gerald Burwell

Above: One of the newest additions to the Al-Marah Arabian herd playfully greets Danielle Contarino.

148 | M AY/J U NE 2016

Photo courtesy of Al-Marah Farms

the Arabic word for “oasis.” Raswan was a connoisseur and scholar of Arabian bloodlines, authoring numerous books on the Asil Arabian horse and the Bedouin people who primarily raised them.

The Islamic prophet Mohammed considered the Arabian horses sacred as they were the cornerstone breed during his holy wars. The growth of the Muslim religion propagated the growth and prevalence of the Arabian horse in North Africa, Spain, and France. The breed is swift, tough, and agile, and these traits are only rivaled by their beauty. They are bred to withstand the harsh desert climate and to have stamina and courage, which is why they shine in long-distance riding. Interestingly, George Washington’s horse Nelson was the first Arabian horse in the United States. Washington recognized the Arabian’s strengths and crossbred his Arabian stallion with cavalry mounts to strengthen his military. Arabians also have a very strong bond with humans and seek return affection.

There is a lot going on at Al-Marah Arabians, including riding lessons that range from beginner to expert, producing foals, and training everything from a newborn foal to a Grand Prix dressage horse.

Coaching and instruction at the National Champion level is also offered there. “The forty National Championships we’ve won in the last two years mean that we are number one in our industry,” said Mark. A robust interactive horse program where

one can go to interact with world-famous Al-Marah Champions and former stars of Arabian Nights is also offered; this includes getting up close and personal with the horses in the Paint the Pony program. We had the treat of spending time in the stables with a beautiful white Arabian gelding named Clemy. At first I wanted to forgo actually painting him, but I am glad Kriss prodded me to do so. It was an intimate way of approaching and spending time with this magnificent animal while he quietly let me touch and paint him.

“You can create your own Al-Marah Arabian with our breeding program. Our horses have competed in every event to open shows that include Cutting and Reining, Dressage and Sport Horse Under Saddle, Endurance, Hunters and Jumpers, and Arabian Racing.” Mark and his staff have a very aggressive competition schedule that includes dozens of shows each year. Selling and breeding horses is a cornerstone for Mark since he is one of the absolute best in the business and loves what he does.

So, I found my oasis one balmy day in April while spending time on an Arabian horse farm rich in history and legacy. I am glad to have had the opportunity to experience Al-Marah—the most awarded Arabian farm in existence!

WWW.AL-MARAH.COM

Where No One Frets Much About Anything but the Food!

The new Grayton Corner Cafe is located on County Road 283 in the Mystic Porte shops, just north of Scenic Highway 30-A.

14 Clayton Lane Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 (850) 213-0401

HOURS MAY VARY DUE TO THE QUALITY OF SURF!

SHOW HOUSE PREVIEW The Modern Minimalist | Zen by the Bay

M

ike and Angela Ragsdale, owners and founders of the 30A brand and beloved members of our community, have embarked on a new adventure that mirrors a lifestyle they are embracing—one that is uncluttered and pure.

PARTN ERS

Following the personal tragedy of their beautiful home on the Choctawhatchee Bay being flooded and subsequently demolished, a rebirth of sorts occurred.

The Ragsdales began the process of rebuilding and realized they want to live differently: living with less so they can experience more. And so was born their new home concept that focuses on simplicity and relaxation.

– Modern Residential

Lighting: Beautiful Lights

Interior design: Cassidy Lyons Pickens & Joey LaSalle of Lovelace Interiors

Custom furniture: Not Too Shabby Boutique Custom window treatments:

Flooring and tile: Renovation Flooring

Concept Blinds & Design

Kitchen appliances: Builder

Home security: Planet Secure

Specialties, Inc. (BSI), Destin

Kitchen and bathroom countertops: Caesarstone and Classic Design Stone

General contractor: Hart Builders Residential design: Rolen Studio

We are thrilled to follow the Ragsdales on their journey of rebirth and can’t wait to reveal their new home to our readers. Many sponsors and partners have joined them in the creation of the new home, which we’ve dubbed “Modern Minimalist – Zen by the Bay.”

Home automation: AVX – Audio

Mike has written a beautiful and personal story for this issue of VIE and will continue to chronicle the journey with an article in each issue leading up to the home’s big reveal, which will appear in the 2016 Architecture and Design Issue.

Landscape design: Terra Firma Landscapes

We are so excited to publish this family’s story and show you their new home on the bay!

Sincerely, Lisa Marie Burwell, Publisher VIE Magazine

Video Excellence, Inc. Plumbing fixtures: Ferguson Shower glass and bathroom mirrors: Seaview Glass and Mirror Landscape installation: GreenEarth

Insulation: Mid-America Insulation and Supply

Infrared sauna: Finnleo Sauna and Steam Custom closets: Alpha Closets & Murphy Beds Inc. Custom cabinets and carpentry: Zimerman Enterprises, Inc. Kitchen workstation: The Galley

Landscape Services

Kitchen island: MSI Stone and Classic Design Stone

Exterior doors and windows:

Pool pavers: Riviera Stoneworks – Foley, AL

Southern Windows and Doors

Interior and exterior paint: Sherwin Williams – Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Electrical installation: Xcell Electric Inc. Plumbing and gas installation: SSE Plumbing and Gas Contractors To learn more or to become a partner, please contact angela@30A.com.

3-D home tour: Perceptions by Mayer Gutters: Architectural Gutter Systems, LLC

THE MODERN MINIMALIST Zen by the Bay CHAPTER FOUR

By M I K E R A G S D A L E

152 | M AY/J U NE 2016

IN APRIL 2014, THE RAGSDALE FAMILY LOST THEIR HOME DURING A FLOOD IN SANTA ROSA BEACH, FLORIDA. THIS IS THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT IN A FIVE-PART SERIES OF VIE ARTICLES ABOUT THE REBUILDING PROCESS. THE RAGSDALES’ NEW HOME WILL BE FEATURED IN OUR 2016 ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ISSUE (JULY/ AUGUST) AND IN A SERIES OF FEATURES ON 30A.COM. I once took a personality test in which I was asked to describe myself in a single word—not the word that I aspired to be, but rather the one word that most accurately and honestly captured my very nature.

