Emerald Coast Magazine- December/January 2017

Beach Ball Drop Attracts Throngs

’Tis the Season for Festive Fashion

See Our Guide to Gifts Galore

Championing Children Bubba Watson’s conscience is his caddy

Golfer Invests in Future Generations

Prayerful family decision benefits hospital

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December 2017–January 2018

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Contents

DEC 2017/JAN 2018

FEATURES

66

BUBBA WATSON COMES HOME

Champion golfer is focused on community.

by STEVE BORNHOFT

72

MAKING MERRY

Treat your family to a homemade holiday.

by KIM HARRIS THACKER

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

5

DEC 2017/JAN 2018

61

36 THE WAVE

19 CELEBRATIONS

Panama City Beach celebrates with Beach Ball Drop.

22 CHAMPIONS Holiday

giving helps charities play Santa.

26 LOOKING BACK

50 years of good times at Rosie O’Grady’s

28 PETS Stuff Fido’s

stocking with these gourmet treats.

PANACHE

31 CITIZEN OF STYLE

Kami Giroux loves her new latitude.

36 FOR HER Time for

luscious velvet, glorious satin and ugly sweaters.

84 GARDENING

Ms. Grow-It-All® suggests ideal holiday gifts for gardeners.

40 WHAT’S IN STORE

IN EVERY ISSUE

Cheers! The region’s first meadery is fermenting honey for you.

45

EXPRESSION

45 ART Emerald Coast glassblowers are inspired by sand and sea.

50 MUSIC All ages make

joyful noise together at Panama City Beach music school.

54 BOOKS From Spring

Break mayhem to small-town murder, Tim Dorsey’s protagonist keeps “serging.”

12 14 100 125 130

GASTRO & GUSTO 61 D ESSERTS Forget

fruitcake. Make eggnog layer cake!

64 LIBATIONS Shake off

56 FILM Butter the

popcorn and hunker down with our favorite holiday movies.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER DIRECTOR’S COLUMN SOCIAL STUDIES DINING GUIDE I T’S NOT ROCKET SURGERY

ABODES

81 INTERIORS

Craft family memories with homemade holiday decorations and goodies.

Beach Ball Drop Attracts Throngs

’Tis the Season for Festive Fashion

See Our Guide to Gifts Galore

Championing Children Bubba Watson’s conscience is his caddy

the winter chill with hot mulled wine.

28 Naughty or nice, pets like presents, too!

Golfer Invests in Future Generations

Prayerful family decision benefits hospital

ON THE COVER: Bubba and Angie Watson with their children, Caleb and Dakota, at home. For the Watsons, Pensacola — big enough, not too big — is a great place to raise a family. PHOTO BY TODD

DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

6

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY SAIGE ROBERTS (61) AND AZALIYA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (28) AND COURTESY OF JOE HOBBS (45) AND ENVIE BOUTIQUE (36)

Contents

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

7

PROMOTION

Contents

DEC 2017/JAN 2018

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND PROMOTIONS

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BODACIOUS SHOPS

So Gourmet carries kitchenry, wine and cheese, and other hand-selected items perfect for holiday entertaining and gift-giving.

58 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Need ideas? With seasonal treats, stress-relieving oils, trendy fashions and more, area merchants are here to help.

NEXT ISSUE 8

CALENDAR Vocalist Dee Daniels ushers in the New Year in swingin’ style at Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre. Get details and discover other holiday happenings in our Emerald Coast calendar of events.

105

SACRED HEART FOUNDATION

116

HEALTH AND FITNESS

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.

OPENING NIGHTS Rising

star Bria Skonberg heats up Panama City with jazzy trumpet, Latin percussion and beautiful vocals.

38

96

92

It takes mental muscle to achieve your 2018 fitness goals. Local experts help you prepare.

DEAL ESTATE

Private residence community calls buyers to The Crest. See what real estate jewels were Just Listed.

SETTING IT STRAIGHT In the

October-November issue of Emerald Coast Magazine, a caption misidentified a volunteer at Caring & Sharing of South Walton. The woman in the photograph is Gail Smith. We regret the error and salute Ms. Smith for serving others as a volunteer.

Winners of 2017 “Best of the Emerald Coast” awards gathered for an extravaganza at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. Watch for photos and our recap in the next issue and online at EmeraldCoastMagazine.com.

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY RHONDA MURRAY (38) AND COURTESY OF COX POOLS (86), OPENING NIGHTS (58), MCCASKILL & COMPANY (34) AND PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (96)

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HEAL • RESTORE

RECHARGE

EMERALD COAST MAGAZINE

VOL. 18, NO. 6

DECEMBER 2017–JANUARY 2018

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES/EDITOR Steve Bornhoft MANAGING EDITOR Laura Cassels ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL SERVICES Kim Harris Thacker STAFF WRITERS Hannah Burke, Erin Hoover CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kari C. Barlow, Jason Dehart, Thomas J. Monigan, Audrey Post, Gary Yordon EDITORIAL INTERN Sara Santora

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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.

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from the publisher

UNITED BY THE SPIRIT OF GIVING On a recent trip to Pensacola, I joined Sacred Heart Foundation CEO Carol Carlan at a pep rally at Pensacola Junior College. There, the gym was packed with about 500 Walmart and Sam’s Club employees from North Florida and South Alabama. They had gathered for the kickoff of their annual, five-week fundraising campaign to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network, the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart and a hospital in Mobile, Alabama.

Over the past 35 years, Walmart associates have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance health care for children and the hope is that the 2017-18 campaign will push that total past the $1 billion mark. Past contributions have supported the existing children’s hospital at Sacred Heart and now, with construction of the new Studer hospital underway — the $85 million project will require $30 million in community funding and is expected to open in the spring of 2019 — the support of Walmart employees and customers is all the more critical.

Studies by organizations including the Philanthropy Roundtable consistently have found that giving by people of modest incomes exceeds giving by the middle class in the United States. At the rally, I was greatly impressed by the genuine excitement among people committed to making the campaign a success and to seeing to it that their store stacks up well against other stores. A delegation of managers from the home office was on hand to say thanks and to present awards to store teams that distinguished themselves in last year’s campaign.

It was reassuring, particularly in unsettled times like these, to see the generous spirit of everyday Americans on display. Walmart has good reason to be proud of its employees.

Leaving the junior college, Carol and I drove to the home of professional golfer and two-time Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson, who was about to be interviewed by Emerald Coast Magazine editor Steve Bornhoft. A native of Bagdad, Florida, Watson now lives in Pensacola with his wife, Angie, and their two adopted children.

Watson has given $2.1 million to the Studer Children’s Hospital project and is encouraging other big hitters to make contributions. Like the Walmart employees, he was overtaken by a desire to give to a local charitable organization committed to the betterment of our most precious resource, our children. Some appeals are universal.

I encourage you to be mindful of the most vulnerable people among us and to do what you can to help address their needs.

Best,

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

12

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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December 2017–January 2018

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director’s column

THIS DOG HAPPENED FOR A REASON ABANDONED LAB KICK-STARTS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAM

In the spring of 2015, Anderson decided to find out if he could compete with Old Bay, Cavender’s, Emeril, Prudhomme and the like. He hooked up with a manufacturer in Texas, Pendery’s, and determined that his product would be known as Baron’s BBQ Shrimp Marinade and would feature a photo of his dog on the label.

He dove into shoe-leather marketing, going door to door. And he met with enough success — the Tarpon Dock Seafood Market and Howell Tackle, both in Panama City, were his first customers — that he decided to go after much bigger game.

In January, he landed Publix stores as a “Florida local project” and Baron’s is now in 322 locations — from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Key West. He has landed the holy grail of wholesalers, a Walmart vendor number, and has his eye on Lucky’s Markets and Bass Pro Shops.

“Ever since Baron came into my life, the blessings have kept on coming,” Anderson said. “He showed up for a reason.” He likes to refer to the dog as his seasoning company’s CEO and has found him confidence-inspiring.

“I’m not afraid of the big boys,” Anderson said. “I don’t take anything away from them and I have to charge a little more because I don’t enjoy the economies of scale that they do — I mean Emeril is a gazillionaire — but my product is worth it. Its richness and complexity (it is made up of 14 different spices) distinguishes it from the rest.”

And there is this: Anderson donates a percentage of proceeds from the sale of his product to Lucky Puppy Rescue in Bonifay, Florida. The CEO wouldn’t have it any other way.

Anderson, a one-time hard-ass if ever there was one, now serves to remind me that: SAIGE ROBERTS

There is a reason that Matt Anderson looks like he may have eaten a couple of windshields.

But, these days, he says, he has taken his hands off the wheel. No longer does he approach life as if it were a contest and he is a perennial underdog. Oh, he’s still driving, but he has learned to trust that good things will happen if you just permit them to. Sometimes, it’s best not to force the action and to rely on faith, instead.

This transformational softening has been influenced by an abandoned black lab that presented itself one day three years ago at the gate to Anderson’s property in Callaway, near Panama City, and hung around. Perhaps the animal somehow sensed that Anderson had owned labs before.

“After two or three days of me eyeing him and him eyeing me, he approached me while I was sitting outside on the phone and he sniffed me and I touched his nose and he backed off and then he came back to me and I petted the top of his head and he hopped in my lap and gave me a kiss and it was all over,” Anderson said.

Some months prior to the dog’s arrival, Anderson hunted on safari in Africa. (Few living rooms feature a whole-body mounted baboon along with a Cape buffalo head, but Anderson’s does.) In so doing, Anderson traced the steps of his father, who had hunted in Africa with Baron Werner von Alvensleben, a German aristocrat who escaped imprisonment in Zimbabwe during World War II, hiked to Mozambique and later founded the renowned Safarilandia hunting company.

Because the dog had a regal look about him and given Anderson’s connection to Africa, “Baron” came to mind as the name most fitting for his new pet.

Soon, this black dog began to lead Anderson from the shadowy side of life he had inhabited for many years as a private investigator into a new light of possibility.

Anderson had begun to think about taking to market a shrimp marinade that he created after first experiencing barbecue shrimp in the Big Easy some 25 years ago.

“I was working a case over there, and a sous chef let me in on some shrimp seasoning basics,” Anderson recalls. “I played around and developed my own marinade and recipe. I served it to friends for years and everyone who had it raved about it, so I figured either I was doing something right or a lot of people were lying to me.”

Well-calculated risks pay off.

Giving begets getting.

People can change.

Enjoy life’s seasons and seasonings,

STEVE BORNHOFT sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

Are you passionate about Northwest Florida coastal living? Share your story by using #inspiredEC.

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A CONSCIOUS, COOL COMPENDIUM OF COASTAL STUFF

CELEBRATIONS

AN ANSWER TO TIMES SQUARE

Panama City Beach’s Beach Ball Drop draws throngs

by KIM HARRIS THACKER

↗

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH

Nearly 50,000 revelers welcome the New Year with a beach-ball party at Pier Park.

CHAMPIONS Season of Giving || LOOKING BACK 50 Years of Rosie O’Grady’s || PETS Stuff Fido’s Stocking, Too EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

19

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For the first eight years, the glowing ball made its drop with the help of a construction crane. In 2016, however, the TDC installed Celebration Tower — a permanent, stainless steel pole for the beach ball to sit on all year and glide down on New Year’s Eve. The ball changes its form throughout the year based on the season or holiday, or if an event is taking place in PCB. For example, during the weeks leading up to Halloween, the ball becomes a glowing jack-o’-lantern; during the Fastpitch World Series, which is held each year at Frank Brown Park, the ball effectively becomes an enormous softball. It’s only on New Year’s Eve, however, that the ball makes a descent from Celebration Tower.

“The first year, there were approximately 7,000–10,000 attendees at the Beach Ball Drop, and several accommodations sold out for New Year’s Eve,” Sanders says.

The next year (2009), the children’s inflatable beach ball drop was added, and the event became even more family oriented.

“Today the beach ball drop is one of our most successful landmark events, with local TV coverage leading up to the drop,” Sanders says.

“According to the fire marshal, we are pushing close to 50,000 attendees from throughout the United States, with the heaviest concentration from the Southeast. There are a lot of our northern winter residents — our snowbirds — that attend, also.”

Trudy Rasmussen, of Valley City, Ohio, has wintered in Panama City Beach for nine years.

She said, “We would much rather spend the winter walking in the white sand than walking in the white snow.” EC

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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ach New Year’s Eve, the Big Apple vaunts itself as the glitziest, most glamorous city in the country by dropping a six-ton Waterford crystal ball from a tower in Times Square. In the relatively laidback community of Panama City Beach, Florida, it makes more sense to drop inflatable beach balls on New Year’s Eve — 10,000 → inflatable beach balls, At midnight, a actually, plus a glowing spinning, flashing “beach ball” 800-pounder. drops nearly Richard Sanders, 100 feet down vice president of Sports Celebration Tower at Pier Park.

Marketing and Special Events for Panama City Beach, explained how the Beach Ball Drop, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, was born.

“In May of 2008, just before a TDC (Tourist Development Council) board meeting, I walked past our president, Dan Rowe’s, office and told him we needed to do a beach ball drop on New Year’s Eve. He called me back to his office, and we discussed why.”

At the time of Sanders and Rowe’s conversation, not much was happening in Panama City Beach after Labor Day weekend. The beach ball drop idea, which appealed to Rowe as much as it appealed to Sanders, seemed like a way to change that.

At the board meeting, during his President’s Report, Rowe brought up the idea of the New Year’s Eve PCB Beach Ball Drop.

“It received no reaction from the board, so we thought it wouldn’t happen,” Sanders says. “But the next morning, on the front page of the local newspaper, it said, ‘TDC to do a Beach Ball Drop.’”

And that, as they say, was that.

Although Pier Park was less than a year old in 2008, it was already emerging as a popular shopping center and entertainment hub, and Sanders and Rowe decided to introduce the idea of hosting the event to decision-makers there. Felicia Cook, the marketing director for Pier Park, thought the beach ball drop was a great idea. She, in turn, pitched the event to Simon Property Group, which owns Pier Park and which ultimately approved the ball drop and secured an animated, spinning, flashing beach ball, which descends nearly 100 feet during the countdown to midnight.

Where Oyster Lovers Set Sail PA N A M A C I T Y FLORIDA

Where Life Sets Sail

PA N A M A C I T Y FLORIDA

Where Life Sets Sail

Panama City, Florida is an oyster lovers’ paradise – home to the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Champion, we even have our own Oyster Trail. Nestled along beautiful St. Andrews Bay, you’ll find more than a dozen oyster purveyors, raw bars and restaurants, serving fresh oysters and good times year-round.

Download the Oyster Trail map and start planning your trip at DestinationPanamaCity.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

21

THE

wave

The sound of salvation rings throughout the holiday season, cheerily reminding shoppers to share.

SEASON OF GIVING

Local generosity at holidays relieves hunger and homelessness

by KARI C. BARLOW

22

T

he holidays are in full swing, and some charities along the Emerald Coast need a little extra help fulfilling their missions.

For nonprofits, particularly those with limited budgets, the season is a bit of a mixed blessing — donations increase, but so does demand.

“Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the busiest times of the year for us,” says Matthew Knee, executive director of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida. “It’s always a challenge.” In some local counties, a large portion of the population works service-industry jobs, living paycheck to paycheck. “The tourism industry is slowing down for the year, so they need help with food and utilities,” says Lt. Monica Rojas of the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton counties. “A lot of people lose their hours.”

But with the help of passionate volunteers and generous donors, these groups can stay afloat to feed, clothe and care for the most

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

vulnerable among us. So if you’re seeking a way to give back this year — with time, money or both — check out these three charities.

Salvation Army From its busy offices in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, this organization serves poor and needy families and individuals across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. The Salvation Army is most visible during the holidays with its cheerful bell ringers and red kettles — a campaign that serves as the primary fundraiser for the year.

“The Red Kettle donations are very important to being able to provide the assistance requested during the holidays and all year long,” says Maj. Kenneth A. Fagan, commanding officer of Salvation Army Pensacola. “We encourage the community to volunteer as bell ringers.” In 2016, Salvation Army Pensacola raised $200,000 from its kettle drive while Fort Walton Beach raised ››

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SALVATION ARMY

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December 2017–January 2018

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

APPOINTMENTS 855-414-6902

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$160,000. That money allows the Salvation Army to provide Angel Tree programs at Christmas, food pantries, utilities assistance, tutoring and shelter throughout the year.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SALVATION ARMY

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida Thousands of people in 18 counties across Northwest Florida — more than 90 percent of them non-Catholic — receive food, rent and utilities assistance, clothing and shelter from Catholic Charities each year. In 2016, the food pantry served more than 30,000 people. At the holidays, that pantry and its mobile Caring Coach, which serves five locations in Okaloosa and Walton counties, is pushed to its limits. Each Catholic Charities office — in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Tallahassee — also relies on the public for cash and toy donations to make its annual Christmas Connection program a success.

“The Gulf Coast is just a generous community that always steps up,” Knee says. “And we are very grateful.”

Manna Food Bank One in four children across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties doesn’t have enough food. That statistic is what keeps this Pensacola-based food bank fighting hunger day after challenging day. “The truth is there are thousands of people every day in our community who struggle with being hungry,” Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker says.

In 2016, Manna served 21,129 people at its Pensacola, Jay and Milton locations. The nonprofit provides families with one bag of food — enough to last five days — for each person in the family.

During the holidays, all of that need is magnified. The top three ways to help, Flounlacker says, are donating money, volunteering to sort food, and hosting a food drive.

Another option is to contribute to Manna’s capital campaign to raise $1 million to renovate a new building for its main Pensacola location.

The food bank has operated out of temporary trailers since its facility sustained major damage during the April 2014 floods. EC

 Donations to Salvation Army kettles support Angel Tree programs that help needy families, especially children, have a brighter Christmas.

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 Live music and a good cause to laugh have been trademarks at the historic saloon in Seville Quarter for a half-century.

A DREAM, A TRUMPET AND A WAREHOUSE After 50 years, Bob Snow sees more ‘Good Times’ ahead for Rosie O’Grady’s

by THOMAS J. MONIGAN

I

t was the summer of 1967, and Bob Snow was living his own version of a classic story: A young man with a horn wants to be the star of his own nightclub.

Snow’s trumpet-led combo, “South Hangar Six,” was well known around Pensacola, which was Snow’s home while he attended — and expected to graduate from — the flight program at the Naval Air Station.

But a severe car wreck just three days before Snow’s graduation left him hospitalized for a year.

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Still, his love of music remained intact. He had, after all, been playing the trumpet, the coronet and the flugelhorn since he was a seven-year-old growing up in Minneapolis.

“When I was in high school, I bought every Dukes of Dixieland record I could find,” Snow recalls. “Then I started playing Dixieland, and it was such fun. I found out you could make more money playing in a saloon on a weekend than you could playing all week in a symphony.” So after

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

his accident, he decided to launch Rosie O’Grady’s Warehouse, a music venue and saloon located in part of the Pensacola Cigar and Tobacco Co. warehouse, which had been built in 1871.

The Government Street location was far from upscale. Snow needed money, and he needed a lawyer to get his enterprise started.

Several blocks from the old warehouse, he found Wilmer Mitchell at the offices of Holsberry, Emmanuel, Shepherd & Mitchell.

“It was about 6:30 in the evening,” Mitchell says. “I was going out the front door, and there was this man standing there. And I knew who it was.

He said, ‘Some people tell me you should be my lawyer.’”

In order to open Rosie’s on Snow’s target grand-opening date of Aug. 16, 1967, with a license to sell alcohol, Mitchell had to secure a $5,000 loan from Citizens and Peoples Bank.

