Emerald Coast Magazine- June/July 2018

FAVORITE PASS TIME Panama City’s jetties attract waves of surfers

LIONFISH TAMER

Drones target invasive species

WRITERS CONVENE Seaside hosts poet laureate

WALDORFF SAMPLER Photographer shares top shots

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JUN-JUL 2018

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From the Best of the Emerald Coast

AD hite-Wilson Medical Center is proud to be voted Best of the Emerald Coast. The multi-specialty physician group provides over 20 specialties of medicine, with clinic locations in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Niceville. White-Wilson’s team of physicians and health care providers collaborate to provide patients the highest level of care and believe that a team-based approach between patients, the primary care physician and medical specialists achieves the best outcomes.

White-Wilson offers a complete range of health care services, from primary care, obstetrics and gynecology to neurology and ophthalmology. With in-house lab and imaging, White-Wilson serves a one-stop-shop, close to home, for most health care needs. To ensure access to care when patients need to see a doctor right away, White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinics offer expanded hours and locations in Destin, Fort Walton, Navarre and Niceville.

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

ommitted to quality - White-Wilson has a 72year history of serving the Emerald Coast. The center continues to be recognized as the Best Medical, Pediatric and Family Practice on the Emerald Coast, a Patient Centered Medical Home and a leader in the health care community. White-Wilson remains committed to meeting the community’s changing needs and has already welcomed four new health care providers to its team, with more to come this year. When you need a doctor White-Wilson’s team of highly-skilled health care providers is here for you.

INTERNAL MEDICINE

NEUROLOGY

Dr. Cherra Pumphrey Fort Walton Beach

Dr. Nina Bradley Fort Walton Beach

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Dr. Matthew Reynolds Fort Walton Beach

OPHTHALMOLOGY

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Dr. Andrew Mohammed Fort Walton Beach

The White-Wilson Community Foundation was formed in 2012, and has already made a big impact on the health of the community. Through its Little Black Dress Party and community grant program, the Foundation has given away over a quarter million dollars to meet health needs for under served individuals in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

Whether it is putting high-tech vision aids in the hands of visually impaired children, making mammograms and breast cancer treatment available to low-income women, or helping to provide emergency care in a person’s greatest time of need, The White-Wilson Community Foundation is changing lives and improving the health of our community.

The Foundation is lead by a diverse group of community leaders committed to ensuring that their friends, coworkers and neighbors have access to health services. The 501(c) (3) non-profit continues WhiteWilson’s commitment to impact the health of the community.

It works to create partnerships that strengthen local resources and ensure that community members have access to the health care they deserve.

Learn more by visiting: whitewilsoncommunityfoundation.org

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June–July 2018

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Contents

JUN/JUL 2018

FEATURES

76

WAVE MASTERS

The Emerald Coast is a mecca for surfing enthusiasts.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

86

BEAUTY IN BRONZE

Roland Hockett’s sculptures add grandeur to public spaces.

by JENNIFER JONES

92 IN FOCUS

Jeff Waldorff’s lifelong love of wilderness shows in his photography.

by HANNAH BURKE

photo by ANDREW WARDLOW

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

June–July 2018

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Contents

JUN/JUL 2018

43

THE WAVE

25 LIONFISH HUNTERS

Team’s drone aims to rid the Gulf of destructive lionfish.

30 CHAMPIONS

Firefighters help families left homeless by fire.

34 PERSONALITY Meet

Honor Allen, champion oyster shucker.

38 PETS It’s beach

time! Tips on what to know when Rover comes, too.

PANACHE

43 CITIZENS OF STYLE

50 FOR HER Tips on making summer styles shimmer.

54 WHAT’S IN STORE

Spas, swimwear, golf wear and more.

GASTRO & GUSTO 59 DINING OUT Slick

Lips seafood restaurant opens at Baytowne Wharf.

64 LIBATIONS Sip on Sunrise, Sunset or both.

70 DINING IN Bake

your own pies with the season’s fruits and berries.

Sisters in fashion find purpose abroad.

A BODES 107 INTERIORS Designers

42

bring back metals.

116 EXTERIORS Drive up curb appeal with textured driveways.

128 GARDENING

Ornamental gingers add visual spice.

EXPRESSION

137 MUSIC Young Xaris

Waltman left “Voice” judges speechless.

142 STAGE Filmmaker

Cori Shepherd Stern says Northwest Florida shaped her story.

164

SOCIAL STUDIES DINING GUIDE 178 POST SCRIPT 175

146 BOOKS Mississippi’s

poet laureate talks about life, love and writing in the South.

IN EVERY ISSUE

FAVORITE PASS TIME Panama City’s jetties attract waves of surfers

16 PUBLISHER’S LETTER 18 EDITOR’S COLUMN

38

Like you, Fido needs sun protection and plenty of water at the beach.

Know before you go.

LIONFISH TAMER

Drones target invasive species

WRITERS CONVENE Seaside hosts poet laureate

WALDORFF SAMPLER Photographer shares top shots

$3.95

JUN-JUL 2018

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Take part in ‘Best of EC’ poll

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A product of Rowland Publishing, Inc.

ON THE COVER: Some of the finest waves in North America form along the Shell Island side of the entrance to St. Andrew Bay in Bay County. While locals refer to the locale simply as “The Pass,” others call the spot “Amazons” due to the enormity of the surf to be ridden there.

PHOTO BY ANDREW WARDLOW

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE WARD (STORE OWNERS), TODD DOUGLAS (MUSICIAN), MICHAEL BOOINI (DOG), ALISSA ARYN (GUMBO), LIQUID LIGHT (LIONFISH) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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Love INSPIRED

Contents

JUN/JUL 2018

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

112 → SUGAR BEACH INTERIORS Karen Waterfield has been drawing up floor plans since she was a teenager. These days, as president of Sugar Beach Interiors, she and her team of licensed designers are committed to making interior design less intimidating, instead helping customers realize the vision they have for their home.

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SACRED HEART FOUNDATION

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CALENDAR

The “Stories from the Heart” section features heartwarming and inspiring stories from those who impact and have been impacted by The Sacred Heart Foundation. These stories revolve around people helping people.

Fourth of July events are here to brighten your summer, or relax with a slow jam during the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s multi-week concert series.

168

BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST

Businesses work hard to maintain reputations for getting the job done right. Reward the business you most admire when you fill in the blanks of your 2018 Best of the Emerald Coast ballot.

Next Issue Professional Profiles SPECIAL PROMOTION

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PHOTO COURTESY SUGAR BEACH INTERIORS

Voted the “Best Place to Watch a Sunset” by Destin Magazine, Vue on 30a is home to dramatic sunsets with its panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows.

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June–July 2018

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EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

VOL. 19, NO. 3

JUNE–JULY 2018

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

Pharmaceuticals Built

for

You

because you are unique ...

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES/EDITOR Steve Bornhoft MANAGING EDITOR Laura Cassels STAFF WRITERS Hannah Burke, C.D. Davidson-Hiers, Erin Hoover DIGITAL EDITOR Janecia Britt CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kari C. Barlow, Jennifer Jones, Thomas J. Monigan, Audrey Post, Liesel Schmidt, Gary Yordon

CREATIVE CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Lawrence Davidson DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter DESIGN DIRECTOR Chi Hang EDITORIAL DESIGNER Charles Bakofsky PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Notley, Shruti Shah GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meredith Brooks CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 8 Fifty Productions, Alissa Aryn, Dianne Bond, Michael Booini, Jim Clark, Todd Douglas, Holly Gardner, Steven Gray, Mackenzie Ligas, Modus Photography, Saige Roberts, James Stefiuk, Shelly Swanger, Lisa Turnage, Jeff Waldorff, Jacqueline Ward, Andrew Wardlow

SALES, MARKETING AND EVENTS

Regina Jaquess, PharmD

2017 World Water Ski Slalom and Overall Champion (Paris, France)

Pharmaceutical compounding allows for your medical provider to offer specialized treatment. We can formulate your prescriptions to meet your individual needs.

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

VICE PRESIDENT/CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT McKenzie Burleigh Lohbeck SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATOR Tracy Mulligan, Lisa Sostre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES MaKenna Curtis, Julie Dorr, Margaret Farris, Darla Harrison, Linda Powell EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR Mandy Chapman SALES AND EVENTS ASSOCIATE Mackenzie Ligas INTEGRATED MARKETING MANAGER Rachel Smith INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR Joslym Alcala

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/HUMAN RESOURCE COORDINATOR Melissa Spear CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE/PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan CUSTOM PUBLISHING EDITOR Jeff Price STAFF ACCOUNTANT Jackie Burns RECEPTIONISTS Eliza Holtom, Christie Valentin-Bati EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE emeraldcoastmagazine.com facebook.com/emeraldcoast twitter.com/emeraldcoastmag instagram.com/emeraldcoastmag pinterest.com/emeraldcoastmag youtube.com/user/emeraldcoastmag ROWLAND PUBLISHING rowlandpublishing.com

EDITORIAL OFFICE 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. (850) 878-0554 SUBSCRIPTIONS One year (6 issues) is $30. Call (850) 878-0554 or go online to emeraldcoastmagazine.com.

Single copies are $3.95. Purchase at Barnes and Noble in Destin and Pensacola and Books-A-Million in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Panama City Beach.

CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBMISSIONS Emerald Coast Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. Emerald Coast Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor.

Copyright June 2018 Emerald Coast Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

COOL ARCHITECTURALS ~ CLASSIC STYLE

Not Too Shabby

by Marisol Gullo

9755 Highway 98 West Miramar Beach, FL 32550 NotTooShabbyHome.com 850.419.3976

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from the publisher

Days after the Parkland, Florida, killings in February, thousands of young people descended on the Old Capitol in Tallahassee to demonstrate and to express their anger and disappointment about our nation’s gun laws and gun culture. Rallying around a hashtag — #neveragain — and chanting in unison, students called upon our legislators to limit access to semi-automatic, military-style weapons by making substantial changes in state laws.

For most of the young people involved, this likely was the first time they had exercised their rights as Americans to engage in public protest. Horrified by the deaths of classmates, they could not stand still, no matter the resources of Second Amendment advocates and organizations including the powerful National Rifle Association. Theirs is an important point of view in a debate about a polarizing issue that presents no easy answers. And they had the courage to step up, be heard and are continuing to stay involved.

Like people across the nation, I tuned in to news reports about the peaceful and impactful rallies that took place in our backyard. The message delivered

by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School students to legislators unwilling to strengthen the state’s gun laws was clear: “We will vote you out.” Certainly, those students are aware enough to know that people in power are motivated by a desire to remain in power.

All of this activity brought to my mind experiences I had at the University of South Florida during the divisive Vietnam War era. One afternoon, I joined thousands of other students in an antiwar march planned to cover the two miles between Fletcher Avenue and I-75 and then to attract attention to our cause by disrupting traffic on the interstate.

Our plan was short-circuited. A mile from I-75, law enforcement officers in riot gear intercepted us and stood their ground. Equipped with a camera, I documented the pandemonium that developed when the officers then rushed the demonstrators. I attempted a hasty

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

retreat, but an officer had singled me out — maybe that camera had something to do with it — and he was determined to arrest me. The race was on.

For about a quarter-mile, I heard the “whoosh, whoosh” of the officer’s baton as he took swings at me. Fortunately, I was able to build up a lead of several steps on the officer and, approaching a dormitory, I spotted a friendly face that waved me inside to safety. As the door closed and was locked, I could hear the long arm of the law trying to pull it back open and I — whew! — disappeared into the dorm.

Forty-five years later, two members of the Rowland Publishing family attended the February 21 demonstration at the Old Capitol, one with her daughter and the other with her son. It was a day I know they will never forget. At dinner that night, parents and children processed the events of the day and recognized how fortunate we all are to be living in a country where voices of dissent may be raised. This, versus the many countries in the world where even peaceful demonstrations may result in imprisonment or worse.

I congratulate the parents who chose to immerse their children in what may very well prove to have been a pivotal event in our state’s history. And I salute the passion and spirit that fueled the demonstrators as they challenged people in power. They do not seem willing to let go until changes are made and persistence will be required.

My sincere hope is that steps will continue to be taken to ensure that no more shootings will occur, that our schools will not be governed by fear, that they will instead be reserved for learning, self-discovery and productive meetings of minds.

Have a great and safe summer,

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

↑Waving an American flag, demonstrators marched toward I-75 in Tampa in May 1972 intending to disrupt traffic to draw attention to their protests against the Vietnam War. Police carrying rifles and tear gas intercepted and dispersed the crowd.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN ROWLAND

SELF EXPRESSION: IT'S YOUR RIGHT

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editor’s letter

INSISTING UPON TOMORROW

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Barry working together could not invent such story lines — I almost typed “sorry lines.”

But, I remind myself that love is enduring, love is flexible, love is resilient. And, incredibly durable and encouraging survivors and relationships live among us.

Bob Jones married his high school sweetheart, the former Malinda Usina, 63 years ago. Scads of people throughout the Florida Panhandle and the peninsula beyond know Jones, who for 54 years has been the executive director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing industry advocacy organization that coincidentally serves the interests of the countless people who rely upon others to catch their seafood for them.

Jones was a miserable hotel manager in Houston when his father-in-law, a longtime legislator, got him the SFA position.

In his first weeks on the job, he traveled the entirety of Florida’s waterfront, beginning in Pensacola, introducing himself to association members. He soon abandoned the business suit he wore to the first few fish houses he visited.

A lesser man would have thrown up his hands and moved on when governance of marine fisheries was removed from the state Cabinet and the legislature and placed in the hands of a highly politicized seven-member board. Today, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission comprises a real estate developer, an attorney, a golf course designer, a vice president at a senior living community, an energy company vice president, a real estate investor and the wife of a former FWC chairman.

Not exactly people who like to get their hands smelly.

But Jones, at age 85, marches on. As I write this, he is in Charleston, South Carolina, meeting with representatives of state and federal agencies that enforce fisheries regulations.

I am 20 years his junior. A young warrior, he calls me.

He prefers not knowing when his earthly end will come. That way, he can continue to entertain the “myth that I will live forever,” he has written.

He has written, too, his obituary: “Bobby Jones Sure Did Love Malinda Usina.”

Love persists and resists and insists upon tomorrow.

At the pond, I disturb a collection of adult turtles that scramble from the shore into the water.

Hearing the commotion, the gator turns and heads in their direction.

Keep your head up,

STEVE BORNHOFT sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY SAIGE ROBERTS

I spied the tiniest of turtles, little more than a hatchling.

For long minutes, it moved not at all, flotsam with its head protruding above the surface of the pond. I thought about the odds that the creature had conquered getting just this far and, then, spying a juvenile gator about 50 yards distant, I reflected on the slightness of the chance that it will make it to adulthood.

A great blue heron lighted not far from us.

While recognizing that the turtle almost certainly was a cooter and not a snapper, I nonetheless tabbed it Snap, believing that by assigning it a name, I would somehow up its survival odds.

A day earlier, I was a guest at a wedding at the SageField Farm, located eight miles northwest of Bonifay on County 177A. Along the way, I passed lots of dilapidated properties, some of them collapsed, and occasional fenced cattle operations where houses on rises resemble J.R. Ewing’s crib, only on a smaller scale. Winners and losers.

The wedding took place on a lawn not far from a “barn” that was built especially for special occasions and whose concrete floor you could eat off of — as, in fact, I did when, at the reception, I knocked a caprese kabob off one of those dollhouse plates with a beef-and-seaweed-on-a-cracker thing.

The bride and groom exchanged vows they had written themselves — I once edited blog entries written by the bride when she was a student at the University of Florida — after the pastor read remarks right out of the catalog. (I have no particular objection to the beautifully optimistic 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, the passage that begins, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy … .”

It’s just that, for me, it’s been worn slap out.)

To each other, the stars of the show pledged loyalty and love without limit. They attested to their religious faith. And they stood before an admiring audience as exemplars of an abiding belief in America and its place in the world. Both have enlisted in the U.S. Navy; she is on her way to becoming a JAG Corps attorney.

But, as solid and as self-assured and as committed to paths as bride and groom appeared to be, I was overtaken by a sense of their vulnerability. They were as Snap to me. The world is a bruising place and the course of recent events has only exacerbated uncertainty levels. Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey and Dave

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Voting for 2018 Best of the Emerald Coast has officially begun, and we have six special categories exclusively for online, in addition to our official ballot on page 168. This year’s categories include: SCUBA DIVE SHOP BEST LOCAL BUSINESS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT BEST MUST-SEE ATTRACTION BEST PLACE TO DISCOVER A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BEST MUST-TRY EATERY FOR VISITORS Let your voice be heard in 2018 by voting for your favorites at: emeraldcoastmagazine.com/Bestof-the-Emerald-Coast-2018-Ballot

Enter to WIN a set of MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY COASTERS and a $100 GIFT CARD Offer ends July 15, 2018 | Value: $100 IT TAKES TWO EASY STEPS TO ENTER:

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21

MEN AND PLASTIC SURGERY GET BACK IN THE GAME “

I

wanna get back in the game!” That’s a common desire expressed by male patients who visit Destin Plastic Surgery. Men have a different perspective on the utility of plastic surgery. They view plastic surgery as repair, whereas women tend to approach plastic surgery as maintenance.

Although men account for only 8 percent of plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States, that percentage has been slowly increasing and is expected to grow to 20 percent by 2025. The trend, clearly, is that men want to take better care of themselves. In a society that is living longer and healthier, men are starting to look at options that will enable them to look better and better fit in their clothes.

Liposuction is the most popular procedure for men. Let’s face it: Who wants a dad bod? Many men exercise and eat right, but that “more than an inch” pinch and those love handles just won’t fade away. Sometimes an injury or stress leads to weight gain. And, once fat is added on, it can seem permanent.

“Often I hear, ‘My dad has the same shape I do. I have inherited the family love handles,’ ” says Dr. William R. Burden of Destin Plastic Surgery. “The patient in front of me has a reasonable diet and exercise routine. He has an otherwise good physique, but the love handles are out of proportion to the rest of his body.”

That, says Dr. Burden, is when liposuction shines.

“The men return for their post-liposuction appointments with a big smile on their face,” Dr. Burden finds. “They often remark, ‘I should have done this sooner, Doc! I haven’t worn this waist size for years!’

Their spouses are very enthusiastic, too. They often remark on how much better their husband feels and on how his confidence increased as a result of the surgery.”

Hair grafting is also trending up. Many men lament the loss of their full head of hair. Some loss is acceptable, but when areas become thin or

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bald, that’s not OK. Hair transplantation has become very popular at Destin Plastic Surgery. Men are starting to see benefits of filling in the temple and forehead areas. Who wants a bald dome?

Newer techniques and technology have made hair transplantation more precise and more predictable.

“I expect the number of hair restoration procedures to continue to rise as more very satisfied patients tell their buddies how easy the process was,” Dr. Burden says. “The results can be quite dramatic!”

Up to 30 percent of men have some form of gynecomastia, otherwise known as man boobs. There are several causes: genetic, weight gain and hormones — both natural and from “juicing” while body building.

“We have definitely seen an increase in men undergoing procedures to remove the excess tissue from their chest,” Dr. Burden reports. “I think partly due to increased awareness that something can be done about it, and because of men taking performanceenhancing products without proper medical supervision. After the surgery, the men report more confidence and they like the way their shirts fit.”

With Father’s Day upon us, maybe this is the year you choose to give dad a gift of improved confidence and a renewed feeling of youthfulness. A consultation with Dr. Burden, a board-certified plastic surgeon, is the place to start. Contact him at Destin Plastic Surgery, Monday through Friday, to arrange for consultation and digital imaging that will illuminate life-changing possibilities.

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Sanders is among a growing number of men who have received BILL EDELMAN, PA-C BOTOX Cosmetic injections as a way to combat unwanted facial lines. BOTOX Cosmetic is FDAapproved and is the only product that temporarily improves both moderate to severe crow’s feet and also frown lines between the brows in adults. It is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles.

At Destin Plastic Surgery, men and women taking advantage of BOTOX Cosmetic are in extraordinarily good hands. The practice’s injector, Bill Edelman, is a certified physician’s assistant who works under the supervision of Dr. William Burden. He is among the most experienced providers of BOTOX Cosmetic in the United States. Indeed, patients travel from around the country to have “BOTOX Bill” administer their treatments.

Men, like women, want to look as young as they feel. Treatments including BOTOX Cosmetic help minimize forehead wrinkles, vertical “worry lines” between the eyes and crow’s feet around the outer edge of the eyes. BOTOX can also be used to treat men who suffer with hyperhidrosis, a condition that results in heavy sweating. It is addressed by injecting BOTOX in the area of the sweat glands.

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Both Dr. Burden and physician assistant Bill Edelman have received recognition by the Allergan Corporation for their experience with Botox and Juvéderm injections for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. They have achieved black diamond status, which is reserved for the top 10 percent of practices naWILLIAM R. BURDEN, MD, FACS tionwide, and it is the only recognized practice in the region. Dr. Burden is the only plastic surgeon in the area certified to be on the Speaker’s Bureau for the Allergan Corporation. He routinely teaches other physicians on cosmetic facial procedures.

Dr. Burden also is a published author. He has written on facial surgery and breast surgery, and he has presented studies nationally and internationally on breast surgery. Dr. Burden regularly instructs other plastic surgeons in advanced endoscopic techniques for breast surgery, and surgeons from the United States and Europe have visited his facility to observe his techniques. Dr. Burden also is an Amazon bestselling author with his new book, “Breast Augmentation With No Scar On The Breast.”

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TECHNOLOGY

CHASING THE TECH UNICORN Pensacola start-up developing drone to eliminate lionfish

by KARI C. BARLOW

↖ Lionfish is an exotic, invasive species that infests shallow waters and reefs and decimates native marine life.

CHAMPION Firefighter Offers Shelter to Fire Victims || PERSONALITY His World is an Oyster || PETS Rover Goes to the Beach EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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wave ← Engineers Brian Arnold and Zach Pennington (at left) make an adjustment on the lionfish-targeting drone. ↓ With Arnold at right are engineer Kiara Korkuc, a senior at the University of West Florida, and Yuan Wang, president of the start-up company.

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‘Close to the problem’ Like so many innovations these days, Wang’s lionfish drone was conceived in an Ivy League dorm room well before graduation. Unlike his peers, in what he calls a “contrarian” move, Wang intentionally steered clear of Silicon Valley to chart his own path. After making a short list of active fishing communities in the Southeast — including New Orleans, Sarasota, Charleston — he settled on Pensacola in June 2017.

“We wanted to be close to the problem,” he says. “We had a really good experience on our first visit to Pensacola. … It seemed like a really good place to land. There’s a strong dive community, a great seafood wholesale industry and the cost of living is low.”

Choosing to locate on the Emerald Coast also was an opportunity to redistribute human and intellectual capital to a more economically depressed part of the country, Wang says.

“This country has increasingly become more and more divided and stratified,” he adds. “Talent is increasingly being concentrated in a handful of centers.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICAN MARINE RESEARCH COMPANY

L

ike most recent college graduates, Yuan Wang wants to make a difference in the world, and he’s not starting small.

His Pensacola-based technology start-up, American Marine Research Company, is tackling a major ecological crisis right out of the gate. Its target? The invasive lionfish decimating native species across the Gulf of Mexico.

“We’re building a synthetic predator for a species that doesn’t have a natural one,” says Wang, who earned a mathematics degree from Princeton University in 2017. “There are simpler tools for catching fish, but with a robot, you dramatically reduce the risk of exposure to injury, and it’s very much scalable.”

Yes, in case you missed that, the AMRC team is building a supercool, underwater drone to incapacitate the little buggers with electroshock or suck them into a containment unit. They actually don’t want to kill the lionfish because they’re exploring ways to harvest the species to the economic benefit of coastal fishing communities.

“We have this long-term view that once we reach that tipping point, cloning the machines is just a matter of cloning the software,” says Wang, who serves as president of AMRC. “Our hope is to provide not just a cool piece of tech but a true solution.”

The red and brown zebra-striped predator presents no small challenge. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, lionfish were first reported off Florida’s southern Atlantic Coast in 1985 and have since spread rapidly. Today the active hunters with voracious appetites are a common sight in coastal areas stretching from Texas to New York. As they consume virtually everything within reach — more than 50 different species of fish — lionfish are steadily destroying native fish populations. They also reproduce year-round, and a single mature female is capable of releasing roughly 2 million eggs a year.

“It’s not enough to just clean off one reef,” says Wang, who grew up in Manhattan Beach, California. “If you wanted to just clean off one reef, you pay for a diver. We’re trying to bet big that this can be scalable.”

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Wang’s hope, while ambitious, is to “build one tech unicorn in a city outside Silicon Valley” that has the power to diversify a local and regional economy by driving investment and development.

In the past year, the AMRC — a sixmember team comprised of mathematicians, mechanical engineers and software engineers from a variety of universities, including UWF and the University of South Alabama in Mobile — have come to see Pensacola as a place where they could easily put down personal and professional roots.

Wang says early on several local leaders — including University of West Florida President Martha Saunders, developer Collier Merrill and landscape architect Steve Dana of Jerry Pate Design — went out of their way to make him feel welcome.

“There have been many people in the community who were supportive, very gracious,” he says. “As a young person, to be welcomed so quickly, was very inspiring.”

Merrill, after meeting Wang, learning about his company’s mission and even lunching with Wang’s parents at Jackson’s Steakhouse in downtown Pensacola, donated a year of Seville Tower office space to AMRC. “I’ve been very impressed with Yuan,” he said. “He’s a friendly person. He likes our values.”

Merrill says Wang’s interest in Pensacola reflects a growing trend among millennials and recent college graduates.

“We now have people with no connection

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to Pensacola who are wanting to come here,” he says. “That’s what’s happening. … Millennials know what they want,” he says, adding that many young people are attracted to the city’s bustling downtown and small-town charm. “They go where they want to live.

They start with quality of life.”

Merrill sees AMRC’s lionfish drone as having an “intrinsic benefit” to the entire Emerald Coast and was happy to provide

“We’re building a synthetic predator for a species that doesn’t have a natural one.”

— Yuan Wang, American Marine Research Company them with space because he’s excited to see what they’ll accomplish.

“You could just tell these guys were genuine,” he says.

Starting from scratch That office space is where the magic happens — the research, innovation and 100-hour workweeks that go into building AMRC’s drone prototype.

And as it turns out, the hard part isn’t constructing the drone — it’s creating the software that will operate it.

“A lot of the firmware and operating systems you kind of take for granted with a personal computer or aerial drones, they

just don’t exist for marine robotics,” he says.

“Having to build that from scratch is a lot of foundational work. … We’re having to build systems people haven’t had to build for years.”

It’s high-level programming, and they read anything they can to give themselves an edge.

“Like manuals from the 1980s and 1990s!”

Wang says. “It’s not like we can download an operating system like Windows.”

The hard work has paid off in many respects. In late 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission awarded AMRC a $50,000 grant for a proposal outlining test equipment and various methods of controlling lionfish at depths exceeding 130 feet. Earmarked for parts and labor, the money was a huge boost in light of Wang’s decision to forego venture capital or outside investors, preferring to “boot-strap it for a bit longer.”