The word presented itself almost without effort.

And, while it took me by surprise, I also knew the word contained inescapable truths about me, both good and bad. The word was “restless.”

Restlessness inspires wonderful things like travel, exploration, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Left unchecked, it can also foster discontentment, regret, anxiety, and exhaustion.

Like so many others, I’ve been spiritually drawn to the beach for as long as I can remember. In high school, if I had been asked to describe my ideal future, I would have said something along these

lines: “I’d like to live at the beach. Nothing fancy.

Just an old house by the water, with a hammock and palm trees. A place where I can spend my days lounging in the sunshine with my friends.”

I don’t remember ever aspiring to accumulate riches, a private executive office, a mansion, or fancy sports cars. Friends. Sunshine. Water. Those were the things I craved in my young adult life. And yet, I somehow lost touch with those simple aspirations along the way. Even though I instinctively knew my happiness was directly influenced by my proximity to a large body of water, it took me years to listen to that nagging voice in my head and navigate my way to the coast. Eventually, subtle and not-so-subtle life choices made that vision a reality. But why did it take me nearly two decades to act on something that’s clearly integral to my happiness?

CONCEPT B LI N D S & D E SI G N

Smart Design Matters

Custom Window Fashions Re side nti al and Commer ci al D e stin t o P anama Ci ty and Su r r oundi ng Ar eas Drape s • D r aper y Har dwar e Rom an Shades • Wov en Wood Sh ade s • S hutter s • B linds Cu s tom Bed Linens and Pillows

850.797.6819 www.conceptblindsanddesign.com

Working to Create Comfort and Beauty for Your Home or Business

Truth be told, we moved to the beach to escape. While my wife, Angela, and I have enjoyed a few business successes, we’ve also endured ten times as many failures. Occasionally, someone will say to me, “Man, everything you touch turns to gold!” I certainly understand why it might appear that way. I’m a PR guy after all; by nature, I speak often of my successes and rarely about my embarrassing failures. Those failures are real and many, but as painful as some of them were, they proved to be essential stepping-stones for our family’s migration.

When we first arrived in South Walton, Florida, my brain was almost totally fried. I didn’t have a job. We didn’t know a soul. Prior to the move, my world had been governed by an endless avalanche of e-mails and a BlackBerry that rattled mercilessly across my nightstand at all hours of the night. After shuttering two failed businesses in rapid-fire succession, I no longer had any employees to orchestrate, conference calls to dial into, or e-mails that I cared to read. Moving to the beach was akin to punching the eject button. I totally unplugged— physically, mentally, and emotionally. I canceled my mobile phone plan and stopped checking e-mail. I paced aimlessly around our yard for a couple of months until, finally, my mind decompressed. Only in this newfound state of rest did I unlock a profoundly peaceful existence on the bay—a level of true contentment and happiness that I’d never known before.

Life on the bay is very different from life on the beach. Even though the Gulf of Mexico’s sugary white sands are just five minutes away, bay life seems even less frenetic and more personal. When a giant red sun silently pierces the morning sky over Choctawhatchee Bay, I feel like I’m the only person in the universe—that God has whipped up a special explosion of color just for me. When the dolphins glide past our dock, they roll slightly on their sides to look up at me, just as curious about me as I am about them. At night, the Milky Way stares at itself in the calm bay waters, rippled only by the occasional mullet dancing along the shore.

I would sit on the dock in a rusty old lawn chair for hours at a time, gazing out across the bay. Sometimes I would fish, just to pretend I was doing something.

I never wore shoes and only rarely a shirt. Once I saw my neighbor in a local restaurant, and he exclaimed, “Wow! I almost didn’t recognize you in clothes.”

It was awkward.

Perhaps for the first time in my life, I felt like I was precisely where I was meant to be—that the remainder of my days should be played out minus the stresses of cubicles, suits, meetings, contract negotiations, leases, and passwords. The gentle flotsam and jetsam of the bay seemed to temper my restless spirit, giving me a 154 | M AY/J U NE 2016

sense of proper pace and priority. I had somehow stumbled into a true state of contentment—one I thought I might just enjoy forever.

It’s been two long years since the flood that forced us to leave our life on the bay behind, and I find myself restless again. Every morning, I drink my coffee staring at a laptop instead of a sunrise. I spend more time on conference calls than I do in conversations with friends. I wear shirts. The rust from my old lawn chair has seemingly seeped its way into the crevices of my mind. Our sudden and prolonged withdrawal from the shoreline has weathered my personality and my priorities. I worry about whether I’ll be able to find that same peace again when we return. Will the dolphins even recognize me?

Soon, I promise myself. We’ll be home soon.

THE RAGSDALES’ MODERN MINIMALIST BAY HOME WILL BE FEATURED IN VIE’S 2016 ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ISSUE (JULY/ AUGUST). FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT, VISIT 30A.COM/MODERN. HART BUILDERS P.O. Box 6978 Miramar Beach, Florida 32550 (850) 586-1070 www.Facebook.com/HARTBuilders ROLEN STUDIO – MODERN RESIDENTIAL 93 Dune Lakes Circle #D-201 Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 (850) 814-2642 www.RolenStudio.com Interior Design: CASSIDY LYONS PICKENS / LOVELACE INTERIORS (850) 200-2062 cassidy32459@yahoo.com JOEY LASALLE / LOVELACE INTERIORS (615) 585-5638 www.JoeyLaSalle.com

圀伀刀刀 圀圀吀䠀 䔀伀 䰀䔀 圀䠀伀 刀䄀伀圀 伀䐀䔀刀䄀⸀

䘀伀刀 ㈀㌀ 夀䔀䄀刀匀⸀

圀䔀ᤠ嘀䔀 䐀伀䄀䔀 伀䐀䔀刀䄀

夀伀唀 匀䄀夀 夀伀唀 䌀䄀䄀 䐀伀 伀䐀䔀刀䄀Ⰰ

LIFE ON THE BAY IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM LIFE ON THE BEACH. EVEN THOUGH THE GULF OF MEXICO’S SUGARY WHITE SANDS ARE JUST FIVE MINUTES AWAY, BAY LIFE SEEMS EVEN LESS FRENETIC AND MORE PERSONAL.