Seville Quarter Today ROSIE O’GRADY’S saloon PHINEAS PHOGG’S dance club LILI MARLENE’S WWI aviator pub APPLE ANNIE’S atrium with open-air courtyard END O’ THE ALLEY old-fashioned bar with open-air courtyard FAST EDDIE’S billiard parlor PALACE CAFÉ serves lunch and supper SEVILLE PARTY PLAZA outdoor concert venue HERITAGE HALL banquet facility

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDA MEMORY

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After the first weekend that Rosie’s was open, that loan was repaid in full.

“Wilmer was a great guy,” Snow recalls. “He found ways around problems rather than tell you, ‘You can’t do it.’”

Snow’s band, the Dixie Racing & Marching Society Band, played at Rosie’s on a regular basis, as did Nelson K. Hamilton, who headlined as “The Singing Suwanee Man From Alabam.” Soon, Mitchell moved into his own office above Rosie’s.

“Nelson and Wilmer felt like they owned the place, and I let them,” Snow says. “They were just as involved as I was.”

Over the next dozen years, the 19th century warehouse and adjoining buildings became known as “Seville Quarter.” It transformed into six bars and two restaurants and inspired the development of Pensacola’s Seville Historic District. But through it all, Rosie’s stayed in its original location and maintained its original motto: “Historic Pensacola with a Bourbon Chaser.”

Changes do come, of course. In the 1970s, Snow took his skills to Orlando to develop Church Street Station, which became one of Florida’s top tourist attractions.

He also created Main Street Station and Hotel in Las Vegas before returning to Orlando in the form of Snow & Associates, a consulting firm.

Mitchell’s six children all eventually became involved with Seville Quarter, and each one went on to a management position after the family took over ownership and operation in 1988. Those six individuals are: Jack Williams, general manager; Doug Mitchell, assistant general manager (Doug’s wife, Leigh, is in charge of human resources); Louise “Weezie” Carlson, comptroller (Louise’s husband, Bill Carlson, is in charge of wine sales and purchasing); Buck Mitchell, marketing director; Scott Mitchell, night manager; and Cliff Mitchell, maintenance manager.

“Keeping everyone focused on the moment can be a challenge,” Williams says, noting that six grandchildren and “numerous cousins” have also worked at Seville Quarter. “But the best thing is that although we have disagreed on many things, once we made a decision, it was all for one and one for all.”

Rosie’s 50th anniversary party in August attracted generations of working people who contributed as members of “The Good Times Gang.”

“The entertainment and dining business doesn’t have a real long shelf life,” Snow said. “You’ve got to care about it, it’s got to be good and it’s got to be fun. And you’ve got to have the right people. If you’ve got the right people, you’ve got it made. I’ve got to give the Mitchell family full credit for keeping it going that long. There’s no end in sight, and it’s a family tradition.” EC

Sandestin Golf Club & Beach Resort

Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

Hwy 98

December 2017–January 2018

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PETS

Tasty treats and toys for EC’s lucky dogs

by HANNAH BURKE

Don’t forget Fido during the season of giving! Get his tail wagging when you stuff his stocking with these top pet products from the Emerald Coast...

Gaines Family Farmstead Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Woerner Landscape & Pet Supply, Pensacola

→ Toss away those generic rawhides in exchange for a crunchy, healthy chew your dog will love. Made from 100% natural sweet potatoes, these sweet and savory morsels are chock-full of vitamins and nutritious fibers.

Vital Essentials Raw Bar Dog Treats

3 Dogs & A Chick, Fort Walton Beach → VE Raw Bar’s single-

sourced proteins provide the perfect boost to your doggie’s diet. Gnawing on these even strengthens and cleans their pearly whites! “Your pup is going to go CRAZY for these yummy treats,” says owner, Nicole Poch. “Our raw bar snacks are freeze dried to lock in nutritional content.

With choices like duck feet and bully sticks, your dog can have a variety of nourishing snacks.”

Customizable Cookies and Cakes The Doggy Bag, Destin

→ If we’re stuffing our faces with cookies and cakes this winter, it’s only fair man’s best friend does, too. Customize a homemade “Pup Cake” or dog biscuit with your buddy’s name. Each snack is made with peanut butter and yogurt and covered in carob (a dog-friendly chocolate substitute).

I’d Rather Be With My Dog Treats & Sweet-centric Toys EarthWise Pet Supply, Panama City

→ “I’d Rather Be With My Dog treats are the first entirely paleo line of dog treats to be on the market — nothing processed, no wheat/corn/soy/dairy, and entirely based on REAL, natural food,” says Kellie O’Brien of Earthwise Pets. “All of the protein is high quality meat and there is coconut oil in every single variety to benefit your dog’s skin, coat, insulin sensitivity, and digestive health.” Soft and squeaky Lulubelles toys are lined with extra mesh to ensure hours of fun for your energetic pup. If your dog is like mine and eats anything remotely plush for breakfast, durable Goughnuts are your best bet to keep him entertained while the rest of the family opens presents.

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY AZALIYA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (DOG), KELLIE O’BRIEN (EARTHWISE PET SUPPLY), CAROL GENTEMANN (THE DOGGY BAG), AND COURTESY OF WOERNER LANDSCAPE & PET SUPPLY AND VITAL ESSENTIALS (RAW BAR)

REMEMBER TO STUFF FIDO’S STOCKING, TOO

Enjoy Life’s Passion, Without the Pain.

Robotic Arm Assisted Joint Replacement Joint pain was keeping Jo from doing what she loves most—gardening. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center now offers a new, minimally-invasive procedure that assists physicians in joint replacement, robotic arm assisted surgery. A more precise surgery with smaller incisions, Jo is now back to her favorite past time, pain-free.

Get back to being you. Call today to see how joint replacement can change your life.

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December 2017–January 2018

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LOV E L AC E INTE R IO R S .CO M (850) 837-5563 / 12870 U.S. HIGHWAY 98 WEST, MIRAMAR BEACH, FLORIDA 32550

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

panache DEC 2017/JAN 2018

ELEMENTS OF STYLE RANGING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE MORE SUBLIME

↖ New love of coastal comfort inspires Giroux’s fashion choices for herself and her boutique in Destin.

CITIZEN OF STYLE

NEW LATITUDE Kami Giroux trades mountains for sand dunes 

by HANNAH BURKE

FOR HER photography by JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

’Tis the Season!

|| WHAT’S IN STORE Retail Roundup EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

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Kami Giroux’s closet ‘must-haves’ Kami Giroux doesn’t just go to the beach, she brings it into her wardrobe.

Whether dressing up for a seaside party, a day on the boat or a trip to the grocer, these are her waterside wardrobe essentials. ➺O mbre or tie-dye kimonos with fringe, pom-poms or tassels ➺ F louncy dresses with pockets

W

hen Kami Giroux moved to Destin from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 2014, everything about her life changed. A mother of four, Giroux quit her job in sales and marketing to start her own business and dive headfirst into beach life.

“Living at the beach has made me realize that fashion is less about how I look, and more about how I feel in it,” Giroux said. “I stopped trying to do my hair perfectly and embraced everything flowy, fun and comfortable. The clothes you find here are coastal comfort.”

Let’s face it: Many women have issues with their bodies. We are constantly on the prowl for fabrics that hug us just right and come in complimentary colors. Giroux knows the struggle and has tailor-made her You, Me & The Sea boutique to feature fashion made of favorite materials such as bamboo, rayon and cozy cotton.

The store first launched online, where Giroux would host fashion shows over Facebook, a la Home Shopping Network.

Encouraged by a friend in Tennessee who had her own boutique, Giroux decided she wanted to bring a physical shopping

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experience to Destin where women of all shapes and sizes could feel satisfied.

Satisfaction in shopping doesn’t come only from finding the right dress, but also from the experience had while searching.

Giroux has crafted You, Me & The Sea in such a way that guests feel like they are entering her home. While customers spend plenty of time perusing racks of garments and home goods at the front of the store, many meander to the back gathering area to nurse a glass of wine and lounge on the leather sofa. This space was essential for Giroux, who doesn’t mind if visitors don’t buy anything, so long as they leave feeling better than they did upon walking in.

Giroux’s generous spirit doesn’t stop there.

Before You, Me & The Sea even opened its doors to the public in May of this year, Giroux encountered Amy McHugh, who would go on to serve as the entrepreneur’s incessant inspiration.

“I was scrolling through Facebook in February and came across a GoFundMe for this beautiful 28-year-old woman from Niceville who was diagnosed with cancer,” Giroux recalled. “I had an impulsive need to give her what I had that day, but even after I did, I

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

➺R oyal Standard microfiber beach towels ➺C olorful organizer beach totes ➺ E mbroidered baseball hats ➺ S tretchy tops by Hearts & Hips and Easel

couldn’t stop thinking about her. After that, I launched a campaign where we sold special coffee mugs and all proceeds went to her. But when that ended, I still felt an obligation to her that I couldn’t quite explain.”

Giroux still can’t find the words to describe the bond she’s created with McHugh, whom she describes as a person you feel you’ve known your whole life upon first meeting. Giroux made many trips over the Mid Bay Bridge to visit McHugh, where the pair picked out paint colors for the store and collaborated on many other design elements.

“I feel like this has become her store,” Giroux said, taking a good look around. “I’m still in awe of this store and I don’t ever want to lose that feeling — or forget how I got here.

I think that love comes out when people are in here, and that’s what’s keeping me going.”

People say that blessing is in giving. For Giroux, that couldn’t be more true. EC photography by JACQUELINE WARD IMAGES

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

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PROMOTION

MCCASKILL & COMPANY SPARKLES This holiday season is all about sparkles! McCaskill & Company features all of your favorite jewelry designers with the largest and most exclusive selection on the Emerald Coast. Unparalleled jewelry and fine watch collections combine with impeccable service to create a shopping experience like no other. McCaskill & Company is located between Destin and Sandestin.

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GURHAN 5-STRAND NECKLACE ($3,950) A delicate

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layering of strands of turquoise beads and 24 karat gold.

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PAMELA FROMAN OPAL PENDANT ($9,200) Colorful

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Boulder opal and 18 karat yellow gold “Arabesque” necklace with diamonds.

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($6,270) Csarite (color changing) and diamond “Scrolly” cross pendant in 18 karat yellow and pink gold (measures 2 inches).

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ERICA COURTNEY RING

(price varies) 18 karat gold, diamond and gemstone “Becca” ring (available in a wide variety of exceptional gemstones).

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KWIAT DIAMOND EARRINGS (starting at $2,050)

Tiara-cut diamond classic stud earrings in platinum martini setting.

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SIMON G. BRACELET

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($6,600) 18 karat white and rose gold bangle bracelet with 1.51 ct. diamonds.

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LAUREN K. EARRINGS

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(price varies) Pink spinel, spessartite garnet, faceted opal and diamond “Gemma” drop earrings in 18 karat gold.

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GO 34

➺ MC CASKILL & COMPANY 13390 U.S. 98 W., Destin | (850) 650-2262 | mccaskillandcompany.com

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

MAKING 30A EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL

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Make your smile a priority in 2018!

DEREK R. FLEITZ, DDS AND LINDSEY M. HOPPE, DDS PURVEYORS OF FINE DENTISTRY

WHEN YOU ARE AS PASSIONATE AS DR. DEREK FLEITZ AND DR. LINDSEY HOPPE are about providing the absolute finest in dentistry, it shows in all aspects of the office. 30A Smiles is as unique as its doctors, with an artistic design that seems more like a chic urban coastal loft than a dental office. From the moment you enter the doors, it is abundantly clear that this is no ordinary dental office. Attention to detail is one of their greatest strengths.

30A Smiles brings a new and refreshing experience in dental care to the Emerald Coast. With a wealth of experience and advanced training, our prestigious team is led by Dr. Derek Fleitz and Dr. Lindsey Hoppe.

Both doctors have studied at some of the most elite post-doctoral programs in the country. With a combined 37 years of experience, both doctors have been the recipients of numerous awards, accolades and advanced certifications throughout their careers. Utilizing the latest in dental technologies, we provide the finest dentistry for all ages. Our services include everything from complete family dentistry to advanced comprehensive dental services.

30ASMILES.COM | LOCATED IN 30AVENUE | 850.231.0070 | EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

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FOR HER

’TIS THE SEASON! Make merry in velvet, satin, sequins and ugly sweaters

by HANNAH BURKE

T

here’s a long-sleeve, red velvet mini-dress that hangs in a neglected corner of my closet.

Only worn once, its threads bear memories of an unusually chilly December night in Destin spent at a holiday bash. Paired with sleek black tights and my go-to ankle booties, I felt a bit like an elf, but a chic one, nonetheless.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, I can’t wait to show that dress some more love. From silks and satins to faux leathers and furs, the holidays are the perfect excuse to rock your favorite fabrics. But when party time rolls around and you get ready to dust off that special statement piece or purchase a new one, it’s important to keep in mind that moderation is key.

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For Abbie Reeves, fashionista and owner of The Dressing Room Boutique in Destin, ’tis the season to let wardrobes shine.

“Velvet, lace and faux leather are huge this year, and a great bonus is that they play well with one another, so don’t be afraid to mix it up!” Reeves encourages. “Jewel tones, deep neutrals and shades of red are everywhere right now. That said, choose one key piece to be your WOW factor and let everything else serve as a counterpart. If you just can’t resist that killer sequin shift dress, pair it with a subdued, fitted blazer or moto jacket.”

Outerwear will be the cherry on top of your look. For dressier occasions, drape a classic pea coat or structured trench over your little black dress.

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

“You’ll be welcomed with compliments on your coat only to shed the layer and reveal a built-in wardrobe change,” Reeves adds.

Store manager and buyer Elyse Waite of Envie Boutique in Pensacola recommends throwing on a faux fur if you’re feeling extra fancy. Oh, but leave room for accessorizing!

“Jewelry such as chandelier earrings illuminated with crystals complete any holiday look,” Waite says. “This year, mystical charms like stars and butterflies will add intriguing detail.”

Clutches, pouches and purses with “beaded embroidery, lace embellishments and shimmery details” are also sure to be show-stopping.

Though it may be warm enough on the Emerald Coast to go forego hosiery, tights are always classy companions for your party dress. Reeves suggests investing in a quality pair, like black Dex Essential Ponte Leggings, to complement anything from the casual tunic to elegant evening wear.

For most ladies, though, it’s all about the shoe.

“Footwear options for this holiday season have embellishments and textures such as velvet and sequins,” Waite notes. “Metallic colors and slides are an easy and comfortable way to complete your look!”

Reeves concurs, and adds, “Classic strappy heels and closed-toe pumps are always a safe bet for the season’s many cocktail parties, but don’t shy away from boots on other occasions!” Whether chunky heeled, flat, over-theknee, or ankle-high, boots opHOLIDAY tions are endless and can do no wrong.

FASHION As for you men out there, ORNAMENTS plenty of trends let you join in You’re the tree on the fun, too. and Kendra Scott’s bejewelled necklace While indulging in eggnog is the tinsel. See and hot toddies, exude festivmore from her Winter ity with flannels and cashmere 2017 Collection at quarter-zips.

Envie Boutique in “For casual parties, pair Pensacola Beach and other fine outlets. a tucked in button-up with cropped-hem denim and Chelsea boots,” Reeves recommends. “If the event is more bubbly than brewery, simply swap the Chelseas for Wingtip Oxfords, and the denim for dress slacks.”

While men may shy away from sequins, bow ties, suspenders and hats will spruce up any outfit.

One such party calls for none of these tips. You can thank millennials for the reviving that platform for fashion disasters, the “Ugly Sweater” party. Twenty-somethings may find what they need in a parent’s or grandparent’s closet. Or search tipsyelves.com or myuglychrsitmassweater.com for the tackiest stitching of Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman available anywhere. EC

PHOTO COURTESY OF ENVIE BOUTIQUE

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Northwest Florida Urology welcomes Dr. Stiles.

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SALES 850-244-5165 mon-fri 8:30am-6pm sat 8:30am-5pm

SERVICE 850-244-5165 mon-fri 7:30am-5:30pm sat 8am-1pm

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Exceptional urological care is here.

If you need urological care, it’s nice to know an exceptional urologist.

Northwest Florida Urology and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center welcomes Dr. Stiles. Dr. Stiles received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences, college of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, and completed his urological surgery residency at Michigan State University.

Northwest Florida Urology specializes in: Kidney stones • Incontinence • Voiding dysfunction Vasectomy • Genitourinary cancer • Erectile dysfunction

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Affiliated physician specialists, online scheduling and convenient locations.

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Dr. Robert Feldman and Dr. Noah Converse 850-863-3463

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December 2017–January 8/10/2017 2018 1:36:09 37 PM

PROMOTION

1 FARMER’S DAUGHTER VINEYARDS Highly awarded local French hybrid wines, entirely handcrafted right here in the sunbelt. Seven premium styles and UPS shipping to 40+ states. 106 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Georgia (229) 233-8314

Gift Guide

Find just the right office gifts, perfect presents to put under the tree and special treats for yourself and friends in our guide to holiday shopping along the Emerald Coast.

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2 1

2 KILWINS CHOCOLATES, FUDGE & ICE CREAM Kilwins treats are handcrafted. Granny Smith apples are hand-dipped in freshly made in-store caramel. It is the perfect salty sweet flavor combination. Great gift for teachers, co-workers, neighbors and just about everyone. 625 Grand Blvd., E-102, Miramar Beach (850) 837-9445 kilwins.com

3 SERENITY BY THE SEA SPA AT HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA An AromaSense luxury shower head utilizes natural aroma oils to enhance relaxation and alleviate stress. Treat your loved ones to a luxury spa experience at home. 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S., Miramar Beach, (850) 622–9595

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4 L.A. GREEN Kelsi Dagger designs embody thoughtful collision of grit and glamour. The Logan boot has a relaxed silhouette made of supple suede with of-the-moment detail that you will want to wear to all your holiday parties.

12805 U.S. Hwy 98 E., Ste. C 100, Inlet Beach (850) 851-8952 shoplagreen.com

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

PROMOTION

5

5 DIP SWIMWEAR Floralicious. This year do not give her another bulky, itchy sweater … Instead, surprise her with luxury swimwear.

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6 MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY ART GALLERY Give the gift of paradise with beach landscape art transferred onto various mediums and framed in Emerald Coasts own reclaimed, repurposed wood frames. 39 Logan Lane Ste. 9, Santa Rosa Beach (850) 714-7997

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PHOTOS BY RHONDA MURRAY (2, 5, 8, 9), SAIGE ROBERTS (1) AND COURTESY OF VENDORS (3, 4, 6, 7, 10)

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7 BIJOUX DE MER The gift that keeps giving as she will receive compliments every time she wears this 40” gold hematite necklace with jumbo baroque pearls. These lariats can be worn 11 different ways. Three lariats are shown here.

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8 THE DRESSING ROOM BOUTIQUE Stylish, trendy and super soft this suede jacket by Dex is always in fashion.

This holiday season shop at The Dressing Room Boutique in Destin Commons to find charming accessories and chic new pieces for her wardrobe. 4131 Legendary Drive, Ste. F112, Destin, (850) 218-8776

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10 BAY BREEZE PATIO The portable MiniMax Big Green Egg is ideal for camping, tailgating, boating and the beach. Available at Bay Breeze Patio, which specializes in premium grills, premium outdoor furniture brands, in-stock wicker, fireplaces, fire pits and more. 32 Forest Shore Drive, Miramar Beach, (850) 269-4666 BayBreezePatio.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

39

ADRIFT If you’re hearing the siren song of change for the New Year, visit DRIFT HOME AND GIFTS on 30A. This stylish boutique offers a variety of home goods in seaside style to breathe new life into your space.