The additional funding has allowed the team to make progress on the prototype, which when finished, would not be made available to general consumers.

“We intend to be very careful about who actually operates these,” Wang says. “There’s a lot of potential for abuse.”

For now, he’s optimistic about what’s ahead for AMRC and Pensacola.

“What started as a dorm-room project turned into a dorm-room startup, then turned into some of the most rewarding work I have pursued,” Wang said. “We’re very motivated, and I think some exciting things are going to happen.” EC

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Firefighter Ian Sumner is on a mission to refurbish a dilapidated house to serve as shelter for families burned out of their homes.

CHAMPIONS

Burning Issues

Escambia firefighters create shelter for families left homeless by fire

by HANNAH BURKE

K

eating Road bisects a pleasant neighborhood of modest, family homes in Northeast Pensacola, but there’s one structure there that stands vacant and neglected. With a caving roof, waterdamaged interiors and a crumbling framework, it exemplifies dilapidation.

But for third-generation firefighter Ian Sumner, it’s a space that houses hope. From its bones, he aims to create a safe house providing shelter and comfort to families who suddenly and desperately need it: families left homeless by losing their homes to fire.

Witnessing loss Until the year 2000, Escambia County residents relied exclusively on the service of volunteer firefighters. Then, around 30 career fire-

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fighters were hired to establish a combination fire service, coalescing the capabilities of volunteer and career firemen into one entity.

Escambia County Fire Rescue now provides an additional 13 districts of coverage throughout the region. While one of these career stations operates from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, the remaining 12 function 24/7.

The work can be hard, even dangerous, but the emotional burden may be greater.

Homes are filled with far more than expendable, material possessions. They’re museums of a household’s memories, exhibiting irreplaceable heirlooms and securing records of people’s existence.

And they are sanctuaries, ensuring privacy and refuge.

Imagine standing in a storm of ash, watching your home be reduced to rubble and smoldering embers. Sumner says this is something he and fellow firefighters witness once a week.

“It’s always hit home with me, that after we put the fire out, I’m going to climb on the firetruck to go back to the station, and then I’ll be back in my own bed that night,” Sumner says. “These families don’t have anywhere to go. We may tell them before we leave that the Red Cross has been called and they’re on their way, but who knows? The Red Cross is already stretched so thin, so the victims may end up with a couple of nights in a hotel and then they’re on their own.”

Struck by these families’ plights, many firemen pull money out of their own pockets to offer victims at the scene. But as frequent as fires are — especially in wintertime — this proved to be unsustainable. So, the career firefighters began pooling their money bit by bit into what they dubbed the “Burn Fund,” one big pot that would allow them to properly distribute donations.

photography by STEVEN GRAY

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Sumner ardently participated in the union once he came on board as a firefighter for Escambia County Fire Rescue in 2007. Over time, he learned that if the firemen gained official recognition as a nonprofit organization, it would broaden their access to donations and grant donors the documentation required to file for tax deductions.

“It’s always hit home with me, that after we put the fire out, I’m going to climb on the firetruck to go back to the station, and then I’ll be back in my own bed that night. These families don’t have anywhere to go.”

— Ian Sumner Saving for a safe house Sumner took the bull by the horns. He filed the necessary paperwork through the IRS, state and federal governments and in 2013 officially achieved 501(c)(3) status for the Escambia County Professional Firefighter’s Charity.

“It still operates much like it did in the past, only now we’re an official, charitable organization and have the potential to become so much more,” states Sumner, coordinator of the Escambia County Professional Firefighter’s Charity. “When I took over, I knew I wanted to do something major. A while ago I read about this safe house in a fire engineering

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magazine, but I didn’t speak about it right away because it was very lofty … a lot of additional money and work. But I always kept that magazine, because (a safe house) was a long-term goal.”

Turns out, one of the charity’s major donors, Complete DKI in Pensacola, had the same thought. The owners of the restoration contractor company approached Sumner out of the blue and asked if he was interested in a house that could temporarily host displaced families. Sumner was tickled pink as he learned the owners’ ministry, Potential Church, had a property they would lease to the organization for a dollar a year.

The catch: It’s currently unsuitable for living.

“To give you the best idea I can for the state this house is in, is that if we weren’t going to use it, the church would have just demolished it,” Sumner sighs. “It started as a small house and has been expanded over the years, so we’re looking at about a 2,600- to 3,000-square-foot property now. No one ever added any trusses, so the further away from the original house, the flatter the roof gets … which leaks. We need a whole new roof system and need to replace pretty much everything beneath it.”

So far, Sumner has acquired a generous donation of supplies and labor for installing new doors and windows. Contractors are lined up to renovate the cabinetry, and, slowly but surely, more local businesses and altruistic citizens are coming forward to pitch in. The charity also hosts an annual gala featuring a

↑ Donations of supplies and pledges to provide labor are starting to come in.

silent auction, from which all funds will contribute to the Keating Road home.

According to Sumner, the finished product will be a nine-room home that can house a displaced family for two weeks at a time.

“Over a 12-month period, I would say there’s a fire in Escambia County at least three times a week, so I don’t suspect the house will remain empty very often. We want to fill the void for these people, pay their expenses, help with any prescriptions they may have lost. Some don’t even have a driver’s license available to go cash a check. It’s hard to do anything after such a loss, so we want to put them in contact with people who know how to get them going in the right direction.” EC

How to help The renovation ball is finally rolling after years of planning. Sumner asks that any willing contractors or construction suppliers donate materials and labor for any aspect of the house.

Citizens of the Emerald Coast who wish to contribute may contact Ian Sumner at: charity.coordinator@ escambiafirefighters.com, (850) 698- 3105

photography by STEVEN GRAY

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THE HONOR IS ALL HIS Oyster-shucking champion revels in life on the half-shell

by HANNAH BURKE

W

hen it came time to meet Honor Allen, he had just finished up a full day’s shift at Hunt’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant. As soon as he washed his hands of the hundreds of oysters he’d shucked, he took a seat at the bar to read Oysters: A Celebration in the Raw by Jeremy Sewall and Marion Lear Swaybill.

When I asked if I was interrupting, he responded in a charming, Southern drawl that he was “just killing time.” This is just one title from his compendium of all things oyster, from which the 23-year-old absorbs detailed accounts from farmers, fellow shuckers and restaurateurs, often jotting down notes along the way.

When his hands aren’t occupied with shells and knives, you can believe he’s learning more about them.

It’s precisely this passion that has landed the Panama City native multiple National Oyster Shucking Championship titles, and a rank among the fastest oyster shuckers in the world.

But, his fame had small beginnings. Allen grew up with four older brothers and three sisters in the St. Andrews area, where he recalls doing anything he could to pitch in.

“I was doing anything I could do get out of the house and be outside,” Allen recalled. “I loved going down to the marina and getting my flounder fishing in, cleaning fish for the captains or washing charter boats. Anything to make a dollar and help my parents out, you know?”

At the age of 12, Allen found himself at Hunt’s Oyster Bar, where his family decided to dine one night. Enamored with the

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↗

Shucking since he was a teen, it didn’t take Honor Allen long to start raking in the awards — at the state and national levels.

environment and with the quick work of the shuckers, he decided that the following day, he’d return and see if he could help out.

“I thought I could show up and say, hey, remember me? I ate dinner here last night!”

Allen laughed. “The next day, there was a completely different crew working the bar, but I decided to talk with them anyway. I started helping out in kind of an under-thetable way, since I was legally too young to be working. Cleaning up, shucking oysters for prep ... I had a fairly good work ethic and was eager to learn.”

It wasn’t until Allen was 18 that he was allowed to join Hunt’s as a full-time shucker.

Now on the clock, the young man was shelling out thousands of oysters a week. That year, Allen’s friend, co-worker and brother shucker, Max Dawson, had plans to attend the Florida Seafood Festival Oyster Shucking Contest. When Allen expressed interest, Dawson thought he was easily talented enough to compete.

For Allen, that first competition was an eye-opening experience. photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

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Allen’s day job is shucker at Hunt’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant in Panama City. In addition to winning domestic shucking titles, he has placed in competitions in Galway and Shanghai.

“I didn’t realize what it would be like on stage with dozens of other shuckers,” Allen said. “When you’re in the moment, you have no idea how far ahead or behind you are from

“I want to say part of it was luck, but on the other hand, I practiced, prayed and looked so forward to meeting some of the best oyster shuckers in the U.S. and representing our state.”

— Honor Allen everyone else. All you can hear is the sound of other people’s shells breaking around you.

It was unreal how fun it was because I was going from taking a stroll behind the bar to skydiving.”

It took Allen a couple of losses to strengthen his competitive morale and properly train. When he finally took first place in 2015, he was shipped off to Maryland a year later to represent Florida in the U.S. Oyster Festival’s National Oyster

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Shucking Contest. You can imagine the youth’s surprise when he snagged first place in his very first national competition, deeming him the fastest shucker in the country.

“I want to say part of it was luck, but on the other hand, I practiced, prayed and looked so forward to meeting some of the best oyster shuckers in the U.S. and representing our state,” Allen gushed. “It was like I was living for it.”

The national title meant Allen’s next stop was 2017’s Galway International Oyster Opening Competition in Ireland. Returning home from nationals, it was still sinking in that he was the quickest shucker in the states, as he contemplated having a year to train for competition on a global stage.

Research began instantly. Shucking in Ireland would be a completely different ballgame, as participants are required to work with the Ostrea Edulis, more commonly known as the European Flat Oyster. While the Apalachicola oysters Allen works with on a daily basis are more of a teardrop shape with a deep cup, the European Flats have a wider base and are more circular, requiring a different grip and knife to open them.

Allen partnered with Jennifer Vigil, President & CEO of Destination Panama City, to get a shipment of a similar species of oysters with which to practice. Funded by Robin Malpass, a film producer and director based in Chicago, a crate from Maine arrived to prepare Allen for the infamous Edulis.

Only two shuckers from America have ever won the international competition, one of which is William “Chopper” Young. Allen was lucky enough to meet Young, his idol, at nationals and receive a few pointers.

“Chopper took me aside and said, look man, I have this knife,” Allen imitated. “I went to Ireland in 2007 and I didn’t do so hot, but then a past champion gave me this special knife and told me to practice with it, and I’d have a lot better shot next time.”

Sure enough, Chopper took the title in 2008 with that very single-bladed, Helgess brand knife. It was an honor for Honor to be passed the blade, something for which he will be forever grateful.

Months prior to visiting Ireland, Allen flew to Shanghai for the 2nd Annual China National Shuck Off Festival competition, where he placed 4th out of 11 competitors.

More important to him was the top-notch advice he received from former victors.

“I got to hang out with six world champions who came over to compete, so I have to say that was one of the biggest blessings of my journey,” Allen said. “To this day, I still think about everything they’ve told me: how to handle the oyster, shucking techniques, keeping a nice, calm demeanor, and to just go up there and do your best. It’s stuck with me and it helped calm me down for the international competition.”

Wielding his new knife and new knowledge, Allen impressively took 13th place at Galway. He’s ecstatic about his rank and even more determined to climb to the top with next year’s trip to Ireland, as he has yet again scored U.S. national champ for 2017.

“Until then, I’ve got Hunt’s and my oyster books. I want to learn all I can about shucking and how they’re cultivated because maybe one day I’ll be farming my own. Maybe a restaurant. Every day is something new, and I love feeling like I’m growing in the direction I want to be. I’m gonna take it slow, hopefully bring home a couple of world titles with me and see where life takes me.” EC photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

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PETS

Pups in Paradise Plan a beach day with your four-footed friend

by HANNAH BURKE

A

s an Emerald Coast dog mom, I can attest there’s nowhere a pup would rather be than chasing seagulls through the sand and splashing along the breakers at the beach. But before you embark on your day of fun in the sun, it’s important to pack accordingly and identify the proper places for your pooch.

Finding Your Beach Miramar Beach I’m fortunate to live in Walton County, the only region along the Emerald Coast that allows dogs on the beach if they have a permit (Bay, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties enforce a strict ordinance, save for service animals.) That means my best boy and I can run across the street to Miramar Beach and play to our heart’s content during designated, seasonal hours. Though Fido must be kept on a leash at all times, there are miles of shore to roam for a mutually beneficial workout. Scenic U.S. 98, Miramar Beach Dog Beach Pier Park If you’re looking to mix it up from your conventional dog park, there are 400 feet of designated, dog-friendly sand and surf west of the Russell-Fields Pier. Ideal for the social dog, this is the hot scene for sniffing out new friends, playing tug-of-war with driftwood and racing to the waves. 16230 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach

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Bayview Dog Beach For the spunky Spot who refuses to be tied down, the one-acre, fenced-in facilities of Bayview Dog Beach allow for hours of offleash action. This is where you can bust out the Frisbees and floaty toys. With the added amenities of Bayview Park’s picnicking pavilions and hiking trails, why not make a day of it? 2003 E. Lloyd St., Pensacola Pensacola Dog Beach East and West Pensacola dogs have two beaches at their disposal, with Pensacola Dog Beach West along Fort Pickens Road, and Pensacola Dog Beach East on Via de Luna Drive’s Lot E. Though limited by leash laws, the ample, but intimate spaces are ideal for introverted canines and smaller breeds that prefer peace to rambunctious play. West: Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, Parking lot 21.5. East: Hwy. 399, Pensacola Beach, Parking lot 28.5

Gearing Up It’s always a good idea to load your dog’s own “diaper bag” with necessities. A compact water bowl, treats, towels and baggies are obvious, but there are a few more essentials to keep in mind.

Sunscreen/Shade If your beach doesn’t provide any shady spots, bring your own umbrella to offer Rover some shade. Your pups — especially fair, short-

haired breeds — are susceptible to sunburn, too. Apply your own SPF to their ears, nose and vulnerable spots and be alert for signs of overheating.

Vinegar/First Aid If spot gets a nasty sting, a sprinkle of vinegar will eliminate toxins and soothe the affected area. Look out for debris that may be poking through the sand, and be sure to disinfect/ wrap their paws if they get a poke.

Collar/ID It’s easy to lose control of the leash with all the excitement that comes with the sea. Even if your dog is swimming, ensure their collar always remains on in the event you get separated. Rabies tags and proper ID also lets other owners know your pal is safe to play with. EC

Obtaining a permit in Walton County Dog Beach licenses cost $40 per year and require documentation of a current rabies vaccination. Dogs must remain leashed and may visit from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the spring/ summer, and 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. in the fall/winter months. Permits expire each year on the 1st of August, so don’t forget to renew. It’s a privilege to have pooches at our beaches, so please remember to pack your baggies and pick up after them. co.walton.fl.us/FormCenter

photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

BASK IN

TALLAHASSEE ALL THE BEAUTY

IT’S ALL IN TALLAHASSEE. Beat the heat this summer and discover all the natural wonders of Tallahassee. Home to one of the world’s largest fresh water springs and over 600 miles of trails and waterways, the Tallahassee area teems with stunning natural encounters, from native southern species that include majestic manatees and river otters to a variety of rare birds. Discover your perfect trail at Trailahassee.com then, start planning your summer getaway at VisitTallahassee.com.

VisitTallahassee.com

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CAROLINE SAN JUAN CZUBAJ

SEEKING STILLNESS Beyond the Pose Yoga Offers Options for All Stages of a Yoga Journey

management, she directed two Florida hospital wellness centers. She has spread the message of healthy mind and body as a writer and lecturer, and ultimately as a certified yoga instructor (E-RYT 500) with over 4,700 teaching hours.

She returned to her native Panama City with her family in 2011, and began Beyond the Pose Yoga, which specializes in private sessions, beginner and advanced classes and 200- and 300-hour yoga trainings (Yoga Alliance accredited). She has since taught hundreds of students in the area, some traveling from out of state and other parts of Florida to study with her.

As one of the most experienced yoga experts in the area, her goal is to strengthen and deepen the yoga community by offering classes and trainings that provide an in-depth examination of yoga and guide students to grow their own practice. She also provides the opportunity for some students to study to become certified instructors. “My students continuously say the classes and programs I

teach are transforming,” said Caroline.

“Yet it’s not me that transforms them. What they’re seeking is already within. It’s the practice of yoga that nurtures their ability to draw it out and transform themselves. My role is to guide them along their yoga journey and help them embrace their bodies as more than physical. I am tremendously grateful for the honor of teaching my students.”

Want to learn more about Beyond the Pose Yoga?

Whether you’re a beginner searching for private sessions or group classes or you desire to expand your full yoga potential through a 200-hour training program, Beyond the Pose Yoga can meet your needs. The 200-hour Yoga Training is currently accepting applications for the program beginning in September 2018.

Visit BeyondThePoseYoga.com.

For class schedules and more information visit BeyondThePoseYoga.com

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PROMOTION

CLAIRE RHODES PHOTOGRAPHY

W

e are constantly busy — clogged with notifications, cell phone screens alighting and minds racing. In a world of constant connectivity, we often neglect truly connecting with ourselves.

Caroline San Juan Czubaj, owner of Beyond the Pose Yoga, seeks to provide a reprieve and certain stillness through the practice of yoga. “Each of us has stillness within, a place of calm and peace. But most of us don’t know how to get there,” said Caroline. “When we practice yoga and allow ourselves to spend time in stillness, every aspect of our life improves. Physically, we become healthier, stronger and lengthened.

We improve balance and increase vitality. Our mind and emotions become more centered and less reactionary. Practicing yoga gives us the tools to see life clearly rather than through a distorted lens.”

Caroline has always been concerned with matters of the mind and body. After earning a bachelor’s in exercise science and a master’s in

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Where Healthy, Beautiful Skin Awaits

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

panache JUN/JUL 2018

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

CITIZENS OF STYLE

FAMILY VALUES Sisters spotlight style and social responsibility

by HANNAH BURKE

↗ Katie Steelman, at left, and Abbie Boatwright invested brains and heart in their shop, OKO.

FOR HER photography by JACQUELINE WARD

Summer Shimmer

|| WHAT’S IN STORE Shops, Spas and More EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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The sisters established their stores, OKO and OKO Kids, at The Hub 30A.

D

espite growing up in downtown Rome, an epicenter of international fashion, the Steelman sisters never thought they’d land in the industry.

Though they snuck out after every Sunday church service to the neighboring Louis Vuitton store, scoping out the latest fashions to hit the racks was nothing more than a hobby. Still, living “La Dolce Vita” among the influences of Valentino and Versace are what solidified the siblings’ timeless, chic style.

Fast forward to early adulthood after the Steelman family had relocated to the states.

Katie just graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and, in Florida, older sister Abbie married, became Abbie Boatwright and had two babies. Though the sisters had always discussed starting a business together, the time was ripe to create a plan and set it in motion.

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“We knew we wanted to grow a business in Santa Rosa Beach because our family is here, but we didn’t know what it would be,” recalls Katie Steelman. “There was a period of time where we would get together in the mornings and go, ‘OK, what are we doing with our lives?’ We started thinking, praying and suddenly, doors started opening.”

One of those led to the Dominican Republic, where their father’s nonprofit, Global Effect, issues microloans to impoverished communities in hopes of boosting job creation. When he told his daughters about a group of Dominican women skilled in sewing and seeking employment, clothing just seemed like a natural fit.

OKO opened its doors in the spring of 2016, occupying a petite nook of The Hub 30A with both franchised designers and their own private label. A seven-week whirlwind later, OKO Kids debuted right next door —

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

“Internally, we’re freaking out, but we couldn’t pass it up. I flew out to Dallas to buy from a kid’s show while Abbie stayed here and worked on the buildout. It was open three weeks from the day we committed.”

—Katie Steelman, OKO Co-owner which was never part of the immediate plan.

“We dreamed that one day we would make a kid’s line, and even mentioned to our landlord that it was something we wanted to do down the road … but I’m talking way, WAY down the road!” Steelman laughs.

photography by JACQUELINE WARD

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“When we have money again!” Boatwright interjects. “We put every dime into our first store. But a couple of weeks later, our landlord goes, ‘Our lease fell through with the people next door and I want you to open a kid’s store.

Oh, and it has to be open by Memorial Day. Can you do it?’”

“To his face, we were like … psh, yeah … of course!” Steelman said. “Internally, we’re freaking out, but we couldn’t pass it up. I flew out to Dallas to buy from a kid’s show while Abbie stayed here and worked on the buildout. It was open three weeks from the day we committed.”

The girls’ mom always scolds them for “flying by the seat of their pants,” but they insist they work best under pressure. Within the first few years of opening, an all-new OKO men’s line was flaunted at an American Music Awards gifting suite in Los Angeles. A third store will soon debut in Rosemary Beach, and the pair launched their very first swimwear line this summer. Clearly, they’re right.

Anything you see with an OKO label is designed by Katie and Abbie, then hand cut and sewn in the Dominican Republic. They know

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF OKO

OKO focuses on casual wear for women, men and children.

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Katie Steelman shares a moment with a Dominican seamstress whom she met through Global Effect, a nonprofit founded and run by her father, Scott Steelman.

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beach bums here don’t like to get too dressed up unless they must, so they like to keep it casual, utilizing high-quality materials in neutral tones.

Boatwright brings over a few of their favorite “Luxury Basics,” including their classic, Victoria V-neck top in black. Breezy and easy, it would look great with a half-tuck into your favorite jeans, or let loose with a chunky necklace to dress it up.

Sisters Steelman and Boatwright say the quality of life for Dominican workers sewing for them has improved. In time, they aim to employ 100 people at the remote workshop.

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June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

The bamboo Bella T-shirt Dress is another versatile piece, leisurely enough to throw over your swimsuit with a panama hat, or capable of embellishment with a belt and heels for a night out.

Their hope is that if you have 10-15 OKO pieces in your closet, you’ll be able to mix and match them for any occasion. Boatwright says her goal is to look at photos of herself 20 years from now and not be embarrassed about what she’s wearing.

Though the two finish each other’s sentences and possess a striking, similar beauty, their everyday styles differ. Abbie tends to be a bit more adventurous, with pops of vogue statement pieces, while Katie exudes effortless, chic modernity. But both are enamored with OKO and improving the lives of others, making as many as four trips to the Dominican Republic a year to work alongside their employees.

“There’s the sweetest woman named Rosie, and we like to call her our manager because she oversees the workshop when we’re not there,” Steelman smiles. “Before OKO, she and her husband were doing odd jobs just trying to feed their kids and keep their head above water. But now she has a steady income. They’ve been able to add an indoor bathroom to their home, dinner is on the table every night and their quality of life is so much better.”

In the next few years, the sisters hope to employ 100 impoverished women with their label. The letters in their brand name, OKO, represent overcoming hardship, kindness in action and creating opportunity. It’s not just a label for the sisters. It’s a commitment. We should all try it on for size. EC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OKO

Anything you see with an OKO label is designed by Katie and Abbie, then hand cut and sewn in the Dominican Republic.

Furniture and Clothing Consignment Custom Painted and Custom Built Furniture Home Renovations

CONSIGNMENT/ RESALE SHOP

MIRAMAR PLAZA | DESTIN, FL | 850-424-6767 | MON–SAT, 10AM–5PM | LOCATED IN BETWEEN DESTIN & SANDESTIN |

AVASATTICINDESTIN.COM

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

JEWELS OF THE SEA Iridescent opals, luminous pearls and glittering gemstones compose the treasure trove of handcrafted and customized jewelry that Bijoux De Mer Fine Jewelry offers. Renee Launiere, owner and designer, selects only the finest stones and enlists her creative genius to design statement pieces often set in 18-karat yellow gold that are bold, elegant and unique. The shimmering, stunning allure of the sea will never wash out with a new wave of trends, making these pieces timeless and everlasting.

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1.

LARIAT STYLE NECKLACE Layer on

strands of micro-faceted gold pyrite and freshwater baroque pearls. Shown as set of three. ($310 each)

2.

SWIMMING FISHY NECKLACE Hand-

carved Australian boulder opal with diamond bubbles set in 18k yellow gold. ($3,850) 3

SWIMMING FISHY EARRINGS Hand-

carved Australian boulder opals with diamond accents set in 18k yellow gold. ($3,750)

3.

OPAL RINGS Ethiopian

opals surrounded by white sapphires set in oxidized silver. ( from left to right: $1,420, $1,530, $1,070)

4.

RUFFLE CUFF Large

Australian boulder opal surrounded by emeralds, green tsavorites, peridot, blue sapphires and mabe pearls set in 18k yellow gold bi-metal. ($6,580)

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5.

EMERALD COAST DREAMING EARRINGS Stunning

Australian opals and emeralds set in 18k yellow gold. ($5,800)

GO 48

➺ Bijoux De Mer Fine Jewelry 4495 Furling Lane, Suite 170, DESTIN | (850) 830-5465 | bijouxdemer.com

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Sunshine State of Mind 850.351.1800

Located in the Village of Baytowne Wharf

shopsandestin.com

THE MARKET SHOPS AT SANDESTIN® • (850) 837-5466 HARBORWALK VILLAGE • (850) 424-5786 DESTIN COMMONS • (850) 837-9124

® EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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FOR HER

All That Glitters

by HANNAH BURKE

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Black sequins add sophisticated shimmer without hype to a black woven dress. A chunky, non-fussy watch adds weight to balance the look.

PHOTO BY SANNEBERG / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

F

rom Dorothy’s iridescent ruby slippers to Michael Jackson’s signature sequined glove, we’ve long associated glitz with glamour. Thankfully, this sumptuous style is no longer just for icons, as spangled embroidery and glitter galore have evolved into everyday attire.

While the mere mention of glitter has me flashing back to my Limited Too bedazzled jeans and the sequined scarfs of my middle-school days, my mom is reminded of the gaudy, disco era. I like to think the modern trend exudes a clever elegance (but who knows what we’ll think in 20 more years?)

I don’t claim to be a fashion expert, but Katie Johnson, director of marketing and business development at Silver Sands Premium Outlets, is, and she knows just how to make your wardrobe shimmer this summer.

“This is a revitalized trend that’s taking new life in the form of embellished dresses, trousers, accessories, jackets and shoes,” she dishes. “At the very first show of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner made their way down the catwalk in Tom Ford gowns featuring sequined sleeves. Victoria Beckham also presented two must-have shoes: a bright, sequin pump and a sequined-heeled loafer.”

The transition from runway to street-style, Johnson adds, was as simple as incorporating shimmering items with go-to basics, such as jeans, flats and button-down shirts. Of course, a little bling goes a long way.

“To keep those looks chic and not costume, use your sequins sparingly,” Johnson advises. “Owning this trend is all about balance, so be mindful of conflicting

AVA I L A B L E AT

3 0 AV E N U E | 8 5 0. 2 3 1 . 5 1 0 0 P I E R PA R K | 8 5 0 . 2 3 4 . 6 2 0 0

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Add sparkle to your wardrobe from top to bottom, just not all at once. Pair shimmering items with basics. Aim for chic shine by choosing glittering collars on solid tops, gold straps on simple sandals and shiny thread woven into a fabric you love.

patterns and textures. If your statement piece features playful patterns, keep the rest of your look neutral. If the sparkly statement is monochrome, feel free to incorporate patterns elsewhere in your look.”