嘀䤀匀䤀吀 伀唀刀 䴀伀䐀䔀刀一 䤀一吀䔀刀䤀伀刀 䐀䔀匀䤀䜀一 䌀䔀一吀䔀刀 ㄀㈀㄀㜀 䔀洀攀爀愀氀搀 䌀漀愀猀琀 倀愀爀欀眀愀礀 䴀椀爀愀洀愀爀 䈀攀愀挀栀 㠀㔀 ⸀㈀㘀㤀⸀㄀㘀㤀㤀 簀 椀搀洀椀䀀椀搀洀椀搀攀猀椀最渀⸀挀漀洀 椀搀洀漀搀攀爀渀椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀⸀挀漀洀

GRAYTON BEACH

WATERCOLOR

This architectural masterwork with private yoga room & covered lap pool employs mirrors in the living room ceiling trusses to maximize natural light.

Only five minutes from the Beach Club, pine floors carry throughout this home whose wainscoting creates an Old Florida beach atmosphere.

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.359.0527 x 3669

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.375.9828 x 4299

52 Banfill Street

Represented by Pat Carlyle c 850.585.1146 pat@scenicsir.com

127 Buttercup Street

Represented by Richard Barnett c 850.687.7130 richard@scenicsir.com

SANTA ROSA BEACH

SEAGROVE BEACH

Contemporary Gulf-front home offers beachfront living & panoramic views from pool terrace. Elevator to sitting area & guest beds all wtih beach views.

Enjoy both Eastern Lake and Gulf views south of Scenic Highway 30A. Open plan home has spectacular water views, deck & private dock for all the toys.

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.375.9828 x 6079

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.375.9828 x 3289

27 Gulf Dunes Lane

Represented by Tom Fitzpatrick c 850.225.4674 tom@scenicsir.com

82 Lake Pointe Drive

Represented by Nina McCaslin-Horn c 850.685.0198 nina@scenicsir.com

WE ARE

LEVERAGING OUR HERITAGE

SEAGROVE BEACH 169 Andalusia

Peaceful residence with full-height windows, huge master suite & treetop views from the upper level sundeck. Close beach & community pool.

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.359.0527 x 5059 Represented by Bert Summville-Kain c 850.974.8731 bert@scenicsir.com

CHURCHILL OAKS 43 Bennett Street

Grand residence with wine cellar boasts reclaimed brick, oak floor, & marble. Premier bay front community offers pool, clubhouse, & gated entrance.

Recorded Details & Pricing 800.359.0527 x 8269 Represented by Chris Abbott c 850.259.7069 chris@scenicsir.com

scenicsir.com | 850.231.6052 3305 West County Highway 30A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 © MMXV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equaly Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) services marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.

158 | M AY/J U NE 2016

IN GOOD SPIRITS J O R DA N S TA G G S photography by R I N N G A R L A N G E R by

In the heat of a Southern summer, few things are more satisfying than relaxing by the water—be it a lake, a creek, a river, or the Gulf of Mexico—while enjoying a cold beverage and listening to music or conversing with good friends. The South is a land of simple pleasures: breezy nights spent looking at the stars, long drives down country roads with the windows down, cookouts on Saturday nights. Since before the Civil War, the South has been known as the best place to find quality whiskey in America, even if that trade was perhaps not made legitimate until a certain distiller legally opened its shop in Lynchburg, Tennessee, in 1875. You know the one.

Tennessee whiskey. Kentucky bourbon. Northwest Florida rum? The presence of a high-quality craft distillery in the backwoods of Crestview may come as a surprise to many in the Florida Panhandle.

Nonetheless, Timber Creek Distillery is located right in their own backyard, a short drive north of Interstate 10 along the banks of Juniper Creek. Getting there can be a challenge that is best accomplished with

four-wheel drive, but the trip is well worth it for any adventurous liquor connoisseur who is interested in visiting the distillery’s picturesque main house and one-of-a-kind manufacturing plant.

“It just tastes good,” is the sentiment adamantly conveyed by Timber Creek’s master distiller, Aaron Barnes. The company, formed in May 2014, began its journey into creating fine spirits and craft cocktails when Barnes—a Paxton, Florida, native now living in Destin—and his neighbor, Camden Ford, bonded over a mutual interest in home beer brewing. Ford, who worked in high-tech engineering in Silicon Valley for about sixteen years before moving into his family’s vacation home in Destin, was looking to settle down away from a job that required him to spend most of his time on the road. He enlisted Barnes as his chief taste tester, but the two soon became passionate about a product with a little more kick than beer. They dreamed of starting a quality distillery in Florida.

Barnes, a real estate broker, began looking for possible locations for the venture, and as it turned out, the

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 159

WITH LOCAL GRAINS, GREAT WATER, AND A VARIETY OF FLAVORS—ALL AGED IN QUALITY BARRELS SOURCED FROM A FAMILY BUSINESS IN MISSOURI—THE INGREDIENTS ARE ALL IN PLACE TO PRODUCE SOME FINE SPIRITS.

Photo courtesy of Timber Creek Distillery

barn behind his parents’ 26,000-square-foot home in Crestview was just the right fit. After receiving the blessing of Barnes’s parents, he and Ford started planning—“over drinks of hooch and whiskey, of course,” Ford says.

Fast-forward one year to May 2015: Timber Creek Distillery officially moved into the barn along with a recirculating immersion mash system (RIMS), which Barnes had spent months perfecting, and all the other components for a full production plant.

Ford says the RIMS is “basically a way to cook barley malt for making beer—or in our case, cook corn, rye, and malt for making whiskey.” By midsummer

160 | M AY/J U NE 2016

2015, Timber Creek’s first batches of Florida bourbon were in production, and a few flavored rums were well on their way.

“My mom doesn’t drink bourbon,” says Barnes, explaining his goal of creating a whiskey that people of all palates could enjoy. “I had my supersecret first barrel stash—a wheat bourbon—I wanted to make something smooth and easy to drink.