Downtown Panama City Three new stores have popped up in the burgeoning scene of Harrison Avenue:

 WHAT’S IN STORE? A roundup of retail happenings throughout the Emerald Coast

by HANNAH BURKE

➸ SALTY MARSH

MERCANTILE offers contemporary pieces with Southern style and urban flare.

You’ll also find locally crafted gifts, such as homemade honey and

At Rockwell Tharp, the boots are made for walkin’ and the handbags are made for buyin’.

Designer-owners Kristi Rockwell and Cameron Tharp have stores all over the country, and they are now bringing fresh, custom-made products to their shop in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

fulfilling, comfortable job experience.

➸ For a quick warmup, stop by VINNY

➸ THE FRINGE

AND BAY’S COFFEE AND EATERY for a

cup of joe and some treats. Shop owners and close friends Madeline Lovejoy and Baylee Hanson plan to employee people with special needs in the hopes of providing these individuals with a

GALLERY has received a complete renovation, opening the space up for larger displays of art and jewelry. For those who enjoy abstract and edgy statement pieces, the exotic art of Fringe may have the decor just for you.

City Market Destin ➸ Already popular at its Crestview location, the LENA ELLEN BOUTIQUE is bringing its ever-growing collection of modern, designer brands to Destin. ➸ LUX EXCHANGE

YES, HONEY

The first meadery of the Emerald Coast is now open, in Pensacola!

SWAN NECK MEADERY & WINERY creates 16 organic flavors from fermented honey — perfect for cozy winter nights. Feel free to sample various flavors and take home a bottle or two.

candles, to pass along this holiday season.

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has moved to City Market Bayside. The new location offers a renovated space with the same, fabulous stock of designer purses, sunglasses and accessories. Lux for your ladies will ensure they have the happiest of holidays!

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December 2017–January 2018

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PROMOTION

SAVORING SO GOURMET STYLE Part of the Bodacious Family of Shops, So Gourmet is a truly unique culinary experience.

The newly remodeled space features a centrally located staircase for easy access to So Gourmet’s Kitchenry Store, Wine & Cheese Shop and Culinary Instruction Kitchen, which hosts cooking classes, demonstrations and tasting events.

Celebrate the joys of cooking and entertaining, and get a head start on the holidays with these wonderful hand-selected items, perfect for entertaining and gift giving!

1.

RECLAIMED WOOD SPANISH OLIVE CHEESE BOARD ($72)

1 2

Handcrafted from reclaimed 19th century European timbers, this rustic platter features an oil-rubbed finish, raised edge and shaped handle. Perfect for serving cheese, olives, bread and appetizers.

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BOTTOMS UP! METALLIC PARCHMENT TWILL BAG ($10.99)

This playful yet chic metallic-gold wine bag is designed to make the bearer the star of any occasion — picnic in the park, holiday gift giving, parties or get-togethers.

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SELF-WATERING BASIL HERB KIT

($20) Enjoy fresh basil all year long! This self-watering planter is inspired by vintage blue mason jars and comes with certified organic, non-GMO basil seeds, plant food and easy instructions.

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4.

LEKUE MICROWAVE POPCORN MAKER ($20) Lekue’s innovative design

makes perfectly popped homemade popcorn and features a suction lid and collapsible bowl for easy storage. BPA free.

Dishwasher safe.

5 6

5.

MICHAEL ARAM ROPE COCKTAIL SHAKER & JIGGER ($95, $25) Michael

Aram’s Rope Collection celebrates form and texture with a minimalist nautical touch.

This handcrafted cocktail shaker features rich metalworking that’s sure to inspire any mixologist. Add the matching double-ended jigger with textured rope detailing. Each Michael Aram piece is handmade, so no two are exactly alike.

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watertight shaker is perfect for creating, serving and storing salad dressings, marinades and more. Made from durable, BPA-free, shatter-resistant Tritan.

Dishwasher safe.

GO 42

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

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PHOTOS BY RICK APPLEYARD

OXO GOOD GRIPS LITTLE SALAD SHAKER ($11.99) This wide-mouth,

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From Kiplinger's Personal Finance, May © 2017 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited.

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Trustmark - Emerald Coast

December 2017–January 2018

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offering a wide variety of photography and art

VISIT OUR GALLERY in Grayton Beach to view the moments we have captured

39 Logan Ln. Ste. 9 • Santa Rosa Beach • (850) 714-7997 • modusphotography.com

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

expression DEC 2017/JAN 2018

CREATIVE WORKS LAND ON PAGES, CANVASES AND STAGES

↘

Joe Hobbs’ original glasswork, titled

“BIRD IN HAND”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE HOBBS

ART

FROM THE FIERY FURNACE

Artists breathe beauty into molten glass

by KIM HARRIS THACKER

MUSIC

Fine Arts at the Beach

|| BOOKS

Even Clownfish Sing the Blues

|| FILM

Our Favorite Holiday Movies

EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

45

expression

T

he art of glassblowing came into being two millennia ago, in Syria. It spread from there, over time and across the world, and became particularly popular in coastal settlements due to the demand among fishermen for glass fishing floats, which kept their nets from sinking.

Although it’s certainly possible to find a coastal glassblower who is willing to sell a fishing float or two, today’s glassblowers tend to focus their talent on crafting intricate works of art. We talked with four such glassblowers, Joe Hobbs, Russ Gilbert, Devon Murphy and Dave Magee, all of whom live and work on Florida’s Emerald Coast.

Devon Murphy How did you get started? I wandered into a glassblowing studio, and that was sort of it.

Describe a favorite glass piece you’ve made. My thesis exhibition for my MFA was physically exhausting

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What is your favorite part of the process?

I love the color of the glass when it’s fresh out of the furnace, and I love how it still sort of seems like a magic trick to me that I can dip a blowpipe into molten glass and make it into whatever I can dream up.



Where do your ideas come from? I usually start with a sketch.

Recently, I examined the space between science and magic and made sculptures that look like magic artifacts — things that, if you believed enough, could “power up” and take you somewhere else.

to produce, but I was really happy with the result. You can view the installations on my website.

FIRST CITY ART CENTER (850) 429-1222

1060 N. Guillemard St. Pensacola firstcityart.org

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

↑ Glass artist Devon Murphy manipulates molten glass using wet newspaper.

It’s certainly dangerous, but Murphy says, “All of the worst burns I have ever gotten have been in my kitchen and not a glassblowing studio.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEVON MURPHY AND RUSS GILBERT

How long have you worked with blown glass? 13 years



THE GLASSERY A glossary of glass-working terms ANNEALER

Also known as a lehr; a furnace in which a piece of glass that has been shaped slowly cools

CASTING

A process in which you use a ladle to scoop hot, viscous glass from furnace into a mold

COLD WORK

Any work done on the glass after it has cooled down

FLAMEWORK

A glassworking process in which a propane torch is used to heat glass to high temperatures for the purpose of fusing and shaping

RUSS GILBERT How long have you worked with blown glass? 40 years

Where do your ideas come from? These days, Mother Nature is my inspiration. It helps to live in such a beautiful place.

Describe a favorite glass piece you’ve made. My favorite piece is my next piece, although I really like the wildflowers I make.

What is your favorite part of the process? I love being able to make something that didn’t exist a few minutes before! ››

↑ Russ Gilbert has worked with glass for decades. His advice to newcomers to the art form is to “have patience and believe in yourself.”

GAFFER

The lead glassblower in a team of glassblowers

GATHER



How did you get started? A neighbor from the next farm over knew how to do

flamework, which involves using a blowtorch to fuse glass, and I convinced him to teach me.

FRIT

Powdered or crushed glass, often brightly colored

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A lump of molten glass, gathered together on the end of a blowpipe

JACK

A bladed tool, like a giant pair of metal tweezers that is used to shape a blown piece of glass

MARVER

A metal table upon which glass is rolled and shaped

PARISON

Partially finished blown glass

PUNTY

A small, stainless steel or iron rod that is used to create the opening in a glass jar, bottle or vase or is used to add other bits of glass to a parison December 2017–January 2018

47

expression

JOE HOBBS

FIRST CITY ART CENTER (850) 429-1222

1060 N. Guillemard St. Pensacola firstcityart.org

DAVE MAGEE How long have you worked with blown glass? Since I was about 11 years old — so about 27 years.

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

practiced at glass-specialty schools such as Penland School of Crafts and The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass.

Where do your ideas come from? I enjoy diving and all of the diversity I see under the water, so a lot of my pieces are ocean-themed.

Describe a favorite glass piece you’ve made. I made two plasma tubes in college that involved working with a lot of different elements, including glass, gasses and electricity.

What is your favorite part of the process? I enjoy figuring out how to make things. I recently learned how to use an implosion technique and have enjoyed making necklace pendants that look like they have jellyfish floating in them.



How did you get started? My father was a scientific glassblower, and I asked him to teach me when I was around 11. At age 15, I set up a table on the boardwalk to the Lucky Snapper (now Margaritaville) and sold my creations. I’ve studied and

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↘ Glass sculptures such as Hobbs’ “Regrowth” piece are made using glassblowing, fusing and flameworking techniques.

DAVE MAGEE GLASS BLOWING (844) 331-6468

66 Harbor Boulevard, Destin dmageeglassblowing.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOE HOBBS AND DAVE MAGEE

Describe a favorite glass piece you’ve made. I enjoy sculpting figuratively. My hand sculptures are my favorite

to make. Recently I made a “Regrowth” sculpture that is a larger-than-lifesized hand with a tree growing out of the palm.

What is your favorite part of the process?

Large-scale glassblowing is a team effort; there might be up to five working together. I enjoy sharing the creative experience with my teammates.



How long have you worked with blown glass? 23 years

How did you get started? I took glass as an elective during my freshman year at California College of Art. I was instantly fascinated.

Where do your ideas come from? I gather ideas from my dreams and from snorkeling and fishing in the Gulf and the Keys.

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MUSIC

Fine Arts at the Beach School brings aspiring musicians of all ages together

by HANNAH BURKE

↗ Michael Karr, founder of Fine Arts at the Beach, and grandson Noah Ocean take the lead at last year’s winter recital, at Woodstock Church. The church-based program assembles players of all ages.

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M

usic moves us. Unless you are without a soul, you’ve experienced a moment when a composition touched your very core. Your skin erupted in gooseflesh as you watched someone perfectly manipulate an instrument, and you could kick yourself for not sticking with those piano lessons Mom forced you into as a kid. While many great musicians have been practicing since childhood, adults haven’t missed the train just yet.

Fine Arts at the Beach Music School & Store jams to the motto, “Never Too Late. Never Too Old.” Located on Panama City Beach Parkway, Fine Arts at the Beach provides a delightfully divergent educational experience that departs from school music programs or private lessons. Founder J. Michael Karr got started in 2008 with a few students from his church. Growing up in a family of musicians and

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

performing professionally for much of his life, Karr was elated that many others shared his passion for playing and were eager to learn. As interest grew, the academy moved into a proper studio and flourished, and now attracts upwards of 100 students year-round.

“We’ve secured an excellent faculty of nine instructors, all highly trained with a strong calling to share what they know,” Karr described. “We keep tuition low so everybody can afford arts, but it’s important to all of us here that people are taught using quality instruments, which can be expensive. We understand that and wanted to provide everyone with an easier option through our music store.”

The shop, which supplies everything from bongos to banjoes, allows novice musicians to rent an instrument of their choice for as low as $12.75 a month. So, the interests of students have a lot to ››

PHOTO BY BANA’S PHOTOGRAPHY BY IVANA LANE

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December 2017–January 2018

51

expression

↗

The school’s store sells and rents band instruments, strings, percussion, keyboards and more.

play a few chords, but to guide them to learn how to make their own music and play coherently as a group.

Karr is especially proud of his academy’s mixed-age orchestral groups. What first started as a beginner’s orchestra blossomed into a symphony orchestra as students mastered their percussion instruments, strings, and woodwinds throughout the years. The orchestra is also available to non-students, and is free for any community member who wishes to join. (A beginner’s orchestra is still operating for those who are new to music.)

For Karr, creating harmony with others is what makes his business worth it.

“My wife and I were working second jobs just to get our studios started,” Karr recalled. “I remember leaning back against a wall while I was watching one of our recitals, thinking, ‘Lord, I am so

CAROL OF THE BELLS PERFORMANCE RECITAL

exhausted. We’re working so hard, why are we doing this?’

“Then, I looked up and saw the father of a family up on stage, playing guitar.

His wife was playing a conga, and their 8-year-old daughter was on piano. Their 4-year-old daughter was rattling a little shaker. This family was going to grow and be making music together for years to come. That’s why we do this.” EC

In celebration of the holidays and another successful year for students, Fine Arts at the Beach School & Store will be hosting the Carol of the Bells Performance Recital. Individually, students will demonstrate what they have learned at the school and then will join in a grand finale that will feature musicians from age 4 to 74 playing as a symphonic orchestra. A reception will follow, offering refreshments and potluck dinners. For more information on Fine Arts at the Beach, visit fineartsatthebeach.com.

52

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

MICHAEL AND NETTA KARR

WHERE Woodstock Church, 17495 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach WHEN Thursday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.

COST FREE to the public

PHOTOS BY BANA’S PHOTOGRAPHY BY IVANA LANE

with the instruments to be found in the store. Recently, Karr ordered a harp for a woman who decided she wanted to start studying that challenging instrument.

“New students can come into the store, pick up their guitar or brass, and then my wife, Netta, will figure out their schedule,” Karr explained. “We divide each year into three sessions. Students fill out an application that helps us figure out seating for each lesson, and then we’ll meet once a week for a 30-minute lesson.”

Each lesson is curriculum-based, tried-and-true and designed to help both young and old students meet their goals. Staff members at Fine Arts at the Beach like to think of themselves as music coaches, rather than instructors, due to direct involvement with each student.

The goal is not to teach a class how to

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expression

BOOKS

EVEN CLOWNFISH SING THE BLUES As a writer of Florida novels, Tim Dorsey keeps ‘serging’ by STEVE BORNHOFT

W

hen Rafael Nadal won his 10th French Open tennis title in June, John McEnroe asked him if he ever fears that his latest win in a major tournament will be his last.

Nadal confessed to no such fear.

Tim Dorsey is built differently, way differently, and produces titles of a different sort. In April, the author — wearing a billowing, gaily colored print shirt festooned with cocktails, shorts that struggled some to do their essential work, crew socks, Velcro-closure shoes and a boyish haircut that positively said mischievousness — ambled to the front of a restaurant meeting room.

Dorsey, who lives in Tampa, was in Tallahassee to address adoring fans as part of the Word of South Festival on a day that coincided with the Worm Grunting Festival in Sopchoppy. It is doubtful that attendance at the latter much affected turnout at the former. The crowds are distinct, although Sopchoppy figures prominently in Dorsey’s latest novel, Clownfish Blues.

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Dorsey began his speech by photographing his audience with his phone, something he does routinely, explaining that he likes to document all of his book tours, not knowing if there will be a next one. As he did so, he told a story about a couple whose lives were changed by their attendance at a stop on one such tour.

He photographed that audience, too, later posting the group shot on Facebook.

There, easily recognized in the image, was the couple, both of who were married at the time, just not to each other.

When their other halves discovered the photo, two divorces ensued and the Dorsey fans, encouraged

surely by their mutual interest, got hitched. Here, then, was the kind of anecdotal stuff that one would expect from Dorsey. Of such stuff, his novels are stitched.

When he affords himself a few days away from the keyboard, one-time journalist Dorsey likes to travel the back roads of Florida with a camera, collecting shots of places that may figure in a future book. He is well-acquainted with Panama City Beach; his recurring protagonist, Serge A. Storms, goes about shooting a documentary on Spring Break in the Dorsey novel, Gator A-Go-Go. For Dorsey, writing is like method acting. Employing the vocabulary of acting coach/pioneer Konstantin Stanislavski, he said it is important to “experience” a place before attempting to “represent” it in print. To wit, the gymnasium in Sopchoppy, built in Spanish Mission style from native lime rock in 1935 as a Works Progress Administration project. The rocks, rather than uniformly hewn, were pieced together in the fashion of a stone chimney. The gym hosts monthly performances of the Sopchoppy Opry, and you can rent it yourself for 200 beans a day.

Tim Dorsey’s latest novel, Clownfish Blues, rapidly travels through plot turns … and the state of Florida, from Sopchoppy to South Beach. At its center is an effort by schemers to game the Florida Lottery by frantically buying up as many combinations of five numbers as time will allow.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WILLIAM MORROW AND COMPANY

← THE AUTHOR NOT AT WORK Tim Dorsey relaxes outside a franchise motel — his favorite, the one with a numeral in its name. A self-described “survivor of journalism,” Dorsey is a prolific writer of Florida-based novels who frequently travels the state gathering material.

We encounter the gym early in Clownfish, on page 12, where it is likened to the Alamo. A few pages later, Serge escorts a local woman, Lou Ellen — whom he meets at the Sopchoppy Grocery sizing up zucchinis — to the idle facility. Serge picks a lock, throws back a bottle of malt liquor and consummates his minutesold relationship with Lou Ellen at midcourt.

Dorsey’s novels move quickly, and Serge is hard to resist.

Clownfish has much to do with a scheme to game the state lottery, but it passes through North Florida, as many Dorsey novels do, and its stops in Sopchoppy, Port St. Joe and the Apalachicola National Forest are sure to engage the region’s readers.

Serge, who can be relied upon to devise fabulously elaborate ways to dispatch bad people who capitalize on the frailties of the vulnerable, resists the term, “serial killer.”

“Serial killers are sick, pathological,” Dorsey said.

“Serge is a sequential killer. He detests bullying and dispatches scam artists and low-lifes who will not listen to “Serial killers are reason. He lives in Florida, so sick, pathological. he is kept very busy.”

They all die slowly.

Serge is a The enterprising Serge sequential killer. carries worm grunting to a He detests bullying new level, setting aside stob and rooping iron in favor of a and dispatches sound system that he buries in scam artists and the ground and cranks up with low-lifes who the bass on full. It is enough to drives buckets of crawlers from will not listen to the ground — and centipedes, reason. He lives snakes and small mammals. in Florida, so he is Dorsey, who favors hotels that include a numeral in their kept very busy.” name, is not always content —Author Tim Dorsey with things as they are. He tells the story of the time that he dickered with a hotel maintenance man who had air-conditioning units set at 72 degrees. Dorsey prefers 65.

As a product of difficult negotiation, the hotel staffer lifted the cover off the unit in Dorsey’s room, punched buttons, and 72 became 69. Dorsey wasn’t satisfied.

Left alone, he closely examined the unit, whose model number he has memorized, and decoded it.

Turning to his audience at the restaurant, Dorsey brandishes and displays his phone. On the screen is a photo of a thermostat. It reads 60.

Dorsey is as proud as Serge would be standing over a shyster staked out over a fire ant bed. EC

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Perfection

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RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH US ON DEC. 31 CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE. 850.267.2305 | vueon30a.com 4801 W Hwy 30A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL Some restrictions and exclusions may apply. See club for details. 1017 NP

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expression Christmas. Ol’ pal Linus has to step in with the appropriate Bible verse to stop his friend from buying into the craziness.

6 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! (1966)

All the Grinch wants is a little peace and quiet. He’ll stop at nothing to get it. His caper to steal Whoville’s Christmas is perfectly planned. What he doesn’t expect is for his heart to grow three sizes that day and make him a new Who. Who knew?