We all have that casual T-shirt dress in our closet that’s perfect for daytime follies, but pairing it with an embellished bomber or blazer instantly snazzes up your look for night.

You know those sequined tanks and tees that come in all colors of the rainbow? Those really sparkle over a solid skirt or cropped jeans.

Even as we transition to fall, Johnson says pairing an embroidered skirt with a faux fur

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jacket and leather boots is the perfect marriage of textures, so don’t be afraid to play around.

“Flashy items can easily be tamed by wearing neutrals. Instagram’s sparkle filter will still pick up the shine of sequins and glitter in your look, no matter how small.”

She’s talking about KiraKira+, the 99-cent app made famous by both runway and instamodels snapping photos of their jewelry, metallic makeup and just about everything under the sun that glistens and gleams. When recording said objects, the app exaggerates each glint of glitter into a dazzling, Disney princess-esque animation.

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Don’t act like you don’t want to try it.

But if you tend to be more reserved and aren’t sure how you feel about all that jazz, you can start small with a statement necklace or earrings. Johnson points the way to Sak’s Fifth Avenue Off Fifth at Silver Sands Premium Outlets, where designs by J. Crew and Kate Spade New York offer simple but showstopping designs.

“Incorporating sequins into a routine look turns every walkway into a runway. It’s the perfect way to dress up a simple outfit without looking like you’re trying too hard and add some shine to an ordinary day.” EC photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

FULL SERVICE SALON AND SPA colors • cuts • nails • skin care special occasion makeup • wedding specialists

12115 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, FL 32407 | (850) 588-7771 | projectstylesalon.com SEASIDE_halfpageAD_Surf-EC Mag 7.875x4.875.pdf 1 4/3/2017 1:04:31 PM

Austin Magee Austin’s Surf School Seaside, Florida

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locally-owned and operated boutiques & restaurants

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panache

WHAT’S IN STORE?

by HANNAH BURKE

Treat Yourself

New at the SERENITY BY THE SEA SPA AT THE HILTON SANDESTIN is the Serenity HydraFacial, helping ease skin dryness and discoloration, clogged pores, signs of aging and other imperfections. Serenity HydraFacial service exfoliates, cleanses and hydrates skin and pores. Suitable for all skin types, the HydraFacial employs a painless suction to extract impurities, resurface facial skin and supply rejuvenating serums for enduring clarity. With perfect pores and a radiant glow, you’ll feel reborn.

The SALAMANDER SPA AT THE HENDERSON may be a sanctuary to recharge your body, but staff there know holistic health starts with the mind.

Before setting foot in the spa, guests partake in the Intention Ritual, in which vibrations from a Tibetan singing bowl are meant to eliminate negative energy and encourage positive on a journey to rejuvenation. Whether you choose hotstone or deep-tissue massage, a skin care enhancement or a salon experience, trained professionals supply high-quality treatment and attention. With luxury lounges, 11 different treatment rooms and the soothing aesthetic of local artwork, the scene is set for a day in paradise.

Salamander Spa

Serenity by the Sea Spa

Shopping for a Cause

Recently featured in British Vogue, MAHA LOKA handcrafted clutches, totes, yoga bags and lip balms are a must-have for the yogi on the go. Available at Otium at 30A or themahaloka.com, the brand endorses eco-friendly fashion made with recycled materials and the finesse of international artisans. In the spirit of giving back to our world, a share of sales is gifted to our local Alaqua Animal Refuge.

Hemline

Grand Openings Grand Boulevard Sandestin welcomes three new stores to its family of fine dining and shopping experiences. PETER MILLAR boasts leisure and athletic apparel for both men and women, specializing in golf garb. Visit petermillar. com to customize collegiate wear for on and off the green.

New Orleans-based brand HEMLINE has been a presence in the South with its summer-chic swimwear, accessories and everyday wear since 1994. Its new home by the sea at Grand Boulevard in Destin features both original pieces and merchandise from more than 50 contemporary designers.

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Pat Pierce

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF PAT PIERCE (DRESS AND NECKLACE), GRAND BOULEVARD AT SANDESTIN (STORE INTERIOR), SALAMANDER SPA AT THE HENDERSON (WOMEN IN ROBES), SERENITY BY THE SEA SPA (MASSAGE TABLE)

Are you looking for an online boutique that lets you shop in part for a good cause? Pensacola local Erika Bell recently opened PAT PIERCE (patpiercecollection.com), an assortment of vintage attire, accessories and interior designs with contemporary flair. The best part? A portion of your purchase will be donated to your choice of A21, Reach Out and Read or the Ronald McDonald House charities.

30Avenue | 850.851.8952 | www.shoplagreen.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

J.MCLAUGHLIN IS READY TO SPRING FORWARD Petal pink sweaters, strappy sandals and unique accessories are on our minds and in our stores right now. We’re spring ready and want to share our favorites like our classic Jamey sweater, now in cashmere, and our high-heeled Madison sandals in bright pink suede or textured raffia. Pull any look together with our wicker and bamboo clutches, and don’t forget to add a scarf.

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1.

MADISON ANKLE STRAP HEEL A great

1

going-out sandal is the hallmark of any shoe collection. Ours is cast in supple suede and textured raffia with a chic ankle strap and stylish but sturdy block heel. ($198)

2.

GISELLE SCARF Light

as air and soft in silk and cotton modal, our printed scarf adds color and personality to any look. ($88)

3.

ARIA WICKER SATCHEL Perfect for

parties and carrying day-tripping essentials, our wicker clutch boasts a shiny bamboo handle. ($178)

4.

KELLY CLUTCH Glossy

bamboo adds a resort-like feel to our classic Kelly box clutch that works for any occasion. ($188)

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5

5.

JAMEY CASHMERE SWEATER Our best-

selling sweater now comes in cashmere. A simple shape, tailored fit and subtle color palette make it one to buy in multiples. ($248) 4

GO 56

➺ J.MCLAUGHLIN

GRAND BOULEVARD AT SANDESTIN 495 GRAND BLVD, SUITE 107, DESTIN | (850) 424-3110 Sunday 12–6 pm | Monday–Wednesday 10 am–8 pm | Thursday–Saturday 10 am–9 pm

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Destin Wedding Company Voted the 2016 & 2017 “Best Wedding Planner Company” by the Readers of Emerald Coast Magazine

• Inventory of 82 different homes and 8 different resorts • The highest rated company by Wedding Wire in Northwest Florida with 4.9 out of 5.0 for 125 reviews • Six wedding planners that have over 50 years of combined experience led by our owner, Susan Parker • Photography by Destin Wedding Company

• Gallery of over 212 cinematic wedding and reception videos • All food catered by our restaurant group the Marlin Grill, a 5 Star Restaurant in Destin, Florida • Only company in Destin that provides a “Day of Planning” followed by dinner at a 5 Star Restaurant, Marlin Grill • Free round-trip ticket on Delta for a day of planning for the bride

DESTIN BEACH RESORT WEDDINGS Grayton Beach Weddings

4012 Commons Dr. W., Destin, FL • 850-685-0190 • destinweddingcompany.com

Bride’s choice 2012-2013 Couples Choice 2015-2017

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2016 & 2017

June–July 2018

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THE GENERAL STORE AT BAYTOWNE PROVISIONS IS NOW OPEN

PREPARED FOODS TO GO!

Your one-stop shop for groceries, dry goods, drinks, snacks, wine, and beer. We stock a large assortment of beach necessities, sunscreens, pool toys, and sunglasses. We also carry local products such as honey, olive oil, coffee, soaps, chocolate, pastries and more!

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OPEN DAILY 8A–9P · BAYTOWNEPROVISIONS.COM · 109 CANNERY LANE · MIRAMAR BEACH, FL · IN THE VILLAGES OF BAYTOWNE WHARF · 850.460.7866 June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

gastro&gusto JUN/JUL 2018

DINING, IMBIBING AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

DINING OUT

Slick Lips

↖ Oysters are served raw and chargrilled, dressed up or naked.

New restaurant in Baytowne promises ‘real deal’ in seafood

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

LIBATIONS photography by ALISSA ARYN

New ‘Sunrise’ at Trebeaché ||

DINING IN

Bake a Fruity, Summertime Pie ||

DINING GUIDE

See Page 175

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gastro & gusto

“We live in paradise, and I feel so blessed to be able to own and operate a business in the area where I grew up … making people happy is so rewarding, and providing them with great food and good company do just that.”

— Bryce Jarvis, Slick Lips co-owner

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Baytowne boudin balls

ombining his years of experience as a boat captain with expertise in restaurant management and menu development, longtime Destin native Gary Jarvis and his like-minded son Bryce have the seafood game well in their grasp.

And while they could sit back and bask in the success of their celebrated Sunset Bay Café in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, the father-son duo chose to venture on and launch a new restaurant in Baytowne Wharf, capitalizing on the amazing views at that location and delivering a new dining experience focused on freshly caught seafood and Southern comfort dishes at their best.

In calling their new venture Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster Bar, the Jarvises selected a name that would speak to their seafaring brethren, as the term “slick lips” is a nickname for amberjack, a reef fish without the large, sharp teeth common to local fishes.

And local is at the very heart of this restaurant, as the fish and seafood are locally caught and brought in fresh off the docks in Destin each day.

As one might imagine from the name, the dishes at Slick Lips are largely focused on

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

fresh seafood and oysters, utilizing each in a way that lets taste and quality speak for themselves. Starting things off, a full oyster bar menu offers both raw and chargrilled oysters on the half-shell presented in their purest form or adorned with house-made toppings bursting with flavor — everything from rich and fatty chorizo cream with smoked gouda to a smoky-sweet habanero bacon jam. It’s a deft display of creativity, typical of their starter dishes, from crab cakes topped with fresh mango papaya salsa and Cajun remoulade with crisp-fried sweet potato chips to the smoked cheddar bacon bombs — an unapologetic display of down-home Southern decadence made with scratch-made pimento cheese layered on bacon lardons breaded and deep fried, served with a sweet and creamy chili aioli.

“Our menu really focuses on the best ingredients available every season, and we’re incredibly passionate about using sustainable, quality seafood,” Capt. Jarvis explains.

“Fresh-caught, wild fish is the core of our business model, and we aim to provide customers with the real deal.”

That “real deal” is present on every plate,

PHOTOS BY ALISSA ARYN

Key lime snapper

“Our menu really focuses on the best ingredients available every season, and we’re incredibly passionate about using sustainable, quality seafood.”

— Capt. Gary Jarvis, Slick Lips co-owner

Warm spinach salad

from the abundant array on the seafood platter to the bacon-wrapped amberjack, which takes fillets of the restaurant’s namesake fish and wraps them in applewood smoked bacon, pairing it with sweet potato hash and a warm arugula salad spiced with a rich Creole meunière sauce. Even in land-based dishes, there is no corner cut, no sacrifice of quality or creativity. Steak and burgers are given equal respect, delivering premium beef flavor in the “Fire Grilled 1855 Angus Ribeye” and in the Slick Burger, a grilled 80/20 certified Angus-beef patty topped with smoked tomato jam, melted smoked cheddar cheese, house-made pimento cheese, sliced bacon and crispy onions served on a brioche bun.

Everything is focused on excellence, and the Jarvises’ passion and respect for ingredients is a vision shared by Executive Chef Jay Ammons. His attention to detail shows in nearly every component being made fresh daily, from compound butters to flavorful sauces and sweet, fluffy whipped cream used in decadent desserts.

At its core, Slick Lips is a concept driven by sustainability and utilization of locally sourced ingredients.

“We live in paradise, and I feel so blessed to be able to own and operate a business in the area where I grew up,” says Bryce. “Making people happy is so rewarding, and providing them with great food and good company do just that. That’s really been our ultimate goal here, to give everyone a great experience in a beautiful setting with delicious food.” And that’s certainly something to make your lips smack in satisfaction. EC

SLICK LIPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE 140 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach (850) 347-5060 Chargrilled oysters

slicklipsseafood.com

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ADVERTORIAL

Restaurant Spotlight

Fat Clemenza's “THE FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE TAKE YOU BACK IN TIME TO WHEN LIFE WAS SIMPLER,” said managing partner Dominic Damiano. “We specialize in providing great service and have a flair for remembering customers and taking care of their needs.”

They remember their customers because many of them are repeat offenders

visiting often to please their palates with authentic cuisine, much of which is fresh from Italy. Olive oils, plum tomatoes, sheet pasta and flour are shipped from Naples, and sausage arrives from Chicago twice a week. Maintaining quality and consistency is essential as they want customers to receive top-notch service every visit.

The staff takes great care and attention to make customers feel like a part of the community they have echoed.

Family values and traditions seem to seep through the walls welcoming each guest, allowing them to relax, enjoy a sit-down meal and be transported to another time and place. At this popular restaurant, reservations are recommended.

FAT CLEMENZA'S BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA 12273 US HIGHWAY 98, MIRAMAR BEACH, IN HOLIDAY PLAZA 850.650.5980 | FATCLEMENZAS.COM

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PHOTOS BY CHASE YAKABOSKI

partners grew up in a bustling and vibrant neighborhood bursting with an ethnic Italian culture. While they adore the beaches and sunshine, they greatly missed the welcoming neighborhood of their youth. They sought to emulate the Italian neighborhoods where they grew up in Chicago, New York and Sicily. Through warm lighting, Old-World brick ovens and black-and-white family photos lining the walls, they have succeeded in bringing a slice of Italy to the coast.

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gastro & gusto

Shawn Somerset says his sweet and tangy Sunrise and Sunset cocktails are summertime favorites.

LIBATIONS

SUNRISE, SUNSET Somerset brings native touch to Trebeaché cocktails

Trebeaché Sunrise In a 12-ounce Collins glass, mix: ➸ 1¾ ounces Don Julio Silver tequila ➸ Fresh-squeezed orange juice ➸ ¼ ounce La Pinta Pomegranate Liqueur Garnish with maraschino cherry or orange slice.

by THOMAS J. MONIGAN

G

rowing up in Birmingham, Shawn Somerset first experienced Walton County’s beaches in the 1970s.

“My grandfather, Sterling Somerset, built one of the first houses in Seagrove,” Somerset recalled. “So, if it was warm and we weren’t in school, we were down here. We got out of Birmingham as quick as we could.”

Somerset has been mixing drinks professionally on the Emerald Coast since the early

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1990s, with well-known establishments such as AJ’s and The Red Bar on his résumé.

His current role is bar manager at Trebeaché, located in Redfish Village on Scenic Highway 30A in Blue Mountain Beach.

Not too long ago, Somerset became acquainted with La Pinta Pomegranate Liqueur.

New in this area, it comes from the famous Mexican state of Jalisco and is made with silver tequila.

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Trebeaché Sunset In a 12-ounce Collins glass, mix: ➸ 1½ ounces Ketel One Citroen or Ketel One Oranje Vodka ➸ ½ ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur ➸ Cranberry juice Top with club soda.

Garnish with lime twist.

photography by MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Somerset skips the grenadine and uses pomegranate liqueur in his tequila “Sunrise.”

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“I just kept mixing it up,” Somerset said. “And I said, ‘You know what? The Sunrise,’ because I’ve always loved Tequila Sunrises.

And it turned out perfect.”

The Trebeaché Sunrise was born, with La Pinta in the recipe instead of grenadine.

“It totally escalates it to the next level,” Somerset said. “The whole flavor profile changes with that in it. It just adds so much depth to it. People are pleasantly surprised by that drink.”

With the Sunrise on the menu, Somerset began experimenting with a new recipe for a vodka-based cocktail, and the Trebeaché Sunset was born.

Ketel One’s Citroen or Oranje became the options for the main ingredient.

“They’re just a little different from each other,” Somerset said.

“You get either lemon or orange on the nose and in the flavor profile.”

What makes this recipe unique is the use of St. Germain, a liqueur that comes from France. Developed by the late Robert Cooper, St. Germain became available in 2007 and was bought

by Bacardi in 2013.

“It’s sweet but not crazy sweet,” Somerset said. “It adds to the drink without overpowering it. You still taste everything else.

It’s the perfect summer drink, light and refreshing. To me it just screams summer.”

And what about its relationship to food?

“It’s not going to interfere with the entrées, and you can drink it with anything,” Somerset said. “That’s what people expect — crisp and clean. It’s not too sweet, and it really kicks in with the full dining experience.”

It didn’t take long for the Sunrise nor the Sunset to catch on with customers at Trebeaché.

“We make anywhere from five to 20 of each of them on any given night,” Somerset said. EC photography by MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY

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“Each step of my job as a chef is handson, because going directly to the source of my ingredients and holding those raw ingredients in my hands is vital in sourcing the best, most flavorful

products,” says Neale, whose career took him away from the area years ago and led him to kitchens at Michelin Star restaurants in New York and Atlanta before his position at Havana Beach brought him back to 30A. Combining beauty on the plate with that of its signature craft cocktails, Havana Beach, quietly tucked in the shell of The Pearl, engages all of the senses of its guests. For a more casual experience, the Havana Beach Rooftop Bar offers open-air dining with access to a full bar and a menu of sandwiches, appetizers and shareable plates.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAVANA BEACH BAR AND GRILL

Since opening in 2013, the The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach has proven itself as an experience befitting its name, a luxurious boutique accommodation offering magnificent views overlooking green spaces abutting the water’s edge along Scenic Highway 30A. Inspired by Hemingway’s favorite haunt in his beloved Old Havana, the hotel’s hallmark dining experience at Havana Beach Bar & Grill offers a nod to the coastal lifestyle Papa adored — both in atmosphere as well as in its fresh cuisine.

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gastro & gusto Hand-picked berries and homemade whipped cream make this strawberry pie a slice of heaven.

DINING IN

THE PIES OF SUMMER Seasonal fruits, berries are perfect fillings

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

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have kept guests coming in for nearly 40 years.

“Having those memories of berry and fruit pies really warms my heart,” he continues.

And he’s hardly alone. Fruits and berries seem to top the “it” list for summer pie fillings, as well as classically loved apples that seem to know no season and tropical fruits that bring to mind farflung destinations with sun and sand. Pineapple tarts, banana crème pie, coconut cream pie, key lime and lemon meringue … the list goes on and the flavor profiles are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. They can be tart and creamy or sweet and silky, refreshingly cool or piping hot.

And even if you’re not a fruit loop, custard and pudding fillings such as chocolate silk and vanilla will keep your fork piled with pie and your sunny summer days satisfyingly sweet.

Whatever the pie, there is one important thing foundational to achieving perfection: the crust. Flaky, buttery crusts are key to a great pie, and while you can certainly make a good pie using a premade shell, there’s nothing quite like a crust made from scratch.

“Pie crust has a few critical points that will especially affect the texture you’re able to achieve, and foremost is the temperature of the butter you use,” says Heather Regan, executive

Strawberry Pie INGREDIENTS ➸9 -inch pie shell ➸ 6 cups strawberries

(about 1 1/2 quarts)

➸ 1 cup sugar ➸ 3 tbsp. cornstarch ➸ 1/2 cup water ➸ 5 oz. cream cheese, softened

Bake empty pie shell at 450 degrees for 9-11 minutes until slightly golden brown, using blind baking method. Meanwhile, slice and mash enough strawberries to measure 1 cup. Add sugar and cornstarch in 2-quart saucepan, gradually stirring in water and mashed strawberries.

Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Continue to boil and stir 1 minute, then allow berry mixture to cool.

In another bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth and spread over bottom of pie shell. Fill shell with whole strawberries, then pour cooked strawberry mixture over top. Refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours. Serve with whipped cream and enjoy!

Recipe by Sugar Mill Sweets

PHOTO BY JAMES STEFIUK

M

e oh my, I love pie…”

The pie song in the angel-on-earth movie “Michael” put to music what most people feel: Pie is heavenly. Their flaky, buttery crusts melt on their tongue.

Their perfectly sweet fillings bring taste buds to life. And they’re so, so pretty.

While Christmas and Thanksgiving have deep connections to pies such as pumpkin and sweet potato, the pies of summer seem to delight us most — baked and served in the warmest, brightest days of the year, devoured outdoors on picnic blankets laid upon barefoot-worthy grass.

True summer pies set themselves apart with the vibrancy of their filling and their sweetness — most often the result of the fruits and berries so plentiful in summertime. Peaches, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries and more are ripe and ready for the picking, waiting to become the heart of sweetness and tang within a pie.

“Summer for me as a kid meant hot days spent picking berries and watermelon and eating pie,” says Jason Hendrix of Sugar Mill Sweets in Fort Walton Beach, where he and his brother, Will, carry on their mother’s and aunt’s legacy of creating the irresistible sweets and baked delights that

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↑ A lattice-top crust, easier to make than you may think, is great on a blueberry pie.

chef of Five Daughters Bakery in Seaside. “Starting with cold butter will allow you to get the flakiness that makes pie dough so irresistible because of those small chunks of butter that don’t fully break.

Once you’ve made the dough,” Regan says, “you’ll also need to chill it again, rather than rolling it out and sliding it right on into the oven.

“Chilling the dough allows the butter to come back to a more solid state, and — much like the chilled butter you started with — this will ensure a flakier crust,” she continues. Obviously, this baker knows her stuff, and she puts that pastry prowess to work in her own pie company, fittingly called Liv Pies.

Some of the best summer pies use wet fillings, but no one likes a soggy bottom. To keep the crust dry and flaky, bakers in the know recommend a process called “blind baking.” To blind bake, place a sheet of parchment paper over the raw pie shell and weigh it down with pie weights or dry beans. Once the edges of the crust are golden, remove the weights or beans and allow the empty pie shell to bake a little longer. Only then should you fill it with the fruits, berries, custards or chilled puddings you’ve chosen.

From warm, sweet fruits to cool, creamy custards, fill your summer pies with your family’s favorites, give the kids a spin with the rolling pin, and bake something that will linger in memory long after the dish is empty. EC

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Mimmo La Innusa Owner, Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano

How would you describe your cuisine? I would say traditional authentic Italian cuisine. We use the best and freshest ingredients. All sauces, breads, dressings, desserts, brick oven pizzas and so much more are homemade. We try to bring a little taste of Italy to every dish.

What is your favorite dish and why? Pasta Carbonara because I love the flavor of the smoked pancetta and the richness of the cream sauce. However, a close second, is the lasagna. The Bolognese sauce reminds me of Sundays at my grandparents house cooking and enjoying time with the whole family.

How do you measure your success? By being considered a local favorite. I love looking around and seeing a full restaurant of familiar faces and watching everyone have a great time.

What made you want to pursue this career? L ooking back, I would say I was about ten years old. Growing up in Sicily with a

huge Italian family, we spent a lot of time in the kitchen. I loved watching my grandparents, aunts and uncles creating the best meals for our family and friends. I saw how food really brings everyone together. So, I decided to watch and learn. I knew then I wanted to explore an opportunity in the culinary world.

What is your philosophy? With hard work and perseverance, you can make your dreams a reality. Stay humble and be grateful for your blessings.

What is the most important item in the kitchen? My team.

They make everything come together and run smoothly. Without them, 979 Hwy 98 E Ste 5 we would not be where we Destin are today.

850-460-7353 What inspires/influences your cuisine? My family, heritage and most of all my grandmother. She taught me that the simplest ingredients can make the best meals.

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

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How would you describe the cuisine?

The best way to describe the cuisine here at Dewey’s on the Harbor is a simple Southern coastal cuisine.

What is your philosophy? The word “can’t” is not in my vocabulary — if there’s a will there’s a way. And, always treat others the way you would like to be treated.

202 Harbor Blvd Destin 850-837-7525 DestinSeafood.com

What is the most important item in the kitchen? There is more than one important thing in the kitchen.

For instance, fresh quality food and teamwork! If you don’t have these, you may as well start from scratch.

How do you measure your success? I measure my success by customer satisfaction. We have regular and return customers that have been coming to Dewey’s for years. Our staff has grown, and we get busier every year. I like that I am able to educate people and our youth.

JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

What is your favorite dish and why? I have multiple favorites: crab claws, seared scallops and fresh Gulf fish fried in corn meal with cheese grits. They are never a disappointment.

What inspires/influences your cuisine? My cuisine is inspired by my heritage and training. Having grown up on the Gulf Coast, I learned to cook many traditional Florida seafood dishes. In culinary school, I spent time in France, which gave me exposure to European cuisine and sauces. The seasons also influence my ideas. I love traditional dishes that I can put a spin on. Sometimes, even colors inspire me. I go through different phases of inspiration, which have proven to be beneficial.

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Along the Gulf Coast, surfers ride the waves and stake their turf

T

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

he experience of riding a moving wall of water is both exhilarating and terrifying, the kind of thing, you would think, that a person might survive once and then check the box and move on.

But it’s worse than that. And better. It’s unshakable. So it is that people persist at the sport of surfing despite near-drownings, advancing years and repeated orthopedic surgeries.

Dave Rauschkolb, 56, looks out on the Gulf of Mexico from a window in his restaurant, Bud & Alley’s, on County 30A in South Walton County. A rain hard and cold is about to fall with the intensity of a tropical storm. An offshore wind — one of those biting winter northerlies — is freshening. It’s frankly lousy out.

But, says Rauschkolb, “These are good conditions.” He is focused, to the exclusion of everything else, on the surf that is developing along a beach break. Seeing that, he knows that “the Panama City Beach piers are breaking good right now, same thing for St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island.”

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PHOTOS BY ANDREW WARDLOW

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A SHOT OF CONFIDENCE Less than three years after his first surfing experience, Rauschkolb won the Gulf Coast Men’s Championship.

The victory, he said, was a “great confidence booster. I had done a little skateboarding, but never before had I found anything I was really good at.”

Stokes’ father moved his family from Mississippi to Anna Maria Island, close to Sanibel, after completing a 20-year career in the Air Force as a pilot. For his daughter, it was like jumping from a daguerreotype into an image that has been color-saturated in Photoshop.

“All I had known was Hattiesburg,” Stokes said. “We

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For Dave Rauschkolb, surfing has brought about connections that have done much to define his life’s path, including restaurant ownership.

computers, “allBefore we had was NOAA weather radio telling us what the seas were going to be, and we would drive sometimes from Navarre all the way to Panama City checking the waves.

”

— Dave Rauschkolb PHOTO HOLLY GARDNER

GOOD CONDITIONS, BUT NOT GREAT “It’s too small for Amazons,” he continues his assessment, referring to the magnificent, Pacific-caliber waves that develop along the eastern jetty at the fortified pass to St. Andrew Bay. Brenda Stokes, 64, knows the Amazons well, having surfed them, she estimates, 50 times. She has surfed the East and West Coasts of mainland America, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, but she likes no other spot as well as she likes what locals call simply The Pass.

Both Stokes and Rauschkolb discovered surfing quite by chance, having found themselves as children living in neighborhoods that were also home to kids with surfing habits.

Rauschkolb was living at Poquito Bayou when he met David Guin and Bill Young, who would become the first of several surfers who would dramatically affect his life.