Nobody wants to drink something and think, ‘I gotta acquire a taste for that.’”

Timber Creek Distillery now produces two bourbons—some of the first to be made in Florida—four rums, and a wheat vodka. The rums are particularly special, as Barnes and Ford worked to create smooth, flavored rums (not liqueurs) in varieties such as coffee and apple pie; these rums are great for mixing, cooking, or simply enjoying on their own. “If you like good, strong coffee, our coffee-flavored rum makes an excellent iced coffee mixed with just a little vanilla almond milk on

the rocks,” Barnes says. “We used four hundred pounds of coffee and a cold-water extraction technique to get the best flavor.”

In addition to sourcing fantastic corn, wheat, and rye directly from Northwest Florida growers, Ford was able to source local fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, and muscadines, to use when creating new flavors. Of equal importance is the water used in the distilling process: “Many beer brewers will tell you that using high-quality spring water is what makes their beers so special,” he explains. “We are very lucky in that aspect, as well. Our local water company, Auburn Water, pulls water from the Floridan aquifer system. This water has filtered down through hundreds of feet of soil and limestone to give us really fantastic local water.” With local grains, great water, and a variety of flavors—all aged in quality barrels sourced from a family business in Missouri—the ingredients are all in place to produce some fine spirits.

However, there’s more to this business than just having great ingredients, as both Barnes and Ford will attest. Their production system is massive, including an eight-hundred-gallon mash tun for cooking the grains, a lauter tun of equal size for separating the grains from the wash, two thirteen-hundred-gallon fermenters, and a six-hundred-fifty-gallon still. “This gives us enough capacity to make about a thousand cases of spirits per month in full production,” Ford says. Timber Creek hopes to continue expanding its production and to reach three times that capacity within the next five years, even as it continues to use, as Ford says, a very “gentle” approach with grains that is similar to that used by beer brewers.

“Most bourbon distilleries, including the really big guys, mostly use hammer mills to pound their grains into flour. They then cook the flour and water together to make a slurry or porridge,” Ford says. “This is very efficient for extracting every last drop of sugar from the grains but sometimes can also leave some bad flavors mixed in. For example, barley and wheat have very woody husks. Wood can leave tannins in the whiskey; too many tannins and the whiskey isn’t very good.” By cracking grains with a roller mill and

This gives us a lot of flexibility in creating new flavor profiles. For visitors to the distillery, we will even blend a custom whiskey.” This type of flexibility to create new flavor profiles and custom tastes sets Timber Creek apart from other distilleries, especially the big ones. Just as the craft beer movement has grown in Florida in the past five years, this craftsman’s approach to creating specialty spirits using the best local ingredients offers the chance for people to try something new and truly unique to the area.

AS BARNES PUTS IT, TIMBER CREEK’S PHILOSOPHY IS “PUT GOOD STUFF IN, GET GOOD STUFF OUT.” separating the husks from the liquid in the lauter tun, Barnes can control how long the grains stay in the liquid—and therefore how much tannin and other flavors get into the mash before the two are separated. It doesn’t hurt that this approach also makes the still much easier to clean. Once the grains have been used and separated from the liquid, the excess is delivered to a local pig farmer, so nothing goes to waste. “This gentle treatment has allowed us to extract pure flavors from our grains and make some fantastic whiskey,” Ford concludes.

Once the liquids have distilled, they are aged in barrels for about nine months. For the first batch, Timber Creek decided to use various types of wood barrels to see how each grain interacted with the wood, barreling the corn, wheat, rye, and barley whiskeys separately. “Later, we could blend that into exactly the whiskey we wanted,” Ford explains. “We were able to create three different whiskeys just by blending different amounts of the different barrels.

162 | M AY/J U NE 2016

“When people come down here to the beach, they’re in vacation mode,” Barnes says. “They start drinking early and often continue through the day.” Timber Creek’s products lend themselves to that mind-set, with premium flavors that are easy to enjoy, go down smooth, and are great for creating cocktails— whether it’s a hard apple cider, a beach-perfect rum runner or daiquiri, or an iced coffee with a kick.

As Barnes puts it, Timber Creek’s philosophy is “Put good stuff in, get good stuff out.” From the first taste, it’s clear that this philosophy is working.

Timber Creek whiskeys, rums, and vodka are available at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, Paradise Liquors, Sunset Liquors, Publix, Walmart, and Sam’s Club locations across the Panhandle, with plans to grow distribution for 2016. To learn more, visit www.TimberCreekDistillery.com.

REFRESH, RELAX & REJUVENATE Experience ultimate luxury at our award-winning Serenity by the sea Spa — a harmonious blend of atmosphere, services and products that leave guests feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.

APPOINTMENTS

850-622-9595 SerenitybytheseaSpa.com

Located at: 4000 Sandestin Blvd South Miramar Beach, FL 32550

Photo by Ginnard Archibald

THE

E C A N R U F IS LIT

SLOSS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

JULY 16 & 17, 2016

By Christy Milliken V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 165

s with many gentrified cities throughout the South, the city of Birmingham, Alabama, is experiencing a boom in the growth of its music and arts scene.

While the creative growth in this historic Southern city is on the rise, the continuous evolution of innovation has always been a part of what makes Birmingham special. As the Iron City seems to catch up with the modern age, reinventing the Birmingham vibe also means preserving the original, and historical landmark preservation takes a priority in the community.

One of the most recognizable landmarks in the city is Sloss Furnaces. The ground breaking for this massive, now-defunct iron mill began during the post–Civil War industrial movement of the 1880s.

REINVENTING THE BIRMINGHAM VIBE ALSO THE

MEANS PRESERVING

ORIGINAL,

AND HISTORICAL

LANDMARK PRESERVATION

TAKES A

PRIORITY

IN THE COMMUNITY

.

During its first year in operation, Sloss Furnaces sold twenty-four thousand tons of iron and went on to produce metal for nearly ninety more years.

By 1981, the building received a National Historic Landmark designation, and by September of 1983 it opened as a museum of the City of Birmingham.

Sloss is currently the only twentieth-century blast furnace in the United States that has been preserved and interpreted as a historic landmark. It serves as an important reminder of the hopes and struggles of the people of Birmingham.