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FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (1969)

This made-for-TV holiday special, based on a song recorded by Gene Autry, features the incomparable voice of Jimmy Durante in a tale about a snowman magically brought to life by children. Like the contemporary snowman in Frozen, Frosty has some things to learn about seasons. It’s a special treat for the ears to hear Durante as narrator and Jackie Vernon as the voice of Frosty.

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CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES Family-oriented holiday is a favorite trope of filmmakers by JASON DEHART

When it comes to holiday entertainment there are dozens of Christmas-themed movies and shows to choose from, but the following short list covers the traditional favorites — plus one or two that are relatively obscure today.

So grab the eggnog, stoke the fire, and prepare to enjoy the annual Christmas movie marathon.



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1

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

Imagine, if you will, a simple banker. A man with a wife and kids and a drafty old home. A man of accounts and ledgers and a missing deposit that could spell his doom. A man now standing on a precipice overlooking the dark chasm between the life he knows and his hopes and dreams. With an angel.

2

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)

There have been imitators over the years but the original — putting Santa Claus on trial — is best because it has Maureen O’Hara. ’Nuff said.

3

WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)

Army chums Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye form a musical troupe after World War II, fall in love with a pair of sisters, and save their old general’s Vermont inn from disaster.

4 RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (1964)

This classic tale of an heroic reindeer is poignant in its themes of rejection and redemption. The stop-motion process is a little off-putting, but it’s part of this program’s yesteryear charm.

5 A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965)

Charlie Brown is depressed by the annual over-commercialization of

9 ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1974)

In this animated Christmas sleeper, a low-down dirty rat pens a cynical letter to Santa, who retaliates by deleting the entire town from his list. It’s up to a humble clockmaker (voiced by Joel Grey) to build a charming, chiming tower to appease the Big Guy and win him back over.

10 THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL (1978)

What was George Lucas thinking?

This is one he wishes he could take back, and that’s saying a lot. His Star Wars Holiday Special was released in November 1978 and was, despite its family-centered plot, jeered worldwide for its cheesy “variety show” feel. That said, it was notable for its introduction of bounty hunter Boba Fett and a singing Princess Leia, but not much else. Unless, of course, you count cameos by Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, Art Carney and Jefferson Starship.

Hey, it was the ’70s, man!

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A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)

This is a modern classic that owes much of its popularity to 1940s nostalgia. Near the end of the Depression, a young boy has his sights set on owning a Red Ryder BB gun. His cause is foiled time and again but on Christmas morning his Old Man comes through for him. Funny and gratifying.

BY RANKIN BASS (SCREENSHOT OF THE FILM) [PUBLIC DOMAIN], VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (1964)

FILM

A VERY MERRY CRICKET (1973)

Legendary animator Chuck Jones and voice talent Mel Blanc tell the story of a cat and mouse duo that recruits Chester, a musical cricket, to help them restore the harmony of Christmas among humans. The program is based on the Newberry-winning children’s book The Cricket in Times Square.

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PROMOTION

BRIA

SKONBERG New Orleans-style jazz, ‘with a twist’

Presented by Opening Nights at Florida State University part, however, she likes — to borrow a bit of jazz parlance — to “build the band from the bottom up,” and move on from there.

While rooted in bluesy melody and rhythm driven New Orleans-style jazz, Skonberg’s music is equally influenced by contemporary artists such as Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones and Harry Connick, Jr. Skonberg likes to travel and tends to collect sounds wherever she goes; she’s currently fusing in more Latin American percussion elements. Always, she strives to activate listeners with music that “makes people think, feel and want to get up and dance.”

“We like to feed off the audience,” Skonberg says of herself and her five-piece band. “The people we play for are as big a part of the party as we are.”

Skonberg has recorded two albums on the OKeh label, “With a Twist,” introduced in May, and 2016’s “Bria,” which earned her a Juno Award for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.” (Think of it as it as a Canadian Grammy.)

“Awards just let me know that I may be moving in the right direction,” Skonberg said. “You’ve got to keep practicing. Work hard and be humble. You can’t rest on your laurels in the music business. No, no, no.”

Music, as has been said, “not busy being born is busy dying,” but Skonberg, at the top of her powers, is far from that.

“I love the idea of spreading joy, relating the human experience and putting good into the world to counteract the negative,” she said.

Want to catch Bria Skonberg on tour?

Bria Skonberg performs in Panama City on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the St. Joe Community Foundation Lecture Hall in the Holley Academic Center on the FSU Panama City campus. Hers is one of two shows performed in Panama City by Opening Nights. For more performances visit openingnights.fsu.edu/events

Tickets to Bria Skonberg are priced at $45. To get yours, visit openingnights.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-6500.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF OPENING NIGHTS

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ria Skonberg recognizes that the songs she plays, sings and writes could not exist without older songs produced by pioneering musicians who long preceded her.

She was fortunate, she says, as a girl growing up in Chilliwack, British Columbia, to have been introduced by teachers to the music of early jazz artists — Louis Armstrong and others, who popularized “hot jazz” in the 1920s. As a middle school jazz band member, she practiced her trumpet by playing along with Armstrong recordings at home.

Today, Skonberg, a rising star trumpeter, vocalist and songwriter, makes it a point to give Armstrong and his like-and-kind the “attention they deserve” at the Hot Jazz Camp and Hot Jazz Festival she has founded in her home of the last seven years, New York City. (She is making it there, which is to say, of course, that she could make it anywhere.)

“You read a book, you start at the beginning, follow the story, get to know the characters,” Skonberg said, “but with music education, it isn’t always that way.” For her

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P R I M E

S T E A K S

&

S E A F O O D

SAVOR THE CLASSIC & SOPHISTICATED One of the finest dining destinations along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood features an award-winning 600-label wine list, hand selected prime steaks and Gulf-to-table seafood dishes. With fresh, seasonally inspired ingredients, Seagar’s prides itself on providing the most decadent and indulgent meals.

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

gastro&gusto DEC 2017/JAN 2018

DINING, IMBIBING AND LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

DESSERTS

VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS … … and other, better-known holiday treats

by KIM HARRIS THACKER

↖

EASY “ROCKY ROAD” FUDGE SUPREME turn the page for recipe

LIBATIONS photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Raise a Glass to the Holidays

|| DINING GUIDE

See Page 125

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gastro & gusto

Eggnog Layer Cake INGREDIENTS CAKE: ➸ * 1 cup browned

STACK THE DECK Dress up these delicious cookies with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white icing.

butter, set at room temperature ➸ 1 cups granulated sugar ➸ ½ cup brown sugar ➸ 4 eggs ➸ 2 teaspoons vanilla ➸ 1 cup milk (not skim) ➸ 2 ⅔ cups flour ➸ ⅓ cup cornstarch ➸ 1 tablespoon baking powder ➸ ½ teaspoon salt ➸ 1 teaspoons ginger ➸ 2 teaspoons cinnamon ➸ 1 teaspoon nutmeg ➸ ½ teaspoon cloves

CREAM CHEESE FILLING: ➸4 ounces cream

cheese, softened

➸¾ cup butter,

softened

➸ 3 ½ cups

confectioners’ (powdered) sugar ➸¼ cup favorite eggnog ➸ ½ teaspoon vanilla ➸½ teaspoon cinnamon ➸¼ teaspoon nutmeg SWISS MERINGUE FROSTING: ➸½ cup egg whites ➸ 1 ½ cup granulated

sugar

➸ 2 cups butter ➸ 2 teaspoons vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

DESSERTS HAVE CHANGED A LOT since Clement Clarke Moore penned his

classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” in which night-capped children were said to dream of sugarplums. But don’t go longing for days of yore; sugarplums are not the moist, delectable treats their name would suggest.

They’re comfits — balls of dried fruit, seeds or nuts surrounded by an impenetrable candy shell. In other words, sugarplums are the stuff of nightmares, to the modern palate. The following desserts, however, are sure to sashay through the sweetest of holiday dreams.

‘Cherry’ Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes about 30 cookies INGREDIENTS ➸ ¾ cup (1½ cubes) butter, softened ➸ ¾ cup brown sugar, lightly packed ➸ ½ cup granulated sugar ➸ 1 large egg ➸ 1 teaspoon vanilla ➸ ½ teaspoon almond or cherry extract ➸ ¼ cup cocoa powder

➸ 1 teaspoon baking soda ➸ ½ teaspoon salt ➸ 1 teaspoon (or more) red food coloring ➸ 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ➸ 6 oz. (½ bag) chocolate chips ➸ 1 ½ cups dried cranberries

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa, baking soda, salt and flour. In another large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, almond or cherry extract and red food coloring and mix lightly, until the batter is an even red color. Add the flour mixture, a half-cup at a time. The batter will darken with the addition of the cocoa, so don’t overdo the red food coloring in the previous step. Add the chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Mix lightly on low speed until the chips and berries are distributed throughout the batter. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a cookie scoop to make small mounds of cookie dough that are about two tablespoons in volume. Place them a few inches apart on a non-stick or greased cookie sheet and bake for about 9 minutes. Check them at 7 minutes. These are a dark-colored cookie, so it’s easy to burn them. When they’re done, the tops should look dry, but not brown. Cool the cookies on their tray for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling wrack. Decorate with powdered sugar or frosting.

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 8-inch cake rounds. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a medium-sized bowl. In an electric mixer, combine softened browned butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Mix well. Add eggs. Add vanilla and milk. Mix well, then, with the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture a spoonful at a time. Mix until just combined. Pour batter into cake rounds, taking care to distribute evenly. Bake 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool, then remove the cakes from their pans. Cool completely before layering with cream cheese mixture.

To make the filling, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar. Add the remaining ingredients.

Mix on high speed until light and fluffy. If mixture seems runny, add a tablespoon more confectioner’s sugar, more if needed. Layer between cakes (use entire batch of cream cheese mixture). Frost the cake with Swiss meringue frosting.

To make the frosting, whisk egg whites in an electric mixer on medium-high speed until they start to foam. Add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, waiting 20 seconds or so between each addition. Beat until mixture is well incorporated but still soupy. Spoon mixture into a heat-safe bowl and use the double-boiler method to heat the meringue to 160 degrees (very hot to the touch). Return the meringue to the mixing bowl, then beat the meringue on high speed for five minutes or until the meringue makes stiff, glossy peaks. With the mixer on low speed, add in the remaining ingredients and beat until the frosting looks completely smooth (about 5 minutes).

Frost the entire cake with the Swiss meringue buttercream frosting and sprinkle nutmeg in a spiral shape on top.

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Easy ‘Rocky Road’ Fudge Supreme

↗

This fudge recipe is completely foolproof and works great with milk or dark chocolate chips.

Pour a bag of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips into a glass bowl. Add one can of sweetened condensed milk and a dash of salt. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir.

Continue microwaving, stirring every 30 seconds or until the chips melt easily when stirred.

Stir until smooth, then add ½ teaspoon of vanilla and stir again, until vanilla is thoroughly incorporated.

Line a 9 x 13” pan with clingwrap. Or go with a 9 x 9” for big, thick pieces of fudge. Coat the cling wrap with baking spray.

Pour the fudge into the pan, and smooth it all around. If you like peanut butter, now is the time to dot the hot fudge with it, using a ¼ cup total. Use a buttered knife to swirl the peanut butter through the fudge, for a marbled look. For “Rocky Road” fudge, pour ½ cup of miniature marshmallows in the bottom of your pan before you add the hot fudge; add more marshmallows and nuts on top (tap them in place gently). Another variation is to top the fudge with walnut pieces (tapped into place).

Simple and delicious!

Place the fudge in the fridge to cool. Once set, remove it from the pan by lifting the cling wrap.

Cut the fudge into squares and wrap each square in colored cling wrap for a festive look. Store in a covered container in the fridge.

NEW HEIGHTS Double the recipe in an 8" square pan for extra-tall fudge that peeks above miniature cupcake wrappers.

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LIBATIONS

Oh, Be Joyful!

Cozy Mulled Wine

←

➸ 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine (such as cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel or merlot) ➸ 1 orange, peeled and sliced ➸⅔ cup honey ➸¼ cup brandy ➸ 3 cinnamon sticks ➸ 8 whole cloves, or more to taste ➸ 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Yesteryear libations heat up the winter holidays

by JASON DEHART

Combine red wine, orange slices, honey, brandy, cinnamon sticks, cloves and ginger in a slow cooker. Cook on low until wine is steaming, 20 to 25 minutes.

B

aby, it’s cold outside. So you might want to come back in, stand by the fire and warm your belly with some spicy mulled wine. Or, maybe some bourbon-infused eggnog will refresh your yuletide cheer. Of course, there are many other seasonal libations, but these are particularly traditional and each has an interesting history.

According to Adrian Smith of Vivino. com, mulled wine started with Romans who heated wine to warm themselves in winter. During the Middle Ages, Europeans — ever mindful of illness and plague — added healthful spices to the concoction to ward off sickness. Various recipes abounded; by 1609 the generic name for mulled wine was “glögg.”

“The big turning point came in the 1890s, when glögg became associated with Christmas. Every wine merchant across the country had their own unique

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recipe to share,” Smith wrote. “Variations now include everything from red and white wines to sangria blends and vermouth to port — each country’s method slightly different from the next.”

Eggnog was another cold weather refreshment that arrived on the holiday scene at about the same time as mulled wine. It was made from milk, eggs and a little ale. Famous foodie Alton Brown explains it thusly: “Most culinary anthropologists believe modern eggnog descended from a thick, boozy, late-medieval concoction called posset that was composed of hot milk and hooch enhanced with whatever spice the lord of the castle had on hand,” Brown wrote for Mental Floss. Incidentally, the name was derived from “nog,” a strong beer brewed in eastern England, and “noggin,” a tavern tankard. EC

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

Alton  Brown’s Eggnog ➸ 4 egg yolks ➸ ⅓ cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon ➸ 1 pint whole milk ➸ 1 cup heavy cream ➸ 3 ounces bourbon ➸ 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ➸ 4 egg whites In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg and stir to combine. Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks.

With the mixer still running, gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve. (foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown)

PHOTOS BY JULIA SUDNITSKAYA (MULLED WINE) AND PHOTOKITCHEN (EGGNOG) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

(Allrecipes.com)

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4655 Gulfstarr Drive 850-269-2920

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Coming Home and

GIVING BACK BUBBA WATSON MAKES MAJOR GIFT TO

STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

While living away from Pensacola in Arizona and Orlando, Bubba Watson fell subject to the magnetic influence exerted by the Gulf of Mexico on many who have experienced Northwest Florida. And, for Watson, that pull was joined by a powerful homing instinct.

Those combined forces proved irresistible and Watson, relenting, assured himself that if LeBron James could go back to Cleveland, surely he could return to his roots.

(It stood to reason that Watson would have an easier time going home again than James did. When James traded Cleveland for Miami, Cavaliers fans burned his jersey. No one was bending pink drivers over their knees because Watson left Pensacola.)

STORY BY STEVE BORNHOFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Golf champion Bubba Watson and his wife, Angie, made their home in Pensacola in part because of Watson’s roots in the region and in part for its proximity to good schools and Sacred Heart Hospital.

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↑ Pediatric physicians at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital gather with Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola President Henry Stovall (second from left); Angie and Bubba Watson (at center); Quint Studer, chairman of the Sacred Heart Health System Board of Directors (left of Angie Watson); and Susan Davis, CEO of Sacred Heart Health System (right of Bubba Watson).

Watson is satisfied that he and his wife, Angie, who played professional basketball in the WNBA, made the right move and now he and his family and his foundation are engaged in publicly embracing Pensacola, working generously to make it a better place and, in particular, doing what they can to bring about the realization of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

With two gifts made in August and September, Watson, a professional golfer with two Masters Tournament titles on his resumé, donated a total of $2.1 million to the Children’s Hospital project.

“We will be eternally grateful,” said Henry Stovall, president of Sacred Heart Hospital

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Pensacola. “Bubba is one of the biggest supporters that this hospital has ever had.”

Work on the $85 million, 120,000-square-foot children’s hospital began in March.

“In my business, winning a trophy is great,” Watson said. “I do that, and on Sunday night, I’m a hero. But, as of Thursday morning, when the next tournament starts, people are looking for the next hero. So, you begin to ask yourself where you can best put your love and use your connections to provide for generations to come.”

Watson acknowledged that there are a “million good causes out there,” but he was especially inclined to give to one with which he had a personal relationship.

Watson’s connection to Sacred Heart in

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

“We will be eternally grateful.

Bubba is one of the biggest supporters that this hospital has ever had.”

— HENRY STOVALL, PRESIDENT OF SACRED HEART HOSPITAL PENSACOLA

RENDERING COURTESY OF SACRED HEART HEALTH SYSTEM

↑ Bubba Watson launches a ceremonial drive at the Sacred Heart Hospital campus in Pensacola where plans call for the commissioning of a statue of the Watson family in recognition of their support of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital project.

For more from the announcement of the Watson’s donation to The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, turn to Page 4 of the Sacred Heart Foundation’s “Stories From the Heart” newsletter later in this issue.

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Pensacola is lifelong. He and his sister were born there and his late father underwent cancer treatments there.

“When I came back to this town, it was about becoming part of this place,” Watson reflected. “I asked myself how I could become not just a golfer, but a helpful citizen. My kids will be at the children’s hospital — they’ve already been there — so it’s going to be a lifelong goal to remain part of that facility.

“I won’t always be Bubba Watson the golfer, but, as a person, I will always be a representative of this town and indebted to it,” Watson said. “People here helped me become better at the game of golf and shaped who I became as a person.”

Watson is an admirer of health care consultant and children’s hospital namesake Quint Studer, with whom he co-owns the Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league baseball team. Randall Wells, who was the valedictorian of Watson’s high school class and now serves as his financial advisor, introduced (continued on page 114) the two philanthropists.

↑ Quint Studer, namesake of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital (left) and golf champion Bubba Watson collaborate as hospital philanthropists and co-own the Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league baseball team. With them here are Watson’s wife, Angie, and Sacred Heart President/CEO Susan Davis. Watson, in photo at right, gazes at the splendor of the grass at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

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“In my business, winning a trophy is great. I do that, and on Sunday night, I’m a hero. But, as of Thursday morning, when the next tournament starts, people are looking for the next hero. So, you begin to ask yourself where you can best put your love and use your connections to provide for generations to come.”

— BUBBA WATSON

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Colorful treats and surprises made by hand with loved ones add to the warmth of the winter holidays. Mix in ornaments dear to your family and evocative scents of evergreens, oranges and cinnamon to delight all your senses.

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Have yourself a merry, homemade

HOLIDAY To bring about a general feeling of enjoyment, much depends on the surroundings. … It is worth while to bestow some little trouble on the decoration of the rooms. — Cassell’s Family Magazine, 1881

story by

KIM HARRIS THACKER photography by

SAIGE ROBERTS styling by

KIM HARRIS THACKER AND SAIGE ROBERTS

Ah, the holiday season. It’s the time of year when families gather, friends meet and children try to behave themselves a little better than usual. It’s also craft season. There’s no celebration like a homemade celebration, and the memories made during those times spent with loved ones return every year, when the eye spies an ornament crafted by dimpled fingers that wielded a paintbrush for the first time, or when a whiff of nutmeg reminds of a family baking spree. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or another winter holiday, chances are good that your Pinterest board is currently exploding with Do-it-Yourself holiday projects, most of which are too expensive or difficult to reasonably tackle. Never fear: Emerald Coast Magazine has some wonderful projects — some budget-friendly, cinnamonspiced, brightly colored, fuzzy, twinkly, dazzling, holiday projects — for you to make. Pull out the fabric scraps, paint and hot glue gun: It’s time to make memories!