When Rauschkolb first stood up on a board on a summer day at a beach called Sandman on Okaloosa Island, Young was there as a witness. Rauschkolb was 16 and, oddly, didn’t surf again until a year later when he took up the sport for good.

His popularity with surfers may have had much to do, at least initially, with the access he enjoyed to his father’s Volvo station wagon. Too, Rauschkolb was looking for a sport. At Meigs Junior High School and Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, he was too small to succeed as a varsity sport athlete.

“Hanging out with the best surfers around, I took to surfing really quickly,” Rauschkolb said. “By the time I was 18, I started competing.”

Guin, while he eschewed competitions himself, served as Rauschkolb’s coach.

“Dave never let up on me,” Rauschkolb said. “It was like surfing boot camp.”

PHOTOS BY ANDREW WARDLOW AND COURTESY OF DAVE RAUSCHKOLB

↑ In 1981, Dave Rauschkolb (back row, far right) was part of a delegation of Northwest Florida surfers who participated in the East Coast Championship. He was joined by Frank Sims, Scott Ewing, Martin Manley, Jimmy Lacroix, Rod Dryer and Brad McCann.

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↑ Brenda Stokes, from top left, catches a wave in Coast Rica in 2004; displays the East Coast Championship trophy she won in 1973; and displays a vintage, locally shaped board with her son, Jason.

Brenda and Jason are partners in a pottery business that produces pieces reflective of their passion for surfing.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRENDA STOKES

didn’t do much but pick up Coke bottles along the railroad tracks and carry them and pecans to the co-op. That, and go to a lake that was usually too cold to swim in.”

At the island, she saw surfers for the first time.

“Mom would let me and my brother walk halfway around the island,” Stokes recalled. “You could do it in an afternoon. One day, we came around a point and there were two surfers, not that I knew what surfing was at the time. At first, I couldn’t see their boards and it looked like they were standing on the water and gliding across it.”

Stokes would later determine that the surfers had been two brothers, Rich and Wilson Salick, who would launch a board company and establish a surf festival. At the time, they had been the only people engaged in surfing at Anna Maria Island. Stokes, meanwhile, was splashing about on Styrofoam.

Stokes moved again, this time to Fort Walton Beach, where her father accepted a job teaching industrial arts and drafting. Looking across the street from her new home, Stokes, then 11, spied a boy putting a board like she had seen on the island into a pickup truck.

“My mom got to be friends with his mom and, to get rid of me, she would have him take me to the beach,” Stokes said. “When he and his friend came in to rest, they would push me around on a board.” She would soon graduate to standing, a development she remembers well.

“There is a look that comes across the faces of the kids I teach surfing to today when they catch their first wave, and I am sure I had that same look my first time,” Stokes said.

Stokes talked her mother into buying her first board at a shop owned by Doodle Harris in Fort Walton. It took the two of them to carry it. Surfing was limited to long boards at the time.

Mom carried Brenda to her first “contest” in

PHOTOS BY ANDREW WARDLOW

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Pensacola. Stokes entered the beginner’s division in a pro-am event and wound up beating a bunch of boys.

She attracted the attention of Yancy Spencer, who put her on his surfing team and offered her discounts on boards purchased from his shop.

Surfing "for fun" in an east coast championship, Stokes discovered that "competition isn't really in my blood. I'm always willing to let someone else take the wave and I wait for the next one." Nonetheless, Stokes finished second, scoring enough points to qualify for the U.S. championships in Ventura, California, when the winner proved unable to go.

In California, Stokes bested girls coached by the legendary Ben Aipa, who invited her to visit him in his home state of Hawaii. (She would make the trip.)

Rauschkolb, too, visited the Left Coast while young.

“Right after I graduated from high school, Dave Guin and I drove all the way to California,” he said. “I can’t believe my parents let me go. It was the quintessential coming-of-age surf trip. Ironically, we were in Malibu and the surf was flat and Hurricane Allen was in the Gulf. So, we drove 24 hours straight through just to surf in the Destin pass.”

The chase is a big part of surfing.

“A lot of people who live on the Gulf Coast don’t know we have surfing and don’t think about our area as a surf destination,” Rauschkolb has found. The fact is, we have really good surf. You just have to know when the right conditions are occurring and go to the right spot, but opportunities can be fleeting.

“In the early days, before computers, all we had was NOAA weather radio telling us what the seas were going to be and we would drive sometimes from Navarre all the way to Panama City checking the waves. Even today, there can be a lot of driving.”

In September 1985, Rauschkolb and a surfing buddy, Scott Witcoski, were headed east from Destin with plans to catch waves in Panama City when Witcoski perturbed his friend by making a stop along the way.

The pair had come through Grayton Beach on 30A and was about to pass Western Lake when Witcoski mentioned that he had met a man at work — both Witcoski and Rauschkolb worked at Les Saisons in Destin at the time — who wanted to show him a restaurant location in a community-to-be called Seaside.

“Scott is the guy who forgets his wallet and is always late and I am the guy who always wants to get there early,” Rauschkolb said. “I was already looking at my watch. The waves were good and it was a beautiful day.

I am in a hurry and Dave is telling me about this guy who wanted us to stop. I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t do that some other day. But Scott was driving and he’s a persuasive guy.”

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PHOTOS BY ANDREW WARDLOW

A bone-weary and satisfied surfer departs the Gulf and heads for the "hill" and what is sure to be a night of good sleep. Surfers say their sport involves both physical exertion and a relaxed immersion in the natural world.

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The guy was Seaside founder and visionary Robert Davis, who escorted the surfers to a tiny restaurant that had struggled with a French owner who alienated more customers than he won over.

“Scott asked me what I thought about opening a restaurant there,” Rauschkolb recalled. “I had been to the Paradise Café and I figured we would be busy only three months out of the year and that would leave plenty of time for surfing.”

MOM WAS RIGHT But Rauschkolb was a second-semester senior at the University of West Florida, closing in on a degree in marketing and business management. He figured his mother would be furious if he bailed on his education so near the finish line.

But she fooled him.

She counseled her son that he might never again have the chance to open a restaurant on the Gulf. “And besides,” she reminded him, “your grades aren’t that good.”

So it was that some four months later, the surfing buddies joined in opening the now iconic Bud & Alley’s on the strength of a $60,000 loan from Destin Bank and a total of $10,000 extended to the chums by their mothers.

Two years earlier, Rauschkolb and Witcoski had met at the one-time June’s Dunes restaurant in Destin and discovered their mutual interest in surfing. That surfing connection, Rauschkolb said, brought about Bud & Alley’s 32 years ago and “started my career path.”

(Rauschkolb, who now owns four restaurants, bought out Witcoski’s interest in Bud & Alley’s 12 years ago.

Witcoski lives today in Merritt Island and, like Rauschkolb, still surfs.)

Rauschkolb and Stokes may not surf as much as they used to — she is kept busy running a family business, Holley Hill Pottery, in Santa Rosa County, north of Navarre, with her son — but their enthusiasm for the sport is undiminished. It keeps them young, they find, and they love the culture and even the hierarchy that surrounds it.

“Surfers have gotten a bad rap over the years for just being lazy beach bums,” Rauschkolb said. “But I look at the surfing friends I have had over all these years and not one of them is a slacker. Every one of them is super hardworking and very successful in life.”

For Rauschkolb, life imitates surfing.

“You have to work hard to get the reward,” Rauschkolb said. “You have to paddle hard, you have to be in good shape and a lot of things have (continued on page 172)

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I was pelted and “pounded and held under by one wave and, by the time I recovered, I was dealing with the next one.

”

— Brenda Stokes

PHOTOS BY ANDREW WARDLOW

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Roland Hockett has created public art for five decades. His work reflects his belief in the powers of freedom, friendship and international cooperation.

Here, he is dwarfed by “New Liberty III” in Panama City.

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Sculptor Roland Hockett captures public imagination in bronze, copper

by JENNIFER JONES

Within the Florida Panhandle and in South America, artist and longtime Panama City resident Roland Hockett has been planting the seeds of public art for nearly 50 years, enlivening communities and imaginations.

His public art projects, many of them strikingly large, include murals, paintings and sculptures, some in Costa Rica and some on view at Gulf Coast Community College, Tallahassee Community College and the Florida Supreme Court. Four of his sculptures, featuring water and marine life, also may be seen at Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant in Panama City.

photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

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n 1969 Panama City, Hockett observed only one sculpture in the public sector and set about creating his own for the coastal town he adopted. His admiration of public art and its transformative powers began decades earlier.

Hockett recalls, “I encountered public art early in my art career when I was attending Indiana University in the ’50s and ’60s. ‘Showalter Fountain,’ by Robert Laurent, was being built at I.U. at that time, with the bronze cast in Italy.

When I returned home to northern Indiana, I traveled many times into Chicago and encountered other large sculptures in the public sector.

A controversial 40-foot-high sculpture by Pablo Picasso was being installed in front of city hall, and works by artists such as Leger and Calder and other artists were to be found in the loop.

“Those large works activated the spaces that they filled and represented great projects for the artists and the city. It was great stuff.

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Often, like Calder’s large sculpture, they would be painted in bright color or be constructed with exciting surfaces of metal.”

Leaving Indiana University with degrees focusing on art, design, audiovisual graphics and technology and an affinity for the Bauhaus movement combining crafts and fine arts, Hockett set out to inspire and educate.

After a time as professor of art education and constructive design at Florida State University (one of the top 10 art programs in the United States), Hockett was recruited to what was then Gulf Coast Junior College for what he thought would be “a little while” before he moved on to California.

“When I arrived in Panama City, Florida, in 1969, there was only one sculpture in the public sector. It was in front of an exercise center.

I thought to myself that I might like to help change that and add some of my own sculptures to this city,” Hockett recalled. “It seemed

a logical thought for such a place that existed along such a beautiful stretch of beach. Public sculpture would certainly find an ideal place to be installed here.”

“Public art is no longer limited to themes from conflicts and government or national interest. Today, we also encounter many other goals: an experiment with materials or thought, or to simply relate the artists’ feelings for a subject.”

— Roland Hockett Just four years later in 1972, he gifted his first public sculpture. He designed and built it with his son and installed it on the college campus

“New Liberty III,” designed by Hockett as a diplomatic gift to Spain from Costa Rica, was instead installed at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City soon after the 9/11 attacks of 2001.

Hockett gave it as a gift to his grieving country. He also created a 14-foot-tall 9/11 memorial that resides in Costa Rica.

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BOOINI (“LIBERTY III”) / COURTESTY OF ROLAND HOCKETT (“ARMADILLO”)

Working in his studio, Hockett employs vise grips to bend copper to his will for his sculpture “Armadillo.”

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Hockett’s private commissions are found around the United States, in Costa Rica and in Germany.

“Guardian,” one of his horse sculptures, was created for a client in St. Petersburg.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROLAND HOCKETT

in front of the fine arts building. “Citadel” was very geometric in style, over 20 feet tall, made of copper and situated within a fountain. Over the years, the copper was encrusted in verdigris, while Hockett continued his work, sharing his skills, artistry and heart.

He landed a commission in Costa Rica in 1979. In 1987 he traveled again to attend the dedication of his mural “Liberty.” The ceremony was conducted by President Oscar Arias, who signed the Guatemalan Peace Accord that same week for which he later was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. “I have been so fortunate in so many ways! The wonderful things I’ve been able to be a part of, working with other people from other cultures. It adds to the richness of the work … and my life.” From that second junket came a seven-year appointment to the advisory board of the Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute,

or FLORICA, which promoted meaningful interactions of various kinds between the Sunshine State and its Central American neighbor, entailing many visits.

Accompanying 30-foot murals, 16-foot sculptures and one-man exhibits abroad for assembly and installation requires considerable flexibility. The artist mentioned that the “Liberty” mural took up so much room in the plane that luggage had to arrive on a different flight. In another instance, with a one-man show to produce, Hockett had to account for the same number of art forms coming in and going out of Costa Rica, but he forgot for a moment that four were given as gifts. The discrepancy was resolved with no problem, but he missed his flight and had to depart a day later. As Hockett flew out, his plane flew over the aircraft he was supposed to be on the day before. It had crashed and burned. All

passengers made it out safely, but Hockett felt it was fate that kept him from the ordeal they suffered.

Best known for his sculpting, Hockett also is a prolific painter and enjoys collecting the works of fellow artists he calls mentors and friends.

His subjects range from elements of nature to architecture and technology. In between are elegant equine and characters of ancient history and mythology.

In his backyard work area, a copper horse stands near a towering sculpture of Icarus. Giant copper discs gleam (continued on page 171)

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Visit the Art In Bay County Gulf Coast State College “New Liberty III,” “Nautilus,” “Pelican” and “Tapper 1st Amendment Sculpture” Aaron Bessant Park “Olympic Passage” 11th Street Library “Circle of Flight,” “Abstract Form” and woodblock prints Panama City Center for the Arts Paintings, drawings, acrylics

Mosely High School Fine Arts Auditorium Framed wood panels, acrylics on wood, drawings, silkscreenings, woodblock prints In Tallahassee Florida Supreme Court “Eagles” Tallahassee Community College “RollyCoaster” LeMoyne Center for Visual Arts “Horse” and “Eagle”

← Hockett’s “Gente del Mundo” (People of the World) is exhibited in various galleries, while his pair of “Eagles,” backlit by a rising “sun,” permanently adorn the rotunda of the Florida Supreme Court.

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Focused on Nature Photographer Jeff Waldorff answered second calling

by HANNAH BURKE | photography by JEFF WALDORFF

When Jeff Waldorff snaps a photo, he’s transported back to childhood. Again, he is the little boy being roused by his father at the break of day for a fishing trip on the Choctawhatchee Bay or a jaunt to the pristine beaches of Okaloosa Island and Destin. He’s as enamored with the early morning sun now as he was then, as delighted by the demure, scuttling ghost crabs and the dawn chorus of sanderlings.

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or Waldorff, the hushed break of waves as he shoots feels intimate. It’s home.

But photography hasn’t always been second nature to him. While he spent many youthful days exploring the locale and absorbing every fact he could from wildlife encyclopedias, the Navarre native found himself pursuing another passion, in the engineering field. He worked for Micro Systems Inc. in Fort Walton Beach for 30 years, ultimately as director of software engineering.

But as time went by and stress grew high, Waldorff needed an outlet. Therapy began with a Canon 30D DSLR camera and rekindling his affair with Mother Nature. Thanks to his engineering background, he excelled in the science of digital photography and sought to upgrade his equipment. When he followed advice from friends and family to finance his hobby by selling prints at local art shows, Waldorff was astonished by the public’s response.

“I can’t describe how it feels to know people are willing to purchase my photos and hang them in their home or office,” Waldorff beams. “It became much more rewarding than I thought. My regular job was demanding with all the hours I had, yet my photography was taking off. I felt like I was holding onto two ropes and I couldn’t climb up. I had to let go of one of them.”

Waldorff officially retired in 2017 to pursue photography full-time. He is building his business with commercial work, dabbling in drone photography and spending his evenings shooting the Milky Way. His art adorns the walls of The Henderson’s Salamander Spa in Destin and has been published in one of the world’s premier nature photography publications, Landscape Photography Magazine.

Waldorff’s muse is wildlife, and his gamut of gear ensures he’s well equipped to capture it in images. He employs a versatile tripod to steady his shot while zooming in to shoot the worlds of sand-dwelling creatures and their monuments (story continues on Page 101)

RIGHT: For “Twisted Sky,” Waldorff focused on Polaris and held the shutter open for 140 minutes, tracking surrounding stars as the earth rotated. OPPOSITE PAGE: A tree that withstood the winds of Opal and Ivan was, for years, a muse to Jeff Waldorff. On a windless day, he found it had fallen. “The water was calm and the tree was still, as if finally at peace. It gave me its last photo, and its best.” He calls the photo, which is his favorite, “Nessie.” PREVIOUS PAGE: As a child, Waldorff often rose with the dawn for outings with his father. As a photographer, he captures the beauty of dawn for others. Here, the sun rises over Navarre Beach.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Waldorff ’s “Southern Belles” series focuses on venerable

cypress trees on the Choctawhatchee River. The base of the trees reminds him of antebellum hoopskirts. TOP: A juvenile ghost crab about a half-inch wide perches on a starfish skeleton. ABOVE: Waldorff specializes in close-up views of small creatures. In “Sea-Ya!” a newly hatched loggerhead appears to wave goodbye as it embarks on the first journey of its life.

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ABOVE: After three months of shooting, resulting in more than 10,000 frames, Waldorff caught the instant when a black skimmer, its wings positioned for hunting, scooped up two fish at once, barely making a splash. FAR LEFT: Waldorff was on the beach on Jan. 31 to photograph a lunar spectacle not visible here in 150 years: the coincidence of a super moon, a blue moon and an eclipse. LEFT: The Milky Way illuminates the sky over Garcon Point. RIGHT: Waldorff found Sarracenia pitcher plants in bloom at a remote lake as morning sunbeams brightened the mist.

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LEFT: Photographing the night sky, looking into the cosmos or tracking a coastal lightning storm, is an extension of Waldorff ’s admiration of the natural world. ABOVE: Jeff Waldorff, with camera and tripod.

of seashells. A large, telephoto lens is his goto gadget for seizing the mid-flight motions of skimmers and shorebirds. Securing the perfect photo may take hours — especially with birds — but Waldorff remains vigilant until the time is right. (His wife, Angelique, has nicknamed him “The Critter Whisperer” for his ability to patiently wait.)

An image titled “Two For One” is a crystalclear photo of a black skimmer in the act of catching two fish in its beak at once — an image Waldorff captured after shooting for three months and culling through 10,000 lesser frames.

One of Waldorff’s cardinal rules is to convey the scope of the environment without detracting from the subject. To highlight intricate details of a three-dimensional world in twodimensional photos, he focuses on close-up composition. Getting cozy with his subject and focusing on the foreground is an essential part of his technique, though he also does select landscape shots.

“Typical nature photography around here is just the beach: bright, sunny days and beach umbrellas,” he explains. “But I’m about the natural landscape in the low light. I like to venture out to primitive spots that look like what I saw as a kid. If I happen to capture any local wildlife there, it’s the icing on the cake. They help tell the story of the land, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my work.” EC EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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SPON SORED REPORT

“They were a lifeline for my child.

In truth, they were a lifeline for my family.” — PARENT

THE STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SACRED HEART

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et foot inside The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, and you can feel the warmth of family around you — thousands of stories of hope, involving tens of thousands of children and families. They are powerful stories, from those of extremely premature babies to young cancer patients to victims of traumatic injury and everything in-between. How when toddler Eli was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and his parents chose this hospital among the finest pediatric hospitals in the nation. How when 6-year-old Hailey was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis she sought treatment in its pediatric infusion center and its summer camps. And how, when pre-teen Drew Barefield nearly lost his leg in an boating accident, his family put their child’s life and faith in the hands of the doctors and staff of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital. These children, and thousands of children every year, depend on the highly advanced, loving care at the Children’s Hospital.

“We never want to turn people away. But our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is at its limits.”

— DR. AMJAD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT THE STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SACRED HEART

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A message from Carol Carlan

Today, Studer Family Children’s Hospital is working to complete its new state-of-theart, four-story Pediatric center of excellence next door to the building it has shared with Sacred Heart Hospital. Anyone who knows the Children’s Hospital knows it has always provided exceptional quality care.

When asked why the hospital embarked on this building project, Sacred Heart Health System board chair Robert Emmanuel explained: “We need the facilities to match the quality of care we provide. We provide 21st century care. We’ve been providing it in a facility with technologies and space that it simply could not provide.”

The hospital’s “Within Our Reach, Within Your Hands” capital campaign, was created to help Studer Family Children’s Hospital raise the $15 million it needs to complete the project. With the campaign, the Children’s Hospital is reaching out to the community it has supported for nearly 50 years, asking people to give to help ensure the children of this community have access to this exceptional care today and tomorrow.

Regarding the campaign and this new building, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital President Henry Stoval says: “This is an effort to improve the quality of life for

our children, the people that are going to grow and care for us as adults. We want to provide — we owe — these children a good quality of life.”

“He was healthy!

Suddenly he has this rare form of leukemia, and I’m in shock.”

— MICHELLE BOWMAN, MOTHER OF PATIENT ELI BRYANT

The new hospital will provide some of the finest pediatric care in the nation.

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is Northwest Florida’s only facility dedicated to the medical needs of infants and children that is now backed by the most comprehensive academic health center in the Southeast — University of Florida (UF) Health, recognized among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News and World Report in nine children’s medical specialties.

Through our affi liation with UF Health,

Every day, I have the privilege of meeting children and families in treatment at Studer Family Children’s Hospital, and it never ceases to amaze me the kind of positivity they’ve shown in the face of debilitating illnesses and unimaginably hard and painful days. I attribute that in part to the people that touch their lives every day at the hospital. Doctors, nurses, clinicians and associates who bring 110 percent, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not because their jobs necessarily demand them to be loving and positive, but because they care so much. And when children heal in an environment of love and hope, powerful things — miracles — can happen.

I write this now because, just recently, our new hospital facility held its topping off ceremony and kicked off its “Within Our Reach, Within Your Hands” capital campaign to raise the $15 million required to fund it. And it occurred to me that while this new hospital takes its form in a building, this hospital — and this campaign — is about the people who walk through our doors. It is about little Eli who has been here twice, for months at a time, for treatment of a rare form of leukemia, or John Matthew Peacock, born with an intra-uterine infection that our NICU was able to heal. It’s about every single person who has been born here in the past 49 years and every child and family who will depend on the extraordinary, highly advanced medical care in the future.

It’s for all of us, each member of our community, that we honor the children who’ve been here and the children to come and dig deep in support of “Within Our Reach, Within Your Hands” campaign. To raise $15 million requires each of us to dig deep in support. Because inside this new building, I can promise you, miracles are going to happen every day.

Carol Carlan President, Sacred Heart Foundation

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loving care that this hospital delivers every minute of every day. That’s what the new building — and the campaign that will help fund it — is about. Because no child should receive anything less than the very best quality healthcare, and with the help of the community, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital will make sure they don’t.

“In essence, when you give money to a Children’s Hospital, you become part of that caregiving team.“ – QUINT STUDER, CHAIR OF SACRED HEART HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sacred Heart is staying on the leading edge of children’s healthcare with specialists across 26 pediatric specialties. It will house the only pediatric oncology unit within five hours of Pensacola and include the most advanced technologies available. It is also projected to add 80 new jobs and many millions of dollars to the community economy.

Every part of the hospital has been considered to help children heal quicker and better. For the fi rst time, the hospital will be equipped with all private rooms, allowing families more privacy and help speed recovery. The CT scan is framed in an underwater scene, reducing fear and anxiety and taking just seconds to complete instead of minutes. The NICU will be equipped with separate areas for families to celebrate and care for their babies.

For all of its qualities, this new facility is not just about the building; it’s about people.

Children and families who turn here in moments of crisis or need, parents who can rest easier knowing their hospitalized child is in good hands, family and friends who worry and care, and for generations of people within this tri-state region who depend on the

“This is going to be a transformational hospital that’s going to put us at a very high level nationwide.”

— WES REEDER, CHAIRMAN OF SACRED HEART FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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No one can anticipate just how critical a children’s hospital is until they need it.

“Within Our Reach, Within Your Hands” capital campaign will help make sure that the best care possible is right here at home for your children, your neighbors and for all the children of our future. Join us in making a difference in the lives of our children.

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ELI BRYANT IN A MOMENT, A WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

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lijah Bryant is a force to be reckoned with. In just seven years of life, he’s bravely survived PICU, chemotherapy (twice), a bone marrow operation, radiation, 14 general anesthetics, 4 central lines and countless CT scans. Whole months of his young life have been spent as a full-time occupant of the hospital bed that he needed to call home.

A RARE CANCER REQUIRES A SPECIALIZED TEAM According to Eli’s mom, the equally indomitable Michelle Bryant, Eli’s journey with cancer began when a stubborn cold was fi nally diagnosed as a rare type of leukemia that few hospitals had the worldclass specialists and facilities to treat.

After researching all options around the country, Eli’s family decided to drive Eli the four hours from his Alabama home to be treated by the best — The Studer Family Children’s Hospital.

Together, Eli and his mom had already survived PICU and endured a cancer protocol that even adults would be chal-

“I asked God to help me be strong enough to make the best decisions for my son. I thought about the beautiful curls he would lose and decided to show God just how strong I was willing to be, shaving my own head in solidarity with my tiny boy.”

– MICHELLE BRYANT, ELI’S MOM

# GiveFromTheHeart

lenged to survive. Yet from the moment they knew what they were up against, Eli, his parents and his grandparents made it their mission to make sure he healed through a combination of treatment, love and an abundance of positive focus toward healing. Michelle even shaved her own head in solidarity with their path, moving their base of operations to the Ronald McDonald House and hospital room Eli called his home. The formula worked, and Eli went into a remission that lasted five years to the day of his ‘All Clear’ doctor visit, when test results revealed the cancer not only back, but also stubbornly aggressive.

PUTTING THREE LIVES — AND FAITH — IN THE HOSPITAL Eli was born with an innate joy that is impossible to explain or ignore. As he endured more chemotherapy, he became an “Honorary Nurse,” wearing scrubs and making rounds. His hopeful mom was with him of course, this time early into a pregnancy with a girl. Unimaginably for a family that had already survived so much, Michelle went into premature labor, giving birth to baby Skylind, a precious girl who lived just nine short days.

Michelle says, “I was at the main hospital, my baby was at NICU and Eli was just floors above.” The doctors and staff, from everyone from the president of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital to the nutritionists jumped into action, making sure everyone in the family, especially Eli, were cared for emotionally, physically and mentally.

“They were like a family to us. I can’t say enough about how much they were there for us and how much they’ve helped us get through this.”

WITH OUR HELP, THEY MAINTAIN THEIR FIGHT Today, Eli is in line for a bone marrow transplant later this summer. In the meantime, he’s put on a set of nursing scrubs, wraps a stethoscope they gave him around his neck and wears a hospital badge — given to him by no one else than the president of the hospital — that signifies his adoption into the hospital family.

“People should know that, in a heartbeat, your child’s health can be turned into a nightmare,” Michelle said. “We’re always just a split second away from a journey like mine. This hospital gave us more than we can ever describe. Eli got remarkable treatment and care and truly deep love from every single person he saw here. There’s literally no place better for our kids.”

TO CONTRIBUTE, CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE

850.416.4660 GiveSacredHeart.org EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

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INTERIORS

Polished Design Forge a new relationship with metals

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

PHOTO BY KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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Copper light fixtures in circular forms and nickel hardware aligned vertically supply contrast and balance.

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lying in the face of a commandment in interior design that metals should never be mixed is the trend of going pedal to the metal in the opposite direction, mixing those materials in ways that give a space unique shine and contemporary style.

There are a few rules of thumb to follow to achieve a look that is cohesive and not conflicted. Metal should be an accent, whether in décor or in fixtures, that creates visual interest as one of the four power points of design: color, pattern, texture and shine. Not that shine has to mean glisten. In fact, metals can be oil-rubbed, burnished or brushed to give them an aged look or a softer feel. It’s the tone of the metal that is most important, as it should tie into the color story you’re creating, whether that story is warm and inviting or cool and calming.