The smokestacks are also among the most known architectural features in the city’s landscape, highlighting its industrial past, which includes honoring Colonel James Withers Sloss, who became involved in railroads in the 1850s. Fifteen years later, Top: Photo by Ginnard Archibald Middle: Photo by Michelle Stancil Bottom: Photo by Andi Rice 166 | M AY/J U NE 2016

he was named president of the Nashville & Decatur Rail Road. During this postwar period, Sloss not only promoted the development of Southern rail, but he also became one of the chief proponents of Alabama’s postwar industrial development. In 1871, he struck a deal with the Louisville & Nashville Rail Road Company to complete a sixty-seven-mile gap of the South & North Alabama Railroad between Birmingham and Decatur, Alabama. Ultimately reaching all the way from its namesake cities of Louisville and Nashville to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond, the L&N invested more than $30 million in furnaces, mines, wharves, steamship lines, and other Alabama operations. By 1888 it was hauling annual tonnage of iron, coal, and other mineral products that outweighed the nation’s entire cotton crop.

Today, in addition to its status as a museum and national historic site, Sloss Furnaces is also the unique venue for special events such as the second annual Sloss Music and Arts Festival, which will take place on July 16 and 17, 2016.

The festival was birthed in 2015 by Red Mountain Entertainment, a Birmingham concert and event promotions company whose team brings over

Photo by Andi Rice

Top left and right: Photos by Andi Rice Bottom: Photo by Josh Weichman

SLOSS

FURNACES IS A

STELLAR VENUEE TO SHOWCASE SOME

OF TH

BEST NAMES IN INDIE ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE MUSIC.

168 | M AY/J U NE 2016

160 combined years of experience in concert/festival promotions and venue management throughout the country. Over the years, the principals of the company have promoted concerts for world-famous acts including the Rolling Stones, U2, Pink Floyd, Kenny Chesney, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, Jimmy Buffett, and more. They partnered in the launch of Sloss Fest with AC Entertainment out of Knoxville, Tennessee (the founders of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which takes place on the Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, each June).

A new supporter of Sloss Fest for the 2016 season includes the 30A.com community based out of Northwest Florida. Seeing a connection between the demographic of people who attend Sloss Fest and those who visit the sixteen coastal communities along the twenty-six-mile stretch of Scenic Highway 30-A, 30A Company founder Mike Ragsdale, who has Birmingham roots, welcomed

the collaboration. The population along Highway 30-A, is a community of people—both locals and visitors—who honor and celebrate music, arts, culture, and the beach lifestyle to the fullest extent.

“Alabama is home to a lot of 30A fans,” says Cory Davis of 30A Radio. “The Sloss Fest music lineup is quite similar to what we play on 30A Radio every day, so our 30A Radio road trip is a fun opportunity to bring a little bit of beach up to Birmingham.”

Whether you’re visiting the festival or visiting the coast this year, the two things you will not want to forget are your sunscreen and that famous blue 30A sticker that can now be seen all over the world!

The musical talent lined up for Sloss Fest 2016 is spread over three stages and will certainly be a highlight of Birmingham’s cultural events calendar this summer.

Headliners include Ryan Adams, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray LaMontagne, the Flaming Lips, and Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. The list also includes a variety of well-known and up-and-coming artists such as the Arcs, Grouplove, Fitz and the Tantrums, Logic, Glass Animals, Dr. Dog, Shovels and Rope, Anderson East, Sylvan Esso, Ghostland Observatory, Washed Out, Danny Brown, JR JR, the Joy Formidable, Betty Who, White Denim, Hudson Mohawke, Banners, Escondido, Steve Gunn, Seratones, Dylan LeBlanc, the Bright Light Social Hour, Los Colognes, Boom Forest, and the Burning Peppermints.

“As we saw last year, Sloss Furnaces is a stellar venue to showcase some of the best names in indie rock and alternative music,” says Jay Wilson of Red Mountain Entertainment. “The bands and patrons loved the unique historical feel of the festival site, which made for a unique experience in the culture of music and arts in downtown Birmingham.”

Sloss Music and Arts Festival offers something for everyone, including some of the country’s finest artisans and craft makers on-site with their work. Another unique element of the festival that celebrates the historical nature of the venue is the hands-on iron-pouring demonstrations held by the Sloss Metal Arts program. This is definitely one of the hottest attractions at the event!

The festival is a family-friendly event accommodating children of all ages, and children under six will be admitted for free with an accompanying adult.

To get your tickets or learn more about Sloss Music and Arts Festival, visit www.slossfest.com.

3 0 A C O A S T A L D U N E S® Wine Company

Handcrafted Wines for the Gulf Coast current releases

2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Russian River Valley Chardonnay soon to be released

2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2008 Willamette Valley Brut Rosé Available at Modica Market, Fine Restaurants, Liquor Stores, and Wine Bars along the Gulf Coast

30ACoastalDunes.com

THE CORK STORE Grayton Beach 29 Uptown Grayton Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

The Hub at 30A 15 Hub Lane, Watersound, Florida

Hours 9-5

Hours 10-7

850.460.4644 www.QUEORK.com

LUXURY HANDBAGS, SHOES, AND ACCESSORIES MADE FROM GENUINE CORK Durable Wa t e r & S t a i n Re s i s t a n t V i r t u a l l y We i g h t l e s s

KASEY WILLIAMS STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

By TORI PHELPS Photography by JESSICA IAMPOLSKAIA, FOREVER PHOTOGRAPHY

When talent was handed out, Kasey Williams got more than her fair share. She’s a songwriter, singer, and stage and screen actor who’s also charmingly self-deprecating and laugh-out-loud funny. It would be easy to feel aggrieved at her overflowing cup if she weren’t so darn likable.

Currently, the actress turned singer-songwriter has her hands full with a career that might involve a film set one day and the 30A Songwriters Festival the next. But she graciously took five to discuss her down-home roots, the necessity of an occasional f-bomb, and why she has no intention of choosing between music and acting, thank you very much.