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A basket of blue and white crackers are perfect for Hanukkah; try red, green and black for Kwanzaa; yellow and orange for Winter Solstice; and red and green for Christmas.

COUNTDOWN TO THE HOLIDAYS In Britain, “crackers” are an important part of any Christmas celebration. When you pull the sides of a traditional British cracker, it pops open, spilling out paper hats, treats, toys and slips of paper containing groan-worthy jokes. You can make your own crackers for any holiday using cardboard toilet paper roll tubes (start collecting them now), tissue paper in any color and string or ribbon, also in any color. Count down to your holiday by opening one cracker per day.

Start by cutting tissue paper into widths that are twice the length of a cardboard tube. Lay a tube at the center of a piece of tissue paper, and roll the tube down the length of the paper, leaving excess paper at both ends.

Tape the paper in place. Gather the paper on one end of the tube and tie it with string. Place a treat or toy inside and tie off the other end. You may like to number the tubes for your countdown, or just leave them unmarked.

Place them in a basket and open one every morning of your countdown. Let family members take turns opening the crackers. You may place more than one treat or toy inside each, so there’s enough to share each day.

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THRIFTY CRAFTING Use crackers to count down to a holiday. Cut numbers from old magazines using a 1” hole punch and tie each number to a cracker.

GET CRAFTY, SAVE MONEY HOBBY LOBBY Locations

6235 N. David Hwy., Pensacola, (850) 478-4200 875 Harbor Blvd., Destin, (850) 837-3002 820 W. 23rd St., Panama City, (850) 914-0285 Hours

Mon.–Sat.: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun.: closed JOANN’S Locations

6601 N. Davis Hwy. Suite 25, Pensacola, (850) 473-3926 224B Eglin Pkwy. NE, Fort Walton, (850) 863-9377 413 E. 23rd St., Panama City, (850) 785-1299 Hours

Mon.–Sat.: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

MICHAELS Locations

4721 Bayou Blvd., Pensacola, (850) 484-7665 34940 Emerald Coast Pkwy., Destin, (850) 269-1257 15660 Panama City Beach Pkwy., Panama City Beach, (850) 588-0103 Hours

Mon.–Sat.: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

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When it comes to felt ornaments, don’t go for perfection; go for personality!

HOME DÉCOR Felt Ornaments

Felt is the perfect fabric for making homemade ornaments.

You don’t have to hem the cut edges; you can just cut out shapes and stitch or glue them together (leave a gap for stuffing them), fill them with cotton or scented potpourri and voila! Adorable, homemade ornaments.

If you’re artistic, you can start by creating your own felt-ornament templates on cardstock. If you’re not an artist, print a free template from the Internet. If you choose to stitch embellishments on both the front and back sides of the ornament, do so before you stitch the pieces together. (One side is usually fine). Embellish the ornaments with beads, ribbon, embroidered designs and details, buttons, puffy-paint and whatever else strikes your fancy. Write the year and the name of the person who made it on the back of the ornament with a permanent marker.

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FOUND DÉCOR Make a simple arrangement with Christmas tree trimmings or scavenge a branch from your backyard.

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Decorative glass ball ornaments originated in Germany in the mid-1500s, but their popularity really surged when a photo of Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree, which was loaded with glass balls, was published in a London newspaper.

IN THE ROUND Wood rounds come in various sizes and make great low centerpieces.

Glass Globes

Remove the metal prongs from the tops of several clear glass or plastic ornament balls. Drip a small amount of acrylic or tempera paint (no more than ½ teaspoon) into the opening. Place a paper towel and a fingertip over the opening and shake, shake, shake!

Add more paint, if necessary. If you choose to use more than one color of paint per ball, be sure to use colors that blend well. For example, while red and green are traditional Christmas and Kwanzaa colors, if you use them together, you’ll end up with brown paint — unless you let one color dry before you add the other. Keep in mind that a little bit of black paint goes a long way.

Remove the paper towel and turn the glass ball upside down over an egg carton, so the excess paint can drip out. When no more paint drips from the ornament, turn it right-side up and allow it to dry. Add some pretty ribbons.

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SEASON’S GREETINGS Homemade cards make holidays especially merry and bright

N

ot so long ago, people received greeting cards through the Post Office during the holiday season. These cards, often accompanied by a photograph, were proudly displayed on mantelpieces, where they served as holiday décor and as reminders to their recipients that they had not been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the season.

The mother-in-law of a colleague of mine had a Rolodex file in which she kept track of those people who did or did not send her a holiday greeting card.

If someone didn’t send a card for three years in a row, that person’s name was torn from the Rolodex.

Imagine what this woman would have thought of receiving a holiday greeting via email.

Yes, e-cards and e-newsletters are convenient, and they’re even environmentally friendly … but there’s something sort of heartless about them. They’re sent in a huge batch to all of one’s contacts — the sender’s insurance agent receives the same email as the sender’s mother-in-law — and that smacks of indifference. But a real, Post-Office-delivered card takes effort. The recipient knows that the sender thought about her, however briefly, when he wrote her name in the card. The sender may have even stood in a line at the Post Office to mail the card. That, alone, is an act of love.

So cast aside any newfangled notions you may have about emailing your holiday card or newsletter this year and cling, instead, to heartfelt greetings sent by post. If the environmental friendliness of e-cards and e-newsletters appeals to you, buy recycled or vintage greeting cards, which can be found in antique and thrift stores.

Best of all, make some homemade greeting cards. Each of the following cards uses a piece of recycled, white cardstock, cut to 7 x 5” (pre-folded size) as its base. Write a personalized message inside the card and, to achieve perfection, include a family photo.

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PIN WHEELS For a quick card holder, clip clothes pins to a wreath ring. You can buy colored pins or paint them yourself.

Surprise your friends and family and recognize their holiday traditions by sending them oneof-a-kind holiday greeting cards.

Christmas

Using a black felt-tip pen, draw two curling lines across your card. At regular intervals on both sides of the curling lines, draw three tiny ovals, stacked one on top of the other. These are the bases of your light bulbs. Use a fingertip dipped in acrylic paint to create colored Christmas lights. (Hint: After you dip your fingertip, press it to a spare sheet of paper to remove excess paint.)

Kwanzaa

To make Kwanzaa candles, cut out seven thin strips of paper in various shades of red, green and black. Cut a small candelabrum shape from brown paper. (Hint: to make the candelabrum symmetrical, fold the paper in half before you cut it out, as you would to create a paper heart). Glue the candelabrum and candles in place. Use a black pen to draw wicks on the candles. Create yellow flames using a fingertip dipped in acrylic paint.

Hanukkah

To make a dreidel card, first make two identical dreidels. Cut the dreidels and two Hebrew letters associated with the dreidel game from brown paper, and cut the backgrounds from blue paper. Glue the pieces together. Then, glue the dreidels back-to-back with a strand of white embroidery thread running vertically through the middle. Using a hobby knife, cut a “window” in two cards. The windows must be identical and larger than the dreidel.

Tuck one card inside of the other and glue the solid sides of the cards together, creating a double-thick card. Place your dreidel between the two layers of the window, pull the string taut, and tape either end of the string in place. Glue the window layers together, hiding the tape and string. Wind the dreidel before you tuck the card in its envelope. When the recipient opens the card, the dreidel will spin!

Winter Solstice

The sun is of particular significance in winter solstice celebrations, because it follows the longest night of the year. These sun-themed cards are made using yellow paper in various hues and patterns.

Keep everything freehand for this card. Cut out a small circle for the sun’s center, and cut out pointy rays of various lengths and thicknesses to surround the circle. Arrange the paper pieces on your card and glue them in place.

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TRENDS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING, FRONT TO BACK

AD

INTERIORS

Holiday Aromas Perfume the air with citrus, spices and pine boughs

by KIM HARRIS THACKER

AD

INTERIORS photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

The Scents of the Holidays

|| GARDENING

Holiday Gifts for Folks with Green Thumbs

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NO BRUSH REQUIRED Dip the tops of pine cones in a dab of craft paint on a paper plate. Use white paint for a snowy look or bright colors for a fun, festive display.

From August to January, certain stores spew cinnamon-scented mushroom clouds into the atmosphere. While too much of a good thing can cause a headache, the addition of a light, holidayinspired scent can be a delightful finishing touch to your décor.

In Victorian times, pomanders provided this light scent.

To make a pomander, stud a small, Satsuma orange with whole cloves. The cloves provide a lovely smell and also preserve the oranges. If you find it difficult to pierce the skin of your orange with the cloves, poke tiny holes in the fruit with a nail or skewer.

Once you’ve finished decorating your oranges with cloves, place them in individual brown paper bags in a cool, dark place for a couple of weeks. This will dry them out. Check on them a few times a week and discard any that are moldy. When they are dry, arrange them in a bowl with cinnamon sticks or cinnamonscented pinecones (don’t overdo it!) and fresh pine boughs.

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Cloves are the flower buds from the clove tree, which is indigenous to some islands in the Indian Ocean.

The spice trade brought cloves to Western Europe in the 17th century.

photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

Where Healthy, Beautiful Skin Awaits

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abodes GARDENING

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR FOLKS WITH GREEN THUMBS

BY AUDREY POST, MS. GROW-IT-ALL®

Your Monthly Garden Chores DECEMBER

➸ Plant fruit trees and fruit-bearing shrubs such as blueberries this month. Trees are an investment of time and money, so get your soil tested first. ➸ Continue to

Gift certificates to their favorite plant nursery are always appreciated — even if you worry they’re a bit impersonal. But if you really enjoy selecting a perfect gift for someone, buy the gardener you love something that’s a bit extravagant, something he or she would love but might be reluctant to buy.

Some suggestions, and where to get them: 1 WOODSTOCK WIND CHIMES. These chimes come in various lengths, materials and tones, with the deeper church belllike tones costing almost $400. In garden centers, big-box stores and online, from about $15.

3

1

2 DRAMM PREMIUM

2 4

RUBBER HOSE, which comes in a variety of colors and resists kinking, coils easily in hot and cold weather, can take hot water up to 160 degrees F. and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

In garden centers, bigbox stores and online, from about $55.

3 A TILLEY® HAT. Dermatologists

have been recommending these sun-shading hats for years, and they come with a lifetime guarantee as long as you don’t use bleach when laundering them and don’t put them in the dryer. At West Marine, Sunset Shoes and online, from $85.

4 A MATURE PALM TREE. Want

to add instant tropical flair to your favorite gardener’s landscape, or maybe your own? There are about a dozen varieties that can stand our intermittent periods of frost and freezing temperatures. At several local nurseries, including Emerald Coast Nursery and Destin Palms Landscaping. Prices vary, but expect to spend several hundred dollars for the tree, plus a couple hundred more to get it planted.

plant seedlings of coolweather annuals such as snapdragons, violas, pansies and alyssum, as well as cool-weather vegetables such as radishes, kohlrabi, green peas and carrots.

Fertilize annuals once a month.

➸ Sow wildflower seeds, if you didn’t do so in November.

JANUARY

➸ Plant pre-chilled bulbs early in the month. ➸ Plant trees this month, making sure when selecting a site to consider the tree’s size at maturity. ➸ Plant bare-root roses this month. Containergrown roses can be planted anytime. ➸ Sow wildflower seeds, if you didn’t do so in November.

Ewww! Between a bad reputation and identity confusion, the palmetto bug can’t seem to catch a break.

There are five types of cockroaches that are commonly called “palmetto bugs.” What most people think of as a palmetto bug is actually the American Cockroach, also known as a waterbug, a brown critter about 2 inches long that likes hot, humid areas. The brown-banded cockroach, the Oriental cockroach, Australian PALMETTO BUG cockroach and German cockroach are all called “palmetto bugs.” The true palmetto bug, also known as the Florida Woods Cockroach (Eurycotis Floridana), is found in saw-palmetto palm fans and Sabal palms. It moves slowly, unlike those winged giant roaches zooming about the kitchen, and emits a really foul odor when disturbed. A true palmetto bug is a large stinkbug. Still, it’s a cockroach. Roaches carry bacteria, viruses and disease. The best way to control them is with boric acid. The bugs walk through the powder, which sticks to their feet and is tracked into the nest. The bugs eat it and it absorbs internal moisture, dehydrating the roach to death. It doesn’t necessarily have to be ingested but can also work its way through the roach’s exoskeleton into the body.



PESKY PESTS

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©2017-2018 PostScript Publishing LLC, 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. illustrations by SAIGE ROBERTS

IMAGES BY BLUERINGMEDIA (PALMETTO BUG), KOSZIV (PLANT TREE) AND FELINDA (PANSY) / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

GARDENERS ARE RIDICULOUSLY EASY TO PLEASE when it comes to selecting holiday gifts.

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SPONSORED REPORT

60 YEARS OF BUILDING DREAM POOLS

C

ox Pools has become the leading swimming pool builder in Northwest Florida and is one of the largest employers in Bay County, Florida. It is family owned and operated with Richard Cox, Jr., at the helm. But the company’s roots go back to his father, Richard Cox, Sr., who started the company in Birmingham in 1958 as Cox Engineering Sales Company.

Later the name was changed to Cox Craft. The original names are a reminder of the very nature of the swimming pool building industry: It is truly the marriage of art, science and water.

Cox Pools expanded to Dothan in 1975 and moved to Panama City Beach in 1982. Now they operate branches in Panama City Beach and Destin and serve both residential and commercial customers from Carrabelle to Navarre Beach.

Construction supervisors keep their skills sharp through their industry memberships, notably with the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP), which provides opportunities to share ideas on the best construction methods and the hottest trends in swimming pools. This effort of maintaining excellence has led Cox Pools to win several prestigious international pool design awards. In 2017, Cox Pools was named No.14 of the nation’s Top 50 Pool Builders.

When designing a pool, the consultants at Cox Pools take the time to assess the needs and desires of the customer. Just as important is taking into consideration the property itself. What size and shape of pool would fit? How does the customer plan to use the pool? Which architectural features of the home or business can be reflected in the pool?

Taking a pool to the next level involves balancing the owner’s desires, building aesthetics, county or township construction codes, and pool design trends. The result is a fully customized pool for each project that can bring years of enjoyment. If 60 years in the business has taught Cox Pools anything, it is that having a pool brings dreams to life, adds value to property, and enhances the owner’s lifestyle. Cox Pools takes pride in their product and strives to offer the highest quality pools in the industry.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COX POOLS // VISIT COXPOOLS.COM 12216 PCB PARKWAY, PANAMA CITY BEACH // (850) 235-7957 36074 EMERALD COAST PARKWAY, DESTIN // (850) 650-9138

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SPONSORED REPORT

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SPONSORED REPORT

TOP RIGHT: The Jewel of Destin’s pool took home Silver in the 2017 APSP International Awards of Excellence — Residential Pools With a Vanishing Edge, 600 sq. ft. or less.

This home and pool, which feature circles was designed on one radius, requiring absolutely perfect construction. The pool features a viewing wall, sunken fire pit, a vanishing edge that faces the Gulf, white iridescent glass mosaic tile and beautiful natural coral stone deck material. BOTTOM RIGHT: This raised pool may look simple, but it is an engineering masterpiece. It features a spillover edge and extra-large sun shelf with Island Stone’s Perfect Pebble tile in Sumba Speckled.

The exterior tile gets its woven look through Island Stone’s Rustic Cladding, a natural textured relief created by juxtaposing wedge strips of stone against each other. Mexican river rock lines the spillover collection area. LEFT: Gold Winner 2014 APSP International Awards of Excellence — Freeform Residential Pools, 601 sq. ft. or more. Pool, located in the Gulf Dunes community features a spillover rim, custom mosaic tile work, a swim-up bar and second story spillover spa with an acrylic viewing wall.

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SPONSORED REPORT

TOP LEFT: This Gulf front home’s pool won Gold in the 2016 APSP International Awards of Excellence — Freeform Residential Pools, 601 sq. ft. or more. It features a raised spa, mosaic tile, a yin-yang shaped fire pit, fire bowls, a rim overflow and dramatic LED lighting. BOTTOM LEFT: This Santa Rosa Beach home features a custom-shape pool with a sun shelf, laminar deck jets, mosaic tile and a stand-alone covered spa with a unique wooden deck. RIGHT: This Gulf front home in Seaside features a pool with a spillover edge and a large sun shelf with oversized tiles.

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PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

JUST LISTED

The Crest Offers New Kind of Luxury

Owners will enjoy details of a resort in a private residence community

by RACHEL SMITH

Located along the summit of Blue Mountain Beach is The Crest, a nine-unit, gated residential development delivering big resort-style amenities creatively combined with elite privacy and an exclusive atmosphere. Directly on 30A, the luxurious community is nestled between Santa Rosa and Grayton Beaches. Each residence is abundant with modern interior finishes, high-quality materials and extraordinary craftsmanship.

LISTED PRICE: $1,795,000 ADDRESS: 2210 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach SQUARE FEET: 3,500 interior, plus 515 square feet of rooftop terrace with cooking area BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 5 and one half-bath YEAR BUILT: Under construction

APPEAL: “The Crest provides luxurious amenities and ownership to only nine fortunate homeowners. Located on one of the highest points on 30A, no feature or amenity has been overlooked,” says Royce Mitchell. “The rooftop terrace affords 360-degree views and glorious sunsets.”

CONTACT: Royce W. Mitchell, Berkshire Hathaway PenFed Realty, (850) 737-0567 RoycewMitchell@gmail.com, thecrest30a.com

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RENDERINGS COURTESY OF BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY PENFED REALTY

FEATURES: Resort pool and hot tub, residential elevators, rooftop terraces, private storage facility, private pool cabanas and private courtyards with natural-gas fire pits and seating areas. Plus a new EZ-Go Express S6 Golf Cart per townhome, generator for each home, twocar ports and top-of-the-line appliance packages including wine cooling system and grill.

TADLOCK GOES GREEN. LET US RECYCLE YOUR ROOF.

> We recycle 100% of roof takedowns > Attic insulation services > Solar attic fan installation REFER A FRIEND, RECEIVE $150 Submit your referral* online: www.TadlockRoofing.com/referral

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24/7 EMERGENCY LINE 877.307.3088 5480 Hwy 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach | 850-660-6900 | apexisthere.com EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

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PROMOTION

DEAL ESTATE

SECOND HOME

Luxury, Comfort and Inspiring Gulf Views Enjoy this Pensacola Beach property for yourself or to rent

by RACHEL SMITH

Steps from the Gulf, nestled in a quiet pocket of the island, this contemporary beach home offers just what you need for a second home. No Homeowners Association fees and weekly rentals are permitted; ideal for an investment property.

LISTED PRICE: $985,900 ADDRESS: 5 Calle Juela, Pensacola Beach SQUARE FEET: 3,550 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 3.5 FEATURES: Two-zone geothermal heating and cooling, three levels of decks, roof top deck with Gulf and sound views, 50-year metal roof, Icynene insulation under first floor decking and in the roof, whole-house water filter, fourcar garage, impact-resistant doors and windows (do not require hurricane shutters) and wired for sound indoor and out. Custom kitchen with solid maple cabinets and maplecovered kitchen vent, Bosch stainless appliances, wall oven, pendant and recessed lighting, large walk-in pantry, breakfast bar and custom wine rack. Living room area with 18' ceilings, raised gas fireplace with mantle, wired for 5.1 sound and wall of French doors and windows. Two master suites with doors to the deck, jetted tubs, walk-in tile showers, his and hers vanities and water and walk-in closets. Custom maple cabinetry throughout, loft open to living room, tile floors in all bathrooms, enclosed storage room in garage and 10-foot ceilings and 8-foot doors on main level.