“When you’re mixing metals in a space, choose tones that complement each other,” says Stephanie Schefano of Lovelace Interiors in Destin. “For instance, for a room with warm tones like red and brown, choose a warm metal like copper, gold or brass. The same applies to a room with a cool palette like blues and greens — these are spaces where you’ll want to use metals like silver or chrome.”

Schefano, with six years of experience decorating some of the most luxurious homes in the area, has observed changes in the use of metals. “Chrome and silver will always be favorites, but bright and varying shades of gold and brass are actually really big again. Iron is always great for a neutral metal also, and it never seems to lose its style or appeal.”

“Combining metals is great because it creates depth and visual interest to a space and almost adds layers to the design,” says Donna

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A sprinkling of bright gold tiles adds shimmer, while polished copper pendant lamps radiate warmth and reflect surrounding light.

PHOTOS BY SCOVAD (INTERIOR), GOLFX (TILES), OLGA PRAVA (LIGHTING FIXTURES) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

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Designers advise using a primary metal to establish tone and placing a contrasting metal around the space to add energy and movement.

Zambetti, independent design consultant and owner of D.Z.N.Y., based in Gulf Breeze. For 30-plus years in this industry, her work has taken her all over the country. “It’s important to realize, however, that when you want to add metals to a space, you should always take your cues from the tones of the room in selecting your primary metal. With that said, adding a contrasting metal as a pop to the primary tone of metals is a great effect, and I recommend doing it in three areas to keep the eye progressing throughout the space. It’s amazing to see the difference it can make, whether you’re doing it in accessories or in fixtures.”

Such a focus on metal in design is impacting the offerings of home accents, popping up in everything from lamps to wall art and even textiles. Metallic tones are no longer restricted to actual metals; so influential have they become that virtually nothing is off limits — and that makes the mixing all the more chic.

“Using an eclectic mix of metals will really help you define your own style,” says Linda Mugglin, owner of Tassels Interiors in Panama City, whose 18 years as an interior designer has given her extensive knowledge of trends. “There's no such thing as design police, so don't be afraid to be adventurous!” EC

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CRAFTING

CONFIDENCE Sugar Beach Interiors designs to your lifestyle

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t the age of 14, Karen Waterfield, president of Sugar Beach Interiors, drew her first set of floor plans. Years later, her purpose, talent and passion were realized and pursued, resulting in the opening of Sugar Beach Interiors in 1986. The firm prides itself on longevity and expertise, two qualities it has sustained over the years, but it all began with a pencil put to paper.

Sugar Beach Interiors is a full-service design firm offering new construction, remodels, furniture rental packages, showroom piece selections and more, ranging in price points, styles and customization options. With a vast selection of services and a team of licensed designers, Waterfield has always sought to make interior design less intimidating — instead providing customers with a pleasant experience that results in your vision coming to life throughout your walls and halls.

“We’ve been doing this for years day in and day out, and that’s why customers come to us and trust us to guide them — because many have never built a home before or remodeled a condo,” said Waterfield. “We can guide you in the right direction and away from mistakes in order to save you money in the long run and keep the process stress free.”

Our interior designers aim for an inclusive experience by educating themselves on the customer’s lifestyle. Through conversations about wants, needs, likes and dislikes, the design team puts their creativity to work alongside their expert knowledge to present a redesigned space, construction tips or stunning statement pieces that cater to your needs.

“Our mission is to create beautiful homes that are comfortable and stress free,” said Waterfield. “We don’t want a home to reach a level where it’s no longer enjoyable or a room is hands off. We won’t tell you how to live your life, but we will provide solutions that work for you and allow you to be comfortable and confident in your own home.”

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photography by JOHN HARRINGTON

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This WaterSound home boasts a custom mantle and fireplace as the focal point of the living room. Cool gray tones are complemented by pops of yellow and further emphasized with elements of wood, stone and greenery. Artwork by local artist Justin Gaffrey

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LEFT: This outdoor living area beckons you to spend all your time outdoors. This oasis features a stunning coquina stone fireplace, beautiful weathered wood ceilings and cozy spaces to lounge. It’s the perfect place to entertain or simply relax. TOP RIGHT: Sleep and sit in luxury with a custom Bernhardt bed, chairs and ottoman. Select patterns, textures and colors to suit your style. BOTTOM RIGHT: This total remodel by Michelle Brookins in Gulf Shores, Alabama, features brilliant blues and turquoise hues that match the view.

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EXTERIORS

DRIVEWAYS THAT BECKON

by LIESEL SCHMIDT

L

ike diamonds, real estate is an investment that usually holds its value.

And, as diamonds have a handy group of “C” words to describe key attributes (carat, cut, color, clarity), real estate has a handier group of three “L” words: location, location, location.

Two other words critical to real estate are curb appeal, which influence a first impression, perhaps the only impression. While a home may be impressively built and stunningly designed, something as simple as the driveway can frame its high points or initiate a sense of dissatisfaction.

Concrete driveways, while practical in nature and generally the costeffective choice for contractors, can be cracked, damaged and stained by weathering and extreme temperatures. It takes little time for them to become unsightly, which, let’s face it, kicks curb appeal to the curb. But even plain concrete can be repaired and given an added layer of reinforcement that resurfaces it and creates visual appeal.

Whether you’re working with a preexisting slab that’s been cracked and damaged or you simply want something with a more luxurious look, the concrete can be resurfaced with layers of textured spray that helps repair

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The smooth granite-texture finish of this resurfaced concrete driveway counterbalances the crisp angles of the house.

areas of damage, reinforces the concrete and seals it from the elements.

Or, if the look of stone suits your fancy, you can hire a concrete contractor to create customized, stone-like patterns that incorporate color into the design.

“Homeowners often want to improve the look of their driveways — for their own enjoyment or to improve their property value and the appearance of their home when they’re trying to sell — without the expense and mess of removing and replacing the concrete,” says Rory Fairly, CEO of CTI Color-Crete in Fort Walton Beach. “We have developed techniques for decoratively enhancing concrete driveways with customized designs that create a durable upgrade to the existing surface. It is beautiful and works with their cracked concrete without having the added expense of removing and replacing it.

“We use a high compressive strength, modified concrete product that can be applied in virtually any color, and all of our applications are topcoated with industrial grade concrete sealers, which not only increases the life of the concrete but also makes it highly stain-resistant.”

PHOTO BY IRINA88W / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Tips on driving up curb appeal

Oriental Rugs • Natural Fiber Rugs Custom Rugs • Cowhides • Sheepskins The Crossings at Inlet Beach 13123 E. Emerald Coast Parkway, Inlet Beach 850.230.4425

C.M. Taylor Contracting, Inc. Custom Homes & Remodeling www.cmtaylorcontracting.com

Chris Taylor Owner CBC1253010

Cell: 850.830.3305 Chris@CMTaylorContracting.com www.cmtaylorcontracting.com

We build each home as if it were our own

CMTAYLORCONTRACTING.COM | 850.830.3305

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When buying or selling your home, Ask for

abodes

McNeese

It is your home. It matters.

15 Ye a r A nni v er sa

ry

McNeese Title offers: Licensed Attorneys on Staff Title Services Closing Services Title Insurance Escrow Services Professional Courier 1031 Exchange Department

↑ Options for textured driveways include natural-looking stone and symmetrical tile patterns.

Two offices to serve you: DESTIN 36468 Emerald Coast Parkway, Ste. 1201, Destin, FL 32541 P 850.337.4242 | F 850.337.4243 | Toll-free 866.337.4242 SEAGROVE 3291 E. County Hwy 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 P 850.534.4242 | F 850.534.4293 | Toll-free 877.534.4242

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Experts will tell you that proper installation is vital to achieving a lasting surface.

“It’s key to thoroughly clean the concrete first with an acid compound and power wash it before the cracks are repaired — but the repairs have to be done properly or they will become a recurring problem even after the concrete has been resurfaced,” says David Veazey of Emerald Coast Concrete Designs, LLC, in Pensacola. Once the cracks have been repaired, a base coat is applied over the concrete surface and then sprayed in a four-step process with the texture and colors of the client’s choosing, Veazey explains. The end result is a mildly textured finish that is slip-resistant, stands up well under the elements and resists staining. “Really, the aesthetic appeal is the main selling feature in texturing concrete driveways or adding any sort of decorative element to them.” EC

PHOTOS BY DAIZUOXIN (STONE TEXTURE), KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ (TILE-TEXTURED DRIVEWAY) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

IMPROVING LIVES BY DESIGN ONE CLOSET AT A TIME It’s easy to let it all go in the closet after you shut the door. Especially if you’re busy being productive or enjoying all the Emerald Coast has to offer. We collaborate with you to match your wants with your needs. Organizational challenges can actually be fun with an experienced guide there to think it through with you. Life is too short to spend it hunting for things you know you have, but you just can’t find. At Closet Solutions Florida, organizing is our passion. Ease goes hand-in-hand with a well-designed space.

1

1.

MASTER The average human

makes 35,000 decisions a day. Cut that way down and get your day off to a good start by getting dressed in a master closet.

2.

PANTRY

It’s so much easier to figure out meals when all your supplies are easy to see and in close reach. Be well equipped when your appetite begins to inspire you.

3.

MURPHY

One of the advantages of living on the Emerald Coast is people love to come visit. You don’t need a bigger house, you need a wall bed.

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4.

LAUNDRY

Has laundry become a chore?

Ever thought it might just be your laundry room’s fault? Turn procrastination into an act of selfcare and efficiency.

© ORG Home

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2

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© ORG Home

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➺ CLOSET SOLUTIONS FLORIDA (850) 714-3851 | ClosetSolutionsFlorida.com

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

THANK YOU FOR VOTING

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SPONSORED REPORT

AD

Easy Breezy W

aterscape on Okaloosa Island is your ultimate resort for family fun and relaxation. Picture yourself at one of the area’s most luxurious Gulf-front properties, set along 490 feet of pristine sugar-white sand and emerald green waters in the heart of Northwest Florida. Each unit at Waterscape is angled to maximize the breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows to enhance the background when spending time in the condo. The three gorgeous buildings that make up Waterscape surround a dramatic split-level courtyard, with fantastic views of the property’s three beautiful swimming pools, waterfall lazy river and two hot tubs — all of this overlooking a stunning view of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to these gorgeous amenities, tucked inside the courtyard, you will also find barbeque grills, trellis-covered tables, a children’s playground and a handicap-accessible boardwalk leading you directly to the Gulf.

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SPONSORED REPORT

AD

Among the many amenities offered at Waterscape, you will also find free seasonal beach service that includes two beach chairs and umbrella when you book your stay with ResortQuest By Wyndham Vacation Rentals. That also includes seasonal kids club amenities such as: create your own bear workshops, tie-dye T-shirt making, movies by the pool, airbrushed tattoos, hair wraps, shaved ice and even a display of fireworks every Wednesday night during the summer blasting off at 9 p.m.

When you stay at Waterscape, find yourself within walking distance of locally owned restaurants serving fresh Gulf seafood, a boardwalk where you can shop, dine and enjoy live music, a fishing pier, nightlife, watersports and an adventure zone, including mini-golf, a 4-D movie theatre and the area’s largest arcade … to name a few!

Set the perfect scene for your next getaway and book your next family vacation, relaxing retreat or long weekend with ResortQuest

by Wyndham Vacation Rentals at Waterscape on Okaloosa Island — unrivaled on the Emerald Coast for relaxation and fun.

WATERSCAPE | RESORTQUEST BY WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS // EXPERIENCEWATERSCAPE.COM 1110 SANTA ROSA BLVD, FORT WALTON BEACH // (844) 510-8592 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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SPONSORED REPORT

AD

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SPONSORED REPORT

AD

TOP RIGHT: Waterscape is located on 490 feet of pristine beach offering fantastic views of the Gulf. As a ResortQuest guest, daily beach service, two chairs and an umbrella are included with your stay. BOTTOM RIGHT: A space for the little ones. On the upper deck of the courtyard you’ll find a children’s splash pad and playground. LEFT: The view from the leap pads and waterfall showcase the fun to be had at Waterscape by the whole family! Waterscape is situated around a number of fun water features, all of which overlook the Gulf of Mexico.

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SPONSORED REPORT

AD

TOP LEFT: Hop in the lazy river, take a spin through a waterfall and soak up the sunshine! BOTTOM LEFT: Welcome to Waterscape. When you book your stay with ResortQuest by Wyndham, enjoy a number of amenities to include free DVD rentals, beach chair set up, bikes, kids club activities and so much more!

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SPONSORED REPORT

The Waterscape pool in the evening is the perfect time to relax from a long day in one of the hot tubs or catch a movie by the pool, provided seasonally from our kids club.

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abodes GARDENING

Pesky Pests

By AUDREY POST, MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

There are several ornamental landscape plants that fall under the common name “ginger” but do not produce an edible rhizome. True ginger, Zingiber officinale, is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Ornamental gingers add pop to the north Florida landscape and are perennial in our area, often going dormant in winter. A heavy layer of mulch should keep them comfortable until spring. In addition to the four popular ornamental gingers described below, other gingers seen in area landscapes include pine cone ginger, spiral ginger and torch ginger.

Butterfly ginger: Hedychium coronarium is one of the most popular ornamental gingers for the home garden because it’s beautiful and its flowers smell heavenly.

It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads to a clump about the same width. Each flower bud can produce hundreds of showy white flowers over a 6- to 8-week period. Plant in full sun to part shade; the more sun it gets, the better it blooms.

Peacock ginger: Kaempheria makes a great ground cover and is often suggested as a replacement for hostas, which seem to struggle here in Zone 8b. Plant in full to partial shade and keep moist until established.

Like other ornamental gingers, peacock ginger loses its leaves in winter.

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Variegated shell ginger: With 2-foot green and yellow leaves that emerge from the base of the plant in a spiral, variegated shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet “variegata”) makes a striking appearance. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and about as wide.

Plant in full sun to part shade and keep moist.

Blue ginger: Dichorisandra thyrsiflora sends up 10-inch spikes of showy purplish-blue flowers in the fall, which unlike most ornamental gingers, also makes a nice cut flower for arrangements. Plant in moist, well-drained soil in the shade.

Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) get their name from their natural defense of releasing a sticky substance with a nasty odor to deter predators. They thrive in areas of heavy vegetation and can cause deformity to crops such as peaches and pecans, as well as some vegetables, including tomatoes and beans.

The best way to keep stink bugs under control is to keep your garden beds clean of debris such as weeds and spent plants. To keep the bugs out of the house, make sure windows are screened and caulked.

Natural predators are ladybugs, praying mantises, toads and birds, so encourage these friends to inhabit your garden. Plant sunflowers and French marigolds to attract insects that feed on stink bugs.

If stink bugs’ numbers get out of control, spray with insecticidal soap.

© 2015-2018 PostScript Publishing, all rights reserved.

Audrey Post is a certified Advanced Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County. Email her at Questions@MsGrowItAll.com or visit her website at msgrowitall.com. Ms. Grow-It-All® is a registered trademark of PostScript Publishing Inc.

PHOTOS BY RPFERREIRA (BUTTERFLY GINGER), EDSON HARDT (VARIEGATED SHELL GINGER), PAYLESSIMAGES (BLUE GINGER), KENDONICE (PEACOCK GINGER), BEE_PHOTOBEE (STINK BUG), SADDAKO (CARDINAL) / GETTYIMAGES PLUS

Ornamental Gingers Brighten a Landscape

Spotlight on Stink Bugs

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The Best 25,000 square feet and 90 vetted dealers has made Smith’s the favorite with decorators, locals, and tourists for 24 years.

Voted Best on the Emerald Coast for 18 consecutive years!

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32 FOREST SHORE DRIVE, MIRAMAR BEACH, FL OFF HWY 98, A MILE WEST OF SILVER SANDS PREMIUM OUTLETS EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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Voted Best Mortgage Lender

4 Consecutive Years!

Your Monthly Garden Chores JUNE

➸ Most early summer vegetable plants are spent, so clear them out of your garden beds. You can either replace them with something that can take our summer heat, such as cherry tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and okra, or amend with compost and cover with mulch until fall planting.

As the Branch Manager I am bringing you the Best Mortgage Team on the Coast

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Michael Castleberry Branch Manager

www.BOEFWB.com 850-362-6488

348 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Ste #37 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Loan Officers Covering the Coast

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➸ Consider adding roselle, also known as Jamaican sorrel or Florida cranberry, to your garden or landscape. This variety of hibiscus, a cousin to okra and cotton, has beautiful foliage and flowers. It produces tart calyxes that can be used like cranberries just in time for the fall holidays. ➸ Finish pruning azaleas and other spring-flowering shrubs. The buds for next spring’s bloom begin forming in July and you don’t want to remove them by late pruning.

JULY

➸ Root cuttings from woody ornamental shrubs such as hydrangea,

➸ Cut back leggy perennial and annual flowers to encourage fuller growth and a new flush of blooms. ➸ If you don’t have a

compost pile going, start one now. Let the heat of summer help your organic waste from your kitchen and your garden break down into a helpful soil amendment.

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PHOTOS BY CHENGYUZHENG (OKRA), ALEXXL66 (GARDEN SHEARS ) / GETTYIMAGES PLUS

viburnum and forsythia. Select a long stem of hardened new growth and remove any flowers. Cut each stem so there are two pairs of leaves on each section, and plant in moist potting soil or vermiculite. Place in the shade and keep moist; plant in the ground next spring.

It’s time for your Energy Checkup.

Get your free Energy Checkup and receive personalized recommendations and tips on how you can save money and energy.

Visit MyGulfPower.com/EnergyCheckup

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SPONSORED REPORT

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

The Premier Property Group - The Lofts New Beach Condos at Seacrest Beach

by RACHEL SMITH

Coming soon. Condos from the mid-$200,000s with 30A beach access, club-style amenities and 90-day minimum rentals. The Lofts at Seacrest Beach offers new construction at a vanishing price point near Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach between WaterSound Origins and 30Avenue.

The 120 newly constructed and attractively finished 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom residences feature 17 floor plans in two four-story, access-controlled buildings.

LIST PRICE: From the mid-$200,000s​ ADDRESS: 65 Red Bud Lane, Seacrest Beach SQUARE FEET: 586 to 1,393 BEDROOMS: 1, 2 and 3 BATHROOMS: 1 and 2 YEAR BUILT: 2017

APPEAL: The Premier Property Group is honored to offer this fresh alternative for local and part-time residents. Combining modern luxury with proven appeal and an immediate revenue stream for prospective landlords/long-term rental property buyers, The Lofts at Seacrest Beach delivers a high-end experience at a fraction of the cost. Ideally situated in the area’s hottest locale with attractive financing terms through BancorpSouth.

CONTACT: Karen Doyle or Keith Flippo, The Premier Property Group (850) 312-8870 Lofts@ThePPG.net TheLoftsatSeacrest.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY THE PREMIER PROPERTY GROUP - THE LOFTS

FEATURES: 30A beach access; resortstyle swimming pool; outdoor living area with big-screen TV, fire pit, grilling area and summer kitchen; 24-hour fitness center; clubhouse/event room with cyber cafe, kitchen and Starbucks coffee maker; big-screen TV lounge; conference room; modern finishes throughout; accesscontrolled; 90-day minimum rentals​.

3- and 4-bedroom residences offered from $2,150,000 | Completion expected Summer 2018 31on30A.com | 850.296.2366 | Located on Hwy 30A in Seagrove Beach

LF

GU

Artist’s Rendering

NT

O FR

New Construction

518 Vera Cruz Dr Holiday Isle DESTIN

4 Bd | 5 Ba | 4,018 Sq Ft | $1,459,000

2393 Co Hwy 30A #702 WHITE CLIFFS PENTHOUSE 5 Bd | 4 Ba | 3,908 Sq Ft | $3,195,000

Offered by Erin Martin c: 850.685.3242 | erinmartin@theppg.net

LF

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Offered by Shaun Roberts c: 850.621.2800 | sroberts@theppg.net

NT

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Lot Brown Street SEAGROVE BEACH

5 Bd | 5/1 Ba | 3,589 Sq Ft | $1,998,000 Offered by Josh Jimenez c 850.585.8360 | josh@theppg.net

IEW

V KE

LA

New Construction

53 Caliza Lane ALYS BEACH

4 Bd | 4/1 Ba | 2,922 Sq Ft | $2,975,000 Offered by Keith Flippo c: 850.543.5187 | keith@theppg.net

New Construction

New Construction

Lot 13 Dune Side Lane BLUE MOUNTAIN

22954 Ann Miller Road MILLER’S LANDING

3 Bd | 2/1 Ba | 1,690 Sq Ft | Private Pool | $597,500

3 Bd | 2.5 Ba | 1,580 Sq Ft | $319,000 Offered by Dan Johnson c: 850.624.5055 | dan@theppg.net

Offered by Elizabeth Bell Schermerhorn c: 240.994.0090 | elizabeth@theppg.net

SEACREST BEACH | WATERCOLOR | SEASCAPE | NICEVILLE

ThePremierPropertyGroup.com

This advertisement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. This advertisement is not intended to solicit properties currently listed by other real estate brokerages. All advertised square footages should be verified by the buyer. Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits of value, if any, of these properties.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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SPONSORED REPORT

DEAL ESTATE

SECOND HOME

Live a Life Less Ordinary

Mediterranean-style waterfront home offers style and luxury beyond typical beach homes

by RACHEL SMITH

This custom-built luxury residence, constructed in 2012 and featuring Mediterranean-inspired architecture, welcomes you home directly on the waterfront of Okaloosa Sound in Navarre.

With endless views of the Gulf of Mexico, you will be thoughtfully positioned within an exclusive enclave neighborhood directly south of Highway 98 in Navarre. The home comprises four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, more than two floors of exquisite living space, designed with an elevator shaft and a parking space underneath on the ground level. In close proximity to the beautiful beaches of Navarre and Pensacola to the west with Fort Walton Beach, Destin and the beaches of South Walton/30A to the East.

LIST PRICE: $985,000 ADDRESS: 9369 Palmetto Ridge Court, Navarre SQUARE FEET: 3,240 sq. ft. of living space, plus 650 sq. ft. of covered porches; 1,769 sq. ft. covered parking and porch BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 3 YEAR BUILT: 2012 FEATURES: Custom-built waterfront luxury residence; Mediterranean-inspired architecture; stunning spiral staircase in foyer; exceptional entertaining spaces inside and out maximizing the waterfront views; gourmet kitchen featuring custom cabinetry, granite and high-end stainless appliances; master bedroom retreat with private balcony directly on the water; high ceilings throughout with floor-toceiling windows; expansive views over the intracoastal waterway of Okaloosa Sound and the Gulf of Mexico; deeded boat slip on the private community dock maintained by homeowners association.

CONTACT: Rachel Simerly, Realtor, CRS, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), ResortQuest Real Estate (850) 621-2032 RachelSellsDestin@gmail.com Rachel.RQEmeraldCoastRealEstate.com

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PHOTOS BY LISA TURNAGE

APPEAL: “Mediterranean-inspired custom waterfront luxury residence located directly on Okaloosa Sound in Navarre.”

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TRAIL RIDES MONDAY– SATURDAY 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, & 3 PM

FRANK THE DONKEY

TRAIL RIDES | PRIVATE LESSONS | CAMPGROUND | BIRTHDAY PARTIES WITH PONY RIDES LIVE MUSIC | WEDDINGS | FESTIVALS | FRIDAY FARM HOUSE CONCERT SERIES CORPORATE EVENT PACKAGES | HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE RENTALS

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613 South County Hwy 393, Santa Rosa Beach | (850) 208-3114 30Ahorsefarm.com | gulfsidetrailrides@gmail.com | eventsatgulfside@gmail.com

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

expression JUN/JUL 2018

CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES

MUSIC

Old Soul Gulf Breeze teen wows with Dylan tune on ‘The Voice’

by HANNAH BURKE

↖ At ease on stage, Xaris Waltman impressed “The Voice’” judges including Adam Levine.

STAGE photography by TODD DOUGLAS

Bay High Grad and Oscar Nominee on Her New Film

|| BOOKS

Poet Laureate Brings Literary Gifts to the Beach

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expression

Waltman tried out for “The Voice” in Nashville; in Los Angeles, she performed for the judges and a live TV audience.

I

n Greek mythology, Charis was a goddess of charisma, beauty and song. Like her namesake, young Xaris Waltman has established that her divine purpose is to spread mirth through music, and she’s not wasting any time. Indeed, at 18, she already has entertained millions, if only for a few minutes, on NBC’s “The Voice.”

During middle school, she received a record player and a Peter, Paul and Mary vinyl for her birthday. Containing original compositions as well Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot covers, it was, for Xaris, love at first listen.

“It was my first time really experiencing the American ballad,” recalls Waltman, now 18.

“That album’s roots branched out to all these other folk artists, so I kept on collecting. Now I have about 500 records, and they’re kind of overtaking my room!”

The Gulf Breeze native also amasses instruments, her first being a guitar at the age of 8. Though her father passed on a few chord

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fingerings, the songstress mainly took to YouTube, where she devoured virtual lessons and tutorials between homeschooling sessions. She says her private studies allowed more time for

“ I started writing my own music in eighth grade, performing in little coffee shops, and I knew it was something I wanted to do as a career.”

— Xaris Waltman musical discovery and self-taught virtuosity on the ukulele, piano, pennywhistle, harmonica and banjo.

Currently, she’s flirting with the mandolin.

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

“I was very shy when I was little, and I still am,” she admits. “But I realized being up on stage was the one place that never bothered me, and I liked that feeling. I started writing my own music in eighth grade, performing in little coffee shops, and I knew it was something I wanted to do as a career.”

In 2017, Xaris graduated from local venues to Los Angeles, where millions of viewers saw her audition for season 13 of “The Voice.” Landing that gig was an arduous process, beginning with a preliminary audition in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I went up there with my friends, not really expecting much,” Waltman laughs. “I mean, we got there at 5 in the morning, and there were about 5,000 people wrapped around the building in line … there was no way this was going to happen!”