Williams didn’t grow up thinking the limelight was her destiny. It was, of all things, a high school performance of Once Upon a Mattress that got her pondering a career on the stage. As the main character, Winnifred, Williams found herself basking in the applause during curtain calls. “I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, I can handle this, like, forever,’” she laughs.

As the oldest of three children growing up in Johnson City, an eastern Tennessee town best known for a mention in the song “Wagon Wheel,” it wasn’t exactly a

straight shot to fame, and Williams didn’t make it any easier on herself with her choice of college. Instead of a performing arts school known for churning out Broadway stars, she opted for the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a major in communications. She did minor in theater, but Southern small-town pragmatism meant she was encouraged to “get a real degree”—which she has yet to use, she points out wryly.

Williams was initially torn about whether she should move to Los Angeles or New York City after university. A summer-stock show in North Carolina’s Outer Banks made the East Coast decision for her. She became tight with fellow actors who eventually moved to New York City, and during a visit with them she had a moment of clarity on a West Village stoop. “I felt like New York could be my home,” she recalls.

V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 173

MUSIC WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND FOR WILLIAMS. SHE WAS DRAWN TO INSTRUMENTS GROWING UP, IN PART BECAUSE HER DAD HAD BEEN A MUSICIAN. With degree in hand, she made the leap to NYC with two suitcases, several hundred dollars in her pocket, and a healthy dose of optimism. Amazingly, everything fell into place almost immediately. A sublet that was supposed to last two months turned into a seven-year stay, and a bartending job landed in her lap the first week.

Acting jobs didn’t come as quickly, but they did come. In the beginning, she was focused exclusively on theater and even cofounded (re:) Directions Theatre Company. Williams threw herself into (re:) Directions for three seasons, during which she learned that producing theater is, as she says, “hard freakin’ work.”

As an actor, she was used to showing up, knowing her lines, and delivering a performance—a relatively easy job when compared to the nonstop work of raising the money it takes to produce a show. It was an eye-opening lesson about how much goes into mounting a play, even at (re:) Directions’ off-Broadway level.

Eventually, work in little-known but well-received films turned her attention from the stage to the screen.

Oh, and a music career got in the way, too.

Music was always in the background for Williams. She was drawn to instruments growing up, in part because her dad had been a musician. He usually had a guitar lying around, and in high school she picked it up and taught herself to play. Her grandmother, a church organist who taught piano in her home, also let Williams plink out tunes when she visited.

The self-taught musician enjoyed singing, as well, but was reluctant to believe she was any good at it. Being deaf in one ear isn’t typically a characteristic of great singers. Nonetheless, she is, and she’s working on breaking the mold.

The music bug bit Williams hard during a Brandi Carlile concert. She should have been enjoying one of her favorite musicians, but Williams spent the entire show wrestling with the soul-deep truth that she wanted to be onstage doing the same thing. That visceral reaction must have shaken something loose in her 174 | M AY/J U NE 2016

psyche, because Williams woke up the next morning with a song idea in her head. Her first song poured out as she sat at a small keyboard she could only partially navigate. “I think I knew what a C chord was at the time,” she laughs. “But I did it.”

Williams was officially hooked but plagued by guilt and self-doubt. She struggled with the idea that she was “cheating” on her acting career. In New York City, she explains, the arts are absurdly competitive.

People come to the city because they’re laser-focused on one thing—and one thing only—whether it’s

dancing, acting, art, or music. Williams was passionate about both music and acting, and she struggled for years to settle on a single path.

During an eye-opening trip to Africa, she realized she didn’t have to choose. Surrounded by locals who had few material possessions but plenty of joy, Williams started reflecting on what made her truly happy. Maybe it was being outside her comfort zone. Maybe it was having time and space to think. Whatever the source of her clarity, she could no longer deny that the answer was music and acting.

By chance and by choice, though, most of her energy has been funneled into music the last few years. Coming off a string of not-so-great shows, Williams was frustrated by being at the mercy of other people’s creations. Music, on the other hand, has allowed her the freedom to express herself in a way that is wholly hers.

That self-expression sounds like a cross between folk and pop, with some of her Tennessee roots thrown in. The lyrics, like Williams herself, are often humorous and always honest. Her hilariously explicit

(and surprisingly upbeat) “Get the F Out of My Way,” for example, evolved out of a very real moment when she was particularly fed up with waitressing. She says the anthem, which is chock-full of the f-bomb, is her most popular song. Go figure.

The songs on her self-titled debut record, released in late 2014, are especially intimate. Williams had just decided to pursue music when her father was killed in a car accident. Music was a passion the two shared, and during what was to be their last conversation, her dad encouraged her to keep writing. In the aftermath of his V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 175

“ I LOVE TRAVELING AND I LOVE PLAYING MUSIC. WHEN I’M OUT ON THE ROAD DOING THAT AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE, IT FEELS LIKE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.”

176 | M AY/J U NE 2016

death, music took on a different weight for Williams. “In that moment, I had to do it,” she says of songwriting. “I dedicated that record to my father, and all the songs on it tell a story. They capture defining moments in my life.”

Making an EP would be a remarkable accomplishment for anyone, but for Williams, it meant overcoming the fact that she only has hearing in one ear. When recording vocals, most singers want to hear themselves through the microphone and outside of the headphones at the same time. “That’s why you’ll often see a singer holding one side of the headphones out,” she explains. “I couldn’t do that.”

Other challenges weren’t physical, but they were still worrisome. Williams had never played with a band before she went into the studio, and as a solo performer she had the freedom to speed up or slow down as the mood struck her. As part of an ensemble, though, she had to play to the click of a metronome. Fortunately, her producer was also a good friend, as were the musicians, artists, and pretty much everyone else associated with the record. They were patient, she was persistent, and a debut record was born.

Since then it’s been back to performing music, including shows in New York every month or two and several tours last year. She adores touring and isn’t shy about how much she loves being onstage (remember the high school applause that got her into this whole thing?). “I love traveling and I love playing music,” she says. “When I’m out on the road doing that and meeting new people, it feels like what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“30A WAS MY FIRST FESTIVAL, AND NOW I FEEL SO SPOILED. WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN PLAYING MUSIC FOR AMAZING FANS ALONGSIDE INCREDIBLE ARTISTS ON A BEAUTIFUL BEACH?” She was treated to plenty of audience interaction while playing this year’s 30A Songwriters Festival along the beaches of Northwest Florida’s South Walton County. “It was just the best,” Williams says of her experience. “30A was my first festival, and now I feel so spoiled. What could be better than playing music for amazing fans alongside incredible artists on a beautiful beach?”