CONTACT: Conna O’Donovan, “The Resort Property Specialist,” (850) 232-4001, conna@connaodonovanteam.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONNA O’DONOVAN REAL ESTATE

YEAR BUILT: 2007

we ’ r

e l o O k i n g fo r

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If you like the idea of saving energy and money and helping the environment, you should check out the nationally acclaimed Energy Select program from Gulf Power. Energy Select is a free program that lets you optimize how you use power and tweak your settings from any internet-connected device.

To learn more, visit GulfPower.com/EnergySelect or call 1-877-655-4001.

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PROMOTION

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calendar PROMOTION

For more events in the EC, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com compiled by KIM HARRIS THACKER

and LAURA CASSELS

DECEMBER 31

JANUARY 13

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS

BEETHOVEN & BLUE JEANS

Celebrate the New Year with Dee Daniels

PHOTOS BY LOU KELLENBERGER (CHRISTMAS IN PANACEA), ERDOSAIN / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (CHAMPAGNE) AND COURTESY 0F PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

DEC 2017/JAN 2018

Vocalist Dee Daniels gives a New Year’s Eve performance inspired by swing, soul and blues, celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles and other timeless vocalists. This high-spirited concert will take place at Saenger Theatre from 7 to 9 p.m., so you’ll still have time afterward to go to dinner, stop by a party or join the celebrations downtown.

Tickets are $23–$99 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling (850) 435-2533. New subscribers save 50% on tickets. Learn more at pensacolasymphony. com/season-tickets/subscriptions.

→ On this special evening for all ages, we welcome an electric violinist to perform his own composition, and the orchestra shares one of Beethoven’s most well-known works: “Symphony No. 5.” Dress is distinctly casual, with the audience, orchestra and conductor will all be in denim.

This innovative performance takes place 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets are $23–$99 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at the Saenger Theatre Box Office, 22 East Intendencia St.). New subscribers save 50% on tickets.

Learn more at pensacolasymphony.com/season-tickets/ subscriptions.

DECEMBER 31

DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

→ Ring in the New Year in the Skopelos Grand Ballroom

with live music and dancing, hors d'oeuvres, an open bar and champagne toasts leading up to the pelican drop.

After the midnight champagne toast, Skopelos will host a midnight breakfast crafted by their award-winning chefs.

VIP Gold tickets are available for parties of six or more and include a private VIP table with table service and a premium-liquor open bar. Visit skopelosatnewworld.com or call (850) 432-6565 for tickets or more information.

REGIONAL

DECEMBER 2

Christmas in Panacea

→ Start your December with Christmas in Panacea, an afternoon and evening packed with family

fun. This annual festival in Woolley Park includes an after-dark parade on the scenic stretch of U.S. Highway 98 through Panacea. The festival features live entertainment, music, games, food and activities for kids, including a slip-and-slide full of snow. Sponsored by Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership, a nonprofit striving to preserve Panacea’s Maritime Heritage.

The festival is free. It starts at 4 p.m. in Woolley Park, 48 Mound Street, and the parade through downtown Panacea starts at 6:30 p.m. Learn more by contacting Panacea Waterfronts at Visitpanacea.com or call (850) 528-1527.

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REGIONAL

FEBRUARY 8

JJ GREY & MOFRO AT OPENING NIGHTS

Sponsored by Carlton Fields, this performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. at FSU’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 S. Copeland St., in Tallahassee. Tickets are $25–$55. For tickets and information, visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

DECEMBER 22

Lightwire Theatre: A Very Electric Christmas → The Northwest Florida Ballet is

proud to present Lightwire Theater’s “A Very Electric Christmas.” The show will thrill audiences of all ages with a magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope set to holiday hits including songs by Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey and Tchaikovsky. Lightwire Theater, which rose to national prominence on America’s Got Talent, brings to life an innovative and dazzling theatrical experience. Costumes fitted with electroluminescent lights turn the cast’s bodies into life-sized puppets as they bring creatures and scenery to life through movement and dance.

DECEMBER 15

A ROCKIN’ HOLIDAY WITH

MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES

→ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Mary Wilson

will have music lovers dancing in their seats as she takes her fans on a musical journey with everyone’s favorite holiday melodies and, of course, the sensational songs that made her famous. Sinfonia’s full orchestra shares the stage with Ms. Wilson and her incredible band for a magical holiday concert.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Showtimes are Friday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 23, at 2:30 p.m. at Destin United Methodist Church’s Life Center. Learn more at nfballet.org/event/lightwirechristmas.

This event takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Destiny Worship Center in Miramar Beach. To purchase tickets, ranging from $32.50 to $55 per person, go to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call (850) 460-8800.

JANUARY 26

SYBARITE5 → Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ Classical Connections Series features one of the most exhilarating string groups on the scene today. SYBARITE5 has taken audiences by storm across the U.S. via an exciting ride that engages the senses and redefines the rules. Performing their compilation “Everything In Its Right Place,” a mélange of Mozart to Piazzolla to Radiohead, the quintet joins Sinfonia’s full orchestra. Also on the program is Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 2,” Rossini’s overture to “The Italian in Algiers” and Stravinsky’s whimsical “Suite No. 2.”

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin. Tickets are $29.50–$45. Learn more at sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

PROMOTION

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PHOTOS BY ALAN MERCER (SINFONIA GULF COAST) AND COURTESY 0F OPENING NIGHTS PERFORMING ARTS AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA BALLET

→ From the days of playing greasy, local juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey remains an unfettered, blissful performer, singing with a blue-collared spirit over the bone-deep grooves of his compositions. His presence before an audience is something startling and immediate: at times a funk rave-up, other times a sort of mass-absolution for the mortal weaknesses that make him and his audience human.

SMITH’S ANTIQUES MALL

& INTERIOR MARKET

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!

Antiques Shop

12500 Emerald Coast Parkway • Hwy 98 • Miramar Beach • smithsantiquesmall.com • 850.654.1484 Mon–Sat 10-6 • Sun 11-5 | L o c a t e d b e t we e n S ilv e r S a n d s O u t le t s a n d D e s t in Co m m o n s

LOCAL TICKETS. ONE PLACE. Produced by the same trusted, award-winning team that has published Emerald Coast Magazine for over 17 years, 850Tix.com is an online ticket portal dedicated exclusively to Northwest Florida events.

850Tix provides organizations complimentary access to promote their event to the entire Rowland Publishing audience of over 4 million, plus a Northwest Florida box office, built-in marketing support and a professional team right here to help your event succeed.

OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE Editorial content in our print products

Promotions through our social media

Web and email newsletter promotions

AND MUCH MORE!

Call Brian Rowland at (850) 878-0554 to learn more.

Visit 850Tix.com for more information.

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SOCIAL STUDIES Destin Charity Wine Auction Check Presentation AUG. 22 Destin Charity Wine Auction presented its 15 charity partners with this year’s record-breaking proceeds at its annual Check Presentation Ceremony Aug. 22 at the WaterColor Lakehouse.

Thanks to the generosity of patrons, the 2017 auction was the most successful yet — raising more than $2.7 million for children in need in Northwest Florida!

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1 The Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast 2 Candis and Jack Wilson 3 John Russell, Melissa Vidaurre, Karah Young and Kate Mikos

Sandestin Triathlon

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SEPT. 23 The 31st Annual Sandestin Triathlon was just as great an event as the previous 30. Nearly 300 participants competed in the Sept. 23 event, many traveling to the Emerald Coast from around the Southeast and many being past competitors back for another chance to better their personal times and better themselves. Organizers are already planning for the 32nd Annual Sandestin Triathlon. Get ready and stay tuned.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IAN STONE OF SPORTS IN MOTION

1 Michelle Carpenter 2 Amie Stockstill 3 Robyn Sharp 4 Brandon Bang

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ADSO CHRISTMAS ART MARKET DEC. 1–15 The Arts and Design Society (ADSO) Christmas Art Market and Sale-abration in Fort Walton Beach is an ideal place to buy unique holiday gifts for loved ones. Offerings include an assortment of jewelry, paintings, clay works, photographs, note cards, and plant and food specialties, all created by members.

Artsdesignsociety.org

FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK IN SEASIDE DEC. 1, JAN. 5 From Rolland’s Beauty Bar to Anne Hunter Galleries, First Friday Artwalk in Seaside will appease everyone strolling around Central Square. Sip on a cocktail as you enjoy art, jewelry and fashion exhibits from local vendors. sowal.com

‘CRIMES OF THE HEART’ & ‘THE CHARITABLE SISTERHOOD OF THE SECOND TRINITY CHURCH’

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH

DEC. 1–7; FEB. 9–25 This winter, the Kaleidoscope Theatre of Lynn Haven presents Beth Henley’s tragic comedy, “Crimes of the Heart,” and Bo Williams’ heartwarming comedy, “The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Church.” In “Crimes,” which will be performed in December, three sisters and their priggish cousin gather in their hometown of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, to await news of the death of their grandfather. Each sister has committed a “crime of the heart” and each must deal with the repercussions of that crime — to hilarious effect. In “The Charitable Sisterhood,” which will be performed in February, four women meet in the basement of their church

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

to organize a rummage sale to benefit homeless Guatemalans, and one woman’s junk proves to be another woman’s treasure. kt-online.org

PANAMA CITY BEACH MARATHON DEC. 2 The PCB Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the Panama City Beach Marathon, a 26.2-mile race that attracts thousands of residents and visitors alike to this beautiful area of the Gulf Coast. Other races include the half-marathon, 5K and Kids’ Fun Run. Participants in the 2017 PCB Marathon who run a qualifying time (see Boston requirements) will be eligible to register for the 2019 Boston Marathon. pcbmarathon.com

30A FARMERS MARKETS DEC. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 JAN. 7, 14, 21, 28 Held each Sunday, the 30A Farmers’ Markets in Rosemary Beach and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin feature goods made by local farmers, bakers and artists.

Fill your basket with fresh, high-quality produce and delicious prepared foods, and shop for specialty items that can only be found along the Emerald Coast.

30afarmersmarket.com

‘A WRINKLE IN TIME’ DEC. 7–23 Meg Murry is back: stubbornness, braces and all. Once again, she’s joining forces with Mrs. Whatsit, Charles Wallace, Calvin O’Keefe and others to battle the forces of evil so she can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself.

Appropriate for ages 5 and up (no lap children, please).

The show will take place Thursdays–Sundays and on Saturday, Dec. 23.

(850) 684-0323 or emeraldcoasttheatre.org

FORT WALTON BEACH FARMERS’ MARKET DEC. 9 Fort Walton Beach’s farmers, artisan food vendors and crafters bring a variety of products to beautiful Fort Walton Beach Landing Park for the FWB Beach Farmers’ Market, including fresh produce, local honey, fresh eggs and dairy products, grass-fed beef, baked goods, jams and salsas, soaps, crafts and more. downtownfwb.com/ farmersmarket

EMERALD COAST CHRISTMAS

GULF PLACE THIRD THURSDAY WINE WALKABOUT

DEC. 8–10, 2017

DEC. 21, JAN. 18 Join us at Gulf Place for the Third Thursday Wine Walkabout. Check in at 5 pm with the Artists of Gulf Place to receive your complimentary glass and a merchant map. gulfplacefl.com

9TH ANNUAL BEACH BALL DROP DEC. 31 Celebrate New Year’s Eve with this family-friendly countdown that culminates with the descent of a gigantic, glowing beach ball and the release of 10,000 beach balls over the crowd assembled at Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Plus fireworks and live music to celebrate this special night. visitpanamacitybeach.com/ events/new-years-eve-beachball-drop

‘DIRTY DANCING’ JAN. 14 The Bay Arts Alliance and Marina Civic Center in Panama City present “Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage.” You’ll have the time of your life! marinaciviccenter.com/events

Details of listings can change at the last minute. Please call ahead of time to confirm.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and head to Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach to share some Christmas cheer with your neighbors. Local vendors will sell food, crafts and more, and there will be performances by local school groups, dance troupes and others. Free. facebook.com/ECChristmas

‘THE AMISH PROJECT’ JAN. 18–28 The docudrama “The Amish Project” is a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community and the path of forgiveness and compassion forged in its wake. Appropriate for ages 13 and up due to mature content. The show will take place Thursdays–Sundays and on Saturday, Dec. 23.

(850) 684-0323 or emeraldcoasttheatre.org

TRAVIS TRITT AT THE SAENGER THEATRE JAN. 20 The unstoppable Travis Tritt has performed his Southern rock-inspired country music across the globe for almost three decades. This winter, he’ll hit the stage at the gorgeous Saenger Theatre in Pensacola for an unforgettable show. It will definitely be “a great day to be alive!” pensacolasaenger.com/events/ travis-tritt

WINTER RESIDENT HOMECOMING JAN. 23 Celebrate your return to your winter home with a special “homecoming” dance, DJed by Jim Lawson and held at Laketown Wharf Resort. visitpanamacitybeach.com/ events/winter-residents

AMERICA, IN CONCERT JAN. 27 AMERICA performs at the Marina Civic Center in Panama City. The ‘70s band’s greatest hits include “Ventura Highway,” “Horse With No Name,” “Tin Man” and “Sister Golden Hair.” marinaciviccenter.com/events

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: MOZART MADNESS FEB. 3 This chamber music concert, held at First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, features the “Haffner Symphony” and

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE US TO CONSIDER? Send an email to ec-calendar@rowlandpublishing.com.

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SOCIAL STUDIES Eggs on the Beach SEPT. 30 Bay Breeze Patio hosted the 4th Annual “Eggs on the Beach” at Seascape Resort. Cook teams, tasters and fanatics of the dual griller/smoker known as The Big Green Egg celebrated a day of food, fun and heated competition.

The event raised $35,000 for Food for Thought, nd The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, and three winning nonprofit teams. Prizes and trophies also were given for Judges' Awards, Tasters' Choice Awards and Best Knob CreekInfused Recipes.

PHOTOS BY TRACY LOUTHAIN

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1 Frank Lozano, Misty Rae Ruthrauff, Clint Rogers, Christian Griffith, Wes Limbach, Danielle Bohannon and Tatum Knowles 2 Randy Lohrenz and Ethan Aden 3 Camden Ford and Maddie Rowley

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Bloody Mary Festival OCT. 7 The Market Shops, located at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, hosted The Market Shops 3rd Annual Bloody Mary Festival benefitting Habitat for Humanity Walton County on Oct. 7. The third annual event featured unlimited tastes of the Emerald Coast’s most creative and innovative Bloody Marys, made with Cathead Vodka in cups sponsored by Compass Builders of Florida, LLC, and served by the finest restaurants and bars in the Panhandle.

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1 Chelsea Fox and Carson​Cummings 2 Jennifer and Terry Jones 3 Susan Benton and Steve Barber 4 People’s Choice Award: Lulu’s Destin; 1st Place Judges Award: The Henderson; 2nd Place Judges Award: Restaurant Paradis; 3rd Place Judges Award: Signature Catering of 30A

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JIM GAFFIGAN, LIVE COMEDY FEB. 11 Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan, actor, New York Times bestselling author, and multiplatinum-selling father of five, brings his stand-up comedy tour to Pensacola Bay Center. Gaffigan is known around the world for his unique brand of humor, which largely revolves around fatherhood. Tickets start at $37.25. pensacolabaycenter.com/ events/all

All things lovely & bright | shoplagreen.com | 850.851.8952 the Pensacola Opera Artists-inResidence. Under the direction of guest conductor Jerome Shannon, the musicians will perform pieces from The Marriage of Figaro, Idomeneo and La Clemenza di Tito. Tickets may be purchased at the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Box Office or by phone at (850) 435-2533. pensacolasymphony.com

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS 'ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: A BEATLES TRIBUTE' FEB. 10 All you need is love and concert tickets to see the Classical Mystery Tour perform the legendary music of the Beatles at the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, 118 South Palafox Place. The arrangements are exact, the costumes are spectacular, and the nostalgia is thick enough to cut with a knife.

PHOTO BY ERIC LEVIN

Purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

WINTER RESIDENT SENIOR PROM FEB. 13 Grab your date and put on your

dancin’ shoes for this special event, held at Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach on the evening before Valentine’s Day. A prom king and queen will be crowned, and a buffet will be served. visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/ winter-residents

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS FEB. 19 The Harlem Globetrotters bring their fancy footwork, trick ball-handling, humor and showmanship to the Pensacola Bay Center. Tickets start at $38. pensacolabaycenter.com/events/all

‘SYLVIA’ FEB. 15–MARCH 4 “Sylvia” is a modern romantic comedy about a marriage and a dog. The world of a middle-aged New York couple is turned topsy-turvy when the husband brings home an exceptionally engaging canine running loose in Central Park.

Appropriate for ages 13 and up due to mature situations.

The show takes place Thursdays–Sundays.

For tickets: (850) 684-0323 or emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

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SOCIAL STUDIES

The Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican

OCT. 30 The Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican team putted for a cause during their 5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club on Oct. 20. The event benefitted Alaqua Animal Refuge, Lighthouse Family Retreat, Special Olympics Florida - Okaloosa County, Trees on the Coast and Youth Village, Inc. Participating golfers received free breakfast and lunch, along with an after-party, live music, silent auction and raffle prizes.

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PHOTOS BY RHONDA MURRAY

1 Louis Petit, Chris Ruyan, Tyler Jarvis and Tony Gullo 2 Kenny Wheeler, Curtis Ladwig, Jerry Sullivan and Jessica Proffitt Bracken 3 Mike Johnson and Jonathan Hughes 3 Pamela Sparks, LaDonna Wheeler, Robin Cannon, Leslie Sullivan, Morgan Wheeler, Presley Sullivan, Kim Moore and Leigh Ann Johnson

On-Demand Streaming of Your Favorite WSRE and PBS Programs

Activate your WSRE Passport member benefit for extended on-demand access to your favorite shows, including full seasons of many current and past series. wsre.org/passport • 850-484-1240

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SP O NSO R ED R E P O RT

Stories from the

Heart I NSPI R ING STOR IES OF PEOPL E H EL PING PEOPL E The life-changing care Sacred Heart Health System provides has touched the hearts of many who strive to ensure that this incredible mission of care continues for future generations. Sacred Heart Foundation is proud to be a partner in this endeavor. Please enjoy these “Stories from the Heart.”

PR ESENTE D BY

DECEMBER 2017

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Julian and Kim MacQueen “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree …

And I shall have some peace there.”

– WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Living a meaning ful life J

ulian and Kim MacQueen were inspired to name their company Innisfree Hotels by the Yeats poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” which describes a place the poet recalled with great fondness as a setting of peace, tranquility and respite.

Julian’s life journey in the hotel business began in Destin at a young age. Over the years, it has evolved into a unique hotel empire based on the MacQueen’s philosophy of giving back. And, in the future, it will become their legacy company.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Julian spent summers at his family’s cottage in Destin. When he was 15, he got a job at the Jack Tar House, which was a seasonal hotel run by college and high school

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kids from the local area. He was hooked. “I just loved it. I loved the vibe, and really since then I have never left the business.”

He put himself through college working as a night auditor, but after getting his degree in psychology, decided to stay in the hotel industry. He and Kim were married with a child by that time.