Hours later, Waltman auditions and is the only person in her room to advance to the next round. Three more tryouts and several

photography by TODD DOUGLAS

COAS TAL C U LT U R E A R T S A N D E N T E R T A I N M E N T E V E N T S A T G R A N D B O U L E VA R D

FOOD

BALLET 2 0 1 8

ARTS

MUSIC

C A L E N D A R

FASHI O N

O F

THEATRE

E V E N T S

EV E RY SAT UR DAY, 9AM – 1PM

M AR C H 2 3 – 2 4

M AY 1 6 – 2 0

SEPTEM BER 2 9

N OVE MB E R 2 0

G RA N D BO UL E VA RD FA RME RS ’ MA RKE T

PURSES WITH A PURPOSE benefiting Shelter House

NORTHWEST FLORIDA THEATRE FESTIVAL

SINFONIA SWINGS ON THE BOULEVARD

HO LI D AY O P E N HO U SE & WALK - AB O U T

official Art Week South Walton event produced by Emerald Coast Theatre Company

presented by Sinfonia Gulf Coast

M AR C H 2 9

J A N UA RY 12 – 15 30A SON GWRITERS FESTIVAL benefiting The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

THUR S – SUN , J A N UA RY 18 – 28

DO GGIE EGGSTR AVAGANZ A benefiting Dog-Harmony

AP R I L 2 6 – 2 9 SOUTH WALTON BEACHES WINE & F OOD F ESTIVAL

“THE AMISH PROJE C T” P E RFO RMA N CE

benefiting Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

presented by Emerald Coast Theatre Company at 560 Upstairs

M AY 5

F E B R UA RY 8 MY FURRY VALENTINE benefiting Dog-Harmony

THUR S – SUN , FEBRUARY 15 – MARCH 4 “SYLVIA” PE RFO RM ANCE presented by Emerald Coast Theatre Company at 560 Upstairs

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION WITH CANTINA L AREDO

M AY 1 2 – 1 3 ARTSQUEST F INE ARTS F ESTIVAL official Art Week South Walton event produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

M AY 2 4

OC TOBER 2 0

N OVE MB E R 2 0 – DE C E MB E R 2 5

BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST

FE ST I VAL O F T R E E S

benefiting Junior League of the Emerald Coast

WAG THE FLAG benefiting Dog-Harmony

OC TOBER 2 5

EV ERY THUR SD AY, M AY 3 1 – AUGUST 2

BARKTOBERFEST benefiting Dog-Harmony

THEATRE THURSDAYS

OC TOBER 3 1

presented by Emerald Coast Theatre Company

HALLOWEEN ON THE BOOLEVARD

JUNE 2 3 BALLET AT TWILIGHT presented by Northwest Florida Ballet

NOV EM BER 1 7 – JANUARY 1 , 2 0 1 9 COASTAL WHITE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY LIGHTS

AUGUST 3 0 DOG DAYS OF SUMMER benefiting Dog-Harmony

benefiting more than a dozen local charities

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Since middle school, Waltman, 18, was drawn to the music of ’60s masters such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

flights to California later, and she’s in front of Adam Levine, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson and Blake Shelton … kind of. Their backs are turned to her in the spirit of the show’s “blind audition” format.

None of the judges elect to spin around during her rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice,” but by the looks on their faces when they see her afterward, they wish they had.

“You’re such an old soul!” Levine exclaimed. “You sound way beyond your years. I was imagining Dolly up there, but then we turn around and see this young kid, beautiful and shining. I think you’ve got a great voice — and clearly have incredible taste.”

There was something else the Maroon 5 front man advised that wasn’t shown on TV. “He said I was ready to do this on my own … that I don’t really fit into the image of Hollywood, which I agree with.

I didn’t really like that whole scene, anyway, and I’m going to take a more authentic route.”

Right now, that means recording her debut, folk/Americana album, singing soulful singles like “Old Man,” “Peace Road” and “Uncle Andrew, Where Have You Gone?” that resonate with New Grass Revival and her Joni Mitchell-style pipes. Yeah, she does the genre justice.

Though you can still catch her at local dives, Waltman is embarking on her first cross-country tour this year. As we speak, she’s in Tennessee, making arrangements for the Ranger Bluegrass Festival she’ll be playing this October.

“My biggest dream is to just keep traveling, meeting people and supporting myself through music. Music today isn’t genuine. I want mine to tell a story: If the song’s happy, be happy! If it’s sad … let yourself feel sad. Just feel something.” EC photography by TODD DOUGLAS

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STAGE

MAKING FILMS, MAKING A DIFFERENCE Cori Shepherd Stern is devoted to helping others

by JENNIFER JONES

A

t an early age, Panama City native Cori Shepherd Stern knew she wanted to bring compelling stories to film.

So much so that, while in middle school, she phoned Disney Studios and made her first movie pitch. As she grew older and her skills and experience caught up with her determination, she followed her heart and her mother’s example and set out to make her mark in Hollywood. She recalls how her desire to become a professional storyteller began.

“I entered the Bay Language Arts Council drama competition when I was a student at Northside Elementary,” Stern said. “I performed monologues from beautifully written plays like ‘Our Town’ and won several years in a row. That definitely sparked my love of wellwritten and well-told stories. I still have one of the trophies I won, all these years later, which is remarkable because I am a minimalist and own very few things. It’s incredibly meaningful to me and has made me a fierce advocate for arts education in schools. I am a very proud product of the Bay County public education system.”

Stern got started in the entertainment industry working for the producers and creators of the Power Rangers. She created a series starring then 16-year-old Ryan Gosling called “Breaker

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High,” and was the executive producer of a reality series, the “Great Pretenders,” featuring a pre-Black Eyed Peas Fergie as the host.

Although she found much success in entertainment television, she also found herself burned out from the non-stop work.

“The Emerald Coast is a very special place. It made me who I am.

People from here are generally kind, deeply genuine, funny and darn good storytellers.”

— Cori Shepherd Stern “I was drawn to figure out how I could use my skills in a way that was more helpful to the world,” Stern said.

The loss of an uncle to AIDS inspired her to assist people afflicted with that disease. She collected AIDS drugs from people in West Hollywood whose regimens had been changed and gave them to doctors who desperately needed them for patients in Nigeria.

Her work with AIDS communities inevitably resulted in heartbreak. She got to know many people as friends who then succumbed

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to the disease. Too, she lost a friend in Nigeria to tuberculosis and one who was injured in an accident and was unable to obtain medical care.

Along the way, she met Paul Farmer, an American anthropologist and physician well known for his humanitarian work. Farmer both helped her through sorrowful times and provided the basis for her documentary film, “Open Heart.”

“I’d met a little boy in Nigeria who desperately needed heart surgery,” Stern recalled. “I came home and tried to find surgery for him, but was unable to do so before he died. But his doctor encouraged me to try to find surgery for another little girl who needed it.”

This time, she was successful. The girl flew from Nigeria to the United States on her 12th birthday for surgery that saved her life.

“That let me know what was possible,” Stern said. “And I learned about the horrors of rheumatic heart disease. I kept helping kids and some adults get surgery for various things.”

Years later, while working on “Bending the Arc” in Rwanda, she found herself following the story of eight children who needed surgery, a story that would led to “Open Heart,” which was released and nominated for an Oscar in 2013.

PHOTO BY KATHY HUTCHINS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Cori Shepherd Stern, a Bay High graduate, was nominated for an Oscar for her documentary “Open Hearts,” about eight Rwandan children in need of life-saving heart surgery and two African surgeons who fought to make it happen.

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← Stern consults with South Korean-American physician and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, one of three health-care leaders featured in her 2017 film “Bending the Arc,” co-produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. ↑ Cori Shepherd Stern, on set with onlookers, directs the shooting of a pilot in Los Angeles.

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advocacy and public relations organization.

“Bending the Arc” has been shown across the country in educational, health centers and community settings. She was on hand in Panama City last October when the Panama City Cinema Society conducted a showing of the film. Stern took questions from audience members and discussed challenges presented by the making of the film.

While in town, Stern also was a panelist at Panama City’s CreativeCon where she was readily embraced as the producer of “Warm Bodies” (2013).

“Don’t ever assume that it’s not possible for you,” she advised CreativeCon attendees. “Of course you have to put in the work, try, fail, and get up and do it again, but most people who are good don’t know how good they are.

Conversely, a lot of people who think they’re gifted and don’t need to put in the work aren’t particularly great; they’re just audacious. Work hard and be kind to everyone. That matters.”

Stern believes strongly that geography shouldn’t determine destiny, “but it can shape your soul.” She is highly cognizant of her own good fortune, growing up in Northwest Florida.

“We take so much for granted because, where we live, we can get the help we need to sustain our lives,” Stern said. “The Emerald Coast is a very special place. It made me who I am. People from here are generally kind, deeply genuine, funny and darn good storytellers.

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

I am proud of where I’m from. It is the place that allowed me the freedom and support to explore what I could become.” And did. EC

ORGANIZATIONS THAT MATTER TO CORI STERN AND THE WORLD ➸ STRONGHEART GROUP specializes in implementing innovative story-to-impact strategies to bring about large-scale social change at global and national levels. They build purpose-driven campaigns around personal stories in order to create solidarity and elevate people and issues. Its voice is heard around the world. strongheartgroup.org ➸ PARTNERS IN HEALTH makes house calls, builds health systems and stays to operate them. In Liberia, Rwanda and any of the other countries where its personnel work and live, Partners in Health goes where it is needed most. It works in close partnership with local government officials and the world’s leading medical and academic institutions to build capacity and strengthen health systems. pih.org ➸ SALAM CENTER FOR CARDIAC SURGERY, based in Sudan, believes that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care. salamcentre.emergency.it

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF CORI SHEPHERD STERN

The children, who’d never left their villages, traveled by themselves nearly 2,000 miles to Sudan for risky life-saving operations. Their parents could not be sure they would return.

Their hearts had been ravaged by rheumatic fever, caused by strep throat that went untreated due to non-availability of medical care.

Stern and her film crew became family to the children, encouraging and comforting them, fretting like parents while filming as professionals, through a heart-wrenching experience. The surgeries — and the film — were successful and strengthened Stern’s faith and fortitude.

“Bending the Arc,” released in 2017, shines a light on the transformative and healing work of three humble, yet unstoppable leaders in global health: Farmer, Jim Yong Kim and Ophelia Dahl, founding partners of the nonprofit organization Partners in Health.

The film focuses on their work, their impact on policies worldwide and their triumphs in saving lives.

As a public speaker, Stern has made appearances around the world and back where it all began.

As a panelist at the Skoll World Forum in 2017 at the Sundance Institute in Utah, she spoke about her work and addressed empathetic storytelling and the moral imagination.

She was there both as a filmmaker and as the co-founder of Strongheart Group, a nonprofit

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expression BOOKS

A Poet Laureate in South Walton Beth Ann Fennelly talks about sand, sun and her micro-memoirs

by ERIN HOOVER

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Fennelly’s newest book, Heating & Cooling, is a collection of “micromemoirs” that affirm in vivid, poetic detail that life is beguiling, things could be worse and often they are.

Emerald Coast Magazine: How did you become involved in Longleaf Writers Conference?

Beth Ann Fennelly: Matt Bondurant, one of the founders of the conference, is a professor here at the University of Mississippi, and he talked about his involvement and wanted the university to be a partner in it. It seemed like a great opportunity — an in-depth and dedicated conference in a beautiful place. I loved that there were opportunities for our students to attend, to increase their professionalization, meet contemporary writers and have dedicated time to focus on their craft.

EC: As Mississippi’s poet laureate, you’re working to bring poetry into more lives in your state. How did you become a poet? What is poetry’s role for you?

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

BAF: I always did creative things as a child and didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my vague, inchoate urge to engage in the world in that way. When I was in college, I took my first class in contemporary poetry, my first creative writing workshop. I just fell in love and thought I would never do anything but poetry my whole life.

For me, poetry is a way of feeling through things, whereas essays are a way of thinking through things. I think poetry helps educate the emotions. We think our emotions are perfectly clear and accessible, but that’s rarely the case. By reading poetry, we educate our emotional lives and prepare ourselves spiritually and cognitively for the scenarios that life presents to us.

Now I’m deeply in love with prose writing,

PHOTO BY DIANNE BOND

easide recently welcomed Mississippi’s poet laureate, Beth Ann Fennelly, to Longleaf Writers Conference as part of Art Week South Walton. (See our article on the conference, formerly called Seaside Writers Conference, in April’s issue of Emerald Coast).

Fennelly has published three poetry books: Open House, Tender Hooks and Unmentionables, all with W. W. Norton; a book of essays, Great With Child: Letters to a Young Mother (Norton); and The Tilted World (HarperCollins), a novel she co-authored with her husband, Tom Franklin. Her newest book, Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs (Norton), is a collection of “essays that are sometimes as short as 10 words ... but add up to a surprisingly maximalist portrait of a life (New York Times Book Review).”

For a week in May, this poet laureate and professor in the MFA program at the University of Mississippi taught essay writing to a group of fortunate writers at Longleaf Writers Conference. We caught up with Fennelly to talk about the micro-memoir form and why conferences like Longleaf are important for writers.

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as well. I have published six books: three of poetry and three of prose. When I write essays, I’m a little more conscious of writing to thinkers and readers, I’m working through my own thoughts as I go, and I’m more aware of an audience. When I write poems, I’m not really thinking of an audience until much later.

EC: Was it a natural transition to writing nonfiction?

BAF: It was. There was no motivation or anyone urging me to do anything but poetry. I just found myself wanting a wider canvas, wanting to think through some thornier issues that seemed to function better in the expansive sentence as opposed to the music of the line.

EC: What was your experience writing Heating & Cooling?

BAF: My husband and I had finished this long novel (The Tilted World) that required a lot of research and frankly was pretty high stakes, because we were both working on it for four years. I thought afterwards I would write another novel, but I couldn’t seem to get anything started. I was writing weird little thoughts in my notebook, tiny little memories. Nothing was adding up.

But I didn’t have that terrible, frustrating

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feeling that I would expect of writer’s block.

I felt like I was enjoying what I was doing.

That enjoyment led me to question, is there something that’s working here? I think I’m not writing, but maybe I am writing, and I don’t recognize it as writing because (these pieces) don’t look like the other things I’ve written, like poems or a novel or a memoir. I came up with the term micro-memoir, and that helped me conceive of the book.

EC: How are the micro-memoirs in Heating & Cooling organized?

BAF: I wanted them to stand alone. I didn’t conceive of them or write them chronologically, so it was tricky to organize them — it was like organizing a book of poems. Ultimately I organized them for maximum variety. For instance, I didn’t want to group all the short ones together, or all the adolescent ones together, or all the sad ones together. I wanted the experience of reading the book to be the experience of working through very diverse emotions, with crisp edges, very rapidly.

EC: By crisp edges, do you mean the borders of the tiny form?

BAF: If you’re writing a novel, you can work through many emotions in one piece. (In the

June–July 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

↖ Fennelly co-wrote The Tilted World (2013) with her husband, author Tom Franklin. Her latest work, Heating & Cooling, was published in 2017. ↑ Fennelly and Franklin were featured at the May 2018 Longleaf Writers Conference in Seaside.

micro-memoirs,) I wanted there to be tonal variation, for one to be difficult, one to be silly, one to be sexy, etc. … Because they were small, I felt I could go as far into an emotion as I wanted, but the next piece wouldn’t have to go into that emotion or address it. I liked that they could be discrete.

EC: Many writers struggle to gain time for their writing. How do you do it?

BAF: I understand that the world is never going to say, “Beth Ann, did you write a poem or an essay today? Were you thoughtful?” The world is just going to say, rush, rush, rush and buy, buy, buy. One has to create a new narrative about privileging the imagination and respecting the necessary time commitment to write. Not just talking about writing, or not being someone who has written but someone actually writing.

That puts the demand on me to find a dedicated time. I’ve become a morning writer ever since I had kids. I try to make sure I get my writing done before I do other things. EC

PHOTOS BY DIANNE BOND (FENNELLY AND FRANKLIN), SOULART (BOOKS ON TABLE TOP) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / COURTESY OF BETH ANN FENNELLY (BOOK COVER ART)

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PROMOTION

ARTS & CRAFTED WITH PURPOSE

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Excels in Commitment to Arts and Community Outreach

By Rebecca Padgett

T

he power and impact of the arts is proven by research, community support and the smiles that appear when a person puts brush to canvas or listens to a song that recalls happy times. For 23 years, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation has made it their mission to build a foundation of arts and culture in the Okaloosa and Walton county communities.

The 325,000 served by the foundation can attest to the impact made.

Mattie Kelly was a Destin matriarch, an artist and a lifelong patron of the arts. She and husband, Coleman Kelly, were one of Destin’s founding families and were prominent business owners and philanthropists that were influential in the tourism, fishing and arts industries. After her passing in 1992, Kelly

left behind 52 acres and a hope for continued promotion of the arts.

By 1995, a handful of early visionaries set out to honor the legacy of Mattie Kelly by opening the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, a nonprofit charitable arts foundation with the dual purpose of presenting cultural events and providing funds and awareness through community outreach initiatives.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation is often confused with the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, but the two share no affiliation. While the organizations applaud each other’s efforts toward the arts, MKAF wishes to differentiate themselves to ensure donors, volunteers and community members are aware of their mission, events and services.

Residents and visitors to the Emerald Coast are likely familiar with two of MKAF’s major events: Concerts in the Village and Festival of the Arts. The 15-concert series attracts thousands of attendees to the scenic green space and architecturally intricate Dugas Pavilion inside the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. The Festival of the Arts features over 200 artists and is a two-day event recognized as one of the Southeast’s premier art festivals.

The heart of MKAF beats because of their outreach programs. The population they serve is diverse and includes K-12 children, children with autism, adults with special needs, veterans, active military and more.

These programs provide access to the arts and therapeutic experiences at no cost to the recipient. Whether it is a child with autism dancing along to music or a veteran struggling with PTSD seeking solace through art projects, the purpose of these programs is to spread the positive impact of art.

“I have been with MKAF for 20 years, and I treat my career as my ministry,” said Marcia Hull, chief executive officer MOORE, MKAF EDUCATION of MKAF. “I can’t MELANIE DIRECTOR AND ROBERT DOVE, U.S imagine what the ARMY STAFF SERGEANT (RETIRED) world would be like without arts and culture — and, luckily, we don’t have to. My job and the purpose of MKAF is to raise awareness, help our community thrive through arts and culture and continue to build an infrastructure that further expands our outreach programs.”

Want to learn more about MKAF? For information on MKAF, its programs and events, visit: mattiekellyartsfoundation.org.

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BRIGHT FUTURES INSPIRES FUTURE LEADERS Taylor Sheekley has always aspired to be a strong leader.

Inspired by her parents, an Air Force colonel and an attorney, the Bright Futures Scholarship Program served as a powerful motivator for Taylor during her years at Niceville High School.

Taylor focused on keeping her grades up and preparing for college entrance exams, eventually qualifying for a Medallion level scholarship. She took the community service requirements of the Bright Futures Program seriously, hoping to gain leadership skills while her community benefitted. She tutored as a Key Club member and volunteered at Grace Rides, a charity that introduces children with disabilities to horses and riding.

“The financial assistance provided by Bright Futures enabled me to make the most of my years at the University of Florida, including non-academic experiences that prepared me for my role as Marketing Coordinator at Proffitt PR, a Miramar Beach public relations firm,” says Taylor.

She aspires to one day have an agency of her own.

“I like being a leader and setting an example,” Taylor says. “One day, I want to be in charge.”

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DOC McENERY

Retired physician sees the other side of the curtain while seeking emergency care at Sacred Heart

A

fter coming home from a dinner party one Sunday night, Doc McEnery began complaining of chest pains that soon went away. But three days later, when one of his legs swelled to double its normal size, the retired physician recognized that he had a sizable blood clot and knew he needed medical care — fast!

Doc McEnery and his wife, Sistie, came to the Emergency Department at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, where an ultrasound revealed a nearly six-inch blood clot. He was quickly admitted and met interventional radiologist Dr. Aaron Montgomery. Dr. Montgomery explained that he needed a procedure to dissolve the clot, while at the same time applying a filter to catch the clot in case it came loose and moved toward his heart.

“As a retired physician, I know a thing or two about these issues, what needed to be done and what the risks were,” said Doc McEnery.

“This entire experience was marvelous and done without a hiccup.

I’ve been fine ever since!”

Medicine is truly a family affair in the McEnery household. Doc McEnery’s son-in-law, who is a physician, specializes in interventional radiology, caring for patients with conditions like his father-in-law. He was thankful that Dr. Montgomery took the time to call him about his father-in-law’s procedure and keep him informed throughout the hospital stay.

“We are so fortunate to have this hospital here!” said Doc McEnery, who has spent winters in Florida ever since retiring from his practice in Chicago 18 years ago. “I’ve been in this community long enough to remember what it was like before Sacred Heart built this campus. We’ve

got a real treasure here and real quality doctors,” he added.

Today, Doc McEnery is back to playing golf, biking and spending time with his wife and friends.

With their winter home just a few miles from the Sacred Heart campus, Doc McEnery and Sistie drive by the hospital frequently.

“Every time I pass by,” said Sistie “I make the sign of the cross and pray, ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you,’ because Sacred Heart saved my husband’s life.”

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C

hloe and Beau Vignes thought their pregnancy was fairly normal, until Chloe’s 30week prenatal checkup, when they found out their son, Ripley, was not on track for growth. Two weeks later, at the 32-week appointment, Chloe’s doctor performed an ultrasound and announced Chloe needed to be admitted right away. Baby Ripley was not stable, his heartbeat was not strong and the doctor was concerned about his lung development. That very night, Chloe’s doctors decided she needed an emergency C-section. Ripley was born weighing only 2 lbs., 10 oz., and measured 15 inches long.

“I watched the nurses working,” said Beau, “and I could sense the tension in the air. Then, I breathed a sigh of relief when one of the nurses started dancing.”

Ripley emerged crying, which made the team instantly relieved, given the concern over his lung development. Ripley was immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in one of the hospital’s neonatal transport ambulances.

“It’s hard to imagine what we would have done without the NICU,” says Beau. “They were extremely accommodating and supportive as we were dealing with a brand new experience and challenge in our lives.”

Ripley stayed in the NICU for 28 days before he was discharged home.

“Our experience at Sacred Heart was remarkable,” says Chloe. “They just welcomed us with loving arms.

They are still a part of our family today. We still do a lot with the NICU to support the current NICU families who are in the same situation that we were.”

As a way to give back to the Children’s Hospital and support other families, Chloe serves on the planning committees for the Sacred Heart Foundation’s annual Preemie Cup and The Studer Family Children’s Hospital’s annual NICU reunion.

She also participates in several Foundation events throughout the year.

Today, Ripley is a healthy and happy little boy who loves drawing, soccer and T-ball.

GiveSacredHeart.org or call (850) 416-4660 today!

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Stories

Heart from the

SPON SORED REPORT

Pensacon

Gaming For The Kids In video games, it’s easy to get an extra life. But, when it comes to sick and injured kids, there is a need for specialized doctors ... and extra special hospitals.

That's why Pensacon hosted its first ever Charity Gaming Stream, helping raise more than $12,500 for the children and families in the care of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. Funds were raised by celebrity games — James Werk and GSXR Clyde — through a three-day charity gaming stream on Pensacon’s Twitch Channel.

20th Annual Radiothon

Caring for Kids along the Gulf Coast

Dance Marathon

Dancing for those who can’t More than 500 students. 12 hours of dancing. 22 participating teams. $60,890 raised. We are grateful for the University of West Florida Dance Marathon program’s incredible support of children and families treated at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

Our patients’ families and caregivers once again inspired and amazed us with their love and support for The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. We thank Wind Creek Atmore, NASH 102.7 WXBM, Soft Rock 94.1, Magic 106.1 FM, Jet 100.7, 1370 WCOA, and Cox Business for their generous support, and we thank our incredible volunteers and patients’ families for giving so generously of their time to help raise $51,492 in support of the children and families in our care.

A BOU T TH E SACR ED H E A RT FOU NDATION Since 1915, Sacred Heart Health System has been at the heart of healing for Northwest Florida and South Alabama. Like our founders, the Daughters of Charity, Sacred Heart is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate healthcare to the citizens of our regions, regardless of their ability to pay. This steadfast commitment to our community could not have been achieved without the support and generosity of the thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations that have donated to Sacred Heart Foundation.

Through this charitable giving, Sacred Heart Foundation has been able to provide millions of dollars of free and low-cost healthcare to the poor, uninsured, under-insured and low-income families. With the help of generous donors, we are proud to partner in Sacred Heart’s mission of care along the Gulf Coast.

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MARK YOUR

CALENDAR 5TH ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARD LUNCHEON

AUGUST 22, 2018 JOIN US AS WE HONOR THE 2018 PINNACLE AWARD RECIPIENTS and hear from our keynote speaker Debbie Calder, Executive Vice President for Navy Federal Credit Union and past Pinnacle Award recipient.

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY PANAMA CITY BEACH in the St. Joe Foundation Ballroom of the Holley Academic Center

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

850BUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM /PINNACLE-AWARDS PRESENTED BY

850 BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S 2018

PINNACLE AWARDS HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

SPONSORED BY

PINNACLE AWARDS June–July 2018

For additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Mandy Chapman at mchapman@rowlandpublishing.com

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HONORING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN

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JUNE 7-OCT. 11

Concerts in the Village Voted as one of the top 10 things to do in Northwest Florida by the Florida Travel & Tourism Guide, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s 23rd annual multi-week outdoor concert series features a variety of music for all ages. This year, the series will be held through Oct. 11. Local and regional touring artists will perform everything from Motown and rhythm-and-blues to disco and rock’n’-roll during this family-friendly series. This year’s lineup includes The Temptation Revue, Captain Fantastic 52nd Street & Boogie Fever, The Petty Hearts, The Return, Velcro Pygmies, Purple Masquerade, Walter Wolfman Washington, The Maxx, The M-80’s, Gloria’s Miami Sound with Nikki Torres, Emerald Gold, Pickled

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Pickers, Luke Langford & 331 South, Forrest William Band and The Wide Open.

Bring a lawn chair, picnic and wine or purchase soft drinks and dinner prepared by a featured restaurant or one of the on-site food trucks.

Tickets will be available for purchase at mattiekellyartsfoundation.org as well as at the gate, which opens at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $15. Foundation members and children (12 and under) are free.

All proceeds benefit MKAF and its community outreach programs.

Call (850) 650-2226 to inquire about membership or to purchase a VIP table.

calendar PROMOTION

JUN/JUL 2018 For more events in the EC, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com

JULY 4

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION (OUTDOOR CONCERT), SANDESTIN GOLF & BEACH RESORT (RED, WHITE & BAYTOWNE, WAKULLA COUNTY TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT (SOPCHOPPY), 850 MAGAZINE (PINNACLE AWARDS)

Red, White & Baytowne

→ The Village of Baytowne Wharf is the spot to be on the Fourth of July for our Red, White & Baytowne celebration. Beginning at 6 p.m., enjoy lawn games, inflatables, kids crafts and face painting. Then enjoy live music from Donovan Keith on the Events Plaza Stage at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks display that will light up the night sky at 9:15 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf is located within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Learn more at sandestin.com/events/detail/red-white-baytowne

REGIONAL

AUG. 22

PINNACLE AWARDS →

Time to make your arrangements to join us for the annual Sopchoppy 4th of July Celebration. This event will take place at the Myron B. Hodge City Park in Sopchoppy from 11 a.m. until the last boom from our dazzling fireworks display.

850 Business Magazine’s fifth annual Pinnacle Awards is set to honor 10 outstanding women from an 18-county region of Northwest Florida at this yearly awards luncheon. This year’s keynote speaker will be Debbie Calder, Executive Vice President for Navy Federal Credit Union and past Pinnacle Award recipient. This award spotlights leading women in business who hold themselves to high standards and contribute to the betterment of the community. These honorees will be profiled in a future issue of 850 Business Magazine in 2018.