She wouldn’t hesitate to make a return appearance; in fact, she’s hoping her enthusiasm doesn’t scare the organizers away. “They’re probably wishing I would stop contacting them,” she jokes.

is also enjoying the release of her new single, “Stick Around.” The song, a sweet duet with Justin Bohr, was unveiled on her birthday, March 21, at a full-band gig she played in New York.

Music is clearly what’s on Williams’s mind, though she eventually wants to get back into making movies. But she’s not in any rush. She chooses to have confidence in herself and in a timing that’s happily out of her control for “making it” in the music and acting industries. “The older I get, the less pressure I feel,” Williams reveals.

“I really believe that as long as I keep putting myself out there, it will happen the way it’s supposed to happen.”

Truthfully, she’d have to squeeze the festival in. She’s working on another summer tour and writing more songs—plus she wants to record a second album. Williams

IP

BUSINESS TR

F BUSINESS O E R A C G IN TAK Y

IN BAY TO BAY N TRAVIS ALLE

WITH NONSTOP SERVICE TO:

A DA

TAMPA

ATLANTA | BALTIMORE | DALLAS | HOUSTON | ORLANDO | NASHVILLE 3.15.2016 Y IT C A ST. LOUIS | TAMPA | and connections to the rest of the world.

PANAM B 12

Global access with daily flights on Delta, Southwest, United and Silver | IFlyBeaches.com

Botanical Beauty The Link between Humanity and Mother Nature

By Suva Ang-Mendoza Photography courtesy of Hillary Waters Fayle

Into, Out of series

It’s hard not to admire the natural beauty of Mother Nature’s transition from season to season, especially from winter to spring, when frosted branches blossom into leaves and flowers. The view of green foliage and vibrantly colored petals in hues of pink, purple, yellow, and all shades of the rainbow are refreshing after months of cold, gray winter skies. That’s how we feel every time we discover a new work of art by Hillary Waters Fayle. illary’s artwork is easily recognizable, as she combines “organic objects with the rich traditions of needlecraft,” which is how she connects nature with “the human touch.” She explains how the two intertwine with each other: “Both tender and ruthless, this intricate stitchwork communicates the idea that our relationship with the natural world is both tenuously fragile and infinitely complex.”

Delicate botanical materials, such as leaves and seedpods, are carefully stitched together to create unique patterns, which signify that Hillary’s art is handcrafted though created by nature. She uses intricate embroidery and precise lacework to elevate details; she then coats each piece with a nontoxic preservative to sustain the artwork.

We had a chance to catch up with Hillary and get the details on her work. Here’s what she had to say: VIE: We love the idea of marrying nature and human nature through the use of stitchwork and lacework. What inspired this concept and technique for expressing your ideas?

Hillary: Honestly, I started working before I quite realized what I was doing. I began stitching and using leaves as a primary medium because I loved stitching, and I’m drawn to organic and natural materials. I’ve always been totally captivated by nature and the outdoors, and since I was very young, I’ve had a strong sense of stewardship for the natural environment.

When I thought a bit more deeply about what I was doing, the connection was pretty evident. I love the significance of implementing these age-old hand techniques into a very fragile and totally raw natural object. I feel as though what I’m doing with my art is a comparison to the way I feel about human interaction with the natural world. Working within the constraints of the natural world is completely possible and can yield beautiful results, but there needs to be an awareness and a sense of respect and understanding.

Moving Towards 4 V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 181

Wishing to Be

VIE: Your works are as intricate as they are stunning.

Have you ever gotten discouraged while working on one of your pieces and asked yourself, “What have I gotten myself into?”

Memory from a Golden Hour

“ i’ve grown more of an appreciation for the

simplicity of just using a

needle and thread and the leaf itself with nothing added or in between.”

Hillary: While I have certainly had that feeling when working on a particularly challenging piece, more often that thought crosses my mind in a general sense pertaining to the life path I’ve chosen. It’s not easy to be an artist, and it can be a real struggle to keep your head above water. I’m trying very hard to follow my heart and do what I love and what I feel is important.

In order to do that, I need to work several jobs and also be in the studio as much as I can. Sometimes it feels like a very complicated way to go about life, but I don’t think there is another option. When it comes down to it, this is what I want to be doing.

VIE: Can you walk us through the process of developing your creations? About how long does it take to complete a project?

Hillary: Everyone wants to know how long they take, which I think is an interesting question because that part of it doesn’t really matter to me.

I’ve devoted my life to pursuing this path, put myself through six years of school, and spent innumerable hours in the studio. The pieces do take a long time, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. It just feels like a continuation of what I’m doing. Does that make sense? A single leaf may take a few hours, but I’m working with increasingly more leaves now, so the pieces tend to take days or weeks.

Choosing the right leaf is important. Using very fragile leaves or leaves with certain vein structures can be a real challenge, and some leaves don’t hold up well at all to the piercing and the tension of the thread.

At first, I experimented with adding stiffeners to the leaves to coat them and strengthen them, but I’ve grown more of an appreciation for the simplicity of just using a needle and thread and the leaf itself with nothing added or in between. There is a purity and honesty there that I really admire.

As far as actually stitching into leaves, of course there is a certain technique to it—an understanding, a poetry.

Each leaf is unique and needs to be treated as such.

There All Along 3 V I E MAGA ZINE .COM | 183

Top: Crow; Bottom left: Crow 3; Bottom right: Blue Jay 184 | M AY/J U NE 2016

VIE: As an artist, how do you feel when you reflect on your very first pieces? Do you have a favorite project or collection?

Hillary: I look back at some of my first pieces the way I look back at myself in fifth grade—self-conscious and clumsy! I think I have an appreciation for them as a part of my process, but I don’t love them or feel totally comfortable with them.