He was working for Hyatt when he got the opportunity to acquire partial interest in five Knoxville hotels owned by entrepreneur Ken Seaton. In 1986, he traded that interest for a single hotel in Mobile — and that was the start of Innisfree Hotels.

In 1994, realizing that tremendous resort growth was in Pensacola’s future, the MacQueens purchased

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the Sunset Lodge on Pensacola Beach, followed several years later by their acquisition and subsequent development of the 11-acre Surf and Sand property.

Their goal with Innisfree Hotels was to “create a company that was different.” Kim, being a psychologist, and with Julian’s college background in psychology, they knew the importance of attending to the personal as well as professional side of the people they employed.

So they fashioned a program called Genesis that was designed to provide a work environment wherein employees could get along with each other, feel protected and valued, and deliver the best service. Twenty years later, that program’s Ten Commandments of Working Together and Customer Service still function as the corporate foundation.

Julian says, “I like to think that Innisfree Hotels’ staff and employees are all trained in this idea of respect for each other and authentically being present. And if you think about hospitality, that’s what people are looking for.” Today, the business employs almost 4,000 people and anticipates growing by 40 percent in the next 24 months.

Julian explains that he and Kim are inspired to live their lives according to their religion, the Baha’i faith, which teaches, “Walk the mystical path with practical feet.” They believe that as

spiritual beings we have to be open to divine intervention, which often takes the form of seemingly random opportunity. But unless we see the world through the lens of abundance, rather than scarcity, we are likely to miss the opportunity. That philosophy is key to successful entrepreneurship.

Their faith also advocates service to mankind. Julian says, “We are in this world, on this planet, for a very brief time. What will be your epitaph? If all I did was build a bunch of buildings, I would consider myself a complete failure. At the same time, if we can give back to the community and be great corporate citizens — that to us is a meaningful life.”

Julian serves on the Sacred Heart Hospital board, and realizing the tremendous regional need for children’s services, he and Kim are staunch supporters of the new, state-of-theart Studer Family Children’s Hospital under construction. “To what degree we can help in that process, we are all in. It’s just a wonderful thing to be part of. All you have to do is walk into the preemie section — it’s one of those things that you don’t ever forget.”

In the future, the MacQueens intend to make Innisfree a legacy company.

After it is turned over to a trust guided by a board, the business will donate profits to needy projects they are interested in.

But they also hope that Innisfree will become a legacy company in terms of their vision, that their personal aspirations of giving back and serving mankind will be replicated by the thousands of people they employ. “The multiplying effect of that is extraordinary,” Julian says. “If we can instill that kind of ethic in that many people, what they can do in the community is truly exponential. There is not enough money that could pay for that.”

The Baha’i faith says, “We are citizens of the world, not of a country.” In August, the MacQueens embarked on a trip of “80 Stays Around the World.” Their intention was to visit and absorb diverse cultures, different designs and service levels of hospitality and bring that worldview back to their company. From there it will go back out, helping to perpetuate Innisfree as a place where people “go … and have some peace there.”

A message from Carol Carlan As 2017 draws to an end, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who gave so generously to Sacred Heart Foundation over the past year. There is famous quotation you may be familiar with: “Never doubt that a small group of caring, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Yes, we at the foundation know that our donors and volunteers have changed our world and we are so grateful.

It was your caring that helped us perpetuate our mission of providing compassionate healthcare for the most vulnerable children and adults in our region.

It was your caring that allowed us to break ground on the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. And it was your caring that facilitated the expansion of services at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach.

So it is only appropriate that gratitude is the featured theme in this issue of “Stories from the Heart.” You will read how Ashley Schlossberg, an RN at Sacred Heart, was so grateful for her newborn daughter’s amazing care that she was inspired to give back to others. And you will learn how thankful donors like Bubba and Angie Watson, Julian and Kim MacQueen, and Raisa and Roger Webb are making a lasting difference for children along the Gulf Coast for generations to come.

At a time when we look at opportunities for “year-end” charitable donations, we would ask you to please consider giving to one of the many different missions of Sacred Heart Health System.

Your caring and commitment is vital to our ministry and its legacy of charity that turns no one in need away.

May this season and the New Year bless you with health and happiness!

Carol Carlan President, Sacred Heart Foundation

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acred Heart Health System and professional golfer Bubba Watson along with his wife, Angie, recently announced a generous donation of $2.1 million to The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. Watson, a resident of Pensacola who was born at Sacred Heart Hospital, made the contribution to provide care for children throughout Northwest Florida and to support the construction of a new Children’s Hospital currently underway. “My hope in giving back is that others would be inspired to do the same, but in their own way and for causes that they care for deeply,” Bubba said.

“A key for me is what I am going to do in this life to make a lasting difference,” Watson said. “I’ve asked myself how I can best use my connections, how I can help build something for generations to come. Our children are the world’s next leaders. How could you not want to help them? I think being involved in our local children’s hospital is the perfect way to do that.”

“We are just overwhelmed by the generous spirit of the Watsons and their love for the children who need our care, not only today but for generations to come,” said Susan Davis, the President and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “Their amazing gift to our community will help to ensure that all sick or injured children in our region will have access to the best possible care. We are truly blessed.”

The gift from Watson and his wife, Angie, was announced in September during a ceremony at the hospital’s campus on 9th Avenue in Pensacola.

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1. In recognition of their generosity and partnership, the boulevard leading to the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital will be named 1 Bubba Watson Drive. 2. Caleb Watson shows off the new 1 Bubba Watson Drive golf towels. 3. Bubba Watson drives a golf ball into the future site of the new Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. 4. The Watson family standing on the newly named 1 Bubba Watson Drive. 5. Pediatric Physicians at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart join Henry Stovall, President of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital; Quint Studer, Chairman of Sacred Heart Health System Board of Directors; and Susan Davis, CEO of Sacred Heart Health System, in thanks and appreciation of Angie and Bubba Watson. 6. Bubba, Angie and Caleb Watson

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watch the unveiling of 1 Bubba Watson Drive. 7. Bubba Watson autographs his famous pink driver.

8. Susan Davis, CEO of Sacred Heart Health System, with Caleb Watson. 9. It was all smiles from Bubba Watson and his friend, business partner and vice chair of the board, David Sansing.

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Schlossberg Family Giving Back

W

hen Ashley Schlossberg was 24 weeks pregnant, she was diagnosed with a severe case of preeclampsia and a liver disorder called HELLP Syndrome.

The way she put it, her body was shutting down and trying to reject the baby inside her.

At just 25 weeks and six days, her doctors told her there was no choice. “We had to be separated for both of us to survive,” Ashley explained. A cesarean section was scheduled, and Lauren was born weighing 1 lb., 5 oz. and measuring at just 12 ½ inches long.

Lauren spent six months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, and Ashley and her husband, Scott, went home without their baby. “It was a dark time for us,” says Ashley, who notes that “I did everything right during my pregnancy,” but she still developed the condition that affects 5 percent to 8 percent of pregnant women.

She was so small, the caregivers had to improvise. “Because she was so unbelievably tiny, to keep her insulated and to keep her body temperature up, they had to put her in a quart-size Ziploc bag, can you imagine?”

Schlossberg said.

Lauren is now 6 years old. Looking at her, you’d never guess she came into the world with just a 50 percent chance of survival. “The reason she is doing so well is because of the doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart,” says Ashley.

Her birth was a turning point for her mom.

“When I was younger and I was in high school, my mom always said, ‘I think you’d be a great nurse. I think you need to think about being a nurse when you go to college,’ ” Ashley remembered. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not

interested in college.’ When I was 18, I wasn’t.”

Now, after five years of juggling school and motherhood, Ashley is now a registered nurse at Sacred Heart.

“I was given unbelievably wonderful care, I watched how they cared for me, I watched how these nurses cared for my daughter; I could do that too,” Ashley said.

She works on a med-surg floor, and isn’t sure if she’ll ever be ready to work in the NICU. But she knows she has the power to touch lives.

“I can give back, and I can give what was given to me,” Ashley said.

“I was given unbelievably wonderful care, I watched how they cared for me, I watched how these nurses cared for my daughter; I could do that too ... I can give back, and I can give what was given to me.”

– ASHLEY SCHLOSSBERG Ashley Schlossberg and her daughter, Lauren

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Roger and Raisa Webb Three Decades of Giving

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Roger Webb with his wife, Raisa.

“I always tell people, ‘If you don’t realize what a great job the Children’s Hospital does, go ask somebody who’s used it.’ ” – ROGER WEBB

oger Webb has been sharing his time and resources with Sacred Heart for more than 30 years. It all started with the Children’s Miracle Network telethon, which he supported from the time he came to Pensacola in 1985.

“I learned about the hospital, and I didn’t need it personally, but I saw the value,” says Roger, President of Wendco Corporation. “Every community needs good healthcare, education and the inspiration to continue to grow.”

Growing up in Ohio, Roger’s father was a KFC franchisee. Dave Thomas — who would go on to open Wendy’s restaurants — was his first employer. After graduating from Ohio State University, Roger worked as an accounts payable clerk for Wendy’s. He soon transitioned to management, learning from experienced business people as he helped them open their restaurants. In 1985, Roger bought the family interest out of Pensacola and moved here to open his own.

“When you live in the Midwest, you do as much as you can there so you can get to Florida,” he jokes. “This is a good town to do business in … a close community of friendly people.”

Roger focused on his business and made it his business to give back. In time, he met the love of his life. He now shares 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Sasha, with his bride, Raisa.

“Having a young daughter, she’s the most important thing to both of us. She’s our life,” Roger says.

Originally from Russia, Raisa has made Pensacola her home for 17 years. She earned her second graduate degree from UWF before starting a career as a financial advisor. Later, Raisa began working with Roger at Wendco, giving her the flexibility to be present for Sasha.

After supporting the hospital for so many years, the Webbs experienced its special care firsthand when their daughter was born at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital in 2014.

“I always tell people, ‘If you don’t realize what a great job the Children’s Hospital does, go ask somebody who’s used it,’ ” Roger says.

Today, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is expanding to become “a new hospital for a new generation” — providing all private rooms and the best in medical technology.

With Wendy’s as a presenting sponsor, the Cordova Mall Ball has helped move the project forward. Roger says he and his wife choose to support the event because it fits into everything they feel is important to a community.

Each year following the Mall Ball, sponsors and committee members come together to celebrate the funds raised for the hospital and the impact on the children who receive care here.

At one such luncheon, Raisa recalls being shown a tiny oxygen mask, used to care for the hospital’s tiniest patients.

“When you see something like that, you can’t help but feel it in your heart,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to see how we are helping save lives.”

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Join us for our largest fundraising event, Cordova Mall Ball, where more than 2,500 people across Northwest Florida dance the night away to live entertainment from three bands. Browse the silent auction including vacation packages, jewelry and so much more, and enjoy a taste of Mardi Gras with food samplings from more than 25 area restaurants to raise much-needed funds for The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

January 27, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.

Cordova Mall, Pensacola, Florida Purchase tickets at cordovamallball.com.

Over the next five years, proceeds from this event will be used to purchase a new state-of-the-art Pediatric CT scanner. This new addition to The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart will be the first and only of its kind in our region completing a scan in less than two seconds, which means children will no longer have to be sedated for scans.

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Coming Home and

GIVING BACK BUBBA WATSON MAKES MAJOR GIFT TO

STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

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Four Years in a Row: Best Mortgage Lender

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

While living away from Pensacola in Arizona and Orlando, Bubba Watson fell subject to the magnetic influence exerted by the Gulf of Mexico on many who have experienced Northwest Florida. And, for Watson, that pull was joined by a powerful homing instinct.

Those combined forces proved irresistible and Watson, relenting, assured himself that if LeBron James could go back to Cleveland, surely he could return to his roots.

(It stood to reason that Watson would have an easier time going home again than James did. When James traded Cleveland for Miami, Cavaliers fans burned his jersey. No one was bending pink drivers over their knees because Watson left Pensacola.)

Golf champion Bubba Watson and his wife, Angie, made their home in Pensacola in part because of Watson’s roots in the region and in part for its proximity to good schools and Sacred Heart Hospital.

STORY BY STEVE BORNHOFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Initially, Watson had no idea that Studer might wish to involve him in the baseball team, but he soon found himself buying into the consultant’s reasons for bringing Double-A ball to Pensacola.

“When I was growing up, golf was a family experience for me,” Watson recalled. “My dad played, my sister (three-and-a-half years older than Bubba) played and my mom was my caddy. I wasn’t allowed to have video games as a kid; I bought my first game system after I turned pro.

“Wahoos baseball is a family event, too. It’s fun and exciting. It’s like a big kids party. Kids are kids and adults are kids again.”

As half-owner, Watson takes care not to be too intrusive, but he occasionally stops by batting practice at Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium and pops into the locker room once or twice a season to play some ping-pong with team members.

Studer would get around to sharing with Watson his vision for the children’s hospital, first at a baseball game and subsequently at his home. Those conversations got Watson to thinking and led to prayerful consideration and conversation at the Watson house.

“The Lord has given us an amazing platform with which to be helpful and we want to see this dream of a children’s hospital come true,” said Angie.

“Randall and I always had a number in mind and we told ourselves that if we reached that, we would be a business,” Watson said.

Indeed, Watson employs a coterie that includes Wells, a manager, two assistants, a caddie and a therapist who stretches him out in the morning during tour events and massages him at night. He respects his wife as his leader, the woman who “keeps me grounded and sees to it that I am resting when I need to rest.”

Watson has never had a swing coach or a sports psychologist, preferring to play golf his way. That’s unusual, he concedes, then adds, “But I’m unusual; I’m from Bagdad, Florida,” in Santa Rosa County, a tiny town of 1,490.

Having achieved “business” status, Watson, along with Wells, began exploring the possibility of establishing a foundation and Studer’s name soon came up.

Angie said that, in her experience at Sacred Heart, nurses, doctors and staff have always been very much attuned to what families need and want.

“When we picked up (our adopted daughter) Dakota, we were at the hospital for four days and we enjoyed a sense of relationship with hospital personnel at every level. We felt like we were very much involved in everything that was going forward.”

Angie said that the children’s hospital undoubtedly will have a regional impact.

“It’s not a stretch to say that people from a large radius will come to Sacred Heart for services and many of them will fall in love with Pensacola while they’re here. As a parent of two children (the Watsons also have an adopted son, Caleb), I know that health care, along with schools, is one of the things you think about when you decide where to raise a family. Having one of the best children’s hospitals in the country here will be a big factor for people.”

To Bubba, supporting the hospital feels like acing a par 3.

“I am far from perfect,” he said. “I make a lot of mistakes, as a parent, as a husband, and especially on the golf course — I make a lot of bogeys. The goal for me is always to get better. I benefitted from a community that supported junior golf and enabled me to make progress toward living my dream.

Now, it’s good to be able to give back.”

As to fundraising, — BUBBA WATSON young Caleb seems to be catching on. He’s been soliciting donations to the “Kids with Childhood Cancer” drive at A.K. Suter Elementary School. And in development at this writing is a Caleb candy bar; proceeds from the sale of the bar will go to charity.

Angie had been in the habit of beating Bubba at tennis and she was playing golf to a 3 handicap, but knee replacement surgery has temporarily sidelined her.

“Now,” she said, nodding toward her children, “I mostly compete with them.”

“And, they’re winning,” Dad said.

All of this is to say nothing of the two puppies the Watsons recently brought home.

“Georgia” — Bubba and Angie both went to school in Athens — is a Boston terrier/French bulldog mix.

“Holly” is a purebred Boston. She shares her name with that of the 18th hole … at Augusta National. EC

“It’s not a stretch to say that people from a large radius will come to Sacred Heart for services and many of them will fall in love with Pensacola while they’re here.”

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HEALTH and FITNESS

Going for the

GOAL A

lthough setting and achieving a health-related goal has much to do with the body, it actually may have more to do with the mind.

That’s why Elizabeth Taylor and Bradford Price, siblings and co-owners of Pensacola Fitness, aim to get to know you as soon as you walk in.

“We value a personal relationship with our members,” Taylor said. “First, we want to determine what your objective is. Are you looking to lose weight? Are you here to increase your strength, balance or stability? These kinds of questions help us guide people to the best source for meeting their needs.”

But it’s important to keep in mind that Rome wasn’t built in a day. According to Price, most clients come in expecting to achieve their dream body overnight.

That’s why he and Pensacola Fit’s trainers encourage clients to set short-term, achievable goals leading to the desired results.

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

BY HANNAH BURKE AND ERIN HOOVER

“You have to realize that any goal that’s worth meeting is going to take time and effort,” advised Dr. Larry Kubiak, director of psychological services at Tallahassee Memorial Behavioral Health Center.

He suggests forming a specific plan of action and meeting with your doctor, especially if you have a medical condition such as diabetes, pre-diabetes or food allergies. “You’ll want to see if your doctor agrees with your goal, whether he feels it’s realistic, or if he has suggestions to offer,” he said.

Upon meeting a new client, registered dietician Heather Fisher does an eating behavior assessment.

“I won’t tell someone what they can and can’t have,” she said. “Instead, I look at the timing of what someone eats, the components of what they eat, and we make modifications from there.” Part of Fisher’s job is to translate the science of nutrition into its practical application — one’s eating habits.

The dietitian joined Kubiak, Price and Taylor in stressing the importance of not making changes too quickly. “It’s about wellness, not weight.”

→

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Fitness results from a series of good choices

PHOTO BY KIEFERPIX / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Understanding yourself helps you set fitness goals that are meaningful to you and thus can be achieved.

Think it through, set your mind to the right task, and get the support you need.

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HEALTH and It’s About FITNESS

Keep It Small, at First “We want to encourage people to dream big.”

— Bradford Price, co-owner of Pensacola Fitness

“Ask yourself, what will make me feel better, give me more energy?”

— Heather Fisher, registered dietician

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We’re told to aim big in life. But keeping it small is Rule No. 1 in behavior change.

Kicking off a new eating plan may be as simple, Fisher said, as adding a piece of fruit a day to your diet (or even every other day) if you never eat fruit, or cooking a healthy meal at home once a week if you’ve grown too used to convenience foods for dinner.

Fisher recommended looking at what you eat as a series of choices. “‘Diet’ is just another way of talking about what you choose to eat. When you’re looking at meeting that immediate desire for food, you choose to eat one thing over another. Ask yourself, what will make me feel better, give me more energy?”

Just one simple change in your daily routine, such as hitting the gym, can boost your ambition. Whether you’re engaging in a full P90x group workout or simply walking the treadmill for half an hour, you’re one step closer to landing where you want to be.

Finding an ideal exercise environment not only expedites progress, but works wonders with your mood.

“Our gym is a great place to get started because we have a unique combination of energy, equipment and expertise,” Price

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

said. “Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started, or a senior looking to get back, we’ve got the atmosphere and equipment to get you there.”

Half the battle, said Kubiak, is forming an effective image of what your life will be like with the goal accomplished.

“The 17th hole at The Players Club in Jacksonville is known as the Island Green because there’s nothing but water between you and the green,” Kubiak illustrated his point.

“The professionals form an image of the ball landing on the green, close to the hole.”

Build a Support System It’s also important to know what kind of person you are — what motivates you and keeps you motivated. “Some people have no trouble getting up at 5 o’clock in the morning to go jogging and do fine. There are other people who have trainers and go to classes,” said Kubiak. “I pass a group of women jogging when I’m on the way to the gym and I never see one by themselves.

Clearly there’s a support system there.”