Learn more at visitwakulla.com/events/sopchoppy-4th-of-july-celebration

Learn more at 850businessmagazine.com/pinnacle-awards

REGIONAL

JULY 4

SOPCHOPPY 4TH OF JULY →

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LOCAL TICKETS. ONE PLACE. 850Tix is your source for local events across Northwest Florida. From the same trusted awardwinning team that has published Emerald Coast Magazine for more than 17 years, our goal is to promote the community our readers know and love. From festivals to tours and sports to the arts, the event choices in Northwest Florida are endless and all on 850Tix.com.

Have an event that needs ticketing and marketing? Call Brian Rowland at (850) 878-0554 or visit 850Tix.com to learn more.

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calendar

VOTE SCUBA TECH FOR BEST SCUBA DIVE SHOP/DIVE CHARTER BOAT!

JUN/JUL FEB/MAR 2018 2018

FIESTA OF FIVE FLAGS MAY 30–JUNE 10 Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna was the first non-native to stake claim over the settlement of Pensacola. Since then, French, British, Confederate and U.S. flags have flown over this land.

Pensacola’s “Fiesta of Five Flags” begins with the Grand Fiesta Parade through downtown Pensacola on June 1. The following day, the procession marches seaward with the Centennial Imports Fiesta Boat Parade. The Fiesta All Krewe Ball and De Luna Landing Ceremony are among other festivities to follow at multiple venues through June 10.

the St. John 7th Annual Faith & Hope Concert. The sum of proceeds will benefit the St. John Catholic School in Panama City. Marina Civic Center, Panama City marinaciviccenter.com/events

BILLY BOWLEGS PIRATE FESTIVAL JUNE 1, 2, 4 Join Cap’n Billy for a swashbuckling celebration of all things pirate, as his

DIVING & SNORKELING HEADQUARTERS • NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

FOR YOUR FIRST SCUBA DIVE

fiestapensacola.org

BANDS ON THE BEACH

FOR THE EXPERIENCED DIVER

MAY 31–OCT. 30

4-hour two tank dive trips to wrecks and reefs!

It’s time to bust out the beach chairs at Pensacola Beach for Tuesday night musical treats. Enjoy local bands performing under the stars, starting at 7 p.m. Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola Beach

No experience necessary!

Our friendly instructors guide you untethered to a depth of up to 40 feet. Family fun for everyone!

scubatechnwfl.com

850-837-2822

301 Harbor Blvd. (Hwy. 98), Destin 1/2 mile east of the Destin Bridge

visitpensacolabeach.com/whatshappening-bands-on-beach/

THEATRE THURSDAYS PHOTOS BY JONATHANRPHOTO (GUITAR), ANDREUSK (KIDS) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

MAY 31–AUG. 2 Families of fairies are invited to Grand Boulevard every Thursday evening as the Emerald Coast Theatre Company performs William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream on the green. Each show is prefaced by a play session with Abrakadoodle, where little princes and princesses can create crafts and get their faces painted for free. Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach grandboulevard.com/movies-dining-eventsfun/events-locations-ticket-info/

ROOTS AND BOOTS JUNE 1 Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye perform classic country for

infamous krewe raids Fort Walton Beach with grub, family-friendly merriment and live sea shanties. All scallywags are invited to watch the ships moor the Landing in “Defense of the City” and to witness Mayor Dick Rynearson duel the pirate plunderers. No matter if it results in parley or a walk off the plank, festivities stretch into Monday, when the Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade commences at 7 p.m. Over 100 floats convene for this 63rd annual event, tossing doubloons and booty as they “sail” down Eglin Parkway and Uptown Station. The Landing, Fort Walton Beach billybowlegsfestival.com

‘END DAYS’ JUNE 1–3 Jesus Christ, Stephen Hawking, an Elvis Impersonator and the imminent Apocalypse are key players in this funny play about the wild life of young Rachel Stein. “End Days” is an emotionally charged, compelling comedy.

Kaleidoscope Theatre, Panama City Beach kt-online.org

ROCK THE DOCKS LIVE CONCERTS JUNE 2–AUG. 18 Flock to the dock on Saturdays this summer and boogie down with local rock stars. Jam sessions are free and

LET’S GO BOWLING! 34876 Emerald Coast Pkwy. / (850) 654-5251 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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AVOID THE SUMMER BRAIN DRAIN! One-to-One Instruction • Grades K-12 • Month-to-Month Tuition Summer Programs • Free Diagnostic Testing

calendar

JUN/JUL FEB/MAR 2018 2018

begin at 7 p.m. HarborWalk Village, Destin emeraldgrande.com/events

hilariously depicts what happens when opposites clash under one roof. Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola

SUNDAY CINEMA

pensacolalittletheatre.com/shows--events

JUNE 3–JULY 29

BRIT FLOYD ECLIPSE WORLD TOUR

Each Sunday at 7:30 p.m., the Events Plaza Lawn of Baytowne Wharf transforms into an outdoor, summer cinema, offering free showings of family-friendly classics, such as “Brave,” “Finding Dory,” “Minions” and “Moana.” Pack your own seating and snacks, and enjoy.

JUNE 12 You won’t have to venture to the dark side of the moon for this tribute to Pink Floyd. Brit Floyd recreates the genre-bending music of Pink Floyd’s most iconic album in honor of the 45th anniversary of “Dark Side of the Moon.” Saenger Theater, Pensacola pensacolasaenger.com/events

SUMMER SLAM VOLLEYBALL JUNE 17 Spectators are invited to cheer on the teams as men and women from around the Southeast meet in Panama City Beach to compete in the region’s biggest beach volleyball tournament, the Panama Jack Summer Slam. With cash prizes and bragging rights, a lot is at stake. Sharky’s Beach Front Restaurant & Tiki Bar

sandestin.tutoringcenter.com • 655 Grand Blvd., Suite D106, Sandestin (Next to Publix)

baytownewharf.com/what_to_do.php

DESTIN’S NEWEST ATTRACTION

through our Escape into a world of adventure ole indoor 18-h amazing rainforest-themed arcade! and rse blacklight miniature golf cou EXTRA LARGE PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE

WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERTS JUNE 6–SEPT. 26 With the Village of Baytowne Wharf’s weekly concert series, you never know if it’s a night for bluegrass, jazz, country or funk. Whatever your groove may be, local musicians provide the perfect pick-me-up each hump day to rock you through the rest of the week. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach Baytownewharf.com/what_to_do.php

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES JUNE 7–AUG. 9

visitpanamacitybeach.com/event/panamajack-summer-slam/22244/

BLUE MARLIN CLASSIC JUNE 20–24 The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, in its 16th year, is one of the region’s premier fishing tournaments, hosting local and international anglers who compete for four days in hooking billfish, tuna, wahoos and more. The Classic is presented by Wind Creek Casino & Hotel – Atmore. Families are invited to welcome boats back from their voyage and to witness weigh-ins.

On Friday, the docks feature live music, cooking demonstrations and fireworks.

Baytowne Marina, Miramar Beach

Outdoor concerts, a cold one on the lawn and your favorite people by your side? Sounds like summertime.

Families and their pets are welcome to free concerts in the park each Thursday this summer. Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/summerconcert-series

‘THE ODD COUPLE’ JUNE 8–17

RAINFORESTBLACKLIGHTGOLF.COM • 850.460.8878 11394 U.S. HWY. 98 W., SUITE D • MIRAMAR BEACH

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Felix, an obsessive-compulsive cleaner, has given up on life because his wife just left him. Oscar, renowned slob and Felix’s best friend, is quick to invite him into his home. This classic, relatable tale

sandestin.com/events/detail/emerald-coastblue-marlin-classic

PHOTOS BY 8 FIFTY PRODUCTIONS (BOATS) / HALBERGMAN (FILM PROJECTOR) / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

850.424.7935

BALLET AT TWILIGHT JUNE 23 The Northwest Florida Ballet Company takes the stage at Grand Boulevard to present an elegant recital of contemporary and classical choreography. With the moon as a spotlight, enjoy this free, alfresco performance on the lawn. Bring your own towel or chair. Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach grandboulevard.com/movies-dining-eventsfun/events-locations-ticket-info

SMOKE ON THE COAST BBQ AND FIREWORKS JULY 3 Seventeen local restaurants and pitmasters cook up a storm at Destin Commons, vying for the title “Best in BBQ.” For just a dollar per sampling, vote for your favorite and enjoy live entertainment and an electric fireworks show. Destin Commons, Destin destincommons.com/destin-events/centerevents/event/40-smoke-on-the-coast

PCB STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR

HARBORWALK 4TH OF JULY

JULY 4

Festivities feature live performances

by Just Add Fire and Nashville singer/ songwriter Kevin Sport, followed by a fireworks extravaganza. Events start at 7 p.m. and end with a bang.Harborwalk Village, Destin

JULY 4

Independence Day is full of firecrackers and Roman Candles, but take time to reflect on the origins of the holiday, dating to the Revolutionary War that led to establishment of a new, independent country: the United States of America.

A Veterans Memorial Ceremony pays tribute to men and women who have served our country and defended its principles, followed by brilliant evening pyrotechnics. Aaron Bessant Park, M.B. Miller County Pier visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/ realfunfourth

RED, WHITE & BAYTOWNE JULY 4 Enjoy BBQ and fireworks, live music and child-friendly entertainment.

The fireworks will fly over the Choctawhatchee Bay in bursts of red, white and blue. Village of Baytowne Wharf sandestin.com/events/detail/red-whitebaytowne

emeraldgrande.com/events-3/

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT SEVILLE JULY 4 Sertoma Clubs presents day-long festivities featuring live music, recreation for kids and tasty street fare before hosting a giant pyrotechnics display in Seville Square. Seville Square Park, Pensacola

flight.Pensacola Beach visitpensacola.com/event/2018-pensacolabeach-air-show/2958/

HOPE FOR HEROES AND HORSES 5K JULY 22 Participants are hoofin’ it through a 5K run/walk for the HOPE Project, a local non-profit dedicated to rescuing horses and connecting them with veterans, first responders and those in need of healing through human-to-animal connections.

792 Highway 20, Panama City visitpanamacitybeach.com/event/hope-forheroes-and-horses-5k-walk-run/21857/

‘MARY POPPINS’

pensacolafireworks.com

JULY 27–AUG. 12

BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW

The beloved tale of a magical nanny, two unruly children and their confused parents comes to life at the Pensacola Little Theatre. With both classic and new songs to sing along to, it’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola

JULY 14 The Blue Angels fly home to Pensacola Beach. Pick a place on the beach and keep your eyes to the skies to see elite, Naval aviators showcasing their piloting prowess through choreographed team

pensacolalittletheatre.com/shows--events

Book Online!

www.destinsnorkel.com * SNORKELING * * SHELLING * * DOLPHINS * SUNSETS * 10 Harbor Blvd - Destin, Florida - In Harborwalk Village

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES Emerald Coast Magazine Feb/March issue Pop-up Party MARCH 21 Give us a reason to celebrate and we will be there with balloons in hand, drink glasses clinking and confetti at the ready. Emerald Coast Magazine launched its first pop-up party event in honor of the February/March issue. The night was full of celebration including the build-your-own flower bar by Fiore of Pensacola, mini-expo of Modus Photography’s art and delicious libations and fare by Skopelos at New World.

Visit emeraldcoastmagazine.com/Blogs/The-ECBlog/News-2018/Emerald-Coast-Magazine-PopUp-Party-at-Skopelos-at-New-World for a recap of the night’s festivities, gifts, special guests and more!

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PHOTOS BY MACKENZIE LIGAS

1 ​Kristine Rushing, Lumon May, Fred Levin, Reid Rushing and John Hutchinson 2 Liz Pelt, Laura Savoie and Shelley Ragsdale 3 Chandler Williams and Benjamin Murphy 4 Kasia Szabo 5 Jon Deckert, Christine York, Benjamin Murphy and Cherlyn Murphy

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6 Chef Gus 7 Fred Levin and Brian Rowland 8 Adrienne Mayarden, Mike Johnson, Phyllis Johnson, Mayor Ashton Hayward and Carol Carlin

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VOTE for ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES Orthopedic Surgical Practice Specialty Surgical Practice Medical Practice Physical Therapy Practice

as BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST

850.865.8562 | DIPSWIMWEAR.NET |

11394 US Highway 98, Suite 1 | Next to The Melting Pot and Sushimoto

850-863-2153 | www.orthoassociates.net

Improving Lives with Great Design - One Closet at a Time

End Decision Fatigue

Master Closets • Laundry Rooms • Garages Home Offices • Pantries • Specialty Spaces

850•714•3851

www.ClosetSolutionsFlorida.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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PROMOTION

SOCIAL STUDIES The Junior League of Panama City

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2017-2018

The Junior League of Panama City, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Holly Fair paves the way for continued community improvements as it helps fund JLPC projects throughout the year. For more, visit jlpanamacity.org PHOTOS COUTESY OF JLPC

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1 ​Nikki Childree, Lorrie Wilson Buschmeyer, Senator George Gainer, Alicia Carothers and Lindsey Mathews 2 Sarah Carroll, Toni Jordan, Tina Kennon and Brittany Fishel Trumbull 3 Britney Norton and Annese Andrieu 4 Valerie Sale, Elizabeth Johnson Stamps, Nikki Childree and Jenifer Ross 5 Lauren Presser Williams and Tricia Berry

SOCIAL STUDIES South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival APRIL 26-29 More than 5,000 people attended South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin over the four-day event. Attendees tasted more than 800 wines and spirits, enjoyed meeting celebrity winemakers and distillers, attended popular tasting seminars and live entertainment. The new Rosé All Day Garden proved to be a popular destination within the festival.

PHOTOS BY SHELLY SWANGER

1 Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russell 2 Jennifer Smith and Jennifer Steele 3 Michael Reed – American Barrels founder 4 Yoshie Eddings – Harbor Docks 5 Rob Samuels

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ADVERTORIAL

AVANTGARDE SALON SPA Caring for Hair and Hearts

When you visit a salon, the goal is to leave feeling fulfilled, happy and grateful for the services received.

Hair stylists, particularly those of Avantgarde Salon Spa, have a knack for giving — especially to their community.

A

vantgarde’s vision statement was a collaboration between owner, Joseph Rogers, and his mother, Ann Rogers, whose influence was essential and cherished.

It perfectly expresses the environment that he and his business partner, Deke Rogers, seek to create, not only in their salon but also throughout the Emerald Coast community. Avantgarde is a fashion-forward, high-style, architecturally pleasing haven for guests, service providers and the team itself. The salon gives creative freedom to team members and nourishes their talent, all while showing them the importance of giving back to the community through local charities.

“We love supporting the community that has supported us for over 20 years,” said Joseph. “At Avantgarde, we deeply care for the environment and community we live in.”

Each year, the salon chooses charities to focus on. The 2018 charities are the Apalachicola Riverkeeper, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Others of Destin.

The Apalachicola Riverkeepers intertwines with the community in many ways as it preserves natural, scenic and commercial waterways. Supporting Apalachicola Riverkeeper coincides with AVEDA’s Earth Month fundraiser that the salon participates in each year.

In October, the salon involves their guests in raising funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Throughout the year, the salon’s house charity is Others of Destin, which works to

JOSEPH AND DEKE ROGERS

stand in the gaps for those who need help getting back on their feet and advocating for those who are trying to get out of the cycle of poverty.

Last year, the salon raised $25,000 at the Avantgarde 4 Others Wine, Cheese & Silent Auction as a part of Top Salon fundraising efforts. The total amount they’ve raised for all three charities totals $130,000.

Avantgarde claims their charity involvements are their proudest endeavors, but they also have been recognized as a “Top 200 Salon” for 16 years by Salon Today Magazine, have won “Emerald Coast Top Salon” for four consecutive years and have been voted “Best Salon on the Emerald Coast” for the past 17 years.

“What makes working at Avantgarde so special is not only do we get to do what we love, providing great customer service, but we also get to work for a company who is always giving back to the community we live in,” said Stacy Agerton, event coordinator and Destin Commons store manager.

Shoppes of Destin (850) 654-5057 | Destin Commons (850) 654-1303 | Niceville (850) 678-1000 To learn more about Avantgarde Salon Spa, visit avantgardeaveda.com or call (850) 654-5057.

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T

he Emerald Coast region merges the allure of tourism, the bustle of developing businesses and the comfort of family-oriented communities. These cities provide our homes, our workplaces and our sources of enjoyment. All along these coastal towns we have come to savor the flavor of our favorite restaurants, entrusted our hairstylists with the latest do, found our favorite sunset spots for sipping cocktails, planned our weekend activities at the local parks and sought care from our trusted physicians. Valued aspects of our lives are enhanced by the businesses from which we seek services. For delivering to you quality products, exceptional customer service and cherished experiences, they deserve recognition. As a way to express your gratitude, nominate your favorite businesses and cast your ballot for the 2018 Best of the Emerald Coast awards.

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2018 OFFICIAL BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST BALLOT brought to you by: THE RULES OK, get your pens ready. But first, please take note of our rules, which are designed to make the contest as fair as possible: • Only ballots printed on original magazine pages will be accepted — no copies (color or black-and-white) or facsimiles of the ballot.

• Ballots must have votes in at least 20 categories.

• All votes must be for locally owned Emerald Coast-area businesses. Locally owned and operated companies are defined by the owner or managing partner living in the Emerald Coast area or within a 30-mile radius of the Emerald Coast.

• Only one ballot per envelope is permitted.

•N o incentives, prizes, goods or services may be offered in exchange for votes.

•B usinesses may not require ballots to be turned in to a central location; ballots must be filled out independently and mailed to address listed below.

•A ll ballots must be mailed directly to the post office box address below: Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors 500 Grand Boulevard, Suite 210 Miramar Beach, Florida 32550 • Ballots must be postmarked by July 6, 2018.

• Obvious attempts at ballot stuffing will be disqualified.

• Any winning business must be in good standing with Rowland Publishing Inc. in order to be promoted as a “Best of Winner.”

Once ballots are counted, all tabulations are final.

Emerald Coast Magazine will recognize the results of the winners for every category in the Oct/Nov issue. If a business is voted “Best Of” in more than two categories, the top two highest voted will be selected in the final tabulations to determine and announce the winning businesses.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Appetizer: _______________________________________________________________________________ Asian: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Atmosphere: ___________________________________________________________________________ Bakery: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Bar/Tavern: _____________________________________________________________________________ BBQ: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Beer Selection/Craft Beer: ________________________________________________________ Bloody Mary: ___________________________________________________________________________ Breakfast: ________________________________________________________________________________ Brewery: __________________________________________________________________________________ Brunch: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Cajun/Creole: __________________________________________________________________________ Chef: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Chicken and Waffles: _______________________________________________________________ Chinese: __________________________________________________________________________________ Coffee: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Crab Cakes: _____________________________________________________________________________ Crawfish: _________________________________________________________________________________ Dessert: __________________________________________________________________________________ NEW Distillery: _________________________________________________________________________ Fine Dining: _____________________________________________________________________________ Food Truck/Airstream: _____________________________________________________________ French: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Gourmet/Food Shop/Speciality Food Store: ______________________________ Grouper Sandwich: __________________________________________________________________ Gumbo: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Hamburger: _____________________________________________________________________________ Happy Hour: ___________________________________________________________________________ Healthy Menu Options: ____________________________________________________________ Hibachi: __________________________________________________________________________________ Frozen Treat (Ice Cream, Yogurt, Gelato, Snow Cones): ________________________ Italian: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Locally Owned Restaurant: ______________________________________________________ Locally Made Product: _____________________________________________________________ Margarita: _______________________________________________________________________________ BENEFITING

Martini: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Mediterranean: ________________________________________________________________________ Mexican/Latin American: _________________________________________________________ Mojito: ____________________________________________________________________________________ NEW Nachos: __________________________________________________________________________ Onsite Catering: ______________________________________________________________________ Outdoor Bar: ___________________________________________________________________________ Outdoor Dining: _______________________________________________________________________ Oysters: __________________________________________________________________________________ Pizza: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Restaurant in Bay County: ________________________________________________________ Restaurant in Escambia County: _______________________________________________ Restaurant in Okaloosa County: _______________________________________________ Restaurant in Walton County: __________________________________________________ Romantic/Special Occasion Restaurant:____________________________________ Salad: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Sandwich Shop: _______________________________________________________________________ Seafood Market: ______________________________________________________________________ Seafood Restaurant: ________________________________________________________________ Seafood Steamer: ____________________________________________________________________ NEW Shrimp Salad: __________________________________________________________________ Sports Bar: ______________________________________________________________________________ Steakhouse: ____________________________________________________________________________ Sushi: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Thai: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Tuna Dip: ________________________________________________________________________________ Wedding Caterer: ____________________________________________________________________ Wine List/Wine Bar: _________________________________________________________________ Wings: ____________________________________________________________________________________

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Acupuncture Clinic: _________________________________________________________________ Aesthetician: ___________________________________________________________________________ Airport: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Architect: ________________________________________________________________________________ Audio/Visual Provider : ������������������������������������������������������������ SPONSORED BY

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Automobile Dealership: ___________________________________________________________ Auto Repair/Body Shop: ___________________________________________________________ Bank: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Boat Sales and Service: ____________________________________________________________ Builder/Contractor: _________________________________________________________________ Cardiologist: ____________________________________________________________________________ Car/Limo/Shuttle Service: ________________________________________________________ Charity/Nonprofit: ___________________________________________________________________ Charter Boat: ___________________________________________________________________________ Cheerleading/Gymnastics Facility:____________________________________________ Chiropractic Practice: ______________________________________________________________ Commercial Real Estate Group: ________________________________________________ Computer Services/Tech Support:____________________________________________ Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice:____________________________________________ Credit Union: ___________________________________________________________________________ Customer Service: ___________________________________________________________________ Dance Studio/Ballet Company: ________________________________________________ Dental Practice: _______________________________________________________________________ Dermatology Practice: _____________________________________________________________ NEW Dive Charter Boat: ___________________________________________________________ Electric Cart/Golf Cart Dealership: ___________________________________________ Event Planning Firm: ________________________________________________________________ Event Venue: ___________________________________________________________________________ Eye Doctor Practice: ________________________________________________________________ Family Physician/Practice: _______________________________________________________ Financial Planning/Investment Firm:_________________________________________ Flooring: _________________________________________________________________________________ Florist: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Full Service Spa: ______________________________________________________________________ Gym/Health Club/Fitness Center/Studio: _________________________________ Hair Salon: ______________________________________________________________________________ Heating and Air Service: ___________________________________________________________ Holistic/Alternative Health: ______________________________________________________ Homeowner’s Association: _______________________________________________________ NEW Hotel: ______________________________________________________________________________ Insurance Agency: ___________________________________________________________________ Interior Design Firm: ________________________________________________________________ Landscaping/Lawn Service: _____________________________________________________ Law Firm: ________________________________________________________________________________ Lighting Store: _________________________________________________________________________ Locksmith: ______________________________________________________________________________ Martial Arts/Karate: _________________________________________________________________ Massage Therapist: __________________________________________________________________ Media Provider (Cable, Internet, Phone): ____________________________________ Medical Center/Hospital: _________________________________________________________ Medical Practice: _____________________________________________________________________ Medical Spa: ___________________________________________________________________________ NEW Mental Health Services: ___________________________________________________ Mortgage Lender: ____________________________________________________________________ Nail Salon: _______________________________________________________________________________ New Business:__________________________________________________________________________ On-site Dry Cleaner: ________________________________________________________________ Oral Health Care Specialty Practice:__________________________________________ Orthodontist Practice: _____________________________________________________________ Orthopedic Surgical Practice: ___________________________________________________ Pediatric Practice: ___________________________________________________________________ Personal Trainer: _____________________________________________________________________ Pharmacy: _______________________________________________________________________________ Photo Booth Company:_____________________________________________________________ Photography: __________________________________________________________________________

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Physical Therapy Practice:________________________________________________________ Plumbing Fixtures/Service: ______________________________________________________ Pool Building/Service Company: ______________________________________________ Printing/Copying Services: _______________________________________________________ Property Management Group:___________________________________________________ Prosthodontics Practice:___________________________________________________________ PR/Advertising Agency: ____________________________________________________________ Residential Real Estate Group: _________________________________________________ NEW Roofing: __________________________________________________________________________ Security/Alarm System: ___________________________________________________________ NEW Sign Company: ________________________________________________________________ Specialty Fitness (Pilates, yoga, etc.): _______________________________________ Specialty Pet Services/Products: ______________________________________________ Specialty Surgical Practice: ______________________________________________________ NEW Storage Facility: _______________________________________________________________ Title Company: ________________________________________________________________________ Tutoring/Learning Center:________________________________________________________ Vacation Rental Company/Service: ___________________________________________ Veterinary Practice: _________________________________________________________________ Videography: ___________________________________________________________________________ Watersports:____________________________________________________________________________ Wedding Planner Company: _____________________________________________________ Wedding/Reception Venue: _____________________________________________________ Weight Loss Facility: ________________________________________________________________

SHOPPING

Antiques Shop: ________________________________________________________________________ Beachwear Retailer: _________________________________________________________________ Children’s Clothing Retailer: _____________________________________________________ Consignment/Resale Shop: ______________________________________________________ Eyewear Store: ________________________________________________________________________ Furniture Retailer: ____________________________________________________________________ Gift Shop: ________________________________________________________________________________ Jewelry Store: _________________________________________________________________________ Locally Owned Retailer: ___________________________________________________________ Men’s Accessories: __________________________________________________________________ Men’s Apparel: ________________________________________________________________________ Men’s Shoes: ___________________________________________________________________________ Outdoor Furniture Retailer: ______________________________________________________ Sporting Goods Retailer: __________________________________________________________ Wedding Shop: ________________________________________________________________________ Women’s Accessories: _____________________________________________________________ Women’s Boutique: _________________________________________________________________ Women’s Shoes: ______________________________________________________________________

ENTERTAINMENT

Local Artist/Art Gallery: ___________________________________________________________ Best Place for Kids Birthday Party: ____________________________________________ DJ: __________________________________________________________________________________________ Golf Course: ____________________________________________________________________________ Local Attraction: ______________________________________________________________________ Local Event: ____________________________________________________________________________ Musician/Vocalist/Band: __________________________________________________________ Place for a Date: ______________________________________________________________________ Place to Go Dancing: _______________________________________________________________ Place to Take the Kids: _____________________________________________________________ Place to Watch a Sunset: _________________________________________________________ Radio Personality: ____________________________________________________________________ Resort: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Tennis Facility: _________________________________________________________________________

TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR 6 ONLINE EXCLUSIVE CATEGORIES VISIT EMERALDCOASTMAGAZINE.COM/BEST-OF-THE-EMERALD-COAST-2018-BALLOT

(continued from page 91)

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BOOINI

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along the fence and await the weathering effects of the outdoors. His work is produced as private commissions, and others are simply made for the artist to share with his community, such as those accomplished for the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, and the “Eagles” on display at the Florida Supreme Court.