They still feel awkward to me in a way that makes me not want to look at them. I don’t think I have a favorite. I think there are some really meaningful pieces for me, the stitched feather, Lifted; the Lure, being one of those, but I really tend to be excited and enthralled by the newest pieces I’m working on.

There are actually a few pieces that I’ve made recently with no thread at all, but the leaves were supple and strong enough for me to cut away a lot of the material, and what is left is really reminiscent of thread. I love being able to really push the material like that—to be able to take a leaf, which everyone has experience with, and turn it into something remarkable and almost unbelievable.

I’m also really excited right now about these drawings I’m making by peeling feathers apart with tweezers and gluing the individual filaments—or barbs, as they’re called—down onto paper. It’s new for me, but really invigorating. I love having more than one thing happening at once. That’s when I’m the happiest and most productive in the studio.

VIE: Let’s talk about your Lifted; the Lure collection, in which you always utilize feathers in some sort of pattern. It’s stimulating and interesting to look at. Can you describe the collection and what inspired the pieces from it?

Hillary: I’ve always collected feathers. They are such beautiful and fascinating objects. Sometimes I actually forget that they are part of a bird. They become singular in a way, and they exist in my mind as something other than as a bird part, which was kind of interesting to me. I think that’s where I was coming from when I decided to peel them apart and push them even further away from what they started as. I’m really interested in the transformation that they undergo.

“i

thing happening at once. that’s

i’m the happiest and most productive in the studio.” when

Working with specific feathers has become increasingly important as well. It is said that when you see a cardinal, it’s a greeting from someone who has passed away. I’m not sure I really believe this, but it’s comforting, and I like to think about it. It seems pertinent that I’ve recently lost some very special people and that I’ve found two dead male cardinals within three months of each other. It feels serendipitous, in a way. I’ve been a lifelong bird-watcher, and I had never once seen a dead cardinal, so now to find two of them feels incredibly meaningful.

I’m working on a big piece right now, trying to use all the feathers from one whole cardinal. Each feather is making a loose circle. Some of them return to their start,

700 Pier Park Dr. 850-233-2141

love having more than one

some don’t reach, and some of their ends flow into different beginnings. The lines cross each other, undulating between light pink, vermillion, and deep rust. This piece for me is a meditation on the cyclical nature of our lives—beginning and ending, losing and finding, departing and returning.

VIE: What has been your proudest moment as an artist, and what do you look forward to in the near future?

Hillary: I’ve been lucky to have had some really great feedback from some artists and people whose opinions I really respect. That felt really amazing and affirming. I have also been featured on some of the websites that I often look to for inspiration. When that happened, I felt really proud. It felt really good to be included in a group that I’ve always admired.

I’ve been working really hard this year, and I’ll be trying to show as much as I can in the near future.

I’m really excited about all the work I’ve been doing, and I really want to get it out into the world.

InspIred by HIllary’s work?

VIsIt www.HIllarywFayle.com and Follow Her on Instagram @HIllary.waters to see more!

Off Grid

Louis Louis is the sister restaurant of Picolo's restaurant and the Red Bar in Grayton beach.

LIVE

ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE. CASH OR CHECK ONLY, NO CREDIT CARDS. THERE IS AN ATM ON SITE.

LIVE MUSIC 7 NIGHTS A WEEK LIVE MUSIC ON SATURDAY DURING LUNCH FROM 12:00 TO 3:00 WITH THE FOREST WILLIAMS BAND

MUSIC

DREAD CLAMPITT DURING SUNDAY BRUNCH 12 PM – 3 PM

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK LUNCH & DINNER 11 AM – 10 PM BAR OPEN FROM 11 AM – 11 PM (12 AM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY)

(850) 231-1008

WWW.THEREDBAR.COM

“Best Restaurant in Walton County” “Best Bloody Mary”

TOP 200

ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE. WE NOW ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS: VISA, MASTERCARD, AND DISCOVER THERE IS AN ATM ON SITE DINNER TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 5 PM – 9 PM

(850) 267-1500 | WWW.LOUISLOUIS.NET | 35 MUSSETT BAYOU RD.

2015

Stunning Gulf-front views. Spectacular Sunsets.

Enjoy family favorites for breakfast and dinner. Relax at our Sunset Balcony featuring Gulf views and nightly specials. Creative. Fresh. Local.

Located at the WaterColor速 Inn & Resort | 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

850.534.5050 | watercolorresort.com

Fish Out of Water 速 is managed by St. Joe Club & ResortsSM

Where Aging Becomes Art Form, Beauty and Transformation

The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center W W W. S K I N A N D V E I N S . C O M N o n - Sur g ic a l Tre a tme nt o f Va r ic o se & Spider Veins

•

EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment)

I nt ro du cin g Th e B ioL ift : N o n-S ur g ical Face, Neck & Brow Lift with Dermal Fillers PD T: S kin C a nc e r T h e r m iVA

•

•

De r ma to lo g y

•

B otox

•

Geneo Oxygen Facial

Ve la sha pe C e llulite & B o d y Contouring

•

•

Laser Hair Removal

AcuPulse CO2 Laser

•

•

Sclero t h e r a p y

Sculptra

• •

•

R e su r F X

Photoreju v e n a t i o n

SmartLipo Triplex

•

Ther m i T i g h t

K I M B E R LY M O S K O W I T Z , M D Board Certified Venous & Lymphatic Medical Specialist Skin & Laser Medicine Specialist Anti-Aging Medicine Board Certified Internal Medicine

FEDERICO RICHTER, MD Venous & Lymphatic Medical Specialist Board Certified Family Practice Medicine Anti-Aging Medicine

6 5 1 G R A N D P A N A M A B LV D .

•

SUITE 102

•

PA N A M A C I T Y B E A C H , F L 3 2 4 0 7

•

TELEPHONE: (850) 233-0264

•

FA X : ( 8 5 0 ) 2 3 3 - 3 1 1 3

YOUR STYLE. STACKED TO PERFECTION.

T H E PA N D O R A S T O R E AT

SANTA ROSA MALL

DESTIN COMMONS

PIER PARK

850.244.2416

850.650.2090

850.236.3196

REEDS.com