Price insists upon crafting a personalized experience for each client at Pensacola Fitness. “We highly recommend using a

PHOTOS BY DUKA82 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS, MAGEN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PENSACOLA FITNESS (PRICE) AND COURTESY OF HEATHER FISHER

Good nutrition choices promote wellness; consistency matters, and success becomes sweeter than sugar.

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BARRY NEWTON, PA-C

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are committed to providing you with the highest quality comprehensive care for your skin. Their providers combine education, experience and continual training with advanced, proven treatments and technology. Dermatology Specialists of Florida is a physician-owned dermatology group practice that began in Panama City in 2006 and has since expanded to more than 13 locations on the Emerald Coast from Pensacola to Panama City. They specialize in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology with highly skilled physicians and physician assistants using advanced technologies and treatments. Dermatology Specialists has

DEVIN KNOWLES

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been recognized by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a high quality and value dermatology practice and has received numerous industry awards.

Dermatology Specialists of Florida diagnoses and treats all conditions of the skin, hair and nails, including skin cancer. Did you know that over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined? The most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), can be cured if caught early and properly treated. When melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is detected before it spreads, it also has a high cure rate. If you notice a new spot or an existing spot that changes,

MORGAN SMITH

itches or bleeds, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.

Aqua Medical Spa offers the perfect balance of skin care combined with the expertise of a team of experienced and knowledgeable medical professionals.

Their highly trained, physician-supervised staff is committed to offering you bestin-class treatments in skin care, laser treatments, body contouring, injectables and spa services. Aqua Medical Spa offers a complimentary consultation to allow you the opportunity to meet with a licensed aesthetician and determine a customized treatment plan that fits your unique needs.

850-233-DERM (3376) // DermatologySpecialistsFL.com // AquaMedicalSpa.com

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HEALTH and FITNESS

→ Go Online While nothing beats a dedicated doctor, trainer, or nutritionist, these recommended resources can help you get started.

ChooseMyPlate.gov Information on USDA dietary recommendations, stacked with plenty of online tools.

personal trainer to help establish the workout plan that’s right for you. Every person is different, their bodies are different, so talking to a professional who can get you on the right track is a great way to maximize results.”

“Share your goals with the people who care about you,” Kubiak said. “Write them out, put them on the refrigerator or medicine cabinet. Tell your spouse, your workout buddy. You’ll feel more obligated to follow through.” Dr. Kubiak even recommends developing a formal contract with yourself about your goal that you sign, witnessed by a significant other. Joint goals, he said, can also help ensure compliance.

At the same time, Fisher cautions people not to compare themselves to others. The internet is a great tool, but much of the advice on fitness and nutrition blogs can end up making her clients feel worse about themselves, she said. Fisher offered this advice: “Take care of yourself as you can. Don’t beat yourself up for not doing what some chick on Pinterest says.”

Shift Your Goals, or Set New Ones As anyone who has dieted before well knows, you’ll only be able to stick with a

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new healthy behavior if you enjoy what you’re eating and doing. Enjoyment is as important to Fisher’s nutrition strategy as balance, she said, noting that frozen diet meals may be balanced, but if you don’t enjoy them, you won’t eat them for long.

“Enjoy what you’re eating. That’s key. Have an appropriate portion that satisfies your desires.”

Don’t give up — but do look at your goals periodically and modify them if need be, said Kubiak. “Maybe your goal was to lose 20 pounds, but you like the way you feel after losing 15, and maybe that’s enough.

Maybe your goal is to run a marathon, but you don’t have to run a marathon to be in shape. You might decide that jogging is putting too much pressure on your joints, and you can stay active longer if you try bicycling or swimming.”

“We want to encourage people to dream big, but we often have to adjust the time frame for people’s goals, or modify them entirely,” Price said. “Reaching those new ones provides feelings of accomplishment.

Success is suddenly more attainable, and you’ll receive some much-needed workout motivation.” EC

December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

EatingMindfully.com Tips and resources from clinical psychologist Dr. Susan Albers.

IDEA HEALTH & FITNESS ASSOCIATION IdeaFit.com Directory of fitness professionals, articles on exercise, and a workout builder.

IntuitiveEating.org From the authors of Intuitive Eating, a program that advises listening to your body.

Includes a community forum.

MyFitnessPal.com Free online calorie counter and diet plan.

PHOTO BY RAWPIXEL / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

At a gym, on the trails or in a yoga studio, exercising with others helps elevate everyone’s motivation to stay the course.

PROMOTION

AFTER COMPLETING HER RESIDENCY at

Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Dr. Moskowitz, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and venous and lymphatic medicine, moved here with a passion to provide our beaches with innovative non-surgical treatments for varicose and spider veins.

Her reputation, experience, and compassion attract patients from around the world as she has performed over 10,000 EVLT procedures for non-surgical closure of varicose veins and spider veins. Dr. Moskowitz combines EVLT with sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy, and lasers to keep legs feeling healthy and looking beautiful.

Dr. Moskowitz specializes in all aspects of the aging face and skin including sunspots, wrinkles, skin cancers, birthmarks, and sagging skin, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Photodynamic Therapy for skin cancer and precancers, Botox, Dermal fillers, laser hair removal, body contouring, laser liposuction, and medical skin disorders such as acne and rosacea.

651 Grand Panama Blvd., Suite 102 // Panama City Beach (850) 233-0264 // SkinAndVeins.com

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RHONDA C. SHAEFER PHOTOGRAPHY

PROMOTION

ORIGINALLY FROM LAGRANGE, GEORGIA, PATRICK has been living in South Walton for the past seven years. He is an ISSA certified fitness trainer and PrecisionNutrition Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Specializing in TRX® Suspension Training, Patrick is a Certified Black Rank TRX Coach, which puts him in the top 1% of all TRX coaches worldwide. He has worked with hundreds of men, women and children across all ages and fitness levels using TRX Suspension Training. Patrick’s style of training utilizes quality movements over quantity, making the most of postural integrity and full range of motion. Patrick is also active in the community through the lululemon® brand ambassador program.

ThephMethod is based on the idea that “a balanced body is a healthy body.”

“I believe balance and mobility with a sprinkle of strength on top would best describe my coaching philosophy. I specialize in corrective exercise specifically with the goal of teaching everyone to move a little better, live a little healthier and manage day-to-day stress more efficiently through a healthy lifestyle.”

Patrick is available for training in a variety of locations: private in-home training, at Destin Health and Fitness or Otium Studios at 30avenue. Over the past two years as a fitness consultant for the new Alys Beach Fitness Center, Patrick has worked through Design & Development to deliver TRX training in Alys Beach to its owners and rental guests. Patrick will help lead the way to developing one of the finest luxury fitness centers ever seen.

(850) 585-0144 // Sowalripd9@icloud.com // Instagram: @the_ph_method

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Consistently Delicious since 1995! www.cafethirtya.com

3899 E. Co. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove · 850.231.2166 Open Daily At 5

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Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood

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Executive Chef Laurie Graupner How would you describe the cuisine?

Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood is a traditional, New York-style steak house that serves the highest-rated prime beef and the freshest Gulf Coast seafood.

What is your favorite dish and why? I love making gnocchi and pasta. You will find both of these dishes on our seasonal menus — most likely paired with seafood.

How do you measure your success? I don’t measure my success; rather, I focus on preparing food that makes happy memories for people, learning and improving as an executive chef and teaching new skills to others on our team.

What made you want to pursue this career? My grandfather’s passion for food and for cooking was transferred down to me. When I was a child, I would travel to California to visit my grandparents, and my grandfather would watch cooking shows during my stay. He and I would sit together, and he would talk to me about the things he tried to make at home. He was incredibly passionate about preparing food. After he passed away and I graduated from high school, I wanted to do something that would make him proud of me. That is when I enrolled in culinary school.

What is your philosophy? You get what you put into things.

What inspires/influences your cuisine? The biggest influences on the seasonal menus at Seagar’s are the extended growing seasons in Florida and the Gulf-to-table seafood.

We have access to the freshest and best of both. I love using the freshest ingredients and partnering with local purveyors, farmers and fisherman, whenever possible.

SEAGAR'S PRIME STEAKS & SEAFOOD AT HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA 4000 Sandestin Blvd. S, Miramar Beach | (850) 622-1500 | seagars.com

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COURTESY OF SEAGARS

What is the most important item in the kitchen? The most important thing is not necessarily an item; it’s staff. Having great team members who have a passion for what they do makes all the difference in the kitchen. I’m very fortunate to have a talented and passionate team of cooks supporting our restaurant.

dining guide AMERICAN THE BEACH HOUSE

Casual, beach-front dining. Open daily 11 am–10 pm. 4009 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 267-4800. $$ L D

BUFFALO’S REEF ★

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. (Also at 30Avenue, 12805 Hwy. 98 in Inlet Beach) (850) 460-2909. $$$ D

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 health-focused 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

JOHNNY O’QUIGLEY’S

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

JOHN WEHNER’S VILLAGE DOOR BAYFRONT RESTAURANT & NIGHTCLUB

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

LOUISIANA LAGNIAPPE ★

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. $$ D

LULU’S ★

Lucy Buffett’s funky hangout features cocktails, burgers & seafood, plus allergyfriendly menus. Open Sun–Thur 11 am–9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am–10 pm. 4607 Legendary Marina Drive, Destin. (850) 710-5858. $$ L D

MAGNOLIA GRILL

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

MARIE’S BISTRO & BAR ★

Seafood, steak, pasta and sushi. Lunch Tues– Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Tues–Sun from 5 pm.

2260 W. County Hwy. 30A, Blue Mountain Beach. (850) 278-6856. $$ L D

MARINA BAR AND GRILL

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

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

VIN’TIJ WINE BOUTIQUE & BISTRO Seafood, salad, chef specials. Open daily 11 am–midnight. 10859 W. Emerald Coast Pkwy., #103, Miramar Beach.

(850) 650-9820. $$ L D

ASIAN

LENNY’S ★

Outpost of a chain specializing in Phillystyle cheesesteaks & submarine sandwiches.

Open daily 10 am–9 pm. Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Ester, Nicevville. $ L D

THE KEY ★ Best of the

Emerald Coast 2017 Winner

KHON'S ON PALAFOX

Modern sushi spot with Pan-Asian salads, stir-fries and creative sake cocktails. Lunch

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

Outdoor Dining Live Music $ Inexpensive

$$ Moderately

Expensive

$$$ Expensive

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Tues–Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Tues–Sat from 5 pm. 34 S Palafox Place, Pensacola, (850) 912-6762. $$ L D

OSAKA ★

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

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

DESSERT BRUSTERS ★

Ice cream selections made fresh on-site, daily. Noon–7 pm. 4655 Gulfstarr Dr., Destin.

(850) 269-2920. $

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

BUCK’S SMOKEHOUSE ★

Brisket, ribs and pulled pork sandwiches and plates in a casual, rustic atmosphere.

Open daily 11 am–8 pm. 303 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 837-3600. $ L D

BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH/BAKERY ANDY’S FLOUR POWER CAFE & BAKERY

COME SEE US IN DESTIN! On Highway 98, Half Mile West of SR 293

Award-winning Oysters and Seafood Specialties, Amazing Steaks, Pasta Dishes, Salads and So Much More!

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, (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 ★

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

DONUT HOLE BAKERY CAFE

850.842.4788

Visit our website for a full list of locations

www.HalfShellOysterHouse.com

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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 ★

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

FAT CLEMENZA’S ★

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

GRAFFITI

MAMA CLEMENZA’S EUROPEAN BREAKFAST ★

MIMMO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO

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

34761 Emerald Coast Pkwy (Hwy 98) Suite 104

IRISH

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

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

Traditional, Italian house specialties, such as seafood pizza. Mon–Thurs 5–9 pm, Fri–Sat 5–10 pm. 707 E. Hwy. 98, Destin.

(850) 654-2764. $$ D Italian dishes. Open Mon–Fri 11 am–10 pm, Sat–Sun 5–10 pm. 979 Hwy. 98, #5, Destin.

(850) 460-7353. $$ 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

MEXICAN CANTINA LAREDO ★

A gourmet twist on Mexican favorites.

Sun–Thurs 11 am–10 pm, Fri–Sat

Creative. Fresh. Local.

B R E A K FA S T | L U N C H | D I N N E R Sushi starting at 5 p.m.

Happy Hour Specials from 5 – 6 p.m.

L o c a t e d a t Wa t e r C o l o r ® I n n | 3 4 G o l d e n r o d C i r c l e , S a n t a R o s a B e a c h , F l o r i d a | w a t e r c o l o r r e s o r t . c o m | 8 5 0 . 5 3 4 . 5 0 5 0

WCI_ECMag_GatheringSpot_7.875x4.875_09-17.indd 1

9/29/17 3:20 PM

The Tradition Continues Best Italian 2013, 2014, 2015 Best Restaurant Okaloosa County 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 Best Service, Food & Beverage 2015 Best Locally Owned Restaurant 2017

Best Brunch 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 Best Restaurant in Walton County 2017

Mama Clemenza’s | 12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Miramar Beach 850.424.3157 | mamaclemenzas.com Clemenza’s At Uptown Station | 75 Eglin Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach 850.243.0707 | clemenzasatuptown.com

34876 Emerald Coast Pkwy. / (850) 654-5251 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

December 2017–January 2018

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ADVERTISEMENT

Restaurant Spotlight

Sunset Bay Café A breakfast and lunch menu that’s one part coastal and one part Creole makes for scrumptious Southern goodness at Sunset Bay Café. Overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay, guests may partake in unique brunch options al fresco by the pool or indoors. Choosing the latter won’t inhibit your view of the boats breezing by, as windows surrounding the open floor seating provide an optimal vantage point.

One bite of the food, though, and you’re likely not to take your eyes off your plate.

A decadent Belgian waffle base, topped with

crispy fried chicken, molasses bacon butter, Southern gravy, syrup and chives is a guest favorite — and the winner of the Best of the Emerald Coast for Chicken & Waffles.

Patrons also dive into unconventional takes on classic dishes, such as cinnamon rolls iced with Florida orange cream cheese, and crab cake eggs Benedict.

“Our main mission is to get a smile on your

face so you’ll come back and see us again,” says co-owner Bryce Jarvis.

He and his business partner/father, Gary Jarvis, are proud that the restaurant will be celebrating its third anniversary this February.

Bryce Jarvis gives credit to the team.

“Along with an exceptional menu and scenery, our staff ’s excellent service has made that possible.”

SUNSET BAY CAFÉ 158 Sandestin Blvd. N., Miramar Beach | 850.267.7108 | sunsetbaycafesandestin.com

MIMMOS Magnolia Grill fort walton beach

tom & peggy rice, proprietors

(850) 302-0266

www.magnoliagrillfwb.com bridal luncheons • wedding rehearsals unique receptions

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December 2017–January 2018 EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

979 US HWY 98 E

|

Destin

(in the 98 Pa lms Shopping Plaza)

850.460.7353 EatMimmos.com

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

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 11 am–9:30 pm. 1203 Miracle Strip Pkwy.

S.E., Fort Walton Beach. (850) 244-2124. $$ L D

No

CELEBRATE DELICIOUSLY give generously

JACKACUDA’S SEAFOOD & SUSHI

SEAFOOD BOATHOUSE OYSTER BAR

Ice cold beer, raw oysters, award-winning gumbo. Open daily 11 am–2 am. 288 B Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 837-3645. L D

BONEFISH ★

Contemporary grill chain offering a seafoodcentric 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

BOSHAMPS SEAFOOD & OYSTER HOUSE ★

Gulf-to-table Southern cuisine.

Open daily from 11 am. 414 Harbor Blvd., Destin. (850) 424-7406. $$ L D

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

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

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

Fresh seafood, steak and poultry dishes.

Open daily 11 am–9 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach.

(850) 351-1996. $$$ L D

RUNAWAY ISLAND

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

TAKE OUT 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

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

JACKSON’S STEAKHOUSE

High-end steakhouse cuisine with fine wines. Local seafood is hand-selected and artistically prepared to perfection.

Lunch Tues–Fri 11 am–2 pm, dinner Tues– Sat 5:30 pm–10:30 pm. 400 S. Palafox St., Pensacola. (850) 469-9898. $$$ D

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

MARLIN GRILL ★

FISH OUT OF WATER RESTAURANT

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ★

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ★

SEAGAR’S PRIME STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ★

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

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

Seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers.

Open nightly from 5 pm. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach.

(850) 351-1990. $$$ D 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

Premium steak, fresh seafood and caviar. Open daily from 6 pm. Hilton Sandestin, 4000 S. Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach. (850) 622-1500. $$$ D

Best Mexican, Best Margarita

plan your party

Grand Boulevard

Book Private Event Space and make Catering Arrangements

Sandestin 850.654.5649

Get a $10 Guest Card* for you when you purchase $50 in gift cards EMERALDCOASTMAGA ZINE.COM

*While supplies last. Guest card valid 1.1.18 - 2.28.18. No cash value. Limit 2 guest cards per person, per day. Not available with on-line purchase.

December 2017–January 2018

129

postscript

IT’S NOT ROCKET SURGERY

HOT PRETZEL

Some swear by sweat; me, not so much

A

few years ago, I injured my back, and it resulted in some nerve damage. My enlightened neurologist recommended hot yoga to help stimulate regeneration and increase flexibility. It’s funny, because during our time together, I genuinely had thought that my doctor liked me.

It was disturbing to open my eyes only to see a big, sweaty foot right in front of my face. It took a moment for me to realize that it was mine.

I’ve started taking yoga. Not just any yoga, but hot yoga.

It’s where they turn up the heat, and the humidity is enough to cook shrimp. You start sweating when you walk through the door, so not only does yoga posing make you a pinch of salt away from being a pretzel, now you’re a beer.

People who take hot yoga swear by it. They’ll tell you that you’ll be more flexible than you’ve ever been. If you try and tell them that you already think you’re pretty flexible, they’ll have none of it. On the flexibility of yoga issue, they are completely inflexible.

I went in with an open mind and really tight pants. Initially, I was concerned that I would look like an idiot. I didn’t know poses, and I was much older than the other folks, who looked much better than me in really tight pants.

The instructor told me I only needed to “find my own shape.”

(Octagonal came to mind.) She said I didn’t need to know all the traditional yoga poses. Figuring them out would come in time, so for now all I needed to do was to come close and not fall over.

If you want to get a feel for all the possible yoga poses, throw yourself down a flight of stairs. By the time you hit bottom, you probably will have experienced 12 of them.

For the uninitiated, here are three of my favorites …

THE EAGLE: You stand up straight on one leg. Your other leg wraps around your standing leg with your foot locking to the back of your calf. Meanwhile, your arms are locked in front of you like two snakes intertwined. You’re coiled up so tight that there’s a 50-50 chance they’ll have to unwind you with a spatula. People trying to get out of this pose is the thirdleading cause of death in America, slightly behind cancer and heart disease.

THE STANDING BOW: Yeah, you guessed it. Stand on one leg and pull the other leg straight up, holding your ankle with one hand while your other arm points straight out. You’re supposed to look just like a bow and arrow. My body settled into more of a slingshot.

THE CAT: This one is actually my favorite, mostly because I can actually do it. You get down on all fours with your head up and back arched. It’s a breathing pose and, unless you are right behind someone doing the Downward Dog, it’s a great way to loosen up.

Despite leaving class looking like I spent a week working in a prison laundry, I really am more flexible. I’ve gotten over not being able to pose like the other yogites in the class. When I see them, I offer a confident “Namaste” instead of “Howdy.”

But mostly I’ve embraced a place where I can experience flop sweat, fall flat on my face, and have both be a sign that I am making progress. That hasn’t happened for me since I left public office. 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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