Large pieces he created for Panama City’s airport authority in 1995 were moved to the Bay County Public Library and the Panama City Center for the Arts when the old PFN air terminal was demolished.

Hockett’s last trips, in 2011 and 2014, to Costa Rica were to restore and reinstall his 9/11 Memorial sculpture after thieves removed the top 5 feet of it to sell. The value of the material for just one sculpture can exceed tens of thousands of dollars even before he applies his time and talent, rendering it priceless as a traded commodity.

His formal education and love of art and technology inform his design, most apparently in the imagery of “New Liberty III,” which resides on the north campus of Gulf Coast State College. Originally commissioned for the Ambassador of Spain to Costa Rica, it depicts three triangles adorned with human, environmental and technological references to Spain, Costa Rica and the United States. A third large-scale work, titled “RollyCoaster,” from his study to produce the 9/11 Memorial in Costa Rica is located on the campus of Tallahassee Community College.

“Public art is no longer limited to themes from conflicts and government or national interest. Today, we also encounter many other goals: an experiment with materials or thought, or to simply relate the artists’ feelings for a subject. The goals are many, producing great diversity in what we might expect public art to be. It can be surprising. The variety can add a wonderful richness to our cities.”

At nearly 80, Hockett’s life and work have taken on patina beautifully through his generosity, his love of art, people and education, and his wonder at the world.

“The mural and sculptures that I placed in Costa Rica served a dual purpose of honoring our country and the ties and respect between the people in both our countries and that of representing strong and enjoyable art forms for all people.

“Like all art, public art may take great effort to put in place and it may enhance our cities, but it needs to be cared for to be enjoyed, and in time such works add great richness and variety to our cities and communities. As I leave some of those sculptures behind, they hopefully will be enjoyed by the people long into the future. I am pleased I have had the opportunity to share such works.” EC

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(continued from page 84)

Along the Gulf Coast, surfers ride the waves and stake their turf

T

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to come together. And, you are also competing against the other surfers out there. There’s a pecking order and a set of unwritten rules that everyone has to follow. If you don’t, you might get looked down upon or even slapped.”

In the surfing meritocracy, experience and local knowledge confer status.

“Respect must be earned,” Rauschkolb said. “Beginners and people who don’t follow the rules and get in the way are called kooks. No one wants to be called a kook. And, we have enforcers. Guin is one of them.

They call him El Diablo. He rules the pier in Fort Walton Beach.”

For Stokes, surfing only gets better.

“It’s not so much the sport as it is being out there,” she said. “There is so much going on — the dolphins and pelicans and fish — and, many times, I am content just to watch others surf.”

Stokes persists despite having undergone three knee surgeries, three shoulder surgeries and elbow reconstruction.

“My orthopedic guy goes in and cleans out my knees when they get messy and, 12 weeks later, I’m back at it,” Stokes said matter-offactly. “He’d give me replacements, but he says that, the way I surf, we would wind up replacing the replacements all the time.”

Generally, Rauschkolb said, “surfers tend to be healthier than other people because of the cardiovascular conditioning involved and what you have to be able to do to get up on a wave. It’s not easy to paddle around for hours. If you’re not in shape, you’re wrung out. You have to be a good swimmer, and you have to have balance and coordination.”

Raushkolb concedes that he has been lucky.

“My friends who played football are hobbled, but all of my joints work,” he said. “I’m a little out of shape but not much. I weigh five more pounds than I did in high school.”

Rauschkolb has had far more bad dreams about surfing than nightmarish incidents on the water.

“I have dreams about almost getting out there and the surf turns into a staircase,” he said. “Or I’ve lost my board or I can’t find my wax. I think I got to surf in my dreams only once. But the reality is as good as any fantasy. Even better.

“You can have all your stuff together and be perfectly ready, but the surf doesn’t always perform. And there are those days when you don’t have your wax and you don’t have all your stuff and you only have a half an hour, but everything comes together and you get out there and the light’s beautiful and the water’s clear and the fish are jumping, and the dolphins are playing. Those are the days that you live for because,

PHOTO BY JIM CLARK

he experience of riding a moving wall of water is both exhilarating and terrifying, the kind of thing, you would think, that a person might survive once and then check the box and move on.

But it’s worse than that. And better. It’s unshakable. So it is that people persist at the sport of surfing despite near-drownings, advancing years and repeated orthopedic surgeries.

Dave Rauschkolb, 56, looks out on the Gulf of Mexico from a window in his restaurant, Bud & Alley’s, on County 30A in South Walton County. A rain hard and cold is about to fall with the intensity of a tropical storm. An offshore wind — one of those biting winter northerlies — is freshening. It’s frankly lousy out.

But, says Rauschkolb, “These are good conditions.” He is focused, to the exclusion of everything else, on the surf that is developing along a beach break. Seeing that, he knows that “the Panama City Beach piers are breaking good right now, same thing for St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island.”

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BUT FOR THE GRACE Rauschkolb and Stokes have both come through near-death experiences.

For Stokes, the most harrowing of them was on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

“It was a freak set of four waves, maybe three times larger than the other waves that day, at a beach called Leftovers on the north shore of the island,” Stokes explained. “I was pelted and pounded and held under by one wave and by the time I recovered, I was dealing with the next one. The waves would roll you around and hold you down forever. And I was dealing with a rocky bottom.

“I went back to the south side and haven’t been back to the north shore since.”

Rauschkolb felt fortunate to survive a scare in Puerto Rico.

“I was surfing a point where there was a small surf spot and there was a place where really big waves break,” he said. “I decided to check out the big stuff, and that was a big mistake. I had a wave break right in front of me and I had to ditch my board and my leash broke and I was in 40 feet of water half a mile out to sea.”

Rauschkolb was submerged by two 25-foot waves breaking over his head and grew exhausted.

“My adrenaline was spent and I was still a few feet below the surface,” he said.

With his last bit of remaining energy, Rauschkolb reached toward the surface and hit the foot of an angel.

“I grabbed his leg and he pulled me up. He was a Brazilian guy named Joey and he got me stabilized. I swam in and got my board and got to shore.”

Rauschkolb was “19 or 20,” completing his first surf trip away from the U.S. mainland.

“There was an older guy on the beach and he had seen what happened and he told me I would never go out in big surf again unless I got right back out there. I told myself he was crazy, but I did make it my mission to go back to that surf spot one day.”

The winter after Bud & Alley’s opened, Rauschkolb did return, this time with a longer board.

“I paddled out without even getting my hair wet and I surfed for six hours on the biggest waves of my lifetime. It was one of the greatest things I have ever done for myself. It wasn’t so much about conquering that surf spot as it was conquering my fear of that spot — and also to prove that the guy on the beach was wrong.”

Rauschkolb believes that “as long as I can hold my breath and my arms will paddle, even if I can’t stand up, I will still surf.”

Stokes figures she’s still a few surgeries away from retirement.

Phil McDonald is a surfer and the chef at the Black Bear Bread Co., Rauschkolb’s bakery in Grayton Beach.

“He’ll call me and say, ‘Dave, the conditions looks great. Can we go?’ I may pretend to think about it for a few seconds.”

And then Rauschkolb will say, unfailingly, “Let’s go have a board meeting.” EC

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on the Gulf Coast, there aren’t that many of those days.”

All of that means that boys who have girlfriends who are surfers and girls who have boyfriends who are surfers and businesses that have surfers as employees have to deal with those days when people are going to go missing. Priorities, you know.

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dining guide MIMMOS AMERICAN

LULU’S ★

Lucy Buffett’s funky hangout features cocktails, burgers & seafood, plus allergy-friendly menus.

Open Sun–Thur 11 am–9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am– 10 pm. 4607 Legendary Marina Drive, Destin.

(850) 710-5858. $$ L D

THE BEACH HOUSE

Casual, beach-front dining. Open daily 11 am–10 pm. 4009 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-4800. $$ L D

MAGNOLIA GRILL

BUFFALO’S REEF ★

Steak, seafood, pasta, soups, salads and desserts.

Lunch Mon-Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Mon–Sat from 5 pm. Closed Sun. 157 SE Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 302-0266. $$ L D

Hot wings and cold beer. Tues–Sat open at 10:30 am, Sun open at noon. 116 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 243-9463. $ L D

THE CRAFT BAR ★

Craft brews on tap along with artisan cocktails and elevated bar fare. Open daily 11 am–midnight.

4424 Commons Dr., Destin. Also in Grayton Beach and Pensacola. (850) 460-7907. $$ L D

CUVÉE KITCHEN + WINE BAR ★

Classic Italian, French and Asian-inspired dishes. Open daily 5:30–10 pm. 36120 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Destin. - (850) 460-2909. $$$

Seafood, po’ boys, burgers and salads.

Open daily 11 am–7 pm, breakfast Sat–Sun 8–11 am, kitchen closed Mon–Tues. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-7778. $ B L D

MARINA CAFÉ

Gourmet pizzas, Creole and American cuisine.

Open daily 5–10 pm. 404 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 837-7960. $$$ D

D

MARINA BAR AND GRILL

DHARMA BLUE ★

Atmosphere and service match expansive menu including everything from sushi to pork tenderloin. Lunch Sat–Sun 10 am–1 pm.

Dinner daily from 5. 300 S Alcaniz St., Pensacola, (850) 433-1275. $$ L D

EVERKRISP ★

Farm-to-table salads, rice bowls & other healthfocused American bites in modern, brick-lined digs. Open daily 10:30 am–9 pm. 4463 Commons Dr W #10a, Destin. (850) 460-8881. $$ L D

GEORGE’S AT ALYS BEACH

Seafood, burgers and sandwiches. Open daily 11 am–3 pm and 5–9 pm. 30 Castle Harbour Dr.,

Alys Beach. (850) 641-0017. $$ L D

JACO’S BAYFRONT BAR & GRILLE

Waterfront restaurant serving burgers, salads, seafood and brunch daily. Open Mon–Wed 11 am–9 pm, Thurs–Sat 11 am– 10 pm and Sun 10 am–9 pm. 997 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 432-5226. $$ L D

NICK’S BOATHOUSE

Serving a wide variety of seafood, steaks and flatbreads by the waterfront.

Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 am–9 pm. 455 W. Main St., Pensacola.

(850) 912-8775. $$ L D

THE RED BAR ★

Live music and a menu of varied options including pastas, seafood, salads and cocktails.

Lunch and dinner daily 11 am–10 pm. 70 Hotz Ave., Grayton Beach. (850) 231-1008. $ L D

SUNSET BAY CAFÉ ★

Chef-inspired twists on classic dishes.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktail. Open daily 7 am–2 pm. Tiki Bar open noon to sunset. Linkside Conference Center, 158 Sandestin Blvd. N., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-7108. $ B L

KHON'S ON PALAFOX

Dinner and dancing, serving barbeque and seafood. Open daily 5–9 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, 126 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach. (850) 502-4590. $$ D

Modern sushi spot with Pan-Asian salads, stirfries and creative sake cocktails. Lunch Tues–Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Tues–Sat from 5 pm. 34 S Palafox Place, Pensacola, (850) 912-6762. $$ L D

LENNY’S ★

OSAKA ★

Outpost of a chain specializing in Philly-style cheesesteaks & submarine sandwiches. Open daily 10 am–9 pm. Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Ester, Nicevville. $ L D A taste of New Orleans hits the coast through Louisiana-style favorites like shrimp and grits and Cajun seafood gumbo. Open daily from 4 pm. 775 Gulf Shore Dr., Destin. (850) 837-0881.

★ Best of the

Emerald Coast 2017 Winner

Known for its sushi but serves a variety of dishes, including chicken, steak and seafood.

Lunch 11 am–2:30 pm, dinner 5–10:30 pm.

34845 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

(850) 650-4688 or (850) 650-4689. $$ L D

THAI DELIGHTS ★

Traditional dishes in a casual atmosphere.

Open daily 11 am–9 pm. 821 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 650-3945. $$ L D

The restaurants that appear in this guide are included as a service to readers and not as recommendations of the Emerald Coast Magazine editorial department, except where noted.

B L D

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

850.460.7353 EatMimmos.com

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JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT & NIGHTCLUB

THE KEY

Destin

Seafood, salad, chef specials. Open daily 11 am–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., #103, Miramar Beach. (850) 650-9820. $$ L D

Steak, seafood and barbecue. Mon–Thurs 11 am–midnight, Fri–Sun 11 am–1 am.

34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

(850) 837-1015. $ L D

$$ D

|

(in the 98 Pa lms Shopping Plaza)

VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO

JOHNNY O’QUIGLEY’S

LOUISIANA LAGNIAPPE ★

979 US HWY 98 E

Outdoor Dining Live Music

$ Inexpensive

$$ Moderately

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

Magnolia Grill fort walton beach

tom & peggy rice, proprietors

(850) 302-0266

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dining guide BBQ 98 BAR-B-QUE

Award-winning barbecue, gumbo, sandwiches and salads in a casual atmosphere. Dine in, take out, catering. Mon–Sat 11 am–8 pm. 5008 Hwy. 98, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 622-0679. $ L D

DESSERT BRUSTERS ★

Ice cream selections made fresh on-site, daily.

Noon–7 pm. 4655 Gulfstarr Dr., Destin.

(850) 269-2920. $

IRISH

MOE’S ORIGINAL BAR B QUE

A Southern soul food revival, Moe’s smokes all meats fresh daily and offers 10 Southern-style side dishes and desserts every day, from recipes passed down for generations. Mon–Sat 11 am– 9 pm. 303 Harbor Blvd, Destin. (850) 837-3600. $$ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY Private dining rooms and outdoor courtyard spaces accommodate anything from an intimate meal to an extravagant event. Our bar features an exclusive menu and drink specials. Looking for something even more unique?

Our private wine room can be reserved for your next event.

(850) 622-0760 bijouxdestin.com

ANDY’S FLOUR POWER CAFE & BAKERY

Lively brunch/lunch destination known for its French toast, rolled omelets and cheery ambiance.

Open Tues–Sat 7 am–2 pm, Sun 8 am–2 pm.

2629 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, (850) 230-0014. $$ L D

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFÉ ★

Breakfast all day, plus sandwiches, patty melts, specials, soups, salads and desserts. Open daily 7 am–2 pm, closed Mondays. 979 E. Hwy. 98, #F, Destin (Also in Miramar Beach, Panama City, Pensacola, Sandestin and Grayton Beach).

(850) 650-0499. $ B

BON APPETIT FRENCH BAKERY & CAFÉ ★

JOHNNNY MCTIGHE’S IRISH PUB

Easygoing pub providing Irish and American eats, a game room for kids and deck seating.

11 am–2 am. 2298 Scenic Hwy. 30A, Blue Mountain Beach. (850) 267-0101. $$ L D

MCGUIRE’S IRISH PUB ★

Burgers and pub grub and the famous 18-cent Senate Bean Soup. Open daily 11 am–2 am. 33 Hwy. 98, Destin (Also in Pensacola). (850) 650-0000. $$ L D

ITALIAN/PIZZA AMICI 30A ★

Offering authentic Italian cuisine with a flair for celebration. Open daily 11 am–11 pm. 12805 US Highway 98 East, Suite R101, Inlet Beach.

(850) 909-0555. $$$ L D

ANGELINA’S PIZZA & PASTA

Authentic homemade pizza pie and Italian dishes in a casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily 11 am–9:30 pm. 4005 E. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach. (850) 231-2500. $ B L D

CLEMENZA’S UPTOWN ★

French pastries, croissants, crusty breads, soup, salads and sandwiches. Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:30 pm, Sat 7:30 am–2 pm, Closed Sun. 420 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-2848. $ B L

Classic Italian. Wood-fired pizza, private dining, cooking school. Multiple award winner.

Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat. 75 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 243-0707. $$ B L D

DONUT HOLE BAKERY CAFE

Classic Italian. Wood-fired pizza, specialty desserts, fish Fridays. Multiple award winner.

Lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Mon–Sat 5–9 pm.

Holiday Plaza, Hwy. 98, Miramar Beach.

(850) 650-5980 $$ L D

Eat breakfast all day with fresh-baked donuts and hearty comfort food. Open daily 6 am–10 pm.

635 Harbor Blvd., Destin (also in Inlet Beach and Santa Rosa Beach). (850) 837-8824. $ B

MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★

Old World family recipes. Multiple award winner. Brunch Wed–Sun 8 am–1 pm, seasonal hours Labor Day to Memorial Day. In season open 7 days. 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W, Miramar Beach. (850) 424-3157 and 8am-1pm on Sundays at 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach (850) 243-0707. $$ B

GREEK AEGEAN RESTAURANT ★

Authentic Greek restaurant. Breakfast 8–11 am, lunch 11 am–4 pm, dinner 4–9 pm. 11225 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Miramar Beach (and Shalimar).

(850) 460-2728. $$ B L D

ALA BABA GRILL CAFÉ

FAT CLEMENZA’S ★

MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO

Italian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat–Sun 5–10 pm. 979 Hwy. 98, #5, Destin.

(850) 460-7353. $$ L D

PAZZO ITALIANO

Destin’s newest Italian restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine such as wood-fire pizzas, pasta, calzones, salads, chef specialties and nightly specials. Mon–Thur 11 am–9 pm, Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat 4 pm–10 pm, Sun 4 pm–9 pm. 34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Suite 114, Destin. (850) 974-5484. $$ L D

THE PIZZA BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S

Artisan cheese, fresh salads, antipasto dishes, homemade soups, seasonal vegetables, hearty pastas and homemade wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Open daily from 11 am. 2236 E. County Rd. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-3113. $$ L D

TRATTORIA BORAGO

Pork tenderloin or pan-seared grouper from the open kitchen. Open daily from 6 pm. 80 E. Hwy. 30A, Grayton Beach. (850) 231-9167. $$ D

Casual spot for familiar Turkish and Greek recipes offered à la carte and at a buffet, plus beer and wine.

10 am–9 pm. 550 Mary Esther Cutoff, Fort Walton Beach. (850) 986-5555. L D

YIOTA’S GREEK DELI

Traditional Greek food made from family recipes. Order at counter. 10 am–5 pm.

130 E. Miracle Strip Pkwy., Mary Esther.

(850) 302-0691. $ L

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MEXICAN CANTINA LAREDO ★

A gourmet twist on Mexican favorites. Sun– Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm. 585 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 654-5649. $$ B L D

CRAB ISLAND CANTINA

Latin-inspired Mexican cuisine. Mon–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm. 2 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

(850) 424-7417. $$ L D

THE TACO BAR AT BUD & ALLEY’S

Baja fish tacos, homemade guacamole, burritos and top-shelf margaritas. Open daily from 11 am (in season). 2236 E. Country Rd. 30A, Seaside.

(850) 231-4781. $$ L D

SEAFOOD BONEFISH ★

11 am–9:30 pm. 1203 Miracle Strip Pkwy. S.E., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-2124. $$ L D

JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI

Seafood, sushi, salad and sandwiches.

Open daily from 11 am. Sunday brunch at 10 am. 56 Harbor Blvd., HarborWalk Village, Destin. (850) 424-3507. $$ L D

OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE ★

Airy eatery is a family-friendly destination for seafood, with a sushi bar & frequent live music.

Open Sun–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am– midnight. 5235 E County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 534-3045. $$ L D

POPPY’S SEAFOOD FACTORY

Contemporary grill chain offering a seafood-centric menu, plus steaks & cocktails. Open Mon–Thur 4–10 pm, Fri 4–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 10 am–9 pm. Destin, Panama City, Pensacola. $$ L D

Fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes. Open daily 11 am–9 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach. (850) 351-1996. $$$ L D

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★

Crab, oysters and grouper sandwiches in a casual beach bar & grill with steps onto the sand. Open daily at 11 am. 14521 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, (850) 634-4884. $$ L D

Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine.

Open daily from 11 am. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

(850) 424-7406. $$ L D

RUNAWAY ISLAND

BUD & ALLEY’S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT

Sea-to-table dining, serving fresh seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11:30 am.

Roof bar open in summer 11:30 pm–2 am. 2236 E. Hwy. 30A, Seaside. (850) 231-5900. $$$ L D

CAPT. ANDERSON’S RESTAURANT

Since 1967, offering traditional seafood items, flavorful salads and soups with a view of the marina. Open Mon–Fri at 4:30 pm, Sat–Sun at 4 pm. 5551 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach.

(850) 234-2225. $$$ D

DEWEY DESTIN’S HARBORSIDE ★

Award-winning seafood in a quaint house.

Open daily 11 am–8 pm. 202 Harbor Blvd., Destin.

(850) 837-7525. $$$ L D

DEWEY DESTIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET ★

Outdoor setting, fresh seafood. Open 11 am–8 pm.

9 Calhoun Ave., Destin.

(850) 837-7575. $$ B L D

THE FISH HOUSE

Fresh seafood cuisine and Southern specialties in a setting overlooking Pensacola Bay and the Seville Harbor. Open daily from 11 am. 600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola.

(850) 470-0003. $$ L D

FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT

Southern coastal cuisine with an Asian flair. Open daily 5:30–10 pm. Located in the WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach. (850) 534-5050. $$$ D

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ★

Upscale-casual Southern seafood restaurant & bar serving oysters & po' boys, plus steak & cocktails.

Open Sun–Thur 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–11 pm.

34761 Emerald Coast Pkwy #104, Destin. (850) 842-4788. $$ L D

HARBOR DOCKS ★

A surf-and-turf restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best sushi on the Emerald Coast.

Open daily 5 am–11 pm. 538 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 837-2506. $$ B L D

HIGH TIDE RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR ★

Casual eatery featuring an oyster bar. Open daily

The original, award-winning wood-fired pizza and classical Italian cuisine

TAKE OUT

BROTULA’S SEAFOOD HOUSE & STEAMER ★

Fresh steamed and boiled seafood dishes. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Sunday brunch. Destin Harbor, Destin.

(850) 460-8900. $$$ B

2008 - Best Italian 2009 - Best Pizza 2010 - Best Pizza & Best Chef 2011 - Best Pizza, Best Italian & Best Chef 2012 - Best Italian 2013 - Best Pizza & Best Walton Restaurant 2014 - Best Pizza, Best Walton Restaurant & Best Chef 2015 - Best Pizza 2016 - Best Pizza 2017 - Best Pizza & Best Chef

DESTIN ICE SEAFOOD MARKET & DELI ★

Fresh fish and seafood items, pastas, salads and side dishes, Buckhead meats, decadent desserts, wines, cheeses, spices and more. Open daily 8 am–7 pm. 663 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin.

(850) 837-8333. $$ L D

Lunch M–F 11–2 · Dinner M–Sat 5–9 · 850.650.5980 12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach · fatclemenzas.com

STEAK & SEAFOOD BIJOUX RESTAURANT & SPIRITS ★

Fine dining coastal cuisine with a New Orleans flair, Gulf seafood, prime steaks. Open daily 4–10 pm. The Market Shops, 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., #22, Miramar Beach. (850) 622-0760. $$$ D

CAPTAIN DAVE’S ON THE GULF

Inspired by traditional waterfront dining, Captain Dave’s features American seafood cuisine infused with a contemporary Gulf Coast twist. Wed–Mon 4 pm-close. 3796 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin. (850) 837-2627. $$$ D

JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE

High-end steakhouse cuisine with fine wines.

Local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection. Lunch Mon–Fri 11 am–2 pm, bruch Sat–Sun 11 am–2 pm, dinner Mon–Sun 5:30 pm–10 pm. 400 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 469-9898. $$$ D

MARLIN GRILL ★

Seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers. Open nightly from 5 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach. (850) 351-1990. $$$ D

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★

SERVING

Steak and seafood. New Orleans-inspired. Mon– Sat 5:30–10 pm, Sun 5:30–9 pm. Silver Shells Resort, 1500 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin. (850) 337-5108.

$$$ D

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ★

Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar. Open daily from 6 pm. Hilton Sandestin, 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 622-1500. $$$ D

SLICK LIPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE

Family-friendly seafood spot located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf — with the freshest local Gulf-caught seafood and 1855 certified Angus steaks. Sun–Thur 11 am–9 pm; Fri–Sat 11 am–10 pm. 140 Fisherman’s Cove, Miramar Beach. (850) 347-5060. $$ L D

Bruster’s of Destin

4655 Gulfstarr Drive 850-269-2920

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postscript

IT’S NOT ROCKET SURGERY

SEPARATION ANXIETY Panic sets in when my feet leave the ground

by GARY YORDON

This is where the therapy got pretty cool. My psychologist asked me a remarkably simple question: Do I believe the panic attacks can kill me? I really had never thought of them in those terms.

Anyone who’s had panic attacks knows you feel like they’re going to kill you, but they never do. Deep down, through the tight chest, sweaty palms, rapid breathing and graying light of a panic attack, you know you’re not dying. It may be eight minutes of hell, but it’s not death.

So, after I answered in the negative, he told me to just invite it when I feel one coming on. Tell my panic attack, “Come get me. I know you’re not going to kill me, so let’s just get it over with. Give me your best shot; I’m ready to freak out. Let’s get on with it, because I have things to do when it’s over. So bring it on, panic boy!”

Look, I’m not a doctor, although I do occasionally wear rubber gloves. I’m only telling you what worked for me. I haven’t had another panic attack, and today I fly without any problems — other than occasionally sitting next to a fat, sweaty guy from New Jersey or maybe North Dakota. So you might want to give it a try. If it doesn’t work, I’ve got a DVD player and a package of cherry cough drops you can have.

I’m keeping the gold watch, just in case. EC

Gary Yordon is president of the Zachary Group in Tallahassee, hosts a political television show, “The Usual Suspects,” and contributes columns to the city’s daily newspaper, the Tallahassee Democrat. He may be reached at gary@zgroup.com.

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ILLUSTRATION BY RASTUDIO / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

I

have had two good friends talk to me about their extreme fear of flying, and I’m guessing there are a lot more of us out there, so I wanted to share my successful therapy experience.

I was a ritual flyer. If I had to get on a plane, I needed every bit of good juju I could carry. My Xanax-induced stash included my lucky gold watch, a portable DVD player (little known fact: If you don’t make eye contact with the Grim Reaper, he’ll move to the people in the exit row), and cherry cough drops (I had never been in a plane crash while sucking cherry cough drops, so they were essential.)

In truth, I’ve never really had anything go wrong on a flight. I’ve been through some storms and had some bumps — but never one of those experiences that cause folks to swear off the friendly skies.

The worst storm I was ever in was OK because I was sitting next to the Rabbi Garfein and figured he was connected.

My problem was that I would have overwhelming panic attacks.

Apparently, if you’ve never had a near-death experience on a plane (other than the food), your therapeutic prescription is different.

One regimen is to take a few flights with your therapist so that he can experience your trigger points and work you through the moment. At least that’s what I was told. I never got that far.

I quickly realized that my health insurance didn’t cover the series of flights my new near-death buddy and I would be taking together.

After calculating five round-trip tickets for two and realizing it would be cheaper to relocate my relatives to Florida, I went for the reduced-rate halfcure: learning to deal with the panic attacks.

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